KAOS at the tram stop

HKL (Helsinki’s public transport) is renewing their tram stops in the center at the moment. And since Helsinki is the world’s design capital this year it couldn’t have been just any new stops. According to HKL the new stops are going to cover a bigger area and will over more possibilities for providing electronic information.

Together with the designer Stefan Lindfors they came up with a new modern design for the stops. The so called KAOS tram stops are going to be inaugurated on August 23^rd. 

For that occasion HKL is organizing an opening party at the new stops at Kamppi on Fredrikinkatu at 21.00. Everyone is welcome.

Dinner above the roofs of Helsinki

Today is the last day for a dinner in the sky. On Rauttatientori you can enjoy a whole dinner or just a glass of champagne with a small snack in a hanging restaurant. The restaurant platform is lifted up into the air by a crane. 40 meters above the ground you have a wonderful view over the whole city while the waiters in the middle of the platform serve your food and drinks.

Depending on the package you choose you are in the air between 20 and 60 minutes. It is a pricy but at the same time unique experience.

Look up the website for more information.

Restaurant Day is coming to town

Sunday is Restaurant Day. This weekend hundreds of pop up restaurants in Finland and the whole world will open their doors again for one day. For the third time this year the Restaurant Day (Ravintola Päivä) is organized. Everyone can open their own restaurant on that day.

a gallery becomes a restaurant for one day

Living rooms, galleries, shops, garages, terraces and lots of other places turn in to cafés and restaurants on Sunday. The variety will be huge again. Just in Helsinki over 300 pop up restaurants will participate. Before you go on Sunday you should really check the website. There you find all the places that are going to be open. Try to make a plan where you want to go and what you want to try. Also download their app to your smartphone to have an overview over all the places also on the go. You should have some cash with you though. Since this is organized by private people you won’t be able to pay by card.

Restaurant Day is always a great experience. You get to try new food and get to meet a lot of new interesting people. Go there!

Welcome to the Helsinki Festival!

Today the Helsinki Festival starts. Till the beginning of September lots of events will take place in the city during that time. 

Check the official website for information on the program and artist that will come to Helsinki. There you can also buy tickets directly. Be fast though. Some events are already sold out.

Your favorite concert is already sold out or you want to save some money? Well, why don't you check out the free events that will take place at Helsinki Festival?

There is something for everyone. Enjoy the show(s)!

Your loved ones scent everywhere

No one likes to be far away from the people they love. Wouldn’t it be nice to have something that reminds us of our partner at home? The Finnish company Kaipaus came up with a solution with a great idea to make us feel closer to our bellowed ones. They produce jewelry that catches the scent of the person we want to have close to us and keeps it for several weeks.

So whatever scents you would like to save for a long time, just spray it on the jewelry, carry it around with you all the time and smell it whenever you like.

You can find their products in design shops throughout the country or just order them online from their web store.

It’s also a perfect gift. And it’s made in Finland.

Esplanadi in August

After some days with way to cold weather for this time of the year the summer came back a few days ago.

To see how Esplanadi changed during this year you can see the pictures of the previous months here.

From Helsinki to outer space

The European Space Expo is coming to town.  At Narinkkatori they already started the preparations. A big igloo shaped tent was put up and till Friday everything is going to be ready.

The exhibition is a project of the European Commission. They want to show how space and its applications provide benefits to Europe's citizens.

To get a first idea what is awaiting you there next week, take a look at the officialwebsite and watch the small video.

The European Space Expo will be open from 17.08 till 21.08.2012.

Flow 2012

For those who couldn't make it this year here some pictures from Flow Festival 2012.

Drinking zone

Have you been to a festival in Finland so far? If you haven’t let me tell you something about the rules of drinking alcohol in most of those places.

As you probably already know alcohol is a pretty sensitive topic in Finland. Since the abuse is quite high unfortunately the government is forced to regulate the consumption which results e.g. in high taxation and state controlled selling of hard drinks.

At festivals you will therefore find specific area where you can buy and drink alcohol. This was put into action to protect children and teenagers. You have to be 18 to enter these areas and are not allowed to leave them with a drink in your hand.

Brunch at its best

It’s weekend again and time for a nice brunch. An amazing brunch buffet can be found at one of the most traditional and best cafés in Helsinki – at Café Fazer.

Fazer started off just as a bakery. Till today they make breads which you can buy all over the country. For that reason you also have a big selection of different freshly baked breads at Fazer brunch. Apart from that Fazer offers delicious toppings, fresh fruit, eggs, fish, porridge, yoghurt, pancakes and everything else you can wish for for brunch. Of course you also get to try some Fazer cakes and pralines for desert.

During the summer you can also sit outside on their terrace. 

Brunch is on Saturdays from 9 to 14.00 and Sundays from 10 to 14.00. You pay 18,90 per person.