Comment du Jour

Viennese Soft Power in New York

Vienna's Tourist Board and the city's famed Cafe Central recently sponsored a cultural expo in 

New York's Grand Central Terminal.  The exhibit  showcased the upcoming  150th anniversary of the Austrian capital's Ring Strasse boulevard; 1865-2015.  

The Expo in Grand Central featured a small but authentic version of Cafe Central, complete with special Viennese coffee, the Manner wafers, and current Austrian newspapers.   Equally there was a Skype computer hook up with Cafe Central which allowed Americans to chat live with Austrians.

The Ring Strasse is literally bejeweled with the State Opera, numerous world class Museums, the Imperial Palace/Neue Burg,  City Hall and the Austrian Parliament.  And there's more!

The Boulevard was opened by none other than Emperor Franz Josef in May 1865. 

But besides stately buildings and repositories of the fine arts, the Ring also boasts coffeehouses such as Cafe Schwartzenberg and Cafe Pruckel, both of which are along the green Park Ring section.  

According to Norbert Kettner, the Director of the Vienna Tourist Board, "The Ringstrasse is the world's largest open-air museum, typical Viennese style, lively and unique." 

Not surprisingly, the famed Vienna Ring trollies, rumble or actually now glide along this magnificent boulevard.  There's a special Vienna Ring Tram, with the old polished wood seats,

that makes the trip on a regular basis too.  Since the Tram started in 2009, over 300,000 passengers have enjoyed the sights and lights of Vienna.

                                            Chatting live with Cafe Central in Vienna!