The Ultimate Grilled Cheese
The September issue of Viking magazine is devoted to the Scandinavian lifestyle concept of hygge, which is all about creating intimacy, cozy togetherness and enjoying life’s simple pleasures. One great way to achieve hygge is by indulging in comfort food. Try this recipe from Signe Johansen’s book “How to Hygge.” The Ultimate Grilled Cheese Photo by Keiko Oikawa Serves 2 5 ounces Jarlsberg cheese, coarsely grated 1 ounce prosciutto, [...]
Four Things You Didn’t Know About “The Scream”
“The Scream”is one of the art world’s most iconic compositions. Known around the world for the captivating image of what appears to be a tortured individual set against a background of blues and oranges, the work has been called the “Mona Lisa” of Modern Art and was created by famed Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. Want to learn more about one of Norway’s most famous pieces of art? Read on [...]
More With Maren Selvaag
Norwegian jazz pianist and Lillehammer native Maren Selvaag started playing the piano at age 7 and honed her musical skills in college, receiving a master’s degree in jazz piano performance from the Norwegian Academy of Music. Last year, Selvaag released her debut album, “Close to Shore.” Check out Viking magazine’s interview with the talented musician in the August issue and read more below. What made you want to start [...]
Norsk Hostfest Celebrates Its Landmark 40th Year
It’s time to join in the excitement of North America’s largest Scandinavian festival, and the 40th Anniversary event promises to be the best year ever! Visit the official Høstfest website to purchase tickets and gain access to all Høstfest has to offer: great stage entertainment, a wide variety of dining experiences, cultural attractions, live Viking combat and more! Whether your palate craves traditional home-made lefse or more avant-garde fare, [...]
All Eyes on Preikestolen
Norway’s iconic cliff formation Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) has been grabbing headlines this summer. Overlooking the Lysefjord, the spectacular location offers awe-inspiring views and is one of Norway’s most visited attractions. So much so, that CNN placed the site atop their list of 50 natural wonders (the Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord also make the list), and last month newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad reported on the upcoming nine-day closure of the attraction to [...]
Setting Sail with Thor Heyerdahl
On August 7, 1947, Thor Heyerdahl completed his arduous journey--a nearly 4,300 nautical mile trip across the Pacific Ocean. The balsa wood raft, the Kon-Tiki, propelled Heyerdahl into the upper echelon of famous Norwegian explorers and rewrote how we understood human migration and early exploration. Heyerdahl catalogued his experiences in the popular memoir “The Kon-Tiki Expedition: By Raft Across the South Seas” which was released in 1948. “Kon-Tiki,” the [...]
Tour de France Stage Win for Boasson Hagen
Some clever off-bike research paid off at this year’s Tour de France for Norwegian pro cyclist Edvald Boasson Hagen. In the longest stage of the race –222 km / 138 miles–the 30-year-old broke his 6-year drought to finish first in the 19th stage, which ended in Salon-de-Provence in July. Boasson Hagen, known as “The Boss,” had taken second place in two stages that were so close, the winner could [...]
The Explorer: The Job of a Lifetime
Photo Credits: @alfaeventyreren via instagram.com Imagine being employed full-time to hike the beautiful fjords and mountains of Norway. Unbelievable, right? For many of us this kind of opportunity is an unlikely fantasy or dream-job, but for 24-year-old Andreas Orset it was reality for an entire year. Andreas was hired in June of 2016 as the “Explorer” by the Norwegian shoe manufacturer, Alfa Sko and the outdoor recreation organization, Norsk Friluftsliv, [...]
Adventures With a View
Some clever off-bike research paid off at this year’s Tour de France for Norwegian pro cyclist Edvald Boasson Hagen. In the longest stage of the race –222 km / 138 miles–the 30-year-old broke his 6-year drought to finish first in the 19th stage, which ended in Salon-de-Provence in July. Boasson Hagen, known as “The Boss,” had taken second place in two stages that were so close, the winner could [...]
Scandinavia Takes Hollywood
Scandinavia Takes Hollywood posted on Tue, Jul 25 2017 1:42 pm by Anya Britzius 1 Comment The July issue of Viking magazine includes a feature story that showcases Scandinavia as a dream location for filmmakers around the world. Thanks to the area’s natural beauty, film incentives and help from location production companies, the Nordic region is rapidly turning into the new go-to destination for films and television shows. Scandinavia’s [...]
The Bachelorette, with Norwegian Flair With Maren Selvaag
Oslo was recently the backdrop for an episode of ABC’s “The Bachelorette.” The hit TV show has also been a popular series in Norway. This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of premiere of The Bachelorette, in which a group of men vie for the interest of a single, eligible woman. Sometimes the show is shot on location in romantic international settings, and in June, the contestants landed in Oslo [...]
16 year-old Norwegian is youngest person to run a sub-4 minute mile
Sixteen-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen may not yet be a household name, but he’s being called “the next Sonja Henie” for his prodigious athletic skills at a young age. At the International Mile race/Prefontaine Classic event held recently in Eugene, Oregon, Jakob set a new world record as the youngest person to run a mile in under four minutes. The previous record - a 3:59.0 minute mile - had been held [...]
The Great Expeditions of Roald Amundsen
Born on July 16, 1872, Roald Amundsen would become one of the larger than life figures from the Golden Age of Arctic Exploration, a time when the exploits of brave adventurers made headlines vying to be the first to reach the North and South Poles. These explorers captivated the globe. Because of his numerous accomplishments and the mystery surrounding his death, Amundsen has become a legendary figure amongst Norway’s many iconic [...]
Norway Tackles Climate Change Issue Head-On
Did you know that buildings account for 40 percent of energy consumption and 40 percent of CO2 emissions worldwide? This revealing statistic helps shed light on what continues to fuel climate change—an undoubted environmental challenge around the world. To address this global problem and spearhead the fight against climate change, Norway plans to be the first country in the world to ban the use of fossil-based oil to heat [...]
Summer Sippers
If you’re looking for some great drink recipes for summer entertaining, check out the July issue of Viking magazine. The five recipes featured are made with homemade syrups infused with fresh fruit and herbs, also known as saft in Scandinavia. Viking worked with Oslo-born Paul Lowe — a cooking, crafting and decorating extraordinaire currently living in New York. He’s the creator of the website and quarterly magazine Sweet Paul, [...]