Freemasonry and Architecture, De Loge (exhibit, Brussels, 22-12-2006)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Who would pass the chance to see a Freemasons temple on the inside? Not me anyway!


In Brussels one of their old, remaining temples has become a museum for architecture and they are now showing an exhibit about Freemasonry and architecture. Kind of appropriate right? And pretty interesting too!
We learned a lot about the history of the temples, styles and the movement even though it was only a small exhibit. And it's very nice to see the architecture "live" at the same time.


The exhibit is still running un till 1-4-2007 (it has been prolonged!) and another tip: there is another temple in Brussels and they have a museum about Freemasonry. We'll certainly check it out some time!

Celtic Ireland

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Restaurants
Cuisine:	Irish
Location:	Groenplaats, Antwerp (also pubs in Gent, Brugge, Oostende and Liège)

Great atmosphere, decoration based on the book of Kells, red beer on draught, delicious food (I had salmon on self made bread and it was sooooo good!): a perfect Irish pub ;-)

And their site is cool too: Celtic Ireland

Folklore Museum Antwerp (16-12-2006)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Folklore museums are always great to visit because you get to see and learn so many new things about the customs of the people of the region it is about. This specific museum has al kinds of objects related to customs in the city of Antwerp. And as I am now an employee of this city I get to visit this museum for free ;-)

The inside of the museum itself doesn't look like much. It's an old stuffy sixties building with very static displays but the objects are great! The museum will eventually close by the way and become part of the new MAS museum which is being built quite near to my work right now.

But about the objects! They have all kinds of stuff here ranging from children's toys to pharmacy bottles. They have the heads of the two local giants which would be paraded around the town on certain occasions; they have puppets from the famous local puppet theatres; they have objects about marriage, birth and death in the region. There is even an imitation of a pharmacy including loads of bottles and a stuffed crocodile (the information said that the crocodile used to be a pharmacy symbol).

Highlight of the museum is the collection of folkloristic magical objects. These things are very mysterious and funny. They include, for instance, a stuffed toad dressed as a bishop, a whistle with a rat foot attached to it, dolls with very large nails in them and other interesting things like that. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection!

I am not sure when the museum will close but I have heard that the collections that are on display now will be packed and stored quite soon to make room for a last big exhibit in this building. So either you visit this museum soon or you'll have to wait un till the new Mas museum is ready (somewhere in 2009 I guess).

Mummies in the library (Antwerp, 16-12-2006)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

How could I ever resist going to an exhibit with a title like this?
I love mummies! I love libraries! This must be heaven!

Actually the exhibit was not just about mummies but about the collection Egyptian artifacts from the time when Egypt was very hip (1870-1920's). They most certainly collected some wonderful pieces in Antwerp! The information was very interesting; I actually learned some new facts and I have seen many Egyptian exhibits. And yes there was a mummy too ;-)

The library itself is the oldest and most original room in the City Library of Antwerp. This room is everything a library should be! It's old with wood and cast iron ornaments; it has moody lights; there are stuffy old books and creepy stairs leading to it's other floor (which you cannot visit which makes it even more mysterious).

This exhibit is almost over (last day 31st of December) but if there's another exhibit you should definitely see it because the library is worth it already!

Gorge(l), KMSKA (Antwerp, 10-12-2006)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

The latest exhibit in the Royal Museum of Modern Art in Antwerp is about oppression and relief in art. All the shown pieces are about strong feelings.
They are about pain and blood,
they are weird and scary,
they are creepy,
they are dark,
they are moving,
they are beautiful!

The exhibit includes works from artists like James Ensor, Frida Kahlo, Louise Bourgeois, Thierry De Cordier and many more. It's quite exciting!

Now this is an essential exhibit! Definitely one of the best truly modern art exhibits I've seen in quite a while. Very non-conformistic and definitely at your throat.

The exhibit is still running un till the 7th of January 2007.

Fotomuseum Antwerp (10-12-2006)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Other

Three exhibits:

- Carl De Keyzer: a great photographer of people in very common to quite uncommon but always interesting situations

- Tunnelvision: some interesting views

- Dansant (dancing in Antwerp): some great historical pics

It's not essential to see these exhibits but it sure is fun! All three are still running until January the 7th.