May 18, 2011

Coming Russian Events


For a Russophile, it can be frustrating to find out about an interesting event related to Russia after it has just happened. On the flip side, it can also be rather difficult to find out about new events far enough in advance before they happen, especially events in your area, so that one can attend.

For several years now, we have been collecting data on Russia-related events at museums, festivals, art galleries, etc. to try to maintain a clearinghouse of what is going on throughout the US on the Russian front. At first, we tried to track down and enter all the information on these events ourselves.

We soon gave up on that Sisyphean task and shifted the onus onto the event presenters, offering them a facility to easily add and update their events on our website. That has seemed to work much better. (Feel free to forward this link to anyone you hear of that is putting on a Russia-related event.) We now like to think we catch most (70-80%) of what is going on and we publish event information from our constantly updated database in our magazine if it is far enough in the future to work with editorial deadlines.

Very often, however, we hear about events so close to their occurrence that they will never make it into print. Yet we still encourage organizers to add their events to our database, hoping that readers and Russophiles will check in to the web-based database from time to time, to see what might be going on in their area (the database is searchable by state, event type, etc.).

But clearly that is not enough, so we'll be looking into ways that people can sign up to be automatically notified, or how we can send out automatic weekly updates of events happening throughout the US every week or so, be it via email, Twitter or Facebook. Any readers with constructive suggestions in this regard, please sound off! Meanwhile, here are three examples of upcoming events that we just heard about, and which are happening in major metropolitan areas in the very near future:

  • Causa Artium is putting on a series of literary events in the NY Metro area showcasing young Russian authors, several of them already famous. The first event is May 20. Here is the listing, which also links to Causa Artium's website.
  • Vladislav Lavrik, who has been hailed as Russia's finest trumpeter, will be giving a solo concert in Minneapolis (a few days after playing the National Anthem with dozens of other top world trumpeters at a Twins game) on May 26. The event info is here.
  • The Angel Orensanz Center in NY is putting on an interesting photo exhibit through the end of May devoted to Ilya Repin.

Enjoy!

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A Taste of Russia

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.
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Fish: A History of One Migration

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.
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Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 
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Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

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Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.
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Jews in Service to the Tsar

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At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

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