VILNIUS - In Your Pocket

Not surprisingly for a capital city there’s a lot of culture to
be had in Vilnius including some cracking classical music,
a bit of worthy contemporary art and the occasional faded
Western rock star.
Arts & Crafts
Amatų Gildija B-4, Pranciškonų 6, tel. (+370) 5 212
05 20, www.amatugildija.lt. The ceramic artist Mindaugas
Rutkauskas is almost completely blind yet manages to produce
some great ceramics from classic earthenware crockery
to complete ceramic stoves. He shares this workshop with
several other artists. Feel free to have a look around. Most
of the work on display is for sale. Also at S. Skapo 3 - 34.
QOpen 11:00 - 19:00. Closed Mon, Sun. J
Jonas Bugailiškis Art Studio C-5, Aušros Vartų 17-
10, tel. (+370) 652 366 13. A local mini-celebrity knocking
out all manner of fabulous wooden eccentricities based on a
combination of traditional Lithuanian folk art and the contents
of a very unique mind. Q By appointment only. J
Meno Niša A-3, J. Basanavičiaus 1/13, tel. (+370) 5
231 38 11, www.menonisa.lt. Art to hang on your body
as opposed to your wall, this combined gallery and workshop
presents some of the best examples of the work of Lithuanian
goldsmiths. QOpen 12:00 - 18:00, Sat 12:00 - 16:00.
Closed Mon, Sun. J
Molio Laumė A-4/5, Naugarduko 20, tel. (+370) 699
424 56, www.ceramics.w3.lt. The ancient art of black
ceramics brought to life inside this intriguing little hands-on
gallery. Buy examples of the craft or attend one of their regular
workshops. QOpen 14:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. J
Tautodailininko Dirbtuvė G-4, J. Basanavičiaus 29, tel.
(+370) 687 906 50, www.klaidaspapercuts.lt. Folk artist
Klaidas Navickas works as a lawyer during the day and creates
some exquisite works of art using just a scalpel and piece of
paper in his spare time. Known in Lithuanian as karpiniai,
this old craft, which has been used to decorate homes during
special celebrations for centuries, is available for sale, or
with patience and a steady hand you can learn how to do it
yourself. Q Open 17:00 - 20:00, Fri 16:00 - 19:00. Sat, Sun
call in advance.
Užupio Galerija D-3, Užupio 3-1, tel. (+370) 5 231 23
18, www.uzupiogalerija.lt. A tiny gallery dealing in exclusive
metal and enamel works from a range of Lithuanian artists. A
combined workshop and gallery, you’ll usually find somebody
working there, who’ll be only too pleased to explain what
they’re up to. QOpen 11:00 - 18:00, Sat 11:00 - 16:00.
Closed Mon, Sun. JA
Užupio Kalvystės Galerija - Muziejus I-4, Užupio 26,
tel. (+370) 687 512 55, www.vilniauskalviai.lt. A small
working gallery dedicated to the art of the blacksmith. Watch
people at work, buy something as a unique gift or souvenir or
ask about their regular workshops. QOpen 10:30 - 18:30,
Sat 10:30 - 16:00. Closed Mon, Sun.
Cinemas
Films are usually shown in their original language with
Lithuanian subtitles.
Forum Cinemas Vingis G-4, Savanorių 7, tel. 1567,
www.forumcinemas.lt. Mostly popular Hollywood films
inside a dedicated multiplex close to the city centre. Also at
Ozo 25 (Akropolis). QOpen 10:30 - 22:00.
Multikino H-1, Ozo 18 (Ozas), tel. (+370) 5 219 53 78,
www.multikino.lt. Hollywood blockbusters inside a large
shopping centre. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00.
Pasaka B-3, Šv. Ignoto 4/3, tel. (+370) 5 261 15 16,
www.kinopasaka.lt. A compact Old Town cinema specialising
in predominantly independent and/or arthouse films
vilnius.inyourpocket.com
Culture
from a wide range of directors including Woody Allen and the
interesting Lithuanian film maker Janina Lapinskaitė. J
Skalvija H-3, A. Goštauto 2/15, tel. (+370) 5 261 05
05, www.skalvija.lt. The best place in the city for arthouse
and underground cinema and meeting people who like it in
the attached café-bar. J
Concert halls
Lithuanian Music & Theatre Academy (Lietuvos
Muzikos ir Teatro Akademija) G-3, Gedimino 42, tel.
(+370) 5 261 26 91, www.lmta.lt. The place to come and
see performances by the cream of the country’s next generation
of professional musicians. Concerts including established
performers and conductors from Lithuania and abroad also
take place here from time to time. J
Lithuanian National Philharmonic (Lietuvos
Nacionalinė Filharmonija) C-5, Aušros Vartų 5, tel.
(+370) 5 266 52 33, www.nationalphilharmonic.eu.
Featuring a concert hall and a smaller chamber hall, the
Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra was established in
1940. Concerts are performed by a range of ensembles including
the aforementioned orchestra as well as the Čiurlionis
String Quartet and the chamber ensemble Musica Humana
to name but a few. Q Box office open 10:00 - 19:00, Sun
10:00 - 12:00. Closed Mon. JA
Piano.lt B-4, Trakų 9/1 (entrance on Kėdainių), tel.
(+370) 5 203 28 91, www.piano.lt. Hidden away down an
Old Town backstreet, this small concert hall arranges concerts
of many types including classical and jazz. J
Pramogų Arena E-2, Ąžuolyno 9, tel. (+370) 5 242 44
44, www.pramoguarena.lt. A large ice-skating rink on the
outskirts of the city that also hosts the occasional concert.
Siemens Arena H-1, Ozo 14, tel. 1588, www.siemensarena.lt.
The quintessential all-purpose arena staging
everything from international basketball matches to big name
rock concerts. A
St. Catherine’s Church (Šv. Kotrynos Bažnyčia)
B-3, Vilniaus 30, tel. (+370) 5 262 04 21, www.kultura.
lt. A city-owned concert space inside a magnificent, converted
18th-century Baroque church. Concerts are varied
and often very good indeed. J
Ūkio Banko Teatro Arena I-3, Olimpiečių 3, tel. (+370)
683 773 57, www.teatroarena.lt. The main venue for the
OKT theatre company (see Theatres), this large place on the
edge of town is also a concert venue among other things.
Vilnius Congress Hall (Vilniaus Kongresų Rūmai) B-1,
Vilniaus 6/14, tel. (+370) 5 261 88 28, www.lvso.lt. Home
to the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, this city-centre
venue features some fine acoustics and organises everything
from serious classical concerts to shows for children. Q Box office
open 12:00 - 19:00, Sat 11:00 - 16:00. Closed Sun. JA
Galleries
Academy (Akademija) C-3, Pilies 44/2, tel. (+370)
5 261 20 94, www.vda.lt. The gallery of the Vilnius Art
Academy hosts all manner of contemporary shows by artists
from home and abroad and is always worth a look inside.
Q Open 12:00 - 18:00. Closed Sun. J
Contemporary Arts Centre (Šiuolaikinio Meno
Centras) C-4, Vokiečių 2, tel. (+370) 5 212 19 45,
www.cac.lt. Vilnius’ very own monstrous carbuncle on the
face of an old friend, this 1968 concrete masterpiece conceals
one of the country’s leading galleries for both Lithuanian
and international contemporary art. Surplus to the 2,400
square metres of exhibition space, the Contemporary Arts
Centre also organises conferences and lectures, features a
superb reading room and hosts a rather good bar. QOpen
12:00 - 20:00. Closed Mon. Admission 8/4Lt. JU
August - November 2012
13