November 26, 2013 Moscow and Muscovites Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. Culture History Nonfiction
November 21, 2013 RuNet Tackles History By Eugenia Sokolskaya What does the rating of RuNet’s most popular blogs have to do with history textbooks? Join us on an excursion into conspiracy theories, falsified history, and government ideology – RuNet’s standard fare! Culture
November 07, 2013 It's Nutcracker Season! By Eugenia Sokolskaya It's that time of year again: dancing toys, mice, and candy, waltzing flowers, presents coming to life... But was this time of year always so closely tied to the Nutcracker? Culture
October 17, 2013 RuNet: The Silly and the Serious By Eugenia Sokolskaya Scenery, stereotypes, satire, and politics – all in a day's work for RuNet! Join us to learn about Russians arrested for riding bears, all manner of vodka infractions, and a tiny bit of election talk. Culture Humor
September 22, 2013 Checking in with Russian Bloggers By Eugenia Sokolskaya What has the Russian side of the internet been up to lately? Enjoying nature, getting a new angle on familiar things, and going at everything with a healthy sense of humor. Culture
September 11, 2013 Patriotism: A USSR Story By Eugenia Sokolskaya Being patriotic in the Soviet Union was a duty, a challenge, and a potential pitfall, all rolled into one. The story of one Soviet singer, Joseph Kobzon, shows how one cultural idol walked that dangerous line. Culture History Politics
September 07, 2013 Why Did Soviet Houses All Look the Same? By Eugenia Sokolskaya Ever wonder why Soviet houses looked so drab, colorless, and interchangeable? It all started with Nikita Khrushchev's battle against architectural excess, and continues to plague Russia to this day. Culture History
September 05, 2013 The Politics of Moscow's Migrant Crime Statistics By Andrey Tselikov In addition to highlighting local issues, Moscow's mayoral race has generated lively discussions of various national topics. Front and center among these is Russia's immigration and migrant worker policy. Culture Politics
August 27, 2013 Useful Resources for Tourists Visiting Russia By Joe Shervell A compendium of 13 useful websites for persons interested in traveling to Russia, covering everything from the latest visa information to cruises, to what not to do when in Russia (etiquette). Culture Travel
April 17, 2013 Spies Like Us By Paul E. Richardson The Americans, on FX, is a brilliant episodic drama that recreates the 1980s with only minimal anachronisms but plenty of tension, plot twists, double-dealing and moral relativism. Culture Film & TV Int'l Relations
April 12, 2013 Snail's Pace By Maria Antonova Has your postmaster chased you down the street with a broom lately? Clearly you don't live in Russia... The Russian Post continues to stoke the fury of millions. But Russian videographers are striking back, documenting abuses by RP workers. Culture Humor
November 19, 2012 Anna Karenina: The Puppet Version By Robert Blaisdell The movie is almost too silly to discuss, as if Saturday Night Live decided to do a parody, but nobody but the costume-director and scene-making crew were ready. A puppet resembling Keira Knightley plays Anna; although thin, even scrawny, the animators make her look almost human. Culture Film & TV Literature