A snack in the night

You are planning on partying tonight? There are so many good places to go to. But you know that sudden hunger that reaches out for you when you leave the bar or the club late in the night? Before get in line to queue for a taxi or try to catch one of the rare night busses to get back home you’d love to have a “small” snack.

Well, fortunately there is Pikku Jaska. It’s a tiny grill right in the center between Lasipalatsi and Forum. This place is the little brother of Jaskan Grilli in Töölö. Both places are legendary among locals. This is where you get your unhealthy midnight snack. 

And they have exactly what you need after a few drinks. Try for example pyttipannu (fried potatoes with pieces of bacon and sausage) or makkaraperunat (French fries with sausage). Yes sure, it’s not exactly the best food for a healthy diet. But let’s face it, the evening was anyway not healthy at all. And a good portion from Jaska does one thing for sure – saving you from a major hangover tomorrow.

Shake it up!

Are you into cocktails? They have some really good ones at Shakers. The small place in Tennisplatsi offers a really good and interesting collection of well made cocktails. For 8 Euros you can get everything from fresh and fruity to creamy and sweet.

The interior is kept simple but stylish and now during the summer months you can also sit outside on the terrace.

Why not put it on your list for the weekend?

Something amazing is coming…

That is what is says at the flag ship store of Nokia in Aleksanterinkatu. It is the only store in the world that is actually owned by the Nokia Company itself. Currently the place is under construction and the new opening is scheduled for September 7^th.

After the huge problems the company had lately they need to come up with something great. But apparently they are working on something that is going to be revealed in September and the Nokia Flagship store will be part of that. So mark the date in your calendar and be surprised about what’s going to come.

The QR code on the windows of the store gets you to nokiagraffiti.me. Check this place out for new official announcements if you are curious to get some hints.

HelsinkiIn of course will keep you up to date.

Sub deluxe

Do you want to try really good sandwiches? Then go to Gran Delicato. Here you find the probably best ones in town. With fresh incidences and clever combinations they make eating a sandwich an experience. You can choose between baguette and chiabatta bread. 

And don’t be disappointed when the sandwich they serve you looks a bit small at first. It’s really filling. And really good!

The sandwiches start from 6 Euros. You can get them at the original place on Kalevankatu in Kamppi. It is decorated in Greek style and here the owner still serves the customers himself.

Recently they also opened a second place in Kämp Gallery. The interior is a bit more modern and stylish here. This place is perfect for fetching a take away sandwich before sitting down outside in Esplanadi Park for a small delicious picnic.

Late summer sunsets

Even though the days get shorter the sun still stets really late. Grab a thick sweater (it already get’s quite cold in the eventing), sit down next to the sea and watch the sun set around 22.00. 

It’s worth waiting a while longer till the sun is already gone to see the sky getting a beautiful reddish color. Take a nice drink and some snacks with you. It’s a great experience.

Get into the Flow

Yes, you really should. Flow is a festival that takes place in Sörnainen every summer. This year it starts at 08.08 and will last for four days. On several stages new and established artists will be performing music from indie-rock to soul and jazz and from folk to contemporary club sounds, both from the Finnish and the international scene. The main act will be Björk from Iceland.

Flow is not just a music but also art festival. Stroll around the area and explore what artists from Finland and all over the world are showing. Good food is also guaranteed since some of the best restaurants in town will have food stands to provide you with some of the best Helsinki has to offer.

But be fast! The festival starts next week and tickets are wanted. They are even sold in UK, Russia and Germany.

To find more information on Flow go to the official website and order your ticket right away.

Brunch in Punavuori

What could be better than sleeping in on the weekend and then go to a fine café around noon and have a long brunch with friends? I guess many of you will agree if I say it’s one of the most relaxing things you can do at the weekend. For that reason I want to give you some recommendations about brunch places to visit in Helsinki. 

Why not start with Primula in Punavuori this weekend? Primula is a bakery and restaurant and offers weekend brunch on Saturdays from 11.00 to 14.00 and Sundays from 10.00 to 14.00. For 16 € (18€ if you like a glass of sparkling wine with it) you can choose from a nice selection of cold and warm food. Especially for friends of salty brunch this is a good place to go. But of course you can also find some sweet dessert.

Enjoy your weekend!

Strawberry or apple

Given that the weather is still nice when you leave work why not reward yourself after a hard working week? How about sitting on a terrace in the sun and enjoying a light fruity summer drink?

Sounds good? Then head to the terrace of Musiikkitalon kahvila after work. Enjoy the modern and stylish atmosphere sitting next to one of the newest design buildings in Helsinki and enjoy a refreshing glass of punch bowl. They have it in two flavors: Strawberry and apple – chunks of fruit included of course.

And while you are anyway there don't forget to sneak a peak into the musiikkitalo to get an idea of it's unique architecture.

Have a nice weekend! You deserved it!

Summer in Finland II

Summer in Helsinki can also look like this.

Reggae suomeksi

Finland is the land of Heavy Metall and Hard Rock. That is for sure. But there is also some other music from up here that is very good and that you should listen to. 

What you should check out is Finnish Reggae. One of the most successful and best Finnish Reggae artists is Jukka Poika. You’ll be amazed when you listen to his music. The way he uses it, Finnish sounds so different that you hardly recognize it.

You can find some song samples of Jukka Poika on MySpace and can of course also listen to him on Spotify.