2018 FIFA World Cup in RUSSIA

Even though our blog is designed to give an opportunity to experience the Russian Culture without actually having to go to Russia. THERE IS SOMETHING IN RUSSIA THAT YOU CAN’T MISS!!

So here is something that we are really proud of!! These days Russia turned from a bidder to an actual host of FIFA 2018. The decision was made in Zurich on Thursday 2 December, when the FIFA Executive Committee has chosen from such bidder-countries as: England, Spain & Portugal (joint bid), Netherlands & Belgium and Russia.

Every bid-country had a presentation on the prospects they see for FIFA 2018 and their country. Here is a presentation from the Russian delegation.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/bidders/live/newsid=1343827/index.html

Another internationally important event will be held in Russia in 2014, yes, The Olympic Games! Actually, XXII Olympic and XI Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi.

So these 2 are GLOBAL events that you can’t miss, this is your chance to get to know Russia from inside with all its traditions and cultural heritage but also to enjoy the unity of the World. As Russians say about both games this is our “Gateway to the Future”; inspired by Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space we say: “Poehali!” that means “Let’s go!”     

The official website, where you can see all the information and a countdown till Sochi 2014 http://sochi2014.com/en/

(From Alexandra With Love)

Russian Ballet: Diaghilev

You have an opportunity to get acquainted with the outstanding ballet impresario and founder of Ballets Russes Serge Diaghilev. Victoria & Albert Museum autumn exhibition is devoted to

Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes (1909-1929)

From V&A website: This major retrospective celebrates his enduring influence on 20th-century art, design and fashion and includes more than 300 objects including giant backcloths, original costumes, set designs, props and posters.

More about the exhibition:  http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/theatre_performance/diaghilev-ballet-russes/index.html

Opening times:

25 September 2010 - 09 January 2011 

Daily 10.00-17.30 

Fridays 10.00-21.30 (Museum is closed 24-26 December) 

Prices:
£10 adults

£8 seniors

£6 students

Address: 

Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Road
London SW7
+44 (0)20 7942 2000

(From Irina With Love)

Abramovich in King’s College London

Abramovich for King's College team

November, 26 was a day of fun. My short review is dedicated to a night of humour, the KVN event that we highlighted before.

It was a significant event for Russian students in London that was organised with the highest standards of KVN game, therefore teams where judged by famous Russians such as Roman Pavlyuchenko – famous Russian football player, actress, London based artist, authoritative  businesswoman and others; not yet Abramovich.

The event was held in London School of Economics’ building in a quite small Theatre so it was very crowded with those passionate about humour, socialising and having a great laughter.

LSE building, stage

The performance began with a general introduction of teams, curious stories about how students find London, sketches about students’ life.

Then it was followed by questions from the judges, that was basically an improvisation from students who had to answer those questions in a funny way.

The last part of the show was a musical performance, when each team had to sing and show their sketches.

Each part of the performance was judged and in the end of the show the final results were announced.

Competing teams were from 6 different universities: University College London, London School of Economics, Essex University, King’s College London, Nottingham University and Imperial College London

King’s College team got the 1^st place. Someone might argue that this happened because of Abramovich in their team, probably he paid for their triumph…

And now more seriously: the team was really talented, with a great performing skills, funny sketches and beautiful voices. Every single person of the team was a character with his own personality and style of joking. The most intriguing part of their performing was Abramovich’s appearance on the stage. Later on everyone realised that he was just a ‘duplicate’ of real Abramovich, a student of King’s College.

I am happy about the event, another Humour Night will be in February and as Russian students say it is going to be even more fun!

UCL team

Essex University representatives

Imperial College team

LSE team

(From Alexandra With Love)

        

Russians in London

A quick look into facts about Russians in London.

The amount of Russians in the UK is approximately 300’000 people, roughly 40’000 of them live in London. There are 5 different Russian publications, several Orthodox churches, more than 5 Russian Schools, many traditional shops and restaurants around London.

More about Russian Culture you can learn from Pushkin House (http://www.pushkinhouse.org/en), which is a Cultural Centre where you can find Russian library attend exhibitions, events, film screenings and even learn the Russian language.
Famous Brits with Russian roots:

• Pete Doherty – singer
• Dame Helen Mirren – actress 
• Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov – actor
• Nick Clegg - a British Liberal Democrat politician
• Max Alexander Baldry – actor
• Stuart Rose - Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer
• Sophia Jane Myles – actress
• Robert Jacob Alexander Skidelsky, Baron Skidelsky of Tilton -  British economic historian
• Nikolai Tolstoy - Anglo-Russian historian
• Paul Vinogradoff - highly reputable Anglo-Russian historian-medievalist.
• Albert Coates - composer

 (From Alexandra With Love)

The St. Petersburg Ball (5th February 2011)

We would like to introduce to you the most glamorous and luxurious night of the year- The St. Petersburg Ball. It has already become an annual event and this year this is the seventeenth time it is in London. It will be held in Landmark Hotel and its Grand Ballroom. The most interesting part is that all the guests have to be in 19^th Century costumes, and the nice atmosphere will be provided by a military orchestra. Everything will be held in the finest Russian Traditions of the 19^th Century. So, you probably want to make sure you know the dances.  However, if you don’t know how to dance, there are dance classes so, you will be prepared just in time for the ball.

The guests will be served with traditional food, vodka and Champaign, and will be followed by a charity ruffle. All the money raised that evening will go to Children’s Burns Trust. The Charity provides burned children with psychological support, as well as family therapy. 

Time: 6 pm- 2am

Price: £165

Address:  
222 Marylebone Road

London
NW1 6JQ

0207 938 3175

The Dance Classes are held on:

Thursday 4th November 2010
Thursday 18th November 2010
Thursday 9th December 2010 (with food)
Thursday 27th January 2011

 

For more information please visit: www.stpetersburgball.com

(From Irina With Love)

Russian Christmas Bazaar

You have a great opportunity to visit Russian Christmas Market and to get acquainted with the traditional Russian food and feel the atmosphere of Orthodox Christmas. Also you will be able to buy Russian presents (e.g. books, toys, crafts)

Where: St Mary Abbot's Centre, Vicarage Gate, London W8 - off

Kensington Church Street

. (tube: High Street Kensington, busses: 9, 27, 28, 52, 328)   

When: Saturday, 4 December from 12.00 pm to 4.00 pm

(From Alexandra With Love)

Waiting for your comments :)

Here you can comment the post WINTER HOLIDAYS, due to technical problems it is not possible to comment under the actual post.
Sorry

Winter Holidays

Winter is coming, for Russians it is time of heavy snow and long holidays. The most important holidays are New Year and Christmas. As some of you may know Russians celebrate Christmas on a different day than it is celebrated in the UK. Russians are mostly orthodox; the Christmas Eve is on January 6^th, when people go to church or have a dinner with family.

The traditional old style New Year’s Eve is celebrated on January 13^th. That is so called “Old New Year” and emerged because of the new calendar (The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar). The Orthodox Church still celebrates all the holidays by the old style calendar, that means that 25th December is celebrated on 7th January, and that’s why 1st January is celebrated on 14th Jan. This remains only a tradition for Russians to celebrate old style New Year, but of course the most important is the actual New Year’s Eve celebration.

New Year as the major holiday of the year.

So the most awaited holiday for us is New Year. Christmas is more religious, silent and long time banned feast (1917-1992).

New Year attributes:  Christmas tree, Ded Moroz (English version = Jack Frost or Father Winter) is traditional Russian Santa Claus who brings presents and puts them underneath the Christmas tree, his granddaughter Snegurochka ( = Snow Maiden) who helps him with presents

Kids write letters to Ded Moroz asking for New Year’s presents.

New Year menu: Olivye (= Russian Salad), jellied minced meat, herring salad (“herring under the fur coat salad”), salted salmon, caviar, crab salad, game, sparkling wine, tangerines

New Year song: V Lesu Rodilas Yolochka (A fir tree born in the forest) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAq-MVXBwMs

New Year film: Ironiya Sudby (The Irony of Fate)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVAnCEFTvYE&feature=related

New Year Time/ celebration: +3 GMT, the speech of president is followed by the beat of the Kremlin Clocks, hymn of Russian Federation and fireworks and the real celebration begins  

P.S everyone is welcome to complete the list of menu and other traditions!

(From Alexandra with Love) 

“A Dog’s Heart” Performance

One of the most known Mikhail Bulgakov’s novels ‘A Dog’s Heart’ was written in 1925 and because of the strong censure from the Soviet Government was published only in 1987. Now ‘A Dog’s Heart’ is in London, but only for a limited amount of performances. As a part of Holland Festival, it received favorable reviews and positive press reaction. ‘A Dog’s Heart’ is directed by Simon McBurney and the music is by Alexander Rastakov (one of well-known Russian composers). ‘A Dog’s Heart’ will tell you a fantastic story of a dog that has been transformed into a human and in Bulgakov’s novel embodies ideal Soviet Man (as was seen by the Soviet Communist Party). 

Performances:

November 20^th, 22^nd, 24^th, 26^th, 30^th

December 2^nd at 7.30 pm

December 4^th at 6.30 pm

Address: ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA
London Coliseum
38 St Martin's Lane WC2N 4ES

For more information please visit: http://www.eno.org/home.php

(From Irina With Love)

Russian Christmas Dinner & Party

It is all about music, dancing and excellent Russian food.
The major social event of the year.

If you want to enjoy a good meal or a just spend a great night with friends (russian style!) please do come.
There will be a  three-course dinner, a welcome drink, and, ofcourse, the meal will start with a soup starter, followed by a lamb stroganoff or turkey (with a vegetarian option) and Christmas pudding.


The price of £29 includes VAT and service.

Book Early to Avoid Disappointment at 0208 123 0580

When: Friday, 3 December 2010
           7.30 pm

Where:  Polish Hearth Club, Ognisko Restaurant.
             55 Exhibition Road, London SW7 2PN.


(From Ganna With Love)

Russian Humour

Hello everyone who feels passionate about Russian culture or at least interested in it :) Friday, 26th is going to be a night of humour. This is a very traditional event for Russian students that we were waiting eagerly for. 

So let me tell you what is that going to be about. KVN is a famous humour TV show that was first aired in November 8, 1961. It is based on the performance of students’ teams who compete by giving funny answers to questions, improvisations, prepared sketches. This show became so popular amongst students and youth that nowadays almost every Russian School/ University has it’s own team. Student Unions set up leagues where different universities can compete for the “cup of humour”. Every team can try to make the cut for the TV show but obviously you have to be very talented in performing (singing, dancing, acting, joking) to compete with students who have ages of experience in making fun, who become professionals and sometimes even celebrities.

KVN in London is organised by major London Universities: UCL, Imperial, LSE, Kings College so it is an opportunity for you to meet our Russian friends from all over the world and from different London universities. Night of fun, night of socialising .. and I’ve heard that tickets are sold out already. But you can still get to see us on the after party in Bond Club, 24 Kingly Street, London, W1B 5QB 

(From Alexandra With Love)

When	November 26, 2010 · 19:30 - 22:30
Where	London School Of Economics, Old Theatre Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE London, United Kingdom

Authentic Food and Groceries

Hey everyone!

Once a foreigner has been in London for a while he/she starts to miss the small things about their home country. In my experience the groceries is the first thing that makes me homesick. However, London is a huge city with lots of opportunities and, luckily, getting "your" food is not a problem.
I have prepared a list of shops selling groceries produced in Russia, Latvia, Ukraine or Poland so it is easy to find your authentic foods closer to your home.
Enjoy!

P.S. The names of the shops are very traditional.

Kalinka 
Tube station: Queensway
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri
                        11am - 6pm
Adress: 35 Queensway

Berezka
Tube station: Finchely Road
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 
                        11am - 6pm
Adress: 297 Finchley Road
Phone: 020 7794 0777
E-mail: shopberezka@hotmail.com

Sleza Komsomolki 
 Tube station: Fulham
Opening hours: Unknown
Adress: 92 Lillie Road
Phone: 020 7385 4426

Кatyusha
 Tube station: Walthamstaw Central
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 
                        11am - 6pm
Adress: "Baltika", 32 High Street
Phone: 020 8521 8669

Lituanica
Tube station: London Bridge
Opening hours: Mon-Fri
                       10 am - 8 pm,
                       Sunday 11 am-5 pm
Adress: Rаilway Approach, Arch 41-42
Phone: 0207 403 1735

Olga
Tube station: East Ham, Upton Park
Opening hours: Unknown
Adress: 364 Katherine Road, Forest Gate

For more shops go to: http://www.russianshops.co.uk/russian-shops-in-london.html

(From Ganna with Love)

Introducing Ourselves

We would like to introduce ourselves. We are 2nd year students from The University of the Arts, London College of Communications taking a Media and Cultural Studies degree. There are 3 of us and we are all from the former Soviet space.



name: Alexandra Nazarenko
age: 20
country: Latvia
city: Riga






name: Irina Sofronova
age: 21
country: Russia
city: Moscow













name: Ganna Riabikina
age: 19
country: Ukraine
city: Kiev












We will do our best to guide YOU to the culture of our countries here in London.

Here we are!

Today we are launching our blog.

Russians in UK// From Russia with Love

Connecting everyone interested in Russian Culture

..This blog is a great opportunity to meet Russians and those passionate about Russian culture.. 

 Our blog is designed to talk about any upcoming events of the Russian Societies in London and related topics to the lives of people from the former USSR space. The aim of our blog is to bring people together and open up an opportunity to experience the Russian Culture without actually having to go to Russia.