cafebabel.com

Italian spritz aperol: the future’s orange

('Eva Vanhee',) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:00:00 -0000

The Italian-born spritz aperol has gained official international recognition, being classed as a ‘new drink’ by the international bartenders’ association. We took this as an excuse to try out the sparkling brew, which the Italians will tell us is anything but new

Blogger Khelil Ben Osman on Tunisian elections

('ZoeBBee',) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:02:13 -0000

There's no official result in the Tunisian elections yet. Nonetheless the moderate islamist party ennahda is on the verge of victory. One of the pioneers of the digital awakening during the jasmine revolution gives his view of the first great moment of democracy in Tunisia

Alcohol ban? Istanbul cafes versus Turkish authorities

('Alice Ravenscroft',) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:00:00 -0000

This summer a new broom was sweeping clean the streets of Istanbul – as well as the country’s football and armed forces. Who’s wielding the broom? What ‘rubbish’ are they trying to get rid of? ‘Turkey eats dirt’ is cafebabel.com’s response to the summer ‘dust up’ by the Turkish authorities. The final in our three-part series: Turkey cracks down on those famously dangerous things, street cafes

Green dancefloors Berlin: spread the eco-dance germ to Europe

('Molmash',) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:00:00 -0000

When it comes to ‘green’ music, you will have heard of the WATT club in Rotterdam with its Sustainable Dance Floor. But apart from that symbolic rather than effective initiative, saving energy in clubs and festivals remains a wasteland ripe for development. A few pioneers in Berlin are determined to crack that apple

German erasmus student on life in Istanbul

('Anneka',) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:00:00 -0000

Who speaks English? Why don't men look me in the eye? Why do people still wear headscarves? A score of questions hit the European newcomer studying in the Turkish city

Mentality problems? Shutting down clubs in Paris

('Sarah Byrne',) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:00:00 -0000

A meeting of politicians and concert organisers in France should impede the nightlife of the capital city from dying - the debate's missed the crux of the problem

Top tips from Parisian music festival Solidays

('Angela Therain',) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:00:00 -0000

A few glimpses dedicated to the 168 000 public that attended Solidays – the second biggest music festival in France after les Vieilles Charrues – and without whom the festival would be just another line up of stars

Fever Ray, Peter Bjorn and John: Swedish music right now

('Alexandra Baxter',) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:28:07 -0000

Famed in the nineties as the capital of pop, Scandinavia doesn’t seem to have exhausted its creative vein just yet. With a legacy of pop artists such as Aqua and Ace of Base, the northern European music scene is opening up to new sounds, experimenting with new technology and ambient tones, whilst never forgetting its musical past

Party burnout in Paris, so go to Berlin

('Ellie Banks',) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:30:16 -0000

'Sssssh, go in quickly,' whispers the bouncer of the electro bar 4Elements on the Place de la Republique. The lights are out in the flat above. It is 11pm, a Saturday evening in Paris. The one-time nightlife mecca of Europe is turning into a sleepy little town, a trend that threatens to continue

Pink Monday at Tilburg Fun Fair: 'be gay for a day' in Holland

('Darren Thompson',) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:16:26 -0000

If you were on holiday in the Netherlands between 17 and 26 July you might have seen posters advertising the biggest funfair on earth. But if you look behind Tilburg’s merry-go-rounds, you’ll find pink t-shirts and a Monday especially for gays that cannot be ignored

Calimotxo, Blonder Engel or Advocaat: European cocktails galore

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0000

What would the Coen brothers’ film 'The Big Lebowski' be without its revolting milk and vodka cocktails (White Russians)? Roundup of the zaniest European cocktails, plus a recipe for Poland's 'Mad Dog'

Six-minute romances: speed dating in Paris

('Kinia Adamczyk',) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:03:23 -0000

In the capital of fashion and romance, there’s a chic way to relax after a hard day’s work and to party for every wallet. And there’s no better time for an (early) night on the town than Thursday, when Parisians head straight to one of the many trendy bars which offer so-called ‘afterwork’ evenings

Europeans who celebrate New Year’s Eve - on 30 December

('Kate Stansfield',) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:39:28 -0000

One fine day, two Spaniards and an Italian decided that they were tired of always spending New Year’s Eve doing the same thing. The Old Continent awaited, along with many people to meet. See out the year European-style!

Testimony: German Erasmus student in Madrid looks for the lecturer

('Andrew Christie',) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:05:34 -0000

‘Studying in the Spanish capital turns out to be harder than expected - there’s someone missing.’ Anna kicks off the first testimony in our five-part Erasmus series, reporting on her beginner’s luck – or lack of it

Fiesta: French graduates on the road in Belgrade

('Sarah Gray',) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:15:00 -0000

After finishing their studies and work placements, three French friends head to Serbia to meet their Balkan counterparts. What is it like to embark on your adult life at the other end of Europe? Partying - the first in a series of three of our Serbian travel diary

Binche: from the conquistadores to the ‘Gilles’

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 14:00:00 -0000

Binche Carnival is a festival of sound and colour and an integral part of Walloon tradition. Since 2003 it has even been classified by UNESCO as a piece of world heritage