Koreans finding love and adventure traveling through Croatia in reality TV shows have put the Balkan nation on the map, making it a popular tourist destination for the Asian market. It all started back in 2012 with the filming of the South Korean show “Romantic,” featuring Koreans in their 20s and 30s visiting Croatia’s highlights, from the capital Zagreb to the stunning Plitvice lakes national park and onto UNESCO World Heritage site Dubrovnik on the Adriatic coast. It became a perfect TV advertisement to visit Croatia.
Zdravko Basaric i.e. Patrick Hughes Croatian writer of Countdown Trilogy promoted in Israel Jerusalem 2015
The Countown Trilogy written by Zdravko Basarić (Patrick Hughes) living in a small town Sveta Nedelja near Croatia’s capital Zagreb) was first published in Croatian and English, promoted in 2014 at Israeli pavillion at the world’s largest Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany. Now, in 2015, we have significant news for the readers of the CROWN: this trilogy, which has been published in Croatian and English in 2013, is being published in Hebrew in Jerusalem, the State of Israel, 2015. Congratulations to Mr. Zdravko Basarić, the author of the trilogy, and to Mr. Pierre Lavi, publisher of the Hebrew edition and responsible for international editions.
Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic Croatia's first woman president inaugurated on 15th February 2015 in Zagreb
Mrs. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic was sworn in as Croatia’s first female president in history. She was a former foreign minister, ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Washington and an Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Public Diplomacy. She was the first woman ever to be appointed Assistant Secretary General of NATO. Mrs. Grabar-Kitarovic is at the age of 47, and except her native Croatian, she fluently speaks English, Castillano and Portuguese and can also communicate in French, Italian and German.
Victor Zimet's film "Everything Is Forever" about Nenad Bach on Amazon!
Nenad Bach remains committed to his work as a “citizen of the world,” a tireless antiwar activist, the driving passion which infuses his life and the music he creates. Zimet’s latest feature, EVERYTHING IS FOREVER, is the third indie rock doc from Home Team. Stephanie Silber, producer of the film and Irish-American wirter, is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Nenad will be opening this year’s Julien Dubuque Film Festival with the debut of his new song “I Feel Dubuque” on Thursday April 23rd at the Five Flags Theater. Show starts at 7:00 p.m.
Super Bowl XLIX will be a battle of the Croatians
What do Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks, Bill Belichick, and Rob Ninkovich of the New England Patriots all have in common? If you guessed that they all had ties to Croatia, give yourself a pat on the back and get ready for Super Boxwl XLIX! That’s right Sunday’s game features a battle of the Croatians. If you are interested in reading about the trio’s Croatian ties then read on!
10 Annual Heritage and History Tour of Croatia with Robert Jerin September 12 – September 26, 2015
Join noted genealogist, Robert Jerin, for this custom designed exploration of Croatia’s history and heritage. We’ll have a chance to meet with local villagers as well as professionals working in the field of genealogy while we tour this country rich in tradition and benefiting from a confluence of cultures for thousands of years. This year’s tour will include a tour of places on the lovely, but often overlooked, Istrian Peninsula, Gorski Kotar known as the Green Heart of Croatia, including Mrkopalj, Plitivice Lakes Park, Slavonia, the centuries old pilgrimage town and church of Marija Bistrica, Zagreb and Samobor. Included are many scrumptious traditional meals and several performances by Croatian musical groups including Klapa and Tamburitza.
Michael Bilandic mayor of Chicago 1977-1979 proud of his Croatian heritage
Michael Bilandic was born in 1923 in Chicago, Illinois and was one of four children born of his Croatian immigrant parents. His father was from a village near Sinj, Croatia and his mother was from the island of Brac, also in Croatia. In 1977 he was elected as Chicago’s 40th mayor until 1979. He was devoted to his family, faithful to his church, and proud of his Croatian heritage. He was presented the Vinodol Code Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the administration of justice in Illinois.
Nenad Hancic created new font inspired by the Vinodol Code written in Croatian Glagolitic Script in 1288
Nenad Hančić, living in Duesseldorf, Germany, has created a superb new computer font representing the famous Vinodol Code, a very old and important legal document written in Croatian Glagolitic Script, dating from the 13th century, more precisely, from 1288. This is the first font representing the most important Croatian Middle Age legal document. The Vinodol Code was written more than two hundred years before the discovery of America. Congratulations to Nenad Hančić for great job!
Documentary about Mia Slavenska, Mia, a Dancer's Journey to be screened in NYC on January 31, 2015
Don’t miss the only New York City screening of “Mia, a Dancer’s Journey,” January 31st, 3:30 p.m. at Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater. The film is a daughter’s promise to tell her mother’s story which serves as the starting point for this documentary on the life of the celebrated Croatian ballerina Mia Slavenska, which becomes a fascinating and moving reflection on historical memory, national identity, and the power of dance. The film retraces Mia’s journey from tumultuous prewar Europe through her emergence as a glamorous ballerina of the Ballets Russes and a star attraction on stages across America, culminating with her return to her homeland.
Blase Joseph Cupich installed as Chicago's Archbishop on November 18, 2014
Archbishop Blase J. Cupich has been installed as the Ninth Archbishop of Chicago at an Installation Mass on November 18 2014, at Holy Name Cathedral, State and Superior Streets in Chicago. Cardinal George presided at the Monday evening Liturgy and Archbishop Cupich delivered the homily. Among the civic leaders welcoming Archbishop Cupich were Governor Patrick Quinn, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle. Also welcoming the new Archbishop was Dr. Jelena Grčič Polić, the Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia.
Miro Gavran Croatian writer will have ten theater premieres in America, Asia and Europe in 2015
In the first four months of this year, Croatian writer Miro Gavran (www.mirogavran.com) will have ten theater premieres: in America (Los Angeles), Asia (Mumbai and Bangalore in India, Tel Aviv in Israel, which will be his first premiere in Hebrew), and Europe (Moscow in Russia, Parnu in Estonia, Prag in Czechia, Zagreb in Croatia). Works by Miro Gavran have so far been translated into 37 languages, while more than 250 premieres have been made based upon his dramas and comedies, which have been seen by over three million viewers around the world.
Botanical Garden in Zagreb founded in 1889, through the lens of Nikola Piasevoli
Nikola Piasevoli amateur photograper fell in love with the Botanical Garden in Zagreb and regularly pays visit on every season, from spring to automn. The Garden was set in 1889 as a gift from the City of Zagreb to the University. The only compensation for it was (and still is) an agreement to open the doors of the Garden to the visitors, free of charge. About 5500 taxa of higher plants grow in Croatia, which is more than in Spain (5050), France (4630) and Germany (3200).
Ivana Marija Vidovic Croatian pianist and poet had Christmas concert in Tirana in Albania Dec 2014
After the concert of Ivana Marija Vidović in Tirana in April 2014, in front of a large audience, in the main hall of the Academy of Arts “Akademia e Arteve” at the festival FLAUTE MAGJIK, a new invitation has followed in December. Vidović took part at the Piano Festival Pianodrom in the same hall of the Academy and under the artistic direction of maestro Fatos Qerimaj, Vidović performed mainly Hispanic repertoire and one work by an Albanian author T. Harapi.
Franjo Dugan playing organs in Zagreb during the first public registration of a gramophone record in Europe
The first remote public registration of a gramophone record in continental Europe was successfully organized in Croatia’s capital Zagreb, 1927. It was the third such registration in the world, after the USA, New York in 1925 and GB, London in 1926. The concert of Croatian Christmas carols with Franjo Dugan as the organist in the Zagreb Cathedral (stuffed with 2000 worshippers who were singing), had been registered for the Edison – Bell – Penkala Co. in Zagreb. We mention in passing that Penkala was a famous Croatian inventor, known among others for his “chemical pen”, named as penkala in his honor.
Bunjevci Croats from Backa and their Christmas traditions expressed in straw and cakes
Straw work is a unique naive art form which originates from the rich folk art of the Bunjevci-Croats settled in the north of Bačka. In Tavankut, a village near the town Subotica, the self-taught women nourish and preserve this naive art skill by entwining beads and making paintings out of straw which portray specific motifs and themes from the life of the Bunjevci-Croats. Also, delicious and richly ornamented Christmas cakes called božičnjak are prepared. On the photo Christmas cake by Dubravka Vrbljanac. With this article we wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Forum Center in Zagreb connecting Croatia, Venezuela and Latvia via Croatian Glagolitic Script
The aim of Congress Centre FORUM Zagreb is to satisfy the needs of their customers by providing dedicated and customized quality services, as well as prompt and efficient solutions at any time. It is directed by Josip Hrgetić, a Croatian born in Venezuela, and by his wife Mara Vitols Hrgetić, of Latvian origin. The Centre organizes seminars, workshops, courses, market research, launching of new products, video conferences, press conferences and other business and social meetings. Their charming halls are docorated with Croatian Glagolitic Script, and moreover, the halls are named after Croatian Glagolitic characters.
Mia Slavenska Croatian-American ballerina broadcast premiere "Mia, a Dancer's Journey"
“Mia, a dancer’s journey” aired November 20th on PBS SoCaL in Southern California and received great ratings and great reviews in the press! Viewers can catch an encore of the film on PBS SoCaL, Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 9 pm! In February, the film will be released to PBS stations across the country and millions of Americans will have access to this film on television. This is the first time a film like this about a Croatian American ballerina has been distributed nationally on Public Television and we are very happy about this accomplishment. Adding to the excitement, the film will have a film festival premiere at the Lincoln Center in New York in January, 2015.
Petar Guberina and his Verbotonal method described by Dr. Carl Asp in Zagreb
Verbotonal method is an auditory-based strategy that maximizes the listening skills of children and adults with hearing impairment and possibly other communications disorders, while simultaneously developing intelligible spoken language through binaural listening. Originally developed by Professor Petar Guberina of Zagreb University (on the photo) for teaching normal hearing people to speak before reading a foreign language, it has been more popularly used in Europe. However, Dr. Carl W. Asp, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) has developed both academic and research programs for its applications through the acquisition of a Federal grant since 1967.
Carmen Verlichak author of the book Edificios y monumentos de los Croatas de la Argentina
Carmen Verlichak is the author of a new monograph entitled Edificios y monumentos de los Croatas de la Argentina , published in 2014 by her own company Krivodol Press. She provides short stories about numerous Croatian families in Argentina. Especially interesting is the story about Father Stjepan Gregov from the island of Pašman in Croatia, who emmigrated in dramatic circumstances to Argentina. She also mentions the need for the building at Marcelo T. de Alvear street in Buenos Aires to be directed to its original purpose, a donation to the Croatian people. It was donated by Nicolas Mihanovich, a founder of Argentine Merchent marine.
Professor Ivan Gutman distinguished Croatian expert in mathematical chemistry
Professor Ivan Gutman (b. in 1947) is holder of two PhDs: in Chemistry and in Mathematics, and is a leading international expert in mathematical chemistry in the world today. He has published 1260 professional scientific articles and is author of several research monographs published by Springer, North Holland and Nova Publishers. Professor Gutman has enormous international cooperation with numerous scientists throughout the world in his field of research.