January 31 2007

Found Footage: First McDonald’s Opens in Moscow

CBC Report on McDonald's Opening in MoscowIt was 17 years ago today, the day the first McDonald’s restaurant opened in Moscow. Here is video of the CBC news report from Moscow on January 31st, 1990.

Link: Muscovites mad for McDonald’s

January 30 2007

Artek International Young Pioneer Camp

From 1925 until the fall of the Soviet Union, hundreds of thousands of children vacationed near the Black Sea at the Artek Pioneer Camp. This was the premier camp for young pioneers and it was considered an honor to be able to vacation at Artek. Not only Soviet children spent time at Artek but also many international kids as well. Here is a collection of old photos from the Artek camp posted by Jens Toftegaard on Flickr.

1970s Postcard From Artek
1970s Postcard From Artek

Two Little Pioneers at Artek (1930s)
Two Little Pioneers at Artek (1930s)

Pioneers Marching in Artek
Pioneers Marching in Artek

Parade in Lasurnaya, one of ten compounds comprising the Artek pioneercamp, 1970s
Parade in Lasurnaya, one of ten compounds comprising the Artek pioneercamp, 1970s.

 Four pioneers from Guinee at Artek, summer of 1976
Four pioneers from Guinee at Artek, summer of 1976.

International friends at Artek. Danish girl, Charlotte, susu boy, Samba from Guinee.
International friends at Artek. Danish girl, Charlotte, susu boy, Samba from Guinee.

Link: Wikipedia article about Artek

January 29 2007

Russian Pelmeni

PelmeniPelmeni is a popular Russian dish with a minced meet filling wrapped in a thin dough. There are many traditional (and time consuming) recipes for making pelmeni, but most are sold frozen in the store. The frozen pelmeni are then boiled for about 5 minutes and served with butter or sour cream. Pelmeni is a great dish, especially when you’re in a hurry.

Here’s a 1952 advertisement for Pelmeni from the Ministry of Meat and Milk Industry.

Soviet Ad For Pelmeni

Link: Wikipedia article about pelmeni.

January 26 2007

Siberia’s Once-Frozen Tundra Is Melting

 “The landscape of Siberia is transforming. New lakes are forming in the north, while existing lakes are getting larger. Some buildings and houses built upon the permafrost are sinking and starting to crack.”

Link: Siberia’s Once-Frozen Tundra Is Melting

January 25 2007

Where Tourists Go in Moscow

Yuri Mamchur over at Russia Blog has posted a series of photos called “Night Drive through Moscow: Where Tourists Go.” It’s the first set in a series of photos he took on a four hour drive around Moscow early this month. Head on over to Russia Blog and take a picture tour of Moscow.

Link: Night Drive through Moscow: Where Tourists Go