Contents of issue August 2011

Music, Art, Exhibitions
Strelka Sound. Dali Retrospective. James Turrell at Garage. Russian National Orchestra: summer music season. Natura Morta—classical compositions in photography. Young Art at the Moscow Museum of Modern Art.

“The Summer Ballet Seasons 2011”
Summer is usually a bit quiet for the Moscow theatres. A lot of the companies go on tour and avid theatre fans have to wait until the fall opening of a new season.

British Council
PASSPORT’s summer education briefing comes just before the clock starts ticking for 2012 applications.

JapanCongo
The JAPANCONGO exhibition at Garage is German artist, Carsten Holler’s, take on Jean Pigozzi’s collection of Congolese and Japanese contemporary art.

The Esenin Museum
In Bolshoi Strichenovski Pereulok in Moscow, surrounded by modern buildings, there is a two-storey wooden house in which poet Sergei Esenin lived in from 1911-1918.

Summer Nightlife Update
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, no matter how much some of us may be tired of the glitz and glamour that surrounds Moscow nightlife, there are alternatives out there.

St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, often called “the Northern capital of Russia”, has always attracted tourists from all over the world.

Tula
I am the kind of a person who rarely likes to travel within Russia.

Off to See the Boss
For some people “the Boss” is Bruce Springsteen; for others it was Margaret Thatcher.

Layers of Expats
An “expatriate” (ex-pat) is defined as a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person’s upbringing or legal residence.

Russian Banks
There have been many stories in the news recently saying this or that foreign consumer bank is shutting up shop in Russia.

Tampering With Nature
In 1932–1933, 5 to 10 million people died throughout the USSR. The dignity of people was destroyed when they ate dogs, cats, field mice, birds, tree bark and each other.

The Cost of Living in Russia
Moscow rarely makes the international headlines for any positive reasons.

Interview with Irina Yulmetieva
Irina Yulmetieva, Head of Residential Real Estate at Four Squares, spoke with PASSPORT about recent trends and prospects in Moscow’s residential rental market.

News
Sale of abandoned buildings could rake in up to $800 mln. Average Moscow apartment sells at 8.1 million roubles. Moving state agencies to Moscow region could improve traffic situation. Foreign investors return to office property market.

The Russian Language
Clothes shopping.

Tinatin
Tinatin is the new Georgian spirit that replaced Bagration in the sprawling three-story building just south of the South Korean embassy.

Living Accommodations in Russia
According to Russian Civil and Housing Legislation, renting in Russia is made by agreement; the first party (landlord) agrees to provide to the second party (lessee) housing for rent.

RONI
We’ve known for months that Glen Ballis, the chef that made Nedalny Vostok such a sensation, planned to open a new restaurant with Arkady Novikov.

Shooters
Shooters Bar & Grill is a great new pub located at 46 Novoslobodskaya, 10 minutes from Mendelevskaya or Noveslobodskaya Metro station.

4th of July at the US Embassy
On 4th July the United States Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Mr John Beyrle, and Ms Jocelyn Green hosted a party at the Ambassador’s Residence.

Puzzles
The Summer holiday travel quiz. Holiday Sudoku. Seaside Word Search. Mini Sudoku – August 2011.

Clarice and the Tea Leaf
A Brainy Bird Tall Tale (no.1).

Dacha Idylls
There are surprisingly few books published about dachas. Last year I reviewed the only historical study in English.