Bohemianst at Eofmi Nd C Onsulate G Eneral Monthly Newsletter for Bohemians by Birth and Bohemians at Heart of T He Czech Republ Ic Pg

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Bohemianst at eofmi nd C onsulate G eneral monthly newsletter for Bohemians by birth and bohemians at heart of t he Czech republ ic Pg. 6 Pg. 7 Pg. 9 • Dear Bohemians • about life • FaQ - Czech Citizenship • Blessed Beer in the Vatican May 2 011 Alfons Mucha The Bohemian Experience Info Goulash Events Calendar May 1@2 pm The Bohemian Journey - Soaking up the Suds Annual General – by Janie Robinson Meeting MMI Family Brewery has combined the best of n o s

Prague Restaurant n i both worlds, with beer baths and beer mas - b o R

Info: 416-439-4354 sages at this Western Bohemia curative spa. e i n a J

Heated to a comfortable 34 degrees, the : o t o

May 2@7 pm h bathing beer is enriched with mineral water, P Marija’s Own active beer yeast, and a mixture of hops and The ROM Theatre Sipping on a chilly Czech brew while lying in dehydrated curative herbs. Guests sit in hot, foamy beer? Victorian-style tubs filled with frothy beer in www.hotdocs.ca Blanka Rohn succumbed to cancer on February 8, 2011 Yes guys, it’s for real ... and apparently the brewery’s converted cellar. May 3@9:30 pm good for you, too. Curtains drawn around a comfy bath, cold The yeasty aroma of malt and hops wafts Matchmaking Mayor beer in hand, and enveloped in the warm, from the world’s first beer health centre, Innis Town Hall, UofT sticky sensation of the aromatic caramel- housed in the cellar of one of the Czech coloured brew, this is one Czech Republic www.hotdocs.ca Republic’s celebrated breweries. spa treatment custom-made for beer- In a country famous for its high-quality loving Canadians. May 3@9:45 pm beers and healthy spas, the historic Chodovar continued on pg. 3 All for the Good of the World and Nosovice Event Highlight TIFF Bell Lightbox Theatre www.hotdocs.ca – Czech Films at Hot Docs This year, the Czech Republic is represented Matchmaking Mayor, by Erika Hnikova, May 3@1 1:45 pm at HOT DOCS with two young but already screening on: Marija’s Own internationally acclaimed filmmakers Vit From “Matchmaking Mayor” Bloor Cinema Klusak and Erika Hnikova. continued on pg. 2 www.hotdocs.ca Consulate General of the Czech Republic, 2 Bloor Street West, #1500, Toronto, ON M4W 3E2 continued on next pg. phone: 4 16-972- 1476, fax: 4 16-972-69 91, e-mail: [email protected], web: www.mzv.cz/toronto thWientBohemianer 2 011 Dear Bohemians – by Consul General Richard Krpac Ancient Greeks believed “swan song” with “final appearance”, “final Events Calendar that swans were com- work”, or “the last act before the term in the cont’d pletely silent during their lifetime. Then, just office ends”. before their death, they sang one single heart- Well, my term in Toronto will be over in May 4@2 pm breaking song. Aesop portrayed this percep- a little more than a couple of months. And we Matchmaking Mayor tion of a “swan song” in one of his famous are in full swing of preparing the last act - an TIFF Bell Lightbox Theatre fable, where the swan, caught by mistake event that certainly looks like my swan song, www.hotdocs.ca instead of the goose, began to sing as a prelude or farewell, if you like. Coincidentally, and, to its own demise. symbolically, this event will tie together many May 4@7 pm Twenty five hundred years later we simpli- aspects of the game that our Consulate has About Life with fied the expression into an idiom that equates always pursued. Our efforts to promote the Josef Skala continued on pg 3 Prague Restaurant Event Highlight (continued from pg. 1) Info: 416-972-1476 Matchmaking Mayor, by Erika Hnikova, is All for the Good of World and Nosovice , by Vit May 5@7pm screening on: Klusak, is screening on: All for the Good of Tuesday, May 3 9:30 pm Innis Town Hall Tuesday, May 3 9:45 pm TIFF Bell Lightbox 3 the World and Wednesday, May 4 2:00 pm TIFF Bell Lightbox 4 Thursday, May 5 7:00 pm The Royal Cinema Nosovice The Royal Cinema Matchmaking Mayor , Hnikova’s latest Notorious American filmmaker Michael documentary in the Czech and Slovak co- Moore has put Vit Klusak’s first documentary www.hotdocs.ca production, won not only the Audience Award called Czech Dream (screened at HOT DOCS at the prestigious Berlinale Film Festival, but last year) among the top five documentaries ever May 5@8 pm according to the hollywoodreporter.com it made. Klusak’s latest movie All for the Good of A. Dvorak has audiences chuckling and laughing out the World and Nosovice captures a farming village Symphony No. 9 loud consistently throughout its 72 minutes. in Northern Moravia, where politicians plan to Toronto Centre for the Arts It follows the story of a small Slovak build a giant Hyundai plant, much to the locals’ [email protected] village, Zemplinske Hamre, that is overrun by dismay. Despite their resistance, big industry 30-something singles while its aged inhabi - wins out and the fields sprout cars in this May 7@9: 15 pm tants are dying out. Impatient with the slow humorous, politically charged film. Marija’s Own course of courtship, its do-it-yourself mayor www.hotdocs.ca/film/title/all_for_the_good Innis Town Hall, UofT makes population growth his top priority and _of_the_world_and_nosovice www.hotdocs.ca starts forging love connections – himself. As a retired army general, he’s no stranger to May 11@7 pm action. He decides to organize a dating party About Life with for singles from all of the neighbouring Paul Wilson villages and let love to take its course… www.hotdocs.ca/film/title/matchmaking_m Prague Restaurant ayor Info: 416-972-1476 From “All for the Good of the World and Nosovice” continued on next pg. Consulate General of the Czech Republic, 2 Bloor Street West, #1500, Toronto, ON M4W 3E2 phone: 4 16-972- 1476, fax: 4 16-972-69 91, e-mail: [email protected], web: www.mzv.cz/toronto 2 thWienter 2 011

BohemianBohemian Journey (continued from pg. 1) “We went to the Chodovar Family mummy in my sheet, with lights dimmed and Brewery in Chodova Plana for some beer and soothing music playing, I can certainly see the a great Czech lunch, but we weren’t aware appeal of soaking in suds. Events Calendar there was a beer spa,” says Quebec’s Charles So do others. The spa is usually fully cont’d Paradis, touring the Czech Republic with his booked weeks in advance, so arrange your teammates for an Old Timers’ Hockey treatments well before your trip. While May 18@7 pm Tournament. there, be sure to tour this oldest brewery in About Life with Beer can treat a range of ailments, particu - Western Bohemia, with the original granite- Joe Schlesinger larly skin conditions, and the health centre carved lager cellars, dating back to the 12th Prague Restaurant should appeal to men who are put off by century and still used to mature the lager Info: 416-972-1476 “posh” traditional spas, says owner Jiri Plevka. beer today. Check out the restaurant and “We believe in the healing properties of beer small brewing industry museum housed May 25@7 pm and we offer the full range of treatments in within the ancient cellars About Life with this ful-fledged beer spa.” Hana Gartner After floating from the tub to the relax - www.janierobinsontraveljournalist.blogspot.c Prague Restaurant ation room, wrapped like a beer-soaked om/search?q=Soaking+up+the+suds Info: 416-972-1476 Dear Bohemians (continued from pg. 2) May 28@3:30 pm Gymnastic Czech Republic by never compromising on according to Skvorecky himself, “Andrea did a Competition quality, and by bringing the unique, the magnificent job when making the film; when 601 Magnetic Drive, prodigious, the promising and the interesting, I watch it, I feel very much the same emotions North York be it people or performances and/or Czech that ran through me sixty years ago…”. Info: 905-838-2541 products will nicely climax in Rhythm on My In Rhythm on My Heels , Skvorecky’s alter Heels – the evening that will bring one of the ego Danny Smiricky is the same person as May 29@2 pm best Czech films together with an exceptional we know him from The Swell Season – Interview with live musical performance by the great Czech obsessed with girls and jazz. But it is the jazz pianist Emil Viklicky. The evening will times that have changed. They were the Martin Razus also bring together two people who are sym - times that sent the courageous into prison, St. Paul Church bols of two completely different eras in the the unbendable into exile and all the others 1424 Davenport Rd. life of the Czech Republic – young into a self-imposed resignation ghetto. Yet, moviemaker Andrea Sedlackova, living and jazz sounded so good even then…or perhaps May 29@5pm working at the same time in Paris and in even better… Rhythm on My Heels Prague, and Josef Skvorecky, symbol of the Dear Bohemians, the performance is free Mysteriously Yours generation that had their big dreams killed by (donations are welcome). Book early, as we Dinner Theatre the Iron Curtain and communist gulags. will run out of space quickly. For more info 2026 Yonge Street When Sedlackova (who was nominated and RSVP, please check out the poster on the Info: 416-972-1476 for 2010 César Award in France) wrote and next page of this issue of The Bohemian . directed Rhythm on My Heels that is based on one of Skvorecky’s books, she knew Josef is Yours not an easy-to-satisfy kind of critic. Yet, Richard Krpac

Consulate General of the Czech Republic, 2 Bloor Street West, #1500, Toronto, ON M4W 3E2 T: 416-972-1476, F: 416-972-6991, E-mail: [email protected], Web:www.mzv.cz/toronto 4 thWientBohemianer 2 011 About Life… In May, we will follow up on the success of last month’s interviews and will introduce – or re- introduce exceptional people who fought adversity and unkindness in an effort to successfully establish (or re-establish) a life in Canada. They will share with us their personal stories of falls and ascents, sto - ries filled with perseverance, courage, love and strong beliefs. The interviews will be held on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm at Prague Restaurant in Masaryktown. All interviews are in Czech, except the one with Ms. Gartner. Paul Wilson – writer, editor, May 11 radio producer and translator. He spent ten years in Czechoslovakia (1967-1977), was eventually May 4 expelled for his association with the dissident movement, particu - larly with The Plastic People of the Universe. Translator of the works of Josef Skvorecky and Vaclav Havel.

May 18 May 25

Josef Skala – Professor Emeritus of the University of British Columbia, scientist and clinician. In 2010 he was awarded the highest recognition which the Canadian Medical Association can Joe Schlesinger – CBC television journalist, foreign bestow upon one of its members – correspondent, producer and author and recipient the F.N.G.-Starr Award. of Canadian Journalism Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award. His autobiography “Time Zones: a Journalist in the World” became a bestseller. Hana Gartner – has enjoyed a distinguished career at CBC Television for 35 years. During We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of our partners. that time, her straightforward style and willingness to ask the tough questions have earned her the respect of the journalistic community, as well as numerous awards.

Consulate General of the Czech Republic, 2 Bloor Street West, #1500, Toronto, ON M4W 3E2 phone: 4 16-972- 1476, fax: 4 16-972-69 91, e-mail: [email protected], web: www.mzv.cz/toronto 5 thWientBohemianer 2 011 Alfons Mucha and the Slavonic Epic Alfons Mucha achieved inter - a series of twenty large-scale canvasses depicting national fame as founder history of the Slavic people. He worked on this and master of Art theme between 1912 to 1928. Nouveau, a decorative Mucha gifted the Slavonic Epic to the city of style that peaked in Prague in 1928. However, contrary to the con - popularity at the tract, the city was unable to provide a permanent turn of the 20th exhibition place. Later on, the Communist gov - century. It is charac - ernment had little interest in restoring the work terized by organic, for public display. It was transferred to the castle especially floral in Moravsky Krumlov, where it remained until motifs, as well as last year. Currently, the legal battle between the highly stylized, flow - city of Prague and the Mucha Foundation contin - ing curvilinear forms. ues, but five of the paintings have already left Many know Mucha’s their Moravsky Krumlov location and are famous posters, but the currently in Prague. work that is considered his http://www.slovanskaepopej.cz/ masterpiece has only been receiving http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/grand - more attention recently, because it is surrounded by son-of-alphonse-mucha-hoping-slav-epic-will- controversy. We are talking about the Slavonic Epic , finally-find-permanent-home-in-prague

Consulate General of the Czech Republic, 2 Bloor Street West, #1500, Toronto, ON M4W 3E2 phone: 4 16-972- 1476, fax: 4 16-972-69 91, e-mail: [email protected], web: www.mzv.cz/toronto 6 thWientBohemianer 2 011 Just BE… – The Bohemian Experience Michaela was 14 years old when the communist called The Farm in Tennessee, eco-art community regime collapsed and Czechoslovakia became free. Venice Vibe Tribe in Venice, CA through San The word freedom was spelled on every corner. Francisco and Bohemian Highway in Sonoma Soon she started her own quest to figure out what county in California to the festival of radical self- freedom truly meant. expression called Burning Man , she has followed After graduating in 2003 from the School of the Bohemian movement. And her lens always International and Public Relations in Prague, gravitated to the similarities and differences Michaela left for the U.S., where she enrolled in the between the urban experience and nature, trying New York Institute of Photography. to find her own path and connect with her Her camera quickly became her medium of Bohemian soul. Michaela is currently working on choice to capture and document her bohemian jour - a movie and exhibit, and welcomes any Bohemian ney with the intention to share it with others ideas and input. through pictures and videos. With her motto: “The freedom of BEing comes from finding your own path and following your dreams”, she has traveled the world, seek - ing out ALL THINGS BOHEMIAN. From Prague’s and Paris’s cafés to a hippie commune

More at www.mokrosovaphotography.com

Consulate General of the Czech Republic, 2 Bloor Street West, #1500, Toronto, ON M4W 3E2 T: 416-972-1476, F: 416-972-6991, E-mail: [email protected], Web:www.mzv.cz/toronto 7 thWientBohemianer 2 011 Consular Window FAQ – Citizenship Part 1 I am a Czech citizen married to a Canadian. Is Unless you are a our child, who was born in Canada, entitled to minor, we will directly Czech citizenship? assist you with your Most likely. Since 1969, Czech citizenship may be application even in this passed on by just one Czech parent. I suggest you case. If you are under the age visit our website at www.mzv.cz/toronto, or contact of 18, we will help you as well, but our office to learn more about how to apply for we must deal with your legal guardian. proof of citizenship. When in doubt, who determines whether I am I am a Czech married to a Canadian citizen. or am not a Czech citizen? May I acquire Canadian citizenship without losing If you do not have a proof of Czech citizenship, the Czech one? you can apply for a Certificate of Czech Citizenship. Yes, but only in some cases. Our Citizenship Act You can do so at our consulate, or at any other con - (the legal act governing citizenship matters) stipu - sulate or embassy of the Czech Republic around the lates that “a citizen of the Czech Republic loses citi - world. Your application will then be forwarded to a zenship of the Czech Republic at the moment when, regional authority in the Czech Republic (typically at his own request, he acquires a foreign citizenship, called “krajsky urad”, which is competent under except when he acquires it in connection with mar - Czech law to determine citizenship status. You can riage”. Czech authorities interpret this vague provi - also apply directly with them) sion in such a way that even Czechs who acquired Why does the Czech Republic prohibit dual upon their request citizenship of another country, citizenship? while married to a citizen of that country, are Czech law considers dual citizenship undesirable, allowed to keep their Czech citizenship. but it does not entirely prohibit it. In fact, there are Unfortunately, there is a catch for Czechs who are many Czechs who hold two or even more citizenships married to a person of the same sex. Because Czech (among our clients is a Czech who has five of them!). law does not recognize same-sex marriage (homo - A person born to a Czech parent in Canada, for sexual couples in our country are only allowed to instance, automatically becomes a citizen of both enter a so called “registered partnership”), these Canada, and the Czech Republic. Dual citizenship is Czechs are not as privileged. So, if you are a citizen also permitted in some cases of uniting citizenship of the Czech Republic, who married a person of the among spouses. On the other hand, dual citizenship is same sex in Canada, acquisition of Canadian citi - not tolerated in most cases of naturalization abroad (a zenship will result in your loss of Czech citizenship, process whereby a Czech citizen acquires citizenship of irrespective of your marriage. Let us hope that our another country upon his or her request). legislators will soon change this. Will the near future bring any changes regard - I was born in Canada to Czech parents. ing dual citizenship? However, I am not in contact with them. May Only the future will tell. There are good reasons I proceed with citizenship application without both for and against dual citizenship and any devel - their presence? opment in this area will depend on their evaluation continued on pg. 11

Consulate General of the Czech Republic, 2 Bloor Street West, #1500, Toronto, ON M4W 3E2 T: 416-972-1476, F: 416-972-6991, E-mail: [email protected], Web:www.mzv.cz/toronto 8 thWientBohemianer 2 011 Info Goulash BATCH OF BLESSED PILSNER URQUELL HEADED FOR THE VATICAN A special Easter batch of Pilsner Urquell, which was blessed by Plzen’s bishop Frantisek Radkovsky, is on its way to the Holy See at the Vatican. Cardinal Lajolo, president of the Governorate, will accept sym - bolic 2011 bottles from the Czech ambassador Pavel Vosalik, for the beatification of John Paul II. A smaller part of the package is meant as a gift for the Giovanni Paolo II restaurant in Rome, which will SISTINE CHAPEL MOVES TO PRAGUE refresh exhausted pilgrims who are there to celebrate Many film makers used the charming streets of Easter, the most important Christian holiday, with Prague to recreate Paris, London or Vienna in block - blessed beer from Plzen. “It is symbolic that the pil - busters such as Mission Impossible , Joan d’Arc , Van grims are offered Pilsner Urquell beer in a restaurant Helsing , Hellboy , xXx , James Bond: Casino Royal , named after the Holy Father John Paul II at the Narnia , Oliver Twist and many others. Producers time of his beatification, together with other beers, around the world gratefully acknowledge the abun - when Pilsner Urquell is their forefather,” said Czech dance of experienced and creative tech support ambassador to the Vatican, Pavel Vosalik. teams within the Czech movie industry. As part of http://www.sabmiller.com/index.asp?pageid=32&n Barrandov studios lately changed into medieval ewsid=1565 Rome for the Borghia series, Michelangelo would probably be surprised to find “his” Sistine chapel on KAMPA –SECOND MOST BEAUTIFUL the top of one of Prague’s hills. CITY ISLAND http://kultura.idnes.cz/video-prohlednete-si- dokonalou-sixtinskou-kapli-z-barrandova-p62- The most romantic /filmvideo.aspx?c=A110419_152632_praha- part of Prague – zpravy_mav Kampa Island – was declared the second RADIO FREE EUROPE TURNS 60 most beautiful city The communist regime tried everything to prevent island in the world. people from listening to Radio Free Europe – First place went to St. jammed the broadcasts, outlawed listening, and even Ludwig Island in Paris launched a successful terrorist attack on its headquar - and third place was assigned to Ada Ciganlija Island ters. The impact was tangible, but it did not preclude RFE , Voice of America and a few other sources from in Belgrade. The chart was created by the prestigious keeping people informed about what was really traveling server VirtualTourist. happening in their own country. RFE marks the 60th http://www.czech.cz/en/102404-prague-kampa-is- anniversary of its operations that began in West the-second-most-beautiful-city-island-in-the- Germany in May 1951. world http://www.rozhlas.cz/svobodne/english

PRAGUE SPRING FESTIVAL 12/05 - 05/06/20 11 Every year, one of the oldest and most acclaimed European classic music festivals presents about fifty concerts performed by more than a thousand musicians. It is regularly attended by about forty thousand people. The Prague Spring Festival in 2011 features an exceptional constellation comprising the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Alan Gilbert and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. www.festival.cz

ZLIN INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN ’S FILM FESTIVAL 29/05 - 06/06/2011 Tomas Bata’s city has produced not only shoes for all conti - nents, but also many well-known filmmakers. Visitors of the International Film Festival for Children and Youth in Zlin are in for a selection of the best of contemporary film creations, meetings with domestic and foreign creators, and a rich accompanying programme. www.zlinfest.cz

FREEDOM FESTIVAL PILSEN 06/05 - 09/05/2011 The Freedom Festival in Pilsen commemorates the last days of the 2nd World War and the liberation of Pilsen by the American Army. People come from around the world to celebrate this significant historic event together with the city residents and US veterans. www.liberationfestival.com/ www.pilsen.eu

VOLKSWAGEN MARATHON PRAGUE 07/05 - 09/05/2011 The Volkswagen Marathon Prague is recognized as one of the 10 best marathons in the world. In 2008 it was awarded the presti - gious IAAF Silver Road Race Label. The participants run through the centre of one of the most beautiful cities in the world; this is an unforgettable experience. www.pim.cz

Consulate General of the Czech Republic, 2 Bloor Street West, #1500, Toronto, ON M4W 3E2 T: 416-972-1476, F: 416-972-6991, E-mail: [email protected], Web:www.mzv.cz/toronto 10 thWientBohemianer 2 011 Consular Window (continued from pg. 8) by the Parliament. So far, there have been talks of an opposite sex). This means that you would have about a legislative intent to alleviate the situation of to be married to a Canadian at the time of acquisi - some former Czechoslovaks and Czechs, as well as tion of Canadian citizenship to be able to keep your their children, who may not claim Czech citizenship Czech one. However, in your case, there is a little under today’s legislation. These individuals would workaround: If both, you and your spouse, acquire not lose their current foreign citizenship upon Canadian citizenship on the same day, it will be becoming Czech citizens. Furthermore, they would impossible to distinguish which one of you acquired declare Czech citizenship in a simplified procedure it first and therefore it will not be possible to tell without the requirement of residence in the Czech which one of you should lose Czech citizenship. Republic. We will have to wait to see whether the On the grounds of the legal maxim “when in doubt, Citizenship Act will be amended in this way. decide in favor”, neither of you will lose your I am a Czech citizen married to another Czech. Czech citizenship. Both of us are permanent residents in Canada. Will we lose Czech citizenship if we become Canadians? Could not find an answer you were looking for? Any Czech citizen, who after January 1, 1993, Read the second part of these FAQs in the next issue of acquires upon request citizenship of another country, “The Bohemian” or visit us on Facebook where you can will lose Czech citizenship, unless he or she is mar - view the entire article as well as post and have ried to a citizen of that country (the spouse must be answered your own questions concerning citizenship.

We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of our partners.

Prague Restaurant Euro Cuisine

Published in toronto, Canada. The Bohemian State of Mind is the joined effort of the team of the Consulate General of the Czech republic in toronto. Visit us on Facebook! Media Partners: Get Graphic Inc., Canada sK entertainment. language Consultant: Claire edwards. Design: Zuzana Hahn.

Consulate General of the Czech Republic, 2 Bloor Street West, #1500, Toronto, ON M4W 3E2 T: 416-972-1476, F: 416-972-6991, E-mail: [email protected], Web:www.mzv.cz/toronto 11