Cultural Hel

In this episode Dan has been busy watching the Luciana García Ensemble at Caisa and attending the debut exhibition at the new space of Huuto Gallery. He’s also visited the Photography Museum, Hotel and Restaurant Museum and Theatre Museum. He also chats with Moving in November artistic director Kerstin Schroth about the upcoming festival. Heather has been to Porvoo and has admitted that winter is...

Laajasalo is on the agenda in this episode and it's massive! Heather and Dan explore old mansions (or would if they could be reached or still existed!), a modern waste solution, a wonder of nature - which some may say is just a hole in the ground and much more... Also Dan has been off to see a performance of Entanglement: I am a tree, I am a mouth at the Kiasma Theatre in a very wood themed in...

Dan has been off to Amos Rex to take in the latest exhibition The Other Side of the Mountain, showcasing the works of 11 artists working across the African continent and within the Afro-Nordic diaspora. This episode is packed with fascinating interviews featuring 3 of the artists featured in the exhibition, Sandra Mujinga, Liisa-Irmelen Liwata and Lungiswa Gqunta. Dan also had a quick chat with mu...

Possibly the shortest bonus episode ever! Dan has been to see Jesca Hoop and Haken in two of Helsinki's best venues and Heather is excited about the dredger at her cabin! Also the Kuusijärvi Smoke Saunas have won a prize... Join our intrepid explorers and discover more of the city by giving Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and being the first to see what's happenin...

In this episode Heather and Dan delve into Pasila, an area full of cultural event spaces, a railway hub, the famous Yle building and the central library. Join us to delve deeper into borough 17 and if we missed something, let us know... Join our intrepid explorers and discover more of the city by giving Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and being the first to see what's...

Dan has been busy, visiting a load as part of the Helsinki International Film Festival and the birthday show of Helsinki based indie record label Soliti. Heather has taken a train to Lapland and come back with a "new" car, visited the new school dinner exhibition in the Hotel and Restaurant museum. Also the Hungry for Finland results are out and excitement is high! Join our intrepid expl...

The Helsinki International Film Festival is underway and Dan has started his trawl through films in this years' releases. Heather has been watching some stand up. And both have been outside of the capital, Heather in Turku to look at old cars and Dan in Stockholm for a weekend of exploration! Join our intrepid explorers and discover more of the city by giving Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fol...

Our intrepid explorers have struggled with Koskela. It's a quiet family area with little to see of do (unless everything was missed!). Dan and Heather explore the church, a couple of old fortresses and a more during this episode. Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

A special episode where Dan and Heather have been checking out the sights of Helsinki Design Week. From Marimekko to Aalto, EGS to design brand Menzino, they've checked out all you fit into a day (or a bit less as there were less queues than expected!). Also Dan concludes his experiences at Helsinki Festival and has been to more live gigs and a hip-hop dance performance. Join our intrepid expl...

Dan and Heather delve into Kallio, an area known for being a popular neighbourhood for those first moving to the city. The pair explore the church, library, many statues, the market hall and so much more in this episode, come along for the ride! Also Dan has continued his exploration of the Helsinki Festival, having seen Swedish indie pop artists Hannes at Suvila and the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre o...

Congratulations to the wiser half of the podcast, Heather turned 60 at the weekend and that meant Dan finally had the chance to explore a little of the cabin and island after hearing so much about it. Dan has been off to see (or rather hear) the start of the Helsinki Festival, visiting both Musiikkitalo and Huvila to hear (and see) Rufus Wainwright in two vastly different guises... Give Cultural H...

This time Dan and Heather take a trip to Kamppi, an area with some interesting history. From the plague park to the shopping centre, the (formerly) Russian Theatre to an unplanned stop at a paint shop, this area is full of tidbits you won't want to miss! Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

Heather has been lugging stones to the sauna. Dan has been to Hellsinki Metal Festival and to watch European club football. He also attempted to teach Heather about league football structure, but failed! Join us for all the latest explorations and upcoming events... Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

In this episode we ake a trip to possibly the most famous island (or group of islands) in the country, Suomenlinna. A popular tourist destination with up to a million visitors a year, we take the blue route and take in the church, famous dry dock, the submarine and much more... Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

It's been a good week with Helsinki announcing record numbers of local ferry users, while some of Aalto's buildings have been added to the UNESCO heratage list too (5 of them in Helsinki). Dan's been out to watch HJK again and Heather has been out in the countryside to visit another summer cabin. There's also a lot going on during the upcoming weekend if you're out and about in...

Back out on the road, and this time Dan and Heather are taking on Helsinki largest (we think) borough, Vartiokylä. From the bustling Itäkeskus to the tranquil Puotila, this area seems to have it all. From toxic-waste housing issues to a monument nobody is sure what it's for, this was a great area to explore... Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital...

Dan's been busy visiting yet another Helsinki summer festival, this time Downtown Calling, with slightly disappointing results. And he's also been off to watch some second league football in Oulunkylä... Heather is off on holiday! Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

In this episode Dan and Heather are trawling through the mass of things to see, experience and taste in the Ullanlinna district. Scratching the surface would be the easiest way to describe this trip, but tune in for some good ideas of things to do if you find yourself in this cultural pocket of the city. So much to explore and see, join us... Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ex...

This episode is mainly about Dan's endurance (read tiredness/over-doing-it!), spending a week with his 5 year old exploring the capital, straight into his first Tuska and then off to Tallinn! Time for a well-earned cup of tea! Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

It's the turn of Meilahti in this episode. Many people just think hospital when they hear Meilahti, but there is so much more to this area. There's Seurasaari and Tamminiemi, both the President's and Prime Minsiter's houses and a bronze age village - which turned out not to be... So much to explore and see, join us... Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finla...

Heather and Day explore one of the most important days in the Helsinki calendar. The 12th of June is Helsinki Day. Taking in the Town Hall, The House of the Estates, a population protection shelter and Stogis (featuring an interview with local artist Elli Maanpää), there's plenty to tell from this yearly city-wide event. And as if that wasn't enough, Dan ventured straight on to the two-d...

What an area this episode! Kluuvi is huge and has so much going on that Heather and Dan barely scraped the surface (and managed to lose the final 2 parts of the recordings, so there is definitely reason to return)! From the National Library to Esplandi Park, Oodi to shopping centres, Kluuvi has it all. Join the adventure and see what else was found in district 2... Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fol...

Dan visited the latest exhibition in the Didrichsen Museum and spoke with Rowan Bain, Chief Curator of the William Morris Gallery in London who was at the gallery opening about the exhibtion and who exactly William Morris was. Heather and Dan look forward to the upcoming Helsinki day events on 12th June. Plus more gossip from the captial city (and life in general)... Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fo...

This episode it's the turn of one of Helsinki favourite family areas, Haaga. Divided into 4 unequal neighbourhoods, Heather and Dan did a lot of walking to find some dark history and struggled to find coffee! A wonderful church and many parks are on the agenda this week... Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

Heather and Dan visited the latest HAM exhibition - Magdalena Abakanowicz: Crossing Boundaries which is amazing, but also for the duration of the exhibition there is a weaving workshop hosted by textile designer  Rosa Tolnov Clausen who we spoke to while visiting. Dan has also been off to the 2026 edition of the World Village Fair to catch some more music and as if that wasn't enough he also t...