INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF Chamber of Commerce WEEKEND SUGGESTIONS Week 14 & 15

HI EVERYBODY! This week is a special edition of Weekend Suggestions. We will be giving our recommendations for weeks 14 and 15. In addition, we are including an “Easter in Norway” section. One of the biggest holidays in Norway, it is usually synonymous with a vacation. The official Easter period in 2017 is from Thursday th13 to Monday 17th April. The school holiday starts on 10th April in most schools.

It will be quite in and around Oslo during Easter. Many of the regular shops and activities will be closed or have limited opening hours. It is good to start planning what you would like to do and check out what will be happening during the Easter break.

Photo: AmericanMeadows.com

Note that we will not be sending out Weekend Suggestions in week 15.

We hope you enjoy our special edition and wish you all God Påske!

OCC EVENTS Both Oslo Chamber of Commerce and INN members are welcome to these events: 6th April Wine Tasting – Italy vs. France The seminar is in Norwegian with English translation

USEFUL INFORMATION Nationaltheater T-bane station closed during Easter In addition, there will be no metros between Nationaltheateret and . From Tuesday 11th – Tuesday 18th April the station will be closed for reconstruction works.

Heavy traffic / many travellers Due to start of Easter holidays you can expect heavy traffic out of the city on Fridayth 7 and Wednesday 12th April. You should also give yourself extra time if you are heading for the airport or plan to travel by NSB.

Opening hours All shops are closed on the public holidays 13th -14th, 16th – 17th April. Limited opening hours on Easter Saturday, 15th April. Note that some shops including the wine monopoly will close earlier on Wednesday 12th INN EVENTS 7th April Friday Vibes @ Mesh first Friday of the Month 26th April Informative and fun: Cultural evening – invitation will follow

Remember to check out our calendar for upcoming INNEvents

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INN WELCOME TO NORWAY SEMINAR New in Norway and curious about the culture, the country and its people? Sign up here for our popular «Welcome to Norway» Seminar, a one-day practical introduction to living and working in Norway and Oslo. The next seminar will take place 9th May. Free of charge for all INN Individual Members. For INN Corporate Members/OCC Members the price per person is NOK 4000 and non-members NOK 5000, including a welcome package and lunch.

EASTER IN NORWAY The Norwegian name påske is closely related to the French pâques, the Greek and Latin pascha, and the Hebrew pesach (pesah). In Norway Easter is all about symbols such as Easter chickens, Easter eggs in all colours and, occasionally, Easter bunnies. Easter is steeped in the bright hues of yellow: painted or drawn chickens, all of them in yellow - can be seen in homes, shop windows, newspapers and magazines and on television. For Norwegians Easter is a time to spend with your family and friends. It is also a time to indulge in favourite foods: tasty lamb dishes in all variations, oranges, chocolates and marzipan eggs. In fact, lots of marzipan! Each Norwegian eats an average of 4.5 marzipan figures at this time of year. Since daffodils bloom during the spring season, that is, around Easter, the flower known as “Påskeliljer ” and is a main symbol for Easter in Norway. The race to the mountains! - Towns and cities are often deserted as the more adventurous and nature seeking people head for their cabins in the mountains, for the last skiing of the year. This exodus begins on Wednesday afternoon, before Maundy Thursday, so expect a lot of traffic as most try to leave the city on this day. Although there are some staying at home who may begin spring activities or preparing their boats for a return to the water. Photo: www.nidar.no The Easter Thriller – Påskekrim. Reading crime stories and detective novels during Easter is a particular and perhaps peculiar national trait

Photo: Dagbladet.no 2009 in Norway. Popular Norwegian authors include Jo Nesbø, Gunnar Staalesen, Unni Lindell and Karim Fossum. Some of their titles are also published in English. TV stations, radio and newspapers also follow the tradition by running detective series based on the works of famous crime novelists such as Agatha Christie, P.D. James, Simenon and Ruth Rendell. Also, check the milk cartons for some breakfast time crime!

EASTER CONCERTS The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and the Norwegian Soloist Choir, Bøler Church 10th April and Frogner Church 11th April at 19:00 Easter concert with the following program: Mozart's Great Mass in C minor, Johann Sebastian Bach; Komm Jesu komm and Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 98. Featuring conductor, Bernard Labadie. Click here for tickets for Bøler Church. Click here for tickets for Frogner Church. Address: Bøler Church, General Ruges vei 51. Frogner Church, Bygdøy allé 36.

Photo: VisitOslo.com Claudia Lamanna and Marina Selvik, Opera House, 13th April at 14:00 Claudia Lamanna on harp will perfom music by Godefroid, Hindemith and Renié. Marina Selvik on piano will perform music by Paganini, Liszt, Scriabin, Schubert and Chopin. Click here for tickets. Address: Kirsten Flagstads plass 1

Photo: VisitOslo.com

Die Winterreise, Opera House, 14th April at 14:00 Concert on the main stage featuring Yngve Søberg, baritone and John Lidal on piano. They will perform Die Vinterreise by Franz Schubert. Click here for tickets. Address: Kirsten Flagstads plass 1

Photo: VisitOslo.com

Oslo Cathedral Choir, Oslo Cathedral, 14th April at 18:00 The Choir and Barokkanerne, led by Vivianne Sydnes will perform one of Bach's greatest works, the St Matthew Passion. Click here for tickets. Address: Stortorvet

Photo: VisitOslo.com

Esther Yoo and Robert Koeni, Opera house, 16th April at 14:00 Concert in the main hall featuring Esther Yoo on violin and Robert Koenig on piano. They will perform music by Mendelssohn, Debussy, Grieg and Tchaikovsky. Click here for tickets. Address: Kirsten Flagstads plass 1 Photo: VisitOslo.com

FESTIVALS / MARKETS Inferno Metal Festival, different locations around the city, 12th – 15th April Since 2001 the Inferno Metal Festival has been held in Oslo to loyal and growing audiences of metal fans. With 40 bands playing over four days, the Festival is the largest metal festival in Norway, and draws fans from all over the world. For information and festival program click here. Click here to buy tickets. 3- and 4- day passes are available.

Photo: Infernofestival.net

EXHIBITIONS Emma & Edvard – Love in the time of Loneliness, Munch Museum, until 17th April For the first time, the works of Edvard Munch are being exhibited together with a comprehensive video installation. Madame B (2014) has been created by Michelle Williams Gamaker together with the internationally renowned culture theorist, artist and curator Mieke Bal, who is also curator of this exhibition. Madame B is a modern interpretation of Flaubert’s 1856 novel. By juxtaposing Edvard Munch’s Photo: munchmuseum.no works and the video installations, the modernity of Munch’s works is brought into focus. Address: Tøyengata 53. NOTE: Museum open throughout Easter period

Hope over fear and Detours, Peace Museum until September/November 2017 Two inspiring and fascinating exhibitions. Hope over Fear is a unique portrait of Juan Manual Santos, President of Colombia and 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winner, and the Columbian people. Detours is an exhibition of encounters with people in forced displacement. Address: Brynjulf Bulls Pass 1 Photos: nobelpeacecenter.org NOTE: Museum open throughout Easter period Ingrid Lønningdal – Division of Space, 9th March – 23rd April, 12:00-17:00 In the exhibition Division of Space, Norwegian artist Ingrid Lønningdal presents six new series in the form of collage, textile, silk print and paintings on paper and textiles.

A few of these series take as their starting point Lønningdal's commute to and from her studio, more specifically a particular industrial area she passes every morning. The area is situated in central Oslo, still being peripheral, squeezed in between highways and rail tracks. The area is going through a morphological process driven by practical needs. Lønningdal is interested in how these kinds of places transform, as well as their location and accessibility at the outskirts of both actual space and the mind. Free entrance Address: Rådhusgata 19

Photo:VisitOslo

Irma Salo Jæger, Henie Onstad Art Center, 13th, 15th and 16th April at 11:00 – 16:00 The Art Center presents the first comprehensive retrospective exhibition of the renowned artist Irma Salo Jæger (born 1928). As a master of colour, she has made an indelible mark on modernist painting. For over sixty years the artist has been exploring the most fundamental components of painting and the exhibition showcases the significant body of work this vigorous artist has produced throughout her life. Photo:VisitOslo

You can download here the opening times for museums in Oslo during the Easter period.

CONCERTS Jedi Mind Tricks, Rockefeller, 6th April at 11:30 Concert with rap group Jedi Mind Tricks who have been keeping it real for more than 20 years with uncompromising, hard hitting hip-hop. This is the group's only stop in Norway so expect a packed Rockefeller on this evening. Click here for these popular tickets. Address: Torggata 16. Photo:VisitOslo

Nosizwe, Jaeger Oslo, 6th April at 21:00 Comparable perhaps to Beyoncé and Solange, Nosizwe Baqwa has chosen to take a rather more indie route to success than her big brother, Tshawe Baqwa from Madcon. Her music is described as Scandinavian Soul and has resulted in collaborations with Karpe Diem, Paperboys and the Norwegian NRK Orchestra. Click here for more information and here for tickets. Address: Grensen 9 Photo:Jaeger.no

The Oslo Philharmonic: St. John’s Passion, Oslo Konserthus, 7th April at 19:00 St. John’s passion tells the story of Jesus, the suffering and death as it is given in the Gospel of John in the Bible, with some touches from the Gospel of Matthew. The narrative texts are reproduced verbatim, while the lyrics are taken from various sources. The music paints a rich and nuanced picture of the events of history and strong emotions, from despair to deep tranquillity. Featuring the philharmonics chief conductor Herbert Blomstedt. Click here for tickets. Photo: VisitOslo.com Address: Munkedamsveien 14 Richard Bona & Mandokan Cubano, Melahuset, 7th April at 21:00 Afro-Cuban musical show by the Grammy winning artist Richard Bona. Continuing in the footsteps of Buena Vista Social Club and presenting the next step in the evolution of Afro-Cuban music. Click here for tickets. Address: Mariboes gate 8

Photo: VisitOslo.com Eclipse, Hard Rock Café, 8th April at 21:00 Two years after the successful release of the “Armageddonize” album this very popular glam rock and hard rock Swedish band are making their name around the globe. They have established themselves as rising stars in Australia, Japan, American and around Europe. Click here to buy tickets. Address: Karl Johans gate 45 Photo: HardRockCafe.no

The Big Latin Party, 12th April, Rockefeller at 23:00 Hosted by Radio Latin-America the Big Latin Party is an event filled with DJ's and artists who are set to turn the Norwegian dancefloor into a tropical one. Make sure to brush up on your reggaeton, salsa and bachata moves beforehand. Click here for tickets. Address: Torggata 16 Photo: Rockefeller.com

DANCE Fiffi von Tassel: Easter Extragavanza! Smelteverket,th 6 April at 21:00 Who knew chickens could be that sexy...? Fifi von Tassel and her basket of bunnies is ready to give you an hour of sexy, funny and somewhat political burlesque, with glitter, glitter and even more glitter! Your host for the evening, Fifi von Tassel, is an international award winning burlesque artist, and is the biggest burlesque producer in Norway. She can best be described as a political happy pill, wearing a thong, and both in her comparing and in her burlesque acts, you can see a strong, body positive theme. Click here for more information. Free entrance. Address: Maridalsveien 17A

Photo: Detskjerioslo.no

FAMILY & CHILDREN CityKids Childrens Activities, 8th April 12:00 – 16:00, 9th April 11:00-15:00 City Kids invites children and families to fun-packed activities at Sentralen. The children themselves take the leading role in discovering and creating something new. Various fun and engaging children's activities at Sentralen, Oslo's new house of culture. For tickets please click here. Address: Øvre Slottsgate 3, Oslo Photo: VisitOslo.com

Easter activities at the Norwegian Folk Museum, 8th-17th April, 11:00-16:00 Norwegian Folk Museum invites to Easter in the city. For an overview of the various activities, visit Folk museum's website. The activities are included in regular admission to the museum. Address: Museumsveien 10

Photo: VisitOslo.com

Easter Workshop at the Vigeland Museeum, 9th April, 13:00-15:00 Easter workshop for children at the Vigeland Museum: paint your own Easter chicks and play with clay. Free entrance to the museum between 13 – 15:00hrs. Address: Nobels gate 32

Photo:vigeland.museum.no Here follows a list of interesting activities for your children or for your own inner child :)

Teknisk Museum Oslo Reptilpark Viking Ship museum and Fram museum , ski museum and visit of the jump tower Nobel peace center

Oslo Klatresenter at – climbing Rush Trampolinepark in Søndre Nordstrand Gokart, kid kart, 5-11 yrs (110-155cm), junior kart, 11-15 yrs (>150 cm) Fangene på fortet in Nydalen, activity for the family from 8-100

Inspira Science center, in Sarpsborg Østfoldbadet in Askim - swimming Risenga svømmehall in Asker - swimming

GUIDED TOURS Tours By Locals offers a wide range of tours by local guides. Experience the city through the eyes of a private local guide. Either choose from their tour suggestions or request a customised tour. A great way to experience Oslo. Click here for information about tours and prices. Photo: Toursbylocals.com

SPORT Football: Vålerenga – Sandefjord, th9 April, 18:00 Oslo's top football (soccer) team hosts newly promoted Sandefjord, coached by former Vålerenga (and Derby, Blackburn and Nottingham Forest) player Lars Bohinen. Vålerenga and Ronny Deila are on the hunt for three important points in the season's second game at the Ullevaal Stadium. Outside the stadium there will be a Fanzone with activities for children and youth. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.no, tel. (+47) 815 33 133, the Vålerenga store at Fyrstikktorget, Narvesen, 7-Eleven, Fotballshop at Ullevaal Stadium and at the stadium before the game. Address: Ullevålstadion, Songsveien 75 Photo:VisitOslo

EATING OUT Many of Oslo’s restaurants will be closed during the Easter holidays. If you plan to eat out, you should check opening hours of your favourite restaurant in advance. We have gathered together a few that will be open all days and we think you will enjoy.

Olympen Historic beer hall and restaurant, called "Lompa", in the Grønland area. Photo:VisitOslo The menu at Lompa consists of traditional Scandinavian cuisine, and changes with the seasons. Everything is made in-house Address: Grønlandsleiret 15 Skur 33 Italian seafood restaurant by the harbour, overlooking the Oslo Fjord Photo:VisitOslo Address: Akershusstranda 11

Kverneriet Burger Place at Majorstua that puts its heart and soul into the three key elements of a burger meal: the meat, the bread and the fries. Address: Kirkeveien 64b Photo:VisitOslo

Lorry Restaurant Restaurant in Homansbyen that has been serving artists, writers, culture personalities and ordinary people since 1887. The atmosphere is relaxed Photo:VisitOslo and welcoming, and the walls are covered with fun artifacts and art. Lorry's menu includes a wide variety of classic dishes, but the place is probably most famous for its 128 kinds of beer. Address: Parkveien 12

FIRST NIGHT MOVIES A United Kingdom Drama Age above 9 A United Kingdom is based on the true and wonderful love story between African Seretse Khama and Englsih Ruth Williams. Khama was an heir of Botswana. The couple got married in 1948 and defied their families, the British colonial authorities and especially South Africa, which simultaneously introduced apartheid.

Get Out Thriller Age above 15 Get Out has taken USA by storm. Get ready for a shaky thriller.

Going in Style Comedy/ Crime Age above 9 In a desperate attempt to make ends to meet, three friends risks all by robbing the same bank that denied them the money they should have had.

We wish you all a lovely Easter! Best regards, The INN Team

INN® - International Network of Norway OSLO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Phone:+47 22 12 94 00 inn.chamber.no