Sunday, June 14, 2009

Studs Going away party for the Fab Five.


Dave presents the departing STUDS president mug to Ed

We had a wonderful evening for five of our members who are repatriating back to their home countries. Rather bittersweet as I didn't get the feeling that any of them were truly excited about leaving as they had acclimated to Belgium well and developed some good friendships. I will be sad to see all of them go as they are a truly great bunch of guys.

Chalks Coriette hosted a dinner for us at Espace 53 in the Cinquantinaire, a venue I am sure we will be taking advantage of again in the future. Dave Hutcheson did all the planning and preperation.....kudos for the great evening.


Warren wasn't as bored with us as he looks, and although he was here only a short time, and actually did do a rather unstudly deed of getting a "real" job, they are going back to Toronto.

Cathal was here a real short time, but was really getting into the hang of it, as far as living the STUD life.....if that means learning how to drink with Kjeld. Actually I don't think anyone has to teach an Irishman to drink, but I know he's not real eager to go back to Dublin.


Ray's wife looks on in horror as Ray passes the 1 hour mark of his going away speech. Ray's tour got cut short also, and I will have to say that I have never seen anyone jump into Belgian culture and people the way Ray has. He did his best to learn both languages and showed up at STUDS with many native Belgians, and really immersed himself in the experience. They are going back to Philadelphia.


Ed, our departing president is headed back to Memphis and has been here for about 5 years I believe. He was one of our more active members over the years, and I'm sure this was a very emotional experience for him as he has developed some good friendships with a lot of us and really feels like he is leaving family. Thanks for all the work and participation you've done with STUDS over the years Ed, you'll be missed.


Mehul is another one who got very active with STUDS, and the International School and probably put more effort into those things than most people do with a real job. They are going back to London, but we actually hope to still see more of him in the future as it's not far away. He was president material too......damn!

Ed turns over the presidency to Andy....our first Aussie pres!
Andy made the mistake of getting up to go the restroom, and while he was away....we elected him president. Better hold it next time.

Friday, June 5, 2009

STUDS "Beer Road Trip"

The STUDS Beer Road Trip consisted of a tour of the Brewery at BOCQ

Everything began in 1858 when Martin BELOT, farmer in Purnode, started brewing a beer in his farm. In the very beginning, the beer was only brewed in the winter, when there was no work for his farmworkers on the fields. The discovery of a well of water of outstanding quality and quantity close to the farm was, of course, an additional asset.


Lunch at Les Montagnards , a restaurant tucked in the Ardenne. Packed for being in the middle of nowhere.



The Belgian Beer Museum in Lustin....if you want to be overwhelmed by everything beer, this is the place to be.



Les Montagnards


Beer tasting at the brewery....we lingered here a bit.

STUDS trip to World War II sites

This fine looking group of STUDS made a trip to The Remember Museum 39-45 and Fort Battice in eastern Belgium. The personal tour through the Museum by Matilda, half of the M in the M & M's was just incredible. We could have spent all day there.

Scott Axel, our newest member has saved me the trouble of writing up a summary, so I am just going to send you over to his blog for a commentary and more pictures. on the Museum.


The next stop was Fort Battice, the huge underground bunker complex near the border built to keep the Germans out......it didn't work too well. MORE PICTURES AND COMMENTARY

Last stop was the American Cemetary at Henri Chapelle, a very somber and moving end to a long day. 7,992 American boys laid to rest. More pictures and observations

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Daily Markets in Brussels


We recently had a request for how the markets move around. This is by no means a complete list, but it will get you around to some of the bigger ones.

Monday
Place du Jeu de Balle: Second hand and flea market, 07:00-14:00
Rue du Beurre: Art, artist and portrait market, 11:00-18:00
Place Ste-Catherine: Flower and food market, 07:00-17:00
Place Reine Astrid, Jette: Consumer goods and food market, 08:30-13:00
Place St Josse: General market
Le Miroir, Jette: Regional farm produce
Place Van Meenen: Fruit and vegetable market and organic produce, open 12:30-19:00

Tuesday
Place Anneessens: Food market, 08:00-12:30
Quai des Usines 22-23: Early morning flower and plant market, 06:00-07:30
Place du Jeu de Balle: Second hand and flea market, 07:00-14:00
Grand'Place: Flower and plant market, 08:00-14:00
Rue du Beurre: Art, artist and portrait market, 11:00-18:00
Place Ste-Catherine: Flower and food market, 07:00-17:00
Place Reine Astrid, Jette: Consumer goods and food market, 08:30-13:00
Le Miroir, Jette: Regional farm produce

Wednesday
Chaussée d'Anvers: Food market, 07:00-13:00
Place Chatelain: Food market including organic produce, 14:00-19:00
Place de la Monnaie: Organic food products, 09:00-14:00
Place du Jeu de Balle: Second hand and flea market, 07:00-14:00
Grand'Place: Flower and plant market, 08:00-14:00
Rue du Beurre: Art, artist and portrait market, 11:00-18:00
Place Ste-Catherine: Flower and food market, 07:00-17:00
Place Reine Astrid, Jette: Consumer goods and food market, 08:30-13:00
Place de la Roue, Anderlecht: General market
Place St-Lambert: General market
Le Miroir, Jette: Regional farm produce

Thursday
Quai des Usines 22-23: Early morning flower and plant market, 06:00-07:30
Place du Jeu de Balle: Second hand and flea market, 07:00-14:00
Rue du Beurre: Art, artist and portrait market, 11:00-18:00
Place Ste-Catherine: Flower and food market, 07:00-17:00
Place Reine Astrid, Jette: Consumer goods and food market, 08:30-13:00
Le Miroir, Jette: Regional farm produce

Friday
Place Dumon-Stockel: Flower, Food, Plant, and consumer goods
Place du Jeu de Balle: Food market, 16:00-21:00
Place du Jeu de Balle: Second hand and flea market, 07:00-14:00
Grand'Place: Flower and plant market, 08:00-14:00
Rue du Beurre: Art, artist and portrait market, 11:00-18:00
Place Ste-Catherine: Flower and food market, 07:00-17:00
Place Reine Astrid, Jette: Consumer goods and food market, 08:30-13:00
Place Roi Baudoin: General market
Le Miroir, Jette: Regional farm produce

Saturday
Musée de l'Air, Parc du Cinquantenaire: Old document market, on the first Saturday of the month 08:00-16:00
Rond Point Agora, rue du Marché aux Herbes: Art and craft market, 10:00-18:00
Place du Grand Sablon: Sablon antiques market, 09:00-18:00
Halles St-Géry: Art and craft market, 10:00-21:00
Quai des Usines 22-23: Early morning flower and plant market, 06:00-07:30
Place du Jeu de Balle: Second hand and flea market, 07:00-14:00
Grand'Place: Flower and plant market, 08:00-14:00
Rue du Beurre: Art, artist and portrait market, 11:00-18:00
Place Ste-Catherine: Flower and food market, 07:00-17:00
Place Reine Astrid, Jette: Consumer goods and food market, 08:30-13:00
Place St-Lambert: General market
Place St Josse: General market
Le Miroir, Jette: Regional farm produce

Sunday
Quai des Usines 22-23: Weekly market for second hand cars, mopeds, caravans and boats, 07:30-13:00
Gare du Midi, St-Gilles: Exotic products market, 06:00-13:00
Rond Point Agora, rue du Marché aux Herbes: Art and craft market, 10:00-18:00
Place du Grand Sablon: Sablon antiques market, 09:00-14:00
Halles St-Géry: Art and craft market, 10:00-21:00
Place du Jeu de Balle: Second hand and flea market, 07:00-14:00
Grand'Place: Flower and plant market, 08:00-14:00
Rue du Beurre: Art, artist and portrait market, 11:00-18:00
Place Reine Astrid, Jette: Consumer goods and food market, 08:30-13:00
Place Ste-Catherine: Flower and food market, 07:00-17:00
Bassine Béco: Book fair, 09:00-14:00, between mid July and mid August
Le Miroir, Jette: Regional farm produce

Special
Rue des Tongres: in May, annual flea market in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Avenue de Tervuren
Beguine Convent, Place du Beguinage: in June, crafts and musical instrument market as part of a folklore celebration
Various locations in Brussels: in June, organic week, celebration of organic farming in Wallonia and Brussels
Jeu de Balle: in July, flea market with a Tintin theme, following his visit there in the Secret of the Unicorn book, 16:00-20:30
Place du Grand Sablon: in September, Gascon market with local produce and music, 10:00-20:00
Grand'Place: Christmas markets from early December to early January, 12:00-21:00 from Monday to Thursday and 11:00-22:00 Friday to Sunday