Czechs have all the right moves when it comes to ballroom dancing
Taneční - the tradition continues

Domestic films fuel comeback at cinemas
More Czech moviegoers watching Czech films - a record 32 Czech feature films planned for release in 2008

New York Rangers set to open NHL season in Prague
It’s official - the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning will be playing each other on October 4 and 5 at the Sazka Arena

Czechs develop vaccine against Lyme disease
A Moravian company worked with Palacký University in Olomouc to develop the vaccine

The American coffeeshop chain Starbucks is finally coming to Prague! And I say, it is about time! No, I am not being ironic and I realize there are many of you who don’t get excited about the “stand in line and get your coffee to go in a paper cup” concept. All you Starbucks haters are probably dreading the moment the American monster opens its polished glass doors in the middle of Malá Strana and its sterile counters, plastic spoons and Wi-Fi slowly overtake our old world. To be honest, I don’t really care one way or another about Starbucks. I don’t mind it, I don’t need it. But there is one thing they make that I can’t get enough of: Mocha Frappuccino! If they bring it to Prague, my list of things to indulge in on my trips to the U.S. will be one item shorter. I know this is going to sound dumb and girly, but I am in fact really excited about having Starbucks’ heavenly, chocolatey concoction a tram ride away.

And here’s another piece of news. The first Starbucks location is to open in the space that has been used by Square restaurant on Malostranské náměstí. Looks like Square will have to find another square to move to. Too bad, but at least I won’t have far to go for coffee after I’m finished with my Subway sandwich.

Starbucks uvaří první kávu v Česku na konci ledna
Kavárny Starbucks budou mít v lednu premiéru v Praze
Cukrárna se přemění na první český Starbucks

Here’s an update: Czech Republic’s first Starbucks opened on January 18, 2008

Czech model enthusiasts get to work for Hollywood filmmakers
Patience and attention to detail pays off for passionate modelers.

‘Pâté vacations’ thing of the past for wealthier Czechs
Fewer Czechs bring their own food when traveling abroad.

Czech Egyptologists uncover intact 4,500 year-old tomb
Very rare find by Indiana Bareš and his team of experts (actually it’s Ladislav)

Model chanteuse sings pop lyrics
French-singing Iva Frühlingová has a new album out which includes two Czech songs.

Explosive prank could spell prison for members of artistic group
On Czech TV, members of this group broadcast images of an atomic explosion in the Czech countryside.

NHL notebook
NHL games between the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning in Prague? - look toward the bottom of page 1.

Czech scrap metal thieves get Darwin Award
Darwin Awards website - A chronicle of enterprising demises
As far as I can tell, the awards for 2007 have yet to be announced, but some Czechs have been nominated.

Number of Czech road fatalities increased in 2007 - police stats
In a previous post, I wrote about the new road rules that went into effect on July 1, 2006. Road transport fatalities dropped afterwards as drivers expected strict enforcement of the law, but it looks like fatalities in 2007 will end up close to what they were in 2005.

As of January 1, 2008, The Prague Public Transport Fare Increase is a reality. The Prague Public Transit Company rang in the New Year with new ticket prices. The increase did not end up being as high as was originally expected but it is still a noticeable change. A transfer ticket went up from 20 Kč to 26 Kč and a single-use ticket now costs 18 Kč instead of 14 Kč. A yearly pass is 4,750 Kč instead of the former 4,150 Kč.

There was a serious shortage of the newly priced tickets yesterday when it was nearly impossible to buy any. The situation was supposedly corrected by this morning but in reality, it was still an adventure to buy tickets. I was eventually able to find them, so here they are:

More information about new ticket prices can be found on our site at www.myczechrepublic.com/prague/tickets_fares.html.