Christmas Market

Saturday, December 7, 10 am – 3 pm

• 30 artisan vendors
• Nordic gifts and food
• Handmade crafts
• Baked goods
• Entertainment
• Free parking
• Much more

Hot lunch, sandwiches, Scandinavian candy and glögg

• Finnish salmon chowder
• Swedish split pea soup
• Hot dogs with crispy onions, pickles, mustard and/or ketchup
• Risalamande (Danish rice pudding) with cherry sauce or lagkage with berries
• Glögg
• Fazer blue milk chocolate from Finland
• Cloetta Kex choklad from Sweden

Vendors

Thanksgiving Floral Design Workshop

Monday, December 2, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Join Club Member Tina Ahlberg for this fun, low key workshop to make arrangements for your Thanksgiving table. Warm hues of autumn colors in different textures in a style that lets you extend your table decor through the upcoming holiday season. Also makes the perfect hostess gift for a holiday party.

Have a glass of wine or seltzer while creating your masterpiece.

More info and signup at floralsurroundingsllc.com/news
Members of the Scandinavian club get a discount.

August Strindberg’s The Ghost Sonata

Thursday, November 21, 6–11 pm

The Ghost Sonata (1907) by the famous Swedish playwright August Strindberg (1849–1912) follows a young man’s increasing realization of the world’s wickedness.

The play is presented in English at The Martel Theater in Poughkeepsie, New York by graduating drama students at Vassar College. The translation from Swedish was done by the late Evert Sprinchorn, distinguished Scandinavian scholar and Professor Emeritus of Drama at Vassar College. Swedish was his first language. His parents had immigrated to Jamestown, New York in the early 1900s from Lund, Sweden.

The Club is renting a Ford Transit with room for 9 passengers.
Drive is 1 hour 30 minutes each way.
Cost: $40 per person (includes ticket, transportation and refreshments)

Schedule:

• 6 pm: Departure from Club
• 6:30 pm: Chance to board in Georgetown (Caraluzzi’s)
• 6:45 pm: Chance to board at the Danbury Fair Mall
• 8 pm: Play starts (Runtime approximately 1 hour)
• 9:30 pm: Departure Poughkeepsie
• 10:15 pm: Danbury Fair Mall
• 10:30 pm: Georgetown
• 11 pm: Arrival back at Club

Friday Happy Hour

Friday, November 8, 6 pm

Casual get-together in the Members Lounge.

• Food: Beef chili
• Beverages
• Fire in the fireplace
• On the flatscreen: American Cornhole TV
• Donation jar for roof project!

Event Chair: Ed

Friday Happy Hour

Friday, October 18, 6 pm

Casual get-together under the string lights outside the Picnic Pavilion:

• Food and beverages
• Firebowl
• Music (radio, basically)
• Corn hole (or other lawn games)
• Donation jar

Event Chair: Ed

Saturday Morning Yoga

Saturday, October 12, 10 am

Yoga class with certified instructor Maura on the back deck (weather permitting). Otherwise will be held in the Main hall. Bring your own yoga mat. All levels welcome and first timers too.

Free for Members!
Non-members: $15

Did you know that the roots of modern yoga are not just Indian, they are also Scandinavian? What we now call yoga goes back a 100 years, and is a mix of Indian yoga and Scandinavian gymnastics / physical training techniques that were employed as British military exercise drills. Per Henrik Ling (1776–1839) was the gymnastics instructor in the Military Academy at Carlsberg and founded the Royal Central Gymnastics Institute for the training of gymnastic instructors was opened in Stockholm, with Ling appointed as principal. Ling invented physical education apparatus including the box horse, wall bars, and beams. He is also credited with developing calisthenics and free calisthenics. The yoga scholar Mark Singleton states that Ling’s gymnastics shaped the development of modern yoga as exercise in the Western world, although we recognize that Reddit may disagree. Following on from Ling’s work, Niels Bukh (1880–1950) from Denmark, developed a system called Primitive Gymnastics, which “emphasized continuity of movement, rhythmic exercise, and intensive stretching to seek elasticity, flexibility, and freedom”.

Friday Happy Hour: National Drive Electric Week

Friday, October 4, 6 pm

National Drive Electric Week is a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more.

Did you know that Norway boasts the highest EV-adoption rate in the world? 82 percent of new car sales in Norway were electric vehicles in 2023. Watch report by CNBC

The 30 first attendees will get a swag bag courtesy of Nissan!

Event Chair: Peter

Friday Happy Hour

Friday, September 27, 6 pm

Casual get-together under the string lights outside the Picnic Pavilion:

• Hot dogs
• Beverages
• Streaming jukebox (Spotify playlist, basically)
• Corn hole (or other lawn games)
• Donation jar

Event Chair: Ed

Friday Happy Hour

Friday, September 20, 6pm

Casual get-together under the string lights outside the Picnic Pavilion:

• Hamburgers & hot dogs
• Beverages
• Streaming jukebox (Spotify playlist, basically)
• Corn hole (or other lawn games)
• Donation jar

Event Chair: Ed

Friday Happy Hour

Friday, September 6, 6pm

Casual get-together under the string lights outside the Picnic Pavilion:

• Hamburgers & hot dogs
• Beverages
• Streaming jukebox (Spotify playlist, basically)
• Corn hole (or other lawn games)
• Donation jar

Event Chair: Ed

Scandinavian Night at Red Bull Arena

Saturday, August 31, 4–11:30pm

The Scandinavian Club has been invited to attend the New York Red Bulls game against Philadelphia Union on Saturday, August 31. We’ll rent a 10-seat Ford Transit passenger van and tailgate with food and drinks before the game. Game starts at 7:30 pm. We will also have VIP access to a special Q&A session with some of the Scandinavian players on the team. A few months back the New York Red Bulls completed the transfer of Swedish attacking midfielder Emil Forsberg as well as Norwegian winger Dennis Gjengaar.

Watch Emil Forsberg and New York Red Bulls in action:

Seats in section 225, row 12.

Cost: $89. Members only. Limited to 10.

SOLD OUT! Sorry!

Event Chairs: Peter and Catherine

Friday Happy Hour: Surströmming

Friday, July 19, 7–9pm

Casual get-together under the string lights outside the Picnic Pavilion:

• Food
• Beverages
• Streaming jukebox (Spotify playlist, basically)
• Corn hole (or other lawn games)
• Firefly lightshow (after dark)
• Donation jar

Special feature:
Opening of the Surströmming can

A spectacle not to be missed!
Get your Instagram video recorders ready!

Surströmming (Swedish for ”sour herring”) is a lightly-salted fermented Baltic Sea herring that has been part of northern Swedish cuisine since at least the 16th century. It is often eaten with tunnbröd, a thin, either soft or crispy bread (not to be confused with crispbread). In addition to the fish, the two most common toppings are potatoes (either sliced or mashed, often almond potatoes) and finely diced red onion.

Read more on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surströmming

Or watch as a bunch of tough (and foul-mouthed) Texans open a special delivery from Finland:

Event Chair: Peter

Friday Happy Hour

Friday, July 12, 6pm

Casual get-together under the string lights outside the Picnic Pavilion:

• BBQ
• Beverages
• Streaming jukebox (Spotify playlist, basically)
• Corn hole (or other lawn games)
• Donation jar

Event Chair: Ed

Euro 2024: Germany–Denmark

Saturday, June 29, 3–5pm

The Denmark national football team advanced to the last 16 at the European Championship after a gritty 0–0 draw with Serbia on Tuesday. Denmark is now set for a matchup against host nation Germany on Saturday in Dortmund.

Come watch the game live in the Members Lounge on the Club’s 85-inch flatscreen!

Hot dogs, drinks and snacks will be provided.

We are red, we are white, we are Danish dynamite!

Event Chairs: Peter and Ed

Midsummer Celebration

Sunday, June 23, 12noon–4pm

Celebrate Midsummer with Ring Dance around the Maypole to traditional Swedish music by Wivan Sundman. Bring your own Picnic! 

There will be Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Strawberries, Beverages, Fiskdamm etc for sale. 
Fun for all ages.

Event Chair: Marianne

Eurovision Song Contest Viewing Party

Saturday, May 11, 3–6 pm

Sweden was the winner last year, which means that the Grand Finale of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will take place at Malmö Arena in Sweden. We’ll stream the broadcast live on the Club’s 85-inch flatscreen in the Members Lounge.

Visit the official website for more info: https://eurovision.tv/

Event Chairs: Leena and Birgitta

Sunday Fika

Sunday, May 19, 3–5 pm

Event Chair: Tina

Spring Artisan Fair

Saturday, May 4, 10 am – 4 pm

• 30 local fine arts and crafts vendors showcasing handcrafted artistic gifts
• Hot lunch: Choice of Scandinavian split pea soup, Finnish salmon chowder, or seafood quiche. Soups come with piece of Estonian rye bread.
• Baked goods and beverages for sale
• Free admission and parking

Vendors

Sofia Talvik – Americana/folk with Swedish roots

Concert and Cocktail Party
Saturday, April 27, doors @ 6 pm, concert @ 7 pm

Having performed at the Scandinavian Club in 2017, Swedish singer songwriter Sofia Talvik is now back for another unforgettable concert.

Sofia Talvik blends elements of folk and pop with a twang of Americana to create a special niche of Folk music. She binds together intimate, heartfelt songs with personal anecdotes from her many tours in the USA and Europe, creating a warm and relaxed environment for the audience. Foot percussion and rhythmic guitar picking create a steady base for her show-stealing vocals. Performing mostly original songs in English, Sofia brings a novel mix to her American audiences with a few fresh interpretations of Swedish traditional songs.

Tickets:
Members: $35
Everyone else: $50

Included with ticket:

• Smörgåstårta of the seafood kind. Plant-based option also available.
• Soft drinks, including lingonberry juice
• Dessert with coffee/tea

Cash bar available, including signature cocktail.

Visit website for more info: https://sofiatalvik.com

Red Cross Blood Drive

Thursday, March 28, 9 am – 2 pm

Severe Blood Shortage, Donors Urgently Needed

Right now, eligible and healthy donors are strongly urged to make an appointment to provide lifesaving blood products to patients. Please sign up to give now.

To schedule your appointment visit
REDCROSSBLOOD.ORG
USE SPONSOR CODE: SCANDINAVIAN

Swedish Waffle Day with Oskar and Jeff

Sunday, March 24, 1 – 3 pm

Oskar and Jeff are returning the the Club to reprise their fantastic performance from last year!

Oskar Stenmark, born in Gothenburg, Sweden, is the tenth generation in his family to play music. His trumpet has been heard at the Super Bowl, The Matrix Resurrections and he has opened up for Lenny Kravitz among others.

Jeff Washburn is a multi faceted singer and guitar player.

Together they are bringing Swedish classic hits in an intimate setting. You will hear music by ABBA, Roxette and Avicii for example, this dynamic duo is not to be missed!

Oskar Stenmark – Flugelhorn and trumpet
Jeff Washburn – Guitar and voice

Price of admission:

• Member: $15
• Non-member: $20
• Child: $10

Ticket includes:

• Concert (approximately 1 hour)
• Waffles
• Beverage (coffee, tea or soft drink)

We’ll have an array of the traditional Swedish waffle irons that make thin, crispy, heart-shaped waffles. Served with strawberry jam and sweetened whipped cream.

“Våffeldagen” (Waffle Day in Swedish) stems from a mispronunciation. The traditional Feast of the Annunciation, or “Vårfrudagen” (Our Lady’s Day) in Swedish sounds an awful lot like “Våffeldagen”, and so over time, this became less about the conception of Jesus, and more about crispy, delightful waffles.

In earlier times most Swedes were poor, living off the land and coping with a very harsh climate. Late March marked the start of the crop growing season and the increased availability of eggs and milk. As eggs symbolized the start of spring, it became popular to use them to make waffles to celebrate.

Welcome!

Event Chairs: Peter and Catherine

Sunday Fika

Sunday, March 17, 3 – 5 pm

Who needs soda bread, when you can have Swedish Fika with friends on a Sunday afternoon instead?! Scandinavian Butik in Norwalk is sponsoring this event, so please join me, maybe bring your knitting or handicraft, and spend a couple of hours catching up with a friend.

New Members welcome! Come and see the club’s latest facelift!

A small, suggested donation of $5 will go straight to the Scandinavian Club.

Easy parking.

Any questions, please contact Tina Ahlberg, at floralsurroundings@gmail.com

If you want to join, send me a quick email with a HEJ, and I can plan the café accordingly! Sign up encouraged but not necessary.

Event chair: Tina

Happy Hour: Sportlov – WRC Rally Sweden

Friday, February 16 @ 7 pm

• Food (menu TBD)
• Drinks
• Fire in the fireplace
• WRC Rally Sweden on Rally.tv
• Donation jar

WRC Rally Sweden is the World Rally Championship’s ultimate winter challenge. Watch in awe on the Club’s 85-inch flatscreen as cars ‘dance’ between snowbanks in the frozen forests of northern Sweden, topping speeds of up to 125 miles per hour on studded tires. Precision is key in this rally.

Watch the best video clips from last year’s WRC Rally Sweden:

One of the races on Friday, for example:
SS5 #42 BRATTBY 2
Distance: 10.76 km (6.7 miles)
Elevation: 116 meters (380 feet)
Weather: –19℃ (–2℉)

More info: https://rallysweden.com/en/stage/ss5-brattby-2/

Sportlov (literally, “sports break” in English) has its origins during World War II when it was too expensive to heat the schools in Scandinavia during the coldest month of the year, so children were given a week off.

The tradition continued when people realized that keeping children out of school for a week dramatically reduced the spread of colds and flu. And today, different parts of Scandinavia enjoy sportlov in different weeks to avoid overcrowding on the slopes.

Event Chairs: Ed and Kevin

Petra Jasmiina – Concert with semlor

Saturday, February 10, 2–4 pm

$15 for Members
$20 for everyone else

Price of admission includes a semla, coffee (or tea or soft drink), concert.

Subject to availability, additional semlor may be purchased after the concert.

Semlor – fluffy brioche buns with a hint of cardamom, filled with whipped cream and almond paste, then dusted with powdered sugar – are traditionally served for Shrove Tuesday (Swedish fettisdag, French Mardi Gras).

Petra Jasmiina is a singer-songwriter, producer and creative entrepreneur originally from Finland, now living in New York City. Her music is a unique blend of pop and folk with classical and cinematic elements, and is rooted in soulful storytelling and finding the beauty and poetry in the mundane. In 2022 her music video “Naïve” gained wide international praise and accolades such as “Best Pop Music Video” at Europe Music Awards and “Platinum Video” at MUSE Creative Awards. She is also the founder of Petrafied Productions, a mission to inspire, empower and enable independent artists to realize their visions in both song and film. 

Find Petra’s music on…
Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon Music | YouTube

Find more information and join Petra’s newsletter on petrajasmiina.com

Connect with Petra on the socials:
Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

Food and theater trip to New York City

Sunday, January 21, 10:30am –7pm

Join us on a chartered bus for a fun Sunday in New York City where we’ll start with brunch at Scandinavia House before heading down to Greenwich Village for a new theatrical performance about Finnish immigrants in Minnesota in the early 1900’s.

About the Brunch at Björk Cafe & Bistro
Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue

Appetizer: Small crispy green salad
Main course: Choice of:

• Smörgåsbord plate
• Gravlax florentine
• Pytt i panna

Coffee and tea with cookie platters
Still and sparkling water
Wine and beer

About the Play
The play “Bloody Finntown” is primarily about Finnish immigrants in 1916 in Finntown, Minnesota. Tensions escalate after a cave-in at the Oliver Mining Company, impacting the Rajamäki family and triggering a miner strike, resulting in conflicts and tested loyalties amid rising emotions. Written and directed by Gene Morgan.

About the Theater
The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street
Founded in the 1950’s, the Players Theatre has provided a Greenwich Village home for innovative performing artists and their audiences for decades. Comprised of a large 200 seat theatre space, rehearsal studios and a cafe, the theater provides space and opportunities to artists at all stages in their careers. The “Bloody Finntown” play will be performed in the theater’s smaller, 50 seat theatre space.

About the Ride
Transportation will be provided by DATTCO, a third generation family-owned business established in 1924 and headquartered in New Britain, Connecticut. Their “Mini-Coach” bus will seat up to 24 people.

• Price: $125 per person
• Includes brunch, theater ticket and a seat on the bus
• Limited to 24 Members and guests

Event Chairs: Catherine and Peter

Happy Hour (and Movie)

Friday, January 12, 6pm – movie at 7 pm

• Hot dogs
• Drinks
• Movie “Sisu”
• Popcorn

Event Chairs: Ed and Kevin

Movie: Sisu (Finland, 2022)
This historical action thriller film takes place during the last days of World War II. A solitary prospector crosses paths with Nazis on a scorched-earth retreat in northern Finland. When the soldiers decide to steal his gold, they quickly discover they just tangled with no ordinary miner.

Watch movie trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2k4QAItiSA

Sisu is a Finnish concept described as stoic determination, tenacity of purpose, grit, bravery, resilience, and hardiness. It is held by Finns to express their national character. It is generally considered not to have a literal equivalent in English (tenacity, grit, resilience, and hardiness are much the same things, but do not necessarily imply stoicism or bravery).

Red Cross Blood Drive

Wednesday, December 20, 9 am – 2 pm

Severe Blood Shortage, Donors Urgently Needed

Right now, eligible and healthy donors are strongly urged to make an appointment to provide lifesaving blood products to patients. Please sign up to give now.

To schedule your appointment visit
REDCROSSBLOOD.ORG
USE SPONSOR CODE: SCANDINAVIAN

Julbord (Christmas Buffet)

Sunday, December 10, 1 – 4 pm

Traditional Scandinavian Christmas Buffet: Glögg, gravlax, sill, rye bread and cheese, Swedish meatballs with lingonberry jam and gravy, Christmas ham, prinskorv, Jansson’s Temptation, mashed potatoes, apple beet salad, carrot and turnip casseroles, rice pudding, gingerbread cookies, lingonberry juice, coffee.

Entertainment provided by Mats Klemets and the Club band.

Members may bring guests at the member rate. Children under the age of 15 FREE.

Christmas Market

Saturday, December 2, 10 am – 4 pm

• Artisan vendors both inside and outside
• Nordic gifts and food
• Handmade crafts
• Baked goods
• Entertainment
• Lunch: Finnish salmon chowder, Swedish pea soup, hot dogs. Indoor and outdoor seating available.
• Free parking
• Much more

Vendors

Candles
Oh D’Luxe Candle Company
Sport Hill Honey Farm
Wrenhouse Atelier

Ceramics / Pottery
Patty Church – Ceramics
Sara Hunsucker Pottery

Clothing
Deb Owen

Clothing / Picture Frames
Nic and the Newfie

Florals
Floral Surroundings

Hand Bags
Heidi Armster
Jan Eklund

Hand knit clothing
Anita Husebaek
Siw Potter

Household
Kerstin Rao
Oak & Vale
The Decorators Eye

Jewelry
Beadfreeforever – Jewelry
Emmy Starr Designs
Erin DeLuca Jewelry
Lee Skalkos – Jewelry
Lydia Tucci Jewelry
peace_of_nature_by_sofi
Robin Ann Jewelry

Macramé
Knots on Euclid

Ornaments / Decorations
Nancy Allyn

Paintings
Donna Albano

Pet Items
StephenieLauren LLC

Photography
Brie’s Art

Skincare
Honey Bee Essential

Wood
Dick Stein
Driftwood Design
Holm-Hansen Woodturning

Gangspil Concert with Fika

Sunday, November 19, 2 – 4 pm

The award-winning Nordic folk music of Gangspil is returning to the Club!

This lively Danish duo performs old dance tunes and songs from every corner of their Scandinavian home country. From rural islands like Læsø to the cosmopolitan Copenhagen, including a few of their own compositions. Expect every-thing from wild polkas and jigs to lyrical waltzes, fiery reels and happy hopsas, plus the exotic “Sønderhoning” dance tunes from the Island of Fanø. A live experience with humor and stories from their many years on the road.

$15 for Members/$20 for non-members.
Children 12 years old and younger attend for free.

Ticket includes:

• Concert with award-winning Danish duo “Gangspil”
• Coffee, tea, or soft drink
• Freshly baked Scandinavian treat

Website: http://www.trad.dk/

Midsummer Family Picnic

Sunday, June 25, 12 noon – 4:30 pm
Outside by Picnic Pavilion

Celebrate Midsummer with Ring dances around the Maypole to traditional Swedish music by Wivan Sundman.

Bring your own Picnic! There will be Hot Dog, Hamburgers, strawberries and beverages etc for sale.

Fun for ALL ages toddlers to 90+ year olds!

Event Chair: Marianne

Friday Happy Hour: Scandinavian Pride

Friday, June 9, 7 pm

• Ambiance: Low key
• Beverages: Anything in a rainbow can or bottle
• Playlist: 80s gay anthems and contemporary Scandinavian beats

How does a Pride event fit with the Scandinavian Club’s mission of preserving Scandinavian traditions and culture?

Every summer sees Pride celebrations throughout Scandinavia, each with their own unique quirks, but all bound together by the spirit of inclusivity and openness. The purpose is to make LGBTQ+ issues visible, and create a safe environment for homosexual, bisexual, trans and queer people and all the gender expressions within the LGBTQ+ movement. It is a joyful and colorful manifestation of love for equal human rights and a demonstration for everybody’s equal right to love and be who they want to be.

Norway: The first official Pride parade was held in the streets of Oslo in 1982. Since then the festival has grown exponentially.
Sweden: Most Pride festivals per capita of any place in the world, with over 30 different celebrations going on throughout the country.
Finland: The first official Helsinki Pride Week was celebrated in 2000 and is now the biggest cultural and human rights event in Finland.
Denmark: First country to establish a National Association for Gays and Lesbians in 1948, during a time when homosexuality was still considered a crime in many western countries.
Iceland: One of the first European countries to recognize same-sex partnerships in 1996 and to grant equal adoption and IVF rights for same-sex couples in 2006.

Read more: https://www.skandinavisk.com/en-us/voicesjournal/pride-scandinavia.html

The Stockholm Pride Parade is the largest Pride parade in all of Scandinavia with around 50 000 participants.

Event chair: Peter

Friday Happy Hour: 5 Countries – 5 Gins

Friday, May 19, 7 pm

Who knew they make gin in Norway? A few of these gins are available at your local liquor store. We had to import a couple (Denmark and Iceland). Come try these unique spirits!

• Sausage with oven roasted potatoes and fixings
• Oven pancake with whipped cream and jam

Limited to 20 attendees. Members and guests only. Designated drivers attend for free.

Denmark: Tranquebar Colonial Gin is based on the 17th century recipe created by Jan de Willum, founder of the Danish East India Company. Alongside juniper, it is warming and deeply spiced with cardamon, nutmeg, coriander seeds and cinnamon, balanced with citrus peels. The original recipe has been recreated by Royal Dirkzwager Distillery in the Netherlands and it is bottled in Denmark. 45% ABV.

Finland: Kyrö Gin by Kyrö Distillery is inspired by wild nature, with four locally foraged botanicals and 13 traditional gin botanicals. In 2015 it was declared “The World’s Best Gin for Gin&Tonic” at International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC). 46% ABV.

Iceland: VOR Gin. VOR means “spring” in Icelandic. The arctic spring in Iceland was the source of inspiration for this aromatic gin, the Icelandic summer the source for the spicy taste. Wild Icelandic juniper and crowberries, organic rhubarb, angelica root, birch leaves, sand thyme, kale as well as Icelandic moss and sweet seaweed are among the botanicals in this Icelandic craft gin. 47% ABV.

Norway: Harahorn Gin. In North American folklore the creature is known as the Jackalope; in Norway it is the Harahorn. Juniper berries, wild blueberries, rhubarb, seaweed, angelica root, wild marjoram and many more. Norwegian herbs and botanicals is among the world’s most flavorful due to the soil and geographical placement. 46% ABV.

Sweden: Stockholms Bränneri Dry Gin is a Nordic take on a traditional dry gin that gets its characteristics from 7 organic botanicals – juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica root, lemon peel, heather, elderflower and rosemary. 40% ABV.

Limited to 20 attendees. Members and guests only. Designated drivers attend for free.

Event chair: Peter

Eurovision Song Contest

Saturday, May 13, 3 – 6 pm
In the Members Lounge

Europe’s favorite television show streaming live via the internet on the Club’s 85-inch TV!

If you grew up in Europe there’s no need to explain. Before American Idol there was Eurovision. Since 1956, the Contest has been broadcast every year and is one of television’s longest running music shows. It is one of the most watched non-sporting events in the world. Featuring kitschy costumes and every style of music, love it or hate it the Contest represents a broad cross section of European culture unmatched by any other event.

• 37 countries participate in Eurovision 2023; 25 in the Grand Final.
• Two semi-finals are held leading up to Saturday’s Grand Final.
• Five countries are automatic pre-qualified for the Grand Final: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom.
• Each country will have two sets of 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10 and 12 points to give: One set for each country’s jury, and one set for each country’s televoting. Televoters and national juries have equal weight in the voting.

Last year’s winner Ukraine is not able to host this year, for obvious reasons, so the Contest is hosted by the U.K. (Liverpool).

Event chairs: Leena and Birgitta

Spring Artisan Fair

Saturday, April 29, 10 am – 4 pm

• 30 local fine arts and crafts vendors showcasing handcrafted artistic gifts
• Food: Choice of Scandinavian split pea soup or Finnish salmon chowder. Soups come with piece of Estonian rye bread.
• Baked goods and beverages for sale
• Free admission and parking
• Mobile sauna from Spa Fleet

Vendors:

Candles
Oh D’Luxe Candle Company
Wrenhouse Atelier

Ceramics / Pottery
Sara Hunsucker Potery

Clothing
Deb Owen
Jolanda Gallas
Karma Knitted
Nic and the Newfie

Custom Buckets
The Lucky Bucket

Glass
Jason Curtis

Hand Bags
Heidi Armster

Jewelry
Beadfreeforever
Blue Lotus Bracelets
Erin DeLuca Jewelry
Lee Skalkos
Lydia Tucci
peace_of_nature_by_sofi

Macramé
Knots on Euclid

Ornaments / Decorations
Blue Door Vibes
Nancy Allyn

Paintings
Donna Albano

Pet Items
StephenieLauren LLC

Photography
Brie’s Art
The Rescued Earth

Wood
2Latitude
Awl Wood Design
Dick Stein
Driftwood Design
Holm-Hansen Woodturning
Tables Devore

Wreaths
Sonia Schaffner Wreaths

The Spa Fleet mobile sauna will be on site throughout the day and open for anyone to take a peak inside. The owner of Spa Fleet will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Questions and answers on the North American Sauna Society website

Experience the sauna

Starting at 4 pm, you may book time in the Finnish-style sauna for yourself, your family, friends and/or business associates. 30-minute time slots are available at $15 per person (or $60 for the entire sauna) until 8 pm. Cold plunge tub and outdoor shower available, campfire, general hygge and laid back setting, food and beverages will be served at additional cost. Close proximity to South Pine Creek Beach (for a real cold plunge). Please bring your own towel and bathing suit.

Queen’s Birthday

Sunday, April 16, 2 pm

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is turning 83 and the Scandinavian Club is putting on a royal celebration with talented Danish pianist Rasmus Sørensen and upright bassist Ben Tiberio.

Set list includes some arrangements of Danish songs, some originals and some of the duo’s favorite jazz tunes.

Price of admission:

• Member: $10
• Non-member: $20
• Child: $10

Ticket includes:

• Concert (approximately 1 hour)
• Roulade with bær and fløde (slice of Swiss roll topped with berries and whipped cream)
• 1 beverage (coffee, tea or soft drink)

Easter Movie Night with Memma

Friday, April 7, 7 pm

Adapted from the runaway international best-seller, this movie is a charming, globe-trotting riff on world history and the highest-grossing Swedish film of all-time.

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

After a long and explosive life in munitions, involving a number of the seminal moments and phenomena of the 20th century, including the Spanish Civil War, the Atomic Bomb, and Cold War espionage, Allan Karlsson finds himself – on his 100th birthday – stuck in a tranquil Swedish nursing home. Determined to escape the monotony, he hops out a window and kicks off a hilarious and unexpected comic-adventure by way of a stolen briefcase, a roughneck biker gang, and an escaped circus elephant named Sonya.

Runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes. In Swedish with English subtitles.

Watch the trailer on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMFycJQ0RTs

Peter is offering his home made mämmi (memma in Swedish) to anyone who would like to try this Finnish traditional Easter delicacy.

The ingredients are water, rye flour, malted rye, salt and orange zest. The mixture is left to sweeten naturally at 150℉ for 3–4 hours, before being baked in an oven until set by the Maillard reaction (another 3–4 hours).

Typically, mämmi is eaten cold, with either milk or cream and sugar.

Mämmi was first mentioned during the 16th century, in a dissertation (in Latin). It’s claimed that it has been eaten in southwestern Finland ever since the 13th century.

Happy Easter!

Read more on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mämmi

Swedish Waffle Day

Saturday, March 25, 1 – 3 pm
Inside the Clubhouse and/or outside by Picnic Pavilion

“Våffeldagen” (Waffle Day in Swedish) stems from a mispronunciation. The traditional Feast of the Annunciation, or “Vårfrudagen” (Our Lady’s Day) in Swedish sounds an awful lot like “Våffeldagen”, and so over time, this became less about the conception of Jesus, and more about crispy, delightful waffles.

In earlier times most Swedes were poor, living off the land and coping with a very harsh climate. Late March marked the start of the crop growing season and the increased availability of eggs and milk. As eggs symbolized the start of spring, it became popular to use them to make waffles to celebrate.

We’ll have an array of the traditional Swedish waffle irons that make thin, crispy, heart-shaped waffles.

Served with strawberry jam and sweetened whipped cream.
A variety of beverages available.
Suggested donation $5.

Welcome!

Event chair: Peter

Friday Happy Hour: Sportlov

Friday, March 24, 7 pm

Friday night is the Sweet Sixteen round of men’s college basketball March Madness: Alabama vs San Diego State and Houston vs Miami. Watch it at the Club!

• Hot dogs
• Beer, wine, snacks
• Fire in the fireplace
• Donation jar for capital improvements!

Sportlov (literally, “sports break” in English) has its origins during World War II when it was too expensive to heat the schools in Scandinavia during the coldest month of the year, so children were given a week off.

The tradition continued when people realized that keeping children out of school for a week dramatically reduced the spread of colds and flu. And today, different parts of Scandinavia enjoy sportlov in different weeks to avoid overcrowding on the slopes.

Of course, you don’t have to go skiing – any type of sport (or none at all!) is acceptable during this late-February/early-March break.

Event chair: Ed

Friday Happy Hour: Neneh Cherry 59

Friday, March 10, 7 pm

• Chicken and barley soup (with Ed’s sourdough bread)
• Beer, wine, snacks
• Fire in the fireplace
• March Madness on the flatscreen (tech willing)
• Donation jar for capital improvements!

P.S. Feel free to come on down 30 minutes early to help set up!

Event chair: Ed

Neneh Mariann Karlsson (born March 10, 1964), better known as Neneh Cherry, is a Swedish singer-songwriter, rapper, occasional DJ and broadcaster. One of her best known singles is 7 seconds, which she performed along with Youssou N’Dour in 1994.

Watch music video on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqCpjFMvz-k

Neneh’s half-brother is Eagle-Eye Cherry, most known for his 1997 single “Save Tonight”.

Oskar Stenmark Duo – Concert with semlor

Sunday, February 19, 2 pm

Oskar Stenmark is coming to Fairfield for the first time! Oskar, born in Gothenburg, Sweden, is the tenth generation in his family to play music. His trumpet has been heard at the Super Bowl, The Matrix Resurrections and he has opened up for Lenny Kravitz among others. Jeff Washburn is a multi faceted singer and guitar playerr. Together they are bringing Swedish classic hits in an intimate setting. You will hear music by ABBA, Roxette and Avicii for example, this dynamic duo is not to be missed!

Oskar Stenmark – Flugelhorn and trumpet
Jeff Washburn – Guitar and voice

Price of admission:

• Member: $10
• Non-member: $20
• Child: $10

Ticket includes:

• Concert (approximately 1 hour)
• 1 semla (fluffy brioche bun with a hint of cardamom, filled with whipped cream and almond paste, then dusted with powdered sugar)
• 1 beverage (coffee, tea or soft drink)

Ticket holders may purchase additional semlor for $5 each.

Semlor have become a bit of an obsession in Sweden, as they are no longer only served for Shrove Tuesday (Swedish fettisdag, French Mardi Gras) sometimes appearing in bakeries before Christmas and all the way through Lent.

History has it that King Adolf Fredrik of Sweden died after consuming 14 of these creamy buns of goodness in 1771.

Sunday, February 19 marks Quinquagesima which is another way of saying 50 days until Easter. Related is Quadragesima which refers to the 40-day period of Lent. In Lent, many Christians commit to fasting, as well as giving up certain luxuries in order to replicate the account of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s journey into the desert for 40 days. So, before Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, let’s grab the last opportunity to indulge by semla.

Event chair: Peter

Scandinavian Trivia Night

Friday, January 27, 7 pm

What Danish Territory is the world’s largest island?
Which Swedish Actress became known as “The Face“?
What does “Stockholm syndrome” really mean?

If you know the answers, you (and your team) may have a chance at winning the grand prize in the Club’s Scandinavian themed trivia contest. If you don’t know the answers, don’t worry, you still have some time to cram. Regardless, come for the fun and jest.

A Tribute to Club member Randy Summ. Legend has it that Randy once won a game of Trivial Pursuit on his first round – before any of the other players had a chance to play.

• Beverages, snacks
• Donation jar for capital improvements!

Cheers,
Ed

P.S. Please fee free to come on down 30 minutes early to help setup!

• Hot dogs
• Beverages
• Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies
• Donation jar for capital improvements!

Cheers,
Ed

P.S. Please fee free to come on down 30 minutes early to help setup!

• Beverages
• Donation jar for capital improvements!

Cheers,
Ed

P.S. Please fee free to come on down 30 minutes early to help setup!

2022 Events