Masterpieces from Italy
If you haven’t seen the exhibition of masterpieces from Siena at the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, this is a wonderfully quiet weekend to stop in. Siena in the 13th to the 15th centuries was one of the great centers of art in Europe on the cusp of the Renaissance. The show includes works from the collection of the Pushkin Museum along with masterpieces lent from the Pinacoteca Nazionale and other museums in Tuscany. Many of these artworks have rarely or never left Italy before. It is a beautifully presented show that is well worth seeing. It runs until Oct. 3. For tickets and more information, see the site here.
Pet fest
The Museum of Moscow and the Zhabobo project is holding a festival for pet owners and would-be owners on Sunday at the museum, noon to 8 p.m. The day’s program includes serious talks and discussions about every aspect of pet care, from health to behavior; animal entertainment — teaching your pet tricks; a musical program that will include singing dogs; lots of hands-on activities for kids. The talks will be in Russian, but we are sure that the dogs will sing in a universal language. Bring your families, bring your dogs (on leash) and have some fun. Free registration here.
Jazzy Saturday
If you wish you could be some place hot and southern right now, head over to the Kozlov Jazz Club on Saturday night to hear Jose Moryan. Moryan has been keeping everyone happy with his program of jazz, funk, soul and bosanova. He usually performs with the Brazilian group Ensolarado, but joins with local musicians here in Moscow. A one-man timeline cleanser after a tough week. He’ll perform at the Kozlov Club 8 p.m. August 21. For more information and tickets, see the site here.
Pyrotechnic “Romeo and Juliet”
In truth, we have not seen this production of “Romeo and Juliet,” but what better way to spend an evening with your family than watching star-crossed lovers perform Shakespeare’s play as a ballet with elements of acrobatics, flying through the air, and lots of fire? Sounds like just the thing to illustrate the dangers of not listening to your parents. Kids older than four years old permitted. Saturday at 8 p.m. in Mister Panin’s Cinema Park. Information and tickets here.
Movie night
The movie theaters are in a bit of a lull this week, perhaps waiting for the fall premieres — and for their audiences to come back from holidays. At Pioner you can see the new musical “Annette” or watch some oldies but goodies, like Woody Allen’s “Magic in the Moonlight”; Martin Scorsese’s scary “Shutter Island” with the extraordinary cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, and Max von Sydow; or even Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 masterpiece, “Breathless” with Jean Seberg, Jean-Paul Belmondo. Times and tickets here. If you want to be scared out of your mind about climate change and the future, check out “Reminiscence,” which takes place in the world “after the waters rose.” If your kids haven’t seen it, “Luca” is quite charming, and “Cruella” seems to never grow old. For some Hollywood blockbuster entertainment, buy a big box of popcorn and settle in to watch “Suicide Squad.”
