The ball season in Vienna has started and for those who will part of the Vienna Ball of Sciences in January, a special treat will be provided for the very first time.
Guests of the Ball of Sciences are always treated to sumptuous dinner during the event. The usual fare includes sausages and canapes. But a new dishes will be served next year and these will feature insects such as the mealworms and grasshoppers.
Vienna will have an opportunity to enjoy to get to know Star Wars more as it hosts a unique exhibition. Entitled "Star Wars Identities, the exhibit gives the people of Vienna a chance to experience the hit movies of George Lucas.
On display at the exhibition at the MAK are collections from the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Chicago. It opened last December 17 just in time for the global launch of the Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens."
Christmas is always one of the busiest times of the year for many people. In Vienna, the city is abuzz with activities especially with the Christmas markets now open in the different parts of the metropolis. Being an old tradition, these Christkindlmarkts are part of the Vienna culture and offers plenty of products for both locals and tourists.
Vienna's Ringstrasse may be well known as a commercial district but not many people know that palaces also abound in the area. In fact, during the construction of this famous boulevard, several palaces were also built by the royal families and wealthy residents including Jewish families of the Austrian capital. Public buildings also occupy the area along with the 13 magnificent palaces.
Palaces back then were occupied by the royal families together with their servants. In some palaces, however, some areas were rented out. Other palaces had been turned into hotels.
Football is a popular sport in Vienna. In fact, the Austrian capital has some of the world's oldest and most successful football clubs. The national team of Austria is also based in the Ernst Happel stadium in the Prater Park.
The two major football teams that compete against each other are the Rapid Wien, Austria Wien and First Vienna. The Rapid Wien, though, is considered the oldest club.
Rapid Wien
Vienna is one of the most gay-friendly cities in Europe and beyond accommodating the LGBT folks visiting from the different parts of the world, it has places especially dedicated to them. One of them is the Pink Christmas Market which carries the theme "Pink loves - give pink a chance" and now on its second year.
This Pink Christmas market is dedicated to gays and lesbians and can be found in the 6th district, specifically by the U4 station Kettenbrückengasse at the Naschmarkt. It will run until December 23.
When it comes to talent, Vienna has plenty to be proud of. Whether it's dance, voice, music production, painting, writing and sculpting, the Austrian capital has produced so many talents.
In terms of voice, Vienna is famous for its various choral groups the most famous of which is the Vienna Boys' Choir. A private and non-profit organization, the choir is made up of boys aged from 10 to 14 and selected from the different parts of Austria. The group regularly performs in their own concert hall called MuTh and in the Hofburg chapel.
Enjoying cakes and pastries together with coffee is a well known ritual in Vienna. In fact, the Austrian capital is home to plenty of patisseries or cafes that specialize in pastries and cakes or Konditoreien in Viennese. In the afternoon as well as on weekends, people young and old alike usually head to these cafes to enjoy their favorite snacks with friends or loved ones.
One well known event in Vienna before the Christmas season sets in focuses on charity. Called the United Nations Women’s Guild (UNWG) International Festival Bazaar, this charity event will take place on November 28 at the Austria Center and is aimed at raising funds to help the needy children across the world.
This special bazaar offers a great opportunity for visitors to buy gifts of all types from the different parts of the globe. They can even sample different food and drinks from 80 countries.
What most people think when they hear the word supermarket is food and other grocery items for sale. But in Vienna, they have this unique kind of supermarket which sells artworks.
Called Kunstsupermarkt or the Supermarekt of Art, this place is an art fair run by international artists. The aim is to offer artists from around the world a venue where they can showcase their art creations and establish new networks. More than 5,000 original works done by some 90 contemporary artists coming from 13 countries are featured at the venue.
