Jeudi Jardin: Food and drink in Maelbeek gardens
The Schuman/Maelbeek area is just offices and eurocrats, right? Think again. Every Thursday, all year round, Jeudi Jardin is a very lively European food and drink market in the Maelbeek Gardens. And it's a very popular spot to enjoy lunch in the sun or an apéro after work.
3m Jun 15, 2016
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Scottish artist Aeneas Wilder at the Château de Seneffe
The Château de Seneffe is an outstanding monument which is also a setting for contemporary art exhibitions and welcomes Scottish artist Aeneas Wilder's solo show Origin until November. Taking advantage of the property's varied perspectives and assets, Wilder has created a number of his signature outscaled structures for the show, presented as a meditation on the life and death cycle.www.chateau...
3m Jun 13, 2016
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Expat bands: the Manneken Pistols
One day, Brussels guitar teacher Mark Baxter sent an email to all of his students. He'd set up a new band called the Manneken Pistols - and they were all in it! So how does a band featuring no less than 18 players manage in a live setting? Mark Baxter and singer/guitarist Martin Watson explain all...mannekenpistols.befacebook.com/MannekenpPistols
3m Jun 13, 2016
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The Ommegang procession in Brussels
Every year the especially magnificent Ommegang (Walkabout) of 1549 (special because it was performed for the Emperor Charles V) is recreated in Brussels on the first Thursday in July and the previous Tuesday. There are two ways of enjoying it. One way is to spend the afternoon in the Royal Quarter where 1,500 participants don their historical apparel and prepare for the procession amid the jous...
3m Jun 12, 2016
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Expat bands: Brigitte Stolk/ the Dreamsouls
The Dreamsouls got together in 2013. With an experimental uplifting sound touching on soul and pop, the band released the eponymous debut EP soon after their creation. Made of Brigitte Stolk, Shaun Cronin and Kelly Teh, they are in the process of writing a follow up. Here Singer Brigitte Stolk speaks in more detail to Owen Stafford, about the band's creation, their upliftng experimental sounds ...
3m Jun 04, 2016
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The International Chorale of Brussels
The International Chorale of Brussels is a multinational choir of around 50 singers. The choir has members from many nationalities, although the working language remains English. Their next performance is Pastorale - choral masterpieces celebrating nature. See them on Friday 10 June in Auderghem and on Sunday 12 June in Braine l'Alleud.www.internationalchorale.com
3m Jun 04, 2016
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Tradfest Belgium: a six-day celebration of Irish music and culture
Tradfest is the largest traditional Irish music and culture festival to be run in Belgium, organised by the Irish embassy. Ambassador Éamonn MacAodha explains more
3m Jun 02, 2016
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Expat bands: Border Brothers
They describe themselves as three Americans lost in Brussels. So in that case why not form a band introducing Belgian audiences to the sounds of acoustic American folk, bluegrass and jazz. That is exactly what The Border Brothers did. Owen Stafford spoke with the band to find out about how three expat Americans who shared the same taste in music met in Brussels and formed a group introducing lo...
3m Jun 01, 2016
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Forest to Plate: Foraging in Brussels
Ben Brumagne, a Brussels native, started Forest to Plate aimed at showing people the impressive edible bounty growing around them. “We want to show all the possibilities besides the food we eat from supermarkets and even from farmers, because the amount of food available is crazy. Once you see it, it’s phenomenal.” We follow Ben on a foraging trip in the wilds of Laeken.www.foresttoplate.com
3m May 31, 2016
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Up With People 50th anniversary concert
Up With People 50th Anniversary Concert Intro:Headquartered in Denver Colorado with satellite offices in Belgium and Mexico, twice a year Up With People assembles a "cast" of approximately 100 participants who travel to 20 countries around the world, live with host families, do community service and put on concerts with the goal of fostering world peace and understanding. The fiftieth annivers...
3m May 29, 2016
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Fête du Pain at Schuman roundabout
On Saturday May 28, the annual Fete du Pain will take place on the Schuman roundabout, in the heart of the EU quarter. This is in conjunction with the "EU open days" whereby the European institutions will be opening up their doors to the public. The centre of the roundabout will be turned into a bakery for the day with some of Europe's best breads being produced and displayed for visitors. Near...
3m May 25, 2016
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100 Masters: A spotlight on Brussels museums' permanent collections
The Brussels Museum Council thinks that too much emphasis is put on temporary exhibitions and wants locals, expats and visitors to reconnect with the permanent museum collections in Brussels, so they have chosen to highlight 100 "Masters" from 41 of the over 100 museums in Brussels. The campaign is heavily supported by social media and includes the opportunity to vote for your favourite piece. ...
3m May 25, 2016
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Relay for Life in Brussels
"Relay for Life" is a non-stop 24-hour fundraising walk in the fight against cancer. It started in America - and the international community were among the first to bring the concept to Belgium five years ago. There are now 26 Relays For Life here - including one at St John's International School on 18-19 June. Organiser Cindy Menach explains what it's all about...www.relayforlife.be
3m May 22, 2016
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Makerstown: Europe's innovators come to Brussels
On Tuesday 24 May the best and brightest of Europe's innovators will be converging on The Square in downtown Brussels, which will be play host to the first ever ‘Makerstown’ event. This will see up to 50 young start-up entrepreneurs, or "makers" showcasing the latest, most innovative and ingenious inventions, from the areas of 3D printing, technology, manufacturing, fashion, and vehicles. There...
3m May 18, 2016
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The Live Comedy Festival in Brussels and Antwerp
Jimmy Carr, Reginald D Hunter, Nina Conti and more... The second edition of the Live Comedy Festival in Antwerp and Brussels is not to be missed. Organiser Tom Bertels shares some of this year's highlights
3m May 17, 2016
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The Zinneke Parade
Created for Brussels European Capital of Culture in 2000, the Zinneke Parade has become a mainstay of the city's cultural landscape. Every two years two dozen Zinnodes (think of the Krewes of New Orleans' Mardi Gras) rally around a theme (after such themes as Water, Disorder and Temptation, this year's theme is Fragility) and create an unforgettable, entrancing, striking and magical spectacle t...
3m May 15, 2016
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Project Room: Calling all young artists
La Forest Divonne Project Room Brussels is a showcase for young artists. Jean de Malherbe wants to offer them a chance at exposure. If you would like to present yourself as the next Project Room artist: http://www.galerielaforestdivonne.fr/en
1m May 15, 2016
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The Brussels Sports Association
The international language is… sport. We visit the Brussels Sports Association - which introduces kids of all nationalities to sports you might not learn in a Belgian school -- like baseball and lacrosse. It's a way for children and their parents to mix with other cultures. And it seems sport is a great way of bridging language divides. www.bsasports.org
3m May 15, 2016
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The Fry Group: Opportunities for investing in uncertain times
Disappointed with savings interest rates? The Fry Group is putting on a free investment seminar at the Thon Hotel EU on 19 May. Pauline Curran explains more...
3m May 15, 2016
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Ghost Sheep: Improv comedy in Brussels
The American Theatre Company here in Brussels has an improv theatre troupe. They're called the Ghost Sheep - and their task is to make comedy gold on stage, on the spot, without a script. It requires a quick mind and audience interaction. Kelly Agathos explains improvisation and its impact beyond the laughs. www.atcbrussels.com’
3m May 10, 2016
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Kunstenfestivalsdesarts/Charleroi Danses: Taoufiq Izeddiou - En Alerte
Moroccan dancer and choreographer Taoufiq Izeddiou is one of the people most responsible for the development of contemporary dance in his homeland. His first dance experience at five was also a spiritual one as it was a sufi ritual that his mother had expressly forbidden him to participate in. He is still separating religion from spirituality in his work and he uses traditional as well as conte...
3m May 06, 2016
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BLOC: the Brussels Light Opera Company
25 different nationalities - members ranging from 10 to 75 years old... we meet the Brussels Light Opera Company (or BLOC for short) - an amateur theatre group that's been putting on shows in Brussels for 40 years. Their next performance is at the end of May. Details at www.bloc-brussels.com
3m May 03, 2016
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Cibacco: Italian food bikes in Brussels
The Food Truck Festival returns this weekend. But today we're visiting a food bike. "Cibacco" are two Italian brothers who've been feeding eurocrats for the past year. One of their bikes is located on Rue Joseph II - just a few metres from Maelbeek metro station…http://cibacco.net/
3m May 02, 2016
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Starting a business in Brussels
There was a record number of start-ups in Belgium last year (more than 80,000) -- and the idea of being your own boss is appealing to expats as well as Belgians. But it can be confusing and complicated. We attended a seminar yesterday and spoke to experts about setting up a business, and to some people who've already done it or are about to take the plunge.
3m Apr 28, 2016
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Wolf's Bar: Street workouts in Brussels
Opening this Saturday, Brussels will have its first "street workout" space in Maximilian Park. We meet the very international street workout club Wolf's Bar - who managed to persuade Pascal Smet that it was a good idea. Until now, the club have been practising in some unusual locations. We spoke to them, hanging off of a scaffolding, on Dansaert at midnight.
3m Apr 28, 2016
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Parcours d'Artistes Saint-Gilles/Forest preview
Started in 1988, the biennial Parcours d'Artistes of Saint-Gilles has now been joined by Forest and consists this year of 430 artists. Not only does this artists' itinerary allow the public to enter the studios of the participants but this year a special emphasis has been put on the place of art and the artist in public spaces.Dewi Brunet, French expat living in Brussels is one of the artists i...
3m Apr 24, 2016
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Charles Riva: Seven Years in Brussels
Having given up the role of gallery owner, French expat Charles Riva who divides his time between New York and Brussels is celebrating his seventh anniversary as an art collector in Brussels with two shows, Un Voyage en Mer at the Riva Collection and Human Figure at the Riva Project. The show at the Collection juxtaposes Mr. Riva's collection of American artists with Belgian artists all on a ma...
3m Apr 24, 2016
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Journey West: migration through music
Telling the history of migration through music. Journey West are playing concerts in Ghent, Herentals and Asse from 26-30 April, including a guest performance from a Syrian musician. Noreen Donovan spoke to musical director Max Buckholtz to find out more about the project.www.journeywestmusic.com
3m Apr 24, 2016
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The Bulletin on Bruzz: an introduction
180 nationalities. 104 languages. More than 5,000 diplomats. We know Brussels is a truly international city. But who are the expats? Where are they from and why are they here? Here's a bit of an audio mosaic from our first 3 months of expat reports
2m Apr 24, 2016
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Independent Brussels: a new way to do art fairs
Intro: Independent Brussels is 300 artists, 60 galleries from over 30 countries but it's also a new way of organizing art fairs. After seven years in new York, Independent comes to Brussels. Co-director Olivier Pesret explains.http://independenthq.com/2016/brussels/
3m Apr 21, 2016
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Arthur Aillaud at La Forest Divonne
Lush landscapes, hard-edged architecture and subtly surreal figures: Welcome to the world of Arthur Aillaud. This French painter combines landscapes, architecture and figurative painting to create works that fit perfectly in the contemporary world but at the same time contain classical references and originality.Through May 28th. Gallerie La Forest Divonne rue de l'Hôtel des Monnaies 66www.gall...
3m Apr 19, 2016
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The Brussels Short Film Festival
300 films, 26 countries, numerous parties, National and International competitions, networking; workshops for kids: From April 27th to May 8th it's the 19th edition of the Brussels Short Film Festival. The festival which has become a leading force in uncovering new talent takes over 7 venues in Ixelles and Brussels City including an outdoor arena on the Mont des Arts/Kuntsberg where the shows a...
3m Apr 19, 2016
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Join the Frunch bunch
A terrace, deck chairs, DJs, table tennis and table football, and three different food trucks per week: It's time for Frunch, a Visit Brussels initiative that turns the staid Place Royale into a hip happening lunch spot every Friday from noon to 2:30pm through September 23rd. If the opening afternoon is any indication, this is a very popular event where meeting people is easy and fun and the fo...
3m Apr 19, 2016
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Rayguns Look Real Enough
"Spinal Tap meets Morecambe and Wise", Rayguns Look Real Enough are the self-proclaimed "world's greatest stadium rock band" combining character comedy with high-energy musical mash-ups, and a tiger costume. Catch them in Brussels on 19 April.
2m Apr 17, 2016
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Stovetrotter: a Canadian take on Belgian cuisine
A group of itinerant Canadian chefs have stopped off in Brussels to put on a special meal under the rotunda of the Galerie Ravenstein, using locally sourced ingredients -- Belgian food with a Canadian twist. It's this Saturday (16 April) at 8pm. Register at www.open-kitchen.eu
2m Apr 14, 2016
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Urban gardening in Brussels
Make your own food! Urban gardening is growing in popularity - and you don't need a vast garden to get started, just some pots on a balcony. Spring is the perfect time to get started. We visit Allan Howard, a Scotsman in Brussels who says the city has great potential.www.kitchen-garden.be
3m Apr 14, 2016
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A vast record collection in Brussels
This Saturday is Record Store Day, a worldwide celebration of independent record shops and physical music. So we're off to visit one of the biggest record collections in Europe. John is a Greek expat living in Brussels and working for the European parliament. He gives us a tour through his 80,000 records and CDs.
3m Apr 14, 2016
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Tribes.city - international house parties in Brussels
International house parties ... at a stranger's home. That's the idea behind Tribes.City, a new concept bringing together expats and Belgians alike here in Brussels. Our reporter Owen Stafford went along to one of the parties to find out more...
3m Apr 13, 2016
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Hopla! - Brussels is 'clown town'
It's the tenth edition of Hopla! The Festival of the Circus Arts this weekend in Brussels. Hopla! highlights the abundance and excellence of the circus arts available in Brussels, both in the streets and the performance venues with performers who are no longer limited to one specialty but are often clowns/acrobats/comics/magicians/singers etc. We speak with artists from Argentina, Croatia, Spai...
3m Apr 06, 2016
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Avi Goldstein: Speed Sisters
Speed Sisters is a documentary film telling the tale of the first all-woman race car driving team in the Middle East. Screenings are at Flagey on 3, 5, 6 and 16 April. Producer Avi Goldstein tells us about the project, and how he's settling in Brussels
3m Apr 01, 2016
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Maz Jobrani: I'm not a terrorist, but I've played one on TV
American-Iranian funnyman Maz Jobrani, part of the "Axis of Evil Comedy Tour" after 9/11, is playing the Arenberg in Antwerp on 13 April with a hilarious stand-up show based on his book I'm Not A Terrorist, But I've Played One On TV. He's looking forward to coming back to Belgium. We spoke to him on the phone from Los Angeles.http://www.livecomedy.be
2m Apr 01, 2016
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The #Brusselsattacks memorial: Remembering and hoping
Immediately after the terror attacks, people gravitated to the Place de la Bourse in central Brussels to support each other and memorialize the victims. Here are a few of the voices. As a mirror to the fact that 40 nationalities are represented among the victims, the crowd at the Bourse was just as international. We hear from a Peruvian, an American, a Belgian and a Moroccan.
3m Mar 28, 2016
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Easter Sunday at the #BrusselsAttacks memorial
Richard Harris is on the phone from the Place de la Bourse, as a march planned for this afternoon was cancelled.#Brussels #BrusselsAttacks #BrusselsAlive
3m Mar 27, 2016
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Three Korean events in Brussels
There are currently three exhibitions featuring Korean artists taking place in Brussels. At the Comics Art Museum discover the world of Bad Girls by Ancco. In the magnificent Villa Empain it's Dansaekhwa and Korean Abstraction. And at the Korean Cultural Center you can uncover The Layers of Memory, the art of OH Seyeol.www.comicscenter.netwww.villaempain.comBrussels.korean-culture.org
3m Mar 26, 2016
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Brussels attacks: A British expat's view
Kate Havrlik has lived in Brussels since 1970 and works for the European Commission. Interviewed by FM Brussel's morning show, she gave her reaction to the attacks and says she'll keep recommending Brussels as a travel destination.
5m Mar 26, 2016
5m
Community Help Service: Geoff Brown
If you've been affected by the trauma of the Brussels attacks, CHS is there to listen and help. The Community Help Service provides a free and confidential 24-hour helpline for English-speakers in Brussels and also operates a mental health centre, offering a full range of services. Geoff Brown explains more
2m Mar 26, 2016
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Tips on bringing up multilingual children
Bilingualism is good for the brain and has proven advantages among children. And where better to bring up a bilingual child than here in Brussels? But what's the best way of teaching a child more than one language at once? We went to a talk at the ISF International School in Waterloo and asked VUB linguistics expert Professor Piet van de Craen what advice he would give to expat parents...
3m Mar 21, 2016
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Oxfam Peacewalker challenge around Flanders Fields
Walking boots at the ready... Could you manage 42 kilometres around Flanders Fields? In teams of 4. In under 10 hours. That's the challenge being set by the charity Oxfam. "Peacewalker" takes place on 14 May, along a route designed to mark 100 years since the war. They're appealing for French-speakers, Dutch-speakers and expats to unite and take part. It could even be a team-building day for yo...
2m Mar 17, 2016
2m
Eames & Hollywood (Movie Sets)
Famous the world over for their furniture design, Charles and Ray Eames were also prolific photographers (750,000 photos). ADAM's (Art & Design Atomium Museum) first temporary exhibition entitled Eames & Hollywood comprises 240 photos taken by the Eames on the sets and on location during the filming of their friend Billy Wilder's movies. The show features an Eames specialty, a three screen slid...
3m Mar 17, 2016
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BPS22: A hidden gem in Charleroi
Discovering this little known museum with the enigmatic name is a real treat, especially during the current exhibition Uchronies in the which the eclectic nature of the museum's collection is demonstrated to great effect. Curator Olivier Rollin has chosen pieces from the late 19th century to the present day, local, Belgian and international, to create a fascinating dialogue that changes our per...
3m Mar 14, 2016
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