Travel

Frugal Helsinki

Finland, Helsinki, Travel

The New York Times Frugal Traveler feature has visited Helsinki. There are some nice tips here although I’m not much of a berry or porridge fan.

The most inviting bar on the block was Molotow, which had a cheap Finnish beer starting at 3.80 euros for a half-liter, and lots of other choices as well, but the best spot of the evening was a bit of a hike, several blocks farther north, the irresistibly friendly and funky confines of Magneetti bar, to which Kati Kallioniemi had given the irresistible description: “It seems like a normal bar, but all my friends met their boyfriends there.” With social booths cramped together in one room, and a darker space of candlelit tables in the other, I could certainly see how that had happened.

36 Hours in Helsinki, Finland – NYTimes.com

Finland, Helsinki, Travel

36 Hours in Helsinki, Finland – NYTimes.com Some ideas for new places to check out this weekend….

This sounds interesting!

10 p.m.
9. CULTURE FACTORY

Head to the Korjaamo Culture Factory (Toolonkatu 51a-b; 358-20-741-7000), a former depot that’s traded trams for bands and token-takers for joke-makers. This cultural hub now hosts performances from stand-up comedians, klezmer ensembles, R&B groups, local D.J.’s and swing-style big bands. The sprawling complex also houses a modest art gallery and a cool pub that’s open until 2 a.m. on weekends. Beforehand, tune up for the night by paying tribute to Finland’s most famous composer at the nearby Sibelius monument, which resembles a fusion of birch trees and organ pipes.

The Wild Atlantic Drive

Achill, Ireland, Locations, Travel

Nice idea to develop this route along the west coast of Ireland. The Irish Times is going to have someone travel the route and write about it every day.

Take the existing coastal road up and down the western seaboard between Derry and Cork, a route of some 1,400km, develop it, package it and market it to visitors – from abroad and other parts of Ireland. The trick is to do it by taking what is there already – remote and wild beauty, coupled with people who in the main are warm and friendly and have a vibrant culture and history – and draw people into it without compromising it.

Restaurant Day

Finland, Food, Helsinki, Travel

This sounds really cool but unfortunately, I’m not going to be in Finland this weekend!

Restaurant Day is a one-day carnival in favor of restaurant and food culture.

On Restaurant Day anyone can set up a restaurant, café or a bar for a day. It can be anywhere: at your home, at the office, on a street corner, in your garden or inner courtyard, at a park, or on the beach – only your imagination is the limit.

The quirkier the concept of your restaurant is, the better it attracts people. However oddities aren’t necessary. Good food and drinks at a nice place are enough – the most important is to create a restaurant that you’d like to visit yourself. After all, the idea of Restaurant Day is to have fun, share different restaurant experiences with other people and enjoy the our living environment together.

Restaurant Day originated in Helsinki, Finland, and it’s happens four times a year, about every three months.

On the first Restaurant Day on the 21st of May 2011 almost 40 restaurants opened in 13 different towns. On the second Restaurant Day on the 21st of August 2011 about 200 restaurants opened in 30 different cities in four different countries. On the third Restaurant Day on the 19th of November 2011 over 300 restaurants opened in over 40 different towns. On the fourth Restaurant Day nearly 300 restaurants opened in almost 50 different towns in 12 different countries.

More information here.