In the northeast corner of Utrecht, just a block north of the Stadsschouwburg, is Biltstraat, a charming street offering a great mix of restaurants, shopping and culture. There are a number of restaurants up and down the street, offering everything from sushi to shoarma. There are places such as Bouffe and Het Licht, which offer something a bit fancier if you want, although Het Licht also offers a special lunch deal these days. Then there are cafés such as the quirky Te Koop, where you can buy some of the interior decorations, as well as food. There are also a number of new bars and restaurants that have opened up, offering trendy and stylish options, such as Inspired. Of course, there are also typical Chinese and Indonesian options, as well as Grillroom Sphinx, which has some of the best late-night shoarma and mixed-grill options in town.

If you prefer to cook your own food, there's a selection of grocery options, including the newly opened Kippersluis grocery store, which has taken the place of Super de Boer. Next door, there's the organic butcher, Groeneweg and next door is the organic grocer, Estafette, which also offers gluten-free cakes and assorted items.

If you're looking for a bicycle shop, there are multiple options, such as Het Stalen Paard, for both new and used bikes, as well as the accompanying accessories.

If you're looking for games and athletics, there's the Fitness Factory for your regular workout. For something a bit different, check out Laser Quest and Snookercentrum Ozebi. If dancing is more your speed, there's the dance school Club El Brillante.

If you want a bit of beauty in your life, check out Aya Living for a beautiful selection of home goods and furniture. Their changing window displays are always a pleasure to look at. If it's yourself that you want to beautify, there's Descansa Beauty Center across the street, offering personal styling, as well as massage and other beauty treatments.

Finally, there's even a museum for your enjoyment and education. The Museum Maluku documents the culture of the Moluccan community in the Netherlands.

Biltstraat offers an array of shops and services to suit your needs and the street even has an active presence on Twitter, keeping you up to date on the latest news and openings. If you're in this part of town, it's definitely worth checking out.

If you want to start the holiday weekend off with a bit of style and elegance, try Wijncafé Lefebvre, newly opened at Neude 2 in Utrecht. The café is small and stylishly minimalistic, yet with a warm, cozy vibe. Clean lines and wine quotes dominate the decor, with service staff that aims to please. The wine on offer comes from multiple countries and regions, representing a variety of grapes and blends to please any palette. The café also offers small bites to eat, making it an ideal spot to meet up with friends or to take a date.

Lefebvre is also offering a special party for New Year's. From 00:30 until 4:30, for €50, you get an open bar of bubbles, wine, beer and snacks. Space is limited, so reserve your spot by e-mailing info@wijncafelefebvre.nl. For more information on the wines on offer, visit the café's http://www.wijncafelefebvre.nl/.

Interested in learning more about wine? Het Wijninstituut is offering a wine course in The Hague. In 2011, the course consists of five sessions and starts on 28 September. The course runs from 19:15 - 22:15. From Expatica:

The course will take you on a tour through the world's most important wine regions, emphasizing their main grape varieties. General topics include wine making techniques, the concept of terroir and wine labeling. Each class involves an elaborate tasting session, whereby wines, both Old and New World, will be tasted and compared.

If you'd like to find more information, or are ready to register, visit www.winecourse.nl. Happy tasting!

Add another to the list of extremely popular and talked about places to have a drink, food, and layout in the sun - Roest. All summer long, in between the rainy days, people have been flooding to this former factory turned cafe and canal beach. Lots of room for you and a group of friends. When the sun goes away and night falls, Roest becomes a club, wednesday thru Sunday, complete with special guest DJ's that get a lot of attention. There are also record release parties and an art market on specific sundays.

All in all, Roest is more than a café which is probably why it is so widely talked about. Once the cold weather comes, there won't be as much hanging out beach-style, but it seems like there is plenty to do inside in the coming months.

It hasn't exactly been a summer for open-air café's and events, as there have been many more rain days then sunny days. Still certain café's and restaurants have popped up on the Amsterdam radar as exciting, popular, and generally - in style.

Having officially opened only in July, Hanneke's Boom has quickly risen to the top of people's lists as one of the most beautiful spots to hang out or have a drink in Amsterdam. Many compare it to a beach hangout or a café you would find in a trendy part of Berlin. The location itself is definitely off the beaten path, and only the most intrepid of tourists would stumble upon it. But those who do are well rewarded, with beautiful views of the inner harbor of Amsterdam under the shade of some lovely trees. The location actually dates back to the 1600's when this spot, under the same name, was one of the controlled entry points into the city. Formerly the spot for a watchtower, now its the spot for anyone seeking a relaxed and interesting atmosphere.

The place is open late and often features live music, dancing, and other artsy events. Have a look at the agenda and while on the website study how to walk there. Not far from central station as long as you know the path leading from the new public library.

Right now I find myself at Bagels & Beans, drinking the best latte in the Netherlands. What a delicious welcome back treat! I'm recommended Bagels & Beans before and I'll repeat my endorsement: It's a great place for coffee, delicious bagels, and soothing classical music.

One other thing to mention: They have a monthly e-newsletter. Why should you sign up? Because it has coupons! This month, for example, I can enjoy a freshly squeezed carrot juice (or carrot juice with apple, cucumber or orange juice) for just EUR 1.50. What a deal!

More soon - first up is a jetlag inspired nap.

The area around Central Station Amsterdam doesn't always get talked about as the place to find great cafe's and quality eating. Honestly, there's alot of average places as one might expect from an area so close to a major transportation center. The average restaurant or café doesn't have to offer much as the regular foot traffic keeps them busy enough.

Café Kobalt, located right in the vicinity of the train station, is an exception to all the mediocrity. This well sized rustic cafe/bar/restaurant offers the right blend of confortable and quality. Serving all three courses during the day, including TAPAS for those who are hungry but don't want a meal, Kobalt has a diverse cuisine cooked with skill. The prices aren't the lowest in town, but in exchange for being medium range pricing they step up the food and drink by offering better than you'll find in the area. And if you're not influenced by food, maybe the excellent wine menu and the locally brewed beers from the Ij Brewery (on tap) will win you over.

Open everyday from 8am to 1am, Fridays and Saturdays til 3am. Check out their site for full details in English.

After the Singelloop earlier in the evening, I'll bet you'll have worked up quite a thirst! It's a good thing the Leiden Expats are hosting a party that same evening. On 15 April, stop by the International Party Extravaganza to meet a whole bunch of fellow expats! From the Facebook page:

This international party extravaganza is the long awaited first of many Leiden expat social events.

The event is open to all nationalities and is a great opportunity for those new to Leiden to get out and about and make some new friends.

There will be light snacks provided and for those of you who come alone do not fear, there will be 5 very welcoming hosts who will ensure you have a great night. These hosts are very approachable and can be identified by their Leiden expat badges.

SOOOO if you are looking for a great time with great people from the Netherlands and all over the globe The Duke of Oz is the place to be on Friday the 15th of April.

The Duke of Oz is located at Oude Singel 2, just a short walk from the central station. Head over and have some fun!

Feeling a bit green today? If you're in Utrecht and feel like celebrating St. Patrick's Day, you've obviously got a bit of the luck of the Irish with you today. Utrecht has not just one, but two Irish pubs in the city center, and both are sure to be celebrating the Irish saint's day.

Mick O'Connells (Jansdam 3) is a large space with plenty of room for drinking and dining. They also serve breakfast, so if you feel the need for a big fry-up tomorrow morning after the evening's celebration, that may be just the place to go. You can see their full menu listing, including their important drinks offerings, on their website. They've got a lot going on the rest of the year, as well, including Monday Quiz Nights and lots of FA football.

O'Leary's Irish Pub and Restaurant (Adelaarstraat 23) is across the street from the windmill on Adelaarstraat, making it easy to find. This family-run business has some special events planned for this evening, including music at 20:00 by The Dutch Lemmings. They also have a great selection of food and drink. Check out their website for more information, and stop by at other times, as well for excellent food and lots of sporting entertainment.

It's hard to believe, but St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner! St. Patrick's Day is celebrated all over the world, and the Netherlands is no exception. There is a festival in the Hague sponsored by the Irish Club of the Netherlands that offers Irish musical, film and sporting events. This is the biggest official celebration in the Netherlands, so head on over if this is something you're interested in attending. From the website:

• Festivities kick off on Friday, March 11th with an evening of traditional & folk music in The Hague's local Irish pubs. Free entrance!

• On Saturday, the Grote Markt will be transformed into the "Groene Markt," with stalls selling Irish-ware. The day will kick-off with a parade of marching bands, followed by free day-long entertainment on the main outdoor stage, with a series of traditional Irish dancing and music acts, supported by guest Irish DJ's.

• Saturday will also see the Den Haag Annual Gaelic Football tournament at the Westlandse Rugby club with teams from Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium (also no charge).

• The highlight of the weekend will be the Saturday night Festival Party at the popular music venue, Supermarkt, in the Grote Markt, showcasing the best of Irish contemporary & folk music.

For more information, you can email info (at) stpatricksfestival.nl.