Art & culture

In an old house with high ceilings and white walls is Alchemia – the kind of space that Bucharest really needs today. Opened earlier this year, Alchemia describes itself as an urban cultural laboratory. It is a cool, modern space where you will see exhibitions, plays and concerts.

As an art lover, it made sense to start looking for a beautiful gallery in Bucharest, where classic and modern combine. That is how I discovered Alchemia on a Friday afternoon, invited by a friend to the painting exhibition of a young Romanian artist. Besides the bold pictures, this is what I found: a very nice late 19th century restored house, a versatile space dedicated to art forms from paintings to sculptures, modern theatre and music, a chic coffee and tea corner as well as a classy collection of good wines.

There are artistic elements everywhere and artists who come here almost everyday creating the secret alchemy in the true sense of the word. For 3 hours, I felt completely distracted from the bustle of the urban jungle, which is why I recommend weekly art sessions in Alchemia – the artistic corner of the city.

As a conclusion, Alchemia is the ideal place to hold private events, corporate, advertising and artistic gatherings. But it is worth stopping by if you have a soft spot for contemporary art, as the works of art exhibited here changes constantly.

Discovering new, magical places where you less expect it is a matter of good luck. Serendipity itself is a phenomenon of making lucky discoveries by chance. And apart from that, it is a special teahouse I came across one day, as I was strolling on a very beautiful street.

What drew my attention in the first place was the Serendipity ”Hansel and Gretel” house, located in-between the rest of the old and imposing buildings on Dumbrava Rosie Street.

It gave me the impression that somehow, as he was writing his story, the author mixed the real and the fairytale world and left a piece of magic behind. What a lovely mistake, and what a great chance I said to myself, as I decided to step inside for a cup of tea!

Zen! This is the word which describes Serendipity best. And of course there are other good words as well: great variety of tea, good coffee, friendly faces and all sorts of weekly workshops and events to choose from.

In order to find out more about all this, you can subscribe for the newsletter on the official website or just make ”serendipity” happen in your life by paying it a visit.

P.S. The terrace is truly inspirational, both in summer and in winter when it snows.

A friend told me one day over the phone, with great excitement (which seemed a bit out of the ordinary in that context) that a new bookstore was opened in Piata Romana. ”What kind of bookstore?” I asked, trying to understand my friend’s temporary inability to build a cohesive description of the place. The answer was: ”You’ll see, it’s so nice and different.”

So I went there that very day to understand what the excitement was all about and I eventually blamed my friend for not being able to convey any of those special things that make Bastilia what it is: a Librarium.

What is a Librarium? It is a universe of books, combined with drawings, inspirational messages, the perfect light, the nicest ” Librarium journey” assistants, history and a great view over Piata Romana and Magheru Boulevard.

The Librarium is hosted by one of the most beautiful old houses in Bucharest city center, with a 98-year history and it has a ground floor dedicated to fiction, a first floor dedicated to specialty books and a second floor (cloud no. 9) where you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and skim a book or a magazine of your choice.

Enjoy your journey! My friend and I sure did.

Wagner is my favorite Romanian home & object design brand, born out of the artists’ need to bring the product of their imagination, their lovely stories, to life, through delicate and precious objects.

I fell in love with Wagner the moment I saw the first object created under this unique brand, which appeared to me, at that time, as the most beautiful teapot I had ever seen in my life.

When I found out the teapot was just a small piece of a never ending fairytale, I was so eager to discover more, to take as many of these incredible art objects home. So I headed for La Maison de la Porcelaine Wagner, both excited and nervous. I knew something beyond my imagination was going to be unveiled in that design boutique.

Wagner creates porcelain, furniture and manufacture. You can find amazing samples of all three categories in La Maison de la Porcelaine Wagner, as well as tea and tea accessories.

It is practically impossible not to be overwhelmed by the beauty of this brand and its objects and not to find anything that caters for your taste or that of your beloved, in case you are looking for the best possible present.

Wagner is for me a superlative, it fuels my imagination, it fills my heart with joy and it gives me hope for a better, alternative world.

Also check out their regular courses on the art of porcelain painting. For more information, please send an e-mail to irina@wagnerarte.ro.

‘The Anglican’ church is a landmark in Bucharest. Many people know about it but not so many visit it. It is a small church which is often closed and cannot be entered.

The church is a historical monument designed by architect Victor Stefanescu. It was built in Victorian Gothic style and was finished and furnished after the First World War. Construction of the church was started in 1922 with the help and donations from Gibraltar’s Bishop and Queen Mary. All this information can be seen written on the right side of the church.

I recommend visiting the church for its uniqueness, but also because its location is a very nice one. In the perimeter of the church you could have a break and enjoy a sandwich from your backpack. In the evenings the area is very well lit and the atmosphere is pleasant for a walk.

Don’t forget that here you are in walking distance from one of the busiest boulevards of the city and you can easily get back to the noisier spots.

For the ones passionate about Geocaching, the church hosts one geocache.