Countrywide Events

Western SLOVAKIA

Bratislava
BIRD-WATCHING: For watching the White-tailed Eagle (or the Sea Eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla) near the Danube River, wintertime is best. On Sunday, January 12, the Watching.sk team will have an outpost on the corner above the Danube dyke and passers-by will watch these birds through field-glasses, along with an expert commentary (possible also in English).
Start: Jan 12, 9:00-14:00; a small walk from the Miestny úrad Čunovo bus stop of bus No 91. Admission: voluntary. More info: www.watching.sk.

Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Glenn Miller Orchestra - The famed “swinging big band” returns to Bratislava after two years, this time offering a new performance called The Best of Glenn Miller Orchestra The music which celebrates the 1930s attracts mostly – but not only – the middle-aged.
Starts: Jan 9, 19:00; Istropolis, Trnavské Mýto 1. Admission: €30-€€40 More info: www.eventim.sk; www.citylife.sk.

Bratislava
LANGUAGE CAFÉ: Language Café – The popular event brings foreign languages to the Slovak capital and enables people to learn and practice. People come to a café and debate in various languages.
Starts: Jan 8, 18:30; KC Dunaj, Nedbalova 3. Admission: free. Tel: 0904/ 330-049; www.kcdunaj.sk.

Bratislava
TRAVEL MOVIES: Traveller’s movies from the Bubo travel agency are presented, this time about Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia – countries connected through history but now heading their own way.
Starts: Jan 7, 18:30; Cinema City Polus, Vajnorská 100. Admission: €2. More info: www.citylife.sk, www.bubo.sk.

Bratislava
OPERA: Bedřich Smetana - The Bartered Bride – One of the most famous Czech operas is from the light, comedic genre and represents the Czech national music theatre which draws form folklore and popular traditions. This staging is directed by Czech Pavel Mikuláštík, conducted by Rastislav Štúr and performed by Mária Porubčinová, Ľudovít Ludha, Ján Galla, Ján Ďurčo, Iveta Matyášová, František Ďuriač and others.
Starts: Jan 9, 19:00; New Slovak National Theatre building, Pribinova 17. Admission: €5-€25. Tel: 02/2047-2299; www.snd.sk.

Bratislava
SLOVAK FILM: Môj pes Killer / My Dog Killer – The 2013 Czech-Slovak movie directed by Mira Fornay which muses on the psychological roots of estrangement and loneliness in modern families and modern cities has already won several prizes and has been submitted to compete for the Best Foreign Film Academy Award. It is screened within the Slovenské kino (Slovak Cinema) / ”Oscar” project with English subtitles.
Starts: Jan 11, 18.30, K2 hall, Lumiére Cinema, Špitálska 4. Admission: €4. Tel: 0917/105-882; www.aic.sk/aic/kino-lumiere.

Bratislava
WORLD MUSIC/CLUBBING: Balkan Beats – The series of parties presenting the music of Balkans in this edition brings the Hungarian band Vojasa playing “balkan gypsy reggae”.
Starts: Jan 11, 21:00; KC Dunaj, Nedbalova 3. Admission: €5. Tel: 0904/ 330-049; www.kcdunaj.sk.

Bratislava
EXHIBITION: FRESHPOP - This exhibition of two Slovak artists, Vladimír Popovič (born 1939) and Viktor Frešo (born 1974) shows a rare phenomenon. The joint paintings, all of which both artists contributed to, is a unique collaboration. The exhibition is curated by Vladimír Beskid.
Open: by appointment on workdays between 10:00 and 18:00 until Jan 17; Roman Fecik Gallery, Zámocká 8. Admission: free. Tel: 02/5441-4346; www.romanfecikgallery.sk.

Bratislava
EXHIBITION: Nejde o štýl / Style is not the Matter – This joint exhibition demonstrates the typographic works of two artists: Polish designer, reviewer, university lecturer and writer Tomasz Bierkowski; and Slovak academy lecturer and freelancer Marcel Benčík, who focuses on graphic design in architecture.
Open: Mon-Thurs 10:00–17:00, Fri 9:00–15:00 until Jan 10; Polish Institute, SNP Square 27. Admission: free. Tel: 02 /5443-2030; www.polinst.sk.

Dunajská Streda
EXHIBITION: Mandaly, svetlom maľované / Mandals, Painted by Light – This exhibition of works by art teacher Lívia Karika and her students features symbols of spirituality (eastern as well a Christian) and inner light that materialises in the form of colourful artwork.
Open: workdays 8:00-16:00; Gallery Nova, Žitný Ostrov Cultural Centre (ŽOS), Biskupa Kondého Street 136/10. Admission: free. Tel: 0315/522-762; www.osvetads.zupa-tt.sk.

Trnava
EXHIBITION: Path of Colours - The exhibition of Slovak sculptor Miloš Balgavý (born in 1955) shows his latest glass artworks “playing with light” and “the essence of this material which is solid at a point when it becomes fragile”, as he describes it. Balgavý’s exhibition also includes photographs of his works by Jana Hojstričová.
Open: Tue - Fri 9:00 – 17:00, weekend 13:00-18:00 until Jan 26; Koppel Villa of Ján Koniarek Gallery, Zelený kríčok 3. Admission: €0.80-€1.50. Tel: 033/551-1659; www.gjk.sk.

Central SLOVAKIA

Rimavská Sobota
FASHION SHOW: FASHION & ART – This show will present the brands Desigual, Skunkfunk, Sugarbird, La Diva, Salón Narnia, as well as hair- and make-up stylists.
Starts: Jan 10, 18:30; House of Culture – Town Cultural Centre (MsKS), Š.M. Daxner Square 1. Admission: €3. Tickets: MsKS – 047/5624-550; msksrs@rsnet.sk, www.rimava.sk.

Heľpa
FUN/SLEIGH RACE: Krňačkové preteky – This race, on krne or krňačky – old-style wooden sleighs – has become so popular that there is a whole series of events, resulting in a sort of Slovak championship. It is advisable, though, to check on the actual dates and especially weather conditions, as events depend on snow conditions.
Starts: Jan 11, 9:00. Admission: Free for onlookers. More info: 0903/502-965; bstransl@isternet.sk, www.krne.sk.

Ružomberok
EXHIBITION: About 4,500 toys and miniature figures of those sold in the Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs are exhibited in the local Liptov Museum. They are part of the private collection of Ľuboš Richtárech from Vrútky.
Open: Mon - Fri 8:00 – 16:00, last entry 15:00 (after previous arrangement at 044/4322-468, 044/4303-532 also at weekends); Liptovské Múzeum, Š. N. Hýroša Square 10. Admission: €1.50-€3. More info: www.liptovskemuzeum.sk.

Banská Bystrica
EXHIBITION: Na krídlach anjela / On the Angel’s Wings – Slovak Post has organised an exhibition of motifs of angels on stamps, to match the Christmas season. The exhibit represents works of famed Slovak artists from postal stamps of the last 20 years.
Open: Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00 until January 24; Postal Museum / Poštové museum, Partizánska Cesta 9. Admission: €0.50-€0.84. Tel: 048/433 95 07; www.posta.sk.

Eastern SLOVAKIA

Vysoké Tatry/Hrebienok
ICE SCULPTING: The Tatra Ice Temple is open for viewing at the Hrebienok resort near Starý Smokovec in the High Tatras, The man-made ice cathedral should last until March if the weather is favourable. The site also hosts concerts.
Open: daily from 6.30 to 18:30; Hrebienok, Starý Smokovec. Admission: free. More info: www.regiontatry.sk, also in English).

Vysoké Tatry/Starý Smokovec
ICE CLIMBING: On Tuesdays and Fridays, visitors can enjoy winter hiking in High Tatras, with a local mountain guide. It is advisable to arrange on Sunday for the Tuesday hike and on Thursday at the latest for the Friday hike.
Starts: Jan 7, 10; meeting point is Starý Smokovec – Villa Alica at 7:30, the hike goes to icefall Záhradky and ice near the Zamkovského chalet. Admission: €171 (for 2-3 people). Tel: 0905/428-170; www.tatraguide.sk (email: spolokhv@gmail.com).

Vysoké Tatry/Tatranská Lomnica
SKI RACE: Memoriál Jozefa Krasuľu 2014 – The Czech-Slovak Cup 2013/2014, Slovak Cup Masters and Open – These ski race in slalom and giant slalom are open to the public. Registration (until Jan 7) and information: office@saxe.sk, 0905/252-377.
Starts: Jan 11-12 8:00; Tatranská Lomnica - Buková hora, Čučoriedky. Admission: Free for onlookers, €10 for skiers. More info: www.kamdomesta.sk, www.slovak-ski.sk.

Vysoké Tatry/Skalnaté Pleso
EXHIBITION: “For 4” – The exhibition of works by authors from the countries of the Visegrad Group is the outcome of a creative painting symposium organised in High Tatras by Slovak artist Jana Čepa. The works of Andrei Szocs (in Braille script for the visually impaired) and Ferenc Ficzek (both of Hungary), Júlia Haluzová and Tomáš Tichý (the Czech Republic), Anna Waligorska and Sergiusz Powalka (Poland) and Slovaks Andrea Bartošová, Roland Neupauer and Jana Čepa can be seen in the mountain gallery Encián.
Open: daily 10:00-15:00 until Jan 31; Gallery Encián, former terminal station of
cable car, Skalnaté Pleso. Admission: Voluntary donation. More info: www.kamdomesta.sk.