April 29, 2018
As usual, clicking on the venue name will get you more details with regard to the time, price and location, and if you want to get a Ljubljana Tourist Card, which gives you travel on the city buses and entry to a lot of attractions, then you can read more about that here.
CINEMA
You can read about all the cinemas in town here, while a selection of what’s playing this week is below. (And if you like to study Slovene by watching trailers, we have a round-up of some of the best from first three months of the year, just click this and learn something new.)
Kinodvor – The art cinema not far from the train station is playing, among others, Earth: One Amazing Day, The Post, Early Man (dubbed), and The Big Sick.
Kinoteka – The revival house on Miklosičeva is showing, among other classics, The Big Sleep, The Kiss of the Spider Woman, Educating Rita and Chicken Run.
Kolosej – The multiplex out at BTC City Mall is playing all the big movies, including Avengers: Infinity War, I Feel Pretty, A Quiet Place and Truth or Dare.
Komuna – The basement cinema just behind Nama department store is showing various films, including Avengers: Infinity War.
CLUBS
Gala Hala – Friday the 4th there’s an all-nighter called Zeleno sonce 115: Striktnovinil // Letni vrt & Gala hala, featuring DJ Udo Brenner, as heard below.
Klub Cirkus – Friday and Saturday after the Spring Break After Party Weekender, parts 1 and 2.
Klub K4 – Friday, May 4, there’s Synaptic w/ Brawther & Cleymoore, with house, techno, electro and acid. Saturday there’s then Temnica, with various DJs playing techno, including Octex.
EXHIBITIONS
Note that state-owned galleries and museums are usually closed on Mondays and since this Tuesday is a national holiday you may be out of luck then, too.
Aksioma – This gallery just a short walk from Dragon Bridge, going up the hill away from the Castle , has a show called Transnationalisms, it’s being promoted with the following text: “Liberalism vs fundamentalism, science vs fiction, transparency vs opacity, globalization vs nationalisms and Balkanization: these are some of the contradictions and paradoxes of contemporary society, and the border is the place where they manifest more explicitly: the border between physical zones and particularly between nation states, but also that between the physical and digital, apparently introducing to a different zone of possibility. Curated by British artist James Bridle, this exhibition explores alternative models and protocols of citizenship, identity, and nationhood...”
City Hall, the building near Robba Fountain in Town Square, the Old Town, will be showing and selling rag dolls for UNICEF, with a related exhibition lasting until May 9.
Cankerjev dom – The show Ivan Meštrović: Corporeality and Eroticism in Sculpture continues until May 20, with an example shown below, while a show linking Meštrović and the architect Jože Plečnik is on until May 20.
Ivan Meštrović: Physicality and eroticism in sculpture
International Centre of Graphic Arts – Opening Friday the 13th and running until July 29 is David Lynch: Fire on Stage, presenting seventy lithographs from the director.
City Museum – On until June 2 is a show based on A Tombstone of a Veteran of Legio XV Apollinaris, which “brings new findings about the first generation of settlers in the Roman city of Iulia Emona.” The Museum also has a large permanent exhibition on the history of Ljubljana.
Galerija Jakopič – Running until May 13 is a show by the photographer Mario Magajna.
Galerija Kresija – On until May 11 is a show called Stane Jagodič: SPIRITUS POETICUS / assemblage, collage, scenography/ 1969 – 2017, which is being promoted with the following image.
Stane Jagodič
Galerija Vžigalica – Continuing until May 4 is a show called Journey Is Practice Is Journey Is…, where you can explore “the experiential creative practice of Metod Blejec”.
MAO – a show called Stanko Kristl: Poetry and Humanity in Architecture continues until May 27.
Moderna galerija – The Marij Pregelj retrospective is on at the Moderna’s main branch, near Tivoli. Well worth the entrance fee, this occupies several large rooms, with the works from the last decade of the painter’s life being especially impressive. Highly recommended and showing until May, with an example shown below.
The Moderna’s Metelkova branch has a retrospective on the work of Milenko Matanovič, which you can read about here.
Museum of Contemporary History – Renovation work means that the permanent Exhibition “Slovenians in the 20th Century” will temporarily lack the period from 1945-1990, but there are still interesting things to see about the recent past in this museum, set in Tivoli Park. The same venue is also showing a selection of graphic works from the German expressionist master Otto Dix entitled “Der Krieg”, on until May 6.
Mestna Galerija – A show called Tomislav Gotovac: Don't Ask Where We're Going is on until June 10, which is being promoted with the following image.
tomislav Gotovac
National Gallery – Running until June 3 is an exhibition dedicated to Artists of the SAZU (he Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts), a great chance to see works from a wide range of Slovenian artists – seize the day.
National Museum of Slovenia – There’s a lull in the temporary shows, but still plenty to see in the permanent collection, from Roman times, Egypt and more.
Photon Centre of Contemporary Photography – Running from March 30th to May 18th there’s a group exhibition called Beyond Myself: Self-portrait in the time of social media, including the following image from Paula Muhr, titled Etat Normal (2009).
Slovene Ethnographic Museum – Until May 6 there’s the show Africa and Slovenia. A web of people and objects.
FAMILIES & KIDS
You can find our Top 10 list of things to do with kids in Ljubljana here, and if want to read more about the philosophy behind the wonderful House of Experiments look here.
Lean more about this fellow here. Photo: JL Flanner
LGBTQI+
If you want to learn more about Ljubljana Pride, then take a look at our interview with it's president here.
Klub Monokel – No events are being promoted this week, but that’s no reason not to head to this lesbian bar and see what’s happening
Klub Tiffany – Thursday evening there’s a coffee night focused on the Slovene translation of Monsieur Venus, by Marguerite Vallette-Eymery-Rachilde.
LIVE MUSIC
Channel Zero – Dub Night is held on both Thursday and Friday this week, with the first being Dub Lab Live: Album promotion - Dubzilla / Post Dub Impressions. Friday then sees a sound system show, titled Munchies Sound System + Intro: The Wild Citizen.
Klub Gromka – Friday there’s gROMKI oNKRAJ (sic), with Bon Aparte, Wolvon [NL, noise/rock].
Kino Šiška – Sunday Frank Zappa’s old, old band, The Grandmothers of Invention, will be playing here.
Koncertna Dvorana Rog – On Tuesday this venue at one end of Trubarjeva cesta will play host of Кукла & Ba:zel, while on Friday there’s a show by Kontradikshn.
Ljubljana Castle – Friday night is jazz night at the castle, and this week sees a show by Ana Bezjak (Slo), playing jazz/funk.
OPERA, THEATRE, DANCE
Pocket Teater Studio – On of the most intimate venues in town often sells out, especially when there’s flamenco on, as there is this Friday, May 4, with Mirza, Kenan and Urška. Advance booking is needed, via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 070 325 522. The price of a ticket is 20€, or 15€ for students, and includes a glass of wine. You can read about the man behind the teater (sic) here.
Slovensko mladinsko gledališče – Friday night there’s Bara Kolenc’s Metamorphoses 4°: Blackholes, in Slovene and English, with surtitles.
MISC.
Every Friday there’s the Open Kitchen in Ljubljana Market, where you can try food and drink from some the biggest names in town, and you can read more about it here.
Breg Embankment, just opposite the Old Town and by the river, has a small flea market open every Sunday morning. Learn more about it here.
If you’re in town and want to go jogging or walking in nature, why not take another look at the Castle, with a brief guide to the trails here. If you want something bigger, head to Tivoli Park.
Kino Šiška – Saturday, May 5, you can enjoy Roof-ov Kidz Battle Vol. 6, an all-day event – starting early afternoon, with DJs, breakdancing, competitions and more.
Ziferblat – Monday night, 17:00, there’s the Migrantour training, while at 19:00 there’s Let’s Talk Slovene. Thursday there’s yoga at 17:30, while Friday there’s open mind night from 20:00 on. Read more about this pay-by-the-minute café here.
TRIPS
Most of Slovenia is only a few hours from Ljubljana, and you can easily visit Lake Bled, Lipica Stud Farm, Postojna Cave, Predjama Castle, the coast and other locations.
