A Sip of Summer

Can't wait for summer? This delicious fruity composition will already let you taste it. I  discovered it during a weekend at the Belgian seaside and just can't get enough! 

River Woods Beach Club

The bartender revealed me his magical mixture:

-Pimm's (unfortunately not that easy to find, try Delhaize or a liquor store)

-Canada Dry

-Pieces of cucumber, apples, oranges and strawberries

Enjoy it at home on your balcony or try it at the Riverwoods in Knokke - I must admit, it tastes even better with the wind in you hair and a view on the sea!

Address:

RIVER WOODS BEACH CLUB
Zeedijk 832b
8300 Knokke-Heist

Wine & Design: The Pixel Bar

In one of the little picturesque streets between art galleries and antique shops, a bit hidden from the tourist crowds at Place Sablon, the Pixel Wine Bar with its original decoration quickly catches your eye.

The capacious windows reveal the artwork of Belgian artist Charles Kaisin who covered the walls and ceiling with thousands of little cubes in different colours - or pixels. Seen from far away the more than 7.500 dots join together to a giant landscape picture.

The wines are excellent (around 4 Euros); beer, coffee and softs are also on the menu as well as little snacks. I tried the salmon wrap (7.50) - recommendable.

Prices are slightly elevated in general, but therefore you can enjoy a very cool and cozy interior - or a terrace in the summer.

Location: Rue Ernest Allard 39, 1000 Bruxelles

Sofas in the Sun

Place Flagey becomes Giant Living Room

Some are lounging on couches having a drink, others are sitting on the floor playing chess or smoking shisha, a band is playing in the background. The event "Take your couch, sit and relax" turned Place Flagey on May 1st into a giant open air living room.

 Everything started with a paramount hangover on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Francois (25), Jeff (25), Benoit (27), Yannick (26), Florent (27) and Raphael (25), all living right next to the Ixelles Ponds, wanted to take advantage of the great weather - but in a casual, comfortable atmosphere. As they had neither access to a terrace nor a balcony, the six friends spontaneously decided to move their living room onto the street. "The feedback we got was so positive that we wanted to try it on a larger scale", Francois tells me.

 The organization takes after the so-called flashmobs, happenings solely organized via the internet and social media where a big group of people comes together to perform a rather absurd act as for example a pillow fight. "We only advertised through Facebook and word of mouth", Jeff says.
And it worked. The concept proved to be a success: The randomly born idea evolved into an event attracting around 100 participants. Like Louis (21) from Lille who was, as most attendees, captivated by the originality of the idea: "This is something different, something unconventional, so I really wanted to come and try it out." Many brought a piece of furniture or decoration along: banana trees, lamps, carpets, shisha pipes, table football and even a stuffed pheasant - there definitely was a real living room feeling.

"Take your couch, sit and relax" is set to take place each year on the 1st of May - if the weather allows it. If you don't want to wait until 2011, just put your sofa outside on the sidewalk. Maybe someone will join you with a banana tree.

Welcome to FEAR AND LOATHING IN BRUSSELS!

As probably every person outside Belgium I thought Brussels was boring and not much more than EU Politics, rainy weather, those omnipresent chocolates, granny laces and Manneken Pis. Until I met some "real Belgians" (yes, they do exist!) and discovered that the real picture was far from what I had had in mind.

Fear and Loathing in Brussels wants you to discover the hidden, the new, the cool, the hype, the fun, the stylish, the crazy, the surprising, the real Brussels - those diamonds that make this city worth living in.

For all Bruxellois, new arrivals, passers-by and everyone who loves the Belgian capital. Be wild!