Chinese New Year

Today Keskuskatu in the city center turns into China Town. For the celebration of the Chinese New Year and welcome the year of the monkey.

This celebration has meanwhile become a tradition in Helsinki and is meanwhile in its 10th year. It starts at 13:30 with a parade through the city. Then lots of performances with dance and music follow. The highlight of the event will as always be the big fireworks over Töölönlahti. More information on the program can be found on the official website.

Drop by and enjoy the celebration!

Food from around the world

Would you like to try some English fudge, some Italian pastry, a spicy Nepalese dish or maybe a German bratwurst? Then head to Narinkkatori at Kamppi during the next days.

Until Sunday you can get delicacies from around the world here all day until eight in the evening.

Have a look and enjoy!

15 000 stand up for diversity

After a shocking statement of one of the Finns Party's MPs thousands of people all around Finland gathered for a multicultural Finland. 

photo by Jérémy Huyghe

In Helsinki over 15 000 people came together at Kansalaistori under the slogan "Meillä on unelma!" (we have a dream) to stand up for diversity. They were supported by dozens of political, religious, labor, sports and cultural leaders.

Find more information on yesterday's event at Yle News as well as pictures and videos from Helsingin Sanomat.

Thanks to all who joined and made this possible!

15th World Gymnastrada

You have probably realized that the city center is quite packed this week. Especially for July this is quite extraordinary. The reason for that is of course the 15th World Gymnastrada that is taking place here this week.

Athletes from around the world came to Helsinki to compete in various discipilines and of course to celebrate together. And you should of course not miss out on that either.

Visit the competitions, go to some of the many side events arranged around the Gymnastrada and meet people from all over the world. And be sure not to miss the closing ceremony with a festive show and surprise program accompanied by Finnish musi at the Olympic Station taking place on Saturday at 15.00.

Dutch delicacies for the Christmas time

Are you up for some cheeses, sausages and other delicious food from the Netherlands? Then don't miss out on the Dutch and Delicious stand at Joulumaailma.

Here you can find a wide selection of fresh Dutch products. Have a look yourself and find a few nice extras e.g. for your Christmas dinner.

Have a good start into the week!

Home-made English fudge

Do you also like English fudge? Then don't miss out on the new Fudgelove pop-up store at Kluuvi Kauppakeskus. English expat Richard sells his excellent home-made fudge there until Christmas.

And at Fudgelove you get much more than just the usual caramel fudge. Among lots of delicious flavors Richard also created Finnish influenced versions like his famous Lemon & Salmiakki Fudge. Of course you can also try some fudge beforehand.

You'll find Fudgelove on the first floor of Kluuvi or order their fudge online.

Check it out and enjoy!

Sunday is Father's Day

Every year on the second Sunday in November Finns celebrate Isänpäivä (Father's Day). This day honors all fathers and their role in the family as well as in society. 

Father's Day is not such an old tradition. In Finland it was officially established as a flag day in 1987.

How do you celebrate Father's Day? Well, whatever your plans for Sunday are, a visit or a friendly call will definitely make him happy.

Run, Lasse, run!

Paavo Nurmi was not the only famous Finnish runner. In the 70s a new talent revived the legend of the Flying Finns: Lasse Virén

The long-distance runner from Myrskylä won four times Olympic Gold for Finland in 1972 and 1976. Today you can find a statue of him right around the corner from Paavo Nurmi at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki. But apart from that also an annual 20 kilometer run in the Sycamore Canyon in California is named after him.

Lasse Virén still a very well well-known figure in Finland and even held a seat in the Finnish Parliament twice in recent years for the Kokoomus.

If you happen to pass by the Olympic Stadium, pay the two Flying Finns Lasse and Paavo a visit.

Three more days with over 80 movies

The Rakkautta & Anarkiaa Film Festival is slowly coming to an end. But this weekend is still packed with lots of movies. Over 80 films will still be screened throughout this weekend.

A perfect chance for you if you have missed out on the festival so far to still find a great movie to watch in some of the nicest cinemas in Helsinki. Have a look at the program and get some of the last tickets before the festival ends this Sunday.

Impressions of Helsinki

In this video by Visit Helsinki individuals from around the globe tell what they think about Helsinki.



Do you agree and what is your opinion? Leave a comment below.

Bonjour à Chofé

There is a new beautiful small café in town. Just a few weeks ago the French art café Chofé has opened its doors in Lönnrotinkatu just around the corner from Vanha Kirkkopuisto.

Chofé is a great place for a coffee break on your way through the city. Choose from their wide coffee selection. Maybe instead of the usual cappuccino try one Cafe Miel (with cinnamon and honey) or a Cafe Bonbon (with sweetened condensed milk) for a change.

And don't miss our on their amazing French pastry as well as the sweet Tunisian delights (hence to the owner's origin). Then sit down in one of the comfy armchairs and enjoy the French tunes from the loudspeaker.

Chofé also has live music though. To find our when check out their Facebook page.

It wouldn't be an art café though without its changing art exhibitions from local artist. You can just take a look or also buy pieces. As well as Finnish design that is on display in the back part of the café.

Check it out and have a great time there!

International Christmas

Part of the Joulumaalima Christmas market in the city center is the international Christmas market. Right in front of Stockmann you find Christmas delights from many different countries such as Italy, France and the UK.

Try e.g. some delicious fresh fudge or some Italian chocolate bites.

Joulumaalima is still open until Sunday and reopens after Christmas from Dec 26 till Jan 6.

The Tall Ships arrive

Today the Tall Ships Races Helsinki 2013 starts. The TSR is an international regatta of sailing boat of different sizes from all over the world that takes place yearly. The ships sail two races between different ports. This year’s first leg was from Aarhus to Helsinki. At 10:00 the last big ships arrive at Länsisatama.

Before the ships continue they will anchor in Helsinki till Saturday accompanied with a big celebration. The whole area around Länsisatama is closed for traffic and is filled with stands, tents and two big stages. For the upcoming four days there will be a full program everyday including music acts, theatre, workshops, artistic performances and even daylight fireworks at Friday night. It is also possible to come on board most of the bigger ships during this whole time.

After the last day of their stop in Helsinki the ships will cruise together to Riga to start the second leg for the competition from there towards Szczecin in Poland where the Tall Ships Races 2013 end.

World Village Festival 2013

The world is a village. And for this weekend this village is Helsinki. Artists and musicians from all over the world come to the Finnish capital to perform live and for free. On seven stages the audience can enjoy music, dance, theatre, poetry, movies, opera, panel discussions, interviews, children’s program and much, much more. It’s a festival for the whole family.

The artists are from all continents and come to Helsinki not just to perform but also to share their culture. The World Village Festival starts today at 11:00 and will continue in Virgin Oil Co. after 20:00. Tomorrow the program is from 11:00 till 18:00. For more information and the program see their website.

Have fun!

The First Season Film Festival starts this week

From April 4^th to 9^th the first Season Film Festival takes place in Helsinki. It is organized by Helsinki International Film Festival which is also in charge of the famous Love & Anarchy Film Festival in September.

At Season Film Festival you can watch upcoming film highlights from this year already beforehand. In collaboration with the Fashion Film Festival also brings to screen a selection of films focusing on fashion and design.

Tickets can be purchased and reserved online or at the participating theaters Bio Rex and Maxim. Find more information on theofficial website of Season Film Festival.

News from around the world

You sometimes miss reading a newspaper in your mother tongue, like to practice your language skills or just want to get an inside view in what interests people in other countries? No worries. In Helsinki there are lots of options to get papers from all over the world. The biggest variety can be found at Stockmann’s Akateeminenkirjakauppa. But also all bigger supermarkets such as K-Citymarket and Prismaprovide you with a wide selection of newspapers and magazines from Europe and the US. Also the kiosks and the bookstore at the Central Railway Station are well equipped. 

They are a bit more expensive than in the country of origin. But for freshly printed news transported hundreds and thousands of kilometers that should be a price worth paying.

Enjoy reading!

Pop-up restaurants in the snow

The first restaurant day in 2013 will take place on Sunday. Everyone can again open their own restaurant for a day. And there will again be a huge variety of food from all over the world.  Over 200 restaurants participate just in Helsinki. 

You can find all the restaurants and their description on restaurantday.org or download their app  to your smart phone (availible for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Symbian) and always be up to date tomorrow.

The food carnival is back

This Saturday staying at home alone for cooking is out of question.  It’s Ravintolapäivä again. The whole city turns into a giant food mall. Whoever wants can open his or her own restaurant for a day and serve whatever they like.

Over 100 restaurants alone in Helsinki registered over their website. Here you can find a great overview over everything that is served that day. Plan your own route through the city and try amazing dishes from all over the world. Or just stroll through the streets and get amazed by let's say Belgalicious Waffles with Bananas, chocolat and peanut butter at Malminkatu. But keep in mind that some really popular places might run out of food pretty soon. So don’t start your tour too late.

Enjoy!