Downtown Zagreb will soon be getting its first green sustainable buildings! VMD Model, a developer based in Zagreb, will shortly begin construction on a unique green project right in the center of the city. It will revitalize a block in Donji grad, right next to the former Nada Dimić factory on Branimirova ulica, which is currently a large neglected space and parking lot.

As Korana Sutlić/Novac/JutarnjiList reveals in an exclusive on November 17, 2019; the 3LHD architecture studio won the competition for preliminary design of the project, which was conducted by VMD Model. Everything will be arranged around one fundamental concept: A new park; not just a neighborhood!

New Zagreb Green Spaces

Although this is primarily a residential project in the center of bustling Zagreb, it will be defined by green spaces, peace and quiet. Cars will not be visible within the neighborhood, but hidden underground. In addition to enhancing the value of the natural environment, this setting will reduce the effects of the urban heat island, noise and CO2 emissions. The buildings will also house Zagreb's very first vertical gardens. The block will not be closed off and the public will have access to a new park and passage from Branimirova to Ulica kneza Borne, much like the existing Ratkajev prolaz.

The project will be situated on a block of Zagreb, which follows the railway line, and is bordered by Branimirova, Bornina, Domagojeva and Erdödyeva streets. The site is a residential and industrial block, which housed the former Nada Dimić and Penkala factories. Since their closure in the 1990s, the buildings between the two streets have collapsed and have been demolished. This has created a large empty open space in the heart of the city, which offers an opportunity to create a valuable urban-architectural space. In recent decades, there have been several projects in this zone, which have led to a significantly higher building density than the current VMD Model project proposal.

- An analysis of the traditional blocks in Zagreb’s Donji grad revealed that public passages have always been present, and the creation of parks within the blocks of high-rise buildings, originated the concept of the new green urban block - says Saša Begović, architect, and one of the founders of the 3LHD studio.

High Standard of Urban Living

This feature of Zagreb's Donji grad block structure, which inspired the project, will promote a high standard of urban living and distinct lifestyle and cultural opportunities all within a high urban density environment. The layout of the planned neighborhood will provide space for multiple purposes: housing, business and recreation.

 A pedestrian path will be created between the north-south block of Branimirova ulica and Bornina ulica, and will replace the traditional block structure there.

- In contrast to the restrained design of the street façades, the interior of the block will be indented by multiple buildings surrounded by a park, whose dimensions and floor plans will be cascaded in height, closely corresponding with the park and green gardens within the block. A fundamental component of ​​the new block will be the pedestrian connection of the two streets, clear visibility, access to the city and the block, and the creation of a new large green area: an urban park within the interior of the block - explains Saša Begović, adding that the introduction of the park will improve the quality of housing not only for the residents within the block, but also those living in surrounding buildings.

Green Apartments and Townhouses

The project will include several different residential categories. Two-story houses (so-called townhouses) will be situated in a row with gardens, which will offer a very high quality of life and will be connected to the terrain, within the quiet interior of the block. There will also be apartments with larger terraces, which enhance the quality of outdoor living, and apartments with large walkways, city views and recognizable Zagreb vistas. The largest apartments will be housed on the top floor and have terraces with views of the entire city of Zagreb.

- We believe that, in partnership with a respected investor like VMD Model, we will be able to complete this very interesting project, which provides Zagreb with a new green urban oasis right in the heart of the city - says Saša Begović from 3LHD.

Neven Mikec, the Director of VMD Model, also shared his thoughts about the project, which will be a major stride in home construction.

- When we purchased this space, which has unfortunately been long-neglected, our desire was to create a green oasis, not only for the residents but for the entire block, and for the city of Zagreb. The project's vision is a new park for the city, not a new neighborhood. The main motive is to create something new, which is in line with green and sustainable construction - says Neven Mikec.

He is very pleased, he adds, with his choice of the winning entry, because the architects of 3LHD studio were inspired by his idea to add a "green theme" to the city center.

- It is also a project with much lighter building density than previous urban projects in this area. This layout will include residential spaces along with park architecture. The block will not be closed off for residents but open to the entire neighborhood - adds Mikec.

Engaging Local Artists

This project is a novelty in residential construction, and like the one completed last year on Buzanova ulica, it insists on sustainable construction. That project, which offers the benefit of a micro-community, will be taken a step further by the creators of the project on Branimirova ulica. Young artists have also been hired for the exterior of the building on Buzanova ulica, and will find ways to incorporate their art there, says Neven Mikec.

- We have never backed a housing construction project like this, and it will be the pride of our company and the city - he says.

The project will also include a kindergarten, which will be accessible to everyone, and offer plenty of outdoor space, and a playground for children, whom will be surrounded by greenery all day. Flower boxes will adorn the buildings and “green walls” are also in the plans. Rainwater harvesting will supply water for the greenery maintenance system. Plants will be cared for by VMD service, the company which maintains their other buildings.

On the ground floor there will be several townhouses with two stories with a garden. At the request of the investor, the project was conceived so that parking, garbage disposal and similar components will all be hidden underground.

- It would be great if our project inspires the further visual improvement of the neighborhood - Mikec adds.

The exact details, however, cannot be revealed yet, because this is still a conceptual design, he adds. The development and design will follow, so there is still no set price for the apartments, for example.

- We hope that we can start work in the spring - Neven Mikec concludes.

The completion of this project will certainly contribute to the development of this part of Zagreb. It will also create a very attractive space on the upper portion of Branimirova ulica, which has already improved to some extent with the renovation of the Branimir Center and Hotel Canopy. In the long run, it will be connected to the neighboring Gredelj zone, which is also undergoing revitalization.

For more information on Zagreb life, follow our Lifestyle section here. Also check out our sections: Made in Croatia here and Business here for the latest construction projects and real estate developments in Croatia.

For information on their upcoming architecture projects, check out the 3HLD website here.

November 18, 2019 - A formal presentation of Luka Modric's autobiography, titled My Game, drew a crowd at the Emerald Room of the Esplanade Hotel on Sunday night. In fact, the majority of those present make up the strongest forces of Croatian football in the last quarter of a century. 

Novi List reports that Real Madrid's Director of Institutional Relations Emilio Butragueno and Brazilian footballer Marcelo even came from Madrid. Of course, Modric's family took center stage, without whose support his career might not have had such success.

Modric's autobiography was presented by the Croatian hero himself and Robert Matteoni, an outspoken sports journalist who recorded everything in the book. With them was Tarik Filipovic, who played another leadership role. Slaven Bilic arrived from England for this occasion, who led Modric for eight years in Croatia, under the auspices of the U-21 and A national teams.

“Like all other children, I had my dreams, desires and hopes, but all that I have accomplished is more, much more than anything I dreamed of. When I look back, I can only be proud and happy,” said Modric, who was greeted with a great round of applause by the entire Emerald Hall.

On Saturday night at Rujevica, Croatia's secured their spot at the Euros. Since Modric will lead the national team at the tournament next year, it could easily happen that in the next twelve months, another expanded edition of his autobiography will be published. Namely, as he pointed out, the result from the World Cup in Russia was crucial for his cooperation with Matteoni.

“The idea of writing a book has been on my mind for a long time, and it has always been a great wish for me. However, I was missing more success in the national team jersey. That came true in Russia, and then we started writing. Robert and I have had an excellent relationship for many years and he pushed me towards it. When I decided that the time was right for an autobiography, I called him, and that's how things went,” explained Modric.

The intense collaboration lasted for over a year and the end result is My Game, which will be translated into twelve languages.

“For me, it was a great pleasure and privilege. In my humble opinion, Luka’s autobiography is one of the most important things to happen after the World Cup in Russia. He simply had to explain his life to people. We all know his football journey, and now we have a peek behind the scenes and are told the story of his family, which is immensely beautiful. I couldn't wait to write it and I hope we were successful,” Matteoni pointed out.

Judging by the reactions of those who have already read the autobiography, the work has been done at the highest level. It should be noted that Modric was also a guest of Interliber, a book fair in Zagreb before the Esplanade ceremony, where he aroused the interest of many. A multitude of young children came to greet their idol and obtain a signed copy of the book. According to Bilic, all of them will hardly find a better role model than Modric.

“It’s a great honor to be a part of the whole story about Luka. A man is the wisest when he grows old, but if he waited a few more years, volumes of books should be written about him. So much has happened in Luka’s life in very little time and he had to share it with the whole world. It is the duty of all the greats, and Luka certainly is one of them,” concluded Bilic.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

According to the founders of Submarine, the top Croatian craft burger restaurant chain, a burger doesn't have to be exclusively fast food. It can be enjoyed slowly as a delicious and balanced meal on a plate at a table accompanied by loved ones, a dog or good music. Their company is growing year after year and will finish 2019 with 32 Million HRK in revenue.

Largest Croatian Brand of Craft Burgers

As Boris Orešić/Novac/JutarnijList reports on November 15, 2019; a burger can also be savored in a space decorated to attract attention. If anyone is interested in seeing how their burger is made, they can look right into the kitchen, which is not separated by walls or partitions, but part of a well-designed environment complete with yellow accents. Submarine's newest restaurant on Tkalčićeva ulica opened about a month and a half ago and is the sixth to open in Zagreb. Add another Submarine in Rijeka and that makes seven in Croatia. In fact, there are eight, because another restaurant in Zagreb exclusively prepares meals for delivery throughout the city.

There are also two Submarines in Belgrade. Little by little, Submarine has become the largest chain of craft burger restaurants, not only in Croatia but throughout the entire region. And soon there will be yet another.

Croatian Co-owner and CEO Dragoljub Božović, one of the founders of the entire project, reveals to us that they are opening a restaurant in Trešnjevka and on Nova cesta near the Doma sportova.

It all started in June 2014, when they opened the first restaurant on Frankopanska ulica in Zagreb.

They say that they enjoy exploring different kinds of locations, like the restaurant on Tkalčićeva, which is in a popular pedestrian zone heavily dependent on tourists and located in downtown Zagreb. It is housed in an older building, which provides a specific charm and the feel of a hut made of natural materials. The yellow pipe typography of the sign has become a recognizable symbol for the brand as it appears at all Submarine locations and in original messages on walls. “Don’t panic, it’s organic,” reads one, and is the obviously the message that guests like the most. Music from Submarine radio plays from speakers.

Luka Jureško/Operations Director and Dragoljub Božović/Co-Owner and General Director at Submarine | Photo Credit: Darko Tomaš/CROPIX

Complete Brand Experience

 “We want our guests to have a pleasant experience at Submarine; one that is more than just gastronomic. Music is a very important component, so we agreed to partner with Yammat FM, which arranges our music playlist. The playlist, updated daily, features Croatian and international music that we identify with: urban, cheerful and positive. All seven Croatian Submarine restaurants play the same music from this exclusive radio program 24 hours a day. To further introduce ourselves to our guests, we offer voice content and programs in addition to music,” explains operations director Luka Jureško, 38, who joined the Submarine team two and a half years ago. As a political scientist, he previously worked mostly in public relations.

Dragoljub Božović, 38, from Rijeka, reveals that he is an economist who, before joining Submarine, was mainly involved in sales and had no experience in the restaurant industry. Along with Alexander Lazinic, he came up with the idea of ​​opening a burger restaurant, and moved to Zagreb where he has enjoyed considerable success.

“While traveling around the world, we realized that the restaurant scene was beginning to change, and that people were increasingly eager to enjoy simple food in a comfortable atmosphere. The fast and casual dining concept provides guests with quick relaxed service provided by servers in a format like a traditional restaurant. Basically, we offer three basic types of dishes: burgers, fries and salads. Our concept was to use only local foods. A burger does not have to be a bad quality meal at all. We wanted to offer meals that I would want my child to eat. Our guests understood this very quickly. Once the restaurant on Frankopanska was well established, we started to expand, which has been our goal from the very beginning,” says Božović.

From Croatian Farm to Table

Regarding the question of non-Croatian menu offerings; avocado is the short and clear answer. Tuna, he adds, is also unfortunately not from Croatia because Adriatic tuna is exported. We source our beef from Croatian farms, potatoes from Lika, cheese from Ludbreg, sausage from Slavonia, truffles from Istria, and pancetta from the Dalmatian hinterland.

They work with about ten family businesses. This year, they have already ordered 150 tons of potatoes and have cooked around two million burgers in five years. They only use Zvijezda mayonnaise without preservatives. Their menu must be of superior quality, they insist. Therefore, this kind of burger doesn’t go for HRK 20. At first, their guests were mostly young people. However, as they successfully spread the word that a burger can be a healthy meal; people of all ages, and often families with children, began to arrive. On Sundays, the children's menus are free of charge.

They called themselves Yellow Submarine at first, and they chose that name precisely because of their favorite Beatles song. They wanted to obtain a copyright for that name, but that idea did not garner the approval from the owner of the Beatles copyright. Therefore, they removed “Yellow” from the name, although the company is still called Yellow Submarine.

Submarine on Radnička ulica in Zagreb | Photo Credit: Submarine

Steady Continued Growth

After opening the flagship restaurant on Frankopanska in 2015, they opened a second restaurant in Radnička ulica; then one in Belgrade. They tell us that they wanted to see how their concept would work in business zones and abroad. In both instances, they have been successful.

By 2016, they began operating restaurants on Slavonska avenija in Žitnjak, on Bogovićeva ulica and then on Marulićeva ulica in Rijeka. In 2018, they opened another Submarine on Bukovačka ulica in Maksimir.

“From the very beginning, we wanted to support small Croatian producers and have been sourcing domestic products, which guarantees quality. Therefore, we have hired a logistics company which has a warehouse in Sveta nedjelja, and groceries come from all our suppliers go there first. Then they are distributed to our restaurants,” Božović continues, adding that they currently have one hundred employees: most of them chefs, servers and restaurant managers.

They still manage to find employees in Croatia. However, the available workforce in the Croatian restaurant industry is lacking and they are seriously considering hiring employees from abroad; most likely from the Philippines, Nepal, and Syria. Even in business, they are open-minded and free-spirited by nature.

"We hope that the VAT for the restaurant industry will drop to 13 percent next year, at which point we’ll immediately increase wages. And we understand how important our associates are to our business. We regularly organize various training and team building sessions and breakfast meetings for our employees where we can discuss everything. Our employees thrive if they have desire, will and ambition. A server and chef can become a shift chef or restaurant manager. The restaurant industry can be extremely stressful and there isn’t any time of the year for rest,” Jureško points out, adding that they are busiest from spring to fall, when the terraces are open. However, they did extremely well during the Advent season last year.

The tourist season, in fact, now lasts almost the entire year in Zagreb, with a small pause from mid-January to the end of March. They are proud of the fact that a well-known international web site ranked them among the top 50 burger restaurants in the world according to strict criteria.

Competition Welcome

 “In recent years, a lot of craft burger bars have been opened in Zagreb and Croatia. In the meantime, some have also closed. Many have survived, however, and it is in our interest to have as many as possible and have a rich varied burger scene. We do not view others as hostile competition; quite the opposite. Today, a guest may eat a burger with us; tomorrow with someone else. The burger scene is growing all over the world. In London, for example, it increased by ten per cent last year. This scene is not a bubble, obviously. However, it isn’t enough to offer any kind of pastry, burger, salad or sauce; but to offer quality and consistency, and not deviate,” claims Jureško. Božović adds that the burger is comparable to pizza in that demand will continue to grow.

Therefore, he believes, it is realistic that new burger restaurants will continue to open and expand. And Submarine does not intend to stop expanding. Their income and number of employees grows from year to year. Last year, they made about HRK 20 million, and this year they expect to end up with income of HRK 32 or 33 million. They plan to continue to grow in the coming year and will invest most of their profits in expanding their business. Currently, they rent their spaces as they want to focus on the restaurant industry; not on real estate.

Submarine on Bogovićeva ulica in Zagreb | Photo Credit: Submarine

Location, Location, Location!

"We know what we want and how to be good at it. The restaurant industry is generally profitable. There is a lot of investment in this industry around the world because it often provides a quick return. We want to build a significant business. Next year we will open our very first neighborhood restaurant on Nova cesta, and there should be three more by the end of the year, and not just in Zagreb. We would like to open a Submarine in Split and Osijek and preferably in one more city in Dalmatia, perhaps Zadar or Šibenik. We are actively searching for Croatian locations, but it isn’t that easy to find space in a desirable location and for that there is no compromise. We have a solid brand and concept, and if you choose the right location, there is no cause for concern. We would like to have about twenty restaurants running in Croatia over the next few years. There are certainly opportunities in Karlovac, Varaždin, Pula, and Dubrovnik. Our goal is to expand our delivery service so that it covers all of Zagreb. We started delivering over a month ago and demand is very strong. It is becoming increasingly normal for people to order everything online and have the product they want arrive at their doorstep. This is a trend we simply cannot ignore and strive to be the best in it. Having quality partners is an essential key to our success,” Božović says, pointing out that they are partnering with a number of distinguished Croatian chefs, who are involved in creating new recipes, dishes and menus.

Top Croatian Chef Partners

Among the more prominent names are “MasterChef” winner Denis Zembo, two-star Michelin chef Mario Bernatović, TJ Caparas who has three Michelin stars, famous Croatian chef Mate Janković, and Lana Klingor; who is also known as “sLANA KUHArica.”

Their menu consistently offers the five same burgers. The additional three vary depending on the season. The most popular burger is the crispy smoked bacon burger with the so-called barbecue sauce. Also notable are the French fries, which are hand washed, cut and enriched with various accessories and sauces. Guests especially like the truffle fries with Grana Padano cheese, which became a best-seller shortly after they debuted. From day one, they have made their own mayonnaise-based sauces, which they use for both fries and burgers.

“People want an experience. They want to enjoy themselves, and they know they will with us. And, that is priceless, "says Jureško, adding that they are constantly following the guests’ comments and feedback on social networks so that they can respond immediately if something is not right.

Dogs Are Welcome

They also are happy to point out that dogs are welcomed in their establishments, of course, provided they are decent, which is also true of humans. They also plan to offer a special dog menu soon.

“Everything starts with me. Just as I wanted a restaurant where my child would feel good, so I want my dog ​​to be comfortable and to cultivate good relationships with everyone. The goal is for everyone to feel good. We have traveled around the world and observed what others are doing. We saw a lot of different styles but haven’t copied anyone. It was challenging at first, because we were learning the business and it was not easy to consolidate our suppliers. Standardization is a big challenge. Like the bureaucracy,” says Božović, who is disturbed by the fact that restauranteurs in Croatia often get a bad rap.

His enthusiasm for this business has not wavered, he admits, and he’s been able to impart that energy to his associates, many of whom he has befriended, because they spend many hours working, socializing and having fun together.

Kitchen activity at the Submarine on Tkalčićeva ulica in Zagreb | Photo Credit: Darko Tomaš/CROPIX

Further Expansion

Their success, he claims, is due to the team's enthusiasm and hard work. He also reveals to us that they have already received many inquiries from abroad from people who would like to open Submarine franchises in various countries: from Germany, Italy, Sweden and Norway, to Qatar, Dubai and countries from the Far East. In the foreseeable future, this kind of expansion appeals to them. But for now, they want to stabilize their business and establish themselves a little more in the domestic arena. They plan to proceed step by step, without rushing, and will carefully consider their next business moves.

If everything goes according to plan, Submarine, an original Croatian brand, could become recognizable far beyond the borders of our country, but only on the condition that all restaurants maintain consistent offerings and quality. Today, that objective is no longer just a dream.

For more information on successful Croatian companies, follow our business section here. For information on restaurants in Croatia, follow our lifestyle section here.

To find a Submarine near you or order online, go here. And you can listen to their radio station here.

ZAGREB, November 16, 2019 - Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić on Friday expressed confidence that the Zagreb city plan, which includes the so-called Zagreb Manhattan project, would be on the agenda of the City Assembly and would be adopted in December.

Amendments to the city plan, which envisage the launching of the so-called Zagreb Manhattan project, were today again rejected by the Construction and Physical Planning Ministry which believes that the documentation and project analysis required additional work and should be amended.

Asked if he had been tricked by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) regarding the project, Bandić would not answer.

"I don't know what you are talking about. The city plan will be adopted in line... with positive legal regulations," he said.

The city plan may be amended three more times if necessary, as long as it is adopted, he said.

He noted that the adoption of the city plan and the launching of investments was in the interest of the mayor, Construction Minister Predrag Štromar and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković alike.

The Construction and Physical Planning Ministry earlier in the day rejected for the second time the proposed changes to the Zagreb city plan, after it did so in July.

The ministry said at the time that an analysis of amendments to the city plan showed that the documentation and the city plan report needed to be amended.

This was followed, in the first half of August, by public consultation on the city plan which associations claim was not implemented appropriately because, of the 31,000 objections submitted to amendments to the city plan, only 17 were adopted and those were objections by the city authorities or city services while none of the objections submitted by members of the public, associations, initiatives and professional organisations was adopted.

Numerous associations, city planners and architects, opposition members of the Zagreb City Council and most councils of the Zagreb city neighbourhoods are opposed to the amendments to the Zagreb city plan, which would enable the launch of the Zagreb Manhattan development project.

More Zagreb news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

November 15, 2019 - ‘Let the magic begin!’ is the slogan of this year's Zagreb Advent, which will officially start on November 30 in the streets of the capital, with the traditional candle lighting in Mandusevac.

24 Sata reports that the central theme of this year’s Advent is the Nutcracker, which will be seen in several locations in the Upper and Lower Town - in the Gric Tunnel and the Oktogon. The director of the Zagreb City Tourist Board, Martina Bienenfeld, announced that there would also be Zagreb Tourist Board awards through the Zagreb Be There application. 

In addition to the Nutcracker, the emphasis this year is also on environmental awareness and reducing the use of plastics. There will also be easier access for people with disabilities at specific locations.

In addition to traditional locations such as Advent on Zrinjevac, the Ice Park, European Park, Gric Tunnel, Christmas Fairytale on Ban Jelacic Square, Fuliranje, and others, new locations were announced which will expand the event this year. 

The new locations include the Film Advent at Tuskanac, which will screen Christmas movies for all ages at 11 am and 5 pm at the Tuskanac Cinema, and at the Advent in front of HNK, guests can enjoy cultural events on the stage in front of the theater. A novelty this year is the Oktogon pass where concerts will be held.

Eleven festive music festivals have been announced around the city, like Advent postcards, Advent under Lanterna, Evenings with Brahms, Adventfest in the Cathedral, and Advent Classic Fest.

The Museum of Arts and Crafts, Croatian History Museum, and Museum of the City of Zagreb will organize special exhibitions and programs. They also announced a concert by the Swedish Professional Choir at Advent in Zrinjevac and Maksimir for the Feast of St. Lucy on December 10th.

Advent on Prekrizje will also return, where visitors will be able to find out all about Croatian customs, and it is open on weekends. In addition, ZET will introduce an exclusive line only for the specified location.

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

November 15, 2019 - 'Tis the season at Break Time! 

While we still have a good month and a half before Christmas hits, it’s never too early to get ahead on your holiday shopping. Thus, with their faithful customers in mind, Break Time has added three new collections to their selection of nautical jewelry just in time for you to accessorize the whole family at Christmas. 

Namely, all three collections feature the original Yacht Club anchor, explicitly designed for Break Time by the brilliant design team of Attila Kim and Bogdan Ciocodeica.

The limited-edition version of the Yacht Club by Break Time® 4cm anchor bracelet is an absolute innovation in the world of nautical jewelry.

What makes it so unique is that you’ll find a screw at the top of the anchor so that the rope and the top can be separated from the body of the anchor. This means that Break Time fans can now buy just one anchor and add as many different ropes as they desire (with over 25 available). By alternating the ropes, you can enjoy an entirely new bracelet for every outfit or special occasion!

Customers can also choose between the big Yacht Club bracelet (at 4 cm) as the perfect gift for your man, or the mini Yacht Club (2 cm), which is adored by women and children as a delicate and ideal gift this Christmas.

All Yacht Club by Break Time® original bracelets are handmade in Split using stainless steel anchors that are fully waterproof and fit any wrist (yes, they are 100% customizable). The anchor can be personalized with the engraving of your choice, and during Advent, engraving will be completely free - online and in stores!

The new Break Time collections are available online here, and from December 1st, customers in Croatia will be able to find them in the Break Time stores at Ilica 14 in Zagreb and Zadarska 1 in Split.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

November 15, 2019 - The 8th edition of Reboot Infogamer, powered by A1 is underway in Zagreb, one of the largest gaming exhibitions in Europe. And there no are prizes for guessing which is the brightest and most innovative stand this year, as Here Be Dragons strike again. 

Being a parent in any era is a scary experience, as kids grow and change so quickly. Just keeping up with this is a huge challenge, and trying to understand what interests them and makes them tick requires patience and understanding. 

But, man, being a parent in the Gen Z era is another level altogether. Although I pride myself on being relatively switched on (heck, we just started a Gen Z intern programme at TCN), in truth I have little clue about the role models and YouTubers who are idolised by my daughters. Just how little I knew became obvious when my girls met my best friend in Zagreb, the owner of geek merch store, Here Be Dragons. Let's call him J. 

J is a few years younger than me, but not that many, but in terms of mental age, he is arguably younger than even my kids. What was incredible to observe during their first meeting was just how in tune he was with their thinking, daily life and topics of conversation. Fortnite, Funko Pops and a whole host of other things I had never heard of. Apart from a pang of jealousy at this connection, I also resolved to do better and to try and enter their world a little more. And I made the mistake of telling my kids this. 

"Well, Dad, you could take us to Infogamer when it comes to Zagreb. And can I tell my cousins in Zagreb you will take them too?" And with no idea even what Infogamer was, I found myself making those parental promises that you forget about as soon as they are made. 

Months passed, then J called one day. I was on speakerphone in the living room, and he told me about this cool stand he was building for Infogamer, Giant tetris walls made of styrofoam and painted with star glow UV paint. 

"The kids would love it, you have to come," said J. The kids took over the conversation, cousins were informed, and that was the end of my planned lazy weekend at home with my wife. To Reboot Infogamer we shall go tomorrow. And so should you. 

According to the official website - This year's show will take place on a massive exhibition space of 21.000 m2 in eight halls of Zagreb Fair and it will attract more than 85 thousand visitors from all over Europe. During six days Reboot InfoGamer 2019 brings the most spectacular gaming show for you to experience.

I can't really tell you more about Reboot Infogamer in general than the original website, but I can tell you a little more about the Here Be Dragons tetris stand, which started off as a simple plan and quickly got complicated and took over four days to build. Apparently, most companies delegate their stands to two convention rental companies, and so most of the stands look very similar. The Dragons team - not for the first time - wanted to do something a little different, and so began what is sure to be one of the most popular stands at the fair. For not only do they have the coolest stand, they are also the Kings of Merch. 

In addition to fabulous cosplay stars such as Poisoned Muffin, above, the Dragons stand will be featuring some of the top merch out there. As the official licenced merch distributors for the likes of Harry Potter and Game of Thrones, not only is the merch authentic, it is also the very best on the market. There are original Potter scarves, Funko Pops galore, the coolest notebooks for school.  

And even the chance to pick up a t-shirt or two to make Dad at least a little bit as cool as J.  Here Be Dragons is moving aggressively into the apparel market, with more than 150 designs, with different shirts on sale each day, as the team do a little market testing to see which designs are most popular ahead of the Christmas rush. And the designs are VERY creative. 

A key element of the Dragons offer is the Build a Bag option, which is similar to a mystery box, but with more of a guarantee of what you will get inside. The lovely Ivana invites you to a tour of the stand and a more detailed explanation in the video below.

This is the first time Here Be Dragons will have their own stand, having supported book stores with product at previous editions, but it looks pretty impressive. They are also partnering with a company called Bikini Scooters, who have the coolest electric scooters which the kids can test drive.  

The Here Be Dragons team are a little bit crazy to be sure, but how refreshing to see a young company not only putting customer service at the heart of what they do, but also putting customer enjoyment ahead of profit.  

The opening of their mega-popular geek merch store on Tkalca, with the entire street blocked by fans who had come to pay homage.  

Some previous examples - The Enchanted Village at Fuliranje at Advent in Zagreb.  

Drinks and a barbecue to keep the visitors happy after a huge turnout on their warehouse sale on Savska. 

I have no idea what tomorrow will bring apart from three things - very happy kids, a better connection and understanding of my kids, and - if only for a brief moment - I will feel like a cool Dad and uncle. 

Why not come and feel a little cool yourself? 

More information on Reboot Infogamer, including ticket prices and entrance times on the official website.

To follow the latest madness from Here Be Dragons, follow them on Facebook.  

November 14, 2019 - The second Adria Business Network event was held at the Algebra LAB in Zagreb, organized by entrepreneurs Željka Barišić and Kristina Krstinić. The event is aimed at business networking in Croatia and the region, creating business opportunities and encouraging continuing education. Through the event, everyone is offered the chance to find new clients and enter into lucrative deals.

Guest lecturer Damir Bicanic, head of Funderbeam SEE, pointed out what is needed to receive an investment through the Funderbeam platform, how many investors are currently within the platform, and what projects have been invested in since January 2017 when the platform came to Croatia.

Adnan Mehmedovic Medo, CEO/Director of Marketing, PR & Business Development of Fresh Island Festival/RNB Confusion, also guest speaker at the event, briefed the attendees on what is needed in a presentation to make investors invest €700,000 and shared information on events and festivals with global potential coming to Croatia next year.

“An extremely inspiring evening in which, thanks to our guest lecturers, we learned the details of doing business through Fuderbeam, as well as the novelties of the entertainment industry coming to Croatia in 2020. With each new event, we strive to provide current participants with up-to-date information and developments in the business world, and this is our imperative,” said Željka Barišić, an entrepreneur and one of the founders of Adria Business Network. 

Kristina Krstinić, also an entrepreneur and founder of Adria Business Network, had the following opinion about the event: “With the arrival of Fundrbeam in Croatia, as an innovative global company financing platform, not only is capital easier for innovative domestic companies, but the overall procedure is easier for potential investors. As a business consultant, I have had the opportunity to work with several successful innovative companies in Croatia, and I believe that such platforms are not only welcome but also indispensable, as they encourage the development of products with significant added value, and thus contribute to the global growth of innovations, which are very important in to today's world."

The new face of the event was Joseph Novosel, aka DearLeaderJoe: “I come to the event and find out that people are getting hundreds of thousands of euros in investments through the Funderbeam platform. I tore up my party membership card and knocked on Funderbeam's door. Thank you to the organizers for connecting us.”

Fashion brand Bonamie dressed the presenter and the event organizers for the evening, while hair was attributed to Ruža Salon, a symbol for quality and beauty.

The general sponsor of the event is Algebra, while the other sponsors are photographer Philipp Tomaš, Avon, InspireMe, Vina Posavec, Tomino wine, Aero Print.

The media sponsors of the event are magazine and portal Poduzetnik, magazine and portal Zaposlena, Netokracija, Bug, She.hr, Zagrebonline.hr, Story.hr, Rep.hr, Glas Istre, Glas Hrvatske, Flash.hr and Total Croatia News.  

The next Adria Business Network event takes place on 18.12.2019 at 6 pm at the Bagatin Clinic, when it is hosted by the director of the Bagatin Clinic, Ognjen Bagatin.

You can follow Adria Business Network on Facebook here.

To read more about business in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

November 14, 2019 - The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for new flights to Croatia with updates from Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, and Zadar. 

Ex Yu Aviation reports that low-cost carrier Eurowings will discontinue services from Berlin and Dusseldorf to Zagreb at the end of March next year, namely on March 28, 2020. In the past, Eurowings has complained about Zagreb Airport's significantly high airport fees, which is tough for low-cost carriers. With no competition on these two routes, Zagreb will no longer be linked to the German capital.

However, operations from Cologne and Stuttgart and their seasonal summer service to Hamburg will continue as usual. Next summer, Eurowings will operate six weekly flights from Cologne to Zagreb, five weekly flights from Stuttgart to Zagreb, and eight from Hamburg, with flights running once a week between July 8 and August 26. 

Eurowings is currently the only low-cost carrier operating year-round flights to Zagreb. 

Avio Radar reports that Greek national carrier Aegean Airlines, a Star Alliance member, announced larger planes for all flights to Croatia in their 2020 flight schedule. Flights will no longer run on the Bombardier Q400 aircraft of the Greek regional carrier Olympic Air, but instead be operated by the Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft. 

The Athens-Dubrovnik route remains in operation with five flights per week using an Airbus A320 on all flights. The Athens-Split route will operate four times a week on the Airbus A319 instead of this year’s five flights per week on the smaller Bombardier Q400. Flights will no longer run on Sundays and remain on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The Athens-Zagreb route will operate three times a week on Wednesdays and Sundays with the Airbus A319 aircraft, while it will use the larger Airbus A320 on Mondays. This year, Aegean operated four flights per week to Zagreb with the smaller Bombardier Q400. This route will no longer work on Thursdays. 

Avio Radar also reports that Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair will introduce a new flight from Poland to Zadar in the summer. It will connect Zadar with the town of Gdansk in northern Poland three times a week, on Tuesdays,  Thursdays, and Saturdays from March 31, 2020. 

Ryanair started operating flights between Poland and Zadar only this year when the Krakow-Zadar and Poznan-Zadar routes were introduced twice a week, which will continue in 2020. The new Gdansk-Zadar line will be the third from Poland to Zadar. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft of the Polish company Buzz will fly on all three lines. 

Buzz started operating in 2017. Ryanair founded this company in Poland under the name Ryanair Sun and initially flew only charter flights from Poland. It has now taken over most of Ryanair’s regular lines from Poland and Hungary. It already has 24 Boeing 737-800 aircraft in its fleet. 

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Zagreb, 12 November 2019: The Meeting G2.5 Conference – Building Business Bridges - was held last week in Zagreb.

Croatia should help businesspeople in their work and support connections that create business eco-systems

• At the three-day Meeting G2.5 Conference, over 200 businesspeople participated, of which over 70 were successful businesspeople of Croatian descent from 18 countries.
• The conference finished with a business excursion to the town of Zadar, where participants visited the Pelagos fish farm, which is owned by general Ante Gotovina, while the town’s authorities organised a presentation on Zadar’s touristic and commercial potential in the town’s Prince’s Palace, with an emphasis on Zadar’s new business zone, Crno. 
• As part of the conference, particularly inspirational speeches were given by Božo Skoko, Boris Ljubičić, Marco Buzolić and Tomislav Anadolac.
• Marco Buzolić: “Our chambers of commerce must carry out a united strategy, and we must create a virtual ring that will connect Croatians around the world so that, together, we can create a more prosperous and stronger Croatia.” 

The Meeting G2.5 Conference – Building Business Bridges – which was held last week in Zagreb, didn’t just bring together over 200 participants, of which over 70 were successful businesspeople of Croatian descent from 18 countries, but also sent out some important encouraging messages to the broader public.

Marco Buzolić, a member of the Plava Laguna board, explained how at the beginning of this year he moved to Croatia after his grandparents had left the country 117 years earlier. Although he’s Chilean, Buzolić stated that he was also a proud Croatian and that he believed that, through his work and rich experience, he could help his homeland. He stressed that the greatest capital that Croatia has is her people. While discussing the greatest problems for returnee emigrants and people of Croatian descent who move to Croatia, he also presented solutions: the Croatian language can be learnt before, and after, arrival in Croatia; adaption to the way of life is necessary; acceptance of the Croatian work culture requires open and honest communication; and, finally, the key elements for every individual are resilience and adaptability. Buzolić called on the Croatian government to increase the number of initiatives that are geared towards attracting continual investment from the Croatian diaspora. 

“Our chambers of commerce must carry out a united strategy, and we must create a virtual ring that will connect Croatians around the world so that, together, we can create a more prosperous and stronger Croatia,” he said. 

Tomislav Anadolac, co-owner of the Zagreb company Duh u boci (Spirit in a Bottle), revealed how he and his business partner Hrvoje Bušić created, in just two years, the best gin in the world, Old Pilot’s Gin. Using only organic ingredients from across Croatia, they’ve succeeded in creating a taste that’s won the most prestigious prizes in the global beverage industry. 

“We wanted to show that things in Croatia aren’t as bad as they’re often presented to be. Here it’s possible to create the best products for the whole world, even when there’s no tradition of such production. Dreams can be realised, and what we need most is self-confidence, optimism and dedicated work,” concluded Anadolac, an ‘old pilot’.  

Inspiring presentations were also given by Croatia’s most well-known designer Boris Ljubičić, as well as professor Božo Skoko – Croatia’s most well-known expert for branding. Prof. Skoko presented the conclusions of the working group for the identity and brand of the Republic of Croatia (RH), which was founded by the Croatian president. 

“The important elements of identity, as a foundation for the RH brand, are: a brave, industrious and proud people; a safe and relaxed lifestyle; natural beauty and diversity; a preserved country and innovation, as the groundwork for new investments; social responsibility, through education and healthcare available to everyone; a rich cultural and historical heritage; and ‘sweet and salty’ food – that is, a good authentic gastronomy,” he said. 

Presenting seven directions for the development and management of the RH brand, prof. Skoko said, “Croatia has all the predispositions for becoming a country that’s tailor-made for people.”

At the end of the conference, Boris Ljubičić gave a witty 15-minute presentation of his work, and presented his own life project – the creation of Croatia’s visual identity, as a nation, and of the Croatians, as a people. The author of the world-famous red-and-white chequers – kockice – showed and described a series of examples of the visual elements and branding of countries across the world. He captivated his listeners with the rich meaning of deceptively simple works, demonstrating that an aesthetically uniform design can, at the same time, carry a number of important messages for the easier identification of a country and people. Of course, Ljubičić’s graphical world is filled with ‘kockice’ in various variations and shapes, which is also his conclusion: “Kockice, that’s what we Croatians are!”

The conference continued on its third day with a business excursion to the town of Zadar. Participants first visited the Gaženica port where the Pelagos tuna farm, which is owned by general Ante Gotovina, successfully exports its produce. The farm’s management informed the participants about the history of fishing in Croatia, as well as the beginnings and development of their farm, which exports virtually all of its produce to Asia, especially Japan.

During the visit, the rapid increase in fish farming worldwide was highlighted, along with the fact that the demand for fish on the European and world markets considerably outweighs the supply of quality fish. As a maritime country with largely unpolluted waters, Croatia therefore has enormous potential to redevelop its fishing industry, including the creation of similar companies and fish farms.

The business excursion continued to the Prince’s Palace in Zadar where the mayor of the town, Dr Branko Dukić, and his colleagues greeted the participants. From the representative of the town and the county chamber, conference participants heard the latest facts and figures on the area’s touristic and other commercial activities. The business zone Crno, which Zadar has been promoting to foreign investors around the world, attracted the most attention and questions. Crno, in Zadar’s hinterland, encompasses 400 hectares, and its proximity to transport infrastructure is especially attractive: only one kilometre from the A1 Zagreb-Dubrovnik highway, three kilometres from Zadar’s airport, four kilometres from the Gaženica port and four kilometres from Zadar’s industrial gauge. 

“We began the Meeting G2.5 project with the aim of connecting Croatia with her diaspora, and to present the potential that such a connection can have for commerce. In five years, we’ve met businesspeople with Croatian roots from as many as 29 countries. During that period, over 950 participants have come to our conferences. Among them, more than 280 businesspeople from overseas have met with 300 Croatian companies. We’ve organised over 40 panels, represented over 40 start-ups and, every year, travelled on business excursions across Croatia. All up, we’ve connected practically a thousand people. That’s our contribution. However, again we come to the question: why has that significant potential not been realized? What do we have to do to take a step forward? We think that all Croatians beyond Croatia need to become ambassadors of the country. Croatian institutions have to recognise that and encourage Croatian diaspora communities and the people within them to more actively represent Croatia and Croatian products,” emphasised Josip Hrgetić, president of the Meeting G2.5 association, the organiser of the conference.

Media contact:
Meeting G2.5 Conference
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To read more about business in  Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.