On the cozy Leidseplein I found Boom Chicago. It’s a comedy club which is known for its improvisation-sessions. I figured it would be a cool spot to check out and man was I right. The best improvisation sketches I have seen so far! The concept is pretty cool. You can go to the club and have dinner and everything while enjoying some class-A comedy sketches. The food is good and the comedy shows are hilarious. Also the improvisations they did while displaying moments from the World Cup were the funniest thing ever. A few comedians pretended to be sports anchors and gave their own interpretations of what the players and the referees were thinking. Of course the Zidane-head butt was the highlight of the evening! The comments were awesome and as original as it gets. If you have the chance to visit this place, I highly recommend it, coz you’re guaranteed to have a blast! Besides that, the food menu is a good deal (student thinking, hehe).

Leidseplein 12

(Photo by mman89 on Flickr)

Visiting Amsterdam, I feel like I’m immersed in culture. Yeah of course Dutch culture, but I’m talking about high culture. There are so many museums–54 and counting–that the old adage “something for everyone” seems to be true. My personal favorite is The Stedelijk CS. Here’s the deal: The Stedelijk Museum, one of the world’s best for modern art, is closed for renovations, but in its place, they’ve opened up a temporary venue that’s totally worth a visit. Right now they have an exhibition called Airworld that looks at the history of air travel from a design point of view and I have to say it’s one of the cooler exhibitions I’ve ever seen. Multimedia, classic posters, some models, furniture; you name it. Cooler yet, much of the exhibition includes a Dutch tie-in making Airworld come off as hip AND local. Of course there are other exhibitions at the Stedelijk and I’d love to tell you about them but I spent all of my time at Airworld. I’ll have to go back next week and check them out.

Oosterdokskade 5

If you’re having trouble scoring a dinner invite to a local home but you still wanna meet some locals (isn’t that why we travel?) try to head for one of the city’s growing number of “huiskamer” restaurants. Huiskamer means “livingroom” in English and huiskamer restaurants recreate the cozy-friendly vibe of a Dutch dinner party by hosting meals in actual living rooms or street level mock-ups. My favorite, Saskia’s Huiskamer, dishes out very affordable three-course meals that are delicious as the reservations are tough to come by, and you can’t help but make some locals friends as all 24 guests sit shoulder to shoulder at a single communal table. Perhaps best of all, Saskia is a well connected foodie who’s always willing to dish out the goods on Amsterdam’s newest–and yummiest–destinations.

Albert Cuypstraat 203 C (street level)
Reservations: +31 6 28629839

So, I already told you to go to the Post CS building to check out the The Stedelijk Museum but here’s a bit more motivation to drop by; the Post CS building’s top floor and roof are taken up 11 an industrial-hip spot with the city’s best harbor view. You can drop in for lunches–mostly soups, sandwiches and the like–drinks on the rooftop terrace, or a three-course set-menu dinner which is the preferred option since come late night, 11 the dinner spot morphs into 11 the dance scene. Sure the view is a big draw, but factor in the decent deejays, cool videos shown on massive screens, and a reliably busy dance floor and 11 is a one-stop destination of the–literally–highest order.

Oosterdokskade 3-5

If you live in Amsterdam, or are even just visiting, it is essential to obtain a spirit of adventure. And much like exercise, diet, or studying, discovering new places is often more fun – and successful – with an enthusiastic buddy.

Lucky for me, I have a friend who is frequently willing to get out the map and discover a new culinary delight. We often meet for brunch or lunch and almost always in a new place. Recently, it was Village Bagels, on Stromarkt 2 (corner Singel). A stone's throw from the Central Station, this eatery manages to capture all the glory of Amsterdam – a canal view, a beautiful terrace, constant yet muted traffic – and yet still boasts a convenient location.

True to the name, the bagels looked delicious, but I was in the mood for something different. I marched through a covered seating area reminiscent of a Minnesota cabin porch and from the counter, ordered a café latte and a biological yogurt with muesli (biologische yoghurt; muesli met appel en rozijnen). They arrived promptly, in separate containers. I mixed, sipped my coffee and enjoyed the final days of summer in Amsterdam.

Since I was a wee schoolchild, I’ve always had bad luck with public transportation. Running towards a departing tram has continued to haunt me in Amsterdam, but when I do manage to catch one, it’s usually a pleasant experience.

A few rules of thumb for a successful tram trip:

-Don’t pay on the tram, as that’s the most expensive way to ride. Instead, pick up a “strippenkaart” at most corner stores, an Albert Heijn or at the GVB Tickets & Info desk across from the Central Station.

-Make sure you know how many zones your trip will take you through: Getting caught in zone two with a stamp only for zone one is punished just as harshly as not paying at all.

-Try to hop on one of the newer versions of Amsterdam tram. Not only are they roomier and stroller and suitcase-friendly, but they have computerized systems telling you about the upcoming stops, and televisions filled with entertaining information. If you’re lucky, you’ll also get an enthusiastic tram conductor, who will announce all tourist sites and relevant landmarks.

Looking for the perfect gift that will make you a hit at any party, make your colleagues love you, even possibly get you a date with the aloof object of your desire? Just pick up a box of Puccini Bomboni chocolates.

A visit to one of Amsterdam’s Puccini stores is the first delightful step. The stores have delectable sweets stacked in grand, symmetrical arrangements. Even if your diet forbids any indulgences, simply the smell should satisfy your sweet tooth. How’s that? Well, the chocolates are handmade in the stores.

There’s something for everyone: gin or amaretto flavored, white, dark or chocolate. You can pick what you want, and watch the chosen treats as they are neatly placed in a golden box. Bars of chocolate are also available, and they even have a fancy version of the famous Dutch hagelslag. Without exaggeration, Puccini boasts every chocolate temptation imaginable to satisfy even the most bizarre type of chocolate lover.

You can find a little taste of heaven at Staalstraat 17 or Singel 184.

Throughout the year, Amsterdam is host to many captivating film festivals. Currently, the must-see event is the Africa in the Picture film festival, being held 7-16 September in cities around the Netherlands, but primarily in Amsterdam locations, such as Rialto and Bitterzoet.

This year’s theme is “Reframing Tradition.” You still have a few days left to check it out, and you’ll be glad you did!

Amsterdam has been very good to me. This is the third week I am spending in the city and I could not have asked for a better time. I am an international student studying at the UvA. I am originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois and I have a junior status at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. If you want a change of pace from the slightly monotonous college life(especially the college life of Champaign), then Amsterdam is the place for you. This city has something for everyone.

When I first chose the program many thought that it was because of Amsterdam's drug policy. If you think that it would be cool to study abroad here just for the drugs, then maybe you should rethink your choice. Yes you can smoke pot here. No, it should not be the sole reason you come here. If that is all you want to do there is a good chance you may miss many of the wonderful things this city has to offer. On the other hand, if you hate pot, then you may want to rethink coming here as well. I would say that many people in international programs will smoke while here, so just be aware of that. There is definately a smoking culture in Amsterdam, but from what I can tell, it is mostly that of tourists and international students, getting stoned.

Amsterdam has so many sights and attractions, yet it is small enough so as not to be overwhelming. Everyone speaks english here so getting around and asking questions is not a problem. Transportation is easy and affordable. Food is cheap and tasty if you go to the right places.

DO NOT, under any circumstances, go to Febo for cheap food. Okay, maybe you can go once to Febo, just to try it, but really I would stay away from that place. All the food is in tiny vending-machine slots. This means that you go up to a very large vending machine and receive your lunch from it, gross. If you want a light a quick lunch, just go to Albert Hein To-Go and get something freshly made for very cheap. You can then take your food to any park (Vondel Park seems to be most peoples favorite) and sit outside and eat. The city in September is prefect weather. It still isn't cold enough or rainy enough to stay indoors or even take the bus/tram places.

Get a bike. If you are going to be an international student here, biking is the easiest and most affordable way to get around. I am someone who has not ridden a bike since the 4th grade and even I am very much enjoying the biking here in Amsterdam. Figuring out the routes and places you can/can't ride bikes is a little confusing, but I am getting the hang of it one day at a time.

Join in on the International Student Network's (ISN) gatherings. The ISN hosts weekly events for international students, which is awesome because in Amsterdam you meet people from all over Europe and the UK. I now know people from Holland, England, France and Germany. It is so wonderful for an American student and easy as well because everyone speaks english. I'm trying hard to broaden my horizons here in Amsterdam and the ISN makes it easy for me to do that.

Right now I have to get work done for some of my classes, so I will have to blog later on.

-Bess Van Asselt

Amsterdam taxi drivers aren’t exactly known for their kind, generous spirit. I’ve had drivers refuse to give me a ride or angrily remove my luggage when they decided that my destination wasn’t far (read: expensive) enough for them. Other drivers that did agree to take me proceeded to drive in circles until the meter had reached a satisfactory level.

Of course, if you are going far enough – say, to or from the airport – they can be surprisingly pleasant. Full of witty, self-deprecating jokes about himself and other Dutch people, one guy joked his way through the taxi trip I took with my parents, just in from Minnesota on a visit and wary of the train. He even pointed out sights of interest on the way into the city.

My advice? Unless you’ve got money to spend and are extremely thick-skinned, ride your bike. It’s cheaper, more fun, and you can wiz by the taxis stuck in traffic jams, waving goodbye as your two wheels propel you towards your destination.

Students as well as many others are always happy to find a cheap place to eat. Amsterdam boasts hundreds of restaurants, and many are actually quite affordable, if you know where to look. If you’re finishing up with a few hours of shopping on the Haarlemmerstraat, have a look at Dulac, located at Haarlemmerstraat 118. If you present your student card, you get a 50% discount on all meals. Heading back into the center for a night out? If you want a tasty cocktail, you can get two for one at Coco’s Outback at Rembrandtsplein/Thorbeckeplein between 10-11pm.

Amsterdam is a great city for exploiting your student status. Use it to your advantage while it lasts!

Studying abroad means trying out new things. Most of my friends' experiences while travelling included a trip to a tattoo parlor or a piercing place. I, for one, am serisouly considering getting something done here, but my very brave friend decided that today was her day for a piercing in Amsterdam.

After coffee at Coffee Company (the Amsterdam version of Starbucks) my friend decided to go next door to Dare 2 Wear piercing/tattoo parlor. The woman in the parlor was very helpful as well as very adventurous herself. There was barely a space on her body that was not tattooed. The set up was kind of scary looking, though. There was a hospital bed looking thing in the back that you sat/laid on to get a piercing.

Being the adventurous person that I am I watched as my friend got her nipple pierced. I'm not sure how to describe it, but it was definitely very surreal. Everything was sterile and such but man, that did not look like it felt all too good. They take good care of you, though and explain washing and they want you to come back after two weeks to make sure its healing correctly. So, if you happen to be thinking about getting a piercing in Amsterdam Dare 2 Wear may just be the place to go to.

I had just left a coffee-guzzling date with a girlfriend and was strolling towards the Central Station. Then I paused and cursed myself for my stupidity. Caught up in an affectionate goodbye, I had forgotten to use the toilet at the delightful venue we had just exited. I now found myself stuck between two miserable choices: Either use the disgusting, smelly (but free) toilet on the train, or pay 50 Euro cents for the most-likely-just-as-crappy WC in the station.

I opted for the second option, as I was a bit ahead of schedule for my appointed train. I searched for the appropriate coin, paid and entered through a turnstile, already holding my breath in anticipation of the filth that was sure to follow.

But to my great surprise, the facility was clean, bright, even…pleasing to the eye. How was it possible? Earth-toned tiled walls and light wooden doors gave the room an almost spa-like atmosphere. The stall itself boasted a tiled shelf perfect for a mid-sized bag and even two coat hangers. From the door, a male attendant cheerfully announced the tariff to inquiring tourists and even provided change to a desperate client.

Well, that settles it. From now on, when I’m in the vicinity of the Central Station, I know where to stop in my hour of need.

Year round in Amsterdam, the Dutch are busy improving or tearing down existing structures, or building new ones. Although building betterment is fun, safety is not always the number one priority. In the U.S., walking under scaffolding (such as that covering the lovely Westerkerk, pictured here) is not allowed at all or severely restricted. Here in the Netherlands, however, such precautions are minimal and residents and tourists alike are allowed to wander beneath such construction, oblivious to the fact that at any moment they may be hit in the head with falling debris.

Enjoy scaffolding for what it represents, for when it comes down, the building that it concealed is sure to be even more beautiful than before. But watch your head as you stroll along the sidewalk.

I recently just got back from taking a trip to Antwerp. I took the train there, which took about two hours and was not the most comfortable, but overall it was just fine. It was pretty cheap, only about 30 euros and Belgium was definately an experience.

The city is incredibly small, you can walk it within maybe an hour max. We stayed at a hostel called the Boomerang and for a first time hostel sleeper, I can say, it was not that bad. My very favorite part of the city was its museum of Flemmish Art. They had an awesome collection and the set up was easy to follow. This museum is not just a whole bunch of art smashed together in a gallery. You can easily follow the progression of Flemmish art and see its tranformation from very flat to very realistic.

If you go to Antwerp you may want to club in a church! They have an old gutted out church turned club with smoke machines and a huge industrial sized fan.

The Flemmish are not as nice as the Dutch. They don't speak as much english and they seem not to like tourists at all, which is funny cause I really saw nothing but tourists. They also enjoy cat-calling, so be aware of that. Other than that, the trip to Antwerp was well worth it.

Amsterdam boasts a huge array of movie theaters, some catering to the mainstream and others totally alternative. I visited Pathé ArenA for the first time last Friday evening. The place was packed. Lines extended out the door for ticket purchases and another queue formed for those with the munchies. But the place is so spectacular that it’s worth a few extra minutes of waiting.

I saw WTC, which started at 21:45. A word to the wise: If the theater looks like a party before the tape rolls, then it’s guaranteed to continue after the movie is progressing. Late arrivals whisper loudly about where they can sit, mobile phones ring followed by even louder “sshhhhhing.” If you prefer a quieter screening, shoot for the morning viewings.

It’s easy to get to Pathé ArenA. Just take the metro to station Bijlmer, and it’s literally right outside the (under heavy construction) station. Or bike it, if you’re up for an adventure.

If you’re looking to try something new, go no further: Bikram yoga is your answer. Just imagine yoga, only in a room heated to a reported 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celcius). Now imagine the influence of that heat, namely the fact that all participants are close to being naked, given that intense sweating starts within seconds of entering the studio.

Now be prepared for an onslaught of enlightenment. Or at least the sensation of almost passing out (does that count?). My experience consisted of 90 minutes of near exhaustion and what seemed like a liter of sweat leaving my body, but I was also rather proud of the strange contortions I had accomplished, apparently because of the heat.

Go try it. I dare you.

Make sure to pick up some free tickets to attend Expatica’s I AM NOT A TOURIST: The Expo for the International Community in the Netherlands. It’s being held on October 22, 2006, from 11 am to 5 pm at the Beurs Van Berlage in Amsterdam.

They’ll feature tons of exhibitions, workshops, wine-tastings, live entertainment, and even a mini version of their infamous Speed Dating.

Did I mention that tickets are free? No excuse to miss this one.

Extravagant hotels can sometimes be amazing places to hang out, even if you’re not a guest. Once you get over the intimidation of walking into their heavily guarded entrances, you’re often bound to find yourself surrounded by luxury. I had the pleasure of discovering the lobby of the Hotel De l’Europe a few nights ago. It’s a stone’s throw from the university I’ve attended for several years, but I never had the nerve to walk in. Until now.

We headed for the bar but it was full of Americans smoking cigars. In order to save our freshly washed hair and clothes (not to mention our lungs), we requested our drinks be brought to the lobby. And there we sat, with a delicious glass of wine and an eyebrow raising assortment of goodies to complement the cup of tea, enjoying the quiet, lavish surroundings. It's the perfect way to end (or begin) a special evening.

Being queer in Amsterdam is great. There are all sorts of opportunities for you to check out the gay and lesbian scene as well as never feel ashamed about it.

If you are a gay man you are probably going to have an easier time. There are plenty of bars that are predominately male and they are packed most nights. Exit, Arc and April are a few that are very fun for women and probably tons more fun for gay men.

If you are lesbian, though, the best places to go are Sappho on friday nights, Vivelavie and You II. Sappho is more lowkey and on weeknights they have singer/songwriters and open mics. You are going to be able to meet more people there and probably have better conversations with them. Vivelavie is much different. It is very loud music and everyone dances and has a great time. It is a great community of lesbian women and there really aren't any men there. You II is the place to go after your first bar. This club stays open until about 5 am and has great music. The dance floor is a bit crowded, but still a lot of fun. It is the perfect place for gay and lesbians alike, most people there are college age as well.

Amsterdam has a very liberal perspective as far as gays and lesbians go. So, if you are queer, Amsterdam may just be the place for you.

Shoegazers of the globe come find me, that is if you can tear your gaze from the ground. I do not know if it is a sign of the beginning of the end of young age or a spontaneous transition in perspective from a 'pure aesthetic' (an infatuation with the essence of art) to the ánti-Kantian disposition (an unpretentious cafe with cheap coffee, unloud music, and an affirmation of a slightly smelly bathroom stall - the art of essence), but these days (or rather TO-day) my infatuation rests with the ground, or rather the things that fall there. This is urban archeaology, and it is composed at any moment of everything accidentally dropped, left and fallen, lost and found.

To put all of this another way. Sure you went to the bar and drank there and had a good time for your part, but the stray polaroid from 1997 of a chain smoker & Santa's little helper you found on the ground just outside the Oude Kerk along the way...now THAT is forever. And the fat bag of dope that just happened to be under your chair when you got there...that will last another few days at least.

Everywhere I find things. That is what shoegazers do, and it is what we gain once the novelty of architecture has dissolved in a coctail of breeze and beer. It is time, shoegazers, to put our archeaological expertise to good effect and help the others, so satisfied with drink and sky, to add to their satisfaction the treasures of the earth.

1. Fridays are the best days to find the things 'worth finding'. I do not know why this is the case, but I suspect it has something to do with a spike in coffeeshop 'take out' purchases as visitors and locals exchange cash for stash.

2. Medium sized establishments with medium traffic flow where locals and students regularly mix yield, in my experience, a higher proportion of lost treasure than places that really 'pack in a crowd'. While it is true that more people = more things potentially dropped, it is also true that the more ground visible and accessible = greater chances of spotting the object and being able to retrieve the object spotted.

In addition to this free advice I will take it upon myself (and other shoegazers are more than welcome to join me) to keep a record of notable finds so that other collectors know where serendipity tends to reside in this metropole. Moreover, I shall store significant non-consumables (except stray notes and pictures which will be hung in my home and ridiculed accordingly) in the computer bag crammed in my wardrobe just in case any of you, visitor or native, simply want it or desperately want it back.

Were you on the Prins Hendrikkade today? Did you lose your blue earring not far from the Scheepvaartmuseum? I'm thinking of you!

Viva la Amsterdam Lost and Found! Viva la Revolution!!
-M.S. Glennon