Chekhov’s Dachshunds
On Sunday from noon to 3 p.m., the Anton Chekhov estate of Melikhovo is holding its 15th annual dachshund festival. Why? Because Anton Chekhov was one of the first owners of dachshunds in Russia. He got a pair of them from his friend and editor, Nikolai Leikin. They were named by Chekhov’s sister, who poked around in her brother’s medical bag and decided to name the pups for drugs: Brom for bromide and Khina for quinine. Brom and Khina appear to have been rather rambunctious, but they had full run of the estate and were adored by their owner. Every year Melikhovo celebrates the breed with games, contests, and lots of cuddling. Make a day of it with a tour of the estate and lunch in one of the cafes. For more information, see the Melikhovo site.
Winzavod art market and Aminazine
This Saturday and Sunday Winzavod is holding its Win-Win art market, where artists, galleries, studios and associations will be displaying and selling paintings, graphics, sculptures and other forms of artwork. More than two dozen artists will take part, and another dozen or so organizations. Artworks will range in price from the easily affordable to should-I-max-out-my-credit-card sums. If you attend on Saturday, be sure to stop in the auditorium for a presentation about the Aminazine project that showcases the work of illustrators and artists who produce zines. Entrance to both events is free of charge. For more information, see the Winzavod site.
A celebration of Russian gardens
Tsaritsyno Museum is holding what promises to be a spectacular week-long outdoor exhibition. From Sept. 4-12 the estate will welcome a dozen “Russian gardens” that will be created by other outdoor museums. Kulikovo Pole, Melikhovo, Archangelskoye, Yasnaya Polyana and other sites will design, plant and decorate their answer to the question: What is a ‘Russian garden?’ It’s that place that authors write about, where lovers meet or part or weep, where families come together for tea, and where everyone walks with baskets in the late summer and fall, searching for that prize of Russian fields and forests: mushrooms. Is it culture or horticulture? Is there a typical style? Is the Russian garden different from a French or German garden? Come enjoy the first crisp days of autumn and contemplate these eternal questions. On Sept. 12 the landscape show will end with a ceramic picnic. For more information and tickets, see the Tsaritsyno site. Note that Tsaritsyno is a No-Covid zone and all visitors must show proof of vaccination or negative PCR test.
Flower jam and fruit jam festival
Meanwhile, Moscow itself is turning green and sweet for the month of September. The fourth annual “Flower jam” festival has turned the city center and a few dozen neighborhoods into dense forests and flower beds. Ploshchad Revolyutsii, Manege Square, Stoleshnikov Pereulok, Nikolskaya Ulitsa and Kuznetsky Most have all been filled with their own style of urban garden, from a Russian woods to a miniature rose garden. If you didn’t get away to the dacha or can never get enough fresh flowers and trees, wander around and enjoy. Along the way you can buy jams, jellies, fruit and other sweets from vendors and in kiosks. The festival will run until Oct. 1.
Outdoor movies at Garage
This weekend and next week you can catch the last days of movies in the park at the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. On Saturday night at 8 p.m. you can see the musical “Annette” with Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard. On Monday at 8 p.m. you can watch Million Dollar Baby. On Sept. 8 don’t miss the retrospective of two films by the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, “Take Me Home” and “24 Frames.” And on Thursday (Sept. 9) Garage will be the Russian venue for the premiere of “Prisoners of the Ghostland,” directed by Siona Sono and starring Nicholas Cage. In the film, a bank robber (Cage) is released from jail by a wealthy warlord, who gives him five days to find his granddaughter. His incentive? The leather suit he’s strapped into will explode in five days if he hasn’t brought the girl back. For more information about these and other films, see the museum site.
Best Buddies Dance-a-thon
Every year when possible, the Russian branch of Best Buddies holds a huge dance marathon at one of the city's hottest clubs, Adrenaline Stadium. Best Buddies is a charity that pairs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with a buddy - and then sits back and watches everyone grow. Once a year some of the best and most popular performers in Russia get together to celebrate with their friends at Best Buddies. Glukoza, Julian Hock, Sasha Morozova, 7hills, Mikhail Bashkatov and just some of the people who will be leading the dancing this Sunday. It begins at noon and ends about at 8 p.m. Bring your kids, your grandparents, and your friends. It's a lot of fun and great for anyone with a disability, or anyone who would like their children to spend time with some people who are a bit different. All ticket purchases go to Best Buddy programs. For more information and tickets, see the Best Buddies site.
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