We experienced the city differently for the nineteenth time. Where could you slow down?

The neighborhood festivities “Zažít město jinak” directed by the AutoMat association and local residents have enlivened hundreds of streets all over the Czech Republic for the 19th time. The main date of the event, which is unprecedented in its scope in Europe, fell this year on September 21. Also in connection with the European Mobility Week, this year it was celebrated with the motto Slow down.

Snail races on Vokovice náměstí V Střed, photo: Anna Kociánová

“We thank all the volunteer organizers who joined us this year. Unfortunately, some localities had to cancel or postpone the event due to floods, others decided to help with financial or material collection. Here, too, the power of communities was shown,” says Barbora Hradečná from AutoMat, head of the Experience the City Differently project. A record number of neighborhood celebrations this year were inspired by the Slow down motto, which resonated in all its meanings.

Yoga on the roof of the Edison Palace as part of Zažít město jinak in Smečky, photo: Anna Kociánová

Waking up with yoga

The neighborhood day started with yoga exercises in several places. We practiced in Pardubice, in Prague in Smečky on the roof of the Edison Palace, in Čimice we could practice meditation all morning, in Trhanovská náměstí they offered soothing and therapeutic yoga, in Uralská they did yoga in the park, in Na Nivách they combined yoga with aromatherapy and in Brno – Židenice they could try yoga and self-massage. In Cheb, they prepared laughter yoga.

Snail racing and slow motion crossing a dangerous road

The theme of Slowing down was also reflected in many other activities that visitors to the festivities could experience. They held snail races in Kanice and Prague’s Vokovice, an improvised beach appeared in Prague’s Přístavní, in Petříny they slowed down in an improvised traffic labyrinth and a retro neighborhood cinema, in Holandská they prepared a slow-motion movie, in KD Mlejn in Prague 13 they opened a slow journalism editorial office and in KC Vozovna they tasted Vietnamese tea. In Břevnov, a unique slow motion crossing of Bělohorská street took place, which is otherwise unfriendly, even dangerous, for pedestrians. They also drew attention to the dangerously overcrowded car traffic in Troja, where a motorcyclist recently hit a schoolgirl at the crossing in front of the school. In Hořice in Podkrkonoší, near the Husov monument, they organized a workshop on calming the mind and started a bike ride. In Hradec Králové they slowed down with the Museum of Eastern Bohemia and discovered the magic of old things, and in Kutná Hora there was a slow chocolate eating competition.

Slow motion training in Břevnov, photo: Polina Maliuk

Snacks in the neighborhood

Of course, good food and drink could not be missing from the neighborhood festivities. They invited us to sit at neighbor’s tables in Kolín, where they again slowed down the “Old” bridge. They prepared a neighborhood picnic in the Žižkov Atrium and on Hradčanská, Břevnov organized a Restaurant Day with tastings of local and exotic delicacies, visitors and their four-legged pets were hosted at the Railway Bridge. A Tribute to the Tomato culinary competition took place in Hlubočepy, and picnics were also held in Hercovka park in Holešovice and in the Dáblice Hive. They then served Roma specialties in Karlín, and they also prepared a neighborhood table in Hradec Králové and Roudnice nad Labem.

Culinary competition at Zažít město jinak  in Hlubočepy, photo: Dora Kubíčková

Culture to the streets

There was also a rich cultural program for young and old. Concerts, workshops, theater and dance accompanied the festivities in almost all locations of this year’s festivities. Some literally scattered art all over the street. Guided tours took place in Podskalí, Mostecka and Ve Smečký, and in Čimice there was a fish pond. In Královická Street in Prague 10, they drew attention to the missing urban furniture and infrastructure and opened up the topic of the school patch. At Petřiny, witnesses and younger generations could view historical photos from the beginnings of the housing estate.

Petřiny, photo: Tomáš Princ

Communities + public space = VSL

We are pleased that it succeeds in fulfilling the purpose of neighborhood festivities – connecting the themes of communities and public space. And the best thing is that Experiencing the city doesn’t end there. You can find the dates of postponed and originally planned locations, which are still waiting for us, on the website of the neighborhood festivities Zažít město jinak. Already on Saturday, October 5, we can meet, for example, in Americka Street in Prague 2.

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