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Kundera's "The Joke"Continuing my fascination with the Czech author Milan Kundera, I chose to write about another book of his that I’m almost through reading by the name of “The Joke”. Again, Milan Kundera’s wit and political incorrectness is evident, and I can’t help but admire his insight through his shocking revelations. This is Kundera’s first published novel, which introduced him to the world of publishing and literary excellence not just in the Czech sphere, but to a global audience. The story of “The Joke” is one that explores the possibility of history playing “jokes” on us. The story follows the character Ludvik Jahn, who sends his girlfriend a satirical postcard that criticizes Czechoslovakia’s communist regime, and pokes fun at them, which they do not take too lightly, and instead choose to kick him out of the communist party and expel him from his university, while forcing him to join a special army regiment with other so-called “enemies of the political state”. The novel subsequently explores the ripple effect of our actions, and who it can affect and how it can change history. The novel explores concepts in traveling, such as traveling for a greater purpose, or because one is forced to (such as Ludvik’s character).

The story is one that reflects themes we all feel when traveling, such as fascination with the unfamiliar and how exciting, new and fresh it seems, but also with common elements of human behavior, and the illogical emotions we sometimes experience because of it. The book is one that is, as most of Kundera’s work, a literary masterpiece that uses the political situation in the Czech Republic as a story propellant, not as the defining piece of the story. But moreso, it explores the negative sides of human behavior, discussing bitterness and anger (at those who punished him for said “joke”), revenge (he seduces the wife of the leader who led his expulsion), and also the dangers of being so entirely self-absorbed, as Ludvik’s character becomes as time leaves him more and more bitter. The theme that I found most evident however, as the element of the “joke” alludes to, is the fact that sometimes we have to realize that things are not in our control, as much as we like to think otherwise. Ludvik comes to this conclusion about ¾ of the way into the book, realizing in his words, “historical inevitability”. By utilizing this, both as humans, and as travelers (yes, you will sometimes get rained out and not be able to see something), we can come to better terms with it when it does, in fact, happen. 

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

For my first reading for this course, I chose to discuss one of my all-time favorite books by Czech author Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being. The story takes place in the 1960’s and the story follows a young womanizing Czech physician named Tomas who goes on several erotic encounters as a substitute for getting involved in Czechoslovakian politics, and uses it as a way to feel that he is in control, as he feels that he has no control or freedom in his country. Eventually, however, he ends up falling in love with a woman, (his wife Tereza) while ending up being drawn into the political unrest while trying to choose between the women that he has begun these erotic journeys with, or the woman he fell in love with. It essentially is a character development plot set against the tumultuous political system within the Czech Republic at that time. It’s a bit of a doozy to explain the plot further, but essentially, Milan Kundera uses the characters as a method of posing though-provoking questions in existentialism, and other philosophical outlets. These questions spoken through said characters analyze mankind, and most importantly what it truly means to be human. This novel has still left me thinking a year after I initially read it.

This possibly causes the story to suffer a bit, simply because the philosophical aspect of the book undermines the ability for Kundera to go into great psychological depth with the characters, but merely uses them as pawns for his philosophical ramblings (which, quite honestly, isn’t a bad thing...they are fascinating!).  What I found most fascinating about this book is the fact that Kundera manages to explore humanity to a depth that I’m still left puzzled as to how his level of understanding reached such heights. In the midst of political oppression, Czechs believe that the only things that they can still hold on to are love and sex, which is why the characters manipulate themselves and others to still feel as if they are in control.  Kundera toys with the reader by making them look deep within themselves to wonder if this need for control is merely weakness in the face of adversity, or strength in reasserting one’s dominance as a human being creating some sort of impact. The Unbearable Lightness of Being, makes us think whether our actions here on earth truly have ramifications and staying power, long after our time is up, or if they are in fact, “light” and fleeting, and if we ourselves are the ones that are able to attach importance to our actions, or if we are reliant on others to do so. This debate continues throughout the length of the novel, and rather than answering the question, Kundera gives readers the freedom to decide for themselves. 

Miami: My place of habitDe Botton’s chapter “On Habit” was a surprisingly good read (I tend to have a bit of a bias on school assigned readings so I admittedly wasn’t expecting much). De Botton’s knack for capturing the reader’s attention while incorporating anecdotes and stories, along with his own personal experiences to create a rich and vivid tale full of incredible visual imagery, never ceases to incite my attention span. From his picturesque description of detail, such as “azure skies and giant sea anemones”, to his wit and sense of despair over things he mentions such as “funereal” skies, one can’t help but feel as if they are beside De Botton, experiencing the same emotions and seeing things through his eyes. What most fascinates me about De Botton’s writings however is what an incredible amount of knowledge he has in the realm of stories (or possibly, the amount of research he did to find these little anecdotal tales), and how he manages to weave them in so seamlessly to illustrate his points, such as his story about de Maistre.

De Botton further expands on his ideas about travel by saying that we as travelers have a sense of receptivity, meaning that (most of us) approach new places that we visit with a large sense of humility, and without assumption (though this is VERY arguable in my opinion), waiting to experience these new cultures and locales by irritating locals with our touristy ways and strange fascination with the most miniscule of things that the locals pay no attention to. Even more fascinating however, is how De Botton likens our home mentality and states how we have lowered expectations to our familiar surroundings, because it has become a part of our daily habits and routine. De Botton states that we are more “settled in our expectations”, and believe that we know all there is to know about our surroundings simply because of living there for an extended period of time, and how we find it hard to believe that anything new could occur somewhere we’ve been living for such a long period of time. De Botton states that because we have been there for so long, “we have become habituated and therefore blind to it.” I couldn’t help but relate to this, as I am from Miami, Florida originally (where everyone goes to vacation, etc.), everyone is always fascinated by that fact, when all I can do is complain as to how much I hate it and how its always the same. To an extent that is true, but for a traveler who has never been, I’d be dead wrong.

reflectionThroughout the first three chapters of the book “The Art of Travel”, Alain de Botton emphasizes themes that truly encapsulate what it means to travel, and more so what it means to be a good traveler and travel writer. De Botton writes in a manner that paints a vivid and detailed picture of his surroundings, using words that evoke visual imagery to transport the reader to the places of his past. However, what most intrigued me about his writing is that he also posed philosophical inquiries into the mind of the traveler, asking questions such as how we are often told advice on to “where to travel to, but we hear of little of why and how we should go”. He then goes on to emphasize that travel is essential to the Greek phenomenon known as eudaimonia, or “human flourishing”. I would have to say that I agree with this statement, because during my time abroad, I have experienced this so-called “flourishing” and have seen my way of thinking change as I get more exposed to global customs and traditions and gain these invaluable experiences. Through my travels, in addition to my time in Prague, I’ve gained more firsthand knowledge in this short period of time than I have in the last three years of college. I feel that my mind has been opened to try new things and be open to new experiences, and I can’t thank my travels enough. 

De Botton also emphasizes a theme that I think most travelers have experienced throughout their time traveling: the all-too common phenomenon known as disappointment. We, as travelers often spend much time researching a place we want to visit and end up hyping up our place of destination so much in our minds that it gets to the point where the expectations we set for ourselves are so high, that they are indeed impossible to match or compete with. I think its part of the all-too common “traveler syndrome”, which also expects an air of authenticity to wherever we go, and if we don’t find it, we are also supremely disappointed. As it stands now, we as travelers are a bit high maintenance, I believe, and De Botton does a very good job of capturing these things. He then also points out in a manner that is easily relatable, how many tourists (well, for the sake of this post, I will say travelers) insist upon only following things written on their well-researched itinerary, and not open themselves up to experiences a bit more outside the box. More humorous though, I think, is the reaction of travelers when things stray just ever so slightly from the planned course of action. I think we can all take a lesson out of de Botton’s book and realize that travels are for personal growth, not rigidity.

NYU in Prague Academic Center

My life abroad is a rather surprising one, and just like my life while in school in New York, I have come to realize that I’ve already slipped into another daily routine where my surroundings come into effect. In New York, my usual routine of waking up on time for class, walking to the subway and riding it to Astor Place, while stopping by the local Starbucks or Mud Truck for coffee has been replaced with waking up late for class (I’m convinced my body still isn’t used to the time change...that’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it!) and stopping for a quick croissant at the bakery inside the station while running down the moving stairs, hoping that I didn’t miss a train. Once I arrive at the metro stop, I bolt off to class, usually accidentally hitting other pedestrians in my path by accident. NYU’s academic center is conveniently (or not so conveniently located when it comes to a college budget) located right of Prague’s Old Town Square, which encapsulates the beauty of something straight out of a Disney fairy tale. I’ve been lucky that I chose to come to Prague in the sense that the cost of living is fairly low when compared to other NYU study abroad sites, and even costs at NYU itself. It is not uncommon to have a full meal with wine and tip for under 100 crowns, or five US dollars.

However cheap these things are, however, clothing and apparel items (at least the ones that look half decent) are almost triple the cost in some instances as the same items in the United States, which limited my attempt to help stimulate the global economy. In terms of my housing, I was fortunate enough to be assigned to a single room within a larger suite, (though I ended up paying more for it). My residence hall, Machova, is a residence hall that rekindles memories of freshman year dormitories. There is an active sense of community within the halls, and though kitchens and bathrooms are shared, I would not have chosen to live anywhere else. Because of this setup, I was able to forge strong bonds of friendship with people that will last far beyond our time here in Prague. I tend to hang out mostly at small pubs and bars in the area of our residence hall, which have a much more local feel to them than anywhere else most NYU students frequent. Sure, they’re a bit smokier than the rest, but as amateur travel writers, aren’t we trying to find the most authentic experience possible? 

Traditional Czech Fare

Welcome to Prague, the hauntingly beautiful city known for its signature cheap pivo (that’s Czech for beer, folks), towering spires and romantic cobblestone streets that has increasingly become a place for tourists to frequent in their desire to explore Eastern Europe. Prague, while still relatively cheap by European standards, is still not the cheapest place one can find for food (though its pretty darn close!). You see, I’m talking from the perspective of the cheapest of the cheap here; the constantly hungry, sometimes inebriated, and pleasure seeking, the specimen known as the college student. Being here for an entire semester has posed the unique challenge of trying to experience a culture from an authentic (and delicious) perspective without spending too much money. Prague is a place where the distinctive culture of its people dictates everyday life, from attitudes and behavior, to customs, and of course, its food. Prague’s traditional Czech cuisine is hearty and filling, and quite good when one explores establishments mere steps away from typical tourists haunts. It is my pleasure to share some of these places with you, my oh-so-fortunate audience, and yes there will be some walking (but you’re supposed to be tourists and enjoy exploring).

To begin, I will state that many of these places are places that have been highly recommended to me by local Czechs, which I then chose to “Czech-out” (I had to throw in a bit of my incredible wit, for good measure, of course). However, at of the some places that I paid a visit, I was not able to eat some of the dishes because I am allergic to pork, which then led my all-too-willing friends to assist me yet somehow still leaving me with a sense of indebtedness toward them. Since when was eating a chore? Regardless, we begin our tour of Prague’s traditional Czech meals with the microbrewery restaurant known as Pivovarsky Dum, serving the one thing Prague is best known for: its beer. It is important to note that at the time this article was written, the exchange rate between the Czech koruna and the US dollar was 20kc to every 1 US Dollar. Pivovarsky Dum (Lipova 15, Prague 1) is a great microbrewery I discovered while here in Prague located not too far from the I.P. Pavlova metro stop, that offers 0.1 liter samples of some of the freshest beer I’ve had in Prague (including Pilsner) for not more than a few crowns, including flavors like sour cherry, coffee and banana beer. While not all the beer flavors tickled my fancy, one can leave the establishment with not spending more then 100kc, or five U.S. dollars, and with a satisfied beer belly (granted, I am a bit of a lightweight). While I don’t recommend trying the food here (it was fairly mediocre), those who choose to can grab something from the daily menu for 120 kc. Most of the waiters spoke fairly good English, and stopping by this place, though now somewhat often frequented by tourists, is worth the atmosphere and cheap beer alone.

After a slight buzz from said beer, make your way up to the Narodni Trida metro stop, which is available through several tram lines, including the 22, where you will find Prague’s best smazeny syr, or fried cheese sandwich, for a modest 35kc upon dismounting the tram. This stand is by and far the place to get most savory smazeny syr anywhere in Prague (believe me, I’ve gained weight trying to find it), with its perfectly flash fried and crunchy exterior, toasted bun and perfectly portioned tartar sauce. This is one place not to miss during your stay in Prague, and to make things even sweeter, the stand is open almost all-night long! So, now, after you’ve had some time to digest this appetizer of sorts, walk about ten minutes to Mala Strana (very close to the national theatre). Visit the restaurant Olympia (Vitezna 7, Prague 5, 11:00-24:00) was recommended to me by my Czech personal trainer Jirka Charvatova (who just happens to be a foodie) as one of the best places to try svickova, sliced and marinated beef sirloin in a cream sauce topped with cranberry compote served with knedliky, or traditional Czech dumplings, which will cost you about eight US dollars. The restaurant is a sister restaurant of the popular restaurant (for both locals and tourists alike), Kolkovna, a Pilsner affiliate, which means that plenty of fresh Pilsner beer is on tap at 39kc for a half liter in the almost kitsch-like atmosphere of the place.

So, I understand that all this continual walking and exploring of Praha might still leave you a bit famished, but luckily for you, dear reader, I’m not finished quite yet (don’t worry, I’ll give you a few moments to digest). If you’re in the mood for light fare, I have it on good word through a rather picky Czech vegetarian (yes, they do exist) named Lucie Pinusova, that a cheap Pilsner-affiliated restaurant (very appealing on several levels to college students) by the name of Ego (Obloukova 25, Prague 10, 11:00-24:00) has the best cesnekovy polevka, or garlic soup, this side of the Vltava river, at a mere 35kc. By contrast, the restaurant also serves some of Prague’s best klobasy, or grilled sausage, with mashed potatoes for 95kc. I realize that most people who come to the Czech Republic, are in fact carnivores, so if the infamous Czech roasted pork knuckle is what you’re after, I have just the place. My Czech friend David Strup dragged me to what he (and his nodding friends) agreed as the best place in Praha for pork knee/knuckle, teasing my hunger pangs (and desire to not break out in hives from an allergic reaction) while savoring every bite at of the classical Czech dish at U Provaznice (Provaznicka 3, Prague 1, 11:00-24:00) at a modest 235kc (a bit over 11 US dollars) for a savory and smoked meal. Squeals of delight erupted from David’s mouth as he ate, so I believe its safe to assume he was accurate in his assessment.

For traditional Czech goulas, our building R.A. Tyna, recommended I try a restaurant in nearby Vinohrady, which was her personal favorite for the Czech dish by the name of U Strecu (Budecksa 19, Prague 2), which served a hearty serving portion with knedliky, bread dumplings. I brought my friend Vicki along, who decides to deviate from my meal plan and order the Czech national dish of roast pork with dumplings and cabbage, and said it was quite possibly the best meal she had ever had in Prague. Our combined total, including two glasses of wine and tip, came out to 205kc, which was quite a nice surprise. Service was a bit slow in the very home-y atmosphere of the restaurant, but well worth the wait and price. We distracted ourselves by looking around at the odd assortment of seemingly misplaced items and framed advertisements (noticeably a rather odd Harley Davidson piece of memorabilia) on the barren whitewashed walls.

Now, the part that you’ve been waiting for (at least I have), the best part of a meal: dessert. Though my favorite dessert in all of Prague is one that is available everywhere, only one place makes it exactly the way it tastes best: U Knihovny (Veleslavinova 10, Prague 1) tucked away down a side street close to the Starometska metro stop with a surprisingly well-appointed interior and prices that go far under what the establishment could charge. A favorite of locals, this restaurant serves full entrees under 100kc, but their presentation of the Czech honey cake known as medovnik, at 39kc a slice, served with whipped cream and refrigerated to perfection, is one I urge you not to pass up. Reservations are recommended if coming at a busy time, as the establishment is quite popular. Lastly, for the Czech dessert and breakfast staple palacinky, I visited a place recommended by a girl my age, Tereza Zvolska, that I met while on the hunt for the cost-effective best of the best here in Praha. as one of the best places to enjoy its magnificent airy texture.  Café Louvre (Narodni 22, Prague 1, 9:00-23:30), is a rustic Parisian style café that boasts which sells the scrumptious items for 59kc a portion, topped with raspberry sauce and sour cream, and additionally boasts that it makes the “best coffee in Prague”.

So there you have it dear destitute readers, a guide to eating to your heart’s content here in Prague without breaking the bank and risking being inauthentic. The only thing I ask is that you return the favor kindly and take me with you; I am a college student, after all.

Prague By Night

Its hard to think that is was already nearly four months ago that I set off on this amazing experience to study abroad. I still remember my unjustified freaking out about freezing to death after my Miami born and raised self was told that Prague was comparable to the Arctic Tundra, and my fruitless attempt to pack 5 coats into a modest carry-on. I still remember my freaking out after rushing to the airport after my New York taxi got lost, and how I barely made my flight to the Czech Republic. It seems like just last week, I was feeling the flurry of emotions: nervousness, excitement, anxiety. Yet, three months have gone by in what seems like a matter of days, and it is still hard to believe that in mere days, I will be back in my home country. Worse though, is that I’m still unsure as to what I should feel, and what I am currently feeling. Part of me is sad to leave Europe and this amazing experience, as well as the great people I’ve had the pleasure to meet. The other, Americanized part of me however, is eager to get back to New York City and scarf down an extra large cup of Pinkberry frozen yogurt.

Despite the fact that I spent a great deal of the semester lusting after things only available in my beloved New York City, going back partly saddens me. Reflecting upon the experiences I’ve had, places I’ve been, and the knowledge I have gained makes wondering what things would have been like had I not gone abroad almost unimaginable. The amazing experiences that I had with Czechs, my fellow NYU students and the amazing NYU in Prague staff and faculty have made this experience all the more memorable. From my initial difficulty speaking a word of anything in Czech, to my now (almost) effortless skills in ordering food in Czech, I’ve learned that a little bit of effort and patience go a long way. Now, my concern is how bizarre it will be to go back to a country where everyone speaks English. I’ve already envisioned myself uttering “Mluvite Anglicky, prosim?” (Do you speak English, please?) at the Trader Joe’s cashier queue. I will remember the amazing people I’ve met while here more than anything, along with the friends I will have for life after this experience. They often say that things will have changed when you are gone for an extended period of time, but I have no doubt in my mind that it is I that will have changed, and hopefully that change will be for the better. 

The NYU Division Where We're Taking This Class From!

Oh...my favorite time to write...and say horrible things about Steve! Just kidding. ;) Steve’s course is awesome. I’ve had Steve as a professor for the last two semesters and I have to say that his classes never fail to interest me. Both this course and the previous course I had taken with Steve have challenged my way of thinking in regards to travel, and opened my mind to both new possibilities in terms of career opportunities involving travel, as well as given me new insight in how to be a better traveler and globe citizen. Steve’s experience and global insight from his travels, as well as his vast knowledge of great travel writing pieces and sense of humor make him one of my favorite professors (and I’m hoping to have him present at my senior colloquium). Steve himself is an amazing and caring professor. He’s quite possibly the most caring professor I’ve yet to have at NYU, who genuinely has the student’s best interest at heart, and truly does care about seeing his students succeed (and even pushes some of us to do it, as well!). This class, The Art of Travel, has provided me with the opportunity to start doing something I always want to do, but never have time do: blogging! (And now I have to, because its for a grade!).

I have a bit of a hate/love relationship with forced blogging though. I feel that blogging in this manner sort of forces one to limit himself or herself as to what they want to write about whilst abroad, and sometimes hinders creativity. (But I may just be cranky because of all the work I have to do). However, I also have to sincerely thank Steve and this course for forcing me to do things I wouldn’t have done while in Prague, whether it be a cultural event, exploring new restaurants and venues, or what have you. The class is what I expected, and I felt that it was a great way for Gallatin students to share their writings with one another in a supportive environment full of fellow student travel writers that fosters a sense of a common traveler community. The only suggestions that I would offer the course is that I feel that there should be more open topics available as blog posts, as opposed to usually writing along the constraints of specific topics or issues. Additionally, I would also suggest that the blogs not be necessarily centric to the place in which we are studying abroad, and give a bit more liberty to discuss our travels outside our place of study. Other than that, I highly recommend this course and our professor, as I’ve learned so much in such a short period of times, and will have these writings to treasure long after this experience has come to an end.

A Park I Can't Pronounce in Prague

Hello all you future NYU abroaders....and Steve. =) So, I’m going to tell you the real skinny on the beautiful city of spires and cheap beer (and awkward and hilarious encounters with Czechs...don’t worry, they get friendlier as the semester goes on, I promise) known as Prague, here in the beautiful (and beautifully cheap!) Czech Republic. To begin with, I will be completely honest: I do have mixed feelings about Prague. Prague is a gorgeous city that looks like something out of a Disney fairy tale. A breathtaking castle, classical architecture and horses (yes, horses!) are more than enough to make you feel as if you’re having a strange dream where you are a royal out of a Disney film after watching the movie Enchanted right before bed. However beautiful Prague is though, I have to say that I didn’t care for the usually dreary and depressing weather and the not-really-all-that-friendly-to-foreign-people Czechs. The weather doesn’t really get half decent until the end of April here (if you would be studying abroad in the spring), and by then, you’re just irritated that it took so long to get nice outside! While this is bad, this is not a Prague bashing post at all. You see, while Prague has its cons, it is also the site I would recommend most for students looking to travel Europe.

Because Prague is smack-dab in the middle of Europe, it is relatively easy to travel almost anywhere, and the other great thing is that flights from Prague are usually relatively cheap when bought in advance, and bus lines such as Student Agency Bus make exploring eastern and central Europe a snap. This, added to the fact that Prague is rather inexpensive (though comparing almost anywhere to New York City would make it seem inexpensive by comparison) means you’ll have more money to save for your travels. An added bonus for those who choose to study abroad in Prague is that the program is one of NYU’s smallest programs, meaning there is a definite sense of community, which is rather difficult to find amongst NYU’s 40,000+ students back in New York. Words of advice to those studying in Prague: watch where you walk, as owners almost never curb their dogs, you will pay for water at restaurants (even for tap!), tipping is a modest 10% (except in the city center, where NYU is located, of course), most of the Czech population still doesn’t speak English, so please do pay attention during your intensive Czech lessons (this will come in more handy than you think!), and have brunch at least once at Radost FX, and you won’t need about 60% of the clothes you initially pack. Additionally, don’t be afraid to explore Prague! Most people never venture from the typical NYU haunts, and there are so many amazing places here! I also recommend taking classes that include excursions to places in Prague, such as Reporting the Arts and Czech Architecture. Lastly, if you want the “nicest” dorms, live in Osadni, which are rather out of the way, but the most spacious. However, if it’s a community you’re after, Czech out (oh yes, I went there) the Machova or Slezka residence halls, which resemble more traditional dorm-like setups. I hope this helps, and feel free to ask anything else!

Radost FX

Take the green line to the Namesti Miru metro stop, or the red metro line or tram to I.P. Pavlova and walk a short distance on the cobblestone streets, and prepare yourself for a wonderful state of mind sure to last all day with a morning stop at the slightly touristy, but still amazingly fun Radost FX. Upon your arrival on a weekend morning, you can expect to find a wonderful brunch that is easily accessible for almost any budget. What most people don’t realize, however is that Radost FX’s brunch is geared toward vegetarians. However, don’t let the lack of bacon and sausage deter you; Radost’s breakfast is a staple not to be missed whilst in Prague. Whatever you choose to order, from Radost’s famous “Elvis” bagel, to its equally scrumptious Greek God omelet, the establishment is never one to disappoint at any given part of the day, thanks in part to its ambience, as well as its surprisingly well speaking English staff. You see, Radost FX has a bit of a Clark Kent complex. Yet on weekend mornings before 11 a.m., it is a place for a leisurely meal where one can be assured to eat something both satisfying and delicious. By night however, Radost FX gets its Superman on, and transforms itself into a nightclub worthy of mention in any Prague guidebook.

The club is so noteworthy in fact, that famed international pop artist Rihanna shot the music video for her hit single “Please Don’t Stop The Music “ inside its nightclub. One step inside Radost FX, and the rich deep red velvets envelop you, beckoning you to come in further. Once inside, a Moulin Rouge inspired décor surrounds you, as plush couches with regal embroidery help establish a swanky upscale atmosphere that would not be out of place in New York City’s SoHo or the East Village neighborhood. Bass rhythms shake the black lacquered floors, pleading you to dance atop them. Once downstairs in the main area, a bar glowing a cool blue serves up any sort of concoction one can imagine. Decadent chandeliers hang from the ceiling, threatening to come loose and crash to the ground as they shake from the vibrations rattling from the dance floor. The dance floor is a bit cramped, but those seeking refuge can climb the steps to the DJ platform which acts as a pseudo-dance floor that often ends up being the best place to dance. Those looking for a more relaxed night can opt to sit in Radost’s expansive lounge area that also glows a distinct cool blue, while getting a drink from the contrasting red bar area, located close by. Whatever time of day you choose to come to Radost FX, or whatever your mood is, whether it be leisurely or party-friendly, you can be assured to have a great time at Radost FX.