

a voice kept whispering to get up and write a blog,
to which I countered that it's been a quiet week in Vienna,
”with the women still strong
with all the men good-looking as always,
and all the children still above average.” *)

"O, woe is me, to have seen what I have seen,"
for having laid my eyes on Michael Kimmelman's article
"In Battle for Vienna: Soccer 1, Culture 0"!

"Vienna’s cultural life has come to a virtual standstill".

After all, was it not Vienna that gave rise to the legend that one can survive even the bubonic plague under, and thanks to, the influence of alcohol?
In other words, better yet with the words of the popular Viennese song, "O, my poor old Augustin
Augustin, Augustin,
O, my poor old Augustin,
Culture or soccer,
They just can't win!"

to the above-mentioned article in the New York Times,
written by Michael Kimmelman for the "Art and Design" section,
published on June 26, 2008:
In Battle for Vienna: Soccer 1, Culture 0

over this delicious bit of newspapering (as I see it),
and bestow on the writer
a hundred Golden
for using soccer championship, Maria Theresa, Burgtheater, Goethe, Shakespeare, New York, East Side, and, take this, antimacassar and Carla Sarkozy (!), within a single article about Vienna's soccer and culture clash.
The Blue Filet Crocheted Antimacassar
(size 10 thread, 5x4")
shall be awarded for the creative use of "narcoleptic"
("crowds have been almost narcoleptically well behaved,"
always bad for a slow news day, isn't it?),
and the heroic combination of "mobs" and "opera audiences"
("mobs in the FanZone were quieter than some opera audiences,"
as in "no riots", i.e. bad news!).


“The tournament, the nation’s bid to join the global sporting big time, has been a passing disaster for the city’s cultural institutions, which for ages have supported the local economy and given Vienna its glorious, albeit somewhat undeservedly, antimacassared reputation.”

*) "... the women are strong, the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average" (original quote by Garrison Keillor, “A Prairie Home Companion”)
**) it takes 50,000 points for a one-way ticket to Aries, a 100,000 for the roundtrip.
Cultural life NEVER comes to a standstill.
ReplyDeleteCertainly I've never seen antimacassar used in such a manner! What a delicious post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beutifully crafted post (again). You were so lucky to see Cecilia, I saw her in concert in Birmigham a couple of years ago.
ReplyDeleteMerisi, I can't find the link to that article. Help?
ReplyDeleteOh POO...I spit on Kimmelman...spppttt...opps, just spat on my blousefront...dam it...let me try that again...Oh POO...I spit on Kimmelman and hopefully mispell his name...spppptttt....hehheh, made it that time...the cucumber sandwiches are ready, the mint juleps are on the verandah and afterwards we will go sit and dream at Swan Lake, my very favorite Ballet in the world...I can hardly wait!
ReplyDeletehugs to you
Sandi
What a smile came to my face when I saw that you had left a message on my site....yea! She's back! Let's go see what's going on in Vienna!! What? The cultural life of Vienna coming to a standstill? Haven't read this man's article yet, but was he even in Vienna during the World Cup? Like David said, "Cultural life NEVER comes to a standstill.".....the World Cup just brings one more facet to the already existing jewel of culture that Vienna provides. He needs a vacation!! Welcome back, Merisi!
ReplyDelete~Allie
Hi M,
ReplyDeletesilly article in the Times since culture in Wien never comes to a stop. Remember the famous quote by K. Krauss that the strees of Wien are made of culture while the pavement of other cities is made of aphshalt (sp?) How true.
Loved your photos - better than the article.
susanvon
I love the way you blend a post and show so many views of life.
ReplyDeleteI think some die-hard sports fanatics think Life just revolves around a simple ball.
@ David McMahon:
ReplyDeleteMark Twain's "Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated!" echoes in my mind. *giggle*
@ tut-tut:
I shall have to think of this each and every time I sit down in an airplane seat again! ;-)
@ Maalie:
Thank you! :-)
Cecilia was bravissima, it was an unforgettable evening (the concert took place in the Musikverein's Golden Hall, btw).
@ Constance:
You should be able to open the article by clicking on the (turquoise coloured) words "Here is the link" - I have added one more link, clicking on the headline will take you there too now.
@ SANDI:
I would love to join you, especially since you live right down near some of my favorite places in the whole wide world! ;.-)
@ ALLIE:
Thank you! :-)
(From what I understand, he was at least checking out the bar at the Burgtheater. Maybe hobscotching with some fellow journalists?)
@ SUSANVON:
ReplyDeleteIt saddens me to have to read in the New York Times an article like this.
@ PHOTOWANNABE:
There are die-hards on both sides who somehow think one must necessarily exclude the other. I for once have spent more time in theaters than soccer fields during the last month or so, but loved both equally.
well, at least the cafes are still open, serving pastries and cakes and lemonade and all those yummy goodies :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you're back blogging merisi.
Here in Jamaica everyone is focused on the Olymic athletics qualifiers and the Euro 2008! :-) Sports all around.
Yesh! Can't Vienna have a little fun now and then? After all, when is the next time they are going to have the Euro games there.
ReplyDeletewww.thequietone.net
But Vienna is culture !!!! I love this post.
ReplyDeleteFrom the summer heat, to dreams, to refreshments, to writings, to news articles, to soccer, to music and dance...so many goodies packed neatly and presented to us beautifully in one sweet post. Thank you.:)
ReplyDeleteGood to see you back in the blogosphere!
ReplyDeleteVienna sounds so wonderful and culture-filled - as is New York.
we aren't quite so gripped with the soccer though.
Have a lovely weekend.
So you can write well too!
ReplyDeleteA quiet week in Vienna! The BBC regularly show the "fan zone" in front of the rathaus and it is far from quiet!
By far the best Euro tournament ever, stadia, fans, football, even the weather since we have had all types. Congratulations to both Austria and Switzerland, plus they are both places well worth visiting in their own right. Shame England didn't qualify!
A wickedly funny post - welcome back! I've missed the photos and commentaries on life abroad.
ReplyDeleteNOW where are you off to??
ReplyDeleteAch
I need a shot of Vienna!
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa
I don't like soccer at all.....
ReplyDeleteI read this article today in the papers here and I immediately thought of you. I can understand the frenzy of soccer, but I dont think cultural life ever stops
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! Brilliant!
ReplyDeletegreat post, sugar! i watched the match here while under a severe thunderstorm watch...hot, humid, overcast and actually quite gorgeous outside in that strange southern way! xoxox
ReplyDeleteJust goes to show... Never, never, never read the New York Times!
ReplyDeleteMari-Nanci
'Photos-City-Mine'
'Smilnsigh'
Merisi, how I do so love these glimpses of Viennese life and architecture. Thank you for sharing these photos and your wealth of abundant knowledge. I am getting to know Vienna with you as a capable ambassador.
ReplyDeleteThank you all so much for taking the time to leave a comment, each and every one of you is appreciated, as are all you visitors who simply pass through here.
ReplyDeleteA family birthday to be shared today, and tomorrow another busy day, but I hope that by Thursday I can be back with a new post.
With warmest regards,
Merisi
P.S.:
Yes, there was lots of football/soccer, but I also managed to sneak in "Swan Lake" (just in case you were wondering *smile*).
Always a pleasure to see your viewpoint.
ReplyDeleteYou tell em Merisi
ReplyDeleteAch!