Notes
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
February 10, 2012
Pączki
It’s long been said that the way to a person’s heart is through yummy food. So it’s no coincidence that certain foods like figs, oysters, and chocolate – all considered to be natural aphrodisiacs - show up on Valentine’s Day menus across the country, year after year. But did you know that a doughnut can also work as… Read more
February 2, 2012
Homemade Tea Bags
Happy Groundhog Day! Punxsutawney Phil, the Pennsylvania groundhog famous for making mid-winter weather forecasts, saw his shadow today and has predicted six more weeks of winter weather. What better way to prepare for the chilliness ahead with a cozy and warming cup of tea? Creating your own tea bags is surprisingly easy to do. Especially… Read more
January 23, 2012
National Handwriting Day
There’s something very romantic about the art of writing – the kind with pen on paper, not fingers to a keyboard. Handwritten documents have sparked love affairs, established peace, freed slaves, and declared independence (case in point: John Hancock, the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, is famous in part for his large, bold… 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
January 11, 2012
Bigos
Ask a non-Polish person about the national dish of Poland, and they’re likely to rave about the delicious qualities of the pierogi. Ask a true Pole, and they’ll tell you that while the pierogi are quite tasty and popular with foreigners, the true national culinary treasure of the motherland is Bigos, also known as Hunter’s… Read more
January 9, 2012
Pająki
One of the best things about the holidays are the decorations that seem to festoon every nook and cranny. But now, with the ornaments and lights gone, you may feel that in comparison to just a few weeks ago, things are looking a little plain and colorless. We’ve got the perfect remedy! And it not… Read more
January 6, 2012
Barszcz Wigilijny
Christmas is a big deal in Poland. Wigilia, or Christmas Eve, is an even bigger deal – at least in terms of food - because Christmas Eve supper is one of the most important celebrations of the year. It begins when the first star appears in the night sky and consists entirely of Lenten fare,… 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
December 14, 2011
Polish Star
Is your Christmas tree looking a little sad? Maybe it needs a healthy dose of Polish stars! Trust us, they’re the perfect remedy – easy to make and a great way to show off your crafting skillsz. The tradition of paper ornaments in Poland began with the vibrant peasant culture. As paper was more widely… Read more
