This Weekend!

December 17th, 18th and 19th

The Winer Solstice is next Wednesday (Dec. 22nd). This the year's shortest/darkest day... but I think we can find some things going on in the city that might lighten the weekend for you!

• They are celebrating the Winter Solstice in true pagan style at Skansen this weekend with "ice & fire" show. It will take place on the Solliden stage at 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Take advantage and visit their Christmas market... it is the last weekend they will be having it!
• If you are a dog person then I have the perfect event for you... the Swedish Kennel Club has their FCI International dog show this weekend. It will be taking place at the International Fairgrounds in Älvsjö. Thousands of dogs on show and competing.
• Advent Calendars are very popular in Sweden. Decorative pictures with little windows which you open once a day revealing an image or a poem. The Old Town (Gamla Stan) is having a living Advent Calendar this year. Everyday a window opens at a different adress in the Old Town to reval a choir, a singer, musicians or other artists. The windows open at 6:15pm, except on Christmas Eve when it opens at 11:30am. Their website is in Swedish, but there you will find a map showing the different addresses and dates.
• The Maxim Theater is putting on a performance of Dicken's A Christmas Carol. Performances start on December 20th and run through January 8th (no show on the 24th, 25th and Jan 1st). It is a British cast, so the show is in English! If you are staying at the Rival Hotel then, contact me and I can help you with tickets.

The weather this weekend? Lots of snow, with temperatures between 0 and -5 degrees Celsius. Colder air expected on Sunday evening. Good news... it is pretty much official now: Stockholm will be having a white Christmas this year! (Both pictures here were taken outside of the hotel this morning)

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This Weekend!

December 10th, 11th and 12th

"Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, in the lane, snow is glistening. A beautiful sight,we're happy tonight.Walking in a winter wonderland..."

• As I mentioned earlier this week (scroll down to previous blog entry), tonight (Friday) is the Nobel Prize Awards ceremony and dinner. Nothing much for visitors to see... but be aware of possible traffic problems in the downtown area around the different venues.

•  St Lucia Day is next Monday, but you can experience the tradition already this weekend at Skansen. There will be a Lucia concert in the Seglora church at 1 and 3pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Combine the concert with a visit to their Christmas market which is open both days from 10am to 4pm.  
• And speaking of Christmas markets, two very special markets are opening this weekend. The Beckmans School of Design is having their annual, and very popular, Christmas market. The perfect place to buy a one of a kind designed present or ornament. Open between 11am and 5 pm both Saturday & Sunday, it is located in Östermalm. The second special market is for you history buffs... The History Museum is having their Viking Christmas Market this weekend with music, archery, and historical handicrafts, Between 11am and 5pm (closes at 4pm on Sunday). 
• The photography museum, Fotografiska, has a new exhibition by the photographer Christopher Makos. It is a unique series of photos showing Andy Warhol as his alter-ego Lady Warhol. It is a world premiere for this exhibition which runs through to March 20th. And tonight (Friday) at 6pm, Christopher Makos will be at the museum signing his book "Lady Warhol".
  
  

For Wildlife Lovers... while walking the waterfront in the Old Town or taking the ferry to Djurgården this weekend, keep your eyes open! A grey seal has been spotted several times this week swimming near the palace. It is not that common of an event, but biologists say that this will become more and more common as the seal population in the Baltic Sea grows. They are shy creatures, but you might be lucky to see a seal bobbing in the waters around Stockholm.

The weather this weekend? Between -2 and -10 degres Celsius. Overcast with chance of snow flurries!

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AN christmas, Museums, weekend

This Weekend!

December 3rd, 4th & 5th

Winter has a tight grip on northwest Europe. This has caused quite a lot of travel disruptions... we hope that your travel plans aren't affected! Stockholm has become a winter wonderland with lots of activities going on.

• I have written earlier about all of the Christmas markets in the city. This weekend there is a special market open at Drottningholm Palace. It is a little bit outside of the city, but worth the trip. A popular market... here you will find all sorts of traditional handicaft, hand made holiday decorations as well as delectable treats. While you are there, see the palace as well. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List! The easiest way to get there from the hotel, besides driving, is to take the subway to Brommaplan (green line) and from there take bus #301-323, or 177 & 178 to Drottningholm. More info!
• The Architecture Museum is having their 20th annual gingerbread house exhibition. It is running from December 1st to January 9th... but the competition is only until December 10th, and the public gets to vote! This year's theme is "I'm home now" and there are three categories: Professional architects & bakers, amateurs and children up to 12. The winners will be announced on December 12th. The museum is open 10am to 6pm all weekend and can be combined with the Modern Art Museum that is just next door.
• After 5 years in Malmö, Leksaksland (a museum dedicated to toys) is returning to Stockholm... with the premiere this weekend. Perfect for children or parents experiencing nostalgia, it is located in the downtown area so it is easy to pop in and take a break from holiday shopping.

And now for something happening on Monday, December 6th: Hammarby Ski Slope is opening for the season! Thanks to the cold weather and early snow, the slope is opening earlier than usual. It is a small slope but offers an unique experience... from the top of the mountain you can see out over Stockholm! It is located just to the south of the Södermalm neighborhood. During the first week they will be open in the evenings (5pm to 10pm) on the weekdays and 9am to 6pm on the weekends. They do rent ski equipment there. Contact me at the hotel for more information.

The weather this weekend? A little colder on Friday & Saturday (between -5 and -10 degrees Celsius) with it warming up on Sunday to about -3. Cloudy with some snowfall.

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This Weekend!

Photo by Henrik Trygg- Stockholm Visitors Bureau

November 26th, 27th & 28th

Ooooh... lots going on this weekend! Horses, Santa, Freddy Kreuger and a gingerbread man or two. This weekend we celebrate första advent, the first of the four Advent Sundays before Christmas.

• The Stockholm International Horse Show is going on all three days at the Globe Arena located in southern Stockholm. This is the largest indoor equestrian event in the world. Plenty to see here... shows and competitions in dressage, jumping and hand driving. There will even be a royal in attendance as well as ponies and camels.
• Head down to the Stockholm Central train station to see the Gingerbread Factory... made out of approximately 1,000 kilograms of gingerbread. Take a chance to decorate and do some tasting! Santa will be there to supervise. Friday through Sunday, 10am to 6pm... entrance is free!
• Two conventions going on at the Stockholm International Fairgrounds in Älvsjö. We have both the Photography Convention with exhibitions, seminars and shopping. Then there is the Scandinavian Sci-Fi and Film Convention... plenty of sci-fi stars here and your chance to see Robert Englund (Freddy Kreuger)!
• A lot of Christmas Markets are starting this weekend including the ones at Skansen, the Royal Stables, Konstfack and in Kungsträdgården. For more detailed information, scroll down or click here!
• On Sunday, at 3pm, Stockholm's Christmas Tree will be lit. It is located on Skeppsbron waterfront in the Old Town (Gamla Stan). You can't miss it... it's huge! You can purchase some mulled wine (glögg) and snacks, listen to a children's choir and watch them light the tree.
• Lots in interesting exhibitions in museums and galleries this fall/winter. Click here (scroll down) and here for more information.

The weather this weekend? Bundle up! We have plenty of snow on the ground and they are predicting cloudy weather and teperatures down to -10 degrees Celsius.

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This Weekend!

Photo by: Nicho Södling

November 19th, 20th & 21st

The holiday season is approaching fast... adding a little color to the events this weekend.

• If all things cinematic is your thing, then Stockholm is the place to be this weekend! The Stockholm International Film Festival is in full swing with movies being shown in theaters all over the city. Check their website here or ask me at the hotel for more information of films and events.
• The first Christmas Market of the season opens on Saturday. Get a jump start on your Christmas shopping or just enjoy a glass of glögg (Swedish mulled wine) as you walk through the stalls. It will be open daily between 11am and 6pm until December 23rd. This market is located in the main square in the Old Town (Stortorget in Gamla Stan). 
• On Saturday we have the fifth annual Stadium Winter Jam taking place at Stockholm Stadion (old Olympic stadium). There is both a skiing and snowboarding competition as well as a winter fair and it all takes place between 11am and 5pm. Best of all... no entrance charge!
• On Sunday it is the traditional beginning of Christmas with Skyltsöndag when stores begin their holiday window decorations, and nothing says Christmas more to a Stockholmer than the window decorations in the NK department store. The big reveal will at 11:50am and the theme this year will reflect the fact that we live in a multicultural era. Right across the street you have the Kungsträdgården park where there will be Christmas caroling at 2pm on the center stage, marking the end of the Christmas parade. Why not take in a little ice skating while you wait?

The weather this weekend? They are predicting temperatures around zero with rain or snow.

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AN christmas, movies, sport, weekend

This Weekend!

Photo by: Nicho Södling

 November 12th, 13th & 14th

This is kind of an odd weekend... inbetween Halloween (All Saints) and next weekend when the Christmas season kicks off. There are still some interesting things going on though!

• There are three large international fairs going on this weekend that are very popular. You have the Scandinavian Boat Show, the largest most exclusive boat fair in Scandinavia, going on from the 10th to the 14th. The Stockholm Food & Beverage Fair (Det Goda Köket), concentrating on food and wine, is going on from the 12th to the 14th, the same days as the Health, Wellness & Fitness Fair (which is probably a good place to visit after tasting wines at the food & beverage fair). All three fairs are taking place at the Stockholm International Fairgrounds just south of Stockholm in Älvsjö. Very easy to get to from the hotel... a few blocks from the hotel you have the Stockholm South commuter train station. From there it is two stations south (Älvsjö). 
• Fotografiska, the photography museum, has just unveiled their newest exhibition featuring portraits and short films by the director Gus Van Sant called One Step Big Shot. This showing is in collaboration with the Stockholm Film Festival, which will be awarding Van Sant their Visionary Award next week. 

Click here for other museum tips!

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AN Fotografiska, Museums, weekend

This Weekend!

Photo: Alexander Dokukin

November 5th, 6th & 7th

With All Saints Day (also known as All Hallows Day) being on Saturday, there are a lot of ghoulish things going on in the city this weekend.

• As I mentioned earlier, one of the main Swedish traditions for All Saints Day (Alla Helgons Dag) is to light a candle and/or lay a wreath at the graves of friends and family. It is quite a beautiful tradition and nowhere is it more spectacular than at the Woodland Cemetery (Skogskyrkogården). This cemetery is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and worth a visit anytime of the year.
• Etnografiska museet (the museum for world cultures) will be celebrating the Mexican version of All Saints Day... Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) with a special program, including dance and music, on both Saturday and Sunday (11am to 5pm).
• A little less ghoulish... Saturday is also Gustav Adolf's Day and the Royal Armoury (Livrustkammaren) at the castle is celebrating by offering free entrance to the museum. This is a very interesting museum containing objects belonging to the kings & queens of Sweden over the past 500 years including armour, clothes, uniforms, carriages and even royal sleighs. Located within the Royal Palace in the Old Town.

A lot of tragic events have happend in Stockholm's Old Town in the distant past (like the infamous Stockholm Bloodbath)... so keep your eyes open for ghosts and goblins roaming the lanes late at night this weekend!

The weather this weekend? Overcast and between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius.

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AN museum, weekend

This Weekend!

Photo by: Alexander Dokukin

October 29th, 30th & 31st

What to do, what to do... the possibilities are many! Here are some highlights:

• While Sweden doesn't really celebrate the Americanized Halloween, this holiday does have its roots in European folklore and this is traditionally the week of goblins, ghosts and witches. Head over to the outdoor cultural museum of Skansen to get a taste of the scary Swedish traditions surrounding this magical time of year. Happenings all week long (Oct 30th through Nov 7th).
• The first annual international Stockholm Burlesque Festival is taking place this weekend (Fri through Sun) at Berns Salonger. Lots going on here... photo exhibition, performances, shopping, DJ's, seminars, competitions, etc; Or just soak up the fabulous & decadent atmosphere. Prices from 290 SEK for a day pass up to 740 SEK for a 3 day pass.
• On Friday evening you have the chance to play video games on Scandinavia's largest outdoor digital screen... it is the premiere of the latest James Bond game: 007 Blood Game. Just head to Stureplan, it starts at 7:30pm and there is no charge!
• Plenty of great art and museum exhibitions going on in the city. Just click here and here for more information.

Don't forget: At 3am on Sunday morning (Oct 31st) Sweden switches to Winter Time, so the clocks will be wound back one hour!

The weather this weekend? Cloudy with temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius.

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AN weekend