out and about

Anything special going on that we should know about, let us know and we'll post it!

Links  www.norway.com and http://www.visitoslo.com/

Art Auctions in Oslo - May 2010

Are you in the market for a masterpiece? Well, here are some tips on where you might find one.

Blomqvist Kunsthandel is one of the oldest auction houses of fine art. Viewings and auctions take place at Tordenskiolds gate 5. If you fancy buying a Norwegian “classic”, or watching others spend their money, the next auction will be “Vårauksjon 2010” on May 11th at 18:00. The catalogue is available on line at https://www.blomqvist.no/

Blomqvist also has an online auction for everything from carpets to jewelry, antique furniture to fine arts. You can register and bid online. The Blomqvist Nettauksjon Showroom is at Lille CCVest, 14 Lilleakerveien (in the building behind CCVest Shopping Center) and there you can see the items that are for sale. This is Blomqvist’s outlet for items of slightly less “value”.
https://www.bna.no/#default

Grev Wedels Plass Auksjoner, is the other “fine arts” auction house, right up there at the top with Blomqvist. Grev Wedels only does art (paintings and sculpture). The show room for this auction house is in the lower level of Gamle Logen, while the auction itself is held in Gamle Logen’s the chandelier bedecked, grand ballroom (Gamle Logen, Grev Wedels Plass 2). It is worth going to an auction here just to sit in this fine room. The next auction will be “Grev Wedels Moderne og Klassiske Auksjon” on Monday, May 31st. The catalogue is available at http://www.gwpa.no/index.html

Christiania auktionsforrentining, at Thomas Heftyesgate 50 was founded in 1932 and handles everything from furniture to art and jewelry. The prices here are not as high as in at Blomqvist or Grev Wedels and for as little as a few hundred kroner you can pick up something to decorate your walls. The hold auctions on three consecutive evenings: antiques, silver and jewelry and art, respectively. The next auctions are June 8 – 10. www.chr-auskjon.no

There is no cost to attending an auction. If you want to bid on something you need to register on site before the auction starts . Then you just need to wave your paddle at the auctioneer every time you want to bid.

Bric-a-Brac Markets

For those less interested in wildly expensive treasures, you can find some fantastic deals at these local bric-a-brac markets:

* Vestkanttorvet Bric-a-brac/Antiques Market is held on Saturdays, until December 19, from 9-5 pm at the corner of Prof. Dahls gate and Neuberggata (not far from Vigelands/Frogner Park). www.vestkanttorvet.no (in Norwegian).

* A used market will be held in Gamlebyen on the first and third Saturday of the month from 10 am until 6 pm at Schweigaards gate 52/54 featuring vintage clothes, art and creative designs plus music and café.

* Grønland Bric-a-brac Market is held on Saturdays, outdoors under the Vaterland bro (Water land bridge) in the Grønland area of Oslo from 7-7 pm. Transport metro to Grønland.

* Bric-a-brac Market held outdoors in the Birkelunden Park in the Grünerløkka area of Oslo on Sundays from noon to 8 pm. Transportation tram no. 11 /12/13 to Birkelunden.

* Sunday Market around Blå will be held on Sundays until April 5 from 12-5 pm at Brenneriveien 9, in Grünerløkka area of Oslo . www.blx.no (a page in English). Transportation tram no. 11/12/13 to Schous plass or bus no. 34/54 to Møllerveien.

* Bric-a-brac/Antiques Market is held on Sundays from 10-4 pm at Kadettangen, Sandvika.

The Norwegian Loppemarked

The loppemarked is an institution here in Norway . In order to fund the school bands, many schools hold weekend flea markets: one in the spring and one in the fall. These are well organized affairs where the donated items are divided into “departments”: furniture, electrics, kitchenware, clothing (adult and children’s), sports equipment, books, art, and collectables. And there is usually an auction for the things that are a little more valuable. Oh and there are always cakes, waffles and pølser to be had.

If you are wondering which school is either collecting for their market or is having their market check out http://loppemarked.info/ . The site is in Norwegian but if you click on “Loppemarked” on the menu on the left of the main page, and then select Oslo at the top of the page under the heading “Begrens til fylke”, you will get a listing of the loppemarkeds in the Oslo area.

Theater

Travel

Painting Holidays in a Medieval Castle
Paint Italia offers week-long painting holidays in Italy, based in a stunning medieval castle (offered by former AWC Rome member.) Take a look at an article (pdf file) written about us by (AWC member) Melanie Walker, a travel writer who has lived in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America while following the career of her diplomat husband. You may also e-mail for more information at info@paintitalia.com or call Francesca at (39) 0543 444 388 to talk first-hand. Website address: www.paintitalia.com.

Vineyard Accommodation in Piedmont Italy
Dear Members
As an ex member of the AW Berkshire & Surrey, I am taking the liberty of writing to introduce our Italian winery to you. It is located in Nizza Monferrato in the heart of the Piedmont region and benefits from stunning views all round.
We also have self- catering apartments and B & B facilities to rent. We invite you to visit our website www.cascinachristiana.com which we believe could be of interest to members.
We would appreciate it if you would make this information available to any members who may be interested in visiting the Piedmont region of Italy which is renowned for its superb cuisine and fine wines - not forgetting those who enjoy hot weather, magnificent scenery and perhaps some cycling!
Interested visitors can visit our underground winery where some guests have offered and enjoyed participating in certain activities such as harvesting, bottling or labelling.
We hope to hear from you.
Best wishes
Christiane Kaplanski

Events

Tour Akershus Castle
Guided tours in English on Thursdays at 1pm. (12noon + 2pm: Norwegian.) Free admission with the Oslo Pass. www.akershusfestning.no

Botanical Gardens, Sars gate 1, Oslo, www.nhm.uio.no some pages in English.

There is a lot going on here, and even though most is in Norwegian, join in the fun, as most of the staff are happy to practice their English!

Concerts

Rock Concerts at Rockefeller www.rockefeller.no

Online ticketing is in Norwegian but isn't too hard to follow. Online ticketing requires that you have registered in advance and received a confirmation e-mail, which you need to get before you order the tickets online. You can then order online for Oslo Spektrum events, paying by credit card online. You can also select seats in particular sections with the online ordering website. Tickets are then mailed to you, generally. See www.oslospektrum.no in advance for information.

Flea markets

These continue through the winter as they are held indoors:

Sunday Market in Grünerløkka, featuring soap, glass, ceramic, jewelry, knitwear, second hand clothes, also serving waffles, tea and coffee at Blå, Brenneriveien 9, Oslo from noon-5:00 pm (12-17.00).

Antique and used market in Baerumshall at Kadettangen in Sandvika, every Sunday, all year from 10:00-4:00 pm (10.00-16.00).