2003

Jan 11 — Sat — Noon to 4 pm — GCC Russian Club — Rozhdestvo Bar-B-Que Picnic — Potluck — bring salad or dessert to share, and bring something to cook for yourself (meat, sausage). We make the fire, and sodas and chai. See pictures.

Feb. 8 — Sat — 7 pm — Tucson — Russian Winter Festival Concert — The Arizona Balalaika Orchestra with Kalinka Russian Dancers, the Sons of Orpheus Men's Chorus perform their annual concert at Pima Community College, (West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road) 420-seat Proscenium Theater, Center for Performing Arts, Tucson.. Featuring special guests Sergey Vaschenko on balalaika and Vladimir Kaliazin on bayan, both Russian-trained professional musicians. This will be an exciting performance with large Russian orchestra, dancers and chorus and is not to be missed by any lover of Slavic music! Tickets will be available from the PCC Center for the Arts Box Office after Dec. 20 by calling 520-206-6986. For more information please contact Executive Director Dan Nicolini at 520-327-7158 (leave message for callback). Admission: $12 adults, $8 students.

Feb 9 — Sun — 2 pm — Repeat

Feb 15 — Sat — 7 pm — GCC Russian Club — Valentine Vecherinka-Disko at Shalom's house, 5804 W. Belmont (2 blocks south of Northern), Glendale. Potluck -- bring Russian food and drink to share. Phone: 623-847-9240. See Valentines message in Russian.

Feb 16 — Sun — 3 to 5:30 pm — Loca Rosa & Byelaroza Eastern European Folk Dance & Music Ensemble, Third Annual Concert. Roses and Romance: Love songs & dances from Russian, Jewish and Gypsy cultures! ASUs Kerr Cultural Center, 6110 North Scottsdale Road (off Rose lane, South of the Borgata), Scottsdale. Tickets: $12 - $15 Senior/Children/Student/Group rates available. Tickets at Kerr Cultural Center (480) 965-5377, and Ticketmaster.com

Feb 20 — Thur — 7:30 pm — Tchaikovsky Festival — Tchaikovsky's Ballets Classics Concerts at Symphony Hall, 225 E. Adams Street, Phoenix, Arizona — Box Office: Phone: (602) 495-1999 or 1-(800) 776-9080, Open Monday through Friday 9 am to 4 pm. Hermann Michael, conductor. The Phoenix Symphony Dancers from Ballet Arizona Tchaikovsky's greatest ballets performed by the Symphony and danced by performers from Ballet Arizona, including music from Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. Pre-concert talk "Musically Speaking" features Ib Anderson (artistic director of Ballet Arizona).

Feb 21 — Fri — 11 am & 8 pm — Repeat
Feb 22 — Sat — 8 pm — Repeat

Feb 21 to Mar 1 — The Good Doctor — A tribute to Russia's great playwright, Anton Chekhov — Grand Canyon University's Ethington Theatre, 3300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix — (602) 589-2871.— Prices: $10 general, $8.50 students & seniors

Feb 23 — Sun — Russian holiday: Soldier's Day, or Armed Forces Day

Feb 23 — Sun — Picnic at Lake Pleasant — Everyone with an interest in Russian culture is invited. For time, location, and what to bring to the picnic call: Valentina 623-910-2070, or Yefim & Natalia: 602-494-6018. Meeting new people, social and recreational activities, potluck, good music, having a good time, discussions, etc....

Feb 20 to Apr 1 — Fiddler on the Roof — One of Broadway's longest running musicals is the story of a Russian dairyman's attempts to raise his daughters according to tradition while finding the old ways no longer apply. -- Broadway Palm West Dinner Theatre, 5247 E. Brown Road, Mesa. (480) 325-6700. Prices: $18-$41.

Feb 27 — Thur — 7:30 pm — Tchaikovsky Festival — Tchaikovsky's "Souvenir" Chamber Orchestra Concert at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Virginia G. Piper Theater, 7380 E. 2nd St., Scottsdale. — Box Office: Phone: (602) 495-1999 or 1-(800) 776-9080, Open Monday through Friday 9 am to 4 pm. Hermann Michael, conductor. The Phoenix Symphony Chamber Orchestra. Borivoj Martinic-Jercic, violin. Tchaikovsky's "Souvenir" features a more intimate look at Tchaikovsky's musicmaking including his "Souvenir" for solo violin, harp, and strings, with a violin solo by the Symphony's concertmaster Borivoj Martinic-Jercic, along with the Suite No. 1 for chamber orchestra. Pre-concert talk "Musically Speaking" features Symphony musicians.

Mar 1–10 — Russian Impressionist art: "Legacy of a Dynamic Era
Overland Gallery, 7155 East Main, Scottsdale. — The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of many forms of human suffering – from the dark veil of communism to the comedy of Yakov Smirnoff. Unfortunately, it also marked the end of one of the most fascinating eras of art in the 20th century: the Russian Impressionist era.This fruitful period lasted from the 1940s through the 1980s, but its impact hasn't diminished. Today, some of the era's greatest names have left the hammer and sickle in the rearview mirror and reemerged for an extended Southwest residency. For details call 480-947-1934.

Mar 8 — Sat — 7 pm — GCC Russian Club Meeting 2 — International Women's Day Dinner at GCC Student Union Grill Room. Men make the food this time. Women receive flowers, presents and are toasted by men on the Russian equivalent of Mother's Day and Valentines Day rolled into one.

Some History: March 8, 1917, strike "for bread and peace" led by Russian women in St. Petersburg. ..."The February Revolution" ... forced the Czar Nicholas II to abdicate.

Mar 8 — Sun — Russian holiday: International Women's Day

Mar 13 — Thur — 7:30 pm — Tchaikovsky Festival — Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto Classics Concert at Symphony Hall, 225 E. Adams Street, Phoenix, Arizona — Box Office: Phone: (602) 495-1999 or 1-(800) 776-9080, Open Monday through Friday 9 am to 4 pm. Hermann Michael, conductor. The Phoenix Symphony. Chee-Yun, violin. Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto features one of Phoenix's favorite guest soloists., Chee-Yun, performing one of classical music's most beloved violin concertos. The concert also includes Tchaikovsky's Slavic March and the romantic tone poem "Francesca da Rimini." Pre-concert talk "Musically Speaking" features special guests.

Mar 13 — Fri — 8 pm — Repeat

Mar 17 — Mon — 7 pm — Loca Rosa with Gideon Lapid, violin — Family Purim service — Temple Beth Sholom, 3400 N. Dobson Road, Chandler AZ. Information: 480-897-3636

Mar 20 — Thur — 7:30 pm — Tchaikovsky Festival — Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique" Classics Concert at Symphony Hall, 225 E. Adams Street, Phoenix, Arizona — Box Office: Phone: (602) 495-1999 or 1-(800) 776-9080, Open Monday through Friday 9 am to 4 pm. Hermann Michael, conductor. The Phoenix Symphony: Turid Karlsen, soprano. John Daniecki, tenor. Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique" features arias from two of Tchaikovsky's most famous operas with guest vocalists Turid Karlsen and John Daniecki, and then concludes with the orchestral sounds of his great final symphony, the "Pathetique." Pre-concert talk "Musically Speaking" features special guests.

Mar 21 — Fri — 8 pm — Repeat

Mar 22 — Sat — 10 am to 4 pm — Performance and workshop — Loca Rosa: Russian-Jewish Folk Songs & Stories — Workshop about Eastern European Folk Instruments — 14th Annual Phoenix Folk Traditions Music Festival, 2605 N. 15th Avenue at Encanto Park, Phoenix AZ. This 2-day event on Saturday & Sunday features 200 musical artists performing folk, country, blues, cowboy, old-time & Celtic music, storytelling, workshops, jam sessions, and Russian. FREE. 602-261-8993 Information: 602-261-8991.

Mar 28 — Sat — 6 pm to 1 am — The Glendale World Music Festival — Thunderbird Graduate School, 59th Ave at Greenway, Glendale — International cultural & ethnic celebration, live music, traditional dance, ethnic food, bazaar, worldwide merchandise [Russian], Kids Zone, FREE. 623- 930-2363

Mar 29 — Sun — 10 am to 1 am —

Mar 28 — Fri — 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm — Solo Showcase performance provided by AZ Presenters Alliance — Loca Rosa: Russian-Jewish Folk Songs. Tempe Spring Festival of the Arts, Downtown Tempe, 6th Street Stage, Tempe AZ. Information: 480-951-2681

Mar 29 — Sat — 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm

Mar 30 — Sun — 4 pm to 5:30 pm — Solo Showcase performance provided by AZ Presenters Alliance — Loca Rosa: Russian-Jewish Folk Songs. Fiddler's Dream Coffee House & Acoustic Music Showcase, 1701 E. Cactus Wren (1 block north of Glendale Ave.), Glendale AZ. Information: 997-9795

Apr 1 — Tue — Russian holiday: The Day of Humor, usually small, humorous gifts are presented.

Apr 5 — Sat — 7 pm — GCC Russian Club Meeting 3 — Pisanki — Guest lecturer Barney Lorenz will teach you to wax and dye your own Easter eggs. FREE -- all materials for 20 workstations and refreshments furnished .

Apr 9 to 12 — Las Vegas — AATSEEL Rocky Mountain/Western Slavic Association Annual Conference — at the WSSA 45th Annual Conference — Deadline for submissions, November 15, 2002 — For more information, contact Professor Cynthia Klima, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, SUNY-Geneseo, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, NY 14454 tele: (585) 245-5247; fax: (585) 245-5399; e-mail: Klima@geneseo.edu.

Apr 19 — Sat — 8 pm — La Russe: Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky and Profofiev — A troika of
vibrant Russian works. Kerr Cultural Center, 6110 N. Scottsdale Road (off Rose lane, South of the Borgata), Scottsdale Tickets: $18-$20, at Kerr Cultural Center (480) 965-5377, and Ticketmaster.com

Apr 20 — Sun — 8 pm to 9 pm — Russian Radio "McMurrin Presents" — Rebroadcast on tape from Ukraine on KMYL AM 1190 (Talk-1190) The program "McMurrin Presents" was first broadcast on December 23 from Super Nova radio station in Kiev, Ukraine, where it became a hit. Russians don't know anything about "talk-radio", where the listener can call in and be "on the air", and win a prizes (CDs of the orchestra). But call-ins increased each week from 20, 35, 78, to 102. This is a new experience for Russians. Roger McMurrin introduces himself as a crazy American conductor and shares with his young co-hosts (Dasha, Toma, and Pepsi) why they need to listen to orchestral-choral music, and answers their silly questions about the orchestra, the text, and the history of music. After the first four shows, they will broadcast live and feature a studio audience. Click here to read more about the show.

Apr 21 — Mon — 7 pm — Solo Performance Loca Rosa Game Songs & Stories From Around the World -- Saguaro Branch, Phoenix Public Library, 2808 N. 46th Street, Phoenix AZ. Information: 602-262-6801

Apr 25 to 27 — Fri & Sat 8 pm — Sun 3 pm — From Russia with Love — Phoenix Symphony Hall, 225 E. Adams St., Phoenix — Doc Severinsen, and Trio Voronezh on balalaika and accordion, will conduct the Phoenix Symphony in these Russian folk love songs that can warm the heart on a cold Siberian night. "Sabre Dance," Prokofiev's "March from Love of Three Oranges," "Russian Dance," and "Volga Boatman." The concerts also feature such passionate selections as music from Bizet's opera Carmen, "Lara's Theme" from Doctor Zhivago, and old standards like "Dark Eyes."(602) 495-1999 or Ticketmaster (480) 784-4444. — YouTube videos of the Trio performing

April 26 — Sat — Noon to 4 pm — Germans from Russia Meeting — Glendale Public Library — Foothills Branch, Union Hills and 57th Place — Speaker: Ray Heinle, Village Coordinator for Johannestal-Odessa. He will be presenting a video on his recent trip to the Ukraine.

Apr 27 — Sun — Russian holiday: Russian Orthodox Easter

Apr 27 — Sun — 8 pm to 9 pm — Russian Radio "McMurrin Presents" — Rebroadcast on tape from Ukraine on KMYL AM 1190 (Talk-1190) The program "McMurrin Presents" was first broadcast on December 23 from Super Nova radio station in Kiev, Ukraine, where it became a hit. Russians don't know anything about "talk-radio", where the listener can call in and be "on the air", and win a prizes (CDs of the orchestra). But call-ins increased each week from 20, 35, 78, to 102. This is a new experience for Russians. Roger McMurrin introduces himself as a crazy American conductor and shares with his young co-hosts (Dasha, Toma, and Pepsi) why they need to listen to orchestral-choral music, and answers their silly questions about the orchestra, the text, and the history of music. After the first four shows, they will broadcast live and feature a studio audience. Click here to read more about the show.

May 1-2— Thur-Fri — Russian holiday: Spring and Labor Day, formerly International Workers' Solidarity Day. May 1 is May Day

May 3 — Sat — 7 pm — GCC Russian Club Meeting 4 — Russian Childrens' Center Performs folk dance and aerobics dance by Russian Children's Center, and also Freestyle Aerobics Studio performance (which is also aerobics performance by the group of bigger kids).

May 4 — Sun — 8 pm to 9 pm — Russian Radio "McMurrin Presents" — Rebroadcast on tape from Ukraine on KMYL AM 1190 (Talk-1190) The program "McMurrin Presents" was first broadcast on December 23 from Super Nova radio station in Kiev, Ukraine, where it became a hit. Russians don't know anything about "talk-radio", where the listener can call in and be "on the air", and win a prizes (CDs of the orchestra). But call-ins increased each week from 20, 35, 78, to 102. This is a new experience for Russians. Roger McMurrin introduces himself as a crazy American conductor and shares with his young co-hosts (Dasha, Toma, and Pepsi) why they need to listen to orchestral-choral music, and answers their silly questions about the orchestra, the text, and the history of music. After the first four shows, they will broadcast live and feature a studio audience. Click here to read more about the show.

May 9 — Fri — Russian holiday: Victory Day over German Nazism in W W2. Remember the Great Patriotic war 1941-1945

June 12 — Thu — Russia's newest holiday: Independence Day, for the adoption in 1991 of the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation, after Yeltsyn's victory over Communists' putch in 1993.

Aug 22 — Fri — Russian holiday: Day of the Russian Federation State Flag

Aug 23? — Sat — 2 pm to 5 pm — ARCF-Dialog Monthly Forum
American-Russian Cultural Forum--Dialog meets at: Paradise Valley Community Center, (Room D-3 in patio). 17402 N. 40th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85032. (North of Bell Rd, behind PV High School, on the west side of 40th St.)—

Program development, meet fascinating people, have an enjoyable time.—
Preparation for a fundraising concert in mid-November
Refreshment and snacks will be provided.

E-mail Yefim or call Yefim at 602-494-6018.—

Sept 6 —Sat —7 pm —GCC Russian Club Meetings start for Fall 2003
Russia 2003: Reports from Visitors to Russia this Summer, Elections

Tentative Program:

Introductions

Russia by Rita

Moscow by Jim

Moscow by Vera

Nomination and Elections of Officers

Donation of Russian Plates

Refreshments, Socializing

Map to Meetings

Sept 21 — Sun — 7:30 pm — Krasnoyarsk Siberian Dance Company
Dodge Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Downtown Phoenix — Free parking under building.
Russian & Siberian folk dance and music with colorful costumes. See Company website--in Russian and English-- for history, photos, and video clip downloads. — Tickets: Ticketmaster outlets (Tower Records, Robinsons-May, Wherehouse Music & Fry's Marketplace), Internet, Phone (480-784-4444 Phoenix Metro Area) (520-321-1000 Outside Phoenix Area). Prices: $25 to $50 (plus tax and handling = $35 to $61). No Cameras or Recorders — See Siberian troupe steps to Russian rhythms (Phoenix New Times, Sunday September 21, 2003), video preview and Siberian dance troupe brings lively dance and music to Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts (October 29, 2003)

October — "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King"
This new Russian produced cartoon will cost $10 million to make is expected to be released in October. Read about it in The Moscow Times. It is a feature-length animated film (70 min). Director and designer T.Ilyina (http://www.nutcracker.ru). A new version of the well-known fairy tale by E.T.A.Hoffmann and the ballet by P.I.Tchaikovsky. It is a Christmas story of toys come to life which unfolds in the beautiful setting of an ancient palace to Tchaikovsky's unforgettable music. The pilot copy of the film was awarded the World Gold Medal of the 1999 New York festivals in the "Best Animation" category, and was selected for the festival in Annecy (France) in June 2000. The film is addressed to the widest audience throughout the world. Download a sample video.

Oct 14 — Tues — 7:30 pm — Solos with Piano or not ... An Evening of Music and Dance with Mikhail Baryshnikov and pianist Koji Attwood — Virginia G. Piper Theater, Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 E. 2nd Street, Scottsdale (get directions/map) Possibly the last time to see him on stage. Baryshnikov will perform new dances choreographed specifically for the tour. Our intimate theater will provide every audience member with an up close and personal experience not to be forgotten. Time magazine: "the greatest living dancer." Tickets: $85 to $125; Phone: 480-994-ARTS(2787) Born: Riga. Started ballet age nine. Teenager: school of the Kirov Ballet, Leningrad; graduated principal dancer 1969. Kirov Ballet: 5 years. 1974 defected to the West, age 26. New York City: principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. 1979 New York City Ballet. 1980: returned to American Ballet Theatre for 10 years as artistic director. 100+ different works in his career. Actor in five films, Oscar-nominated in "The Turning Point". 3 Emmy award-winning TV specials. 1989 Broadway in "Metamorphosis", earning a Tony nomination and a Drama Critics Award. Since 1990 director and dancer with the White Oak Dance Project, which he co-founded. Kennedy Center Honors. The National Medal of Honor and the Commonwealth Award. Age: 55. See The Baryshnikov Dance Foundation.

Oct 18 — Sat — 11 am to 4 pm — Germans from Russia Octoberfest — Leisure World, Recreation Bldg. 2, Poolside Patio, (get directions/map) Mesa, Arizona. — Speaker: Shirley Nitschke, Author of the book Heimat: Steppes of Russia. Read a review.

Oct 21 to Jan 11 — Tues thru Sun — 10 am to 4 pm (closed Mondays)
"The Golden Age of Russian Impressionism: The Kohn Collection"
West Valley Art Museum, 17420 N. Avenue of the Arts (north of Bell Road, east of 115 Ave), Surprise — For 30 years an artist and leader in the Russian Union of Artists collected more than 200 paintings by over 120 artists. His daughter sent the collection to America for protection. These paintings represent the triumph of the heart and soul of the Russian people. Phone: 623- 972-0635 — Admission: $7. Gallery Hours: Tues thru Sun 10 am to 4 pm (closed Mondays)

Nov 1 & 15 — Sat — 6 pm — Flagstaff — NAU Russian Dinners — (tentative dates)
At the Federated Church (Sitgreaves and Aspen), next to the Public Library — Prices: $20/single adult; $32/couple; $10/student or children ages 12-18; $5/child under 12; children under 5 free. All prices are a few dollars higher per category at the door. See pictures, flyers and maps

Nov 1& 2 — Sat & Sun —Tucson — 2003 CIS and Eastern Europe Business Forum — Host: University of Arizona -- The Hilton Tucson East, 7600 East Broadway Blvd. 2 days, 8 sessions with speakers from Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary representing governments and industry. An excellent educational and business opportunity. Registration: $135; Students: $25. Contact Roza Simkhovich at < roza@dakotacom.net >, or call or FAX her at 520-298-6599, to register for the conference. Contact the Hilton for room reservations -- discount rate of $89 for the "CIS Group". Organized by the U of A Department of Russian And Slavic Languages. See the 2002 CIS Business Forum.

Nov 1 to Dec 20 — FREE Exhibit — "Miniatures and More"
Overland Gallery of Fine Art, 7155 E. Main St.(2 blocks east of Scottsdale Mall), Scottsdale — Phone: 480- 947-1934 for hours — Art for the holidays and beyond. New selection of Russian Impressionist genre paintings, landscapes and portraits.

Nov 8 – Sat – 2 pm & 7 pm – Pushkin Play: Boris Godunov
Gammage Auditorium, Mill and Apache, ASU Campus, Tempe. —Sex, money, corruption, blood and betrayal take center stage—as does the audience—in the International Confederation of Theatre Association production of Boris Godunov. Part of ASU's American Express "Beyond Broadway" series, Alexander Pushkin's 1825 play is brought to life with the audience members—limited to 250 at each show—seated right on stage, in the midst of the considerable action. (The set incorporates a suspended catwalk and onstage pool as well.) Set in Tsarist Russia, the story chronicles the title character's quest for power, which motivates him to murder a child heir to the throne; his subsequent guilt trip takes him all the way to crazy—no return ticket. A cast of Russian film, theater and television stars performs the play in Russian with English supertitles. — Tickets are $45; call 480-965-3434 or see www.ticketmaster.com

Nov 5 to 8 — Russian Translators Wanted
AITA Conference: Arizona Interpreter and Translator Association Fall Forum
Pointe South Mountain Resort, 7777 South Pointe Parkway (I-10 east on Baseline 1/2 mile) [See map], Phoenix -- AITA members get 4 hours of workshops and 2 hours in the extensive exhibits. AITA is a professional association for translators and interpreters in Arizona. Membership is $40 and open to professional interpreters and translators, ad hoc interpreters, freelance interpreters and translators, and students of interpretation and translation.

E-mail: contactaita@yahoo.com — P.O. Box 84066, Phoenix, AZ 85071 — Barbara Rayes, Co-chair, 602-546-3348; Manny Padías, Co-chair, 520-745-9447—Aída Reyes, Treasurer, 480-512-3551— Ken Bowlby, Secretary, 602-406-5687

Nov 7 — Fri — Russian holiday:
Day of Accord and Conciliation, formerly known as the Day of the Great October Revolution, it was celebrated 80 years and cannot be cancelled in one day.

Nov 8, 15 or 22 (Date TBA) —Sat —Russian Music Concert —Fundraiser sponsored by American-Russian Cultural Forum--Dialog —Time & Location TBA (To Be Announced) —Russian musicians and performers wanted for this event to foster friendship between Americans and Russians.

Nov 1 & 15 — Sat — 6 pm — Flagstaff — NAU Russian Dinners — (tentative dates)
At the Federated Church (Sitgreaves and Aspen), next to the Public Library -- Prices: $20/single adult; $32/couple; $10/student or children ages 12-18; $5/child under 12; children under 5 free. All prices are a few dollars higher per category at the door. See pictures, flyers and maps

Nov 22 to Jan — Russian Christmas Tree — on display at the Glendale Main Library, 59th Ave & Brown (south of Peoria) — The GCC Russian Club and Russian Childrens' Center present one of 11 trees displayed in the library lobby. See photos at: http://www.rraz.org/news/2003/11_Nov/Christmas_tree.htm

Dec 6 or 13 — Sat — Germans from Russia Christmas Potluck — Time and location to be announced, most likely East Mesa. Check website for most current posting.

Dec 12 —— Fri — Russian holiday: Constitution Day (More)

Dec 11 to 28 — Nutcracker
Phoenix Symphony Hall (next to the Civic Plaza at Washington Street), Phoenix. Performed by the Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona and The Phoenix Symphony at Ticketmaster Student and Military discount-20% off in advance at Ticket Centers or Opera Office, must have valid I.D., one discounted ticket per I.D. One half hour before every Nutcracker performance the Ballet features "Nutcracker Story Telling" with a variety of local personalities who tell stories about the Nutcracker. These impromptu events are great for kids and families!! Arrive early and enjoy the tales.

Dec 17 — Wed — 7 pm — Russian Media Meeting for
Russian Radio Arizona and Russian Arizona News — Community Room next to pool at 11459 N 28 Drive (north of Metro Center, south of Cactus) — Mostly volunteer professional staff needed to write Russian news stories about Russians in Arizona. Call Natalia for directions: 602-561-4856

Dec 20 — Sat — 6 pm to 9 pm — ARF-Dialogue Meeting
Paradise Valley Community Center, (Room: D-2). 17402 N. 40th Street (north of Bell Rd, behind PV High School, west-side), Phoenix, AZ 85032. The American - Russian Cultural Forum "Dialogue" promotes goodwill relations between Russia and America and participants in multicultural social activities. Agenda: Formal reports of the Forum—s executives, discussing the current Forum—s projects and ideas, creating a plan of multicultural events and activities, membership, and fund raising, Other old and new business, and social interactions. Refreshments. All are invited.

Dec 26 — Fri — 9 pm to 1 am — Tucson: Big New Year Russian Parties
Mountain View Restaurant, 1220 East Prince Rd — $ 10 — Santa, games, prizes etc + all 2003 hits from Russia & Europe by D.J. Tolik & D.J. Phill

Dec 27 — Sat — 9 pm to 1 am — Phoenix — Big New Year Russian Parties
"Yaffa" Restaurant, 3527 W. Bethany Home Rd (at 35th Ave) — $ 10 — Santa, games, prizes etc + all 2003 hits from Russia & Europe by D.J. Tolik & D.J. Phill

Dec 28 to 30 — Sat to Tue — AATSEEL Annual Conference — San Diego, California at Loews Coronado Bay Resort — See the Preliminary Program.