Brussels, have any of you spotted Brad Pitt walking around town?

You know how crazy it felt to find out he was shooting just around the corner from me in Cinquantenaire?! Anyway…I hope you enjoyed your Easter break. I was in the Czech Republic and was really jealous of the beautiful, warm weather you folks had here!

But back to being a busy bee again. If you know me from LinkedIn, you know that I talk about events all the time. But I know reading about it and hearing it from me directly, with the opportunity to ask questions, is different. So I teamed up with european campaign playbook for a training on Organising EU policy events on 29 April from 9:30-12 CEST (online). You can register here.

And lastly, registrations for our first event are open! See more below.

In this issue:

ANOTHER MONTH, ANOTHER STRIKE: Yep, on 12 May, another demonstration against the current Belgian government is held. As with every strike, we can probably expect flight, train and public transport disruptions. I’m more than happy to hear from my Belgian subscribers whether the current strikes are achieving the protesters’ desired goals.

FLOWER CARPET TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE: Happening only every two years, the Flower Carpet in Grand-Place is back this summer, specifically from 13 to 16 August (during the Assomption weekend). Group and individual tickets to see the carpet from the City Hall can now be booked here.

NEW OPENING I: JOE & THE JUICE has opened a new branch in the EU Quarter. Many of you may know it as a former Exki opposite the Council. I was a bit sceptical at first, as I had never gone to their Porte de Namur branch due to negative reviews, but I must say - it’s totally approved! The space is great, and the iced vanilla matcha oat latte was delicious!

NEW OPENING II: Brussels Noord is an area which doesn’t hold the best reputation. A new bar and open-air space may be one of the ways to change that. From 24 April, Place Noord is ready to welcome you for drinks, food, parties, cultural events and workshops.

I AM BACK TO BEING A COFFEE DRINKER: OK, maybe an unusual announcement for this section, also maybe a little shocking after all my matcha praise. But last weekend, I went to Jeff’s coffee in Etterbeek, and oh my. You can choose from what feels like 10 different coffee bean choices. I went for a cappuccino with oat milk, Brésil, and it was absolutely delicious. They also gave me a loyalty card, so more of a reason to be back.

Join us for the first Living Brussels event!

​On 9 May, from 14 to 17 CEST, we will meet for a BXL Vintage Shops Tour, a free walking tour around the best vintage shops in central Brussels. This tour is hosted by Tena, aka Thinking Threads, a fashion activist, public speaker, and comms professional based in Brussels. More information and the registration link can be found here.

I’m personally super excited about what Tena has got in store for us, as I haven’t met anyone more passionate about fashion than her (OK, maybe my mom, who’s a tailor 😇).

Since we’re announcing our first event today, I also asked Tena for her personal recommendations, which go beyond the tour…to keep the mystery going, you know.

“I have a very particular style and can be pretty picky with my clothes. I am not into street wear or sports wear, and I appreciate good tailoring over most things. I am also a very stubborn person with a lot of patience, so a significant part of my wardrobe actually comes from brocantes - the yard sales. But, like everyone else, I like more curated spaces, too, and in over a decade of living in Brussels, I certainly have my favourites. Here are some of my current ones, all tried and tested:”

Hey, Andrea back here👋. After receiving this list from Tena, I realised how limited my knowledge of vintage shops in Brussels was. To be fair, I am more of a simple consumer. Most of you probably already know Les Petits Riens or Oxfam, but my favourite thrift shop is actually Fripkot in Marolles. Nice industrial vibe, a large selection of clothes, and you pay based on the weight of your thrifted items.

Have we missed any of your favourite shops on the list? Let us know by replying to this email, and I will feature your tips in the next issue!

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