An Argentinian show has opened its doors to the audience the days before Christmas in Moscow and its not just a short tournee, but a steady establishment for the next 2 years.

De la Guarda is also located at Union Square in Manhattan and draws the masses for many years. Now some of the crew came to Moscow to perform and teach the new Russian performers.

De La Guarda is a show performed above the heads of the audience and the viewers are widely integrated into the programm. The performers fly around hanging on ropes and perform one or the other stunt. But nothing really exciting. I think there could be much more, knowing free climbing and trapez very well by myself.

This show is a mixture from music and rope acts. Although being very good in parts, its lacking a clear line of story. It just seems to be patched together and its neither the East Village show STOMP (which is known for its fabulous drumming), nor a circus act a la Circ De Solei, although De La Guarda wants to play in that league.

Still, I liked some of the show. The opening for example, which reminded me of some Brooklyn Williamsburg Art shows I visited in the late 90’s. That was the time of wild illegal parties with performances, installations and DJ music until the cops found out about it and ended it apruptly. Some of these elements of Dub, Art, Light and Performance you’ll find in De La Guarda.

If you decide to go and you don’t want to get soaking wet as the actors, stay on the side of the audience. Prepare youself for an hour and a half of standing as well.

http://www.delaguarda.com
http://www.delaguarda.ru

Oh YES, I am in love! Nope, I got a girlfriend already, but look at this sweetie. Just what “Two-Zero” has ordered and much cheaper than my 2nd favorite, the (old!) Hummer. So I guess I’m starting to save some money for this gorgeous new JEEP, the Compass. The beauty was just shown on the New York Auto Show and its going to be released in the US in about 2 years from now. It has been shown as a concept car in 2002 already, but JEEP has now decided to produce a serie. The compass will cost app. $20.000 for the basic version. By the way, you see the ad’s on my site? Keep clicking on them, so I can buy myself a Compass in 2 years. Smile.

More about JEEP Compass. Unfortunatly there is no
info on the JEEP Website, yet.

More JEEP photos from the New York Auto Show

While I am on my way to Germany enjoy some photos I just got from my friend Flo Hagena. He has been on tour with the basejumper Felix Baumgartner for a week in the beginning of March. Felix is jumping a cave in Croatia. Just crazy Mr. Baumgartner as we know him from stunts in Malaysia, Panama and elsewhere. A true adrenaline junkie ;-)

RESPECT.

Check www.2-Zero.com for more photos.

Chagall is popular in Russia and we have an exhibition in Moscow almost every year, but never before such a large collection with more than 200 pieces. Still until May 28th at Tretyakov Gallery at 10 Lavrushinskiy Pereulok, Metro: Tretyakovskaya , Novokuznetskaya.

Chagall painting in Paris Opera Garnier. Photo taken January 2004, while a guest appearance of Bolshoi Ballet.

Oh. My head is still heavy from last night. Another trip through Moscow’s nightlife before I jump on a plane to Munich next Tuesday.

Bar 30/7 - Бар 30/7

We started at bar 30/7. It was recommended to me over and over by some friends and I finally wanted to check it out. But, reading the review of the Exile guys made me think twice. Just another rip-of temple trying to be a New York style venue, I thought.

30/7 has been recommended to me by Vadim, who is an investment banker and usually only going to the high end places for the rich and wealthy. Andrey “Stalker” a manager of the famous Art Lebedev Studio, who is more the creative fashionable type also told me to go there on various occasions. As mixed is the crowd at Bar 30/7 in Moscow. It is a good mixture of Russian, Expat, Banker and Oligarch as well as creative from a mayor ad agency in Mockba.

One thing for sure, Thirty/Seven is not a place for the poor. If you come here, have a full wallet. Drink prices do have a London or NYC level. The bar itself was a bit of a disappointment to me. I expected an APT or Glass (both in NYC) kind of venue and found just another Moscow bar trying to be fancy, but missing the style. Another disappointment is the mood of the place. Maybe I caught a bad day, but it’s the “Oh, please. Don’t talk to me. I am important” kinda place that feels cold and boring in terms of atmosphere. Well, I will give it another try sometime soon.

Be sure to come early. When we came (23:45) it was still easy to get in and not too packed. When I left around 1:20 there has been a long line in front of the door. 30/7 is also not easy to find. It’s supposed to be Ulitsa Petrovka 30/7, but that is actually the fancy Bulvar restaurant. Looking at the front of Bulvar, just go left and you’ll see 30/7 right away.

I had a bad photo day last night so enjoy the photos of Mixtura.org and EuroCrises.com from a DJ gig in January. Its still the same and I even recognize some people from yesterday on the photos.

Katja from London and Sonia at Bar 30/7

After we split up. Sonia went to Osen (Autumn) and I went with Bernd to pay another visit to Real Mc Coy.

The Real Mc Coy

I haven’t been there for a while and I have to say, the crowd changed for the better. Maybe it is the selection of the new doorman, a much younger and fancy guy than the one before. The RMC really developed positively. And what a contrast to the cold 30/7. RMC is packed (a bit too many people), but it’s a warm and welcoming atmosphere, apart from the occasional drunken guy bothering you. RMC used to be a REAL EASY PICKUP PLACE, but that has changed as well. Plenty of good looking girls mixed with some ordinary, just something for everybody, which also speaks for the selection skills of the doorman. No sight of prostitutes, but the occasional player and gold-digger. RMC is still an Expat place filled with plenty of Europeans and Americans, but you also find many Russians of the new middle class.

RMC got more “democratic” (creative people), but nobody misses the suits and I give them a plus for the fun factor and for influencing Moscow’s boring and over styled night-life to the better and cool. It seems like the DJ wanted to please everyone in the club. He played 2 underground hip-hop tracks, changed to house, to electro, to Russian pop and I even heard ska and reggae. The style and tempo change is not everybody’s cup of tea, but after a few of RMC’s famous Mojitos you don’t care anyways. RMC is also known for girls dancing on the bar.

Come early (before 23:00) or late (3:00) or you will have to wait in line at the door. Real Mc Coy is open until the last one leaves and one night last summer I left at 6 AM, just the right time to walk over to nearby Mix club for its famous after hour session. Occasionally RMC can get’s boring after 4 AM. Last night we left at 5 AM and the place was still packed and fun. Best days are Thursdays to Saturday. On other days they have life bands and The Mc Coy is always good to grab some food and a beer after work.

http://www.go-magazine.ru/venues/show/1653

Osen - Осень

Sonia went to check out Osen with a friend from London. Osen is the new hang out of the rich and famous. Heard it is a mix of the FIRST and the Cabaret crowd. The place has the strictest face control to ensure the VIP’s and wanna bee’s are among themselves. So they should, because their party concept isn’t my definition of fun. Sonia and Katja left after a short time, because they couldn’t take anymore fat and old rich Russians with 18 year old girls. Asking Katja from London about her opinion she just said: “It can’t be described in words, it’s just really bizarre. After seeing Osen, I don’t want to go out in Moscow anymore. Its just bad”. So don’t get sad, if you are refused entry next time you try to get in. Its doesn’t seem to be worth it (unless you are one of THEM).

http://www.go-magazine.ru/venues/show/2374

For those interested in Osen and the people on the look out for Moscow party babes or girls. Check out the photos of the opening party made by mixtura.org and Nightvision magazine.