Coffee, cakes and culture

Katja Hagelstam is a superb photographer and now she is learning how to make a superb cup of coffee.

Lokal - a combination of kitchen, living room and minigallery - is the name of her new cosy shop (opened on first day of April).

The menu consists of homemade cake, coffee and tea. And then you can pamper your eyes by looking around. There might be some pieces of art and design you would be tempted to have in your own home, too. For example a chair you have been sitting in.

Lokal, Annankatu 19, 00120 Helsinki. Open Tue-Fri 11 am to 6 pm, Sat-Sun from noon to 4 pm.

The boulevard for bag ladies

is of course Pohjoisesplanadi street in Helsinki. 

First you can check at Ril´s (street number 25) which nice things they have for the summer.

Then have a look at the newly renovated Longchamp shop (27). A most lovely collection of bags in joyful spring colours! 

Furla (31). At last a concept store of it´s own in the Kämp Galleria, opened in February. Oh, I am tempted...

Marikulma, Marimekko´s flagship shop (33). Who could resist this new Meduusa bag? Perfect for everyday use. 

A bull´s eye! Louis Vuitton (35). And a loyal customer passing by.

Tumi (37A). Solid bags for business and pleasure.

Samuji (37) is the new shop of the designer Samu-Jussi Koski, the former creative director of Marimekko and now on his own. Beautiful & pure collection of the basics. Here you can see Saddle and Tori bags and Vene purse.

And a bit further, in the next block, is THE store Stockmann, where you can find, yes, almost anything. The bags, surely!

Photos @ Paula Hietaranta

 

Michael Björklund, our Ambassador of Nordic Taste

That guy has PLANS. - I love Nordic food! And I want to create 
my own ice cream label and bakery and..., says chef Michael Björklund.

Photos © Paula Hietaranta

Nordic Culinary Journey is the food theme on all Viking Line´s Finland-Sweden routes during the month May.

The captain of the kitchen has been Finland´s famous master chef Michael Björklund whose cookbook Lähiruokaa – Min Nordiska Mat was nominated for Norden´s best cookbook this year.

For the travellers Michael has created his suberb menu for the ships´ Food Garden restaurants. 

Good local, ethical ingredients & simple settings is the key idea of his cooking.

- The Nordic nature offers so many extra tasty and vitamin-rich ingredients due to clean environment and many hours of summer sunshine!, Michael says.  

His cooking is lovely, and so is his way of talking! What a pity you cannot hear him speak of the food and his future plans: never in my life have I heard such a smiling and enthusiastic mixture of Finnish-Swedish with a funny pronunciation! So let´s continue talk and write in foreign languages without fear but with joy and mistakes!

Here you can have a taste the Michael´s meals you can enjoy on board: 

Butter fried fish from Åland Islands, common roach from Finland 
with foamy crab sauce and potato compote à la Jansson.

Tenderised steak from Ejmund Gård in Gotland, thyme emulsion and a ragout with pickled onions, carrots, bacon and mushrooms, waffle potatoes and a glass of Ironstone red wine.

The sweet end of the delicious meal: oven baked rhubarb with vanilla ice cream 

made of cream and eggs from Åland Islands, cookies.

www.vikingline.fi

www.vikingline.se

http://michaelbjorklund.com

(On the site you find some Michaels´s recipes, but alas, only in Swedish.)

During summertime Michael cooks in Åland Maarianhamina at

www.paviljongen.ax

New Fashion in Finland, part 5: MARIMEKKO

Tunic VERBENA, scarfs SOMERO, ring AURORA, bracelets TYYNI, SÄDE & MUTKA.

If your life lacks joy and colour, you have better to have a look at Marimekko!

Here you see some of my favorites of Marimekko´s Autumn 2012 collection.

They do also remind us of that old truth that to have a style is not about choosing the clothes. The secret is the styling – how to combine the clothes, colours, accessories, sizes. 

This playful styling is by Teri Niitti, and the photographs are by Mikko Ryhänen. 

Shirt KOPPI, jewellery ILONA, skirt DONNA. 

Tunic MARJAINEN, bracelets TYYNI, SÄDE & MUTKA.

Tunic HERMANNI, scarfes KIEPPI. 

Cardigan PINKKA, dress TUKKU, tights TROIJA.

Knit MUUTAMA, socks PIANO, scarves SOMERO, bag UUSI MINI MATKURI.

And then last but not least we have to thank the Marimekko designer team Mika Piirainen, Tuula Pöyhönen, Mai Ohta, Nina Pirhonen and Satu Maaranen who have been working together with the Head of Fashion Design Noora Niinikoski.

A new Minna Parikka candy shop

Photos @Paula Hietaranta

 

 

There are sweet things in life, and this is one of them.

OK, this shop does not sell candy but delicious shoes and gloves and bags and scarves by the designer Minna Parikka.

Her pop-up store opened yesterday at Kluuvi shopping center and stays there until autumn.

So if you have in your heart a soft spot for the playful details, wonderful colours and high heels so typical of Minna´s design spirit go there and enjoy.

Definitely not be missed!

Ready for the dance.

Shoes and gloves in the same style.

The customers-to-be admiring Minna´s shoes.

Minna Parikka Pop-Up Shop at Kluuvi, ground floor, Aleksanterinkatu 9, Helsinki.

Open Mon-Fri 10 am to 8 pm, Sat 10 am to 6 pm, Sun noon to 6 pm.

www.minnaparikka.com

Two ladies in the lake

 

 @ Elina Brotherus & Kira Gluschkoff: Le parc au crépuscule, 2011, 50 x 97 cm.
 

What if?

That was the starting question to a project by Elina Brotherus and Kira Gluschkoff, both well-known names in the Finnish contemporary photography.

Why not make an exhibition together? Why not take pictures together? Why not take nude pictures in the parks and in the streets of Paris?

The classic tradition of nude photography has now a new playful addition: naked together.

The cooperation went so well that the ladies want to continue. So these pictures of strong, beautiful female bodies are just an appetizer. The main course should be on it´s way.

 

@ Elina Brotherus & Kira Gluschkoff: Le jardin clos, 2011, 50 x 94 cm.

@ Elina Brotherus & Kira Gluschkoff: Place Dauphine, 2011, 90 x 103 cm.

The exhibition What If? is open until May 31st in Pick Me Gallery, Iso Roobertinkatu 48, 00120 Helsinki. Open Mon-Fri 10 am to 5 pm. 
The photographs are pigment ink prints on Museo Silver Rag paper. Edition 6 + 2 AP.

www.pickme.fi

info@pickme.fi

Living Treasures of Arabia

Peilipallo (Mirror Ball, 2012) and Kultainen peurakasa (Pile of Golden Deers, 2009) by Kim Simonsson. Photo @ Paula Hietaranta

 

If you want to see something breathtakingly beautiful go to Arabia!

Arabia is the famous ceramic factory in Helsinki, still loaded with talented (what a lame word!) freelance artists. Now you have the possibility to see their work by visiting the gallery of the factory where some unique pieces, a link in the long heritage of Arabia art department and Finnish ceramic art, are exhibited until the end of May.

The exhibition Arabian 9. kerros is open in Galleria Arabia until 27.5.2012. Open Wed-Fri 12am-6 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am-4 pm. Address Hämeentie 135, 9th floor, 00560 Helsinki.

To know more about Arabia and it´s artists, buy a new book Arabian 9. kerros, taideosasto ja sen taiteilijat by Raija Forsström, published by Kirjapaja. Even if you do not understand Finnish, you can always enjoy the beautiful pictures!

 http://www.kirjapaja.fi/