Culture & Customs

Pressure on independent journalism, champagne importers, and some Olympics and architectural news.

In which our language insert looks at Russian words with German roots.

A crumble cake in Russia is something like banana bread in the US – the varieties are endless, and every avid baker has her “grandmother’s recipe” in their repertoire.

Two books reviewed: one on the origin of two perfumeries, another that is a memoir of an archpriest.

Listening to the intensely chromatic compositions of Sofia Gubaidulina can be challenging. You wouldn’t put her music on to relax or to be energized. As with any avant-garde work, taking it in can feel like work.

At the beginning of July, the Russian government re-tire-d a form of folk art  dear to many: the lawn tire.

A shawarma shop accidentally delves into urban agriculture, much to the delight of city residents. 

After almost ten years, the Alexander Palace, the final home of the Romanovs, is back and open for visitors.

Pizza-lovers be warned: a new scam in Russia is targeting those with a craving for cheese and pepperoni. 

In this week's Odder News, kids expect glamping and instead get camping, a missing baby is found after days of wandering, and a bouquet of flowers drives the internet wild.

“Today, the city bath house needs support because, due to last year's lengthy six-month shutdown associated with the coronavirus, the banya cannot pull itself out of debt."

– Mikhail Valov, Mayor of Sayanogorsk, inviting citizens to save his city’s municipal bathhouse from the economic ravages of the Coronavirus on August 23.

A very uncharacteristic tweet about a famous Soviet rockstar has many Russians scratching their heads. Apparently, even communist party leader Gennady Zyuganov can't resist a catchy tune.