Well – enought. It’s been counted that Krakow attracted over 8.1 million visitors in 2010. It’s by 800,000 more than a year ago, in 2009. Estimations by Malopolska Tourist Organization. Foreigners constituted roughly a quarter of the total number, i.e. 2.1 million, and – in contrast to Polish tourists – they mostly stayed overnight in the city.

Over 26 percent of them came from the UK while 11.2 percent were Germans, 9.1 percent Italians, 8.3 percent Frenchmen, and 6.3 percent Spaniards. In 2010 all visitors spent some 3.5 billion zloties during their stay in Krakow.

What are the numbers for 2011? We’ll try to find out soon. Stay in touch!

Masters of strings, as they call them – violinist Nigel Kennedy and guitarist Jarek Smietana are to appear on the same stage for this benefit gig. They will be joined by singer Karen Edwards, Wojciech Karolak on Hammond Organ, Paweł Tomaszewski on grand piano, Adam Czerwinski on drums, and others. The programme will include House of the Rising Sun and Purple Rain. Everyone who have seen Smietana or Kennedy in action knows what a great event that will be. DO not miss!

Tickets cost from 100-120zl. Venue – Philharmonic Hall, ul. Zwierzyniecka 1, September 3, 2011

Exposition ands September 30th and it’s being held in Jewish Centre of Culture – Meiselsa 17

Musicians:

Tomasz Polak – clarinet, Bartek Staniak – violin, Jarek Wilkosz – double-bass, Krzysztof Kossowski – percussion, Marcin Wiercioch – accordion.

klezzmates concert in Galicia Museum

Tickets cost: 20 PLN, 12 PLN (concessions)

Be there! It’s a must be even if klezmer music if not your domain. Just go there and you’ll thank me later on.

How big is that? Huge! First of all – it belongs to Rupert Murdoch, through Yahoo which he owns. Secondly – it’s over 100 millions users. It had helped many performers to make it big – including Arctic Monkeys. Whereas many people are curious suggesting that polish online market is not easy – eBay and MSN both failed to establish their businesses in Poland, many are happy that we’ll have polish branch of MySpace.

Alongside presidential couple 94 others died – amongst them leaders of polish political scene, head of military, Ryszard Kaczorowski – polish president during communistic times and many others. They had planned to attend the 70th anniversary of the 1940 Katyn massacre.

To all who may not know that tragic events – Katyn is a small town in Russia in which Soviet secret police killed some 22,000 Polish prisoners of war – intelligentsia and officers of polish army taken prisoners. Direct order from Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin and Lavrentiy Pavlovich Beria – ended their lives. There were no trials and most of them died from a single shot in the back of their head. During communistic times official propaganda shouted that Katyn’s massacre was done by Germans. Until this day Russian government in not admitting Russia being responsible for this tragic events.

Poland’s late president Lech Kaczynski and the First Lady are to be buried in Krakow in Wawel Cathedral alongside the nation’s most revered kings and generals. They will be laid in a crypt next to the tomb of Marshall Jozef Pilsudski. Marshall Pilsudski is a giant of modern Polish history figure. He is widely considered to have secured Poland’s independence in 1918, after more than a century of partition by Russia and Germany. He also is credited with defeating the Bolshevik Red Army.

More than 1 million people are expected to join the funeral so the city of Krakow is bound to be totally blocked. Amongst distinguished guests we expect top world’s politicians to join the funeral conduct – President Barack Obama, President Dmitry Medvedev, Chancellor Angela Merkel and many others.

Special guests of this year’s edition are going to be creators and actors of recent Hollywood blockbuster Ondine. We are happy to announce that Neil Jordan – the director, and main actors – Alicja Bachleda-Curuś and Colin Farrell will be present for the premiere. Also representative of Monolith Films confirmed their presence. OFF PLUS CAMERA is taking place in Krakow, between 16th and 15th April 2010.

Just in case you’ve been in outer space last couple of decades – Kurosawa was one of the most known Japanese directors. His films were translated and screened in almost every country. Also he received Oscar prize in 1951. His famous films are “Rashomon” and “Seven Samurais”.

On Saturday 20th of March 2010 everyone is invited to join a tour of Krakow in Oscar Schindler’s footsteps. Later on a lecture by Dr Egyta Gawron of Jagiellonian University – Oscar Schindler: Unknown History.

Meanwhile – have a look at our flights to Krakow planner.

Meanwhile it is secured for evidence of how it was dismantled and what kinds of tools were used in the process, as well as biological data such as hair or blood samples, which could be used as evidence against the suspects.

The five accused men had been caught with the help of informants, after a reward of 100,000 złoty was offered by the museum. The police revealed that the reward will be split 60/40 between two people, who will remain anonymous.

The museum is still seeking funding to finance general renovations as well as an increase in security.

Though the sign has been returned, the case of its theft is far from closed, reminded police spokesman Inspector Dariusz Nowak. He said that this morning, the Krakow prosecutor filed for a European Arrest Warrant for a Swedish citizen, Anders Hoegstroem, who they believe is behind the theft’s commission. We will keep you informed.

Have fun and all the best for new year 2010!

Participants of the expedition will seek to inspire their fellow youth in Africa to play a role in the realization of the Millennium Development Goals in their local communities. In return, the participants seek to learn from what other young people across Africa are doing in pursuit of sustainable African development.

The Longest Lecture event has been prepared by 50 young people from 16 countries: Belarus, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Nigeria, Poland, Tanzania, Turkey and Zimbabwe. The 17th country participating was South Africa, whose Charge de’ affaires in Poland and his wife performed honorary duties. Also 2 people from Tibet were a part of the team.

Polish fans of indie rock must have heard of the band called Editors. They gig is going to take place in Krakow’s Klub Studio on 25 November 2009. However, few may know that the band is shooting their next music video right here in Krakow. A majority of the video will take place in Krakow’s legendary Alchemia in the Kazimierz district, with additional shooting on the Planty and on a couple of streets in the Old Town. The band released their latest full-length album, In This Light and on This Evening, in October 2009. The concert at Studio begins at 8 pm. Tickets are 89 złoty and can be bought online, or at the door for 100 złoty. Be there! Enjoy!

Enjoy this small bit of Hollywood in Krakow.

The Orchestra, as we can read on its official website, is “an expression of harmony on all levels. It was founded in 1995 by Sir Georg Solti to reaffirm, in his words, ‘the unique strength of music as an ambassador for peace’. Its players come from orchestras all over the world, many of them concert masters and section leaders in their own right, and the orchestra has no existence outside the very special occasions that call it into being.”

Programme for this concert will be:

Krzysztof Penderecki ‘Prelude for Peace’ (WOP commission, world premiere)
Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 5 in C# minor

Enjoy!

Lenny’s concert will be supprted by polish atrists – The Poise Rite, Vavamuffin, Wilki and Patrycja Markowska.

April 21 – starts at 6

Ken Vandermark – reeds,
Dave Rempis – saxophones,
Fred Lonberg-Holm – cello,
Kent Kessler – double bass,
Tim Daisy – drums

Tickets cost 30 pln

Klub studio, Budryka street 4 (students campus), start at 20:00, tickets: 70 pln

For those who may not know – Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy (The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity) has set up their Great Finale’s date for 11 of January 2009. What is it, you may ask. Well – only by far the biggest charity fundraising action in Poland. An organization set up in 1992 by it’s charismatic leader Jurek Owsiak works the whole year to organize a series of events of which the biggest is the Final whish is said to play ’till the end of time and one more day’. To make it simple, Orchestra is a whole day concert taking place in almost every polish city and plenty of accompanying events – artists are playing for free and there are volunteers asking for funds to support a good cause. This year all the money goes to buy equipment necessary for EARLY CANCER DIAGNOSIS IN CHILDREN. You can put a note to the box and get a heart shaped sticker and plenty of satisfaction that you have helped those in need. You can support it via internet, telephone, donate an item for on-line auctions or simply leave your apartment and have fun on the concert. One thing is for sure – if you happen to be in Poland this time of the year you can’t miss it. In Krakow the Great Finale takes place on the Main Market Square and in many venues.

Besides humanitarian work, the Foundation is also a powerful medium spreading the ideology of kindness, friendship, tolerance, and openness. In the summer they organize Przystanek Woodstock Festival – an open-air rock festival.

Be there – join the crowd – enjoy. Remember – it’s 31 of December, Market Square. You need to have fun along with a crowd of people and it’s going to be rather freezing – so check our weather forecast for Krakow and be prepared. Have Fun and Happy New Year!

Interested in events taking place in Krakow? Have a look at our brief annual report of what’s going on in Krakow.