Hamburg: European Green Capital 2011

In 2009, the European Commission launched the European Green Capital Award, in order to strengthen environmental awareness in Europe’s cities and promote sound economic growth compatible with the protection of natural resources. Stockholm was the first city to hold the annual title of European Green Capital and was succeeded by Hamburg on 15 December 2010. When stating the reasons for its decision, the European Commission particularly lauded Hamburg’s efforts to reduce air pollution, its management of urban traffic congestions and greenhouse gas emissions and its ambitious plans for future environmentally-friendly measures. The priority issues for this special year included the categories of climate & energy, sustainable consumption, mobility, nature & urban green space, protection of resources & economic activity, and urban development & housing.

As Hamburg’s year as Europe’s Green Capital 2011 draws to its end, we look back on a time filled with exciting activities. One of them was the “Train of Ideas”, which toured Europe on a mission to draw attention to its “visions for future cities”. In addition, the “My Tree – My City” campaign provided everyone interested with the opportunity to donate money for the planting of a particular tree in a particular location. As soon as sufficient money was donated for a particular tree, the city of Hamburg doubled the donated amount, so that the tree could be immediately planted in the designated place. These are only two of the many interesting activities that were carried out as part of the European Green Capital Initiative in the past few months. However, the year has not ended yet, and a visit to the website umwelthauptstadt.hamburg.de will provide Hamburg’s citizens and visitors with detailed information on the upcoming events in the next two months. For 2012, Hamburg will hand over the title of European Green Capital to the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz in the north of Spain.

Restaurant UNO awarded Gault Millau Toque!

Owing to a significant expanion of offer and service, the 4-star-superior-hotel ARCOTEL Kaiserwasser could once again live up to its motto "As I like it" by securing one of the most prestigious awards available in the restaurant sector after having already been granted a "4-star-superior-hotel" rating by the Vienna Economic Chamber in May 2011.

The 4-star-superior-hotel's Restaurant UNO was awarded a Fault Millau Toque in October 2011 when Executive chef Johann Schwarz and his team managed to achieve a 13-point rating thus proving the extraordinary quality of their work. In its exclusive atmosphere, the Restaurant UNO provides a wiede selection of exquisite gourmet dishes and seasonal highlights as well as a comprehensive list of top-quality wines of predominantly Austrian origin.

Whether guests would like to start their day with a lavish buffet breakfast, combine business with pleasure by doing meetings over a relaxed business lunch or treat themselves to an unforgettable evening over a romantic candlelit dinner, the ARCOTEL Kaiserwasser's Restaurant UNO offers the ideal setting for all occasions thanks to the warm and hospitable atmosphere typical of ARCOTEL Hotels. What is more, Executive Chef Johann Schwarz and his team will ensure that your visit to the restaurant turns into a remarkable gourmet experience.

Book your table now at:

Restaurant UNO
Wagramer Strasse 8
1220 Wien

T +43 1 224 24-866
E restaurantuno@arcotelhotels.com
www.restaurantuno.at

Loccie - the personal assistant for urban navigation

In November, the guests of the ARCOTEL Allegra Zagreb had the opportunuty to test a very interesting device -called Loccie – new and inovative gadget. This small and handy device with simple and robust construction ensures a simple navigation in the city. Users of the device do not need a map, because Loccie leads its users to the main attractions. Loccie uses different colors to indicate the distance to the target. Simple to use and moreover with a high fun factor! If Locci flashes red, it means you reached the desired goal. For our guests we have made a list of the 15 most interesting attractions in the city. Besides the usual tourist attractions we listed a really cool hot spots such as very interesting places, galleries, shops etc. Those who have an iPhone, download the app also Loccie. For more information : www.loccie.com

The 2012 ARCOTEL Moser Verdino postcard motif

For already the seventh time in a row, the ARCOTEL Moser Verdino chose the postcard motif of the year for its famou postcard collection on 29. September 2011. This year, the motif was selected from among the works of Carinthian artist Richard Klammer.

Opening the formal part of this splendid evening, Resident Manager, Christoph Hafner welcomed the guests to the conferencing facilities of the ARCOTEL Moser Verdino by delivering a higly entertaining introductory speech. The guests then proceeded to take a closer look at the presented artworks and subsequently cast their votes for their favourite. The vote was followed by culinary pleasures at the buffet before the winning motif was announced. Entiteles "Fremder Verkehrsort Favela 5", Klammers's remarkable painting will be printed on postcards and as such become part of the ARCOTEL Moser Verdino postcard collection.

This collection is first and foremost intended to support Carinthian artists. In addition, the ARCOTEL Moser Verdino wants to uphold the postcard as a charming orm of holiday mail and keep it from falling into oblivion in times of the internet since it was originally created by a nephew of the former Moser inn's landlady.

Born in Obervellach, Carinthia on 22 February 1964, Richard Klammer studied painting under the tuition of M. Prachensky at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna from which he graduated in 1991. Workin as a painter and musician, Klammer currently lives in Klagenfurt.

www.richardklammer.net

Saddle of Waldviertler venison with Lotao rice

The UNO Restaurant at the 4-star-superior-hotel ARCOTEL Kaiserwasser ist just as international and open-minded as its guests. Exquisite Asian Lotao speciality rices add to the restaurant's wide range of dishes. Executive chef Johann Schwarz recommends the following Lotao rice recipe to try out at home:

Saddle of Waldviertler venison with Lotao rice and red cabbage roll, sautéed mushrooms and flambéed Aperol-marinated stone fruits.

Serves 8

1 whole saddle of venison
250 g "Rising Sun" Lotao rice
200 g mushrooms
shallots
8 red cabbage leaves
zest of orange
Aperol-marinated stone fruit
rum, gin
salt, pepper, juniper, resemary and thyme

For the Aperol-marinated stone fruits marinate damsons, plums, greengages, nectarines and peaches in half Aperol, half rum and some sugar and allow to stand in a cool place for at least five weeks.

De-bone the saddle of venison and remove any sinewas. Season with salt, pepper, juniper and gin and ser on both sides together with the rosemary and thyme. Then place in the oven for five to seven minutes until pink.

Boil the "Rising Sun" Lotao rice (1 part rice to 1.5 parts water). Add the shallots and orange zest while boiling and season with salt and ginger. Leave the rice to cool down a little, then roll in a blanched red cabbage leaf. Stand the rice roll on a plate.

Sauté the forest mushrooms and arrange on the plate with the venison, the rice roll and the Aperol-marinated stone fruits. Warm some rum (50%), pour over the fruit and set alight.

Bon appetit!

Ai Waiwei in New York – Photographs

The ARCOTEL Velvet is located in the vital heart of Berlin in Oranienburger Street. It is just a few minutes away on foot from a vibrant art and culture scene. Today we recommend a special photography exhibition in Martin Gropius Bau.

Martin Gropius Bau is exhibiting - for the first time in Germany - over 220 photographs from between 1983 and 1993 that were taken In New York City by the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. During this time Ai took over 10,000 photos which he carefully sorted in order to create an exhibition. Ai was born in 1957. His long stay in the USA has had a decisive influence on his artistic career. His father, Ai Qing, was a famous author in China. Children throughout China memorized his poems at school. Only when his father was on his death bed, did Ai decide to leave New York and return to China.

Ai lived in New York City in a small apartment in the East Village district. As an active member of the Chinese artistic community and the intellectual community of the avant-garde scene of the district during the 80s he saw New York as a place of liberation. Even after the death of Mao Tse-tung in 1976, rigid conceptions held sway in China regarding the nature and purpose of art.
Ai Wai used his camera to capture life in New York during the 1980s. He took unique photos with the perspective of a true artist that portray this artistically and politically exciting period.

Today Ai Weiwei is the most renowned Chinese artist of the present. In New York he was a friend of Allen Ginsberg. Many of the most recognized artists in China today visited him at that time in New York. Ai photographed them.

Hours of operation:
Wednesday to Monday 10 am. to 8 pm., closed on Tuesdays
Open on the Tuesday after Christmas (27.12). Closed on 24.12. and 31.12.

© Ai Weiwei; Courtesy of Three Shadows Photography Art Center

Experience very close to the ARCOTEL John F “WUNDERKAMMER“!

An almost intoxicating collage of acrobatics, burlesque, erotic and comedy makes the people in Berlin curious. For the first time in Europe, the CHAMÄLEON Theater presents the latest creation of the successful Australian company C!RCA. "Wunderkammer" debuted in Brisbane, Australia in September 2010 and received rave reviews from the press: "Fantastic entertainment: shocking at times, thrilling, sexy, beautiful, moving and captivating throughout".

With blazing speed, seven exceptional acrobats create powerful and sensual pictures, virtually pushing the audience to tears of laughter with whimsical sketches.

The performers form human pyramids as well as twirl each other through the air, crafting scenes of pure excitement. You will have time to visit this incredible wild show till end of December.

Age recommendation: from 14