Sofia Talvik’s Xmas Calendar 2012 #15

Gustaf and Jens are two guys who just happen to love beer. Well tell me about a guy who doesn’t you might think, but seriously, these guys love beer so much they actually brew their own harvest beer once a year, and it’s so popular it sells out instantly in Sweden.

in 2011 Gustaf and Jens invited me to play at their outdoors pop up restaurant at Öland’s Harvest Festival, so now I figured I’d ask them if they would be a part of my Christmas Calendar. In this window Jens will show you how to make a Swedish Christmas drink with beer called “Mumma”. They will also give you a short history lesson, how about that!

You can find information about Gustaf an Jens and their yearly harvest beer here! If you go to their website you will also find the recipes of some of the delicious food they serve with their craft beer. I’ve typed up the recipe for Mumma for you below. I hear it especially tasty if you listen to my new Christmas single while you drink it! Enjoy!

Gustaf och Jens Mumma recipe!

11 oz lager beer
11 oz dark beer; stout or similar
8 oz sparkling water/mineral water (you can add some sugar to it to sweeten it up)
3 oz sherry
Stir and serve!

Jens and Gustaf
Jens and Gustaf

Gustaf Waesterberg: Chef with a special love for organic food turned photographer.
Jens Skrubbe: Beer sommelier and bar manager at Pressklubben in Stockholm.

Did you miss a day in the calendar? See all the windows in the Xmas Calendar here: https://sofiatalvik.com/julkalendern

Winners of the Xmas poem challenge announced!

Merry Christmas! Here's the winners!
Merry Christmas! Here's the winners!
Merry Christmas! Here’s the winners!

It was so hard to decide the winners of the Christmas poem contest as there were so many great contributions. However, the contest was for a poem to put on your Christmas gift and there were two poems who stood out in the crowd and earned a 1st and 2nd place in the contest. A huge thank you to all participants! You can check out the challenge here!

The winner is *drumroll* Jackie LeBlanc who wrote a poem for a pair of fuzzy toe socks she’s giving for a friend (oops! I hope I didn’t ruin the surprise!) Jackie will receive a secret Christmas gift from Sofi.. I mean Santa. Here’s Jackies winning poem:

Each day, each week, each month, each season…
We’ve become friends and that’s the reason –
Thru weather of rain, snow or heat..
Having you as a friend just can’t be beat!
I care if you’re freezin’ -with ice on your nose –
So I give you this gift,
For your ten little toes!

On an honorable second place is Juliana Palmcook with her ingenious poem about a Christmas gift everyone can give no matter if you’re rich or poor… guess what! Juliana will get a special Christmas greeting in the mail!

My gift cannot be bought,
It doesn’t have a price tag; yet it is priceless,
It will keep you warm on a cold winter day,
It helps chase the blues away,
Although once in awhile you see it at the stores being exchanged,
My gift is free but with arms attached,
If you don’t need it now you can get a rain-check,
There is a rebate but not like you think,
It is yours forever to remember,
I don’t know who could ask for more,because it is really big,
My gift is wrapped with arms,
Can you guess my gift? Hint, it is a 3 letter word…
I hope that rings a jingle bell.

Sofia Talvik’s Xmas Calendar 2012 #10

Sofia Talvik's Xmas Calendar, window 10
Sofia Talvik's Xmas Calendar, window 10
Sofia Talvik’s Xmas Calendar, window 10

I think Christmas is a time to give and to help. Thats why I decided today’s window is going to be a benefit concert to help raise awareness for Autism. And you can help too by buying a ticket. It’s whatever you can afford to pay. It will be an online concert so that you can watch wherever you are in the world and will be aired at 6pm PST. Make sure you log in ahead of time to purchase your ticket. Click here to go to the concert page! And I will of course be playing the new Christmas single “One Last Wish For Christmas”. Get it here if you haven’t downloaded it already.

Artists for Autism Awareness is a non-profit to benefit people with autism through research, outreach and awareness, music therapy and family services. Acoustic for Autism is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based project comprised of talented and caring musicians, artists, audio engineers, producers and music industry executives. Everyone involved with the Acoustic for Autism project donates 100% of their time, services and talents to help the cause. All proceeds from this performance will be donated to autism charities.

Did you miss a day in the calendar? See all the windows in the Xmas Calendar here: https://sofiatalvik.com/julkalendern

Sofia Talvik’s Xmas Calendar 2012 #8

Sofia Talvik's Xmas Calendar, window 8
Sofia Talvik's Xmas Calendar, window 8
Sofia Talvik’s Xmas Calendar, window 8

A couple of years ago I wrote a soundtrack to a Swedish short film called “Vit som snö” or “White as snow” in English. Neither the movie or the song is made for Christmas, but the lead motive could actualy pass for one of my Christmas songs, so I decided to share a download with you, as well as the short film (which unfortunately doesn’t have any English subtitles). Click the player below to listen or download here: http://soundcloud.com/makakimusic/vit-som-sn

Click here to listen to/ download the song
Click here to listen to/ download the song

The movie is about 12-year-old David whos grandfather is terminally ill. David decides that he needs to save him and embarks on a quest to find a way to save him from death. On his quest he meets the mysterious Viggo who takes him around to different rooms and people in the hospital to find an answer he probably already knows. Can you talk to death?

The movie is made by Carolina Rung and Anna Eliasson graduates at the Stockholm Film School in 2008.

Did you miss a day in the calendar? See all the windows in the Xmas Calendar here: https://sofiatalvik.com/julkalendern

Gig at December Nights on Friday the 7th

December Nights at Balboa Park
December Nights at Balboa Park
December Nights at Balboa Park

I’ve scheduled a last minute gig this Friday, December 7th at the yearly December Nights festival in Balboa Park with San Diego’s House of Sweden. The House of Pacific Relations is made up of groups like the House of Sweden from nearly 30 other countries. Many of these countries have cottages where the groups meet and carry out the objectives of the organization. The cottages are arranged in a ring that encloses a courtyard and stage where the performances are held.

Concert info:
December 7th, 7pm-7:30pm
Address: 1549 El Prado. San Diego
Stage is located near the cottages of House of Pacific Relations

Balboa Park December Nights, the nation’s premier holiday festival, will take place for the 35th consecutive year on Friday, Dec. 7, 5-10pm, and Saturday, Dec. 8, noon-10pm. As always, the event brings families and friends together to spread holiday joy, learn more about the cultural value of Balboa Park and kick-off the “most wonderful time of the year.”

Participating Balboa Park museums open their doors free of charge from 5-9 pm both evenings and more than 300,000 visitors are expected to experience the joy of San Diego’s largest free community festival. Those who attend will participate in a truly multicultural experience, enjoying food, music and entertainment from around the world.

Revelers can watch top-notch musical and dance performances, enjoy delicious and diverse food choices and help spread a heavy dose of holiday cheer. Some of the more well-known traditions include food from around the globe at the International Christmas Festival at the House of Pacific Relations Cottages; the annual Santa Lucia Procession at the Plaza de California; unique gift shopping at the museum stores and with the artisans of Spanish Village; and musical and dance presentations from the San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, Del Cerro Baptist’s Christmas Story Tree, and more.