Looking for a princess dress?

If you are looking for a cocktail dress for a wedding, award ceremony or Linnanjuhlat, go and have a look at the Halonen shops. There you will find princess dresses, long or short, from 60 to 600€. Accessories are also sold such as bags, gloves, shoes, hats and scarfs. The salespeople are very skilled and will help you. If the dress needs some modification (shortening, etc), the shop will do it in exchange of a proportional fee.

Gloves and scarfs

Some of the Halonen shops have an outlet. It is always a good idea to have a look. Some of the dresses can be 40 to 50% cheaper. Do not miss the big seasonal sales.

One of the most expensive dresses on sale at the moment at Halonen Sello (Espoo)

Short dress

These dresses are unfortunatelly worn only once or twice, and are abandonned in the wardrobes. But some of them are re-sold in second hand shops such as UFF. If you are lucky, you can find these dresses for 10€! May the luck be with you!

Medieval weekend in Espoo!

Crossing the river to access the yard

Every year since 2008 during the 3rd weekend of September, the Syysmatin markkinat (Matti's autumn market) is organized in the yard of the medieval church of Espoo. Craftspeople are selling their best pieces of work but also demonstrate their know-how: blacksmith, goldsmith, florist, knitter and so on. Some strands are selling some delicious home made food such as crepes and cakes. For children, some farm animals (sheeps, chickens, ponies, etc) are also present. Free entry.

Goldsmith

Handmade bookmarks and jewellery

Brushing the sheep wool before spinning

When?
Saturday from 10am to 5:30pm
Sunday from 11:30am to 4pm

Where?
On the yard of the Holy church "Tuomiokirkko". Address: Kirkkopuisto 5, 02770 Espoo

How to get there?
Take the commuter train (U, E or S) to Espoon Keskus. Walk 300m straight between the buildings on the South side.

Website of the event (only in Finnish)

Salads and herbs sold in pot

Lettuce sold in plastic pot

When going to a Finnish grocery store, you might notice something completely different from your home country in the vegetables counters. The salads and fresh herbs are sold in plastic pots! No, you are not dreaming, and neither are in a garden center. The main reason why they are still in in peat, is to guarantee the freshness of the product during the whole year from the greenhouse to your kitchen.

Parsley, rosemary, marjoram and basil on my balcony

Another advantage of this technique is that if you do not use everything, you can create your own garden that might last for a very long time. No waste!

There is always an interesting exhibition in a fair center

Fair center in Lahti has been renovated

During the whole year (expect in June-July), exhibitions on different topics are offered to the public in all major cities of the country. In Finnish, fair center is called "messukeskus". The entrance fee vary from exhibition to exhibition. In order to obtain a dicount price (other than the usual ones: children, veterans, students,...), check the magazines about the topic and cut the coupon. Sometimes, you can also get a reduced price if you pay online or fill in a coupon at the entrance. As some events are very popular, the best way is to come by public transportation. Check that some of the fairs are only for professionals. It happens also quite often that  more than two fairs are at the same time in the same fair center. You do not have to pay a separate ticket for each. Just enjoy and discover new things. The biggest fair center is situated in Helsinki with its 7 exhibition halls and 40 conference rooms. Remember that some exhibitions are very popular and can be crowded. If you can, come early or later in the day.

The main exhibitions in autumn

Helsinki
18-22.09 Habitare, ArtHelsinki13, Salon13, Valolight (fair about design)
01-03.10 Automaatio ( the Number One Automation Event in the Baltic Sea Region)
11-13.10 I love me 2013, Beauty 2013, Jewel & Watch 2013, Fashion 2013, Näköä 2013, Health 2013
24-27.10 Book Fair 2013, Music Fair 2013, Wine, food & good living 2013
01-03.11 BoardExpo 2013, DigiExpo 2013, HifiExpo 2013, Ice hockey & Floorball 2013, SkiExpo

Lahti
20-22.09 Caravan 2013
02-03.11 Crafts, hobbies and reading
21.11 Business Day

Tampere
04-06.10 Tampere Art Fair, Homevision, Antique
15-17.11 Finnish Handicrafts, Gem and Jewel

Turku
04-06.10 Turku International Book fair (Finnish president Sauli Niinistö will be the guest of honnor), Turku Food Fair, Science Fair 
18-20.10 Harmony (ecological and ethical fair), Women's skils
23-24.11 International Cat Fair

Design market in Helsinki

 

In 2012, Helsinki was the World Design Capital and many events were organized to show the know-how and creativity for Finnish designers. But the city does not need to be the World capital to show the work of its artists. This weekend in the Cable Factory, small and large design businesses are bringing their extra stocks for sale. Free admission.

On Saturday at 1 and 3pm, there will be a fashion sale show.

The design market is part of the Helsinki Design Week (12-22nd of September).

How to go there? You can take the subway to Ruoholahti and walk to the factory (about 800m).


More info about the design market

Program of the design week

The sporting event of the weekend!

The three ski jumps

The sport number one in Finland is ice hockey. As the season hasn't yet started, it is time to discover another top sport: ski jumping. The Lahti Ski Club is organizing the Finnish championships, including Nordic Combined (ski jumping and roller-skating) during the weekend. No, the athletes don't need snow to practise their sport. The landing area is cover by plastic and watered to be slippery.

Flying high, long and with style

The best jumpers of the country will compete tomorrow in team and on Sunday individually on the K116 (the largest of the three hills). The legend Janne Ahonen who is back after a two years break, will compete. The event is free of charge and the weather will be perfect (sunny and +21°C). It is a friendly event and the sportsmen are accessible. Do not hesitate to meet them.

Podium 2012: winner Janne Happonen, second Jarkko Määttä and third Sami Niemi

Saturday September 7th
9:00 jumping (Nordic Combined)
12-15:00 free practise on the jumping hill
13:00 roller-skating (Nordic Combined)
16:30 trial jump
17:00 team competition

Sunday September 8th
9:30 trial jump followed by the individual competition for the ski jumpers under 20 years old
12:00 trial jump
13:00 individual competition
If you are coming from Helsinki, check this useful tip to travel cheaper: How to save 40 to 50% on the trip Helsinki-Lahti

The mushrooms photo collection from Espoo

A new photo gallery on the Facebook page of AmazingFinland has been added. Now that automn is starting in Finland, plenty of mushrooms are growing in the forest. Many people are searching for chanterelles or ceps, with more or less of success. Soon the automn chanterelles will come out. But be extremely careful! Some species are toxic! If you are not sure, it is better to abandon a good mushroom than to end up at the hospital.

Fly agaric: cute but very toxic!

Delicious cep

Link to the album "Mushrooms"

Always check your receipt

After having enjoyed your meal at the restaurant and paid, check your receipt. Sometimes at the bottom, you will see a block of text. Most of the times, it is some discount for the restaurant you have visited or another one from the same group. As an example, the receipt under is from the restaurant Maya next to Helsinki railway station. If I show this paper to the Haiwaiian restaurant Kokomo Tikibar&Room, I will get one Tanned Surfer dessert (chocolate cake served with white chocolate ice cream and passion-fruits 8.20€) for free if I order a main course for two and two of the mentioned dessert. If you don't speak Finnish, just ask the waitress. She will be happy to help you.