Feb Cookbook Club (Swedish Recipes)

What’s a cookbook club? It’s the idea is that — like a traditional book club — every month you get together as a group. Instead of talking about a book you will make a recipe from a chosen cookbook, bring it in and the group will sample the recipes and discuss the the recipes and the cookbook. If you love to cook or bake, (especially Scandi recipes) and love sharing food with friends this is the perfect place for you! Each month we will choose a different cookbook from a Scandinavian country and pick out 15-20 recipes for people to choose from. On&nbsp;Feb 6th, 2025&nbsp;we will be trying out multiple Swedish recipes from the&nbsp;The Little Swedish Kitchen by Rachel Khoo. The cookbooks we choose are available on amazon to purchase&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/3YqEPMh" target="_blank">The Little Swedish Kitchen</a> Put the other cookbook club dates on your calendar: March 6th Tickets:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/feb-cookbook-club-swedish-recipes-tickets-978303581347?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank">Free with registration!</a>

Scandinavian Cultural Center & Library

Mustard Magic: A Nordic Tasting Adventure

The Nordic countries have a deep-rooted love affair with mustard! With a history that stretches back to the Viking era, mustard was cherished not just for its bold flavor but also for its potential medicinal properties. Over the centuries, it has become a staple of Scandinavian cuisine, finding its way into sandwiches, sauces, marinades, and more. Though each Nordic country has its own take on this versatile condiment, their shared passion for mustard is undeniable. Join us to celebrate this tangy tradition! Each ticket includes a sampling of various Nordic mustards with Nordic style hotdogs, sausages and pretzels led by&nbsp;Ken Zuckerman. Ken, based in Arlington, MA,&nbsp;serves as the Board Member &amp; Marketing Chair of the&nbsp;<a href="https://mustardmuseum.com/">National Mustard Museum</a>. Friday, February 7th&nbsp;| 6-8pm |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mustard-magic-a-nordic-tasting-adventure-tickets-1112987307999?aff=oddtdtcreator">advanced registration required</a>&nbsp;| $45 adults; $10 children (12 and under)&nbsp;

Screening: Je'vida

Presented as the Library’s February film pick in honor of National Saami Day:&nbsp;Je’vida (2023)&nbsp; A black-and-white film,&nbsp;Je’vida&nbsp;is an emotional portrait of a woman unwittingly confronting the past she struggled to bury after abandoning her family and community decades earlier. It is a language drama film written and directed by Katja Gauriloff. Saturday, February 8th | 1pm | $10; $5 for members |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-jevida-tickets-1113021891439?aff=oddtdtcreator">Tickets&nbsp;</a> in Finnish Skolt Sámi with English subtitles | 103 minutes | Drama

Nordic Kids: Birch and Birds

Did you know birch trees are an important part of Nordic culture, history, and the environment? They are used for many purposes, including construction, food, and medicine. Join us for to learn a little about birch in the Nordics and add your own birds to a birch forest print to take home! Fun for all ages! Saturday, February 15th | 10-11am | $5; FREE for members |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/birch-and-birds-tickets-1219638404299?aff=oddtdtcreator">register here</a>

National Sauna Week 2025

Finlandia Foundation Boston Presents: National Sauna Week 2025 <a href="https://www.gotsauna.com/events-news/">Got Sauna</a> will be at the Scandinavian Cultural Center in Newton, celebrating National Sauna Week, Friday thru Sunday February 21-23, 2025. There are many sessions available each day, starting as early as 10:00am. Choose between 60 minute and 90 minute sessions. The session cost is the same regardless of the number of people in your party. The sauna comfortably accommodates 3 people at once. Ten minutes of each session is allotted for turn over. You are welcome to book available consecutive sessions for a longer sauna experience. Sauna Mestari will be on site to provide full orientations to all participants. Daring souls are invited to experience the thrill of thermal extremes with a dip in the cold plunge tank or if mother nature supports us… some snow angels. Afterwards relax around the fire pit to share stories of sauna adventure while enjoying tasty snacks. Each participant must provide their own towels, swimsuits and hydration. <a href="https://event.racereach.com/ffnsaunaweek-2025">Preregistration is required</a>. An welcome/orientation packet will be sent and a liability waiver must be signed by each participant. <a href="https://event.racereach.com/ffnsaunaweek-2025">SIGN UP HERE</a> If you have Sauna specific questions <a href="mailto:Mark@gotsauna.com">Mark@gotsauna.com</a> For more information about Finlandia Foundation Boston <a href="http://www.Finlandiafoundationboston.com">www.Finlandiafoundationboston.com</a> This event is supported by Finlandia Foundation National <a href="http://www.Finlandiafoundation.org">www.Finlandiafoundation.org</a>

Screening: Máhccan – Homecoming 

Screening: Máhccan – Homecoming (2023) Filmmaker Suvi West takes the audience behind the scenes of the museum world, revealing a visual, philosophical, and spiritual realm. Sámi herself, she seeks a connection with her ancestors through old museum objects, eventually arriving at the collective pain points of the Sámi people. How can the damage caused by outsiders be repaired so that collective pains can be left behind? ‘Máhccan – Homecoming’ is set in the changing world of museums and deals with the repatriation of museum objects. In recent years, museums around the world have had to confront their own colonialist burden and consider returning objects taken from oppressed or subjugated nations, often through theft. Suvi West&nbsp;is an award-winning director and script writer. She has directed several short films and two feature documentaries, Me and My Little Sister and Eatnameamet – Our Silent Struggle. Her films have been screened in film festivals around the world and distributed in European TV channels. In 2019 she was selected to be one of the directors present in Venice Biennale in Finland’s pavilion. Saturday, February 22nd | 1pm | $10; $5 for members |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-mahccan-homecoming-tickets-1055363313079?aff=oddtdtcreator">tickets</a> In Finnish with English subtitles | Documentary | 76 minutes

Tim Johnson & Ebba Dankel presents Grieg Reimagined

Norwegian NYC based jazz guitarist,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timjohnsonguitar.com/">&nbsp;Tim Johnson</a>&nbsp;returns with award winning pianist Ebba Dankel, a Swedish jazz pianist and singer who is currently based in Boston, and is a presidential scholar at Berklee College of Music. Together they will present a brand new project, “Grieg Reimagined”, where a selection of Norwegian composer Grieg’s Lyric Pieces will be reimagined in a jazz setting, featuring exciting new arrangements and improvisations over Norwegian classics.&nbsp; Saturday, March 1st | 1pm | $20; FREE for members |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/timothy-johnson-in-concert-tickets-1197134083269?aff=oddtdtcreator">Tickets</a> <a href="https://www.timjohnsonguitar.com/about">Timothy Johnson</a>&nbsp;is a Norwegian guitarist, composer, and educator, based in NYC. He has performed at world-renowned jazz clubs like Dizzy’s Club (NYC), The 55 Bar (NYC) Scullers Jazz (Boston), Smalls (NYC), and at festivals like the Buenos Aires Jazz Festival (Argentina), as well as clubs in Japan and Norway. Additionally he has appeared alongside jazz luminaries Damien Sneed, Melissa Aldana, and Neal Smith, and most recently has also performed in the award winning musical, Once on this Island. He completed his Bachelors degree at the Berklee College of Music on scholarship, and recently completed his Masters degree at the Manhattan School of Music on scholarship, studying with guitarist Mike Moreno. He has received many prestigious awards along the way, such as the Berklee Jimi Hendrix Award, the NAMM Innovation Award, the Juvenarte composition award, placed runner up in Lee Ritenour’s Dreamcatcher Competition, and most recently was a scholarship/fellowship recipient of the Norway-Amerika Association. He appears on recordings by the award winning composer Eri Chichibu, as well as singer April Varner’s release “Hummingbird”, and is preparing to record his debut album later this year. Ebba Dankel&nbsp;is a Swedish Boston-based jazz pianist, vocalist and composer, currently pursuing a BM in Jazz Composition and Piano Performance on a presidential scholarship at Berklee College of Music. She began her studies in piano at age 6 and trumpet at age 11 and played in several big bands, both on trumpet and piano. She graduated from the music program at Malmö Latinskola in 2019 and got accepted into the prestigious jazz program at Skurups Folkhögskola where she studied for 2 years. Ebba studies with NEA Jazz masters Joanne Brackeen, Terri Lyne Carrington and grammy winning Matthew Stevens at Berklee. Ebba performs weekly at the legendary Wally’s Jazz Club in Boston with different groups she puts together. She’s playing and recording with various groups in Boston as well as in Scandinavia during the summers. She is currently working on her debut album as a leader.

March Cookbook Club (Finnish Recipes)

What’s a cookbook club? It’s the idea is that — like a traditional book club — every month you get together as a group. Instead of talking about a book you will make a recipe from a chosen cookbook, bring it in and the group will sample the recipes and discuss the the recipes and the cookbook. If you love to cook or bake, (especially Scandi recipes) and love sharing food with friends this is the perfect place for you! Each month we will choose a different cookbook from a Scandinavian country and pick out 15-20 recipes for people to choose from. On March 6th, 2025 we will be tasting Finnish recipes from the The Finnish Cookbook by Beatrice Ojakangas. The cookbooks we choose are available on amazon to purchase. <a href="https://amzn.to/3WzaMPZ">The Finnish Cookbook</a> Tickets: <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/march-cookbook-club-finnish-recipes-tickets-978432516997?aff=oddtdtcreator">Free with registration</a>

Screening: The Day Iceland Stood Still

In honor of International Women’s Day the SCC&amp;L is screening the new documentary&nbsp;The Day Iceland Stood Still (Dagurinn sem Ísland stöðvaðist) When 90% of Iceland’s women walked off the job and out of their homes one morning in 1975 the country came to a standstill. Unexpectedly funny and told for the first time, this is the true story of one day that catapulted Iceland to the world’s superpower of gender equality. In 1975, nearly all Icelandic women walked off their jobs and out of their homes, refusing to work, cook, or care for children. This powerful strike reshaped the nation, making Iceland one of the best places in the world to be a woman. Told by the women themselves and timed for the 50th anniversary, this story is both subversive and unexpectedly funny. One activist recalls, “We loved our male chauvinist pigs, we just wanted to change them a little!”&nbsp;The Day Iceland Stood Still&nbsp;is a collaboration between U.S. director Pamela Hogan, an Equal Rights Amendment campaigner, and Icelandic producer Hrafnhildur Gunnarsdóttir, who attended the strike at age 7. While the U.S. E.R.A. never passed, Iceland has closed over 90% of its gender gap and is committed to full equality. This story aims to inspire viewers worldwide to reimagine the possible. Saturday, March 8th | 1pm | $10; $5 for members |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-the-day-iceland-stood-still-tickets-1120873836819?aff=oddtdtcreator">Tickets</a> In Icelandic with English subtitles | Documentary | 70 min.

Book Talk: Joan Wickersham

Join us for a book talk with author&nbsp;<a href="https://www.joanwickersham.com/about">Joan Wickersham</a>&nbsp;as she discusses her book&nbsp;No Ship Sets Out To Be A Shipwreck.&nbsp;In this nonfiction/poetry hybrid, Wickersham meditates on a Swedish warship&nbsp;Vasa,&nbsp;which sank only minutes into its maiden voyage and lay forgotten underwater until it was found and raised more than three hundred years later. No Ship Sets Out To Be A Shipwreck&nbsp;is a contemplative, strange, passionate, funny, and haunting book that both is and isn’t about the ship – a personal yet universal reckoning with mortality, and the question of what vanishes and what endures. Saturday March 15th | 1pm | Free with registration |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-talk-joan-wickersham-tickets-1216723676269?aff=oddtdtcreator">Tickets</a>&nbsp; FREE books will be available ABOUT JOAN:&nbsp;In addition to&nbsp;No Ship Sets Out To Be A Shipwreck,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.joanwickersham.com/about">Joan Wickersham</a>&nbsp;is the author of&nbsp;The News from Spain&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Suicide Index, a finalist for the National Book Award. Her work has been published in&nbsp;The Best American Short Stories&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Best American Nonrequired Reading, as well as many magazines. She is a regular contributor to&nbsp;The Boston Globe, where her op-ed column has been running for the past 15 years.

Kortney Yasenka Book Talk 

Join us for a book talk with author Kortney Yasenka as she discusses her new book&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Lagom-Swedish-Living/dp/1961293196/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;dib_tag=AUTHOR&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._AEuhvy-uSjFTy99Qlen0hKlolVTQMBzUXFVi0M65gTGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.7W7jxro-Eg4HfMQqxyJbSfZlFG5KCn4076ynqlg1EZ4&amp;qid=&amp;sr=">Swedish Lagom: Finding Joy in Just Enough.</a>&nbsp;releasing on February 25th 2025. You don’t need to be Swedish to benefit from the principles of lagom – discover the secret to a happier, more balanced life with this Swedish philosophy. Sweden consistently ranks among the happiest countries in the world, and many attribute this to their uniquely balanced lifestyle. At the heart of this lifestyle is the concept of lagom, which literally translates to “just the right amount.”&nbsp;Swedish Lagom&nbsp;delves into this philosophy, offering bite-sized facts, engaging anecdotes, and practical tips to help you incorporate lagom into your daily life. Saturday, March 29th, 2024 | 1pm |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-talk-with-kortney-yasenka-tickets-1114604745799?aff=oddtdtcreator">Free with registration&nbsp;</a> We will have books on hand for purchase.&nbsp; ABOUT KORTNEY:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0B6T1PKK1">Kortney Yasenka</a>&nbsp;is a licensed clinical mental health counselor, as well as the author of&nbsp;The Stoicism Book of Quotes.&nbsp;She specializes in providing individual, family, and group therapy, along with life coaching for student-athletes. Kortney is certified in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and incorporates ecotherapy into her treatment approach. She holds a Masters in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Health Psychology from Northeastern University and has worked in community mental health, schools, and private practice. A lifelong Cleveland sports fan (thanks to her father), Kortney enjoys traveling to Cleveland for Guardians games in the spring and rarely misses a Browns game, thanks to streaming services. In her free time, she loves running, spending time with family, and vacationing on the beautiful island of St. John. Kortney’s work is deeply influenced by her Swedish heritage, which was passed down from her mother. This connection to Swedish traditions has shaped her understanding of the importance of balance in life, and it informs the way she lives and writes.

Våffeldagen – Waffle Day 2025

During our weekly Kaffestugan (cafe) we will be celebrating the Swedish tradition of Våffeldagen. Swedes have enjoyed waffles in some form since the 1600’s and they remain popular today. So much so they celebrate them every March! Often covered with cream and jam instead of syrup, these are sure to delight. Come on out for lunch and a waffle or just a waffle on it’s own! We won’t judge. The standard Kaffestugan menu will still be available. Saturday, March 29th | 10am-2pm

Off to Finland! Travel Phrases, Helsinki Hotspots, and Handy Tips!

Join Saija Laurla to learn Finnish travel vocabulary, useful sentences and tips on where to visit in Helsinki! First meeting: Friday April 4th | 6 – 7:30 pm | for all 4 classes: $150; $100 for members |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/off-to-finland-travel-phrases-helsinki-hotspots-and-handy-tips-tickets-1112981009159?aff=oddtdtcreator">Tickets&nbsp;</a> *We need at least 10 registrants for classes to run* There will be 4 meetings, starting every Friday in April. 1st meeting: Friday, April 4th 2nd meeting: Friday, April 11th 3rd meeting: Friday, April 18th Last meeting: Friday, April 25th Bio: Saija Laurla Although the Finnish language can be difficult to learn, instructor Saija&nbsp;Laurla&nbsp;makes it fun and interesting. She was born in Helsinki and raised in Vantaa, the international airport city of Finland. Living accessibly to other countries, her family took her abroad two to three times a year. This gave the talkative Saija the ability to learn some French, English, Spanish, Swedish and Italian. As a young adult Saija continued traveling, always picking up words here and there continuing her interests towards different languages.&nbsp;In Finland Saija worked as a journalist, script writer and a TV-producer. When Saija’s husband got offered a job in the United States in 2015, Saija watched numerous popular TV shows to refresh her English as well as expose her to American culture. In 2018, Saija had lived in the US for three years by the time she discovered the teaching position available at Saima Park, and felt comfortable to apply. The rest is history; now Saija enjoys teaching Finnish online as well as in person.

Screening: Tove's Room

Presented as the Library’s April film choice:&nbsp;TOVE’S ROOM ( TOVES VÆRELSE) In a luxury apartment in the center of Copenhagen, set in the 1960s, Tove Ditlevsen lives with Ekstra Bladet’s editor-in-chief, Victor Andreasen, in a tumultuous marriage. When the young writer Klaus Rifbjerg comes to lunch to discuss literature, he has no idea what awaits him… Saturday April 12th | 1pm | $10; $5 for members |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-toves-room-2023-tickets-1120878159749?aff=oddtdtcreator">tickets</a> In Danish with English subtitles | Biography, Drama | 73 min.

Nordic Easter Crafts 2025

Make and take your own Nordic Easter crafts from the Nordic countries! Saturday, April 19th | 10am – 12pm | $10 | <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nordic-easter-crafts-tickets-1116745599149?aff=oddtdtcreator">Tickets </a>

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Discover kid-friendly fun in Boston, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas! Enjoy hands-on exhibits at the Boston Children’s Museum, explore the New England Aquarium, and visit the Franklin Park Zoo. Find parks, playgrounds, and seasonal events perfect for families across Massachusetts.

Top 20 kid-friendly things to do in Boston, MA

Kid-friendly things to do in Boston

Kid-friendly events

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.