Victor Horta Hall - Bozar

In my March 15 posting "Uptown to Downtown" I mentioned Bozar, housed in the Palais des Beaux Arts, home to music, art exhibitions, theater and much more. It is an important center in the cultural life of the capital.  Built in the 1920's in the art deco period, it was designed by the famous architect Victor Horta, who was commissioned to design a building that would make art accessible to the public.  One of the challenges he faced was that the building could not block the view from the Royal Palace to the lower city, so much of it is underground. In the first photo is the main hall with its wonderful sky light.  At the back of the hall, shown in the second photo, is the magnificent staircase that leads visitors to the exhibitions.  Bozar is hosting a major Luc Tuymans retrospective until May 8.

Passa Porta Literary Festival part 2 of 2

"Belgium-debate" held in La Tentation, meeting place of the Gallician community in Brussels. Two writers and two journalists, two Flemish and two Walloons talked about the actual difficulties of a small country. Moderator and host Didier Delafontaine kept the line right in the middle.

Representing the Francophone or Walloon side were journalist Olivier Mouton of Le Soir and author Caroline Lamarche. Representing the Dutch-speaking or Flemish side were journalist Bart Sturtewagen of De Standaard and author Geert van Istendael.

Passa Porta Literary Festival part 1 of 2

Every two years, Brussels's heart beats to the rhythm of the Passa Porta Literary Festival. Four whole days devoted to literature, meetings, discussions and festivities, shared by thousands of literature lovers. Last Sunday, throughout the day, literature fans were treated to encounters and talks with a wide range of authors in theatres, bookshops and libraries, as well as in cafés, churches and train stations.
http://www.passaporta.be/index.php?q=en/festival2011
Connie Palmen, grand lady of Dutch literature read from her books and talked about how powerful reading experiences change lives and create happiness.

Author, David Van Reybrouck talks with former Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt about his book "Congo",  a phenomenal work of literature on the history of the Congo.  

"Van Reybrouck relies not only on rare archival footage and cutting-edge research, but also on hundreds of interviews he conducted with Congolese. His eyewitness of centenarians are child soldiers, rebel leaders to smugglers, from ministers to cassava sellers. All their stories form the core of this phenomenal book coupled with data, facts and a most personal view on the past. ‘Congo. A History’ is above all  a sort of “À la recherche du temps perdu” since Van Reybrouck’s father lived and worked for years in the former Belgian colony."

http://soulsafari.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/congo-a-history-by-david-van-reybrouck/

In the audience, Babah Tarawally, an author himself. He is originally from Sierra Leone and now lives in the Netherlands.

Tri-color activity

A lot of activity in black-yellow-red, the colors of Belgium's flag,  yesterday, Sunday afternoon in the center of Brussels. Is it possible the dogs are making a political statement? The biker, on the other  hand, was just celebrating his 50th birthday, or at least that is what he claimed.

Reservoir shop

This 2 year old store on rue Lesbroussart sells anything from shoes and clothes to vinyls and magazines. Splendidly decorated.

Comfortable busride

While the first lady, totally comfortable and preoccupied with the contents of her bag, did not even notice the photographer, the two other ones were delighted to be put on the spot.

Rambla in Brussels?

Early night fall, Brussels' Central Station neighborhood after the 2010 renovation. Some locals call it "Rambla" or would like to see it turn into one.
Frederico Garcia Lorca described the real Rambla as "the only street in the world which I wish would never end".
This one is not quite there yet.  One day I hope to see it filled with people, music and continuous live entertainment.