In early November, the Teremok Children’s Theater embarked on its first-ever tour, traveling to Philadelphia for the “Theater – Island of Friendship” Festival. Our delegation owes a massive debt of gratitude to the organizers, Marta Zefarskiy and Lana Mokilev, for a celebration that provided immense inspiration, vivid emotions, and a vital platform for talented young...
Category: Cultural Life
Sergei Sikorsky: From Pioneer’s Son to Aviation Icon
On September 18, the Sikorsky Aircraft company announced the sad news of the passing of one of Igor Sikorsky’s sons, Sergei Sikorsky. He lived to be exactly one hundred years old and made a significant contribution to the development of the American helicopter manufacturing industry. Because of his aeronautical achievements, name deserves to be remembered...
Fort Ross Festival Turns Woke
The days when thousands of visitors flocked to Sonoma’s coast to witness historical reenactments at Fort Ross State Historic Park are now gone. The traditional Fort Ross Festival—which for decades celebrated the 19th-century Russian-American Company’s presence in California—has been replaced by the so-called Ocean and Art Festival. Gone are the performances by Russian artists, frontier...
“Matreshki D.C.” – a New Concert Program in Washington D.C.
On June 14th, the children’s dance ensemble “Matreshki D.C.”, under the patronage of the St. John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Cathedral (ROCOR), performed a new concert program in the Washington metropolitan area. The concert featured traditional Russian folk dances: “Moscow Kadrille” (Square Dance), “Kamarinskaya,” “Sudarushka” (Dance with shawls), “Volga Dance”, as well as the famous...
California’s Russian River: A Name Forged in the Past
During their exploration of Northern California, millions annually come across a sign that reads “Russian River.” This prompts them, at some juncture during their travels in the heart of Sonoma’s wine county to ponder about the origins of the name of this splendid waterway. Why is this major artery, flowing southwest for 110 miles from...
The Slavic Festival at the Russian Center of San Francisco
A festive atmosphere permeated the area around the Russian Center in San Francisco on May 2nd and 3rd. From the lit windows, a chorus of music, the buzz of lively conversations, and cheerful, booming toasts of “Hip-hip hooray! Hip-hip hooray!” could be heard. This marked the long-awaited return of the legendary Russian Festival under a...
Victory Over Nazism Anniversary Largely Overlooked in the U.S., Despite Presidential Proclamation
May marked the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany—a turning point in world history that brought an end to the bloodiest war in Europe. Yet in the United States, the date passed with little notice, despite an official proclamation from President Donald Trump declaring May 8 as “Victory Day” in World War...






