Belgium STUDS

The 29th Art Brussels - Contemporary Art Fair

2011-04-12T19:04:00.007+02:00

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

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

Spring STUDS Dinner at La Soeur du Patron

2011-04-04T18:34:00.004+02:00

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

2011-03-31T18:26:00.005+02:00

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

2011-03-31T11:46:00.007+02:00

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)

FACEBOOK

STUDS Spring Dinner Saturday April 2

2011-03-29T12:21:00.011+02:00

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

2011-03-24T09:29:00.002+01:00

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.

The Cube by Electrolux at the Parc du Cinquantenaire

2011-03-22T13:25:00.006+01:00

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.

Saint Patrick’s Guinness Irish Festival in Brussels

2011-03-15T08:59:00.002+01:00

The festival has already started with the parade last Sunday, but some key events in the days leading up to St. Pats Day.

March 16th: Irish-American Social & Network Evening....(To celebrate the special Irish- American 40 million Irish Diaspora relationship...all nationalities are welcome) Guinness & Cocktails jive together with music by NATO Jazz Messengers, with special guest appearance by Carmel Dempsey.
Free entrance if you pre-register at: irish.american.evening@gmail.com
At the Aloft Brussels Schuman hotel, smart casual dress

March 17th: St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, The World meets the Irish in Brussels. 5 euro.......free entrance if you pre-register at irish.and.world.party@gmail.com wear the green!
At the Aloft Brussels Schuman hotel

You can find information about living and working in Brussels, holidays in Belgium and Ireland, as well as information about all the Festival events at the Belga-Ireland Tourism & Information stand at the Fáilte Isteach exhibition room in the Aloft Brussels Schuman Hotel. WEBSITE

The Brussels Book Swapper Club

2011-03-14T09:48:00.004+01:00

The Brussels Book Swappers Club meets every fourth Wednesday of the month to swap books. Books in English and other major languages are available for exchange. There is no membership fee.

The Club offers a fun way to get rid of books that you have read and reread... freeing-up shelf space for new titles! Bookworms from the greater Brussels area now have a fun new venue to discover new authors; make friends; exchange views on the books on display....and chat in various languages while enjoying the ambiance of the brasserie.

The club meets at Aux Enfants Terribles

Chaussée de La Hulpe 190

Watermael-Boitsfort (Bruxelles)

Facebook Page

contact Karen to get added to the email list

abkginfo@skynet.be

Some after effects of the Zythos Beer Festival

2011-03-11T07:46:00.008+01:00

Ed, John, and Kjeld at the Zythos Beer Festival

Thanks to Kevin here for sending me some pictures. Surprisingly Kjeld said all the pictures he took on his cameraphone were too blurry to publish. I wonder if that had anything to do with the 16 tokens he shelled out for beer. Ya think?

Joe Stange, our beer guru, has now left for greener pastures in Costa Rica, but Mireille toasts a drink with his co-author Yvan de Baets, a local brewer, who was at the show. Their book, Around Brussels in 80 beers is available here, I'm sure he'll send you a signed copy. Joe also has a blog called the Thirsty Pilgrim if you want to know more about Belgian Beer.

Kjeld looking like he's probably at token number 14 of 16

This dude had the coolest beer holder of the day.... actually saw more than a few of these. He said he came all the way from Jersey for this.

I found amusing.....one of my biggest pet peeves here in Belgium. Having to pay to use the damn bathroom. You'd think at a beer festival they would eliminate that, but hell no. There are probably Belgians fighting over that concession. At .30 cents a pop for two straight days, they probably made more money than the guy with the 'fried beer' concession at the Texas State Fair.

Its the start of the Carnival Weekend in Belgium..and that means Binche

2011-03-05T14:32:00.006+01:00

There are tons of great festivals and events that take place throughout the year in Belgium, but few can rival the tradition and exuberance of the Carnival of Binche. Every February on the three days leading up to Lent, the town of Binche puts on its world-famous carnival, which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Binche, is found in the Walloon region of the country, which is predominantly French-speaking. It is a small Medieval town with just over 30,000 residents, but this small town knows how to throw a party.

On Fat Monday, the Gilles dance in the streets of Binche to music that is supplied by barrel organ players. There is a confetti battle on Fat Monday as well, and the highlights also feature the circle of friendship that is formed by members from various youth groups.

Monday ends in fireworks, which helps to continue the fanfare, but no day is bigger than Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday is the only day in which the famed Gilles wear their costumes all day long, from sunup to sundown.

In addition to the Gilles, harlequins, Pierrots, and peasant characters help to make Fat Tuesday even more special, and you’ll want to pay attention to the fancy footwork that some of the dancers put on. The last procession on Mardi Gras takes place at around 3 p.m., and it is when the Gilles are known to toss oranges to and at crowd members, so keep your eyes peeled.

After the last procession, folks generally mill about the town center, enjoying further celebrations. The evening is capped off with the week’s best fireworks show.

Some other Carnivals around Belgium worth checking out:

Carvaval de Malmedy March 5-8

Carnaval de Amay March 6

Carnaval de la Grosse Biesse Marche en Famenne March 5 and 6

Carnaval de Aalst March 6

CANTILLION BREWERY TOUR Saturday March 5th

2011-03-04T11:10:00.003+01:00

Cantillon Brewery is a small, family-owned brewery but since 1978, it has run primarily as the Brussel’s Gueze Museum. Having seen few changes since it opened in 1900, the brewery is working museum exhibit of late 19th-century brewery technology.

It is operated by the Van Roy-Cantillon family as a brewery for lambic, gueuze, faro, and kriek – all beers that are made with wild strains of yeast and undergo spontaneous fermentation. When it was founded, it was just one of many gueuze breweries in Brussels, but today it is the last.

Walking into Cantillon for a tour is like stepping back in time.

From 6h30 to 17h, the Master brewer, his family and friends invite you to the great brewering fair and propose you to experience the various steps in the traditional production of the Lambic and Gueuze.

ITINERARY: SATURDAY MARCH 5TH
In a 19th Century brewery with its original equipment

from 7.00 to 9.00 Brewing process
from 9 to 13.00 Filtration and hopping
from 12.00 to 15.00 Cooking
at 15.30 Pumping of wort into the cooling tun
from 7.00 to 12.00 Barrel cleaning "ancient method"

Guided tours every 2 hours as from 7.00

Admission fee: EUR 6 per person - this includes guided tour and one drink of your choice

Croissants and coffee are proposed until 8.30, free of charge

56 rue Gheude
1070 Brussels
5' from the Gare du Midi

Area map

Belgium has Europe's worst customer service!

2011-03-03T15:44:00.006+01:00

Belgium has a great reputation when it comes to things like beer, chocolate or waffles. But any Belgian will tell you that when it comes to customer service, their country ranks among the worst in Europe. If you googled Belgian customer service you'd have anough reading material for a week.

But now, there’s a television program that’s attempting to take on the biggest offenders, while showing Belgians they don’t have to take it anymore. The show is called “Basta,” which means “enough.” It’s part “60 Minutes,” part “The Daily Show,” and part “Punk’d.” It’s made by four self-described “young, stupid guys” who got their start as a comedy sketch group.

Jelle De Beule, one of the four members of the troupe, said that Belgium is really a “goody two-shoes country.” He added that, “During history, we’ve always been conquered by the Spanish, by the French, by the Austrians. But all we do is mumble and get a little mad about it. We don’t fight the system. We just go inside, sit in our living rooms, and get mad about it.”

So, how does Basta try to get Belgians off their couches? “We inject a little humor,” De Beule said. “We don’t try to be too political about it. It’s better to put a little sugar on the spoon to make the syrup taste better.”

Case in point: When the Basta boys wanted to expose the horrible customer service of Mobistar, a major cell phone company in Belgium, they hid in a large shipping container, and then had the container plunked down right in front of Mobistar’s executive parking lot, blocking the entrance.

Mobistar’s security guard called the number on the outside of the shipping container, which rang straight through to the Basta team inside, on camera.
Watch the video:

One of the next targets might be the Belgian government itself. After all, he said, the country’s been without a government for more than 250 days. Why not, he said, give voters the chance to punk the politicians who can’t seem to get their own act together?

Zythos Bier Festival 2011...The Biggest Beer Festival in Belgium

2011-02-27T13:50:00.008+01:00

Just like last year..... 40 to 50 Stands will be staffed by Brewers or beer companies. At all of these stands you can exchange a token for a tasty Belgian Beer served in a 15cl glass in a non smoking environment.

You rent the glass at the entrance, although you get to keep it. To get an idea of which beers will be available you can check out the beer list from 2010.
At the front back and middle of the hall you will find seats and tables provided to allow you to rest between beers. There is a food corner provided for those who need to do something besides drink.

Only a short train trip from Brussels Central Station

Contact Kjeld if you plan to go with the group Kjeld.Jensen@skynet.be

Saturday 5th of March From 12:00 to Midnight
Sunday 6th of March From 11:00 to 9pm.
Location: the “Stadsfeestzaal” in St.-Niklaas

MUSEUM NIGHT FEVER FEBRUARY 26TH

2011-02-25T10:23:00.005+01:00

On the 26th of February, Museum Night Fever will be braving the wintry weathers once again to offer you a wild night! 19 Brussels museums and over 500 young people have let their creativity run free to concoct a seismic program.

Pop, Rock, and folk concerts.... games, fashion shows, installations, dance, performances... and a spectacular afterparty at BOZAR.

If you think that you already know the Brussels Museums inside out, you might want to give it another try.

7pm to 1am with after party til 3am

The Museum of the City of Brussels is inviting you to find out all about a Brussels work without using your eyes. This time the legend of Manneken Pis will be told in sign language. History of art students will also be presenting their favourite masterpieces.
Program Coudenberg
Visitors can discover the Coudenberg, the former palace of Charles V. There will also be a renaissance ball (workshop).

The 19 participating museums
Museum of the City of Brussels (Maison du Roi)
Coudenberg
Architecture Museum
Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History
Art & Marges Museum
Museum of the National Bank of Belgium
BELvue Museum
Brussels Info Place
Bozar
La Fonderie
Ixelles Museum
Museum of Fantastic Art
MIM
Royal Monnaie Theatre (workshops)
Jewish Museum of Belgium
Museum of Natural Sciences
Porte de Hal
Wiels
Wiertz Museum

Stand Up Brussels

2011-02-24T17:20:00.002+01:00

ANDREW LAWRENCE (UK)
PAUL SINHA (UK)
MARLON DAVIS (UK)

STAND UP BRUSSELS

Show lasts from 8:30-10:30 on Saturday March 5th.

Venue: THEATRE 140,

140 Ave. Eugène Plasky 140, 1030 Brussels, a 10-minute walk from the Commission. More venue info here.
Bar opens at 7 pm. Show starts at 8.30 pm.

A delicious Indian Meal is served from 7.15 pm - 8.10 pm for € 10.00.
Tickets are €26 per person. No discounts.

The Belgians protest naked (video)

2011-02-21T16:36:00.002+01:00

This is a protest that the STUDS fully endorse and would like to get behind.

There have been many dumb protests in Belgium thus far. One prominent actor has urged men to join a national shaving boycott, while a Ghent-based senator suggested women go on a "sex strike" until a new cabinet is formed. Others are staging a "fries revolution" to express their frustration with the non-government.

Dave puts on another Burns Supper

2011-02-04T08:22:00.004+01:00

Every year on his birthday, January 25th, the world remembers and celebrates the life and works of Scottish Poet, Robert Burns, “The Bard” of Scotland..... effectively a second National Day, for Scots.

In his short 37 years, Robert Burns(25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796) also known as Rabbie Burns or The Bard of Ayshire, and known in Scotland simply as “The Bard”, penned an amazing repertoire of poetry and lyrics popular to this day.

The Burns evening was a great success. Dave Sapiro went to a great deal of trouble to organise the event, including printing the menu with a list of whiskeys to be sampled and various Burns poems.

Alan Welch won the whiskey tasting competition for which he received a complimentary haggis, specially imported by Mark (also a STUD) of the English Shop in Tervuren.

Going Away Party for Andy & Colleen

2010-12-12T22:36:00.008+01:00

A great evening was had by all for a going away party for Andy & Colleen at Le Mess on Saturday evening. They are headed back to Canberra Australia to work at the Embassy there.

MORE PICTURES HERE

A bittersweet evening...... as Andy will be sorely missed for the great job he has done as President organising activities and holding the club together over the last two years.....and most of all, just being a great STUD. They promise to stay in touch though, and it is a good vacation spot...so we'll hold them to it.

Now meet Henri, whose face you will be getting used to as our new president. Henri has been here since this summer and is from South Africa, his wife Lorenci works for the South African embassy in Brussels.

He made the mistake of showing up for dinner and got elected president. Hey.....stuff happens. He seems anxious to fill Andy's shoes, so we wish him the best of luck.

Dave and Uli just had a baby this spring and I'm not really sure if they were aware of the party for Andy. They got a babysitter for the evening and were having their own party back in the corner.

2010 charity book sale

2010-09-27T22:01:00.006+02:00

SAVE THE DATE!!

The 2010 charity book sale will be held on
Sunday 24 October 14:00-16:00

119 rue Franklin,

1000 Brussels

STUDS (Spouses Trailing Under Duress Successsfully) have very kindly donated their muscle power to shift books from our attic to the basement - and back again! They will also be present at the sale to help out, and answer any questions you may have about their organisation

2010 year is the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion so proceeds will be donated to NASCI, a charity based in Brussels dedicated to helping needy children, pregnant women and mothers.

If you wish your name to be removed from this mailing list please reply now with remove in the subject line.

Belgium STUDS: (Spouses Trailing Under Duress Successfully) is a casual, multinational group of males who are in Belgium because of their wives' jobs, although there are some who are working, and others who live here permanently but are just looking to meet like-minded friends in a new environment. There are even a few women from time to time who just enjoy the laid back, casual atmosphere. http://www.belgiumstuds.com/

Burns Night Dinner

2010-01-31T04:22:00.000+01:00

Too bad if you missed it, but Dave Sapiro hosted an awesome Burns Night Dinner at his house in Brussels.

Burns Supper......Haggis Night on January 25th

2010-01-16T11:04:00.006+01:00

Mark your calendar now for a traditional Burns’ night supper of Haggis (including a vegetarian version!), Neeps and Tatties all washed down with fine Scotch Whiskey!

Once sufficiently lubricated we will recite some Burns poetry! Our own STUD Dave Sapiro has kindly offered to organise this event.

For those who need some backround on what a traditional Burns supper is.....check this out.

When: Monday, 25 January 2010
Where: Dave Sapiro’s Residence near Porte de Namur - full details to be provided closer to the day
Time: From 19.30
RSVP: By return if possible - for catering purposes we need to know ASAP if you can come
Cost: TBA
Dave can accommodate 10-12 people so don’t delay and let me know by Tuesday so that we can catch the Haggis in Scotland and get it here and prepared!

I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Cheers
Andy Graham
President

STUDS WINTER BALL 2010..... FEBRUARY 27th

2010-01-16T10:48:00.004+01:00

While you have your calendars at hand please mark Saturday, 27 February 2010 for the STUDS Annual Winter Ball. This is the big night of the year where we all get together with our Significant Others (SO’s) to eat, drink and dance the night away!

It is a great chance for SO’s to meet each other and meet the other STUDS. It is also the night where we get to dress up and dust off the tuxedo or our best suit!!

We are working on a venue and will let you know more soon. In the meantime, if anyone has any suggestions for a venue please let me know. We will also be running a tombola in the lead up to the ball so please start saving your small change for a chance to win! I have been assured by other members that this is a night that should not be missed.

Andy Graham
President

Letter from a former STUD

2010-01-16T10:41:00.003+01:00

Hey Guys,
I was a member back in the late nineties and happened to come across your website. Got wondering if anybody there is still a member and remembers me. Back then we had a home golf course at Louven La Neuve though we played all over the area , at times in France.

Perhaps someone would remember Kelly, a former President of the Club. I visited him and family during the fall of 2002 in Singapore where we played golf in Indonesia and Malasia -- quite the life, when the wive's were working, that is.

Mine was French from Paris and she worked for NATO, and as I was a retired Air Force jock I had all the benefits of both NATO and US retiree status. Lived in Stockel, not far from where you hold the Friday get togethers, which back then were actually in a Stockel coffee shop just off the Square.

I'm retired now, living in Ft Lauderdale and I gotta admit, Florida is the place to retire. Got a French built 32' Beneteau sailboat and am enjoying the Caribbean waters.

STUDS is/was a great idea and it is pleasant to see it remains for guys -- and I understand some gals -- to connect to share mutual interests. Didja know STUDS was actually started by a coupla wives trying to find something for their husbands to occupy themselves? The weekly meetings began at a McDonalds on Friday mornings, rain or shine of course, and involved mostly golfers. And we were really patient with those who joined even though not golfers.

OK fellow STUDS forever..................Bonne Chance a tout.

Casey Collier

November 10th Tuesday Lunch

2009-11-09T11:48:00.007+01:00

The Istas restaurant, adjoining the Hotel Sorret is long established and offers classic Belgian cuisine. Customer reviews rate it highly, and our own Ed Elly highly recommends it as well.

Once I have numbers we can sort out travel arrangements as public transport is not really the best option. I will take my car and I can take 6 extras so it will be just a matter of deciding on a pick point. Don't delay, let me know if you are coming as soon as you can so that I can confirm numbers.

Andy andygraham@bigpond.com

The venue: Restaurant Istas
652 Brusselsesteenweg,

Overijse-Jezus Eik, Exit 2 on the 411 (MAP)
Date: 10 November 2009 Time 12:30.

An American Style Coffee Shop in Bruges...Bean Around the World

2009-11-09T09:47:00.006+01:00

A new 'American' coffee house has opened in Bruge. It's kind of a Studs thing, as back in 1999, Joe, who is Belgian, met an American named Oline, from Bakersfield California in Bruge. She loved Bruge so much she gave up the California weather to move to Belgium.
She evidently liked Joe a bit too, as they are now married and have a 20 month old son named Tristan.

Oline opened "Bean around the World" last Saturday, she wanted to give the Bruges people a taste of a real American coffee house.
They are trying to spoil their customers as best they can. There are free newspapers available (Flemish and American), free WiFi, and a computer available if you don't have your laptop with.

So if you are taking your visitors on the obligatory trip to Bruges for sightseeing, you might want to stop in, say hello, check your email, and get some local information about this wonderful Belgian city.

Bean around the World is located at Genthof 5, in Bruge , close to Jan van Eyckplein and is open 7 days a week. They have a group on facebook through which all the news on the coffee house can be checked out. Phone: 050 70 35 72

Octoberfest in Brussels

2009-10-21T09:49:00.005+02:00

This year the Bayern representitives of the EU organised its traditional 'Oktoberfest' at Place Jourdan. As usual, this festival remains loyal to the famous München beer festival with October beer. A giant tent with 1500 seats and typical music was set up for the festival.

Thanks to President Andy for organising another a great event, enjoy the pictures....captions will be left off to protect the guilty party's.
What happens at STUDS.....stays at STUDS.

(click to enlarge)

Clijsters....the Belgian mommy, back in US Open finals!

2009-09-13T16:07:00.003+02:00

It's too bad it had to end like this as Clijsters was kicking her rather large ass anyway.....but an all Belgian final didn't shake up as Caroline Wozniacki beat Yanina Wickmayer pretty easily.

Brian says goodbye to STUDS

2009-09-10T05:57:00.002+02:00

A few pictures of a luncheon for Brian as he is heading back to the states and could not make the party hosted for the other five who were leaving this summer.
Good luck to Brian and Steph on re-entry.

Zinneke Parade in Brussels July 8th

2009-07-03T18:12:00.004+02:00

The multicultural communities of Brussels come together in the middle of the city on this day of colourful, exuberant celebration of the Zinneke Parade. Around 4,000 participants converge in the main avenues of the city centre, creating a carnival atmosphere with brass bands, actors, dancers and musicians.

The Zinnodes, as the workshops are known, work hard for months following a preparatory stage of about a year and a half. With the input of thousands of volunteers the result is always varied and surprising, a delightful mixture of styles and genres in one happy street party.
Zinneke is also an artistic and social experiment which aims to combat inequality and to form a project in which everyone can participate.

Boulevard Anspach and main avenues of centre (Venue)
Main focus of Parade route is Boulevard Anspach
Website www.zinneke.org

WILKINSON AMERICAN MOVIE DAY

2009-07-02T14:49:00.004+02:00

Starting on the 4th of July you can enjoy a number of Hollywood blockbusters being previewed in a Brussels cinema on Place du Brouckère. Viewers are also treated to an open-air concert by an American group on the evening of August 3rd, and the event closes with fireworks.

List of movies here

Studs Going away party for the Fab Five.

2009-06-14T03:42:00.006+02:00

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.

MANY MORE PICTURES OF THE NIGHT

STUDS "Beer Road Trip"

2009-06-05T12:10:00.005+02:00

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.

MORE PICTURES

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

2009-06-05T11:30:00.009+02:00

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

Daily Markets in Brussels

2009-06-04T00:30:00.002+02:00

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

It's that time for a walk in the Blue Forest...The bluebells are blooming in Hallerbos

2009-04-25T10:32:00.005+02:00

Time for a walk in the woods to get away from it all. Hallerbos – or Bois de Halle – is a beautiful, tranquil location mostly in The town of Halle about 15 kilometres south of Brussels. The woods is home to a range of indigenous trees, stretching from Lembeekbos to Tervuren and offering a relaxing countryside walk at any time of the year.

However, around April / May, it becomes a somewhat unique location in the whole of Europe. The floor of the forest is transformed into the most warming, comforting blue carpet imaginable.

Bluebells are relatively common woodland flowers across Europe but the expanse and density with which they take over the almost 520 hectares of Hallerbos, creates a truly distinctive environment.
Unfortunately it lasts only a few weeks, so you are running out of time.

Map to Hallerboss

It's Spring in Brussels and the Beer Fests Are Blooming.

2009-04-25T09:49:00.003+02:00

Looking forward to the Vilvordia BierProefFestival in Jette on Saturday. Also the Tour de Geuze on Sunday. Yessir, gonna be a fine weekend here in the Brabant.

Head over to the Thirsty Pilgrim for more details on both events.

Joe's book, "Around Brussels in 80 Beers" will be coming out in May!

Biking in Belgium and Brussels

2009-04-08T10:31:00.008+02:00

I was hoping to get this up before the Tour de Flanders, but it slipped my mind. This is a posting from Dave, who is now back in Milwaukee about his biking experience here in Belgium and France. Some very stunning pictures that you can click to enlarge.

Hey STUDS, I am sending some photos of biking related stuff and some info on where to go and what to do.
The first couple of photos are of the Foret de Soignes or as I called it, the forest. It is not too far from Stokkel. I don't know if your new members are more into mountain biking or if they are roadies....but there is good off road biking in the forest.

I am also sending photos of the Tour of Flanders. This is a pro road race that starts in Brugge and ends in Ninove, which is not too far from Brussels. The cool thing about this race is that on the day before the pros race they have an organized ride for citizens on the same course. You can ride all or part of the route. I did the 75K route and it was quite challenging with lots of cobblestones and hills. The website is here and it was fun to photograph this race.

I am also sending photos of the Tour de France. We saw three stages when we were in Europe. One ending in Ghent, one in the French Alps and the final day in Paris. The photos are of Michele and I biking in the Alps. We booked a non guided week long tour with a company called Cyclingclassics.com. It was the best vacation of my life.

Their is an English speaking mountain bike club called Brussels International group of Mountain Bikers. They are a good bunch of guys and a great resource for biking in Belgium.

International Festival Week features USA

2009-03-25T09:58:00.009+01:00

An old-fashioned country fair, right here in Belgium. BBQ pork sandwiches, hot dogs, homemade apple pies and lots of other US-style goodies.

Ring toss games and pie-eating contests for the kids.

Stop by and say hello to fellow STUD Brian, for a little slice of Americana.

Website
Location:International School of Brussels
Kattenberg 19
1170 Brussels
Directions to ISB
More information: Contact Mehul Randery at intfestival@isb.be

International Festival Week features Austrailia

2009-03-24T15:10:00.010+01:00

Once again Australia will be represented by a small group of enthusiastic supporters who will be presenting visitors with a taste of Downunder!

There will be Pavlova, ANZAC cookies, Lamingtons and a variety of other goodies and souvenirs. Andy, a fellow STUD, pictured far right, will be leading the charge.

Crush Wines , a retailer of Australian Wines in Brussels, will also be a part of our stall. Providing an opportunity to sample and purchase a range of the Australian wines available in Belgium. As in the past, there will be small boomerangs, toy kangaroos and Koalas on sale for the kids.

Website

Location:International School of Brussels

Kattenberg 19

1170 Brussels

Directions to ISB

More information: Contact Mehul Randery at intfestival@isb.be

33RD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL AT THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BRUSSELS (ISB)

2009-03-23T17:25:00.003+01:00

One of our own STUDS... (Mehul) has organised the annual International Festival once again this year at the ISB. Let’s get out there this weekend in an attempt to make him look good. In the following days we will be previewing the different countries of the fair every day on the blog. Be sure to check back daily for updates.

The International School of Brussels Family Association will hold its 33rd International Festival on Saturday, 28 March 2009 from 10:00-17:00. The festival, a celebration of the diversity of cultures represented at ISB, brings together the entire Brussels community for a unique one day event.

At the Festival attendees have the opportunity to experience different parts of the world through food, costume, and music. The day also includes free entertainment from around the world at the ISB theatre.

Children will enjoy participating in face painting, the World Games, or any of the many other fun events planned for the day. At 11:00 the Parade of Nations is always a highlight of the day for all attending.

The festival is an experience for both the eyes and senses, and is great fun for the entire family. Everyone is welcome - from the ISB community to the greater Brussels community.

There is no entrance fee and ISB will be providing free shuttle bus service from Groenendaal and Boitsfort Station every 15 minutes between 10:00-17:00. Free parking is available at both stations during the day. NO PARKING AVAILABLE ON CAMPUS.

If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer for an hour or two, please contact the Family Association at festival2009@randery.com.

We invite you to come and celebrate the great diversity of the ISB community.

Website

Location:International School of Brussels
Kattenberg 19
1170 Brussels

Directions to ISB

More information: Contact Mehul Randery at intfestival@isb.be

Happy Saint Paddy's Day

2009-03-17T15:36:00.002+01:00

The Riverdance Dancing Bears

The Obligatory Irish Joke

Three Irishmen are sitting around in a tavern, debating which is the best pub.

The first says, "Aye, this is a nice bar, but where I come from, there's a better one. At MacDougal's, you buy a drink, then you buy another drink and then MacDougal himself will buy your third drink!"

The second then starts, "That sounds like a nice pub but, where I come from, there's a better one called Quinn's. At Quinn's, you buy a drink, Quinn buys you a drink. You buy another drink, Quinn buys you another drink."

Then the third pipes up, "You think that's good? Where I come from, there's this place called Murphy's. At Murphy's, they buy you your first drink, they buy you your second drink, they buy you your third drink and then, they take you in the back and get you laid!"

"Wow!" exclaim the other two. "That sounds fantastic! Did that actually happen to ye?"

"No," replies their friend, "But it happened to me sister!"

The Antwerp Diamond Heist....explained

2009-03-14T09:16:00.003+01:00

Great story on the Antwerp Diamond Heist....you almost have to think there is a movie waiting to be made on this.

This article will appear in Wired magazine's April issue, on sale March 24, 2009. It is being published online now because the subject of the story, Leonardo Notarbartolo, was released from prison in Belgium this week.....didn't he used to be a Ninja Turtle?

STUDS BALL PICTURES 2009

2009-03-09T16:10:00.001+01:00

Although it was a limited number, due to what seemed like just a very conflicting date for a lot of guys, I think it was one of the better STUDSballs we've had......too bad for those of you who missed it.

We had an intimate room to ourselves at Auberge des Maieurs for a great fondue evening, and of course plenty of drinking. We also had a STUDS first as Ray arrived with two women....neither of which was his wife. Ray...you da man!

Everyone had a chance to previously request three songs to be played after dinner, but they had to give the reason behind their choices. We had a lot of fun with that and Kjeld had a great choice for the STUDS International Anthem at the top.

If anyone has a better idea for that, leave your comment....or any other one at the bottem.

CHEERS!

Take a minute to read Joe's post on the beer festival this weekend

Ed giving the annual "State of the STUDS address"

Ed & Kathy

Kjeld & Heather
DJ

Cathal & Mary

Kees & Nina

Ray and his entourage...Johanne & Sherie

Tony & Cathryn

Randy & Mireille

World famous Zythos Beer Festival this weekend

2009-03-05T20:03:00.000+01:00

Zythos Beer Fest - The reborn cousin of the 24 hours of Beer fest, offers a wide range of Belgian beer often served by the brewer.
No need to change a winning combination....Just like the previous festivals there will be around sixty brewers and numerous beer marketing companies presenting their finest brews.

By purchasing €1 coins you can have your 15cl tasting glass (deposit €3) filled with liquid candy. Throughout the hall, resting places are set up and there's a food bazaar . It is prohibited to smoke within the complex.

In order to keep the festival going, the organizers sell beer merchandising at the entrance. Sint-Niklaas can be easily reached by train from Brussels, Leuven, Gent and Antwerpen. The location is only 150m from the station. And there's parking next to the building.
BEERFEST WEBSITE

Public Brewing Session at Cantillon

2009-03-04T18:12:00.000+01:00

From 6:30am to 5 pm, on Saturday March 8th, Master brewer Jean-Pierre Van Roy, alias Mr. Cantillon, his family and friends, invite you to a brewing demonstration to experience the various steps in the traditional production of the Lambic and Gueuze beers.

Cantillon Brewery (Brasserie-Brouwerij Cantillon) is a small Belgian traditional family brewery based in Brussels and founded in 1900. Although it has been managed by the Van Roy family after the last Cantillon left it to his son-in-law Jean-Pierre Van Roy, the name Cantillon has been kept.

It brews lambic beers like kriek and gueuze in the traditional style, unchanged since it was founded. It is the last lambic brewery in Brussels. More recently it started making Iris, a spontaneously fermented beer that, unusually, does not contain wheat and is made with fresh hops, and as a result is thus technically not a lambic.

It is also the Gueuze Museum in Brussels, and is open to the public to tour and see the maturing beer, and watch the brewing and bottling processes.
Taste-wise, Cantillon's beers are quite tart and dry compared to for instance the industrial, artificially sweetened geuze and kriek of Mort Subite.
The brewery is located in Anderlecht, at 56 rue Gheude

Cantillon website

6.30 to 9.00: brewing process

9 to 13.00: filtration and hopping

12.00 to 15.00: cooking

15.30: pumping of wort into the cooling tun

6.30 to 12.00: barrel cleaning "ancient method"

Guided tours every 2 hours as from 7am Croissants and coffee are available until 8.30, free of charge.

Brussels Museum Night is back

2009-03-03T17:23:00.000+01:00

So you think you already know all about the Brussels Museums? Well, Museum Night Fever is back after a very successful run last year. Saturday March 7th from 7pm till 1 in the morning 14 city-centre museums present Museum Night Fever.

Concerts, electro-architecturale performances, dance steps, and guided tours... by students, academies, in cooperation with the Museums. A Red Bull dance Party will carry on till 3am.

Check the Museums website for itinerary.

Expats dumping cars, flying back home to avoid debt repayment

2009-02-26T18:42:00.000+01:00

For many expat workers in Dubai it was the ultimate symbol of their tax-free wealth...... a luxurious car that few could have afforded on the money they earned at home.

Now, faced with crippling debts as a result of their high living and Dubai’s fading fortunes, many expatriates are abandoning their cars at the airport and fleeing home rather than risk jail for defaulting on loans. Police have found more than 3,000 cars outside Dubai’s international airport in recent months. Most of the cars – four-wheel drives, saloons and “a few” Mercedes, had keys left in the ignition.

Gee, that's strange. Who could've possibly seen that one coming? Does this mean we aren't going to get that refrigerated beach we were promised? Park and Fly just took on a whole new meaning.

STORY IN THE TIMES

Chat in any language

2009-02-25T17:40:00.000+01:00

MeGlobe :

Language barriers may now be a thing of the past. MeGlobe is an instant messaging service with real-time translation to and from over 15 languages - allowing users to communicate with contacts from all over the world even without sharing fluency in the same tongue.

It translates your IM and sends it along to the recipient in near real-time. I gave it a spin using French to English, and as advertised it translates in real time. You see what the person wrote in small letters, with the translation showing up right above. It doesn't matter what language the other user is typing in--everything gets converted to your default language. Changing it with a quick drop down will go back and reverse-translate previous chat items.

Brussels Balloon Day Parade

2009-02-24T15:24:00.000+01:00

Like the Thanksgiving Day Macy's Balloon Parade in New York, since 1924.... Brussels will be putting on a Balloon Day Parade for the first time.

As a carnival celebration, gigantic helium balloons in the shape of comic strip characters, animals, objects, etc. will cross the city’s main arteries from the South to the North Station.
They will be accompanied by the folklore groups of the City of Brussels. Parades by the police, fire brigades and the famous marching bands, as well as spectators in very large numbers.

The balloons will be inflated by a team of specialists from the United States to supervise the parade and direct the balloons. The different obstacles such as cables, street lamps or traffic lights will be either bypassed or the balloons will be lowered or temporarily deflated so as to get through, which will add to the show.

This popular, colourful event will last about two and a half hours and will launch the BRUSSELS 2009 BD COMICS STRIP year.

Departure: South Station at 1:30 PM
Itinerary: Boulevards du Midi, Anspach, Adolphe Max.
Arrival: North Station car park
Balloon Day Parade Website

How to make a million in five years (become a Euro MP)

2009-02-22T09:03:00.000+01:00

Evidently the downturn in the world economy has not affected the Euro MP's much. In fact, business has never been better.

In the small studio's near the EU Parliment.....Belgians call them les cinq à sept (five to sevens) because people using them, leave work at five and arrive home to their wives at seven. They seem to have been enthusiastically adopted by some members of the nearby parliament for daytime hanky panky, or as the above video from the movie "Anchorman" shows..... "afternoon delight"

How can MEPs afford the luxuries these tough times? Well, Brussels is a bubble that has escaped the recession, thanks to the many millions that European taxpayers pour into the pockets of Euro-parliamentarians and Eurocrats alike, for adventures like this.

The Euro fatcats enjoy allowances that enable them to save £1m during a single parliament election, and vastly outpace the British for sheer effrontery, and they do so without having to account for themselves.

Read the investigative report in THE TIMES

The Walloons are "SHIT" according to Flemish football fans

2009-02-20T17:41:00.000+01:00

French daily Le Monde reports that the Belgian Soccer Federation has ruled that fans may chant "Walloons are shit!" (Les Wallons, c'est du caca).
Despite the fact that Flemish fans chanted in French to further piss off the Walloon team, the chant is "playful and teasing," federation officials argue, not "hurtful or injurious." Who says those sneaky Flemish can't speak French if they want to.

Actually, I occasionally watch some Belgian football....or soccer as we Americans call it, and I think the Belgian Soccer Federation could eliminate the racism, and just adopt the slogan that all Belgian football is shit "Le football belge, c'est du caca!" .....problem solved

BRUSSELS (AFP) – A row has broken out in Belgium after French-speaking politicians criticised the country's football federation for not sanctioning a Flemish club whose fans chanted anti-Walloon abuse.
Supporters of Genk in the Flemish-speaking north of the bilingual country made derogatory comments about their Walloon (Francophone) counterparts during a league match with Tubize from the south. Continue reading Yahoo Sports

World Political Science for Dummies

2009-02-19T16:19:00.000+01:00

Political Science explained through the use of cows. Stick with it...the Belgian example is probably the funniest. I take no responsibility for stereotypes if you can't laugh at yourself.

U.S. DEMOCRAT
You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
You feel guilty for being successful.
You push for higher taxes so the government can provide cows for everyone.

U.S. REPUBLICAN
You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
So?

SOCIALIST
You have two cows.
The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor.
You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.

COMMUNIST
You have two cows.
The government seizes both and provides you with milk.
You wait in line for hours to get it.
It is expensive and sour.

CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE
You have two cows.
You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.

BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE
You have two cows.
Under the new farm program the government pays you to shoot one, milk the other, and then pours the milk down the drain.

AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one.
You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when one cow drops dead. You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized and are reducing expenses.
Your stock goes up.

FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike because you want three cows.
You go to lunch and drink wine..

JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.
They learn to travel.
Most are at the top of their class at cow school.

GERMAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You engineer them so they are all blond, drink lots of beer, give excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour.
Unfortunately they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year.

ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows but you don't know where they are.
You break for lunch.
Life is good.

RUSSIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have some vodka.
You count them and learn you have five cows.
You have some more vodka.
You count them again and learn you have 42 cows.
The Mafia shows up and takes over however many cows you really have..

TALIBAN CORPORATION
You have all the cows in Afghanistan , which are two.
You don't milk them because you cannot touch any creature's private parts.
You get a $40 million grant from the US government to find alternatives to milk production but use the money to buy weapons.

IRAQI CORPORATION
You have two cows.
They go into hiding.
They send radio tapes of their mooing.

POLISH CORPORATION
You have two bulls.
Employees are regularly maimed and killed attempting to milk them.

BELGIAN CORPORATION
You have one cow.
The cow is schizophrenic.
Sometimes the cow thinks he's French, other times he's Flemish.
The Flemish cow won't share with the French cow.
The French cow wants control of the Flemish cow's milk.
The cow asks permission to be cut in half.
The cow dies happy.

FLORIDA CORPORATION
You have a black cow and a brown cow.
Everyone votes for the best looking one.
Some of the people who actually like the brown one best accidentally vote for the black one.
Some people vote for both.
Some people vote for neither.
Some people can't figure out how to vote at all.
Finally, a bunch of guys from out-of-state tell you which one you think is the best-looking cow.

CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
You have millions of cows.
They make real California cheese.
Only five speak English.
Most are illegal.
Arnold likes the ones with the big udders.

The Danish Language is about to collapse

2009-02-18T21:09:00.000+01:00

Pretty well done, it's worth your time. Where I come from in northern Minnesota...this is pretty much how the older generation sounds.

The Carnival of Binche

2009-02-17T15:56:00.000+01:00

Each year during the three days preceding Lent, the medieval town of Binche in Belgium's French-speaking Wallonia region hosts a jovial carnival celebration that brings together the townspeople and attracts throngs of foreign visitors.
The Binche Carnival stands out as one of the oldest surviving urban carnivals in Europe, and is now on the UNESCO Heritage list.

The 16th Century Spanish court liked to say that “there is no more magnificent festival than that of Binche”. Binche..... about 60 kms from Brussels, has hosted Belgium’s most famous carnival for several centuries.

The celebration is said to date back to 1549, when Mary of Hungary, Mayoress of Binche at the time, was anxious to impress her brother Charles V and his son Phillip II of Spain and so arranged for seven days of dances, banquets, military parades and firework displays to be held.

As this also coincided with the return of Hispanic explorers who had discovered the Americas, the Iberian courtiers accompanying the Princes are said to have dressed up as Incas, as a reminder of the conquistadores’ recent victories. The Belgian crowd were apparently so captivated by the splendour of these colourful costumes that they continued the tradition.

The ‘Gille’ is the traditional and central character of the carnival. He celebrates the return of spring. His characteristic features are a particular dance, a brightly coloured costume and an impressive ostrich-feather hat. Each decorative detail of his costume- the lion of Belgium, heraldry, crowns or stars- has a symbolic meaning.

The national colours of black, yellow and red dominate. Certain parts of the costume may require dozens of metres of material- up to 150 metres of ribbon may be needed to make the ruff for example.

The Gille also wears an ‘apertintaille’- a belt of 7 to 9 bells worn around the waist, as well as a smaller bell on his shirt front. Each Gille is bound to respect certain customs. He must come from Binche, and must not sit down in public, ever get drunk or go anywhere without being accompanied by (at the very least) a drummer … as you might guess they are not difficult to spot.

There are two parts to the festivities: the carnival and the pre-carnivalesque performances, also called the ‘soumonces’. The carnival starts 49 days before Easter, the soumonces six weeks prior to that.

On the fifth and sixth Sunday before the carnival groups of Gilles and carnival societies met in the early evening and (although not in costume) go out into the streets of Binche to the sound of the drums.

On Shrove Sunday, the first of three days of Mardi Gras, the Gilles, and others in peasant, Harlequin and Pierrot costumes, parade through the streets of Binche and dance to music played by brass bands, showing off their dazzling costumes.

Every night the town’s central square is lit up by a firework display and the crowds throw confetti into the air, filling the streets with colour. The festival reaches its climax on Shrove Tuesday, the only day when the Gilles wear their famous hats. Weighing three kilos and consisting of nearly 300 ostrich feathers, these hats are a reminder of Inca headdresses.

Each Gille also hides beneath a wax mask. These masks symbolise equality and can only be sold or worn in Binche as they are carefully protected by the European Patent Office. Everything kicks off at about four in the morning with the ‘collection’ of participants.

To the sound of a reed pipe playing a traditional tune the Gilles go from house to house collecting all the members of their particular Gille group. They are welcomed into each home with a glass of champagne.

Next, nearly a thousand Gilles proceed to the station where they meet for a champagne and oyster breakfast. From there they carry on to a long parade where they give out (or sometimes throw) oranges to the crowd. As evening draws in everyone meets to dance around a huge carnival bonfire. The party carries on all night but the drums fall silent as the sun rises on Ash Wednesday, signalling the beginning of Lent.

"Shrove Sunday": colourful day where the future Gilles giants wear fancy costumes. Parade at 3 pm. Until the early hours, the drums resound all over town.

"Shrove Monday": children's parade where the violas are played all morning long. Children's "Rondeau of Friendship" on the Grand'Place. Fireworks at 7.30 pm.

"Shrove Tuesday": Start of the festivities at daybreak. The Gilles entertain the town from 9 am. Parade at 3 pm. The Gilles show off their hats and throw oranges. In the evening there will be a final rondeau at 7.30 pm and a fireworks display in the city centre.

This years Carnival is February 22-24

Address: Caves Bette Rue des Promenades 2

7130 BINCHE MAPS: Google Maps

Touring Route Planner
Tel.:+32 (0) 64 33 67 27

Carnival Website

A MUST READ for new Expats

2009-02-16T12:45:00.000+01:00

About 200 million people, or 3 per cent of the world’s population, already live outside their home countries and relocation continues to rise, particularly this year as recession forces job-seekers to move to markets they might not have considered before.

“In the last few months there has been an upturn in moves to countries off the beaten track, such as Libya, Syria, Yemen, Mongolia and isolated areas in China and South America,” says Richard Tyrrell of global relocation company Going-there.

In crisis-hit Iceland, polls show that one-third of the population is considering emigration. And in London and New York, bankers are joking about a new ultimatum: “Dubai, Mumbai, Shanghai or goodbye.”

So, for all those who have recently relocated or expect to soon, here are some tips on how to do it. Some come from expats themselves and some from the professionals who get paid to help them settle.

Valentines day Sex and Chocolate in Belgium

2009-02-14T14:35:00.000+01:00

What better place than Belgium to close the deal on Valentines Day with some chocolate and lingerie.

Chocolate isn’t just a tasty, superficial indulgence. There’s more talent in this candy than simply pleasing the taste buds. It actually contains ingredients that help with depression and makes people feel really good. It’s the most appropriate gift for Valentine’s Day because when women feel good, they emanate love, and isn’t that what the day is all about?
Read more about the secrets of chocolate

But for you guys....just make sure you do something....women tend to have long memories when you forget this mother of all Hallmark holidays. If you don't believe me...watch this Valentine TV commercial from Agent Provocateur.

European officials warned of 'interns trading sex for secrets'

2009-02-12T14:04:00.000+01:00

Somebody's been up late watching too many James Bond movies....or in the case of Eurocrats, more like Austin Powers.

European Commission officials are being told to beware of the charms of Mata Hari type interns, who are accused of trading sex for the innermost EU secrets....like how to draw a huge salary as a Eurocrat without actually doing anything.

Paranoid Brussels security officials fear that Eurocrats might be susceptible to the attractive guise of the "pretty trainee with the long legs and the blonde hair". I'm sure they spent about three million euro's studying that....not including hotel rooms.

Every year hundreds of "stagiares", or interns, work at the Commission's Berlaymont HQ in Brussels. Many of them are young, female and some, it has been claimed, are engaged in espionage. Rumour has it that Monica Lewinsky has just been hired as Barasso's personal aide!

"I think men working here in boring jobs would love to believe that sexy women spies were after their bodies and their secrets. I personally think it is unlikely," said Petra, a 24-year old stagiare from a Baltic country.

STORY IN THE TIMES

Capa Retrospective at the Jewish Museum of Belgium

2009-02-11T12:34:00.000+01:00

This exhibition takes a broad look at the work of Robert Capa (1913-1954), the legendary war photographer and founder of modern photojournalism. His photos of the Spanish Civil War and D-Day are etched in everyone’s memory and have shaped our image of the twentieth century.

Capa was commissioned by French, British and American photo magazines to cover all the major conflicts of his day. In 1938, following the publication of his photos of the Spanish Civil War, Britain’s Picture Post acclaimed him ‘the greatest war photographer in the world’.

As well as photographing frontline fighting, Capa also captured the suffering of the civilian population. He had an unparalleled eye for the destructive effect of war on the lives of ordinary people. His photos can be hard and confrontational, but are more often subtle and moving.

As a photographer with a social conscience and as a passionate anti-fascist Capa regarded his photos as a weapon in the struggle against injustice, persecution and oppression. As he always said: ‘The war photographer’s most fervent wish is for unemployment.’

The founder, with Henri Cartier-Bresson, of the famous Magnum agency, he is being exhibited with 150 photographs at the Jewish Museum of Belgium.

January 23rd through April 19, 2009

A Blatant Push for more Belgium STUDS members

2009-02-09T10:25:00.000+01:00

As companies are cutting back on their expat assignments due to these difficult financial times, we have had a number of quality people leaving STUDS as they repatriate to their home countries.
If you are new to Belgium, or even if you've been here for awhile and are looking to make some new friends, please come on by to our weekly lunch on Fridays and meet some of the group.
Read more about what STUDS is, in the "What Is Belgium STUDS" column on the right hand side, or visit the STUDS website for more details and pictures.

Please keep in mind, you do not have to fit the generic profile listed to be a member of STUDS. If you can drink a beer, and manage to spew a little conversation or bullshit, at the same time...you pretty much qualify.

We intend to keep this blog updated with upcoming events in and around Belgium, and personal articles written by our members. It will also be used to update any STUDS events upcoming.
We will take submissions also, if we feel it would be of expat or group interest.

If you desire a little daily news, humour, politics and debate, check out our STUDSBLOG which is updated several times a day. Please keep in mind this is a little boys club and some of the material can be a bit cheeky and not always safe for work. You have been warned!