This past Sunday, Swedes in the States in collaboration with Volvo Studios Manhattan, hosted our very first Fika Pop-Up event in New York City. Together with our collaborators BonBon NYC, Fabrique & Scandinavia House, Volvo, and Swedes in the States welcomed around 80 people to the event.
We want to thank all of our guests, readers, supporters, partners and most of all Volvo for such a fun, warm and friendly event. We will let the images below speak for themselves.
Photos: Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.
You may use the images in this article with credit given to Swedes in the States.
The team at Volvo Studios Manhattan & Volvo Cars Manhattan
2019-06-06 Haga slott. Nationaldagshälsning från Kungafamiljen, genom Prinsessan Estelle och Prins Oscar.
Stockholm, Sweden
It was announced earlier today by the Royal Court of Sweden that the Swedish Royal House will be down-sizing. The children of Princess Madeleine and husband Chris O’Neill, and the children Prince Carl-Philip and his wife Princess Sofia will no longer be official members of the Swedish Royal House.
This means that Princess Leonore, Prins Nicolas, and Princess Adrienne, together with their cousins Prins Alexander and Prins Gabriel will no longer be expected to perform royal duties in the name of Sweden. This also means that they won’t have the right to receive the royal grant, or “appanage”, as it is called in Sweden, which is ultimately the salary a royal receives for performing their duties. Naturally, the children will still be considered members of the royal family and Swedish royals.
Princess Madeleine and her brother Prince Carl-Philip together with his wife Princess Sofia will still be members of the Swedish Royal House. Princess Madeleine’s husband, Mr. Chris O’Neill, chose to not receive a royal title at the time of his marriage to Princess Madeleine.
The crown princess Victoria, who is expected to one day become the Queen of Sweden will, together with her husband Prince Daniel, and their children, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar, still be apart of the Swedish Royal House.
Princess Madeleine addressed the change on her Instagram. She writes, “This change has been in the works for a long time. Chris and I think that it is good that our children now have a possibility to mold their own future as private persons,“.
The children will, however, be keeping their titles as Princes and Princesses but it will not be extended to their children or spouses in the future.
According to the Royal Court of Sweden, the reason behind the King’s decision is to clarify which members of the Royal family that are expected to have public commitments on the King’s behalf.
It is a good time to be an Astrid Lindgren fan. Heyday Films, Studiocanal and Astrid Lindgren Company, run by her children and grandchildren, announced earlier this week that they were in the early stages of producing a Pippi Longstocking feature film.
Pippi Longstocking is considered one of Astrid Lindgren’s most famous characters. The red-haired, freckled girl has inspired millions of boys and girls worldwide to be independent, strong and with quotes like “I have never tried that before, so I should definitely be able to do it”, inspired children to believe in themselves.
David Heyman, known previously for his work with the Harry Potter movies, and Paddington 1 and 2, is set to produce the movie.
“David Heyman has an impressive resume of making movies out of great literary works. Together with Studiocanal, we are confident that we have found the right people, who understand and appreciate the value of Pippi Longstocking and can capture both the playfulness and gravity that is found in the books. I am really looking forward to this partnership,” says Astrid Lindgren’s grandson and CEO of Astrid Lindgren Company, Nils Nyman.
David Heyman added “Pippi has endured and inspired families everywhere through her life-force, the strength of character and her irrepressible joie de vivre. Astrid Lindgren’s books have been translated around the globe for many years – a testament to her vision, which we are determined to honor with a new film,”.
The Pippi Longstocking books were published between the years 1945 and 1948. They have, together with another three short stories and picture book adaptions, been translated into 77 languages with 65 million copies sold worldwide. The first book is set to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2020.
Ever wondered what you would do if you had a $1 million dollars to spend freely? We have a couple of suggestions below, like a mansion in Sweden with 10 rooms! Check out what you can get for $1 million dollars on the Swedish real estate market.
A modern cabin with a gorgeous mountain view Åre is a famous ski resort in the north of Sweden. Just put on your skis, walk out the door and you’re ready to hit the slopes.
A lakeside villa The gorgeous house comes set with your very own private beach AND saltwater pool. You will never have to fight for a spot to set up your parasol and deck chair again.
Contemporary design with a castle-like garden If you’re the kind of person who finds normal boring, this eccentric house with its impressive garden should be perfect for you.
An entire farm Well, it used to be a farm. The barn has been turned into a spa with a sauna, shower, and jacuzzi while the main building received a complete makeover in the ’70s. The third building could be used as a guesthouse, or be rented out for some extra income.
A luxury apartment in Stockholm This apartment is intended to be a live-in office. Who doesn’t want an office with a chandelier, spacious kitchen, and sun-roof?
House facts
Location: Stockholm
Price: $994 841
Rooms: 7
Built: 1912
An inviting home by the harbor The balcony offers a harbor view, and a short walk will bring you to the town’s restaurants and shops. Enjoy the sea breeze and scent of roses from the garden.
A remodeled school Your awkward memories of primary school will fade away as soon as you step into this school-turned-home. The sports hall on the third floor has a five-meter high ceiling and could be turned into an art studio, or a spacious living room. The possibilities are endless! Previous owners used to run a bed and breakfast, an antique shop, and a café in the building.
A mansion This newly-built Scanian mansion is surrounded by nature giving the impression of almost complete isolation from civilization. But, you can enjoy the peace of mind brought about by the tranquil surroundings while knowing that the conveniences of the city are within comfortable reach.
A house big enough to be separated into three residences Rent part of it out, share it with your friends and family, or fulfill your childhood dreams of having a gaming room, a home theater, and/or anything else you could think of.
For foreigners living abroad, there’s always the constant hassle of dealing with cravings for something homey and familiar.
For the Scandinavians living in cities like New York and Los Angeles, there is the option to visit one of the countless Scandinavian bakeries or candy stores. And then, of course, there’s always IKEA. But when you have the convenience of Amazon at your fingertips, why even bother to make that trip when you’re feeling lazy? And for you Americans that are curious to know what makes the Swedes go bananas, look no further.
Here’s a list of the Swedes 15 favorite snacks that can be at your door in no time. You’re welcome.
It was earlier today that the Swede in the States, or currently Swede in space, departed from the launching platform at the space center in Baikonur, Kazakhstan in a Russian Soyuz shuttle.
42-year-old Jessica Meir grew up in the United States with her Israeli father, Swedish mother and her four siblings. She is both Swedish, and an American citizen with her mother being a native of the Swedish city, Västerås, in central Sweden about 100 kilometers west of Stockholm.
Joining her on board is the Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripotjka, and the first Saudi Arabian astronaut Hazza Ali al-Mansoori. Together they will be circling Earth before reaching their final destination: the international space station (ISS).
The crew is said to join six other cosmonauts and astronauts, already at the space station, although 3 of the 6 members will be returning back to earth at the beginning of October. Meir is expected to be there for six months.
Jessica Meir, who has a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, specializes in studying how animals survive in extreme climates. She will be performing hundreds of experiments and research during her 6 months in space, some research focusing on how vision, immune system, and arteries are affected by being in space.
Besides research and experiments, Meir will also have to take on “household duties,” as repair work will also need to be performed on the outside of the station.
“Spacewalks are something I’ve dreamed about all my life and there is a good chance that I will [get to do so],” said Meir at a press conference in early September.
Her dream of traveling to space was indeed something that has stayed with her since she was a child: At 5 years old, Meir mentioned to her family that she wanted to go to space, and three years ago it was clear that she would become our next, and first female, Swede, in space.
Finally, in April of this year, a concrete offer came from NASA that solidified Meir as one of the next astronauts on the ISS.
“I will carry a Swedish and an Israeli flag [up to space]” Meir said.
2019 is turning out to be quite the year for the relationship between Donald Trump and Swedish people, in general. We have ourselves lost count of the number of twitter feuds that the POTUS has been engaged in with various Swedes throughout the year. Latest being Sweden’s PM and other high-level politicians during the A$AP Rocky drama.
Now the young Swedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg, is next in line to feel the sting of President Trumps twitter whip.
In a recent tweet, Trump writes: “She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!” as a response to Greta Thunberg on the verge of tears during her speech at the U.N. Climate Summit.
She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see! https://t.co/1tQG6QcVKO
But Ms. Thunberg seems to have no interest in getting into a twitter feud with the President. Instead, she handed him a subtle comeback by changing the bio on her twitter profile.
Thunberg’s highly praised speech at the U.N. Climate Summit where she accused world leaders of stealing her future and talking about “fairytales of eternal economic growth” caught the attention of politicians, celebrities and people worldwide.
Jakke Erixon.Roland Topf and Elysia.Marilene Sundberg.Jennifer Åkerman// The Final ChildMartin Erlandsson from The Wine Team presenting a “Nubbe”.
The main sponsors of the evening – The Humble Co.Natalie Söderberg, Swedes in the States founder, and Fei Fang, founder at Elsa & Rose.Hanna Ving, Margaretha Laseen, Hans Bratt and Viveca Bratt from the Swedish Church Los Angeles.Caterer, Food by Emily, Emily Glarner-Chan.
Marilene Sundberg.Roland Topf from Rekorderlig, Swedes in the States founder Natalie Söderberg, Jimmie Berggren from The Humble Co., and Martin Erlandsson from The Wine Team.
Pelle Hillström and Jennifer Åkerman.Roland Topf, Frans Sjö, Elysia and Bashar.Sarah and Ezra Reich from Bulle Bakery.
Marie Erixon and Fei Fang.Jennifer Åkerman, Josef Csongei and Marilene Sundberg.
Helan går..Jimmie Berggren from The Humble Co. presenting a “Nubbe”.Our Swedish “Nubbar” was presented by Åhus Akvavit.The wine served from the evening was a Pinot Grigio from Casa Marrone.Marcus Anzengruber and Fei Fang.Hans Bratt from the Swedish Church and Jakob Freudendahl
With Swedes in the States Crayfish Party being only a few days away, it is high time we start introducing the movers and shakers behind this amazing event coming up Friday.
It is thanks to our sponsors’ generous support, Swedes in the States can create amazing events, like the one coming up this Friday, for everyone to enjoy.
Who the main sponsor of our event is, has probably not gone unnoticed. This is a collaboration and partnership we are extremely excited about. So with no further ado, let us introduce a company that many of you probably already are familiar with: The Humble Co.
The Humble Co. was founded 6 years ago in Stockholm, Sweden and is today one of the leading eco-friendly brands in oral hygiene in the world. The sustainably grown bamboo used in their products is sourced from China and India, where bamboo naturally grows. Other products, like their toothpaste, are manufactured in Germany where some of the highest quality ingredients can be found.
We decided to meet with Jimmie Berggren, CEO of the Humble Co. USA, at their headquarters in sunny San Diego, to find out more about our main sponsor, and the vision that they have for the U.S. market.
Swedes in the States founder, Natalie Söderberg, and Jimmie Berggren, CEO at The Humble Co. USA in San Diego
The Humble Co. is a Swedish company with a mission to create a more sustainable world. What is the inspiration and motivation of the company?
We truly believe that in these enlightened days of 2019, all companies should prioritize developing products that are actually good for consumers, humble towards our planet, and socially responsible. This has been the foundation of our brand since before day one.
The Humble Co.’s founder, Dr. Noel Abdayem, went to Jamaica as a dental student to volunteer. It was during this trip that he truly realized how lucky he was to be born in such an affluent part of the world like Sweden and that it should be our duty to take care of the less fortunate.
The truth is that while we’re depleting Earth’s natural resources and filling up the oceans with used plastic products, many children will never own any oral care products. That’s the harsh reality that pushed us to create the Humble Smile Foundation – a global group of dental professionals who believe passionately that good oral care is necessary to lead a healthy life. The foundation implements projects all over the globe to serve children and communities in need. So far, we have helped over 70,000 children in over 40 countries around the world.
When did The Humble CO. decide to expand to the United States?
The U.S. company launched in May 2017. The reason we wanted to expand into the United States is because it’s one of the biggest consumer markets in the world, and the opportunities are endless here.
Some of the states, including California where we have our U.S. headquarters, are very progressive and open to ideas about sustainability and eco-friendly alternatives.
How is the corporate culture at Humble Co? Are you a typical Swedish company, or more Americanized?
I would say that our corporate culture is driven by passion, transparency and by making decisions that keep us moving forward. In one sense, it is a very typical Swedish flat organization since I always encourage everyone that I work with to speak their minds.
However, we are quite opposite to the traditional “fika” and meeting based Swedish company. The U.S. culture is more different than many Nordic companies realize and you have to find a way to deal with it. I am very satisfied with how we do it at the Humble Co. We have been blessed to work with extremely talented people that have been key to our quick growth.
You’re one of the main sponsors to Swedes in the States Crayfish Party. Is it important for you to give back and participate in the Scandinavian community in the U.S.?
It is extremely important for me to relish in and support what is wonderful about the Scandinavian countries. We are not big a population in any sense but we are extremely talented, hard-working and trustworthy people. There is also something very exhilarating in meeting Scandinavians that have also left the comfort of the Nordic countries to explore new countries, and ultimately grow as human beings.
Between the years 2014-16, I was the President and Chairman of SACC San Diego, and today I am an advisor to the board. I love seeing how young aspiring professionals come over on internships, only to grow when they have to move out of their comfort zone. It is also fun to be part of the Swedish traditions like Midsummer, Crayfish parties, etc.
They all seem to include a “nubbe” though…
For anyone interested in learning more about The Humble Co., they will be attending our Crayfish Dinner Party and our Nordic House Nights After-Party.
Swedes in the States Crayfish Party is getting closer, and what better way to prepare for the event than to take a look at the menu? Because let’s admit it, the food (and drinks) are always the highlight of any event. And if it wasn’t already obvious, thanks to our sponsors’, drinks will be flowing freely during the event.
When deciding on the menu for our event, we naturally chose to go with the number one Swedish caterer in all of SoCal, Food by Emily. Keep your eyes out for an interview coming up with her!
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You’re one of the main sponsors to Swedes in the States Crayfish Party. Is it important for you to give back and participate in the Scandinavian community in the U.S.?
