Calendar of events

Colorado

ALA sponsors Culture Days

The American Latvian Association (ALA) sponsors Culture Days (Kultūras dienas) from Feb. 12-14 in the Latvian Culture Center of Colorado, 10705 W. Virginia Ave., Lakewood. The program includes a presentation by Juris Mežinskis, chair of the ALA; information on Latvian language and education programs; displays of Latvian crafts; a Saturday dance with the Lithuanian band Kolorado Vabalai, and a ski outing to Winter Park. For further information, visit www.coloradolatvians.com.

Illinois

Valentine’s dance set in Chicago

A Valentine’s Dance (Sirsniņu balle) hosted by the American Latvian Youth Association (Amerikas latviešu jaunatnes apvienība, or ALJA) is scheduled at 8 p.m. Feb. 12 at the home of Kārlis Lenšs, 1528 North Halsted St., Unit A, Chicago. Admission for ALJA members is USD 20. For further information, visit the event’s Facebook page.

Wisconsin

‘Meteņi’ end of winter celebration at Dievsēta

Celebrate Meteņi—the end of winter and beginning of spring—from Feb. 13-14 at Dievsēta, 19264 Bittersweet Road, Warrens. Guests will arrive early in the day on Saturday to decorate and go sledding down the hills. A traditional dinner will be served, followed by singing and dancing. Rustic accommodations are available, but must be requested in advance. For information about prices and to register, write to Gunta Pone at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). For more information about Dievsēta and traditional Latvian holidays, visit www.dievseta.org.

Germany

Skyforger performs in Gießen

The pagan metal band Skyforger performs Feb. 13 during the Winterfire Festival in the Hessenhalle, August-Balzer-Weg 18, Gießen. For further information, visit www.burningstage.net.

Maryland

Valentine’s Day dance

The annual Sirsniņu Balle (Valentine’s Day Dance) hosted by the American Latvian Youth Association is set for 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Latvian Center of Washington, D.C., 400 Hurley Ave., Rockville. Admission for association members is USD 20. For further details, visit the event’s Facebook page.

Queensland

Zigrīdas Kalpi performs in Brisbane

The folk music ensemble Zigrīdas Kalpi performs at 2 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Court, Buranda. For further information, visit the group’s MySpace page.

Queensland

Brisbane Latvian Society to celebrate 60 years

The Brisbane Latvian Society will celebrate its 60th anniversary beginning at 15:00 hours Feb. 20 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda.

California

Latvian center members to meet

A general meeting of the membership of the Latvian Community Center of Southern California (Dienvidkalifornijas latviešu sabiedriskais centrs) is scheduled at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 21 in the Latvian Community Center, 1955 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles.

California

Northern California association meets in San Francisco

The annual meeting of the Northern California Latvian Association (Ziemeļkalifornijas latviešu biedrība) is scheduled at 1 p.m. Feb. 21 in the Latvian Lutheran Church of Northern California, 425 Hoffman Ave., San Francisco.

Queensland

Zolīte afternoon in Brisbane

The Brisbane chapter of Daugavas Vanagi hosts an afternoon of playing the card game zolīte at 13:00 hours Feb. 27 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. Participation costs AUD 5 and all are welcome.

Queensland

Kalpaks memorial in Brisbane

The Brisbane Daugavas Vanagi will commemorate Col. Oskars Kalpaks and the Latvian Legion at 15:00 hours March 6 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. Admission is by donation.

Ontario

ŠMIJ set for Toronto

The annual Šī māksla ir jauna (ŠMIJ) art festival is scheduled March 11-14 in Toronto. For further details, visit www.lnjak.org, the home page of the Latvian National Youth Association in Canada (Latviešu nacionālā jauniešu apvienība Kanādā).

Queensland

Poetry afternoon to honor Kārlis Skalbe

S. and V. Gertners will host a poetry afternoon featuring the life and works of Kārlis Skalbe at 14:00 hours March 13 at 17 Mukine St., Jindalee. This event is free of charge, but participants should register by calling +61 (07) 3376 0696.

United Kingdom

Brainstorm at The Borderline

Latvian pop band Brainstorm (Prāta Vētra) performs at 7 p.m. March 15 in The Borderline, Orange Yard (off Manette Street), London. For further information, visit venues.meanfiddler.com.

United Kingdom

Spring celebration set for Straumēni

A spring celebration is scheduled March 20 at the Straumēni rest home in Catthorpe. The program includes a presentation on the history of Latvian immigration into Britain and a concert by Ireland’s Latvian dance group Karbunkulis and the choir eLVē. After the program, the band Ock n Dough will provide dance music.

Wisconsin

Spring equinox to be celebrated at Dievsēta

Celebrate the spring equinox—Lieldienas—from March 20-21 at Dievsēta, 19264 Bittersweet Ave., Warrens. On Saturday guests will color eggs, hang a swing and prepare for the next day’s activities. On Sunday morning everybody wakes before the sunrise in order to greet the sun with songs, swinging and a festive breakfast. For more information and to arrange for lodging contact Ilze Klaviņa at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). For more information about Dievsēta and traditional Latvian holidays, visit www.dievseta.org.

Queensland

Zolīte afternoon in Brisbane

The Brisbane chapter of Daugavas Vanagi hosts an afternoon of playing the card game zolīte at 13:00 hours March 20 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. Participation costs AUD 5 and all are welcome.

New South Wales

Zigrīdas Kalpi performs in Sydney

The folk music ensemble Zigrīdas Kalpi performs at 2 p.m. March 21 in the Sydney Latvian House, 32 Parnell St., Strathfield. For further information, visit the group’s MySpace page.

Queensland

Lecture to focus on Freedom Monument

Ausma Bļodniece will speak at a Brisbane Literary Society event at 14:00 hours March 27 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. Her lecture is titled “The Battle Over the Freedom Monument from 1920 Onward.” Admission is by donation.

Queensland

Daugavas Vanagi representative speaks in Brisbane

Solvita Sekste, a representative of the Daugavas Vanagi organization in Latvia, will address the Brisbane Latvian community at 14:00 hours March 28 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. She will speak about the use in Latvia of donations from Australia.

Austria

Skyforger performs in Vienna

The pagan metal band Skyforger performs during the Vienna in War II festival in a concert beginning at 20:00 hours April 2 in Szene, Hauffgasse 26, Vienna. For further information, visit www.szenewien.com.

Czech Republic

Skyforger performs in Ostrava

The pagan metal band Skyforger performs April 3 in Klub Prostor, Havlíčkovo nábřeží 28, Slezská Ostrava. For further information, visit www.prostor-tancirna.net.

California

ALA kongress notiks Sanfrancisko

Amerikas latviešu apvienības 59. kongress notiks no 30. aprīļa līdz 2. maijam San Francisco Airport Embassy Suites, 250 Gateway Blvd., South San Francisco. Sīkāku informāciju meklējiet apvienības mājas lapā, www.alausa.org.