Communities

The 8th New York Baltic Film Festival returns to Scandinavia House (58 Park Avenue, NYC) from November 5–9, 2025, with a U.S. virtual program running November 10–16. The festival plays a vital role in bringing the voices of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to an international audience. As the leading Baltic...

Lembit Beecher’s new composition for string quartet – Cassette Dreams of the Singing Revolution – will be premiered by the Houston-based Apollo Chamber Players as part of their program ENLIGHTEN on November 15. The work is Lembit’s reflection on the nonviolent uprising in the Baltic Countries during the ’80s and...

A consular mission is an alternative way to apply for Estonian documents and provide fingerprints. The Estonian Embassy regularly organizes missions to cities with honorary consuls and larger Estonian communities. During consular missions the consul provides all consular services, except visas. Pre-registration is required — email: [email protected] Please include: The...

In late 2021, I made a shocking discovery: My local Syrian baklava shop in Providence, Rhode Island had a Latvian Auseklis motif in its logo. As a Latvian-Estonian-American, I had to investigate. I walked into the store, ordered some baklava, and asked staff behind the counter: “What star is this?”...

In times of peace, it’s easy to forget how important the ties that bind us can be. In times of global strife and uncertainty however, the significance of our relations with our neighbors, and our alliances with like minded people, quickly return to the forefront. A few weeks ago, I...

In the war Russia wages against Ukraine, we primarily see kinetic forms of warfare. These are the tangible horrors of bombs, missiles, and rockets exploding against civilian centers, ordinance dropped by drones onto military vehicles from above, and sometimes the terrible trench warfare that persists on the frontlines. There are...

Rein Deaton is a young professional in the field of art, who has taken on a heartfelt mission: creating rahvariided (traditional clothing) for the Estonian-American community. The idea of having unique skirts and blouses to represent local communities sends shivers down the spine for many. The project started with Rein...

On April 4 Estonian artist Kristi Kongi opened her first solo exhibition „Twilight in the Garden“ at Friedrichs Pontone Gallery in New York City. Kongi paints abstracted landscapes through contrasting, bright colors and geometric shapes. Her work emphasizes the beauty of nature through a fragmented lens. By focusing on the...

There’s an image I can’t shake: A 13-year-old girl clings to the railing of the hospital ship Moero, fleeing the carnage of war gripping her home country of Estonia. The year is 1944. The Soviets have mined the harbor in Tallinn, and the ship groans under the weight of desperate...

Cleveland area Estonians gathered at Der Braumeis-ter restaurant to celebrate independence day.  We had Estonians from as far away as Dayton, OH and Ann Arbor, MI in attendance.  After lunches were ordered, Toomas Tubalkain introduced Latvian representative Karlis Blooms and Lithuanian Honorary Consul Mrs. Ingrida Bublys. They both gave brief...