The 29th Art Brussels - Contemporary Art Fair

Now in its 29th year, the Art Brussels art fair, which will run from Thursday 28 April to Sunday 1 May 2011 is already being heralded as a must-see event for all lovers of contemporary art. Art Brussels is a global player in the contemporary art field and manages, now more than ever, to maintain itself at the top of the major international art fairs. More than 400 galleries from 33 countries have submitted an application in the hope of being selected for the exhibition. The international selection committee selected 170 art galleries. Roughly one quarter of the galleries are Belgian, the remainder are from Europe and all over the world. They present a variety of works by young and established talent and guarantee an interesting mix of conceptual art, contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, video, installations and performances. The emphasis, as always, is on quality. Every year, Art Brussels gains in importance. This art fair is widely considered to be one of the major European contemporary art fairs and is gaining in importance every year. Thirty thousand professionals, collectors and art lovers are expected to travel to Brussels from across Europe and even beyond. Every year in April, Brussels is rightfully considered the European centre for contemporary art. The 1,500 artists represented at the fair includes young, emerging talent, but also established names show a selection of their best paintings, sculptures, photographs, video and other installations.

Art Brussels Thursday, 28 April – Sunday, 1 May 2011
Opening hours Preview Wed 27/04: 12 – 4 pm (by invitation only)
Vernissage Wed 27/04 4 pm – 10 pm (by invitation only)
Fair Thu 28/04 – Sun 01/05: 12 am till 7 pm
Venue Brussels Expo - Halls 1 & 3
Place de Belgique, 1 BE-1020 Brussels

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Spring STUDS Dinner at La Soeur du Patron

A nice spring STUDS dinner at La Soeur du Patron on Saturday night. A very eclectic restaurant, the food was good, and conversation wonderful as usual. Thanks to Henri for organising everything.

The British and Commonwealth Women's Club of Brussels Brocante

The British Women's Club is having their Spring Market Saturday April 2nd from 10:00- 13:00 with free entrance. Some of the things up for sale will be jewelry and accessories, toys and games, linens, kitchen goods and many things miscellaneous. There will also be a cake stall and refreshments. Rue au Bois 509, Woluwe St. Pierre, MAP BCWBC WEBSITE

April STUDS lunch at Café Restaurant de la Forêt

April's monthly lunch will be Wed. 6th at Café Restaurant de la Forêt at noon.

The Restaurant is a classic in Jesus-Eik where the staff has been the same for years. Maybe you'll get Phillipe and his famous moustache as your waiter. They also have a nice terrace, so hopefully the weather is good.

Café Restaurant de la Forêt

MAP-Brusselsesteenweg 650

3090 OVERIJSE(Jezus-Eik)

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STUDS Spring Dinner Saturday April 2

The Studs Spring Dinner with Significant Others will be held Saturday April 2nd at La Soeur du Patron. Aspiring members are always welcome to attend also. Just email prior to the event for a menu selection.

Drinks at 19:30
Chaussée de Wavre 1700
1160 Brussels ( Auderghem ) .

Where to get the best ICE CREAM in Brussels

As the nice weather unfolds on us this week I have to unload my connoisseur opinion on a subject dear to my heart.... ICE CREAM. I don't drink enough to take advantage of the Belgian Beer, but I do make up for it in waffles, chocolate, and ice cream. In a cone, between wafers, out of a cup, or an IV tube, as I prefer.... here is an around town selection of Brussels ice-cream parlours.

With its eight locations in Brussels, Capoue seems to have become king of the hill. They have homemade ice-creams and sorbets which you can eat in, or take away. Besides the regular flavors, they have some originals like champagne, bounty, or mojito, and they will also deliver to your office.

If you are in the Grand Place area... near the Bourse, try Comus & Gasterea and the Caribou . Nearby is Sikou, on the Parvis de Saint-Gilles, dishing out homemade bio ice-cream. Both Häagen-Dazs and the Australian have locations at the entrance to the Grand Place right across from each other, so you can watch the mimes and statues while licking your cones. My vote for the best people watching corner in Brussels.

If you are at the Wednesday Market in the Châtelain , take a break in the garden of Framboisier Doré . A bit lower down Avenue Louise you can hit the Häagen-Dazs, and watch the 'women who shop' parade by.

The Woluwe shopping center has a location for the the Australian too, if you prefer to do your licking inside. This place doesn't only serve ice cream, it also serves authentic Belgian waffles too.

In Uccle, it turns into a war of Capulet and Montaigu proportion as most native Belgians belong to one of two parlours. Some swear by Zizi, (French slang for a certain male body part).... others will tell you that Il Gelato is all that. I'm not going to make a call on this other than to say they are both probably a step above the rest. If you see this not as a problem....but an opportunity like I do.... It's just an excuse to have to patronise both.

Leave your comment if we left out your favorite, or you have a discovery to share.

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The Cube by Electrolux at the Parc du Cinquantenaire

Appliance giant Electrolux is planning to open up a series of pop-up restaurants this spring atop the famous monuments and mountains of Europe. The Cube from Electrolux is a dining room with a max capacity of 18 that is set to make its debut atop Brussels’ arc of the Parc du Cinquantenaire. It ain't cheap....lunch is €150, while dinner will set you back a cool €200....you do get drinks with that.

The Cube will feature a different hand-picked resident chef at each venue and will offer tailor-made recipes using locally sourced ingredients and all prepared on state-of-the-art Electrolux appliances. When guests first arrive the 140sqm space will be open for entertaining and some great sight seeing, especially from the external platform. When dinner is served the concealed dining table will drop from the ceiling so as to sit the 18 guests before being raised again for after dinner drinks and mingling.

The aim is to create an experience that surprises and inspires guests with fantastic tastes and never-before-seen views, ultimately stimulating them to explore their own creative boundaries next time they entertain friends or family at home.

Italian architects Parks Associati are the geniuses behind The Cube. It has a 140 sq. meter dinning room and 50 sq. meter terrace. Two cubes have been built and are set to stop in Italy, Russia, Switzerland, and Sweden.

The Cube will offer meals twice a day, starting March 25th, everyday, for three months in each location – lunch between 12:30-15:00 and dinner from 18:00 to 23:00 (TBC per location) during the week and special brunch and dinner times at the weekend. Bookings can be made on-line for the Belgium Cube with a global booking facility available shortly for other locations.