bklyn.

i realized last summer that i had not had the opportunity to enjoy the holidays that i had earned. since i worked for a project that lasted only till the end of the year, i was presented with a few weeks of leisure. add overtime, and there was plenty.

last fall there were five weeks left, so on a plane i hopped to see a dear friend.

sandy had visited just a few days before, and i landed into a city that was moved by donation rallies, a barely working subway system, was to be hit by a blizzard only a few days afterwards and where everyone felt anxious about the coming presidential election. an exciting time to be in the heart of everything, then.

for me, the fact that manhattan was hardly accessible did not matter. only the j train was running for half the time i was there, but i am completely comfortable in brooklyn and ended up visiting the island twice: once to see a doctor for a strep throat that devastated me for a few days and once to see a friend and visit a couple of museums. greenpoint, williamsburg and bushwick were plenty and, most importantly, a walking distance from my base.

because i am fond of eating, i spent my days flaneuring and enjoying the incredible food. it is handy that i have a local foodie taking me around: the city changes constantly and it is incredibly hard to keep up. lucky me was instantly handed a list of places worthy of visits during the day, and at night we picked dinner and cocktail spots that were, truly, amazing.

here are some of my favorite places to stuff my guts.

toby's estate.

my daily javafix was taken care of either here or at blue bottle coffee (that i have mentioned before). toby's is better for hanging out: comfortable, spacey and inviting. (blue bottle is more of a visit to a lab which you leave with the perfect pour over.) they offer excellent single origins with enough information  to help you choose the perfect cup.

guatemalan single origin coming up.

hanging out at toby's.

el beit.

another small coffee shop where i liked to sip a hot drink and read my book was on bedford. perfect indie soundtrack, organic teas and beautiful fresh cakes, like my pear and ginger loaf served in an urban rustic setting.

five leaves.

for breakfast there is nothing more incredible than their ricotta pancakes. everything else is good, too. getting in for brunch on the weekends may take up to five hours, but is probably worth the wait – if you cannot make it in during the week, that is.

the ricotta pancakes. the size of the banana halves give you an idea of the portion. the dollop on top is maple butter. i am serious: this is heaven on earth.

egg.

for the perfect brunch that soothes every nerve in your body. organic and local, carefully prepared. served with a calm. and they give you crayons if the smoothness of everything gets a little too balsamic for your taste. just grab a color and go crazy on the tablecloth.

eggs rothko.

brooklyn label.

another great brunch spot is up in greenpoint. the chipped paint, the crammed bar and lines of locals who just grab a coffee to go make it homey even for a visitor. definitely not touristy, yet, the wait is still about an hour on weekends. a good tip is to walk in for the waiting list and stroll down the street to word for a great book.

artichoke mash and veggie sausage.

m shanghai.

for dumplings, there is really no need to go to chinatown. dough-covered yumminess is available right on grand, in the new location of m shanghai just a block from their original spot. the indie diner vibe is still there, as is the tattooed staff, and the food as sumptuous as ever.

samurai mama.

nothing makes me feel better jet lagged that a hot bowl of soup. udon with a fully flavored broth might just about cure all your ailments. no, actually, i am sure it will.

sansai udon.

café de la esquina.

although nowadays you can get decent mexican street food in helsinki, too, a proper fish taco experience is something i truly cherish on my trips to nyc. this old, glitzy diner brings simple and beautiful mexican tacos and quesadillas to the table. fresh and lovely.

pescado a la brasas taco.

lobster joint.

forget hotdogs, it's time for a little more elevated street snack. everyone in nyc seems to have been raving about lobster rolls for a couple of years now, but i finally had my chance with the scissory suckers. it is slightly more pricey than your average meat-in-a-bun, but here the value for money is definitely at its best: lots of lobster, fresh herb mayo, fries and a pickle. served fast, hot and to be eaten standing up. serious business, i say.

new england lobster roll.

the meatball shop.

don't let the name fool ya, there's plenty for a vegetarian to enjoy at the meatball shop. they serve great veggie balls, sliders, smashes and a mouthwatering selection of sides. and if you visited linnanmäki kattila last summer, you'll see where the inspiration for their meatball menu came from... imitation is the highest form of flattery.

we stumbled in during the blizzard and secured a seat without waiting. probably the only night out in brooklyn when everything was almost empty... perfect weather for some hearty food.

the blue stove.

i hardly ever eat dessert. my sweet tooth got snatched by the tooth fairy around the time i turned 22, and it's been awol ever since. however, on my trips i seem to get beside myself thinking about pie, cakes and donuts. especially pie. american bakeries and diners offer the most amazing pies with crusts that are never too sweet and where the fruit is tart and fresh. and then there is blue stove with a gazillion huge pies just waiting for me to turn into jabba the hut. decisions, decisions. i dare you to leave after eating just one slice...

pumpkin pie.

momofuku milk bar.

when sweet is not sweetness enough, there is crack pie. a heavy slice of sugar, butter, more sugar, more butter, some cream and milk and some more sugar. and a rather heavy pinch of salt, just to perfect it. once you have a taste, the name will seem natural. trust me.

do not let the looks deceive you. this is crack.

well, it seems ate my way through brooklyn.

top 10 of 2010.

i am not in the habit of doing these lists. i think this might be the first time, like ever, that i am putting together a summary of albums that i liked in one year. there were many others with excellent parts. not all of these are great throughout.

but here is my list in no particular order.

twin shadow: forget



national: high violet



magenta skycode: relief



villa nah: origin



owen pallett: heartland



marina and the diamonds: the family jewels



the hundred in the hands: the hundred in the hands



bag raiders: bag raiders



anoraak: wherever the sun sets



jaakko eino kalevi: modern life

things that make me go hmmm.

things that have made me go hmmm in all sorts of ways lately:

1. we have an idiom in finnish "thanks for the last time". i do not recall a similar one in english, one meant to be uttered when met again after a particularly fun or beneficial last meetup, but there might be one despite my amnesia... (do share, if you remember, please.)

the proper response to it is "thank you, too" – an acknowledgement that you enjoyed it as well. last week a friend i did a favor for responded to my utterance of courtesy by responding "you're welcome." not sure what to think about it... perhaps i was too keen for a thank you?

2. anyone fancy a cup of tea? the "tv pick-up" in the uk after a regular episode of eastenders can be about 3 gigawatts, which represents one and a quarter million kettles going on at the same time. it’s such a massive amount that they have to borrow electricity from france to stop the lights going off.

i love imagining an entire nation moving as one.

3. the opening scene of simpsons 101010 episode created by banksy. the underworld of creation...



4. the geometry of pasta for those of us who barely differentiate between spaghetti and capelli d'angelo... oh crap, i had no idea there were that many.

5. alain delorme's photographs of little girls and bicycle haulers. as fas as the first go, there's barbie and barbie, but for the latter the question is only: how do they do it?

have a great week!

cream of the crop.

here are a few recommendations for you art lovers out there:

1. cream at kiasma.

starting officially this friday, we were offered a sneak preview last night before tonight's official opening party. the exhibition is built of the works of the young artists dubbed yba who were the proteges of saatchi.

there are exquisite pieces from private collections that you don't want to miss. like this monoprint scribble from tracey emin below:



2. the kalevalakehto installation at the south tip of seurasaari.

i attended the opening night with elaborate program and a reception with delicacies from ilmatar restaurant. the serenity of the place was tangible although there were incredibly many people present – but i recommend walking down there with minimal company.



3. fashion photo helsinki by daniela talvitie at design museum.

up-and-coming and already established designers' gear shot in beautiful images by a brazilian fashion photographer.

4. the delicate, desperate and delightful video installation of isaac julien at taidehalli.

i have no words to describe this one. i only recommend you take a clear mind with you – and time. and keep your fingers crossed that there aren't many others in the room with you.

5. this weekend is the last opportunity to make it to the dreamy sleepwalks of miikka vaskola at kalhama piippo contemporary.

go and ruthlessly take advantage of all of this.

ride the heatwave.

now that the weather is breaking records daily, i have been hiding within the cool privacy of my home and underneath one of the large trees of my nearby oasis where the wind hits just perfectly. it is my last week of work before holiday, but i met my deadlines last week and found myself lolling without major expectations from anyone. i vaguely recall this feeling from school (or was it university – it's been ages, you know) and i feel i traveled universes back in history.

last week's highlights were:

1. the monsoon storm that hit us, had people swimming in the street and yours truly splashing away to get some nepalese dinner after a job well done. it was over and done with right when i got back home. beautiful.

summer parka by makia, tee by roisin murphy for fashion against aids for h&m, sweats by monki, boots by nokian.

2. a long hot night at tervasaari, toasting and playing basketball at a friend's bday picnic. happy bday, h!

thermochromatic tee by american apparel, denim shorts by current/elliott, shades by marc jacobs, bag by marc by marc jacobs, necklace from spitalfields market, bracelets by bless and h&m men, watch by casio.

3. picnic that reoccured for several consecutive days underneath the same large tree. friends lingered for some hours, left and returned the next day, dogs helped to read the newspapers, everyone enjoyed the sun...

tank by monki, jorma enjoying the daily news, friends. the shots are captured with random hipstamatic settings – just like it felt. random.

4. cocktails at tiki bar.

5. this song by the memory tapes playing in my ipod, finding the video sunday night and realizing that it perfectly captures the hot hipstamatic nights we've enjoyed.

i'm in love with you, little sister
we ride home in the night
while under our feet, the rain paints the street with the stars
passing cars with light trails behind them
we could follow them on
giving this town is wearing me down
lets take off
no one would know that we've gone



how have you adjusted to the heat surpassing the previous high each day?

list for the beginning of summer.

feelin' positive and everything. things that make me happy at the moment:

1. switching my facebook to pirate english. "yar scurvey self be aprreciat'in this."
2. foursquare and getting my friends excited about it. despite the many obvious bugs in it, it works as a miracle tool for meeting up with friends. if they remember to check in to places, that is...
3. my new shoes from zara. i've worn them everywhere, including the monki/weekday opening party you might have read about everywhere else. i had the chance to see everything an hour earlier at the press event, but have yet to return to the store for shopping. needless to say, i had fun, had a few drinks and chatted with friends. a great party, so thank you everyone involved.


4. nettle soup i made from freshly picked local superfood from the garden cottage. omnomnom.


5. the new solo single from bloc party frontman kele, "tenderoni". the song combines kele's hauntingly ripping voice with some club friendly twitching. i can feel this filling dark dance floors very very late in the hot night.



what makes you happy at the moment?

events that make me happy.

1. monki opens a store in helsinki on may 19. i've written about them before and love their clever appreaciation of södermalm hipster fashion. this is what i call great spring news!

2. elle turns 2yrs tomorrow with a party at bläk. i look forward to cheerful toasting and fashion.

3. tomorrow also makia is holding a retailer's cup of disco shaft ball (i.e. diskosähly) at the tiger. here's the invite... that should be interesting.



4. i will be dj'ing in turku on friday. klubi, kolo. it's free so come!

list of lessons.

things i learned today...

1. when your best friend calls and tells you she's been selected as one of ten best dressed women in finland by the poshest women's magazine in the country, the correct response is not to burst out laughing. even if the first thought in your head is "crap, didn't realize we're that old..."

2. cutting recipes from magazines might induce inexplicable cravings. all i could think about yesterday was a hamburger and i finally had one late at night at morrison's grill and green (a humongous veggie burger with halloumi, recommended although they could improve the patty and the ambience in general...). the reason became clear after i tidied our dining table at home and found a clipping of a fish burger recipe with a mouth-watering picture. and no, i could not wait long enough to take the photo before taking the first bite...

3. despite your stern wishful thinking, the gym does not meet you halfway. if you never walk all the way to the gym, you'll never exercise. ahem. bye bye chanel...

4. some recent events have convinced me that some finnish companies and company representatives really need an explicit policy when it comes to dealing with blog publicity – here's an example from while back of dealing horribly (i.e. condescendingly) with especially the negative kind. i will consider this a job opportunity (consultant, anyone?! haha!) in addition to my other little projects inspired by witnessing incredible albeit avoidable messes.

5. speed shopping can sometimes be extremely gratifying. although i believe in considering every purchase carefully beforehand, i somehow shun basics whilst doing that. running into zara 15 minutes before closing time exposed my hands to this subtly pink leopard tunic/tee/dress which i would have considered for too long and left it at the store, if i had the time. now, i'm happy i just intuitively grabbed it because it's light, long enough and comfortable. leopard print rules my world.

boots and tee by zara, wax coated jeans by cos.

any lessons you want to share?

sniffles.

this winter i have been scared by the flu numerous times – a little congestion here, some slight temperature there – but i've felt fine after a good night's sleep. this time it caught me good. i am a red nosed, trembling and aching mess.

thus, a list of things i missed because i am sick.

1. make the girl dance at redrum
2. all finnish catwalk events and parties
3. opening of margarita rosselló ramón at galleria huuto.
4. opening of "muiston pysymättömyys" (the impermanence of memory) at kulttuuriarena gloria.
5. most of the flavors of our fabulous second anniversary dinner at farang.

last three i recommend you go see and experience yerself – i will as soon as i get some positive sensation back in my body. now it's time for only tea and painkillers with a whiff of nasal spray.

edit: i also missed the opening of susanna majuri's vedentutkijan tytär at the museum of photoraphy. i will write about it once i get there, but here's mv's musings on the show.

my style blog list.

after browsing several blogs i noted the following cannots worthy of listing.

1. i cannot list outfits from last year because the ones pictured here are not representative in any way. a worthless bunch as a gallery of style evolvement or cohesion. i do not think i've evolved anyways.

2. i cannot list any resolutions for the new year since i have none.

3. i cannot list any sale items i yearn for or got because i have not checked out or shopped any sales. none. zip.

4. i cannot list any ideas about next spring since i have not browsed one single fashion magazine, show or website (outside of blogs where people seem to be already all about organza...) and do not feel like the freezing weather gives any reason to ponder spring. generally, i do not plan ahead to spring but just accept it as it comes, dressed as i happen to be. finding a new look for spring is a totally foreign idea to me.

5. i cannot list any style aspirations since currently my biggest concern is whether i should shave my head today or tomorrow. prolly tomorrow.

instead i'll post a song i've been listening to a lot lately by marina and the diamonds.

average joan.

earlier this fall i mentioned that i had some repeated media attention. the first interview came out – as did my response to it – and it was the only one where i agreed to talk as a style blogger.

this month's print media contribution is in the newest issue of trendi magazine, a finnish fashion journal. i was asked to help a friend and pose as an average style joan, "tyylitavis", for a series she writes for the magazine. the idea is to take regular people who dress well in accordance with a random denominator, such as patterns, colors, textures, etc. so far i have really liked the contributions and her choices for average joes and janes have been interesting.

the theme of this particular issue was winter weather, and we were asked to find outfits we'd wear in three different temperatures: zero, minus 10 and the freezing minus 20. my monochromatic ways proved slightly challenging, but i could gather the required outfits with some minor additional color or hue.

since you haven't seen photos of my outdoor looks due to poor lighting conditions and my inability to remember taking pics while rushing out the door, here's a glimpse of what i look like walking in the wintery streets.


photos by chris vidal tenomaa.

outfits: "zero" shirt sleeve scarf by johanna kahra, blazer mm6 by martin margiela, gloves by zara, wax coated jeans by cos, booties by prada. "minus10" beanie by maison martin margiela, scarf by sandro, coat by club monaco, pants by fifth avenue shoe repair, boots by dr martens. "minus20" cashmere beanie and dress by cos, scarf by chloé, fur coat second hand, merino leggings by wolford, boots by alexander wang.

for temperatures closing on freezing i layer wool and keep my pants tight because of the inevitable, creeping slush that finds its way towards the knees if pants even remotely sweep the ground. the grungey scarf that ties with "flannel shirt" sleeves is an acquisition from helsinki10 xmas market some years ago, and although i hardly wear brown, i love the flowing warmth of the scarf.

for minus ten i go for looser layers of wool. the playful pants add interest to an otherwise somber combo and the scarf has become a new favorite because of the bright color and the subtle studs – although i must admit i am ready to see studs making a comeback as a less prominent embellishment. i feel like a little gnome in this outfit, ready to hide underneath the gooseberry bush...

since i am not a fan of the cold and dress in ways that actually fit the season – which is probably why i was chosen for this particular article – i hardly leave the house at freezing temperatures. if i have to, at minus 20 i'm probably on my way to something important and will be wearing a dress. again layers of wool, high heels because they act as small ice spikes (yup, it was funny to note that one of the other two girls thought wedges were the most convenient heels for wintertime while i totally disagree...) and my beloved corpse, tuija. the soft cashmere beanie keeps my head warm and does not irritate dry winter skin.

what would you wear if you were challenged with a similar threesome?

five guilty pleasures.

bloggers form a community that follows its own rules of conduct. cross-linking and mutual commenting are some requirements, but there are other little quirks are well. one curious habit among bloggers is to give each other awards and challenge each other with memes. essentially these circulating questionnaires are innocent – they are the modern version of chain letters and friend notebooks.

as of late i have pondered my relationship with the blogosphere: the virtual communities' rules strengthen little bubbles for socializing, and awards play a part in this creation. oftentimes it seems the grasp on reality among bloggers becomes warped by the internet community: the internal communication takes place on another, reality-ridden level altogether. the bloggers i feel the need to extend more than a virtual shoulder pat towards are a rare few, but i know many socialize offline, as well, and meetings are not uncommon. many of these habits seem to feed the bloggers' need for peer support, but also create the illusion of there being an enviable blogista world out there somewhere that readers cannot become a part of, but bloggers should. let me assure that there isn't one.

nevertheless, approaching people one feels affinity towards is something i will concentrate on, and i will continue to hold the ones i find endearing close. i also think forming offline bonds with genuinely interesting people can be extremely satisfying, and believe i've made real friends through blogging. grand, now ain't it?

one of the more recent acquaintances is kamicha, who gave me the divine award that comes with a meme. i am to list 5 guilty pleasures of mine.

as kamicha, i hardly live my life regretting or feeling guilty over what i choose to do. as a self-proclaimed hedonist i have many habits i probably could or should feel guilt over, but my rationalizing skills save me from falling into self-induced emotional torture. pleasures, especially, are not something that i feel guilt over, but since i do recognize some discrepancies, i will try to list them here.

1. elitist contempt. my only real guilt inducing pleasure is to read discussion forums, especially the forum of helsingin sanomat. the sheer stupidity and ignorance of people is entertaining and ego-elevating. cheap thrills if there ever were any... the guilt is derived from the time i waste there because there's nothing newsworthy in many people being ignorant and prejudiced and needing reassurance by laughing at people makes me rather stupid, right? however, i do not comment, because that takes the guilt level a notch too high to my liking. generally speaking, i have no interest in communicating with people who are not capable of the standard i expect – my life's just too short for stick-figure explanations. and there are aplenty of people that deserve my precious benevolence (haha, sound smug enough yet?) and more than a few i consider worthy of pure admiration. therefore, this is one habit i am seriously working on rejecting.

2. shoes. although i cannot really say i feel guilt over shoe purchases, i have felt momentary regret (and nausea) over the revelation that i have spent ridiculous amounts on shoes i cannot walk in. here's an example of a pair i bought, pondered over for a while and arranged a strategic meeting with two friends i knew would never say "return them!" to back me up. stupid, because they require a completely flat surface for (very. careful.) walking and were, let's just say, several hundred euros. as one of the friends said i can always use them as bookends...

platform sandals by miumiu.

and for this to be a genuine guilty pleasure, i am willing to confess that this pair is not alone: this row of shoeboxes is just what came out of a closet we sold. there's more in other closets and in the storage. woops.



3. cheese, eaten plain. generally speaking, i don't feel guilty over eating: i eat as often as i want and what i want, and you won't find me divulging deploringly the amount of chocolate or pizza i crammed into my body – it is a part of women's socializing culture i fundamentally do not understand. nonetheless, i was brought up to believe that my favorite food, cheese in any form, should not be eaten plain, but accompanied with bread. the reasoning behind was simple: in a family of six, cheese consumption was significant and expensive, and i alone could have finished a block a day.

i am also aware that cheese is one of the most consuming food products: in many cases it is ecologically as devastating as meat production. another reason to feel guilty for my love of cheese. hence, i still feel slight guilt whenever i eat cheese plain. which is daily. gulp.

4. intoxication in great company. sitting down for a bottle (or two) of wine or five pints is something i definitely love in the right company. although i don't feel guilty after drinking because i'd screw anything up or thought socializing wasn't worth the expense, i do realize that leaving after a few less would be better considering the next day: i hate days that just pass by inefficiently if choose the leisure mode for the night before and not for the day following. the fun compensates the hangover guilt, though.

5. clothes. well, yes. the necessity argument is without basis in my case. every single purchase i make, whether old, new, borrowed or blue, raises issues of guilt. and comes with a significant dose of pleasure. much of this blog is about this particular guilty pleasure, so i'll just leave it at that this time.

there you have it. to act according to the blogger code of conduct, i shall pass this on: jaakko is simply divine, and so are salka, anna, petra and anu.

city sleek.

shopping in nyc can feel like a full-time job. the possibilities are endless, and even if you choose your destinations carefully, the probability of finding yet another new interesting boutique is, let's just say, high.

as a consistent rule i would avoid shopping during the weekend. "the earlier the better" also applies whenever possible – unless you belong to the group of people who find empty stores intimidating. in addition to a couple of exceptions, i only shop in areas i find otherwise also inspiring, and therefore you're not going to find recommendations for stores in soulless midtown here. i also recommend signing up for all possible lists before traveling in order to be informed about warehouse and sample sales in the city. last week many of my friends got lucky at the barneys new york warehouse sale...

but here we go.

first manhattan.

century21 is something every new yorker loves. whether you're into high fashion or not, this bargain hunters' heaven is a likely target – whether you're willing to admit it or not. the stock is past season items from every imaginable designer and brand, and the shoe department alone is worth a visit (designer shoes are downstairs...) go early in the morning (opens at 7.30am), during the week, and reserve a few hours for browsing. add everything you like ever so slightly to your shopping basket and just try it on. if you don't grab it right away, it may be gone...

i left with a helmut lang wool dress (below), some rick owens, martin margiela and vivienne westwood garb, and although the prices are relative to the originals, the savings were huge. for designers whose style alters very little from one season to another and for fashion lovers like myself who know exactly what they love regardless whether it is current season or not, century21 is like the perfect speed date: instantly gratifying.

dress helmut lang; watch tag heuer; glasses chanel.

barney's co-op is the hipper, younger alternative to the high-end barney's department store. in their own words "it's always downtown even when it's uptown" which pretty much sums up nyc fashion. from their several locations i like the original soho store best. my sneak peek boots are from there – and sugar kane, more pics are on their way...

oak is a boutique started in williamsburg and now has an additional location on the edge of soho towards east village. they sell up-and-coming young designers and established brands such as philip lim, alexander herchcovich+wang, bernhard willhelm and comme des garçons. a tad on the expensive side and with snotty service, the selection is worth ignoring the downsides.

opening ceremony on the border of soho and chinatown is one of absolute favorites. three floors of edgy designers and special collaborations guarantee there is always something interesting and new on offer.

for streetwear lovers the scene in manhattan seems grim. many amazing sneaker stores have closed down although luckily dave's quality meat is still alive and kickin' for the pleasure of footwear connoisseurs. for those who desire a wide selection and good prices the secret is to go down on broadway in soho: the lower you go towards canal street, the lower the prices on sneakers. for converse, the prices go down approximately 10$ per block. the emporium i recommend is michael k who carry several brands but also rare and customized sneakers.

the design aficionado will hail the incredible prada store in soho designed by rem koolhaas. the sales associates are used to design students sketching away on the steps and service is sometimes hard to find due to the immense amount of tourists just checking the interior. but even if you go in intending not to buy, it may prove hard – as it did for both my usually hight-street wearing little sis and meself. this time i was seduced by these booties with a thick rubber sole, "läskärit" (i.e. fatties) as we'd call them in finnish.

booties prada.

consignment shopping is huge in nyc, and for manhattan my recommendation is to head over to the east village and tokyo 7 where the fashionable and wealthy take the stuff they get bored with – usually after one wear. high-end recycling never got better... on the same street you can find other quality vintage stores, so just pop in and see what's on offer. to my disappointment, second-hand and vintage stores have gone insane with their pricing: lower east side stores sell second-hand for hundreds of dollars a piece regardless of quality, brand and condition. i had to conclude it wasn't worth it...

next time, brooklyn.

stocking up.

expats everywhere have hoarding tendencies to a certain degree when it comes to things they miss from their native countries. it seems foods are the most common type of longed for items, but cosmetics are also popular and i've heard of even a token panty-hose afficionado. finns typically miss salmiakki, dark sour rye bread and finnish milk chocolate, and you're bound to find a stash hidden somewhere in their homes after every visit(or from) home.

my sister's list is always the same: carelian rice pies, liverwurst, hk blue bbq sausage, aura blue cheese and rye bread. after over a decade in london, she still prefers to start her mornings with a finnish-style open rye sandwich...

during my years abroad i hardly remember missing anything from finland. i get too excited and preoccupied with world cuisines to start reminiscing familiar flavors. the case might be different if i spent several years at the same spot, but so far i've managed quite alright with local offerings.

nonetheless, i do form habits whilst abroad. here's a list of locales and acquired tastes:

1. my first long term exposure to another culture was in the beginning of the 90's and in toronto. i still remember fondly "timbits", small donut balls that are (i guess) the centres of actual donuts available at tim hortons. different flavors in small mouthfuls of sugary goodness. i am not sure a lot of people know this, but canadians are donut crazy...

2. the next period was san francisco in the late nineties where i was introduced to mac cosmetics. for years everyone i knew carried back small black'n'white plastic bags full of make-up because of my addiction. that is, until the brand became available in finland a couple of years ago. in cali, i also became a fan of peanut butter chocolate: my trips to the states begin with a visit to the drug store and a bag full of butterfingers and reese's peanut butter cups.

3. before the millenium i spent a few months in london that got me hooked on muji, the japanese no logo brand. they make the best cotton camisoles and the only pens i like to write with. there isn't a visit to london that does not include a stocking up visit to muji. i also like buying vegetarian "bangers" (i.e. sausages) from there and the coffee at harvey nichols is amazing.

4. i've written about my kiehl's habit before, but new york had plenty of additional things to cause dependence. american apparel was an instant love; i don't exactly wear any other kind of underwear. luckily they have a european online store and shops around europe these days. moreover, i formed a permanent love for dean and deluca's coffee after walking every morning to fetch my cup from their broadway store around the corner from where i lived in soho. after my move to williamsburg, i still stopped by the store every so often. furthermore, i miss a lunch consisting of an h&h bagel with hummus and fresh tomatoes followed by a beard papa's cream puff. yummy.

here are some of the essentials i needed this time in london. i was also pleased to find a new fragrance at kiehl's: pear. i'm not usually fond of fruit scented cosmetics because of their artificial sweetness, but this one smells like a real, plump pear. beautiful!


do you tend to miss things from finland when abroad? have you formed preferences for items only available in certain other countries?

survival kit.

since lists of all sorts are fun and frivolous but trivially interesting, i'm going to post a list of items i never leave the house without.

1. calendar. moleskine holds everything i have trouble remembering. for someone as scatterbrained as myself, it really means everything. i have a long and affectionate relationship with moleskine and the back pockets of my old notebooks and calendars store many of my most important memories.

2. notebook. i write all info on jobs in my notebook and follow-up with it as well. i also doodle random ideas, such as blog posts, in the back.

3. muji pens. i am really particular about my scribbling tool and i've gotten used to these pens. my sister sends me loads from london unless i make it there myself.

4. earrings. after years of going bare-eared i started wearing small studs last fall. i got these efva attling ones as a present and love their simplicity. actually, i'm a huge fan of her streamlined and stylish jewelry.

5. perfume. i don't leave the house without perfume. i may leave barefaced and barefoot, but never without my scent. for years now it's been dior homme which is warm and spicy but does not have the secret ingredient that transforms all other male perfumes into the familiar harsh, manly aroma.

6. watch. not unlike many others i took a break from wearing wristwatches for a few years and relied on my phone for telling the time. about three years ago i bought this digital chronograph from tag heuer, and have grown so attached to it i feel naked without it hanging heavy on my wrist. it's big and bulky and works perfectly with my androgynous style.

7. powder. forever shiny i cannot leave the house without my compact. i have been a mac aficionado for ten years and kept harassing friends and relatives who travel for my basic makeup until last year when mac arrived at stockmann's, and my powder of choice makes no exception. currently it's from their mineralize line.

8. phone. slim, cheap and basic nokia. it needs to fit into my pocket, not break easily when thrown ('cause i'm clumsy!) and work well for talking and texting, that's all.

what are your daily essentials?

chuck it in the bucket!

in this age of economic insecurity, ecological disasters and unemployment rates, even the optimist must prioritize. since i love lists and sharing them, the fuckitlist wraps up exactly how i among many others feel. instead of making lists of what you still want to achieve and do, why not give a go for all of the stuff you're happily letting go of?

my list of 3 fuckits:

1. finishing anna karenina by tolstoy
2. trying to rejuvenate my palm tree
3. finding spirituality

what are yours?

shooting matters.

isn't it great that an increasing number of people take photographs as a hobby? what's also great is that some (online) magazines hold competitions and publish the greatest photos submitted. wired holds a bimonthly contest with a changing subject matter. the quality of snapshots that make their top 10 lists is nothing short of spectacular; obviously some are there more because of artistic credit and some due to their appealing (humorous or otherwise) content.

this time around it's animals, and with photos as cute as this one of a beagle and a lizard, it's a worthy regular visit. readers' selection of top 10 here and the editors' picks here. enjoy.

delicious on a slow sunday.

1. smoked almonds.
2. dean and deluca soho blend coffee.
3. non-sugared lingonberry juice.
4. bolla amarone red wine.
5. leftover from last night's dinner party: lemon risotto with tons of freshly grated parmigiano reggiano.

'tis the season to stay in and watch some films.

i used to be quite the film buff a decade or so ago: i'd watch anything and everything i could get my hands on. i still enjoy movies, but since it's become less common of a pastime, i'm also more picky. during the holidays i caught up with many films i had wanted to see and, moreover, enjoyed a few unexpected cinematic treasures. equipped with a few boxes of chocolate pralines (any kind will do, i'm not picky...), red wine and a wool blanket, my main excuse for not blogging at all during the holidays is that i had my eyes glued to the tv.

one of the better ones was changeling starring angelina jolie. not your basic picker-upper, i do not recommend watching it when feeling down. the film itself is refreshingly lacking in tear-inducing gimmicks and concentrates on the drama of real human loss and insecurity.

i also finally saw the dark knight with the amazing joker played by heath ledger. it felt strange watching someone who had just passed away doing something that brilliantly. otherwise the movie was crap-o-lah, although i do wonder what device is used for christian bale's darth vader sound...

then there was milk starring sean penn. based on a true story, it concentrates on the essential last years of the life of a closeted gay man who ends up as the first openly homosexual public official in the u.s., more accurately in san francisco. a representation of a life of secrets which many people wish would stay hidden, it was tragic to see how the argumentation against gay people has not changed much during these three decades. also, worth of note is the lack of women visible: there are only two female roles, the activist lesbian and the christian fanatic.

as a total opposite, i also watched the women the remake of a 1939 film with the same title, where notably no men appear on screen. unfortunately the update's storyline has none of the witty charm of the original film's social commentary, but comes across as pathetically stereotypical, boring, superficial with monologues conjured only to bring about tears of fake pathos because someone lost a life of luxury. what a waste of time.

nevertheless, i can recommend seeing the curious case of benjamin button. a film that aspires towards greatness, with some exquisite performances (cate blanchett and taraji p. henson) it almost gets there. it does lack credibility in its grandiosity; there are better films about fleeting time and mortality than this one. but worthy it is.

wishy washy part two: books.

all i want for xmas... continues with some food for thought.

1. a mercy by toni morrison.
morrison reapproaches slavery but this time crossing and challenging racial boundaries.

2. 2666: a novel by roberto bolaño.
a 900 page murder mystery and philosophical exploration.

3. indignation by philip roth.
i'm hoping it will be another masterpiece of the troubles of the masculine.

4. when you are engulfed in flames by david sedaris.
sedaris goes through midlife crisis. a sure gem.

5. i was told there'd be cake by sloane crosley.
a cross between sedaris and carrie bradshaw, could this be a piece of chick lit i might be able to finish?

6. the winners by julio cortazar.
a classic by one of my favorite authors.

7. brief interviews with hideous men by david foster wallace.
supposedly a very uneven collection of essays with a few brilliant anomalies worthy of reading the whole thing. if you like wallace, that is.

8. dangerous laughter by steven millhauser.
almost chekhovian formality characterizes this much anticipated collection of stories.

9. puhdistus by sofi oksanen.
the finlandia literary price winner of 2008.

10. kohtuuttomuus by pirkko saisio.
another much awaited novel by an excellent writer.