Czech culture at home: 5 picks for good films, eats, and reads this weekend, Jan. 8–10, 2021

We recently discovered this 2017 documentary and were blown away by its magnificent protagonist, a Czech opera legend whose life and career was deeply impacted by WWII and the subsequent communist takeover. Following a daring exile, Soňa Červená spent a life performing abroad despite remaining persona non grata in the Czech lands. The filmmakers capture her triumphant return (she was 92 when the film was made and is now 95) and the heartbreaking but mostly inspiring stories from her past which includes collaborations with American director Robert Wilson and musicians Tom Waits and Lou Reed. Newly streaming with English subtitles on Czech Netflix.

Cinnabon may be infiltrating the Prague mall scene but now there's a sweet new set of buns in town. Buns&Bites offers delivery of everything from vegan cinnamon rolls to little "flower buns" and traditional varieties topped with Kinder Bueno, Oreo, Lotus Biscuits, or glazed with Nutella. Pre-orders need to be placed a day in advance and can be done via Instagram DM. Free delivery in Prague.

The National Technical Museum is currently closed, but right before the holidays, it launched a new modern virtual tour of its Transport Hall which features a number of valuable gems of Czech transport history. Particularly fun for families who want to zoom in and out and around the locomotives and motorcycles and its collection of historic bicycles and airplanes. Take the tour here.

A welcome addition to the locally produced podcasting scene, this newly launched series features conversations with "foreigners—immigrants, expats, refugees, asylum-seekers, aliens, outsiders, and everyone else—making a life in the Czech Republic". Now in its fourth episode, Morgan Childs and Giuseppe Picheca and their diverse lineup of guests delve into what it's like to be an LGBT Kazakh living in the Czech Republic, a black American pop star in Prague, or a Vietnamese immigrant growing up Czech. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

The definitive biography of one of the greatest runners and Olympic heroes of all time, "Today We Die a Little: Emil Zátopek, Olympic Legend to Cold War Hero" by Richard Askwith is a timely read. A biopic film about the Czech sports icon, starring Václav Neužil and Martha Issová, is due to be released this summer. Zátopek won five Olympic medals, set 18 world records, and went undefeated over 10,000 meters for six years but endured more harrowing challenges when Soviet tanks crushed Czechoslovak freedom in 1968. Newly available to order locally from Budget Books.