Jan Liesaho

"Töölö has many great cafes. Marocco is an old and traditional place, not at all trendy. The pastries are made on location. They serve the best cinnamon buns in town. I know when to go there to make sure I get one fresh from the oven. The flavour is mind-blowing. I often also buy pastries and cakes to go."  

"I've taken many classes at Arbis. For instance woodwork, guitar lessons, yoga and pilates. I think I abandoned my Chinese studies there after one session. I take a new class almost every year. The building is also nice. Arbis has a library where I often find books that are in high demand at the City LIbrary. They also have a café with homemade treats." 

"I go to the sports hall to punch a boxing bag and do my gym training. Kisis is close to my home and it's a terrific place. A true mecca for sports, and also great to just go take in the sight of other people in the middle of all kinds of action. It's just a couple of euros to get in and you can train almost anything. Boxing, sweating, wrestling, everyone can do their thing here." 

"I walk around the bay with my dog. The route is just the right length. The surroundings are a bit run-down at some points, and sometimes the walking paths are flooded with water from the bay. But there are always people around, walking around and jogging." 

"The Kuusijärvi pond with its cafe and smoke saunas are technically part of Vantaa, but many Helsinkians head there. It's a great place to show to foreign visitors. The steam in the smoke sauna is magnificent and you can jump right into the water. There is a difference between swimming in sea water and fresh water. In the wintertime, I head to Kuusijärvi for an icy dip." 

"Run by a Brit – Rody Maher – in Punavuori's Viiskulma crossing, Barber Shop is an amazing place. With rock playing from the speakers, great magazines and great music. Plus Rody is a very loveable character. Barber Shop is great for hanging out, but also for a trim. I used to dislike going to the hairdresser, I would always feel a bit ill at ease. Nowadays I only go to Barber Shop, and it has become a luxury that I look forward to." 

"The student theatre Ylioppilasteatteri makes living history. The theatre has a strong legacy, yet it succeeds in always renewing itself. Every year new talent joins the house with plenty of gusto and fresh spirit. The theatre presents its work at the studio of the Old Student House as well as at the Mustikkamaa summer theatre. Go see a show or experience the theatre as a space! I used to work for the theatre group during my student years and it was a life-changing moment. I was enrolled at the faculty of Political Science but I found a new calling and became a theatre producer. The bureaucrat's life was no longer what I wished for. I'm still happy just for knowing that the Ylioppilasteatteri exists."