Thursday, September 30, 2010

Samsara Chill OUT TeaHouse

If you are in town and want to escape to a world of tranquility stroll along Racovita Street, number 27 it's the home of an almost hidden tea house.

Samsara ChillOut TeaHouse is a spot to refresh the mind and renew the spirit, both indoor and outdoor.

A cup of tea is a real treat! It seems that the art of serving the tea properly has always been of utmost importance in this place. The tea is served with small treats. Sandwiches are also available.

You can also enjoy the ins and outs of proper good-tasting hookahs and wines.

The ambiance of this tea house is just as important as the quality of the tea. The rooms have been each created in a unique style.
One is classic with colorful high back chairs and a bright interior.
One is oriental with low level seating. Low level tables, pillows and lamps artfully displayed create a warm ambiance of romantic intrigue.

The last room is darker and atmospheric. Entering the room you got the feeling that there is a continuous flow like someone is keep creating worlds and inviting you to move into them. The psytrance vibes surrounds you.

There is a hammock in the garden, wooden tables, logs to sit on and three happy dogs.

We decided not to publish any pictures from Samsara. Just visit the place!

Monday-Friday: 1PM - 2AM
Saturday-Sunday: 3PM - 3AM

Note: It's forbidden to smoke inside, only hookahs allowed. You have to take off your shoes.

Samsara

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Comedy Cluj 2010


Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton once said that tragedy is a close-up, comedy a long shot. We invite You to bet on long shots at the Comedy Cluj film festival, 8 - 17 October 2010, in Cluj-Napoca.

The organizing team has once again built a content-rich edition that will stimulate the interest of a wide section of the public with its almost 100 first-rate, original comedies.

The routes through the historic centre of Cluj give you the chance to easily get to Cinema Republica, Arta and Victoria. Additional locations for the festival are Tranzit House and Polus Drive In.

Ticket: 10 RON
Reduced ticket (pupil, students, retired): 8 RON
Festival Pass for 5/10 movies: 40/80RON.

In the end, everything is just a gag, so enjoy the festival!

Friday, September 17, 2010

We will baroque you at Cluj Musical Autumn International Festival

On 29th of September the 43rd edition of the Cluj Musical Autumn International Festival will start with a Baroque concert in the ambiance of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The concert starts at 7:30 PM and is performed by the Baroque Ensemble Transylvania and Fior di Suono.



Since the Transylvania State Philharmonic does not have its own concert hall, the festival's concerts will be organized in churches or at the Student Cultural House.

Tickets and festival passes can be purchased from the "headquarter" of the State Philharmonic, in Lucian Blaga Square, at the Student Cultural House, Monday to Thursday from 10 AM to 4 PM and on Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM.

You can find the complete festival program here: Toamna Muzicala Clujeana 2010.

Till the festival starts you can enjoy the musical fountain

Photos courtesy of Baroque Ensemble Transylvania.

The musical fountain

The musical fountain is situated in front of the Orthodox Cathedral and the National Theatre. It is built around the statue of Avram Iancu, an important Tansylvanian historical figure. The fountain is a recent addition to the city centre. Especially in the evenings and on weekends, there are many people hanging around and watching the show.


Visit it if you have the chance! It's quite nice.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

September events

This weekend (September 10 to 12)  you can attend the Outdoor Cooking Championship at Polus Center.
The Circus is still at Polus Center.You can see the show (fee is 30 RON for adults and 20 RON for children) or just look at the elephants (for free)...
September Fest takes place next weekend (September 17 to 19) at Sports Hall. As usual, there will be lots of beer and mici and also singing (some Romanian bands).

Have fun!

St Michael Church

The economic development experienced by Cluj in the first half of the 14th century made possible the construction of the Roman-Catholic parish church in what is today the central square of the city (Unirii Square). Dedicated to the Holy Archangel Michael, the church is the first Transylvanian example of a complete three-nave Gothic hall-church.


The construction work, mentioned in a 1349 indulgence, proceeded in several stages and was completed in 1481 with the building of the western rostrum and of Schleynig chapel on the ground floor of the southwestern tower.


In 1528, on the north side of the chancel they built a sacristy fitted with a beautiful portal in the South-German Renaissance style, which bears the inscription with the name of the donor - parish priest Johannes Clyn (Klein). The Neo-Gothic tower, erected on the north side, was completed in 1863. The tower with its height of 76 meter (80 meter including the cross) is the highest one in Transylvania.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

The Jewish Face of Cluj-Napoca

Jewry appeared in the history of Cluj-Napoca by the beginning of the 16th century, nevertheless for a few centuries the community had no direct interference with the life of the town, because due to restrictive regulations no permanent Jewish population could develop. The first law to make their settlement in  towns possible, was passed in 1840, consequently the Israelite population in Cluj started to increase such as in 1846 the number of Jewish families was 58. A synagogue was built of stone, in the classical style, in today's Paris Street, in 1851.

The schism of the Israelite denomination in Hungary came by with the Budapest 1868 Hebrew congress, this is when the community separated into orthodox and congressional groups. The congressional congregation built a synagogue in 1887 on Horea Street. The great moor style church was constructed by the Horvath brothers and Remenyik Karoly, according to the design made by the local railway engineer Izidor Hegner.


The old Jewish synagogue, "Poale Tzedek" (from the Nameless street) is now serving as a cultural center in the community of Cluj.


The 1941 census reported 16 763 persons of Israelite religion in Cluj, thus, the Jewish community gave around 13-15% of the town population between the two world wars. The mother tongue and culture of their majority was Hungarian.

The social structure of the Jewish society in Cluj reveals a middle-class community actively engaged in the economic and cultural life of the town. For example, in 1930, form among the 435 companies registered at the Trade Registry, 246 were owned by Hebrews and the central stored were almost without exception owned by them. Writers, poets, journalists of Jewish origin emerged in the cultural life of Transylvania and Cluj mainly after the Treaty of Trianon. Cluj was the home of lawyer Karacsony Beno. Janovics Jeno had a significant impact on the history of Hungarian drama in Transylvania and Cluj; by founding a company of film in 1910, Janovics was the pioneer of silent cinema in Transylvania and he also took an active part in the theatrical life of Cluj. The painter Lazar Eva belonged to the Baia Mare group. The Goldmark Philharmonic Association was founded in 1936; consisting of physicians, engineers and teachers gave symphonic concerts of resounding success.


The census in 2002 recorded 223 Jews in Cluj. The 6163/1944 decree issued on the 7th of April 1944 by the Ministry of Interior decided that Jews had to be sent in ghettos. As a consequence of the decree the administration obligated 16.750 Jews to wear the yellow star and sent them away to the brick factory. The built up area of the brick factory amounted to 19.600 m2, allocating 1,17 m2 to a person. The first train departed from the brick factory on the 25th of May deporting 3130 persons to the death camps. The second one left Cluj on 29th of May with 3417 persons, the third one deported 3270 Jews on 31st of May, the forth one 3100 on the 2nd of June, the fifth one 1784 on the 8th of June and the sixth one 1447 on the 9th of June. Thus a total number of 16 148 persons were packed in trains and transported to Birkenau just a few months before the end of the war.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Amadeus Mozart Cafe

If you think, "How good a cake can be?", think again and go to Amadeus Mozart Cafe on Cardinal Iuliu Hossu Street (former Pavlov) at number 7.

Once you step in you'll think you're lost in time in a cafe from Mozart's Wien. The warm welcome of the classically-attired waitress will made you realize you're in the right place.


The charming atmosphere with classical music and sometimes piano concerts would alone merit a visit, but there's much more to the place besides the decor. The first-rate cakes with nuts, chocolate, mascarpone, orange, pineapple, poppy-seed and apple, peach, the gofre, the somloi goluska will always be winners here.

You can pick the cake from the fridge (ask for help, the staff will guide you if necessary) and be aware that you'll need to devote longer than you plan if you visit the place as the slices are huge.

Along with the cakes you can enjoy the various types of coffee which can be served also in decaf version or drink a delicious tea.


Also, you can find here high quality sweet treats, most of all the "Genuine Reber Mozart Kugeln" exquisitely filled with pistachio marzipan, almonds and hazelnut covered with milk chocolate and bitter sweet chocolate.



At Mozart Cafe I never know what I want when I walk in the door. Hm, that's a lie: I know that I do want at least one bite of Schwarzwalder Kirsch Torte and a cup of tea but there are so many other things to try, I know I should branch out a bit more.

Note: Amadeus Mozart Cafe is a no smoking cafe.

Amadeus Mozart Cafe
Related Posts with Thumbnails