Krakow -- looking toward Festival of Jewish Culture

People often ask what it's like at the Festival of Jewish Culture in Krakow... this Polish television video from 2004 of David Krakauer, Josh Dolgin (So-Called) and group captures the atmosphere at the marathon final concert held the last Saturday night of the festival.

I was there, down front -- as the picture below (which I took) bears witness!

Final concert, Krakow. 2004. Photo (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber

Food Republique Restaurant at Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru

Food Republique Restaurant (N1 29.061 E103 46.501) is located nearby the junction of Jalan Kuning and Jalan Serampang of Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru, which is exactly behind the Pelangi Leisure Mall.

Food Republique Restaurant at Jalan Kuning, Taman Pelangi - Johor Bahru.

The restaurant serve wide variety of Western Foods and the environment is Simple and Cozy. I like the ambience! :)

The setting of Food Republique Restaurant

Our order for the night :-

1)  Mushroom Soup

2)  Herb Roasted Chicken in White Wine (which was wrong ordered from Grilled Chicken Chop)

3)  Grilled Striploin Steak with Mashed Potato.

Mushroom Soup with Garlic Bread

Herb Roasted Chicken in White Wine

Grilled Striploin with Mashed Potato

All foods presented nicely!
The Mushroom Soup was Yummy! My daughter finished it without our notice! :)
The Herb Roasted Chicken was ok, it can be better if the Chef make it more moist...
The Striploin was grilled perfectly! Which was cooked exactly what I like! The sauce was flavorful but the steak was not enough marinated.

I had a chat with the Chef - Ben who was a nice and friendly guy, and he explained about the foods of the restaurant to us patiently! We were appreciated.

The Roasted Chicken was too dry...

The Striploin was grilled perfectly!

Overall, we were ok for the foods. Actually it was a recommended by 2 of my friends who Love their Beef Burger very much! I regretted that I didn't order the burger! Haha! Well, there's always A next time. No worries!

The Damage : MYR95.00 included drinks for 2 adults and 1 child.

I will come back again for the Beef Burger! :)

Food Republique

72, Jalan Kuning,

Taman Pelangi,

80400 Johor Bahru.

Tel : +607-3311718

http://www.facebook.com/foodrepublique

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Christmas Decoration at Genting Highlands

We visited Genting Highlands one week before the Christmas of 2010. My purpose was to capture some Christmas atmosphere on the Highlands. The X'mas atmosphere was Nice (even not as good as before) and I would like to share some photos of that night...

Theme Park Hotel, Genting Highlands

The Resort Hotel

The Genting Hotel

The Big Colourful Christmas tree in front of Genting Hotel which made by recycle water bottles!

Among all the Hotels, First World Hotel had the most Decorations at every corner in the building...

The Lobby of First World Hotel, Genting Highlands

Big lighting ball which made by Recycle Mineral Water Bottles

As I walked from the Hotel Lobby to the First World Plaza....

On the escalator...

The entrance of the Indoor Theme Park and First World Plaza

Even the stall there was Well Decorated!

But I chose to walked on the first floor...that passed by the Snow World...

The stalls on the First World Plaza

The Entrance of The Snow World

There was group of young ladies wearing the Christmas costume and performed the Christmas carols non-stop along the way! I really can felt the 'Santa Claus is coming to town!' :)

There were many Performances on the stage of the Indoor Theme Park continuously for that night!

Performance on the stage of Indoor Theme Park, Genting Highlands

It was really comfortable to soak ourselves in the atmosphere and listen to the Christmas Carols everywhere in the First World Plaza. :)

Exhibitions -- Epstein show in Kiev prolonged

Just a note -- Leonid Finberg advises that the Mark Epstein exhibit at the National Art Museum in Kiev has been prolonged until Feb. 17. I posted on the exhibit a couple of day ago.

Candlesticks on Stone -- Videos added to web site

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

I have added some videos to my Candlesticks on Stone web site -- click HERE for the link.

Candlesticks on Stone -- HBI announcement of my fellowship

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

Here's the link to the page on the web site of the Hadassah Brandeis Institute announcing my fellowship as scholar in residence -- click HERE

While at the HBI, Ruth will be working on (Candle)sticks on Stone: Representing the Woman in Jewish Tombstone Art (begun in 2009 with an HBI research grant), which centers on a photographic documentation of the often elaborate tombstones of women in the historic Jewish cemeteries in Eastern Europe, mainly in and around the Bucovina region of northern Romania -- including the Jewish cemetery in Radauti, where some of her ancestors are buried. Focusing on the remarkably varied sculptural representation of candlesticks on these tombs, the project fuses visual documentation and photographic art with research, reportage, reflection and memoir. It encompasses issues of gender, identity and tradition and explores how tradition is (or is not) transmitted. The project is centered on a public web site and blog, but will also result in more traditionally published works.

The Candlesticks web site is http://candlesticksonstone.wordpress.com

Ukraine -- Mark Epstein Exhibition in Kiev

From National Art Museum web site.

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

I gladly pass on information received from Leonid Finberg in Kiev about a current exhibition at the National Art Museum there of the work of the avant garde Kiev painter Mark Epstein, who was active in the 1920s. (THIS LINK to the museum web site provides information in Ukrainian.)

The exhibition presents works of the Kiev period of Epstein's life and represents Epstein's first solo show. It opened in mid-December and runs til the end of January.

 The Kiev Judaic institute has published a book on Epstein to go with the exhibit, Mark Epstein. Return of the Master, that includes illustrations of approximately 60 of Eptein's works, most of which are published here for the first time. 

Dr. Finberg adds:

Mark Epstein was a notable figure in the artistic life of Kyiv during the 1920’s. In 1928, having just finished the Kyiv Arts College , he immersed himself into the progressive arts movement of that time. He attended O. Exter’s art studio where his newest creative ideas were polished. Mark Epstein’s cubic-futurist works of the beginning of the 1920’s – Violoncellist, Family, Tailor, The Two, A Woman with a Yoke – have become part of the history of modern Ukrainian art.

Epstein was one of the founders of the artistic section of the Culture League – an association whose aim was the development of Jewish culture. Members of the section also included O.Tishler, El Lysytsky, J. Chaikov, S. Nikritin, and others. Marc Chagall, N. Altman, R. Falk, and D. Sterenberg also cooperated with the Culture League. In their effort to create new Jewish art, members of the Culture League synthesized images of traditional art with Ukrainian avant-garde ideas.

Epstein took an active part in this work. Unfortunately, only the graphic works of Epstein have been preserved from the 1920’s; representations of his sculptures have survived only as photos, while his paintings have been totally lost.

The work of the Culture League was terminated in the middle of the 1920’s. In 1932, Epstein had to move to Moscow . He took practically no part in exhibitions there, but worked a great deal. However his attempts to adjust his talent to the requirements of the times bore no evident fruit.

Poland --evocative blog posts about Lesko cemetery (and synagogue)

Lesko Jewish cemetery, 2006. Photo (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

I have just come across two very detailed blog posts about the synagogue and ancient Jewish cemetery in Lesko, in the far southeastern corner of Poland.

Both posts, on http://riowang.blogspot.com, are very informative and  richly illustrated with photographs -- they make me wish I had spent more time in Lesko when I was last there, in 2006, updating JHT.

Lesko synagogue, 2006. Photo (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber

Another visit to Mushroom Farm Restaurant at Genting Highlands (2010)

We were advised to visit the Mushroom Farm Restaurant (N3 25.191 E101 47.848) after the dinner time to avoid the crowded situation and enjoy our meals slowly, so we had some light snacks to temporary filled up our stomach. The pick-up time will be on 9.30pm sharp at the Main Entrance of Genting Hotel.
It was a surprised when we reached the restaurant....

The Mushroom Farm Restaurant of Genting Highlands

Great! It was ONLY three tables occupied. We placed our order immediately!

1)  Omelette

2)  Vegetables

3)  Kampung Chicken (Non-fat chicken)

4)  Steam Codfish

Omelette

Vegetables

Kampung Chicken (Non-fat chicken)

Steam Codfish

Codfish

The Chicken was nice and not too dry. I like the Codfish Very much because it was flaky and moist after cooked. The omelette and the vegetables were average. They cooked it just right!

We really enjoyed our Fabulous dinner especially in the cold weather! Almost 2 hours spend in the restaurant with the company of 6 bottles of Ice Cold Beer! Excellent!

The Damage : MYR200.00 for 4 adults included 6 bottles of Beer. The dinner only cost around MYR100.00 and the rest was the Beers. Affordable & Reasonable! Right?! :)

This is the restaurant we Must visit whenever happen to be here. Please write down the telephone number below (to arrange pick-up) and try it yourself when you are around Genting Highlands. Bear in mind, the van pick-up time is VERY SHARP!

Related post :-
*  Dinner at Mushroom Farm Restaurant, Genting Highlands (First visit)

Mushroom Farm Restaurant

Tel : +603-6101 2864

Location map of Mushroom Farm Restaurant at Genting Highlands

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Italy -- Article on Pitigliano

Entering the old Jewish quarter. Photo (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

The Vancouver Sun runs an article by Amy Stone about Pitigliano, the one-time "Little Jerusalem" in southern Tuscany -- and my choice for possibly the alltime most stunning Italian hill town (see my own article posted here a few months ago).

In the ghetto (indistinguishable today from the rest of the old city), the synagogue and its underground maze with an oven for baking matzo (unleavened Passover bread), the remains of the mikvah ritual bath, a kosher butcher, and “cantina” for pressing and storing kosher wine preserve the Jewish past. A small museum is a new addition.

An elegant and curvaceous Italian beauty, the synagogue was built in 1598 and lovingly restored in the 1990s. Its rounded wooden lectern and carved pews have been meticulously reconstructed, along with the grey-and-white marble floor. Spidery chandeliers hang from the ceiling.

Miraculously, in the 1960s, when walls of the abandoned building collapsed into the ravine, the women’s gallery survived. Once again visitors can climb the stairs for the female eye view of the synagogue through the elaborately carved wooden screen.

One of only three Jews still living in Pitigliano, Elena Servi is the spirit behind what remains of Jewish life. The last matzo was baked in 1939, and the last Yom Kippur service was held 20 years later.

Another visit to Theme Park Hotel at Genting Highlands

This was our second visit to Theme Park Hotel at Genting Highlands after 3 years. You can check out our last visit Here. The purpose of the trip was to capture the Christmas atmosphere at Genting Highlands. We like those lighting decoration very much!
There was a big Christmas Tree beside the main entrance of the hotel which made by recycle water bottle. Nice!

The Big Christmas Tree beside the main entrance of Theme Park Hotel, Genting Highlands

And the lobby also full of LED lighting decoration! The Theme of this year should be 'Recycle!'.

The Christmas Decoration at Theme Park Hotel, Genting Highlands

Santa Claus and his Spaceship!

Do you notice the Recycle Mineral Water bottles in this Star?

This Three (3) Bears Band at the Lobby area still 3 bears. 

Hopefully they will find more members in year 2011 this year! :)

It was heavy rain while we check-in, but the staff was kind enough to lend out all their umbrellas! Thanks.
We were surprised while we stepped into the room, it was upgraded! New furniture, new setup and new look! Impressed! (You can compare the room 3 years ago from the link below)

One Queen bed

Small sofa...

New Wardrobe

And the bathroom...

Simple shower...

The room looks more clean than ever! And especially the cigarettes smell carpet had totally changed! We were satisfied with the room, especially with the Magnificent night view of Genting! (from the room window)

Taken from the room...

Then, we walked through the hotels surround to catch some fresh cool air and standby for our dinner at Mushroom Farm Restaurant.

You can check their rates from the Genting Official website Here.

Related post :
* Theme Park Hotel, Genting (First visit)

Location map of Theme Park Hotel at Genting Highlands

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