Think Twice in the 8th

* Photo by Olof Wengren

Beyond Budapest team organised four thematic tours for the participants of

Think Twice Audiovisual Workshop.

The four visits were held in the 8th district, Budapest. During the 'workshop' walks we made a special focus on: the local churches, markets, art galleries, the locals themselves and the aristocratic palaces of 'The District'.

The aim of the tours was to collect impressions from the different spectrums of the city life. Over 20 amaizing places were visited all in all. Local guides, hosts, institutions and the Local Government were helping our program.

The four groups are making short movies reflecting on the visited places and tematics.On the 18th of November You can watch the movies Yourself, in Toldi Cinema.

We give you a deep impression in Budapest

Budapest from below, and above this is 'THE DISTRICT' is the title of the fascinating article appeared in Malév's Horizon Magazin 2009 november. The City Guide column recommends You to visit our beloved district the 8th, also called Józsefváros.
It's so much to see here that Horizon Magazin could 'only' give You a foretaste.
Would you take the unforgottable tour as well? We make you a Journey and not a sightseeing.
Do not hesitate to write us or call us.
beyondbudapest@gmail.com
+36 20 332 5489

If looking for more contemporary exmeriences: let us recommend You a multimedia dance performance:

Andrea Ladányi & Gergely Borlai
BL

2009. October 16th Friday 19:00 pm
contemporary multimedia musical dance eve in the Bárka Theatre

(1082 Budapest, Üllői út 82.)
"As the grove barker said: pay one, get two geniuses…” MGP
Performance is a Rudolf Lábán’s prize-winner in 2009.

Gergő Borlai – music, drum, percussion ; Andrea Ladányi – choreography, dance
Ferenc Payer – light design Zsolt Keserű – multimedia Márk Lakatos - stylist

BL titled performance (60 min.) is composed of the percussion and improvisational music of Gergő Borlai and of the dance choreography of Andrea Ladányi. It based on the essential element of the human existence, on the rhythm. Music originates from the tightness of percussion and the dancer body. The presence and the power of the improvisational life music are interfering with the dancer’s motion.

2009. October 16th Friday 19:00 pm Ticket Fee: 1800 HUF

For more info please call/write: Őri Andrea 30/754 1442 or andi@barka.hu

Fresh for Art Eaters

Budapest Beyond Sightseeing recommends You two Art places today:

The PREϨENT Contemporary Stage of Art. They have just showed up with a brand new way of art journey. Highly recommended. You might be impressed with the neighborhood as well. Here they are:

Metta Lázár’s - TIMESPIRAL
installation.
At the same time we celebrate the Babilonian New Year with a multivenue event. Songs, music and dance!
Featuring: Peter Ogi - Neo Cosmos - David Geshem - Roan Verdoux
Venue: Budapest, 8th district 28. Prater street. ( behind Corvin Cinema )
The exhibition is open: 21/09/09 – 21/10/09
PREϨENT endeavours to popularize presence.You just have to be present!
Further information: Gallery Present +3670/583-6658 present@inbox.com

Lumen Gallery is about to show us the next coming event. In the heart of the Mikszáth Kálmán tér a white qube is waiting for You. They brought the excitement of a forgotten Communist camp to town.

Harry Sachs: The Nature of Photography

Hidden at the south-east shore of lake Balaton, in a 50-acre old-growth forest with 2km of beach front, lies the former government holiday resort of the communist party, the MSZMP holiday resort (Balatonaliga - Fürdőtelep).

In the late 1950s, General Secretary János Kádár had turned the public holiday resort into a strictly guarded, enclosed area, closed for common people. During the following decades, international communist politicians like Fidel Castro, Breschniew and Erich Honecker were hosted in Aliga. Since 1989, the coastal resort is lying in a deep sleep and nature has taken over the power.
The show documents this actual condition of transition: The reproduced wild nature slowly fades on the forest photographs found on the walls of the functionaries' villas, while all around these images real nature is breaking through. Abstract fungal and ivy structures are growing all over the architecture accompanied harmonically by huge geometric spider nets stretched out in the air and expressionist patterns of mould illustrating walls and ceilings.
Lumen Gallery Mikszáth Kálmán tér 2.1088 Budapest www.photolumen.hu Opening hours: Mon-Fr: 8.30-19h, Sat: 10-17h, Sun: closed

Have you already seen the exhibitions? Please tell us Your opinion.

European Heritage Days 2009

Dear Culture Seekers!

Many of the outstanding Hungarian cultural institutes, private houses, galleries will be opened for the European Heritage Days (EHD) 2009 (in Hungarian http://www.oroksegnapok.hu/ ).

In the 8th district you will find a whole bunch of free weekend programmes. Your lucky saturday and sunday is the 19-20th of September 2009. Where ever you will be the simpliest thing to remember is the symbol of the EHD.

One of the best programmes we recommend is the Hungarian Roma Parlament - Atelier House co-operation with exhibitions of the Hungarian and Roma contemporary art, concerts, games, cafe and more. The programmes will be held on saturday 11am-19pm, sunday 11am-18pm at Tavaszmező utca 6.
One of their higlights will be the Sunday Concert presented by Rudolf Czene(piano) and Lajos Sárközy(violin)

So 'set off, see, discover, protect!' and ENJOY

Innovative tourism in Budapest

Budapest Beyond Sightseeing was chosen to be a 'Good Practice' in the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 (EYCI). By the decision of the European Commission our activity as societal enterpreneurs became a good example in Europe.

On the 8th and 9th of July 2009 some of these Eurpoean examples and their steakholders were invited to a conference to share the experiences and future possibilities.

The second flagship conference of the EYCI was focusing on the regional aspects of creativity and innovation. The three selected themes were: employment, wellbeing and education.

We were honored to make a presentation of the 8th district and about our Socio-cultural walking tours. The summarization of our project can be found among some other Hungarian highlighted practices.

The conclusions of the conference will be soon issued at the Creativity website.

The team of Budapest Beyond Sightseeing is greatful to the 8th district citizens and it's partners for the successful co-operation and good intention.

The 8th district is warmly waiting for You all!

http://create2009.europa.eu

www.beyondbudapest.hu

Evolution-Revolution

Predator Interactive Exhibition

in the Hungarian Natural History Museum

There is a temporary interactive exhibition about

the secret world of the predators.

A variety of hunting tricks and techniques are shown.

We haven't seen it yet, but we certainly will.

Best program in the 8th district on a rainy summer day.

The predator temporary exhibition costs only 900 HUF and

all permanent exhibitions cost 600 HUF.

Check it out: http://www.nhmus.hu/

Adress: 8th district (of course) Ludovika tér 2-6. 1083 Budapest

Green surrounding!

Easy to get there: blue metro line, get off at Klinikák and you are there!

Visit the Roma Parlament

The Springfield street is a colorful and real time-worn place to visit in the 8th district. The original Hungarian name of the street is Tavaszmező (means springfield). Once it was the centre of the Budapest prostitutes. Now it is a well known place by the students of Budapest Tech Polytechnical Institution which takes place at Tavaszmező as well. During the II. World War first Nazi, than Russian soldiers tore the neighborhood. In 1956 the Russian soldiers left their marks againe on the fascades with AK47 machine guns.

After the democratic change happened in Hungary (1989) the first official minority-roma institution the Roma Parlament (RP) was founded. And in the story of the famous house a new chapter has began. The political representation is only one of the important functions of the RP. Social case-work, law assistance and funding talented gipsy students are held here as well. The RP is giving place to the only permanent Roma art exhibition in Hungary. It is highly recommended to see who they are. Before visiting, please write an e-mail, but weekdays you can find the RP opened at the first floor.
The staircase of the building hides a secret surprise for You, let's check it all out!

Where to find? Halfway between the Horváth Mihály square church and the Mátyás square.
From the city centre: by Bus no. 109 or no.9 from Astoria or Deák square; get off at Horváth Mihály tér. Or you can also take the trolley no.83 from Fővám tér (Great Market Hall)
Please validate Your tickets, thanks!


e-mail the organisation: roma.parlament@chello.hu
1084 Budapest Tavaszmező utca 6.
Hungarian site of the Roma Parlament:
http://www.romaparlament.hu/

Only in Budapest

If you live in Budapest or you plan to visit the Hungarian capital in this new year 2009, there is one thing you will certainly need. The brand new styled"Only in Budapest" guidebook.

I am Hungarian. I live in Budapest for 27 years. I work as a guide for a few years. And still the book gives me new clues to understand Budapest and new pieces of information about the capital too.

You surely know the average guidebooks which tell you the exact dates, must to know details and stories of the buildings in a perfect yet perfectly booring way.

The "Only in Budapest" guidebook is just the opposite. It puts every story and date in a context, in an understandable background. And this approach explains much more than just a normal description of a sight.

The "Only in Budapest" does not only talks about the famous sights but looks for some more adventuorus although less popular, less touristic places as well. I feel the book gives a more realistic and more colourful picture of Budapest. Why don't you chose to see this human faced Budapest rather than the shiny, for tourists Budapest?

I don't meant this to be an advertisement. I just love the book, and if I were a tourist in a foreign capital I would chose this way to look around.

The auther of the book: Duncan J. D. Smith seems to be an intreseting figure as well. He tarvelled all around the world and specified in 'urban exploring'. He knows a lot, that's for sure.

Check out his website: http://www.duncanjdsmith.com/

Just one more praise of the book: it's beautiful. I mean the outlook. It is full of amaising pictures. The book feels good to hold it.

It is indeed a quality work!