24/03/10

Sick and tired of living under a political and economic structure based on capitalism but not quite sure about dusting off your copy of Das Kapital just yet? There is another way! Look Eastwards towards the lovely tiny country of Bhutan (Land of the Thunder Dragon), who on this day in 2008 held their first ever democratic election. Things under monarchic rule before then didn't seem too bad, however, because the old King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, decided to replace GDP as a measure of wealth by his own system of GNH-Gross National Happiness. Trying to measure progress on spiritual and psychological terms, not just economic wealth. Not sure what happened after they welcomed democracy, mobile phones and the internet as of 2008, but still-bless old Jigme for trying...

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Glenn Brown (exhibition)

Ludwig Múzeum Until April 11th, 2200ft (1+1)
Komor Marcell utca [map]
Pest, IX, Boraoas Ter, tram (4/6)

Seeing as most of the English speaking population of Bp are eeking out a living teaching a bit of English here and there, the chances of anyone having a busy schedule on a Wednesday in March is slim to none. Problem with this escapist lifestyle is that it is not the most lucrative of career paths. So, if you are still waiting for the kerts to open so you can sneak in cans of Arany Aszok to pass the days away on the cheap, one option may be to wile away an afternoon at the Glenn Brown exhibition. Turner Prize nominee in 2000 (don't you know?), there are posters slapped all over this city advertising his show at the Ludwig Museum. At the moment it is 1+1, which means one thing-BOGOF art! Famous for his oil paintings using 'appropriation' (read-plagarism), he reconstructs famous paintings of past and present in a hyper-real style. His pictures look pretty good, and it might be a way to go get some culcha on the cheap with a friend before the summertime alcoholism kicks in.

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Also worth a look-see ...




Gift of the Gab (Speech Slam)
Cotton Club [map], 19:00, 1000ft
The Grand Final of Budapest’s only English-language speech slam. Five contestants have won their way to the final in monthly competitions. Each will give a five-minute prepared speech on a topic of their choice. Judges, randomly picked from the audience, will score them. Each contestant will then give a three-minute impromptu speech on a topic chosen for them by the audience. According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy. Details here.
 
Lajkó Félix, kísér: Brasnyó Antal, Kerekes Band (concert)
A38, [map]. 20:00, 2900ft (in adv.) 3500ft (on door)
If you can utter the words "ethno-funk" without sicking into your mouth a little bit, this might be the night out for you. Trendy-bearded Balkan Violin virtuoso Lajkó Félix-teams up with the Kerekes band, upbeat Magyar folkyness which rocks the stage with an assortment of odd-looking wind insruments (not as bad as it sounds-check here). Should be a good night, they might even rock the boat a bit. geddit?

Stomp (concert)
Budapest Congress and World Trade Centre 20:00, 8500-19500ft
Stampy stampy stamp. Entertainment for the masses. Stampy stampy stamp. Very expensive stampy stampy stomp stomp. Atmosphere-less convention centre stampy stomp. Take the whole family stampy stampy stomp stomp. inexplicably popular stamp stamp, err...stomp.

Willany Leó Improvisational Dance Theatre (dance)
Gödör Klub, 21.30, free
If you like your entertainment to be a bit less stampy and a bit more experimental, head down to Gödör tonight. It's free! with atmosphere! and freaky dancing people! with actual music and not just drums!
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