I often get the question if Hard Rock Cafe can be found in Budapest. The answer has so far been no, and it will probably be so for a year more, at least. Starbucks also planned for a long time to open in Budapest, and in 2010 they finally managed to do so. Anyway, out searching today I found a page claiming that Hard Rock Cafe might come to Budapest fall 2010 (fall 2010: this has not yet happened). At HardRock.com there is a list of “coming soon” Hard Rock Cafes, and at the bottom of the list Budapest can be found.
So far we only have Hard Rock Cafe on t-shirts in Budapest, but it would be great to be able to visit and see the real things, so lets hope – and time will show!
Alice in Chains is a very popular band around the world, and though they are not in the highest category of stars, they still have thousands of fans around the world. In Budapest Alice in Chains will perform in Petőfi Csarnok, located in the City Park (close to Szechényi Fürdő, Gundel, Heroes Square etc…) Their tour in 2009 comes as a result of their first studio album in 14 years, Black Gives Way to Blue, which was released September 29.
Alice in Chains Budapest
November 27, 20:00
Petőfi Csarnok
Tickets: Eventim
About Alice in Chains (source: Wikipedia) Alice in Chains is an American rock band which was formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist Jerry Cantrell and vocalist Layne Staley. Although associated with grunge music, the bands sound incorporates heavy metal and acoustic elements. Since its formation the band has released 4 studio albums, 3 EPs, 2 live albums, 4 compilations, and 2 DVDs. The band is known for its distinct vocal style which often included the harmonized vocals of Staley and Cantrell.
József Borsos (1821-1883, Painter and Photographer )
Exhibition, Hungarian National Gallery, June 18 – October 25, 2009
Jóseph Borsos exhibition - National Gallery of Hungary
József Boros was one of the best Hungarian painters in the 19th century, yet a mysterious one as well. Not to much information has remained about him from his life. He wasnt only painting, but he was also a photographer taking more than 44,000 pictures during his career as a photographer.
József lived in Vienna as well, and in the exhibition paintings can be found from that period as well, making it possible to compare the paintings from his time in Austria and his time in Hungary.
There will be quite some different exhibitions going on in addition to the permanent exhibition in the Museum of Applied Arts in October and November (2009). Below you can see some of them:
October 2 – October 25: Finnish design exhibition October 2 – November 8: Hungarian Design Awards 2009
If any of these exhibitions should sound interesting, or if the permanent exhibition in the Museum of Applied Arts should sound interesting, just go!
The Museum of Fine Arts hosts an exhibition called Turner and Italy presenting Turners work in eight parts, ordered chronologically. Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) was especially known for his landscape paintings, and at the temporary exhibition you can see more than 80 paintings painted my Turner himself.
The exhibition opened July 15 and will be in the Museum of Fine Arts until October 25, 2009 – which means that there is not much time left for those still interested in visiting the exhibition. The full price ticket for the Turner and Italy exhibition is 2600 Forint. The full price for the permanent exhibition is 1400 Forint.
More about Joseph Mallord William Turner: Joseph Mallord William Turner was one of the most significant landscape painters of the 19th century and indeed perhaps in the entire history of art. His hugely extensive oeuvre is characterised by thematic diversity and endless technical innovation. He painted true-to-life city- and landscapes – he was especially fond of depictions of the sea -, historical and mythological scenes, contemporary events, but his imagination was also inspired by literature.
We have just added the Hungarian National Museum to our Museum guide, and it was right on time… This Saturday they will arrange what they call Vibria Saturday (the call it Vibria Saturdays – so it might be this will become a Saturday habit in the National Museum). So what is Vibria Saturday? The museum will be open between 10.00 and 22.00 and they will have reduced entrance fees!
This coming Saturday (October 3rd) they will have a special guided tour in the exhibition entitled “Princessses from Afar- Catalonia and Hungary in the Middle ages”. This special guided tour will be held 16.00 in Spanish and 17.00 in English. To participate be in the entrance hall of the Hungarian National Museum at the given time.
If it sounds interesting, you know where to go! Personally I would rather drop by Pampas Steakhouse just a few blocks away, but nothing sais that you cannot do both!
Earlier today I read the news that Hungary had gotten a new place added to the World Heritage List. Then I looked up the official World Heritage List site of Unesco, but did not find it there. But, then I realized that Hungary indeed has got a new place/activity added to a Unesco list, but it is not the World Heritage List, but the “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”.
Busó festivities at Mohács: masked end-of-winter carnival custom That is the title of what has been added to the Unescos Intangible Cultural Heritage list. But what is it? It is really a celebration welcoming spring, and leaving winter behind. It is leaving the evil and turning into the light. It is conquering the new, boys turning into men and girls into women.
Busó in Mohács
It is also a commemoration of the Turks leaving Mohács in 1687. It is not supported by historical evidence, but legend has it that the Busó people (always wearing masks and with hidden identity) came and forced the Turks to leave Mohács. With their frightening customes they seemed even more scary, so this also influenced the end result of the battle.
This event takes place on Quinquagesima (or Shrove Sunday), the Sunday before Ash Sunday, fifty days before easter Sunday. It is not only a one day program, but that weekend it is carnival in Mohács and there are loads of programs happening. Normally this weekend is in February, but sometimes it can be in March.
Yesterday Debrecen played their first Champions League match in Hungary. Two weeks ago they lost 1-0 against Liverpool at Anfield Road, so hope existed that after their “good” result in Liverpool, they might be able to catch a point or three against Lyon at Puskas Ferenc Stadium.
But as many have pointed out; Lyon is a very good team, and maybe even better than Liverpool. And every year Lyon beats big team; both home and away. And so it turned out this year as well that Lyon got a great victory on foreign ground.
The final result of the Champions League match was 4-0, and they deserved the win. But, I must admit that Debrecen did a good job as well, and the Puskas Ferenc Stadium was packed with people. And even though Debrecen lost 4-0 the fans shouted and screamed and applauded the Debrecen guys, so I guess the hungarians are just happy to have a team in the Champions League. And if they later should manage to shoot a goal, and maybe even grab a point… it might be that Christmas will come early to Hungary this year!
Next matches in Budapest:
October 20 against Fiorentina
November 24 against Liverpool
Our slideshow with pictures from Budapest has now been seen by more than 5000 people. I must admit that we have much better pictures available now, so we could probably make a much better slideshow with the pictures available now… but this has become such a traditional slideshow, so we decide to let it stay!
But, for those who want more pictures, we recommend our Pictures page.
Normally I am playing football every Tuesday evening. But, this autumn will not be to active because of Debrecen who qualified for the Champions League. Especially when Debrecen is playing at the Puskás Ferenc Stadium everyone is either home watching the match in television, or at the stadium watching it there.
Concerts near Budapest
But, we are also regularly updating our page with information about concerts happening near Budapest. In the start of 2010 Europe will be out touring several cities, and so will Pat Metheny. ABBA – The Show is out on the track again, and of course Depeche Mode. So there are loads of excuses to leave Budapest (at least if you do not visit the concerts as these artists perform in Budapest).
For Hungarian who dont want to leave Hungary it is also possible to check out the Harlem Gospel Singers concert in Szeged taking place December 28. So look around and hopefully you will find some useful information around on our pages.
