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When a Belgian cartoonist named Peyo introduced the world to a village of little blue people called Les Schtroumpfs back in 1958, he had no idea of what he had just unleashed. The Smurfs went on to become a cultural phenomenon, with millions of people around the world enjoying the comic strip, television shows, and immensely popular miniature dolls. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Smurf franchise, the Belgian Comic Strip Center in Brussels is hosting a special exhibit entitled "Smurf for All, All for Smurf," which includes original artwork and documents that reflect the origins of the Smurfs and their rise to prominence. The Smurf exhibit runs through November 16, 2008, but the museum is a pleasure to visit at any time. It's the only museum of its kind exclusively dedicated to comic strip art, and a stroll through its fantastical exhibits of oversized sculpture and anthropomorphic creatures just might make you feel like you're in a comic strip world yourself. Starwood had four hotels in Brussels, including the nearby Le Méridien Brussels.
Recently in Brussels Category
Celebrating Fifty Years of Smurfs at the Belgian Comic Strip Center
Tuesday November 11, 2008
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More Get Inside the Atomium in Brussels
Monday September 15, 2008
The Atomium in Brussels is just about the weirdest building you'll ever witness, and I'm glad we've got a video of it because it's not the easiest place to describe. Built as a monument to the Atomic Age for Expo '58, the Atomium a 103-meter-tall, ultra-large-scale recreation of an arrangement of atoms into a unit cell of an iron crystal, and it's comprised of nine huge steel balls containing different rooms which are connected by metal tubes that enclose escalators and exhibit spaces. Visitors can enter through an atom on the bottom and take a ride through this building block of life magnified 165 billion times. The Atomium is looking shinier than ever for its 50th anniversary in 2008, having had a top-to-bottom renovation three years ago. We suggest you ascend to the top sphere for a grand view of Brussels and let us know what you think of the monument. Guests at Le Méridien Bruxelles or any of Starwood's Brussels properties will appreciate this astonishing feat of art and architecture.
Think Differently at the Brussels Arts Festival
Tuesday May 6, 2008
The Brussels Arts Festival kicks off on Friday, May 9, 2008, bringing a whole new perspective to the artistic scene of this charming Belgian city. Dedicated to fresh creations, the three-week Kunstenfestivaldesarts (try saying that three times fast) features visual and performing arts by both Flemish and French-speaking artists - representing the two main parts of Belgium - as well as artists from the west and around the world. Held in venues throughout the capital, this year's artists include Turkish dance master Aydin Teker, with choreography for a female dancer and a harp; performance artist Kris Verdonck, whose END (creation) shows the final stages of human society in ten scenes; and an audiovisual installation by Annik Leroy called Meinhof (pictured), which was inspired by the German journalist Ulrike Meinhof. It's a wealth of material to get your creative juices flowing in a setting that's nothing short of inspiring. In fact, some of the venues are almost as impressive as the art itself, with installations and events in buildings like the City of Brussels Contemporary Arts Center for Movement and Voice, the Centrale électrique (the city's first power plant), and the Kaaitheater Arts Centre. It's enough to make you want to pick up a camera or brush and get to work. Starwood has four hotels in Brussels: the Four Points by Sheraton Brussels, the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel, Le Méridien Brussels, and the five-star Sheraton Brussels Hotel.
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More The Musical Painting of Paul Klee In Brussels
Tuesday April 8, 2008
"Transcriptions of melody lines" is how the French composer Pierre Boulez describes the whimsical, colorful, geometric works of Swiss-German artist Paul Klee. Klee was trained as a musician, but as a teacher at the Bauhaus school of art and architecture, in the 1920s, he pioneered a new form of thought steeped in poetry, freedom, and imagination.
"Paul Klee: Theatre Here, There and Everywhere," an exhibition at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, in Brussels, not only highlights the artist's passion for music, but for dance, theater, and the circus through pieces dealing with masks, puppets, and characters, both comedic and tragic. But it also delves into the era when Klee's art was deemed "degenerate" by the Nazis, forcing him to relocate to the safer haven of Switzerland, at age 54. During this time, Klee ironically experienced a period of great productivity.
Guests at Le Méridien Brussels, located just around the bend from the Palais des Beaux Arts, might enjoy an escapade to the museum, to view this unique exhibition of over 200 watercolors and drawings that hum with music and theater. Partially organised by Boulez, the exhibition features some of the composer's music, and runs through May 11.
Starpick Le Méridien Brussels
Friday March 28, 2008
There's a lot to like about Brussels. From the small delights, such as the excellent frites, waffles, chocolate, and beer, to the major cultural attractions like the Grand Place, the Horta Museum, and the Atomium, the Belgian capital really has it all. A weekend visit to Brussels in the springtime is a great way to kick off the season, and it's easier than ever, thanks to Starpicks. That's because Le Méridien Brussels is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next two weekends. So enjoy a couple of days wandering through one of the most perfect medieval squares in Europe, gazing at the world-class collection of art from the 15th century to the present day at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, and kicking back with a cold one at the Delirium Cafe. If it's fine cuisine you crave, you'll do well to check out the hotel's Restaurant L'Epicerie, which serves elegant French gastronomy in a warm and exotic Caribbean atmosphere. It's a fine place to savor the moment and begin dreaming up your next getaway. New Starpicks properties are posted every week, so keep checking the list for the latest deals.
'Tis The Season for Belgian Christmas Beer
Friday December 14, 2007
It's time once again for the Kerstbierfestival (Christmas Beer Festival) in Belgium. Every year in the northern Belgian town of Essen, the "Objective Beer Tasters of the Essen Region" host an extensive tasting of seasonal Christmas and winter beers, giving hops connoisseurs an opportunity to find and purchase their favorites. Notable brews at this year's festival, which will be held December 15-16, include the Sint-Bernardus Christmas Ale from the Sint Bernardus Brewery in Watou, the Tournay de Noël from Cazeau Brewery in Templeuve, and the Delirium Christmas from the famous Huyghe Brewery, the oldest brewery in Ghent.
Since man can not live on beer alone (though many have tried), soup, beef stew, and fresh baked bread - all made with a hint of Christmas beer - will be available to complement the artisanal brews. And even if you don't sample all the beers, it's probably a good idea to take public transportation to and from this event and leave the driving to someone else. Fortunately, the festival hall is just 1850 meters from the Essen railway station, where you can easily hop on a train for the short ride back to Brussels where Starwood has four properties: the Four Points by Sheraton Brussels, the Sheraton Brussels Hotel, Le Méridien Bruxelles, and the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel. Belgian Beers are some of the finest in the world, and here's a great chance to taste more than 100 special Trappist Christmas ales from all over the country.
Smurfs and Tintin in Brussels!
Thursday November 1, 2007Saturday mornings were never the same after the Smurfs went off the air. Satisfy a little of that longing for Greedy, Grouchy, and Gargamel with a trip to Belgium. The Smurfs, like Tintin, Willy and Wanda, Lucky Luke and many more comic book heros, were created there. A meander through the streets of the picturesque, highly walkable city of Brussels, unveils a series of thirty giant frescoes. Painted on the sides of buildings, they depict characters and scenes from comic book favorites in what is known as the "Comic Strip Trail."
Make your way to the Belgian Center for Comic Strip Art, and marvel at the Art Nouveau building. Erected in 1906, it's a masterpiece by Belgian architect Victor Horta. Three floors house an extensive collection of original drawings, as well as exhibits on the history of comics, the artists that created them, and several permanent displays that cater to specific interests. "The Comic Strip in Motion" details the evolution of comic strip to animated film, and "The Museum of the Imaginary" takes you inside the world of your favorite comic strip characters.Le Meridien Bruxelles' comic strip special gets you tickets to the museum, a Tintin keepsake, and two guide books that detail the city of Brussels' influence on the art of the comic strip. Spend some time scouring the treasure trove in the Centre for Comic Strip Art's reference library. And remember, in French they're called Schtroumpfs.
If it's Belgium, It Must Be Chocolate
Friday September 7, 2007There are more than 2,000 chocolate shops in Belgium; considering the whole country is about the size of Maryland, that's pretty impressive. Sounds like a sweet tooth tour to me.
With Le Méridien Bruxelles as your base, start your tour with visits to Mary Chocolatier Confiseur and Le Chocolatier Manon, both on rue du Congrès. Mary crafts more than 70 varieties of praline in addition to their fine chocolates; Manon specializes in molded chocolates, including a delicate dark-and-milk fan.
Next, drive north to Antwerp and stop at Burie Chocolatier, where chocolate and marzipan treasures await; be sure to pick up some the shop's unique chocolate diamonds, as well as some "Antwerp handjes," marzipan-filled chocolates in the shape of a hand, the city's unofficial symbol.
From there, head west to the medieval city of Bruges, where another city symbol formed in chocolate awaits, this time a swan. At The Chocolate Line, home of master chocolatier Dominique Persoone, you'll find a version filled with almond praline, gingersnap crunch, buttercream and spices — plus chocolates containing exotic flavors such as chili peppers, tequila or sweet peas. Make a reservation in advance for the Triple Treat day tour from Quasimodo Tours; you'll get to learn about and sample all three of Belgium's famous foods: chocolate, waffles and beer. Sounds delicious.
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