The Sky Gardens Party, from Sunset to Dawn

April 21, 2016April 21, 2016 ~ Corie Bratter ~ 1 Comment

Barefoot in Luxembourg is really glad to invite you tomorrow, Friday April 22nd, at the Jakob’s House in Clausen, for

The Sky Gardens Party – From Sunset to Dawn

The party, organized by Barefoot in Luxembourg together with Mix in Lux, is an occasion to celebrate in the original location of Mix in Lux parties, where the best moments of its first year are linked to.

What to expect?

The Sky Gardens will be a sophisticated and urban evening.

The party will be basically divided in two parts:

In the first part, the SUNSET, there will be open terrace and The Brunettes will warm up the atmosphere with their amazing music

Together with signature cocktails and a summer bar, you can have a fusion theme walking dinner.

After the cake, as it is indeed a birthday party, the lights will go down for the DAWN party, with Miss Sappho playing, red carpet, photo booth with official photographer and amazing prizes competition.

What is the price for participating to the event?

The participation is totally free: you pay only what you drink and prices applied will be the usual ones without any addition.

How it is possible?

We have to thank our great sponsors for having helped us organizing The Sky Gardens party.

We supported local and young brands and you can meet them during the party.

Sweet Stuff

The best cake shop in Luxembourg: they prepare cakes that are not only good for pictures but also incredibly tasty. No sugar pastry, no butter-cream, only fresh, natural and yummy ingredients.

Sweet Stuff prepared our amazing birthday cake and you can taste it with your own lips!

Foodbox.lu

The new frontier of the meals delivery: you get your dinner at home, packed in single ingredients and you will prepare the final recipe. This idea is super whenever you don’t have time for grocery shopping or if you want to prepare a meal for friends in an easiest way.

Foodbox will have a stand during the evening to show their website ideas, the products packaging and offering you discount vouchers.

City Savvy Luxembourg

The reference point for English-speaking expats in Luxembourg: from funny articles about living in Luxembourg to ideas for going out or for a family week-end, you can find all the relevant information and suggestions about Luxembourg life on this online magazine.

City Savvy team will be present during the night to meet you and collect your ideas about the English-speaking community.

Afrolia

A new, innovative website that proposes you a trip through our African roots: accessories, home interior, kitchen and beauty, you can find original products for your alternative shopping.

Afrolia will have a stand during the night to explain you the origin of her website and to offer you shopping discount vouchers. Our waitresses during the night will wear some amazing pieces from Afrolia.

Seabiscuit Luxembourg

The most amazing biscuits you can find in town: taste like from patisserie, but you can buy them in Match or Auchan – and many more places. Like a Proust madeleine, you will feel the flavours of your grandma biscuits in one bites.

Seabiscuits will be distributed for tasting for free during the evening.

Drink & Drive Luxembourg

An innovative concept to change your way of going out during the night: you drive, you drink, they will drive you back together with your car – for the same price of a black cab ride!

If you want to arrange a pick up from Drink & Drive after The Sky Gardens party, call them and mention Barefoot in Luxembourg for a special treatment!

Espace Coiffeur and Beaute

Not only a hairdresser, but a relaxing space for your beauty and soul. Espace Coiffeur offers as well specific hair treatment like keratin and spa service and it is easily located between the station and the city centre.

Napapijri Luxembourg

The reference brand for sport and adventure clothes finally open in Luxembourg. Whenever you are planning a day on the mountains, a trip on the road or you just need comfortable and resistant clothes to wear, they have something to offer you.

We do mentioned a competition. What is it related to?

During the entire night, for each ticket you get for your drinks at the counter, you can write you name and surname behind and put it in a white box that will be placed at the bar. There is no limit to the participation – the more you drink (in a responsible way!), the more chances you have to win.

Starting from 8 pm, each hour sharp, we will extract a prize for a lucky winner Please note that you must be there when the prize is extracted, otherwise we will not deliver the gift but instead we proceed to extract the next winner.

Prizes that will be offered during the night are the following:

– A Very Prive Christian Loubotin nail polish (first extraction: 8 pm)
– .A voucher at Espace Coiffeur for a brushing or manicure

– A tasting box of delicious biscuits from Sea Biscuits and an entrance to the Thermes in Strassen
– A 150 euro shopping voucher at Napapijri Luxembourg

– A Michael Kors clutch plus a shopping voucher offered by Barefoot in Luxembourg
– A Karl Lagerfeld minaudiere from net-a-porter (last extraction 1 am)

Lastly, is there a dress code or a door selection?

Mix in Lux and Barefoot in Luxembourg are proud of organizing parties that are for everyone. We don’t request you to follow a dress code or to have collar shirt and black shoes. If you feel cool and you are in the right mood for partying, you are welcome, whenever you wear trainers or you are just out of the office.

Tomorrow it will be a special night, therefore we kindly advised to book for free your table: we still have remaining spots at the first floor after 10.30 pm. If you wish to reserve, just send us a quick note. If you don’t want to reserve, there will be enough space, food and drinks for everyone!

Last, but not least, a huge thank you to our friends of Jakob’s House – a different, relaxed and cool place to be in Luxembourg.

Hope to see you there for an amazing Friday night!

Corie,

Barefoot in Luxembourg

Barefoot in Luxembourg meets people: Nico

October 28, 2015October 28, 2015 ~ Corie Bratter ~ 1 Comment

Today Barefoot in Luxembourg meets Nicolas, an enthusiastic US expat who will introduce us to some extremely cool vacations concepts- The Ski Week and The Yacht Week.

Hi Nico and welcome at Barefoot in Luxembourg. Can you introduce yourself: Who are you?
I am a California native who moved “inland” to Luxembourg in 2007. Most are curious as to why I am here, but honestly, I could not be any happier living in this cosmopolitan mecca. The sun might not shine as often here, but I am a quick flight to the Austrian or Swiss Alps as well as the Adriatic or Aegean Seas. I love being outdoors so sailing and going skiing are yearly rituals.

What are the best three adjectives to describe you?
Passionate, Energetic, Innovative… I am a forward thinking marketing professional who not only adapts, I seek to drive change.

Tell us a bit more about The Ski Week project and The Yacht Week project you are involved with.
Like many I love the sea, so in 2011 I gathered some friends and booked a boat with The Yacht Week. Our week of sailing the Greek Islands with 20 other boats with 100+ other like-minded professionals was life changing. The relationships I have made will be lifelong as there is an incredible bond made when sharing an adventure with someone. Since my first trip to Greece, I have done seven more in beautiful destinations like Croatia, Italy, Turkey and British Virgin Islands.

The Yacht Week is celebrating its 10^th Anniversary in 2016. Last year they booked more than 1300 yachts. For 2016, bookings opened October 27^th, and they already have 350 boats booked!

http://www.theyachtweek.com/

The Ski Week is similar to The Yacht Week… you gather your friends and prepare yourself for the adventure of a lifetime. Except, instead of sailing the sea, you are skiing together with a unique blend of young professionals from all around the world. With my love of skiing, I simply swapped salty waters with fresh snow and the party and it’s people move up to the mountains.

The Ski Week has sold out their Chamonix and Japan Week in January but there are still some rooms/cabins available for Austria and Aspen in March.

http://www.theskiweek.com/

Why should people join The Ski Week?
If you love being in the mountains and having fun activities planned throughout the course of the week, then The Ski Week is for you. You don’t even need to ski to enjoy it. Many people come just get some “fresh air” and party and socialize with others who have traveled from around the world. It really is a tremendous networking event.

How long have you been living in Luxembourg?
8 glorious years

What is your most beloved place in the city?
I recently moved in with my Fiancé to Bonnevoie and I am digging this neighborhood a lot.

What is your favorite restaurant in Luxembourg?
Mamacita…. where I met my fiancé!

What is your preferred night-life spot in Luxembourg?
I really enjoy having drinks with friends at OCTANS.

What do you like about Luxembourg life?
Similar to The Yacht Week or The Ski Week, when I start a conversation with someone in Luxembourg, I am blown away by how international, educated and open-minded people are here. We are all expats navigating life, we just happen to be on Luxembourg Island at the moment.

What would you change or improve?
I wish we had Uber, so it would be easier and cheaper to move around. Web Taxi is okay for now.

What is the best place you visited in a range of 200 km from the city and that you would suggest for a daily trip?
Christmas is coming, so a trip to the Strasbourg Christmas Market is mandatory.

What is the best adjective to describe Luxembourg?
Open.

If you want to meet Nicolas or learn more about The Ski week, join TSW Luxembourg launch party this Friday at House 17.
Find more information here and confirm your attendance to info@house17.com.

Barefoot in Luxembourg meets People: On Two Feet

October 7, 2015 ~ Corie Bratter ~ 3 Comments

The usual Wednesday’ series “Barefoot in Luxembourg meets People” today goes Rock, with a sparkling music duo, the “On Two Feet”, for our boldest interview so far. Put your seatbelt on!

Good Morning. So,” On Two Feet”, who are you?
We are a world famous rock band with years of militancy in the hugest live summer festivals in Europe…. just kidding, in reality we are an “open” acoustic band, made up of friends who like to play rock and blues music, entertaining people with extemporaneous shows.
Basically “on two feet”, rather than being something physical / tangible, is something ethereal, a sort of musical philosophy that takes you to play what you like, wherever you are, whoever you are with, in any manner and with any instrument just for the pleasure of doing it!

Where does the name “On Two Feet” come from?
It is the literal translation from Italian of the initial name of our band, which is a kind of word-joke, difficult to explain in English. When we were young, before one of our first live performances, we have been asked the band’s name for the billboards. We had no name and the answer was: “Well, here, on 2 feet (that in Italian means: off-hand, on the spot) … we don’t know”. Guess what? On the billboards we were presented as “On Two Feet”. We loved and kept it!

Describe your music with three words.
Acoustic rock music

Except for the music, do you have any other hobbies?
It’s very rock but definitely true: fast cars!! We are crazy about Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren and so on… we dream about them, we talk about them, we drive them on the circuits: we are great fans!!!

How long have you been living in Luxembourg?
It’s almost 10 years, even if we came from different places. We arrived here just to make an experience and indeed we are still there! To most of us no-longer-young-people Luxemburg does this strange effect! Certainly Luxembourg lacks many things, but has an exceptional “quality of life”, you feel comfortable here.

What is your most beloved place in the city?
We like Place D’Armes for the different offer of bars and restaurants, and it is lovely during the weekend going there to enjoy some bands performing live or some good jazz duo-trio playing at lunch time in the summer, while walking through the flea markets. But we also love to relax in the parks, like the one in the Petrusse Valley, playing there our guitars, and then cross the street, cast a glance at the “Libreria Italiana”, or have a beer in one of the bars in rue Munster, in the lowest part of Luxembourg, that is of course very charming both during the day and the night.

What is your favorite restaurant in Luxembourg?
We think that there are several very interesting choices: if you want a nice place with excellent Italian food in the city center, you can head to “Essenza” or to “Mi&Ti” or to “Al bacio”, if you prefer to have a ride in the countryside, you can go to “Elch” or to “ToitpourToi”, if you are looking for relaxed atmosphere visit “Maho”, if you are a sushi fan book at “Yamayu Santatsu” … and if you want the best homemade pizza you have ever tasted, you should come to our place as we are the pizza masters!!! (Laughing).

What is your preferred night-life spot in Luxembourg?
Right now we like the “Go Ten”: great service, the drink selection is “dangerous”, always cool people and tasty Asian tapas platters. And then it is very well located in the city center, so that you can jump from one place to another, meeting people. And because the winter time is coming, and you cannot always be outside, we will spend some time at the “White House”, of course!

So as musicians, which place would you suggest to listen to good live music in Luxembourg?
Apart from “Den Atelier“, definitely you have to go on Thursday night at “LiquID Bar” if you like more blues oriented music. Otherwise I heard that “Melusina“ is starting to organize nice events with a very good selection of live music with interesting artists! What we also love a lot are the “open mic nights” organized in small bars where we are used to jump in and play something fun: I remember epic nights both at Rocas and at Konrad.

Do you have a favorite drink?
Gin Tonic! We love the enormous variety of Gin produced all around the world and the various different Tonic proposition. Of course what makes the difference is the expert bartender who advices you the appropriate Gin flavor to your taste and the best Tonic to be combine with. Try the Mombasa Gin with Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic, some cardamom and … you are immediately in the mood!!

Do you pay any special attention to your appearance during concerts and in your personal life? Where do you do your shopping usually in Luxembourg?
We are not fanatic, but of course we tend to be sufficient rock looking!! And at the end it’s easy: get a nice pair of jeans better if ripped, a nice t-shirt, boots or converse, some accessories around your neck (foulard or pendant) and chains around your hips!!! Personal life? What is personal life? We are always on stage!! (Laughing) We pick up stuff from everywhere, both in cool places like The Kooples or the more fashionable Smets and in high-streets one like H&M. We are actually waiting for someone to start selling JOHNJOHN stuff here in Luxembourg!!

What do you like about Luxembourg life?
Its multiculturalism: even if the country is pretty small, you can meet people coming from all over the world. When you go out for drinks, you can hear a lot of different languages, easily meet new people from different countries and cultures. That’s something unique!

What would you change or improve?
The road-works!! There are too many of them, but of course they are useful. The problem is that they last years and cause nerve-racking traffic jams! And people should learn to drive with “more rhythm”, to say it in a musician way: they are too calm and relaxed, and sometime to cross a 100 meter distant traffic light it takes you ages!!!

What is the best place you visited in a range of 200 km from the city and that you would suggest for a daily trip?
Trier, there are lots of very nice club bar to go in the night!!! 🙂 (Laughing)
We would suggest visiting Maastricht, or to collect some bottle of champagne in the Reims-Epernay region in France. The problem is being sober enough to drive back safely…. Remember always bring a sober driver with you!!

What is the best adjective to describe Luxembourg?
Quiet or quite…a lot!!

If you want to listen “On Two Feet” on stage, next appointment will be at “Al Bacio” on Thursday October 15th, starting from 6.30 pm. There will be an after-work formula: so, no entrance fee, no reservation, free Italian buffet, you pay for what you drink and listen to their music. More information on the FB event here.

Barefoot in Luxembourg meets People: Meet Zach and Mariano

September 23, 2015September 23, 2015 ~ Corie Bratter ~ 5 Comments

For the third chapter of the series “Barefoot in Luxembourg meets People”, today we will get to know better Mariano and Zach, two lads with different backgrounds but several passions in common.

What is your name? What do your friends call you?
Zach: My name is Zach, and this is the way my friends are used to call me, although Zachou is very well used by a few ones
Mariano: My name is Mariano Della Porta. My friends used to call me ‘Tanguero’ because my second activity and my passion is the Argentinian Tango.

Describe yourself with three words.
Zach: I would say that the adjectives which come the most when people are talking about me are smiling, energetic, optimistic and attentive (well, that’s four).
Mariano: The three words that describe myself are positive, determined and smiling.

How long have you been living in Luxembourg? What are you doing here?
Z: I’ve been in Luxembourg City for two years now, straight from Shanghai, working as an actuary and risk analyst within financial institutions.
M: I’ve been in Luxembourg for three years now, working in fashion.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Z: I’ve been led to like this city a lot after two years in its walls. In five years I will still be here !
M: In five years I will still be here as well then 🙂

What do you like doing in your spare time?
Z: During my spare time, I am organizing afterworks for expatriates and locals. This is one of the things I loved about Luxembourg, its huge potential of young people coming from everywhere due to European institutions, banks and so on. That’s why we created with two friends MixinLux, an association mixing new comers, locals, cool and young, and making them meet each other with a drink and really good music.
Besides this, traveling is my other hobby. One of the other thing I like about Luxembourg. You can travel any place you want quite easily with fair prices.
M: During my spare time I am dancing tango and I am organizing amazing afterworks: with Zach, I am one of the founder of MinInLux. MixInLux aims to gather young professionals, expats and new comers around in a same place, after work, with nice music and drinks. The main underlying idea is to meet friends, friends of friends, colleagues…

What is your most beloved place in Luxembourg?
Z: There are a lot of beloved places for me in town. On the bars’ side, it all depends of your mood and the people you’re going with. But the Jakob’s (drinks and atmosphere) in Clausen, the Bouneweger Stuff (chilling) in Bonnevoie, the Vinoteca (view and talking), the Zanzen (chilling and view) or the Urban (beer and atmosphere) are one of my favorites.
M: I don’t have only one beloved place in Luxembourg city, but my best place is the Jakob’s House in Clausen because there is an exceptional service and at the same time the restaurant is amazing.

What is your favorite restaurant in Luxembourg?
Z: On the restaurants’ side, I really like the Japanese Aka Cite’. For pizzas, Il Punto downtown with no doubt. For cheese and wine, La Cave a Fromages near the train station of course (so nice owners).
M: My favorite restaurants in Luxembourg are Il Punto and Al Bacio for pizza and Italian food.

What is your preferred night-life spot in Luxembourg?
Z: Night life spot ? All of them 🙂
M: My favorite night-life spot is Rocas with no doubt, because you have a possibility to listen anytime original music, sipping an excellent beer or good rhum. In other words, I love simple places where good music comes first.

Do you have a favorite drink?
Z: My favorite drink is the Aperol Spritz. I fall in love with this cocktail. But a Battin or a good rum definitely works fine!
M: My favorite drink is as well the Aperol Spritz, but I am also a fan of a good beer with a good cigar.

Where do you do your shopping usually?
Z: As everybody in Luxembourg, I’m shopping on Saturdays at Auchan, Kirchberg, where I usually meet all the people I know in Luxembourg at one time. Except that this time, they wear sneakers instead of suit shoes 🙂
M: I’m shopping for food as well at Auchan , Kirchberg, but my favorite shop for clothes is Boggi Milano where I’m working 🙂

What do you like about Luxembourg life?
Z: As mentioned earlier, I really like to simply go out and meet people coming from all around the world, with different stories and interests. Most of them traveled a lot, which give us a point in common! I also find Luxembourg very beautiful and rich in history. I really like just hanging out on the Vauban itinerary within the city’s walls and discovering the city.
M: I like life in Luxembourg for many reasons. For example you can meet people coming from all around the world, with different cultures and interests. In this city you have less stress and more social life.

What would you improve?
Z: The thing I would like to see improved is the buses connection in the city by night. We lose sometimes a lot of time in public transports to reach two different places, and if you miss one, the remaining option is walking. Having buses on a more regular basis would make the Luxembourg night life more dynamic.
M: It may seems strange but in Luxembourg there is nothing to improve, because it is a country in continuous evolution. Maybe the bus drivers !!!

What is the best place you visited in a range of 200 km from the city and that you would suggest for a daily trip?
Z: In a 200km distance from Luxembourg for a day trip, I would suggest Strasbourg. Lovely city, atypical downtown, nice food and a lot of things to do/visit. For history lovers, Verdun really worth it.
M: Metz 🙂 because Metz dedicates two weeks to the Mirabelle plum during the popular Mirabelle Festival held in august.

What is the best adjective to describe Luxembourg?
Z: Luxembourg in one word would be ‘unexpected‘. After two years, I’m still discovering something new in the city, a like path, a bar, some people, or a place to visit.
M: ‘Romantic’ city.

If you want to know more about the organization Mariano and Zach are the founders, head to Mix in Lux FB page or join their next event at Jakob’s House on September 24th.

Barefoot in Luxembourg meets People: Vittorio

September 9, 2015 ~ Corie Bratter ~ 2 Comments

For the series “Barefoot in Luxembourg meets People”, this week we meet Vittorio, an Italian expat working at the EU, with music in the heart.

What is your name?
My name is Vittorio Merlo.

How do your friends call you?
Vitto.

Describe yourself with three words.
In alphabetical order: Family, Library, Music.

How long have you been living in Luxembourg?
I am here since July 1994: more than 21 years… I am Italian and before to come here I was living for 35 years in Milan.

What are you doing here?
I am working as librarian for the Court of Justice of the European Union

How do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Older… 🙂 I normally don’t like to plan for more than 2 years, the life is taking new directions suddenly and very often things happen without being able to expect them. If nothing special happens I will probably be still working but closer to the retirement, my five children will be growth up, and I will continue composing and singing my songs.

What do you fancy doing in your spare time?
As I have just said since I am 15 years old I compose and sing my songs in Italian. It is like a diary, a way to keep trace of my emotions and feelings. I sing about my family, politics and social problems, I have also written a love song for the Red Car: Ferrari! I have published 3 CDs and I like to present my songs in solo concerts at the piano. You can find my music and videos on my YouTube channel and in all the music platforms like iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, etc.

What is your beloved place in Luxembourg?
Home sweet home, my house in Bissen.

What is your favorite restaurant in Luxembourg?
The Italian restaurant Notaro in Luxembourg and La Rameaudière in Ellange-Gare.

What is your preferred night-life spot in Luxembourg?
In the past it was L’Inoui in Redange/Attert but unfortunately it is actually closed, I hope for a while only. I like places where you can speak with friends drinking a good glass of wine, like Culturando at Limpertsberg or Beim Abruzzebier in Grosbous.

Do you have a favorite drink?
Dry white wine, definitely, during my concerts too.

Where do you do your shopping usually?
For clothing I like Boggi but I use online shops too, like Herrenausstatter. I like cooking too and I find the choice in Auchan very good, additionally for the Italian food Enoteca Italiana in Foetz is helpful too. I like fish and I think is a pity that La Provençale doesn’t serve private families too.

What do you like about Luxembourg life?
Everything but the climate… however exceptionally this year I cannot complain, it was a wonderful summer! The nicest since I am living here.

What would you improve?
I think the public transports are not enough, mainly in the countryside. There are many villages where you cannot live without a car and on Sunday you are almost totally isolated. The management of the traffic is also bad, sometimes I have the feeling Luxembourgers like to create the traffic jams…

What is the best place you visited in a range of 200 km from the city and that you would suggest for a daily trip?
Probably the nicest place around Luxembourg is Trier, however everybody knows it. I would like to suggest a visit in a sunny day to Saarburg, not far from the Luxembourgish border of Wormeldange.

What is the best adjective to describe Luxembourg.
Quiet.

If you want to discover more about Vittorio’s musician and composer activity, here you find the link to his FB page.