Oslo

The Cork Screw – fun for the whole family

Anne-Sophie Redisch — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:00:13 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjolygynm3w[/youtube]

If you’re in Oslo, you will have noticed the lovely, sunny weather for the past few days. This might be your last chance to play in the snow this winter. So bring your sledge and get on the Holmenkollen Metro for a cool ride down the 2-kilometre-long run Korketrekkeren (the Cork Screw). If you don’t have a sledge, you can rent one from Akeforeningen (the Sledging association) at the top of the hill.

Photo by flholst/flickr’s Creative Commons

Free Oslo: Tango classes

Anne-Sophie Redisch — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:00:28 +0000

Every Saturday afternoon, Oslo’s House of Dance invites you to free tango classes and milonga. AND, there’s soup, beer, wine and coffee, as well.

Photo by dekay/flickr’s Creative Commons

When: Every Saturday 1500 – 1800 (3:00 – 6:00 pm)
Venue: Dansens hus (House of Dance), Møllerveien 2
Admission: Free

No need to sign up. Just show up. For more information, contact Ina: ina_e@mac.com

Henrik Ibsen and his 289 steps

Anne-Sophie Redisch — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:25:56 +0000

Every Thursday this winter, you can join a guided walk in the footsteps of world famous playwright Henrik Ibsen.

For the last decade of his life, Henrik Ibsen lived in Oslo. Everyday, twice-a-day, in fact, he walked from his apartment (now The Ibsen Museum) to his regular watering hole, the Grand Cafe.

If you want to follow in Ibsen’s footsteps, just show up at the Ibsen Museum tomorrow – or any Thursday until Easter. You can buy your ticket directly from the guide.

Photo of Grand Hotel and Grand Cafe by author

Starting venue: The Ibsen Museum, Henrik Ibsensgate 26
When: Every Thursday until 16 April, at 1700 (5:00 pm)
Price: 150 kroner (70 kroner for under-16s)

Earth hour 2011 in Oslo

Anne-Sophie Redisch — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:00:36 +0000

On 26 March at 2030 (8:30 pm), Oslo and the rest of the country will switch off the lights for an hour. Last year, 1.8 million Norwegians over the age of 15 – that’s about half of the population – participated in Earth Hour, locally known as Slukk lyset kampanjen (switch off the light-campaign), as did hundreds of regional councils, companies, organisations and landmark buildings, including the Opera House. Energy usage decreased by 250 million watts, which is the equivalent of 6 million 40W light globes (light bulbs).

Various cities and towns around the country compete to see who can save the most energy during earth hour. This year, there’s also a (friendly) match between Denmark and Norway on who’ll do best.

So switch off your lights, everyone. You’ll be in good company. The King switches off lights at the Royal Palace for Earth Hour:

Photo by Giara/flickr’s Creative Commons

Biathlon World Cup in Holmenkollen

Anne-Sophie Redisch — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:12:26 +0000

And what is biathlon, you ask?
Technically, it could be a combination of any two sports. However usually, it refers to the particular combination of cross country skiing and shooting.

As if Oslo hasn’t already been chock full of skiing events this month, the Biathlon World Cup began today and continues through the weekend at the brand new, hyper-modern arena at Holmenkollen.

If you’re into biathlon, or skiing, or shooting, or just watching the world’s top athletes prove their skills, speed and expert markmanship, you don’t want to miss this. Holmenkollen is always packed full of lively, cheering people and always – ALWAYS – has the best atmosphere.

Biathlon photo by geirarne/flickr’s Creative Commons

When: 17 – 20 March
Venue: Holmenkollen Arena
Tickets: 150 – 325 kroner. Call 815 33 133 or book here.

Woody Allen in Oslo

Anne-Sophie Redisch — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:24:39 +0000

Woody Allen isn’t just a famous film director. He is also a passionate jazz musician and plays in New York almost every Monday.

Not this coming Monday though. On 21 March, he’ll perform with his New Orleans Jazz Band at Oslo konserthus.

Photo by sausyn/flickr’s Creative Commons

When: Monday 21 March, 1930 (7:30 pm)
Venue: Oslo Konserthus, Munkedamsveien 14
Tickets: Tickets cost 830 kroner and you can get them directly from the counter at Oslo Konserthus, reserve by phone 23 11 31 11, via e-mail to billetter@oslokonserthus.no or online here.

Nordic Skiing – Children’s Ski World Championships

Anne-Sophie Redisch — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:18:26 +0000

If you’re in Oslo this weekend with your kids and they love the outdoors (of course they do), the weather looks set to be perfect for the Children’s World Championships on Sunday 13 March.

Oslo just finished the very successful FIS Nordic World Ski Championships last weekend and this Sunday, the championship tracks will be opened up to the little ones. World champions Marit Bjørgen and Petter Northug have inspired even reluctant kids to get out on the trails. And this Sunday, kids between 4 – 12 will have the opportunity to glide along the same tracks as their heroes.

The children will choose between 4 different courses depending upon their skills: Harepus (hare), Bamse (teddy bear), Elg (moose) and Fnugg (the World Championships mascot). Best of all, everyone wins gold!

Marit Bjørgen photo by aktivioslo/flickr’s Creative Commons

When: Sunday 13 March
Venue: Holmenkollen Arena
Price: 270 kroner pr child (Get your tickets here)

Oslo’s Brand New Super-Cheap Hotel

Anne-Sophie Redisch — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:01:10 +0000

Just a quick note to let you know Oslo has a new hotel and it is so cheap it’s hard to believe. If that’s not enough, it’s very hip to boot. And if that’s not enough either, it’s in the middle of the city center near Youngstorget!

For just 299 kroner (that’s about USD 50), you get a room in Comfort Hotel Xpress emphasizing “music, concrete, technology, social media, human beings and graffiti” — in short, we’re talking budget-hotel-meets-urban-design.

Photo: Comfort Hotel Xpress

You check in yourself on iMacs in the lobby, but if you need help, receptionists are on hand. Rooms are clean and hip, and wifi is free. Otherwise, there are no frills and breakfast is not included, but is available for a reasonable (for Norway) 85 kroner. If you stay for several days and want your room cleaned during your stay, you have to pay extra.

Free Oslo: VJ Feeler showcase

Anne-Sophie Redisch — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:18:42 +0000

In Oslo next week? Perhaps you’re desperately searching for something not ski-related to do for a few hours? Then, how about trying your hand at VJ’ing? Check out VJ feeler showcase and some wicked visualisations.

The event is free, but spaces are limited to just 30, so hurry and send an e-mail to contact@studiotwo.no for your free ticket.

When: Tuesday 1 March at 1900 (7 pm)
Venue: Fredensborgveien 22 (in the city centre)
Admission: free

Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo

Anne-Sophie Redisch — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:33:57 +0000

This week marks the beginning of Oslo’s biggest sporting event in years. From 23 February to 6 March, Oslo will host the Nordic World Ski Championships. At least 650 athletes from more than 60 countries will compete. 300 000 spectators are expected – and hundreds of millions of TV viewers.

The World Championships feature 21 different events within various disciplines of cross-country skiing and ski jumping. Of course, with a huge event like this there will also be heaps of festivals and cultural activities.

All the sporting events will take place at the new Holmenkollen National Arena.

When Juan Samaranch, former leader of the International Olympic Committee, said the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics was the best Winter Olympics ever, Norwegians really took that to heart. So naturally the goal this time is to be the best skiing world championships ever.

This is also an opportunity for the women to make world-changing strides. According to an article in the Norwegian English-language website Views and News from Norway, the performance of women ski jumpers at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo … is likely to determine whether they’ll make it onto the Olympics.

Follow the official Nordic World Ski Championships website here

When Holmenkollen re-opened last year after restorations, popular local girl Annette Sagen was the first official jumper. Photo by Skiforbundet/flickr’s Creative Commons