Good morning, light!

A clear sky is awaiting us today. Nothing too common on a fall day in Helsinki.

Enjoy every beam of sunlight you can get during this time of the year and have a nice day!

A real record store

Digelius at Viiskulma is one of the few real record store that can still be found in Helsinki. Here it’s all about the music. Not just CDs but also lots of LPs are lined up in the shelves here and waiting to be listened to. You can find both new and second hand.

Digelius has a great selection of World and Jazz music. And also has some small treasures like special music books or special CD collections for sale.

The shop has a long history. And through all this time is has been taken care of by Emu, the guy working here already for 40 years. If you are searching for something special or need some recommendations he’s definitely able to help you.

Drop by and bring some time! It’s a great place!

Something new from 3 Kaveria

The ice cream company 3 Kaveria brought two new delicious flavors to the market.

After the immense success of their other products they now made Blackcurrant-Orange available. And if you are a fan of really basic flavors you can also now buy their vanilla ice cream in slightly bigger buckets.

To find out where you can get Kolmen Kaverin Jäätelö check out their website.

Enjoy! 

Fog over the city

These days it can get quite foggy in Helsinki.

During those days this is how Helsinki looks from the sea. 

Homemade Pinaattilettu

Pinaattilettu (spinach pancake) is a Finnish specialty. And you can really easily make them by yourself.

Here is a simple recipe:

You need:

150 g spinach

2 eggs

5 dl milk

2,5 dl wheat flour

1 teaspoon salt

Some black pepper

Boil the spinach just for a few seconds and then cut it in very small pieces (or unfreeze deep-frozen spinach).

Beat the eggs and mix them with the remaining ingredients.

Leave the dough for around 30 min.

Bake the lettu in a normal or a blini pan.

The Pinaattilettu tastes really good with cottage cheese and lingonberry jam or hot butter and cheese.

Shopping at Ainoa

Are you up for some shopping this weekend? Then check out the new shopping center in Espoo at Tapiola. Kauppakeskus Ainoa that just opened this week.

This weekend they have a lot of program going on. See live music and shows the whole day through. There are also some special offers and a lottery waiting for you.

So check it out and have a nice weekend!

An Event of Thousand Tales

The Helsinki Book Fair 2013 is open. Around 1000 writers, scientists, artists, opinion leaders and politicians will be on stage and over 700 presentations will be held at 12 different  venues. 

Of course big and small publishing companies will have their stands there as well and provide their own program.

This years guest land is Germany. And many renowned writers like Siegfried Lenz or Wladimir Kaminer will be at the book fair as well.

The event is hosted at the Helsinki Messukeskus. Entrance for adults is 16 €. The fair is still going on till Sunday and is open daily from from 10:00 till 18:00 (Friday till 20:00).

For more information visit the official website.

Helsinki Music Marathon

Today the Helsinki Music Marathon starts today. For the third time now this event is being organized in cooperation with bars and restaurants around Helsinki.

Dozens of bands and singers will perform in seven locations in town during the next three days. The festival will be opened tonight at 19:00 at Sir Eino by Cherry and the Night.

The music varies from rock to funk, pop and blues and much more. And the best thing is: All gigs are for free. So check out the timetable on the Helsinki Music Marathon website and plan your next three evening.

There is a lot to see - and hear of course. So don’t miss it!

Snow in October

While the temperatures in Central Europe are still around 20 degrees Finland already had the first snow.

I took this picture last weekend on the way to Lahti. But even in and around Helsinki the first snow came down already.

During the next days the temperatures rise again to around 10 degrees though.

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate

Chjoko in Kruunuhaka is THE place for chocolate lovers. The small shop offers a pretty impressive selection of classic and extraordinary chocolate products. And almost all of it is self-made.

Try their heavenly pralines, cakes and petit fours. And don’t miss out on their macarons! They are some of the best I ever had.

Of course there is also chocolate ice cream. You’re saying chocolate ice cream is boring? Then you haven’t tried the ones at Chjoko. They have several different versions all based on either white, milk or dark chocolate combined with some spicy or fruity flavors.

Oh, and if you are a real chocolate fan you might want to come to their Saturday ChocolateBrunch where you can try and eat as much as you can for just 16 €.

Enjoy!