Concerts, theater, opera

• PRAGUE SPRING INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
  Buy your tickets soon. They have been on sale since December. Search all events in this 67th annual festival. They range from classical music of every kind to jazz, popular music, and theatre.

• The Czech Philharmonic offers not only splendid orchestral concerts and chamber music at the Rudolfinum but little known Lunch Recitals as well as a series "Music for Mothers-to-Be" in Suk Hall.
• The National Theatre has an excellent website showcasing all the opera, ballet, concerts, and dramas offered at its four locations. Beware of other sites in English posing as the "National Theatre" or "Czech Opera," which are merely ticket-selling vehicles. It's worth learning the Czech name, "Narodni divadlo" in order to avoid these.

• Jazz! As usual, many types of events and styles of jazz are planned, though information is rarely available months in advance.

1. See Jazz Meets World for many tips, including the free Jazz Festival in September and the International Festival of Piano Jazz in November.
2. Jazz at the Castle is a good link to check. Though only in Czech, it's not difficult to decipher.

the Lucerna Music Bar at Vodičkova 36 in Lucerna Passage just off Wenceslas Square has a regular program of jazz and other popular music styles.

3. The Reduta Jazz Club at Narodni 20 has a more than 60 year tradition of offering excellent jazz.

• Theater for English speakers: at Svandovo Divadlo offers English surtitled drama. Consult their extensive list of all surtitled productions.
• For more nightlife ideas, see Hedgie's FAQ 3

Museum and Gallery Exhibits

• "Saint Agnes of Bohemia – Princess and Nun," a special exhibit marking the 800th anniversary of her birth, is mounted in her own Convent of Saint Agnes of Bohemia, U Milosrdných 17, Prague 1. The National Gallery page is only in Czech, but the Czech Tourism site has a good article about her.

• "Photographing Prague Architecture 1848-1921" includes some the earliest photographs ever taken of Prague. Old Town Hall through Feb. 19, 2012, Admission free.

• Antonín Dvořák at the Czech Music Museum ) (České muzeum hudby).
An interactive multi-media exhibit marking the 170th anniversary of Dvořák's birth.
• "Prague Fashion Houses, 1900—1948", a major exhibit at the Museum of Decorative Arts, showcases the work of fashion houses in Prague from the turn of the century until the Communist takeover in 1948. There are two parts: "Prague Fashion Houses, 1918—48" is in the Exhibition Hall, the space for temporary exhibits. "Prague Fashion Houses, 1900—18," documenting fashion when Prague was still part of the Hapsburg Empire before Czechoslovakia came into existence, is in the Story of Materials section of the permanent collections. Runs through April 29, 2012.
• Inventors and Inventions, a modestly-titled exhibit in the National Museum's new building offers visitors far more than the description on the museum website. In addition to well-known figures such as Jan Purkyně, Gregor Mendel, Commenius, many other Czechs from the 1600's through the late 20th century are profiled, each with a case displaying models, books, or other artifacts related to their discoveries. Antique motorcycles, a new style of plow, and a printing press may also be inspected.

  Interactive games for both children and adults include a long table with all the pieces of a Merkur set one could wish for. On Christmas Eve 1961 Otto Wichterle, one of the scientists profiled, famously used a Merkur set to model a way to make the soft contact lenses he invented. That model is on display.

  

• The Beauty of Butterfly Wings at the National Museum's new venue is about much more than beauty. The exhibit is rich with fascinating information. What defenses have different moths have developed against detection by bats' sonar? Some emit their own signals to confuse the bats. An interactive screen dramatically illustrates how one moth opens its wings to scare off predators with a flash of large bright "eye" designs.

• TAUROMAQUIA – Face to Face with the Bull, an exhibit of bullfighting and bull paintngs and drawings by five well-known artists, Picasso, Goya, Dali, Filla, and Čapek, runs through April 9, 2012 at the Obecni Dum (Municipal House).

• "The Tsar's Court under the Romanov Dynasty" at Prague Castle's Imperial Stables is a modest exhibit confined to a single room. No Fabergé eggs were sent from the Kremlin collection and many items were actually gifts to the Tsar from other lands and countries, including a few from Bohemia. However, among the nearly 170 articles and panels explaining history, are many unique items. Perhaps the most fascinating are those of the tsarevich along with details of his life. A detailed review is the best source of information for English speakers, as Prague Castle has information only in Czech.
• National Technical Museum after the grand re-opening
  Extensive renovations have transformed sections of these exhibits from dusty piles of old objects to modern displays with interactive elements and even English titles. Four new exhibits plus enhancements to the Transportation hall are open now. More are planned.
  Hedgie's detailed review of the exhibits, with photos.

Holidays and Celebrations

Easter
In addition to the religious celebrations of Easter week, April 1 through April 8 this year, there are secular and folk traditions. From the 24th of March through the 15th or April, 2012 Easter markets will be open in both the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Czech painted eggs, little willow whips, pastries and gingerbread cookies are only a few of the treats you'll find there.

Parks and Gardens

Prague's Gardens
Enjoy the blossoms of Prague in both dramatic and intimate gardens

Elegant and Casual Cafes, Indoors and Out

For more casual cafes, see Hedgie's other recommendations