Getting in Touch with My Roots

This afternoon, I went to the Czech Street Festival on 83rd between Park and Madison—and had bramboraky (potato pancakes), knedlicky (dumplings), and plum kolacky. I called my mom and told her about it—I wish she were here with me. It goes without saying that the knedlicky were nothing like her home-cooked ones! And they didn't touch the ones my grandma used to make in Domazlice. The fest was organized by the Czech Center New York, which puts together concerts, films, and lectures about the Motherland. I overheard a lot of Czech being spoken, but the extent of my vocabulary doesn't go much beyond zmrzlina (ice cream) and dobrou noc (good night)!

The menu:


There was a lot of spirit on this cool autumn day:


Plenty of food:


And traditional dancing:


Here's a little video of the celebration!



It seems like there's a street festival, celebrating you name it, almost every weekend in this city! The Kidney & Urology Foundation Fest (Lexington Avenue from 34th to 42nd Streets). The National Puerto Rican Day Parade (Fifth Avenue between 43rd & 86th Street). The St. Anthony of Giovinazzo Feast (Mulberry Street between Broome & Spring Street). The Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen Festival (23rd Street between 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue). The Stone Street Oyster Fest (Hanover Square, Stone Street and Pearl Street). You can check out every possible nationality, cause, cuisine, and season without even leaving the five boroughs.