View source for Russian Culture Feast, August, 2011

==Zastol’e; Imbibing Russian Culture was a Huge Success in August==
*At the Main Street Museum, White River Junction, Vermont, Saturday, August 6, 2011. 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.  —  Free and open to the Public!

For the fourth year, we invite our friends to collaborate with us on an evening of Russian culture at the Main Street Museum in White River Junction, Vermont. The culture and values of visitors and immigrants from all regions of the World have shaped America. Our project continues this great tradition. Our past events have discussed basic stereotypes of Russian culture such as the Phenomenon of Pushkin and the Russian Ballet. 

This year we would like to focus on what is probably the most fundamental form of national culture—food. We invite you to a dinner of Russian national cuisine, prepared by us, for you—and also by you, and with you. Your participation can take a variety of  forms—food, music, poetry readings, art, dance, film or more. Our goal is to not only create a Russian banquet in the middle of White River Junction’s abandoned downtown, but also to wrestle with—as well as actually consuming, enjoying, and even (dare I say it) relishing—stereotypes of Russian food. We hope that you will actively participate and bring your favorite Russian dish, read a poem, or hang artwork in the Main Street Museum. Please RSVP tho, for the dinner, so we can plan for how many we will be serving!

The program events include: artwork and a stunning banner on the front of the Museum Building by Russian artist Petr Shvetsov, a performance by Galician poet Ernesto Estrella, a film by Wendy Newton, a film-lecture-essay by Russian literature professor Polina Barskova, a large painting by Bethel artist Josh Turk, a slide lecture of his trip to Saint Petersburg by David Fairbanks Ford, poetry readings, music, film, and an art exhibition. The exhibition will continue on display until the Winter months.  The edible part of our Humanities Project will consist of: the legendary Olivier Salad, “Herring Under a Fur Coat,” Vinigret, Shashlik, at least 15 types of vodka with infusions, black bread, 1,000 fiery toasts and the lighting and operation of a genuine, antique Russian Samovar—fueled with pine cones—don’t miss it!

We hope that you will join us and spend a relaxing evening at a long table along the banks of the White River (indoors if it rains). Please come with toasts to share in the Russian drinking tradition.

If you have any questions, please contact Petr Shvetsov at 802-291-1319 or by e-mail at baranisup@yandex.ru

Or The Main Street Museum, 58 Bridge Street, White River Junction, Vermont, 05001  —  802.356.2776  —  info@mainstreetmuseum.org