May 2019 Highlights by AWA Office

THE

IN T ERNATI O N AL

W OME N ' S

C L U B

O F

V IE N N A

Highlights! MAY 2019

May 2019/Highlights! PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE As I write this in early April, I am finally back at work and operating at nearly full strength. So much to do this month and more new events pouring in every day. We are all so thankful for the volunteers willing to give up their time to lead these activities. With Charity Committee Chair Irene travelling so much, her committee members have taken responsibility for events and even introduced new ones. There are now enough Charity events to to fill an entire page! The May Highlights is also packed - with interesting articles by members that extend our knowledge of Austria and beyond! If you would like to write about your passion or experiences, just let us know. Like the cherry blossoms on the cover, this issue has revealed a hidden beauty - a sort of unplanned theme. See if you can guess: Setagaya Park, a review of a Japanese restaurant, a reflection on an 88-temple pilgrimage in Shikoku... Plus you'll find many other stories, photos and updates that show our membership in full bloom. We seem to be attracting a large number of members to crafty evening events: Paint and Wine, Art and Wine, Easter Eggs and Wine, Lecture and Wine...Is there a common incentivising thread between them, I wonder?! The U.S. Ambassador’s Coffee, not possible since 2015 in the official Residence, is thankfully, back on the agenda in May after two splendid alternatives hosted by the Deputy Chief of Staff in 2016 and 2017. It will be lovely to see the home’s new interior design created by Mrs. Alexa Traina, the U.S. Ambassador’s wife (who is also our Honorary President). With luck, the garden will be in full bloom, too. Please sign up before the deadline, 29th April. Note that no late additions will be allowed this year due to security protocols. (Please return any labeled plastic badges you may have taken home with you from the 2018 event. Thank you.) With the summer season comes a medley of events and reopened outdoor terraces. Perhaps I'll see you at Summerstage in the 9th, a pleasant place to quaff a glass or two of wine, or at Morton’s, an AWA favourite. Happy Easter to all of you. Enjoy the warmer weather!

CONTENTS 03 President's Message MEMBERS

04 Welcome/Farewell 05 Profile: The Voice and The Vine/ Virginia Sheridan CAUSES

06 Speaking up at the UN/ Bev Bachmeyer A Cause for Creativity FOOD

07 Wonderful Washoku/ Suzanne Orrell Totally Turkish Treat/ Irene Schlegelmilch TOUR TALK

08 Supreme Scene/ Helen Johnston Gem of a Prinzessin/ S. Hargreaves, Nayiri Asvazadurian 09 Choc, China, Red Vienna/ Jacqueline Finnis, LIsa Shull ACTIVITIES

10 Activities Listing 12 Calendar/ Places, Lectures, Gatherings 14 Tours, Trips, Social Events Listing EXPLORE

16 Go Bezirk: 19th District, Döbling 18 Stepping into the Unknown/ Gertaud Wilder 20 Slice of Slovenia/ Marjeta Greif 22 Reports: Charity 23 What's Happening in Vienna

Sheila Hargreaves

Cover Photo: Suzanne Orrell's elegant framing of a cherry blossom tree in Dobling's Setagaya Park was snapped on a crowded Sunday just before a woman stepped into the frame to take a "pregnancy selfie."

HIGHLIGHTS TEAM Editor/Layout Virginia Sheridan/awahighlights@gmail.com Assistant Editor Sheila Hargreaves/sheilahargreaves@a1.net Advertising Manager Nadia Di Paola/ 0678 125 2229/ awahighlightsads@gmail.com Assistant Advertising Manager Margarita Randl /01 966 2925 awa@awavienna.com Online Design/Member Communication Erin Silangil /01 966 2925 /spindler.silangil@gmail.com Margarita Randl /01 966 2925 awa@awavienna.com

AWA VIENNA IBAN: AT59 1952 0018 0009 23 Highlights is published by AWA Vienna, on a monthly basis from October to June, and is sent to all members. All inquiries should be addressed to: AWA Vienna Attn: Highlights Editor, Singerstrasse 4/11 1010 Vienna All rights to the printed material in Highlights, including advertising and the cover painting/photo, revert to the contributors following the publication. Highlights is printed on chlorine-free paper. ZVR-Zahl 327744193 Eigentümer, Herausgeber und Verleger: AWA Vienna, Singerstrasse 4/11, 1010 Wien. Für den Inhalt verantwortlich: Offenlegung/Herausgeber: Sheila Hargreaves, Krautgartengasse 3A/2/3, Himberg bei Wien Diese Zeitschrift dient dem Zweck, Freunde der American Women’s Association über Aktivitäten der Organisation zu informieren.

MEMBERS

Welcome/Farewell

MARJETA GREIF

DIANE SCHNEIDER

Dance has been Marjeta’s lifelong passion. She left her family at the age of 15 to study ballet in her native Slovenia’s capital city, Ljubljana, then continued her studies in England. She found her passion in “Tanztheater” and toured around Germany, Ireland, Vienna, Spain, France, Italy and Austria with various dance troupes. Turning to teaching, Marjeta established a Centre for Creative Dance and Tanztheater for children (4-18 years-old) in the music school in Krems / Donau, and also worked with mentally disabled adults. Her particular methodology included teaching students “how to work creatively with their own movements and emotions and make their own dance choreography.” Marjeta says that she joined AWA because “the people are cosmopolitan, and I find them to be very friendly and very interesting.”

Diane’s move to Vienna five months ago is the first time she’s lived outside her native South Africa (though she has lived in various South African cities including Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Durban). An expert at restoring ceramics (“I could fix it and you couldn’t tell that it had ever been broken”), she loves “crafty things” which was clearly seen in her work at the AWA Easter Egg decoration evening. Diane raised three daughters while working in her husband’s business, and is now looking forward to exploring Europe beyond her initial trip to Venice. Thus far she’s been impressed with Vienna's Christmas markets, architecture, and history, and is looking forward to making new friends in a new country through the AWA.

SIGRUN SCHMUCK Sigrun is German but in the past 20 years has lived in Poland, Bulgaria and now Bucharest, Romania. Her husband is Austrian, so she is a frequent visitor here. She decided to join AWA Vienna because it’s similar to a group she belongs to in Bucharest where she can “find expat friends.” Sigrun loves Vienna’s architecture and swimming in Gaensehauefel in the summer. When not travelling back and forth between Bucharest and Vienna, Sigrun enjoys knitting and playing social tennis.

Margarita, Sheila, Ivy, Erin.

A toast to Ivy, who moves on from her office manager position of two years to work at the Philippine Consulate. We will miss your yoga-flexibility, your warm smile and your compassion. Although she can't quite step into Ivy's shoes (mainly because petite Ivy's feet are much smaller), Margarita Randl enthusiastically joins the Singerstrasse office gang with the handy ability to reach the highest shelves! Margarita says that, "From day one as an AWA member, I was impressed by the team spirit within the organisation, and I especially loved the friendly atmosphere, the willingness to help charities and the variety of events offered." Experienced in financial advisory and business support, Margarita is also the mother of a nine-year-old boy and the parent representative for his class in Theresianum. She speaks English, German, Russian and Hungarian, and looks forward to multilingual chats with members in the clubhouse. Welcome Margarita!

The Voice and the Vine

PROFILE

BY VIRGINIA SHERIDAN

She is an actress, he is an architect. He eats meat, she prefers vegetables. She’s from America, he’s from Austria. Yet one day, the seemingly divergent worlds of Alix Martin and Jörg Trondl converged. Alix, in Vienna just for the weekend, stopped by a Beisl for a beer. Jörg happened to be there with a group of his friends. The two started talking, and the chance encounter extended into an evening at a Disco, a week in Salzburg (where she was attending the summer session of her California law school program), and, eventually, a leave of absence from law school. “I returned to the U.S., sold everything I owned, and we’ve lived together ever since,” said Alix. “That was 12 years ago.” Along the way, the couple married, blending cuisine, cultures and languages - and adding two cats to the mix. But they also pursued individual passions: Alix via her voice, and Jörg via his vines. Although Alix worked consistently as a stage actress in the US, she initially struggled to find a theatre job in Vienna. Eventually she found her voice – in voiceover work. She has narrated corporate training videos, recorded a jumbled phrase for a Swedish candy commercial, and created the vocal personality for a cartoon witch. (“Not a classical hag, but an electrically-charged Amazon,” she explained). Alix is also well known to followers of Star Citizen, a multiplayer space trading/combat game, as the voice of the A.I. (artificial intelligence) of the Anvil Aerospace spaceship. Still in development, the game is available worldwide to those who contributed to its $250 million crowdsourcing campaign. An optional software “Voice Pack” that gives Star Citizen players access to voice command, not only features Alix's voice, but also her name - given to both her character and the entire Voice Pack. (For a sense of Alix in A.I. mode, click the following link: https://youtu.be/pmmYusNNNtw ). Far from being all sound and no substance, Alix’s human form is also known to fans, thanks to her public website and participation in Q&A panels at Star Citizen Fan Conventions. “It’s an interesting kind of fame,” said Alix. “The game has a million players worldwide. I’ve met fans who tell me that they have listened to my voice for hundreds of hours.” When not flying virtual spaceships, Alix regularly flies on real airplanes to Milan as a brand representative for Nina Leonard fashions. Speaking in English on QVC Italy’s live television broadcast, she extols the virtues of the clothing line created for “real women living real lives,” while the host reacts in Italian. The show is unscripted, so the actress' improvisation skills have proven useful – especially because she needs to keep speaking while on camera in spite of translation delays.

Back in Vienna, Jörg spends his days handling the bidding and cost management of residential and warehouse architectural projects. But his weekends are focused on his second career, that of winemaker. In just four years, Jörg and

his business partner have taken their label, Helden Der Weinberge, from planting to pouring at Michelin-star restaurants – no small feat in an industry ripe with failure.

It all started with time spent at a small summer cottage in the 19th. A curiosity for the vineyards in the surrounding area prompted the Vienna native to enroll in a one-year winemaker course. Soon after, he was working in his first rented vineyard, managing every aspect of winemaking “except for the tractor work.” That first year in the fields included 35-degree days with no shade, inspiring Helden’s logo of a half-face wearing sunglasses and a brimmed hat. In addition to the more typical Austrian wines of Blaufränkisch and Cabernet Sauvignon, Helden is producing a sparkling rose, and the lesser-known but flavorful Neuburger varietal. “Our wines are low-alcohol, which means it’s possible to drink a second or third glass without feeling too tipsy,” said Jörg. Helden now owns its own vineyards and Jörg believes the superior chalky soil will further enhance the taste of their grapes. Seeds planted, vines patiently tended, the yield is indeed fruitful. Alix will soon join the board of Open House theatre – an all-encompassing position that includes acting, directing, and producing. Jörg will soon prune vines again, at peace in nature and listening to his favorite music, while anticipating another delicious year for his small-yield boutique wines. And the 12year vintage of Martin-Trondl – impressive as distinct varietals or as a complementary blend -will no doubt be drinking well for years to come.

CAUSES

Speaking Up at the UN B Y B E V B A C H M AY E R

The UN Commission on the Status of Women is the largest global gathering of activists for women's rights and gender equality. This year, some 5,000 women and men from around the world attended the meeting in New York. AWA Member Laurie Richardson had the honour of leading a delegation from the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, Vienna. At the opening session, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres pointed out that “around the world there is a push back on women's rights,” and said we must work together to “push back against the push back, and keep pushing.” This meeting was especially exciting for Laurie. In what she described as “one of the proudest moments of my life,” she was invited to deliver a statement on behalf of the Vienna committee, which ended with these lines: “At least 1,500 people are killed and 44,400 are

forced to flee their homes every day because of conflict or persecution. There can be no peace until people become aware that there is only one planet.” Well done, Laurie!

Please join FAWCO for a screening of the Oscar-winning documentary film Period. End of Sentence at the AWA clubhouse on 17 May at 12:00. Set in rural India, this 26-minute documentary follows a group of women fighting menstrual stigma and gaining financial independence by making and selling low-cost sanitary pads. Come and learn more about FAWCO's efforts on behalf of women worldwide.

A Cause for Creativity AWA members got crafty this month as they raised funds for our Charity, Die Möwe. Artist Emma Lang lead a Painting Mirrors and Wine evening, Helen Schasché demonstrated how to decorate eggs with paper napkins and ribbon, and ceramicist Ellen Levenhagen taught a bowl-making workshop (results to be sold at the Empty Bowls fundraiser on 22 May.)

Paint and Wine Night. Top photo, standing: Jane, Helena, Sara, Valerie, Diane, Erin, Margartia, Joanna, Anthea, Bev, Mavic, Hyacinth, Lisa, Janet, Urte. Seated: Jillanne, Magda. Easter Egg Decorating. Above left: Anthea. Above middle - Marjeta, Terhi, Christina, Bridget. Above right: Charity Chair Irene and Workshop Leader Helen. Hungry Bowls Workshop. Angie. Ellen teachers Suzanne and Urte.

Wonderful Washoku

FOOD

BY SUZANNE ORRELL

Taya Washoku Deli, located on Taborstr. at Klanggasse, is a hidden gem of a Japanese restaurant. As one of just a few Japanese-owned restaurants in Vienna (Naotaka Furuta is the owner and chef), it is also a uniquely authentic experience - not a hint of Asian fusion here. The name itself further attests to its authenticity: washoku is the collective word for Japanese traditional cuisine, a term created to distinguish it from the yoshoku or foreign-influenced cuisine that appeared in the late 1800’s/early 1900’s when Japan opened its borders to the Western world. The idea of washoku is in fact so

important to Japanese cultural identity that the cuisine was recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013.

But back to Taya and what I ate for lunch. Since I was dining alone, I ordered a small Sakano Salmon Bento Box (9.90 €) as a way to taste as many things as possible. It included a portion of cooked salmon, mixed stir-fried vegetables, miso and sesame green beans with wilted spinach, and a portion of white rice. The salmon was cooked very simply with just a hint of soy and was delicately garnished with

slivered green onions for an additional flavor note. The miso-coated green beans and spinach were a nice pairing with the fish, offering just enough of a crunchy contrast to the creamy salmon. The stir-fried mixed vegetables were simply cooked in a very neutral oil. Although my initial reaction was that it could have used a little bit of seasoning, it was probably meant to balance the perfectlyseasoned rice. I’ll confess here that I’m not a huge rice lover (give me a potato or bowl of pasta any day), but I thought that this rice was cooked to pearly perfection. The pièce de résistance was a generous sprinkling of shiso salt on top of the rice that added a note of brightness and elevated the entire Bento box. Before the Bento box arrived, I sipped Genmai green tea (3.00 €) served in a lovely white ceramic teapot (alas, with plastic cups). Genmai tea contains bits of roasted, puffed brown rice, which gives it a nutty complexity. I took home a piece of gluten-free matcha carrot cake (4.00 €) made by a local baker. The cake was moist, not overly sweet, and was topped with a matcha glaze that added a pleasant hint of green tea complexity. It was a nice mid-afternoon treat. I usually don’t say that about most glutenfree baked goods. Taya Washoku Deli sells a small selection of Japanese condiments, including their own sauces, and offers cooking classes. Suitable for vegetarians as well as meat eaters, Sake drinkers as well as tea sippers, this 20-seat restaurant offers a top-notch Japanese dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere. Taya Washoku Deli,Taborstr. 65, 1020, www.taya.at

Totally Turkish Treat Since its humble beginnings in a small Turkish tea house in the 16th district in 1990, Kent has grown into a popular TurkishLevantine cuisine mecca with four locations scattered around Vienna. For the first in the new “Dining around the World” series, Bahar organized a lunch at Kent, März Str. 15, 1150, conveniently located next to the U3 Schwegler Str. exit. We were treated like royalty by the staff, in an elegant, private room with tables decked in white cloths, greeted with bowls of salad, an assortment of dips, baskets of fresh bread and Turkish tea, all courtesy of the house!

BY IRENE SCHLEGELMILCH

The menu is vast, boasting more than 100 items. The speciality is kebab, but a wide range of grilled meats, fish and vegetarian dishes are available.

coffee, again on the house!

Homemade mezes are a specialty. Pricing is very fair and the portions are generous. Our favourite dishes were Adana kebab (grilled, ground veal skewers) and stuffed, vegetarian aubergine. It’s a pity that with the generous helpings and samplings, we had no room for dessert, such as baklava or ‘stretchy’ Turkish ice cream. To end our meal we were treated to cups of strong, traditional Turkish

Thank you Bahar, for introducing us to Kent and delicious, authentic Turkish cuisine. The warm welcome by the staff and their generosity was truly overwhelming. A visit to Kent, in any of its locations is highly recommended. Just be sure to go hungry and save space for dessert.

This particular Kent also is quite family-friendly with a children’s area, and offers an “Oriental touch” breakfast buffet daily from 08:00-13:00 (to 14:00 weekends).

Kent, Märzstr. 15, 1150 www.kentrestaurant.at

The Supreme Scene

TOUR TALK

BY HELEN JOHNSTON

One of the largest AWA tour groups of recent times had the pleasure of participating in a tour of the Justizpalast on 20 March. The beautiful Palace, extensively renovated to balance its monument status with the needs of modern offices, is home to the Supreme Court and Appellate Court. It was erected from 1875 to 1881 and, after suffering severe damage both postWWI and during WWII, it was reopened in 2008. Senatspräsident Dr. Michael Schwab explained the history and function of this Palace. An entertaining and informative host, He regaled

us with stories of the past, the situation at present and the future direction of the Supreme Court. He raised the topic of gender

balance in the Austrian Court system, and spoke with enthusiasm about the gradual but steady progress in this area. Dr Schwab also provided us with examples of some of the troubled history of Vienna and the ethical dilemmas faced by the Courts, both past and present. This willingness to share these “grey areas” of the Justice system helped to make our tour both informative and thought-provoking. We were able to visit the impressive and imposing neo-classical entrance hall and the Library, where some interesting documents from before the post-WWI riots and fire are housed. Our next stop was one of the Supreme Court courtrooms where a number of our members took the opportunity to be seated at the Supreme

Court Bench. After our tour, we were treated to afternoon tea in the beautiful Säulenhalle. Some members also headed up to the Justizcafe after the tour to enjoy the fantastic views from this location. Interestingly, a previous AWA tour to the Fire Service Museum at Am Hof last year featured paintings of the 1927 Justizpalast fire. That famous conflagration was set by protestors on 15 July, after a jury had acquitted nationalist paramilitaries who were accused of shooting a disabled World War I veteran and an eight-yearold child. Vienna firefighters were attacked, hoses were cut and hydrants ran out of water as they attempted to save the building, which suffered major damage. Thank you to Dr Schwab for being such a gracious host and to Helene Gressenbauer for organising yet another fascinating tour.

A Gem of a Prinzessin

B Y S H E I L A H A R G R E AV E S , N AY I R I A S VA Z A D U R I A N

Hidden away above the Rennweg, and in the lefthand wing of the Palais Schwarzenberg (in the former saddle room), is a Harry Potter look-alike land, now occupied by the Prinzessin Cecile Von Croÿ who creates amazing jewellery. 20 years ago, while climbing in the mountains of Kurdistan, car headlights flashed from a opposite mountain signalling her to descend and phone home: News was that the Atelier

space was available to rent and she needed to act quickly! During the studio restoration,

the removal of a false ceiling revealed beautiful paintings of horse heads, and a corner door was discovered - the entrance from the stables. The Prinzessin, a German citizen, learned her goldsmithing craft in Vienna, and then left for an apprenticeship in Los Angeles where she later studied for a BA in Gemology. She creates her

original designs by carving wax moulds, into which she pours the molten gold. She cuts and polishes the gems herself. Sometimes it takes her a few years to find the perfect stones for her creations: aquamarines, emeralds, sapphires and rubies, all natural and unheated. One creation from her huge safe was particularly astonishing: a ring, earrings and a long necklace made of aquamarine navettes and diamonds, worth €180.000. Apparently, Austrians will not buy from her, but would rather go to jewellery stores. Her clients are in Spain and Paris! The noble House of Croÿ dates back to 1486 and is descended from the Hungarian Prince Marc, who married into the Croÿ family. Rising to prominence under the Dukes of Burgundy, the family has, over the past eight centuries, produced a phenomenal number of Cardinals, Governors, Field Marshals, Ministers and Ambassadors, together with 32 Knights of the Order of the Golden Fleece. A mighty family! Top Right: Prinzessin Cecile Von Croÿ. Left: Aquamarine navette and diamond set. Atelier space at the Palais.

Chocolate, China and Red Vienna

TOUR TALK

ALTMANN AND KUEHNE TOUR

BY JACQUELINE FINNISS

What’s the proper attire for a chocolate factory tasting tour? Apparently it’s a plastic coat, shoe covers and a hair net …not the most flattering look for some of us! Once suitably suited, we visited the area where the chocolate is prepared and cut by hand to the required shape using various ‘cookie cutters.’ We saw the different types of chocolates and flavorings, and were treated to samples. Next we visited the decorating room, where five ladies were dipping and decorating each chocolate. A very time-consuming process, but the results were spectacular. One dedicated woman was individually wrapping the chocolates - quite the skill despite how easy she made it look. Finally we climbed several flights of stairs (a great form of exercise much-needed after the sampling)

Above: Altmann and Kuehne tour guide. Elaine and her mother taste the product.

to see the office and the area in which the chocolates were hand-placed in the traditional boxes for which Altmann and Kuehne is famous.

It was amazing to see how the whole process was done by hand and by such a small staff. As a parting gift, we each received

a small box of chocolates! Thanks to Bev Bachmeyer for translating in the absence of the English-speaking guide. Left: Bev, Andrea, Maureen, Christine, Franziska, Melissa, Joanna, Nadia, Christina.

across the stage. Jacqueline, who used to play the harp and BY LISA SHULL violin, loved the profusion of I was delighted to hear that there colours, the delicately flowing silk costumes, and the stories were tickets available for the Graz Opera House performance set to exotic music. She was SHEN YUN

of Dancing in the Heavens, the true meaning of Shen Yun and joined other AWA members to see the show. Even though it was not my first Shen Yun performance, I still found it to be wonderful, amazing, artistic and well beyond my expectations. The dancers were just gliding

also fascinated by the Shen Yun Orchestra playing traditional Chinese Instruments such as the Erhu, a two-stringed violin, and the Pipa, a Lute. Urte found ther performance outstanding and an utterly new experience with so many graceful, skilled and "accurate" dancers. We

all agreed that it was fantastic performance, almost beyond words, and would recommend it for everyone.

The Shen Yun Crew: Jacqueline, Nayiri, Urte and Lisa.

to play areas and gardens in Vienna, fresh air being considered vital. (And this is still a guiding B Y S H E I L A H A R G R E AV E S philosophy in Vienna housing: just look at all the This small exhibition in the former washroom/ balconies on the new blocks of flats.) Karl Marx shower block of the Karl Marx Hof shows the Hof also provided doctors’ surgeries plus the full period in the early 1930’s when Vienna was ruled infrastructure of a small town. Hardly surprising briefly by Socialists. There was appalling poverty that two of the original inhabitants are still living at that time. The film clip of a mother asking, “What here in their first flats! can I wrap my baby in?” led to the innovation of the “Baby Box,” which contained a shawl, nappies and bottles. The design of the flats, by Otto Wagner protégé, Karl Ehn, was in stark contrast to the usual squalid dwellings of that time. This complex

RED VIENNA TOUR

of 1,382 apartments, built between 1927 and 1930, is the longest single residential building in the world. The area devoted to

housing was dwarfed, however, by that allocated

SOCIAL CLUBHOUSE ACTIVITIES

Weekly/Monthly Activities

10 Languages

Languages

FLUENT GERMAN CONVERSATION

ITALIAN CONVERSATION Mondays, 13 and 27 May at 13:30 Nadia Di Paola / 0678 1252229 FLUENT SPANISH CONVERSATION Mondays, 20 and 27 May at 12:30 Teresa Benet / ftmirella@yahoo.com GERMAN FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS Tuesdays at 10:30 by arrangement only with Monika Sautner, minimum two members ADVANCED BEGINNERS’ GERMAN CONVERSATION Tuesdays at 10:30 with Mona mona.angel.nilsson@gmail.com

OFFSITE ACTIVITIES

Above: Beginner German: Naira and Anneka

GERMAN CONVERSATION A1+ Tuesdays at 12:00 / 01 876 2041/ andrea.s.melchiorre@t-online.de FLUENT FRENCH CONVERSATION Wednesdays at 11:30 with Françoise Delannoy or Antonia Zane ENGLISH CONVERSATION FOR LEARNERS Thursdays at 13:00 with Lizzie Haszczyn

Health/Exercise

FALUN GONG Wednesdays from 14:00 to 15:00 and 18:00 to 19:00 Nayiri Asvazadurian/ 0650 610 4545 n.asvazadurian@gmail.com

Games, Crafts & Music Bobbin Lace Making: Laura, Kathryn and Delyana.

Weekly, Wednesdays, after Weekly Cafe Sluka Coffee. During lunch in different local restaurants.

Reading & Study

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP Tuesday 7 May at 13:00 For Mother’s Day month, we’ll read Becoming by the former U.S. First Lady and mother of two daughters, Michelle Obama. It is more than a memoir of the Chicago-born lawyer’s life from her childhood on the South Side through the White House years in DC. The book also takes a look at race relations and the impact of desegregation and equal opportunity on the lives of African-Americans in the U.S. For Tuesday, 11 June, we will read Penelope Lively’s 1987 Booker Prize-winning novel, Moon Tiger. All are welcome! Mary Wagener mary.l.wagener@gmail.com BIBLE STUDY Thursdays from 10:00-12:00 with Sandy Shaffer: “Genesis for Today” /02243 287 01 / sshaffer@entrust4.org

Health & Sport

SOCIAL TENNIS Weekly, times by arrangement. Reservation required to guarantee the time and court. Contact Urte Paulus to be added to the tennis messenger group: urte.paulus@gmx.at 0676 676 58 29 WALKS AROUND THE RING Sunday Fitness Walk Sundays, meet at 10:55 for an 11:00 in front of the main entrance to the Staatsoper. We walk in the direction of the Bristol Hotel. Leader: Minoo Cassens Tuesday Walk Tuesdays at 10:00 Meet main entrance to the Staatsoper. Leader: Jacqueline Finniss Tuesday Walking Group passes up the usual coffee stop to drop in on Ivy's Farewell. Ivy, Bev, Virginia, Jacqueline, Helen, Sue, Jill.

NEW: BOBBIN LACE MAKING Mondays at 11:00 with Delyana Peev AMERICAN MAHJONG Tuesdays at 13:00 CANASTA Wednesdays at 13:00 BOARD GAMES Thursdays at 10:00. Words, Scrabble and numbers for fun. AWA BABY AND TODDLER GROUP Mondays from 15:00 -16:30 with Stephanie Barrett on guitar. SINGING GROUP Fridays 10:30-12:00 Sing with the AWA choir, led and accompanied by Sandra Schweighofer on her piano! Lidice Pollan/ lidice.pollan@gmail.com/0699/1924-7478

Weekly Coffee

WEEKLY COFFEE AT CAFE SLUKA Weekly, Wednesdays, 10:00 - 12:00 Café Sluka, Weihburggasse 4, 1010 Weekly Coffee Chair: Gerda Moes, 0676 387 2450 Other hosts: Urte Paulus, 0676 6765829 /Hyacinth Krippner, 0650 554 7156 /Lini Stangl, 0664 179 7031/ Helena Schasché, 0676 331 8626 /Heike Little, 01 789 0199 MAWA (Men of AWA) COFFEE Weekly, Wednesdays 10:30 - 12:00 Cafe Alt Wien, Bäckerstrasse 9, 1010 Robert Blaukopf/ robert.blaukopf@gmail.com

Weekly/Monthly Activities

SOCIAL

Ambassador's Coffee

THURSDAY 9th MAY 2019 10am to 12pm U.S. Ambassador’s Residence Weidlichgasse 5, 1130 AWA Honorary President Mrs. Alexa Traina welcomes us to her lovely home and gardens in the 13th District.

Competent, friendly staff will welcome you

This gathering is also AWA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). We will discuss administrative matters and hear a review of finances from Mr Hannes Miklautsch, our external auditor.

We strive for excellence in everything we do, and as a patient you should accept nothing less.

Please register by Friday 29th April. No late additions will be accepted. Only those who pre-register can attend. A valid Photo ID will be required for entry. NB Parking at the Residence is limited. The U4 to Heitzing and then 56B, 58B or 158B buses will take you to Tirolergasse. Walk forward and turn right.

to our office.

Our primary goal is to give you both a great smile and a healthy, long-lasting bite. We are committed to providing the best possible treatment using state-of-the art orthodontics in a caring, friendly environment. Billrothstrasse 58 1190 - Vienna +43 1 36 77 222 smile@claudia-aichinger.com www.claudia-aichinger.com

Charity Craft Fair AWA Clubhouse June 7, 10:00-12:00 Ever wanted to try your hand at selling your craft items? Here’s your chance with the support of fellow members! Looking for crafters/creators for our June Charity craft fair. Members and non-members are welcome to rent a table for 10€ plus a donation and a raffle prize. Contact Mavic at mavicmaillard@gmail.com for more details.

Clothes of Loden and traditional Austrian style The family-run business pays highest attention to customer service and specialized knowledge Michaelerplatz 6, A-1010 Wien Tel.: +43-(0)1-533 80 32 Fax.: +43-(0)1-535 49 20 office@loden-plankl.at www.loden-plankl.at

MAY CALENDAR

Monday

Tuesday

April 29 AWA CLUBHOUSE RE-OPENS 12:30 Fluent Spanish Conversation 13:30 Italian Conversation 15:00 Baby & Toddler Group 15:30 Seniors' Afternoon Tea Party

April 30 10:00 Tuesday Walk around the Ring 10:30 German for Absolute Beginners 10:30 Adv Beginners German Conv 12:00 German A1+ Conversation 13:00 American Mahjong 16:30 Cooking for the Homeless 17:00 Bucket List Group

06 10:00 Health & Wellness:Nutrition 17:00 Happy Hour @ the Marriott

13:30 Italian Conversation 15:00 Baby & Toddler Group

Wednesday

20 11:00 Tour of the Imperial Crypt 12:30 Fluent Spanish Conversation 14:00 Bake-along w/ Joanna & Bridget 15:00 Baby & Toddler Group

27 12:30 Fluent Spanish Conversation 13:30 Italian Conversation 15:00 Baby & Toddler Group 15:30 Seniors' Afternoon Tea Party

PUBLIC HOLIDAY Shops and AWA Office Closed 10.30 MAWA Weekly Coffee

07 10:00 Tuesday Walk around the Ring 10:30 German for Absolute Beginners 10:30 Adv Beginners German Conv 12:00 German A1+ Conversation 13:00 American Mahjong 13:00 Book Discussion Group

May 01

10:00 Tuesday Walk around the Ring 10:30 German for Absolute Beginners 10:30 Adv Beginners German Conv 12:00 German A1+ Conversation 13:00 American Mahjong

21 10:00 Tuesday Walk around the Ring 10:30 German for Absolute Beginners 10:30 Adv Beginners German Conv 12:00 German A1+ Conversation 13:00 American Mahjong

08 10:00 Ceramic Bowls for Charity II 10:00 Weekly Coffee at Café Sluka 10:30 MAWA Coffee 11:30 French Conversation 12:00 Fluent German Conversation 13:00 Tour of Fernwaerme 13:00 Canasta 14:00 Falun Gong/ 18:00 Falun Gong

10:00 Weekly Coffee at Café Sluka 10:30 MAWA Coffee 11:30 French Conversation 12:00 Fluent German Conversation 12.00 AWA Board Meeting 13:00 Canasta 19:00 Ladies' Dining Experience

10:00 10:30 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:30 18:00 18:00

28 10:00 Tuesday Walk around the Ring 10:30 German for Absolute Beginners 10:30 Adv Beginners German Conv 12:00 German A1+ Conversation 13:00 American Mahjong

Weekly Coffee at Café Sluka MAWA Coffee French Conversation Fluent German Conversation Canasta Falun Gong/ 18:00 Falun Gong Tour of Looshaus Empty Bowls Charity Event MAWA Dinner Night

29 10:00 10:30 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00

Weekly Coffee at Café Sluka MAWA Coffee French Conversation Fluent German Conversation Canasta Falun Gong/ 18:00 Falun Gong

@ AWA Clubhouse @ Off-Site Location ** By arrangement only

PLACES, LECTURES, GATHERINGS

See pages 10-11, 14-15 for event/activity specifics

Thursday

Friday

02 10:00 Board Games 10:00 Bible Study 13:00 English Conv for Learners 13:00 Tour of 3rd Man Sewers 19:00 Ladies’ Wine Evening

09 AWA CLUBHOUSE OPEN 13:00 10:00 Ambassador’s Coffee 13:00 English Conv for Learners

03 10:30 Singing Group

Board Games Bible Study English Conv for Learners Seniors' Luncheon

10:30 Singing Group 10:30 A Turkish Experience in Brunnenmarkt and Lunch

10:30 Singing Group 12:00 Lunchtime Film Show 18:00 AWA Chairty Quiz Night

11:00 Fitness Walk around the Ring

Board Games Bible Study English Conv for Learners Art in Evening @ MUMOK

10:30 Singing Group 11:00 Culinary Cuisine ‘Cyprus’ 12:30 Monthly Luncheon

SUNDAY 26 11:00 Fitness Walk around the Ring

30 AWA CLUBHOUSE CLOSED PUBLIC HOLIDAY (Christi Himmelfaht/ Ascension)

22 May, 15:30

SUNDAY 19

10:00 10:00 13:00 18:00

Michaelerplatz 3 (Raiffeisen Building), 1010

SUNDAY 5 11:00 Fitness Walk around the Ring

SUNDAY 12 MOTHER'S DAY 11:00 Fitness Walk around the Ring

10:00 10:00 13:00 13:00

The Looshaus

10:30 Singing Group 11:00 Hula Rehearsal

SUNDAY JUNE 2 11:00 Fitness Walk around the Ring

A rare opportunity to access one of Vienna’s landmark buildings, the Looshaus! Named after its progressive architect, Adolf Loos, this gem of progressive architecture is normally closed to the public. Architecture expert Dr. Markus Tristan will lead us on a short guided tour. Originally commissioned by the men’s clothing and sportswear manufacturer Goldman & Salatsch, Looshaus sits at one of the most prominent sites in Vienna, across from the Hofburg.This fine example of modernism triggered an uproar in the conservative Viennese society upon its completion in 1911. Emperor Franz Josef was disgusted by it, and the wider public was not ready for such a radical departure from the traditional, highly ornate look. Brass flower boxes were finally attached beneath the upper floor windows to soften the appearance of the “house without eyebrows”. The contrast between the expensive marble-clad façade of the lower floor area, and the simple, cheaper, plaster façade of the upper residential floors is striking. The then state-of-the-art interior was a functional manufacturing area with abundant natural light on one side, and a welcoming, club-like sales area with precious mahogany, oak flooring, mirrors and brass on the other. WWI and WWII left the house damaged and desolate. After serving several different purposes, the building was extensively restored in 1989. Looshaus is now owned by Raiffeisen Landesbank and is used for bank purposes and private events. Friends and partners welcome! Sign up by Monday, 20 May awa@awavienna.com Helene Gressenbauer, helene@ gressenbauer.org, 0664 920 9807

EVENTS

Tours/Trips/Social Events

MONTHLY LUNCHEON: LABSTELLE Friday, 24 May at 12:30 Lugeck 6, 1010 Please show courtesy to tour leaders and participants by A hidden treasure! This is a very good, small restaurant, with a arriving on time and calling to cancel when plans have lovely courtyard in the heart of Vienna serving modern, fun and changed. Thank you! delicious food. Great place to meet and have a nice lunch. Sign up: Wednesday, 22 May by contacting Nadia Di Paola 0678 1252229

an email to awa@awavienna.com or by calling 14 sending the AWA office at 01 9662925 (unless otherwise noted).

Dining & Drinking

VEGGIE VIENNA: MAKRO 1 Tuesday, 7 May at 12:00 Fleischmarkt 16, 1010, Let’s meet for a tasty vegan lunch with a special Mittagsmenu in the heart of the city. Sign up: by Monday, 6 May PROSECCO & POPCORN MOVIE NIGHT Tuesday, 7 May at 18:00 AWA Clubhouse, Singerstr. 4/11, 1010 Swimming with Men. A man suffering from a mid-life crisis finds new meaning in his life after joining an all-male, middleaged synchronised swimming team. Features the Finnish team who won the competition in real life! Worth watching! Sign up: by noon, 7 May LADIES’ WINE EVENING: WEINPLATEAU SUDAFRIKA Thursday, 2 May at 19:00 Tiefer Graben 7, 1010 For our penultimate wine night before the summer break, we will once again visit Volkmar and his team at the Weinplateau Südafrika. Please send apologies if not able to attend. Sign up: by Wednesday, 30 April.

SENIORS´ AFTERNOON TEA PARTY: Grand Hotel Monday, 27 May at 15:30 Kärntner Ring 9, 1010 (1st floor) Lively Ladies meet to chat and exchange views. Sign up: Friday, 26 April directly with Vera Saunders verasaunders@gmx.net / (01) 990 6492 evenings

Culinary Experiences BAKE-ALONG WITH JOANNA & BRIDGET Monday, 20 May at 14:00 AWA Clubhouse, Singerstr. 4/11, 1010 Join Joanna and Bridget to learn how they make cupcakes and scones for afternoon tea and sample their products afterwards. A contribution of €5 towards ingredients/snacks requested. Sign up: by Thursday, 16 May

THE CUISINE OF CYPRUS Friday, 24 May at 11:00 AWA Clubhouse, Singerstr. 4/11, 1010 Cypriot Cuisine has been influenced by centuries of invasions HAPPY HOUR COCKTAILS: ranging from the Greeks, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians and Cascade Bar, Marriott Hotel Turks to lastly the British. The range and variety of flavours Monday, 6 May from 17:00 to 19:00 makes the island a great place to sample local food. Parkring 12a, 1010 New member Joanna Loizou will take you to Cyprus finishing Relaxed socialization with a group of smart, fun women! with a special treat of her cupcakes! Hosted by Minoo and Sonja, who have lived around the world Cost: €15 Euros approx. and have fabulous stories to share. Two-for-one drink prices Sign up and PAY: by Monday, 20 May and €5 all-you-can-eat buffet available. Bar is located rear lobby level. Toast to life with us - and bring friends! A WALK THROUGH THE BRUNNENMARKT & LUNCH Sign up: by noon on the Monday. Friday, 10 May at 11:00 Meeting at the Brunnenmarkt stop of tram 2, 1160 MAWA (Men of AWA) DINNER NIGHTS Inci Birsel is repeating her popular Walk and Talk showing the Wednesday, 22 May at 18:00 best places to buy delicacies at the Brunnenmarkt, the longest MAWA (Men of AWA) is the group for spouses of AWA street market in Vienna. She knows the best stalls and will members. New members are especially encouraged! show us where to buy genuine Turkish ingredients. Afterwards Robert Blaukopf / robert.blaukopf@gmail.com she will lead us to a Turkish restaurant. LADIES’ DINING EXPERIENCE: IPANEMA BRAZILIAN RESTAURANT Wednesday, 15 May at 19:00 Drahtgasse 3, 1010 Join Annick to enjoy the new flavours of Brazil. Please contact Annick directly by Friday, 10 May europolitan@chello.at /Annick Gauthier / 0699 1968 8173 SENIORS’ LUNCHEON Thursday, 16 May at 13:00 Sign up: with Phyllis Wieser directly 01 320 8418 phylliswieser@aon.at

At the Clubhouse BUCKET LIST - REACHING FOR DREAMS Tuesday, 30 April at 17:00 AWA Clubhouse, Singerstr. 4/11, 1010 Riding an elephant, swimming with a great white shark, finding a personal solution, helping children in need, improving special skills... No goal is too small or too grand! Come and join us once a month to support each other and to find and fulfill our dreams. Sign up: by Monday, 29 April. WORKING WITH WOMEN: A LUNCHTIME FILM PERIOD: END OF SENTENCE Friday, 17 May at 12:00 AWA Clubhouse, Singerstr. 4/11, 1010

Tours/Trips/Social Events A period should end a sentence, not a girl’s education, said Melissa Berton on receiving an Oscar for this documentary. The film shows how a pad machine challenged customs and gave women a solution for hygienic products as well as a livelihood and self-worth. Healthy snacks provided, and Bev Bachmayer will also talk about practical ways that women can help women.

Health & Wellness

NUTRITION AND HEALTH Monday, 6 May at 10:00 AWA Clubhouse, Singerstr.4/11, 1010 AWA member Mila Casey is a certified nutritional consultant who loves coaching her clients to reach optimal health. She will share healthy eating tips and talk about her lifelong passion for nutrition and healthy eating. Sign up: by Thursday, 2 May.

Charity & Outreach

OUTREACH: COOKING FOR HOMELESS SHELTER Tuesday, 30 April 16:30 - 20:00 in 1030 Wien Volunteers prepare an evening meal for 55 homeless residents in an emergency shelter and clean up afterwards. Contribution for the ingredients/guide is €12 per volunteer. We also support the homeless guide with work and integration. Sign up: by Monday, 29 April. awa@awavienna.com Eva Schlögl/ 06991 9079888 FUNDRAISER: GLAZING CERAMIC BOWLS (in support of Empty Bowls fundraiser) Wednesday 8 May 10:00 to 12:00 The Commonroom Art Studio, Florianigasse 54, 1080 Those who made bowls during the first workshop on 10 April will get to glaze their own bowls. No worry if you did not attend the first bowl-making workshop - there will be plenty of ready-made bowls for you to glaze in support of our Empty Bowls fundraising event on 22 May. Each participant can choose one bowl to keep! No additional fee for those who paid on April 10, €25 fee for those newly joining. Cost includes all supplies, lesson by ceramacist Ellen Levenhagen, and choice of one bowl to keep! Sign up: by Monday, 6 May FUNDRAISER: QUIZ NIGHT Friday, 17 May at 18:00 AWA Clubhouse, Singerstr.4/11, 1010 Get your game on! Join Urte and Erin for the first AWA Charity Fundraising Quiz Night! Bring along your partners for an evening of friendly competition and a chance to win a prize. Entrance is €10, which includes wine, beer and snacks. All proceeds will be donated to our chosen charity, Die Möwe. Sign up by Wednesday, 15 May. awa@awavienna.com Erin Silangil / 0677 619 446 22 . FUNDRAISING EVENT: EMPTY BOWLS Wednesday, 22 May 18:00 to 21:00 The Commonroom Art Studio, Florianigasse 54, 1080 During this fun and festive fundraising event, guests buy handmade "empty" ceramic bowls and then have them filled with complimentary food. Ceramic artist Ellen Levenhagen is the co-collaborator on this Empty Bowls event, and lead many of our members through lessons to create the

EVENTS

beautiful, useful creations. Please join us and help contribute to our 2019 AWA Charity, Die Möwe. Partners and friends welcome and encouraged! Sign up by Monday, 20 May

Behind the Scenes

TOUR OF THE THIRD MAN SEWERS Thursday 2 May at 13:00 Karlsplatz-Girardipark, 1010 Opposite the Café Museum This is the opening day of the summer sewers tours, and after much persuasion, we will be AWA's first group here. Dress warmly to see the underground setting where Harry Lime is chased by the police in the film, The Third Man. Cost is €10. Friends and partners welcome. Sign up: by Monday, 29 April awa@awavienna.com Sheila Hargreaves / 0676 755 9804 TOUR OF THE FERNWÄRME WIEN Wednesday 8 May at 13:00 Spittelauer Lände 45, 1090 This tour features not only the outside decor by Viennese artist Hundertwasser, but also the insdie, which is a highly automated and efficient rubbish incinerator that provides heat for public buildings, hospitals, schools and social housing. The towers emit no pollution into the air and the energy produced is relatively cheap. Meet inside the Information Centre. Friends and partners welcome. Entry is free. Sign up: by Monday, 6 May TOUR OF THE IMPERIAL CRYPT Monday, 20 May at 11:00 Tegetthoffswtr. 2, 1010 A highly recommended historic site, and not as grizzly as it may seem! Founded in 1618, this burial crypt contains the bones of 145 Habsburg Royalty, including 12 emperors and 18 empresses, as well as more than 100 metal sarcophagi (plain to rococo). It's located beneath the Capuchin Church and monastery, and the resident friars there are the caretakers. Friends and partners welcome. Entry fee and tour guide cost €16, (less if more than 10 sign up). Sign up: by Monday, 8 May

Arts & Culture

ART IN THE EVENING: MUMOK PATTERN & DECORATION: ORNAMENT AS PROMISE Thursday, 23 May at 18:00 Museumplatz 1, A-1070 Ornamental traditions (mosaics, textile collages, etc), from Islamic world to Art Deco styles, by artists such as Miriam Schapiro and Robert Kushner. The goal was to bring colour, formal diversity, and emotion back into art, a deliberate contrast to the “purism” of the 1960’s. We will meet in the MUMOK foyer, purchase our tickets (or you can purchase yours online in advance) and enjoy the exhibition together. Note that this is not a guided tour, but if more than 10 people sign up, a tour guide can be organised at additional cost. Sign up: by Wednesday 22 May.

EXPLORE

Go Bezirk! MEMBER TIPS

INTRO Vineyards and the Wienerwald, Cottage and Cobenzl, an Arabic mosque and a Japanese garden, Beethoven and beer gardens, green parks and easy parking... the 19th has it all! It's civilized, stylish, serene and clean, and wellconnected to the center via the 38 tram/38A bus! Once settled, no one wants to move out as demonstrated by the combined 123 residential years of our member experts. BEST SELFIE SPOTS

Janet Auinger (JA): A transplanted New Yorker, she’s lived here for 35 years. Cathy Szlamp (CS): Loves the accessibility to city center via 38 tram or U-6/38 bus. Has lived here for 26 years. Angie Trask (AT): This recent resident believes she lives in the “best of both worlds”- quick transport links to the center, surrounded by woodlands and vineyards.

Kristina Musil (KM): Loves Dobling for the outdoor activities for her children. A 7-year resident. Barbara Wolff (BW): Has lived in the green “Cottage” area in the family tradition for 20+ years. Sandy Schweighofer (SS), A sommelier who loves the heuriger and living on Sandgasse, resident in 19th since1986.

FAVOURITE COFFEE SHOPS Café Cottage, Silbergasse 19. “Viennese coffeehouse décor. Conveniently located in a residential area near a park and has both inside and outdoor tables.” JA

FAVOURITE LUNCH/BRUNCH

Zum Martin Sepp, Cobenzlgasse 34. “It’s wellestablished, with a good-value buffet self-service lunch, and also traditional and seasonal menus. Share a ‘heuriger platter' with a friend (not for the Pucco’s, Cobenzlgasse 6. “Right at the tram/bus stop, on faint of heart or vegetarians).” CS the main street in the village. “Setagaya Park, Friendly and convenient.” CS Daniel Moser’s Cottage a small, beautiful Café, Silbergasse 19. “A great Oberlaa, Sieveringerstr. “A Japanese garden atmosphere and the staff are classic Viennese cafe.” AT with a stone really friendly. Order the Eggs pagoda and Café Nest, Sieveringerstr. Benedict - the best bit is the wooden bridge 116a. All-day breakfast, rustic ham from Thum. Awesome!” AT over a pond. vibe, jazz music, located on Especially lovely top of a hill Figl’s, Grinzingerstr. 55. “An in spring when absolute must for Viennese cherry trees are Saletti Pavilion, Hartäckerstr. cuisine, with a seasonal menu 80. "Also has a summer beer in bloom!” JA and a lovely outdoor area. Get garden and serves Austrianthe Schnitzel or ribs.” AT “Krapfenwaldbad. Be sure to style dishes and desserts." wear sunglasses and of course BW Francesco Grinzing, capture the stunning city view Grinzingerstr. 50.“Gorgeous Blaustern, Döblinger Gürtel behind you. Great for relaxing outdoor seating.” BW 2. “For delicious Italian-style on a hot day, too." AT espresso.” BW "On Wildgrubgasse along the path, look for a Tibetaninspired private garden. There are prayer flags, water fountains, a treehouse, flowers and plants, many individual woodcarvings - an eclectic colourful labour of love." AT

BEST WALKS Obkirchergasse and Döblinger Hauptstr. JA "Grinzing Cemetery, for a stroll around the graves of Gustav Mahler (and Alma Mahler, and her daughter...). A FUN FACTS cheerful, peaceful place!" CS ●Karl Marx Hof, one of the “For atmosphere, walk first social housing projects, the area around Hofzeile is the world's longest single residential building - more than Nusswaldgasse and Döblinger Hauptstr. Do not 1 km long with 4 tram stops. miss the "Zacherlfabrik" in ●Felix Salten, the Austrian Nusswaldgasse. It was built in author who wrote Bambi the style of an Arabic mosque in 1923 (later animated by in the 19th century by an Disney), lived in a home in the Austrian who, inspired by a Cottage area. trip to the Caucasus where he

observed people collecting an insectrepelling plant, decided to build the factory in the 19th. He marketed his anti-insect product as “Persian Powder,” thus the quirky design.” BW A walk up past the vineyards in Cobenzl through the meadows to the Sisi Chapel, Am Himmel, Himmel Str. 125. Beautiful view, English gardens, and a Sigmund Freud monument.

FOR

Döbling 1190

BEST TOUR OF DÖBLING? “We could take a nice ride on the 38A bus through various attractive neighborhoods, all the way up to the Kahlenberg for an excellent view over Vienna, its surroundings, and the Danube. We would stop by the historic pilgrimage church at the top, also visited by Pope John Paul II in 1983 (see plaque to the right of the main entrance).” JA

'affordable' housing in a healthy environment) and the Türkenschanzpark with its magnificent diversity of flowers and trees. We would stop by the beautiful fountain in the park and have coffee in nearby Salettl." BW

"First, I’d take you to a couple of touristy Heurige: Martin Sepp, Bach-Hengl, HenglHasselbrunner. Then stop at Weinhof Zimmerman, Mitterwurzergasse 20, considered one of the noble places (near the Bruno Kreisky Institute and the Czech Consulate). Our last wine tasting would be at a more insider spot, Feuerwehr The above plus "a walk down Wagner at Grinzinger Str. 53. through the vineyards.” CS Dinner at Heurige Hajzsan, Grinzinger Str. 86. The new “Definitely a lovely stroll owner is 5-star chef Juan through the ‘Cottage’ area Amador. Excellent cuisine!" (the grouping of gorgeous homes built in 1873 to provide SS WHERE TO SHOP "Döbling is not a shopping place - eat, drink, walk!" CS Obkirchergasse/ Sieveringerstrasse because there is a great range of shops there, as well as artisan food, services, spring and summer flea markets. “The small flower shop Eva Simon, Döblinger Hauptstr. 57, creates beautiful flower arrangements, for all budgets. Also Wolff Real Estate is very trustworthy." (and in Barbara’s family) BW Patzak Feinkost & Wein, Nussdorfer Pl 3. "Dishes, delicacies and an international wine selection. Open on Sundays from 09:00 - 20:00 if you run out of food!" SS Live in Leopoldstadt/2nd District? Please send your tips/favorites by May 6 to Virginia at awahighlights@gmail.com Thank you!

BEST PARKS Wertheimstein Park is our close-to-home favourite, with the Villa Wertheimstein, which houses Döbling's district museum. Also lots of green space for laying in the sun, playing ball… Fun playground for smaller kids. Saarplatz, Playground for kids big and small and some green space around it. The park at the top of the Hohe Warte is great place for walking, has a sandy playground and shady areas. Beethoven park is a hidden gem with and playground on the Kahlenbergerstr. It features a train and other climbing toys, the perfect bribe to get kids (or spouses) to walk up the old Kahlenberg cog-wheel train route to enjoy the beautiful greenery on a Sunday. If you are lucky, in the summer you can catch the Heuriger Express up the Kahlenberg and also enjoy a glass of wine at one of the wineries with a view over Vienna while the kids play amongst the grapes. KM

EXPLORE

FAVORITE HEURIGE! 135 years ago, Emperor Joseph II permitted all residents to sell and serve self-produced wine and juices - the birth of the Heuriger! Heuriger Fuhrgassl Huber in Neustift am Walde (an attractive street with several Heurige, in a pretty location right by the vineyards). Cozy ambience, lovely garden.” JA Hengl-Haselbrunner, Iglaseegasse 10. Just outside of Grinzing, so away from the tourists. I‘m also a big fan of the Buschenshanks in the vineyards (like a small shed with a bar inside), especially Heuriger Hirt., ” AT “Wolff, Rathstr. 46, simply for the tradition of the place. Also Schübel-Auer in Nussdorf for the lovely service.” BW “Mayer am Pfarrplatz. Beethoven walked here quite often, and the street next to it, Eroica, is named after his 3rd symphony. Heurige Werner Welser, Probusgasse 12, is where Beethoven's Heiligenstaedter Testament is located. The Heuriger is owned by one of two brothers who had a huge fight years ago, so they separated, and now one Heuriger is on one side of the Probusgasse and the other is diagonally across!” SS Fuhr-gassel Huber, Neustift am Walde 68. "It belongs to one of the top 6 winemakers in Vienna (the other 5 are Rainer Christ, Cobenzl, Edlmoser, Mayr am Pfarrplatz and Fritz Wieninger)" SS Heuriger Wiegel, Himmelstr. 20. No tourists, dog-friendly, small garden, very traditional. Call in advance. CS

EXPLORE

Stepping into the UnknownBY GERTRAUD WILDER

How much is our life centered on securing ourselves from ever-changing circumstances? We want to be safe and feel in control of our life situations. We build walls, distance and isolate ourselves, so we may be protected from uncertainties and the things we fear. However, instead of being protected, we become prisoners in the walls we have built. In order to regain our vitality, youthfulness and joy for life, we must have a willingness to step into the unknown and be changed by life itself. When I walked the 88 Temple pilgrimage – an 800-mile hike around Shikoku, the fourth-largest island of Japan – my steps into the unknown began before I left home. I wanted to be wellprepared and intended to hike up the hills near my home in Phoenix at least once a day. But several weeks before my departure, I became so ill and weak that I ran out of breath after walking 30 feet uphill. My physical problems intensified my major doubts about walking alone in an exotic foreign country. Voices whispered to me in silent moments: “You are not prepared enough. You are too old. You will get lost. You will not be able to communicate without knowing Japanese.”

At my lowest point – when fears, doubts and my body’s weakness nearly overtook my consciousness – I took a pen and scribbled a drawing with my non-dominant hand. I called it “simply just walking.” It expressed my determination to walk the pilgrimage, regardless of my fears and the potential disasters. I started the pilgrimage at temple number one, Ryōzenji, in Tokushima Prefekture. Stepping

through the entrance gate, a world utterly unknown to me unfolded in front of my eyes. The sound of bells mixed with the voices of chanting pilgrims. All were Japanese. They wore conical sedged hats and white pilgrim’s outfits, and walked naturally through the temple area. They knew how to bow, purify their hands and mouths, ring the bell and gongs, light candles and incense, donate name slips and money - all important parts of the pilgrim ritual. And, perhaps most importantly, they knew how to chant. I, on the other hand, was totally overwhelmed and confused, constantly making mistakes in the rituals and standing in the way of other pilgrims without realizing it. My feelings of awkwardness and being out of place intensified with every temple I visited. Should I give up my intention to walk the pilgrimage like a traditional pilgrim? When I reached my lowest point, a miracle happened. A Japanese pilgrim suddenly appeared beside me, and we chanted the Heart Sutra together in a steady, strong voice. The Japanese words suddenly sounded grounding and assuring. They lost their strangeness. By simply walking forward, my perception changed. The 88 Temple Pilgrimage is a circle with no beginning or end. Although there is a physically marked path, it only becomes a path by walking it. Each step is a step into the unknown. How do you deal with the uncertainties? You have to trust in life, be connected to silence, and listen. During my pilgrimage, I often walked through remote areas, completely alone. Although I always looked for the little red directional signs to guide me, sometimes I could not find them and thought I had lost my way. Getting lost was one of my biggest fears. Nearly at the top of

My 88 Temple Pilgrimage in Japan

EXPLORE

my climb to one mountain temple, after walking alone for hours through a dense cedar forest and without seeing anyone else on the path, I had to climb an iron ladder over an almost vertical rock. Was this the correct way? Further on, I came to a crossroad with signs pointing in three directions – back to where I was coming from, to the left and to the right. The signs were written only in Japanese, which I could not read.

I was sure I had lost my way. What should I do? My heart pounded stronger, and I felt light panic creeping up. I decided to stop, wait and go into silence. Suddenly, I heard

a sweeping sound in the distance. I followed it uphill, and to my surprise, in the middle of the forest, there was a man sweeping the path! He assured me I was on the right way. My fears vanished in a second and were replaced by deep gratitude. But I faced my biggest time of uncertainty when I approached the entrance gate of Zuiōji. This temple belongs to one of the most traditional Sōtō Zen training centers in Japan. I had a permit to stay there for eight days. When I walked up to the gate in pouring rain, with heavy mist hanging over the treetops, the outer world seemed to reflect my inner one – not seeing farther than my immediate experience. Maybe I was making a big mistake to come here. In my dripping wet red raincoat, I entered the kitchen, the only place I could find anybody. Two cooks were working there. One of them immediately spotted me, welcomed me with a big smile, and greeted me using my Buddhist name: “You must be Garyosan! Welcome to Zuiōji!” Although I was the only foreigner and the only woman, I was able to practice with the monks the traditional way of Zen. The stay in Zuiōji became the highlight of my pilgrimage.

The walk into the unknown did not end in Japan. Back at home, I unexpectedly felt depressed and disoriented. Familiarity threatened to take away the freshness I had experienced in my journey. Over and over, I had to train and discipline my mind to stay alert in my familiar world, to be open and stay in resonance with life around me. While publishing a book I had written about my experiences, I again faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Computer technology is an overwhelming world to me, like a dangerous jungle with many unexpected traps. I felt abandoned and helpless. However, I had to dare to take these steps, despite my insecurity and fear. With a friend beside me, I walked through the jungle of electronic book design and unfamiliar technical language. And at the end, a miracle happened - the book was accepted and published. A pilgrimage is not different from the journey of life. Whether we’re on an unfamiliar trail or simply waking up to a new day, we have to step out of our narrow space and into one of the most challenging and scary situations in life – the world of the unknown. To let this happen, we have to let go of the identity we hold onto and the stories we tell about ourselves and give ourselves away to the direct experience of life. This requires openness, vulnerability and a willingness to become intimate with silence. It is not easy to do. In the words of one of my favorite poets, Rainer Maria Rilke (as translated by Leonard Cottrell): "Simply go – no feeling is too much – and only this way can we stay in touch. Near here is the land that they call life. You’ll know when you arrive by how real it is." Read more about Traude’s pilgrimage on her blog simplyjustwalking.com or in her book now available on Amazon. com: Shikoku, the 88 Temple Way: Poetics of a Japanese Pilgrimage.

EXPLORE

A Slice of Slovenia B Y M A R J E TA G R E I F

Ljubljana, view of the Dragon Bridge, Central Market and Cathedral of Saint Nicholas.

In Slovenia, you don’t have to go far to see a little bit of everything. Looking for mountains? In Slovenia you can hike in the Julian Alps (the highest peak is Triglav at 2864 meters!), and also the Karawanks, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and the Dinarides. Enjoy a swim in a beautiful

lake? This country is one of Europe’s most water-rich! Choose from 321 lakes, mostly created by glaciers (such as the scenic Lake

Bled). Hikers can enjoy the fact that almost half the country is covered by forests. You can also experience famous vineyards, mysterious caves, the warm Adriatic Sea, and friendly Slovenians who enjoy life, good food, and a glass of wine. By

the way, almost everyone speaks English, German, or Italian, so if you will not be lost if you don’t speak Slovene, the official language. Then and Now In the long Slovenian history, the country and the culture were influenced by Celtic tribes, Romans, and Slavic tribes. The counts of Celje ruled Slovenia, until they died out in the mid-15th century. From this time until the end of World War I, Slovenia was part of the Habsburg empire. After World War II, Slovenia was one of the six parts of the communist Yugoslavia under Tito. In 1990, after a ten-day war, Slovenia won its

Nearby, So Much to Try independence, and soon after the Assembly of the Republic passed Slovenia’s first constitution. Slovenia became a member of the United Nations, and joined NATO, the European Union, and eventually the Euro-Zone. Today Slovenia has five political parties and a social democratic government. The country has more than 2 million inhabitants, 70% of which live in urban areas such as the capital city, Ljubljana. Food and Culture The Slovenian cuisine is very similar to that of Austria and Hungary (not a surprise given the historic connections), but also includes aspects of Mediterranean and Balkan cuisines. Onepot dishes such as jota (a stew of beans, sour turnips, potatoes and bacon) are typical. Also famous are kranjska klobasa (a sausage), potica (a walnut and pastry roll) gibanica (a cottage cheese and egg pastry) and idriskji žlikrofi (potato-filled dumplings). Regarding culture, Slovenia offers high levels of the arts: classical, jazz and opera music, ballet, theatre, classic and modern art, and numerous museums catering to all these and more. The most famous Slovenian artists are the architect Jože Plečnik, the poets Franc Prešeren and Simon Gregorčič, the writers Anton Cankar and Anton Bevk, and the composer Vinko Globokar.

EXPLORE

surrounding of Ljubljana are Lake Bled, Bohinj, Dolina ob Soči, Tolmin, Kobarid, and much more. You may visit Roman baths in Rimske Toplice on your way to Ptuj, a town established as a Roman post. The oldest wine cellar in Slovenia is located in Ptuj castle. From here to the east spreads Slovenske Gorice, the ‘Slovene Toscana,’ with its extraordinary white wine. From Ljubljana heading to the sea, stop over in the cave of Postojna, and then visit Lipica, where you visit the home of the world famous Lipican horses. About 47 km of the Adriatic coast belong to Slovenia, and there you will find tourist places like the port of Koper, Portorož and Izola, as well as the jewel of our coast, the medieval Piran with its Venetian architecture. This region is famous for primorska pršut, a ham that is air-dried among the karsts, and for the Refošk wine. There are so many more things, you can experience in Slovenia, so close to Vienna!

Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria on an island in the center of Lake Bled.

Sightseeing Of course we start at the capital, Ljubljana. The centre is shaped by architect Jože Plečnik’s two unique and stunning bridges: the triple bridge Tromostoje, and the city symbol, the Zmajski or Dragon Bridge. Worth seeing is also the castle and the old town. Interesting places in the

Sunday Service: 11:15 Rev. Matthew A. Laferty Sechshauser Straße 56, 1150 Vienna tel: +43 1 895 8175 office@esumc.at I www.esumc.at U4/U6 Längenfeldgasse or 57A Grimmgasse A friendly, caring community with many different nations, cultures, and traditions. Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors We offer: - a place for worship, study, growth - an opportunity to find your own ministry - a chance to feel at home - toddler care - a wonderful and fun Sunday School - five choirs and special music - active groups for families, men, women, young adults, prayer and others

The English-Speaking United Methodist Church of Vienna

Charity Report

REPORTS COLLECTION: FOREIGN & OLD CURRENCY

22 It is still possible to exchange outdated coins

and notes (Schillings, DM, Lira, etc) as well as all that unneeded, leftover foreign currency from international travel. Please drop off any outdated or foreign money in our Clubhouse collection box to benefit our charity, Die Möwe (and meanwhile benefit yourself by reducing your clutter. We raised 140 € from the first batch of currency collected, thank you! KNITTING PROJECT 2019 After our successful woolly hats project in 2018, it’s time to get the knitting needles ready again! This year we have set ourselves a goal to knit 111 scarves for Christmas gifts for the homeless and needy, plus some extra scarves to sell at our charity craft fair in the Autumn. As guidance, scarves should measure about 20cm x 150cm (acrylic yarn not wool, please). Any donations of acrylic yarn are most welcome! Please drop it off at the clubhouse. We are planning to hold monthly knitting & craft sessions in the Fall.

2019 AWA Board

Honorary President: Alexa Traina President: Sheila Hargreaves 0676 755 9804/ sheilahargreaves@a1.net Vice President/Programs: Helene Gressenbauer-Rösner 0664 920 9807/ helene@gressenbauer.org Charity Fundraising: Irene Schlegelmilch 0660 6404410/ awavpfundraising@gmail.com Treasurer: Jillanne Gabler 01 966 2925/ awa.vienna@treasurer@gmail.com Secretary: Susan Cole 01 966 2925/ awaawavienna.com Weekly Coffee: Gerda Moes 0676 387 2450/ gerdamz@gmail.com Internal Communications: Urte Paulus 0676 676 5829/ Urte.paulus@gmx.at Membership: Sara 01 966 2925/AWAViennaMembership@gmail.com Webmanager/FAWCO Rep: Beverly Bachmayer 01 966 2925/ awa@awavienna.com Highlights Advertising: Nadia Di Paola 0678 1252229/ awahighlightsads@gmail.com Highlights Editor/Layout: Virginia Sheridan awahighlights@gmail.com

UPCOMING CHARITY FUNDRAISING EVENTS: Craft Sale and Coffee Friday, 7 June, 10:00 to12:00 in the clubhouse. Browse, buy and enjoy the refreshments. Your friends are most welcome too. Hawaiian Ice Cream Sundae Party Thursday, 13 June, 14:00 to 16:00 in the clubhouse. Devour your favourite ice cream and toppings. Bring your children also for some Hawaiian-style fun and dancing. Bake Sale and President’s Coffee Monday, 17 September, 10:00 to 12:00 in the clubhouse. Join us for coffee, cake and conversation. Bingo Night Friday, 27 September in the evening, venue TBC. Come and try your luck at “Full House” and a night of fun, prizes and refreshments.

DONATIONS REQUESTED Raffle prizes/gift vouchers, and wine, Prosecco & snacks for our fundraising events. Bring them to the clubhouse anytime. Thank you! Contact Irene Schlegelmilch/ ireneschlegelmilch@gmx.net 06606404410 VOLUNTEERS FOR DIE MÖWE Die Möwe, our 2019 (child protection) charity, is seeking volunteers to spend time with needy mothers and children: to chat with the mums, to play with the children, accompany them on a doctor visit, etc. No problem if you don’t speak much German as some families do speak English. Other languages may be useful too. If you are interested, please contact Irene Schlegelmilch (see details above).

Charity Committee. Standing: Magda, Urte, Irene, Sara, Joanna. Sitting: Suzanne, Erin, Lisa, Hyacynth.

Prof. Dr. Hannes Paulis lectures on deceptive Orchids in a fundraising event.

What's Happening in Vienna THE VIENNA FESTIVAL The grand opening, with free entry, on Friday 10 May at 21:20 in front of the Rathaus begins nearly two months of theatre, performance, dance, music and fine art. Many events are free. Ends on 19 June. https://www.festwochen.at/en/

INFO

MID-SUMMER EVE CONCERT Thursday, 20 June This wonderful, free concert, performed by the Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra with Pianist Yuja Wang and Conductor Gustavo Dudamel is a must for all those new to Vienna. Schloss Schönbrunn, beautifully lit and amazing, is a spectacular backdrop. https://www.sommernachtskonzert.at/

12th GENUSSFESTIVAL IM STADTPARK From Friday, 10 May to Sunday, 12 May. This annual event with 190 stalls serves a huge variety of food and drink from all parts of Austria. Highly recommended for atmosphere and food! www.genuss-festival.at

ELISABETH - DAS MUSICAL OPEN AIR Friday and Saturday, 5 and 6 July. Schloss Schönbrunn hosts another open-air event, the musical Elisabeth. Not free, however! https://www.wien-ticket.at/en/

32nd ÖSTERREICHISCHER FRAUENLAUF IM PRATER Sunday, 26 May. With 35,000 or more women running, registration is already underway. www.oesterreichischer-frauenlauf.at

You are invited to the annual VIS

SUMMER BATHING From 1 May until end of September, Vienna’s bathing season opens again with magical, Old World beaches along the Danube and open-air pools across the city.

11th of March 2019

LANGE NACHT DER KIRCHEN Friday, 24 May. Many churches are open all evening with special events. The Russian Church in the 3rd District has the most amazing choir! A must hear at least once while in Vienna.

10:00 to 14:00 at Vienna International School, Straße der Menschenrechte 1, 1220 Vienna Ice cream, Raffle, Toys and books sale, Children activities, Flea and Craft market, International food stalls.

THE AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL • VIENNA “My goal as a teacher is to help kids stay curious about what they can accomplish. It’s about setting up the conditions for each student to experience their own personal improvement.”

Sherri Spelic, or Mrs. Spelic as she is known around here, loves it when her students are eager to show what they can do. It’s a constant reminder that fun and challenge go together. Besides teaching Elementary School Physical Education, she coaches sprinters in the spring, blogs year-round, and frequently offers professional development workshops on a variety of topics. Her favorite thing about teaching is that she gets to see success and growth every single day.

NURTURE

INCLUDE

CHALLENGE

RESPECT

www.ais.at

AWA VIENNA OFFICE & CLUBHOUSE: Singerstrasse 4/11, 1010 Wien T: (01) 966 29 25 E-mail: awa@awavienna.com www.awavienna.com

OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Thursday, 10:00-16:00 Friday closed OFFICE MANAGERS: Margarita Randl & Erin Silangil

Ã&#x2013;STERREICHISCHE POST AG INFO. MAIL ENTGELT BEZAHLT