One week ago I had the pleasure to spend half an hour with the Iranian born Sahand. His idea is something connected to the basic nature of mankind: sharing experiences and learning from each other.

Almost 8 years ago he tested his idea in his parents’ house  and it worked. Two years later it begun Cafè Mezrab (watch this video) and now everything is a gallery in Domselaerstraat 120 (Amsterdam):

“Amsterdam is multicultural place but many times people are withdrawn in their culture. The talents that exist in Amsterdam that do not have a place, from various disciplines, from different countries, can meet here.”

The activities of Mezrab (click here for agenda):

- Every monday: documentary film, 20:30
- Every Wednesday: fiction film, 20:30
- Every 1st friday of the month: Dutch storytelling, 20:00
- Every 3rd friday of the month: English storytelling, 20:00… drop by and tell a story!

Entrance is free, but donations very welcome.
All films are spoken or subtitled in English.
We serve: thea, Iranian soups and more!

So people, again: if you want to enjoy something really authentic and free in Amsterdam, consider to pay a visit at Mezrab!

Doei

The “underground cinema” was reborne at De Niuwe Anita (DNA), every Monday (bar open 19.30, entree € 2,50). It is a perfect place where you can relax with a beer or a tea while watching a movie that never ever will bore you.
Usually at the Niuwe Anita there’s live music 3 days a week.

Now the question is: where is Jeffrey during the rest of the week?
Jeffrey is also active with his “underground cinema at OT301 (Sunday night, 20,30, 4€ for entrance) and at CAVIA (Thursday, 20.30, entree 4€… really fair!).

Well, I could say many things about these places and this smart guy, but I prefer his words:
“No rush: I like a cinema from underground, something able to awaken heart and brain.” (I hope I noted it straight!)

Doei.

Hi people,

if you are vegetarian or vegan, you like healthy food and simple and cozy alternative places, then you would like eating at “De Vliegende Schotel”, which in english means “The Flying Dish” .

The restaurant is run by nice people which try to use just organic food in a lot of different recipes from all over the world.  The meal is really tasty, the portions are good, prices are ok. They use a lot of sprouts beans because they have more nutritional.

It’s a very nice place, especially if you don’t like fancy restaurants..

The kitchen is open everyday from 4 p.m. to 10.45 p.m. and the restaurant close 11.30 p.m.

The address is Nieuwe Leliestraat 162-168 the phone number is 020 6252041.

Eet smakelijk !!!

Last week I was looking for good black hash and De Tweede Kamer seems to be one of the most recommended places in Amsterdam.
Open since 20 years they have some of the best hash and weed in town, from Holland, Afghanistan, Morocco.. It’s not very cheap, but can be ok.

I would suggest avoiding the most expensive qualities, at less you are so rich that you don’t care, because for what I know is not acceptable. Especially some hash that are made here in Nederlands are nothing so special and they could cost much less. But everyone is free to spend his money in the way he wants.
De Tweede Kamer, which in Dutch means “Second Chamber” and refers to the upper house of the Dutch Parliament, is located in the center, just few minutes walking from the Dam.

Heisteeg 6 Tel. +31 (0)20 – 4222236
1012WC Amsterdam
Nederland (Noord-Holland)
Opening Hours
Sunday – Thursday 10 am – 1 a.m.
Friday and Saturday 10 am – 2 a.m

Located on the northern banks of the IJ,  NDSM – Werf is an old shipyard transformed in an underground cultural center at the end of the 90′s, when a group of artists, theater people, skaters and architects, known as Kinetisch Noord, approached the city council with a plan to redevelop the place.

The area host the NDSM hall, a hangar of 20,000 sq. meters, and two historic ship reused for housing workshops and artists’ studios. The aim of the project, in fact, is to offer facilities for artistic disciplines, small crafts and independent organization and a place for exhibitions, try-outs, performances, festival and parties. In total there are 10,000 sq. meters of workshops, a 2,000-sq. meter skate park, 4,200 sq. meters for other youth activities and 6,000 sq. meters of exhibition and theater space.

You can easily go there by taking the free ferry in front of the central station.

So, all you need is a VoKu.

VoKu stands for Volks Küche, a German expression that means ‘People’s Kitchen’. A VoKu is a place where you can have healty vegetarian (or sometimes even vegan) meal for a little damage, and a good occasion to meet interesting Amsterdammers. Many squats and social centers across the city organize weekly VoKus. Here’s a partial list.

Binnenpret – every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday

Joe’s Garage – every Monday and Thursday

Molly – every Thursday

De Peper at OT301 – every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday

Remember that the Dutch eat early and generally the vokus start at 7 pm. Don’t be late and remember to reserve your dinner in time, calling the phone numbers

you’ll find on each website.

Eet smakelijk!

Squatted in 1999 by a group of artists, OT301 is now a well recognized multimedia cultural center, located in Overtoom 301. Many activities are organized throughout the week at OT301: an ‘organic cultural kitchen’, movie projections, dance, yoga and trapeze classes, parties and the Tuesday’s Ping Pong Night.

As the official website states: ‘This night combines the best of two worlds! Sports and drinking beer, great isn’t it. Come down to check it out for yourself. We have 3 pingpong tables so everyone can play some games. We also have simple bats and balls. If you prefer a professional bat you should bring it yourself. The perfect night out on tuesday.’

A notable thing is the timer which plays a sound every 10 minutes, letting new people to play. A helpful tool to avoid arguments between players.