Finland for the win

Tonight the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen takes places. Finland sends their contestants into the ring as well.

The Finnish band Softengine competes with their song Something Better for the victory.

You can follow the semifinal live tonight at 22.00 on TV YLE 2 or online on YLE Areena. To find out more about all the contestants and much more about the show visit the official website of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Enjoy the show!

Dinner with a Michelin Star

Ravintola Ask is without a doubt one of the best restaurants in Helsinki. And that is not just according to my humble opinion. The Michelin jury agreed and awarded the small restaurant in Kruunuhaka a Michelin star.

Ask is run by the couple Filip and Linda who together with their staff are doing an amazing job of making your evening an unforgettable experience. 

Ask offers a list of eight outstanding dishes and gives you the opportunity to choose four out of them or go for the whole menu. If you have the time (about three to four hours) go for the full experience. You can also choose a wine menu in combination with the food. Single wines are a good choice as well. But in any case ask for their recommendation. All their wines are carefully selected and have their own story.

When it comes to the food be prepared to be amazed. The dinner starts of with two small greetings from the kitchen to give you a first hint of what is still awaiting you. 

At Ask they don't need many words to explain their dishes. The menu doesn't reveal to much. The food here speaks for itself.

All their ingredients that come from farmers and producers are organic and biodynamic.

If you want to experience Ask for yourself don't forget to book a table in advance. The restaurant is quite small. And if you are planning on having all eight courses don't be there too late. It takes a while.

Enjoy and have a wonderful time at Ask!

Eurooppa-päivä at Bio Rex

Tomorrow is Europe day. A reason to celebrate. And that is done prominently in the center of Helsinki right at and around Bio Rex.

An exciting program of discussions, speeches, music and more is awaiting participants. And the event is of course free to join for anyone. Get in contact with candidates for the European Parliament, talk with representatives of countries all around the European Union and welcome the French Foreign Minister in Helsinki.

The full program can be found from the website of the European Commission and lasts from 10 to 15.00.

Join and have a great Europe Day!

Punkkibussi on tour

With the spring and the summer the ticks come back to Finland. And they carry a nasty disease called Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). To avoid catching that virus infection you can get a vaccination at any hospital. Or just on the go during your shopping tour.

And that is because the Punkkibussi is on tour again. This tick bus is a vaccination station on wheels traveling around the capital region. Here you don't need an appointment and can just walk in whenever you spot it and it suits you. To find out when the Punkkibussi is in your area view the timetable. The vaccination costs 45 € for children and 50 € for adults.

Who to vote for

In just a bit over two weeks the election for the European Parliament take place. If you are over 18 and citizen of the European Union you are entitled to vote. But who to vote for? Especially if it is your first election in Finland and you are not familiar at all with the Finnish party landscape.

The EUvox 2014 website can help you. No matter what EU country you vote in the system gives you the opportunity to find your best match among the local parties by asking you several questions that you can give your opinion on. And don't worry if you don't speak any English. EUvox always supports English in addition to the local language.

With your result EUvox gives you detailed information on the parties, their opinions and on what matters you agree or disagree with them.

Check it out. And don't forget to vote on May 25!

White Helsinki in May

No, it's not snow. But the weather is quite strange at the moment in Helsinki. During the last days several hailstorms have passed through and made the streets look really winterish. But luckily it is too warm for the small ice drops to stay and they melt away withing minutes.

Unfortunately it seems like we'll have to bare a few more wet and cold days during the upcoming week before it gets warmer again. Have a good start into the week anyway!

Birdwatching with the Finnstick

The birds are coming back to Finland. That's the time that all birdwatchers have been waiting for for months. Now they go out into the nature whenever they find time to watch the homecomers.

But holding up your binoculars for several hours can be quite tiring for the arms. That's why Finns invented a simple device that is now famous among birdwatchers all over the world: the Finnstick.

It is basically just a wooden stick with a small cylindric nose on top that can hold the binoculars. That way you just have to hold the end of the stick. The idea is simple and at the same time genius. You can buy one or also very easily build one yourself.

Enjoy the birdwatching!

Spring sunset over the water

After a sunny day the sun paints beautiful pictures on the sky over Helsinki.

Pimp your Finnish for free

You have the feeling that your Finnish could use a little freshen up? The Finnish e-learning company Skilltize offers free conversation lessons (level B1 = intermediate) for several languages right now. You can already enroll for Finnish and German. Spanish, English and Chinese are still to come.

The class takes place in a virtual classroom in small groups of up to six participants and a teacher. Check it out!

Got your picnic stuff ready?

Today might not be the perfect day for a picnic outside at Kaivopuisto even though it doesn't rain yet. Still that is no reason not to have your traditional Vappu picnic. If it is too cold and unfriendly outside, why don't you just have it inside? With good friends around the perfect picnic can as well also happen on the living room floor.

Have a great May 1st and hauskaa vappua!