Category Archives: Vienna

Vienna Tweed Ride

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Now that spring has finally arrived, Vienna is back to its colorful (cherry blossoms and tulips everywhere!) and lively self. In the next few weeks alone, there are so many events lined up, like the Street Kitchen Food Market on April 30 to May 1, the Genuss-Festival on May 8-10, the Life Ball on May 16, and the Eurovision Song Contest on May 18-23. I’m so excited!

The weather has been so great that I voluntarily decided to abandon my Netflix list and go out to visit some parks (Setagaya, Stadtpark, Schlosspark), the zoo, and some cafés I haven’t tried before. Though I will never regret staying home to watch Netflix (what is FOMO?), going out on a sunny day not only feels good, but it’s a perfect excuse to still wear my leather jacket (let’s face it, it’s not yet warm enough – it starts to get cold toward the evening).

Today it was a whopping wind-less 21 degrees Celsius, so my jacket got to stay home while I checked out the Vienna Tweed Ride. I read on their event page that their pit stop would be at Augarten, which is not that far away from me. I really like cycling and theme parties, and the Tweed Ride was on another level of awesomeness. There was music, champagne, scones, picnics, bicycles, and so much tweed. Dapper ladies and gents in tweed outfits I have only ever seen in movies were chatting and relaxing before riding to their finish line and after-party at WUK.

I had to get out of my comfort zone to ask if I could take these people’s photos, but they were incredibly nice and agreed. After all, their outfits are so gorgeous, they deserved to be snapped.

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This cute couple was a little shy

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two lads and a lady

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This adorable couple was really sweet. They’re also in the second photo, sitting on the bench

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dapper dudes

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I saw these two from afar – they looked amazing and had such a great energy

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Wien Weekend Tip: Neubaugasse Flohmarkt!

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If you’re free and in Vienna this weekend, go out and visit the Neubaugasse Flohmarkt! To me, Neubaugasse is like the hip younger sister of the main shopping street Mariahilferstrasse. Home to some of my usual haunts like Femosa, a store with the cutest stationery and home ware, salons Hauptsache and Yuki Tuyet Beauty Salon, the entire street turns into a huge fleamarket. It’s the most eclectic and colorful mix of old and new stuff at discounted prices.

Wear comfortable shoes – it’s a long street!

Neubaugasse Flohmarkt
September 26 – 27, 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Wien Weekend Tips

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Yay, it’s the weekend and it’s warm again in Vienna! What are you up to? There’s a lot happening this weekend, so here are a few tips to help you decide!

Entertainment
Buskers Festival
The street performance scene in Vienna is so amazing. I swear, sometimes I feel like I’m in a movie when I’m walking in the first district and suddenly hear live classical music. So magical. Speaking of magic, the Buskers Festival has magicians on the program! There’s also dancers, musicians, comedians, acrobats, and graffiti artists. Happening this weekend, September 5-7, from 2 to 10 PM. Best of all, it’s free!

If you’re in a partying mood after the shows, hit up the After-Party at the TU.

Karlsplatz, 1010 Wien

Food
Genussmarkt im Stadtbiotop
Indulge your palate this weekend. Genussmarkt is a culinary festival of local, fresh, and organic food and products. I’ve been wanting to visit Stadtbiotop because they always have cool events, shops, and food in their containers.

Trabrennstraße 2, 1020 Wien

Shopping
Vitra Sample Sale
Eames and Panton chairs and other cult designer furniture at discounted prices? Umm, yes!

September 6, 10 AM – 5 PM

Vitra warehouse, Zwerchäckerweg 2, Gewerbepark Stadlau, 1220 Wien

Sunday Song of the Day: Schöner Moment

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This week’s Sunday song is by Chapeau Claque & Pretty Pink, and it’s called Schöner Moment (German for beautiful moment). Perfect for a chill weekend.

 

With this song, I also want to share a beautiful moment I captured at the Summernight’s Concert at Schönbrunn two years ago. It was my first (and so far, last) time to go to the Sommernachtskonzert – the sound system at our spot was bad (we didn’t know that the speakers were in another area) but I remember the good company, the free classical music, the sunset, and the amazing view of the city of Vienna. It’s moments like this that make me fall in love over and over again with the Viennese summer.

Sommernachtskonzert Schönbrunn

Oh, happy Sunday to you! What were you up to? Would love it if you said hi!

Rolling Stones in Vienna

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I grew up listening to music from the ’60s and ’70s, which my dad often played during our car rides. My favorites were The Beatles and Queen. Another rock band that frequented our playlist was The Rolling Stones. Admittedly, I hadn’t listened to them in a long while, but when I listened to the Stones again to get reacquainted, I was surprised how many songs I was already familiar with, loved, and even knew the words to. Their music is classic and their songs still so relevant. That’s why when I found out they were playing a show in Vienna on June 16 at the Stadion, I knew I had to see the iconic band live.

Have you been to a rock show? I think this was just my second show, and I reconfirmed that rock show goers are really really into it. We had tickets for the standing area far from the stage, and a lot of people around us tried everything they could to get into the VIP area – trying to bribe the security guards (failed), pretending to be long-lost friends of people who were selling VIP area bracelets (got caught), passing their wallets to VIP bracelet sellers to get it back with the bracelet inside it (stupid, but it worked), and when the concert started, running past the security guards. Security eventually couldn’t stop the crowd from running past the barriers and to the stage.

My favorites from the concert were Start Me Up, Angie, Get Off My Cloud, You Can’t Always Get What You Want (to which I probably sang too emphatically – I’m going through a phase), and of course, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.

Rolling StonesKeith Richards is just the coolest.
Rolling Stones   Rolling Stones Rolling Stones

Rolling StonesRolling Stones

Rolling Stones

Wien Weekend tip!

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Wiener-RathausplatzIf you’re in Vienna this weekend, go to Rathausplatz if you like food, music, and films.

I went last week with my friend Dani. It was really hot, so I ordered maki called “Marilyn Monroll”  from a sushi place. We scarfed down our food (Dani got vegetarian Gyoza) and caught up. The opera shown in front of City Hall was great, but we spent more time chatting than listening.

If you like free entertainment, good food and open air events, the Rathausplatz Film Festival is for you (and me – you’ll probably find me there sipping an ice cold drink). Here’s what they have in store  in the next few days:

Saturday, 9:30 PM: Otello Ossia Il Moro Di Venezia
Sunday, 12:00 PM: Aquarius Jazzband
Sunday, 9:30 PM: The New Year’s Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Monday, 9:30 PM: Gala Concert from Saint Petersburg
Tuesday, 9:30 PM: The Magic Flute
Wednesday, 9:30 PM: The Land of Smiles
Thursday, 9:30 PM: In Memoriam Lou Reed – Live at Montreux

Happy weekend!

let them eat cake

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…and by them, I really mean us. I know how pretty and portable cupcakes and cake pops are, but to me, it’s warmer in July so I’m not really worried about the Mayweather, you know* it’s real cake slices that take the cake. There’s nothing like that perfect triangle and working your way through with the fork, piece by piece. Cake slices are also great for sharing. Just put the plate in the middle of table, get a few forks, and share the goodness and split the calories. It’s what my friends and I do when we pretend to diet but want to treat ourselves to something sinfully good.

After my pre-birthday brunch at Motto am Fluss,  my friends and I went to Café Landtmann for dessert. Strawberry season just started, so some of us ordered strawberry-based cakes.

cakeMy strawberry pistachio cake.

cake Gift-opening time!

cakeRox’s strawberry shortcake

So pretty and so delicious, those cakes. It’s Friday, look away from the screen now and get some cake! TGIF!

* quoted from Drake as Manny Pacquiao

Mochi

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It’s my dad’s birthday, and a major one at that, he’s 60 today! He was named after Apolinario Mabini, a Philippine hero and fellow Batangenyo who was born on the 23rd of July. His/their birthday is always special because it’s an official holiday in Batangas. I badly wish I could celebrate with him, but I’m so far away. 😦 It’s not very festive right now in Batangas though, as the province was hit by Typhoon Glenda.

While we may not be celebrating with a party, special occasions such as these deserve a nice meal. Or a little foodporn. A few weeks ago, I went to Mochi in Vienna’s second district. I sometimes walk past it because I love the neighborhood, and I had a quick snack there once, but I wanted a proper sit-down meal. Since it’s always packed and you have to reserve weeks in advance, it must be good.

MochiI ordered the Mochi Delight plate.

 

MochiSake Teriyaki for my friend Apa

Mochi
Mochi   For dessert, the namesake treat: Mochi