From left: Honorary Consul Olavi Göös, interior designer Katarina Andersson, singer Karita Mattila, and music student (trumpet) Suvi Keto. Photo credit: Annika Hau.
Being Frugal is Very Fashionable
Celebrating Finnish Independence Day is a cherished tradition in Chicagoland. However, quite a few FACC members have been impacted by the recession, which created new planning challenges in 2009. We looked forward to our annual party, but given the economy, pricey festivities seemed out of style. It was time to reconsider the Independence Day event concept: no more fancy restaurants or lavish catering. Still, we were dreaming of enjoying genuine Finnish Christmas fare, complete with glögg and all the trimmings... Finding a venue that would let us bring in food was quite an adventure. The chosen cozy neighborhood bar was modest from the street, but once inside, our party room was spacious and comfortable. Better yet, our only rental fee was the bar package. Close to downtown Chicago, with free parking and public transportation nearby - just perfect! The feast buffet included home-made leg of pork, Karelian pies, Finnish imports such as dark rye bread, and IKEA's Scandinavian selection. The bar chef - originally from New Orleans – prepared beetroot salad and divine rutabaga casserole. It was a smash hit. A talented Finnish trumpetist played the national anthems and nostalgic marches, and the keynote speech recounted the Winter War miracle. A spirited interview with our guest of honor Karita Mattila was a high note: she is living proof that a world-class opera star can be very down-to-earth, especially in the company of fellow Finns. The raffle again sent one happy winner to Helsinki, courtesy of SAS. Take-aways for future events: Focus on seasonal essentials, forget the fancy details. Team work is essential for success. Thanks to the famous Finnish "talkoo" spirit, the party was a great success; fun was had by all, and for the first time ever, we even made a little profit. Things are definitely looking up for 2010.
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