Events for August 2009

Latvia

Meet, Latvians of the world!

The (Informal) Meeting of the World’s Latvians is planned for 11 a.m. Aug. 2 in the Čarlstons restaurant, Blaumaņa iela 38/40, Rīga. All are welcome. Admission is LVL 15 and includes a buffet lunch. Make reservations by July 15 with Astrīda Jansone at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or Velga Kalniņa at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). For information contact, in the United States, Ģirts Zeidenbergs at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or +1 (302) 529-7442, or visit www.tilts.org. In Latvia, contact Indra Sproģe-Kalviņa at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or +371-6729-3361. The event is organized by the Latvian Cultural Association TILTS with Edvīns Kalviņš and the firm Techniskie partneri.

United Kingdom

3x3 camp for children in England

This summer’s 3x3 camp in England will take place from Aug. 2-9. Although originally a camp for people of all ages, the 3x3 camps in England have evolved into camps that are primarily meant for children. The working language has also switched to mostly English. Children spend a week immersed in educational and fun activities devoted to learning about their Latvian heritage. For more information and to register contact the director of the camp, Dace Birzgale-Lieģe, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). See also the 3x3 Web site at www.3x3.lv.

Latvia

‘Sudmaliņas’ folk dance festival

The 7th International Folk Dance Festival Sudmaliņas will take place Aug. 5-8 in Riga, Jūrmala and Sigulda. This year 250 participants from Latvia will take part in the festival, as well as folk dance groups from Russia, South Korea, Moldova, Portugal, Poland and Algeria. For more information visit www.nkmva.gov.lv.

Michigan

3x3 camp in Gaŗezers

A 3x3 camp is scheduled from Aug. 9-16 at the Latvian Center Gaŗezers, 57732 Lone Tree Road, Three Rivers. 3x3 is a week-long experience for Latvian-speaking children and adults. Families and singles of all ages are welcome. Children spend the days at fun and educational activities, while adults attend seminars and workshops about various Latvian topics, such as folklore, politics, literature, silversmithing, woodworking, and weaving. Seminars, workshops, and children’s activities are led by knowledgeable experts in their respective fields from Latvia and abroad. All generations come together during the evenings for more activities and, of course, singing. For more information and to register contact the director of the 3x3 camp, Maija Zaeska, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). See also the 3x3 Web site at www.3x3.lv.

Queensland

Films from Latvia shown in Brisbane

Saule Ltd. will present two films from Latvia—“Tēvs, radi, kuļmašīna” and “Zaķene”—at 14:00 hours Aug. 15 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave, Buranda. Admission is by donation starting at a minimum of AUD 5.

New York

3x3 camp in the Catskills

The 3x3 camp in the Catskills will take place from Aug. 16-23 at the Latvian Lutheran Camp in Elka Park. 3x3 is a week-long Latvian experience for both children and adults. Families and singles of all ages are welcome. Children spend the days at fun and educational activities, while adults attend seminars and workshops about various Latvian topics, such as folklore, politics, literature, silversmithing, woodworking, and weaving. Seminars, workshops, and children’s activities are led by knowledgeable experts in their respective fields from Latvia and abroad. All generations come together during the evenings for more activities and, of course, singing. For more information and to register contact the director of the 3x3 camp, Taina Laiviņa, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). See also the 3x3 Web site at www.3x3.lv.

Germany

Baiba Skride performs in Wiesbaden

Latvian violinist Baiba Skride and the Royal Swedish Philharmonic Orchestra perform at 20:00 hours Aug. 20 in the Kurhaus, Wilhelmstrasse, Wiesbaden

Latvia

Rīgas svētki

Rīgas svētki, a three-day festival highlighting culture in Latvia’s capital city, runs Aug. 21-23 at various venues. Performances, exhibits and other events are on the program. For further information, visit www.rigassvetki.lv.

Queensland

Zolīte afternoon in Brisbane

The Brisbane chapter of Daugavas Vanagi hosts a monthly gathering for enthusiasts of the card game zolīte. This month’s meeting is at 13:00 hours Aug. 22 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. Participation is AUD 5 and all are welcome.

District of Columbia

Baltic Way anniversary to be observed

A reenactment of the Baltic Way demonstration, in which an estimated 2 million people in 1989 made a human chain in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to protest Soviet occupation, will take place at 2 p.m. Aug. 23 from the Embassy of Latvia, 2306 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., to the Embassy of Estonia, 2131 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. The reenactment will be preceded with observances beginning at 11 a.m. in the Embassy of Lithuania, 2622 16th St. N.W. A demonstration of solidarity with Georgia is planned at 2:30 p.m. at the Embassy of Georgia, 2209 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. In addition, the documentary film The Soviet Story will be screened at 1:15 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the Embassy of Latvia. The events are being coordinated by the Joint Baltic American National Committee. For further information, visit jbanc.org.

Ireland

Football tournament honors Baltic Way

A football (soccer) tournament in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Baltic Way demonstration in the Baltic republics is scheduled at 2 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Coolmine Sports & Leisure Centre, Grove Road, Clonsilla, Dublin. One team each from Estonia and Latvia, plus two teams from Lithuania, will compete in the tournament. The tournament is organized by the Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian embassies in Ireland.

United Kingdom

20th anniversary commemoration of the Baltic Way

A video installation based on documentary material from the Baltic Way can be viewed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, Aug. 25 to Sept. 4, in the European Commission’s 12 Star Gallery, 8 Storey’s Gate, London. The project will show how the Baltic Way was held and will highlight the Baltic States’ unity and their citizens’ yearning to regain independence, which led to one of the longest human chains in history in 1989. The exhibition is open to the public and free of charge. For more information, visit http://ec.europa.eu or contact Inga Sorakaite at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

New York

Three Tenors sing in New York

Latvia’s three tenors (Miervaldis Jenčs, Nauris Puntulis and Guntars Ruņģis) will perform a benefit concert for the Latvian National Opera at 5 p.m. Aug. 29 in the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church of New York, 4 Riga Lane, Melville. Virtuoso Juris Kulakovs will accompany the tenors. A dinner, lottery, social evening and dancing to music by John Weber will follow the concert. Formal attire is preferred. Seating is limited, so reserve your tickets soon. Tickets are USD 75 if purchased before Aug. 15, USD 85 if purchased after that. Checks may be written out to the Latvian National Opera Guild Inc. and sent to LNOG, c/o Andris Padegs, 2 Merry Hill Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603-3214. All proceeds will go to the production of Bruno Skulte’s “Vilkaču mantiniece.” For more information contact Aija Pelše at +1 (516) 319-9491 or +1 (516) 935-0967 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).