Goodbye Ca’Fish, we hardly knew ya’!

I recently had such a incredibly and unbelievably bad experience trying to have brunch at Ca’Fish, a relatively new and virtually customerless cafe on Istedgade, that I was inspired to pen the first entry on my blog in quite some time. If you don't feel like reading an entertaining story, allow me to summerize: DON'T GO THERE!

Ca’Fish opened a few months ago with a simple premise: good coffee and good fish. It is the only fish restaurant in the popular Istedgade cafe quarter of Vesterbro in Copenhagen. A friend who loves trying new restaurants went there and told me it was worth a visit, as the food was affordable and outstanding.

Recently, I came across a 50% off brunch offer for 2 on Groupon for Ca’Fish, so I bought one, thinking this would be a good way to check it out one weekend.

This morning, rolling out of bed after an evening of partying, provided exactly the sort of moment I envisioned for wandering across the street to use our brunch voucher.

But where are the customers?
Now here’s the thing: Ca’Fish sits largely empty day in and day out - utterly devoid of customers. I live 50m away and pass by the place on average between 2-8 times each day. I know for an absolute fact that there are VERY FEW customers ever visiting the place. The owner and his family are normally found sitting in a booth in the back corner, chatting together or looking bored.

Did you ever see the Seinfeld episode where Jerry starts feeling sorry for the Pakastani restaurant across from his apartment which never has any customers? Ca’Fish is that kind of place.

Here’s another more important thing worth noting about Istedgade.

If ya' don't have customers, you really do suck...
Stroll along Istedgade any time of the day or night, and the numerous cafes more often than not surprisingly chalk full of people – even at unlikeliest times of the day (weekday mornings, Sunday and Monday evenings, etc.). In other words, any cafe on Istedgade that isn’t regularly filled with customers is almost 100% certainly doing something WRONG!

Yes, I’m talking to you Ca’Fish.

Which bring us to today’s experience. We walked into an absolutely empty restaurant, there was but one other couple in the place.  I repeat: THE RESTAURANT WAS EMPTY. There were no reservation tags on any tables.

Hello, goodbye!
The waitress arrived and the conversation went like this:

Me: ”Hi, we purchased your Groupon offer for 2 brunches.” (There are 5 relatively standard brunch options to choose from on the Ca’Fish menu.)

Waitress: ”Have you reserved a table?”

Me: (looking around the empty restaurant and laughing in a friendly way) "No, we haven’t."

Waitress: "The Groupon offer is only valid with a 24 hour advance reservation."

ME: (Staring at her in utter disbelief, and again looking around the empty restaurant.) ”Are you seriously telling me that you would rather us leave than allow us to use this offer - even if we didn’t make a reservation?"

Waitress: ”Do you have the offer with you? I can show you the terms.”

Me: "That’s not the point. I accept that we failed to make a 24 hour advance booking, but given that your cafe is absolutely empty, perhaps you could make an exception for us?" (I truely hadn't noticed the small print in the offer that said this was necessary - it was an honest mistake.)

Waitress: "No, we can’t do that."

Me: (Steam beginning to come out of my ears at the stupidity of what is transpiring) ”So you are telling me you would rather have 2 pissed off customers leave your empty restaurant, than to allow us to use the Groupon voucher” (Note: as a Groupon offer, we had ALREADY PAID FOR OUR BRUNCH!)

Waitress: ”Would you like me to get the owner?”

Me: ”Absolutely!”

Customers? We don't want those!
There is no way the owner will allow 2 paying customers to walk out of his restaurant, I thought to myself. That would be insane!

Out came the owner whom I recognised immediately, having passed by his cafe several hundred times in the past months with him sitting in the window. To my astonishment, the owner immediately began to repeat the same bullshit the waitress has just told me. Then, to my increasing disbelief, he added in a number of unbelievable excuses to justify his position.

"You a bad man Jerry, a bad man!"
These included:
  • These are the terms we have agreed with Groupon (implying that somehow, even as the owner, he couldn't do anything about it!)
  • We have to be able to plan our food ordering. (Yes, but if were just normal walk-in customers, you would still need to have enough food on hand to serve us, right…)

I wanted to be clear: was he telling me that he would not be paid by Groupon if he served us without a 24 hour advance booking. I knew full well he would be paid regardless.

”Well yes, he would still get paid,” came the reply, ”but those were the terms he agreed with Groupon.”

I decided I would make one last appeal to his common sense (clearly unncessary at this point, but I  simply couldn’t help myself!). 

Small business consulting lessons for moronic idiots
I mentioned that I was a small business owner myself (100% true – www.SomethingPersonal.dk) and that I also occasionally ran Groupon offers (also 100% true), so I understood exactly how it worked. Therefore I understood that the most important thing was to get customers into our shop and give them great service, in order to increase the likelihood they would return (I mean, otherwise why bother running a Groupon offer!!???).

But it was to no avail.

I now understood fully that I was dealing with a hopeless cafe owner who would NEVER succeed in running a popular and profitable cafe, and that inevitably Ca’Fish would close down for lack of customers and lack of profits. I almost felt sorry for him.

And so we left the cafe, our stomachs rumbling with hunger, pondering how it could possibly be that an owner would seriously run a cafe on the premise that turning-away (and in the process pissing-off) whatever few potential customers actually turned up, was a smart, long-sighted strategy for running a business.

A short post-script...
Incidently, after having brunch at another nearby, bustling cafe with great service, I walked by Ca’Fish, now about 1 hour after this incident had transpired. There was all of 3 tables of people. In other words, the restaurant was still about 80% empty.

What more needs to be said? So long Ca’Fish, we hardly knew ya’!

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!!

Crazy evening of torrential rain and thundershowers in Copenhagen (and other parts of Denmark) yesterday. This video was shot in my hood of Vesterbro during the deluge. Crazy stuff. Absolutely wild watching everyone drying out their cars (!!) and basements today.



'Copenhagenization' happening around the world, says CNN. Good stuff for cyclists..

It's all about bicycles in Copenhagen, says CNN. Indeed, it is. Check it out yourself.





The absolute best of 2010 ...from MyDenmarkTV.com


Episode # 82 - Best of MyDenmarkTV.com from MyDenmarkTV on Vimeo.

Here you have it all boiled down - The best of 2010 from MyDenmarkTV.com. It's not easy to pick our absolute favourite moments from the past year, but a few moments that would have to make the list include the Copenhagen Carnival, Copenhagen Beer Festival, Distortion Festival (in particular managing to film a nearly 10 minute long interview with Distortion Founder Thomas Fleurquin while cycling!) and Kulturnatten ...just to name a few!

There were also some one-off moments like hanging out with Sebastian Overgaard from Street Dining and meeting Lars AP, author of Fucking Flink - his friendliness manifesto to Denmark. Our episode featuring Istedgade proved to be a hugely popular episode - which is gratifying since it is one of my favourite streets in Copenhagen.

So here's a bit of what you will find highlighted in our 'Best of 2010 episode:


Events:


Copenhagen Beer Festival (www.beerfestival.dk)
Distortion Festival (www.cphdistortion.dk
Copenhagen Carnival (www.copenhagencarnival.dk)
Sankt Hans Aften
Copenhagen Friday Night Skate (http://www.fns-cph.dk/en/home.html)
Copenhagen Cooking Festival (www.copenhagencooking.dk)
Circus Benneweis (www.benneweis.dk)
Kulturnat (www.kulturnat.dk)
Nytorv Prison
Womex (www.womex.com)
Fastlavn
Street Dining (www.facebook.com/streetdining)

Places:

Nørrebro
Rust Nightclub (www.rust.dk)
Nyhavn
most beautiful buidings in Copenhagen
ugliest buildings in Copenhagen
Tivoli (www.tivoli.dk)
Copenhagen Opera (www.kglteater.dk)
Istedgade
Hillerød
Fredriksborg slot in Hillerød (www.fredriksborgslot.dk)
Roskilde
M/S Saga Fjord dinner cruises (www.sagafjord.dk)
Viking Ship Museum (www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk)
Summerhouses in Denmark
Christmas lights in Copenhagen

People

Thomas Fleurquin (Distortion Festival Founder)
Sebestian Overgaard (Street Dining)
Katrine Klinken - chef and food writer (www.klinken.dk)
Lars AP (www.fuckingflink.dk)
Tanveer Sharif (Vopium CEO)

Hope you enjoy!

A snowy morning in Copenhagen...

For those not in Denmark right now: Do you realise that this Christmas season you are missing one the most Christmassy Christmases of all the Christmases that Denmark has ever offered up? It is truly amazing - the snow just keep coming. Hope it continues through Christmas and New Years... :-)

And a few photos taken this morning... (and a short video too)





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a short video...

Danish food at Christmas - with chef and food writer Katrine Klinken - Episdoe 81 of MyDenmarkTV.com


Episode # 81 - MyDenmarkTV.com from MyDenmarkTV on Vimeo.
  
Reasons to check out Episode 81 of MyDenmarkTV.com: A DELICIOUSLY untraditional twist to a traditional Christmas meal ...plus a hyperactive box of oysters that tries to snap Tim's fingers off; an appearance from the Swedish chef (yes, him!) ...and to top it off, one of the best beers you've never heard of. Curious? Then check out the latest episode... :-)

Being one of the final episodes of the year, we invite Katrine Klinken (who you may recall from Episode 42 where she prepared some wonderful danish food - namely smørrebrød) to show us how to do some traditional Danish food at Christmas - with a modern twist. The results are spectacular - and we are especially appreciative of her for introducing us to a great Danish microbrewery called Hornbeer (www.hornbeer.dk). A special thanks to Katrine Klinken for having us over and sharing her delicious recipes (once again) with our viewers.

Check out all the recipes from the episode below!



Websites and resources from the episode:
fiskebaren.dk (Fiskebaren)
jaegersborggade.dk (Jaegersborggade)
pers-griseri.dk (Pers-griseri)
hornbeer.dk (Hornbeer from Kirke Hyllinge)

Recipes:

Pork neck, kale salad and stir-fried red cabbage with hazel nuts

Approx. 1 1/2 – 2 kilos boned pork neck, scored, with rind

2-3 tbsp. sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
15 cloves
4-5 star anise
3-4 cinnamon sticks
7-8 bay leaves

Make sure the rind is scored all over. Season with pepper on the bottom side. Rub with coarse salt. Stick cloves and pieces of star anise into the scored rind. Put cinnamon sticks and bay leaves in a roasting tray. Place the pork loin the baking tray. If necessary, prop up with crumpled tin foil so the rind is quite horizontal. Add 2 dl water. Turn the oven on at 200 C/390 F and roast for 1 ½-2 ½ hour.

Ordinary pork loin should roast until the thermometer registers 65 C/130 F. This roast from the neck end should roast until the thermometer registers 75C/170F. Check the temperature when the core temperature of the roast is 10C/50F lower, and check if the crackling is crisp. If not, turn the oven up to 250 C/480 F and keep roasting until the roast is done with crisp crackling. Slice the pork neck and eat with cabbage and potatoes.

Kale salad with mustard & garlic mayonnaise and lady apples

Rinse the raw kale leaves in cold water. Slice very finely with a sharp knife. Mix good quality mayonnaise with coarse Dijon Mustard and garlic. Dice lady apples, removing the cores. Mix and season with salt and pepper.

Stir-fried red cabbage

Remove any coarse outer leaves. Slice finely. Fry in olive oil in a hot pan or wok with chopped hazel nuts. Stir constantly. The cabbage should only be fried for a few minutes. Add salt and cherry vinegar. May also be seasoned with a bit of sugar or gastrique.

Roast potatoes with thyme and lemon

Mix chunks of scrubbed potato with olive oil, fresh sticks of thyme and pieces of lemon. Roast them crisp and tender in a baking tray lined with baking foil for approx. 40 minutes at 225 C/440 F.

Æbleskiver – Apple doughnuts (Danish style!)

250 g wheat flour
1 tbs sugar
pinch of sea salt
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp ground cardamom
a bit of finely grated lemon zest
3 egg yolks
4 dl buttermilk
3 egg whites
50 g butter, melted
Filling: pieces of apple or apple pure, or prunes or raisins. Serve with icing sugar and strawberry jam.

Sift four into a bowl and mix with sugar, salt and cardamom. Beat egg yolks with buttermilk and grate lemon zest into this. Add the flour gradually, stirring until the batter is smooth. Let the batter rest at room temperature for 30 min. Beat egg whites stiff and fold them carefully into the batter.

Heat up the æbleskive pan. Pour 1 tsp melted butter into each dent. Fill dents with batter almost to the rim and bake at medium heat. Put a teaspoonful of filling in each of them before turning over the æbleskive with a wooden skewer. The æbleskiver must be turned, as soon as they have formed a crust and are lovely and golden brown. Keep turning them so they are evenly baked after 6-8 minutes. Keep them warm while the rest are baked. Serve with icing sugar and strawberry jam for dipping.

A snowy white December in Copenhagen - Episode 80 of MyDenmarkTV.com

Episode #80 - MyDenmarkTV.com from MyDenmarkTV on Vimeo.

"We probably have a more positive impact on Denmark in one single episode than the Dansk Folkparti does in an entire year, " says Tim in Episode 80 of MyDenmarkTV.com. Of course, that's not really all that difficult. It's hard not to have an opinion regarding the self-proclaimed Denmark culture protectors - as we discovered in the comment section of episode 79. Our discussion of Denmark's new family reunification point system last episode certainly generated some colourful and emotional comments. Free to add your voice.

Besides making punchy statements like this, in this episode we take you on a tour through the streets of Copenhagen to help get you into the Christmas spirit by showing you how Copenhagen does it - with lots of colourful lights and decorations. It's been a snowy December, which we just can't resist taking advantage of! Copenhagen has rarely been more festive and wintery then the last few weeks.

We feature www.mitmovia.dk, a site that will help you (just a bit) if you want to travel denmark by showing you how to get the most from this site. Finally, a light question this week about a heavy food - Danish pastry, that most internationally reknown offering of danish food.


Websites and resources from the episode:
mitmovia.dk (Mitmovia)
CopenhagenClicks.com (An ever-growing collection of web resources to make your stay in Denmark more fun and enjoyable)
Consult with MyDenmarkTV team (Via telephone, to help you make your stay in Denmark more enjoyable)
MyDenmarkTV.com Copenhagen Tours (Book a guided tour by water or by bicycle and explore the best of the sights and sounds of Copenhagen)

Episode 79: Christmas markets, fitness and family reunification (how do you handle something that is so damn discriminatory non-politically!?)


Episode # 79 - MyDenmarkTV.com from MyDenmarkTV on Vimeo.


In Episode 79 of MyDenmarkTV.com, with snow on the way (it started the day after filming this episode) and Christmas coming, we decided to turn our camera's on Copenhagen's Christmas markets (Christiania Julemarked) to separate the crap from the cool.

  • Crap - a large portion of Nyhavn's Christmas market
  • Cool - Christiania Julemarked. 
Then we really turn up the heat when we answer a viewer's question about family reunification laws in Denmark (familie sammenføring), which appears to be a hot topic. In spite of our best efforts to keep the discussion non-political, it proves to be simply impossible not to label a portion of the rules connected to this visa as highly discriminatory - if not racist. 

We also suggest Copenhagen Theater Circle as a good option for some English theater in Copenhagen, and cover some of the best fitness places in Copenhagen - including perhaps the cheapest - freshfitness.dk (a great deal and great equipment too), and tell you exactly what is what - and why.

An interview with the CEO of Vopium, an international company based out of Copengahen offering a VOIP service for customers around the world helps round out the episode.

Enjoy!

Websites from the episode:

markedskalenderen.dk (Find Christmas markets in Denmark - wherever you are!)
aok.dk/shopping (Julemarked in Christiania)
aok.dk/shopping (Christmas in NyHavn)
ctcircle.dk (Copenhagen Theater Circle)
fitnessworld.dk (FitnessWorld)
fitness.dk (Fitness)
sats.com (SATS)
politiken.dk (A Politiken article about how you get your partner to Denmark on a basis of family reunification status)
dr.dk (A DR article about point system for family reunification)
freshfitness.dk (Fresh Fitness)

Other Useful Resources:
CopenhagenClicks.com (An ever-growing collection of web resources to make your stay more fun and enjoyable)
Consult with MyDenmarkTV team (Via telephone, to help you make your stay in Denmark more enjoyable)
MyDenmarkTV.com Copenhagen Tours (Book a guided tour by water or by bicycle and explore the best of the sights and sounds of Copenhagen)

Winter in Copenhagen ...on bicycle, Cycle Chic style

With plenty of snow on the ground this week in Copenhagen, it's certainly worth giving a little shout-out to his fantastic Winter cycling in Copenhagen video (right below - it was made last year, but it's just as fresh as ever).We've mentioned before that we're big fans of Mikael Corville-Andersen's Copenhagen Cycle Chic website.

Since moving to Copenhagen, personally I've never been phased by a bit of snow when it comes to hopping on my bike and cycling around the city. And I'm far from the only one. You could call it a another aspect of Danish culture, I suppose.


Copenhagen January Cycling - Your Country from Copenhagenize on Vimeo.

Alternatively, just click on over to his Cycle Chic 'Cycling in Winter' Guide.

"Fucking Flink" interview with Lars AP and a Christmas contest - Episode 78 of MyDenmarkTV.com

The latest episode of MyDenmarkTV.com (Episode 78) features a couple cool contests, as we have some cool prizes to giveaway - tickets to Tivoli (a couple group passes) and a couple copies "Fucking Flink" by Lars AP ("Fucking Friendly" in English), who we interview in the episode (be sure to check out the interview - he's one of the friendliest people you've likely ever met!). All contest details are explained in the episode.

Episode # 78 - MyDenmarkTV.com from MyDenmarkTV on Vimeo.

Here is the deal. Our family Christmas contest is explained in the Whazz Up segment, review a website called minreklame.dk (basically an online collection of flyers - it's a bit more sensible and environmentally friendly than having a whole stack of ads dropped in your mailbox each week). Then we catch up with Lars AP.


Lars AP's recently released book "Fucking Flink" is a sort of 'friendliness manifesto' - intended to provoke Danes to be more friendly in their daily lives. It's a highly entertaining read.

Finally, we tackle a question about buying a car vs. leasing a car in Denmark.

Enjoy!

Links from the episode:

minreklame.dk (MinReklame)
facebook.com/pages/Fucking-Flink (Fucking Flink on Facebook)
mydenmarktv.dk/streetdining (Street Dining - Episode #72)
saxo.dk (Buy Lars' book on Saxo)
forbrug.dk (Danish Consumer Association)

Other Useful Resources:
CopenhagenClicks.com (An ever-growing collection of web resources to make your stay more fun and enjoyable)
Consult with MyDenmarkTV team (Via telephone, to help you make your stay in Denmark more enjoyable)
MyDenmarkTV.com Copenhagen Tours (Book a guided tour by water or by bicycle and explore the best of the sights and sounds of Copenhagen)

The first company with an electric truck in Denmark: Episode 77 of MyDenmarkTV.com

If you haven't seen it yet, check out the first 4 minutes of Episode 77 of MyDenmarkTV.com. Why? Simply to witness something all to rare and positive: a company brave enough to tackle the issue of their own carbon emissions in a proactive and measured manner. Taking delivery of the 1st electric truck in Denmark won't change the world, but KLS Grafisk Hus is at least willing to be a pioneer.

Episode #77 - MyDenmarkTV.com from MyDenmarkTV on Vimeo.

We also take a closer look on a new iphone app for the s-tog in Copenhagen.

Enjoy!

Websites in this Episode:
kls.dk (KLS Grafisk Hus)
itunes.apple.com (Live S-tog app)
top1000.dk (Top 1000 - job searching portal)
cbs.dk (CBS)
ku.dk (Copenhagen University)

CopenhagenClicks.com (An ever-growing collection of web resources to make your stay more fun and enjoyable)
Consult with MyDenmarkTV team (Via telephone, to help you make your stay in Denmark more enjoyable)
MyDenmarkTV.com Copenhagen Tours (Book a guided tour by water or by bicycle and explore the best of the sights and sounds of Copenhagen)

TBEX in Copenhagen, online shoes and much much more!: Episode 76 of MyDenmarkTV.com


Episode # 76 - MyDenmarkTV.com from MyDenmarkTV on Vimeo.

In this episode we hang out at the Cirkus Bygning in central Copenhagen, spending the weekend at TBEX, the travel bloggers conference held in Copenhagen - actually the first TBEX held in Europe. It was a great time, and I especially enjoyed the opportunity to meet organisers Kim Mance, Maren Hogen and Courtney McGann and to join the video blogging panel as one of the speakers (alongside two fantastic co-presenters - Kim Mance of Galavanting TV - and TBEX organiser - and Robert Reid of Lonely Planet who is also the creator of "The 76 second Travel Show"). If you've ever wondered what it takes to be a successful travel blogger, TBEX is a great place to start.

This week's Danish web resource we review is Brandos.dk (equivalent to Zappos in the U.S.), where you can buy shoes online (yes, SHOES!!) - they offer a money-back guarantee and free shipping, so they are worth checking out.

One of the main job portals in Denmark is JobIndex, so we thought it would be worthwhile to meet Kaare Danielsen, CEO of Job Index. Having worked abroad, Kaare knows how it is find a job in a foreign country, and has some good tips if you want to work in Denmark. 


Websites and resources from the Episode:

www.travelblogexchange.dk (Travel Blog Exchange)
www.galavanting.tv (Kim Mance and Maren Hogan's fantastic travel show)
www.heatheronhertravels.com (A travel blogger we met at TBEX)
www.noma.dk (Noma - the world's best restaurant at the time of publication)
www.brandos.dk (An online shoe reseller - originally from Sweden, but established a branch in Denmark in 2008)
www.jobindex.dk (JobIndex - the largest job portals of Denmark)
www.jobindex.dk/cgi/cv/jobcoachee.cgi?rm=new (JobIndex coaching service. You need to be logged in to see it.)
www.CopenhagenClicks.com (An ever-growing collection of web resources to make your stay more fun and enjoyable)

Finding the X in Copenhagen (CPH:DOX Film Festival, WOMEX World Music Festival, TBEX Travel Blogging Conference...), and much more.

The latest episode of MyDenmarkTV.com (Episoe #74) is rather relaxed and less "chaotic" than the previous couple.

Episode #74 - MyDenmarkTV.com from MyDenmarkTV on Vimeo.



However, in spite of the quickly shortening days and the onslaught of cold and rainy weather, the end of October is bringing with it plenty of 'warm and wonderful' events. Among them are CPH: DOX (Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival), Womex World Music Festival and TBEX Europe (International Travel Blogging Conference in Copenhagen).

One of the cool aspects of CPH: DOX, aside from over 200 fantastic documentary films from around the world, is the opportunity to visit some of Copenhagen's more traditional theaters - of which there are quite a number around the city. A few of them include: Grand Theater (www.grandteatret.dk), Dagmar Theater (www.dagmar.dk), Gloria Theater (www.gloria.dk) and my personal favourite, Posthus Theater (www.posthusteatret.dk).

Besides current events, we present a simple resource comparing 3 online digital photo services (www.digifotopriser.dk). Finally, we help you find those ever-stylish (in Denmark) rainboots - a peculiar fashion item (yes, they really are a fashion item in Denmark) that has been in style for years and years... and likely will continue to be for years and years to come. If you're looking for 'rainboots with style', Isle Jacobsen is arguably the leader in Denmark.

Enjoy!

Websites and resources from the episode:

 www.cphdox.dk (Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival)
www.womex.com (The World Music Expo)
www.travelblogexchange.com (Use Discount Code HANS2010 for TBEX Europe - Nov 4-6, 2010)
www.digifotopriser.dk (Compares 3 digital photo services)
www.grandteatret.dk (Grand Theater)
www.dagmar.dk (Dagmar Theater)
www.gloria.dk (Gloria Theater)
www.posthusteatret.dk (Posthus Theater)
www.ilsejacobsen.dk (Ilse Jakobsen - rainboots with style)
www.hunter-boot.com (Hunter - a Scottish boot brand)
www.skoringen.dk (Skoringen)

Other Useful Resources:
CopenhagenClicks.com (An ever-growing collection of web resources to make your stay more fun and enjoyable)
Consult with MyDenmarkTV team (Via telephone, to help you make your stay in Denmark more enjoyable)

Kulturnatten in Copenhagen (and more): From Flash mobs to sweet deals - all in Episode 73 of MyDenmarkTV.com

We made it to Kulturnatten in Copenhagen for this episode (#73) of MyDenmarkTV.com - and I have to say this is one of my favourite episodes - lots of action. Sabine put together a gruelling programme for the team - and they managed it with style (and a smile - check out the episode to see exactly how Sabine's smile can open locked doors). Culture Night (Kulturnatten) is the annual October evening in Copenhagen dedicated to Danish culture, as the streets are flooded with people as the shops and more importantly museums and cultural and political institutions across the city throw open their doors to the public.

Once again proving our street culture credibility, we caught up with a flash mob at Hovedbanegaard (Copenhagen Central Station) - as if Street Dining in Episode 72 wasn't enough), then headed over to Black Diamond to watch some cannon shots, and finally ended up at the Copenhagen prison.

We uncover a truly money saving resource called www.sweetdeal.dk - which is well worth signing up for in order to get unique offers to your inbox regularly - each worth 50% off (as a minimum).

To top it all off, we interview the main organizer behind the Gay and Lesbian Film festival. And as a bonus we throw in a couple of apartment rental tips, and equally importantly tell you about an organisation called Lejernes LO (www.llo.dk) that can help you deal with a misbehaving landlord (I can speak from personal experience using this organisation, regarding this issue.

Enjoy!


Episode # 73 - MyDenmarkTV.com from MyDenmarkTV on Vimeo.


Links in this Episode:

www.kulturnatten.dk (Kulturnatten or Culturenight 2010)
www.cglff.dk (Copenhagen Gay & Lesbian Film Festival)
www.travelblogexchange.com (Use Discount Code HANS2010 for TBEX Europe - Nov 4-6, 2010)
www.sweetdeal.dk (Good bargains in Copenhagen and Aarhus)
www.llo.dk (Lejernes LO - for consultations if any problems with a lanlord)

Street Dining in Copenhagen (!!), Kulturnatten, and regional Danish food: Episode #72 of MyDenmarkTV.com

The Street Dining segment of the latest episode of MyDenmarkTV.com (Episode #72) is one of my all-time favourites. We met up with Sebastian Overgaard to experience just what it was like - it's quite likely that you've never experienced anything quite like it, but it really was something that brought hundreds of smiles to faces passing by. A truly wonderful experience. It's really the simplest of concepts - requiring just a small does of confidence and courage, but bringing wonderous results. Even the police stopped by to say 'hi'!

Kulturnatten (Culture night) happens every year in October in Copenhagen, so we caught up with one of the organisers to hear more about it. The annual event sees thousands of people hit the streets of Copenhagn as loads of museums and other culture institutions (oftentimes normally closed to the public) throw open their doors to the crowds. Simply to wander around the streets soaking up the atmosphere is a great experience in itself, even if you don't bother purchasing a Kulturnatten pass to get into the various buildings.

Finally, we review a great Danish language resouce - www.ordbogen.com - and we wrap up by discussing a few interesting regional Danish food in Denmark.

Enjoy!

Episode # 72 – MyDenmarkTV.com from MyDenmarkTV on Vimeo.

Websites and resources in this Episode:

www.tivoli.dk (Tivoli)
www.ordbogen.com (Denmark's largest dictionary)
Street Dining (Street Dining Facebook fan page)
www.kulturnatten.dk (Kulturnatten or Culturenight 2010)

Other Useful Resources:
CopenhagenClicks.com (An ever-growing collection of web resources to make your stay more fun and enjoyable)
Consult with MyDenmarkTV team (Via telephone, to help you make your stay in Denmark more enjoyable)
MyDenmarkTV.com Copenhagen Tours (Book a guided tour by water or by bicycle and explore the best of the sights and sounds of Copenhagen)

TBEX Europe 2010 in Copenhagen: If you're into travel blogging, this one's for you

TBEX Europe 2010 - Travel Blog Exchange  - is taking place in Copenhagen from Nov. 4-6, 2010. It's the first time ever TBEX will be arriving in Europe. If this is a conference that catches your attention, it's probably worth a second look. It only costs $50 to attend, and the organisers are going to great pains to make this a standout conference in a unique and inspiring setting.

I've had the opportunity to briefly speak to event organiser Kim Mance when she was here in Copenhagen scouting locations. I have to admit I couldn't have predicted the location she settled on, which is the Wallman's Cirkusbygningen, or more simply 'Cirkus' - a building that actually dates back to 1885. It really isn't your average conference venue - it's colourful, there's even a 'trampoline' screen and a lunch-time show.  No, it's not by any means most amazing building ever - but it is a refreshing change as a conference setting.

Best of all, it is pretty much in the heart of Copenhagen - very close to Rådhuspladsen.

I'm going to be speaking about Travel Blogging, using my experience working with MyDenmarkTV.com, which is going to be a lot of fun, and something I'm really looking forward to.

Here's the schedule:

Thursday Nov. 4th
16:30 Speakers’ Cocktail Reception at Georg Jensen
18:00
Speakers’ Dinner at The Dining Room, Radisson Blu Scandinavia 20:00 TBEX Europe Opening Cocktail Reception - Location TBA
Presented by Wonderful Copenhagen & Cherry Heering

Friday Nov. 5th

09:00 Doors Open: Badge Pick-up & Registration / Coffee & Croissants
10:00 Welcome & Opening Remarks - Kim Mance
10:30 Plenary Session: Karen Bryan
11:00 Workshops (registered attendees will receive an email to choose workshops)

-- Narrative Travel Writing - Andrew Evans, Lola Akinmade
-- Non-Narrative Travel Writing - Jason Clampet, Paul Brady
-- Travel Video Blogging - Timothy Anderson, Robert Reid, Kim Mance
-- Branding & Blogging - Bart Van Poll, Sanne Van Poll, Guido J. van den Elshout
-- Photography & Using Imagery - Heather Cowper

12:15 Networking Lunch & Live Performance by Cirkus Artists
Main auditorium
13:30
Plenary Session Panel: "Bloggers & PR Working Together"
Tomi Maaniemi, Anéh Christina Hajdu, Angelika Hermann-Meier, John E. DiScala
14:30
Workshops   
        -- SEO 101 - Maren Hogan
        -- Advanced SEO - John E. DiScala

15:30 Afternoon Snack & Chat - In foyer & Buddha Lounge
16:30 Doors closed


Saturday Nov. 6th
09:00 Doors Open - Coffee & Croissants
10:00 Open and Welcome - Kim Mance
10:15 Plenary Session: “Is Your Blog a Business?”
Martin Lumbye, Momondo.com

11:00 Workshops
-- Narrative Travel Writing - Andrew Evans, Lola Akinmade
-- Non-Narrative Travel Writing - Jason Clampet, Paul Brady
-- Travel Video Blogging - Timothy Anderson, Robert Reid, Kim Mance
-- Branding & Blogging - Bart Van Poll, Sanne Van Poll, Guido J. van den Elshout
-- Photography & Using Imagery - Heather Cowper

12:30 Networking Lunch
Main auditorium

13:30
Plenary Session: “Being Digitally Published: How to Pitch Editors”
Lola Akinmade

14:30
Workshops
            -- Storytelling 101 - Andrew Evans
            --
Marketing Yourself - Karen Bryan
 

15:15 Closing Remarks - Kim Mance
15:45
Afternoon Snack & Networking - In foyer areas
16:30 Doors closed

Saving the environment 10% at a time: The launch of the 10:10 campaign in Denmark ...Check out this weeks episode of MyDenmarkTV.com

This time around in Episode 71 of MyDenmarkTV.com we lend a hand to the 10:10 global campaign to reduce carbon emissions by 10% a year starting immediately, which has now launched in Denmark. The 10:10 global organisation is a kind of fallout from what must be viewed as the failure of the COP15 event that took place in Copenhagen in December 2009. The organisers and attendees were certainly enthusiastic, but the organisation has their work cut out for them if they really want to engage the Danish population - in spite of the fact that Danes are global leaders when it comes to taking environmental initiatives. Check out the episode to find out why this is.

We also compare www.krak.dk, which is the Danish equivalent to Google maps - both major online map services. Then, head out to the Ecological Inspriation House (Det Økologiske Inspirationshus) to meet Hanne Andersen to talk about how children are educated on the topic of living green and healthy - she certainly has a fun and hands on approach to the issue. Finally, we grab a question from the mailbag about the acting courses in Denmark, and the steps to take if you are an aspiring actor looking for work in Denmark.

Enjoy!



Episode # 71 - MyDenmarkTV.com from MyDenmarkTV on Vimeo.

Websites and resources in this Episode:

www.1010global.org/dk (10 10 Global)
10:10 Launch film (A link to 10:10 Launch film from the UK)
www.krak.dk (Krak Maps)
google.com/maps (Google Maps)
http://www.byoko.dk/ (The Ecological Inspriration House)
www.skuespillerforbundet.dk (The Danish Actors Association - DSF)
www.dask-online.dk (DASK Online)

Other Useful Resources:
www.CopenhagenClicks.com (An ever-growing collection of web resources to make your stay more fun and enjoyable)
Consult with MyDenmarkTV team (Via telephone, to help you make your stay in Denmark more enjoyable)
MyDenmarkTV.com Copenhagen Tours (Book a guided tour by water or by bicycle and explore the best of the sights and sounds of Copenhagen)

Wondering where to get a gourmet burger in Copenhagen? The answer is in Episode #70 of MyDenmarkTV.com

This week on MyDenmarkTV.com (episode #70) we just couldn't resist comparing the 2 newest burger joints in town - Burger and Bun (in Vesterbro on Istedgade) and Cocks & Cows (on Gammel Strand right in the center of Copenhagen). These aren't just any burger places - these are places claiming to offer a homemade burger that you won't soon forget. If you're in Copenhagen and a fan of burgers, both of these places are well worth trying out and deserving of your hard earned cash, we can conclude - check out the episode to see which one was ultimately our favourite. There is a big price difference between the two - Cocks & Cows is definitely easier on your wallet. But that doesn't necessarily make it the best...

We review the danish yellow pages online (www.degulesider.dk), and offer a few resume writing tips. And finally we suggest a few language schools to check out if you are determined to learn Danish.

Enjoy!



Websites and resources shared in this episode:


http://www.cocksandcows.dk/ (Cocks & Cows located at Gammel Strand 44)
http://www.burgerbun.dk/ (Burger & Bun located at Istedgade 66)
http://www.degulesider.dk/ (Yellow pages of Denmark)
http://www.ojeblikoptik.dk/ (Ojeblik Optik - glasses in an hour)
http://www.aof.dk/ (AOF)
http://www.kbh-sprogcenter.dk/ (København Sprogcenter)
http://www.sprogcenter-ia.dk/ (Sprogcenter IA)
http://www.studieskolen.dk/ (Studieskolen)
http://www.kiss.dk/ (KISS Language School)

Other Useful Resources:

http://www.copenhagenclicks.com/ (An ever-growing collection of web resources to make your stay in Copenhagen more fun and enjoyable)


Episode # 70 - MyDenmarkTV.com from MyDenmarkTV on Vimeo.

Tina Dickow - Copenhagen

I'm a big fan of Tina Dickow - I'd go as far as saying she is one of my favourite Danish musicians. Her songs tend to grab you after a couple of listens ...and then you just can't get it out of your head. Sometimes the first listen gives you completely the wrong impression, because her melodies are so often so simple, yet they are incredible and powerful - it just takes a couple listens for them to sink in.

She recently debuted her new song "Copenhagen" on Anders Lund Madsen's 'Det Nye Talkshow'. I have to admit I thought the lyrics were a bit cheesey the first time I heard them, but after seeing a few friends linking to the clip I gave it a second listen ...and there you have it again, her songs inevitably grab you.

And hey, it's about my beloved Copenhagen!

MyDenmarkTV.com - episode # 69 – Rites of Life Exhibition, Copenhagen Blues Festival, Buy Electronics Online and Apartment Rental Question

In this episode we attend the Rites of Life exhibition on the Strøget and Kongens Nytorv - the walking street in downtown Copenhagen - where we talk about and show you some of the 66 spectacular photos by Anders Ryman. We demonstrate a nice online tool to buy electronics in Denmark. For the Work in Denmark segment, we meet an analyst consultant at Børsen newspaper to talk about 'gazelle companies' in Denmark - these are companies with a spectular rate of growth over a several year period. It's impressive how many there are in Denmark - and how many have been able to grow, grow, grow in spite of the economic environment. This is great news for those who are exploring the job market in Denmark.
Last but not least we answer a viewer's question about renting an apartment in Denmark. Enjoy the show!


Episode # 69 - MyDenmarkTV.com from MyDenmarkTV on Vimeo.


Websites and resources shared in this Episode:

http://www.ritesoflife.com/ (Rites of Life Exhibition website)

http://www.copenhagenbluesfestival.dk/ (Copenhagen Blues Festival 2010)

http://www.edbpriser.dk/ (A great site to buy electronics online, compare prices and check the prices trends)

http://www.borsen.dk/ (Gazelle companies of Denmark 2010)

http://www.boligportal.dk/ (Boligportal - rent an apartment in Denmark)

http://www.lejebolig.dk/ (Lejebolig - rent an apartment in Denmark)

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