The Pidkamin ethno festival is happening this coming weekend July 25-27 in the Pidkamin village in the Lviv region. This great festival is just another weekend that will bring about a fun filled dose of Ukrainian fun. You will see live folk music set into the breath taking hills of the Lviv region.
The organizers of this festival are also behind several other festivals that have happened or will happen this summer. These organizers promise that the Pidkamin ethno festival will not only offer the beautiful Ukrainian music but will also hold true to the Ukrainian spirit which will be felt emanating from the stage.
Don’t have a babysitter to watch the children while you attend the festival? No problem! Bring the little 
ones with you and drop them off at the OpenBabyGarden which will provide child care along with offering the children music and fairy tales that will be told by the well known Ukrainian story teller, Sashko Limyk.
This is a festival you wont want to miss. For more information you can call (8067) 265-7630
Summer is here and that means one thing when it comes to dining out in Kiev. It’s time to visit the boat and barges that house the restaurants along the DniproRiver. There is nothing better than sitting out in the open air, feeling the cool breeze caressing you skin coming off of the river and have a mouth water meal. This is the sort of thing that you can only do during the summer months in Ukraine. Here are two restaurants that you must visit while you are in Ukraine.
Mandarin
Mandarin is known as one of the city’s best place to eat Chinese food. This beautiful barge is not only a great place to eat but also a beautiful barge to look at. You will see golden dragons standing on both side of the entrance that will lead you inside where you will swear you have just stepped into China. Both the inside and outside of the barge will make you feel as if you are in an emperor’s place. They have an extensive menu that is sure to please anyone who dines where.
Rucola
Rucola is yet another great barge that you should visit while you are dining out. This is a wonderful Italian Eatery that not only offers amazing Italian food but also a great atmosphere. You will be amazed and the beauty of the barge as you walk in and that wont stop once you get inside. This barge offers two floors and no real walls to speak of. All of the walls are made of glass.
While you may know her as a beautiful and soulful singer there is one thing that many of her fans may not know. Before she came into music she was almost lost to the world of sports and music just happened as an afterthought.
When Gaitana was six years old she was passionate about a sport, table tennis as a matter of fact. She played and love the sport right down to the depth of her soul but then she happened upon music or actually music happened upon her.
At the age of 12 she joined a youth musical group only as an afterthought. The director of this youth 
group is the one who made her realized that she was an amazing singer.
Gaitana has always sung ever song from her heart and she loves what she does but how different things would have been had she not tried out for the youth musical group and continued on to be a great sports player at table tennis.
Beekeeping and honey making is very popular in Ukraine and you can see this because of the many related crafts and other items that Ukraine is famous for thought the entire world. Did you know that Ukraine is officially one of five of the whole world’s leading honey producing countries? Although honey making and beekeeping has always been very popular recently beekeeping has become very profitable.
It is no secret that Ukrainians are huge fans of honey and even connoisseurs. All around the country of Ukraine there are certain times of the year when you can see older ladies on the side of the road selling big pots of honey.
Another interesting fact about honey in Ukraine is the fact that not only is honey sold all over the country there are also many different honey fairs and special markets that sell honey. These fairs are always fun for tourist and Ukrainians alike. There is always music, dancing and of course lots and lots of honey.
A German architectural firm called GMP has finally won the long awaited selection to perform the overhaul of the Ukrainian football stadium. Senior government officials feel that this overhaul is critical for the 2012 European Championships. Because of a recent visit by Michel Platini who is the UEFA president many are excited to get the overhaul underway. During Michel Platini’s visit he singled out problem areas in the stadium that could be protention grounds for a decision not to have Ukraine co-host the 2012 European Championships.
The plan that was submitted by the firm of GMP that was accepted formally by the government in Ukraine will allow for a detailed overhaul of the 90,000 seat sports stadium which should be completed by the end of 2010.
While the plans call for a large reduction in seating this will be replaced the bleachers with much more modern and comfortable seating. The inclusion of stores and restaurants will be something new for Ukraine because while it is common for the stadiums in Europe to have stores and such inside their stadiums this is something totally new for the Ukrainian people.
It is estimated that this job could cost anywhere from 100 to 350 million dollars but the Ukraine government feels it is well worth it.
Many people visit the Ukraine for it’s rich history, beautiful museums, amazing churches and so much more. There are also those who come for the scenery and the natural beauty that seems to be abundant in Kiev.
Kiev is a remarkable city and among one of the most beautiful capitals in the world. It offers large green territories and sparkling waterways right in the middle of this amazing city. Not only can you see the islands within the Dnipro River which is most undeveloped and has thick forest areas but there are also wonderfully large parks on the banks of the Dnipro and gorgeous cities that surround the forest. Towards the end of April you will start to see the city bloom and many of the Kievites will take walks through the botanical garden to see the beautiful flowers. May and June will be the months when Kiev is alive and so beautiful that the scenes are breathtaking for those of Kiev and the tourist alike.
If you only travel to one place in Ukraine, travel to Kiev, and take a look through the multitudes of different buildings and architectural marvels there. One of the simply most breathtaking places is Saint Sophia Cathedral, which, for nothing else, simply hums with spirituality and beauty. Regardless of how your religious beliefs lie, this place is a truly amazing – if a little pricy – architectural marvel.
Much of the original artwork is still exposed and available for the public to view, and what isn’t is being carefully restored and preserved by different restorers. At the risk of making some of these areas seem a little spotty, the ability to see truly original pieces is incredibly moving. You need to make sure that you hire an English guide beforehand, but the actual trip is incredibly moving, making this a must-see spot in Kiev, as well as the rest of Ukraine.
Are you ready to hear about the largest gathering of international deejays from the US, UK, France, Sweetden, Netherlands and Ukraine? You should be. This coming weekend in Kiev, the very capital of Ukraine, Global Gathering will be meeting in a festival area of around 6,5 hectares, which is one of the largest live music and dance festivals in the world. This amazing and unique event has already been to Kiev once, and is now becoming one of the most talked about events of the year on July 12.
You’e looking at about 86 straight hours of nothing but dance, techno, and just all-aound incredible music to paty to. The different sounds are intense and original, and only the best of the deejays get to go. You will be in for quite a party and is showing more about how Ukraine has now become the seat for new talent. On top of that, this event will be broadcast internationally, so be ready for one helluva party!
http://ukraine.global-gathering.com/ua/
If you’re looking for quality and culture all in one place, with the atmosphere of a busier city, then Andriyivski Uzviz is the place to look at. Having been labeled the “Montmarte” of the capitall city, Kiev, it’s also been called the Andreevski Spusk, which translates into English as “Andrew’s Descent.” This particular area, though, is absolutely gorgeous.
While it’s a steep street, much as the name suggests, it’s a cobblestone street that houses the artisans, artists and a very large market of different arts and crafts shop. The most popular house on the street, number 2b, is known as the One Street Museum, and attracts a sizeable crowd every day. It is small, but certainly has a beautiful look to it. The street itself is always busy, seems very much like a party while you go, and it’s great. The architecture makes it a great visual draw, and you never know what little treasures you’ll find at the Andriyivski Uzviz.
One of the most impressive single sites in Kiev is the Rodina Mat, also meaning the Mother Motherland statue. It stands at about 302 feet tall and absolutely conquers the skyline of Kiev and you can see it from miles away. This particular statue is actually located in the same park that the Great Patriotic War is located, and sits at the top of the museum. For the most part, it isn’t possible to really go into the actual statue, which is made of titanium, but it does give you an amazing view of the actual park.
The actual statue once stood even higher, as the now-dagger was once a great sword that actually made it the tallest part of the Kiev skyline. Due to the fact that it wound up outshining the bell tower of the Percherska Lavra monastary. This is an actual statue meant to be a “gift” for the “Russian People,” and out of several, this statue is the tallest. In a location that just stuns and amazes, and with simply a good look at the size and magnitude of the statue, this site is surely one of the greatest.
