Vienna Ice World 2018

Currently the City Hall forms the backdrop of the "Vienna Ice World". There's not only an ice rink in front of the City Hall but also an ice path winding trough the City Hall park. Restaurateurs pamper sportspeople and onlookers with regional delicacies at various outdoor booths. The ice rink is open until March 4 from 10 am to 10 pm.

Life Ball

Tonight the Life Ball, one of the biggest AIDS charity events in the world, will be held at the City Hall for the 24th times. This flashy, colourful and loud party promotes public awareness of HIV and AIDS and generates donations for AIDS relief projects. The opening show will take place on City Hall Square with numerous performances by international stars. When I passed by the City Hall last Monday, the installation of the stage (set design by Amra Bergmann) was still going on.

Merry Christmas!

This year the huge Christmas tree in front of the city hall is lit in the French national colours in homage to the victims of the tragic events in Paris on November 13...
In Austria we are celebrating Christmas this very night: The tree is set up and lit for the very first time, the Christkind (Christ child) places the presents beneath the tree, bells announce the arrival of the Christkind into the house - when he arrives the family gathers around the tree and sings Christmas carols. The presents will be unwrapped and a lot of families will eat a baked carp for Christmas dinner.
Dear readers, I wish you all a very merry Christmas!! Frohe Weihnachten!!

Eurovision Village

Last year Austria won the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), so this year the music event takes place in Vienna. There are two semi-finals (the first took place on Tuesday, the second will go off tonight) and on Saturday there's the finale. The Eurovision Village in front of the City Hall is currently a hotspot for the ESC fans. It offers live music from Song Contest participants, public screenings, themed evenings, a family program and much more.

City Skyliner

The City Skyliner is a temporary attraction (until March 8) in front of the City Hall: A 60 persons accomodating observation capsule goes up to 72m and then rotates pleasantly through 360-degrees. The view must be gorgeous!

Skating in The City

The square and the park in front of the City Hall have been transformed into a 7.000 sqm ice rink. As you can see, the ice path through the park has to be used in one direction... For more information about the "Vienna Ice World" please click here.

Vienna is Charlie

After the Islamic attack on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris on January 7, Vienna's City government had a "Je suis Charlie" poster hung on the frontwall of the city hall as sign of solidarity. I took this photo yesterday at 3 p.m. when the march of unity in Paris started. An hour later there was a solidarity rally in Vienna, attended by 12.000 people.

Volksgarten in Winter

Volksgarten is one of three parks in the very city center of Vienna (the other two are Burggarten and Stadtpark) and I often take a stroll there. The Theseus Temple always catches my eyes. The building in the background is the City Hall.

Another Christmas Market

The Christmas Market in front of the city hall with its 150 sales stands is Vienna's biggest Christmas market. Yesterday I passed by at 4 p.m., and as you can see, it was well attended.

The Vienna Ice Dream

The City Hall currently forms the backdrop for the "Vienna Ice World": The square in front of the building was transformed into a 7.000 sqm ice rink, an ice path snakes through the City Hall Park, and there are also six curling rinks. Hungry sportsmen and spectators can fortify themselves at various outdoor stalls with culinary delicacies and warming drinks. The Vienna Ice World will close on March 9.

Vienna Christmas Market

During the Advent season a lot of squares are transformed into Christmas markets. The stands of the Vienna Christmas Market in front of the town hall offer Christmas gifts, Christmas tree decorations, sweets and warming drinks, and the trees of the surrounding park are festively decorated. I took this picture two nights ago through a window of the Burgtheater.

Town Hall in a Late December Afternoon

The spire of the Town Hall hiding behind the trees in a late December afternoon. I´m still not used to how early the sun sets during winter...

Town Hall in Spring

The spire of the Town Hall hiding behind blooming and foliating trees. 
I´ll be gone for some days and won´t have any internet access, but I have prepared postings, so please keep dropping by. I´ll be happy to read your comments on my return.

Town Hall At Sunset

The Town Hall at sunset which is now - due to the change back to standard time - way too early for my taste. On the square in front of the Town Hall the preparations for the Christmas Market have already started - the market starts on November 12. For more images of the Town Hall please click here.

No Camping

I case you wanted to park your camping trailer or recreational vehicle in front of the Imperial Palace, let me tell you: it is not allowed! By the way, the building in the background is the Town Hall.

Ice Rink #1

Currently the square in front of the Town Hall is transformed in a 6.000m2 ice rink - the "Vienna Ice Dream". Experienced skaters can dance to the sounds of disco music, novices can exercise on a special synthetic ice rink, and of course there also culinary treats and refreshments. If you don´t have your own skates, you can hire some on site.

The Town Hall

The Town Hall seen from Heldenplatz in the city center last sunday. Click here to see more photos of the Town Hall.

Arcades

Façade detail #5

Today is an important date for the Viennese: it´s the day of the elections for the City Council and the district councils. On this occasion I decided to show you a detail of the facade of the Town Hall. I love the neo-gothic arches and ornaments. You can see the whole building here.

Life Ball

Last night the Life Ball, one of the biggest AIDS charity events in the world took place for the 18th time at the Vienna City Hall. The Life Ball is an exuberant festivity that celebrates life and makes a loud and sounding statement in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The proceeds from the event are distributed to non-profit organisations supporting HIV positive and AIDS patients.
On the occasion of the XVIII International AIDS Conference that starts today, this year the Life Ball was extended even to the Burgtheater with the Red Ribbon Cotillon and the Parliament with the amfAR gala.
The photo shows the City Hall yesterday at noon when the preparations and rehearsals were still going on. Unfortunately the spectacular opening ceremony in the evening that always takes place in front of the City Hall and attracts lots of watchers had to be cut short due to a storm.