Brussels, I hope you haven’t been blown away by the crazy winds!

I don’t know about you, but I’m still having a hard time getting used to the cold weather. And no, “but you’re from the Czech Republic” really doesn’t mean that I’m used to it. You know why? Because our winters are dry, not humid 💀. At least, the pumpkin spice latte season is on, and the best I’ve had so far has been at Taylor’s Café. But a chestnut latte at Drache has also been a really pleasant surprise.

Speaking of cafés, I’ve only been to one new one in the past two weeks, and that’s The Miners Coffee Saint-Gilles. Fun fact: this is actually a Czech café chain that I would pass many times on my visits to Prague and Brno but had never been to. But now that they’ve opened their first branch here, I finally visited and wasn’t disappointed. The space is really cute, the Italian barista behind the coffee machines so friendly, and the pumpkin spice latte was on the sweeter side, but nice.

And finishing on the coffee wave here, you can now buy me a coffee 🙂. If you’ve been enjoying reading this newsletter, have used any of my recommendations, and/or want to see me suggest even more new places to you, I’ll be grateful for your support ❤.

In this issue:

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Halloween is almost here, and we’re covering a few events below. But since Día de Muertos is also coming, I asked my friend Joseph for his tips on the best Mexican spots and businesses in Brussels ahead of this beautiful tradition. Joseph, take it away.

Día de Muertos is, above all, a celebration of life. It is an invitation to reconnect with those we love through flavors, aromas, photographs, and cherished memories. By making peace with the inevitability of death, we learn to appreciate the beauty and fragility of life with greater depth and gratitude. This is a vibrant, colorful tradition, filled with layers of meaning and emotion. Its music can be nostalgic and joyful at once, much like life itself: a journey woven from laughter and tears, farewells and reunions.

As for food, Joseph’s favourites are esquites, nopales salad, tacos gobernadores and carlota de limon. His favourite songs connected to these festivities are: Amor Eterno by Rocío Dúrcal and Juan Gabriel, Calaveras by Benny Ibarra and Lila Downs, and Recuérdame by Natalia Lafourcade and Carlos Rivera. Joseph is also currently working on a new song called "El esqueleto", an electropop anthem (Belgian/Mexican fusion)  that commemorates this beautiful celebration.

Whether you’re a fan of this tradition or not, here’s a list of 9 Halloween-related activities you can do between today and Sunday!

🤝 = networking/meeting new people; 🎨 = crafts and workshops; 👚 = fashion; 🎸= music; 🎉 = parties and festivals; 🎭= theatre, musicals and performing arts; 🚶 = walking and hiking; 🏀 = sport; 🎥 = film festivals and screenings; 🏋️ = fitness; 🎤 = talks; 🍔= food and drinks; 🖼️ = exhibitions; 😂 = comedy; 🛒= shopping and markets; 🎮 = games and quizzes