Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1531100
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 JANUARY 2025 5 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 952. Bird-Cage Fungus WHEN we think mushroom we envisage the familiar smurf-friendly umbrella-shaped structure. But mushrooms actually take all sorts of shapes. One of our weirder species is the rare bird-cage fungus (faq- qiegħ tal-gaġġa) that grows in the shallow soils in a very few rocky places. No umbrella shape here, this thing is more like an exqui- site lattice work, hence its name – it's also pink-red, small (note the ant in the picture) and stinks a bit too! You see, while many insects are attracted to scents we humans too find desirable, others go for smells we find repulsive. Well, the bird-cage fungus attracts flies, who land on it and unwittingly soak up a bunch of spores before buzzing off to disperse them elsewhere. Crafty, eh! The Launch of our Zine: 'Imagining a Fossil Free Malta' Join Friends of the Earth Malta for an inspiring and empowering evening in which the zine is publicly launched! The zine brings together the hopeful visions of artists, writers, poets, mu- sicians, children and other creatives. During the event, there will be poetry and essay readings by contributors and live music by Earth-Pop Band, Berne! Thursday, January 9 2025 | 7PM @ Storeroom, Ta' Xbiex Victor Falzon, Desirée Falzon (photo) Green idea of the week 187 Read more: https://foemalta.org/event/zine-launch-fossil-free-malta/ Don't miss this Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member 1. Cirkella Circus Date: 5 January Location: Splash & Fun Water Park, Bahar Ic-Caghaq Cirkella Circus is back in Malta until January 5th Get ready for a spectacular show filled with international performers, jaw-dropping acrobatics, hilarious clowns, and unforgettable family fun. 2. Open Rehearsals with ZfinMalta National Dance Company Date: 8 January Location: ZfinMalta National Dance Company, Valletta Open Rehearsals invite audiences into the National Dance Company's studios for a sneak peek into ŻfinMalta's upcoming works. Our first open rehearsal of the year is with Simon Riccardi-Zani, who will be premiering 'And the others, one day we played outside for the last time,' as part of ZfinDays 2025 in February. 3. Alessandro Scarlatti's "La Giuditta" Date: 9 January Location: St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta The Valletta Baroque Festival will open with Alessandro Scarlatti's "La Giuditta," composed in 1693 with a libretto by Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni, considered to be Scarlatti's finest oratorio. 4. Burdell f' Strada Stretta Date: 10, 11, 12 January Location: Splendid, Strait Street, Valletta Move from door to door and uncover the secrets of Splendid in Strait Street with our company dancers. Inspired by the buildings' rowdy past, our site specific performance features a series of choreographies from room to room leading to the darkest of them all. What will be uncovered? Missing will be performed to small, intimate audiences and is rated 16+ 7. Comino & Blue Lagoon - Exploring series Date: 11 January Location: Burger King Sliema Explore Malta's most iconic places, socialize with an international crowd, and collect amazing memories of this magical island. The adventure begins with a journey on our private bus, followed by a scenic boat ride to Comino and its caves. 6. Almost Legal Alien Date: 12 January Location: SOHO Office (The Strand), Gzira Mustafa Algiyadi, a standup comedian based in Munich, brings his eclectic humor to the stage as he hilariously navigates the cultural clashes between his Arab roots and European life. The show dissects everything from bad habits and religion to meditation and coming of age tales with velvet sofas, all delivered with a semi-intellectual flair that adds to the severe imposter syndrome he has. 7. Tim and Andrew Make Out Platonically Date: 17 January Location: Beer Dog Pub, Sliema Local comedians Tim Borg and Andrew John Sciberras perform 20 minutes of stand up each, then they will answer questions provided by YOU in the audience about any problems you have related to love, dating, or sex. Or if you have a perfectly boring love life, Tim will info dump about Formula 1 while Andrew does your taxes. 8. MYO Chamber and Ensemble Concert Date: 19 January Location: The Chapels At the Brewhouse The Malta Youth Orchestra musicians shine in chamber and ensemble performances, exploring diverse repertoire and showcasing their artistry and unique instrumental timbres. These settings foster collaboration, refine technical skills, and deepen musical communication, demonstrating their versatility and dedication to excellence. The Valletta Baroque Festiva