August 17, 2022 - While this is probably not the biggest breaking news in Croatia these days, there are a lot of people angry and sad that a popular alternative bar, KCM in Zagreb is closing after many years.

I often get messages from our CEO Paul Bradbury which read "What do you know about this-or-that?". Usually, honestly, it's not much, but I'm a very proficient Googler, so I end up finding the answers for him. That is the dynamic which leads to him thinking that I'm the person who knows a lot about Croatia, so don't tell him it's all Google.

Anyway, today's question was if I knew anything about his local KCM in Mesnička being closed. I really haven't heard about that, and at first, I thought - oh, he must've gotten something wrong, no way was KCM closing. It has been a staple of Zagreb's cultural scene, a bar where exhibitions, workshops, courses, lectures were held, frequented by those who cared about the (alternative) culture for a long, long time. Located in the city centre, at the bottom of the Mesnička street, near the entrance of the tunnel and the beginning of the Strossmayer Promenade, it was almost always full of young people, loved by loyal locals and appreciated by tourists. Why would it be closed now? It made no sense.

And then I Googled, literally 'KCM closing' (in Croatian) and what came out is not what I was expecting at all:

To give you a brief overview of their Facebook post, yes, they're closing. They invited all of their friends to join them in the upcoming several days at their "Silent Protest Blanket Jam Parties", which will be the last opportunity to hang out there, as they will soon (not specified when exactly) have to close their doors. They thank the Croatian family farms, which are standing by them, so they will be able to welcome their guests with some local wine, rakija and a small snack, to thank them for being their loyal customers.

They go on to explain that all of the people working there worked several jobs, just to be able to keep working at KCM. They mention how they organized over 2000 various events and programs there, and were never helped by the local government, not even in a form of a free parking ticket for the performers to bring their instruments or exhibits. What they were given are 14 million kuna of parking tickets (I'm not entirely sure if that's hyperbole or what!).

They can no longer take the abuse from the institutions and the half-world (they use the beautiful Croatian word "polusvijet", which can be translated to English as "demimonde" and boy, it that a great translation and a metaphor) of Croatian bureaucracy. They complain that they've spent the last five years visiting various offices, offering bribes in the form of kulenova seka, rakija, and homemade Croatian cream from the industrial hemp for their hemorrhoids, just trying to find out where to get that one paper they were missing. They explain that in every office they were treated like vermin, made fun of for their appearance by the people in those offices unaware that their paychecks come from the public. They simply can not allow themselves to be continually blamed and punished, without any rhyme or reason, except for the desire to take everything they earn. One thing they still maintain is their freedom of choice, so they choose to close, and they feel like they've earned that freedom. They want their guests to find their freedom too, as they say that freedom is a start, while culture is the finish line. Their last line is dedicated to those who have been badgering them for years: "Get your head out of your own haemorrhoid-filled ass and stop thinking only of yourself."

As you might imagine, this post has caused a lot of anger among their Facebook followers and loyal guests. Many of them expressed disbelief that this is happening now, over a year after a progressive, almost alternative political power took over in Zagreb, and mention how many times they saw the current mayor in KCM. Others blame the structures put in place by the former administration, which were not dismantled by the current one. Most commenters are sad that KCM is closing and at the same time worried about what it says about the direction of policy of the city. Some mention the probable future for that location: yet another of the same bars, with a plexiglass-built terrace, where you'll be able to watch football games, owned by someone who is very capable of navigating the intricacies of Croatian bureaucracy and corruption. Just another step in the direction of a city without a soul. 

In another one of their posts, they invite their guests to join them tonight at 11 pm for a concert by Chris Ian, a longtime street musician in Zagreb, whom they call the "good spirit" of KCM.

ZAGREB, 23 Jan 2022 - The world drumming sensation Kodō will play Zagreb on 6 February with its new performance "Tsuzumi", a part of the Kodo One Earth Tour 2022 featuring masterpieces that have marked the troupe's 40-year-long career.

Based on Sado Island, Japan, this professional taiko drumming troupe has had a role in popularising taiko drumming, both in Japan and abroad. They regularly tour Japan, Europe, and the United States.

The traditional Japanese drum taiko, the heaviest weighing as much as 300 kilograms and spans a meter and a half wide, constitutes a link between nature and man that can not be illustrated better or more precisely than with the art forms of the exceptionally dedicated Kodō drummers, said the "Vatroslav Lisinski" concert hall, where the troupe will perform.

In Japanese, the word "Kodō" conveys two meanings: "heartbeat" and when read in a different way, "children of the drum".

Since its founding in 1981, Kodō has held more than 6,000 concerts in 50 countries worldwide.

Admission to the Zagreb concert will be possible exclusively with valid EU COVID certificates (electronic or paper form) and an ID document. Fast antigen testing at a price of HRK 50 will be available on the day of the concert at the concert hall from 6 to 7.30 pm.

For more on lifestyle, follow TCN's dedicated page.

April 4, 2021- Following the 50th anniversary of the death of Većeslav Holjevac, the Zagreb Museum of Contemporary Art exhibition on the former and historically significant mayor is an excellent opportunity to meet the guy who shaped Zagreb in the previous century.

Apart from the horror of the pandemic and earthquakes, 2020 was the 50th anniversary of the death of Većeslav Holjevac – who is considered to be one of the greatest mayors in Zagreb's history.

As ZG Portal reports, last month an exhibition dedicated to Holjevac started in the gallery of the Museum of Contemporary art, and you can view it until May 20.
The Zagreb of Većeslav Holjevac 1952 to 1963 – Urbanist Vision And Architectural Reach is an exhibition that takes a look at the eleven-year mandate of this significant mayor who transformed Zagreb in the post World War 2 era. Fifty themes and representative examples of urban and architectural achievements which were built, projected, or planned in Holjevac's term. This included three key Strategic urbanistic documents which played a key role in the development of Zagreb and were decided at that time.

The authors of the exhibition are architect Ivan Mlinar which conducted Urbanistic research on Zagreb in the time of Holjevac, and historian Hrvoje Klasić who was in charge of biographical research.

The exhibits were donated by the Museum of Contemporary Arts, Zagreb City Museum, Architecture Museum of Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Faculty of Architecture on Zagreb University, Jadran Film, and Zagreb film studio.

The 35th Zagreb mayor and the total number of mayors in Zagreb throughout its history includes 52 names. Today, Većeslav Holjevac has his own avenue at the entrance to Most Slobode (Liberty bridge), which allows citizens to cross the Sava river and enter Novi Zagreb (New Zagreb), and the statue of Holjevac overlooks the area of Zagreb he built in what is commonly known as „Jump Over Sava“.

Apart from being mayor, Holjevac took various different roles in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. Known as a bold person with vision, competence, and bravery, he made Zagreb one of the most developed cities in Yugoslavia, and despite having various rivals, he enjoyed the support of Yugoslavian president Marshall Josip Broz Tito, which allowed him to make his projects a reality.

Learn more about Zagreb on our TC page.

For more about history in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

Pandakon 2019, the Asian culture convention will be held again this year in Zagreb, on the weekend of September 14, 2019, at Zagreb's Močvara club. 

The theme of this year's conference is based exclusively on the Japanese culture, and it's inspired by the Edo period of Japanese history. This period of Japanese history is mostly identified by samurai in the general public, and it lasted from 1603 until 1868. The most famous ruler (shogun) of the period was Tokugawa Ieyasu. The strong economic growth of Japan, strict social order, isolation from foreign influences as well as the stable population growth, no wars periods and enjoyment of arts and culture characterize the period. Tokugawa shogunate is also famous for the rulers, their soldiers (samurais), the tales that arose in that period of Japanese history and the Bushido way of life. 

Makoto and Ichidan Associations will participate in this year's convention, and they will help guide the public through certain aspects of the Edo period. They will give lectures on samurai, Edo period origami, and overview of the Japanese anime that deals with the topic of the samurai. Talus association will hold a board-game room, Crouch Guard will provide a multimedia game room, and KCE Events with very popular dance workshops will also participate. 

The organizers of SKON from Sisak will throw a pub quiz on the Japanese topics. On Sunday two separate presentations of martial arts will take place: KIAI Japanese Swordplay Society, one of the sponsors of the convention this year, and Kyokushinaki Karate Masoyama Zagreb-Gajnice will promote their skills. In addition to two panel discussions and several interactive activities, the unavoidable cosplay competition will take place (which always attracts the biggest crowds), where the winners will be given prizes by the sponsors: "Here be Dragons", "Evergreen Sushi", "Time Restaurant and Bar", as well as "Exit Games - Escape Rooms". 

The evenings will see karaoke and Just Dance workshops, followed by a dance party. The entrance fee for the Pandakon 2019 convention is symbolic 15 kuna (around 2 euro) per day, and you can find more info on the program and schedule at the convention website: http://pandakon.wordpress.com

The festival will take place November 9 - 11.