The standard tourist film about a country or city often seems to inform but at the same time lull the viewer into a gentle slumber. It’s often hard to remember the main points—and main attractions—the film has tried to bring to our attention. The problem is usually too much information in too short a time span. The documentary Mana mīļa Rīga (My Beloved Rīga) certainly does not fall into this category.

Director Laima Žurgina’s film was first released in 2004 and now is available on DVD.

The film is two hours long, so it has plenty of time to elaborate on specific themes. These give the viewer a good insight into various aspects of Rīga. There’s “Art Nouveau Rīga” and “Historical Rīga”, both with commentaries by experts; “Rīga’s Beautiful Cemeteries,” with commentary provided by a gravedigger; and the nation’s symbol , the Freedom Monument. The unhurried flow and sincerity of these commentaries, coupled with background music that blends in perfectly with each theme, make the title of the DVD seem fitting. One more added bonus is good-quality English subtitles, a detail that can often make or break a product.

Other clips show Rīga’s unique and memorable celebrations such as the seasonal Zāļu tirgus (herb and grass market) in the Dome Square the day before Midsummer Night and the annual arts and crafts fair at the Open-air Ethnographic Museum just outside Rīga during the first weekend in June. These two occasions show the nation’s love for tradition, both in terms of celebrating specific festivities as well as the continuation of centuries’ old traditions of embroidery, knitting, weaving, ceramics and other local handicrafts.The hope is that these folkloric legacies will remain with the Latvians for decades to come and cosmopolitanism will not take over.

Interviews with the architects of the new Hansabanka building, Saules akmens, as well as the architect responsible for the total revamp of Rīga Airport show Rīga’s contemporary new face and the direction that Rīga is heading in the 21st century. A fairly lengthy section devoted to a street festival may seem to drag, but it does show Rīgans relaxing and is a welcome break from the more serious parts of this documentary.

Scenes depict famous Rīga-born celebrities such as Gidon Kremer and the Kremerata Baltica, Olympic javelin-thrower Jānis Lūsis and his son Voldemārs, and artist Kristaps Zariņš—all in some way expressing their pride in their hometown and the emotional ties that bind them to the place. A Russian Orthodox Easter Mass, the opening ceremony of the Jewish Ghettos Memorial in Rumbula, the Latvian Song Festival and enthusiastic hockey fans celebrating Latvia’s win in a game all effectively depict the multicultural microcosm that is Rīga.

You catch the feeling that Rīga is in a state of flux. The film has no pompous attempt to exaggerate Rīga’s attractions nor an undertone of apologising for its shabbiness and neglect as a result of Latvia’s Soviet legacy. Emphasis is on the future, on Rīga’s dynamic changing nature and the possibilities that lie ahead.

After seeing this documentary you feel intrigued by Rīga and its diversity. The fim provides just enough information to raise a potential tourist’s interest level. For those who have just been to Rīga the film will give a bit more of an insight into what makes this city tick. The cinematography also helps shape the film. Subtle changes to the standard format—architecture, history, nature shots—couple with unusual angles, the use of narrative by local experts and a general feeling that the film has not been merely commissioned but created by professionals with a strong sense of pride in their city, make Mana mīļa Rīga stand out from other films of this genre. Rīga, and Latvia in general, would benefit if more people would use their creative skills with this positive aim in mind.

While visiting or living in Rīga, you’re bound to lift your head skywards to admire the architectural masterpieces that dot the central skyline: the Old Town church spires, the Freedom Monument, the television tower or maybe the Soviet-style Academy of Sciences.

But the architecture that usually makes tourists’ jaws drop is Jugendstils or Art Nouveau, a style from the turn of the previous century (1880-1910) characterised by free-flowing forms and use of organic shapes in facades, such as human figures and animals. Art Nouveau is not only visible in whole buildings and their sculpted reliefs but also in stained glass windows, wrought iron gates and doorknobs, interior stencils and other ornamental design features.

Rīga is said to have the largest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings in the world. Forty percent of the buildings in central Rīga are Art Nouveau structures, with Alberta iela being the grand dame of this particular style.

Where on the Web can you glean more information about this historical architectural style? A good place to start is Photo Collection Art Nouveau Lettonie, a great gallery showing the various ways this style has been incorporated into the facades of Rīga’s buildings.

For guides to the must-see streets for Art Nouveau architecture have a look at Riga municipality portal. Another brief description is available at the Latvian Culture Vortal. It’s also worth reading a Wikipedia entry about the leading architect of this era in Latvia, Mikhail Eisenstein, and a Rīgas Balss article about the leading street, Alberta iela, republished on the Web site of the Rīga Graduate School of Law.

After 50 years of neglect under Soviet occupation, the restoration of Rīga’s architecture from the previous centuries is well underway. Simultaneously a new Riga is being shaped. Many old buildings are simply torn down and replaced by new mirrored glass structures.

In the planning stages are three new controversial projects estimated to cost in the millions of lats to build. These will change the skyline of downtown Rīga forever. The responsibility for the planning and construction of these new structures lies with a state agency, Jaunie trīs brāļi (The New Three Brothers), led by construction engineer Zigurds Magone. Gaismas pils (Castle of Light), the new home of the Latvian National Library is to be located on the left bank of the River Daugava based on a project designed by U.S.-based Latvian architect Gunārs Birkerts. The Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, is envisaged to be built by literally encapsulating the existing TEC (thermoelectric central) building on Andrejsala, located to the north of central Rīga on the right bank of the River Daugava. The third project, the new acoustic Concert Hall, is to be constructed on AB dam, directly opposite the Old Town.

If all of these new mega-projects come to fruition, then Rīga will be able to take pride in not only the architectural achievements of the previous centuries but of this century as well.

Hey ho, hey ho, a-mushrooming we go… Autumn in the northern hemisphere comes Sept. 22. The weather is cooling and the intermittent rain has caused the annual mushroom explosion.

In Latvia, every man and his dog—as well as women and children—seem to be out in the woods on the weekend, excitedly filling their baskets and buckets to the brim with these delicacies from Mother Nature. Everyone seems to have their own secret picking spot, news of which they refuse to share with anyone.

In Latvia, markets and roadsides are full of avid mushroom pickers, keen to earn some money for their efforts. For some elderly folk, this is their seasonal income-earner, a supplement to their meagre pension.

Do you want to go mushrooming in Latvia but have no idea what to look for? Would you love to go for a foray in the woods but are still hesitant, knowing that your knowledge in this area is limited? The Internet can come to the rescue, so you don’t accidentally poison yourself and your loved ones after a fun day of mushroom picking.

What’s edible?

For those keen on mycology and the more botanical explanations regarding these wonders of nature that are so abundant in fall, then Latvijas sēnes, part of the Latvijas daba Web site, is a good place to start. Here you can also study photographs of the edible mushrooms and also those you should definitely avoid. Another pictorial catalog of only the poisonous varieties of mushroom is available from Latvijas indigie augi un sēnes, a site hosted by the Latvian Education Informatization System.

Cooking with mushrooms

So now you’ve been to the forest, had a great day hunting, found the right varieties (and double-checked with a friend in the know) and you’re keen to prepare a feast to remember. Where to now? Turn to the section on mushroom dishes on Receptes.lv for a range of recipes from simple (mushrooms, butter, cream, salt, pepper) to more upmarket ones that involve more effort. The Web site Cāļa virtuve has recipes for various mushroom soups.

Marinades

What if you’ve had such a great day mushrooming that you don’t know what to do with your “harvest”? Why not marinate them? Marinade recipes can be be found on Delfi and on Receptes.lv. Cāļa virtuve has one especially for sviesta bekas.

In the forums

Over the years Latvians Online forum readers have touched on the topic of mushrooms. To search for mushrooms in the forums, go into the Latvian Culture and Cooking Forum and type “mushrooms” into the search function. You will find quite a few discussions on this topic.