By Nea Pakarinen

In late September, Finland Center organized an informational event for young Scandinavians living in New York. The Saturday evening event, which was held at the Finnish Lutheran Church on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village, was attended by young people from various backgrounds as well as experts who discussed various aspects related to life in New York. Doctor Jaana Rehnstrom, director of Finland Center, spoke about what to do if you get sick, immigration lawyer Ceridwen Koski gave advice on visas, real estate broker Angelika Kallio talked about housing in the city, and actor and church employee Heli Sirviö offered a few general pieces of NYC wisdom.

I found the event very useful. Not only was it a great opportunity to connect with people from backgrounds similar to mine, but it also offered plenty of useful information, including where and how to get a flu shot, and which visa options are available for young immigrants.

Yummy Karelian pies and Finnish cheese, as well as Candy donated by nearby Sockerbit, were served. We also had a lively discussion about the great things we had done and seen in the city.

After our discussion we continued with a night on the town, and the following morning we enjoyed a superb Sunday brunch at Smoke Jazz Club, where you can have your eggs with a side of live jazz. By the end of the weekend, I had a number of new friends to explore the city with.

Here are just a few city tips I gathered from the attendees:

• Top of the Tower for drinks with great views of the city

• Comedy Cellar: the city’s best stand-up venue

• The Village Underground and Rockwood Music Hall: excellent live music

• Sleep No More: an unparalleled live performance experience

What are your favorite places in the city? Share them in the comments section.