November 2014 | Issue No. 23
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 Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Photo: Filip Wolak.
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 Dear Friends of the BBLA, First of all, I would like to thank all of you who participated in the celebration of the Czech National Day, which took place at the Bohemian National Hall on October 28th. The turnout was huge. The Czech Ambassador to the United Nations and the Czech Consul General also welcomed dozens of foreign diplomats who came to celebrate with us. Musicians Camilla and George Mraz surprised the crowd with their rendition of the national anthems. Renowned saxophonist Karel Ruzicka Jr. with his Quartet played throughout the evening. We also celebrated the birthday of BBLA's Board Member, Georgina Silhanova-Sager. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.  Karel Ruzicka Jr. Quartet at Bohemian National Hall. Photo: Suzanna Halsey, SVU. November is shaping up as a very busy month. We are hosting the annual American Art Fair which focuses on American artwork from the 19th and 20th century. The highlight of the month will be, no doubt, the showing of Antonin Dvorak's original manuscript From the New World Symphony, which is something completely unprecedented. Please check our calendar for all of the other upcoming events and we look forward to seeing you soon.  Joseph Balaz, President Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association |
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 CHECK THIS OUT
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WORDS WITHOUT BORDERS: CONTEMPORARY CZECH PROSE
This November Words Without Borders presents an exciting new issue of writing from the Czech Republic, guest-edited by award-winning translator Alex Zucker. The issue explores the less-known side of Czech literature, featuring work from the brightest stars in the Czech literary firmament: Magdalena Platzova, Tomas Zmeskal, Petra Soukupova, Jan Balaban, Radka Denemarkova, Petra Hulova, Jakub Katalpa, Jiri Kratochvil, Martin Rysavy, and Marek Sindelka.
>> Read the issue at www.wordswithoutborders.org
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MEZZO-SOPRANO PAVLINA HORAKOVA: OPERA HAPPENINGS
The MTA is not only a means for transportation for millions of travelers in New York, but it is also an underground stage for artists and musicians. Many of them believe subway is just the right space to share something beautiful and make a difference during a monotonous and repetitive ride to and from work, including Czech mezzo-soprano Pavlina Horakova.
Pavlina and pianist Drew Spradlin filmed a documentary with an LA based director and producer Zac Murphy. For the first time ever they brought a grand piano in the New York City subway and performed two concerts.
 | | Libretto Metro - A Story by Zac Murphy |
The performances, shot and recorded underground in New York City's subway stations, are part of Pavlina and her Libretto Metro's ongoing experiment to interrupt the daily grind with a grand piano, beautiful music, and great people. The next step is to engage much larger crowd, having people join Pavlina and Libretto Metro at Union Square and sign along. Try it!
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THE PILOT AND THE LITTLE PRINCE AMONG THE 10 BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOKS
Congratulations to Peter Sis whose recent book "The Pilot and The Little Prince" has been included in the New York Times Book Review "10 Best Illustrated Books for Children". The book has been recently also published in Czech (Nakladatelstvi Labyrint).
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HERE IS WHAT'S COMING IN NOVEMBER
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Tuesday, November 11, 7:00 pm 
HAVEL: A LIFE
book presentation and signing
GROVE ATLANTIC in collaboration with the Vaclav Havel Library Foundation and BBLA present Michael Zantovsky, Vaclav Havel's former press secretary and longtime friend, in conversation with David Remnick, The New Yorker editor, journalist and writer.
>> Learn more...
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free and open to the public
Tuesday, November 18, 6:00 pm
Wednesday, November 19, 6:00 pm
DVORAK'S NEW YORK
Thursday, November 20, 6:00 pm
FROM HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE SONG OF ROBIN
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Monday, November 24, 6:30 pm
The Lost World of Subcarpathian Rus'  talk and photography book presentation
Edward Kasinec, Curator Emeritus, will introduce the Czech ministerial official, translator of Ukrainian literature and amateur photographer Rudolf Hulka (1887-1961) and his only recently uncovered color and hand-colorized photographic images that depict Sub-Carpathian Rus' in the early 1920s, capturing all the geographic regions, architecture, and peoples.
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WE RECOMMEND
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Monday, November 3, 4:00 pm
Grand Piano @ Union Square 
Czech mezzo-soprano Pavlina Horakova and pianist Drew Sprandlin will be performing music by A. Dvorak, V. Figus-Bystry, S. Rachmaninoff, P.I. Tchaikovsky, L. Bernstein. A.L. Weber
>> Learn more...
venue: Union Square, under the Statue of George Washington, New York City
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Tuesday, November 4, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Eda Kriseova: From Illusion to Reality
lecture
A conversation and reception with Eda Kriseova, Czech journalist and writer. Eda Kriseova is the celebrated author of numerous works including Vaclav Havel: The Authorized Biography and a former member of the Czech president's senior staff.
>> Learn more...
Theresa Lang Community and Student Center
Arnhold Hall, 55 West 13th Street, 2nd floor, New York City
Free and open to the public, but seating is limited. To reserve a seat, please email events@newschool.edu.
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Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association | 321 East 73rd Street, 3rd floor | New York, NY 10021
(212) 988-1733 | www.bohemianbenevolent.org | info@bohemianbenevolent.org
BBLA is a not-for-profit organization established in 1891 in New York City as an umbrella organization for almost eighty Czech and Slovak immigrant organizations. The mission of BBLA is to preserve and support Czech and Slovak culture in New York City. BBLA's member organizations include American Fund for Czech and Slovak Leadership Studies, Association of Free Czechoslovak Sportsmen, Czech and Slovak Solidarity Council, Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences in America, Dvorak American Heritage Association and Sokol New York. BBLA is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.
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