Lisbon is one of the greatest destinations for music lovers. Every summer, Lisbon hosts a lot of musical events, including dedicated festivals for a special type of music such as Jazz, Fado and classical music. Some of these events are free to attend while the others are paid.

Among the events is Festival of Jazz music called “OUT JAZZ” which is one of the main free events every year, beginning in 2006, from the beginning of May to the end of September. Usually the concerts are held in gardens, parks and historical roads of the city. This year the concerts are held every Friday at 6:00 pm and Saturday from 5:00 pm to sundown. The performances include some famous jazz artists from Portugal, such as e Carlos Martins Quarteto, Joana Machado and Filipe Melo Trio.

The schedule of the concerts is announced on their official Facebook page.  This festival is organized by NCS, a Portuguese audiovisual company and Lisbon municipality. This year the festival has signed partnership with LxFactory. LxFactory is a flea market that occurs every Sunday along with the concert.

The idea of starting the Festival of Jazz in Lisbon was started in 2006 to select a working day to relax, dance and to listen to a good jazz music. That’s why they selected Friday to have the concerts in which is a working day in Portugal, later on they added Sunday.

Arco Do Cego Music Festival is another musical event in Lisbon between May 9 and 12. During the event, all concerts play classical music; the symphonies of Beethoven & Mozart.

Fado In Chiado is a live Fado Festival in the city. Fado is traditional Portuguese music using a special guitar called the Fado. Fado was added to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List from Portugal in 2011. The show occurs for 50 minutes daily starting at 7:00 pm. The entry ticket to the show costs 16 euros.

In 1998, the Fado Museum was opened for public visitors to promote Fado music in society. Visitors can listen and watch unique traditional samples of Fado music and songs which are making parts of the Portuguese culture. Also they can discover the history of Fado music, which was started in the nineteenth century. Within the museum premise there is a school to teach any interested to know how to play the Fado guitar.

Image credit: OUT JAZZ via Facebook

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Lisbon is a very rich city in Portugal with historical and cultural attractions. Some of the significant attractions in the city are located in Santa Maria de Belém, which is a civil parish (Freguesia in Portuguese) in Lisbon, also known as just Belém. Located about 6 kilometers to the west of Lisbon’s downtown, Belém is the Portuguese translation of the Palestinian city of Bethlehem. The neighborhood’s founders copied the name from the Palestinian city to have a religious blessing from the city in which Jesus was born.

A real touring in Lisbon must include visiting the monuments in Belém. The attractions include Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery), Torre de Belém (Tower of Belém), Museu De Marinha (Maritime Museum), Museu da Electricidade (Electricity Museum), Museu da Presidência da República (Presidential Museum), and Museu Berardo. Museu De Marinha is a museum for the Portuguese navigation history of different times since the 15th century up to present day.

Museu Berardo is a museum of modern and contemporary art located within the Centro Cultural de Belém (Belém Cultural Center) premise. The Belém Cultural Center is the largest cultural center in Portugal; it accommodates cultural and artistic events around the year such as exhibitions, conferences, operas and ballets. Museu da Electricidade is a museum presenting the energy-development history in Portugal and promoting renewable energy to the visitors. The Museu da Presidência da República compound was the residence of the Portuguese royal family before establishing the republic; after that it became the official President of the Portuguese republic. In 2006 the government decided to convert the building to a national Monument.

Jerónimos Monastery is one of the main monuments in Lisbon. Any tourist in the city must see it; the capital of Portugal is very rich in historical and cultural attractions. The Monastery was a church built in the 15th century by the order of Prince Henry the Navigator (Infante D. Henriqu) to enlarge a small chapel, which served sea travelers. After that, King Manuel I of Portugal ordered the building of the large monastery after taking the permission from The Holy See. The Holy See is the head of the Catholic Church in the world, based in Rome.

The construction of the monastery was complete 100 years after the first order. It was designed in the Manueline-style architecture, a Portuguese architectural style representing the influence by the eastern Indian temple design. This was discovered during voyages of two famous Portuguese explorers, Vasco da Gama and Pedro Álvares Cabral, to the east.

In 1983 Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower became UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s worthwhile to visit inside the Monastery, which is opened for all visitors, not only for prayers. The Tower of Belém was built in the same era as the monastery, with the same architecture style. It would be a great idea to go inside the tower than just looking to it from outside as well: you will have a great view of the Tejo River and Belém neighborhood.

Other than historical and cultural attractions, Belém has some beautiful gardens such as Jardim do Ultramar (The Garden of Ultramar) which is a tropical botanical garden with lakes, water birds and peafowls. Jardim Vasco de Gama (Vasco da Gama Garden) which is a 4.2 hectare garden close to the Jerónimos Monastery.

Belém is well connected to other parts of Lisbon through public buses and a tram network, and well served with taxis, hotels and restaurants of different budgets. The big secret to save money in Lisbon is that most of the monuments are free on Sunday mornings.

Image Courtesy : Debarshi Ray

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Finland is an attractive country for asylum seekers and refugees because of its reputed human rights records and its wealth, which is similar to other northern European countries such as Norway and Sweden. While most of the asylum seekers in Portugal are transferred due to Dublin II regulations, it’s not as attractive to asylum seekers in the current economic situation. Dublin II regulation is a signed regulation among Schengen agreement countries to identify as quickly as possible the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application, and to prevent abuse of asylum procedures.

Schengen space includes all European Union countries (excluding the UK and Ireland), Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The main article in the Schengen agreement is to abolish the borders between the signed countries and strengthen the outer borders with nonmember countries.

In Finland, the asylum seekers stay in a reception center managed by the Finnish Red Cross after submitting the asylum application in the police station or to the border police. Usually the police check the asylum seeker’s luggage, mobile phone, computer and wallet. The main reason for checking it is to try to find the route that was used by the asylum seeker to reach the country.

Most of the asylum seekers hide their passports and money and destroy any receipts that would show that they’ve bought anything from Schengen space. This is to avoid being deported to the first country that they passed into within the Schengen area according to Dublin II regulations.

All these attempts to hide information would not work if they had finger prints for visa applications or for any other reason within Schengen space. Also, Dublin II regulation states that if the applicant has a visa or residency permit from any Schengen country, that country would be responsible for his asylum application if he had not been there.  In most of the Schengen countries’ embassies around the world, the applicant of tourism or business visa must do finger printing at the embassy itself. Also, in most European Airports, sometimes the immigration officer decides to take the fingerprints, especially if passengers are from countries that have a large number of refugees.

If the asylum seeker gives his passport to authorities in Finland, they will hold it while studying his asylum application. While in Portugal, the passport will remain with him.

While checking the bags the police would take the initial feedback from the asylum seeker and they will search in the Eurodac system, which is a European computer system created to double check if the asylum seeker applied in other Schengen and if he had committed any crime in Europe. The finger printing in Finland is fully computerized, while in Portugal they still use ink fingerprinting for the application and ID preparation.

Also, the police count the money that might be with the asylum seeker so the Finnish Red Cross constants can count the reception allowance for every asylum seeker per month. This allowance is given to the asylum seeker to cover his food, transportation and other essential things for living.

In Finland the allowance is 10 euros per day, and they don’t give one penny to the asylum seeker, even for medication, before confirming that the money with him is accounted for. The payment is given monthly.

In Portugal they follow the same procedure, except for money and baggage, mobile, computer and mobile checking. The allowance is 150 euros per month with some support of food; also, they cover all medical expenses. The allowance is paid on the first Thursday of each month by the dedicated social assistance workers.

The reception center in Portugal is managed by the Conselho Português para os Refugiados (CPR), or Portuguese Refugee Council, which is a Non-government organization (NGO) that is exclusively NGO dedicated to the support of refugees and asylum-seekers in Portugal.

Some of the food that is given by CPR to the asylum seekers and refugees is either expired or about to expire in a few days; most of the food is donated either by the nearby supermarket to the CPR or some other Non-government organizations. When Toonari Post asked one of the members of the CPR social assistance program [her name is reserved] about the reason for providing expired food, the answer was that everyone is able to decide whether the food is suitable to consume or not. Nevertheless, some asylum seekers are not educated enough to read the expiration date on the food.

Another strange procedure in CPR is that they don’t give an independent room to any person without hassle. For example, on the eve of December 29, 2012, one vigilant employee switched off the internet from the main router without informing the person who was talking to his family online. When the resident asked him to keep it for personal reasons, the employee refused to follow his request. The resident decided to watch television in the living room to civilly protest the aggressive Vigilant. After some minutes, three policemen came to the CPR and spoke in Portuguese. When the resident asked them either to speak in English or to bring an interpreter they assaulted the resident using their hands and the police stick. They took him to the police station to continue to beat him for three hours, then returned him to the CPR to sleep in his room. The resident went to the hospital the next day to take the proper treatment and to make a report so he could press charges against the policemen and the original employee. Other employees tried to convince him to withdraw the case from the court and promised the independent room. He took the room but refused to withdraw the case.

The majority of the asylum seekers are, in both countries, coming from Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Macedonia and Iran. Some of them come from other countries. The political and the humanitarian are among the top reasons for applying for asylum while some others are coming for economic or family reasons.

This compression is done according to the personal experience of one Toonari Post writer who applied for asylum in Finland, then was transferred to Portugal due to Dublin II regulation.

Image Courtesy : Northfoto / Shutterstock.com

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Thanks to the late-headed goal scored by Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal was able to claim a 1-0 victory against the Czech Republic on Thursday, which in turn sends them into the semifinals of Euro 2012.

The first half of the match was considered disappointing for the first quarterfinal match of the competition. Early chances by the Czech Republic only came from corner kicks, which they were unable to capitalize on due to very poor deliveries.

Portugal seemed to get into the game later in the first half, when Ronaldo fired a beautiful shot that Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech was able to save with an amazing dive. The goal would not have counted if it had gone in, due to referee Howard Webb stopping play mid-pass that was not heard by the Portuguese forward.

In the final minute of the first half, Ronaldo came up again after handling a great cross from Raul Meireles. He gained control of the ball and kicked it straight into the post, the only thing that could stop him from giving Portugal the lead. The chance gave off a strong sense of determination from Portugal, who went into halftime in control of the game even though both teams have not yet scored.

Portugal came out ready to play, with Hugo Almeida missing a header by inches only a couple minutes into the second half. Ronaldo showed up yet again five minutes later with a close chance, taking a bending free-kick that struck the post again instead of hitting the back of the net.

The Czech Republic did not seem as though they were trying to take any offensive chances; Portugal controlled much of the possession throughout the early part of the second half, and the Czech’s seemed to stay on the defensive no matter what. The only real chance for the Czech Republic came in at the 60 minute mark, when Vaclav Pilar managed to speed around the Portuguese defenders with ease, only to give the ball away with a disappointing attempt at a cross.

After several more attempts from Portugal, which were all wide of the net or beautifully saved by Cech, Ronaldo was finally able to capitalize in the 80th minute after a great cross from Joao Moutinho. Ronaldo found room and headed the ball directly into the ground, which in turn ricocheted over the diving Petr Cech and into the top of the goal.

This lone goal was all that was needed in order to send Portugal into the semifinals. For a team that has never won a title at the Euro’s, Portugal heads into the semifinals as an underdog that shows no signs of letting this chance slip through their fingers.

Portugal will play in their semifinal match on June 27 against the winner of the quarterfinal match between Spain and France, which is scheduled for June 23.

Image Courtesy of  Rui Alexandre Araujo / Shutterstock.com

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The second round of matches in Group B got underway with an enticing tie between Denmark and Portugal at Ukrajina Stadium in Lviv, Ukraine.

Denmark, buoyed on by their impressive draw against the Netherlands in their opening match, started brightly against the more highly favored Portugal, passing the ball confidently and looking strong at the back.

Misfortune struck early though for the Danish, first with an injury to Niki Zimling, who was replaced by Jakob Poulsen, and secondly by an opening goal for Portugal. A Joao Moutinho corner in the 25th minute was met by an unmarked Pepe at the near post, the Portuguese defender coming up with a superb glancing header to beat the Danish goalkeeper Stephan Andersen.

The goal seemed to highlight the discrepancies between the two sides and Portugal began pushing hard for the second. Ten minutes on from the first goal and Portugal were once again celebrating, this time thanks to a Helder Postiga goal, the striker getting in front of the nearest defender to collect a low cross from Nani and score a fantastic goal from a tight angle.

Denmark were far from out of the game however, and grabbed themselves a lifeline just before halftime with a well worked team goal from Nicklas Bendtner. Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio rushed out to deny Michael Krohn-Dehli an easy attempt on goal, but instead the Dane headed the ball back across the goal towards the arriving Bendtner who then had only to knock the ball into an open goal.

All of Denmark’s positive work at the end of the first half was nearly undone early in the second when Poulsen played a poor pass along the Danish defensive line which was picked up by Postiga who looked to be clear through on goal and was only denied by a last ditch tackle from Daniel Agger.

Portugal certainly seemed rattled by Denmark’s goal, with the Danes looking far more assured in possession and frequently foraying into the Portuguese penalty area, with the leading side looking far less comfortable going forward than they had in the first half.

Despite their renewed efforts, Denmark were struggling to create real chances once they were in Portugal’s half, with the Real Madrid defensive duo of Pepe and Fabio Coentrao seeing off most threats.

With just over 10 minutes to play, Portuguese talisman Cristiano Ronaldo spurned a great chance to put the game beyond Denmark when he was one on one with the goalkeeper but his effort was uncharacteristically wide.

With Ronaldo still lambasting himself for the miss, the Danes counter-attacked with pace and proficiency, a deep cross finding Bendtner at the far post for the tall striker to head home his second goal of the night and draw Denmark level in a game which Portugal must have thought they had won in the first half.

Unfortunately for Denmark though, heartbreak was still to come. With just three minutes left in the game Silvestre Varela, after scuffing his first attempt at the ball, swiveled and struck a powerful right footed effort at the bottom corner of the goal and the ball flew past the outstretched fingertips of Andersen to give Portugal a vital 3-2 victory.

The win gives Portugal everything to play for in their final group game against the Netherlands, meanwhile Denmark are unlikely to have much more than pride to play for in their next game against Germany, a game which will most likely be their last at these championships.

Image Courtesy of  Rui Alexandre Araujo / Shutterstock.com

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Carlsbad, U.S.A. – After a successful soft launch beginning in late 2011, Daphne’s California Greek have  launched a multi-platform, new music initiative to discover and foster new music talent through several distinct and complementary digital and social media channels. Daphne’s turned to Hollywood-based DeepMix, known for bringing cutting-edge music to mainstream advertising and corporate settings, to help curate artists and manage the overall program.

The music program, which also involves the development of a distinctive Daphne’s playlist, is integral to cultivating Daphne’s new brand and echoes Daphne’s re-envisioned culture after an ambitious, year-long rebranding effort that has transformed it into a more modern, lifestyle concept that appeals to a broader segment of active and health-oriented consumers.

“Daphne’s is an eclectic fusion of California and Mediterranean flavors and our music – our playlist – reflects that diversity and authenticity,” said Bill Trefethen, CEO, Daphne’s California Greek. “We want to become the place for great food but also to discover new music talent. And we want to provide a platform for these tremendous artists to share their music and their passion with a larger audience.”

Originally called Daphne’s Greek Cafe, the company was acquired in 2010 by entrepreneur Bill Trefethen, who immediately re-imagined the 56-unit, fast casual restaurant chain, which now offers more healthful California-inspired Mediterranean fare, a current remodeling program with interiors featuring a hip California vibe with a focus on re-purposed and sustained materials, and far-reaching grass roots community support program that aligns with the new music program.

Daphne’s music program is built around today’s new music discovery and tastemaker scene, showcasing an eclectic group of emerging artists who span various genres from alternative, rock, singer/songwriter and folk, giving them a multi-platform opportunity to reach new audiences on both local and global levels.

The initiative incorporates both in-restaurant and external elements, including in-house music and videos and an Artist of the Month program with free monthly downloads, special live concerts, and exclusive concert videos. Past Artists of the Month include: Mike Stocksdale, Donovan Frankenreiter, Kelley James, The Jezebels, Elan, Madi Diaz and Portugal.

“For Daphne’s, DeepMix assembled a mix of artists that convey the hip new California lifestyle feeling,” said Dave Curtin, managing director, DeepMix. “Our deep roots in the music industry including acting as artist managers, music producers, music supervisors and DJs will allow us to expand this program to add more interesting new artists and book great names to appear at intimate concerts sponsored for Daphne’s.”

Daphne’s also created a streaming radio channel on its website that’s “Always Free, Always On” and hosted by online radio platform Live365. A just-released, iPhone app will bring that soundtrack to a potentially enormous audience of listeners across the globe. Daphne’s also leverages its multiple social media channels to help spread the word about the new music.

Rounding out the program is a successful “Fuel the Artist” initiative, where Daphne’s caters the soundchecks of bands and musicians touring in Southern California, including Parachute, Kate Voegele, Allen Stone, The Jezebels, Portugal.

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The 5th Edition of the Lisbon and Estoril Film Festival has certainly ended on a high note. LEFF’11 had all the main ingredients to become its best edition to date (as was predicted last week) but only time could tell if this was truly going to be an edition to remember. The programme promised a week long of high-quality events and it surely delivered.

It is one of the youngest Film Festivals in Europe but other veterans should definitely learn a thing or two from LEFF. Paulo Branco’s Lisbon and Estoril Film Festival proved worthy of the buzz surrounding it in international media outlets.

Every screening began punctually (apart from minor technical glitches) and the price of the admission tickets was very cheap, considering they allowed access to premieres and masterclasses with actors, directors, and producers. Most of the screenings were presented by one of the actors in the film, a movie critic or producer and after it a small discussion regarding the film was held.

According to LEFF’s director Branco, this might have possibly been the best edition yet, and who are we to doubt his words? In a recent interview, Branco also admitted that upcoming editions should be held in both Lisbon and Estoril, in a partnership with Lisbon’s City Hall.

Even though most of the movies shown are not what one would expect to see in a regular movie theater, most of the screenings were sold out and were incredibly entertaining.

All of the movies were divided in categories: the Official Selection, Retrospective, Tribute, Cinemart (including features by Matthew Barney and Yasmina Reza), In Memoriam, Rare Filmmakers, Film Heritage Preservation (with the cooperation of the Martin Scorcese and the World Cinema Foundation), Cinema and History, and several Special Screenings of feature films and television series.

The big winner of the Festival was Twilight Portrait, by Angelina Nikonova, as it took home the award for Best Feature. Twilight Portrait tells the story of a social worker who decides to take on her dramatic past and it is Nikonova’s debut as a film director. Cédric Kahn’s Une Vie Meilleure won the Special Jury Award – João Bénard da Costa, as well as the Cineuropa Award.

Other special mentions include Here I am, by Bálint Szimler and Aman (Safe and Sound) by Ali Jaberansari. LEFF ended on a winning streak as Almodóvar’s latest (The Skin I Live In) was shown to an eager audience in Lisbon, with the presence of Jan Cornet and Marisa Paredes. In Estoril, Melancholia by Lars Von Trier closed the Festival but hopefully LEFF’s next edition will come soon enough.  

cinemafestival / Shutterstock.com

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The Lisbon and Estoril Film Festival (LEFF), formerly known as Estoril Film Festival, is making a name for itself as one of Europe’s leading film festivals. As a newcomer, the festival has been able to bring big names from the film industry since its debut in 2007. Some who have taken part in the event have included Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, Oscar-winning actor John Malkovich, Catherine Deneuve, and Kathryn Bigelow.

The festival takes pride in awarding the best of the best in the movie industry while creating a meeting point for artists and performers of the trade in the capital of Portugal.

The best distinguishing feature is the fact that there is no red carpet at most of the screenings, even at the premieres. One could simply stand in line waiting to get inside and Paul Giamatti or David Cronenberg could walk by you and even stop by for a chat.

Movies competing in the official selection are mostly European films, and some of the movies shown are already generating Oscar buzz. The festival will premiere “A Dangerous Method” (David Cronenberg),” The Ides of March” (George Clooney), “Melancholia” (Lars von Trier), “Restless” (Gus van Sant). “Faust,” directed by Alexander Sokurov and the winner of the Berlinare and the Venice Festival’s Golden Lion, will also premiere at the festival.

This is undoubtedly LEFF’s best edition to date. It hosts a jury panel of world-renowned authors, such as Paul Auster and J.M. Coetzee, and will showcase the first images of Cronenberg’s “Cosmopolis,” starring Robert Pattinson. In addition, LEFF will also host several events simultaneously in some of Lisbon’s most iconic venues. The festival proves its versatility while dabbling in other areas, holding events specially aimed at college students, classes with Giamatti and Cronenberg, musical concerts, an international symposium on the future of the culture industries, ateliers, and several other exhibitions.

One of the main attractions of the festival is an exhibit on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which portrays the everyday life of a Palestinian village. The work is by photographer Kai Wiedenhöfer, winner of the first Carmignac Gestion Foundation Photojournalism Award.

If you happen to be in Lisbon in November 3 to November 14, be sure to check out LEFF. It is an event you don’t want to miss.

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The last day of Moda Lisboa was a continuity of a spectacular fashion show, Daniel Diniz, a Portuguese designer, started off with a different kind of show. Male models came down the catwalk in bathing trunks and started to dress up in front of the public. The summer collection of Diniz is based on white, gray, and ecru colors but includes Portuguese inspiration through tons of blue, connected to the traditional and famous decor of cities around Portugal. The clothes combined comfort and lightness for men the next summer.

The next collection, creations by Marques’Almeida, presented a relaxed and young look for women based on street style. The blue tones and white contrast were predominant in the oversized clothes with distinct silhouette mainly in denin, cotton and silk.

Following the schedule, Katty Xiomara brought a feminine collection inspired by butterflies to women, displayed through the movements and flow in dresses and skirts, colors, mainly orange, yellow, white, black, gray and nude tons, and marked belt. She offered an amazing show full of elegance and class for the next spring/summer season.

Glamour is without doubt the best word for the runway of Miguel Vieira. Men and women in preparation of an elegant trip were the inspiration of the designer. White was combined with gold details or in the case of the men’s wear, a colorful touch.

Aleksandar Protic brought black, marfin and red colors to women’s dress, playing with transparence and strong cuts. Sensual clothes with personality were presented this time and the audience was really impressed with this great collection.

The night continued and one of the most famous and anticipated designers, Nuno Gama, started off. His menswear collection showed high quality work and it could not be any different as his inspiration comes from ‘pleasures in life’. In an interview, he told to Toonari Post:

My inspiration is from my life, my friends, my family, my Portugal, my travels, my experience. (..) The secret is just to stay in love and then I have the joy and pleasure to work and bring this to the clothes.

Nuno Gama collection left the public breathless and was strongly applauded by everybody.

Ricardo Dourado presented a sport deluxe collection for both men and women. It was a street style in black, gray and white with interesting cuts. For men, once more the fake skirts were aired for the next summer. Cotton gave the touch of comfort and free movement to his collection.

Closing this 2011 edition of Moda Lisboa, the last designer Dino Alves came with an overload of lace and embroidery combined with strong colors. His idea is new romantic and new chic. He is famous for inspiring new trends and we believe he did it again.

The Moda Lisboa Fashion Week 2011 is over but the gorgeous trends for the next spring/summer was graciously shown in this great event by the remarkable designers.

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Practice makes perfection as they say and, the third day of Moda Lisboa Fashion Week proved the point. It was superb: great designer, stunning runways, an explosion of emotions inside clothes.

The tight schedule of showing so many ideas and creative expressions took its beginning with Say My Name, trying to emulate Sophia Loren in the 50s as a tech blogger. The audience was divided on the outcome of this experiment but beyond this, everyone seemed satisfied with the combination of colors and lines.

Afterwards for the widely expecting menswear, Ricardo Andrez brought his collection of black, grey and pastel tones with good shapes and designs. You can easily identify his work due to the strategical placements of nude skin which facilitate better movement in the garment while at the same time, offering a cool and alternative style to men.

The following show was explained in the passionate words of its creator — Filipe Faísca told Toonari Post the reason why he choose to create emotion instead of just clothes:

My inspiration for this collection first is the movie of Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life — full of images about cosmos, explosions, grace and movement where I wanted put the woman’s body and transport it to the feminine universe. Following, [it is] also based in my desire to bring color and life to Portugal, [inspired by] such amazing beaches and [the] long summer and mainly having in mind my biggest goal: to see the pleasure of a woman dressed my clothes. (…) Each model was made one by one in my atelier for I [want to] be sure about how special [it] will be in the end.

The audience was stunned by the high level of creativity, movement and femininity oozing from Filipe’s collection. It was one of the highlights of the night for sure.

Lidija Kolovrat also offered a colorful show, dressing the women in transparent and light materials that gave the audience the feeling of lightness and joyful ease while simultaneously conveying elegance. It was possible to take in her presentation in two stages; the first moment of serenity through her black and pastel tones and afterwards, a colorful burst filled with animal-, shape- and line-print fabrics.

It had been a long day of breathtaking runway, but it didn’t fase Dawid Tomaszewski who had prepared a sophisticated collection with pink in different shades, combined with classic nude. His inspiration is based on flowers and the transitory cycle of life, where the end is the beginning and with this he went from light pink to strong pink and also included shimmery materials. Elegancy would be the best adjective to describe his wonderful pieces.

Changing the structure of the day a bit, Adidas hit the runway with great energy and power. The sportswear company showed a clean and casual line followed by an American-influenced, urban jungle style. The Performance Collection was dedicated to runners and other training needs as well as sports like football and tennis. Men and women were walking with confidence, showing the power and versatility of the collection.

White Tent brought back the classic and delicate energy to Moda Lisboa, presenting their designs inspired by architecture and minimalist details. The predominance of nude tones paired with silhouettes was marked by different proportions and was a tasteful pleasure to the appreciation of the audience. There were a few dashes of royal blue, green, orange and metallic silver coming up in the collection but they helped uphold a harmony in the final product. It is definitely worth checking our piece by piece.

The last designer of the night, Nuno Baltazar, dressed his models in his collection called MA DAME — a cosmopolitan and dynamic style of dress. The pieces were both urban and feminine, clean and elaborated, with special details such as geometric lines, accessories and formal elements. The final collection of the day received a standing ovation and deserved it.

Now, it is just a nights wait for the last day of this long weekend of exquisite catwalk which has brought great life to the warm Lisbon and at the same time delivered good taste and wonderful designs to the world.

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Starting the second day at Moda Lisboa, FASHION should be the most used word in Portugal and the young Portuguese designer Vitor matched it by offering a collection full of energy, inspired by gipsy culture and style.

He talked about his secret with Toonari Post:

“It’s a really personal project, comes from my wardrobe, comes from the clothes that I use to wear (…) and I worked on top of that and I gave a very new understanding for the bio. (…) In my case is biographical, so, is everything part of me.”

There’s no doubt about his great energy in his collection. And to the ones curious to know more about him, Vitor will soon launch a book about himself, a novel matching truth and lies.

After Vitor, another great designer brought color to the catwalk: Ricardo Preto, with a stunning harmony between clothes and women. The models were almost flying on the runway. Pink, black, blue, floral, transparence and lightness made Ricardo Preto’s collection beautifully feminine. The next summer is gonna be really well designed.

The collections far had increased the audience’s expectations, but the next Portuguese designer Luis Buchinho was definitely ready to bring on surprises. With his take on the colors for the next summer, Luis Buchinho combined the tropical tones of sun and palms with an elegant antique touch. The texture of the pieces on his models reminded us of warriors with the metallic protection under the armor, but this collection comes with decorative colors and ropes, infusing the clothes with a playful spirit.

The night’s international touch came from Brazil with Cia Maritima — their line of beachwear foresees a chic-cool summer where it is possible to realize the combination between comfort and fancy details. The presenters said that the goal is to reproduce the beauty of the summer nature in elegant beachwear, and this was surely reached.

Finishing the day with a golden key, Ana Salazar — famous designer and one of the most anticipated of the event — presented a stunning collection. Differing from the evening’s previous colorful shows, she played with geometric shapes and volumes using a color palette composed of black, white, and nude skin tones. It was the positive breakdown of the night.

Once again, we’re looking forward to tomorrow. Until then, check out the Moda Lisboa pictures and the trends of next summer from the designers and also the super creative audience who is making this fashion week one big event in Lisbon.

The article Moda Lisboa Fashion Week – Live Day Two appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Yesterday, the sunny Lisbon welcomed the 20th Fashion Week Edition and the Portuguese Designers will have until October 9^th to show their creativity and perspective for next summer.

The event started with “Os Burgueses” bringing forward a pale lavender pink, grey and white with lightness and movement. The goal was to offer a casual style but with a touch of classical twist. “Os Burgueses” has increased the expectations and the curiosity about what will come during the next days.

Afterwards it was time for Alexandra Moura to present her collection full of lines, different materials, light colors combined with strong green and black. She offered different cuts for women and men, and for last she played with half-skirts, to the great surprise and attention of everybody.

Pedro Pedro, the next designer of the night, played with colors and embroidery by combining inspiration of classic sportswear from the 50’s with medieval style. It’s possible to find a lot of colors but mainly neutral tones and special details on the back stood out.

On the schedule for ModaLisboa’s first night, Maria Gambina showed a delightful collection of women dressed in white, Chantilly, camel, green and black plus special shapes, making it possible cover skin without touching it. She strategically left spots uncovered, giving the collection a sensual touch without being vulgar — it showed in her carefully crafted collection of t-shirts and dresses. Speaking of her men’s design, it was clean and light, offering an exclusive selection of short shorts.

To finalize the first day of runway, Alves/Gonçalves showed an amazing collection that wooed a lot of people with stunning dresses sure to deliver glamour to its wearer. They played with a strong pink and different shapes and volumes, while at the same time allowing tight fit. Their collection was glamorous and offered something unique to a broad range of tastes.

Besides the main attraction, the public also managed to deliver a beautiful sight. What you could see was an explosion of style and creativity, proving that people were up to the task of being their own professional designer. Hair, clothes, accessories and attitude were walking around the area and gave such a special touch to the event. The first day of Moda Lisboa had people looking excited and thrilled to see what would come up next this weekend.

Paulo Meixedo and Filipe Fangueiro, directors of the men’s fashion magazine DSECTION, distributed around Europe, New York and Brazil, spoke with Toonari Post about their perspective of Moda Lisboa:

“I think Lisbon Fashion Week is still small, but starts growing day after day (..) I am waiting for the next days. I guess if we give our market a chance to grow, of course people start to do more creative things. We are not so big as Paris or London, but it is already 20 years and in the right path (..) We are waiting to see a men catwalk, and then think about the Spring/Summer Edition to use international and Portuguese designers in our magazine.”

On the second day, designers Vitor, Ricardo Preto, Luís Buchinho, Ana Salazar and the Cia. Maritima will take the stage. For more details, please return for next update.

The article Moda Lisboa Fashion Week – Spring/Summer 2012: Live Day One appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Soon after the so-called end of the depression period in the global economy, at a time when the global economy started a weak recovery, a more complex economic phenomenon emerged as the next bellwether to world economy.

Since 2009, the European economy has been struggling with slow economic growth rate and indomitable debt crisis that led to political disturbance in some countries of Europe. The crisis has dragged these economics back in to recession.

Years of heavy, unprecedented government spending in Greece and other countries of the Euro zone, led governments to go beyond available budgetary resources, and rely solely on borrowing to finance expenditures. This produced a series of risks to these economies and financial systems as a whole.

Leading economists warned that European debt crisis could spread across the continent in a major blow to the single currency system; further, the International Monetary Fund said turmoil in Greece, Ireland and Portugal may engulf the wider Euro zone despite billions of Euros already spent in emergency aid so far.

In an attempt to reduce dangerously rising levels of debt and forced and deep painful cuts in public expenditure — less government spending — drove up unemployment and put several nations back into recession. Many economists around the world claim that such immediate spending cuts are self-defeating in nature.

After much struggle in 2010 the EU and IMF combined to offer Greece a bailout package of 110 Billion Euros, followed by a broader contingency fund of 500 billion Euros. But the new loans came with the effect of austerity measures that apparently demanded a ceiling on public expenditure leading to widespread protests and political uncertainty in Ireland and Portugal.

Recently, the prime minister of Portugal said the government decided to ask the European Commission for financial help. According to economists, Portugal needs financial aid to the size of 80 Billion Euros.

After Greece and Ireland, Portugal became the third financially troubled country in the Euro zone to request financial assistance from Europe’s Bailout Fund and the IMF.

The era of financial trauma in the Euro zone began in December 2009, after newly elected Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou announced that his predecessors had hidden the actual size of the massive budget deficit. In a bid to regain the lost confidence in the region, the IMF urged European leaders to fix the banking problems and slash national deficits that have undoubtly led to stringent austerity measures.

Economists also say that strong policy responses so far that led to the weakening of Greek, Irish and Portuguese economies have contained the fear to some degree. However, markets are uncertain about the Greece capacity to pay back its debt of 285 million pounds, or $463.95.

As of now, Greece has more than 300 billion Euros of debt constituting to a sum of 140 percent of its total GDP. Recently, the EU and IMF Agreed to a 110 billion Euro bailout. According to Jose Manuel of the European Central Bank, a default would have extreme adverse consequences for the Greek economy.

Knud Nielsen / Shutterstock.com

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Remember all the excitement? Remember all the hype? I know I do. I was twelve years old sitting by the mailbox waiting to get that letter. The piece of paper that says, I officially joined the Freddy Adu Fan club. Exclusive Fan club membership came with an Adu, DC United, sticker and a signed 8X10 picture of the 14 year old prodigy; it was kind of a big deal to say the least. Freddy Adu was a legend before he even stepped on the field. He was what was going to make soccer in American cool; he was the savior.  Adu was the youngest player ever to play in a professional game, and just a week later; the youngest to ever score a professional goal. On top of that, the kid just landed a date with the, then, hottest chick in Hollywood, JoJo. Could things get any better for good ole Freddy? All that was back in 2004. Eight years later, people are asking themselves…Freddy who?

Adu kind of, well no he completely, fell off the map after his rise to fame as the youngest professional player at just the age of 14. After two years with DC United, Adu left the team to join Real Salt Lake of the MLS.  His short MLS success led him to leave American soccer and head to Portugal to play with Benefica. His name in the public eye seemed to leave with him when Adu fled the country for Portugal’s second tier of leagues. Seven years out of the spot light and two years off the US soccer radar, it was evident that Freddy “Bust” Adu would forever be a “has been”.

Hearing last month, that Adu was on United State’s Gold Cup roster, brought out a few laughs. Hey, the little man might increase ratings or even be a solid marketing scheme. The constant camera shots of Adu’s bench warming abilities have been a great conversation piece for US supporters across the nation. That’s all Adu was for the first four U.S. Gold cup games; a bench warmer.

Oh how things change in a matter of minutes. In the Gold Cup semifinals the U.S. and coach Bob Bradley were on their last leg during a 0-0 tie with surging Panama. The US looked flat and desperate for revival when the 65^th minute came around. The US needed a surge from the bench and here comes….wait who is that? Freddy Adu? He still plays? These words came out of the mouths of thousands of Americans, shocked at the sight of seeing the once prodigy trot onto the field. Desperation must have been so much worse for the United States then anyone could have thought. We’re turning to Freddy Adu to win in the semifinals? We’re hopeless.

Adu sprinted onto the field and went directly to fellow substitute and Captain, Landon Donovan and whispered a few sweet nothings in his ear. “Hey Landon, uh what do I do? It’s been awhile since people have watched me play”.  Quickly, Adu was immersed right into the action; receiving passes out of the midfield and distributing them effectively.  Can he actually play?…Wiggling through defenders and creating a presence in the midfield, the shock heard around the soccer world is quickly becoming Freddy Adu. No way, it can’t be, he was washed up at 16. It was in the 75^th minute when the tables turned and Freddy mania was officially revived.

Ten minutes from when he came onto the pitch, Adu made a dazzling, left footed, pass from the midfield to Landon Donovan. Donovan then set up Clint Dempsey for the game winner with a beautiful pass along the six yard box. The United States ended up winning 1-0 on the goal. The once savior of American soccer, Freddy Adu, had finally lived up to his once superhero persona. Adu saved the day and played remarkably.

Freddy Adu resembled the spark and allure he did just seven years ago when he first stepped on to the pitch as a professional. Was it just one good game? We’ll soon find out, but it seems Freddy Adu could just be what U.S. soccer has been looking for and what Bob Bradley needs to save his job. Freddy mania is back.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/50322345@N02/

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Amidst Renaissance-era churches and crumbling tile facades, a colossal stone structure hovers unassumingly. Completed in 2005, the Casa de Musica in Porto, Portugal symbolizes a fight that is not unique to the miniscule country, but one that is strongly highlighted there. It is the fight against time, a desire to stay relevant beneath the weighty shadow of the Big 5, the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council in a rapidly globalizing environment. The Casa de Musica is an innovative concert hall in the Porto’s historical center, the Rotunda da Boavista, contracted in 1999 after the city received the European Culture Capital award.  The mastermind of the project, Rem Koolhaas, sought to connect the old and new and public and private facets of the city that have long divided it.

“Through both continuity and contrast, the park on the Rotunda da Boavista, after our intervention, is no longer a mere hinge between the old and the new Porto, but it becomes a positive encounter of two different models of the city” states Rem Koolhaas, the architect in charge of the project.

The 22.000 m2 structure has spaces that not only showcase the talent of the Porto Philharmonic Orchestra to the privileged few, but grand staircases, bars, and terraces that support public concerts and experience.

The city of Porto is one that traces millennia of conflict and change. Historic references from as early as the 4th century and Roman times have been discovered, and remnants of ancient Celtic citadels have been found in the city center. The Condado de Portucale, or county of Portugal, was officially established in 868 a.d., and given away as royal dowry in 1095. This next several hundred years saw the evolution of the city from a small provincial state into an industrialized nation and little sister of England. The city felt the might of the Moors and Napoleon, and has been torn apart numerous times by civil war, and yet a Cicada Invicta, the Unvanquished City, still stands.

Today, the city’s ports continue to export the namesake port wine that has been its primary commodity for centuries. However, the economic state of the country is taking its toll on its inhabitants. Nearly bankrupt, Portugal is desperately trying to avoid the fate befallen on Greece and Ireland. The last two decades have brought woe in the form of Chinese textile competition and falling wage rates, and the ripple effects are evident. However, some marks of wealth still manage to squeeze by in a heavily stratified society. In Porto, one room shacks occupied by the families of a nearly extinct class of fisherman are sandwiched between artfully designed glass houses worth millions along the coast. The old world fights for its relevance amidst the punctuated wealth of capitalism.

When I visited the country of my ancestral origin, I knew nothing of its rich history or what to expect at all. I was gratefully swept away by my amiable cousins to my great-aunt’s estate in the country side, obtained by her through marriage. The central building is a formidable stone one, built in 1895 amidst grape vines and fruit trees. The land used to act as a functioning vineyard and the first floor of the abode a wine cellar, but now they have fallen into disuse. The rest of the home features relics from generations past, like a step back in time. The estate rests merely 20 minutes outside the city by car, but the rural area seems far from real.

Back in the urban center of Porto, I visited several apartments of relatives and friends, and was stricken by the similarity of them all. The exterior of the buildings all featured a characteristic apparent dilapidation, as though centuries of conflict had left a layer of grime over the whole city (later I was to find out that this gray aura was due to the type of stone the city was built out of, the local granite).  This contrasted clearly with the interior design of every apartment, which was clean cut and modern. Sharp edges and metallic finish support sumptuous dark hardwood detailing. This juxtaposition of the primeval and the modern will always leave its mark on me, a reminder of lost time and lost memories that will never truly fade into the woodwork.

Consequently, of every country I have visited heretofore in Europe, Portugal seems the least Americanized – the country still clutches its heritage and many residents do not speak English. Perhaps, that is an unfair standard to level a country to when analyzing its industrial relevance, but it is a valid misconception in today’s media saturated world. Portugal, and the city of Porto itself must continue to evolve, or face extinction.

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Portuguese Government is likely to step down in the upcoming months as the announcement of a new austerity package (PEC IV), hours before the last Friday EU leaders meeting in Brussels, has been causing an enormous unrest in the country, analysts say.

The Portuguese President, Anibal Cavaco Silva, and the opposition parties were not informed of such measures until Friday. José Sócrates, The Portuguese Prime Minister, is now criticized for having prepared the new package, along with the European Central Bank and the European Commission, without consulting the President and the other parties.

Pedro Passos Coelho, leader of the major opposition party, has said that would vote against this new package in the Parliament. The other parties have also opposed to it, the Portuguese press reported.

The new package, called PEC IV, comes after three packages that had already introduced tough cut deficit measures. PEC IV asks for even more efforts from Portuguese families that have been doing serious sacrifices, paying more taxes and receiving less social benefits.

“This new package is cruel for elderly people with low income pensions. In my view Sócrates has committed a tremendous mistake as he left the President, the Parliament and other stakeholders apart of the negotiations with the European Union. The political stability is now in danger and this does not help to calm down the markets”, said Professor Marcel Rebelo de Sousa on TVI news.

The PEC IV has been imposed by European Union in order for Portugal to benefit from the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). During last Friday’s meeting, Europeans Leaders decided that these funds, which values 440 billion euros, would be available to buy bonds from countries that cannot afford anymore the current high interest rates. The European Leaders also decided to lower the interest rates on Greece bailout loans by 1 per cent and extend the maturity to ease the burden.

This political crisis can prevent Portugal from benefiting of the European Financial Stability Facility, since to access this financial mechanism the country needs to commit itself to the PEC IV.

If the Portuguese Government steps down before the conclusion of the European negotiations regarding the bailout fund, the country will not have access to it. Therefore, it will stay more and more vulnerable to the markets and the result might be the bankrupt, a European diplomat said.

Today, José Sócrates called together all the ministers for an extraordinary meeting. The agenda was not revealed.

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