Archipelago Raid

Archipelago Raid is the largest and most extreme orienteering sailing competition in the world.

The race goes through one of the most beautiful places in the world called the Scandinavian Islands. This area consists of hundreds and thousands of islands, islets and rocks, giving a unique character and architecture to the landscape. The Swedish, Finnish and Åland archipelago varies a bit in its expression which gives a unique experience to the sailor and the visitor going across.

More info:
www.scandinavianislands.com
www.archipelagoraid.com

Snow sauna, Arctic Snow hotel

The Arctic Snow hotel in Lapland provides a snow sauna with its uniquely humid atmosphere. Outside the sauna you can dip into a large hot tub under the northern lights and sip a warm drink. Alternatively, you can work up your courage and take a quick snow bath. Whichever you choose, it is bound to make your blood rush!

Finnisharchitecture.fi info portal is open

Launched in September 2009, finnisharchitecture.fi is a virtual information centre aimed at anyone interested in Finnish architecture. It also promotes Finnish architecture as part of Finland's cultural export. Available in English, it caters to international audiences, including public bodies as well as interested individuals.

The portal brings together the various agents operating in Finnish architecture, guiding visitors to their respective websites. Topical news feature events of international interest such as current overseas projects by Finnish architects. Visitors can search through practicing architects and offices, as well as architects of interest.

The virtual information centre is maintained by the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Alvar Aalto Museum.

Helsinki Seafarers center

Helsinki Seafarers center is an organic-shaped, wooden building in the new Vuosaari Harbor, in the eastern part of Helsinki. The building can also be visited by other than just seafarers. It is open every day, mostly in the afternoons and evenings.

It contains a chapel, multi-purpose space, a small library, sitting room, a café/shop, a laundry and of course a sauna. Important also is an outdoor patio with possibility for barbecuing in the warm season.

The architecture is very different from the rest of the buildings and structures in the new harbor.

Read more: Article by Arkkivahti blog

Image by Jussi Tiainen.

Helsinki close-ups (Helsinki lähikuvia)

Helsinki - close-ups (Helsinki - lähikuvia by Sami Piskonen) is a book that presents Helsinki as a big art gallery. In addition to the tourist sights, the main role is played by glowing neon advertisements, elegant signs and beautiful details of buildings – everyday pieces of art that the passer-by easily overlooks. The book will open the reader’s eyes to see the streets and blocks of the Finnish capital in a new way.

Published by Minerva Kustannus.

CLUES TO HUMAN BEHAVIOR: Planet Fun Fun

CLUES TO HUMAN BEHAVIOR: Planet Fun Fun exhibition @ Kerava Art Museum, 9.9. - 25.10. 2009.

Petri Ala-Maunus, Terhi Heino, Tero Juuti, Heta Kuchka, Sami Lukkarinen, Maiju Salmenkivi, Eliisa Suominen, Minna Suoniemi, Aleksi Tolonen and Thomas Westphal are all part of a generation of artists for whom art is a field of playful curiosity.

Get your own Che Kerava T-shirt from Kerava Art museum shop!

Ovi lifecasting

With Ovi, you can now keep your Facebook friends up to date where you are and what you are doing in a new way.

Right from your Nokia N97, you can lifecast the street address you are at, and your friends can see your location on a map. You can also share a meaningful location from the nearby places of interest or your favourite place that you have saved on Ovi Maps. To show your friends what a great spot you are exploring, you can take a photo, and attach it to your Facebook post.

More info: Ovi Lifecasting

Hyötypyörä - bike courier service

Hyötypyörä is a tiny bike courier service in Helsinki, Finland.
More info: www.hyotypyora.fi

Try also other bike courier services in Helsinki area: BikeXpress, City Mail

Lifelike, Helsinki 78-82, Hannulelauri @ Redrum

Lifelike (FRA), Helsinki 78-82, Hannulelauri

Redrum, Helsinki
Fri 09.10.2009 22-04
Price 12 eur

Enjoy Sauna in a Gondola Lift

Enjoy the hot ride while others are skiing around you. The sauna gondola at Ylläs is the first one in the world.

More info:
Click here.

Pelago Bicycles

The idea for Pelago Bicycles has developed during the last 10 years.

In 2009 Pelago introduced their first bicycles and a shop in Vallila district, uptown Helsinki. Pelago aims to make bicycles that you can be as proud of – bikes that still ride in 2050 – bikes that serve the purpose.

Click here to take a closer look and get one for yourself.

New seaside districts in Helsinki

The transfer of the Sörnäinen and Länsisatama harbours to Vuosaari and shutting down the Laajasalo oil harbour are setting into motion the biggest process of change in Helsinki in over a 100 years. These massive changes reminds me of Hafencity project in Hamburg.


In Hanasaari there will be five terrace buildings.

Kalasatama district

Moving the harbour away from the city centre provides the opportunity to completely transform the shorelines along Sörnäinen and Hermanni, as old industrial buildings, warehouses and harbour operations make way for modern office buildings and residential areas. Kalasatama will be planned for 18 000 residents and 10 000 jobs.

More info: City Planning Department of Helsinki


Länsisatama (West Harbour) district

Within the next couple of decades, the Länsisatama area will have been transformed into a waterfront city quarter with an estimated population of 22 000, which will enhance the appeal of central Helsinki and its services as a whole.

More info: City Planning Department of Helsinki




Kruunuvuorenranta district

The area presently occupied by the Laajasalo oil harbour will be free of the harbour operations by 2010. A new seaside housing district will be built on the site of the present oil harbour and the adjoining land. Kruunuvuorenranta will be planned for 10 000 residents.

More info:
The future neighbourhood of Kruunuvuorenranta (Exhibition)
18.6.-15.8.2009
Laituri

City Planning Department of Helsinki

Rytmikaravaanari - electronic music festival

Rytmikaravaanari (Rhythm Caravan) is an one day electronic music festival. The festival is part of "Summer in Alppipuisto" - a series of open-air events taking place in Alppipuisto-park in Helsinki.

Rhythm Caravan festival presents special foreign and Finnish electronic music acts in three distinct settings: the park, terrace, and club. The event includes big names such as Legowelt from the Netherlands and, for the first time in Finland, the joint project of German AGF and Finnish Vladislav Delay called AGF / Delay along with the local rising indie-electro wonder Villa Nah. In addition, the festival will feature a bunch of fresh and promising Finnish electronic music acts.

Friday 31.7.2009
17:00 - 21:00
Alppipuisto park
Free entrance.

Sarana LIVE
Smackos Astro Unicorn Set LIVE (NL)
Villa Nah LIVE
AGF / Delay LIVE (GER / FIN)

22:00 - 04:00
Kuudes linja club
Entrance fee: 10eur.

Yavi
Snoxn
KinoSport (USA)
Uusitalo LIVE (FIN / GER)
Legowelt LIVE + dj (NL)

Kinokompo vol. 1 and 2 DVD's - compilations of Finnish short films

Tampere Film Festival has cooperated with Suomen elokuvakontakti organisation in putting together the first compilations of Finnish short films, called KinoKompo vol.1 and vol.2. The DVD's include animations, experimental films and fiction ranging from 2006 to 2009. More information about the DVD's can be found at www.elokuvakontakti.fi.

In Helsinki at least Korjaamo shop sells the DVD's (Vol.2 contains English subtitles).

Nip, snack and more

Something new?

Nip and snack: Siltanen
Lunch: Dong Bei Hu (Tuomas Vimma: "Best chinese in town")
Dinner: Restaurant Luomo (Vironkatu 8) - Try classic Gin Tonic made out of Organic Gin

Eat&Joy Farmer's Market Food

The Eat&Joy Farmer's Market sets the focus on local, top quality ingredients and organic food. They offer an extensive list of products:
kyytto-forest cow, poro (wild reindeer), grain pork meat, lake Inari, Saimaa fish and roe, smoked specialties, organic and wild vegetables and herbs, indigenous root vegetables, berry jams, mushrooms, small producer’s specialty cheese, churned organic butter, small brewery cider and special beer, organic whole grain and rye bread, organic flour, including great examples of organic ice cream and artisan chocolates.

More info:
Lasipalatsi, Mannerheimintie 22-24, Helsinki

Best of Finland - breakfast

Klaus K's the best of Finland - breakfast consists of many delicacies which are prepared using the best products of Finnish nature. Breakfast includes game, fish, berries and other, preferably organic products supplied by regional small producers. The bread and pastry selection is prepared by their own baker.

View the menu here.

The breakfast is served Monday to Friday 6.30-10 and 7.30-11.30 during the weekends.

More info:
www.ravintolailmatar.fi
Bulevardi 2 / 4, Helsinki.

Monte Rosso Soundtrack CD + DVD is out now

Monte Rosso is a short movie from the creators of the cult series Madventures. It captures the language and lifestyle of a whole generation living in the boroughs of Helsinki.

DVD release also includes a soundtrack mixtape-CD featuring 25 tracks inspired by the movie. The CD is mixed by DJ Street Kobra & Croko-Roc.

Monte Rosso Soundtrack CD mixed by DJ Street Kobra & Kroko-Roc
01. Uusi Fantasia: Mänin teema osa 1.
02. Hector & Oscar: Savu
03. Jimi Tenor & Kabu Kabu: Magical World
04. Didier's Sound System: Impuls
05. Uusi Fantasia: Mänin teema osa 2.
06. Cascade: Sinun vain
07. Cameo: Kun laiva lähtee
08. Inga Sulin: Hassu homma
09. Kompostikopla: Syvälle
10. Tomi & Sirkka Muhonen: Väyrysen mantra
11. Paroni Paakkunainen: Mango
12. Kaukolampi & CO: Takaa-ajettu mies
13. Petri & Pettersson Brass: Tiidattattaada
14. Katri Helena: Vihreä ruoho
15. Mukajazz: Pedro goes bananas
16. Pepe & Paradise: Kapteeni Koukku
17. Uusi Fantasia: Takaisin-edit
18. Anki: Niin aikaisin
19. Joose Keskitalo: Asematunnelissa
20. Uusi Fantasia: Faija-edit
21. Uusi Fantasia: Nasty Raydio-edit
22. Ka So Re: Standing Still
23. Kap Kap: Full Mooner
24. Jarkka Rissanen & Sons of the Desert: Hip
25. Davo: Niinku täälpäin sanotaan

Better place

Something has finally started to happen in the field of global car industry. Massive fuel wasters are facing huge problems and even in Finland we are finally getting real alternative options.

New Refuel (link in Finnish only) ethanol biofuel cuts transport-related fossil CO2 emissions by up to 80%. New flexifuel cars are required, but to ease the usage those are able to run with normal gasoline or with biofuel. According to St1 their biofuel is ecologically and environmentally sustainable, because as they claim: "Food is for eating and that´s why they make biofuel from waste".

Very interesting new global concept is Better Place (see video above). Better Place is a company that aims to reduce global dependency on petroleum through the creation of a market-based transportation infrastructure that supports electric vehicles, providing consumers with a cleaner, sustainable, personal transportation alternative.

Check out also the small local open source Electric Vehicle community project here in Finland: eCorolla project.

Kitch - new eco bar and cafe

Although the Kitch bar and cafe is a new place most of it's decoration and stuff is recycled. For instance Helsinki-based Costo has made the lamps out of the old bicycle hoops and recycled advertising materials. Electricity of the bar is pure wind power and the usage of the electricity is minimized. Fair trade and organic ingredients are priorized, when the menu is planned, etc. etc.

Way to go Kitch!

More info:
Kitch Bar & Café
Yrjönkatu 30, Helsinki
www.kitch.fi

Funky Elephant 28.5.–30.5.2009 at Tavastia

There are probably countless reasons to why Afro-American funk and its derivatives are so popular in the Helsinki nightlife. The least of these is not the Funky Elephant festival, which will take place for the fifteenth time this year.

More info:
www.funk.fi
We Are magazine.

Ant Gallery

Ant Gallery presents: Out of office (permanently), photographs. 1.-22.5.2009.

More info:
www.antgallery.net
Museokatu 25, Helsinki.

"Villas and Saunas in Finland" by Harri Hautajärvi

Harri Hautajärvi's book "Villas and Saunas in Finland" presents villas and saunas from the marine archipelago via lake district to the fells of the north – a total of 44 individually-designed buildings that represent the best of recent Finnish summer home and sauna architecture. Harri Hautajärvi, former editor in chief of the Finnish Architectural Review, has selected the sites. They all differ from each other in interesting ways, ranging from simple log cabins to spacious villas. Each site is presented in detail through photographs and texts by the architects themselves.

(image: Venturo by architect Matti Suuronen)

Madventures III - Behind the scenes

Finnish Madventures is on a quest to explore the most insane and strange destinations in the entire world!
Check out the behind the scenes clips available on Madventures YouTube channel.

DALINDÈO: "VINTAGE VOYAGE" EP out in May

Dalindèo is gearing up for their second album which will be released later this year.

Dalindèo "VINTAGE VOYAGE" EP release gig at Kuudes Linja in Helsinki 16.5.

Listen the tracks "Vintage voyage" and "Willpower" at the Dalindèo Myspace.

Basket case (Täynnä tarmoa)

A tragicomic documentary of a small-town (Porvoo) basketball-team that all of a sudden doubles their budget and hires a manager and a coach that know each other too well.

More info:
YouTube channel (more teasers)

Trickle-down theory, Korjaamo Gallery, 18.4.-10.5. 2009.

Desert Planet: "Face invaders"

Trickle-down theory is a right-wing political term that refers to the policy of providing tax cuts to rich individuals in the belief that this will eventually benefit the larger population. The exhibition deals with the crash fall of capitalism and its theories, through the combined effect of works of almost 100 individual artists.

18.4.-10.5. 2009
Korjaamo Gallery, Korjaamo Hall
Open daily from 11 am until 5 pm.
Free entry.

More info:
www.korjaamo.fi

South Park: We Gotta Get Rid of Finland

Season 13: Pinewood Derby.
Stan reflects on his victory. Meanwhile, the world leaders are concerned Finland's going to squeal.


More info: www.southparkstudios.com

Villa Nah: VN EP

Villa Nah, a duo of Juho Paalosmaa and Tomi Hyyppä, makes pure electronic pop with plenty of emphasis on catchy melodies and meticulously crafted soundscapes reminiscent of the 1980’s.

Stylewise, Villa Nah is related to 80’s bands like Heaven 17 or New Order, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Once you’ve heard their debut single, you’ll know that Villa Nah is about nothing else but their own style and sound.

Villa Nah is not merely a production duo but an actual band with a live show that is not to be missed. Next live show: on 24th of April 2009 @ Mbar, Lasipalatsi, Helsinki.

All songs are co-produced by Jori Hulkkonen.

More info: www.sahkorecordings.com

The first batch of Flow09 artists released

Flow Festival, organised in Helsinki’s Suvilahti as part of the Helsinki Festival August 14-16, brings together a vast variety of top-notch artists in urban music, both domestic and international.

The program will again be a versatile mixture - or a "soup" - consisting of some of the most intriguing music around right now. In addition to the interesting pop, indie and electronic acts, the festival will offer a variety of fresh world music. As something totally new, Flow09 will offer Makasiini - a space dedicated to experimental music and arts.

Especially the program on Friday and Saturday will still get both international and domestic heavy weights added to the lineup. The Kraftwerk concert with the warmup acts is already finalized. Sunday program is also almost complete, but will get a few finishing touches later on in the spring. The next program update release will take place in May.

You can find info on all of the artists at the program section of the Flow Festival site.

Pixelache09: Festival of electronic art and subcultures

With the 8th edition of Pixelache Helsinki, the festival is returning back to its roots. Instead of focusing on one main theme, they’ve allowed the programme to develop gradually around a selection of diverse topics. This reflects the nature of the festival: it’s built from bottom-up, with the voluntary efforts of the Pixelache community.

They are expecting around 100 international guests to join this annual gathering of artists, designers, engineers, researchers, architects, hackers and activists.

Pixelache09
Festival of electronic art and subcultures
Helsinki, Finland
2-5 April

More info:
http://2009.pixelache.ac/

Manifesto of the Free World: 26.3.–4.5.2009 @ Amos Anderson

Jani's and Riiko's Free World
26.3.–4.5.2009 @ Amos Anderson

Manifesto of the Free World

The world of free market economy is a Free World. Nations without a capitalist economic system are not free and are thus enemies of free nations. It is the responsibility of all free nations to spread freedom by any means necessary. The people of the world have a right to live in a Free World and benefit from the free market economy and the happiness and wealth that Capitalism provides.

Exhibition info:
http://www.amosanderson.fi

Fisker Karma

Fisker Automotive debuted in Europe three weeks ago the world’s first luxury plug-in hybrid vehicles during the Geneva Motor Show. The 2L/100km Fisker Karma saloon will start at 78780EUR, excluding VAT, and be available through a network of 40 retailers across Europe beginning early 2010.

The Fisker Karma proves environmentally friendly cars do not have to sacrifice performance, style or function. New technology, materials and applications can be found throughout the car’s purposeful interior. For example, the Karma will be the first car to feature a haptic touch-screen interface and offer an animal-free interior.

The Karma is an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV). It can reach 100km/h (62mph) in about six seconds and achieve a top speed of 201km/h (125mph), yet has the potential to use as little as 40 liters (10 gal) of petrol per year.

Fisker Karma vehicles will be manufactured in Finland. Valmet Automotive will be the engineering and manufacturing supplier for Fisker Automotive. Valmet Automotive is a provider of automotive engineering and manufacturing services of premium cars. Today Valmet Automotive manufactures Porsche Boxster and Porsche Cayman for Porsche AG.

Amer Sports: Eco products

Amer Sports, the world’s leading sports equipment company, has created innovative eco products:

Atomic‘s Renu is the world‘s first regenerative ski boot. Made from biopolymers, cotton and bamboo fibre, it reduces the product‘s ecological footprint while still delivering the same performance as a conventional ski boot. The entire boot comprises of 80% renewable raw materials which can be recycled. The Renu is able to achieve all of its environmental goals without compromising on either comfort or performance, and it is also 13% lighter than comparable ski boots.

The Wilson Staff Eco-Carry Bag is the first golf bag on the market made from 100% recycled polyester fabric. The eco-friendly lightweight carry bag utilizes GreenPlus® fabric, which reduces the release of carbon dioxide by 70% as compared to normal polyester production. One Wilson Staff Eco-Carry golf bag is made from the equivalent of 12 plastic gallon bottles.

The Salomon SickStick snowboard, winner of the 2008 Volvo SportsDesign Eco-design award, is another example of matching environmental goals with product performance. The SickStick was awarded for its new patented bamboo sandwich construction process, driven by the goal to improve the performance of Salomon products while significantly reducing the ecological impacts of snowboard production. The SickStick contains fast growing, CO2-absorbing bamboo – an ultra renewable material. In each board, 400 grams of bamboo replace 300 grams of plastic, 100 grams of resin and 200 grams of fiberglass. The SickStick comes in a cotton-bamboo knit bag instead of a PVC sleeve, while the hangtags are printed on recycled paper instead of coated stickers.

Amer Sports was found in 1950 in Finland. It has been listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd since 1977.

More info: www.amersports.com

Kraftwerk @ Suvilahti, Helsinki Aug13th 2009

The most influential group in electronic music to date, Kraftwerk, is set to perform in Helsinki’s Suvilahti on Thursday August 13. The event, co-produced by Flow Festival and Live Nation, takes place at the Flow Festival Main Stage on the night prior to the kick-off of the festival’s 2009 edition.

Kraftwerk’s live incarnation includes founding member Ralf Hütter alongside Henning Schmitz and Fritz Hilpert, both with already several decades of live experience with the group, and Kraftwerk’s video engineer Stefan Pfaffe. The iconic on-stage visuals play a key role in the band’s constant policy of minimalism also evident in their celebrated album artwork. Kraftwerk’s (German for "powerplant") live milieu could hardly be more fitting than that of the Helsinki gig in August: the historic Suvilahti power plant area celebrates the first full century of its existence this year.

The event on August 13 also marks the debut of the new and improved Main Stage area at Flow Festival. The sixth edition of Flow, organised as part of the Helsinki Festival, is held in Suvilahti on August 14-16.

A Journey Into Grindhouse: 27.2.2009 @ Orion

The Film Society of Helsinki University arranges the "American independent" seminar in co-operation with the Finnish Film Archive.

Check out the lecture by Jack Stevenson: "A Journey into Grindhouse".
After the lecture the movie Wild Harvest (Kuumaa kiihkoa, Jerry A. Baerwitz, 1962) is shown.

Orion (Finnish Film Archieve)
27.2.2009 @ 1430 hours:
A Journey Into Grindhouse (free entrance)
Jerry A. Baerwitz: Wild Harvest (5 euros)

Tour skating on natural ice

Skating on natural's ice is a "traditional" way to move on the top of Finnish frozen lakes. Now the 30km route in Rantasalmi is open, rental services available in Holiday Resort Järvisydän.

The most hardcore freaks will try the Ice Marathon in Kuopio.

More info:
http://www.iceway.fi/
http://icemarathon.kuls.fi/
http://www.jarvisydan.com/

How to Brand Nations, Cities and Destinations

Two Finnish place branding specialists have written a planning book for place branding.

"Usually, a country brand is not focused, resulting in unsuccessful place branding. It is possible to successfully raise your national identity to the level of an attractive brand. Building a country brand is an investment, with strong positive returns. This book will guide you along the path to building a successful brand."

More info:
How to Brand Nations, Cities and Destinations
A Planning Book for Place Branding

Jazz Heat Bongo Beat w/ Mulatu Astatke @ Kulttuuritalo, Helsinki, 4.4.2009

Flow Festival is ganging up with Ricky-Tick Records to produce a unique event entitled Jazz Heat Bongo Beat at Helsinki’s Kulttuuritalo ("Culture House"). The all-nighter at the historic venue will feature an astonishing headlining live act in the Ethiopian jazz legend Mulatu Astatke, touring Europe with UK’s The Heliocentrics, hot on the heels of their new collaboration album "Inspiration/Information".

Jazz Heat Bongo Beat, marking the fifth anniversary of Ricky-Tick Records, will also feature live performances by Finnish greats The Five Corners Quintet, Dalindèo and Auteur Jazz, each of which are also part of the label’s roster. The club space, taking residence in the lobby of the building, will be headlined by DJ Nicola Conte from Italy. The event will kick off at 7 pm and go on until 2 am.

More info: www.flowfestival.com/en/

Fruugo - secretive social e-commerce startup

Fruugo is a new shopping service that will be launched later on this year.

At Fruugo, they would like to bring retailers and consumers throughout Europe together for a new kind of shopping experience, one where consumers find a better way to shop and retailers find better ways to grow their business.

They want to make it easy for consumers to buy the stuff they want, in their own language and using the payment method they prefer – without the hassle of exchange rates, complex shipping costs, taxes, or staying up all night worrying "am I actually going to get my stuff?". They want to help with all that.

Latest rumours: Fruugo @ Crunchbase.com

Crayon Physics Deluxe

Crayon Physics Deluxe is a 2D physics puzzle / sandbox game, in which you get to experience what it would be like if your drawings would be magically transformed into real physical objects. Solve puzzles with your artistic vision and creative use of physics.

The game won the Grandprize in Independent Games Festival 2008.

So simple, but addictive!