May 12, 2009

Shortcut To Europe: Hungarian EU Open House Attracts More Than 2,000 Visitors

Embassies of the 27 EU Member Countries and the Delegation of the European Commission in Washington DC organized the EU Embassy Open House again after last year’s success. On May 9, Embassies of all EU states opened their gates to Washingtonians to celebrate Europe Day.

Embassy terrace during the EU Open House

The Embassy of Hungary prepared gastronomical, cultural, touristical and family friendly programs for the American and international audience, which showed up in a record number of more than two thousand this year.

Chimney Cake Productions: Chef Lázár Kovács and his team of sous-chefs, Svetlana, Lea, and Enikő

Andrea Bors Somogyi, wife of Ambassador Somogyi, making chimney cake

The Embassy Gulyás Station with Diplomat Sándor Mihálkó, Zsuzsa Györgyi, and with DCM Zoltán Gábor

The Embassy Gulyás Station with Consul Szabolcs Nemes

Embassy Chef Lázár Kovács, also a former Hungarian TV Chef offered guests authentic Hungarian gulyás soup (not goulash), freshly made Hungarian chimney cake (or kürtőskalács, in Hungarian, originally from Transsylvania), Hungarian red and white wine, mineral water, and soda.

Vincent Carino and Tamás Györgyi in the Embassy Bar

Economic Counselor Edit Pápai and Financial Director Erika Kolláth offering chimney cakes

Deputy Financial Director Sandor Mihaly, Information Officer Edit Bessenyei and Vincent Carino offering chimney cakes

Ryan Carlson of International Cellars (www.internationalcellars.ca), an American company importing quality in Hungarian wine from Monarchia Winery, offered free wine tastings.

Ryan Carlson of International Cellars offered free wine tastings

The twenty-seven-year-old Tisza Dance Ensemble from Silver Spring, MD performed authentic, traditional Hungarian folk dances every half hour to live and recorded folk music, and they also taught dances to the audience, many of whom enthusiastically participated.

Tisza dancers Noémi Toka, Cathy Lamont, Enikő Csíkos, and Zsuzsanna Seres

Tisza dancers Rudy Petke with Noémi Toka, and Cathy Lamont with Joseph Kroupa

Folk violinist Sandorika Ciurcui and viola player George Petran

The audience was eager to learn a few steps of Hungarian folk dancing from Tisza dancers

In between the performances, a selection of contemporary Hungarian pop, rock, etno world, and fusion jazz CDs gave a sample of modern Hungarian music culture, prepared by the Hungarian National Tourist Office (www.gotohungary.com), which set up its own stand during the event, and offered flyers, brochures, and magazines about tourism and holiday programs.

Made in Hungary, a selection of contemporary Hungarian pop, rock, etno world, and fusion jazz music CDs

Péter Gömöri, North American Director of the Hungarian National Tourism Agency, attracting potential tourists to Hungary at his stand

Visitors had a chance to take a close look at three exhibitions of high value. The first displayed hundred percent handmade, meticulously crafted pieces of the famous Halas Lace (www.halasicsipke.hu), a century old wonderful Hungarian tradition of household decoration pieces, used mainly in the countryside.

The exhibition  of Halas lace, a century old wonderful Hungarian tradition: hundred percent handmade, meticulously crafted pieces of household decoration

An example of meticulously crafted piece of Halas lace

A piece of Halas lace, depicting the story of Hansel and Gretel

The second offered insight into the magical world of Hungarian cartoonist Ms. Édua Szűcs (www.edua.hu) through sixty two of her black-and-white graphics (mostly without words) about the human conditions of happiness, sorrow, irony, artistic freedom, subordination, and the ability to laugh at ourselves.

Cartoon exhibition in the foyer of the Embassy

Cartoon exhibition in the grand hall of the Embassy

Hungarian graphic artist and cartoonist Édua Szűcs

A third poster exhibition about Hungarian history, culture, sport, literature, and science was on display, assisting visitors in filling out a quiz test titled “Hungary in the European Union”. The first twenty persons scoring highest on the quiz test will receive a free Rubik’s Cube, offered by our sponsor, Rubik Studio in Budapest, Hungary, and Milton Bradley (Hasbro Group) in E. Longmeadow, MA.

The poster exhibition on Hungarian history, culture, sport, literature, and science assisted visitors in filling out a quiz test titled “Hungary in the European Union”

Rubik's Cubes, the main prize of the quiz test titled “Hungary in the European Union”, were offered by our sponsors, Rubik Studio and Milton Bradley (Hasbro Group)

Kids’ Corner welcomed visiting children with handmade Hungarian bookmarks, cell phone cases, and hand painting.

Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi, Bence Somogyi, Balázs Somogyi, and Niki Nagy at Kids' Corner

Monika Varga, Gabriella Sz. Toth, Benedek Nemes, and Bence Somogyi at Kids' Corner

Playing the triangle: Balázs Somogyi, Zoltán Hermann, Mária Bundik, Kata Hermann and Bence Somogyi learn to play the triangle at Kids' Corner

Embassy photgrapher Gábor Nagy, Information Officer Edit Bessenyei, Zoltán Hermann, and Diplomat Barbara Faragó at Kids' Corner

Visitor could collect stamps of all EU Member State embassies, including the Hungarian one, in their Open House brochures or even on their bodies.

Stamping EU Open House passports at the entrance of the Embassy

Enthusiastic American visitors tried to collect all EU27 Embassy stamps in their EU Open House passports as well as their arms

A Washington Marathon runner, Chito Peppler, and his running mate ran around town in the sizzling weather, reaching all twenty seven member state embassies and the EU Delegation. They arrived at the Embassy of Hungary shortly after 4pm, just in time before closing to get a sense of the atmosphere. He wrote about their historic run on his blog: http://runindc.blogspot.com/2009/05/25-embassy-of-hungary.html.