Attention, antique lovers!

Don’t miss Retromässan (The Retro Fair) in Stockholm this weekend. From Friday to Sunday the former brewery called Münchenbryggeriet will be filled with modern antiques from the 20th Century; furniture, lamps, design and art handicrafts, ceramics, glass, toys… Everything is for sale.

The first Retromässan was held in March 2011 and was a huge success with more than 5,000 visitors. The fair is arranged by Bakåt:Framåt, a Swedish event agency focusing on trend-conscious customers in Stockholm city.

Where: Münchenbryggeriet, Torkel Knutssonsgatan 2, Södermalm, Stockholm.
When: 11-13 November (Friday 3 PM-8 PM, Saturday 11 AM-6 PM, Sunday 11 AM-5 PM)
Entrance fee: 100 SEK

Photos: Bakåt:Framåt

OUT – The Swedish Issue

This summer 15 persons of the OUT editorial staff went to Sweden to celebrate Midsummer’s Eve and to explore why our country of less than 10 million people is so culturally relevant right now. From Robyn and the Knife to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The new issue of OUT lists 82 reasons to love Sweden, starting with an interview with Alexander Skarsgård, best for his role in HBO’s lusty drama True Blood. In the interview Alexander Skarsgård talks with the Swedish filmmaker, Jonas Åkerlund about the Swedish conquest of Hollywood, national differences in etiquette, and why Swedes get so much sex. Read the interview>>

anton hysen, out magazine, gay sweden, gay stockholm, gay football, gay soccer

Also read the following features in the latest issue of OUT
Anton Hysén -A young soccer player comes out and makes history
Rickard Engfors – For Sweden’s “best-looking girl,” the show drags on
The It Boy – Marcus Schenkenberg, another hungry supermodel

The Style of Stockholm

Read this wonderful article by the lovely Duane Wells for Frontiers LA.

“I’ve got a little issue. It seems that I have contracted a fashionable new strain of Stockholm Syndrome. I use the term ‘fashionable’ to describe my particular version of the psychological affliction, because rather than a group of sympathetic bank robbers, I am instead being held captive by the style of Stockholm. I fully admit that I not only identify with my chic captor but I fully bow down to it and embrace it. If loving the style of Stockholm is wrong, then sign me up for a bad romance.”

 

The Millennium Trilogy Tour Package by Hilton Stockholm Slussen

gay stockholm

Experience Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy and stay at the Hilton Stockholm Slussen where part of the story took place.

Start the guided tour around the corner of the hotel and follow in the footsteps of Lisbeth Salander and all the other characters. The 90-minute walking tour is available in English and Swedish and its highlights include: Götgatan – where Mikael Blomkvist’s office is located – the view over Riddarfjärden from his apartment and ‘Kvarnen’, a legendary drinking hall on Södermalm frequented by Lisbeth Salander.

Stieg Larsson’s books ‘The girl with the dragon tattoo‘, ‘The girl who played with fire‘ and ‘The girl who kicked over the hornet’s nest‘ have sold over 50 million copies across the world and The Millennium Trilogy tour gives you a fantastic opportunity to be where everything took place.

 

You’ll stay in the comfort of Hilton Stockholm Slussen, located on Södermalm’s island, with breakfast and a complimentary glass of wine or beer and canapés in Hilton’s Eken Bar (featured in the TV series). So don’t miss out – book now!

Sweden’s leading boutique hotel 2011

The gay friendly Berns Hotel has been awarded with ”Sweden’s leading boutique hotel 2011” by the prestigious World Travel Awards. Since its start nearly two decades ago World Travel Awards is considered one of the most prestigious awards within the travel industry. Wall Street Journal describes the award as the Oscars of the travel industry.

“This award shows that the experience Berns offers it´s guests is both unique and appreciated; exquisite cuisine, world renowned artists, art and nightlife in historical venues and rooms. What truly makes Berns stand out and a worthy recipient of this year’s award is our personal service which we would like to thank our dedicated staff for. We consider this award as an inspiration to continue developing Sweden’s leading boutique hotel Berns!” says Anna Bengtssson, Manager Berns Hotel.

World Travel Awards intention is to honor premier companies in the travel and tourist industry. The members of the jury consist of agents from more than 200 000 travel agencies, representing more than 160 countries. The nominees are judged on creativity, service level, guest experience, and product development. A boutique hotel is defined as a hotel that is privately owned, personal, has less than 100 designed rooms and where great effort is put on caring for it’s guests as individuals.

Berns opened it’s doors for the first time in 1863, and since then been a center for cuisine, entertainment and music. A long list of renowned artists and movie stars have performed at Berns, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Robyn and MGMT just to name a few. Berns hotel was inaugurated in 1989 and is a luxurious boutique hotel located at Berzelii Park in the heart of Stockholm.

We are so proud to have Berns Hotel as a partner in the Stockholm Gay & Lesbian Network!

Stockholm’s Pride and Beauty

Stockholm Pride Festival

Read this beautiful article on Stockholm. Written by Mark Thompson, Style & Travel Editor for EDGE.

“Beauty has been, for years, synonymous with Sweden. After all, this is the country that conquered the world with their Nordic models, clothed the globe in H&M fashions, furnished our homes in Ikea – and drowned the world in Absolut. In other words, Swedish beauty conquers all.

Stockholm, one of the world’s most beautiful capitals, is often considered the “Venice of the North” – and to find yourself in the Swedish capital in the midst of Stockholm Pride, the largest LGBT Pride festival in Scandinavia, is to be nearly dumbfounded by the simultaneous visual beauty of both citizenry and city.”

Full article>>

Hilton Stockholm Slussen and the Royal Opera

Now that the summer is coming to an end and autumn is knocking on our doors, it’s time to start planning for many cosy evenings. Why not escape and treat yourself and your partner or a friend to the opera? Here are some ideas on what to do, from the gayfriendly Hilton Hotel in Stockholm - one of the partners in the Stockholm Gay & Lesbian Network.

Hilton Stockholm Slussen has collaborated with different outlets before and we have always found that it’s been hugely appreciated. So this autumn we are really excited about the work we are doing with the Royal Opera, which by the way has been our national stage since the first performance there on the 18th of January 1773.

So if you want to get a bit of culture when you are here we have these special packages that all include a 1-night stay in a Hilton Guest Room at Hilton Stockholm Slussen, as well as buffet breakfast, 2-course dinner at Eken Bar & Matsal and an opera ticket.                                                                     

As we are sure you are all aware, you can find us on the island of Södermalm which is the perfect place to stay when you are visiting our beautiful capital as it is within walking distance of all the tourist attractions and ferries if you fancy a trip out to the stunning archipelago. It is also right in the middle of all the trendy bars and restaurants so whatever it is you have an urge for, you can find it. If you haven’t sampled any of our Swedish specialities we can recommend a visit to our restaurant Eken Matsal where you can try out the local cuisine.

We’ve listed the different productions and dates below so you can see what there is to choose from:

Carmen
Listen to the tale of the beautiful Carmen, who works in a cigarette factory in Seville. Don José listens to her sing of love and becomes fascinated by her, but she also has eyes for Escamillo, a glamorous bullfighter. Music composed by George Bizet. Performances on 29th September, 6th, 8th, 15th and 28th October 2011

Special Offer Dates: Sep. 29, 2011 – Oct. 30, 2011

The Marriage of Figaro
Based on the banned play by Beaumarchais, Mozart and Da Ponte, The Marriage of Figaro was opera’s first psychological comedy, a story with many twists and turns, it is often referred to as ‘the opera of operas’. Performance on 3rd and 9th September 2011.

Special Offer Dates: Sep. 03, 2011 – Sep. 10, 2011

Altro Canto Sync
Originally created for the Washington Ballet in 1996, SYNC has been successfully performed in worldwide. Short for synchronisation, syncopation and ”to be in sync” it was created for the piece Salgari by the Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi. Performances on 14th, 30th September, 7th and 20th October 2011.

Special Offer Dates: Sep. 14, 2011 – Oct. 21, 2011

Swan Lake
The most famous of all ballets, it tells the story of Prince Siegfried’s love for the Swan Queen, Odette, and their battle against the evil magician, Rothbart, set to Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score. Performances on 8th, 10th and 16th September 2011.

 Special Offer Dates: Sep. 08, 2011 – Sep. 17, 2011

 Bohème
Youth, life in the big city, poverty, hope, love – Giacomo Puccini composed his story about the Parisian Bohemians in 1896, but the story still feels compelling, strong and relevant. Performances on 23rd and 31st August and 13th, 17th and 19th September.

Special Offer Dates: Sep. 17, 2011 – Sep. 18, 2011

Read more and book the offers>>

Enjoy the last of the summer at Mälarpaviljongen

Gay Stockholm, Mälarpaviljongen 

It’s still summer in Stockholm and one of the best places to enjoy the warm summer nights is at Mälarpaviljongen.

Overlooking Lake Mälaren this is a cosy, green haven where you can chill out over a glass of wine, lovely lunch or why not just enjoy a coffee & cake after a pleasant walk along Norr Mälarstrand Promenade?

This is the place if you are looking for an atmospheric, cozy local restaurant and high-spirited bar with great music and people. It also happens to one of the hottest LGBT spots in town!

Fridays: Club Before at Mälarpaviljongen
Saturdays: Club Boyz & Boyz at Mälarpaviljongen

Photos by Andre Landeros Michel