Queens Day 2010

Wow, didn’t realize a holiday celebrating the birthday of your old queen while selling junk on the streets and wearing orange could be so fun! Far surpassed my expectations! I highly recommend partaking in Queens day if you ever get a chance.

Boat parties all over the Jordaan

Friends!

Live concert out of a canal side window

hangin on the houseboat

ORANGE

Spring Westerpark Amsterdam

Loving the weather, loving Amsterdam.

Pillow Fight in Amsterdam April 3

If you want to let out some aggression this Saturday, head to the Dam Square at 5pm for a giant pillow fight! I did this in Austin, Texas a few years back and it was a lot of fun. Below is the description from the facebook invite.

Every year World Pillow Fight Day is celebrated in many cities around the world. It is a free event that is all about fun. Last year Amsterdam participated for the first time and we all had a feathery blast

Our world is increasingly obsessed with regulations, security and commercialism. This threatens our freedom and creativity. That’s why we must reclaim the streets as a place where everybody can simply have fun – without meddling authorities or corporate sponsors. So grab your pillow and join the massive pillow fight on the Dam Square!

There are usually free after parties happening after the pillow fight that last deep into the night. Keep your eyes and ears open for some serious pyjama partying

This is an event that is even more fun if you bring your friends. So invite them through the menu on the right. Everyone can join!

How to join the pillow fight in 5 easy steps:

0. Invite all your fluffy friends
If you hadn’t done so already

1. Dress for press and mess
Wear something photogenic and feather-proof.

2. Bring your own pillow
Soft pillows with feathers are the best!

3. Get there in time
Be there before 5pm and wait for the signal.

4. Fight fluffy
Swing subtly and don’t hit anyone without a pillow.

5. Clean up after yourself
Use public space responsibly. It is not ours only.

Sex in Vondelpark

I’m two years late on this piece of news but did you know you can  legally have sex in Amsterdam’s beautiful Vondel Park? Seeing as it’s legal to pick up prostitutes and do drugs in public, I shouldn’t be that surprised but coming from a conservative state in America, I am easily amused by what is allowed and not allowed in this city. For instance, the Dutch Government is much more concerned with dogs being on their leash than hardcore PDA in public parks. I also see cops here put so much energy into punishing cyclists riding without bike lights but seem to ignore the drunk/high bikers. What else have I been missing out on in this live and let live city?

Humongo Flea Market

Ij Hallen is a huge monthly flea market in North Amsterdam. You take the free ferry from central station to the North of Amsterdam and then you end up in a warehouse with 500 stalls full of stuff. The pictures look like something straight from the 1970s which makes me even more intrigued. I hear you can   snag some interesting stuff for cheap. The next opening is this weekend on Saturday, March 6 and Sunday March 7 from 9:00-16:30.  The market will move outdoors on May 2.

EAH Pop-up store

What exactly is a “pop-up” store, you ask?

According to the EAH! website: “The pop-up store is an initiative of designer Eva Anna Hekking, founder of EAH!, and NV Zeedijk, a dynamic organization which purchases properties in the centre of Amsterdam. Over the past years, the Zeedijk has positively transformed into an upcoming fashion area. Well-fitting within this upcoming new image, NV Zeedijk offered Eva Anna Hekking an empty space at the Zeedijk. As curator she restyled the place into a creative ‘underground’ exhibition versus shop-space.”

The pop up shop essentially houses a new collection of young local designers each month, including women’s clothing, jewellery, furniture, linens, arts, lighting and baby clothes (helloooo colour-by-numbers baby jumpsuits!).

It’s located at Zeedijk 37 and make sure to drop by this Saturday, March 6th when they launch their newest collection with drinks and snacks.

So Ready…

For summer on a boat

My Dream City: Austerdamelwald

This kind of weather in Amsterdam makes me dream of combining the best elements of Amsterdam with other cities. The sun and swimmable water in Austin, TX, the mountains from the swiss alps in Gimmelwald, and everything gezzelig about Amsterdam.

Six Months of Amsterdam

I can’t believe it has already been six months since I moved to Amsterdam. I’m half way through my Master’s program and I feel like I moved to this city a month ago! I came here in the heat and somehow have already managed through a whole month of snow.

The last six months far surpassed my expectations of living here in every way possible. I love Amsterdam just as much as I did when I studied abroad here 2 years ago, I have met some really amazing people, and I’m loving the whole experience of being a graduate student in this city. I came up with the concept of this blog in Texas back in July of 2009 and I am really happy with the amount of feedback and comments I have received. I never anticipated meeting or talking to new people because of my blog but it has been great! I can’t wait to see what Amsterdam will be like in 2010, especially riding around in Summer!

Favorite moments in 2009

International Thanksgiving!

Saturday Market and Pie

Dancing

Weekend trip to Norway

New BFFs

Old friends visiting and bicycles!

International Film Festival Rotterdam

The 39th edition of the International Film Festival in Rotterdam will be held on January 27th through February 7th. It looks like there is going to be tons of interesting films from all over the world. Here is the full list of films.

Here are a few I’m interested to see.

Air Doll

The Border

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