March 2012 Calendar

Photo: Human Spectra, Stockholm Visitors Board

The snow has pretty much melted away and the days are getting longer... feels like Spring can't be far away. There are some fun events happening in March if you are visiting Stockholm or are just a fan of the city. Here are some highlights:

• There are some important dates in the restaurant world this month. Two annual guides to the best restaurants in Stockholm come out now. First is the White Guide where the winners (in several categories) will be announced on March 5th. Then comes the prestigious international Michelin Guide. Who has gained a star, who has lost a star? Find out on March 15th! I'll be sure to report on both events here. Finally... on March 23rd a new indoor shopping center, Mood Stockholm, will open. Located behind the NK department store... Mood will have, besides world class shopping, three restaurants that already have people talking. Boqueria, Eat and Barbeque. All run by well established Stockholm chefs.
• When it comes to sports, we have the annual Royal Palace Sprint taking place on March 16th. Every year they truck in tons of snow and build a cross country ski course around the Royal Palace in the Old Town. The world's best skiers take part and members of the Swedish royal family are usually in attendance. A fun event to watch!
• One of Sweden's largest music events, Melodifestivalen, will take place in the Globen arena on March 10th. It is a song contest where the winner will represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest later on in the Spring.
• Plenty of new exhibitions starting in March including "Passions" at the National Museum on March 9th, "Sturtevant" at Moderna (modern art museum) on March 17th and Steve Schapiro at Fotografiska on March 16th. Another much anticipated event is the unveiling of the new children's zoo "Lill-Skansen" at the Skansen open air museum on March 31st!
• Charles & Camilla, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, will be on an official visit to Stockholm on the 22nd through 24th of March in celebration of Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee. Not sure of their program yet, but one can expect some royal-spotting and traffic snarls during these dates.
• The Retro Fair (Retromässan) will take place on March 9th to 11th at Münchenbryggeriet (right around the corner from the Rival Hotel). Here you will be able to see and buy "modern antiques" from the 1900's... furniture, art, design, porcelin, lamps and more.
• If you are in Sweden during the end of March... keep in mind that the clocks move forward an hour (daylight saving's time) on March 25th!

After March, we have April to look forward to... Easter holidays, boat tours, opening of Gröna Lund and much more!