Down in Martin Luther King Park, along the Amstel river, the Parade is currently going on in Amsterdam. The only way I can think to describe Parade is a 2+ week long theater festival although there is always more going on than theater.

My favorite theater group in Amsterdam is back this year performing at Parade. They are called Pips:lab and they are arguably the most innovative crew in the country.

Here is my favorite of their street performances:

More on the Parade coming this week. Follow the links for more details.

Out of all the Amsterdam Pride 2010 video clips I found on Youtube, the one was my favorite. Over 3 minutes of some of the best scenes along the canals. Enjoy.

Truth be told, many of the Gay Pride 2010 events started on Sunday, but there is plenty of time to join the fun before the big parade this weekend.

Your ultimate guide to Gay Pride Weekend, which stretches from the 5th to the 8th of August, is available here.

As you may know, The Netherlands, especially Amsterdam, is considered one the gay capitals of Europe. Meaning this is the place where the gay community, friends, and neighbors, set up a lawn chair along the canal, share some drinks, and enjoy the fun.

Unfortunately this year, my favorite event - The Drag Queen Olympics- was canceled last minute and moved to Madrid. As a consolation, there will be a Drag King Betty Contestat King Betty's, with judging by Vera Bergkamp, EllenElla and Miss Windymills.

The coming of August means the 7th edition of the Pluk de Nacht Open Air Film Festival in Amsterdam. Don't be thrown off by the name Film Festival, this is not some elite schmooz fest where only the rich and famous come to be seen. NO. This is a very open and very relaxed series of outdoor film events that you can easily get addicted to.

Films from all over the world - check.
Short films, documentaries and full length feature films - check.
Fun, Food, and Drink in the festival area - check.
The right to bring your own everything - check check.

Among my three that most interest me this year:

This American Life - Yes, Ira Glass's popular radio program actually has a TV show version, and it will be playing on the 12 of August.
The Crying Game - Famous punchline of plenty of jokes. Also a groundbreaking film I haven't seen in years. August 8th.
Winnebago man, 13th of August. I have long wanted to see this film about the man who sells the beloved vehicles.

FInd your film choices and join the fun in just over a week!

The weather may not be wonderful today - we actually saw some rain in Leiden earlier - but generally summer allows for outdoor activities on a more regular basis. Beach trips, cycling, and picnics are all possibilities that should be taken advantage of in the summer months - but have you thought about watching a film or enjoying some music in the open air?

If you're near Amsterdam, be sure to check out the Vondelpark's Open Lucht Theater, which aims to entertain visitors all summer long. They have a full summer schedule available online. For example, next week (30 July - 1 August) offers 11 different options for interested attendees. You can see everything from a dance company to films to classical music concerts just during this three-day period. You can even reserve your tickets online.

The Open Lucht Theater runs until the end of August, so be sure to stop by one of their events before or after exploring the lovely Vondelpark in Amsterdam. Now get out there and enjoy the summer!

The official website already has all details available for the Canal Parade. Check out the site for an official map, where you can see the parade begins at 2pm on the Prinsengracht at the Westerdok harbor (west of the Central Station). It travels around the Prinsengracht until it makes a left onto the Amstel, then heads north in the direction of the Oosterdok, finishing around 5pm.

The website also provides a full schedule of events from Friday August 6th until Sunday August 8th. If the Canal Parade isn't what you had in mind, an incredible variety of parties and cultural events await you during the weekend.

Yes indeed the worldcup crazyness has come and gone. Yes indeed, it left on a bit of a low note as the boys in orange lost in the final. But on the other hand, it left the country with alot of good memories and funny moments, many of which captured in images and videos... the way we like it here at trippist!

Yesterday the team returned to Amsterdam were greeted with a thank you/welcome home parade. However perhaps the funniest and most eye-catching images are from the day of the final against Spain.

Here is a photo collection by our pal Marc at Amsterdamize.com, entitled "World of Orange"

The American Book Center's blog recently published their Spectacular Summer Reading Extravaganza for non-fiction titles. Despite my love of the novel I always find myself more intrigued by non-fiction, and ABC has done a great job of tempting me into one of their stores in the coming weeks.

If you're interested in learning more about the Dutch, they recommend a number of great books. Under the category entitled "Travel, Foreign Languages & Local Interest," they list the classic The UnDutchables, a must-read for any expat in the Netherlands. But there's also Manners in the Netherlands and the Xenophobe's Guide to the Dutch. Don't forget to check out Bicycle Mania, where American photographer Shirley Agudo provides an inside look at the Netherland's unique cycling culture.

It seems that ABC has lots of options to get you through these hot summer months, and help you better understand your host culture.

The entire Netherlands has gone completely world cup insane. Anywhere you turn there is something orange hanging from something else. At any hour of the day you can hear a vuvuzela trumpeting for no specific reason. And leading up to the huge Spain-Netherlands final on Sunday, everyone is planning where to watch it and with whom!

My preference, on boat. No not a boat docked on the side of a canal... I mean on a moving boat. Yup, cruising the canals on a sunny day while watching the game on your boat. How does that look? Ill show you:

It's here again! Just like last year, Leiden will be hosting its annual Museum Night tomorrow (Friday, July 2nd). Head to Naturalis, Hortus botanicus Leiden, Museum Boerhaave, National Museum of Antiquities, Museum Volkenkunde, SieboldHouse, and Museum Lakenhal - they'll all be opening their doors for an evening of cultural entertainment.

The opening will be held from 7-8pm at Museum Boerhavae with the band Out of Control. Then, head out to the museums of your choice. Most will close at 1am, but after parties will continue at the LVC and at A.L.S.V. Quintus.

Presale tickets are still available here for EUR 10. Tickets are also available at the participating museums or in the Visitor Centre Leiden.