I Want Candy

Today it was a nice sunny spring day and I was enjoying delightful afternoon in downtown Helsinki. So also a perfect momentum to pay a visit to Sweetheart Candy Store at Uudenmaankatu.

Karkkikauppa Sweetheart

And this store is absolutely worth a visit, if not for the sweets, then for admiring the pretty interiors. I read from Sweetheart's Facebook page that the store has featured in last December issue of Finnish design magazine Deko. Unfortunately I have missed the article and it cannot be found from Deko's homepage, but I can totally understand why the magazine has chosen to feature this lovely boutique.

Such a pretty interiors and plenty of colourful sweets. Although the store is tiny there are plenty of appealing products to choose from. Assortment is unique with intereresting brands and totally different from your local market's assortment.

Pick n' mix

Hand-made old-fashioned lollipops

Åre Chokladfabrik's truffles

I could shop with good conscience as all the treats were for my colleague, not for myself. Therefore I found lots of attractive sweets: Cadbury Bournville Old Jamaica chocolate, Dutch Venco and Oldtimers salty liquorices and some loose candies.

Contents of my shopping basket

I think my next visit will be soon shopping for Easter sweets as there are lots of temptations awaiting...
 

Easter sweets

Weekend Grocery Shopping

After Friday gym training session I popped into Anton&Anton's Töölö store in order to fetch some groceries for the weekend. Some Fridays you just need to reward yourself with tasty treats and lazy evening at home. And this was one of those days.



Anton&Anton, Museokatu 19, 00100 Helsinki



I like the company concept of providing organic and local food. So there is sustainable option available, although the prices are relatively high. Anyway, these kind of smaller stores bring welcome competition, which I want to support. Besides Anton&Anton there are quite a few local and organic food stores in Helsinki, like Eat&Joy with 3 stores in Helsinki and the Helsinki-Vantaa airport store.

Anton&Anton is such a charming little store with cute black and white floor tiles, neat arrangements and surprisingly large assortment. You can basically shop all food here without needing to go anywhere else to do additional shopping.




Anton&Anton fruits



Anton&Anton vegetables





























 

I love colourful packings and Anton&Anton's shelves look so beautiful. They have several appealing brands in the assortment, quite a few from U.K as well as Swedish Renée Voltaire.

My absolute favourites in the assortment are Hommanäs raspberry jam and juices, especially strawberry rhubarb juice, which is totally gorgeous!

I managed to gather all sorts of delicious treats for the weekend. Terra vegetable crisps kept on calling my name so I could not resist them. In addition fresh baguette by Kanniston leipomo, fresh pasta, pesto sauce, strawberry and rhubarb juice, lingonberry and raspberry yoghurt, organic chocolate and some other picks and pieces.

Olives Et Al pesto sauce is the best I have ever tasted so it is going to be pesto pasta for dinner tonight. Bon appétit!

After Work With The Girls

Gosh, how energizing it is to have an After Work with some lovely friends. Just to take it easy for few hours, sit down, sip a drink or two, catch up and share your stories. You feel so refreshed after good conversations and lots of laughs.

The place we met was totally new for me Latva Bar, sister restaurant to Juuri and located on Korkeavuorekatu near Design Museum. Talking of which, I really should find time to visit also Design Museum as it was a while ago. They have interesting exhibitions all the time, especially this year Helsinki being World Design Capital 2012.

Latva was a perfect choise and had great ambience for an After Work in the middle of the week. Neat interiors and cool decor. I especially liked the Marimekko's Socks Rolled Down classes and tealight candles inside a grater as well as wooden interiors.

 
Latva's menu was fascinating with good selection of wines, cocktails and beer plus some Finnish tapas ie. Sapas from Juuri's kitchen. It was Tuesday today so maybe too early in the week to try too many of the treats on the menu, but there were lots of temptations. 

Verkstrand's Manhattan

Latva seems to be quite popular and all the tables were full (well, the restaurant is not that big). That is always a positive sign. Nice music in the background and not too much noice. Need to come here again!

And absolutely need to have After Works more often, also in the middle of the week.

Entrance to Latva

My Favourite Music From Sweden

So much great music comes from Sweden and especially from young talented female artists. I have been lucky to live in Sweden and hear many of my favourites live. Some of new Swedish artists are also popular in Finland, but here their concerts often have much smaller venues and less audience. So therefore it can be quite rewarding to see these artists in small clubs with intimate atmosphere. Korjaamo's Svenska Talande Klubben is really active in importing Swedes to play in Helsinki and their ticket prices are reasonable!

Swedish band that I have liked the longest time must be The Ark. It all started from Tavastia gig in 2005 and I guess I saw nearly 20 gigs before the band quit in 2011. Ola Salo's performances besides The Ark I have seen also in Jesus Christ Superstar musical in Malmö and in concert with Swedish Radio's Symphony Orchestra in Stockholm.

The Ark at Tavastia in March 2011

Talking about Swedish male vocalists one needs to mention Moto Boy i.e. Oskar Humlebo. His delicate, clear and beautiful voice together with haunting lyrics is totally stunning. I adore him!

Other favourite guys are José González, Timo Räisänen, Lars Winnerbäck and Håkan Hellström. And yet another interesting artist is Prince of Assyria. Totally magnificent first album, but songs did not work that well when performed live.

Elin Ruth Sigvardsson is one of my favourite artists. She released her third album A Fiction in 2008. At the time I had just moved to Göteborg and knew I would like her just after reading an interview from Gaffa. After that I booked the concert tickets to Storan and bought the album before I even had heard any of her music. And when I started listening A Fiction I immediately fell in love with the music. There are two amazing songs on that album: Antidote and How You Dug Your Own Grave.

My first ever Elin Ruth Sigvardsson gig in February 2008



While living in Sweden I discovered lots of female singer-songwriters that were then new to me: Annika Norlin (Säkert! and Hello Saferide), Melissa Horn, Sophie Zelmani, Frida Hyvönen, Jenny Wilson, Jennie Abrahamson, Maia Hirasawa, Frida Öhrn (Oh Laura), Britta Persson and the Söderberg sisters (The First Aid Kit). And some of them I already knew before, like Eva Dahlgren, Lisa Ekdahl, Anna Ternheim, Nina Persson (The Cardigans and A Camp), Anna Järvinen, Lykke Li and Veronica Maggio. Of course there are lots of other good singers, but I am just listings my favourites.

Listen: Oh Laura The Mess You Left Behind

Jenny Wilson's live shows are always dashing

And then there is Ane Brun, who actually is Norwegian, but living in Sweden so I guess I can add her into the list. I have little bit mixed feeling about her voice. In her first albums it is too country-like for me, but I love the latest album and she was awesome live when performing these new songs at Tavastia in the end of 2011. Lovely duet Worship by Ane Brun feat. José González:

Things to keep on eye during 2012:
- Frida Hyvönen releasing a new album in April and coming to play in Korjaamo in May. First single Terribly Dark is already out.
- Coming concerts at Korjaamo's Svenska Talande Klubben
- Thåström gig at Tavastia in April
- Also in Tavastia TSOOL ie. The Soundtrack of Our Lives
- Theatre play Lubiewo-Kärleksön at Göteborg City Theatre with music composed by Moto Boy, who is even performing in the play. He is also recording a new album, which I am really excited about!
- Ane Brun coming to Flow Festival in August

- Ola Salo performing Jesus Christ Superstar in Stockholm (spring is already sold out, but there are tickets for the autumn)
- And all Finnish summer festival guests such as The Cardigans and Veronica Maggio in Ruisrock
- Plus hopefully much more new songs, artists, bands and gigs

Ending this post with Kajsa Grytt Allt faller

Restaurant Hopping Week

Eating is a pleasure! As I am not that great a cook I tend to eat out every now and then. Although I usually visit the same favourite restaurants, this week I managed to test quite a few new places where I had not eaten before.

I have been interested to go to Namu Food & Lounge at Makkaratalo for quite some time now and visited the restaurant on Thursday evening with a colleague. My first though was that the place is rather suitable for an After Work gathering with larger number of colleagues. The kitchen is open until 23 on Fridays and you are able to stay at the lounge afterwards so that sound like a great After Work combo.

Namu menu

All starters sounded delicious and we both ended up choosing Thai Scallops and sharing Edamame beans. However, scallops were pretty tastless. There was only sweet sauce on top, but otherwise the portion was really lame. And Sushibar has much nicer Edamame.

Thai Scallops, Edamame and Singha

So I did not have that high expectations for the main course. I ordered Tom Kha soup with chili and chicken. That was surprisingly tasty with good kick of chili and without a doubt the best part of the meal. Then again, I can get as good Thai soup also from my local Thai restaurant, but of course I should not compare. My colleague ate Tataki, which is grilled beef fillet and she was very pleased as well.

In front Tom Kha and Tataki in the back 

It was unnecessary to take a dessert as we both were full, but of course we could not resist Liquorice mousse, liquorice fudge and lemongrass marshmallow that was on the list. Well, that was not my favourite, but now I have tested it anyway.

Then came Friday and yet another After Work. This time in Ravintola Kuu in Töölö. Although I regularly walk pass the restaurant I had actually never eaten there. Very nice interior and comfortable athmosphere, not a party place, but perfect place to chill a little bit after a long working week.

I was not super hungry and since I love salmon, my choise was a small smoked salmon soup with toasted rye bread. In my opinion salmon soup would be better with cooked, not smoked salmon. Saying this, I was pleased and ate the whole portion.



Salmon soap

My frieds ate fried lavaret and beef brisket, which also were really tasty. But the best thing was the cozy place and relaxed athmosphere as well as the company of course.



Fried lavaret with and crayfish beurre blanc





Fried beef brisket



Saturday evening I finally got to visit new Mexican fusion kitchen Shanghai Cowboy after several months of planning to go there. Place was tiny and the tables were really closed by each others so it is better not to share any secrets here. Cool, swanky place with trendy interior, which I liked a lot.

When going to texmex or other laid back restaurants there usually is nachos on the list. Shanghai Cowboy's nachos are in totally different level. Not from supermarket, but they must be homemade or something and guacamole is mad delicious!
 

Nachos, guacamole and salsa

Main courses had really good value and taste for money. My chicken quesadilla was tasty as was vegetarian option chalupa. And both dishes were so beautiful.  

Vegetarian chalupa in the back and Chipotle chicken quesadilla in the front.

Summa summarium Shanghai Cowboy was the highlight of the week. Both the starter and main dish were gorgeous. Yet another positive thing was the reasonable price. Definitely going back again!

I Saw It On TV

I hardly watch any TV. Reason for this is partly time limitations and partly that I have not really found any programs I would like to follow. This is really a limitation in coffee table discussion at work as I seem to be the only one who has never seen an episode of Grey's Anatomy. So I need to upgrade my personal TV viewership ratings!

Of course I should say that I am usually only watching news and documentaries, but I hardly do. I actually like watching entertaining soaps when I am too tired to read. Therefore I have some easy watching on my DVD so that I can relax while watching something simple and stupid after work. Desperate Housewives I would like to watch, but have skipped too many episodes in between so cannot watch the current season.

This year my fave series was Swedish Våra vänners liv, but all 10 episodes were already shown. At this point I must say that Finnish Swedish TV channel Yle Fem has quite a few good programs that I watch every now and then (such as Skavlan, Lilla Onsdag, Annas eviga). My other favourite channel is Yle Teema as they have interesting documents and music programs.

Today starts a new Finnish reality TV program Iholla of which I have high hopes. Idea is based on Israelian format Connected so that 6 Finnish women have cameras and they are recording their own life day by day. In my opinion the most interesting person is singer Heli Kajo, who took part in Finnish Eurovision song contest in 2010 (with English subtitles):

Iholla is on 4 times a week from Tuesday to Friday and it could be exactly that kind of light entertainment to tape in and watch after work when you are totally knackered.

New Artist Discovered

Finding new music makes be extremely happy.

Every day at work I am listening to Radio Helsinki where I tend to find interesting new artists. They have quite a few great DJs and you can find lists of the played songs in their webpage. Also Spotify is a good tool to check which CDs to purchase and its "Sounds like" feature is useful in finding new bands and singers.

Today I have been listening to some great female voices, such as Camera Obscura, this year's Flow guest St.Vincent and my favourite Spanish singer Russian Red's new single Everyday Everynight

Another new discovery is James Vincent McMorrow whom I was tipped off by a Twitter-friend. Totally adore his voice, which has similarities to Bon Iver's:

Latest Finnish discovery has been amazing Antero Lindgren, whose album Rumba magazine named as one of the best one in the beginning of 2012. I really want to hear Antero live sometime soon and already ordered album Mother from Eino Records. Really looking forward to finding some more talented new Finnish singer-songwriters.

Sure there still are so many amazing bands and singers that I have never heard, but everytime I find a new artist I feel really delighted. Keep the good music coming!

Live Concerts I Want To See

I have made a top list of artists and bands I would like to see live. Past few years have had rich supply of concerts both in Finland and Sweden and luckily I have managed to see and hear lots of great live gigs of many fabulous artists. Last year one of my biggest wishes came true when I got to see Bright Eyes and Conor Oberst live - not once, but two times. Absolute highlight of my entire concert-goers career!

Bright Eyes at Debaser Medis in Stockholm 16.2.2011

Year 2012 also seems promising and I have booked lots of concert tickets. Suzanne Vega is one of my all time favourite artists and I have seen her three times before and get yet another change to see her this year. High up in my list is also Coldplay whom I am going to see fourth time in Sweden this year as they have never played in Finland.

Coming concerts this year: Bat For Lashes, Coldplay, Suzanne Vega, Rufus Wainwright, Metallica, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Iver, Feist among others.

Melissa Horn and Bat For Lashes have both been in my top list for several years. Melissa came to play at Korjaamo's Svenska Talande Klubben in February so I saw her magnificient gig. And I am very pleased that Korjaamo is organizing so many Swedish artists to come and play in Helsinki.

Now I am totally over the moon when I get to see talented Natasha Khan and Bat For Lashes in Oslo in June.

Flow Festival in August is of course one of the highlights. Now the festival is 4 days long so I need to decide on which days I am going there. This year I really look forward to seeing Bon Iver and Feist and of course it would be neat to see Björk. That would mean tickets for Wednesday and Sunday (and skipping Madonna concert on Sunday). Oh, all these big decisions and planning job :-).  

And so far it has been a great beginning for concert year 2012: Anna Ternheim (x 2), Ola Salo, Melissa Horn, First Aid Kit, Cat Power and Ultra Bra.

Melissa Horn at Korjaamo 1.2.2012.

First Aid Kit at Tavastia 6.2.2012.

Rock on!

Winter Visits to Sweden

I have a huge travel fever and eagerly want to go somewhere far away. Started wondering why and figured out that usually I tend to travel in March. And skipping this routine has caused me restlessness.

Still, I believe this is going to be satisfying travel year. So far I visited Gothenburg in January and Stockholm in February.

Winter view of beautiful Stockholm.

Humlegården park in Stockholm.

 And managed to catch some great concerts and exhibitions on these two trips:

Anton Corbijn photo exhibition at Fotografiska in Stockholm.

Independent cinema Folkets bio Zita has great selection of foreign films.

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera exhibition at The Gothenburg Museum of Art.

Ola Salo and Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester in Stockholm

Anna Ternheim starting her Night Visitor tournee in Gothenburg.

Baby Shower Diaper Cake

Neat idea for a baby shower gift is to make a diaper cake with some diapers and other baby related stuff. Here are easy instructions and simple steps in order to succeed in making the gorgeous decoration for the party. Do not use glue or tape so that the diapers stay usable.

I used Libero size 2 diapers, which had a nice yellow bunny print and suited perfect for the cake!

1. Incredients for a diaper cake: 80 pieces of diapers (Libero Baby Soft size 2), as many rubber bands as diapers, ribbon (appr. 1 meter per layer), gift ribbon, some decoration and stuffing (such as baby toiletries and other goodies). Use a big plastic plate as a solid bottom for the cake. Cellophane for gift wrapping the cake.



2. Roll the diapers one by one and put a rubber band around.



3. Roll all 80 diapers and wrap a rubber band around each one.

4. Choose a tall object (such as baby wash) as a center piece and start gathering diapers around it on top of the plastic plate for the bottom layer.

5. Fill the bottom layer with rolled diapers and tie then with a paper ribbon.

6. Add second, somewhat smaller layer of rolled diapers on top of the bottom layer. Use either a high center piece on a bottom layer or add another one (for example teddy bear) on top of the first one (baby wash). Add some toiletries on second layer (baby cream).

7. Bind the diapers with a paper ribbon and add gift ribbon on top of that to keep the diapers together.

8. Add third layer so that the center piece is hidden inside the diapers. Add ribbon around the layer and decorate with toiletries, toys, pacifier, chocolate etc.

9. Decorate, add cellophane wrapping and Voilá.