HELYEAH

VisitHelsinki, the tourist board of the city, has launched its new service HELYEAH. It is a pretty cool website with a great design and layout that gives you a great opportunity to explore Helsinki.

HELYEAH doesn't just have general information about the city but you can also find out what is going on at the moment. Maybe there is a cool free concert tonight that you shouldn't miss. Or there is a big event coming up you haven't heard about so far.

HELYEAH is also full of nice pictures and well made videos about the city. And it is well integrated with several social media channels which gives you the chance to interact with others and find out what people are talking about.

Check it out!

Excellence at EMO

Are you searching for a really good, stylish restaurant with amazing food and nice service? Then check out EMO in Kasarmikatu.

This relatively new place just around the corner from Esplanadi is the perfect place for a wonderful dinner experience. EMO has a really short menu of all together ten courses. But they are all fantastic. 

I highly suggest, if you are two then get the ten course menu and share it. This way you get to experience everything EMO has to offer. Go on a journey through the best the European kitchen has to offer.

Btw. all the ingredients used at EMO come from small producers and farms around Europe.

And of course don't miss out on the wonderful wines they have. The list is long and the selection really good. Get some recommendations from the staff.

You can also come to EMO just for the wine. Next to their restaurant they also have a nice and cozy wine bar that even offers some delicious EMO snacks.

Enjoy your evening!

Seurasaarenselkä in May

Now the leaves are on the trees. This May has been exceptional though. Starting of with some hail the temperatures rose up to almost 30 degrees to then drop again this week to about 10 (this picture was taken on Monday, when it was still warm). Let's see what the summer brings.

To see how the view from Seurasaarenselkä changed during one year you can see the pictures of the previous months here.

Here is #HappyInHelsinki

It's ready. The Happy in Helsinki video. Many thanks to Stephen Penny and Chris Denholm!

For more information on the whole project and possible continuations read the full post from Stephen's blog.

Coffee or Bear?

There are tons of cafés in the Kallio area. One of the most unique and original is probably the Kulmakahvio though. It is a gay café located at the corner of Karhupuisto and it welcomes of course everyone.

The interior is something. The whole place is filled with pictures, postcards and other decoration hanging from the wall or standing on the table. The bright colors give the place a happy and cozy feeling.

Choose your favorite among their long list of great coffees and other hot drinks. And of course get one of their delicious pastries on the side.

Give it a try!

Bright nights

These are the brightest nights of the year. Around this time of the year it doesn't really get dark at all and you can watch wonderful late and very slow sunsets.

Have a good start into the next week!

A Day for Europe

Today is election day. Europe is electing a new European Parliament. And if you are entitled to vote, then don't waste your chance.

And remember that you should decide not only on a party but on a candidate as well. What you will do to cast your vote is write your candidate's number on the ballot paper.

If you still don't really know which party is closest to you, check out the EUvox 2014 website to find your perfect match.

Starting from 19:30 tonight YLE 1 will be covering everything around the election including the results.

Get your own Mölkky

Mölkky is one of the greatest outdoor games ever invented. It comes from Finland but its popularity is growing worldwide. To find out more about Mölkky click here.

And if you don't have one yourself yet then now is your perfect opportunity. At Clas Ohlson you can get the game for just below 20 euros at the moment.

Enjoy the summer and of course the Mölkky games!

One big flea market

Tomorrow is Siivouspäivä (Cleaning Day). And that mean that the whole city transforms into a giant flea market.

You always wanted to get rid of that old lamp that just blocks the way in your small basement already for years? Well, this is your chance. Just put it out on the street and sell it. Siivouspäivä is a new tradition in Helsinki and everyone can join.

If you open your own sales spot, make sure to register it on the official website where you can also find more information on the event. That way people can more easily find you. And maybe you also find some neat stuff yourself.

Good luck and have fun!

The World is a Village

The festival time starts in Helsinki. And this weekend the first big city festival takes place in the center. The World Village Festival welcomes guests on Saturday and Sunday at Kaisaniemi Park and Rautatientori.

The program is long and there are tons of things to do and see. You find everything from workshops, interviews, theater and artistic performances, presentations, a poetry bus, over 450 exhibitor stands and of course lots and lots of great music from around the world.

All day time events are free of charge. For more information on the World Village Festival click on their website.

Have fun!