Honestly, we are a bit tired of saying 'festival of this, festival of that', too, so we'll try coming up with a new word next season.
So no more talk about festivals. Out with them. The festivals, that is.
Though we can still say a word or two about festivities, as there are many slated for the weekend.
1. Flea market at Spīķeri
Bring an insecticide (sorry, we couldn't come up with a better introduction) with you and enter the place where your dreams may or may not come true - the glorious Spīķeri square by the Daugava river.
The Rīga flea market at Spīķeri - last in the summer season - will bring china, vinyl records, books, toys, clothes and other things to the popular Rīga flea market in the Spīķeri neighborhood on September 12 from 11:00 to 16:00.
"Rīga flea market" will feature dozens of stands with merchandise from the 21st and the 20th century, though you might find something a bit older as well. Moderate haggling is encouraged - as is asking about the history of the thing you're about to buy.
Location: Maskavas iela 8, from 11:00 to 16:00 on September 12.
2. Poetry Days - southward and northward
They are still going strong, and the poets and organizers are definitely as bored with saying Rainis' name as we are with saying... well, you know what.
But even though it's generally a Latvian event, foreign literature lovers may very well find solace in the fact that Latvians do love poetry, as the packed Zirgu ielas concert hall showed quite recently when translations of American poetry were interspersed with piano pieces from renowned composer Phillip Glass.
On September 11, there'll be guest readings, featuring poetry by Olli Heikkonen (Finland), Martyna Buliżańska (Poland), and Anuar Duisenbinov (Kazakhstan) at 19:00, NicePlace Mansards, Kr.Barona 21a, Rīga.
While on September 12 "Lost in translation" - guest readings. Poetry by Giedre Kazlauskaite, Martyna Buliżańska and Anuar Duisenbinov. At 16:00, NicePlace Mansards, Kr.Barona 21a, Rīga.
And later on the weekend will be crowned with a performance of the Flip Poets (Estonia), featuring poetry in the Russian language, backed by a musical performance. At 18:00, Nabaklab, Z.A.Meierovica bulvāris 12, Rīga.
3. Electronic music in Valka
Italian electronic music just by the border - the only concert by GiaGGio in the Baltics. It'll take place in Valka, just by the Estonian border, at the Jānis Cimze Valka Music School on September 11 at 22:30 o'clock. Aftewards, GiaGGio will steer to Berlin, Liverpool, Brussels and Paris.
After winning the MArte 2014 electronic music biennial in Italy, musician Claudio Mazzarago has released the album titled SiriusA and embarked on a world tour.
The ticket costs a single euro, so you have no excuses. The last train for Valga departs at 18:37 from Rīga and arrives at 21:40, while you can get back with the first train at 5:48 AM.
4. Picking mushrooms at night
On September 12, those who know how to pick mushrooms are welcome to the Numerne forest in the Kārsava region in a magic mushroom-picking adventure (see what we did there?). Though unlike the magical Indian summer, the mushrooms of the same magic character are not nearly as ubiquitous in Latvia.
You have to take two friends to you - as well as a basket, a knife, a flashlight, warm clothes. When you find the Numernes forest, you can pick mushrooms at night, which is an adventure as Latvian as it gets.
If you didn't before, now you know that Latvians routinely go into the woods to pick mushrooms and then prepare them as food.
Enthusiasts will meet up at 20:00 by the following GPS coordinates 56.846549,27.4798143 (or here if you prefer human-readable content). Though make a call beforehand - 28343926 (Juris).
Going there could be either a very good idea, or a very bad one, but you won't ever forget it.
