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Cyprus celebrates Independence day October 1st September 30, 2007

Posted by grhomeboy in Cyprus News.
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Independence parade to go on as normal

Tomorrow’s Independence Day parade will go on as normal, a spokesman for the Defence Ministry said. “It will be of the same quality and duration as in previous years,” spokesman Yiannos Patsalides said.

He said the parade, scheduled to get underway at 11am, would last for about 45 minutes. The National Guard will be joined by token detachments from the Police, the Fire Department, Civil Defence and ELDYK, the Greek contingent in Cyprus. The march will take place on Iosif Hadji-Iosif Avenue in Strovolos, Nicosia.

The Editor of Homeboy Media News blog, sends his best wishes and congratulations for tomorrow’s National Day to all Greek Cypriots.

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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Festival September 30, 2007

Posted by grhomeboy in Greek Diaspora Festivals.
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The Greek Orthodox Shrine Church of St. Nicholas, 196-10 Northern Blvd., Flushing, will hold their annual Greek Festival Thursday, October 4 through Sunday, October 7. 2007.

It marks the 36th Anniversary of the festival that has become an annual tradition for the church since 1971 when St. Nicholas was the first community to sponsor an ethnic festival in the New York metropolitan area.

Greek music will set the mood of being in an Athenian café or on a Grecian isle. Along with Greek foods, the foods of Cyprus will be offered. After enjoying these cuisines, festival-goers can satisfy their sweet tooth by tasting baklava, loukoumades and other Greek pastries.

For those looking for a bargain there will be a flea market. For the serious shopper there will also be vendors selling new merchandise. For the youngsters there will be games, popcorn and sweets.

A highlight of a visit should be a tour of the church. The church, erected in 1971, was cited by the Queens Chamber of Commerce for its architecture. The church was designated a Shrine Church in 1972 when Archbishop Iakovos received at St. Nicholas the relics from the grave of St. Nicholas in Bari, Italy. These relics have been enshrined in a reliquary. Encircling the walls of the church are six 30 foot by 12 foot panels depicting scenes from the Bible.

The festival is held on Thursday, October 4 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, October 5 from 6 to midnight; Saturday, October 6, noon to midnight, and Sunday, October 7 noon to 8 p.m. Admission is free.

St. Nicholas welcomes all to come for a taste of Greece and Cyprus in Flushing. For more information, contact Rev. Fr. Paul C. Palesty, Pastor, or Kristine Marames, Publicity Chair, at 718-357-4200.

All things Brazilian in Cyprus > Fourth Brazilian Film Festival September 30, 2007

Posted by grhomeboy in Arts Events Cyprus, Arts Festivals, Movies Life Greek, Music Life Greek.
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The Film Festival will present six films from the contemporary Brazilian film industry at the Weaving Mill in Nicosia throughout the coming month. All films will be screened with English subtitles, with a great mix and match of genres to suit all tastes.

If you fancy a tragically romantic story, then go along to watch O Maiaor Amor do Mundo, The Greatest Love of All, directed by Carlos Diegues and awarded best film at the Montreal Film Festival in 2006. Born in a favela from an unknown mother, an astrophysicist working in the United States named Antonio returns to Brazil with the aim of finding his true roots. Suffering from an incurable disease, he discovers the reality of Brazil but also finds love in the arms of a girl from the favela. Violent and tragic at the same time, this film takes the audience through a roller coaster of emotions in a non stop search for the comprehension of the human soul.

If you’re in the mood for watching a documentary, then don’t miss a film dedicated to one of Brazil’s most famous songwriters and poets, Vinicius de Morales (1913-1980). He wrote some of the most memorable Brazilian poems of the 20th century and the lyrics of dozens of the best bossa nova and samba songs like ‘Garota de Ipanema’ and ‘A Felicidade’. The great appeal of the Vinicius documentary is the way it is intimately directed by his ex-son in law, experienced filmmaker Miguel Faria, and is co-produced by his daughter Susana.

Spending, drinking and marrying wife after wife, nine in total, there is not a single dull moment in this greatly deserved homage to his life. Sit back and enjoy archive footage of the man in action, interviews with his partners, friends and family, on-screen recitation of some of his best poems, and musical numbers played live by Brazilian stars.

Brazilian Cultural Month > October 2 until October 25 > 4th Brazilian Film Festival with six film screenings from the contemporary Brazilian Film Industry. The Weaving Mill, 69-71 Lefkonos Street, Phaneromeni, Old Nicosia, tel 22 762275.

October 16 > Piano Recital with Arnaldo Cohen with works by Levy, Gnattali, Braga, Villa-Lobos and others. PASYDY Auditorium, Nicosia. 8.30pm. Tel 22 663871.

October 25 > Opening of contemporary at exhibition by Anna Maria Maiolino. Opens October 25, 8pm, until December 15. Pharos Centre for Contemporary Art, 24 Demosthenis Severis Avenue, Nicosia, tel 22 663871.

October 26 > Brazilian Contemporary Music with Ive Mendes. Half Note Music Club, Corner of Saripolou and Socratous Street, Limassol. 10.30pm. £10 including one drink. Tel 25 377050 and 96 531315.

A Brazilian book month will also be organised within the framework of events, organised in association with the Moufflon bookshop, showcasing the richness and diversity of Brazilian culture. Books will be available from the Moufflon Bookshop in Nicosia and at all venues of the Brazilian Culture month.

For further info visit www.thepharostrust.org or call 22 663871.

All things Brazilian in Cyprus September 30, 2007

Posted by grhomeboy in Arts Events Cyprus, Arts Exhibitions Cyprus, Music Life Live Gigs.
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As we cool down with the end of summer, the heat is turned up by the Brazilian Embassy in Cyprus and the Pharos Cultural Centre with the fourth annual Brazilian Cultural Month

Whatever mood you find yourself in as October begins, there’s a lot of fun to be had as all the magic of Brazil reaches the shores of Cyprus in a joint effort by the Brazilian Embassy in Cyprus and the Pharos Trust. Presenting Brazilian Cultural Month for the fourth consecutive year, the events will showcase aspects of this colourful and vibrant culture through art, music, dance and films at various venues in Nicosia and Limassol. We’ve sorted through the list of events and give you the low down on the best of the lot.

Brazilian Contemporary Music with Ive Mendes > Arriving to perform at Half Note Music Club in Limassol, this is the first time that local crowds will be graced by Ive Mende’s presence. A real Brazilian diva, Mendes has already made a mark for herself in her home country, Europe and Asia. Born in Brazil to a family of Spanish, French, Portuguese and Brazilian heritage, Mendes brings a true cosmopolitan tone to unmistakably measured Brazilian grooves. Her songs, representing the Nu-Brazil style, are a beautiful bilingual blend of English and Portuguese, mixing tradition, soul and pop. All this is accompanied by a tender mix of bossa nova beats, slinky acoustic guitar and airy percussion.

Piano Recital with Arnaldo Cohen > The Brazilian born pianist Arnaldo Cohen, now living in the United States, has long enjoyed a reputation for wowing audiences with the musical authority and blistering virtuosity of his performances. Arriving in Cyprus for a concert at the PASYDY Auditorium in Nicosia, he will be playing works by Levy, Gnattali, Braga, Villa-Lobos, Nazareth, Dutra, Oswald, Liszt and others.

Cohen is regularly invited to appear as a soloist with major orchestras, notably with the Philadelphia Orchestra under the distinguished conductor, Wolfgang Sawallisch, and with other ensembles including the Cleveland Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic. In addition to his recital and orchestral appearances, Cohen was a member of the prestigious Amadeus Trio for five years and has performed with many string quartets.

Contemporary Art Exhibition by Anna Maria Maiolino > Anna Maiolino’s work has for some time been considered central to the development of late 20th century art in Brazil and Latin America, and she has increasingly received international recognition as a key figure in contemporary art. In a career that spans almost 50 years, Maiolino continually re-appraises her production, initiating new lines of inquiry often accompanied by the use of new media. Dealing with pressing issues of the time, an exhibition opening up at the Pharos Centre in Nicosia will present recent and past works by the artist, ranging from drawings and photographs, to films and installations.

Maiolino held her first solo exhibition in 1964, and during the late 1960s she produced a series of works using the written word, fabric and upholstery stuffing. Many of these were included in the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro. Since then, she has participated in numerous group exhibitions and held various solo shows.

Homer’s Odyssey September 30, 2007

Posted by grhomeboy in Culture History Mythology.
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The Odyssey is well known to classical scholars all over the world as the epic poem by Homer, the Greek poet. It has as its central character, Odysseus the Greek hero of the Trojan war and chronicles his long and hazardous journey home to Ithaca after the fall of the legendary city of Troy.

Homer writes about the twists and turns in the tale of Odysseus ten year voyage to Ithaca. During this period, his faithful wife Penelope never gave up hope that he will return home despite the amorous advances of many suitors who constantly sought her hand in marriage on the assumption that her husband had died.

Homer also writes about the temptation faced by Odysseus himself when he sailed with his men past the island inhabitated by the beautiful Sirens who with their enchanting songs lured unsuspecting sailors to their deaths on the jagged and rocky coastline.

Fortunately for Odysseus, he had been forewarned about the danger posed by the femme fatales, and as such he took the precaution of asking his men to tie him to the mast of his ship. He also ordered the men to plug their ears with wax so that while he listened to the sweet melodies from his perch on the mast, his men would not hear any orders from him to sail the ship towards the Sirens island. In this way he and his crew sailed past the island without mishap.

The Odyssey ends with Odysseus, after many trials and close shaves, eventually reaching Ithaca from where he had departed 20 years before, to set out for the Trojan wars. The Odyssey is no doubt one of the greatest works of Greek and Western literature.

Noah uncovered in ancient Greek art September 30, 2007

Posted by grhomeboy in Books Life, Culture History Mythology.
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Solving Light Books announced today the publication to the Web of 37 images of Noah uncovered in ancient Greek art.

The surprising Web presentation includes commentary by Robert Bowie Johnson, Jr., author of “The Parthenon Code: Mankind’s History in Marble” and most recently, “Noah in Ancient Greek Art.”

According to Johnson, ancient Greek artists and poets called Noah “Nereus”, meaning the “Wet One”, and also referred to him as the “Salt Sea Old Man.” Greek artists depicted Noah/Nereus in black-figure vase-scenes, red-figure vase-scenes, and in sculpture.

The Web presentation shows that Greek artists depicted Noah/Nereus being threatened and pushed out of the way by the Greek hero and rebel, Herakles. Artists also portrayed Herakles as grabbing Noah/Nereus from behind, figuratively bringing him, and his rule, to a halt. Ancient vase-painters and sculptors also put Noah/Nereus into scenes as a solemn and dejected witness to key events heralding the takeover of Zeus-religion, including the defeat of his Yahweh-believing sons, and the birth of the serpent-friendly Athena.

“The prevailing notion in academic circles that Greek vase-artists and sculptors spent their lives depicting imaginary or “mythical” events is absurd on its face. The Greek “gods” look exactly like people, because that’s who they were, our ancestors,” Mr. Johnson said. “An enormous amount of information about mankind’s true origins hides in plain sight in the art of ancient Greece. These many images of the Greek version of Noah, now made available to the public on the Web, are just a small part of it,” he added.

Related Links > http://www.solvinglight.com/features/37NoahsPartI.htm

George Michael to speak about drugs September 30, 2007

Posted by grhomeboy in Music Life.
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George Michael will speak about drugs, his recent community service order and his driving ban on this morning’s Desert Island Discs on UK’s Radio 4.

The super-star talks about his heavy use of marijuana, but says he is lucky enough to have the income to support the habit: ‘Do I wish I could use it less? Sure, but is it a problem in my life? No,’ he tells Kirsty Young.

In June, 44-year-old Michael was convicted of driving under the influence of prescription drugs and ordered to do 100 hours community service. He says he believes his childhood in north London as a favoured son in a traditional Greek family led to feelings of guilt about his easy passage through childhood. Despite his own attempts to sabotage his future, he says it always rights itself ‘like a plastic duck in a bath’. Amy Winehouse and Kanye West are two of his choices on the show.