WARSAWESOME:
WEEKEND IN WARSAW
JANUARY 21 – 23
This is the weekend of mindful arts. Despite winter’s cold embrace, we are hot for new cultural initiatives such as poetry slams, city games, or an exhibition about “ the other” rivers in Warsaw. We are also bent on training the mind and body at the relaunched legendary Yoga Institute and at the events of the Breath Festival. Last but not least, we are looking forward to the multi-ethnic painting workshops. For details, see #warsawesome.
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1) Deep breath – yoga and mindfulness
- It’s always a good time to take care of yourself. That’s why we are drawn to the new opening of Instytut Jogi. It is a legendary place founded by Sławomir Bubicz – the first Polish student of BNS Iyengar himself, i.e. the creator of the most popular yoga method in use. It is famous for attracting students for years and teaching yoga as a lifestyle. In the new version, the best yoga instructors and pioneers in Poland invite you to classes both in the Iyengar tradition and in their auteur styles. During the open day, there will be free classes, vegetarian snacks, and a cake. Warsaw needs iconic places, and this has a great potential of reclaiming such status.
when: Saturday, January 22, from 16:00
where: Intytut Jogi Sławomir Bubicz – ul. Świętokrzyska 31/33A
- If you want to focus on a single, yet crucial, element of mindfulness, which is no stranger to yoga, namely the breath, there’s an air of promise around Festiwal Oddechu# 2. This year’s edition is a workspace for adults with a separate Kids Stage dedicated to children. During the 3 days of the festival, there are plenty of attractions – the schedule includes 38 meetings with 30 speakers. Each of the events requires a ticket.
when: from Friday, January 21, to Sunday, January 23
where: Elektrownia Powiśle – ul. Dobra 42
2) Mixed martial rhymes
Slam is about presenting your own pieces of poetry to the audience. The contenders have 3 minutes to perform in the qualifying round, 3.5 minutes in the semi-final, and 4 minutes in the final. The jury is made up of viewers who take into account not only the text itself but also how it is delivered and performed. Everyone has one vote and each of these votes has the same weight. The tournament will be hosted by Magdalena Walusiak, the champion of Warsaw in the 2020 Poetry Slam. Even if you don’t understand Polish, come to listen to its flow and particular musicality as presented by local masters.
when: Saturday, January 22, from 19:00
where: Wawerskie Centrum Kultury – ul. Żagańska 1b
3) Exhibitions
When it comes to exhibitions, we are served a truly inspiring menu. Events devoted to her-story seem most interesting, but the study of the non-Vistula rivers in the capital is also beyond intriguing.
- The Ones. Untold stories of Polish photographers exhibition tells the stories of thirteen female photographers, who in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s were often the only women in only-male teams or worked alone with over 150 pictures. Although the exhibition closes on January 30, this weekend we have the last chance to be guided by Monika Szewczyk-Wittek – the curator. Prior reservation is required for this event.
when: Sunday, January 23, at 12:00
where: Dom Spotkań z Historią – ul. Karowa 20
- The Invisible. The stories of the Warsaw servants exhibition will be open until the end of March, so there is still quite a lot of time to visit it. Over 400 objects, spread over six rooms, tell the life of servants and the history of domestic workers. The layout of the exhibition reflects the path the servant has traveled since her arrival in Warsaw, through her job search and daily duties. In our opinion, it is one of the best-thought-out exhibitions that allows you to immerse yourself in the presented topics.
when: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, from 11:00 to 18:00; Thursday, Saturday, from 11:00 to 20:00
where: Muzeum Warszawy – Rynek Starego Miasta 28
- We expect similar quality at the Let them flow! Other rivers of Warsaw exhibition. Oftentimes we mistakenly confound the rivers of Warsaw solely with the Vistula. Yet, the hydrographic network of the capital is much richer. At the exhibition, we will trace the course, learn about biographies, see the remains and contemporary traces of other rivers hidden in the names of districts and streets. Moreover, the contemporary part of the exhibition draws attention to the significant impact of the degradation of rivers on the development of cities during a climate crisis.
when: opening on Thursday, January 20; then Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00; Thursday, Saturday, from 11:00 to 20:00
where: Muzeum Woli – Srebrna 12
4) Art workshops
Workshops are the best alternative for the mundane, pandemic, winter evenings. This year’s keywords might be abstract thinking, self-expression, and empathy. You can develop all these skills during art workshops. This weekend, we find two proposals genuinely interesting:
- All in one painting workshop. It aspires to connect many minds, along with the ideas contained in them, to create one big picture together. Working side by side, we will strive for harmonious diversity. The classes are open to everyone, regardless of their artistic skills. Registration is required.
when: Saturday, January 22, from 13:00
where: Dunaj Instytut Dialogu – ul. Chmielna 26/22
- Linocut workshop led by Ewa Benkel – a public space designer associated with Praga Północ, where she creates friendly, beautiful, and functional places. This time, she will share with us her passion for linocut, a printmaking technique, in which a design is cut into the linoleum surface with a sharp knife with the uncarved areas representing a mirror image of the parts to show printed. The north-eastern coast of the Vistula, which is the background of the event, will serve as an inspiration.
when: Saturday, January 22, from 12:00 to 14:00
where: Kamień. Pawilon Edukacyjny – Wybrzeże Puckie 1
5) Urban game – Finding Bareja
This year Ursynów is celebrating its 45th anniversary. As part of the birthday, the district organizes an urban game aimed at inspiring the participants with the emotions which accompanied the first settlers when receiving the keys to their dream apartment. The contenders will have to face obstacles and difficulties known mainly from the films of Stanisław Bareja. Such campaigns allow you to get to know the urban tissue from an unusual perspective and experience it with vigilance increased by the need to accomplish mini-missions. We recommend it to families and groups of friends. Prior registration is required.
when: Sunday, January 23, from 12:00 to 15:00
where: Ursynów District Office – al. KEN 61
6) Nice walk
Officially, we have 88 parks and 27 forest complexes in the capital. So take the opportunity to see their winter faces. If the weather so permits, you can try out the capital’s winter sports. Maybe the conditions aren’t really alpine, but sometimes taking a leap of faith to do cross-country skiing in the Bielański Forest or ride down Górka Szczęśliwicka allows us to indulge in activities seemingly absent in big city life.
If you prefer to lie in longer in the morning, read, or simply have other duties to fulfill, even twilight that comes too early is not a problem for Warsaw galavantees. The whole streets and parks are illuminated with attention to the smallest detail. Therefore, for relaxation and health purposes, we recommend taking a stroll in the following places:
- Nowy Świat and Krakowskie Przedmieście up to Plac Zamkowy, which light up as the official Illumination of Warsaw;
- University of Warsaw Botanical Garden with Lumagica illumination (more info);
- The Botanical Garden in Powsin, where the Peter Pan’s Garden of Lights awaits (more info);
- Wilanów Park with the local Royal Garden of Light (more info);
- Multimedia Fountain Park, where from Friday to Sunday at full hours from 16:00 to 20:00 you can admire the winter laser show.
7) Ice rinks
Warsaw ice rinks deserve a separate paragraph. After all, nothing integrates better than having fun together, so the whole gang can go ice skating. After all, what brings people closer than having fun together. Non-skaters can always take the opportunity to drink mulled wine or cocoa. The following venues will be open this weekend:
- Park Bródnowski, from ul. Kondratowicza, more info;
- Praska Ślizgawka in Centrum Praskie Koneser, more info;
- Rynek Starego Miasta, more info;
- Galeria Północna, along Trakt Nadwiślański, more info;
- Galeria Młociny, on ul. Zgrupowania AK Kampinos 47, more info;
- Figlowisko, next to Metro Natolin, more info.
To find the best places for walks, bike trips, dates, etc. consult our list of the 35 AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN WARSAW IN 2022.
