Mežaparks is our neighbouring district, where we often go for leisurely walks. There is a pine forest with paths going up and down, and for the more demanding walker or rollerblader, paved paths too. There is also a favourite spot with a steeper bank offering a wide view across Ķīšezers lake.
As warmer weather arrives, Mežaparks is full of leisure-seekers, attraction-goers and festivity celebrators. And so now, as Easter approaches, posters (see below) placed right here in Sarkandaugava announce the upcoming celebrations.
On 5 April from 12:00 to 16:00, with proper swinging and games, there will be a joyful Easter celebration at Mežaparks, dedicated this year to Easter celebration traditions of the world's peoples - decorating a stylised Egg Tree as they do in Germany, a decorated hat parade as in America, a giant spring equinox omelette in the French style and much more.
The event will also feature the resonant Latgalian songs of post-folklore group "Rikši".
From 27 January to 12 March, at Aleksandrs Čaks' memorial apartment-museum at Lāčplēša iela 48/50–14, a photography exhibition "Aleksandrs Čaks' Riga" can be viewed. It brings together photographs by Roberts Johansons and Pēteris Šmits taken in Riga during the 1920s–30s. Something of a small journey through time, albeit in black-and-white and frozen in a captured moment.
Museum opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11:00–17:00, closed Monday and Sunday.
On Thursday, 22 January in Riga, at "Multikino" premises on Mūkusalas iela 71 from 08:30 to 18:00, the first Baltic-scale software developers' conference Riga Dev Day 2015 will take place, bringing together an internationally recognised team of speakers from the USA, Russia, EU and Baltic states. 28 internationally recognised speakers will deliver practical talks at the conference, including such experts as Oracle representative Henrik Ståhl (Sweden), Red Hat leader Arun Gupta (USA), Oracle developer and well-known blogger Tim Hall (UK), front-end software developer and blogger Krasimir Tsonev (Bulgaria), Odnoklassniki.ru representative Oleg Anastasyev (Latvia) and others.
An invitation to exercise your mind and answer a few witty questions. Question 1: Imagine you are taking part in a running race. You are a good fast runner, and you overtake the athlete who is running in second place. What position are you running in now? See more.
Being able to truly forgive someone, leaving bitterness, anger and hatred behind - not everyone is capable of it. Some people hold a grudge for a long time, even for years, while others forgive too easily and quickly. How do you forgive? This quiz will make you think about the mechanisms that regulate your ability to forgive others.
From 14 to 17 August in Sarkandaugava at Building 5 of the Riga Psychiatry and Narcology Centre, the exposition "Garden" will be on display. The more-than-100-year-old building will be open to all interested visitors, who will be able to explore both the building's and hospital's historical environment and a specially prepared thematic exhibition. In the "Garden", visitors will be able to walk barefoot along a sensory path, while ivy blooms, lavender scents and a birch grove flourishes within the four walls of empty wards. In rooms dedicated to Vincent van Gogh, Zelda Fitzgerald and Pēteris Krastiņš, visitors can reflect on the fluid boundary between talent and illness, while other rooms invite contemplation of reason and madness, the real world and the parallel one, "normality" and "otherness", "us" and "them", oneself and one's "other self".
Exposition-exhibition "Garden" at Riga Psychiatry and Narcology Centre Building 5: opening 14 August at 16:00. Exposition "Garden" open from 15 to 17 August, from 11:00–19:00. Guided tours of RPNC grounds led by Silva Bendrāte - every day at 15:00.
Today I was browsing the cultural events calendar for this summer online, and a concert caught my attention - one taking place on the night of 2 to 3 August. I must admit I hadn't heard before of the introvert art festival "Ad lucem", which has been running since 2010 and whose mission is to provide refuge from everyday rush and stress, and to create an oasis of peace and harmony in the urban environment where one can listen to sounds, silence and oneself, meet fellow travellers and find inspiration.
What caught my attention was both the title - night meditation - and the format: 8 hours of acoustic and electric cello music enjoyed sitting or lying on blankets, sleeping bags or chairs, falling asleep, waking up, reaching a different, extraordinary dimension of perception, remaining under the continuous spell of music throughout the night.
The Night Meditation will take place at the concert hall of cultural palace "Ziemeļblāzma", on 2 August from 22:00 until 6:00 on 3 August. Visitors will need comfortable clothing, a rug and a sleeping bag or blanket. A small pillow will probably also come in handy. Tickets must also be purchased in advance at Biļešu Serviss (price currently from 17.50–25 EUR).
I want to recommend an event we try to attend every year during the Midsummer holiday - the Great Latgale Market at the ancient hillfort of Ludza. What appeals to me is the location - a hill with an ancient aura surrounded by lakes; the timing - it seems that on those days all the herb wreaths, handmade goods and jewellery carry the midsummer mysticism; and the emotional atmosphere.
This year too, for the sixth time on 21 June, craft masters, farmers, singers and dancers from Latgale and beyond will gather together to organise the Great Latgale Market and celebrate the summer solstice. Visitors will be able to watch demonstrations of ancient crafts in outdoor workshops and ancient Latgale wrestling, participate in games and sing along with folklore ensembles.
It's sure to be interesting for everyone, young and old. Adults will be able to purchase festive table treats and enjoy themselves, while children can ride horses, cuddle farm animals or learn to weave Midsummer wreaths. Free admission.
On Saturday, 17 May in Sarkandaugava, almost all day and night from 11:00 to 24:00, there will be an extensive programme of events allowing visitors to discover Riga's oldest industrial neighbourhood (tours of RER, the Riga Psychiatry and Narcology Centre, Aldaris brewery and more), enjoy Latvian cinema at the former Aurora cinema, and take part in a riverside picnic.
The Latvian New Theatre Institute invites Sarkandaugava residents to participate in the Riga2014 project Dance Goes to the City - Austrian choreographer Willi Dorner's performance-photo exhibition "Living Room".
In brief: 7 apartments are needed for the production (preferably each in a different building, but close to one another). Photographs will be taken there with dancers' participation - the dancers' bodies will integrate into the existing interior, creating new relationships between objects. The photos will then be printed in large format and installed in the apartments. As a result, visitors will see a photo exhibition in the apartments, while on the stretches between apartments there will be live installations featuring around 50 dancers - dance students, street gymnasts, parkour athletes and breakdancers.
The "Living Room" project appeals to both young and old from the audience's perspective and suits all ages. For apartment owners it is an invitation to take part in a creative (and immediately international!) event, because we believe and hope that culture is not meant only for professionals.
If you want to participate in this project and know a neighbour or people in the area who would like to get involved, please contact Laura Stašāne, the project coordinator - +371 26523513 or [email protected]
.jpg?w=690&mode=16x9|crop)
