Events for March 2010

New York

Registration for ‘Īkšķīši’ children’s camp to begin

Registration for the Latvian children’s camp “Īkšķīši” for the summer of 2010 begins at 8 p.m. March1 via the New York Latvian Ev. Luth. Congregation’s Web site at nydraudze.org/. The camp will accept 34 children for each of its four periods. For more information on accommodation and prices, see the Web site. Registration for regular summer camp at the congregation’s property in the Catskill Mountains of New York also begins on March 1 via the Web site.

Queensland

Kalpaks memorial in Brisbane

The Brisbane Daugavas Vanagi will commemorate Col. Oskars Kalpaks and the Latvian Legion at 15:00 hours March 6 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. Admission is by donation.

Minnesota

Credit union annual meeting

The annual meeting of the Latvian Credit Union is scheduled at 1 p.m. March 7 in the Latvian Ev.-Lutheran Church of Minneapolis and St. Paul, 3152 17th Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Ontario

ŠMIJ set for Toronto

The annual Šī māksla ir jauna (ŠMIJ) art festival is scheduled March 11-14 in Toronto. For further details, visit www.lnjak.org, the home page of the Latvian National Youth Association in Canada (Latviešu nacionālā jauniešu apvienība Kanādā).

Queensland

Poetry afternoon to honor Kārlis Skalbe

S. and V. Gertners will host a poetry afternoon featuring the life and works of Kārlis Skalbe at 14:00 hours March 13 at 17 Mukine St., Jindalee. This event is free of charge, but participants should register by calling +61 (07) 3376 0696.

United Kingdom

Brainstorm at The Borderline

Latvian pop band Brainstorm (Prāta Vētra) performs at 7 p.m. March 15 in The Borderline, Orange Yard (off Manette Street), London. For further information, visit venues.meanfiddler.com.

United Kingdom

Spring celebration set for Straumēni

A spring celebration is scheduled March 20 at the Straumēni rest home in Catthorpe. The program includes a presentation on the history of Latvian immigration into Britain and a concert by Ireland’s Latvian dance group Karbunkulis and the choir eLVē. After the program, the band Ock n Dough will provide dance music.

Wisconsin

Spring equinox to be celebrated at Dievsēta

Celebrate the spring equinox—Lieldienas—from March 20-21 at Dievsēta, 19264 Bittersweet Ave., Warrens. On Saturday guests will color eggs, hang a swing and prepare for the next day’s activities. On Sunday morning everybody wakes before the sunrise in order to greet the sun with songs, swinging and a festive breakfast. For more information and to arrange for lodging contact Ilze Klaviņa at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). For more information about Dievsēta and traditional Latvian holidays, visit www.dievseta.org.

Queensland

Zolīte afternoon in Brisbane

The Brisbane chapter of Daugavas Vanagi hosts an afternoon of playing the card game zolīte at 13:00 hours March 20 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. Participation costs AUD 5 and all are welcome.

Latvia

Spring equinox events in Riga

Celebrate the spring equinox at 6 a.m. and again at noon March 21 in Riga. People will gather at 6 a.m. at the highest point in Arkādija Park to greet the sun with songs. Various activities will follow, including the ritual awakening of birds and face washing in the stream. Later in the day, from noon to 4 p.m., there will be a swing set up at the foot of Bastejkalns, very near the Freedom Monument, as well as songs, games and dances. All events are open to the public and free of charge. Participants should, however, dress warmly and bring their own colored eggs.

New South Wales

Zigrīdas Kalpi performs in Sydney

The folk music ensemble Zigrīdas Kalpi performs at 2 p.m. March 21 in the Sydney Latvian House, 32 Parnell St., Strathfield. For further information, visit the group’s MySpace page.

District of Columbia

Leadership seminar for Latvian American youths

The American Latvian Youth Association (Amerikas latviešu jaunatnes apvienība, or ALJA), the American Latvian Association (ALA), and the Latvian Embassy are jointly organizing a leadership seminar for Latvian-American youth from March 26-28 in the embassy, 2306 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. The seminar will further ALJA’s goals of striving to maintain Latvian identity in the United States. To register, contact ALJA President Markus Apelis at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). For further information, visit the ALA’s Web site, www.alausa.org.

Queensland

Lecture to focus on Freedom Monument

Ausma Bļodniece will speak at a Brisbane Literary Society event at 14:00 hours March 27 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. Her lecture is titled “The Battle Over the Freedom Monument from 1920 Onward.” Admission is by donation.

California

Center screens ‘Rūdolfa mantojums’

Rūdolfa mantojums, a feature film by director Jānis Streičs, will be screened at 12:30 p.m. March 28 in the Latvian Community Center, 1927 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles. Admission is USD 10 for adults, free for children.

Queensland

Daugavas Vanagi representative speaks in Brisbane

Solvita Sekste, a representative of the Daugavas Vanagi organization in Latvia, will address the Brisbane Latvian community at 14:00 hours March 28 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. She will speak about the use in Latvia of donations from Australia.