Do the hot summer days make you long for a cooling pool party?
If you’re in Uppsala, a city 70 km from Stockholm, you are in luck. Just make your way down to the Central Station!
On July 30, torrential rain poured into the city’s main station and flooded the entire underground portion, where the water was about 1 meter deep. While a few locals were, understandably, annoyed at this inconvenience, a few tenacious Swedes were determined to make the best of this situation.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl08pcEhiXr/
Grabbing their swimsuits, pool floats, swimming fins, umbrellas, and anything else they could find, local Uppsala residents ran to the station to have a bit of cheeky fun.
After a few hours of confusion — the local municipality, train station, and Swedish Transport Administration weren’t sure who was responsible for dealing with the flood — the municipality finally pumped out the water a few hours later. The temporary “underground pool” is now back to normal and trains are running again.
We all have a favorite alcoholic drink, whether it’s Glögg (17%), akvavit (42%), wine (11%), or some other spirit… But have you ever wanted to try the world’s strongest gin?
Yes, that’s right: for the past few years, there has been an ongoing battle over which company can make the world’s strongest gin. The Swedish company, Smögen, had the original record- their Strane London Dry Gin came in at 76%, until Twin Rivers, a Scottish brewery, beat them by one percent this February.
Pär Calndeby, the lead distiller at Smögen, wasn’t too thrilled when his company was knocked out of the top spot, and promised to make something even better. After months of experimenting, tweaking the original recipe, and creating hundreds of different varieties, Mr. Caldeby had finally created his masterpiece.
The result? Strane Ultra Uncut, which clocks in at a mind-blowing 82.5 percent ABV.
Photo credit: www.theginkin.com
Although the recipe for the world’s strongest gin remains a secret, Pär Calndeby did mention that he added extra botanicals and tweaked the distillation process to get the extra 6.5% and put Strane back on top.
The only downside is that Ultra Uncut is only available in Sweden and the United Kingdom (for now!). If you still want to get your hands on this gin, other Strane products are available worldwide, mostly in boutique and small-batch liquor stores.
Mamma Mia is already poised to be one of this summer’s blockbuster hits, making more than $89 million worldwide (the budget was $75 million) in its first week.
Need some (Swedish) inspiration to go out and watch the movie? Say no more – here are some of our favorite reactions!
Inquiring minds would like to know what Super Trouper is slang for in Swedish because goddamn it's a catchy tune! #Abba#MammaMia2
One of Swedes in the States closest collaborators, NordicLA, the co-working space for Nordic creative industries and people, has launched the professional network, Friends of NordicLA.
The goal of the professional network is to create a platform for Nordic and American creatives in Los Angeles, as well as creating a support system for creatives in the Nordic countries with an interest in expanding to the U.S.
A part of the Friends of Nordic LA program will include full access to Nordic LA’s monthly events, Nordic Nights. Once a month, a guest speaker from the creative industries will have a keynote speech, aimed to help and inspire. The events will also leave plenty of time to network with the other members of the network attending the event.
The first event in the Nordic Nights series will be kicking off on the 9th August with Bonita Pietila, the casting director of the cult classic series, the Simpsons.
To join Friends of Nordic LA., contact Ida at ida@nordic.la or inquire with us on FB or email.
The schedule for the following Nordic Nights are as follows:
6 September 2018: Mikael Salomon – cinematographer, director, and producer of film and television. Among many other awards 2 times Oscar and 3 times Emmy nominee and Emmy winner for Band of Brothers.
4 October 2018: David Heinemeier Hansson – the creator of Ruby on Rails, founder & CTO at Basecamp, best-selling author, Le Mans class-winning racing driver and public speaker.
8 November 2018: Nordic Music Explorers Party at the Finnish Consular Generals mansion in Belair.
Sarah and Ezra Reich is the Swedish-American duo behind the wildly popular pop-up bakery, Bulle Bakery.
In just a year, they have become the darlings of Scandinavians and the fika ambassadors to the Americans, in California.
If you haven’t already caught up with them on Melrose Farmers Market on Sundays, here’s your chance to get to know these bulle entrepreneurs better.
When did you decide to start making bullar?
We came up with the idea in the spring of 2017 when we realized that it was impossible to find authentic Swedish bullar in LA. That was when we began experimenting with American ingredients together with some imports to perfect the recipe. It took quite some time to find ingredients that were a perfect match for us. For example, even the country of origin of the spices makes a difference in flavor.
How did the two of you meet?
We met through mutual friends in Stockholm when Ezra was over there producing some music.
Sarah, how did you end up in L.A? I moved here in April of 2017. I was born and raised in Stockholm. I moved to LA after we carried on a long-distance relationship with many trips both in Sweden and LA. We then decided to live in LA and I don’t regret the move for a second!
Without sharing your secret recipe, what do you think makes the Swedish bulle perfect, and so different from the American Cinnamon Buns?
As we said before it was a lot of studying and testing high-quality ingredients to get it right. It’s also very time consuming and we give our buns around 4 hours of time per dough we make.
Swedish bulle is completely different from the American cinnamon bun in that it is not solely a taste of intense sugar. It is a sweet and savory flavor which is reliant on cardamom in the dough and a certain type of butter as well as not overpowering the pastry with frosty sugar on top. We can promise you that you will never see a Bulle Bakery Bun with frosted sugar topping.
What are your future plans and goals with Bulle Bakery?
We view the Bulle as a pastry deserving international attention much like the croissant. We will continue growing and are looking for the right investor to open a flagship location here in LA as the next big step.
How has Bulle Bakery been received by the Swedes and Americans?
We have received great feedback and support from the Swedish community here. In fact, many Swedes have told us that our Bullar is the best they have ever had. Americans have been very supportive as well and we have a steady stream of reoccurring American clients both in private orders, the Melrose Farmers Market, and our wholesale locations. For example, the pastry chef and co-owner of Bestia DTLA is a frequent client of ours, which is a big honor for us.
Where can people find you and your bullar?
We currently sell on the weekends at Huset at Abbott Kinney and Swedish Scoops in Pasadena. We are at Melrose Farmers Market most Sunday’s 9am-2pm. We also have many corporate and private order clients that have scheduled weekly deliveries from us. We are happy to take more orders daily from anyone who wants bullar with delivery or pickup in Marina del Rey. Hopefully, you will see more wholesale locations in the near future.
We are excited to see where the future takes Bulle Bakery. Swedes in the States is highly anticipating a Bulle Bakery shop. Preferably in Hollywood, next to our office.
If you want to stay in the know about what Bulle Bakery is up to, and where you can find them, don’t forget to follow Bulle Bakery on social media.
New York has officially entered rooftop season — and there’s nothing better than to start or end a weekend with a rooftop brunch in the sun with a group of friends. Below you can find Swedes in the States editor and New York expert, Chantale Niczko’s, top ten brunch spots around Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Gallow Green, 530 W 27th Street
Gallow Green at the McKittrick Hotel is definitely one of my absolute favorite rooftops here in New York City. Though it’s one of the more pricey options, landing at around $35 per person, you’ll be enjoying their super delicious buffet-style brunch in a green and very lush setting.
The brunch is served every Saturdays and Sundays, but in order to get a table, make sure to get your reservation a few weeks in advance, because they get booked up quickly! This place is perfect for a birthday celebration or for any other occasion worth a celebration.
The brunch hours are Saturday to Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Visit their website here: https://mckittrickhotel.com/gallow-green/
photo credit: https://mckittrickhotel.com
Hotel Chantelle, 92 Ludlow Street
This famous Lower East Side hot spot is perfect for a treat-yourself-day. Hotell Chantalle offers live music entertainment, tasty drinks and a very cool and relaxed vibe. The food is superb, and you can choose between a range of different options such as salads, pizzas, burgers, and the typical American brunch dishes.
It’s the perfect spot to catch a nice tan while sitting on the rooftop and enjoying mimosas and oysters on a hot summer day. I strongly recommend making a reservation at least the same week as you are planning on going since Hotel Chantalle is usually packed. Trust me, it’s worth it!
Visit their website here: http://www.hotelchantelle.com/dining#brunch
photo credit: www.hotelchantelle.com
Juliette, 135 N 5th Street
If you are residing in Brooklyn, specifically the Williamsburg area, or decide to spend your day there – this hidden gem is the perfect brunch spot to start your day! The vibe is chill and relaxed; you can choose to sit inside or outside on their rooftop (which is on the smaller side) and enjoy some great food, served by a very friendly staff. The food here is inspired by the French cuisine combined with traditional American burgers. Their duck confit is something I strongly recommend to try, as well as their lamb burger.
The brunch hours are Saturday to Sunday from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm. Visit their website here: https://juliettewilliamsburg.com/about/
photo credit: www.juliettewilliamsburg.com
Catch, 21 9th Ave
This trendy Asian fusion restaurant is located in the famous meatpacking area and offers delicious food, great music, and a cool vibe in an amazing area. You will be close to The Highline, The Chelsea Market, and some nice high-end fashion stores. You can choose if you want to sit inside or up on the rooftop when having your brunch, but make sure to make a reservation in advance. Their brunch menu includes a wide variety of everything that’s trendy and Instagram worthy; oysters, acai bowls, sushi, avocado toasts, lobster rolls etc…their menu is extensive! Catch is also one of the more pricey options, but totally worth it!
Brunch hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm. Visit their website here: http://catchrestaurants.com/catchnyc/catch-brunch
photo credit: www.catchrestaurants.com
Cantina Rooftop, 605 W 48th Street
If you are feeling that you are in a Mexican state of mind this is the place to be at for brunch. This place is rather lively, always crowded, and they will provide you and your company with super strong drinks, preferably margaritas. I always have a hard time deciding what to order so I like to start with one of their guacamole options to buy myself some time to look over the menu. They have three different ones you can choose from, but I suggest going for the Ranchero guacamole with diced mango. The staff is very friendly, the view of Manhattan is decent, and the drinks very strong so I promise that you will lose track of time, as long as you’re not famished. Pro tip: Order in an appetizer as soon as you get here because the wait for the food can be very long.
The brunch hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am to 3:30pm. Visit their website here: http://cantinarooftop.com
photo credit: www.cantinarooftop.com
Mr. Purple, 180 Orchard Street
I bet no one’s missed the Mr. Purple rooftop view if it’s either by visiting it or by seeing it in Instagram pictures or guidebooks. This famous, beautiful rooftop is located on the Lower East Side. The vibe here is more upscale, but still very laidback and cool, and the crowd is very mixed. You will meet people who are hotel guests as well as local New Yorkers here. The brunch at Mr. Purple is good, but the food, dare I say, is not very adventurous. Basic American fare; you can get anything from bagels, pancakes, sliders, and salads to avocado toasts and omelets.
Very simple, but in my opinion you come here for the view, and not the food.
The brunch hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Sunday in Brooklyn is another cool spot in Brooklyn with amazing food and super delicious pancakes that everyone should try once in their life. Ironically, I prefer to go here on Sundays because of the name. It makes for an amusing Instagram story, don’t you think?
This place is very genuine, with super friendly staff, healthy green juices that are perfect for a recovery after a wild weekend. They do serve a wide range of different foods, everything from pastries, pancakes and eggs, to granola, rib eye steak and avocado toast. The portions here are very generous too so it’s perfect to split one or two dishes with your brunching partner.
The brunch hours here are weekdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and weekends 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.
At the top of the hotel Hugo, you can find this Cuban inspired rooftop named Azul. This one is one, for sure, visually pleasing bar. The vibe and the crowd here is very cool, relaxed, and joyful. I have never seen a sad face here!
The food is Mexican/Cuban and it doesn’t offer too many options or varieties, so if you are picky with exactly everything you put in your mouth, this could be a tough menu for you. However, they do offer a variety of tacos, with vegetarian options, and not to forget there are chips and guacamole on the brunch menu too. The food here is really good, and so are the cocktails.
I promise, choosing Azul for brunch will not disappoint. This place is perfect to start your day with friends, especially if you are in the mood to mingle, and want to be surrounded by a fun crowd.
Brunch hours are Saturday and Sunday 12:00pm to 4:00 pm Website: https://www.azulrooftop.com
photo credit: www.azulrooftop.com
Broken Shaker, 23 Lexington Avenue
One of my absolute favorite spots to hang out and brunch at, right now, is this one – The Broken Shaker, which you can also find in Miami, but not on a rooftop! This place is located on the top of the Freehand hotel in Midtown. The cocktails are just amazing, and so is the food. Not to mention the tropical and super cool vibe, with a view of course.
This place does not take any reservations, so make sure to come on time to be able to get a nice spot to sit on to enjoy the backdrop and the simple but delicious and sophisticated food with a Mexican twist. You will, for example, find Frita Burger with Yuca fries, Griot & Pikliz and Uni Tray, on the menu.
Tavern 29 is the right spot for you if you are in the NoMad area looking for a rooftop brunch with a more laidback setting. The food here is all the comfort foods you need if you are famished after touristing around the entire island, partying too much, or just in need of some real New York comfort food. Think Mexico meets America.
The rooftop view is not the best one you can get, and the shade will hit pretty early, but not all of us are sun worshippers and let’s be real, New York summer heat can be excruciating.
The menu offers a wide range of food, for example the famous hangover burger, hangover pizza, nachos, eggs, etc.
Brunch hours are Saturday and Sunday 11:00pm to 4:00 pm
Swedes in the States and Big Swede BBQ have partnered together to bring you authentic Swedish recipes on our platform. Welcome to the first video in our cooking series with Big Swede BBQ.
Ingredients
2 lb Chuck Beef (Cross Rib Chuck preferably), cubed 1 ½ inch cubes 3 Yellow Onions, cut into chunks 2 large Carrots, peeled and sliced 2 tablespoons Butter ½ cup All Purpose Flour 4-5 cups Veal or Beef Broth 14 whole Allspice Corns 4 bay leaves Salt and pepper to taste Yukon Gold Potatoes, peeled and cut Pickled Beets
Instructions
1.Melt butter in a cast iron pot 2.Over medium-high heat, brown meat well for 5 minutes 3.Season with a pinch of salt and pepper 4.Sprinkle with flour and stir to combine 5.Add onions and carrots and sweat for 1 minutes 6.Add broth and mix well, making sure to thoroughly submerge meat and vegetables 7.Season with allspice corns and bay leaves 8.Simmer over low heat for 90-120 minutes 9.Stir occasionally to keep the bottom from sticking 10.Boil potatoes 11.Dish and serve hot with potatoes and pickled beets
It’s a new month, which means an interesting new statement – this time we’re looking at the Institute for Economics and Peace, which recently released their Global Peace Index for 2018.
The index measures the peacefulness of a country and looks at 23 different factors, such as level of violent crime, nuclear weapons, number of refugees, and relations with neighboring countries.
Not surprisingly, Nordic countries took the majority of the top 20 spots in the index. Norway, Finland, and Sweden came in 16th, 15th, and 14th place respectively. A few spots up was Denmark, at number 5, and Iceland took the top spot as the most peaceful country of 2018. The North American countries didn’t fare as well. Even though Canada was listed as the 6th most peaceful country, the United States was nearly at the bottom – at number 121 (out of a possible 163 countries). Mexico was even lower at number 140.
What makes the Nordic countries so safe (and friendly)? Let’s take a quick look! First off, the Nordics have a relatively homogenous society with little difference between the upper and lower class. There’s a strong social welfare network that makes sure nobody goes poor, which leads to fewer crimes. Finally, there is transparency and low tolerance to violence; if someone commits a crime, the government’s goal is usually to rehabilitate the criminal instead of punishing them. All of these things have helped the Nordic countries, particularly Iceland, Denmark, and Sweden, stay at the top of the rankings for the past 5 years in a row.
Interested in seeing the top 20 most peaceful countries for 2018? The full list is below:
1. Iceland
2. New Zealand
3. Austria
4. Portugal
5. Denmark
6. Canada
7. The Czech Republic
8. Singapore
9. Japan
10. Ireland
11. Slovenia
12. Switzerland
13. Australia
14. Sweden
15. Finland
16. Norway
(Tie) 17. Germany
(Tie) 17. Hungary
19. Bhutan
20. Mauritius
IKEA’s designers visited NASA’s Mars Desert Research Station in Utah and were seriously inspired.
The Swedish furniture giant has now released the first pictures of their IKEA x NASA collection, RUMSTID. The collaboration is just one of IKEA’s upcoming high profile collaborations.
“We want to learn from extreme scenarios and connect them back to Earth, focusing on urbanization and small space living”, says Siri Skillgate, one of five designers involved, in a press release.
RUMTID garden. Photo: IKEA
The RUMTID collection, which will be divided into four smaller lots, is inspired by the extremes that come with going to space. It focuses on urban, smaller homes with the themes of time, space, water and air. The collection includes air purifiers and innovative solutions for home lightening.
“By cutting the tubes into different lengths and clamping them together we can build just about anything, be it sofas, wardrobes, beds, or something else completely”, says Creative Leader Michael Nikolic.
RUMTID connecting parts. Photo: IKEA
Using these materials and building methods is especially suitable for small space living since the production leaves almost no waste.
“This is a high-tech, efficient way of using our natural resources”, says Michael.
RUMTID SHELF. Photo: IKEA
RUMTID collection will be divided into four different launches and will be available for a limited time starting in 2020.
There is no doubt a larger selection of beauty brands in the United States compared to Scandinavia.
But which brands are good enough to have made it to the picky Scandinavian market, and become the peoples must have’s? We decided to look across the pond for inspiration and see what American brands the Scandinavians can’t live without.
R+Co – HIGH DIVE Moisture + Shine Crème was awarded the best hair product of the year at the Swedish Beauty Awards 2018 with the motivation: “Thankful product for Scandinavian hair. An easily worked softening product that won’t weigh your hair down and works perfectly as a pre-styling product.”
Bumble and Bumble – Pret A Powder Dry Shampoo was awarded the best hair product at the Norwegian Cosmetics Awards 2018 with the motivation: “As editor of Norway’s largest women magazine, I know a lot about what ladies are concerned about! And I know that there is little that is read better with us than things about hair! We seek tirelessly for the products that can save us from bad hardships. And the winner in this year’s styling product just does it! The jury has been dependent on having this on the bathroom shelf, and we predict that many others will also be. It is nothing less than the best dry shampoos we have ever tried.” – Ingeborg Heldal
Dermalogica – PreCleanse Balm was awarded the best skincare product of the year, between 400-700 SEK ($45-75) at the Swedish Beauty Awards 2018, with the motivation:
“A classic that has become trendy while getting a new suit. But despite being a trendy, fashion accessory, it’s the basic product, which with smart texture transformation and promised effect, makes this a winner.”
Skinbetter Science – AlphaRet™ overnight cream FACE was awarded the best skincare product over 700 SEK at the Swedish Beauty Awards 2018 with the motivation:
“Stylish exterior hides smart composed content that is careful but effective. We wake up happy with a new glow.”
“In this trendy sales rocket, there are a bunch of playful, easy-worked and extremely blendable colors that will stay from morning to midnight. In other words: A professional palette in velvet packaging.”
Peter Thomas Roth – Water Drench Cloud Creme was awarded the best skincare product for men in the Swedish Beauty Awards 2018, although it is unisex and popular with both men and women. The motivation for the awards was:
“In the ever-expanding range of products for men and women, the winner of the year definitely sticks out. This uncomplicated blast of moisture blurs out the limits of what is male and female and keeps moisturized skin all year round.”
Kiehl – Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil was awarded the best body care product at the Norwegian Cosmetic Awards 2018 with the motivation:
“This product became a favorite at the jury. In application, experience, and not least effect, the product has proven to deliver on its promises. With a practical spray, the product is easily and appropriately dosed. Despite its bold texture, the product sinks surprisingly quickly into the skin and leaves a beautiful scent. This is a product you’ll buy again and again.”
American Crew – Beard Serum was awarded the best grooming product at the Swedish Beauty Awards 2018 with the motivation: “In a hard-navigated category, the winner of the year is out with a future classic. The practical packaging is bull’s eye and flirts with classic shavers. A moisturizing formula that focuses on protection, care, and shine make us shout out for more!”
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
