The Hedgehog (De Egel)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Restaurants
Cuisine:	Irish
Location:	Hasselt (Zuivelmarkt, opposite z33)

Best sandwiches ever! And quite cheap too! And their scones are delicious as well ;-)

http://www.kaffee-de-egel.be/

SLOW (Z33, Hasselt, 7-12-2007)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

If you are in Hasselt or close to it this is a real must see. The exhibit is called "SLOW" because it's about looking differently and "slower" at art. That may sound a bit conceptual but the works are really a very visually exciting kind of meditation.
Our favourite is a mirror-room (yes walls ànd ceiling ànd floor) with a "relaxing" video with flower-like colourful images and different sounds and noises. It's great to be surrounded by yourself and all these colours!

Check it out: http://www.z33.be/#page=home

Pears on Beeches (Stadsmus, Hasselt, 7-12-2007)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Or the original title in Dutch: Peren op de Beuken. An exhibit about the Dutch/Belgian/German writer Hendrik van Veldeke and his time (1130-1230).
The 12th century was a great time for European art and literature and in this exhibit you can see a nice part of that.

Veldeke translated and rewrote several classic stories in the language of the region (Diets). He also wrote a lot of songs. Sadly not many of his original manuscripts have survived. Most of his work has survived as German translations.
If you can read Dutch and/or German it's really worthwhile to read some of his texts because they are really well written and also quite funny.

The exhibit is fabulous and exciting. It's not very big but it looks exquisite, the information is interesting and you get to see some unique objects. Our favourite is a German translation of the Story of Aeneas which looks just like a medieval comic.

There are several exhibits and other events around the person of Veldeke this year in the region (Limburg) because he used to live and work here. If you are interested in (Dutch) literature and Middle Ages you should celebrate Veldeke
Visit http://www.vivaveldeke.eu/ (site available in Dutch, French and German).

P.S. if you want to know what "Pears on Beeches" means you should visit the exhibit ;-p
Or ask me nicely of course ;-)

The Hives (Brussels, AB, 2-12-2007)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

The Hives are brilliant! Ten stars easily! Wow they are so great! And so good-looking! There are not enough words in this world to describe their greatness!!
Am I overreacting? No never! I just wouldn't dare to say anything else or the band might come round and make me dance and clap un till I die ;-p

Ok seriously: The Hives are indeed a great live band with very enjoyable songs and terrific stamina. I've never seen a singer with more energy so I'm really wondering what his secret is...
If you like their music you should definitely see them some time!

The Hives were supported by two bands one of which was boring (and I forgot the name) and the other (Quit your dayjob) was pretty good, really weird and also Swedish.

The city and its fine surroundings (Brussels, 2-12-2007)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

(Van 't stadt en schoone buytens/De la ville et ses plaisantes campagnes)
A look at Brussels and the surrounding areas in the 18th century.

A nice small exhibit with great drawings in the town hall. It's a great exhibit for every-one who knows Brussels and it's surroundings.

With the same ticket you can also visit the Museum of the City (just opposite the town-hall). That particular museum has all the outfits for Manneken Pis so it's a must see for tourists but it's good fun for any-one else too ;-)

Brilliant Europe (Brussels, 2-12-2007)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Another Europalia Europa exhibit!

800 years of jewellery history in Europe. Definitely brilliant!
Almost all pieces are exquisite. Ok, some are a bit over the top but most are masterpieces of craftsmanship. And they often have an interesting history too.
The information is worth reading so it's a great exhibit for the eye and the mind.

You really don't have to like jewellery much to enjoy this exhibit so check it out!
It ends 17-2-2008 so you still have some time ;-)

Cornelis Kiliaan (Fabiolazaal, Antwerp, 25-11-2007)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Cornelis Kiliaan (1530-1607) was a Humanist who wrote the first Dutch dictionary. He came from a city quite near Antwerp and Mechelen called Duffel (also known from the Duffel coat; check your dictionary if you don't know what that is!). He used to work for the famous Antwerp printer Plantin-Moretus.


If you are interested in words, (Dutch) language, books, dictionaries and the 16th century this a great exhibit for you! It's quite interesting and looks beautiful.
Oh and if you show your library-card you get a reduction on the entrance fee ;-)


Info at: http://www.corneliskiliaan.be/?q=node/15 and http://www.provant.be/kalender/vrije_tijd/cultuur/cultuurhuizen/koningin_fabiolazaal/kalenderitem_kon_fabiolazaal_k.jsp