Dyrehaven in autumn colours

I like nature as much as the next person and sure the colours of autumn leaves can be breathtaking. One popular place for Copenhageners to go and enjoy the loveliness of the trees this season is Dyrehaven, a large wood just north of the city. It is a great place to go and get away from the city and breathe in some clean air.

However when the autumn weather really shows its worst side, which is the case at the moment, I prefer to enjoy the light brown colours of coffee, tea or beer sitting inside. Therefore I go to a different Dyrehave – the really cosy cafe at Vesterbro and place of the month in October.

At Dyrehaven the interior from the old school 1970s bodega is almost intact, set in orange and wooden colours you can enjoy a traditional Danish lunch of smørrebrød and other Danish dishes. This place is so down to earth, warm and friendly that you could easily stay there all afternoon, while the rain hits the window and the darkness slowly creeps in.

Find yourself in my blood stream

A new Danish band recently caught my attention. It is the group Giana Factory who recently supported Glasvegas on their European tour and also played this year’s Roskilde festival.

On Saturday they played a release gig at Vega here in Copenhagen to promote their debut EP ‘Bloody Game’ and must admit I was smitten.

The light female vocals and the electronic backdrop in the songs totally got under my skin. The three girls looked so cool on stage, and even though I know they have a male drummer, they just made me think of a modern version of a 1960s girl group – totally in control and really enjoying what they were doing. Nerd girl will definately keep her eyes on them in the future.

Nerd Girl, in the living room, with a cocktail

I think it’s time ignore the financial crisis and live life like the dandies. For one night let’s pretend that we are rich, successful and have no worries in the world – and what better place, than at the place of the month.

Place of the month of January is carefully chosen for its decadence and beautiful spot in the city centre. Extravagant, over the top, but still very classy, describes this place.
I can’t say that this is a nerdy place. But for some reason this nerd girl still ended up feeling totally at home amongst the rich and beautiful on her visit to Ruby.

Ruby’s cocktail bar is set in an apartment - decorated just like a living room making you feel as if you just popped in on an old friend for a drink. A dim lighting, comfy pillows and couches and the friendliest bartenders, I have ever met.

And the drinks, oh, the drinks... The selection is a fine blend of the classics and their very own delicious recipes. It is not at cheap place, drinks are about 100kr a piece - but you really only need one or two to get the night going.

Nerd Girl dresses up for the family

My cool aunt Sally is celebrating her 50th birthday this month and she’s throwing a great party, which I’m sure will be great. But what to wear? Seriously, this Nerd Girl usually doesn't have a problem with picking out her outfits, but when it comes to the family-things I'm always sort of lost.

And for some reason what I seem to dig out of the closet is always too formal, too casual or too sexy – in short: not really good for the family occasions.
So instead of going through the usual fashion magazines, I went on Polyvore to get inspired and create my own outfits and family birthday kind of style. And here you are: my three examples of what to wear for the next big family thing:

In my family at the moment it’s not 4 weddings and a funeral, but something like three 60th birthdays, one 50th birthday, one wedding, one 25th year wedding anniversary and a funeral– all in about one year.

Not that I don't enjoy hanging with the oldies - Nerd Girl loves old people - but on the fashion front you get tirde of the same type of dress for all those gatherings.

I think my next project on Polyvore will be the perfect 'meet-the-parents'-outfit.

Place of the month: Coffee Collective

That's right, place of the month of August is a coffee shop.
The street where this delicious little spot is located basically is an experience in itself.
Let me explain, Jærgersborggade, as the street is called, is sort of famous in my neighbourhood: Nørrebro. About 10 years ago the street was a notorious drug dealing street. A place where you did not wanna get caught - even during the day. Theses days Jærgersborggade has become a street full of small shops and cafes - and the apartment prices have naturally go up. But there is a small detail, the street still looks like shit.
Oh sure, the small shop windows have helped the overall appereance. But it has it's old worn down look .

The coffee shop ‘Coffe Collective’ is the place of the month in August for many reasons and not just it's urban location. This is a small place with only 2 tables inside, as most of the space is taken up by the large coffee roaster. Yep, here they roast their own coffee beans.

So, up here in the cold north, in a former drug street, you can actually smell the sweet sweet aromas of coffee beans from Kenya, Ethiopia and many other exotic places. Adding to the quality of this coffee shop is also the really cosy atmosphere and friendly baristas.You’ll find no coffee snobs or arrogance here, but in stead passionate coffee preachers, who love to explain the science of good coffee making and drinking.

Hercules and Love Affair concert

Thursday night concert at Vega
The funkiness of Greek mythology hit Copenhagen Thursday night.
Hercules and Love Affair has been in my ears for the last few months making me dream of shiny New York nightlife at studio 54. Especially "Hercules’ Theme" and "Blind" has had me swinging a little extra on my bike on the way to work.

So naturally when the Gods of cool music visit your town, you go. And even though it unfortunately was without Anthony (of Anthony And The Johnsons) the rest of the band did manage to create a party at Vega. The strength of Hercules wasn’t really there to begin with, though. The two singing goddesses; the small and masculine Kim Ann and the tall bombshell Nomi both seemed distracted or nervous for the first few songs – too bad. Nomi at first reminded me of a bored pole dancing drag queen, but she really came to life when she pulled an awesome costume change and sang 'you Belong'. Her moves definitely made the guys happy...

And in the end they both delivered some genuine disco funk to the happy crowd. Especially ‘Athena’ and ‘Blind’ had the house partying. Speaking of the crowd –it’s a fact that I’m too short for concerts… for some reason I always end up behind tall guys – last time it was cute Swedish boys- this time it was huge – really huge- dancing gay guys. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the really good music – with a Hercules lookalike on drums – that much I could see!

Place of the month in June: The French Patisserie Le Montmartre

Well, I don’t really have the old Cliff Richard in my ear singing ”Summer holiday” these days.Lately Copenhagen has returned to its usual highly unreliable summer weather: Showers and heavy wind with the occasional 10 minutes of full hot sun. And this basically means that you’re uncomfortable no matter what you’re wearing.

So yesterday, on a rainy Sunday I visited the French patisserie Le Montmartre at Vesterbro with some good friends. This place is the Place of the Month in June, simply because, there you feel like it's summer all the time, no matter how much it rains out side.

This place is just what you need for a summer like this one – simple decoration, smiley charming French waiter and the most delicious cakes you can imagine. And the pieces are generous and not expensive at all.

I had a creamy vanilla and raspberry cake with a double espresso, which was just excellent – strong and bitter, but not too heavy.

Celebrating political women

On Sunday - tomorrow- it's the 100 th anniversary for the Danish women’s right to vote and be elected in local elections – an important milestone on the road to women's complete right vote, which came in Denmark in 1915. Tomorrow a huge celebration will take place in the Town Hall square with open air concerts with among others the cool JaConfetti, delicious foods and a lot of interesting debates going on about women in politics. All over town powerful women – not only politicians – are interviewed in public about their different roads to power. I love these type of historical event and I think it's important to recognise the historical perspectives in our democratic development. Without the efforts of historical nerd girls and women a hundred years ago our reality would look completely different.

The very cool Danish artist Katirne Ærtebjerg has put her picture on the poster as you see above. Her artwork can also be seen on her website and she also has a piece at the Danish National Gallery. I really like her imaginary cartoon-like world, it is spooky with fairytale facination. Her heavy brush strokes and the strong colours remind me a bit of O’keefe’s pictures.A special scarf has been designed by Danish designer Susanne Rützou to mark the occasion.
It is inspired by the classical PLO-scarf, but it’s pink and decorated with small women’s symbols and 100-signs. I think it's a cool way of marking this historical event and the design is modern, but perfect for all types of women.
It can be bought tomorrow at the town hall square and then on at Susanne Rützou’s own shop here in Copenhagen.
So all Nerd Girls unite and come to the celebration tomorrow - it will be going on all day!

Copenhagen under attack

I’ve decided to start something new on this blog. From this month I will give you a monthly feature of some of my favourite places around Copenhagen. The ‘Place of the month’-series will both include old and new venues around town and I also plan to write about more random places. The first place Nerd Girl attacks and thus also The Place of the Month in March is :

Rayuela

This is a relatively new Spanish bookstore and café. Unfortunately I don’t speak Spanish yet (but I actually plan to take a Spanish class in the fall) so I couldn’t enjoy the many different books; novels, cookbooks, biographies of Spanish icons. But you don’t have to be Spanish or know the language to feel at home there. I’ve always liked the concept of book cafes and even though they are becoming popular in Copenhagen there are still too few. I like book cafes where the books are more than decorative porps and where the environment at the same time is cosiere than the library.

At Rayuela the atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable. People come by to read books and enjoy the delicious food. There is a soothing calm about the place which together with the Spanish music makes you lean back and forget yourself.
Originally named after the book ‘Rayuela’ by the Argentinean author Julio Cortázar the café offers all types of Spanish delicacies and a very good coffee.

Friday Night Concert:

Jens Lekman at Vega in Copenhagen

Well then, Jens Lekman’s concert was moved from the small stage at Vega to the largest due to popular demand. This (finally!) gave Nerd Girl the opportunity to attack...
I’ve only known Jens Lekman’s music since I got his last album 'Night falls Over Kortedala' for x-mas and it’s been sitting in my stereo ever since. Friday night’s concert had a good crowd with laughter and cheering. But unfortunately, for a small Nerd Girl like me, a lot of tall Swedish indie guys had taken the trip over from Malmoe. Just as nice looking as Swedes can be, just as annoying is it when they are blocking your view…

So I didn’t get to see so much of Jens Lekman and his band, - I did, though, catch a glimpse or two of a very cool blond girl on the drums.

But the lack of view didn’t stop me from enjoying the music. I like his music for its happy melodies and the quirky lyrics. In the live version the sympathy and charm from the CD still shined through in every way. Jens Lekman was talkative and told funny anecdotes about his songs for example the hit: ‘postcard to Nina’. The song is about how Jens goes to Berlin to visit his friend Nina and ends up playing her fiancé for her parents so she doesn’t have to tell them she is a lesbian. The song tells us about the embarrassing dinner where poor Jens ‘plays’ the son-in-law and at the concert Jens gave us an even further description of his big German father-in-law and his attention to Jens – a funny story.

Thanks to the smoking-band in public buildings the air at Vega was clean and at some moments you could almost feel and smell the clean air of the Swedish woods and lakes in all the good music.
Apparently Jens Lekman was a bingo-host in a small Swedish town and from that he found inspiration for his song ‘Friday Night at the Drive-in-Bingo’ which he palyed last night really well.

At the end of the concert, when the crowd cheered for the fourth extra number he told us that he couldn’t resist our foot-stamping but that he really had to go, but if we wanted we could see him in the lobby and he’d sing a song in our ear.
I didn’t get to see him in the lobby though (too many people), but Jens Lekman, you can sing in my ear, any time…

Friday night colour motivation: Tanz der Moleküle & Fascination

Friday night: The wheather sucks - rain, icy wind and the ever depressing darkness of winter just creeps in on you. Basically you just want to stay in and not move from the sofa more than necessary. But no I don't give in - friday nigth means party and the fun of the Copenhagen night life.
Then what better way to combat the growing winter depression than with good music and festive colours.
So here you have it; the videos really set me in the mood for a fun night:

German rock/pop band Mia.:
The music is in itself so happy-go-lucky. Even though she's singing in German I can still understand the part about 'my hart is dancing and every molecule is moving'. This is exactly the feeling you need inside when you're going out in this wheather.
And the colours - aah
I really love her outfit too - I wonder how those stars in her hair stay that way...




Alphabeat: This Danish band has been on everyone's lips (and radios) here in DK for the last year or so. As I got their album this summer, it's become my 'summer-soundtrack'.

So when I found their new video for 'Fascination' it took me right back to those bright, warm summer nigths. The colours are similar to the Mia vidoe, but there's more of a party going on here. The music's very insisting - you just gotta move. So go on - go dancing!

So that's what got me up and out the door last night - winter must be beaten with colours and music!

Today however the sofa's calling again and I'm not sure I can resist it this time. Tonight it calls for Edgar Allen Poe, candles and tea.