Red Corner: Illegal Lithuanian Jazz Festival Jams Away

by Neil Woodburn on

This last weekend, the Lithuanian town of Birštonas held its semi-annual jazz festival. The Birštonas Jazz Festival is perhaps the least known jazz festival on this planet. It takes place in a small town on the Nemunas River with a population of only 3800 people.

Why such a remote location for a jazz festival you ask? Well, in 1980 it was impossible to organize such an event under the communist government. So, jazz lovers put together the clandestine festival in a reclusive, wooded location where they could secretly play without the KGB crashing their party. The government goons came nonetheless and set dogs upon festival-goers. The concerts, however, persevered.

Now that communism is dead, the festival has taken on a far more international appeal, drawing musicians from throughout Europe. It remains a small and intimate affair, but one popular and legendary enough amongst Lithuanians to sell out six months in advance. With the next festival occurring March 2008, you should have plenty of time to buy your tickets.

Spring Break Habits Changing

by Erik Olsen on

Now I gotta ask you a question: did you EVER think
that "Girls Gone Wild" would become passé? Well it has. At least that’s what a new survey reports from
Hotels.com. The survey of some 300 US adults who’s ages range from 18 to 22 were asked
about their Spring Break priorities. For example, if you had the chance to sit with a margarita in each hand and watch
bikini-clad girls frolic on the beach…or if you had the chance to help starving kids in Africa…which would you
choose? OK, it wasn’t quite like that. The results actually showed that  most people’s notions of an "awesome
spring break" includes a cool hotel, trendy restaurants and nearby shopping. They also say easy access to outdoor
activities like hiking and/or bungee jumping was a big deal. Perhaps there is hope for humanity after all.

Free Ways to Travel

by Erik Olsen on

The first
hindrance for most of us when it comes to travel is the matter of time. How can you get the days/weeks/months off work
to do a trip right? The second issue is money. Face it, to get anywhere really good, you usually need to hop aboard a
plane, and while JetBlue and other carriers often have good deals to get you where you
want to go, you’re not always certain there will be flights available for your price range.

But what if
you could travel for free? Pretty sweet idea, eh? Well the Budget Travel people have got some suggestions for you. Their
Ultimate Guide to Free
Travel, part of the April issue, is full of pointers for the penurious. From drive-away car rentals, to home
exchanges and house-sitting opps, there are free travel possibilities out there. One of the suggestions they provide is
the Rotary Ambassadorial Fellowships, which yours
truly did for a year in Chile. And let me say it was one of the best experiences of my life. You have numerous
obligations to fulfill as part of the experience, but they are all in their own way fulfilling, and actually help you
fit into and become a part of the culture in your temporary home country.

Czech Beer Baths

by Erik Olsen on

In the Czech Republic “It’s
Miller Time” has taken on a bubbly new meaning.

A family brewery in the country has started a new spa
concept in the company’s beer cellar; a concept that includes not just drinking the sudsy stuff, but bathing in
it.

Yes, this very well may be the stuff of foamy dreams for legions of fraternity men: soaking in beer as
you drink it, and being massaged by attractive East European women…all that’s needed is a plasma screen
showing Gladiator.

The idea is the brainchild of the Chodovar Family brewery in Chodova Plana who say that the
concept will appeal (and you must admit it, there truly is appeal here) to men who are put off by ‘posh’ traditional
spas. So what’s a beer bath going to cost you? Looks like the cost for a weekend package will be in the $150-200
range.

Spring Issue of Planet Out Now

by Adrienne Wilson on

Looks like the new Planet magazine is just about ready to hit shelves. I went looking for the new
installment of the quarterly yesterday at my local Borders and found nothing, but perhaps your town is a bit more up to
speed. We’ve mentioned this mag many times in the past, but as a big fan of the work I’d like to see it last and isn’t
forgotten in between what seems like ages for new material. Like all issues, this one looks to be a pretty tasty read
with the usual culture pieces and global happenings in addition to Matthew Barney on the cover, an interesting Cirkus
Bizarro spread, and some sure-fire to inspire photography on India. If you’ve never read Planet, their
spring issue should make a great opportunity to recycle some of your dusty periodicals for a fresh new spin, on the
planet.