Pulse 20.9.2009

1. Special Events Organizers from University of Oslo, that is the friendly people that sponsor the weekly International Coffee Hour, give you two chances to get more familiar with the city you live in. Today the destination is nature. Starting at Sognsvann t-bane station at noon, the walk will take you into beautiful Nordmarka. You can stray off the path to gather blueberries and, if you dare, mushrooms, or save your energy for hot chocolate and warm apple pie at Ullevålseter. You probably don't need to be in top shape, but a tolerance for walking, solid shoes and sensible clothing are a plus. Next sunday, again at noon, the walk starts at the sea side of city hall and will take you through and around the heart of Oslo. Can you name another city, where nature and culture are so close together? Both walks start at noon and are, of course, free of charge.

2. Also this sunday, Dan Fägerkvist will visit Blitz to play songs of Vladimir Vysotskij. If you have never heard about Vysotskij before, it is about time! Vladimir Vysotskij was a russian folk-singer, whose stature was as big, if not bigger than that of Bob Dylan in the US. Vysotskij was so popular, he drew record crowds even when he was already dead. His funeral took place during the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and most people preferred to attend the funeral, leaving the sports stadiums empty.
Dan Fägerkvist has translated Vysotskijs songs into Swedish and delivers them in a performance that can only be described as magical and electric, even if you don't understand all the words. He will guest Blitz in Pilestredet 30 this sunday night. The concert starts at 9PM but it pays off arriving earlier to get a good spot. Tickets cost 70NOK.

3. You may already have noticed that the days are getting shorter in Oslo, but for now the days are still longer than the nights. This will change this thursday, the day of autumn equinox. But Oslo will not walk quietly into the night, rather: on this day the citizens of Oslo are invited to take a nightly walk along Akerselva. Almost 3 000 torches light up the Akerselva river from north to south, creating a mystical atmosphere around the 8 km long cultural journey. Experience light sculptures, choirs, folk music, jazz, dance, art installations, trolls and gnomes. Just start your walk at Brekkedammen in Kjelsås around 8PM and follow the river downstream. The event is, of course, free of charge.

4. A lot of people like to spend their friday nigths at a lively party or roaming Oslo's bars and nightclubs. If you thirst for some high culture instead, you can head to the Norwegian Academy of Music in Karl Johanns Gate 35. This friday at 7.30PM the master's students at the academy will play their graduation concert. For the exact program go to the homepage of the Norwegian Academy of Music at www.nmh.no, but don't bother saving up money for tickets: because the concert is, once again, free of charge.