This week in Swedish America

Start your weekend on Thursday with a cinnamon roll from your favorite Swedish baker (tell us where you get yours!) then see what else is happening in Swedish America, including the bigger-than-ever indoor Scandinavian festival near Milwaukee, WI. 

  • What’s different about Swedish cinnamon buns? Swedes don’t glaze their cinnamon buns, they add pearl sugar.
  • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4
    Chicago, IL
    - Kanelbullens dag (cinnamon roll day), 11 AM-4 PM
    get your coffee and a cinnamon bun at the Swedish American Museum’s pop-up cafe, 773.728.8111 / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org

  • Back by popular demand is Marguerite Karl and her lively Swedish-American Children's Choir performing at the Scandinavian Festival in New Berlin, WI on October 6. Bring your own kids and learn some new songs with dance lessons in the Children’s Activity Area, too.
  • Where are you getting your cinnamon bun? Send a message to editor@nordstjernan.com or comment at www.facebook.com/nordstjernan to spread the word!

  • On December 26, 1965 the funny Swedish film (later classic) “Att angöra en brygga” premieres. Above Gösta Ekman and Monica Zetterlund.
  • - Waltz for Monica , 6:30 PM
    Join the Swedish American Museum and the Swedish Consulate in the screening of “Waltz for Monica,” a lustrous drama that chronicles the life of popular Swedish actress and jazz singer Monica Zetterlund. Following her journey from small-town telephone operator in the 1950s to hard-won stardom, the film tracks the performer’s tumultuous life, from the clubs of New York and Stockholm to stage spectaculars, TV specials, film roles, and collaborations with jazz greats, including legendary pianist Bill Evans—all the while, leaving a trail of failed love affairs and broken dreams. In Swedish with English subtitles at the Chicago Cultural Centre, 773.728.8111 / afarzanehfar@samac.org / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org

  • Home of fictional police inspector Kurt Wallander (the main character in Henning Mankell's books) - what town is it? Learn about it this month as Dr. Jim Kaplan discusses Scandinavian crime novels.
  • Brainerd, MN
    - Scandinavian Crime Thrillers Today, 11 AM
    Dr. Jim Kaplan of Minnesota State University Moorhead will present a program about the Swedish crime authors who have had a strong influence in Scandinavia. Brainerd Public Library, 218.587.2171x234 / kaplan@mnstate.edu

  • Scandinavia House, the Nordic Center in America. Located at 58 Park Avenue at 38th Street in New York, it is a fine venue for concerts and performances.
  • Wadena, MN
    - Scandinavian Crime Thrillers Today, 6 PM
    Dr. Jim Kaplan of Minnesota State University Moorhead will present a program about the Swedish crime authors who have had a strong influence in Scandinavia. Wadena City Library, 218.587.2171x234 / kaplan@mnstate.edu

  • The world’s largest operating Viking ship, Draken Harald Hårfagre sails along the coast during her American East Coast Tour this summer.
  • New York, NY
    - Fall Concert at Scandinavia House, 7:30 PM
    Swedish pianist Lana Suran returns for a performance that includes J.S Bach, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff and Brahms. Scandinavia House, 212.847.9729 / chelsea@amscan.org / www.scandinaviahouse.org/event/concerts

  • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5
    Seattle, WA
    - Viking Disco 2018, 5:30 PM
    Feast or dance like a Viking - or both! Viking cuisine expert James Bushell creates a delicious and hearty dinner, then he and Adam McQueen of Skål Beer Hall will discuss the history and future of Viking cuisine. Dancing follows. Costumes encouraged. RSVP for any part of the evening: Feast seatings at 5:30 and 7:30; dance begins at 8. At The Swedish Club, 206.283.1090 / eva@swedishclubnw.org / www.swedishclubnw.org

  • Cass Lake, MN
    - Scandinavian Crime Thrillers Today, 2 PM
    Dr. Jim Kaplan of Minnesota State University Moorhead will present a program about the Swedish crime authors who have had a strong influence in Scandinavia. He will discuss Maj Sjowall, Per Wahloo, Jo Nesbo, Arnaldur Indridason and Jussi Adler-Olsen. Cass Lake Community Library, 218.587.2171x234 / kaplan@mnstate.edu

  • Washington, DC
    - The Draken Experience, 1 PM
    The world’s largest operating Viking ship, Draken Harald Hårfagre sails into the harbor at Transit Pier at The Wharf as she ends her American East Coast Tour. Tour the ship, interact with the crew, explore the free photo and video exhibition, and more – through Oct. 15. www.drakenhh.com/washington

  • Cambridge, MA
    -Bergman100, 9:15 PM
    Screening: Autumn Sonata. Carpenter Center, www.hcl.harvard.edu/hfa

  • New York, NY
    -Bergman100, 6:30 PM
    Screening: The Magician. Scandinavia House, www.scandinaviahouse.org

  • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6
    Milwaukee, WI
    - Scandinavian Festival, 10 AM - 6 PM
    The 28th Annual Indoor Scandinavian Festival is bigger than ever before! With lots of the ethnic Scandinavian foods and candy, many new vendors are selling their Scandinavian gifts and goodies, there are children's activities, genealogy and language classes, raffles, and of course music and dancing. Headline entertainment: The duo Vidar Skrede (hardanger fiddle) and Randy Gosa (guitar), and the adorable Swedish-American Children's Choir, among others. At Ronald Reagan Elementary School in New Berlin, 262.366.9152 / lekstrand@wi.rr.

    Berkeley, CA
    - Bergman’s first film in English, 7:30 PM
    The Touch (1971) is Bergman’s first film in English and stars Bibi Andersson as a seemingly happy Swedish housewife embroiled in an affair with a visiting American intellectual hothead (Elliott Gould). Once ignored, the film has been reappraised as “a major entry in the director’s canon” (Geoff Andrews). BAMFA, 510.642.0808 / bampfa@berkeley.edu / www.bampfa.org/program/bergman-100-discoveries-rarities

  • Cambridge, MA
    -Bergman100, 7 & 9 PM
    Screening: Through a Glass Darkly at 7 p.m. and Winter Light at 9 p.m.. Carpenter Center, www.hcl.harvard.edu/hfa

  • West Newton, MA
    - Author Talk: Lo Dagerman, 7 PM
    Lo Dagerman, daughter of the famed Swedish author Stig Dagerman, is back for a new book launch. She presents her father’s last novel, Wedding Worries, set in his childhood village of Älvkarleby, Sweden. Stig Dagerman drew on a memory from the farm where he grew up; Lo will tell the story behind the novel, and introduce its characters (including one based on her grandfather). She will use pictures from Dagerman’s Älvkarleby and clips from the award-winning Swedish film “Brollopsbesvar” from 1964 with Jarl Kulle & Christina Schollin. Free with registration at Scandinavian Cultural Center, 617.795.1914 / kerry@scandicenter.org / www.scandicenter.org/event/author-series-lo-dagerman/

  • Pine River, MN
    - Scandinavian Crime Thrillers Today, 1 PM
    Dr. Jim Kaplan of Minnesota State University Moorhead will present a program about the Swedish crime authors who have had a strong influence in Scandinavia. He will discuss Maj Sjowall, Per Wahloo, Jo Nesbo, Arnaldur Indridason and Jussi Adler-Olsen. Pine River Public Library, 218.587.2171x234 / kaplan@mnstate.edu

  • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7
    Cambridge, MA
    -Bergman100, 5 & 7 PM
    Screening: The Silence at 5 p.m. and Cries and Whispers at 7 p.m.. Carpenter Center, www.hcl.harvard.edu/hfa

  • ONGOING
    - Gudrun Sjoden - A Colourful Universe ends Oct 28: Stroll through Gudrun’s design world on your own or sign up for a special tour to enjoy the visually striking collaboration with Swedish designer Gudrun Sjödén. American Swedish Institute / info@asimn.org /www.asimn.org

  • - Ulla the Baker ends Oct 7: Anders Suneson’s cheerful, illustrated children’s books come to life and families are transported to winter in Östersund, Sweden, with Ulla, who has her own bakery. Step into Ulla’s world through wooden sculptures that Suneson carved onsite, see Ulla and her cinnamon buns, meet the dog, see the chicken and climb onboard a snowmobile by Suneson - all in ASI’s Family Gallery’s intergenerational, imaginative play environment. American Swedish Institute / info@asimn.org /www.asimn.org

  • - From the Heart, Made by Hand: Treasures from the Women of Sweden. This exhibition includes selections of the handmade textiles presented to the museum in 1938 from every province of Sweden. Exhibit opening is free with museum admission. American Swedish Historical Museum, 215.389.1776 / www.americanswedish.org