cafebabel.com

We are Viennese if you please: coffee house culture hailed

('Hannah Mosford',) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:26:24 -0000

On 10 November 2011, Viennese coffee houses were included on Unesco's annual ‘intangible cultural heritage' list, described as places where ‘time and place are consumed but only the coffee is found on the bill’. We celebrate at the Wiener Kaffeehaus, a veritable institution in the Austrian capital

Spain, country in a (property) bubble

('ckb',) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:38:45 -0000

Dearest European neighbours: I am sorry to inform you that the crisis in Spain does not have anything to do with the crisis in your countries. Our case is not simply rooted in 'structural problems', as it were, but literally in cement

The rise of divorce parties in Europe

('Isabella',) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:15:00 -0000

Inspired by a trend from the United States, an increasing number of companies and services are being established in the UK, France and Germany. Amongst the European Union member states, divorce was not possible until 1970 in Italy, 1981 in Spain 1995 in Ireland and, most recently, 2011 in Malta

AKW Lobau: Vienna caravan communities away from it all

('Annie Rutherford',) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:37:53 -0000

The story of the caravan commune AKW Lobau demonstrates that Vienna is not nearly as bourgeois and narrow-minded as is always claimed. The community is living proof that alternative enterprises do have their place in the Austrian capital. A flying visit

Cannabis legalisation: shopping for reality in Vienna

('Naomi R',) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:00:18 -0000

The Austrian capital has one 'head shop' for 100, 000 residents. It's perfect for cannabis amateurs, especially as the business is now commercial and legal, though smoking it in public is still not legal

Student duelling clubs in Europe: no Harry Potter magic in Germany

('Annie Rutherford',) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:03:54 -0000

In mid-June the Alte Breslauer duelling club in Bonn petitioned its national umbrella organisation to stipulate German descent as a criterium for accepting the currently 1, 300 students into these legendary student societies. In June, a society in Mannheim allowed a German of Chinese descent to join. The case drags the just over 100 German duelling clubs, which are accused of harbouring extreme right-wing ideologies, into a negative rather than magical light

Vienna, Berlin, Budapest and Paris: blogging city rivers

('cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:35:39 -0000

Europe's city rivers are both the place to be in terms of a good old rave - take the A38 ship on the Danube to Bar 25 on the Spree - and also for a spot of nudity or artificial beach time in the summer. Blog snippets from four cafebabel.com local team bloggers, who pay tribute to their watery city icons

German clown Marenka: 'hit a woman and it's almost taboo'

('Jessie L.',) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:41:48 -0000

For seven years, the 37-year-old has acted in German-language performances throughout Europe, a trade she refined in Hannover, France and California - how does her public react to her clownish mishaps?

Why one third of Austrians back the far right

('rhiannon_nicolson',) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:58:05 -0000

Votes dropped from 30% in the 2008 legislative elections to 15% in the presidential elections in late April. For many however, 15% is still too high. Is there really a lack of alternatives?

University: German students cross the Austrian border

('Joana Cansado Carvalho',) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:54:23 -0000

It fills up pages in both Austrian and German newspapers. The EU’s court of justice has taken a stand on the subject. In some classrooms some say that there is no cause for concern, while others warn that tension is in the air. What is really going on?

Free movement of French and Dutch foreign veterinary, medical students in Belgium

('Tam\xc3\xa1s K\xc3\xa9ry',) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:59:13 -0000

A huge amount of foreigners study two of Europe’s seven officially regulated subjects in Belgium, but its foreign student population of 6.3%, the seventh highest in Europe in 2006, is not heterogenous. Insight

German students swoop down on Austrian universities

('Darren Thompson',) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0000

In some border university towns, the student population is as high as 12%, as German students escape the various clauses in their own universities and enrol 'abroad' for subjects like medicine and psychology. A common tongue and the abolition of tuition fees are the fundamental attractions

Europe 70 years after the outbreak of WWII

('euro topics',) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:55:02 -0000

The German invasion of Poland seventy years ago on September 1, 1939, marked the start of world war II. The repercussions of the war are still felt across Europe today. The Estonian, Austrian, British and Portuguese media comment

Marmite and co: disgustingly debatable foods in western Europe

('Joss Corner',) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:00:00 -0000

Travelling around Europe, you’re never safe from a bad gastronomic surprise, be it vegetable yeast spread, bull’s tail, pig’s head paté, mushroom spread and much more ... brace your guts. Plus, a recipe for stewed oxtail

Europe has voted: so what's the trend?

('euro topics',) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0000

From 4 - 7 June 2009 the citizens of the 27 EU member states cast their votes for a new European parliament. The voter turnout was relatively low, but the trends are clear to see. In many countries right-wing parties gained a larger share of the vote while national governments were punished. The press in Holland, Poland, Italy, Finland, Austria and Hungary speak

Why Austria might fall with central and eastern Europe

('Hayley Worsley-Carter',) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:15:00 -0000

Will the European Union be under threat of the financial crisis that is eating away at its eastern members? A barrage of bad news suggests that it might. Solidarity may be the only way to come to eastern Europe’s aid and to save its member states from possible danger

Music in March: Killed by 9V Batteries and Extraperlo

('Andrew Christie',) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Paris-Berlin machine rock, continental breakfast from Barcelona and Austrian pot-washers –spring is blossoming in many ways on the music scene! Café Babel’s music diary for March

No skilled labour in Austria? In Hungary, Csorna hangs in there

('Media Consulta',) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:53:32 -0000

A Vienna-based company was looking for skilled workers. Since it failed to find any in Austria, it moved to a small town in Hungary. Here, locals are hoping to find new prosperity

Voting aged 16: are the Austrians Europe's most mature?

('Aatish Pattni',) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0000

The Austrians will be the youngest voters in Europe during the upcoming European elections in June 2009. 'At 16 they’re grown up enough,' says a resolute Andrea Kdolsky, the Austrian MP in charge of health, family and youth. Making young people take responsibility for others may seem a bit off the wall for some, or is it more a tactical response in the face of an ageing population?

Austrian tabloids make global headlines with Joseph Fritzl, incest father

('Lucy Davies',) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Shortly before the incest trial begins on 16 March, the Vienna theatre production of 'Pension F.' is bringing the oppressive atmosphere surrounding the Fritzl case onto the stage, meaning it is not only 'the man on the street’s paper' who is discussing what happened in that cellar

Film review Austria: The Bone Man is rootsy, rank and riotous

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:38:11 -0000

The world premiere of Der Knochenmann took place at the Berlin film festival on 9 February. The bittersweet crime caper, starring the unfortunate private detective Simon Brenner, provides an in-depth insight into rural Austria and its relationship with its European neighbours east of the Danube. In the Alpine republic, Brenner is something of a folk hero. Here’s why

Austria’s ban on cultivating genetically modified sweetcorn

('Gemma Turner',) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0000

But is Europe's 'sweetcorn of discord' a great triumph with barely any consequences for Austria?

The Bone Man’s Josef Hader & Wolfgang Murnberger: ‘Intelligent nastiness is our speciality’

('Lindsey Evans',) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:19:21 -0000

As it comes out in cinemas, ‘Der Knochenmann’ is the third film adaption by Austrian crime author Wolf Haas. Josef Hader reprises his role as unemployed private eye Brenner, while the film is directed by Wolfgang Murnberger. cafebabel.com meets up with both in glittering Vienna

Press review: the European right after Jörg Haider's death

('euro topics',) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:14:54 -0000

Following the death of the Austrian politician after a car accident on 11 October, the European press speculates on the consequences for coalition negotiations in the country. Haider's Alliance for the Future of Austria could now possibly reunite with the Freedom Party of Austria

Press review: Austria's shift to the right

('euro topics',) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:15:00 -0000

The parties of the grand coalition government, which collapsed in July, suffered major losses in early parliamentary elections on 28 September. Right-wing populistic groups the Freedom Party of Austria and the Alliance for the Future of Austria received 30% of the vote. Causes and consequences

Italy favourites to win Euro 2008

('Andrew Burgess',) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:00:00 -0000

FIFA class the current world champions as favourites in the 2008 instalment of the European football championships. Some predictions on the first round challengers

Architecture blogs in Romania, Spain and England

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Most blogs devoted to architecture cover the whole of Europe through their importance, often even the whole world, by not limiting themselves to the presentation of this set of themes exclusively within the author’s country of origin

Czech your beer craze

('Sarah Turpin',) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:09:00 -0000

Before you make your own brew at home, find out who were the first ancient consumers

Hungary-Slovakia: 'Schengen won’t make my life better'

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

As we celebrate on 21 December 2007, for residents along the Hungarian border, Schengen is a historical event with bittersweet results

Ars Electronica: when Second Life becomes First Life

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0000

From 5 to the 11 September Linz will host one of the most important digital arts festivals. For the occasion one of the main streets in the city centre will be transformed into its virtual alter ego

Waiting for Godot

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0000

In Europe's opera wings

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0000

It's billed as a unique opera project which will occur simultaneously in five EU countries - but during the performance of ‘St Kilda – Island of the Bird People’ in Valenciennes, Europe made itself scarce

Interrail for the future

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:23:00 -0000

Spanning north to south, stretching east to west: travelling in Europe as of 2020 will be easier and faster thanks to the upcoming Trans-European Transport Network (TEN)

Slaves to 'ciao'

('Sarah Turpin',) — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0000

Written as 'ciao', pronounced as 'tchao'. In Europe, the use of the warm, melodious Italian greeting has been 'a la mode' for many centuries, often replacing more formal greetings

Ivan Rajmont - from Kundera to Stoppard

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The Czech stage director explains why 'European theatre' doesn't fit snugly into one box

Austria - after the Mozart marathon

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Last year, on January 27, Mozart Year opened with much celebration. Have we learned anything about the musical genius?

Foreign Treats

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 12:00:00 -0000