Open House at Bonn International School Thursday 25 February 2010

Thursday 25 February 2010 from 8.30 – 12.00

The Bonn International School Open House is a great opportunity for visitors to come and see the school in action. Classes at all grade levels will be open for observation. Visitors are encouraged to sit in on a variety of classes and age groups to see what makes education at BIS special.

Bonn International School is an independent, full-day school offering a comprehensive English Language education and low student-teacher ratios for children aged 3 – 19 years. Located directly next to the River Rhine in a modern, well-equipped facility, BIS hosts over 570 students from more than 60 countries.

Visitors should register at admissions@bonn-is.de in advance of Open House. You will be asked to present formal identification e.g. passport or driver’s license before entering the school.

Availability of future places varies from grade to grade and the Admissions Coordinator should be consulted regarding potential enrolments. There are however a definite number of places available for international students in Early Learning, Grades 1, 4, and 10 starting August 2010.

For more information, please contact the Admissions Coordinator at 0228 30854151 or visit www.bonn-is.de

Popularity: 1% [?]

New Year Party at Fiddlers Bonn

NEW YEAR’S EVE / SILVESTERPARTY 31.12.2009
Live Music
All you can drink
Einlass ab 20.00 Uhr mit Hot Betty Empfang im Biergarten
Vorverkauf €35 (online booking) - Abendkasse E40.  For menu details visit www.fiddlers-bonn.de or click on link below
http://news11.bookatable.de/zentral/docShow.asp?systemId=3040&linkKey=4021120094036_1

Popularity: 2% [?]

English Tango Classes

Bryan de Valdivia is offering Tango classes in english from October:

Free Beginner “Schnupperstunde”

Thursday, 8th of October in Bonn-Beuel (Tapetenfabrik)
8:30 – 9:45 pm
Siebenmorgenweg 18, Flamenco Studio “La Fragua,” Google Map

Monday, 12th of October in Bonn-Dottendorf (Al Sur)
9:00 – 10:15 pm
Stephanstrasse 46a, Entrance via Courtyard, no parking in Courtyard, Google Map

If you do not have a dance partner, please Email Bryan at devaldivia@gmail.com and I will help you find one.

Class size is limited and we try to balance partners,
call or email to make a reservation.

• Tel. 01578 1442 421
• Intl. 0049 1578 1442 421
• devaldivia@gmail.com

Popularity: 3% [?]

Kessenich is Kult!

On Sunday (27 Sept) the Bonn district of Kessenich held it’s annual Autumn Market and was determined to prove that it’s trademarked Motto ‘Kessenich ist Kult’ (Kessenich is Cult!) is more than just words.

Many of the local shops were even selling ’souvenirs’ with the trademarked logo on: Umbrellas, T-shirts, bags, even coffee mugs.

The area has seen the loss of popular shops in recent times such as ‘Pasta e Vino’ and particularly Aldi, so the need to build allegiance amongst local shoppers is more important than ever before. Good news on that score is that the long awaited Lidl supermarket will finally get underway soon.

Hopefully things will be looking up again soon as the area has a long history of old traditional shops. A fascinating book reflecting this is available from Local Photographer Susanna Heraucourt – “Kessenicher Köpfer & Geschichte” (Kessenich faces and their stories’)

For more info on why Kessenich is more than just a sweet smell when Haribo jelly bears are in production check out the link below:

Kessenich ist Kult

Popularity: 2% [?]

New adult art classes in Bad Godesberg

Thanks to an adapted programme and rhythm for your own creative process (realistic drawing or abstract painting, from life, imagination and photographic sources), develop observation and enliven personal experimentation.

deal with figure, still-life, landscape, portrait, collage or abstraction… using charcoal, pastels, Indian and coloured inks, watercolour, acrylics, oil paints

Be part of our yearly exhibition in the premises of the Kunstverein Bad Godesberg

Develop more skills during special workshops on week ends (new themes, techniques, mixed media)

Popularity: 28% [?]

Sommergarten 2009

‘Jazz on the Roof’ is underway again for 2009.  Come rain (as here by Semmels Hotshots!) or shine, the KAH roof in Bonn’s Museumsplatz is always worth a visit.  Fortnightly,  from 10:30am to 1:00pm.  Here is the schedule:

05.07.09  Rod Mason’s Hot Five

19.07.09  Jazz Connection

02.08.09  Trevor Richards British New Orleans All Stars

23.08.09  Letitia su Rumbadana (salsa)

Sommergarten Details

Popularity: 49% [?]

Intercultural Congress Day in Bonn

The ‘Tag der Interkulturellen Begegnung’ has been a feature of Summer in Bonn for some 30 years now.  This year some 41 Bonn based Comittees representing Countries from around the world showed the people of Bonn their Musical and Culinary expertise.

Recent figures suggest that the people of Bonn come here from around 170 different Lands, almost 25% of the population are actually immigrants, and  certainly the many colours of clothing and skin always catch the eye at this entertaining event each year.

It’s not just about things to see – as many different National dishes fight for attention on the stands close by each other. It’s just as much an event for the taste buds, trying out the most eye (or nose?) catching dishes on offer.

This year too saw  the award of an Integrations Prize for the first time.  Chosen from Bonn Citizens who have made a particularly strong contribution to Uniting the many different people that make up our International Community here, there were three winners to share the 1600 Euro prize-money: “Spielplatz Finkenweg” in Holzlar,  the “International Garden Bonn” project,  and the “Russian Immigrants reading German Newspapers” initiative from Michael Roginsky.

I felt rather sorry for ‘Los Manolas’ the Spanish Flamenco group who left the stage to booing after delivering a very enjoyable set.  The boos were aimed at Organisors who denied the troupe a deserved encore but no one likes to leave to such sounds and  five minutes more for a show ending at 7 pm would have been simple enough.

I recommend putting this event in your diaries for next year if you missed it this time around.  You will get a taste, literally, of what it means to be a ‘Bonner’ in 2009.  If only Countries could get on with each other as well as their people do here. My only warning in advance: Get there early before all the food scents mingle into one and there is still room to sit down!

MORE PICTURES

Popularity: 56% [?]

Mayday!

So, did you wake up this morning and find a tree outside the door with your name on it?  No, I didn’t either, but in case you were wondering, here is a reminder of what it’s all about…

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The Maibaum and it’s British equivalent the Maypole, probably date from German Paganism so it’s only fair that one of the oldest illustrations of a Maypole, The 1590 fresco by Hans Donauer, is to be found in Münich. The Germans, being German I guess, have always taken their Maypole  duties very seriously. From the 16^th Century whole communities would organize the cutting and erecting of a pole (usually Hawthorn or Birch) which had to be at least 100 ft in height, bolted upright and guarded night and day because stealing someones Maibaum was serious business.

Of course for this serious task the German’s appointed a ‘Maibaumchef’ and proceeded to draw up a long list of equally serious rules  – the most important being that in stealing a Maibaum “No force shall be used”. Entire villages were mobilized to prepare and protect the tree although how they would do so sans force is not documented.   One can almost hear the cries of  “You can take our horses, you can take our women, but you will NEVER take our Maibaum!”

I was a little disappointed after reading all this stirring information. Our Maibaum in Kessenich certainly sits happily in the right place – centre of the ‘village’ – beside the Nicholas Church.  Even without a tape measure and ladder though I was pretty certain it wasn’t the regulatory 100 ft high.   When I came to photograph it  I was not wrestled to the ground by ten heavily built Morris Men bells a jangling.  An elderly man looked at me warily it’s true, he walked quickly away to return armed with nothing more dangerous than a watering can with which he proceeded to wet the nearby roses.

The Kessenich Maypole

Perhaps more emotion these days is attached to a variation of the theme – ‘Liebesmaien’.

Here the work is not team oriented but undertaken by individual, young, love-smitten men. Aim of the game being to erect a small tree (usually Birch) outside the house of the object of ones affections.  There are a fair few of these about in my neighbourhood but I never see anyone coming or going from the houses – maybe they are too embarassed to risk being asked if they are the subject of a tree declaration.  For those of you who never saw it on ‘Blue Peter’ here is how it’s done:

A heart made from wood or stiff card is attached to the Birch tree (or branches thereof) stating the name of the intended recipient (presumably so that your girlfriend doesn’t think you have a thing going for her mother?). This is collected at the end of May and is usually rewarded with an invitation to a picnic/BBQ. Women’s Libbers will be pleased to hear there are even so called “Schaltjahren” when a girl can take the upper hand (or tree in this case).

Digging still deeper into tradition (gardening pun intended)  I discovered records of village sales, with Auctions of May brides involving all unmarried girls younger than sixteen. I can’t speak for seeing any of this around here – but who knows what they get up to in Dottendorf?!

Popularity: 52% [?]

Rhein in Flammen

Rhein in Flammen Saturday 2 May 2009

Once again the Rheinau Park becomes the venue for thousands with live music, video disco and plenty of stalls and fast food on offer.  Live music starts 17 hrs onwards. More information and full programme at

From mid-day onwards, the side stalls, selling everything from jewellery, leather goods, music to fast food and drink. Funfair also open from around noon. onn,Rhine in Flames,side stalls

BonnInformation
Windeckstr. 1 (am Münsterplatz)
53103 Bonn
Tel.: 0228/775000
www.bonn-region.de
www.bonn.de
bonninformation@bonn.de

www.rhein-in-flammen-bonn.de

Popularity: 10% [?]

Rod Mason

A reminder from Sean that Rod Mason & his Hot Five are playing at the Harmonie on 27 February.

Rod might be from Plymouth but his roots are firmly in Dixieland and he is considered one of Europes leading Louis Armstrong style trumpeters.  (Also a chance to see what a Sousaphone looks like for the uninitiated!) Start 8pm tickets 21.30 Euros in advance.

Popularity: 7% [?]

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