Notes
View:Famous Poles
April 19, 2012
Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin
Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin, 1810 – 1849, was a renowned Polish-born pianist and composer whose musical legacy continues to resonate with people today. Inventor of musical forms such as the instrumental ballade, Chopin also revolutionized other types of compositions such as the piano sonata, the waltz, the nocturne, and the polonaise. Need more proof of his… Read more
March 8, 2012
Wisława Szymborska
Wisława Szymborska (pronounced Vee-Swah-Vah Shim-Bor-Ska), was one of Poland’s most popular poets, who rose to international fame when she won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1996. Sadly, she passed away last month, but we were once again reminded of why she is one of our all-time favorite writers. Not just because she happens to… Read more
February 14, 2012
Private Wojtek
Wojtek, pronounced “voytek”, was a magnificent 500 lb Syrian brown bear who served in World War II alongside a unit of Polish soldiers. Adopted as a cub by members of the Second Corps – Wojtek grew up among the soldiers believing he was a man just like the others. He loved cigarettes, drank beer right… Read more
January 13, 2012
Mikołaj Kopernik
Mikołaj Kopernik, better known as Nicholas Copernicus, was a Polish astronomer and mathematician who paved the way for modern astronomy. He was the first to formulate, in full mathematical detail, the idea of a heliocentric solar system – a sun centered model in which the planets rotate around the Sun – and also that the… Read more
December 16, 2011
Karol Józef Wojtyła
Karol Józef Wojtyła, born May 18, 1920, was an avid skier, cyclist (high-end Italian bike makers, Colnago, built him a special golden bike), fluently spoke ten languages (Polish, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Croatian, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, and English), once sang a duet with Sir Cliff Richard, survived an assassination attempt, and, oh, became the first non-Italian pope… Read more
November 7, 2011
Maria Skłodowska-Curie
Maria Skłodowska Curie was a physicist, chemist – and all around rad woman. Oh, and did we mention she was Polish? To kick off our series of “Famous People You Didn’t Know Were Polish,” we’ve decided to commemorate Mme. Curie, as she was later known, who is arguably the most famous female scientist of all… Read more
September 29, 2011
Polish Day Parade
Thousands decked out in red and white face paint will line New York City streets this Sunday, October 2, 2011 to celebrate all things Polish. Brace yourself as neighborhoods like Greenpoint are overtaken by honking, souped-up, flag-adorned cars blasting Polska Rootz and being all sorts of Polish. The occasion? Polish Day! Ceremoniously commemorated with the… Read more
