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- 1,000 Uzbek Santas and Tashkent's coolest theatre
1,000 Uzbek Santas and Tashkent's coolest theatre
Plus plenty more events in Tashkent this week.
Ryan Ettenfield
March 12, 2025
Good morning Tashkenters!
In today’s Tashkent Insider:
1,000 Uzbek Santa Clauses
Community-Driven Content
Stay calm and curry on!
Tashkent’s coolest theatre
This week’s English movie
Let’s get into it!
Ryan
1,000 Uzbek Santas
We had a huge influx of new subscribers last week so I thought I’d take a moment to explain what Tashkent Insider is all about.
Having lived in Tashkent for over 2 years, you’d think I’d know if something interesting was happening.
1,000 Uzbek Santas (qor bobo)
So when I stumbled across a march of 1,000 Uzbek Santas, I felt a bit out of the loop!
Who knew about this?!
Well it turns out I’m not alone. There’s a bit of a disconnect between the English speaking community in Tashkent and what’s actually going on in the city. There’s very little information available in English.
Hence, Tashkent Insider was created to try to share interesting things happening in the city.
I was a bit skeptical that it would work but I received so many emails and msgs of encouragement from my first newsletter that I’m all in.
Tashkent Community-Driven Content
Now far from being the Oracle of Tashkent, I’m still figuring things out for myself.
I never imagined I’d be approached by others to help contribute to the content, but that’s exactly what happened—not once, but three times—after sending one email to only 113 people.
The community as a whole knows much more than I do, so each week, I’ll ask members to share their favourite spots in Tashkent.
Best parks, favourite sushi restaurants, where to find books in English etc.
Next week: Best Family Friendly Restaurants in Tashkent
Tell us about your favourite family-friendly restaurant in Tashkent. Maybe it has a play area, cooking classes or a special kids menu.
Reply to this email by Sunday 23rd or msg on telegram @ryanett88. Max 50 words. A photo is a bonus!
Plus if you have an idea for longer form story feel free to pitch it to me.
Partnered with UzbekistanServices.com
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Visit UzbekistanServices.com for a quote or a free consultation.
Follow us on IG @TashkentInsider
Tag us Instagram @TashkentInsider to get your Tashkent photo featured next week!
Tashkent Marathon training…🏃🏃🏃
Tashkent’s International Marathon will take place on 13th April.
Tickets for the full and half marathon are now sold out but there are still plenty of tickets left for the 10 km and 3 km races.
If you’re interested in signing up, you can buy tickets here (mostly in English).
Join me 🏃: If anybody wants to join me in training, I’ll be doing a 10k+ run at least once a week before the race. Last week’s training was a little lacking let’s say.
In the News this Week…
Do you live near one of Tashkent’s planned 24/7 ‘gastro streets’? Local authorities plan to take noise control measures'. Having lived above ‘Bob’s Supermarket’ I can confirm this is needed!
Two books on Tashkent Modernism published.
House prices in the city declined by 2.3%.
Tashkent subway stations to get emergency buttons.
Restaurant of the Week: Curry House
Tashkent’s favourite Indian restaurant?
I have a feeling a few people reading this are more than familiar with this restaurant.
The Curry House is our favourite place for Indian food in Tashkent. It temporarily closed down from its spot near Gravity Bar but reopened on Darkhan Street just a few months ago.
It’s very popular with teachers in Tashkent, and for those who haven’t been, it serves what I’d call the best Indian food in the city. The cosy layout, with smaller rooms branching off, gives it a private and intimate feel.
The menu offers a great selection of vegetable, chicken, and mutton curries, along with plenty of starters and everyone’s favourite—garlic naan. There’s also a small Chinese-style menu for those who can’t handle the naan-stop spice! 🍛🔥
Vegan/Vegetarian Options ✅ Alcohol ✅
English menu ✅ English speaking staff ✅
Enjoying this email?
If you find the Tashkent Insider to be helpful or interesting then forward this email to somebody who only ever orders butter chicken and garlic naan...
In the Spotlight: Ilkhom Theatre
The Ilkhom Theatre is one of the first professional non-state theatres in the history of the former Soviet Union. It was founded in 1976 by director Mark Weil and a group of graduates of the Tashkent Theatre and Art Institute.
Its TripAdvisor ratings make it one of the highest-rated places to visit in Uzbekistan. It's like the cooler, younger sibling of the A. Navoi Theatre.
The theatre has more of a grassroots feel. I first visited in 2021 and found it to have a very relaxed atmosphere, a fairly young crowd, and none of the formal dress or pretence often associated with theatre.
Most of its shows are in Russian but it sometimes has English subtitles. From experience the subtitles are not always perfect (and sometimes go AWOL for a while) but it certainly helps you to follow along.
This week they will be playing ‘Three Tall Women’ which includes English subtitles (16th March).
Three Tall Women, Mark Weil
This is a story about how the past, present and future intertwine in the life of one woman, and how the boundaries between personal and collective perceptions are erased. Trailer (RU).
You can book tickets here (RU).
Partnered with Viola Mountain Guide
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What’s on in Tashkent this Week?
Every week I share the best events suitable for English speakers in Tashkent.
It’s a work in progress - help me out by sharing any cool events you find and each week’s edition will improve.
Business/Networking
1k Networking Club @EcoCafe. 9th March, 2PM.
Topic of Discussion: TBC. Guest Speaker: TBC. Entry: donations. Registration on Telegram @RafaelMirovich to confirm attendance.
20th Anniversary International Exhibition on Agriculture - 11-13th March. Website.
English Movies at Tashkent City’s Cinematica
🎬Mickey 17 (R rating) 🍿12th Mar
🎬Black Bag (R rating) 🍿13-19th Mar
When intelligence agent Kathryn Woodhouse is suspected of betraying the nation, her husband - also a legendary agent - faces the ultimate test of whether to be loyal to his marriage, or his country.
Family
🎭 Symphonic fairy tales @Alisher Navoi Bolshoi Theater. Young viewers and their parents are invited to the amazing world of symphonic fairy tales staged by the theater’s artistic director, Alexei Frandetti.
The theater orchestra, led by chief conductor Vyacheslav Volich, will transform the famous music into a story full of colorful characters and magical sounds, and the artists of the Art Novi studio will complement the performance with their own interactive video installations. Sessions at 12:00 and 16:00.
Ticket prices: 40,000-120,000 soums. You can buy them at the theater box office and on the website iTicket.uz.
🎭 Celebration of National Values @Navruz Park, 14th Mar, 11AM-6PM. Folk festivities, concerts, craft exhibitions, traditional games & more. Free entry.
🍕 Kids Pizza Masterclass @JungleFamilyClub, 13th Mar, 8PM. Free for restaurant customers.
Culture
New
Ode to Woman @Gallery of Fine Arts of Uzbekistan. From 6th March. Entry 10,000 som.
The exhibition is dedicated to the image of women in the works of artists of different generations. The female image is an inexhaustible source of inspiration in art, embodying grace, inner strength and life-giving energy.
New exhibit @Ikuo Hirayama International Cultural Caravanserai. Exhibit from 12th Mar, Opening ceremony 5pm. Free entry.
Opening ceremony of the exhibition "ZAR QADRINI ZARGAR BILAR" (Only a jeweler knows a thing or two about gold).
Three Tall Women (Eng subs) @Ilkhom Theatre, 16th. Description above.
Art Spring 2025 @Bonum Factum gallery. From 7th Mar. 30,000 Som Entry.
The exhibition features a collection of paintings and reproductions in which artists have captured all the beauty of spring nature.
Opera “La Bohème” by Giacomo Puccini @Navoi Theatre. 14th March. Tickets.
Leonid Agutin in concert @Palace of Friendship. 14th March. Tickets
Chinese Tea Sampling @Yo Guesthouse. 13th March, 7pm. 50,000 Som Entry. English speaking (and very friendly) host: “We are going to sample 5-6 varieties of Chinese teas and converse in a calm and relaxing atmosphere. An alternative to bars and alcohol.“
Ongoing
Kimsan Art exhibition @hlmrdv gallery. Mon-Sat. Free entry.
Useinov writes in a complex way, and he expresses himself in an even more intricate manner. This play on words is not always accurate. At times, like a magician distracting your attention, he conducts an experiment behind your back.
‘From line to form’ Art exhibition@Gallery of Fine Arts of Uzbekistan.
In his works, Azamat Khatamov explores the interaction of form and line, filled with plasticity, rhythm and expression, revealing the author's view on the dynamics of space and the transformation of material.
Sport/Exercise
Yoga in English @EcoCafe. 80 mins, Sat 15th, register on Telegram @RafaelMirovich
Zumba in English @BeFit, EcoPark. Sat 15th, 11am and 6am. 150,000 som.
Nightlife
Weds 12th
Pub Quiz in English @Tashkent Tavern. 7:00pm start
Thurs 13th
🪕Open Mic Night @Community Coffee, Tashkent City Boulevard. 7:30-10:00pm. Music and spoken word by performers from all over the world.
🎸 Volkov @OliverPub&Kitchen. Ready to rock this evening? Entrance – by password: “I want to break away!”
Fri 14th
🎤 Karaoke @Tashkent Tavern
Sat 15th
☘️ Celebrate St Patrick’s Day @TashkentTavern with live Irish music and dancing. Plus an Irish menu the whole weekend.
Got an event you want to submit? Reply to this email or TG@ryanett88 to let us know about it!
Thanks for reading this week’s Tashkent Insider
If you have any questions, suggestions or general comments feel free to reply.
We’re also on Instagram! Join us here.
Ryan
P.S. Want to get your business in front of hundreds of English speakers in Tashkent? Reply to this email or msg on telegram @ryanett88 and let’s talk!
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