Silvia Pintilie: Visual Artist

Silvia is the Winner of Salermo Talent of the year - Italy, the Winner of History of Contemporary Art, Marche – Italy and exhibits in Notre Dame de Sion Gallery - Paris. And she fully deserves all the praise when you have a look at all her fantastic paintings and drawings and work...

Creative Photography: by sergio

A few days ago a friend of mine recommended bysergio and I've been hooked. Sergio's concept of "creative photography" implies raw emotions transcending the visual and feelings of unique moments lasting forever...

Irina Predescu - The Butterfly Business

Irina Predescu is 23 and already manages a 4 year successful business - with butterflies.
For your wedding or even corporate events, Irina can make your celebration stand out by releasing hundreds of butterflies into the air at the right time...

"George Enescu" Music Festival 2009: The Legacy

George Enescu Music Festival and Competition - the 19th edition - is already a cultural brand with international recognition. Between 30th August and 26th September, classical music lovers are spoilt for choices in Bucharest at some of the most beautiful and impressive locations in the capital (National Opera or The Romanian Athenaeum).
There are also additional concerts in Tescani, Sibiu and at "Mihail Jora" Classical Music Concert Hall in Bacau.
Divided into 8 sections, the Festival and Competition will be attended by great musicians of the world: Joshua Bell, the pianist Christian Zaccharias, Martha Argerich, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Alexandru Tomescu, Diana Rotaru, etc. and orchestras: "The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra", from Amsterdam, "Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks", "Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse" and many more.

Stradivarius violin and Alex Tomescu

After a tough national competition, Alexandru Tomescu earned the right to make use of the famous Stradivarius violin which goes back to 1702 and has a specific unique sound. It's a privileged experience, indeed.
Mr Tomescu is currently touring the country to raise money for the Visually Challenged People Association.

Omagiu - 'Remix Culture' Magazine

Omagiu is a completely out-of-the-box visual art magazine which deals with highly creative young artists and producing shocking images of everyday objects or concepts. As Mr. Patapievici once said, you need to learn how to read this magazine first in order to fully appreciate it - it's shocking and disturbing and it's printed in English.

"Mathematics Gazette"- 111 Years of Tradition

For many students, "Gazeta matematica" has represented a real creative challenge to better themselves and to connect with a long tradition (since 1895) in the field.
Even if my subject was not maths, I remember with great pleasure this magazine and I could feel even the legacy of the great scholars like G. Titeica or D. Barbilian while holding it.
Personally, I believe this is a 'lovemark', not just a brand, and since so many Romanian students receive international awards in maths I'm sure it is also due to GM. Now it is available in electronic format to challenge people around the whole world..

Romanian Cheese

I am definitely a 'cheese girl' - I couldn't live without good cheese in its various forms. Benefiting from the ancient valleys, rivers and the Carpathian mountains, Romanian fresh cheese is exquisite.
It comes in several forms: cottage cheese - which every woman in the countryside has and makes with dedication and care; cas [kash] which is the pride of every shepherd and such a delight to all senses; urda [urda] which is very low-fat and every lady likes it because of its fine delicacy and special taste; burduf [bu:rduf] cheese which is a special type of cheese placed in sheep stomach skin to keep natural fat properties; telemea [telemea] cheese which is for people who like fresh salty cheese; cascaval [kashkaval] which is close to the typical French cheese but much fresher...
In Romania, there are several regions famous for their cheeses, e.g. Bucovina or Marginimea Sibiului...So, do take the opportunity and try all the types of cheese that come from eastern Europe as its an unforgettable treat...

Ivatherm - Benefits from Romanian Thermal Waters

Ivatherm is a young Romanian cosmetics company using French technology and thermal water from Herculane - an ancient spa built and used by the Romans and left as legacy until modern times.
I particularly like Ivatherm for its ethical management and care to high quality. If you feel overwhelmed by big brand manipulation and want to cut off the brand-price, you can try something more natural and alive...

Carturesti "Book Village"

Open at the very beginning of the new millennium in Bucharest in a 19th century traditional house, Carturesti has become more than just a chain bookstore - it is a miraculous cultural space where we can enjoy the benefits of leisure, high-quality taste - of books, audio and visual materials and tea - and the personalized creative style which is simply enchanting.
Nicoleta Dumitru and Serban Radu (at 30 years of age) are part of the young Romanian generation who had the courage to innovate and re-think the social context around them and, with a lot of passion and faith in clear concepts, they managed to build a company worth 20 million euros at present. According to the owners, "Carturesti" is "a high-standard cultural platform" which was not cut out for high profits. This cultural product is an 'in-house' project and the staff consists of art lovers who eventually turned into shop assistants, Art students and newly-graduates who let their fresh creativity become reality and even Romanian writers and scholars who even donated their favourite chairs when there wasn't enough at the beginning.
Carturesti proves to be a highly creative undertaking where young energies come together and inspire everyone. What drives people to this space? There's only one way to find out by simply visiting their site...

Until 15 July, if you are in New York, you can check out the temporary Carturesti Cafe Society on 38th Street and Third Avenue, as part of the Romanian Cultural Institute New York, according to this article in The New York Times.

The Honey...

Every time I go abroad, the second thing I really miss is the Romanian honey to go with the herbal tea. If the family beekeeper is out of town, then the best choice is Pastoral Georgescu - 100% natural honey, with a long tradition behind.
There are many benefits that both herbal teas and organic honey can provide us with, especially when they come from blessed natural resources like the Carpathian ones...

'Fares' - Miraculous Organic Herbal Teas

Every time I go abroad, one thing that I really miss is the cup of Fares tea in the morning.
Founded in 1929 by Vienna-educated pharmacist Andrei Farago, but dating as far back as the Middle Ages and the ancient Dacians, this small center of labs base their research and work in a fine combination of tradition and innovation.
Having been awarded by kings and high profile scientists so far, they simply gather the blessings that nature has been giving in a miraculous area of the Carpathians...We have the privilege to enjoy the beauty and abundance of nature in this part of the world!

'Sour-Sweet' / 'Dulce-Acrisor': The Best Chocolate in Town

If you are eager to taste irresistible Romanian sweets - be it chocolate, cookies, crackers, cakes for different occasions or ice cream - my best advice is to try "Dulce Acrisor" in Bacau.
This is a place I go to with great pleasure to try out 100% natural in-house recipe products that are a delight not only for your eyes but most importantly for your taste and that always leave your mouth watery and wanting more (!)
Dulce Acrisor works as a chocolate lab where creativity meets dedication and true passion...