FinnHits | Blog

Thank You for the Music: 20.1.2012 -17.6.2012

2011-12-23T23:48:00.004+02:00

Eduardo Balanza, The Record Is Not Over Yet, 2011.
Music speaks directly to our emotions. Hearing a song can take us back in time. We copy the dress of our idols, our mood changes with music. Thank You for the Music – How Music Moves Us is an exhibition on how the experiences of listening to music, watching music videos or going to a concert can appear in the life and work of an artist, a music lover, a fan.

The title of the exhibition is taken from a song by the Swedish band ABBA. Indeed, we have music to thank for the pieces in this exhibition.

More info:
Kiasma - Museum of contemporary art
www.kiasma.fi

Docpoint: 24.-29.1.2012

2011-12-23T23:38:00.002+02:00

The 11th DocPoint – Helsinki Documentary Film Festival takes place in the cinemas of Helsinki city centre between the 24th and the 29th of January 2012.
The complete programme will be released in the turn of the year.

More info:
www.docpoint.info

The Finnish Miracle by André Noël Chaker

2011-12-23T23:31:00.003+02:00

The Finnish Miracle is a book about Finnishness and success. The basic thesis is that there is a set of original national values and ways of doing things that have given Finland a competitive advantage in developing an enviable level of peace and sustainable prosperity. The book also introduces the Possibility Model, an inspiring roadmap towards greater personal and business success. An unforgettable journey into a cool string of Finnish success stories shall inspire and awaken the reader to new avenues.

"If you want to learn more about the Finnish miracle, this book is a must - a guaranteed good read."
Minister Alexander Stubb

More info:
Table of contents

Purchase the book

Kuvittajat - The Association of Finnish Illustrators

2011-11-04T22:45:00.005+02:00

Kuvittajat (The Association of Finnish Illustrators) consists of approximately 300 professional illustrators from Finland. Their portfolio bank is full of excellent illustrators; for example Ossi Hiekkala (image illutrated by Hiekkala). Try the search by style filter of the portfolio bank for finding unique illustrators.

M83 (FR) @ Tavastia

2011-11-04T22:20:00.001+02:00

Tavastia-klubi, Helsinki
Mon 27.02.2012
20:00-01:00
Sold Out

CSS (BRA) @ Tavastia

2011-11-04T22:04:00.005+02:00

Tavastia-klubi, Helsinki
Thu 17.11.2011
20:00-01:00
Tickets 26 eur

More info: CSS

Flow Festival - The Documentary

2011-10-18T20:27:00.002+03:00

A story of the Helsinki-based music and arts festival and its contributors. Select 'CC' from the video menu for subtitles in English. Read more about the project at www.nokia.fi/flow

Kalasatama Centre; EUR 1 billion project starts

2011-10-16T14:32:00.010+03:00

The City of Helsinki and SRV signed the contracts relating to the implementation of Kalasatama centre, and the construction works will start.

Kalasatama Centre consists of six residential towers as well as a hotel and an office tower. The towers will have 20 to 33 floors, the highest being 126 meters high. The towers will house 86,000 square meters of apartments for approximately 2,000 inhabitants and 14,000 square meters of offices as well as a hotel of 10,000 square meters. Itäväylä road and metro line will be covered with a green deck.

Guess you have seen the earlier plans for the same Kalasatama area?

Wood City - a unique wooden construction project in Finland

2011-10-16T14:05:00.005+03:00

Stora Enso plans to undertake a unique wooden construction project in Helsinki
called Wood City in collaboration with the construction company SRV.

The world-class project includes office, hotel and commercial buildings to be built of wood. The first buildings are expected to be completed in 2013 in Jätkäsaari area.

A high standard, internationally interesting and progressive plan for Wood City will be sought through an invitation-only design competition.

Wood City, the eight-storey high Bridport House in London, a shopping centre in Vienna and the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia are all real proof points of projects in which Stora Enso's building solutions have a key role, heralding the dawning of a new era of wood construction.

FinnSurf - documentary about a thing called Härmäsurf

2011-07-04T10:15:00.004+03:00

FinnSurf is the world’s first Finnish surf film. It’s a freezing, and at the same time warm documentary of surfboarding in Finland, and in some other places as well. A film about true love and a passion larger than life. Escaping boring life and not regretting later. Winning yours fears. Aiming for balance, peace of mind and harmony. Relaxedness and pleasure. World where the life is dream and dream is everyday life.

FinnSurf tells a story of five Finnish surfers. Everyone has their own point of view on surfing, Finland and surfing in Finland.

More info:
www.finnsurf.fi
Pablo Films

Out to Sea – 150 Years of Sailing in Helsinki

2011-06-29T22:03:00.005+03:00

The Helsinki City Museum exhibition titled "Out to Sea – 150 Years of Sailing in Helsinki" at the Hakasalmi Villa look at the maritime past of Helsinki from the perspective of yachting as a pastime. Besides boats, yacht clubs, sailors and boat races, the endangered underwater nature of the Baltic Sea is an important topic. The exhibition will also feature the origin of the Finnish blue cross flag, first used by a yacht club.

More info: Hakasalmi Villa, Mannerheimintie 13d

City Life - Views of Helsinki in the 1930s 1.6. - 4.9.2011

2011-06-29T21:52:00.004+03:00

Heikki Aho and Björn Soldan, sons of renowned Finnish writer Juhani Aho, founded Aho & Soldan in 1925. The 1930’s were a golden era for the company, as the two men established themselves as Finland’s most highly regarded documentary filmmakers. They went on to make their mark as photographers as members of the avant-garde ABISS group, whose first exhibition in 1930 represented a sea change in Finnish photography.

The photographs and documentaries in the exhibition at Virka Gallery focus on everyday life in Helsinki, in its many ordinary and extraordinary guises. The works are imbued with a sense of light-hearted optimism as Helsinki prepares for the Olympic Games and a construction boom is changing the face of the city.

More info: Virka Gallery

Monocle: Helsinki is number one in Quality of Life

2011-06-18T09:19:00.006+03:00

Helsinki claims the number 1 spot in Monocle’s 2011 Quality of Life survey, which ranks the top 25 cities in the world to call home. Rising from ﬁfth position in 2010, Helsinki outperformed Zürich at number 2 and Copenhagen at number 3 to claim the mantle as the world’s most liveable city. An unorthodox but well-deserving champion, the Finnish capital stands out for its fundamental courage to rethink its urban ambitions, and for possessing the talent, ideas and guts to pull it off.

More info: Check out Monocle's Helsinki video

Are you sweet or salty?

2011-06-11T11:15:00.014+03:00

To find out, you may want to try some of these:
Gaijin (Bulevardi 6, Helsinki)
Restaurant Lupolo (Punavuorenkatu 3, Helsinki)
Restaurant Muru (Fredrikinkatu 41, Helsinki)
Cafe Engel (Classic cafe reopened again after the renovation)
Chef&sommelier (They concentrate on organic food at Huvilakatu 28, Helsinki)
Restaurant Saaristo (The best view of Helsinki opens from the island of Klippan, open during the summer time only. Try the Slow Sunday brunch)
K17 Kitchen Cocktail (Kalevankatu 17, Helsinki)
Cafe Mattolaituri (Ehrenströmintie 3 A, Helsinki)
Paven (Island of Pentala, Espoo)

Check these out also.

Helsinki 78-82 - Cruising

2011-04-22T15:49:00.001+03:00

More info: Helsinki 78-82 (Myspace)

Let it flow

2011-04-16T14:01:00.003+03:00

Good upcoming gigs ahead in Helsinki...

May 15: Ladytron
May 31: Caribou
June 13: Crystal Castles
August 12-14: Flow festival 2011

Cloud City

2011-02-24T08:39:00.002+02:00

Helsinki is currently developing new sustainable methods for building the city. Primarily these projects aim at increasing density at the expense of urban sprawl. One question is how to make existing built areas denser, another where and how to build high risers. The Cloud City project is one possible answer.

More info:
www.cloudcity.fi

Food Liberation Army

2011-02-13T10:08:00.009+02:00

It all started by kidnapping the Ronald McDonald on 31st of Jan 2011. Hidden cameras of Food Liberation Army (FLA) reveal how Ronald was kidnapped in the middle of the day from McDonald´s restaurant.

One day later FLA announced they kidnapped Ronald McDonald! Their statement: why did we kidnap Ronald?

On Friday 11th of February 2011 FLA executes Ronald as McDonald's did not respond to FLA's demands and/or questions.

Later on Finnish artist Jani Leinonen holds the head of Ronald McDonald after its "execution" in a Helsinki art gallery Showroom Helsinki.

More info: www.freeronald.org
FLA exhibition @ Showroom Helsinki until 16th of April 2011.
Fox News Insider report

Helsinki's battle with the snow

2011-02-08T22:56:00.005+02:00

CNN's Richard Quest reports on how the city of Helsinki has won the battle to keep the city moving during heavy snowfall... Well, the battle is not over actually.

Finland's answer to Turner Prize: Ars Fennica Award

2011-01-06T20:46:00.010+02:00

(image copyright by Charles Sandison)

Charles Sandison won Finland's answer to Turner Prize in 2010: Ars Fennica award.

Have a look at his amazing portfolio. Now that's what I call art. WOW!

More info:
www.sandison.fi
www.bbc.co.uk

Cut Copy in Helsinki on Saturday 12.3.2011

2011-01-06T19:20:00.005+02:00

Founded in Melbourne in 2001, Cut Copy are one of today's most successful indie electro acts along with Hot Chip, Empire of the Sun and LCD Soundsystem. Cut Copy's debut album "Bright Like Neon Love" earned the band an ever increasing following already in 2004 but the trio's popularity skyrocketed upon the release of their sophomore album "In Ghost Colours" in 2008. It topped the Australian album charts and the band played sold out tours in the U.S. and Europe with Daft Punk, Bloc Party and Franz Ferdinand, to mention a few. Cut Copy are currently finishing off their third album "Zonoscope" due February 7.

Tickets 35 euro + possible service fee.

www.tiketti.fi

Interactive bar opens in Tokyo

2010-11-18T20:58:00.004+02:00

Do you remember MultiTouch screens?

The world’s largest hospitality multitouch display installation has been opened in Tokyo’s Graffiti Bar. Patrons can draw their own graffiti on the MultiTouch displays, and can browse drink and food menus, interact with their waiters, play games, and enjoy media content provided by the bar. Interactive special effects, including virtual champagne bubbles and lightning bolts, react to touch and objects placed on the tables. VIP cards placed on the MultiTouch displays will trigger exclusive VIP content.

More info:
MultiTouch.fi
tokyo-graffiti.com

Microtask loves the work you hate

2010-11-10T20:30:00.004+02:00

DO one assigned task on your computer. It shouldn’t take you more than two seconds. Repeat 14,399 times. Congratulations! Your eight-hour work day is complete.

No such workplace yet exists, but with the fiendishly clever creation of standardized two-second tasks, delivered to any computer connected to the Internet, it is now technically possible to set up.

Microtask, a start-up company in Finland, has come up with the software that delivers such tasks. The company offers to take on "dull, repetitive work" — like digitizing paper forms or business cards — for prospective clients. As it says in a video on its Web site, "Microtask loves the work you hate."

More info:
Read the full article from NY Times (October 30, 2010).

www.microtask.com

Opengreenmap.org: documenting the green world

2010-11-07T17:55:00.005+02:00

Green Living Sites. Nature. Social and Cultural Resources. You will find them all on the OpenGreenMap.org! I checked the status of my hometown Helsinki and there seems to 36 sites listed when posting this article. Many sites are missing like these ones:

Pyykkis - New ecological laundry service (Helsinginkatu 16)
Eat&Joy Farmer's market
Ecomarket Ruohonjuuri
Anton & Anton local food

Anyway, Open Green Maps are designed to be explored, customized and enhanced by anyone. Please share your insights, ratings and images or suggest, compare and share sites.

I try to suggest the ones listed above.

More info: Opengreenmap.org

Rat Nights (Rottenetter) - When we will see the premiere in Finland?

2010-10-17T11:12:00.011+03:00

Wondering why the entertaining norwegian movie Rat Nights (Rottenetter directed by Arild Østin Ommundsen) has not been premiered in Finland yet?

Rottenatter combines elements from the movies Wall street, American Psycho and Snabba cash. If you liked some of those movies you will probably like Rottenetter as well. Soundtrack of the movie is by Thomas Dybdahl and with that soundtrack he won the Best Norwegian soundtrack award (Amandapris) in 2009.

Alternate Reality Game (ARG) concept was the driving force for marketing the movie in Norway. Or what do you think about this campaign?

Rare Exports

2010-10-02T16:36:00.004+03:00

This Christmas everyone will believe in Santa Claus.

More info:
www.rareexportsmovie.com
www.facebook.com/RareExportsMovie

The Daily Ape show - facts about Finland

2010-08-31T11:02:00.004+03:00

The Daily Ape Show is an animated comedy series made for the World Expo 2010 Shanghai. Everything aped; the world, celebrities, news, politics, countries... Everybody and everything.

You can follow the series at:
www.dailyape.com
Daily Ape Youtube channel

Kill Arman in 104 countries worldwide

2010-08-30T13:54:00.003+03:00

Kill Arman –martial arts travel show has been sold to 104 countries. The reality television series follows the Iranian-born Finnish tailor Arman Alizad’s confrontations with masters of different martial arts. The tailor has four months to prepare himself for combating ten masters of different martial arts in ten different countries around the world.

Since last year the international distribution of the programme has been handled by Rabbit Films production company and the contract includes ten English language episodes of the series.

At the moment Kill Airman’s largest channels are BBC Africa and BBC Asia covering a total of over 70 countries.

More info:
www.killarman.com (only in Finnish at the moment)
Good News from Finland

Angry Birds are heading to Hollywood

2010-08-30T11:03:00.007+03:00

According to Variety the "Angry Birds" are flocking to Hollywood.

Rovio, the Finnish creator of the hit iPhone and iPad game, which has sold more than 6.5 million downloads, wants to turn the property into a major franchise that crosses over to other platforms - from TV shows and movies to toys and comicbooks.

The rest of "Angry Birds" stats are also impressive: The game, which sells for 99 cents in the U.S., and about $1.14 in other markets, hit the 6.5 million sales mark this month. A more limited free version has been downloaded 11 million times. An iPad version, for $4.99, has racked up 200,000 sales.

Game is launched on other platforms like Google's Android, Blackberry and Palm in the coming months. Rovio also intends to expand the game to handheld videogame systems like Nintendo's DS, Sony's PSP Go and consoles like the PlayStation 3.

More info:
www.angrybirds.com

Helsinki tiloja - spaces

2010-08-28T15:54:00.003+03:00

There are an enormous number of spaces in Helsinki that people normally do not see. Photographer Jussi Tiainen and architect Jussi Vepsäläinen have been travelling around downtown Helsinki taking a peep into some of these places. The list of lesser known but fascinating interioirs includes splendid works of architecture, industrial plants and qorkshops that service the City and its infrastructure. The subjects in the book extend from the highest points of the City down into the bowels of the earths; from the Cathedral clock-tower to undergroung pumping stations.

Helsinki tiloja - spaces book is published by Parvs Publishing.

Finska fotoklubben: Lust&Luxury 20.8 - 5.9 2010

2010-08-24T15:18:00.008+03:00

Lust&Luxury exhibition is inspired by "Pappa betalar" culture...

More info:
Galleri Sinne
Yrjönkatu 23
Helsinki

Nordic short films in Helsinki: 24.-27.8.

2010-08-23T11:46:00.004+03:00

Lyhytelokuvia kansalle! event screens the latest short films from Finland, Sweden and Norway. Movies are shown in bars, cafes and parks:

24.8. 0930pm Cafe Carusel (Merisatamanranta 10)
25.8. 0930pm Ravintola Nolla (Pohjoinen rautatiekatu 21)
26.8. 10pm Karhupuisto
27.8. 10pm Tervasaari (ampfitheater)

All films are subtitled in English.

Media Facades Festival Helsinki 2010

2010-08-20T15:34:00.005+03:00

Media Facades Festival will explore the networked possibilities of urban screens and media facades via internet and new technologies on a European level. The format of the Media Facades Festival reflects on the increasing presence of massive-infrastructures with digital visual elements in public spaces while investigating their communicative function in the urban environment.

Here are some of the projects in Helsinki area:

Giants of the Hoods is an interactive mobile guerrilla art influenced by street performance and urban VJ intervention. In the project, local residents will create visual characters present in their neighbourhood.

The Air Hunger project creates a large-scale interactive projection, where the breathing pattern of a participant generates a landscape for a virtual character to move.
People can participate in the projection by wearing a wireless breath rate-monitoring belt around their chest.

For the complete listing of the all projects in Helsinki click here.

More info:
www.m-cult.org
www.mediafacades.eu

OpenHouseHelsinki 2.-4.9.2010

2010-08-06T11:17:00.003+03:00

OpenHouseHelsinki event is here again...

The objective of the OpenHouseHelsinki event is to open the doors to both the inhabitants of Helsinki and visitors from elsewhere to places which are normally inaccessible. OpenHouseHelsinki organises guided tours to interesting interior spaces, city districts, inner courtyards, as well as new and old architectural sites.

Summer in the city

2010-08-05T11:22:00.008+03:00

(photo by taivasalla)

"No summer day in Helsinki is complete without a stop at its many outdoor cafés." says the Helsinki.fi article here. Here are some additions to that article. Enjoy!

Flying Dutch & Pikku Dami (Pitkäsillanranta, Helsinki)
"Little Amsterdam" terrace next to Flying Dutch restaurant boat shifts you to Netherlands. Hmm... Well, almost.

Sininen huvila cafe (Linnunlauluntie 11, Helsinki)
The picturesque Cafe Sininen Huvila, or "Blue Villa", offers an amazing view over the Töölönlahti bay.

Cafe Piritta (Eläintarhantie 12, Tokoinranta, Helsinki)
Sense the feeling of Tokoinranta around the year.

Kahvila Tyyni (Helsinginkatu 56, right next to restaurant Töölönranta. EDIT ON 11TH OF JUNE 2011: SEEMS TO BE CLOSED FOR 2011)
Cafe Tyyni is open till September. They provide outdoor movies every Wed, Thu and Sunday evening.

Discover the locations of the terraces via Google Maps.

Disc golfing in Finland

2010-07-05T15:56:00.006+03:00

There are over 10 000 disc golfers and over 150 disc golf courses in Finland. Both figures are still rising annually.

Finnish Westside Golf Discs is the third company ever to produce frisbee golf discs in Europe. Westside's products have unique hotstamps from Finland's national epic Kalevala from the north European iron age.

Do you know a disc golf course in Finland which is not listed in here?
Please, let them know.

More info:
www.pdga.com

Team ERA - Electric raceabout

2010-06-14T16:16:00.005+03:00

Finnish contender compete in the X PRIZE competition for super efficient cars. Besides fame and the respect of other competitors, the winner will take home USD 10m.

Arcticstartup.com reported about the ERA (Electric Raceabout), a Finnish contender in the X PRIZE: "I just heard that the ERA team finished the second shakedown week in Michigan - in which the different cars needed to pass on-the-ground challenges - and they did it in style: The team passed all mandatory and optional tests with the first try, and were the only team to do so!".

Read more: www.raceabout.fi/era/

Finnish Wooden Boat Center

2010-06-11T17:19:00.007+03:00

The Finnish Wooden Boat Center is an integrated 1.5 hectare area in Kotka’s Cultural Harbor, near the Maritime Centre Vellamo. The Boat Center’s appearance is dominated by the copper, arch-shaped roof of the boatyard (designed by architects Lahdelma & Mahlamäki). However, the Center also has a lot more to offer.

What makes the new building unique even on international terms is the fact that it was purpose-built for a wooden boat yard. Modern technology ensures temperature and humidity control as well as sawdust and dust removal. Another unique feature is the idea of a boatyard that is open for the public at no cost. The workshop is encircled by a Visitors’ Bridge at the second floor level, where the public can watch the boatwrights at work and observe the fascinating progress of boat-building. At the moment, the boatyard’s most notable attraction is the 21-meter-long classic wooden racing yacht Blue Marlin.

Don't miss the Wooden boat marina either. There you might see "Smuggler's boat (Pirtuvene)" and other rarities.

Kupe bicycles

2010-06-10T08:42:00.007+03:00

Kupe is a new Finnish Bicycle brand est. 2010.

On their website they say: "We wish to give our customers good feeling and and nostalgic driving experience. We want our bike to stand out from mass- production bicycles with its delicate Finnish design and craftsmanship. You will find its specially designed, extra rigid frame and superb balance to match your driving needs whether you drive in a city or on the country roads... All frames, carriers and chainguards are handmade in Finland."

Kupe is manufactured by Eskolan konepaja and price is starting from 670 euros.

Another good news: Manufacture of the Finnish Jopo bicycles will be transferred back to Finland from Taiwan. Earlier only a fraction of the Jopo's were really made in Finland.

Do you remember Pelago bicycles?

Come to Finland

2010-06-05T10:50:00.003+03:00

Come to Finland is all about Finnish travel posters and travel history.

It all started with an idea, ten years ago, outside an Antiquarian Book-shop in Helsinki. Today it is a succesful cultural and commercial project.

More info: www.cometofinland.fi

Music video directors - ready, steady, go!

2010-05-27T11:47:00.009+03:00

Miikka Lommi - Finnish wonder, indie music video director and so on presents:
Pepe Deluxe - Pussycat rock
Kississings - Anything U want
Husky Rescue - City lights

Here you may check out more of his music videos:
www.vimeo.com/miikkalommi/videos

And here you may see some ads directed by Lommi and his mates from FilmMagica:
www.youtube.com/user/FilmMagica

Great stuff!

Viral campaign: Hectorcam

2010-05-27T10:29:00.006+03:00

WOW! Very nice viral campaign from Samsung:

...Hector lives in a warehouse.

His job is to dance and receive your sms and check if you are entitled to win some cooliest things by Samsung...

Check it out: SAMSUNG.FI/HECTOR

SMS messages probably work with Finnish SIM cards only, but I tested it and it gives an unique SMS code to each viewer and Hector reacts to your SMS. Good job!!

Metamorphosis of the Menu

2010-05-06T09:57:00.002+03:00

Curiosities among menus in the collections of the Hotel and Restaurant Museum
23.2.2010-10.10.2010

The menu collection of the Hotel and Restaurant Museum contains tens of thousands of menu cards from the 1860s until today. In the table setting, the menu card forms a part of the entertainment at formal lunches and dinners. The menu content, i.e. the food items, drinks, their serving order, and the appearance of the menu, are an indication of the nature of the event.

The menu is often a unique production designed for one event only. It may be a card, but it may also be an object. The Metamorphosis of the Menu exhibition presents curiosities from the menu collection, from a deodorant bottle to a reindeer hide, from a high-heeled shoe to a wallet.

Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 11-18
Venue: Cable Factory, Tallberginkatu 1 G, Helsinki
www: Metamorphosis of the Menu

Pori Jazz 2010

2010-05-05T18:16:00.006+03:00

On the stage are seen for example Massive Attack, N.E.R.D and Gotan Project.

More info: porijazz.fi

Flow Festival 2010 program released

2010-05-05T17:48:00.002+03:00

The Flow Festival weekend program will include M.I.A., the French duo Air planning an audiovisual spectacle at Flow, the Icelandic vocalist Jónsi also known from Sigur Rós, and the British indie sensation The xx, which ranks among the most requested acts for this year’s festival.

The British indie pop newcomer Marina And The Diamonds, the highly-regarded producer Four Tet, and the Swedish indie favorite The Radio Dept, each come to Flow hot on the heels of their new albums. As a very special additions to the Flow Festival lineup, the Finnish funk eccentric Jimi Tenor and the Nigerian afrobeat legend Tony Allen make the live debut of their “Inspiration/Information” album concept, and the American jazz vocal great José James sits in with the Finnish saxophone player Timo Lassy’s extended ensemble.

The new wave of indie rock from the US is well featured at Flow this time around. The Drums, Beach House, Surfer Blood and Girls offer a good peek at the hottest new sounds coming from across the Atlantic. The Syrian vocalist Omar Souleyman is one of the potential surprise hits of Flow Festival, whereas the Berlin-based RotFront comes strong with their Balkan-infused party sounds. As a new feature, Flow Festival 2010 will feature a series of partially seated concerts held at the Voimala club venue during the early evenings of the festival weekend. The three concerts will feature the Norwegian Ulver, showcasing their highly evolved dark sound aesthetics, and the Malian master of the kora instrument, Ballaké Sissoko. The rest of the Voimala concert billing will be announced later.

Flow Festival has been known to have a strong club roster and this year’s event is no exception. The clubs will feature hard-hitters in minimalist techno pioneer Ricardo Villalobos, disco legend DJ Harvey, Diplo, performing a DJ set and also with his Major Lazer project, the rising young gun of dubstep, Joker, and the US-based acts Sleigh Bells and Rye Rye.

New Finnish music is also well represented at Flow. This time around, the festival bill includes Husky Rescue, Villa Nah, Ricky-Tick Big Band, Clouds, Bongo Rock, Kiki Pau and Yona & Liikkuvat Pilvet, with many more domestic acts to be added. The concept of experimental music and visual arts presented at Flow will continue expanding as the Finnish artist duo Grönlund-Nisunen displays a unique installation at the Tiivistämö venue. The musical programming heard at the venue will be released later.

More info: flowfestival.com

Ricky-Tick Big Band

2010-05-05T17:36:00.003+03:00

Ricky-Tick Big Band is an ensemble linked to the Helsinki-based jazz record label of the same name. The all-star cast of young Finnish jazzmen is led by composer Valtteri Pöyhönen, also known as the primus motor of Dalindeo. The big band’s lineup includes such hard-hitters as Timo Lassy (sax), Jukka Eskola (trumpet), Jaska Lukkarinen (drums) and Antti Lötjönen (bass), to name but a few, and also presents the foremost Finnish big band player Antti Sarpila (clarinet/sax) to audiences with a taste of swinging contemporary jazz.

Sketches of North - a film about Helsinki & Jazz

2010-05-05T16:27:00.003+03:00

Sketches of North is a black & white film inspired by the music of "Agatha" - a big band album composed by Kerkko Koskinen and played by UMO Jazz Orchestra & trumpeter Verneri Pohjola.

Sketches of North peeks into the making process of "Agatha". The main collective behind the album share their thoughts on the creating process and the meaning of improvisation. Moreover, the film illustrates the compositions by placing their melancholic, but now and then cheerfully swinging atmospheres into Helsinki, a city of four seasons.

Sketches of North glides through the heavy winter towards the intense summer and the serene, darkening autumn. The bombastic and epic music shakes hands with the manic-depressive beat of the northern capital. The audial landscape in Kerkko Koskinen’s
music merges with the mindflowing narration of the film, and together they catch the dreamlike, poetically swinging spirit of today’s Helsinki.

More info: www.sketchesofnorth.com

Dialogue matters

2010-04-30T09:27:00.006+03:00

"We had a history of trying to communicate with Stora Enso actively for 5-6 years..." says Sini Harkki from Greenpeace in the video (above). Problems culminated in Greenpeace hit at the Stora Enso's headquarters in March 2009.

According to Stora Enso's press release Stora Enso launched yesterday the Global Responsibility website and Facebook page for discussing responsibility topics.

On the press release Jouko Karvinen, Stora Enso's CEO says: “The idea of the Global Responsibility website and Facebook page is the direct contact with our stakeholders without intermediaries or censorship,”...“In today's world we have to find new ways to listen, discuss and learn. That is the only way to make tomorrow better for all of us.”

Dialogue matters.

Best Advertising From Finland

2010-04-17T15:24:00.003+03:00

Baff.fi gathers and showcases the very Best Advertising From Finland.

Finnish disco king is back again

2010-03-29T22:31:00.008+03:00

Do you remember how Diesel was exploiting the "learn to disco" video of the legendary Finnish Åke Blomqvist? Well, now it's Mini's turn. Check out Mini's latest TV commercial on Youtube:

Architect Viljo Revell: "It was teamwork, you see" 13.2.–16.5.2010

2010-02-24T20:46:00.005+02:00

Architect Viljo Revell's best known works in Finland include the Glass Palace in Helsinki, apartment buildings in Tapiola (Espoo) and the Vatiala Chapel near Tampere. Internationally he is renowned for the City Hall of Toronto, Canada.

2010 will see the centenary of Revell's birth and in honour of the event an exhibition of his works will be mounted at the Didrichsen Art Museum which he designed. This will show a selection of his buildings and projects through photographs, drawings, scale models and biographical information, as well as a documentary film based on original material.

The museum has published two books on Viljo Revell to coincide with the exhibition: Viljo Revell, "It was teamwork, you see" (Fi, Swe, Eng.) and Glimpses from Viljo Revell's life (Fi).

More info: www.didrichsenmuseum.fi

Villa Nah: Rainmaker

2010-02-13T10:51:00.004+02:00

Villa Nah
Rainmaker
Released by Sähkö Recordings in January 2010
Produced by Villa Nah, Jori Hulkkonen

1. Rainmaker Radio Edit
2. Rainmaker Jori Hulkkonen Extended Mix
3. Rainmaker Jori Hulkkonen Extended Dub
4. Benny's Burning

Order and listen here.

There is always room for a good local service in Helsinki

2010-02-13T10:09:00.013+02:00

Pyykkis - New ecological laundry service (Helsinginkatu 16)

Crustum - German bakery in Helsinki (Pursimiehenkatu 7)

Juurenpuoti - brings top-quality Finnish country food products to Helsinki - without middlemen. The Shop’s selection covers a wide variety of food such as organic meat, cheese from independent producers, grain products, bread, etc. (Korkeavuorenkatu 27)

Allotria - Restaurant with a Finnish twist (Hämeentie 68)

Krulla's - Viennese bakery now in a new location. (Lönnrotinkatu 13)

Hannulelauri - Glittering night EP

2010-01-30T14:43:00.002+02:00

Glittering Night EP - The debut 12" from Finnish duo hannulelauri embracing 80's style, italo disco and spaced-out rock grooves, giving it their own Finnish twist.

First up is "Glittering Night", shimmering electric synth chords washing over a Commodore 64 groove before a Peter Hook soundalike drops a lovely bassline, making New Order comparisons inevitable (a good thing!). Perfect late-night machine funk.

Next is "Sally 2000", a more introspective piece with insistent digital strings providing the foundation for a childlike toy chime melody, pulsating bass and more as layer upon layer builds to a fuzzed-out, pixelated yet beatless climax.

Finally, the late-night vibe continues as "Sally 2000" gets a version from Finland's techno/house master Jori Hulkkonen who works the track's pleading strings into a more dancefloor-friendly mix.

Dalindèo: Soundtrack for the Sound Eye

2010-01-30T14:14:00.006+02:00

Dalindèo's second full-lenght album, “Soundtrack for the Sound Eye”, is now available on Ricky-Tick Records. Moving towards a more cinematic sphere of sound, the Helsinki-based sextet proves that they are ready to match the high expectations brought up by their previous releases.

On board on the new Dalindèo trip is their Berlin-based guest vocalist Bajka. With her immediately recognisable, smoky voice and street-smart spiritual poetry, Bajka adds a whole new dimension in the band’s sound on the soulful tracks "Willpower" and "New Creation".

Docpoint: Tempo - Silent Film Concert on Wed 27.1.2010

2010-01-23T16:12:00.006+02:00

DocPoint – Helsinki Documentary Film Festival offers an unique silent film experience where the old Finnish documentaries of Aho & Soldan meet the improvised jazz of The Five Corners Quintet.
The concert is organised in cooperation with National Audiovisual Association.

Check these out also @ Docpoint: Google baby, Videocracy and Three miles north of Molkom.

More info:
Docpoint.info

Vuk (live) @ Icepark, Helsinki on Sat 23.1.2010

2010-01-23T16:01:00.004+02:00

Vuk (live) @ Icepark, Helsinki on 23rd of Jan at 8pm.

More info:
www.jaapuisto.fi

Last Cowboy Standing (Skavabölen pojat)

2010-01-10T18:06:00.003+02:00

Zaida Bergroth's first feature film Last Cowboy Standing (Skavabölen pojat) has won the main prize in Flash Forward -competition at the Pusan International Film Festival in Korea. Pusan is considered the biggest, most important film festival in Asia.

Last Cowboy Standing is a story about two brothers and their relationship. It is also a story about one family breaking apart in Finland during 1970's and -80's. Screenplay is based on Antti Raivios acclaimed play by the same name.

More info:
Production company: Juonifilmi
Homepage: www.skavabolenpojat.fi

Archipelago Raid

2009-12-29T10:34:00.005+02:00

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

2009-12-29T10:20:00.003+02:00

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

2009-11-28T12:36:00.004+02:00

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

2009-11-28T12:18:00.006+02:00

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)

2009-11-28T11:49:00.003+02:00

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

2009-10-17T10:53:00.005+03:00

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

2009-10-11T10:18:00.003+03:00

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

2009-09-26T15:33:00.006+03:00

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

2009-09-08T22:49:00.002+03:00

Lifelike (FRA), Helsinki 78-82, Hannulelauri

Redrum, Helsinki
Fri 09.10.2009 22-04
Price 12 eur

Enjoy Sauna in a Gondola Lift

2009-09-07T18:52:00.003+03:00

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

2009-08-23T20:52:00.005+03:00

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

2009-08-04T17:27:00.012+03:00

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

2009-07-14T15:49:00.004+03:00

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

2009-07-14T15:00:00.003+03:00

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

2009-06-26T18:04:00.004+03:00

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

2009-06-26T17:48:00.003+03:00

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

2009-06-26T17:32:00.003+03:00

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

2009-06-26T17:18:00.003+03:00

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

2009-06-06T13:29:00.002+03:00

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

2009-05-24T18:44:00.004+03:00

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

2009-05-24T18:31:00.003+03:00

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

2009-05-09T20:29:00.004+03:00

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

2009-05-09T19:39:00.007+03:00

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

2009-05-07T22:14:00.002+03:00

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

2009-05-07T21:41:00.005+03:00

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)

2009-04-25T19:58:00.006+03:00

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.

2009-04-19T20:53:00.003+03:00

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

2009-04-18T12:18:00.005+03:00

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

2009-04-13T14:18:00.003+03:00

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

2009-04-12T18:55:00.004+03:00

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

2009-03-29T13:31:00.002+03:00

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

2009-03-28T11:32:00.003+02:00

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

2009-03-22T10:09:00.005+02:00

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

2009-03-14T13:20:00.007+02:00

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

2009-02-24T17:57:00.003+02:00

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

2009-02-19T20:59:00.006+02:00

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

2009-02-19T20:26:00.002+02:00

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

2009-02-19T20:03:00.003+02:00

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

2009-02-13T19:08:00.002+02:00

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

2009-02-01T19:19:00.005+02:00

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

2009-02-01T19:08:00.002+02:00

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!

The first Finnish south pole expedition 2008

2008-12-23T10:57:00.004+02:00

The Finnish expedition will ski unsupported to the South Pole in December 2008. The expedition's journey across the World's coldest continent, Antarctica, is over 1000km long and will take about 50 days to complete.

During this time the two-man expedition will be fighting against extremely low temperatures, freezing winds and physical exhaustion.

There's only a handful of people who have skied to both Poles worldwide. When reaching the South Pole, Kari Poppis Suomela will be the 12th person in the world to reach both poles unsupported.

More info: www.thepole.fi