Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Thursday, May 11, 2006


Cafe Kaficko
Dum "U Zlateho Beranka"
Misenska 10
A pencil-drawn image of a boy and girl, likely produced by the same ilk. Parents come and go with their litters. You cannot sit through a whole pot of Rooibos tea without seeing a tired-eyed mother in need of some of their quality espresso. The first totally smokefree cafe in Prague, and the only one I've seen with a changing table across from the bathroom mirror.


Velryba
("The Whale")
Opatovicka 24
Hopefully Carnival Cruise Lines did an inventory check and noticed two of their ship windows were safe and sound at this nautical bar. Upstairs sits fish tanks with those pretty rainbow breeds, and the only talking parrot Prague has offered me yet. The doors depict a snazzy man and woman, think straight from the Titanic deck, and their bewildered pouts have me thinking this latenight pub is headed straight for a bloody iceburg. Felt semi-seasick just washing my hands.


Updull ibn Carculcah
Vojtesska 2
So far the highlight of my career. It's places like Updull that remind me why this project exists. The toilet seats! Finally! Ok, so the cavemen had me intrigued. Then the heart seats for gals had me uncomfortably smiling. And before I knew it, I was kicking the door of the boy's room, on my knees photographing cows. Rainbow polka-dotted ones.
Thursday, May 04, 2006


Azteca
Ricni 9
You would think this Mexican restaurace would skip the blue top hat and embrace tradition with a straw sombrero or something. Maybe sombrero painting is more strenuous, maybe this place just isn't that authentic. The food could prove the latter.
Jenštejnská 2
These two are friendly. Just like Tamada-- a wood-clad Georgian eatery that feels like a South Bohemian hunting lodge. Wood everywhere, and even this shading teqnique resembles the natural inner rings of a wood design.
Thursday, April 27, 2006


Petrin Hill
Atop this headland, all of Prague is visible and dressed to the nines. Arguably the best view in the city. You may just wet your pants in fascination, but conveniently find these.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006


The Globe
Pštrossova 6
In libris, veritas; in kava, vita.
==============
In books, truth; in coffee, life.
Where the well-read and wannabe well-read expats chill with English translations, eggwhite omelettes and other things that don't require subtitles. These bathroom door photos must be the oldest things under this roof. When I asked the cashier of their origins, he looked at me very skeptically and asked me to "come back later."

Tuesday, April 11, 2006


Kavárna Medúza
Belgicka 17
Mosaics in every crack, crevice and armpit of this closet-sized room. A mirror sits at the eye level of squatters--reason unknown. Reflections exhibit specks of tile, once-teacups and gems in the background. Meduza is a part-café, part-full bar, part-snackshop, and the toilets are part-very charming. (Oh yes, and part-rotating art exhibit.) The drink menu offers the Meduza artist/bookie crowd all the essentials—cheap half-liters of Velvet beer, Hot Mead (Beowulf legend's go-to drink) and banana shakes. And here they offer the perfect escape after rounds of literary chat.



SoftBellies
Biskupska (Across from the Best Western)
A feline sign for the ladies and pup sign for the fellas—somewhat curious representations that would drive any Gender Studies scholar mad. Is the bottom line that we're all just animals? A bolted sign in between the two reads “V Biskupskem Dvore” (translated to "Inside of Bishop's Quarters") -- likely stemming from its street name, Biskupsa. Since when did using the loo have to be religious? Below the sign is a ceramic fountain that spouts no water. Basically, this is confusion in WC form at its best.
Friday, April 07, 2006


Sex Machines Museum
Melantrichova 18
The color of red lipstick and all things heated, these devilish cherry-colored signs don’t mess around. Here’s the gentleman’s quarter and there’s the ladies..any questions?



























