TALLInn - In Your Pocket

12 Culture & eVents
Tallinn is home to a number of theatres, an opera house, several
interesting museums and galleries, and even a couple of
art-house cinemas. Check these pages to see what's coming
up. If you are still thirsting for more, an exhaustive calendar
of cultural events is available at www.culture.ee.
Main events
Tallinn International Horse Show October 5 - 7, Saku
Suurhall, www.tallinnhorseshow.ee. “Hi-yo Silver, away!”
Celebrating its eleventh year, the Tallinn International Horse
Show is set to be an equestrian experience extraordinaire.
Horses and riders from all over Europe will try to jump and
trot their way to a hoofed victory in this Central European
League World Cup event. This hoofed extravaganza has
become a must-see for the whole family.
W.A.S.P. October
16, Rock Café
(p.48), www.
piletilevi.ee. Not to
be confused with the
W.A.S.P (White Anglo-
Saxon Protestant)
organisation, in fact
they couldn't be more
different. This heavy
metal band hailing from Los Angeles is pretty much a mustsee
for fans of the genre. Unfortunately, as is usually so with
bands from the genre that are still touring - Blackie Lawless
is the only original member left. It shouldn't discourage
concert-goers however, he's pretty much always been the
face of the band anyway.
Estonian Championships in Classic Bodybuilding
October 21, Salme Cultural Centre (F-2, Salme 12),
www.fitness.ee. The organisers of this musclebound event
have decided to continue where they left off in 2011 when
it was a more international competition. Examples of classic
body building as well as competitions in the categories of
women and men’s fitness and body fitness will be highlighted
during this one-day event. They aim to promote ‘healthy
lifestyles, pure sports and pure ideals’. So if you like women
with pecs smaller than yours or oiled-up men who can carry a
Lada, you certainly shouldn't miss this one.
PÖFF
Tallinn Black
Nights Film
Festival PÖFF
November
12 – 28,
various venues
throughout
Tallinn, www.
poff.ee. Even
though it’s called
the “Black Nights Film Festival”, PÖFF, as it is known to
locals, is the biggest and brightest film festival in all of
the Baltics and Scandinavia. The festival takes place all
over Estonia and consists of the main program, several
sub-festivals and events directed at film industry
professionals and cinemaphiles alike. Films from all
around the globe are shown but the focus continues to
be on European cinema. There'll be over 200 films in the
main program and you’re not really a film-buff unless you
watch them all. The 'party' headquarters will be located
at Wabadus (see p.44) and tickets go on sale starting
November 9th in Solaris Centre (p.14), Viru Centre
(p.88) and Coca-Cola Plaza (p.16). See website for full
schedule and all the details.
Some like it hot!
8th International
Tallinn Salsa Festival
November 15 – 18,
various locations
throughout Tallinn www.
tallinnsalsafestival.org.
This 4-day, Sals-traveganza
includes workshops,
lessons and stunning
shows by dancers from
across the globe. The
workshops, taught by such
experienced international
instructors as Helio Santos
from Portugal, Mark-
Photo by Helio Santos
Anthony from Canada and Italians Dani & Giulia to name
just a few, take place during the day and DJs will spin
some caliente salsa tracks at night - guaranteed to
set the dance floor ablaze. And relatively new to the
Baltics, you’ll be able to witness various dance-styles
such as Funana, Salsa Cubana, LA Style Salsa, NY Style
Salsa, PuertoRican, Chachacha, Bachata, Bachatango,
Reggaeton, Zouk, Kizomba and Kuduru. If you ask us,
that’s more fun than you can throw a shoe... or two at.
See website for full schedule and prices.
Steve Vai October 25,
Rock Café (p.48), www.
ticketpro.ee. Steve Vai
– what can we say about
Steve Vai? Perhaps only
that he is one of the best
guitarists ever!!! In fact
he's right up there with
Hendrix, Clapton, Jeff Beck,
"Stevie" Ray Vaughan, and
Gary Moore. Winning more awards than practically every
guitarist on the planet, aspiring guitarists want to be like him
and women throw themselves at him, or at least their best
bras, while watching him make his six, seven, twelve-string
electrical guitars sing. Just imagine what a man who can
expertly play a double-neck 12-string guitar can do with those
fingers... Check this show out, people, and we'll be extremely
envious as babysitters are hard to come by in this city.
Festival Klaver October 26 - November 02, Estonia
Concert Hall, www.concert.ee/klaverifestival. It's
all about the piano, dude! Even if you haven't heard of
most of them, or have difficulty pronouncing their names -
performances by some of the world's greats will be held at
this festival dedicated to all things piano. It'll be quite a site
to watch the maestros deftly slide their long fingers over
the ivories, and don't forget to pay attention to their feet
– Mario Andretti can't even compete with their pedal skills.
Seriously though, if piano music is your thing this should
truly be a great event. See website for list of performers
and schedule.
Katatonia November 6, Rock Café (p.48), www.
ticketpro.ee. With the exception of a small handful of
bands, Sepultura comes to mind, everyone knows that
the best and hardest metal music comes from Northern
countries, whose cold winters and harsh climates certainly
lend themselves well to the creation of this genre of music.
Hailing from Sweden, and certainly fitting the above
mentioned explanation of why metal is simply better from
the North, Katatonia is no exception. Their music is hard,
dark and goes down better with a shot of Jägermeister or
Absinthe than a Pinot Noir. If you’re a fan of metal or the
aforementioned drinks, then this show should be perfectly
suited to you.
St. Martin’s Day Fair November 08 - 11, Saku
Suurhall, www.folkart.ee. In honour of St. Martin’s Day,
the Estonian Folkart and Handicraft Union organises this
fair involving workshops, handicraft sales, national cuisine,
folk music, ‘Mardi’ costumes and the general promotion
of the folk lifestyle. A perfect place to load up on gifts
for... yeah that’s right, Christmas. But personally we like it
best for the home-brewed beer, dark bread slathered with
butter and the smoked meat... mmmm.
Tallinn International
Open Cup 2012
November 24 - 25, Saku
Suurhall, www.tkrevalia.
ee. Brought to you by the
Estonian Dance Sport
Association or EDSA for short,
this all Latin dance competition
will feature some of the best
tans and sexiest legs from
Estonia and all over Europe.
Watch as these perma-smilers,
spin and twist and shake
and strut - their scantily-clad
booties to coveted titles and prizes that probably include a
year supply of self-tanner and chiropractic treatments.
Chick Corea Trio
(USA) November 14,
Nokia Concert Hall,
www.ticketpro.ee.
Simply one of the best Jazz
artists on the planet, this
18-time, Grammy Award
Winner has played with
some of the greats and
influenced many of the
rest of them. Considered a
bit of a revolutionary when
it comes to jazz, his styles
range from classic, bare-bones jazz to fusion - of which he
was one of the founding fathers. It aint mean a thing unless
you got that swing, so swing on over to thsi state-of-theart
venue on November 14th for what should be a stunning
tribute to jazz.
Folk holidays in autumn
All Souls’ Day Nov
02. Estonians don’t celebrate
Halloween, but they
do have a day to honour
their dead. All Souls’ Day
(Hingedepäev) is a solemn,
private affair in which the
dead are honoured by placing
candles in windows
or on graves. Indeed any
cemetery visited on that night will be filled with the eerily
beautiful glow of flickering flames.
St. Martin’s Day (Mardipäev) Nov 10. One of the
most important holidays in the rural calendar, St. Martin’s
Day traditionally marks the end of the autumn season.
Young folks in the countryside put on costumes and go
door to door, singing and begging for treats.
St. Catherine’s Day (Kadripäev) Nov 25. The
female equivalent of Mardipäev, with similar activities.
Instead of animal masks however, revellers of both
genders dress as women. Don’t ask.
Culture & eVents
Tickets you say?
Tickets to most major events are available from: Piletilevi
C-4, Viru Centre, Viru väljak 4/6, tel. 610 14 44, www.
piletilevi.ee. Ticketpro, D/E-3/4, Solaris Centre, Estonia
pst. 9, tel. 624 80 32, www.ticketpro.ee. Estonia's major
concert organiser, Eesti Kontsert, has its own box office
in Tallinn at E-3, Estonia pst. 4, tel. 614 77 00, fax 614 77
09, info@concert.ee, www.concert.ee.
Concert halls
Estonia Concert Hall D-3, Estonia pst. 4, tel. (+372)
614 77 60, info@concert.ee, www.concert.ee. The
premier venue for classical music and the home of national
concert organiser Eesti Kontsert. QOpen 12:00 - 19:00, Sat
12:00 - 17:00. On Sundays open one hour before scheduled
concerts. J
Estonian National Opera D-3, Estonia pst. 4, tel.
(+372) 683 12 14/(+372) 683 12 15, info@opera.ee,
www.opera.ee. Tallinn's pride and joy hosts opera, ballet and
frequent performances by internationally-renowned guests.
Tickets cost up to €31. Q Box office open 11:00 - 19:00. J
Gate Tower (Väravatorn) C/D-1/2, Lühike jalg 9, tel.
(+372) 644 07 19, hortus@concert.ee, www.concert.
ee. This 15th-century tower is the spiritual and physical
home of early music ensemble Hortus Musicus. Q See
www.concert.ee for exact data. J
House of the Brotherhood of the Black Heads
(Mustpeade Maja) B-3, Pikk 26, tel. (+372) 631 31
99, info@mustpeademaja.ee, www.mustpeademaja.
ee. This ornate 15th-century guild hall hosts the occasional
classical music concerts. Q Box office open one hour before
performance. J
Niguliste Museum-Concert Hall C-2, Niguliste 3,
tel. (+372) 631 43 30, niguliste@ekm.ee, www.ekm.
ee. Organ music concerts are held here every Saturday
and Sunday at 16:00. For more on this 13th-century Gothic
church, see What to see section. QOpen 10:00 - 17:00.
Closed Mon, Tue. J
Nokia Concert Hall D/E-3/4, Estonia pst. 9, tel.
(+372) 615 51 11, info@tallinnconcerthall.com, www.
tallinnconcerthall.com. Tallinn now has a world-class
concert hall, complete with a stunning sound system and
high-tech gadgetry. QOpen 10:00 - 21:00. JL
Saku Suurhall Paldiski mnt. 104b, tel. (+372) 626
11 11/(+372) 660 02 00, sakusuurhall@sakusuurhall.
ee, www.sakusuurhall.ee. Famous as the venue for the
47th Eurovision Song Contest in 2002, this 7000-seat
sports and concert arena hosts large concerts and major
sporting events.
Song Festival Grounds (Lauluväljak) F/G-5/6,
Narva mnt. 95, tel. (+372) 611 21 02, info@lauluvaljak.
ee, www.lauluvaljak.ee. The birthplace of Estonia's Singing
Revolution in 1988, the Lauluväljak is made of both a gigantic
outdoor arena and a modern, indoor concert hall.
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October - November 2012
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