Suonenjoki, Finnish strawberry capital

Suonenjoki is a small town of 7546 inhabitants in the Savo region (Central-East Finland) between Mikkeli, Jyväskylä and Kuopio. It is well-known as the Finnish strawberry capital. Since 1970, the Strawberry Carnival which is one of the oldest festivals in Finland, happens each year except in 1984 and 2003. People from the whole country as well as tourists are visiting the place mid-July (12th-14th in 2013) to buy delicious berries but also to pick some themselves in the huge fields. The starwberry farmer of the year will be elected during the event.

But you don't need to go to Suonenjoki to eat the berries. They are on sale on most of the markets and in the shops. But do you know that you can also buy small boxes in the long-distance trains? If you are traveling between Mikkeli and Kuopio in July and August, you will be able to purchase some freshly picked starwberries for just 2€.

 

Link to the Suonenjoki Strawberry Carnival

It's time to pick up berries

Summer is the perfect moment to go to the forests for a relaxing walk, hiking, camping, birdwatching or barbecuing. But is it also the right moment to pick up juicy wild strawberry and blueberries. Take a basket, good shoes and explore Finnish Nature. There are so many berries growing than less than a third is picked each year. Ususally Finnish people collect a huge amount of berries. A small part is baked (pies, muffins and other delicacies), and the rest is frozen for winter use. Blueberries can look small but it doesn't mean that they are not ready. Take the berry delicately between your fingers and pull gently. If the berry resists, it means that it is not ready. As cities have many green areas, you can also pick up berries in parks. But try to avoid plants that are too close from roads. Don't put your berries in plastic bags. They will sweat and turn bad very fast, especially if it's a hot day. Have a lot of fun!

Blueberries are growing under the leaves of the plants.

Small but juicy

Let's play a game: who will have the heaviest basket at the end of the collect?

My tip: when you pick berries, take a bit of time to take only the berries, and not the leaves and branches. You will save a lot of time at home!

Brädi: the hip hop singer from Lahti

Brädi, from his real name Kari Olavi Härkönen, is a solo hip hop singer from Lahti born in 1979 singing in Finnish. His first artist name was A'damite between 2001 and 2002. In 2003 until 2005, Kari changed his artist name to Brad Spit, performing songs in English. In 2004, Brädi was born and on June 13th, 2013 the song "Kotona" was released. The video clip shows the best places of Lahti and is part of the marketing campaign of Lahti's region office. Some sports stars are participating such as the Pelicans (ice hockey team), the football club FC Lahti, the basketball Finnish champion Roope Suonio and the ski jumper Janne Ahonen. The youth of Lahti is also present in the video. Brädi is also part of the bands Gentlemen league with Cheek and TS, and 5th Element.

Haloo Helsinki: pop and fresh

Created in 2007, the band Haloo Helsinki became immediately famous in Finland with its single "Haloo Helsinki!". But its greatest hit is "maailman toisella puolen". Elli is the vocalist and plays the bass as well. Jere and Leo plays the guitar and Jukka the drums. Until now, they have released three albums which all reached the top 20. In summer, they will perform in a couple of festivals before to take a break. The lyrics are in Finnish and the style is fresh and pop.

Website of the band

Radio Aalto free concerts in Kaisaniemi

Sunrise Avenue

Today is the Helsinki day and Radio Aalto is offering free concerts to the population. Eight bands will perform on stage from 3pm to 10pm in the Kaisaniemi park next to the railway station. This year, the selection is pop and rock. Bottles and umbrellas are not allowed but all cameras and video cameras are allowed.

List of the artist and performing times (2013):
Laura Närhi 15.40 – 16.05
Haloo Helsinki 16.25 – 16.50
Tuure Kilpeläinen 17.10 – 17.35
Irina 17.55 – 18.20
Anssi Kela 18.40 – 19.05
Anna Puu 19.25 – 19.50
Sunrise Avenue 20.10 – 20.50
J. Karjalainen 21.10 – 22.00

My tip: as today is rainy, wear warm, waterproof and confortable clothes and shoes. The ground might be muddy and slippery.

Event 2014

14.30- 14.45 DONKEY BOY 15 MIN
15.00-15.20 REDRAMA 20 MIN
15.40-16.20 JUKKAPOIKA 40 MIN
16.40-17.10 JONNA TERVOMAA 30 MIN
17.30-18.15 CHEEK 45 MIN
18.35-19.10 ANNA ABREU 35 MIN
19.30-20.00 ERIN 30 MIN
20.20-20.50 HAPPORADIO 30 MIN
21.10-22.00 KAIJA KOO 50 MIN

Where Finns live

On the Facebook page of AmazingFinland, you'll find a collection of pictures from all over Finland that will show you where Finns really live. They do not all have the chance to live in a red wood house in the country side. The album includes detached houses but also semi-detached houses and buildings. Some constructions are over 100 years old and some others have just been built. do not hesitate to like, dislike and comment the pictures.

Semi-detached house in Espoo

Old wooden house in Helsinki

Buildings in Jyväskylä

Link to the album

Do not forget to like the Facebook page! Click here!

Marimekko, Finnish design brand

Cups and bowls with the "Unikko" design

Marimekko is a design Finnish brand that was established in 1951 by Viljo and Armi Ratia. Marimekko is famous in Finland but also abroad for its simple and bright color clothes, bags, fabrics and home furnishing. Almost all the Finnish homes have some Marimekko items. Finnish people are very proud and faithful to the brand since the 60s when it became famous with its "Unikko" design. Every spring, Marimekko present its summer fashion show a couple of times during the day on the Espland in Helsinki.

Fashion for summer 2013. Dress costs 299€

Marimekko has over 80 stores in the world and 161 in Finland. Not only Finns are buying items for Mother's Day, a birthday or wedding present or simply for themselves, but many tourists as well who like to bring back a souvenir typically Finnish. In Helsinki, there is also a Marimekko café where you can enjoy a tasty coffee while reading a fashion magazine.

Fabrics (~35€/m)

My tip: as Marimekko is a design brand, prices are relatively high. If you don't want to buy the latest fashion, take the subway from Helsinki city center and visit the outlet shop in Herttoniemi. You'll find a bit of everything with discounts from 10 to 75%. Here is the address:

KIRVESMIEHENKATU 7

00880  HELSINKI

There are other outlet shops in Finland (Kotka, Humppila, Kyyjärvi, Rovaniemi (in the Santa Claus village), Kitee, Sulkava and Virrat).

Website of Marimekko