Warsaw. The sleeping giant is awakening. After suffering the worst of the 20th century, from absolute destruction to decades of repression, the rebuilt patchwork is thrumming with energy. Its beauty might be unconventional, but Warsaw’s riches lie elsewhere. Interactive museums and fresh art tackle the past with sensitivity. Chefs reinterpret traditional cuisine; sweeping parks are alive with art and music. Even the Palace of Science and Culture—Stalin’s “gift” to the Polish people—has been reclaimed with cinemas, theatres, libraries and clubs.
Sharing their side to Warsaw are a few local legends: the godfather of Polish techno, a leading fashion designer, an architect and dramatist couple, and a photographer who’s found success abroad but still prefers home. A feature pits commercialism against culture, a short story portrays a nocturnal scene, and a photo showcase treads the boundaries of society. It’s all about original minds and the creative vibe.
Cocktails in a secret cellar, food stalls in a disused
