You may already know about the world famous Testicle cookbook by a Serbian chef, but do you know about the testicle cooking championship? Read the report in Guardian and NPR. I don't know why it's considered a Serbian specialty, I personally never tried it, nor do I know anyone who has, but hey -- maybe I just don't know the right people. Have you tried it? (comment on Testicle cooking championship)
Jim Jarmusch is making a movie about Nikola Tesla - I can tell already now that it's gonna be a must-see. Plus - it's not just a movie, but an opera! In case you missed it, check out this old article where I argue that Tesla is one of the greatest mad scientists of our time, if not the maddest of them all. (comment on Jim Jarmusch making a movie/opera based on NIkola Tesla)
Teofil Pancic, columnist of "Vreme" and several other watchdog journalism medias, was attacked last night by two men in a bus to Zemun. He is recovering from injuries made by metal bars, his head and arm are injured but his life is not in danger. The list of suspects is long, since Pancic has been known for criticizing all sorts of nationalists, and religious fanatics, and Serbia is unfortunately full of both kinds of assholes. Read more reactions from Serbian bloggers on Global voices. Also, read more about this topic on google news or twitter. (comment on Teofil Pancic attacked)
Maybe it's just some of Macy's ironic quips, I don't know - in a recent interview to London's tube paper Metro, she stated that Belgrade "wasn’t so good. It was very racist and behind the times. The streets were full of fat, ugly people;" I mean, racist - ok, it could be that something unpleasant happened to her, so she was upset. And yes, we can be behind the times sometimes. But the streets full of fat and ugly people? Hmmm. (comment on Macy Gray unimpressed with Belgrade)
History and break-up of Yugoslavia are difficult enough to comprehend for the locals, and we always have a tough time explaining it to the curious foreigners (usually drunk at parties). You would say that those actually studying Balkans would know a great deal about it, but it seems it simply is a subject beyond mere mortal's comprehension. Take a look at some of the student thoughts on Yugoslavia collected by Florian Bieber from the University of Kent. Enjoy! (comment on Yugoslavia Was One Big Mess)
Srdan Golubovic, Serbian director known mostly by his previous movie The Trap, managed to secure funding for his next project, a movie entitled "Circles" (Serbian: Krugovi). What's interesting about the movie is that it's inspired by the heroic deed by Srdjan Aleksic, Bosnian Serb soldier who lost his life while trying to protect a Bosniak civilian [belgraded article here]. The movie will focus on the aftermath of the murder and follow life paths of those involved in the tragic event. [via @ieishah] (comment on Srdan Golubovic to film a movie inspired by Srdjan Aleksic)
Gerard Butler is filming in Belgrade these days, and when he is not listening to the director Ralph Fiennes' orders, he having a typical tourist time. He already managed to wind up in a hospital because of too much Serbian food and alcohol, he's visiting sport matches, and he's a frequent nightclub partygoer. The only thing that sets him apart from the other average Belgrade male tourists (that and the presidential suite in Hyatt) is that women are chasing him, and not vice versa. First one that managed to actually catch him is a certain Martina Rajic, local model [pic] (comment on Gerard Butler as a Belgrade tourist)
I already mentioned Boogie the photographer on this website before. Boogie has recently moved to Serbia and he takes some great pictures of his neighborhood, while setting up a studio in Belgrade - take a look, explore it and enjoy. Be sure to check out his other blog too. (comment on Boogie: from Brooklyn to Belgrade)
Ksenija Pajcin (32), Serbian turbo-pop singer and dancer and her boyfriend Filip Kapisoda (22), Montenegrin model have just been found dead in her apartment in Vozdovac, part of Belgrade. So far, there is a lot of speculation, but the theory that has been confirmed so far is that Pajcin was killed by Kapisoda who committed suicide afterwards. What is interesting about the case is that both of them were very young and that this could be the first such case of Serbian celebrities (albeit minor ones) who ended their lives in such a manner. Other rumors suggest drug overdose, as well as the possible double murder, because of Pajcin's rumored former affairs with people involved in drug trade in Serbia.
Subscribe to the site feed to get future updates on culture, society and politics from Belgrade and Serbia. (comment on
Ksenija Pajcin and Filip Kapisoda found dead)
One of Belgrade's off-landmarks, the fast-food stand Loki was forced to shut down it's operation two days ago. David Dowse posts a fitting farewell to this charming fast food joint. I must say that I can't really feel sorry for Loki's demise, because the owner could have prevented it if he really tried. Not to worry, I'm sure another Loki will eventually pop out somewhere soon. Until then, here's a 360 panorama to remind you how Loki looked like. (comment on Loki is no more)
"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer."
Frank Zappa
There are many sorts of beer to choose from, while in Belgrade.
There is no way of trying to explain the taste of beer over the
computer screen, so the best way to find out which one is the best for
you is to try them all. But not at the same time. It’s possible to buy
beer in plastic bottles, but for true lovers this is considered to be
ridiculous, although it’s cheaper that way.
Listed are the sorts that can be easily found in Belgrade. In no particular order, with Jelen being probably the most popular, and BIP causing the worst hangover of them all.
If you have more questions on this subject, please dont hesitate to ask.
Jelen pivo (Deer beer)
MB Premium
Bg
Premium Pils
BIP
Weifert
Pils plus
Nik Gold (Nikšic export brew)
Nik Cool (light beer)
Lav pivo (Lion beer)
Zoffman
The following sorts are not so easy to find in Belgrade, as they are all locally and strategically brewed so you would have to travel across Serbia to try them.
Old Gold – light and dark
Gerber’s – light and dark
Ruski kvas (Russian kvass) – kvass (is this a beer at all?)
Jagodinsko pivo (Jagodina beer)
Niško Superior – Niš
Apel (only in 0.33l bottles)
Pancevacko ekstra (Pancevo extra)
Standard
Krugher & Brent
Valjevsko pivo (Valjevo beer)
Šampion (Champion) – light and dark, plus two varieties
Zajecarsko pivo (Zajecar beer)
Nikola Pašic – dark beer
Rooster Beer
If you want to try some good draft beer, go to Casina, Aleksandar, Bajloni, or the Optimist pub. Here is the list of breweries where you can get fresh beer any time.
Kasina beer club
Next to hotel Kasina in Terazije street
Ada
Ada Ciganlija
(sezonski, maj-oktobar 09-21)
Aleksandar
Cetinjska 13-15
3227 401
Bajloni
Skadarska 40/A
3227 402
Tosin bunar
Studentska 1, Zemun
Zemun
Glavna 43
652 322