Bill Murray steals a bike

For more movie stars and their self-propelled vehicles, go to ridesabike.tumblr.com.

Byminner

Gledelig nytt.

I går fikk jeg årets første utgave av Byminner. Og faktisk mitt første eksemplar som jeg ikke har kjøpt på antikvariat. Merkelig er det at jeg ikke har meldt meg inn i Oslo Bymuseums Venner, jeg burde jo vært livstidsmedlem for lengst…

Byminner er altså Oslo bymuseums tidsskrift som kommer ut i fire ganger årlig. Første nummer kom i 1955. Første redaktør var sønnen til byplanleggeren Harald Hals, Harald Oluf Hugo Hals (1905-1968), som da var bymuseets museumsdirektør. Tidsskriftet tar for seg Oslos byhistorie, bit for bit, og det finnes egne spesialnummer om de fleste bydeler.

Nr 1-2011 omhandler blant annet Oslos mange nedlagte kinoer og rivingen av Skansen. Ikke spesielt oppmuntrende, men flott beskrevet av bymuseets kulturhistorikere. Så mye for alltid tapt kulturhistorie.

Kunne vi gjenopplivet “Jalla”, østkantens Gimle?

Oslo is finally emerging… – Best city – Wallpaper*

Oslo is finally emerging from the long design shadow left by its illustrious neighbours, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Helsinki.

Wallpaper lists Oslo among the 5 best cities in its Design Awards 2011! Better late than never :)
The magazine is pointing out the gentrification of Grünerløkka which has made it the hippest neighbourhood in the city. So far, so true.

Meanwhile, gentrification of the district of Grünerløkka has turned it into the city’s hot ‘hood, full of delis, boutiques, bars, clubs and restaurants.

Even so, I’m guessing we’ll always be behind the rest when it comes to continental design and lifestyles…  That’s what makes it Oslo. – A city trying to be a part of Europe, but still the capital of the not so European Norway.

Oslo’s setting between a fjord and a national park, and its manageable size, only add to its appeal, while its ecological vision makes it one of the most environmentally friendly capitals in the world.

Break is over…

I’m sorry about the incredibly long break. I’ll try to get the blog going again, step by step, and I’ll probably continue to write in both Norwegian and English, depending on the story…

I can start by telling you that I’m jumping on the bicycle sharing-trend that’s been spreading around the world the last couple of years, and which is growing fast as we speak. What city doesn’t want to be more livable and look sustainable these days? A “short-cut” to the top might seem to be by starting a bicycle sharing program. Many cities in Europe has one, including Oslo, and now cities even in the United States are getting their eyes on the new mode of transport.

Hopefully this isn’t just a passing trend, but one that will continue growing, and change the way we think of urban mobility.

Here’s an introduction about Velíb, the gigantic French system which made great success in no time. In Paris suddenly everyone bikes… dashingly helmetless.

Picture found here

Bicycle Film Festival – you’re welcome up north

Here’s a list of most of the filmfestivals in Norway: http://www.nfi.no/nyenorske/festivaler.html. Something’s missing.

The Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) celebrated it’s 10th anniversary last year, and it would be nice to see Norway and Sweden on the list sometime in the future…