Amsterdam Weekly: Vol 4 Issue 32, 9-15 August 2007

Volume 4, Issue 32

9 - 15 AUGUST 2007 Cultivators of cucumber culture

FREE

Plus: Pluk de Nacht insert

www.amsterdamweekly.nl

Creative with cucumber pages 6-8

Non-cucumber news: Military dictatorship page 4 / Shroom season page 5 No more heroes anymore page 5 ART: Recycled from science p. 11 / STAGE: Shakespeare in the park p. 19 / FILM: Seize the night p. 23

Short List . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Music/Clubs . . . . . . . . . .10 Gay & Lesbian . . . . . . . .17 Stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Dining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Classifieds/Comics . . . .25

9-15 August 2007

Amsterdam Weekly

ATTACHMENTS In this issue and...

The key to making the perfect cucumber vodka is not allowing it to infuse any longer than two or three weeks, otherwise you run the risk of a bitter flavour developing. First of all, peel and cut a medium-sized, preferably organic, cucumber into thin, lengthwise strips and place them in a large glass jar. Add 750 millilitres of quality vodka—forget about the designer shit and instead opt for the purity of Russian Standard—and cap tightly. Let the mixture stand at room temperature, making sure you shake the jar gently every couple of days. After a week or so, you can start tasting to discover your preferred cucumber intensity. When peak flavour has been reached, strain the infused vodka through a coffee filter into the original bottle. Cap tightly again and store in freezer until ready to serve. Apply to cocktail recipes—cucumber and lychee martini works particularly well—or add to icy gazpacho shots, and marvel at the distinctive melon flavour tones.

On the cover KREATIEF MET KOMKOMMER Photo by Simon Wald-Lasowski www.iammyownfan.com Carving by Pornchai Kliangnin. www.fruitcarving.nl

Next week Oh, right... Isn’t the season over yet?

Letters Got an opinion? We want to hear it. inbox@amsterdamweekly.nl

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15 BALLS by Arnoud Holleman

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Amsterdam Weekly

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9-15 August 2007

AROUND TOWN

MAARTEN VAN MAANEN

Despot despite resistance.

Burma’s total tyranny The fearful fate of the Rohingya.

By Floris Dogterom The 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for Aung San Suu Kyi hasn’t really helped the Burmese people to free themselves from the terrible ordeals they have had to undergo in the last 45 years. Nor has it, indeed, helped the country’s opposition leader herself in ending the house arrest she has been under for well over a decade. Just recently, in fact, the arrest was extended by another year.

The South East Asian country has one

of the worst military dictatorships in the world, where the generals of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) have made a habit of breaking records in the violation of human rights. Burma has the highest number of child soldiers. It has the highest forced labour rate. And, if that weren’t enough, it has deployed more landmines than any other country in the world.

War correspondent Minka Nijhuis (‘I prefer the term “correspondent in areas of conflict”’) says she isn’t interested in comparing the cruelty of one dictatorship with another. ‘Burma is a terrible dictatorship. Period.’ The seasoned journalist has visited Burma on a number of occasions.

‘Officially, Burma is a free market economy,’ she says, ‘but in reality it’s a single-party state. The military rulers are xenophobic and paranoid, and justify their regime by stating that a strong central government is the only way to keep the nation together. Undoubtedly, among

the generals are a few who really believe they are the saviours of the nation.’

That’s a sour thought, given the junta’s impudent self-enrichment by means of foreign investments in gas extraction, teak and dams. The main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), is effectively silenced—something to which an estimated 1,100 political prisoners can testify.

Nijhuis continues: ‘The generals live an isolated life in compounds far away from the people. They’re afraid of them.

This is also one of the reasons that the capital recently moved from Yangon to Naypyidaw.’

Apart from Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD, further opposition comes from ethnic groups like the Shan, the Karen and the Mon, who are discriminated against by the Bamar—the latter make up for an estimated 68 per cent of the population.

‘This ethnic opposition manifests itself partly as political parties,’ says Nijhuis, ‘and partly as armed resistance, which

operates mainly in the jungle of the border areas with Thailand, India and Bangladesh.’ This resistance, however, is up against the overwhelming military power of the government and therefore not effective. There is, however, a ray of hope. The ‘88 Generation’, spearheaded by former students, is in the process of setting up a people’s movement by organising prayers and letter-writing campaigns, in order to encourage people to express themselves. It’s an unusual protest that seems to have broad support, after years of silence.

‘Political pressure is hard to apply,’ says Nijhuis. ‘A way forward would be to stimulate the development of civil society by supporting local NGOs and critical journalists who operate in the country.

Supporting initiatives from the Burmese themselves, in the areas of education and political awareness, is also very important. There’s no point throwing mud at the SPDC—that will only drive the generals into China’s arms, a development that would surely slow down the democratisation process.’

Sazaat Ahammed, also known by his Burmese name Ko Ko Naing, knows in person all the other representatives of his people living in the Netherlands. It’s fairly easy, because there are only 12 of them.

The 33-year-old Sazaat is Rohingya, a member of a Muslim people who live in the province of Arakan, near the Bangladeshi border. Burma is a predominantly Buddhist country, and the Rohingya, like all other ethnic minorities, are severely discriminated against.

Sazaat represents the National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR), a party that operates both at home and in exile. ‘It is our intention to work together with other ethnic parties, as well as with the NLD, to form a democratic system in Burma. We are a Rohingya party, however. What we want is more freedom for all Burmese people,’ says Sazaat, who now holds Dutch citizenship. He was arrested once for his political activities, but fled the country before he could be arrested again. Sazaat states that the only solution for Burma is ‘getting third parties involved. Foreign countries, in other words.’

Sazaat continues: ‘Not many Rohingya are left in Arakan. Lots of villages have been destroyed by the regime.

We have no right to travel to another township, no right to speak about human rights.’ Many of his people have fled to nearby Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world. They often live in appalling circumstances in refugee camps, without clean water or sanitary facilities. ‘Our party has a contact person who lives near the Bangladesh camps,’ says Sazaat. ‘It’s a terrible situation. Children are not allowed education, there’s a lack of food and people are dying from cholera and other diseases.’

And the world hardly seems to notice. www.burmanet.org

Amsterdam Weekly

Off (with) their heads!

Has the magic gone from mushrooms?

By Remco Andersen Last March, a 17-year-old French girl made a fatal leap off a bridge over the IJ after eating magic mushrooms. A few months later, an Icelandic tourist strung out on paddo’s was crippled for life while trying to fly away from his fourth-floor hotel room. Three weeks ago, a Danish tourist took his car for a night-time demolition derby around his campsite in Zeeburg, nearly running over kids sleeping in their tents. He was high on a combination of weed, alcohol and ‘a mushroom’. Every other week, the media reports another near-fatal accident involving a foreign traveller lost in Alice in Wonderland. This seemingly new tourist attraction has not escaped the attention of Den Haag, where the Tweede Kamer is now pressing the minister of health for a nationwide ban on the sale of tripping fungi.

‘Absolutely completely ridiculous,’ says Paul van Oyen, spokesman for VLOS (Vereniging Landelijk Overleg Smartshops), the branch organisation for smartshops.

‘The paddo’s themselves are not the issue: it’s irresponsible use that causes problems.

Furthermore, the problem isn’t Dutch, it’s Amsterdams. Over ninety per cent of people needing medical assistance after eating magic mushrooms are tourists. Some people come to Amsterdam for a couple of days, determined to consume as much alcohol and drugs as possible, and take the mushrooms as a dab of whipped cream on top. Paddo’s should be used with caution.

Smartshops associated with us have agreed not to sell them to persons underage and to issue clear instructions for a safe experience. These include the advice to avoid alcohol and enjoy the experience in a safe, calm environment with friends you trust. If someone subsequently decides to take double the suggested portion and wash it down with a litre of whiskey, we are hardly to blame.’

One of the main opponents of mindaltering fungi is Fred Teeven, Member of Parliament for the VVD and a former dis-

5

Tripping over the edge.

We don’t need another hero. Or do we?

trict attorney in Amsterdam. On his web log, he argues that ‘according to the GGD [Geneeskundige en Gezondheidsdienst medical and health agency, responsible for 40% of the ambulances in Amsterdam], there have been numerous incidents with magic mushrooms in recent years, often resulting in serious injury or even death.

These numbers are ever-increasing.’

A 2007 GGD report does indeed show ‘a rising trend in paddo-incidents.’ While in 2004, GGD ambulances were deployed 55 times for a person in distress after eating nature’s mood enhancers, this number rose to 70 in 2005 and 128 in 2006. However, more recent figures seem to indicate a stabilisation in fungal experiments gone awry.

‘In the first five months of 2007, we registered thirty five incidents related to mushrooms, whereas in the same period in 2006, the count was at forty two,’ says Claudia Plantinga, spokeswoman for the Amsterdam GGD. ‘Not all of these cases require medical treatment. In about fifty per cent of the incidents, our personnel were able to solve the situation on the spot by putting the victim at ease verbally. Furthermore, it’s worth mentioning that paddo-related incidents are significantly less common than people who need our help after smoking weed, for instance. And the number certainly isn’t anywhere near as high as that of alcohol-related incidents we have to deploy for every year, which is in the thousands.’

‘I am aware that incidents have increased over the last [few] years. But then again, so has tourism in Amsterdam. I see a correlation there,’ says Van Oyen.

‘The problem is the absence of proper regulation. Paddo’s are classified in Dutch law as mushrooms: food. Because they are regarded as nutriment rather than stimulant, there is no age restriction and anyone wanting to make a quick buck, without being bothered by drug laws or safety procedures, can add mushrooms to their inventory. A twelve year old can walk into a tourist shop and leave with a pack of hallucinogenic mushrooms, without anyone having broken any laws.

‘We propose the establishment of a system of licensed sales points with specially trained and qualified personnel, and centralised distribution of information to potential mushroom buyers. In association with the Amsterdam GGD, we are currently developing a multi-language leaflet that will be distributed to all smartshops associated with VLOS, and made available to others should they be interested, as well as low-budget hotels, hostels, et cetera. The project will be complete late September; by that time, I think the politicians will have realised that a paddo ban is not the answer.’

Come next autumn, judgment will be passed on the future of magic mushrooms in Amsterdam. In the meantime, the political summer recess has provided a stay of execution for lovers and sellers of herbal dream givers. And while VLOS prepares ample defence against the political nay-sayers, anyone seeking to explore their mind remains free to take a fungal shortcut.

involved with Man Ray and started out as his model, but she developed into an important photographer herself.

‘Last but not least: Sofia Coppola. It must be hard to become a film-maker in your own right, when you have such a famous name, but she succeeded. She really makes her own things. Also I believe she is a person with great integrity.’

Mensendieck teacher Klaartje Lips (66) opts for a more personal figure: ‘Jim Thompson is definitely a hero of mine. He was an American architect, interior decorator and designer who set up a Thai silk business in Bangkok. I worked for him when I was in my early twenties and he has been a great inspiration. Not only as an interior decorator—he had a beautiful house full of the most amazing antiques—but also as a person. He was a clever businessman, yet with a heart for his employees. He paid them well and set up a school for their children. But he was also a bit of a jetsetter and a great host. I’ve been to many memorable parties at his home.

‘Another hero of mine is war correspondent Martha Gellhorn. I admire her for her bravery. It is amazing what she did, as a woman, in those days. She went to all the big battlegrounds of the twentieth century!

‘And, though a bit tragic, I find Karen Blixen a remarkable woman. She married a baron who owned a farm in Africa. Soon afterwards, he abandoned her. But she stayed on and managed the farm all by herself. Like Jim Thompson, she set up a school. At first, the head of the village didn’t allow girls to go, but she was brave enough to argue with him - and won.’

Art teacher and painter Marian Bot (37) mentions Judy Garland and Fred Astaire ‘because they can do something that I can’t.

As a kid, I watched a lot of musicals. And I used to sing along with Judy Garland’s records. Only from her younger period; when she got older she became a bit melodramatic. I am not sure I would call Fred Astaire a hero, but I do admire the elegant way he moves about.

‘But I guess a true hero is someone who inspires you. Who does something in your own field, but then slightly better. In that case my hero is Will Eisner. His comic The Spirit dates from the 1940s, but it is still fantastic. As a kid I was much impressed by his women: very sexy with super-tiny waists and enormous lips. I tried to copy those over and over again. Comics like Dick Bos or Erik de Noorman are technically well made but boring in style. Eisner, on the other hand, exaggerated things, he experimented with different perspectives and sharp contrasts, like film noir would do later on. His work is very lively, very filmic.

Simply brilliant.’

Funnily enough, none of these Amsterdammers mentioned a Dutch hero. Yet maybe that just fits in very well with the national tradition of looking across borders. As Bot says above: ‘a true hero is someone who inspires you’, so it shouldn't matter where he or she is from.

MAARTEN VAN MAANEN

MAARTEN VAN MAANEN

9-15 August 2007

Hold on to helden Time for old rolemodels to roll over.

By Marie-Claire Melzer Dutch culture doesn't have a strong tradition of celebrating heroes. And ‘why not?’ is what the Nieuwe Kerk and Rijksmuseum must have thought. On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the birth of Dutch seafaring hero Michiel de Ruyter, the Nieuwe Kerk and Rijksmuseum have combined forces to present an exhibition on heroes, called, simply: HELD. The exhibition is a multimedia event showing a wide variety of paintings, drawings, film clips, television images, children’s books, postage stamps and official monuments, all celebrating national heroes. Many objects come from the collection of Rijksmuseum, some of going back to the 17th century. The exhibition is divided into are five main themes: ‘Hero of the State’, ‘Hero of the People’, ‘Hero or Not’, ‘Michiel de Ruyter’ and ‘Personal Hero’.

Linked in with this fifth theme, the website www.held.nl is the place where you can add your own heroes. So what kind of characters are inspiring people in Amsterdam, and do they tie in with the exhibitions own chosen heroes? Designer Vanessa Melzer (32) doesn’t have to think long about her choice: ‘Robert Crumb! I love his comic book about Fritz the Cat. Fritz uses drugs, and he sleeps with lots of women, and, well, he’s a cat. I am a woman myself, and I don’t do drugs, yet I can totally identify with him.

I think that is brilliant of Crumb. At some point, Fritz is involved in a trio, next thing he has a steady girlfriend, or he believes it is time to find a proper job. Those are all more or less recognisable things. In the end, the comic is about the journey of life, about the search for an identity. Many serious books have been written about that, but most of them only make me want to scream. I much prefer to hear about life via Fritz the Cat. ‘Another person I admire is Lee Miller.

She was a beautiful woman, like a little blonde doll, but proved to be a lot tougher than she looked. She was romantically

HELD, Het Rijksmuseum in De Nieuwe Kerk, €10. Until November 11.

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9-15 August 2007

Thumbs up for

cucumber time!

Komkommertijd: those lazy hazy days of summer when the media grinds to a halt and the news cameras are forced to focus on yet another little kitty stuck in a tree. In this country it’s called ‘cucumber time’, in Estonia ‘cucumber pickling time’ and in the UK it’s just ‘the silly season’, but it all means the same: a void which must be filled, by any means necessary. Happily, the hole can be filled with cucumbers themselves.

You can read about them, pickle them, eat them or just fantasise about their sex lives...

PHOTOS BY SIMON WALD-LASOWSKI

Amsterdam Weekly

9-15 August 2007

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Time for a cucumber!

Cumis sativus vicis

When there’s no news, go cucumber.

Ancient civilisations all loved a slice of this.

BY WILLEM DE BLAAUW

BY NICK LESLIE

‘K

omkommers, drie voor een euro! Komkommers, drie voor een euro! Wie maakt me los?’

Yep, it’s komkommertijd, and at the Albert Cuypmarkt, the jolly green giants are cheaper than ever. Of course, nowadays, with greenhouses and massive air-freight transportation, virtually every fruit and vegetable is available all year round, including cucumbers, which should only really be harvested in the summertime. But we’re talking the genuine article here, cucumbers as nature intended them, grown in natural conditions, out in the open air, ripened by the sun.

Roughly between mid-July and midAugust is when they are picked and most widely available. Apart from the literal meaning, komkommertijd also refers to that time of the summer holidays when there’s not a lot of real news. The big sporting competitions are over, the politicians are all off on holiday, commerce is having a slow time, and schools and universities are closed for the long vacation.

On television, long-running series and soaps end their seasons with an—often ridiculous—cliff-hanger and from then on it is repeats and repeats and repeats only.

Wouter van Wingerden from Genootschap Onze Taal—the home of all things to do with the Dutch language— explains: ‘In this period, the media is more inclined to focus on news items that normally would get fewer column inches or no attention at all.

Articles, for example, on snakes found in gardens and items like that.

True, this type of news sometimes gets covered outside komkommertijd, but sparsely and not day after day with follow-ups.’

It is said that, originally, papers looking for news in this dull period did indeed write about the harvest of cucumbers and how much they would cost. They also wrote about which farmer had grown the biggest cucumber of them all, and included photos of the lucky guy and his giant green monster.

‘It’s quite a general word in Germanic languages and not just a Dutch thing,’ continues Van Wingerden. ‘In German it’s

called ‘Sauregurkenzeit’, referring to pickled gherkin time. We also find it in Scandinavian languages and in Iceland.’

(Other languages refer to this downright boring media period of not much going on in different terms. The French call it ‘la morte-saison’—the dead season; then there’s ‘the dull season’ and ‘the silly season’, as it’s referred to in British English, and even, in American English, as ‘the big gooseberry time’.)

Van Wingerden explains: ‘In the Netherlands, the term komkommertijd was first used around 1870—actually quite late compared to other countries.

The famous writer Multatuli wrote in an 1877 letter: “in the heart of the cucumber time”. In English, the term “cucumber time” was first used in 1700, in a little slang dictionary. The term wasn’t really widely spread and used. It was explained as a “tailors’ holiday”, when the noblemen and women went on holiday and there wasn’t much work for tailors. Later on, only “tailors’ holiday” was used, but both terms have since long disappeared from the English language.

‘It’s not known how these terms popped up in the first place. In fact, it’s not known where “komkommertijd” and all the other different languages’ versions originated. But somehow the term has had a widespread appeal ever since it surfaced.’

In the Dutch language, in fact, it’s not just cucumbers that get singled out for special treatment. There are several idioms and proverbs in which fruit and vegetables feature largely. There’s de appel valt niet ver van de boom (literally: the apple never falls far from the tree; in English: like father, like son) and honger maakt rauwe bonen zoet (literally: hunger makes raw beans taste sweet; in English: hunger is the best sauce).

Then there’s the joke: what’s the past tense of komkommer? Answer: kwamkwammer.

Are there any other puns or idioms featuring our green friends? ‘No, there are no Dutch idioms with cucumbers that I know of. Sometimes people link the word kommer—sorrow, distress—with komkommertijd, but it’s quite certain that this has nothing to do with it at all.’

‘M

ove over, Snoopy!’ I tell Charles M Schultz’s famous beagle, as I join him on top of his doghouse. (Snoopy’s too zorked out on fresh mushrooms to care.)

‘Arf!’ he says, lazily. Ah, how we all kick back in the silly season.

The clouds look good scudding past.

Shapeshifting forms are very entertaining. My spirit guide, the Amazonian sloth, waves to me. I wave slowly back. No hurry, just like the services that operate during cucumber time. Waiting for a tram to rumble by is like waiting for Godot.

Where is everyone? Mind you, tourists arrive in droves. Southern Europe escapes the heat by coming to party out in Amstonedam, sitting around as time slows. Like watching paint dry. Or cucumbers grow.

Did you know that cucumbers first grew wild on the foothills of the Himalayas before being cultivated in India 3,000 years ago? I can’t imagine what Indian food would be like without the cool, green cue. Imagine a curry without raita to douse its spicy burn. Allow me to offer you my version.

Ingredients 1 cucumber 1 medium red onion 1 tub of thick yoghurt (eg Turkish or Greek) Bunch of mint Bunch of coriander Cumin seeds.

Method Deseed the cucumber then chop into tiny pieces.

Finely chop the onion and combine with the cucumber. Pour the yoghurt over and mix.

Add some freshly chopped mint leaves and/or coriander to give it some magic.

To garnish, dry fry the cumin seeds in a pan or skillet, and sprinkle over the yoghurt mixture. (Salt isn’t really necessary, but it’s up to you.)

Enjoy.

Cucumber Facts • Cucumbers are a refreshing summer treat.

• Cucumbers are fruit.

• Cucumbers can stay hard for a week after picking—a week longer if wrapped in plastic.

• The silica in cucumber skin is an essential component of healthy connective tissue.

• When researchers taught brown capuchin monkeys to swap tokens for food, the animals were usually happy to exchange this ‘money’ for cucumber.

But if they saw another monkey getting a grape—a more-liked food—they took offence. Some refused to work, while

others took the cucumber but then refused to eat it.

• The cucumber has been cultivated for at least 3,000 years in Western Asia, and was probably introduced to Europe by the Romans. Records of cucumber cultivation appear in France in the 9th century, England in the 14th century, and in North America by the mid-16th century.

• The inner temperature of a cucumber can be up to seven degrees Celsius cooler than the outside air.

• The first documented use of the phrase ‘cool as a cucumber’ was in the poem ‘A New Song’ by John Gay in 1732.

The Greeks and Romans were crazy for cucumbers. What would a salad be without this fabulous gourd family member? We would be in a right pickle.

And London would look downright naked without its giant gherkin. The Victorians were fond of cucumber sandwiches—there’s something awfully genteel about them, served crustless with a twist of salt and pepper.

Ah yes, komkommertijd has its ironies. Parking spaces in the city centre suddenly appear. Nuon stuns consumers with a gas bill rise that almost doubled this summer. UFOs are sighted and Elvis reappears at Lourdes.

All this kind of nonsense pops up in print as parliaments shut down for summer.

All is well. The daily Iraqi death toll becomes numbingly routine. The weath-

er reports continue to cause concern, as we try to stay cool as a cucumber soup.

Here’s a simple but flavoursome recipe: Ingredients 1 cucumber 1 medium onion 1 tub of cottage cheese 1 litre of cold vegetable bouillon or iced water Bunch of chives Cream Salt and pepper.

Method Peel the cucumber, deseed it and cut into chunks. Drop these into a blender. Chop the onion roughly and add to the blender, along with the cottage cheese. Puree until the mixture has a thick consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Refrigerate the mixture until needed, then dilute with the water or bouillon to make it more fluid. Take time to adjust the seasoning.

Pour into bowls, and drizzle cream over each portion, along with a generous sprinkling of chopped chives.

Serve with sliced sourdough rye bread and Swiss cheese.

But cucumbers are very versatile. If you feel like something more substantial, they can be stuffed with tuna or crab salad. My tuna mix is swift: Ingredients 1 cucumber 1 tin tuna 1 red onion 1 celery stalk Mayonnaise Tomato ketchup Tabasco Capers Herbs Lemon juice.

Method Open the can, drain and plop in a bowl.

Add some chopped onion, and celery for crunch. A squish of mayonnaise, some tomato ketchup, some Tabasco (you control the heat), capers for sour depth, a squeeze of lemon and maybe some fresh thyme. Mix well and chill.

Peel and deseed cucumber, then cut down the middle. Fill the empty groove with the tuna mix and grind with black pepper before slicing up the halves into bite-sized chunks.

Enjoy with a little iced vodka to keep the spirits up.

The clouds are unfortunately gathering, telling me to leave Snoopy in peace.

Somewhere, sometime the slumber ends.

A factory whistle blasts a shrill come hither. Rusty wheels groan as the Anvil chorus clunks into action. Cucumber time is over again, and now it’s time to work.

Amsterdam Weekly

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9-15 August 2007

In a right pickle

The seedy life of sea cucumbers

Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head.

Is it nature’s vacuum cleaner, Viagra, or simply vile?

BY SARAH GHERKIN

BY LUUK VAN HUËT

or us, it’s a bit of komkommertijd as well at the moment,’ says Monique de Leeuw.

Monique is one half of the couple that own and run De Gekroonde Leeuw. Standing behind the counter of the little pickle shop in Rivierenbuurt, she explains the current difficult situation regarding the yellow cucumbers that normally constitute an important part of the shop’s stock. This year, however, they couldn’t get any, because the weather has been so bad that the harvest messed up.

It takes her a while to finish the explanation, because she’s serving customers in between, and none of them lets her get away without a little chat. Out of huge troughs that stand on top of the counter, she shovels gherkins and pickled onions of all sizes into plastic bags. A good portion of bright yellow liquid on top, a tight tie, another plastic bag, and another happy customer.

‘All our customers are regulars,’ says Fred de Leeuw, Monique’s husband and a fourth-generation descendant of the De Leeuw pickle dynasty. ‘And many come from faraway places to buy here, like Belgium or England—we’ve got a few English customers that plan their holidays according to the opening times of our shop! And then they come with a car and take away tons.’

The shop can boast a remarkable history. It all started around 1850, when Fred’s great-great-grandfather Isaac de Leeuw trundled through Amsterdam selling pickles out of a cart. They were preserved by himself, according to a secret recipe, which, of course, is still in use today and which has earned the shop its near-legendary status. What is it that makes De Leeuw’s pickles so good? Obviously, they won’t let me in on the age-old secret, but thankfully, they do let me try some.

Let me tell you, those are some special gherkins. There are two main sorts: sweet and sour. The sweet ones are very sweet, and the sour ones are very sour— and very salty. ‘It’s a real Amsterdam -Yiddish flavour,’ says Monique. ‘You go either for the really sweet, or for the really salty. In general, I’d say that the tastes have to do with culture. Israelis love our pickles and so do the English. On the other hand, French and Polish people, for example, don’t care for them at all.’

The family’s history is depicted on the walls of the shop on collages in wooden frames. Isaac de Leeuw’s son Nathan took over business, and a shop was established on Elandsgracht. It was passed on through the generations, finally moving to its current location on Vrijheidslaan.

What’s going to happen when the current De Leeuw incumbents stop running the shop? ‘Well,’ says Fred. ‘I’ve got three kids. I don’t know yet if one of them will want to take over the shop. But I hope so.

I really do hope so.’

Tradition aside, the De Leeuws move with the times, too: the assortment of olives has been extended considerably to cater for the more fashionable aspects of borrelhappen. And the shop sells a few gift articles and a bit of stylish crockery. But these are only very

marginal features of the shop. The star role is, and always will be, played by the huge plastic troughs on top of the counter, filled with onions and gherkins, small and large. I spot one that’s about the size of my head.

‘We buy the vegetables from farmers,’ Monique says. ‘Then they get preserved in wooden barrels, then filled into plastic ones, and then we sell them here.’ ‘Such a process wouldn’t be possi-

L

ble in large-scale production,’ adds Fred.

‘So for horeca purposes, we’ve teamed up with a company that produces on a larger scale. But the real thing you can only get here.’

And the story goes that none other than Vincent van Gogh knew how to appreciate the real thing, too. Once living close to the first zuurinleggerij on Rapenburg, he is said to have been obsessed by the colours of the pickles. ‘A time ago, people who were researching the historical background of his paintings could not place the whereabouts of a special tone of red he used. They found it back in our red cabbage in wine vinegar.’

De Leeuw pickles, baby. It’s more than just a hangover snack.

teries of the deep blue sea, I discovered I still stuck to the notion that sponges live in pineapples and Snorkels save drowning sailors. Determined to wipe this animated tomfoolery from my brain and fill the ensuing gap with the blessings of sweet knowledge, I set out to explore the strange and mystifying ways of the sea cucumber.

The first hurdle on this epic quest was met when I rang Artis zoo to get some cold, hard facts from their resident sea cucumber expert. ‘I’m sorry to disappoint you sir, but our marine biologist is on vacation,’ was the apologetic answer the lady on the telephone gave to my query.

She followed ruthlessly with: ‘Besides, I don’t believe we actually have sea cucumbers here.’

Luckily, Diergaarde Blijdorp in Rotterdam has sea cucumbers aplenty. I gave

De Gekroonde Leeuw, Vrijheidslaan 78a, open Thur, Fri, Sun 9.00-18.00.

ike most of my fellow members of Generation Y, much of my formative years were spent in a slack-jawed stupor, staring at cheaply made animation whose sole purpose was selling inferior plastic toys. It took a long time to comprehend that Marxist communes filled with tiny blue critters or alien robots that could transform into dinosaurs weren’t real.

However, when it comes to the mys-

them a ring, and Oceanium employee Ron Bernhard was kind enough to answer some questions. The sea cucumbers at Blijdorp are actually put to work, as Bernhard explains: ‘In some aquariums, we employ sea cucumbers to prevent the formation of algae and to keep the sand clean. Sea cucumbers suck in the filthy sand and it comes out clean. We only use them in aquariums where we strive for a natural habitat, with all species co-existing harmoniously, and which contain living coral reefs.’

After some hard and vigorous research, I discovered other fascinating factoids about these exotic oceandwellers. It appears that the sea cucumber got its name because, well, it kinda looks like the vegetable counterpart—albeit one that you’ve kept in the fridge so long it’s become soggy, lumpy and discoloured. They’re echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea, and as such are related to starfish and sea urchins. Their shape varies from oval to elongated and most of the species have an endoskeleton, although this is absent in some species.

What’s particularly interesting (or revolting, depending on your point of view) is that sea cucumbers only have one bodily opening to breathe, eat and poop with. Guess some critters do shit where they eat. Not only that, but certain species of sea cucumber have developed a mutually beneficial relationship with some kinds of fish and crabs that live inside the orifice of the sea cucumber for protection and food.

The diet of a sea cucumber consists of plankton and decaying organic matter, which they collect either by positioning themselves in a current to catch passing particles of food with their tentacles, or by using their tentacles to sift through the sand on the ocean floor.

If a sea cucumber is attacked, it can release a sticky substance to entangle the predator. When the expulsion of mucus doesn’t deter the attacker, the sea cucumber can take a more drastic measure by expelling its entire digestive tract in one go. If it doesn’t get snacked on, the sea cucumber will take a couple of weeks to grow back its digestive system.

One of the biggest threats facing the sea cucumber is actually us. The creature is a delicacy in some countries of the Mediterranean and South East Asia, particularly China, where it’s praised as an aphrodisiac. Never mind that preparing it is an intensive, arduous task and that the flesh is gelatinous and almost tasteless.

The demand for it is so great, that illegal harvesting of sea cucumbers is becoming a major problem. Just a month ago, a Chinese citizen was arrested off the coast of the Philippines for poaching 40,000 of the critters.

The last interesting titbit I’ll leave you with concerns the mating habits of sea cucumbers. These androgynous creatures procreate by squirting their eggs and sperm into the water, where they drift until one comes into contact with the other. Think about it: the next time you go snorkelling, you might be swimming in a cloud of sea cucumber jizz.

9-15 August 2007

Amsterdam Weekly

9

LA BOHEME BY LESTOIR

SHORT LIST

Aerosol Symphonies, Saturday, Go Gallery

SATURDAY11AUGUST Art: Aerosol Symphonies Connoisseurs of both symphonies and urban art aren’t as few and far between these days as one might imagine. MTV-style ‘hip-hoperas’ have emerged in the last few years, alongside modern adaptations of old classics like Bizet’s Carmen. The two realms will engage each other again during Aerosol Symphonies, an exhibition of art inspired by pieces of classical music personally chosen by each artist. Laser 3.14—known for his graffiti-scrawled street poems, which can be seen all over Amsterdam—will step in as the curator of the exhibition, and other artists like Morky and the Boghe and Faith 71 will also present their own compositions. Coinciding with the beginning of the Grachtenfestival, Aerosol Symphonies certainly hits the mark as a fresh addition to the time-honoured classical music scene. (Stephanie Shewchuck) GO Gallery (Wed-Sat 12.00-18.00, Sun 13.00-17.00/Daily during Grachtenfestival). Until 1 September.

Rock: SSIK You might’ve been made for loving me, Gene Simmons and co, but you weren’t made to last. Far be it from me to come down on Grey Power, but after the Stones, Status Quo and the Whoever Else has jumped on the geriatric-rock bandwagon lately, I’m starting to get sick and tired of hearing squeaky hip joints and wheezing voices through the tired old rock anthems while being surrounded by my parents’ generation (Mom, stop showing Gene your boobs! And dad, that T-Shirt didn’t fit 20 years ago and it sure doesn’t fit now!). Oh, and by the way, I blame you for corpse paint in general, the Insane Clown Posse in particular, and those poor goths who go to festivals all made-up and end up looking like weeping pandas after a hot day. Like the late, great Baudrillard would say (when he was really drunk): ‘Sometimes a simulacrum surpasses the real thing!’. You’ve been surpassed by your cover band. Retire. (Luuk van Huët) Melkweg, The Max, 20.30, €10 + membership.

Rock: Subbacultcha!

Ka-woosh! With one big, ungraceful slide, the bus touring Check 1-2 cross country crashed into a ditch, after a risky blow-out on the A2 highway. Band members Jim Pacobs, Sander, Ernie and Fat Pete are luckily scratch-free, but most of their gear didn’t survive the accident. So much of the Check 1-2 sound depended on their vintage Telecaster guitars, Philicorda organs and tube amplifiers that the Amsterdam band is currently threatened in its existence. Time for their fabulous brothers and sisters of Bettie Serveert and Scram C Baby to pick up their axes and mount the Bitterzoet stage

for an old fashioned benefit gig, harking back to the days of peace, love and a healthy music industry. We wouldn’t want the boys to give up on their promising careers, so let’s join the party and sing along happily together! (Marinus de Ruiter) Bitterzoet, 21.00, €6.

Classical: Grachtenfestival Harps, flutes and oboes, oh my! Audiences at this year’s Grachtenfestival will undoubtedly get an earful as the festivities roll into their 10th season. Scheduled over the eight days are 166 extraordinary performances, a special musical route through Zeeburg and the Dutch première of Jonathan Dove’s opera Siren Song. Aside from the regular classical music programme, a giant tea-and-cake birthday party in the Passagiersterminal on the banks of the IJ is planned to commemorate the festival’s decennial. It all comes to a crescendo on 18 August, when the stage is set for the Prinsengracht concert, a show so anticipated that crowds circle in on the Hotel Pulitzer and canal traffic comes to a halt. Many of the concerts are free of charge, but seating can be limited. With an array of venues like the Tolhuistuin in Amsterdam Noord to the Kattenkabinet and the Tassenmuseum on Herengracht, there’s sure to be a suitable offering on a gracht near you. Check www.grachtenfestval.nl for the full programme. (Stephanie Shewchuck) Various locations, times and prices. Until 19 August.

SUNDAY12 AUGUST Opera: La Colombe An opera with a surprising happy ending is how La Colombe—‘The Dove’—became known among critics when it was first performed in 1860. But that wasn’t meant as a great compliment. Used to tragic endings and at least one death—if not a much heavier toll—the French composer Charles Gounod’s light-hearted work was looked upon with suspicion when it debuted. Since then, it’s been largely ignored. But in 2001, the young opera group Trionfo staged it for the first time in the Netherlands, selecting it precisely because of its comic storyline—the rivalry between a dove with special powers and a cheeky parrot (and one of them gets their comeuppance). The encore for this year’s Grachtenfestival sees tenor Jean-Léon Klostermann and soprano Marije van Stralen in the lead roles—although there are only four performers and the work is a mere two acts long. The brevity and small-scale action makes it a great introduction for rookie opera-goers. (Jane Cavanagh) Theater van ‘t Woord, 20.00, €10. Also 13 August.

Send details and images for listing consideration at least two weeks in advance to agenda@amsterdamweekly.nl.

10

Amsterdam Weekly

9-15 August 2007

SSIK (see Saturday)

MUSIC Send listing suggestions at least two weeks in advance to agenda@amsterdamweekly.nl

Thursday 9 August Classical: Klankruimte Whispering Winds: Exploring the incredible acoustics of the old church in a programme performed by flautist Marian Jaspers and organist Minako Tsukatani. Oude Kerk, 15.30, €5 Pop/Rock: Fools Gold Indie pop and rock night featuring live sets from Deluxe and other guests. Winston Kingdom, 21.00, €5

Rock: SSIK A mere 35 years after the original comic book-style make-up clad rock heroes were formed, SSIK, Holland’s number one Kiss tribute band are celebrating their own 10th anniversary, and doing so in style with this huge rock ’n’ roll blow-out at Melkweg.

When forming a Kiss covers outfit, it’s important to agree on the right approach, and thankfully SSIK opted for make-up, costumes, pyrotechnics, tricks and guitar smashing. Flying above the Amsterdam audience may be a bridge too far, but c’mon, they’ve got to draw the line somewhere. Support from The Untuned. See Short List. Melkweg, The Max, 20.30, €10 + membership Pop/Rock: Junior Eats Alone Melancholy guitar pop complete with horn section. Winston Kingdom, 21.00, €5 Rock: Nuff Said Explosive and energetic power pop and rock. Blijburg, 21.00, free

Singer-songwriter: Thad Beckman An engaging blend of folk, singer-songwriter and blues music.

Mulligans, 21.30, free Singer-songwriter: Open Mic With the Amsterdam Songwriters Guild. Skek, 22.00, free

Friday 10 August Rock: Los! Surf rock from The Killer Bananazz and supercharged rock ’n’ roll from The Heaven’s Devils.

Blijburg, 17.00, free Jazz: Hein van de Geyn’s Baseline Jazz double bill as bassist Hein van de Geyn and band perform works from recent release The Guitar Album. Concertgebouw, Koorzaal, 19.00, 21.00, €12.50 Flamenco A music and dance fiesta. Special guests include award-winning guitarist Basilio Garcìa, dancers María Juncal and Francisco Bucci, and many more guests. Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 20.15, €21.25/€25 Experimental: Mawja, Rue 24 Mawja presents extraordinary electro-acoustic experiments from Michael Bullock, Mazen Kerbaj and Vic Rawlings. Rue 24 are Jean Pallandre, Christine Sehnaoui and Sharif Sehnaoui. STEIM, 20.30, €5 Pop/Rock: Sweet Assembler Experimental guitarpop band from Eindhoven. There’s also some heavier riffs from Flying Fortress. Winston Kingdom, 21.00, €5

Check 1-2 (plus crashed van) Rock: Subbacultcha! The Subbacultcha! van is dead!

Long live the Subbacultcha! van. See Short List. Bitterzoet, 21.00, €6 Singer-songwriter: Vic Ruggiero A one-man band rockabilly and country show performed by The Slackers’ inspirational frontman and all-round ska punk legend. Well, there won’t be so much of the ska punk thing happening tonight, as the Italian New Yorker will be armed primarily with an acoustic, his drums, harmonica and that unmistakable guttural Bronx voice.

But it certainly won’t be a typically calm singer-songwriter performance either. Promoting his new album Hamburguru, you can expect an energetic mix of folk, blues and country, inspired by equal parts Cash and Dylan. Maloe Melo, 21.00, €5

Folk: Daithi Rua & Ed Veltrop Well-known Irish singer-songwriter and John O’Dreams’ accordionist.

Mulligans, 22.00, free

Classical: Grachtenfestival Classical music performed amid the glorious setting of Amsterdam’s numerous canals and waterways in the middle of summer. Full programmes run each day until 19 August; see www.grachtenfestival.nl for ensembles, locations and pricings. See Short List. Various locations, times and prices

Singer-songwriter: Kittywake A musical project fronted by songwriter Anne Broekman. Skek, 22.00, free

Sunday 12 August

Hiphop: BJR Camping Zeeburg, 22.00, free

Saturday 11 August World: John Williams & John Etheridge Two worldclass guitarists performing a diverse programme that ranges from traditional Cape Verdean music to improvisations on Bach. Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 14.15, €21.25/€25 World: Rosenberg Trio, Five Great Guitars The Rosenberg Trio are one of the Netherlands’ most renowned Gypsy swing outfits. Five Great Guitars is another guitar project featuring five diverse guitar talents. Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 20.15, €21.25/€25

Pop: Openluchttheater Easy listening for a Sunday afternoon, featuring Daan Hofman, Theatergroep Flint and Alderliefste with Ramses Shaffy. Vondelpark Openluchttheater, 14.00, free Folk: Six Organs of Admittance Psychedelic—but melodic—drone folk experiments from San Franciscan band Six Organs of Admittance, an ongoing project led by guitarist Ben Chasny—who you’ll also regularly find in the noisier psychedelic rock outfit Comets on Fire. Support from Jean Parlette, a quartet from the north of the Netherlands who deal in organic and eclectic ‘folktronica’. Paradiso, Kleine Zaal, 16.00, €7.50 + membership

Amsterdam Weekly

9-15 August 2007

11 Looking back at the anatomical arts.

Two exhibitions seek the link between science and art—one inspired, the other not quite so cutting edge.

ALL CUT UP AND EXPOSED ART Versneden & Verbeeld Tentoontellingszaal Universiteitsbibliotheek, UvA, 11.00-17.00, Wed-Fri; and SMART Project Space, 12.00-17.00, Tue-Sat. Until 7 September A for Alibi.

De Appel, 11.00-18.00, Tue-Sun, €4. Until 19 August.

By Mark Wedin

‘And this one, for example, there’s really no need to put a rhinoceros behind the skeleton, but at the time, it was the first

rhino in the Netherlands—in a zoo—and the artist thought, well, that’s nice, I’ll just put the rhino in the back of my painting.’

Cas Hieltjes is describing an artwork from 1747 by Jan Wandelaar. It’s part of an exhibition entitled Versneden & Verbeeld, which comprises historical and modern art based on anatomy—some intended purely as art, some purely for medical study, while others have a bit of both. Originally planned to be entirely in the SMART Project Space, the major portion of the exhibition now resides in the UvA’s main library. Although, if it weren’t for its location, one might never guess that it’s

essentially a student project. They’ve done a good job.

‘We wanted to show the link between medical art and medical knowledge,’ says Hieltjes, one of the students involved. ‘Two hundred years ago, they were much more closely related. For painters to paint a realistic portrait, it was very important to know what’s under the skin. At the academy, they had to learn the proportions of the body, the skeletal and muscular systems, and so forth.’ This is aptly shown in the various paintings on display—including the skeleton described previously, standing lifelike in front of the large horned mammal, but also in a gorgeous nude sketch by Jozef Israëls from 1845.

Many pieces, however, are more surreal. There’s an illustration of an arm without skin by Gerard de Lairesse, where a number of individual muscles appear to be crawling away from the limb. There’s a painting of an entire dissected human, standing upright with its back arched looking to the heavens, and its muscles dripping away in a manner that prefigures Dali. And then there’s a portrait by Jacques Gautier d’Agoty from 1746 (pictured), of a

woman with her head appearing lifelike and looking around, but her entire back splayed open and revealing a not particularly accurate, but very fleshy, spinal column. ‘The surrealists were inspired by many of these works,’ says Hieltjes.

Alongside the artworks are various old medical specimens that could easily inspire the artists of today. There is a piece of skin (date unknown) from a sailor preserved in a jar and displaying a tattoo of a woman. There is a whole skeleton of a small child. And there is an old slice of a human leg, which looks disturbingly similar to that rib-eye steak you might have eaten last night.

The remainder of the exhibition at SMART is a collection of images which display the building’s origins as the Pathologisch Anatomisch Labaratorium (PAL).

‘It’s a shame we couldn’t have everything there,’ says Hieltjes. ‘It would’ve been nice to view all of this in the building where it actually happened. Our programme is museum studies and we’re learning directly how, so often with exhibitions, things don’t happen the way you plan because of money or time restraints. But we’re lucky to have a nice space in the library.’

Meanwhile, A for Alibi, another exhibition that incorporates science and art, is an interesting contrast in that, if it were not residing in the often impressive De Appel, one would never guess that it’s essentially a professional project. The group of eight artists, initiated by Irene Kopelman and Mariana Castillo Deball, were granted access to the extensive historical collection of scientific instruments and documents in the University Museum in Utrecht, where, among other rare and old apparatus, the first microscope is kept, as is an original camera lucida. After talking with experts about the objects and spending a considerable amount of time poking around the museum, the artists made pieces inspired by what they found.

After one year, their work is now on display: a hodgepodge of inspiration made tangible with varying levels of technical know-how. But none of it really says anything, none of it really speaks in a meaningful or memorable way. Writing these words now, it’s difficult to recall the various pieces. One room has four neckties hanging on a wall—each with green stripes that correspond to the length of time needed for digestion, according to an old chart found in the museum. Another room has glass and copper boxes made to the exact size requirements of various objects in the museum. It’s the kind of art that gives the impression that all the good ideas have already been taken and the modern artist must settle for less. Fortunately, there are always more good ideas, just not always good exhibitions.

12

Amsterdam Weekly World: Hotel Dutch band who encapsulate a diverse array of worldly musical influences. Blijburg, 17.00, free Opera: La Colombe Opera takes over the top floor of the new central library. See Short List. Theater van 't Woord, 20.00, €10 Classical: Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen Performing works by Ravel and Rodrigo with help from Los Romeros (The Romero Guitar Quartet). Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 20.15, €21.25/€25 Soul/R&B: Erykah Badu Popular American modern soul diva. Paradiso, Grote Zaal, 21.00, sold out Jazz: Kim Sutherland All Stars Casablanca Muziek, 21.00, free Punk: The Casualties Mohawks, spikes and leather.

The Casualties are edgy New Yorkers who’ve been dealing in angsty raw American punk since 1990, continually harking back to the ‘golden era’ of the genre. The result is actually reminiscent of their Californian peers Rancid, with more bite than bark and less of the ska. Melkweg, The Max, 21.00, €11 + membership Singer-songwriter: Ntjamrosie An eclectic young urban performer emerging from the conservatory in Rotterdam, whose music is a divine mix of R&B, nusoul, brokenbeats, jazz and worldly pop. Paradiso, Kleine Zaal, 22.30, €8 + membership

Monday 13 August Opera: La Colombe See Sunday and Short List. Theater van 't Woord, 20.00, €10 Classical: Bergen Philharmonisch Orkest Performing Grieg’s Norwegian Dances and Piano Concerto, and excerpts from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 20.15, €19.50 Heavy: Amsterdam Underground Collective Presenting metal and thrashcore from Municipal Waste (US)—think Nuclear Assault and the old Earache bands. Support from The Shining and Vogue (BE). Bitterzoet, 21.00, €8

9-15 August 2007

CLUBS Thursday 9 August Huiskamerhits An eclectic mix of rock and new wave.

Do you care what they play? After all, it’s free entry.

Bitterzoet, 22.00-03.00, free Vinylized presents the Final Five Live This week’s Flex Your Space presents a chance to check out the five finalists of Get Vinylized, the competition for new electronica producer talents organised by GRAP. Flex Bar, 22.00-04.00, €5 Wildvreemd Right through August, Vreemd is celebrating its second birthday, building towards some mega parties at the end of the month. But there’s still plenty of weird and wonderful activities to enjoy already. This week’s extra wild line up: Radar, Zender and Berlin electro legend Tom Clark. Sugar Factory, 23.00-05.00, €10 Poptrash Three decades’ worth of rock, electro and hiphop with The Punchout DJs. Special guests tonight are LA electro rockers Guns ’n’ Bombs. Melkweg, The Max, 23.00-late, €5 PROPAGANDA! A night to head east for the best Balkan beats, Russian disko, mestizo and whatever mood takes the DJ team of Tommi, Pizdabolkin and Gusztav. Melkweg, Oude Zaal, 23.00-late, €5

Friday 10 August High School It’s eclectic school disco time, bringing back party hits from the ’80s and ’90s, mixing in some faves from the present, too. Blijburg, 22.00-04.00, €5 Rauw Raw beats from Trashfashion (London) and DJs Rory Phillips (London) and Joost van Bellen. 11, 22.30-04.00, €15

Tuesday 14 August Rock: Queensrÿche Prog rock with a heavy nature.

Like most successful bands from the progressive fold, Queensrÿche have such a loyal following and history in the scene—now 26 years—that they never need worry about shifting records and filling concert halls.

Last year they even got away with releasing a sequel to their acclaimed 1988 narrative concept album Operation: Mindcrime, cunningly titled Operation: Mindcrime II. Paradiso, Grote Zaal, 19.30, €39 + membership Classical: Radio-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt Works

by Nielsen, Mendelssohn and Dvorák; with violinist Veronika Eberle and conducted by renowned Estonian-American Paavo Järvi. Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 20.15, €19.50 Electronica: Groundqontrol Electro, minimal and techno sounds, featuring a raw mix of live performances and DJ sets. Signed up tonight are Dexon and Les-Ley, AKA Funky Junkie. Winston Kingdom, 21.00, €5 Rock: The Dexateens Southern-fried roots rock bubbling with Americana charm and twang. Emerging from Alabama, Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers has helped to produce some of their recorded output. Paradiso, Kleine Zaal, 22.00, €7.50 + membership

Wednesday 15 August Funk: Hipdrop Live soul, funk and beats from members of Zuco 103, Lefties Soul Connection, C-mon & Kypski and other special guests. Bitterzoet, 20.00, free, €5 after 21.30 Pop/Rock: Voxtrot Indie guitar pop from Austin, Texas. Paradiso, Kleine Zaal, 20.00, €8 + membership Classical: Radio-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt Conducted by Paavo Järvi, baritone Matthias Goerne joins the orchestra tonight for a programme focused primarily on interpretations of Mahler works. Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 20.15, €21.25/€25 Folk: Sappho Live! Dutch pop from Menger. Cafe Sappho, 21.00, free Pop/Rock: Matt & Kim Indie pop and dance duo from Brooklyn comprised of Matt Johnson (guitar/vocals/keyboards) and Kim Schifino (drums/vocals). Comparisons range from Hot Chip to Architecture in Helsinki. Paradiso, Kleine Zaal, 22.30, €6 + membership

Willie Wartaal (De Dikke en de Doner) De Dikke en de Doner With Willie Wartaal and Tropical Danny spinning until they puke. Club Meander, 23.00-04.00, €5 Summer Classics ’80s and ’90s classics. Hotel Arena, 23.00-04.00, €10 ADHD Sessions The minimal techno edition. Special guest tonight is Oliver Ho, AKA Raudive Klang, Dave Ellesmere, Anton Pieete, Recovery Sounds, Piet van Dongen, Robin Kampschour and Ritzi Lee. Studio 80, 23.00-05.00, €10 Spirit Global Party Hopping Fat beats from all over the world, from raï to afro, through to the more obvious Balkan beats stuff that’s taking over the planet.

With Kareem Raïhaini, Ishtar and MPS Pilot, plus surprise live musicians. Sugar Factory, 23.00-05.00, €10 Timezone From the ’80s to the present, all with a flamboyant party spirit. Odeon, 23.00-05.00, €10 Crossfader Reggae, hiphop and dancehall. Old faves meet contemporary hits at the hands of L-Dopa, Ivoryman and Mickster. Melkweg, Oude Zaal, 23.59-late, €10 + membership

Saturday 11 August Molotov & The DirtyDirtyDirty You should know what to expect by now. In the Molotov room it’s all about the house, electro, minimal and techhouse. As for those Dirty boys, it’s urban chaos, promising electro hiphop on acid. Hotel Arena, 22.00-04.00, €15 VS. Ensemble Held in WesterLiefde, this creative party hosting live acts and DJs is always home to a special atmosphere. This time the theme is liefde and DJs include Isis, Shiva, Kareem Raïhani and Edo Salgado. Westergasfabriek, 22.00-04.00, €10 Ratio? Perfect for the bit-torrent fans, with Move D (Heidelberg), Melon and VJ Newsgroup. 11, 22.3004.00, €12 Black Label Presents A party hosted by Amsterdam’s first and finest electro label. With Kid Goesting on the turntables and a live performance by the ever-popular and now Essent Award winners Melomanics. Later Kid

Amsterdam Weekly

9-15 August 2007 Goesting returns to unite with Rodger Mettenday for their live/DJ action as Die Schwarzen Männer. Then there’s more live noise from sexy electropunk grrrl Krause from Groningen. Sugar Factory, 23.00-05.00, €12.50 Passion vs Exprezz Clubhouse and electro cuts.

Odeon, 23.00-05.00, €10 Putsch VII A bold all-nighter out by Sloterdijk. Drumming party-goers into submissions are Konrad Black, Lauhaus & Boris Werner, Arter, Eva Maria and Martine.

Congrescentrum Rhone, 23.00-09.00, €20 Uber Alles Collaboration between My Little Soundsystem and M.U.L.T.I.S.E.X.I. Studio 80, 23.00-late, €7.50 Labyrint Special guest tonight is Bonobo, that cheeky electro ape from the Ninja Tune family. Respected for his funky electro tunes and complex basslines, it’s quite a coup to have the Brighton-based producer/DJ on board tonight. Also with DJ Yakuza and VJ Nono.

Paradiso, 23.30-05.00, €12.50 Gemengd Zwemmen Two rooms of swimmingly diverse noise. In The Max it’s all about the ’90s rock and grunge, so dig out that manky lumberjack shirt; in the Oude Zaal it’s indie dance, pop and rock faves all the way. Melkweg, 23.59-late, €8

Sunday 12 August Represent The concept is simple: four turntables, two DJs, some lightning-fast fingers and a few hours of fresh hiphop and R&B. Club Meander, 22.00-02.00, €5 WickedJazzSounds Jazz, hiphop, broken beats, nujazz, funk and Afro sounds, as classic vinyl collides with live musicians. Guests this week include DJs Leroy Rey and Phil Horneman, singer Berenice van Leer, Tony Roe on the keys and Han Litz on the flute.

Sugar Factory, 23.00-05.00, €8.50

Monday 13 August Cheeky Monday True skool jungle and drum & bass, featuring players from the local and international scenes. Winston Kingdom, 22.00-03.00, €6

GAY& LESBIAN Friday 10 August Thank God It’s Friday Weekend drinks with DJs, snacks and drinks from 5pm until three in the morning. De Engel van Amsterdam, 13.00-03.00, free Women’s night Busy, popular night for lesbians and their friends. Tonight with DJ Gorgeous. Cafe Sappho, 22.00, free Club: Twisted Hyper Tunes With DJ Gina on the wheels of steel. PRIK, 22.00-03.00, free

Saturday 11 August Club: Xpress New open-minded party with sexy cocktails and snacks. Cafe Sappho, 21.00, free

In de Voorhoede: Erik Kaiel, See Opening

STAGE Opening Dance: Marije Nie Dance performance by Marije Nie. Vondelpark Openluchttheater, (Thur 20.30), free Dance: In de Voorhoede: De Kleine Johanna/Soy In de Voorhoede presents tomorrow’s pros. Tonight: A dance performance by third-year students of the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten. De Kleine Johanna is a choreography by Sjaan Flikweert with dance by Lieke Lempers. Vondelpark Openluchttheater, (Fri 20.30), free Dance: In de Voorhoede: Erik Kaiel More young talent: Erik Kaiel presents No Man is an Island and Archeopteryx 8. Vondelpark Openluchttheater, (Fri 20.45), free Dance: In Good Company The Movement Network presents 10 dancers in a choreography by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Jennifer Hanna and Celia Grannum, set to music by Paolo Pandolfo, Mistinguette, Juliette Gréco, Edith Piaf, Antonio Vivaldi, Marin Marais and Didier Lockwood. Vondelpark Openluchttheater, (Fri 21.00), free Cabaret: In de Voorhoede With his Tilburg twang, Bas Birker combines the snotty attitude of a Southern patjakker with the sophistication of a fiscal law student. Together this results in an amusing performance with dry charm and the odd insult. In Dutch. Vondelpark Openluchttheater, (Sat 20.30), free Cabaret: Leòn Leòn van der Zanden puts everything out there, just to keep you amused—his physique, his grimaces, laughter, and his whole family. His show Leòn includes eight roles: the loser, the player, God, and a lot of girls. In Dutch. Vondelpark Openluchttheater, (Sat 21.00), free

Ongoing Comedy: Amsterdams Studenten Festival With winners from the ‘kleinkunst/theatersport’ section of the festival. In Dutch. Cafe Sappho, (Thur 20.00), free

Sunday 12 August

Comedytrain International Summer Festival Two comedians presenting a solo performance of 45 minutes each. This week: Terry Alderton and Owen O’Neill.

In English. Toomler, (Thur-Sat 20.30), €13.50

Music: Sing-a-long night Assembled voices of lesbians led by Irene Hemelaar. Saarein, 18.00-21.00, free

Comedy: Stand-Up Comedy Show Featuring varying performers and MCs. In English and Dutch. Comedy Cafe, (Thur-Sat 21.00, Sat also 23.00), €15

On The Brink The ulimate tea dance: hosted by Nicky Nicole and Destynee. Odeon, 21.00-04.00, €10 (drag queens free before 00.00)

Theatre/Dance: Open Podium Open Podium with no restriction. Here everyone can show off their skills or lack thereof in dance, theatre, cabaret, music, standup comedy, illusion, mime, acrobatics, juggling, rapping, dry waterballet, frying eggs, knitting etc. Plus the results of the Dance Centre’s weekly dance workshops will be presented. Amsterdam Dance Centre, (Fri 20.00)

Tuesday 14 August Film: Movie Night This week, a sweet, funny story about growing up gay in 1970s New Zealand, Stuart Main’s 50 Ways of Saying Fabulous. PRIK, 19.00, free

Wednesday 15 August Club: F*cking Pop Queers Queers love pop, and this is where they get their fill. Expect Madonna and electro, urban and indie, new and classic. ArtLaunch Cafe in the smaller room. Studio 80, 23.00-05.00, free before 00.00, €5 after

Music/Theatre: Shhh...It Happens A truly freaky musical, set in an old, deserted amusement park where the evil Max Majestic has captured a bunch of hostages. Having transformed them in his ‘Freakmachine’, his evil masterplan is to set up his own freakshow to save the amusement park. But the freaks have a plan of their own. Panama, (Sun 15.00, MonWed 20.00), €27.50 Comedy: In Your Face! Comedy Improv Show. In English. Comedy Cafe, (Sun 21.00), €13

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Amsterdam Weekly

18

9-15 August 2007 enne. Her name became synonymous with acting and continued to cast a spell on players and audiences throughout the world, long after her death in 1923.

Besides paintings, photos, clothes and Art Nouveau theatre posters, the collection includes personal possessions, a recording of her voice and fragments of films in which she appeared. Joods Historisch Museum (Daily 11.00-17.00), until 16 September

ART Sean Snyder, Schema (Television) A Docking Station presentation featuring video works by American artist Snyder. Key points raised include: what kind of experience and reality emerges from the chaotic and blurred visual consumption of the televisual image?

How does television generate a sense of reality if catastrophes are interrupted by no less spectacular images of consumer products? Stedelijk Museum CS (Daily 10.00-18.00), opens Friday, until 9 September Aerosol Symphonies Street art runs for the cover of GO Gallery. Tied in with the opening of the Grachtenfestival, fourteen talented artists have let themselves be inspired by an opera, a composer or symphony.

Contributors include Laser 3.14, Faith 71, In hout (Johan Andeloe) and Morcky & The Boghe (Two Things), amongst others. See Short List. GO Gallery (Wed-Sat 12.00-18.00, Sun 13.00-17.00/Daily during Grachtenfestival), opens Saturday, until 1 September Held/Hero Commemorating the 400th birthday of one of the greatest heroes in Dutch history, Michiel de Ruyter, this exhibition focuses on heroes, hero status and hero worship in the Netherlands. It demonstrates that the nation has had and still has genuine heroes, highlighting official heroes, folk heroes, controversial heroes and personal heroes. The display is divided into five main themes: National Hero, Folk Hero, Hero or Not, Michiel de Ruyter and Personal Hero. See article p. 5. Nieuwe Kerk (Daily 10.00-18.00), opens Saturday, until 11 November

Museums Genesis An examination of the similarities between art and science. While the two fields may have entirely different objectives, the results of their work on information look remarkably alike. Participating artists and scientists include Ad Dekkers, Mark Dion, Edo Dooijes, Erwin Driessens & Maria Verstappen, Charles & Ray Eames, Ed Emschwiller and George Gessert, amongst others. Centraal Museum (Tues-Thur, Sat, Sun 12.0017.00, Fri 12.00-21.00), Utrecht, closing Sunday Rob van der Nol Attracted to the process of change and transition in lives, this young Dutch artist photographs adolescents. Foam (Sat-Wed 10.00-18.00, Thur, Fri 10.00-21.00), closing Wednesday The Apocalypse of Max Beckmann A nice companion to the collection on display at the Van Gogh Museum, this series features 27 lithographs from the German Expressionist, all inspired by the Biblical apocalypse. Featured are two versions: the series of original lithographs in black and white and the lithographs that Beckmann himself painted in watercolours. Bijbels Museum (Mon-Sat 10.00-17.00, Sun 11.00-17.00), until 19 August

Max Beckman Max Beckmann in Amsterdam, 1937-1947 An extensive retrospective of the work produced by the artist during his years in Amsterdam. One of the most distinguished German artists of the 20th century, Beckmann fled to the city in 1937 after the Nazis had labelled his paintings Entartete Kunst. His works bear witness to his interest in the world of cabaret, Dutch landscape and life in Amsterdam, and works featured here include the four impressive triptychs ‘Carnival’, ‘Acrobats’, ‘The Actors’, and ‘Perseus’. Van Gogh Museum (Sat-Thur 10.00-18.00, Fri 10.00-22.00), until 19 August Jonathan Meese: Jonathan Rockford (Don’t Call Back Please) One of German art’s rising stars, Meese will install a contemporary wunderkammer on the first floor of De Appel, featuring paintings, murals, drawings, assemblages, objects, collages, photos, pictures from magazines, posters and painted texts on the walls. De Appel (Tues-Sun 11.00-18.00), until 19 August A for Alibi Science lab art from Utrecht’s University Museum. See article p. 11. De Appel (Tues-Sun 11.0018.00), until 19 August

Held/Hero, see Opening

PAUL HUF 1967 (AJAX-VOETBALLERS: JOHAN CRUIJFF, PIET KEIZER, SJAAK SWART AND KLAAS NUNINGA)

Opening

Dutch Eyes The relocated photography museum reopens with a broad overview of Dutch photography.

Nederlands Fotomuseum (Tues-Fri 10.00-17.00, Sat, Sun 11.00-17.00), Rotterdam, until 26 August

interiors will be exhibited together to demonstrate the strength and influence of Le Corbusier. Nederlands Architectuurinstituut (Tues-Sat 10.00-17.00, Sun 11.0017.00), Rotterdam, until 2 September

Fashion Palaces 1880-1960 The emergence of the first chic fashion houses in Amsterdam at the end of the 19th century is the focal point of the exhibition.

Grandeur and temptation typify the atmosphere of these magnificent, luxurious Amsterdam fashion houses and department stores. Amsterdams Historisch Museum (Mon-Fri 10.00-17.00, Sat, Sun 11.00-17.00), until 26 August

JR: Face to Face Diverse works by the French photographer and street artist who displays his works on walls all over cities. In his first Dutch exhibition, JR will be showing intriguing portraits in very large formats, inside and outside Foam, as well as in the streets around you. Foam (Sat-Wed 10.00-18.00, Thur, Fri 10.00-21.00), until 2 September

Facing Death Drawings by Antwerp artist Eugeen van Mieghem (1875-1930) of his great love and muse Augustine Pautre. Even though she’d taken ill with tuberculosis in 1904, Van Mieghem continued to draw her, capturing her physical decline, much in the same way that Rembrandt had poignantly drawn his dying wife Saskia van Uylenburgh. Rembrandthuis (Daily 10.00-17.00), until 26 August Ligplaats Amsterdam An exhibition about architecture on water, including concepts for floating theatres, motorways, churches and more, as well as exploration of future possibilities of maritime architecture. There’s even an outdoor part of the exhibition, where one can admire yet-to-be-realised projects, too. ARCAM (TuesFri 10.00-17.00, Sat, Sun 13.00-17.00), until 26 August Jacques Henri Lartigue A retrospective of the work French photographer Jacques Henri Lartigue (18941986) made in the first half of the 20th century.

Although rarely exhibited as such, most of his famous early photos were originally made as stereo images, but in this collection, offering a unique impression of the photography pioneer’s life and work, the range of vintage prints, remarkable stereo pictures and personal documents will be displayed as originally intended.

Foam (Sat-Wed 10.00-18.00, Thur, Fri 10.00-21.00), until 26 August Romy Schneider Part of Filmmuseum’s season celebrating the acclaimed film star, this exhibition pulls together costumes, affiches, audio fragments and portrait photos from artists such as Dennis Stock, Robert Lebeck and Werner Bokelberg. Filmmuseum (Daily 13.00-22.00), until 29 August Architectuur in Amsterdam A look back at the 30 most important building projects to spring up in Amsterdam over the past year. Zuiderkerk (Mon 11.00-16.00, Tues-Fri 09.00-16.00, Sat 12.00-16.00), until 1 September Le Corbusier He’s by far the most famous and according to many the most important architect and urban designer of the 20th century, but he was also a painter, sculptor, photographer and textile designer. In this first major retrospective since 1987, more than 450 original drawings, models, paintings, tapestries, films, photographs, sculptures, items of furniture and

Aan de Amsterdamse Grachten Marking the opening of the Museum of Bags and Purses in its new idyllic location, an overview of exhibitions from the past 10 years is featured alongside the permanent collections of bags and purses. Tassenmuseum Hendrikje (Daily 10.00-17.00), until 9 September Den Haag Sculptuur Enjoy sculpture in Den Haag.

Celebrating ten years, the theme is ‘De Overkant / Down Under’, promoting artists from Australia and the Netherlands. See www.denhaagsculptuur.nl. Various locations and times, until 9 September Hell is Other People With its title derived from a line in the play Huis Clos (No Exit) by French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, guest curator Nathalie Zonnenberg invites three young European artists to reflect on contact with ‘the other’. Contributing artists are Köken Ergun (Turkey), Sejla Kameric (Bosnia) and Gal Kinan (Israel). Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam (TuesSun 11.00-17.00), until 9 September Hedi Slimane: Young Americans An internationally known photographer, avant-garde artist, and fashion designer, this new project features photo portraits of creatives from the New York contemporary art scene.

Foam (Sat-Wed 10.00-18.00, Thur, Fri 10.00-21.00), until 12 September Persia The St Petersburg Hermitage lends some of its dazzling collection of Persian art to Amsterdam. This exhibition includes antiquities of the Islamic period all through the end of the Qajar dynasty in 1925. Hermitage Amsterdam (Daily 10.00-17.00), until 16 September The Present—The Monique Zajfen Collection New contemporary artworks that have been added to The Monique Zajfen Collection since 2006. Focusing on the human figure and spanning a range of disciplines, the works in this exhibition explore various aspects of the human condition. Artists include Marlene Dumas, Thomas Schütte, Neo Rauch, Wilhelm Sasnal, Mike Kelley, Pawel Althamer, Paul Graham, Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Lisa Yuskavage and George Condo. Stedelijk Museum CS (Daily 10.00-18.00), until 16 September Sarah Bernhardt: The Art of High Drama An exhibition about the first international superstar. In the course of an astonishing career that spanned 60 years, Bernhardt became the West’s leading tragedi-

Charlotte Salomon: Work in Progress Rarely and never seen works by Salomon, including reverse sides as well as individual sketches which she made for her series of over 800 gouaches, Life? or Theatre? Joods Historisch Museum (Daily 11.00-17.00), until 16 September Drawing Typologies—Proposal for Municipal Art Acquisitions Drawings A presentation of works by 30 contemporary artists who live and work in the Netherlands and employ drawing as a medium. Using five typologies to suggest the wide variety of ways in which artists use drawing as an artistic strategy, it not only presents 30 radical positions within the local field of drawing, but also reveals what makes drawing such an extraordinary and attractive discipline. Stedelijk Museum CS (Tues-Sun 11.00-17.00), until 16 September Mitch Epstein: American Work One of the world’s most renowned contemporary photographers, in American Power Epstein focuses on the complex relationship between American energy supply, the status of America as a world power and the American landscape. Additionally, there’s a selection of shots from his series Family Business, the story of his father’s furniture company going bust. Foam (Sat-Wed 10.00-18.00, Thur, Fri 10.00-21.00), until 19 September Oud Zeer Drawings and animations by Joep Bertrams, best known for his political commentaries in Het Parool. Persmuseum (Tues-Fri 10.00-17.00, Sun 12.00-17.00), until 23 September To See or Not to See Hortus celebrates the 300th birthday of Carl Linnaeus, the most famous botanist ever, who wrote his major works in Amsterdam. Hortus Botanicus (Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00, Sat, Sun 10.00-17.00), until 30 September Corneille: Some of These Days Celebrating the 85th birthday of Corneille, one of the most sparkling artists of the CoBrA movement—and one of the longest surviving members of the ‘CoBrA Three’. Alongside his paintings, photographs, and film portraits of the artists can be seen during the exhibition. CoBrA Museum (Tues-Sun 11.00-17.00), until 30 September Van Gogh’s Drawings: New Insights Works on paper seldom shown due to their light sensitivity, on display in the print room of the Rietveld building. While spanning Van Gogh’s entire career as an artist, special attention will be paid to several early drawings that have been added to the museum’s collection in recent years. Van Gogh Museum (Mon-Thur, Sat, Sun 10.00-18.00, Fri 10.00-22.00), until 7 October Scenes and Traces A lengthy exhibition focussing on three parts of the Stedelijk Museum collection: design, video, and photography. Stedelijk Museum CS (Daily 10.00-18.00), until 25 November

Galleries Selections from A Quiet Story Tied in with Amsterdam Fashion Week, this collection features a selection of images by Danish supermodel turned photographer, Helena Christensen. Hotel Arena (Daily), closing Wednesday Lindsay Seers: Swallowing Black Maria Recent films by London-based artist Seers, including Extramission, in which Seers transforms herself into a projector, photographs, and an installation. The latter is based on the Black Maria, the first ever film studio where all the earliest shorts were filmed for the Edison Kinetoscope. SMART Project Space (Tues-Sat 12.0017.00), until 18 August Vamos a Ibiza In a collaboration with the Groninger Museum, this exhibition covers the diverse works made by Dutch artists in Ibiza over the last 50 years.

Participants include Jan Cremer, Lei Molin, Cas Oorthuys, Waldemar Post, Elena Beelaerts, Ivo Hendriks, and others. Arti et Amicitiae (Tues-Sun 13.00-18.00), until 19 August Under Selections of works by Alex Fischer, Lucia Luptáková (with Maaike van der Linden and Maartje Korstanje), Aukje Dekker, and Lara de Moor. W139 (Daily 11.00-19.00), until 20 August Alex Fischer Video works from the Hamburg-born but Amsterdam-based artist. Galerie Paul Andriesse (TuesFri 11.00-18.00, Sat 14.00-18.00), until 25 August Cristóbal Hara: An Imaginary Spaniard An exploration of the perceived cultural identity of Spain, by native photographer Hara. Huis Marseille (Tues-Sun 11.00-18.00), until 26 August

9-15 August 2007

Amsterdam Weekly

19 Well, this lot look like they’re building up to some rude mechanicals.

The weather gods have not been nice to Theater Het Amsterdamse Bos, but the players don’t give up so easily.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DOWNPOUR STAGE Midzomernachtdroom Het Amsterdamse Bos Theater, 21.30, €5 Tue, Wed; €10 Thur-Sat. Until 8 September.

By Marie-Claire Melzer

When the cheeky hobgoblin Puck (played

by Maarten Wansink) secretly gives Titania, Queen of the Fairies (played by Saskia Rinsma), some of his aphrodisiac, she, as predicted, falls in love with the first male she encounters—in this case, a donkey. In utter admiration she wriggles herself around the animal and drags him to her love nest, only to find herself in disgust when Puck breaks the spell.

If only the weather could be manipulated so easily. Three rainy summers in a row have brought Theater Het Amsterdamse Bos to the verge of bankruptcy, but thankfully a fundraiser last March rescued them at the eleventh hour. The theatre group have also decided, for the first time in their 20 year history, to charge for admission. And so Theater Het Amsterdamse Bos is saved—and back with a play, Midzomernachtdroom.

Frances Sanders, who translated from Shakespeare’s original A Midsummer Night’s Dream and who also directs, says: ‘I can tell you one thing— we have no doubts about global warming anymore! In the twenty years or so that we’ve been at the Amster-

Guus Voermans: Moving Sculptures Inventions and sculptures. Bold, bizarre and often quite startling, the automated constructions from the Tilburg-born artist offer a pretty unusual alternative to most art you’ll find in Amsterdam this summer. KochxBos Gallery (WedSat 13.00-18.00), until 28 August

Han Singels Han Singels: Polder Holland Following in the footsteps of Paulus Potter, Aelbert Cuyp, Gerard Bilders, and Willem Roelofs, Indonesian photographer Han Singels has trekked for years through the polders of North Holland, the riverbanks of Gelderland and the pastures of Utrecht. All in order to photograph cows in these magnificent landscapes. Huis Marseille (TuesSun 11.00-18.00), until 26 August

Exit #2: Sculpture Without a Clue Works by Niels Post. Etalagegalerie Weesperplein (Daily 06.0000.30), until 30 August Dream Amsterdam Using the city of Amsterdam as his point of departure, Spencer Tunick created a series of impressive installations built from naked bodies.

Now the images from that event are going on display at the locations they were created—Leliegracht and Q-Park at Marnixstraat. Careful not to fall off your bike.

Various locations (Daily), until 31 August

Averecht Contemporary fashion and accessories by three talented young designers: Merel Boers (Miss Blackbirdy), Claire Fons and Elke Lutgerink. Galerie 37 (Thur-Sun 12.00-17.00), Haarlem, until 26 August

The Portrait Gallery Presenting an overview of portraits from 1950 to the present by ten veteran photographers, including Sanne Sannes, Ata Kando, Willem Diepraam, Machiel Botman and Barry Kornbluh. Hup Gallery (Tue, Thur, Fri 10.00-17.00), until 31 August

Offline #4 Diverse artworks by Charlotte Mouwens, Margot Lamers, Katrin Maurer and Roos & Chris. ArtOlive (Mon-Fri 11.00-17.00, Sun 12.00-17.00), until 26 August

Summer Exhibition Featuring diverse works by Cor Jaring, Frans Blind, Irene Hertel, Tho Jongh, Hanne Koorn, Immy Stur van Zoelen and Joan Verkroost.

Oosterkerk (Mon-Fri 10.00-17.00), until 31 August

damse Bos, we’ve seen the climate changing. The weather has got far more extreme. It did finally give us a good angle for a new version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, though. Of course we toyed with the idea longer, it being the perfect play for a location in the woods.

‘Yet at the same time, we were afraid that, with all those fairies and stuff, it would turn into some sweet-toothed Efteling kind of thing. But the weather gods being so nasty to us lately gave us a good angle: we decided to turn it into a somewhat darker play and make the fairies a little more sinister.’

Sanders is one of the founders of the band of outdoor players. How did it all start? ‘In 1985, I had just graduated from acting school. Together with my fellow students, I wanted to stage an open-air play. We were looking for a location when we stumbled upon the theatre in the Amsterdamse Bos, by then a [wilderness] spot.

It was built in the 1950s by the famous architect Cornelis Van Eesteren and had been used for matinee performances. But when Schiphol expanded in the 1960s, the noise of the planes got too loud.

‘The theatre had been out of use for fifteen years, but we saw its potential. So

Joyeux de vie An exhibition of Jacques-Henri Lartigue, that makes an excellent accompaniment to Foam’s retrospective. Gallery Vassie (Wed-Sat 12.0018.00), until 1 September Crimes & Splendors A selection of work from the politically charged British exhibition Paranoia. Featured is a series of night photographs by Dutch artist Martin Effert and video works by the likes of Mireille Astore, Lisa K Blatt, Norman Cowie, and Ricardo Giraldo Montes—all of which explore the essence of paranoia. Ronmandos (Wed-Sat 12.30-17.30), until 1 September Katharina Mouratidi: The Other Globalisation Photo portraits of international participants from the ‘Global Justice Movement’. Melkweg Galerie (Wed-Sun 13.0020.00), until 2 September Toy Artefacts Sculptures and paintings by Michiel Verweij, whose works strike a balance between playful and a dark state of suspense. Galerie Vriend van Bavink (Thur-Sat 13.00-18.00), until 4 September Versneden en Verbeeld: Anatomie in Geneeskunde en Kunst It’s no secret that SMART Project Space was formerly the Pathologisch Anatomisch Laboratorium (PAL). And in this exhibition, it once again revisits its anatomical past, dealing in the history of the practice of anatomy, the history of

I phoned the airport and asked: “are there any times when you don’t fly planes?”

They said: “Yes, after half past nine in the evening.” So that’s how we put up our first night performance there. It was a success—and since then we have put on a play every summer.’

This year’s performance features 1970s pop music by bands such as Jefferson Airplane and Queen. Why did the group go for that kind of retro music?

‘Midzomernachtdroom is about different generations and how they experience love,’ explains Sanders. ‘The older people, such as Oberon [played by Felix-Jan Kuypers] and Titania, the Fairy King and Queen, are hippies from the Seventies who believe in free love, while the younger characters are looking for that one true love. They are more romantic, but also more serious. The elderly have learnt to laugh about their mistakes. I think that is a good quality.’

When the youngsters get a dose of Puck’s love potion, violence and paranoia is the result. Or rather: total chaos. ‘The aphrodisiac, of course, is actually drugs.

And yes, growing up can be very confusing, especially when mixed in with love and drugs. But then again, I believe a little excess every now and then is not so bad...

A good hangover can be very healthy sometimes!’

So, is the play based on your own experiences? ‘Of course, there’s a lot of my generation in it. But at the same time it’s a universal thing. I think young people will always experiment,’ says Sanders.

‘And the more parents or society try to patronise them, the more extreme their ways will get. Well, maybe not all teenagers experiment, but I must admit, I prefer the ones who do. I just find them more interesting people.’

So, of all the characters in the play, who is Sanders’ absolute favourite? ‘I like the fairy Elf, as he is just wandering aimlessly through the woods. He sings so nicely... But I also like Puck, though he is more devilish. They are opposites, yet they have something in common. They are not afraid; they both follow their own path without letting anyone else tell them what to do.’

PAL, and also the relationship between art and anatomy. So you’ll get to see old scientific paintings by the likes of Jozef Israëls, Gerard de Lairesse, and Andreas Vesalius, plus work by contemporary artists like Lisette Verkerk and Karen Arink. Elements will also be on display at the Tentoonstellingszaal Universiteitsbibliotheek, UvA. See article p. 11. SMART Project Space (SMART: Tues-Sat 12.00-17.00; UvA: Wed-Fri 11.00-17.00), until 7 September Marielle Videler Public display from the multidisciplinary artist. De Kijkkasten (Daily), until 19 September Expo This summer, De Levante gives carte blanche to Rietveld artists from Iran, Israel and Turkey. De Levante (Wed-Sun 13.00-17.30), until 30 September Happy II Tease After the success of last year’s collective exhibition of gay artists, the ABC Treehouse Gallery presents diverse works by ten new painters and photographers. ABC Treehouse (Thur-Sun 13.0018.00), until 30 September Zwarte Muur: De Transatlantische Slavenhandel Photo portraits by Laura Samsom Rous, who specialises in the people, particularly the women, along the coast of Africa between Senegal and Angola—the region most affected by European colonisation and the Transatlantic slave trade. Melkweg Galerie (WedSun 13.00-20.00), until 1 October

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EVENTS Festival: De Parade No place better to hang out on a zwoele summer evening than De Parade, now celebrating its 17th anniversary in a park near the Amstel.

This fortnight of a circus-like, fun-fair theatre and music fest has grown over the years, but it remains a great place to settle down with a beer, gelato or organic fruit juice cocktail while the sun slowly sets over the swinging merry-go-round. There’s oodles of original performances by up-and-coming acts, many of which are in Dutch, but there’s also plenty to amuse Englishonly speakers. Just a couple of the specials this year include The Ashton Brothers and Spinvis doing musical theatre. Until 19 August. See www.deparade.nl. Martin Luther Kingpark, (Sun-Thur 15.00-01.00, Fri, Sat 15.0002.00), €6 + variable performance costs Walk: AR2007 International Animal Rights Gathering All through the coming weekend, an animal rights

Amsterdam Weekly gathering is taking place at Appelscha in Friesland.

Prior to that, however, participants are gathering in Amsterdam for a protest march about fur and Huntingdon Life Sciences. From 13.00 there will be speeches and snacks, before the march officially moves off through Amsterdam at 14.00. Beursplein, (Thur 13.00), free Party: Summer Breeze Latin Night Formerly one of the most popular events at Vondelpark, Summer Breeze Latin Night has set up camp at Westergasfabriek for the summer and is offering adventures in Latin dance and music every Thursday. Each week there’s dining, drinking, DJs, workshops, and dance demonstrations for diverse Latin styles, so warm up those hips. Westergasterras, (Thur 19.00-01.00), free Art/Music: Friday Night On a Max Beckmann trip.

Students from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam will perform Beckmann’s favourite preludes and fugues by Bach. As always, De Veenfabriek will be doing their performance thing, while DJ Dirkson dishes out the Bmovie sounds and Moog vibrations. Van Gogh Museum, (Fri 18.30), museum entry

ADDRESSES 11 Oosterdokskade 3-5, 625 5999 ABC Treehouse Voetboogstraat 11, 423 0967 Allard Pierson Museum Oude Turfmarkt 127, 525 2556 Amsterdam Dance Centre Bellamystraat 49-51, 616 1885 Amsterdams Historisch Museum Kalverstraat 92, 523 1822 De Appel Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 10, 625 5651 ARCAM Prins Hendrikkade 600, 620 4878 Arti et Amicitiae Rokin 112, 624 5134 ArtOlive Polonceaukade 17, 675 8504 Badcuyp 1e Sweelinckstraat 10, 675 9669 Bakkerspleintje Tuinstraat tussen 76-90 Bijbels Museum Herengracht 366-368, 624 2436 Bitterzoet Spuistraat 2, 521 3001 Blijburg Bert Haanstrakade 2004, 416 0330 Cafe Sappho Vijzelstraat 103, 423 1509 Camping Zeeburg Zuider IJdijk 20, 694 4430 Casablanca Muziek Zeedijk 26, 06 1220 0519 Centraal Museum Nicolaaskerkhof, Utrecht, 030 236 2362

9-15 August 2007 Cineac Reguliersbreestraat 31-33 Club 8 Admiraal de Ruyterweg 56B, 685 1703 Club Meander Voetboogstraat 3, 625 8430 CoBrA Museum Sandbergplein 1-3, Amstelveen, 547 5050 Comedy Cafe Max Euweplein 43-45, 638 3971 Concertgebouw Concertgebouwplein 2-6, 671 8345 Congrescentrum Rhone Humberweg 3 Consortium Veemkade 570, 06 2611 8950 DanceStreet 1e Rozendwarsstraat 10, 489 7676 De Engel van Amsterdam Zeedijk 21, 427 6381 English Reformed Church Begijnhof 48, 624 9665 Etalagegalerie Weesperplein Metrostation Weesperplein Filmmuseum Vondelpark 3, 589 1400 Flex Bar Pazzanistraat 1, 486 2123 Foam Keizersgracht 609, 551 6546 Galerie 37 Groot Heiligland 37, Haarlem, 023 551 8432 Galerie Jos Art KSNM-laan 291, 418 7003 Galerie Paul Andriesse Withoedenveem 8, 623 6237 Galerie Rademakers Prinsengracht 570-572, 6225496 Galerie Rob Koudijs Elandsgracht 12, 331 8796 Galerie Vriend van Bavink Geldersekade 58 Gallery Vassie 1e Tuindwarsstraat 16, 489 4042 GEM Stadhouderslaan 43, Den Haag, 070 338 1133 GO Gallery Prinsengracht 64, 422 9580 Heineken Music Hall ArenA Boulevard 590, 0900 300 1250 Hermitage Amsterdam Nieuwe Herengracht 14, 530 8751 Hortus Botanicus Plantage Middenlaan 2A, 625 9021 Hotel Arena ’s-Gravesandestraat 51, 850 2400 Huis Marseille Keizersgracht 401, 531 8989 Hup Gallery Tesselschadestraat 15, 515 8589 Jan van der Togt Museum Dorpsstraat 50, Amstelveen, 641 5754 Joods Historisch Museum Jonas Daniel Meijerplein 2-4, 531 0310 De Kijkkasten Sint Nicolaasstraat KochxBos Gallery 1e Anjeliersdwarsstraat 3-5, 681 4567 De Levante Hobbemastraat 28, 671 5485 Maloe Melo Lijnbaansgracht 163, 420 4592 Melkweg Lijnbaansgracht 234A, 531 8181 Melkweg Galerie Marnixstraat 409, 531 8181 Melkweg Lijnbaansgracht 234a, 531 8181 Mulligans Amstel 100, 622 1330 Nationaal Archief Prins Willem Alexanderhof, Den Haag, 070 3140911 Nederlands Architectuurinstituut Museumpark 25, Rotterdam, 010 440 1200 Nederlands Fotomuseum Wilhelminakade 332, Rotterdam, 010 213 2011 Nieuwe Kerk entrance on the Dam, 638 6909 OCCII Amstelveenseweg 134, 671 7778 Odeon Singel 460, 624 9711 Oosterkerk Kleine Wittenburgerstraat 1, 627 2280 Oude Kerk Oudekerksplein 23, 625 8284 P60 Stadsplein 100A, Amstelveen, 023 345 3445 Panama Oostelijke Handelskade 4, 311 8680 Paradiso Weteringschans 6-8, 626 4521 Persmuseum Zeeburgerkade 10, 692 8810 The Powerzone Spaklerweg, 681 8866 PRIK Spuistraat 109, 06 4544 2321 Rembrandthuis Jodenbreestraat 4, 520 0400 Ronmandos Prinsengracht 282, 320 7036 Saarein Elandsstraat 119, 623 4901 Skek Zeedijk 4-8, 427 0551 SMART Project Space Arie Biemondstraat 107-113, 427 5953 Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam Rozenstraat 59, 422 0471 Stedelijk Museum CS Oosterdokskade 5, 573 2911 STEIM Utrechtsedwarsstraat 134, 622 8690 Studio 80 Rembrandtplein 70, 521 8333 Studio Apart Prinsengracht 715, 422 2748 Sugar Factory Lijnbaansgracht 238, 627 0008 Tassenmuseum Hendrikje Herengracht 573, 524 6452 Teylers Museum Spaarne 16, Haarlem, 023 516 0960 Theater het Amsterdamse Bos Amsterdamse Bos 1, 640 9253 Theater van 't Woord Top Floor, OBA, Oosterdokskade 143, 523 0701 Toomler Breitnerstraat 2, 670 7400 Tropenmuseum Linnaeusstraat 2, 568 8200 Under the Grand Chapiteau Next to ArenA, 621 1288 UvA: Special Collections Library Oude Turfmarkt 129, 525 2141 Van Gogh Museum Paulus Potterstraat 7, 570 5200 Verzetsmuseum Plantage Kerklaan 61, 620 2535 Vondelpark Openluchttheater, 673 1499 W139 Warmoesstraat 139, 622 9434 Walibi World, Biddinghuizen Westergasfabriek Haarlemmerweg 8-10, 586 0710 Westergasterras Klönneplein 3, 475 1412 Winston Kingdom Warmoesstraat 129, 623 1380 The Zebra Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 14, 330 5266 Zuiderkerk Zuiderkerkhof 72, 552 7987

9-15 August 2007

Amsterdam Weekly

Rose is a rose is a rose Planet Rose Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47, 06 23510374 Open: Tues-Sat 12.00-00.00 Sun 17.00-00.00 Cash A new eatery has landed! Here I sit, late at night, smacking my lips, relishing the memory of the dinner I just ate at Planet Rose. Believe me, what was placed before your Glutton was truly something special.

Never before have I eaten Jamaican food as delicious as this. The owner, the eponymous Rose, is a chef who cooks with love, passion and magic for the growing clientele of her modest restaurant. Although it only recently opened, there’s already a steady stream of people who come to feast on her Caribbean specialities.

Ninety per cent of the ingredients are imported from Jamaica (the rest is fresh produce from the market) to be used in traditional dishes.

Rose also welcomes special requests, as long as they are given a day in advance: vegan dishes to fit in the Rastafarian diet, for example.

Ever had jerk chicken? Mmm... this skilled chef marinates wings and pieces overnight (maybe longer) in a sour, spicy mixture, made of onions, chopped scotch bonnet peppers (wow!), fresh ginger, allspice, fresh thyme sprigs, white wine vinegar, some dark soy sauce. All the ingredients are whizzed up in a blender and poured over the chicken.

The next day, she quickly sautés the poultry to seal in the juices, before a slow oven-bake with the remaining marinade. The special sticky sauce is a family recipe. I wanted to lick my plate

THE UNDERCOVER GLUTTON Fish here is cooked to order, so you need patience (or to phone in advance and show up on time) to ensure texture is at its perfect Blue Mountain peak. clean, but boy, was it hot, this reddish brown sweet-sour piquant marvel. The chicken (€3.50 as a starter) came with a salad with lemon squeezed over it to balance the mouth-watering

flavours and lingering aftertaste.

I went bananas—or perhaps that should say ‘plantains’—for all the goodies on offer. A prawn curry (€12) cooked with coconut milk, chilli (just

21

a hint) and coconut cream to thicken the sauce came with traditional rice and peas (actually little brown beans), the staple of the Jamaican diet. You add your own fire as you wish.

I was out to feast, so I also tried a bowl of steamed red snapper—a bit too bony for me.

This had been slowly simmered in a cast iron pot with chow chow (a vegetable that looks like a cross between a pale avocado and a cucumber), okra, pumpkin, onion, paprika, scotch bonnet again, allspice and thyme. The slow cooking brought out the flavours.

Fish here is always cooked as ordered, so patience is a requirement, or you need to phone in advance and show up on time to ensure its texture is at its perfect Blue Mountain peak. The flavour is deep, rich and marvellous.

My gluttony wasn’t over yet though. Next came succulent chicken curry (€5). Breast chunks, sliced and rubbed with masala and herbs was a tasty, tangy treat, deeply coloured with turmeric.

Planet Rose has a lovely cool mint-green colour to the walls, tables and chairs. The placemats are transparent with red roses on them, complementing the red cushions on seats. The restaurant is a welcoming place where people can dine alone in comfort without feeling intimidated. Lots of neighbourhood customers pop in to take food away and, even better, the kitchen is open until midnight.

Rose also bakes cakes—such as a pineapple upside down cake or rum and banana—which go brilliantly with the Italian coffee at the end of the meal. In addition, the restaurant does outside catering, for up to 100 people. Imagine a wedding or big family celebration with piles of that jerk chicken and that incredible sauce. That would really make the party go with a bang. Do give Planet Rose a visit. A Caribbean carnival of tastes awaits you.:

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Amsterdam Weekly

Evan Almighty

FILM Edited by Julie Phillips.This week’s films reviewed

by Massimo Benvegnù (MB),Shyama Daryanani (SD),Angela Dress (AD),René Glas (RG),Andrea Gronvall (AG),Luuk van Huët (LvH),JR Jones (JJ),Dave Kehr (DK),Marie-Claire Melzer (MM), Vincent Moritz (VM),Mike Peek (MP),Julie Phillips (JP),Gusta Reijnders (GR),Jonathan Rosenbaum (JR),Marinus de Ruiter (MdR),Ronnie Scheib (RS),Bregtje Schudel (BS) and Albert Williams (AW).All films are screened in English with Dutch subtitles unless otherwise noted.

Amsterdam Weekly recommends.

New this week Evan Almighty In this farcical sequel to Bruce Almighty (2003), God is still a janitor played by Morgan Freeman, but the Buffalo newscaster played by Jim Carrey is now a Buffalo newscaster-turned-congressman played by Steve Carell. As soon as the hero arrives with his family in a Virginia suburb to ‘change the world’, God orders him to build an ark, and then sends loads of animals in pairs after him until he obeys. Freeman’s God is a mix of Old and New Testament, with a dash of both sexism and sitcom; Carell’s Noah is a political fool, but that only proves he’s honest and sincere. This is idiotic, but it’s so good-natured it doesn’t matter.

Directed by Tom Shadyac from a script by Steve Oedekerk; with Lauren Graham, John Goodman, John Michael Higgins and Wanda Sykes. (JR) 90 min. Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt Half Moon A renowned Iranian-Kurdish musician, Mamo (Ismail Ghaffari), following the fall of Saddam Hussein, has been given permission to perform at a concert in Iraqi Kurdish territory. He assembles his many sons, all musicians, and sets off in a school bus driven by a faithful friend, Kako (Allah-Morad Rashtiani). As touching as it sounds, Bahman Ghobadi’s Half Moon is a delicate road comedy, as they encounter a hoard of problems during the voyage—not least that Mamo believes the success of the project depends on the presence of a female singer, Hesho (Hedye Tehrani),

9-15 August 2007

Half Moon

despite it being illegal for women to sing in public in Iran. In Farsi with Dutch subtitles. Rialto Samson and Delilah A film of the opera by Camille Saint Saëns, staged in modern dress by Frisian opera company Opera Spanga. Directed by Corina van Eijk; with Charles Alves da Cruz, Klara Uleman, Peter Michailov, Mourad Amirkhanian, Vincent Le Texier and Charlotte Besijn. 100 min. Het Ketelhuis La Stella Che Non C’è An eye-opening voyage into the heart of China, by way of an Italian maintenance manager from a steel mill. Soon to be made redundant, the mill has been dismantled and sold off. But Vincenzo (Sergio Castellitto) realises that the old furnace has a serious technical flaw, capable of causing a terrible accident. Unable to find help, he sets off for China himself, in the vain hope of finding the plant and being allowed to repair the furnace. Directed by Gianni Amelio. In Mandarin/Italian with Dutch subtitles. Het Ketelhuis Zidane, A 21st Century Portrait The title alone would suggest that you’re in for a documentary on one of the world’s best soccer players but Zidane, A 21st Century Portrait is a completely different experience. Yes, we get to look at French international star Zizi and his play up close, but that is literally all you’ll see. During the course of one match—filmed more than a year before the 2006 World Cup—video artists Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno applied heaps of special HD cameras and directional microphones to capture his every move and sound in extreme close-up. And never, ever, does he get out of frame, not even to allow a glimpse of his fellow players or show a goal. Couple this with a profound instrumental soundtrack by Scottish post-rock band Mogwai and you wind up with an experimental experience which may be a bit frustrating for the soccer fan but mesmerising for those who’ll let the footballer become a piece of audiovisual art. (RG) Filmmuseum

Open-air screenings The Death of Mr Lazarescu The hospital scenes in this award-winning Romanian film are a far cry from the heroics we’ve become used to from ER. When the sixty-ish Dante Remus Lazarescu is brought in complaining of headaches and vomiting, he doesn’t exactly get run over by surgeons who want to make him better. Their attitude is disinterested at best: ‘You feel sick because you have been drinking.’ Director Cristi Puiu displays a fair amount of gallows humour, but at the same time paints a very disturbing picture of

a broken-down health care system. After 150 minutes and four different hospitals, we’re just as exasperated as the ambulance nurse who sees the man dying before her eyes but isn’t able to give him the care any human being deserves. In Romanian with English subtitles. (BS) Pluk de Nacht Open-Air Cinema Eagle vs Shark The shock waves from Napoleon Dynamite (2004) have already been absorbed by the movie industry—director Jared Hess signed with Paramount for the lacklustre Nacho Libre and star Jon Heder has been sucked into the multiplex-comedy assembly line—but this New Zealand import is the first outside project that tries to replicate Napoleon’s deadpan geek humor. Loren Horsley, who cowrote the story with director Taika Waititi, is adorable as a shy fastfood cashier infatuated with a churlish electronics store clerk (Jemaine Clement). (JJ) Pluk de Nacht Open-Air Cinema

Rize Documentary about radical hiphop dance in LA’s South Central by David LaChapelle. (JJ) 84 min.

Filmmuseum Open Air

Woyzeck Not the Berg opera but a 1994 Hungarian adaptation of the original Georg Büchner play, suitably grim and set around a mouldering railroad yard. János Szász directed, and Lajos Kovács (Wings of Desire; Crusade in Jeans) plays the unhappy hero. In Hungarian with Dutch subtitles; screening for free at Café Blaauwhooft, Hendrik Jonkerplein 1. (JR) 93 min. Cavia Open-Air Cinema

Still playing Crónica de una fuga In 1970s Argentina, Claudio Taburrini, goalkeeper of a local soccer team, is kidnapped by a special military task force working for the fascist regime. He is detained in an old mansion with a few other ‘suspects’, where they’re questioned, tortured and humiliated for months. Finally, just when a violent death seems inevitable, the prisoners decide to escape. Unfortunately, Crónica de une fuga feels like you’ve all seen it before. The story is given little context, the focus falling on the kidnap itself. But the kidnap is hardly remarkable, with clichéd bad guys and very little character development. When a guard tells Claudio to get ready for a bath it’s obvious he’s preparing the viewer for ‘the drowning scene’. The filmmakers seem busier with their checklist of tortures than the background of the story they are (not) telling. In Spanish with Dutch subtitles. (MP) Rialto

Five-Word Movie Review

SHE’S BEHIND YOU: WITH SCISSORS! Samson and Delilah Het Ketelhuis

Death at a Funeral This irreverent British ensemble comedy, directed by Muppeteer Frank Oz, mischievously explores what happens when a dysfunctional family gathers for their father’s burial. The characters begin pursuing their own agendas and seeking their own forms of familial redemption, leading to bad behaviour, outrageous faults, skeletons in the closet—in short, to riotous mayhem. Death at a Funeral doesn’t make you laugh out loud, however; the occasional snigger is about it. The events are just too milked out. For instance, a new fiancé who desperately wants to make a good impression on his uptight in-laws accidentally ingests a designer hallucinogen, leaving him prone to uncontrollable bouts of delirium and nudity. This is great fun at the beginning, but after a while you’ve seen enough of the joke. With Matthew Macfadyen, Keeley Hawes, Andy Nyman and Jane Asher. (GR) 95 min. The Movies, Pathé Tuschinski Ensemble, c’est tout Claude Berri’s romantic comedy stars Audrey Tautou as an anorexic artist who works as a cleaner. She’s rescued by eccentric aristocrat Philibert (Laurent Stocker) and invited to share the palatial family home he lives in with his chef friend Franck (Guillaume Canet). Tautou and Canet hate each other on sight and then, by the rules of film logic, fall in love; eventually and predictably, the misfits come together to form a family. Based on the novel by Anna Gavalda; the English title is Hunting and Gathering. In French with Dutch subtitles. 97 min. Cinecenter Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer As federally mandated by the No Marvel Superhero Left Behind Act, this sequel to Fantastic Four (2005) drags in the Silver Surfer, who looks like a gigantic hood ornament and, given voice by Laurence Fishburne, has about as much personality. The original quartet (Ioan Gruffudd,

Special screenings 50 Ways of Saying Fabulous A wonderfully expressive performance by child actor Andrew Patterson propels this seriocomic study of growing up gay in rural New Zealand in the ’70s. Patterson plays plump, girlish 12-year-old Billy, who doesn’t understand why his friends (including his tomboy cousin) call him a ‘poofter’—he doesn’t even know what a poofter is.

His tentatively sexual relationship with a geeky but precocious new boy at school is threatened when he develops a crush on the teenage handyman for his family’s farm. Adapted by writer-director Stewart Main from a novel by Graeme Aitken, this alternately hilarious and poignant 2005 feature is marred by melodramatic over-plotting toward the end, but it sensitively conveys the paradoxical sweetness and cruelty of children’s relationships. (AW) Rialto Boy Culture Actor Derek Magyar (Star Trek: Enterprise) makes an impressive feature debut in this sombre video drama about a financially savvy but emotionally distant male escort. A creature of habit, he’s always restricted his client list to a select few, but when one of his regulars dies, he allows a mysterious elderly recluse (Patrick Bauchau) to fill the vacancy. The hustler is suspicious that the older man wants only to talk, but gradually he begins to open up, which both improves and complicates his

situation with his two hot roommates (Darryl Stephens and Jonathon Trent). Director Q Allan Brocka (Eating Out) keeps the tone downbeat for too long, but one can’t fault his ambition in tackling the elusive connections between love, sex and money. (AG) Rialto Les choses de la vie On his way to break up with his mistress, a successful architect (Michel Piccoli), torn between the love for his wife (Lea Massari) and the passion for his lover (Romy Schneider), has a fatal car accident. We watch as his story is told through flashbacks in Claude Sautet’s 1969 drama. Years later, Mark Rydell used the same Paul Guimard novel, on which the film is based, for his movie Interception, starring Richard Gere and Sharon Stone. The film is scheduled for re-release in 2008 but the Filmmuseum got its hands on a new copy in advance. In French with English subtitles. (MB) 83 min. Filmmuseum Clair de femme A man (Yves Montand) who has just been left by his terminally ill wife, and a woman (Romy Schneider) who has just lost her son put together their loneliness for one night. This slow and depressing 1979 film is far from director Costa-Gavras’s best work. In French with Dutch subtitles. (MB) 101 min. Film-museum Deathwatch Filmed in English in Scotland, Bertrand Tavernier’s 1980 science fiction film (also known as La mort en direct) is an unusually novelistic approach to the

genre, taking technology for granted and emphasising character and morality. In a future society where death by natural causes has been eliminated, the decision of a young computer programmer (Romy Schneider) to allow her fatal disease to run its course transfixes the nation; the last three weeks of her life will be secretly recorded for a television show by reporter Harvey Keitel, who has a miniature camera implanted in his eye. Tavernier has trouble pacing the English dialogue, but the film is highly expressive on the visual plane, with an imaginative, elegant use of Panavision and superbly dimmed photography by Pierre William Glenn. With Harry Dean Stanton, Therese Liotard and Max von Sydow.

(DK) 128 min. Filmmuseum Une Femme à sa fenêtre In this 1976 film by Pierre Granier-Deferre, Romy Schneider plays the wife of a playboy ambassador, stationed in Athens in 1936.

When a communist leader (Victor Lanoux) escapes from the police by jumping through her window, she falls in love and decides to fight by his side. She is aided by another man who loves her, Raoul (Philippe Noiret). In French with Dutch subtitles. (MB) 106 min.

Filmmuseum Le trio infernal In post-World War I France, a crooked lawyer (Michel Piccoli) and two German sisters

(Romy Schneider and Mascha Gonska) build a partnership in crime, seducing old men for their money.

Francis Girod’s 1974 black comedy, based on real events, is filled with grotesque situations. A morbid scene in which a corpse is dissolved in sulphuric acid caused a scandal at the time of its release. In French with Dutch subtitles. (MB) 103 min. Filmmuseum

Les Triplettes de Belleville Just when Jeffrey Katzenberg declared the death of 2D animation, along came this sly, inventively drawn 2003 cartoon to blow the studio leviathans out of the water. Sylvain Chomet’s grotesque, hilariously imaginative flights of fancy soar unencumbered by overshading or celebrity voice-over, and his gallery of eccentrics is unforgettable: the semi-autistic bicyclist whose calves are larger than his head, his indefatigable Portuguese grandmother, and their ageing, overweight dog, whose dreams and nightmares propel the action.

There are also zoot-suited villains, black-garbed malevolent twin packs, and the title characters, a desiccated trio of elderly vaudeville tunesters whose clever use of household appliances as musical instruments is matched by their culinary resourcefulness in maintaining an all-frog diet. In French with English subtitles. (RS) 80 min. De Nieuwe Anita

Amsterdam Weekly

9-15 August 2007

23 Life’s a riot with Eagle Vs Shark.

Summer nights were made for watching instant modern classics that missed general release, beneath the stars.

THE NIGHT IS FOR SEIZING FILM Pluk de Nacht, 9-19 August, Het Stenen Hoofd, free

By Luuk van Huët

A head of stone is a condition we usually associate with waking up in the late afternoon after a bender of monumental proportions, with a noggin feeling like a scouting party of dwarf miners are inside it, prospecting for gems with tiny, sharp pickaxes and

Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis), with their bizarre and frequently comic superpowers, are amusing enough to carry another installment, though the first movie’s genesis story was more fun than the perfunctory doomsday scheme trotted out here. Tim Story directed; with Julian McMahon and Andre Braugher.

(JJ) 92 min. Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt

The Host The biggest thing to come out of Korea

this year is a voracious mutant tadpole, spawned by toxins dumped into the Han River by evildoing Americans. This amphibious horror kidnaps the teenage daughter of a dysfunctional family, who are then forced to seek out and confront the beast. OK, the premise of this old-fashioned monster flick is as ludicrous as they come, but director Joon-ho Bong navigates between family drama, black comedy and nail-biting suspense to create an instant classic that’s satisfying on every level. Combining Little Miss Sunshine with Jaws seems like an awful idea, but it worked out fine with The Host. In English and Korean with Dutch subtitles. (LvH) Kriterion

The Host I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry Adam Sandler and Kevin James star as Brooklyn firemen who pretend to be gay lovers so they can collect domestic partner benefits. The script originated with Jim Taylor and Alexander Payne (Sideways, About Schmidt, Election), but the end result has all the earmarks of Sandler’s cynical, complacent Happy Madison Productions crew: for every stale homophobic joke there’s a sheepish nod to political correctness, and just to be safe director Dennis Dugan plays the firefighter card at every opportunity. (JJ) Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt

coarse voices singing obscene songs about fairytale princesses.

Connoisseurs of contemporary cinema, however, think of other, far more positive, connotations to this particular condition, as the cultural benefactors at Het Stenen Hoofd host the Pluk de Nacht film festival. It’s renowned for screening art-house instant classics that somehow failed to receive theatrical release in the Netherlands, such as the formidable revenge flick Dead Man’s Shoes and the

The Last Legion A pulp historical novel by Valerio Massimo Manfredi gets the Hollywood treatment courtesy of megamogul Dino de Laurentiis, who knows how to pick the right ingredients from the global market, but comes up with a bad mix here. In this infantile take on Gladiator, legion commander Aurelius (Colin Firth) and his mentor with shamanic powers, Ambrosinus (Sir Ben Kingsley), must protect the child emperor of Rome from Barbarian general Odoacer (Peter Mullan). A magic sword and a clever historical twist at the end don’t help raise the bar above thin fare for kids. Indian star Aishwarya Rai adds some Oriental spice as a mysterious warrior from Byzantium who joins the last legion, but the result remains a pretty bland minestrone. Directed

by Doug Lefler. (MB) 110 min. Pathé De Munt London to Brighton Two young women flee London for the seaside, hoping to get through the next 24 hours alive. British director Paul Andrew Williams’ 2006 debut thriller is well acted and well made. 85 min. Cinecenter Molière This biography of French playwright JeanBaptiste Poquelin, better known under his pseudonym of Molière, gets the Shakespeare in Love treatment— bits, scenes and characters from his plays resurface in real life happenings—from director Laurent Tirard and screenwriter Grégoire Vigneron. What could have been a very light divertissement becomes a very heavy handed affair instead: Romain Duris (Arsène Lupin) tries his best to give charm and action to the lead character, but fails miserably to give him inspiration— quite essential when you portray a writer. While a general knowledge of Molière’s ouevre could be of help in the appreciation of this film, don’t feel obliged to rush to the library, as it’s not worth it. In French with Dutch subtitles. (MB) Het Ketelhuis Mon fils à moi ‘Mon dieu, quelle histoire!’, exclames Mother as she exits her son’s bedroom. We could very well say the same: she has just successfully demanded to see her teenage son’s privates. In this unusual and well-done pyschological study from first-time French film-maker Martial Fougeron, the always amaz-

existential drama Last Life in the Universe—both shown exclusively at earlier festivals.

Frederike Schötz, press contact forPluk de Nacht, explains how the open-air extravaganza came about.: ‘Four years ago, a group of people who worked at The Movies found it such a shame that so many good films never reached Dutch screens, that they organised a small open-air film festival screening unreleased ones. The festival became a huge success, and we’ve now reached our fourth edition. The festival has become a foundation and, besides a regular crew, every year we benefit from the work of a group of volunteers.’

As for the location, out on a promontory next to Silodam, Schötz expounds: ‘We were looking for a great location on the banks of the IJ, and we found it. Het Stenen Hoofd is the foundation that owns this piece of land, and anyone who wants to organise a cultural event can contact them. If they decide to host you,

ing Nathalie Baye stars as an overpossessive mother who will try anything to prevent her 12-year-old son from reaching a healthy puberty. Obviously, as in every bourgeois French-suburban drama we’ve ever seen, events unfold in tragic terms. Mon fils à moi is definitely not to everyone’s taste, but Baye’s performance surely earns her a place in the Hall of Fame of Cinematic Mothers from Hell—Freudians, you’ve been warned. In French with Dutch subtitles. (MB) 90 min. Cinecenter

Ocean’s Thirteen Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Ocean’s Thirteen brings Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his pack of thieves back to that glamorous playground for adults, Las Vegas. But this time, it’s personal. One of their own, Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould), winds up in the hospital after being swindled

by Willy Bank (Al Pacino). So Danny and the gang are out for revenge: clean out Bank’s finances and hit him where it hurts the most by ruining his chances of getting a Five Diamond Award for his latest hotel on the Strip. Not just another sequel, this is one of the most entertaining movies of the franchise so far: suave, sleek, and snappy. Includes eye candy. (SD) 122 min.

Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt

Ocean’s Thirteen

Pan’s Labyrinth By mixing the narrative setting he already visited in The Devil’s Backbone with the Grand Guignol sensibilities he’s shown in his Hollywood films, Guillermo del Toro has managed to create a perfect, poignant fairy tale of the Grimm variety.

Young Ofelia must undergo a perilous quest that takes her through the depths of the underworld and pits her against her nefarious new father. Bittersweet and darkly disturbing at the same time, this movie’s guar-

they also take care of all of the accompanying permits and such, and a growing number of events take place there. Last year, we tested the waters at IJburg, but we returned to Het Stenen Hoofd this year.’

And indeed this year, Pluk de Nacht is promising to be better than ever, as Schötz sums up: ‘We’re screening films from all over the world, from Iceland to New Zealand to South Africa. Some titles that are my favourites are Eagle vs Shark, the intertwined films Parents/Children, and the Dutch short Hoe Nikita een Paard Kreeg.’

Every feature—all have English subtitles—will be preceded by a short (including the prize-winning Romanian film The Death of Mr Lazarescu), and some of these have been sent in by amateur film-makers.

Besides quality programming, there’s a lot to like about the festival. As Schötz attests: ‘You’ll be seated in our comfortable reclining beach chairs, and if it gets chilly you can rent a cosy blanket. There’s also a bar catering to your every need, and you can have a bite to eat at the Pizza Laboratory, which is an extension of the famous Trattoria Yam-Yam and employs the same stone ovens. After the screening, a DJ will spin records and you can dance the night away.’

The festival also has an artistic side, Schötz explains: ‘We’ve retrofitted containers and caravans and turned them into four kijkdozen and mobile galleries filled with pictures and installations. One is filled with pictures of LAN parties by the Italian photographer Emilio Alonzo.’

But the biggest selling point of Pluk de Nacht, as proclaimed by Schötz—and agreed with by cineastes all over—is this: ‘It’s free!’

anteed to keep your inner child up at night with delicious fright. Just refrain from accepting candy from Fascists and fauns and you’ll be fine. In Spanish with Dutch subtitles. (LvH) 112 min. The Movies Premonition The premise of this time-shifting thriller, from German-Turkish director Mennan Yapo and screenwriter Bill Kelly, is an intriguing one. Each day, housewife Linda Hanson (Sandra Bullock) receives the news that her husband Jim (Julian McMahon) has died in a car accident, only to wake up the next morning and find him very much alive. Was it a nightmare, or a foretelling of tragedy yet to come? If so, does she have the power to prevent it? Then it happens again: some days Linda finds Jim alive, while on others she awakens a widow. Inexplicably, Linda is living the days of her life out of order. At first the film’s non-linear structure rouses your curiosity. But the follow-up lacks cohesion and depth, making Premonition as boring as a housewife’s routine. A good idea but a missed opportunity. (GR) 110 min. Pathé ArenA

Ratatouille In Pixar’s newest effort, Remy the rat

finds himself in the restaurant of his late hero, TV cook Auguste Gusteau, whose motto, ‘Anyone can cook’, inspired Remy’s dream of becoming the greatest chef in Paris. Saved from a horrible death by the gawky garbage boy Linguini, he starts working with him to achieve his goal. But Skinner, the evil new chef in Gusteau’s restaurant, is not that easily beaten. Oldschool Disney slapstick with a heart, Ratatouille is all about fun. Chases are numerous and feature incredible camerawork while putting kitchen utensils to maximum use. The animation is equally stunning, containing deeply saturated colors and realistic movement from both animals and humans. With a jazzy soundtrack and lots of great details, this feels like cinematic spielerei, a seemingly effortless home run into animation history. (MP) Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt, Pathé Tuschinski Reno 911!: Miami Comedy Central’s mockumentary series Reno 911! offers great and mostly innocent improv comedy in its attempt to parody real-life police

Amsterdam Weekly

24

shows like COPS. Let loose on the big screen, most of the underlying charm remains, but the compulsory story and the more adult gags largely fall flat. Not that these additions aren’t funny per se, but the R rating yielded some new juvenile T&A jokes which aren’t the best of the bunch, and the backbone narrative means we now got less improvisation. Especially those characters not part of the original crew—here responsible for pushing the story onwards while team Reno just messes around—seem detached from the rest. Look for some fun cameos, though. Directed by Robert Ben Garant, himself part of the Reno team. (RG) 81 min.

Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt Reprise Norwegian students Erik and Phillip aspire to become influential cult authors. At the start we see them posting their manuscripts. Later on Phillip achieves mild success but suffers a nervous breakdown, while Erik confronts his lack of talent. In between, comic interactions between them and their bohemian mates and pretty girlfriends alternate with tragic episodes. Directed by Joachim Trier, Reprise displays fresh cinematic talent and is enjoyable for its pop culture references—combining, for example, French nouvelle vague cinema with British new wave music. Reprise doesn’t lack coolness, either. But it does lose its narrative focus towards the end, and ultimately fails to penetrate the surface. In Norwegian with Dutch subtitles. (MdR) 105 min. Rialto

Reprise Shrek the Third The big green babysitter is back, but the charm has evaporated. Cinephiles will enjoy some of the in-jokes (watching an awful play, one character cracks, ‘This is worse than Love Letters’). But then, if you’re a cinephile, why would you bother with this?

Chris Miller and Raman Hui directed; with the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas. (JJ) 93 min. Het Ketelhuis, Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt, Pathé Tuschinski Sounds of Sand Life in Africa is rough; that is what we learn from the news, from documentaries and from films like Sounds of Sand (original title: Si le vent soulève les sables). The problem is, there is not one Africa, any more than there is one Europe. In this Belgian/French co-production, directed by Marion Hänsel, national and local political and cultural issues are swept under the

FILM TIMES Thursday 9 August until Wednesday 15 August Times are provided by cinemas and are subject to last-minute changes. Film times also at www.amsterdamweekly.nl.

Cavia Open-Air Cinema Hendrik Jonkerplein 1, 475 0924, Woyzeck Sat 21.00.

Cinecenter Lijnbaansgracht 236, 623 6615 Azuloscurocasinegro daily 19.15 Ensemble, c'est tout daily 16.15, 19.30, 22.00, Sun also 11.15, 14.00 Das Leben der Anderen daily 15.45, 18.45 London to Brighton daily 21.45, Sun also 11.00, 13.45 Mon fils à moi daily 16.30, 19.45, 21.45, Sun also 11.15, 14.15 Les témoins daily 16.00, 21.45, Sun also 11.00, 13.30.

Filmmuseum Vondelpark 3, 589 1400 César et RosalieThur-Sat17.00,19.30, Sun-Wed17.00,19.30, Sun also14.45 Les choses de la vie daily 19.15, Sun also 14.30 Clair de femme Wed 21.30 Congorama Thur-Sat 17.15, Sun-Wed 17.30, 19.45 Deathwatch Mon, Tues 21.30 Une Femme à sa fenêtre Sat, Sun 21.30 The Naked Island Wed 21.45 Le trio infernal Thur, Fri 21.30 Zidane,A 21st Century Portrait daily 21.45.

Filmmuseum Open Air Vondelpark, , Rize Fri 21.30.

Het Ketelhuis Haarlemmerweg 8-10, 684 0090 FILM TIMES WERE NOT AVAILABLE BY DEADLINE. Kriterion Roetersstraat 170, 623 1708 Cashback Sat, Sun 15.30, Sun also 17.45 Death Proof Thur-Mon, Wed 22.15 The Host daily 20.00, Thur-Sat, Mon-Wed also 17.45 Sneak Preview Tues 22.15.

The Movies Haarlemmerdijk 159-165, 638 6016 FILM TIMES WERE NOT AVAILABLE BY DEADLINE. De Nieuwe Anita Frederik Hendrikstraat 111, 06 4150 3512, Les Triplettes de Belleville Mon 20.30.

rug to once more offer us painful imagery of the problems of ‘Africa’ as a whole instead of giving us insight into specific issues. In this case we are presented with drinking-water shortages due to droughts and militia violence as we follow a schoolteacher and his family in a doomed effort to reach a well on the other side of the desert. The film is beautifully shot, but with its generality it ultimately fails to impress. In French with Dutch subtitles. (RG) 96 min. Rialto

Still Life Still Life Most of what we read about China nowadays is about their incredible economic rise. Rest assured that behind the veil of success, misery is to be found.

Film-maker Jia Zhang-ke (Unknown Pleasures, The World) seems dedicated to showing us other aspects of a culture locked in massive change. His new film Still Life is a stunningly shot drama of people lost in the chaos of progress, in a city literally drowning as it is slowly engulfed by the reservoir of the Three Gorges Dam. Shot entirely on high-definition video, Still Life looks and feels like a documentary; and while the story itself is not, the background of the drowning city is very real indeed. As such, this blend of fiction and the real paints an alienating and disquieting picture of a country where the individual is merely an obstacle to progress.

In Mandarin with Dutch subtitles. (RG) 108 min. Rialto Tales from Earthsea With its sweeping vistas and tiny figures making their way through vast landscapes, Goro Miyazaki’s first anime seems more inspired by The Lord of the Rings than by the films of his father, Hayao (My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away). Loosely based on Ursula K Le Guin’s dark fantasy series, it starts out lively and entertaining, as the wizard Sparrowhawk and a young prince go in search of a sorcerer whose desire for eternal life has upset the balance of the world. Parts of it are lovely to look at, especially the flora. (Goro went to forestry school before he joined his father’s business.) But the film squanders its promise at the end in a big fight scene.

Because of a rights conflict, Tales from Earthsea won’t be released in North America until 2009. In Japanese with Dutch subtitles. (JP) 115 min. The Movies Les témoins Paris, early 1980s: a 20-year-old kid named Manu (Johan Libéreau) arrives from the provinces, moves in with his sister (Julie Depardieu), and is gets to

Pathé ArenA ArenA Boulevard 600, 0900 1458 Die Hard 4.0 daily 20.15, 21.30 Evan Almighty daily 14.40, 17.00, 19.20, 21.45, Thur-Sat also 12.00, Mon-Wed also 12.00, Sun also 12.10 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer daily 13.30, 15.40, 17.50, 20.00, 22.10, Sat, Sun also 11.20 The Good Shepherd Sun-Wed 20.30 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix daily 11.30, 14.30, 17.30, 20.30 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (IMAX) daily 12.15, 15.15, 18.20, 21.25 Harry Potter en de Orde van de Fenix daily 12.30, 15.30 I Now PronounceYou Chuck and Larry daily12.20,14.45,17.10,19.30, 21.55 Little Miss Sunshine Thur-Sat 20.30 Ocean's Thirteen daily 19.00, 21:40 Pirates of the Caribbean 3 daily 15.35 Planet Terror Sat 20.40 Premonition Thur-Sat, Mon-Wed 20.40 The Queen daily 18.00 Ratatouille daily 12.45, 15.10, 17.40, 20.20, Thur-Mon, Wed 19.10, 21.50, Sat, Sun also 10.20 Ratatouille (NL) daily 11.45, 12.45, 14.15, 15.10, 16.45, 17.40 , Sat, Sun also 10.20 Reno 911!: Miami daily 18.30 Shrek de Derde daily 13.20, 15.50, Sat, Sun also 11.10 Shrek the Third daily 18.35 De Simpsons Film daily 13.15, 15.25, Sat, Sun also 11.00 Sneak Preview Tues 21.00 Transformers daily 12.25, 18.00, 21.00 Zoop in Zuid-Amerika daily 11.50, 14.00, 16.20.

Pathé De Munt Vijzelstraat 15, 0900 1458 Death Proof Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 17.10, Sat also 18.15 Die Hard 4.0Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 18.45, 21.40, Sat also 19.00, 22.00, 22.40 Evan Almighty Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 13.30, 16.15, 19.00, 21.45, Thur, Fri, Mon-Wed also 11.00, Sat also 12.50, 15.15, 17.45, 20.30, 23.15 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 10.20, 12.30, 15.00, 17.20, 19.40, Thur-Sat, Mon, Wed also 22.00, Sat also 11.30, 13.45, 16.30, 18.45, 21.00 Fracture Sat 22.50 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix daily 18.00, 21.15, Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed also 10.45, 13.45, 17.00, 20.15, Sat also 11.00, 14.30, 19.30, 22.45 I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 13.15, 16.00, 18.45, 21.30, Thur, Fri, Mon-Wed 10.40, Sat also 12.00, 14.45, 17.30, 20.15, 23.00 The Last Legion Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 16.45, 19.15, 21.50, Sat also 17.15, 20.00 Ocean's Thirteen Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 15.10, 17.50, 18.30, 21.20, Sat also 14.40, 18.20, 19.15, 22..15 Pirates of the Caribbean 3 Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 12.50, 16.50, 20.30, Sat also 12.10, 15.40, 19.10 Planet Terror Sat 23.20

9-15 August 2007 know an older gay man (Michel Blanc), the married policeman Mehdi (Sami Bouajila) and his wife Sarah (Emmanuele Béart). Together, this group of friends and lovers face life, love and the arrival of the AIDS epidemic in this sensitive film, directed by André Téchiné. In French with Dutch subtitles. 112 min. Cinecenter Transformers The biggest puzzle in Michael Bay’s allover-the-place extravaganza Transformers is who’s supposed to watch it. It’s a film based on a toy, with PG13 rated action, that alternates jokes about robots peeing (sorry, ‘lubricating’) on humans with gags concerning masturbation. Which basically leaves you with a target audience of boys between 12 and 15 and the male 30+ fan base from the original series. Rising star Shia LaBeouf successfully carries the film and, to be honest, Transformers is never boring. But those looking for a more balanced form of summer entertainment are better off with Die Hard 4.0. (BS) 132 min. Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt

Transformers Transylvania Director Tony Gatlif likes to make gypsy road movies—his most famous one being Gadjo Dilo—and his latest film is no exception. This time we follow female protagonist Zingarina (Asia Argento) to the Romanian region of Transylvania to be reunited with her boyfriend. When he rejects her and their unborn baby, Zingarina is inconsolable. Yet love lurks in unlikely places. It’s uncommon for Gatlif to feature a female lead, yet actress Biro Ünel (the anti-hero of Gegen die Wand) steals every scene. What Transylvania lacks in narrative, it amply makes up for in vibrant music and raw emotion. In French/Romanian/English with Dutch subtitles. (BS) 103 min. Het Ketelhuis

Zodiac David Fincher has come a long way in the

five years since his last skilful but empty exercise in style, Panic Room. In Zodiac, about four men obsessed with their search for the infamous Zodiac Killer, Fincher finally emerges as a real storyteller. He meticulously follows the book by cartoonist Robert Graysmith without ever allowing it to get boring or lose tension.

Fincher has matured, but Robert Downey Jr can claim the most amazing comeback. After some very rocky years battling drug addiction and poor film choices, Downey, as the ever-intoxicated reporter Paul Avery, now dazzles us with a cynical, funny and genuinely moving performance. (BS) 158 min. Pathé De Munt

Ratatouille Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 10.15, 12.45, 15.30, 18.15, Thur, Fri, Mon, Wed also 21.00, Sat also 14.15, 17.00, 19.45, 22.30, Tues also 22.00 Ratatouille (NL) Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 10.15, 12.40, 15.20, Sat also 11.15, 14.00, 16.45 Reno 911!: Miami Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 22.15 Shrek de Derde Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 10.35, 12.00, 12.55, 14.20, Sun also 10.15, 12.15, 12.40, 15.00 Shrek the Third Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 12.15, 14.30, 20.00, Sat also 10.40, 13.15, 15.45, 20.45 Sneak Preview Tues 21.30 Transformers Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 11.45, 14.45, 17.45, 20.45, Sat also 12.30, 15.30, 18.30, 21.30 Zodiac Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 20.50, Sat also 21.45 Zoop in Zuid-Amerika Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 11.30, 14.00, 16.30, Sat also 11.10, 13.40, 16.00.

Pathé Tuschinski Reguliersbreestraat 34, 0900 1458 Buddha's Lost Children Sun-Wed 21.45 Bugs 3D Thur-Sat 20.45 Copying Beethoven daily 14.30 Death at a Funeral daily 12.15, 17.00, 19.30, 22.00 Dinosaurs-Giants of Patagonia (3D) daily 10.30, 13.30, ThurTues also 17.30 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix daily 12.00, 15.00, 18.00, 21.15 Last King of Scotland Thur-Sat 21.30 Das Leben der Anderen daily 21.00 Ober Thur-Sat 19.00 Ratatouille daily 15.00, 19.00, 21.45 Ratatouille (NL) daily 16.00, Thur, Sat-Wed also 13.00 Shrek de Derde daily 13.15 Shrek the Third daily 15.45, 18.30 Ten Canoes Sun-Wed 19.15 Zoop in Zuid-Amerika daily 12.45, 15.30.

Pluk de Nacht Open-Air Cinema Westerdokseiland Bunny Chow Sun 21.30 The Death of Mr Lazarescu Mon 21.30 Eagle vs Shark Thur 21.30 Das Fräulein Sat 21.30 Immer nie am Meer Tues 21.30 Parents Fri 21.30 Someday My Prince Will Come Wed 21.30.

Rialto Ceintuurbaan 338, 676 8700 50 Ways of Saying Fabulous Fri 23.00 Boy Culture Sat 23.00 Crónica de una fuga daily 22.00, Sun also 15.30 Half Moon daily 17.40, 19.50, Sun also 15.30 Khadak Mon, Tues 19.00 Das Leben der Anderen daily 21.45, Sat also 14.45 Reprise daily 21.00, Sun also 16.15 Sounds of Sand Thurs-Sun 19.00, Sat also 16.15 Still Life daily 17.20, 19.30, Sun also 15.10.

Amsterdam Weekly

9-15 August 2007

WEEKLY CLASSIFIEDS Ads are free, space permitting. They will be posted both to the paper and online. Guaranteed placement is available for a small fee; see our website for details. Ads may be published in English, het Nederlands or whatever language is best for you to communicate your message.

How to submit an ad: via our website at www.amsterdamweekly.nl, by fax at 020 620 1666 or post to Amsterdam Weekly, De Ruyterkade 106, 1011 AB Amsterdam. Deadline: Monday at 12.00, the week of publication.

Please email us! mil_ham@ ROOM FOR RENTin shared apt with 2 other persons, close yahoo.com.

A HOME NEEDEDfrom the to Vondelpark from ASAP till start of Sept. I’m male, Ice- beginning of Sept. Price: €300 landic, responsible student. all incl. Call 06 4277 4518.

natural light and located on WG Plein, adjacent to Overtoom. For appointment and more info contact D. Ingel: 06 2883 4224.

Can pay up to €500. Prefer close to central. Please contact me in email since I’m not in Holland at the moment. giu@badtmperdesign.com.

STUDIO SPACE to rent by hour. Suitable for dance groups/rehearsals/events.

Reasonable prices. Located in A’dam South. Tel 06 4194 2207.

Bathroom with shower and bathtub.Livingroomwithopen kitchen ca 52m2. €850 incl.

Please call 06 2866 0570.

1 Sept-31 Jan. Mature single person. Prefer uncluttered space, pleasant outlook. Email inez@inezbaranay.com.

STUDIO/APTI’m looking studio/apt, 1-bdrm, from 1 Sept.

Max €600 all incl. Phone 06 1498 0208.

WONINGRUIL/HOUSESWAP Aangeboden: 90m2 appartement balkon op zuidoostzijde op Borneo Eiland. Gezocht: woningcentrum,DePijpofJordaan min 50m2. Offered: 90m2 apt balcony on southeast on Borneo island. Wanted: apt in Centrum, De Pijp or Jordaan.

Min50m2.0615310522orroversrob@hotmail.com.

1-BDRM A'DAM CENTRUM Female, professional (scientist), non-smoker, quiet and tidy, seeks 1-bdrm apt near (preferably within walking distance) from A’dam CS. Long-term from 1 Sept(or earlier), registration. Spreek een beetje Nederlands. Please contact eeebbr@yahoo.com or 06 1548 5084.

ROOM TO RENT! I’m 23 y.o. workingPolishboyandI’mlooking for nice cheap room to rent in A’dam for longer time. My phone number 06 1767 9235.

SEARCHING FOR HOME Full-time working girl looking for home from begin Septend Nov, (shorter possible).

Preferably 30 min radius from the centre. Max €400. elf_in LOOKING FOR A ROOM! _green@yahoo.com.

Hi guys! Am a 25 y.o. girl lookHOUSING TO SHARE ing for room starting from Sept. If you have any offer VERY NICE HOUSE w/ garplease reach me urgently. den. House owner in NL very Look forward to hear soon! seldom. Excellently located Email elcinir@yahoo.com or on Amstel River next to all phone 06 4367 0585. sorts of public transport.

FOR YOUR PLACE Young Looking for non-smoking, couple, 26 y.o, nice, clean, expat, responsible FEMALE non-smoking. He is graphic or couple to share this nice designer, she is a fashion house. Lots of privacy & space. design student. Perfect to Facilities incl. Also internet. occupy your empty small apt €700/mth. Call 06 4851 7854. and pay up to €800. Short or long-term. Interested? Mail ROOM WANTED FOR 1-2 portilho.ricardo@gmail.com. MONTHS My name is Ovidiu and I am looking for a room NICE TENANTS We are a in an apt for 1-2 mths in A’dam. young couple, 26 y.o. in the I will come there at the beginquest for a small apt to move ning of Aug. I will pay more and in from 1 Sept. We can pay rent for a whole year if regisup to €800. Would you have tration is possible. I am 24 y.o. something for us? portil- non-smoker and I will work in ho.ricardo@gmail.com. the IT field. Contact me at 30 + LOOKING FOR stu- ovidiuflorin2001@ yahoo.com. dio/room. I’m a designer so I VERYNICEROOMfor rent for require plenty of light. Will pay non-smoking FEMALE from 1 up to €450 max. Can u help? Sept in A’dam north, 10 min Then please call 06 4648 5851. from ferry, in nice house with Thank u. garden in green residential

ROOM WANTED IN A'DAM Sociable, professional, British girl seeks room or small studio/flat in A’dam from 1 Oct. Would consider sublet. Budget up to €700. I work as an

SHORT-TERM APT We are coming to A’dam for 3 days end of Aug are looking for an apt to rent for 2 nights in the center of A’dam. We have no driving licence so just walking!

AD OF THE WEEK CROTCH CONSULTANT Dr. Farrel Kane O’Lingus, crotch consultant. Need that extra spark back in the ignition ladies? The drapes match the curtains but still got da blues? One 30 min consult can make a positive difference! €40! Expert in matters of pelvic feng shui. Please call 06 3404 0311. Confidential.

APT/ROOM REQUIREDAm a 26 y.o. Australian male who needs an apt or room for 6-12 months. I work in A’dam for a Telco. I have no pets and am a non-smoker, quiet and friendly person. Need apt/ room close to A’dam/Haarlem/Zaandam/Amstelveen or nearabouts. Sunil: 06 2651 3387.

100'S OF APTS available in A’dam immediately. From LOOKINF FOR A FLAT!I am APT FOR RENT Light and €450/mth. Seewww.xpat- a young Finnish professional airy 1-room apt on Jan Pieter rentals.com/offers. looking for a furnished/unfurHeijestraat available from 1 nished flat around A’dam cenHOUSING WANTED Sept to 31 Jan. Fully furnished tre. Max €1000/mth. Must be with PC, internet and TV. 2-BDRM FLAT 3 guys look- possible to register! Please Suitable for single or couple, ing for good flat for 1 year in drop me a note on merwi@ no registration. €1000/mth A’dam or nearby. We are pre- msn.com. Cheerios! plus 1 month deposit. Call pared to caretake flat and to APT FOR 9-12 AUG Apt pay €800/mth + deposit and needed for father, mother Misha 06 4669 4556.

APT IN HAARLEM 1-bdrm good reference. Please call and daughter, arriving 9 Aug and leaving 12 Aug. Preferbasement apt in Overveen us at 06 2488 0903.

(Haarlem)availablefrom1Aug WRITER SEEKS APT Writ- ably in A’dam city center. for long-term with legal con- er seeks apt or sublet in cen- Please contact Jonathan tract.Exceptbed,unfurnished. tral A’dam for 5 months from ASAP at 06 5267 7294.

HOUSING OFFERED

25

IT contractor - mostly from home so need an internet connection and room for my desk. helen. olney@gmail.com.

area. €375/mth incl bills and wireless internet. Shared kitchen, bathroom and laundry. No registration possible.

Pets present. Email for more info to keizma@gmail.com.

GEZOCHT FLAT Ik heet Anne, 25, Frans, landschapsarchitect. Ik zoek bij voorkeur in de buurt van mijn werk: A’dam centrum of bij de Oosterse Eilanden (Zeeburg, Borneo, Sporenburg, Java, KNSM, enz) naar de leukste gedeelde flat ooit, of naar een mooie kamer: ruim, gezellig, lange termijn. annezaragoza@hotmail.com.

WORK OFFERED

ters, please. Contact globalkidsshow@gmail.com.

UNDUTCHABLES Amsterdam is looking for a Recruitment Consultant(Dutch and English fluently); German financials; Demand planner; Tourist agents all languages; Italian or Nordic Accounts Payable; French & Dutch sales or Customer Service.

Visit www.undutchables.nl.

ENGLISH-SPEAKINGJOBS We have all the English-speaking and other foreign-language jobs from all major employment agencies and ROOM FOR SEPT I am a employers in NL on one webSpanish girl and I am look- site. www.xpatjobs.com. ing for a room for the whole GERMAN HELPDESK TNS month of Sept in A’dam. I EAP, based in centre of A’dam, don’t mind sharing the flat is looking for French native with students or renting an speakertoworkonhelpdesk20apt. 06 1371 6291.

24hrsaweek.Interested?Send A ROOM TO SHARE Leid- yourCVtoestefania.lopez.gonseplein, the heart of A’dam. zalez@tns-global.com.

We are looking for a trust- ACCESS VOLUNTEERS worthy flatmate to move in Wanted! Have you been in any time now or with the begin- A’dam long? Are you outgoing? ning of Sept. €300/mth. There’s We are looking for volunteers already 3 of us + a cat. Best to help run a workshop for newfor a young working/studying comers to the city. Pls call us person. Only serious offers! on 432 3217 or check out 06 4675 1659 katarzy- http://access-nl.org. nahryniewicka@yahoo.com. FINANCIAL ASSISTANTP/T

COOK MEXICAN FOOD Hotel in A’dam is looking for an experienced cook specialized in dishes from the Mexican Yucatan area to expand our young and dynamic team.

Looking for an independent cook who has knowledge of the English and Spanish languages. Dutch is a preference.

Approx 20 hrs/wk. hotel.amsterdam@hotmail.com.

THE EXPAT COMPANY is actively looking for applications engineer who is able to communicate in French and English. Location Amersfoort.

For more vacancies in this area look at www.expatcompany.nl.

OTHER SPACES

24 HOURS P/W. Child Helpline International (A’dam centrum) is looking for a Financial Assistant for its small but busy office. Sage Line 50 experience is a must. Deadline for applications is 15 Aug. Visit childhelplineinternational.org, or contact Abi or Helen 528 9625 for more information.

PHOTO STUDIO For amateur and professional photographers. Can also be used as meeting or gathering space. 100m2, €150/day. Possible to rent photo equipment. High ceilings, good,

PIMPMYSPACE?Lookingfor helppimpingmyspace.Justno time to do it all myself. Will pay perhourrateof€10-€15,depending upon your experience and speedofcompletion.Foragood cause, so no unsavory charac-

FLATSHARE with a view in 16th floor 110m2 apt, with gay English guy. The apt is in A’dam noord next to shops and frequent transport. Rent is approx €550/mth incl. Tel Ian on 06 2287 4357 or ian@ red4fred.com.

THE EXPAT COMPANY requires a fluent French, Dutch and English speaker (all 3 languages) for a function in Hoofddorp. Experience in IT s/w will be an advantage along with sales experience. Interested? Contact p.kendall@expatcompany.nl for more vacancies & look at www.expatcompany.nl.

WORK WANTED AUPAIRMy name’s Margaret, 46, from Poland looking for job as babysitter/nanny/aupair, f/t, p/t, live in/out. Experience taking care of children.

Hard working person, responsible, punctual, organized. You won’t be disapointed. Look-

Amsterdam Weekly

26 ing forward to hearing from Everything else is in good elcinir@yahoo.com. condition. €30. Contact Hei- LOW-COST WEBSITESSimyou. 06 2671 1506. ple, stylish, low-cost websites BABYSITTER AVAILABLE ni on 06 2716 0589.

Child-loving,energetic,respon- TV & DVD PLAYER! Selling for small businesses & indisible girl is available to babysit small good-working TV, toge- viduals. Logo design, domain intheevenings/nightsorweek- hther with good DVD player name purchasing, website ends in A’dam! References are for €60! Call 06 2864 8823. hosting, registration with available!€6/hr!Please,contact MICROWAVE GRILL Selling search engines, traffic monme on 06 5554 7829! Thanks! a very good, almost new itoring, websites you can PHOTOGRAPHY student of microwave that includes a grill update yourself. Contact us arts looking for photography, for only €20 Call 06 2864 8823! now for friendly, helpful advice. www.helenolney.com. videowork.aljonka@gmail.com.

LADIES BIKE Nearly new HOUSE HELP22 y.o. female ladies Pointer bike for sale. 1 PERSONAL ASSISTANTDo student of domestic econo- careful owner, excellent con- you need help with your Dutch my would like practical expe- dition. Comes w/ very sturdy administration and legal docrience of service in house- chain lock, rear wheel lock, uments, navigating Dutch hold. Please call if you have spare keys, lights front & rear, bureaucracy, selling or buyany house work for me. Kate: intact & fully functional. Need ing a house? As an energetic and professional person06 5059 3293. quick sale as leaving NL short- al assistant and translator I ly.

Available at bargain price WORK WANTEDNeed help can help you with all of the painting, moving or garden- of€150euroso.n.o.abileah1980 above. You can contact me for ing? I can do it! Call me: 06 @ yahoo.co.uk. serious enquiries at dutchas4486 5248. sist@gmail.com.

SERVICES

FOR SALE WEBER GRILL LIKE NEW 55cm diameter, black colour, €50 o.n.o. If interested pls call 670 9258.

ALL YOU WILL NEED Moving out: selling fridge, w/m, tables, dishes, oven, lamps, etc. Perfect conditions and low prices. Write me: ogoncalo@gmail.com.

OFFICE VISIO PRO2007 makes it easy for IT and business professionals to visualize, explore, and communicate complex information. New and original + Product Key, €50.

Email asaf123@ gmail.com.

TV SETS One Daewoo 55cm 3 y.o. with video recorder, €150; 1 Philips 55cm, 10 y.o. €50. If interested pls call 670 9258.

WOMEN’S BICYCLE Peugeot women’s bicycle, white, 3 gears, handbrakes. Back wheel needs to be fixed.

ENJOY YOUR TIME OFF! Order Strijkaway ironing service at your home. Now you can also bring and take your ironing goods! Visit www.strijkaway.nl. Mail info@strijkaway.nl or call 06 1365 3682.

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT We are small international group of web professionals offering webdesign, redesign, support, webhosting, Search Engine Optimization, starting and managing online marketing Pay Per Click campaigns.

All that at affordable prices!

Interested? Contact us at amsdesigns@collegepay.info.

YOUR FUTURE Would you wanna know your future? Do you wonder about the second level of your life? Do you worry about your next steps? Mysterious tarot coming from east, willhelpyoutofindtheanswers.

Guaranteedandfriendlyprices.

Reach us: 06 4367 0585 or

BUSINESS ADVICEAre you thinking about starting your own business? Do you have a company but administration and papers are not your thing? Do you need a business plan, labour from abroad, to buy real estate or moving abroad? Call Tulipany for advice on 06 1021 8271, email info@tulipany.nl or go to www.tulipany.nl!

BRAZILIAN WAXINGBritish Beauty Therapist. 30 yrs experience, CIDESCO, BABTAC ANBOS, laser electrolysis, P8N8 Skin Therapy Centre: acne/rejuvenation/cleanse Linda Young Aesethetics.

New address: Eerste Jan Steenstraat 109 in De Pijp.

Contact 06 4079 9921 or visit www.lindayoungaesthetics.com.

PETSITTER A'DAM Furry Friends Care, petsitter available for taking care of your cat while you’re away, or walk-

4638 8622, www.soulseeker.biz. ing a lecture on The Power ALL ABOUT SOUL Are you of Sounds and Mantra’s at interested in connecting with Agama Yoga (1e van der Helyour soul? Looking for your ststraat 70-1, De Pijp) Sat soul’s purpose? Wanting to evening, 18 Aug. www.agaclear the blockages that are mayoga.nl/06 4912 6884.

EXPAT IN A'DAM Native holding you back from your Admission fee €7.50.

English-speaking American spiritual path? I can support HAIR LOSS PREVENTION (admin & event planning back- you. More info www.soul.co.uk. New effective treatment to ground)residinginA’damoffers SKILLED ROLFINGTHER- prevent hair loss and stimureliable, professional contact APIST For immediate relief late hair regrowth using Galfor your business planning, of physical discomfort, vanic Spa System II. 12 times personal or vacation needs. whether chronic or recent. x 20 min during 24 days. ID Hair Assistance with one-time pro- 90 min session, €85. Call 625 and Beauty studio. Tel 06 5040 jects &/or ongoing services for 1991 or 06 5110 2927. Check 1412 or email in44you@ efficient, effective results: for refrence: www.rolfing.org. gmail.com. info@ dutchaccents.com.

HEALINGFor stress-release THERAPEUTIC TANTRA ENGLISH MAN WITH VAN Holistic, therapeutic tantra and deep relaxation, with Ajit Can help with removals, big and sensuality training. SpeKaur Sandhu, highly experior small, in or outside of the cializing in sexual and sexuenced healer and reiki mascountry. Reasonable rates, ality-related problems and the ter. Also gives reiki and magquick service. Contact Lee enhancement of one’s sexual nified healing courses. For on 06 2388 2184 or isabellewell-being. Private individumore information call 679 al sessions for men and womandlee@planet.nl.

8753 or 06 2214 3030. Email BEST MOVING SERVICEIN ajit@acornconsultancy.nl. en. For more information: www.erostrance.com or conTOWN Driver with van (10m3) or truck (40m3) available. CORPORATE YOGA For tact Shanti on 06 4277 3290.

Plus extra moving men, hoist- stress-relief, improved breathMASSAGE ing rope and elevator. Any ing technique and relaxation combinations possible. Call in the workplace. Highly-qual- THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE Taco on 06 4486 4390, email ified and experienced Hatha Second-year physiotherapy info@vrachttaxi.com or check Yoga teacher and breathing male student in A’dam offers (adem) therapist. For info go a therapeutic massage for out www.vrachttaxi.com. to www.acornconsultancy.nl relaxation, stimulation, medNEED A STUNNING WEBorcall6798753or0622143030. ical & pain relief. The masSITE? Experienced web sage will be adjusted to your designer builds professional, PERSONAL COACH My condition or request. Conunique sites for very reason- coaching specialties include tact email: massage.amsterable prices. Online links to communication issues in both dam@gmail.com or visit past projects available. Jor- personal and professional dan: jordangcz@yahoo.com, relationships; problems sur- http://amsterdamassage.4lx.o rg to fill in the form.

06 3034 1238. rounding addiction of family XPAT PAGES Looking for member; working with symp- AYURVEDA AND REIKI English-speaking plumber, toms of stress and burnout; Ancient methods of healing. dentist, lawyer, etc? www.xpat- clarifying career and life Full body massage (1 hr) €43. choices. For information go Indian head massage (30 pages.com. to www.knowboundaries.nl min) €25. Reiki (45 min) donation. Certified since 2001 HEALTH & WELLNESS or phone (0)29 965 3639. in India. You are most welSOUL CONNECTION Expe- THE POWER OF MANTRA come to call me for any inforrienced spiritual coach offers Swami Vivekananda Sara- mation. Mobile: 06 2740 0427. empowering support. Life pur- swati is in A’dam for a short Sincerily Namaste, Tiago. pose, connecting with your visit before he starts his North soul, deep energy healing. 06 America tour. He will be giv- TANTRAMASSAGEWouldyou

ing your dog if you are just too busy for it. For more info visit http://furryfriendscare.tripod.com Or call 06 5220 5541.

Love & attention for your pet, also when you’re away.

9-15 August 2007 like to feel energized with renewed passion and creativity? Relaxed and revitalized?

Deepeningconnectionwithyour body, sexuality and spirituality?Yes.ErosTrance,privatesessions in A’dam created to meet individualneeds,men/women.

Info:www.erostrance.com.Shanti: 06 4277 3290.

lessons from friendly and experienced Microsoft professional for reasonable price. Contact Mario 06 1644 8230.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

tion.Emailsk.lubo@gmail.com or call 06 2485 5037.

NEED HELP WITH YOUR MAC? MAC-lover helps you with basic setups, minor troubleshooting, install, networking, basic MAC lessons, setting up programs, MS Word, SENSUAL MASSAGEfor dis- QuarkXpress, etc. Help with cerning men, women and purchasing the right MAC. couples. By eastern Euro- Contact Sagar at 779 1926. pean classy beauty. Body-to- COMPUTER ENGINEER body sensual rub. Let me spoil Allow your computer and netyou. Out-calls to hotels only. work to be managed by expe€170/hr. Email Saskia on sask- rienced graduate. S/W, h/w, iabraga@yours.com. internet security, optimizaPAINTER - DECORATOR Fully-qualified with van and tools. High-grade quality job, guaranted timeline. Contact Jacob on 06 1120 8026 or jacobdecorator@hotmail.com.

PAINTEREnglish. Free estimates. Please call 06 5059 3293. David.

PAINTINGProfessional, faux decoration and specialised finishes, work on floors, furniture, boats and canal houses. For free estimates call 330 2634.

COURSES YOGA WITH INDIAN TEACHER Discover how simple ancient yoga practices can help you to live a healthy & happy life. Authentic approach to hatha yoga.

Learn the age old science of living in harmony with yourself and the world around you. Yoga is suitable for all age groups. www.YogAmsterdam.nl or 06 4390 2470.

RENO-BOUW-RAJCZYK house renovations. Do you need cost-effective and highquality full house renovation?

Professional, experienced and with excellent references.

Online links to past projects.

Call now and ask for appointment: 06 4451 7410 or 331 6550, www.reno-bouw.nl, karol-rajczyk@hotmail.com.

IYENGAR YOGA CLASSES with certified Iyengar yoga teacher Cristina Libanori, Tues 19.30-21.00 at Training Centrum, Europaplein 127 near RAI. Tram 4 (stop Dintelstraat). €10/class; with 10card yoga strippenkaart €9/class. Indiv therapeutic classes arranged by appt at €20/hr. cristina@the-wheelof-yoga.com/773 5307.

COMPUTERS

SINGING LESSONSOn Prinsengracht, beautiful atmosphere. Classical voice training, breathing techniques, vocalization, scales, etc. For beg & professionals. From

PC HOUSE DOCTOR Specialised in virus/spyware removal, h/w, s/w repair, data recovery, wireless, cable/ADSL installation and computer

Amsterdam Weekly

9-15 August 2007 classic to jazz pop or rock, and all styles of singing. Good prices + free intro lesson. For more info call Michael on 320 2095 or mail ajara77@yahoo.com.

27

eitan@hotmail.com. Ethan.

No bigots please. I enjoy music, art, current affairs, film, sport-the usual things.

It would be great to hear from you! Inmlite@yahoo.co.uk.

COMPUTER COURSES Hi, contact for coaching from a professional for softwares used for web & graphics designing, and be a professional web/graphics designer. Also available: coaching at your home for basic computer learnings. All is at reasonable fee. Contact messychd@hotmail.com.

PERSONAL YOGA A'DAM Professional & friendly yoga teacher, Jeroen, gives affordable yoga classes in English, German and Dutch. Certified in Hatha, Ashtanga yoga, RSI and stress-resolving. Exercises are adjusted to your per- YOGA & AYURVEDAretreat sonal needs. Practice will revi- in the south of France from 11talise and strengthen body 17 Aug. Daily hatha & ayurvedic and spirit. Call 06 4138 7253. yoga classes, meditation, YOGA & AYURVEDAretreat chanting, massage, swimming, in the south of France from 11- hiking, healthy diet in beau17 Aug. Daily hatha & ayurvedic tiful surroundings. Beginners yoga classes, meditation, are welcome. For info: theyochanting, massage, swimming, gacommunity@yoga108.org, hiking and healthy diet in beau- www.ayurvedicstudies.nl, 06 tiful surroundings. Beginners 5176 4621. are welcome. For info: theyogacommunity@yoga108.org, PIANO LESSONSAll styles, www.ayurvedicstudies.nl, 06 all levels. Will travel. Mail AllanSegall@chello.nl or call 5176 4621.

698 0267 CHAIR MASSAGELearn the Kata technique chair mas- BALLET LESSONS in sage. Pre-requisites: some English for amateurs/promedical, anatomy studies. fessionals/adults/children.

Tel 488 9346 or 06 5576 7491. Day & evening classes. Professional training for teachcreativebeauty.nl. ers with international diploACCESSING A'DAMNew to mas. Tel 644 2431/694 9641.

A’dam? Looking for practical info? This workshop, held SUMMER WORKSHOPS over 3 Mon mornings, will be Drawing and painting workuseful for those who have just shops by professional artist, arrived within the last few various techniques, all styles. months. It will include an Contact 681 3067/joneiselin orientation morning, visits @hetnet.nl. to 2 markets and lunch at a YOGAYOGA.NLisopenallsumbrown cafe. Call 423 3217 or mer long, offering daily hatha visit http://access-nl.org. yoga classes in A’dam, close to GUITAR LESSONS Looking the Jordaan. Also Sun workfor a guitar teacher? Now it’s shops, pre- and postnatal yoga, your chance to have lessons baby massage and a second and to know all about playing studio especially for private the guitar. For beginners and yogaclasses.Visitwww.yogayoadvanced players. First lesson ga.nl or call 688 3418. is free! All you need to do is call CROSSROADS Imagine hav06 1456 4950 or email rdt_

ANNOUNCEMENTS SPIRITUAL SUPPORT A new spiritual growth support forum is available. Feel free to join and contribute! Visit http://forum.soulseeker.biz.

NEED LOWLANDS TIX Hi. If you have 2 tickets to Lowlands festival, I’d love to buy them from you! Call Ashley at 06 3085 5078 or email acave094@uottawa.ca. ing time to relax, connect withinandspirittodiscoverinsights.

Listen to your inner guidence and path. Group meets 6 times.

Free intro evening at De Roos in A’dam. Wed 5 sept. Facilitated by 2 friendly and experiencedteachers.Reservations only! amyjo_norman@hotmail.com.

LANGUAGES DUTCH LESSONS A'DAM Improve conversation/professional purpose/studies/NT2.

Also online. Min indiv rate €15/hr. Adults & children MonSat, 10.00-21.00. Also intensive courses. Min. intensive: 15 hrs=€215,55. www.excellentdutch.nl. New: Super-intensive summer course. Info: excellentdutch@hotmail.com, 06 3612 2870.

€200-250 for 20 hrs. Visit plicated teachers. Classes www.mercuurtaal.nl or call 4x4 hrs/wk, 2/3/4 wks cours693 4250. es. Start 6 Aug and 1 Oct. VisLEARN PORTUGUES I am it http://www.joostweethet.nl a Brazilian journalist and I give or email info@joostweetPortuguese lessons for English het.nl call 420 8146. speakers. Personalized methods, conversation, grammar, vocabulary and much more.

Rate: €15/hr or €25/2 hrs.

Contact anapaulawolf@hotmail.com or 06 2440 4376.

MUSICIANS VOLUNTEER MUSICIANS I live in NL since 2 years now. I have a passion but no friends to share it with. Creating this website will probably give me theopportunitytosharemypassion with you and make friends as well. Please check it out: www.behindstereotypes.nl.

simply enjoying the moment.

Let’s exchange photos and flow from there. Email meeting7@gmail.com.

OPEN RELATIONSHIPS I am creating a website and support forum for people who are in an open relationship or are considering trying one. Feel free to browse for interest or for a deeper look into the impact of having such a relationship. Martyn. Website www.openrelationship.info.

Forum www.forum.openrelationship.info.

LANGUAGE EXCHANGE I am Chinese native, good Spanish-speaking. I am looking for English-speaking for GAY CURIOUSMid-aged guy, exchange languages, so we can help each other about WANTED!Beginning singer gay curious. Any gay wantour study. Marina He. hnc- looking for starting band or ing to show me the ropes (so guitar player to start jam- to speak)? Send photo to shhy@hotmail.com. ming and writing some music gayvirgin7@gmail.com.

IMPROVE YOUR DUTCH! with. Likes rock, acoustic, conversation, study groups, some rock/pop folk rock. Do DATEWANTEDSerious workprivate classes, intensive you like music and just wan- ing Dutchman, 38, living in courses, city language walks, na have some fun and start A’dam, Amstel area, looking for NT2, starting every week at playing then contact me at a serious date (woman Link Taal Studio. Info: 06 06 4369 9075 or dou- between 25 and 35). You can contact me at tverdo@hot4133 9323 or linktaalstu- blecheckNS@gmail.com. mail.com or 06 2603 8553. dio@gmail.com.

Let’s rock y’all!

PRACTICE YOUR DUTCH Grab the opportunity to upgrade your command of Dutch. Enroll in a 2-wk course in the heart of A’dam. Focus INTENSIVE DUTCH on speaking and conversation.

COURSE at Joost Weet Het! www.glossa.nl or 06 1471 5372.

Small groups, fun classes and DUTCH LESSONS New inexpensive! Excellent and evening courses starting in fast learning method. EnerSept in the centre of A’dam. getic, accessible and uncom-

PERSONALS EASY TIMESWarm, middleaged guy looking to share easy times with a lady. Chat, coffee, nothing too serious,

OPEN-MINDED FRIENDS British bi-guy, mid-40s, seeks like-minded friends for fun and friendship. Must have sense of humour, be sincere and enjoy good conversation.

PHOTORPAHY PROJECT For an art project I’m interested to get in contact with people residing illegally in A’dam in order of photographing their apts. I promise full confidentially and no publication of personal information. For examples of prior work look at www.ilyarabinovich.com.

Email ilyarabinovich@hotmail.com.

NEED 2 LOWLAND TICKS Messed around and missed the sale. If anybody can’t go or decides it’s to pricey, contact me. Need 2. Stu. hv_humDRIVING TO BARCELONA mer_7@hotmail.com.

2 seats in car going to CALIFORNIA WRITER livBarcelona. Leaving Sun 12 Aug ing in A’dam, interviewing 17.00, arriving Mon 13 Aug leads (and the occasional noon’ish.Orpart-waytoBE,FR, tourist) for travel book dealParis, or near Lyon, Marseille, ing with the peculiarities and Perpignan. Share fuel costs, idiosynchracies of the NL. If tolls. Copy of your ID/pass. interesting or perhaps pleReturn Fri 17 Aug. Back in santly weird, call for appt: 06 A’dam Sat 18 Aug. Email tnm- 3404 0311. brown@hotmail.co.uk.

PLAY AUSSIE RULES The A'DAM PHOTOS What’s on Flying Dutchmen is the Dutch your wall? Where’s your aweAustralian Rules Football some picture of A’dam? team. We are going to HamEggert Photos can help you burg in Sept for the EU Cup out. Our team of experts works around-the-clock to and there are still places availget the best pictures of this able on the team. No previbeautiful town. We’ve just ous experience is necessary. opened up at Nieuwezijds So go to www.devliegendeVoorburgwal 114 - so stop in hollanders.nl or email Jase on jasonvdven@devliegendeand check it out. hollanders.nl FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS The Amsterdam Under- FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS ground Festival is looking for The Amsterdam Underground volunteers from September Festival is looking for volun26 through October 1. It’s a teers from 26 Sept – 1 Oct. great way to network within It's a great way to network the culture sector and you within the culture sector and get free admission to shows, you get free admission to a crew shirt and lots of oth- shows, a crew shirt and lots er goodies. If interested, send of other goodies. If interestan e-mail to crew@amster- ed, send an email to crew@ amsterdamunderground.nl. damunderground.nl.