What's New Here?

And speaking of new museum exhibitions... I was invited yesterday to the grand unveiling of the new exhibition at ABBA the Museum. This is the biggest addition to the museum since they opened in May 2013. The museum has been a popular attraction in Stockholm and it is great with a new addition. Click here if you want to read my blog article about my original visit to the museum.
The figures arriving by helicopter...
Finally... together again! The new exhibition consists of life-size, silicon figures of the four ABBA members wearing exact replicas of their (Owe Sandström designed) stage costumes from 1979. In fact, the backdrop to the silicon figures is also a replica of part of their set decor from the 1979 North American tour. The idea for these figures has been around since 2011 when plans for the museum were being made. But it wasn't until the fall of 2013 that plans for the figurines started in earnest.
...before being unveiled to the international press.
Göran Lundström of EffektStudion was given the commission and it took him and a team of 35+ persons about a year to create the figures. I must say that they are eerily life-like... very impressive work. Though this is perhaps not surprising given that the four ABBA members actively participated in this project, helping with measurements, creative opinions and more.
So... another good reason to visit ABBA the Museum! Or revisit? The museum is located on the island of Djurgården, near other popular attractions like Vasa Museum, Skansen and Gröna Lund. It is quite easy to get to the museum from the Rival Hotel using the Djurgård Ferry. Entrance tickets for the museum can be purchased in advance (time allotments) on their website. If you are staying at the hotel, talk to me if you need help purchasing the tickets. And don't miss the fun museum gift shop when you are there...

Finally... New at ABBA the Museum!

Posted by zlatin

And speaking of new museum exhibitions... I was invited yesterday to the grand unveiling of the new exhibition at ABBA the Museum. This is the biggest addition to the museum since they opened in May 2013. The museum has been a popular attraction in Stockholm and it is great with a new addition. Click here if you want to read my blog article about my original visit to the museum.
The figures arriving by helicopter...
Finally... together again! The new exhibition consists of life-size, silicon figures of the four ABBA members wearing exact replicas of their (Owe Sandström designed) stage costumes from 1979. In fact, the backdrop to the silicon figures is also a replica of part of their set decor from the 1979 North American tour. The idea for these figures has been around since 2011 when plans for the museum were being made. But it wasn't until the fall of 2013 that plans for the figurines started in earnest.
...before being unveiled to the international press.
Göran Lundström of EffektStudion was given the commission and it took him and a team of 35+ persons about a year to create the figures. I must say that they are eerily life-like... very impressive work. Though this is perhaps not surprising given that the four ABBA members actively participated in this project, helping with measurements, creative opinions and more.
So... another good reason to visit ABBA the Museum! Or revisit? The museum is located on the island of Djurgården, near other popular attractions like Vasa Museum, Skansen and Gröna Lund. It is quite easy to get to the museum from the Rival Hotel using the Djurgård Ferry. Entrance tickets for the museum can be purchased in advance (time allotments) on their website. If you are staying at the hotel, talk to me if you need help purchasing the tickets. And don't miss the fun museum gift shop when you are there...

As we move on to March, it is a good idea to look ahead and see what will be showing at the main art museums and galleries in Stockholm this season. Looks like some interesting exhibitions to choose from! After each museum/gallery, I have written a descriptive word about the type of art they show (modern, classic, etc.). Please keep in mind that it is just a generalization of what they usually show. There are many more smaller galleries. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, please contact me for more information.
Prince Eugen painting. Photo by: Kaleb Torin.
Prins Eugen Waldemarsudde.

Pattern for Mah-Jong by Veronica Nygren, 1968. Thielska Gallery. Photo: Carl Johan de Geer

Art Museum Exhibitions- Spring 2015

Posted by zlatin

As we move on to March, it is a good idea to look ahead and see what will be showing at the main art museums and galleries in Stockholm this season. Looks like some interesting exhibitions to choose from! After each museum/gallery, I have written a descriptive word about the type of art they show (modern, classic, etc.). Please keep in mind that it is just a generalization of what they usually show. There are many more smaller galleries. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, please contact me for more information.
Prince Eugen painting. Photo by: Kaleb Torin.
Prins Eugen Waldemarsudde.

Pattern for Mah-Jong by Veronica Nygren, 1968. Thielska Gallery. Photo: Carl Johan de Geer

Congratulations Oaxen Krog on your second star!
Today The Michelin Guide announced the restaurants in the Nordic countries which have received stars in their guide for 2015. And it was good news for Stockholm! While no restaurants made that magical leap from 2 to 3 stars, Oaxen Krog did gain their second star and Volt received their first star. Congratulations to both of them as well as the other restaurants who managed to remain on the list (there were no loss of stars either)!

2 Stars ("Excellent cooking, worth a detour")
1 Star ("A very good restaurant in its category")
Mathias Dahlgren Matsalen maintained their status as a 2 star restaurant.
And, in case you were wondering, 3 stars means "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey". The Michelin Guide has another category, besides the stars, called Bib Gourmand. This is awarded to restaurants with "exceptional good food at moderate prices". In other words, they won't empty your wallet. Here are the restaurants in Stockholm named in the Bib Gourmand category:
If you are going to be staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me for help in making reservations (or if you need further recommendations/assistance). Keep in mind that these restaurants, especially the starred ones, need to be booked well in advance! Click here to see past Michelin Guides as well as other restaurant guides and awards.

Stockholm Restaurants in the Michelin Guide 2015

Posted by zlatin

Congratulations Oaxen Krog on your second star!
Today The Michelin Guide announced the restaurants in the Nordic countries which have received stars in their guide for 2015. And it was good news for Stockholm! While no restaurants made that magical leap from 2 to 3 stars, Oaxen Krog did gain their second star and Volt received their first star. Congratulations to both of them as well as the other restaurants who managed to remain on the list (there were no loss of stars either)!

2 Stars ("Excellent cooking, worth a detour")
1 Star ("A very good restaurant in its category")
Mathias Dahlgren Matsalen maintained their status as a 2 star restaurant.
And, in case you were wondering, 3 stars means "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey". The Michelin Guide has another category, besides the stars, called Bib Gourmand. This is awarded to restaurants with "exceptional good food at moderate prices". In other words, they won't empty your wallet. Here are the restaurants in Stockholm named in the Bib Gourmand category:
If you are going to be staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me for help in making reservations (or if you need further recommendations/assistance). Keep in mind that these restaurants, especially the starred ones, need to be booked well in advance! Click here to see past Michelin Guides as well as other restaurant guides and awards.

For twenty years, F12 was a popular restaurant in Stockholm. Considered one of the city's best, it was awarded a Michelin star several years in row. So it came as a bit of a surprise when owners and chefs Melker Andersson and Danyel Couet announced last year that they were closing the doors, with plans to reopen in a new form and direction. But it only makes sense that after 20 years they would want to try different things to avoid stagnating.
Well, less than 9 months after closing, they have indeed reopened. Same location, but completely different restaurant. The new restaurant is called Público. The idea behind the restaurant is that it should function as a place to spend the entire evening... from pre dinner cocktails to dinner and then to nightclub when the clock strikes midnight.
Salmon ceviche...
The menu is a fusion of Mexican and Peruvian cuisines. The interior, with its color palette of terracotta reds, browns, dark wood and touches of gold, gives me almost a feel of Havana. I stopped by yesterday evening with friends to see the changes, have a drink and try some of the food. I am loathe to call this a real review as we didn't eat a proper dinner (just some "tastes"). I also tend to wait a couple of months after a restaurant opens to give it a proper try. I have been part of the opening of a few restaurants and hotels myself and I know that it takes that long for a place to "find itself".
Tacos!
What we did try were the ceviche and tacos. There are 10 different ceviche and 8 different tacos on the menu. We opted for the salmon (with lime, coconut and coriander) and tuna (with green apple, yuzu and sesame) ceviche. Very delicious... I especially enjoyed the tuna. After that, we moved on to the tacos. Three different varieties came to the table: Iberian pork (with chorizo, beans, and mojo rojo), duck leg (with duck liver, apple, cabbage and chipotle) and king crab (with radish, chili and cress). Everyone at the table had a favorite... mine was the duck.
I will definitely be back to try a proper dinner! Though I do like the idea of sitting with friends, a glass of wine and ordering ceviche and tacos until you have had your fill. Very informal and relaxed. Público is located in the downtown area, just on the other side of Gamla Stan from the Rival Hotel. It is either a 30 minute walk, a short bus ride (#3 from Slussen) or a 5 minute taxi ride.

Restaurant Público

Posted by zlatin

For twenty years, F12 was a popular restaurant in Stockholm. Considered one of the city's best, it was awarded a Michelin star several years in row. So it came as a bit of a surprise when owners and chefs Melker Andersson and Danyel Couet announced last year that they were closing the doors, with plans to reopen in a new form and direction. But it only makes sense that after 20 years they would want to try different things to avoid stagnating.
Well, less than 9 months after closing, they have indeed reopened. Same location, but completely different restaurant. The new restaurant is called Público. The idea behind the restaurant is that it should function as a place to spend the entire evening... from pre dinner cocktails to dinner and then to nightclub when the clock strikes midnight.
Salmon ceviche...
The menu is a fusion of Mexican and Peruvian cuisines. The interior, with its color palette of terracotta reds, browns, dark wood and touches of gold, gives me almost a feel of Havana. I stopped by yesterday evening with friends to see the changes, have a drink and try some of the food. I am loathe to call this a real review as we didn't eat a proper dinner (just some "tastes"). I also tend to wait a couple of months after a restaurant opens to give it a proper try. I have been part of the opening of a few restaurants and hotels myself and I know that it takes that long for a place to "find itself".
Tacos!
What we did try were the ceviche and tacos. There are 10 different ceviche and 8 different tacos on the menu. We opted for the salmon (with lime, coconut and coriander) and tuna (with green apple, yuzu and sesame) ceviche. Very delicious... I especially enjoyed the tuna. After that, we moved on to the tacos. Three different varieties came to the table: Iberian pork (with chorizo, beans, and mojo rojo), duck leg (with duck liver, apple, cabbage and chipotle) and king crab (with radish, chili and cress). Everyone at the table had a favorite... mine was the duck.
I will definitely be back to try a proper dinner! Though I do like the idea of sitting with friends, a glass of wine and ordering ceviche and tacos until you have had your fill. Very informal and relaxed. Público is located in the downtown area, just on the other side of Gamla Stan from the Rival Hotel. It is either a 30 minute walk, a short bus ride (#3 from Slussen) or a 5 minute taxi ride.

First page for the app.
So... do I need to explain what an app is (short for "mobile application")? No, probably not. Remember 15+ years ago when we had to go to the library to do research? These days there is an app for everything and they make our lives simpler by bringing more information to our finger tips via smart phones/pads.
Category: Cultural History
It should come as no surprise that there are lots of apps available that can make your vacation abroad easier. Many are free to download or just cost a few euros/dollars/crowns. I was recently given a tip about a new app for museums in Stockholm, available in Swedish and English, that is very good. It is free to download through iTunes and is compatible for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch (requires iOS 6.0 or later version).
Searching for museums nearby...
Stockholm has an amazing amount of museums and attractions (80+) for a city of its size, so this app is very helpful. The app sorts the museums into four different categories: Cultural History, Art, Natural Heritage and Technology. You can also search for museums alphabetically. Many museums aren't open daily, especially during the low season, and the app lets you also search for museums that are actually open on the day you are out and about. One final search tool is by location. The app can show you, via an online interactive map, which museums are near your current location.
Part of Skansen's page in the app.
There is plenty of information regarding each museum and attraction, including symbols which let you know if it is child-friendly, accessible for the disabled, has a gift shop, café or restaurant. The app also lets you know how to get to the museum and links to its homepage for even more detailed information. If you staying at the Rival Hotel and need help downloading the app or more information... come talk to me directly. All pictures in this article are screenshots from the app.

Stockholm Museum App

Posted by zlatin

First page for the app.
So... do I need to explain what an app is (short for "mobile application")? No, probably not. Remember 15+ years ago when we had to go to the library to do research? These days there is an app for everything and they make our lives simpler by bringing more information to our finger tips via smart phones/pads.
Category: Cultural History
It should come as no surprise that there are lots of apps available that can make your vacation abroad easier. Many are free to download or just cost a few euros/dollars/crowns. I was recently given a tip about a new app for museums in Stockholm, available in Swedish and English, that is very good. It is free to download through iTunes and is compatible for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch (requires iOS 6.0 or later version).
Searching for museums nearby...
Stockholm has an amazing amount of museums and attractions (80+) for a city of its size, so this app is very helpful. The app sorts the museums into four different categories: Cultural History, Art, Natural Heritage and Technology. You can also search for museums alphabetically. Many museums aren't open daily, especially during the low season, and the app lets you also search for museums that are actually open on the day you are out and about. One final search tool is by location. The app can show you, via an online interactive map, which museums are near your current location.
Part of Skansen's page in the app.
There is plenty of information regarding each museum and attraction, including symbols which let you know if it is child-friendly, accessible for the disabled, has a gift shop, café or restaurant. The app also lets you know how to get to the museum and links to its homepage for even more detailed information. If you staying at the Rival Hotel and need help downloading the app or more information... come talk to me directly. All pictures in this article are screenshots from the app.

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