Walk to Uunisaari

The bridge to Uunisaari is back for the cold time of the year. Now you can easily get there by foot and enjoy the beautiful view over the sea from the small island.

Also it is a great place for a short coffee or lunch stop on your Sunday walk.

Have a nice day!

Small German Christmas market

Are you up for a German Christmas market? Then come to the German School at Kamppi today. In the yard of the school students and teachers have set up small stands selling handicraft and of course lots of nice Christmas snacks.

The Christmas Bazar is open from 11.00 until 17.00 for everyone. There will also be Christmas music and everything else you need to get into the Christmas mood.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Skating at the Main Station

Last weekend the IcePark opened again. The big ice rink on Rautatientori is one of the main attractions in the winter in Helsinki.

For 6€ you can buy a ticket to skate the whole day. For another 6€ you can rent a pair of skates if you don't happen to have some yourself.

And after some heavy skating relax in the small cafe right next to the ice rink and enjoy a warm cup of tea, coffee or glöggi.

Enjoy the weekend!

Time for Glöggi

It is not as cold as it could be around this time of the year. Still it's definitely cold enough to start the glöggi season. You can get them in white and red at Alko and the alcohol free version at any supermarket. No matter which one you prefer don't forget to put some raisins and almonds in.

Have you had some already this year?

First real electronics store in the city center

It was one of the big downsides of the Helsinki city center. There was no big and well sorted electronics store in the city center. But those times are over. With the new lower level of Forum Gigantti finally came to the center.

Normally Gigantti can only be found in industrial areas outside the city and only be reached by car. The new one at Forum spreads across two levels though and has a pretty decent selection of electronics.

Check it out!

Hockey Champions League

After a long break this season the Champions Hockey League is back. Several rounds have already been played and Helsinki's IFK is doing quite well. They are now in the quarter finals where they have to play the Swedish team Frölunda Gothenburg.

Why not join it live in the stadium? The good thing is that tickets to the CHL games are relatively cheap. For just 17,50€ you get a seat anywhere.

The next game will be in one week on December 2 here in Helsinki. Check it out and cheer for HIFK to win.

Seurasaarenselkä in November

The first snow has come and already melted again. As usually in November it is pretty grey and the sun didn't show up too often.

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

Christmas lights are coming

Yes, many shopping centers and stores have switched on their Christmas lights already. But the Christmas street lights on Aleksanterinkatu are still missing.

But today that will change. With a big Christmas parade through the center the city celebrates the illumination of the most important shopping street today. 

The parade starts at 14.00 from Senaatintori. Of course also Santa Claus will be there.

Also don't forget to pay a visit to Stockmann's Christmas window which also will be opened today.

Have a nice Christmassy Sunday!

Lots of snow

And here it is. The snow arrived in Helsinki. After a first flakes already a few weeks earlier this time the real snow came. 

Have a nice and white weekend!

Finnish-American art of brewing

Beer fans listen up. There is something you should try. The Finnish Sinebrychoff Brewery started a cooperation with the Brooklyn Brewery from the US.

Together they created the Two Tree Porter. This dark malty and fruity beer has a slight taste of chocolate and coffee. It is one of the finest Finnish beers you can find. Give it a try and enjoy!

Camping for The Hobbit

You might have wondered what tents are doing in front of Tennispalatsi these days? The reason is that the third The Hobbit movie named "The Battle of the Five Armies" will soon come to the theaters. 

Tickets are sold already in advance and fantasy fans around the world do almost anything to get into one of the first shows. In Finnkino the sale will start on Saturday and to make sure they are the first those first people started queuing already days before.

Let's hope the movie justifies the long queing. Thanks for the hint and the pictures to matwin!

First Christmas trees

The first Christmas trees arrived in the city center. You can see them, decorated with lots of small Christmas lights, on Keskuskatu in front of Stockmann.

Not long anymore till the Stockmann Christmas window will be opened as well.

Nokia for your feet

Today Nokia is going to announce a new customer product on Slush. Let's see what that is going to be and when it is going to come to the market. But did you know that already today you can buy real Nokia products everywhere in Finland?

Nokia (or rather Nokian) rubber boots are probably the most common and most popular rubber boots in Finland. And even if Nokian is now independent they have common roots with the network and former cellphone Nokia.

Check out their shoes. They are available under the brands Nokian and Hai and are really good.

Slush 2014

The biggest startup event in Northern Europe starts again today. Over 12.000 visitors from around the world come to Slush at Messukeskus Helsinki to see what's on in the Nordic startup scene.

Tickets to sold out already and anyway way too expensive for private visitors. But you can still get an idea of Slush. Tonight Apollo hosts the Slush Grand Opening Party. And it is open to everyone. So check it out and meet entrepreneurs, investors, journalists and the organizers.

The party starts tonight at 21.00. Slush continues until Wednesday.

Vagabrothers in Helsinki

This video of the Vagabrothers takes you on a trip through our wonderful city and gives a really good impression of the highlights of Helsinki.

And it also brings back some good memories of Finnish summer.

Have a great Sunday!

Tasty Saturday

Not just the Street Food Carnival takes place in Helsinki today. It's also Restaurant Day again. For the last time this year you can again visit hundreds of pop-up restaurants, cafés and bars around the city and whole Finland.

So don't worry about cooking today. The streets are literally full of delicious food on this Saturday. Find your favorite pop-up restaurants on the offial Restaurant Day website.

Enjoy!

Street Food Carnival in November

It has gotten cold in Helsinki. Some street food trucks are still around but the season of the weekly Street Food Carnival is over. Or is it really?

This Saturday and Sunday you get the chance to relive the summer street food experience. The Street Food Carnival comes to Kaapelitehdas. For the probably last time this year street food trucks from around Helsinki come together to offer their delicious take away meals. And this time they are not along. All together 24 vendors from all over Finland and even abroad will come. And they will bring amazing food with them.

Take a look at the vendors and their dishes already on the official facebook page. The event starts on Saturday at noon at Kaapelitehdas in Salmisaari. Don't miss it or you will have to wait for the next Street Food Carnival till summer.

Sunny mornings

It doesn't happen too often around this time of the year in Helsinki but when the sun comes out in the morning it is even more impressive. This week we had two of those sunny mornings. 

How do you get along with the darkness? Does it bother you or not? And if it does what do you do against it? Looking forward to your comments!

Fresh, organic and personal - grocery shopping at Anton & Anton

It is one of the nicest grocery stores in Helsinki. Anton & Anton in Kruununhaka is a small but extemely well equiped, bright and inviting place. Here you get everything from fresh meat, cheese and bread to organic fruits, vegetables, jams, pasta, sauces, teas, candies and much, much more.

The friendly staff also gladly helps you to find whatevery you are searching for. The focus on Anton & Anton is clearly on quality rathern than on quantity. Their approach of course has an effect on the prices here. Be prepared to pay a bit more than in a normal supermarket. But the visit here is definitely worth it.

You can also find Anton & Anton in Töölö and in Ullanlinna. For more information check out their website.

First Christmas lights

Have you seen the first Christmas lights in the city center? They are now iluminating the dark fall evenings and nights.

Especially the big shopping centers are well decorated already. Have a look yourself!

Home-made English fudge

Do you also like English fudge? Then don't miss out on the new Fudgelove pop-up store at Kluuvi Kauppakeskus. English expat Richard sells his excellent home-made fudge there until Christmas.

And at Fudgelove you get much more than just the usual caramel fudge. Among lots of delicious flavors Richard also created Finnish influenced versions like his famous Lemon & Salmiakki Fudge. Of course you can also try some fudge beforehand.

You'll find Fudgelove on the first floor of Kluuvi or order their fudge online.

Check it out and enjoy!

At the sea

The sun probably won't be shining today. A Father's Day walk along the sea might anyway be nice.

Have a great Sunday!

Currywurst from Berlin

Are you up for a snack after some drinks at the bar? How about a typical German Currywurst or Bratwurst?

Now the Currywursthaus is in Helsinki. The small food truck offers some of the best German fastfood fresh from the grill for reasonable prices.

On weekend nights you can find them either at Narinkkatori or around the main station. Check it out and enjoy!

Shanghai Cowboy is back

Today the Shanghai Cowboy finally opens its doors again. With its modern Mexican-Asian fusion kitchen it is one of the best restaurant in town.

At the new location in Mikonkatu 4 in the basement of Könog Shanghai Cowboy also has a bar and a club that are open already since last week. Today also the famous kitchen opens again.

Drop by for their amazing food and stay to dance and party! Have a great weekend!

Sunday is Father's Day

Every year on the second Sunday in November Finns celebrate Isänpäivä (Father's Day). This day honors all fathers and their role in the family as well as in society. 

Father's Day is not such an old tradition. In Finland it was officially established as a flag day in 1987.

How do you celebrate Father's Day? Well, whatever your plans for Sunday are, a visit or a friendly call will definitely make him happy.

Wish you kept the key?

If that is not good marketing, I don't know what is. A clever locksmith has attached this to the bridge of love at Katajanokka.

Still it is to hope that not too many couples are in need of his service.

For a bowl of ice cream

Finns love ice cream. In fact they are the leading ice cream consumers per capita in whole Europe. Even during the cold time of the year the consumption is high.

But you might wonder what a good place for some nice ice cream might be durin the fall and winter. Well, if you like ice cream bowls it's not too easy. One place right in the center that you might want to consider is the Sokos Café inside the big Sokos department store. Here you have a big selection of ice cream bowls that you can enjoy with a good view into the big inner yard of Sokos.

Sokos Café of course also has sweet and salty pastry and of course hot and cold drinks. Give it a try!

A new level of Forum

Now the Forum Kauppakeskus in the center has gotten bigger. After a long rennovation the lowest level has been completed and opened for the public.

Check out a lot of new shops and restaurants on additional 6000 m² downstairs and stay up to date on their special events and offers through their website.

Have a great start into the week!

The newest skiing trends

On this grey Sunday you probably don't want to spend too much time outside. Well, today is an excellent opportunity to check out the newest skiing and snowboarding trends. At Messukeskus it is the last day of the Ski Expo.

At the same time and with the same ticket you can also check out the Board Expo, the Lätkä&Säbä Expo (for ice hockey and floorball), the Digi Expo and the HIFI Expo.

The entrance is 18 € and the fairs are open till 17.00 today.

All Saints' in Finland

Have a nice All Saints' Day today and enjoy the sunshine!

And keep in mind that almost all shops are closed today.

Have a nice weekend!