Romantic supper in Astoria

Hotel Astoria invites to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day in Davidov restaurant. Especially for couples, chief-cook Colin Flud made a special romantic menu. Light and tasty dishes and cozy atmosphere will let guests spend an unforgettable evening.

The beginning of holiday supper will be in French style - a glass of rose Champaign, oysters “Kilpatrik”, salad with Kamchatkan crabs, red caviar on Scottish smoked salmon and “Mojito with Champaign”. Main dish is lamb sirloin with truffles and asparagus. Desert includes parfe from white chocolate with syrup. Red and white wine will be served during the supper. Special menu costs 4375 rubles.

St. Valentine’s Day in “Marco Polo”

“Marco Polo” restaurant, situated in hotel “Marco Polo Saint-Petersburg”, invites its guests to spend a romantic evening of St. Valentine’s Day in its luxury interiors. This day all couples will enjoy romantic supper, candles, live music and pleasant surprise from chief-cook of “Marco Polo” – desert “Amour partage” for a couple if your order will be more than 1500 rubles. In addition guests can order flowers, limousine and spend a night in one of luxury hotel numbers. From 14-15 January couples will receive 20% discounts on accommodation.

“Marco Polo St. Petersburg” offers a Romantic tour, including Champaign, fruits and gift from hotel, transfer and romantic breakfast. You can use SPA-tour “Grand”, which includes accommodation and a visit to the best beauty Palace “MADAM GRAND”. Those, who didn’t jet buy a present hotel is happy to offer exclusive present certificate.

Finnish Consul wants to establish easier Visa regime in Saint-Petersburg

The new Finnish Consul General to St. Petersburg Olli Perheentupa says his main goal is to ease the mobility of people between Russia and Finland as much as possible. Although currently the most frequently obtained Finnish visa is valid for six or twelve months, certain categories of citizens, such as journalists, students, businessmen or cultural representatives can already get a visa that lasts for up to two years. However, in the future the Consulate would like to issue visas that are valid for longer than they are now to Russians in other categories.
Olli Perheentupa is known as an expert on Russia thanks to his previous work experience in the country. Between 1994-1997 he worked as a deputy for Consul General in St. Petersburg, and between 1997-2000 he was a counselor of the Finnish Embassy in Moscow. In his last position Olli Perheentupa headed the Unit for Russia at the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Finland.
Olli Perheentupa says Finland welcomes the business it gets from Russians investing in tourism on the coasts of Finnish lakes. Of 7.2 million crossings over the Russian-Finnish border each year, more than 70 percent are made by Russian citizens.
Therefore the mutual facilitation of the issuing of visas is one of the Consulate’s priorities. The Consul is currently works on his plan for the following four years. Among the problems that the two countries share, Olli Perheentupa named the traffic jams at the Russian-Finnish border, problems with ports, the presence of customs crime and the smuggling of drugs across the border. Consul said both sides currently put a lot of effort in solving those issues but there is still more to be done.

New director of St. Isaac’s Cathedral will be established in March 2008

Chairman of Culture Committee of Saint-Petersburg administration Nikolay Burov announced that in March 2008 will be established a new director of St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Mass media write that present Chief of Culture Committee can leave his post and become the director of St. Isaac’s Cathedral. But this information is uncertain.
Previous director of St. Isaac’s Cathedral Nikolay Nagorskiy has gone on 15-th January 2008. Now his duties execute his first deputy Natalya Koreneva.
St. Isaac's Cathedral is one of the largest domed structures in the world, and nowadays is the 4th highest cathedral in the world. The Cathedral’s dimensions are: length is 115,5 m; width - 97,6 m. The long spiral staircase leading up in 562 steps to more than is 101,5 meters height of the balustrade of the dome is open for anyone who is able to ascend it.

Tender on Apraksin Dvor reconstruction has won Glavstroy

For the first time since XVIII century Apraksin dvor will be seriously reconstructed. Apraksin Dvor – a destroying architectural ensemble in the center of St. Petersburg, which was a market for a long time. 2 companies - Glavstroi-Spb (in cooperation with Chris Wilkinson) and Renaissance Apraksin Dvor offered their projects of “Apraksin Dvor” reconstruction.
Today on a commission meeting became known the contest results of tender on reconstruction of Apraksin Dvor. Tender on reconstruction won Glavstroi-Spb in cooperation with Chris Wilkinson, a famous English architect, who already reconstructed such historic ensembles as Covent Garden in London, Les Halles in Paris and Soho in New York. Majority of contest commission voted for Glavstroj project, because their project is more innovative and prospective. Renaissance Apraksin Dvor suggested Apraksin Dvor project with underground building. But experience of underground building in our city unfortunately was unsuccessful.
Lump sum square of Apraksin Dvor territory will be 347 thousands square meters. On project realization will be spent about 28 billions rubles.

Tourist industry professionals will meet in hotel Ambassador

On 1 and 2 February in the hotel Ambassador(Rimsky-Korsakov prospect, 5-7) will pass a traditional business meeting of tourist industry professionals.
Yearly business meeting is organized by Saint-Petersburg Express with support of Investments and strategic project Committee pf Saint-Petersburg, Russian Union of tour industry and others, National fund of tourism and business support and so on.
Two days business meeting in hotel Ambassador includes establishing of business contacts with new partners, presentations of new services and opportunities to big tourist companies representatives, taking part in seminars and master-classes with key-players of tourist services market. Participants of business meeting will discuss tendencies of tourist market development, meet their colleagues, and get acquainted to new tourist routes.

New 5-star Hotel Missoni will appear in Saint-Petersburg

Rezidor Hotel Group Company, one of the most dynamically developing on world hotel market business companies, is going to open a new hotel Missoni in Saint-Petersburg.
Now company has more than 280 hotels in 50 countries of the World. Since 2006 Rezidor Hotel Group began to develop markets of Russia, countries CIS and West Europe. By 2012 year, company plans to open about 50 hotels in different parts of Russia.
In 2006 Rezidor Hotel Group concluded an agreement with an Italian haute couture house Missoni to open a net of designers hotels “Hotel Missoni”. Such 5-star hotel will appear in Saint-Petersburg in nearly future. Missoni – is a new hotel brand with highest service level, built in a modern Italian style with a familiar design. Rezidor Hotel Group Company plans to develop this brand in big multinational cities.

Special accommodation prices in Lancaster Court Hotel and Admiralteyskaya Hotel

Jewelry forum Junwex-2008 from Amaranta hotel operator offers to accommodate participants of forum in Admiralteyskaya Hotel and Lancaster Court Hotel for special prices. To get a discount for accommodation a Guest should show any document, confirming his relation to Junwex-2008. These documents are: copy of exhibition place rent agreement, invitation, accreditation of participant etc.

Hotels Admiralteyskaya and Lancaster Court are very different and you can choose, which one you like more, but they have one similarity – high level of service. Original design of Admiralteyskaya Hotel is made in Silver Age style. Hotel is situated in historical center of Saint-Petersburg near Mariinsky theatre and Conservatory. Lancaster Court Hotel, situated on Fokin Street 3, is a new Petersburg hotel built in traditionally English style. Hotel has a calm and respectable atmosphere. It is oriented on businessmen and tourists, counting in high level of service. Wonderful interiors, cozy numbers dispose for pleasant rest and productive work.

Forum Junwex-2008, Saint-Petersburg beauty and accommodation in hotels Admiralteyskaya and Lancaster Court are intended to add more bright moments to your life.

Apraksin Dvor reconstruction

Yesterday opened exhibition of Chris Wilkinson (English architect) Making Buildings. It is his first exhibition in Russia. Citizens will see 15 wonderful architectural projects, including their models and drafts of famous architects’ work.
In borders of this exhibition will be represented competition project “Apraksin Dvor”. Chris Wilkinson said that it was one of his most difficult projects.
Apraksin Dvor – a destroying architectural ensemble in the center of St. Petersburg, which was a market for a long time. It is very difficult to restore it, because of its size, location and architectural importance. 2 companies - Glavstroi-Spb (in cooperation with Chris Wilkinson) and Renaissance Apraksin Dvor offered their projects of “Apraksin Dvor” reconstruction.
Chris Wilkinson proposed to restore the existing buildings and remove parking spaces from the nearby streets. He wants to create a glass roof over the central passage, using the latest technology. The architect also proposes to create a new street from the Fontanka River to the center of the complex and construct a new bridge.
Wilkinson wants to attract visitors, making Apraksin Dvor a place of huge interest. He already reconstructed and preserved such historic ensembles as Covent Garden in London, Les Halles in Paris and Soho in New York.
There are many disputes around this project, because the ideas of its reconstruction are challenging, pricey and difficult to realize. The tender requires minimum investment of $400 million, while Glavstroi-SPb has suggested investment of $1.15 billion. The results of the tender will be announced on Jan. 25.

CASA LETO launches a new web-site

In the end of January 2008 hotel CASA LETO, situated on Bolshaya Morskaya Street, launches a new web-site, specializing on selling tourist and business invitations. Now this web-site passes through the final stage of construction and you can already watch it on www.visaable.com.

This web-site is unique. A client can make a tourist invitation by himself. He will need 10 minutes to enter clients’ data and print invitation whenever he wants to.

When you decide to visit a country, you need visa and sometimes a tourist invitation. Tourist invitations can be given by relatives, company or mini-hotel. CASA LETO mini-hotel helps its clients to get tourist invitations.

There are privileges for hotels’ corporative clients. They will be able to look through old bookings, correct their personal data, print several copies of tourist invitations and get discounts for this service. To make work faster and more effective, several managers will work through clients’ orders with personal passwords.

Hotel Park Inn Pribaltiyskaya will accept Mortgage forum

III Mortgage forum will pass in hotel “Park Inn Pribaltiyskaya” at the end of spring from 21 – 23 May.
Petersburg mortgage forum is a big event for mortgage crediting market. Traditionally participants of mortgage forum are bank, building and mortgage companies’, housing cooperatives, estate agencies, brokers companies’ managers.
Organizers of the forum are three city committees – Housing committee, Building committee, Economy development, industrial policy and trade committee.
Group of companies “Bulletin of Estate” will provide organizational, technical support of forum. Different sections, round tables, discussions and business-tours are planned to be led on III Mortgage forum.
Additional attention on forum-2008 will receive the question of increasing of accessible housing on building market.
The forum will finish by awarding the laureates of yearly National award in mortgage crediting sphere CREDO-2008. Now passes the registration of participants. More than 20 participants have given their agreement to take part in forum.
Hotel “Park Inn Pribaltiyskaya”, where will pass forum, is situated on Korablestrioteley Street, 14 on Vasilyevsky island.

Russian railroads are glad

There is a big demand on Express-train Moscow-Saint-Petersburg
Russian railroads are glad about first results of renewed train №3/4 “Express” Moscow-Saint-Petersburg run.
Since 27 December in express-train appeared several suit-carriages (several compartments with shower and toilet for one carriage), carriages of new modification, where shelves are disposed one above another.
Russian railroads watched their concurrents and have taken in the account all their achievements and mistakes. They decided to leave ordinary compartments, because passengers are used to them. So the first results were good – a train was almost fulfilled and some races were all sold out.
In nearly future Russian railroads plan to make discounts on Express tickets, buying beforehand and perhaps sell-off rest “burning” tickets cheaper. For constant clients will be worked out a special discount program.

Charity action in Grand hotel Europe

47 children 4-18 years old from Nevskaya Dubrovka children’s home were invited for a Christmas party in Grand hotel Europe. This was the first charity action in the hotel, yearly Pushkin ball “Golden autumn”, children charity ball in Tsar’s Village. Grand hotel Europe has its own charity fund, existing at the expense of special VIP-guests cards. Thomas Noll, General Manager of the hotel in 2006 employed two pupils from the center of work with children social risk group’s “Island” and two more in 2007, giving them an opportunity to build their career in the hotel business sphere. Now they work successfully in different departments of the hotel, graduating high education to enter the university and get the specialty “Manager of tourism”.
General Manager decided to broaden the boarders of charity work with Nevskaya Dubrovka children’s home, inviting children for professional orientation. Sergey Andreev, chief cook of “Rossi” restaurant prepared party menu for children’s home pupils from the dishes of Italian kitchen. After the Christmas party ending, Thomas Noll gave all children presents.

This year will start the building of Moscow-Petersburg Highway

Construction of the high-speed freeway between Moscow and St. Petersburg could start as early as this year, a government official said Friday at a meeting in Murmansk with journalists from the Northwest region. The highway will become one of the largest public-private partnership projects in the region.

The 600-kilometer highway will be constructed in several stages, starting with a small section of 60-70 kilometers. Construction costs are estimated at approximately 350 billion rubles ($14.4 billion). “It’s a large investment. That’s why we are using a concession scheme,” Medvedev said.

Currently several large public-private partnership projects are underway in St. Petersburg, including the Western High-Speed Link-Road and the Orlovsky Tunnel. The cost of the Orlovsky Tunnel under the River Neva is estimated at $1 billion, which is to be provided in equal proportions by the Investment Fund of the Russian Federation, the St. Petersburg budget and a private investor.

The project is due for completion in 2011, when the investor will operate Orlovsky Tunnel for 30 years, charging drivers a fee. The tender procedures are still being held.

Photo exhibition of Stanislaw Chabutkin

Museum of history and photography (Professora Popova Street, 23) invites to visit Stanislaw Chabutkin exhibition “Echo”. The exhibition will pass from January 11 till February 19, 2008.
Stanislaw Chabutkin is a member of more than 100 exhibitions in Russia and abroad. He is the author of 12 personal exhibitions. He was born in 1953 in Leningrad, finished a faculty of photojournalists in 1978, in 2001 became a member of artists Union of Russia, in 2002 a member of photojournalists Union of Russia. He also was a member of many creative unions – photo clubs “VDK” and “Friendship”, groups “Window” and “Leningrad”.
Creative and commercial photo are different things for the photographer, but they get along pretty well. Stanislaw Chabutkin tells that he needs to provide his family and his creative hobby. He earns money through making photos of cold arms. He illustrated many books and journals about cold arms. He says that from time to time he wants to change his job, because sometimes it’s too mush, but, of course, he doesn’t see himself without photography. Recently he made a photo, which negative lied 21 years in his archive, but he remembered about it all the time. His exhibition promises to be very interesting.

Ski resort Igora will become the biggest in Europe

Ski resort "Igora" is becoming more and more popular; many citizens come there to spend their holidays and weekends. High level of services, modern equipment, comfortable numbers and friendly stuff attract many foreign and Russian tourists.
The territory of ski resort “Igora”, situated not far from Sosnovo settlement in Leningradskaya area, will become 9 times bigger and it will become the biggest ski resort in Europe.
On resort will appear entertaining complex with big skating-rink, bowling-club with 8 stripes, billiard hall, cinema for 80 seats, conference-hall for 300 seats etc. Ice palace will appear next to south hill. Here will be also built new cottages and hotels.
Now ski resort consists of 9 alpine skiing tracks, hotel and cottage settlement. “Igora” occupies the territory 100 hectares.

Belgian Consulate is opening in Saint-Petersburg

Soon in Saint-Petersburg will open Belgian Consulate.

Prime-Minister of Russian Federation Victor Zubkov assigned a direction to open a Belgian Consulate in Saint-Petersburg. Agreement to open Consulate was reached a year ago during Russian and Belgian Meeting of Chiefs of Ministries of Foreign Affairs, as informed in consulates department of the embassy.

A representative of a Consulate says, – “We began to prepare documents, fulfill the formalities. By the time, when all the information was gathered, we’d sent it to the Government. Now we wait for reply from the Ministry of Foreign affairs. Next week we hope to get it”.

Belgian General Consulate can be opened in two months, as informs IA Regnum. Direct address of Consulate is not known yet, but it will sure be situated in the center of the city.

A new General Consul of Finland entered upon his duties

A new General Consul of Finland is assigned in Saint-Petersburg. Olli Perheentupu entered upon his duties after New Year parties.

Olli Perheentupu was born in Turku (Finland) in 1947. In 1994-1997 he worked as a Consul in a General Consulate of Saint-Petersburg, in 1997-2002 worked as a Counselor in a Finnish Consulate in Moscow. Since then Olli Perheentupu maintained a post of a chief of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland by the issues of Russia, as informs IA Regnum.

On 28 July 2007 died previous General Consul of Finland in Saint-Petersburg Uhany Vayanyanen. Since then Uhany Youtsen, deputy of General Consul attended his duties.

English pub “Shilling” grand opening

On 12 January 2008 takes place grand opening of the pub. From 21 December 2007 started to work English pub “Shilling”.

“Shilling” is situated on the fourth floor of the trade-entertaining center “Continent” on Bajkonurskaya Street. You won’t miss its blue walls and signboard “English pub Shilling”. There is one hall for 120 guests in “Shilling”. In front of the entrance there is a bar, strewed with copper beer taps, for 15 seats. On Saturdays and Sundays here play music teams. On the wall hang big plasma and when an important match is coming, rolls out a projection screen.

On the right hand from the bar there are three tiers: first tier with soft leather sofas (close to the scene), second with high chairs and third tier, situated on a podium, higher than others so that everything is seen from there. All the furniture is made of oak massive. “Shilling” has unusual lightening – lamps and lampshades are made from stained-glass. All this makes the environment of the pub cosy and comfortable.

Rare butterflies in winter Saint-Petersburg

At New Year noon all citizens of Saint-Petersburg can plunge into atmosphere of warm tropics. In ecsotarium of Petersburg Zoo opened exhibition of rare butterflies.

They came here from the farms of Europe. In special premises was created atmosphere of tropics, where creations from Asia and South America can fly free. Special temperature routine makes them feel like at home. Special premises are full of exotic plants.

Visitors can not only watch butterflies, but also carefully seat them on their arms. Butterflies eat pollen, fruits, honey. Their life lasts nearly three weeks. Next to butterflies live bugs, spiders and scorpions. Here are also represented collection butterflies. The exhibition, which opened on 25 December 2007, will last till April 2008. Zoo is situated not far from St. Peter and Paul’s Fortress and hotel “Gajot”.

winter grand openings

This winter opened many restaurants and cafes, which promise to surprise its guests. Each of them has its own peculiarities.

Café “Noodles” opened on 1 December 2007 on Litejniy prospect, 40. Café “Noodles” is an everyday café with pasta, croissants and big cups of coffee. Here is a big hall divided with partitions made as thick slices of cheese. Menu of the café includes all necessary. Café is bright, light, non-smoking and there is almost no alcohol, besides beer Heineken. This café likely may become a net.

Restaurant “Lorenzo №5” opened on 14 December 2007 on Bolshoy prospect of Petrogradskaya side. This is a new Italian restaurant situated on the 4-th floor of the gallery “Apriori” boutiques. Interior of restaurant includes black, beige and silver-graffit colors. Soft sofas, low black tables and black lamp brackets make the calm environment. Restaurant is named after olive oil brand. Here you can taste Italian kitchen.

Beer restaurant “William Bass” opened on 15 December 2007 on Ligovskiy prospect, 53. It is a clone of Moscow’s beer restaurant. Interior of restaurant is unusual – low tables for cigar smoking, library, decorative fireplace, semicircular bar. In a book cupboard you will find “originals” of Dickens and illustrated World War II. On classic wallpapers hangs Churchill portrait. It is an interesting place to spend evening.

In addition to the café opened a new restaurant “Lady Green” on 31 December 2007 on Komendantskiy prospect, 24. Restaurant consists of 2 halls for 80 guests. VIP zone is decorated in oriental style; the hall is made in classic European style. Menu of the restaurant is very vivid – there a European, Caucasian, Russian dishes, children and fitness-menu.

On 7 January 2008 on Zanevskiy prospect, 34 next to Okkervil River opened restaurant “Okkervil”. Menu of the restaurant includes Russian, European and Armenian dishes. From Tuesday - Saturday at 20.00 there is live music; on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 p.m. – 4 a.m. restaurant works as a night club.