The Friends of Slovakia Association schedules its benefit
The Friends of Slovakia Association (Združenia Priateľov Slovenska) will aim to raise money and entertain at its Second Annual Spring Banquet and Music Concert on May 22 at the Hotel Danube in Bratislava.
The banquet is the non-profit organisation's main annual event, which it uses both to bring together its friends and sponsors and to raise money to support its projects - which currently include the renovation of a Slovak synagogue and Jewish cemetery.
This year, entertainment will be provide by singing group Close Harmony Friends from Banská Bystrica. There will also be a silent auction in which people can bid on gifts contributed by various retailers and merchants in Bratislava, with the top bidder winning the prize. A live auction will also take place.
The festivities will begin at 17:00 with the live auction, followed by dinner at 18:00 and the music concert at 19:00. The cost is 500 Sk. For tickets, call Linda Wenning in Bratislava at 07- 4437-1837 or send her e-mail at wenning@mail.fm.uniba.sk.
Piešťany Hash Run coming in May
Clear your calendar for a hash-run weekend May 14-16 in Slovakia's most famous spa town of Piešťany and become part of a three-year-old Slovak tradition which includes hashing, beer drinking, live music and dance.
The schedule begins on May 14 with arrival and registration from 19:00 till 21:00 at the Piešťany Irish Pub at Teplická Street. On Saturday, May 15, a day of hashing means a long run or walk through the town with beer stops. Events start at 13:30 at the Piešťany Statue at the end of the Glass Bridge. Just when you think you are too tired to go on, dinner and live music by jazz singer Miriam Bajova will follow at 20:00 at the Grand Cafe. On Sunday, May 16, beginning from 11:00 everyone is welcome to join a round of "beach" volleyball or a "recovery" hash.
If you register before May 7, the price for the weekend festivities will be 400 Sk. If you register after May 7, the price will be 600 Sk. If you don't want come for the whole weekend, then just come for part and the price will be negotiated.
The fee includes the first few beers on Friday night, plus after-hash snacks, the buffet dinner and live music on Saturday night. Piešťany has many inexpensive hotels, some of which you can check out on-line at the Piešťany hotel web site at http://www.itis.sk/hotelguide/okres/piestany000_en.html. Anyone looking to share an apartment can contact Martin Staples at Tel: 0838-77 44 780.
Piešťany is about 45 minutes by car from Bratislava. The Irish Pub is situated in the direction of the town center from the highway exit. After two traffic lights, just before the bridge, take a left on to Nitrianska Street. On your left is a large parking lot where you can park and walk to the Irish pub. For those coming by train, walk or take a taxi the 2 km to the Irish Pub at Teplicka Street. For more information contact http://www.geocities.com/colosseum/track/5991 or call Tel: 0838-7744-780 or e-mail mstaples@psg.sk.
Open Society Foundation offers a summer English course
If you are a Slovak kindergarten or grammar school teacher, or a Slovak doctor looking to improve your English, you can apply for an intensive summer course hosted by the non-profit Open Society foundation and geared specifically for you.
The course will be held from July 4 -15 in Kaštiel Mojmírovce by Nitra, western Slovakia. All courses will be conducted by American and British lectors. Though subsidised, the course will cost participants 2000 Sk.
Along with the aforementioned teachers, doctors with at least two years of working experience and teachers of information technology can also attend. The application deadline is May 14. For further information contact Summer School of English, NOS -OSF, Staromestská 6/D, 811 01 Bratislava, Tel.: 54 41 47 30, Fax:07-54 41 88 67 or send e-mail to elena@osf.sk.
British Embassy announces closures
The British Embassy in Bratislava would like to announce that on Monday, May 3, Friday, May 28 and Monday, May 31, all departments including the visa department will be closed. The three days are bank holidays in Great Britain.
