Stanley Kubrick

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels opened a new exhibition last week showcasing photographs from the famous film direct Stanley Kubrick. Well known for his movies like The Shining, Dr Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Eyes Wide Shut, Kubrick spent his early years taking photos of post-war American life in New York City. 

After graduating from high school in 1945, Stanley Kubrick began working for the New York magazine Look, documenting daily life in the city through poignant black and white photos over a period of five years. The exhibition, on loan from the Museum of the City of New York, provides a glimpse into the work that inspired Kubrick’s unique cinematography style. It’s clear from the sequential nature of his photojournalism that he was destined for film.

 

The two-part exhibition opens with an excerpt from the film Killer’s Kiss, released in 1955, and a series of 130 photos by Kubrick, followed by a selection of works from the collections of the Royal Museum that inspired the artist over the years. Themes range from a traveling circus, a jazz club, life in the New York subway to students at Columbia University. He shows many sides of American society, including a twelve-year-old shoeshine boy and celebrities such as actor Montgomery Clift and boxer Rocky Graziano. The photos on display hint at the themes and inspirations later captured in Kubrick’s films.

 

The exhibition runs until 1 July. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts is open every day from 10am to 5pm. Entrance fee is €8 (€5 for students). In connection with the exhibition, Flagey is holding two concerts highlighting music from Kubrick’s films in May.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts
3 Rue de la Régence, 1000 Brussels
Tel: 02 508 32 11

Images via Brussel Nieuws and the Belgian Tourist Office.

Bike Experience

The warmer weather these last few days in Brussels has made me want to spend as much time as possible outdoors. Sitting in my car everyday on the way to and from work just seems like wasted hours that could have been enjoyed in the sun. I’m not trying to fool myself into thinking that Brussels is always warm and dry, but it does seem a pity not to take advantage of every minute of sunshine we get.

So I was intrigued to learn about the Brussels Bike Experience, a two-week program aimed at encouraging people to ride bikes instead of driving to work. In its third year, the event will run from 2 to 16 May and will provide a great opportunity to give cycling a try. And best of all, it’s free!

According to the website, the criteria to participate are pretty simple: know how to ride a bike and be willing to give up your car for commuting for two weeks. The information meeting on 28 or 29 April is also mandatory, but will provide hints and tips on cycling in Brussels, maps and other goodies. Each biker will also be matched with a coach, who will supervise the ride to and from work for the first three days of Bike Experience and help find the best route.

Registration closes on 6 April and space is somewhat limited, so better to sign up sooner than later if you’re interested. One restriction is that you have to participate for the full two weeks, but on the upside the organizers are offering free bikes for use during the program.

If you already ride your bike every day, you can alternatively register to be a coach and help train new cyclists on their commute. The Bike Experience people will even pay you a small stipend (€60) for your time! You can also encourage your colleagues to join you as a biker or coach.

To help all cyclists, the Bike Experience website has outlined 7 golden rules for bike riding in Brussels. I especially like the last one on the list – be sure to look ahead at all times. 🙂

If the Bike Experience isn’t motivation enough to get on your bike, there are lots of other encouraging signs for cyclists in Brussels of late, including new bike lanes and more rentals. I’ve also recently discovered Velo Fixer, a bike repair guy on two wheels.

And a new blog has even been set up to help combat the bike theft issue in Brussels. So now there really is no excuse to not give it a try. There’s of course no guarantee that we’ll still be enjoying this good weather in May, but if last year is anything to go by, it will be a great time to get a bike and start peddling.

Images via Bike Experience and Knack.

Brussels Welcome Weekend

This weekend is for all you newcomers out there (and for those of you who want to learn something new about Brussels). Of Brussels’ 19 communes, I have to admit that I only really know about half of them. Even though it’s a small city, it’s sometimes hard to step outside the normal routine and regular haunts to explore a bit more of Belgium’s capital. So this weekend is a great excuse to start discovering new neighborhoods.

The second edition of the Brussels Welcome Weekend, an initiative of VisitBrussels, will take place this Saturday and Sunday, and will include loads of different events and activities across the city. The two-day program includes a series of events hosted by people from each commune who want to share more about unknown sites, hidden gardens, music, food and entertainment. All activities are free of charge and are open from 10am to 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Looking through the schedule, I noted several interesting activities including:

Walking tour of Horta’s architecture in Schaerbeek
Visit to the Cantillon brewery in Anderlecht
Art gallery tour in the Bascule neighborhood 

I also saw that my favorite Lebanese restaurant will set up a stand on rue De Praetere (which will be closed to traffic all weekend). 🙂

Check out the schedule yourself, as each neighborhood is holding a different guided tour, as well as numerous activities organized by local “ambassadors”. And if you want to share your commune with others, there is still time to become an ambassador and set up an activity yourself. In addition to free events, several restaurants are taking part in the weekend with special “welcome menus”.

Let’s hope this great spring weather continues so we can all get out and discover something new about Brussels this weekend!

St Patrick’s Day in Brussels

St Patrick’s Day means different things to different people. The holiday didn’t have much significance for me, until I met the (Irish) husband on 17 March a few years ago.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig, as it’s called in Irish, is the national holiday of Ireland. It commemorates St Patrick who in Irish folklore is said to have brought Christianity to Ireland using the shamrock to explain the holy trinity. Whether you believe this or not, St Patrick’s Day has grown into a unique national holiday that is celebrated around the world.

For us, St Patrick’s is a day for spending time with family and friends, not necessarily an excuse to go to the pub (although it is for many). The great thing about this holiday however is that you don’t have to be Irish to enjoy it. Here are a few ideas on how to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Brussels, whatever your mood.

If you’re feeling very Irish this Saturday, there is a St Patrick’s Day Ball put on by the Irish Club of Belgium. I don’t know quite what to expect as this will be our first year joining this event. I’ve heard good things from friends so am looking forward to a swanky evening.

Another good choice is of course an Irish pub. There are several in Brussels, but my top pick is Michael Collins. Located on the corner of Avenue Louise and Rue Bailli, this is as true an Irish bar as you can find in Brussels. There is usually a good crowd and according to the husband they pour a decent Guinness. It will also be a festive, yet packed, place to watch the Ireland-England Six Nations rugby match on Saturday. Be sure to cheer for the right team!

If you’re feeling a little less Irish, but still want a good excuse to celebrate this weekend, check out one of the St Patrick’s themed parties. The Aloft Hotel, between Schuman and Place Jourdan, is hosting a party on Saturday night as of 10pm. I can’t promise many Irish people but I think it would be a good night nonetheless.

If you’re feeling more low-key, you can visit the Manneken Pis who will be dressed up in Irish colors and handing out Guinness as of 1pm on Saturday. Follow this up by a traditional Irish meal at home, with lamb from Jack O’Shea’s Irish butcher and of course potatoes (in the husband’s family this includes at least three types of potatoes – roast, mashed and dauphinois :)). And be sure to wash it all down with an Irish whiskey afterwards. A good one to try is Bushmills Black Bush.

Whatever you end up doing on Saturday, be sure to raise a glass! Slainte!

Images via the Irish Club of Belgium, Michael Collins, Aloft Hotel and Guinness Belgium.