Both Silke and Courtenay specialise in Anusara Yoga, an alignment-based form of Hatha Yoga with a life-affirming Yogic philosophy, where students move with skilful flow guided by their breathing. They have both been practicing and teaching together for almost a decade. They teach people from a diversity of backgrounds and levels with integrity, passion and  sense of humour. Yoga for them is a way of life and they enjoy sharing that with their students.

Silke explains that the word “Anusara » means flowing with Grace – following the Heart. Anusara Yoga uses  “Universal Principles of Alignment”, which are applied as the name suggests “universally”.  They are applied to all poses and postures sequentially in a Yoga class, but once mastered to a certain degree they happen all at the same time.

Anusara Yoga classes feature uplifting themes which are woven into the poses to physicalise their meaning. The theme often incorporates a heart quality so that the students learn to feel and experience this particular quality or theme in their bodies. The theme is then ultimately taken to the highest level – to a more universal level in relevance to a traditional philosophical school of thought from India called Kashmir Shaivism which forms the philosophical foundation of Anusara Yoga.

It emphasises the idea of seeing the good everywhere and in everything. It teaches us that Consciousness is everything and everything is Consciousness. It is a life affirming practice which honours individuality and diversity. The Anusara School of Hatha Yoga (ASHY ) stands behind the system of Anusara Yoga. It  operates on a global level. It is a teacher led organisation which is a non-profit organisation with a special emphasis on developing and sustaining a worldwide Yoga Community to support the individual teachers in their regions but also to come together on a regular basis globally and regionally to celebrate togetherness and oneness.

Good to Know:
To find out more details about the weekend retreat at the Chateau Frandeux: email: yogatervuren@gmail.com or visit the « Tree of Life » website.

The post Return to Bliss in 2018? appeared first on Brussels Express.

The show in question is at Antwerp Zoo which has been totally transformed by a kaleidoscope of Chinese lanterns and lights for the coming festive period. The spectacular light display opens this month and will run over the Christmas and New Year period, making for a great day out over the holidays. The « festival of Chinese lights » has, in fact, gradually become part of the zoo’s tradition and has returned this year with a brand new magical edition.

The luminous show at what is one of the country’s top all-year visitor attractions, is completely different from last year. Partly timed to coincide with the Chinese New Year, the China Light Festival features hundreds of very impressive light sculptures which give the visitor a chance to learn about ancient China, with all the mythical animals, symbolism and legends that go with it. All is beautifully complemented by dreamy traditional music and magical Chinese dances, a lovely way to spend an evening.

There is, for example, a 4-metre high Buddha to admire along with an impressive display of terracotta soldiers. You can even « meet » a 15-metre whale, one of the showpieces in the new edition. All this is the result of painstaking work by a team of Chinese craftsmen and artists, who have all been particularly diligent in welding different parts of the compositions together and putting them in just the right place.

They have transformed handmade metal structures into shining images which come in three dimensions. Some of the figures have been assembled in Antwerp itself while other parts were made in China and then transported all the way to Belgium’s second city by ship. The light artists came from Zigong in the province of Sichuan and a city world famous for its lights festival.

It all makes for a wonderful evening stroll in what is a magically lit (very large) garden. Look out also for an additionally typical Chinese experience: a couple of traditional dances happening at fixed times during each evening (check beforehand for details). What better reason, then, could there be for sampling a touch of the Far East this winter – without having to step foot out of Belgium!

Good to Know:

• The show, called « China Light Zoo », runs from 1 December to 14 January (except 24 and 31 December) and is open from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm.
• Special enchanting tours start at 6 pm, 7 pm and 8pm.
• Prices vary from €15 to €12 while Planckendael subscribers pay €12 to €10. Tickets can be ordered online or at Antwerp Zoo ticket office.

The post Touch of Far East comes to Belgium appeared first on Brussels Express.

You can eat some very pleasant traditional Belgian cuisine while surrounded by your football heroes (or, at least, reminders of them).The very appropriately named Red’s Sports Bar & Grill is situated on the same site as the Belgian Football Centre, where the Belgian national team train before games.

It’s located within the Martin’s Red Hotel, one of several in a highly successful hotel chain (other « branches » include Waterloo and Brussels).The informal restaurant and surroundings are, as you would expect, something of a shrine to Belgian football, past and present.

Apart from when the players are actually staying at the hotel themselves before games, the restaurant is open to all throughout the week and weekends. And anyone who loves good food (and football!) will have a great time here.

This is the meeting place for influential people in the world of football and, whisper it quietly,it’s not uncommon to run into the football stars as well. These might include other national teams which also use the hotel and adjacent soccer centre as their base when visiting Belgium for games (be they competitive or friendlies).

Look out for the many scarves, in a display, which have been left by visiting teams, including Anderlecht.

The Red’s Sports Bar & Grill continuously broadcasts sports and football news and its location behind the hotel enables it to offer a 180° view on the (highly impressive) facilities of the footy centre.

The restaurant, which (like the hotel) has just celebrated its first anniversary, seats up to 70 and serves classic Belgian products, grilled meats and fish.  The latest fixed menu, which was recently introduced, includes perennial favourites like beef carpaccio and croquettes (shrimps and cheese) for starters.

Mains include beef brochette (Belgian meat, of course),  a « Red Angus » burger, boulettes à la Liegeoises and chicken skewer.

Deserts feature old fashioned dame blanche and crème brulee and there’s also a nice choice of wines and great Belgian beers.

This is very much a child-friendly place to eat as well and there is a « Mini-Red Devils » menu at just €19 per person.If you happen to be in the area at lunchtime there is a very good value business lunch option at €19 for two courses, plus a dish of the day that changes daily.

It doesn’t take long after you arrive here that the theme of the place is very much connected to Belgian football and the Red Devils (looking forward to taking their place in the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia).

The restaurant staff where red and yellow (what else?!) and there’s fascinating Red Devils memorabilia scattered around the place.

Tubize, albeit a slightly undiscovered part of Belgium, itself is well worth a visit. Located in the heart of Roman Païs, a region protected from mass tourism and yet rich in all kinds of activities, its attractions include old Nivelles and its Saturday market, the former Brussels-Charleroi canal, the Moulins d’Arenberg, the Chapelle Notre-Dame au Bois and the Ittre marina.

But, of course, when visiting Red’s Sports Bar & Grill it is probably the food you’ve come for and, happy to report, dinners are unlikely to leave disappointed.

It’s tasty, wholesome and good-value for money and a fine way to spend a relaxing evening. If you’re just after a light snack they also cater for that too with croque-monsieur and delicious pizza.

It has a large free car park and is situated, conveniently, close to the motorway and can be accessed from Brussels in about half an hour.

Worth bearing in mind that the hotel offers weekend packages, including romantic breaks for couples. Like the football centre, the 79-room boasts some great facilities, including fitness rooms and auditorium.

The cuisine is the work of head chef Stephan Pivato, a graduate of the renowned Liège Hotel School, who has been in charge of kitchens for over 35 years. He is accustomed to serving intimate gourmet tables and has also overseen several restaurant openings at other hotel complexes.

Whatever the fortunes of Belgium on the football field in Russia next year you can be sure of a top-rated performance, off the pitch, by Stephen and his team.

To coin a football phrase, they certainly « hit the back of the net » with their fab food.

Good to Know
Website
Address: Rue de Bruxelles 484, 1480 Tubize
Telephone: 02 634 1111

The post Martin’s Red’s Sports Bar & Grill appeared first on Brussels Express.

From the 13th to the 15th of October, Mechelen hosts what is called a “Warm Welcome Weekend” during which visitors can discover the new autumn/winter collection in its pleasant shopping streets. Merchants will spoil customers a with drinks and snacks, discounts, animation and fashion shows in the street. And the good news is that it is all for free!

Actually, besides the general euphoria related to the event, Mechelen is a very nice to visit, and it is only 25km from the centre of Brussels, easy to reach by car or train.

There’s certainly no shortage of things to see and do here and on the top of the “must do” list there has to be a visit to Rumbold’s Tower. The tower is one of the three main buildings of the city, which also boast the UNESCO World Heritage label (the other two are the Belfry of the Town Hall and the Large Beguinage).

After climbing the steps up to the top -97 metres of height- you are greeted with a wonderful view, that extends from the port of Antwerp to the north and, to the south, to the Atomium near Brussels. The tower also has two original carillons you can observe and six different rooms that you can visit.

Another excellent way to see the city, although from a much lower level, is by taking a boat trip on the river Dyle which runs directly through the city. It is relatively short in duration (about 45 minutes), but it certainly offers a lot of history and intrigue, old and new.  You will pass the fish market – now mostly cafes and bars – the Large Bridge, the Botanical Garden and Fullers’ Mill. You will also spot the highway N1,which is the old road linking Brussels and Antwerp but is now far less busy since the construction of the E19 motorway.

If you prefer to try something different and more challenging, then you should try a stand-up paddle session,  which also takes place on the Dyle. Everyone is given full instructions and taken through a safety drill, plus life jacket and wet suit before venturing out on the river.

If you are travelling with children, then you should try to find some time for another fascinating initiative: “Mechelen sends you on your way”, which criss-crosses the city on a self-guided tour. Children can take over here with the walking guide, jam-packed with fun facts for kids.

The centre boasts eight historic churches, each with its own distinctive style,  plus a fine toy museum which contains one of the largest toy collections! On a more sombre note, Mechelen also hosts the Memorial, Museum and Documentation Centre on Holocaust and Human Rights.

After all that exploring, climbing and paddle boarding you may have worked up an appetite and a good place to sate you hunger locally is Café Belge, an informal brasserie right at the heart of Mechelen, which aims to promote only the “best of Belgium.”

And it does this very well, with items such as grilled Belgian steak, stewed beef with Grimbergen beer and, of course, Belgian waffles all featured on the menu. But that’s not all: there’s Belgian coffee (baileys and whipped cream); “Sangria Belge” (white sangria with cava) and even an “aperitif Belge” (vermouth).  And, since it’s the peak season, you really should try also the mussels, provided by a special supplier.

There’s a small but nice selection of good wines and great beers, including some from Belgium served on draught, but if you fancy just a drink and a snack that’s also possible from the delightful – heated – terrace, with a great view on the city.

Besides the Warm Welcome Week, Mechelen also hosts the Dodonaeus Digital Arts Festival (October 13 – 15): three days of audiovisual art and concerts on 4 unique locations in the city centre celebrating the 500th anniversary of Rembert Dodoens, the famous 16th century physician and scientist.

Dodonaeus is a nice festival in different locations: Polydodo, for instance, is an audiovisual spectacle in Saint Rumbold’s Cathedral where Australian jazz singer Kristen Cornwell, organ player Wannes Vanderhoeven and electronic musician Gottland rework the polyphonic madrigals by 16th century composer De Monte, while VJ’s Blub and Subtiv bring Dodoens old drawings to life with a mapping and laser show.

You can also take an nocturnal climb in the majestic Rumbold’s Tower, where audiovisual installations on every floor will highlight aspects of the cosmographic work of Dodoens. At the top you’ll get a fantastic view on the city centre by night.

A special festival guest is the New York avant-garde artist Charlemagne Palestine who will perform live on the carillon of the Tower (a free event will be held on the 14th of October from 6 to 7pm).

Also, during the same weekend, the Cultural Centre of Mechelen invites cutting edge electronic music performers into this late 16th century church to play in tune with Rembertus Dodonaeus’ writings.

Rembert Dodoens or Rembertus Dodonaeus was a respected physician and scientist who made it into the court of the Holy Roman emperor Maximilian II in Vienna, and whose writing, like his famous “Cruydeboeck”, was, after the Bible, among the most translated and edited works of his time.

Mechelen is a very compact city (to walk from the boat to the Tower takes a mere 5 minutes); nonetheless, it somehow combines the laid-back feel of Gent with the architectural appeal of Bruges.

Good to Know:

• Visit Mechelen
  
• Café Belge

The post Mechelen’s warm welcome appeared first on Brussels Express.

During their visit in Belgium, the young people will learn more about Belgium and the European Union through a series of briefings by the European Commission, chambers of commerce, business associations and non-government organisations on topics ranging from youth policies to climate change.

They will also be given guided tours to major sites around the country, including the European quarter, World War I locations in the area of Ieper and the battlefield of Waterloo.In one of the highlights of the programme, they will take on the daunting Oxfam Trailwalker challenge on the weekend of 26-27 August.  Due to Hong Kong’s 20th anniversary, this year this Special Administrative Region is deeply involved in the organisation of Oxam Trailwalker.

Although it is now a worldwide event that takes place in nine countries over four continents, the first Trailwalker was held in Hong Kong in 1981 as a Gurkha training exercise, before it was taken over by Oxfam in 1997.

For the 100-kilometre trek through the Hautes Fagnes around Eupen, one of the most beautiful regions of Belgium, the 20 young people from Hong Kong will be divided into five teams to walk up to 30 hours, some continuing their trek through the night to the finish, grabbing a hot drink and a snack as they pass through checkpoints along the route.  They will be among over 260 teams, each made up of four walkers, taking part in the event to raise money for charity.

Good to know: The Belgian team that raises the most funds will be invited to Hong Kong to take part in the Oxfam Trailwalker 2017 scheduled for 17-19 November 2017.

The post From the Hato typhoon to the Belgium Oxfam Trailwalker appeared first on Brussels Express.

1. Bois du Wilder/Wilderbos, Berchem-Sainte-Agathe

Wildflowers of various species are among the first to greet you at Wilder Woods. They add a charming assortment of colors to the usual greens and browns of the area’s flora. For exercise buffs tired of doing the same old jogging routine, the woods propose the parcours santé, a fitness trail with a series of challenging obstacles to test the endurance and stamina. If all you want is a relaxing and sweatless walk, there are wood bridges and stairs that will guide you along the way. On one side of the woods, you will find the restored church of Sainte Agathe which is the oldest standing structure in the municipality.

2. Bois de Dieleghem/Dieleghembos

Jette Rabbits are the welcoming party at Dieleghem Woods. You will see a lot of them scurrying around, and good luck trying to steal a shot. They’re much too fast for your fingers. Aside from a soul-enriching walk among the trees, the woods also offer a playground with more than just the ordinary swings. Kids and kids-at-heart can get a doze of action-packed fun taking turns on the gigantic tube slide and the jungle net bridge among others. You can cap off your family excursion with a meal and a drink at the Chalet du Laerbeek located near the entrance to the woods.

3. Bois du Laerbeek/Laerbeekbos, Jette

This haven of nature is about five minutes away from Dieleghem Woods and quite close to the Atomium. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a view of the famous Brussels icon through the thicket. At Laerbeek Woods, the strong, delicious smell of garlic will follow you around especially in spring and summer. A thick growth of wild garlic or ail des ours marks the woods and its scent can be a real treat for the nostrils. It’s like walking through a forest and a kitchen at the same time. The only possible drawback is it may leave you feeling hungry or craving some deep garlic-fried dish. Not cool especially if you just finished an intense calorie-burning jog.

4. Bois de Verrewinkel/Verrewinkebos

Uccle Verrewinkel Woods is part of Brussels’ Promenade Verte or the green route, a 63-kilometer trail designed to guide hikers and cyclists to the city’s top nature spots. You wouldn’t get lost in this neck of the woods even if you tried. The path is strewn with signposts to make sure you don’t stray from the green route. Tread carefully though as you come across the gaping ravines that add character to Verrewinkel Woods.

5. Bois de La Cambre/Ter Kamerenbos, Brussels City

If New York City has Central Park, Brussels has La Cambre Woods. This green paradise has the combined aspects of a park and a forest. If you’re after the park experience, head for the central section of the woods where you can sit on the grass, have a picnic, soak up the sun, and enjoy the view of the lake which runs in the middle of the fields. You can also ride a boat and interact with the ducks, geese, and swans that roam the water. The centrepiece of the lake is a 3-story cabin-style restaurant that provides a romantic setting for dates. Dining at Le Chalet Robinson is an experience in itself which starts with a boat ride to the restaurant followed by a fine meal as you bask in the surrounding beauty. The park also features an open air gym with several exercise equipment and a running/biking trail around the lake. Those who prefer some peace and quiet in the company of trees will find refuge in the forest area of La Cambre Woods.

6. Forêt de Soignes/Zoniënwoud

The Sonian Forest is the mother of woods in Brussels. It extends over several municipalities and towns within Flanders, Wallonia, and the Brussels-Capital Region. It’s not only a place for trekking, jogging, or biking, but also for fishing, horseback-riding and more. You can learn all about the forest’s flora and fauna at the museum situated in the central area of the forest. And if you feel like nature-tripping and foodtripping at the same time, the forest will lead you to several choices of restaurants. One of the highlights of the Sonian Forest is the memorial dedicated to the 32 victims of the Brussels attacks on March 22, 2016. The structure designed by landscape architect Bas Smets consists of a circular bench made of Belgian blue stones and surrounded by 32 birch trees.

So why connect with nature at all? For one, it can do wonders for your health and wellbeing. Numerous studies have shown that spending time in nature can lower our stress levels and improve our mental and physical health. Most of all, it’s a way of paying homage to Mother Nature. Let’s celebrate World Environment Day by heeding the global call to reconnect with her. We wish you a happy nature-tripping and don’t forget to share your favorite outdoor spots with us.

The post World Environment Day: What’s your Favorite Nature Spot in Brussels? appeared first on Brussels Express.

It’s early evening on Friday, the temperature reaching 26 degrees with a pleasant breeze coming from the west, and I’m on board La Gueuse, the boat that will take me up the Canal de Willebroek until the Zemst Lock in Vilvoorde, in Flanders. It’s a tour organized by La Fonderie and the guide, Leo, stands on the prow facing us, his long hair tied up in a pony tail, a few golden strands becoming loose in the wind and gleaming against the sunlight. He welcomes us, explains some safety measures in a friendly, relaxed tone, and as the boat pulls away he points with his finger to our right.

“He’s getting impatient,” he says.

Standing on the edge of the pier and naked to the waist, a kid is waiting for the boat to leave; a moment later we hear the splash.

The skipper turns the boat around and we begin the trip northward, in the direction of the Béco Basin. “To your right,” Leo says, “is the UpSite tower, one of the most expensive places to live in Brussels. It used to be a Delhaize shop. The boats would come in and get unloaded here. That’s how it used to be in the past.”

A few meters past the tower, large mounds of scrap metal appear on the right bank of the canal. “There a lot of recycling industries here,” Leo explains. “They sort the metal, then they crush it.” Across from the mounds, on the left bank, a bronze statue by Constantin Meunier stands: The Monument to the Workers.

“We’re in Laeken,” Leo says. “And that structure, to your left, is the old train station Leopold II. It’s no longer in use.” He explains to me that at Gare Central there’s a Royal Waiting Room, something I’d never heard of. “It’s always locked these days. But that’s where the king would wait, if he ever had to wait.”

He goes on to explain that in the past the communes of Laeken, Haren and Neder-Over Hembeek were independent but the city of Brussels wanted to have control over the canal, the passage of boats and corresponding duties. “That’s why those communes became a part of Brussels,” he says.

To the right, a beautiful red-brick building stands, just a few meters away from the shopping center Docks-Bruxsel. It used to be a foundry set up as a cooperative owned by the workers. The founder was Jean Baptiste Godin, a frenchman who was influenced by the ideas of Charles Fourier, and who also wanted to foster the idea of Utopian Socialism. The cooperative was dissolved in 1968 and the building was later sold.

Further up, the old power station in Schaerbeek appears on the right hand side. In the past it used to be powered with coal brought up on boats coming from Charleroi, and few meters ahead is the incinerator run by Brussels Energie, where all the white garbage bags collected by trucks around the city are burned.

“There is a filter,” Leo says. “It’s supposed to filter out all the dioxins before the smoke comes out into the air but I wonder, What do they do with the dioxins thereafter? I visited the premises a while ago, and they didn’t like my questions.”

Overhead we hear the sound of an airplane flying and Leo says it’s unusual. They are not supposed to fly over this area, he says, then points to the large gasoline containers on the left side where a sign in large letters reads: Lukoil.

Ahead, the Buda bridge appears in the horizon. The bridge took its name from a XVII century farm that existed on the right bank, and whose name had itself come from soldiers who’d settled in the area after the battle of Buda (current Budapest) where the Ottomans were defeated in 1686.

The boat advances smoothly, cutting the water in silence, the sun on the left beginning to touch the tops of the trees. On the path next to the canal, a young couple rides a tandem bicycle past a group of teenagers in shorts who wave at us, then cast the line of a fishing rod into the water; behind the tall grass on the right bank, a family of ducks lies crouched, their orange beaks hidden in their feathers.

We are in the commune of Vilvoorde. The sun is no longer visible, only thin slices of sunlight being filtered through the trees on the left. A strong chemical smell fills the air, a smell that makes me think of the chlorine used to clean the water in swimming pools.

“This is one of the factories of Tessenderlo Chemie,” says Leo. “They are world leaders in the production of chloridric acid (HCL), glycerin, and other chemicals.”

At the last bridge before reaching the Zemst Lock (Humbeek Sas bridge), a bell rings and we have to wait for a couple of minutes before the platform is lifted. As we pass under the bridge I see people on their bicycles waiting for the bridge to be lowered again; they look happy, delighted to be able to enjoy an evening ride in this weather.

“It takes only seven minutes to fill them up,” says Leo, and points ahead. “The ships don’t really have to wait that much.”

The Zemst Lock are only few meters away. Beyond that, only one more lock, the Wintam Lock separates the canal from the Schelde river and the port in Antwerp. The boat begins to turn around and Leo takes a pause, invites us to have a drink and enjoy the view on the way back to Brussels. I put my notebook away and relax, gaze at scenery around me. I pick up the smell of charcoal burning in the air and though I can’t see anybody on either side of the canal, I know someone is getting ready for a barbecue.

The post Exploring Brussels by boat appeared first on Brussels Express.

At the train station I have to run to the bus stop and find shelter, squeeze myself into the crowd. It’s pouring now. After a few minutes bus 12 arrives and I get on, stumble to my seat as the bus moves forward. Most of us are wet. I ask for some directions and the lady sitting next to me is so friendly. Her clothes are soaked, her hair’s sticking to her face, yet she wants to get off the bus with me and make sure I find my way. I thank her, reassure her it’s not necessary, then get off at the Markt, the main square.

Under the portico at Historium, I wait for a while and gaze at the monument in the middle of the square, the beautiful red facades of the old buildings, the flags on their poles. I see a student, then another one riding their bicycles on the cobblestone street. Delijn buses trundle, splashing water onto the sidewalks. The clouds begin to drift away and the rain becomes a drizzle, then stops.

The first writer I meet is Bart Moeyaert. A native of Bruges, he’s delighted to be here tonight. “For me it’s like going back to my childhood and teenage years,” he says. “I left when I was twenty one. So many fond memories come back to me when I’m here. I have the feeling of being that young boy again.”

He’s wearing a thin, mauve pullover and grey trousers. Behind his tortoiseshell glasses, he looks at me, pauses a moment before answering each question. Many of my Belgian friends like him, his down-to-earth personality, and I can see why. On our way to this room, back-stage engineers have told him how much they like his work and he’s stopped to shake their hands, thank them and chat with them.

When he was younger, he went to Brussels to study and lived there for three years.

“I wanted to see the world,” he says. “I lived near Gare du Midi and there were all these neon lights everywhere. To me that was the door to the big wide world.”

We laugh. Now he lives in Antwerp but he enjoys thinking back to those days. He recounts he used to go to the Falstaff café near La Bourse and write in his journal. “People sitting next to me would peer over my shoulder and ask what I was writing about. They were curious and friendly. I really liked that.”

We only have a few more minutes and I ask him how he feels about this evening. “It’s an honor to be here and be part of this festival on its first year,” he says. “I hope there will be many more.”

Tim Parks was born in Manchester but has lived in Italy for more than twenty years. We’re seated at the table in the foyer of Bruge’s Stadsschouwburg, a beautiful 1869 theater building in the center of town. I ask him how he feels about the story he was commissioned to write for tonight.

“I usually don’t like to write on commission,” he says. “There’s something that doesn’t feel organic about it. But then I thought, Maybe I can find an angle, a topic that fits with an idea that I have in mind. And that’s why I chose Envy.”

Under the dimmed light of the room, he brings his glass of beer to his lips, smiles over it.

“A man goes to a Buddhist meditation retreat with his wife. They both want to heal after she’s cheated on him but at the retreat he experiences all these strange feelings inside him, especially when he sees other women. I knew I had something there. Don’t you think?”

When asked if he writes a lot of short stories he says these days he spends his time teaching translation at the University of Milan and writing essays for the New York Review of Books.

“The next one will be about George Elliot,” he says. “The next months that’s what I’m going to be reading and writing about.”

We talk about the writers he’s fond of and he mentions Natalia Ginzburg, Italo Calvino, Roberto Calasso, W.G. Sebald. I mention that I’ve listened to his reading of Peter Stamm’s story, Sweet Dreams, for the New Yorker Podcast, and he seems pleased. Stamm is one author he reveres, among other things for his creativity.

“Creativity is not about creating a new, fancy form. Creativity is about creating something that can make the reader feel an experience. If the reader is able to feel first-hand the world of the author, that’s an amazing achievement. And that’s what Stamm does.”

I shake Mr. Parks hand, thank him for his time and wish him a safe trip back to Italy.

The post A literary escapade to Bruges appeared first on Brussels Express.

Organised by Martin’s Hotel, the Martin’s Run is a sportive competition, but it is also the expression of a philosophy. « The aim is to combine the pleasures of clean air, physical exercise, well-being, nature and a family outing… and all this in the context of an initiative driven by an eco-responsible attitude and the desire to interact with the community. We are to organise the Martin’s Run for the third time” explained Nils Scheers, from Martin’s Hotel.

If you are interested you can take part of 3 different itineraries : A 5 km jogging (1) 14 km jogging (2) or a 14 km walk (same itinerary as the jogging).

An award will be given to the first 3 people of each category for the 2 competitions (men – women / 5  and 14 km). Since the 14 km walk is not a timed race but a leisurely walk (without race numbers), there will be no awards for this part of the event.

5 km Awards

2 categories: men and women

• 1st PRIZE – Martin’s vouchers for a value of €250
• 2nd PRIZE – Martin’s vouchers for a value of €150
• 3rd PRIZE – Martin’s vouchers for a value of €50

14 km Awards

2 categories: men and women

• 1st PRIZE – Martin’s vouchers for a value of €250
• 2nd PRIZE – Martin’s vouchers for a value of €150
• 3rd PRIZE – Martin’s vouchers for a value of €50

Be aware that you have to register as soon as possible. Deadline: 12/05/2017. Registrations

The post Martin’s Run 2017 appeared first on Brussels Express.

Over a period of four days, April 28th to May 1st, top chefs, local hot spots, and artisanal producers ply their edible wares. Experts conduct food workshops, and this year a children’s area and book market have been added to this all around festival of good flavors. The organisers are expecting 30,000 visitors over these four days, so there is never a dull moment.

The participant list ranges in everything from Top Chef Jeroen Meus’ hot dog stand in Leuven, Michelin starred restaurants doing Fritkot classics, to The Jane, Antwerp’s finest haute cuisine experience. Restaurants from all over Belgium and the Netherlands will be serving their personal creations. Plates average between 5 to 7.50€, and entrance is 7 euros for a one day pass and comes with a complimentary welcome drink. A host of artisanal producers will be there as well, showing off the latest in culinary innovation and culinary technology.

Belgium’s gorgeous second city is 35 minutes from Brussels by train or car, and this weekend is peak time to come on down for a visit.

Good to know:

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