March 01, 2002 Perfect, Unexpected Rhymes April 10 is poet Bella Akhmadulina’s 65th birthday (born 1937). A graduate of the Literary Institute (1960), Akhmadulina belongs to the shestidesyatniki (“60s”)—those Russian poets whose stars rose in the 1960s.
March 01, 2002 Artists' Colony Just outside Moscow lies the secluded, serene Abramtsevo estate. But the calm here belies an amazing history: a century ago, this was the gathering place for some of Russia's greatest artistic talents, from painting and theater, to architecture and literature.
March 01, 2002 The Magical Izba Awash in symbolism and oozing with history, the izba – peasant hut – is a window on the Russian soul. Rituals, customs and beliefs, as well as the sometimes elaborate decoration of the izba, reflected the many meanings and functions its inhabitants attached to it.
March 01, 2002 Requiem for an Eyesore A personal reflection on the many storied Intourist hotel, a Moscow landmark and eyesore.
March 01, 2002 Calendar Includes extended stories on Vladimir Makanin, Valentin Rasputin, Mstislav Rostropovich, Stanislav Neygauz, Bella Akhmadulina and Andrei Tarkovsky.
March 01, 2002 Pozharskiye Kotlety A legendary dish made for an unexpected visit of a tsar to a way station, this has since become a favored dish of many Russian restaurants.
March 01, 2002 Rubbing Elbows With the Stars? Some Russian Life readers have suggested that we need to avoid the “glitterati” in our series on “100 Young Russians To Watch” – we should write less about ballerinas and cinema stars. I partially agree.
March 01, 2002 Animal Instincts What does a rooster say in Russian? How about a pig or a horse? It's all here in this issue's Survival Russian.
