"Why go to the movies when you can go to Godzilla? Why sit next to the guy who hasn't washed in a week...? Why take the blame for choosing the wrong movie...? Why worry where the nearest cash machine is when it doesn't cost anything? And lastly, why the hell not?" says Godzilla owner Mike Clark.

Godzilla Big Screen Saturday Night
To thank the fans, and just because its fun, Godzilla owners show a selection once a month on Saturday night.  They serve up Spanish Tapas snacks, beer and wine and provide a big screen with loungy chairs in a loungy atmosphere.  

Big Screen Dates
March 31, May 5, June 2 and June 30.

March 31 is Christopher Walken Night and you can vote on online from the four selections: Nick of Time, Suicide Kings, Deer Hunter or Envy.

Godzilla-sized Collection
Godzilla film collection is as big as its name. Hosting  7967 films in the database including 3000 VHS choices, Godzilla rents cult films, documentaries and some Hollywood blockbusters.  It only costs € 3,50 to become a member then you can rent movies for 5 days. Some of the new releases have to be returned in just 1 day before 19:00.

Rental prices
1 dvd    € 4,-
2 dvd's € 7,-
3 dvd's € 9,50
4 dvd's € 12,-

Free VCR rental
If you find a quirky, must-see VHS tape but you trashed your VCR a long time ago, you can borrow a VCR at Godzilla for a free.

Godzilla Videotheek
Twijnstraat 7
3511 ZG   Utrecht

Close to Ledig Erf and across from Appie
Phone: 030-2369880

http://www.videotheekgodzilla.nl

© 2007 Tammie Nolte
You found a writer.
tammienolte@gmail.com 

Want to build a birthday memory that your kids can hug every night? Snuggle up to Build-a-Bear Workshop®. Build-a-Bear® is an American idea which has crossed the ocean and landed in Utrecht on the Oudegracht.

BUILD-A-HEART
Build-a-Bear Workshop® is not just about slapping a lacy dress and some pink shoes on a pastel colored bear. The Build-a-Bear® store is also a workshop where kids can choose a bear, fill it with stuffing, put in a heart, sew it up and then dress it in fancy pink shoes and a fluffy dress. At the store, you can also give your bear a name and make it a unique birth certificate.

BUILD-A-MACHO MAN
With superhero outfits like Batman and Spiderman, Build-a Bear Workshop® is not just a girly party thing. Boys can choose from sporting outfits like golf, football or soccer, basketball and other less than pink frilly choices.

BUILD-A-VARIETY OF PLUSH ANIMALS
Don't go thinking you can just build a bear. Your child can choose a range of animals such as chicks, giraffes, frogs, dogs, unicorns and other non-bear animals.

BUILD-A-PARTY®
Party Workshops start at €12 per kid for a basic bear making kit. You'll have to pay extra for shoes, shirts and other services. But, won't the memories be priceless?

BUILD-A-SOUVENIR
A well-done, well-dressed, shoe wearing bear or frog or dog will probably cost a gorgeous €35-55. But, aren't souvenirs worth it?

 If you aren't convinced yet, watch the video. If you are convinced, your bear is waiting.

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP®
Oudegracht 109
3511 AG Utrecht

Open:
Monday 13:00-18:00
Tues-Friday 10:00-18:00
Saturday 10:00-17:00
First Sunday of the month 12:00-17:00

Phone: 030-2300115
Book a party: Call 06 -5463-1256
E-mail: info@buildabear.nl
Website: http://www.buildabear.nl/
American site: http://www.buildabear.com/

© 2007 Tammie Nolte
You found a writer.
tammienolte@gmail.com 

NEW CITY SQUARE IN WOERDEN
Trendy and kid friendly usually don't belong together in the restaurant business. Since the opening of the new square in Woerden, Breuren has revamped its image, customer base, opening times and profits.

"We have changed a lot recently, before we were a very exclusive restaurant and only open for dinner. When the new square opened a few months ago, we could open at 10:00 and serve customers all day," said the Breuren bartender.

The new square has increased daytime traffic which means more parents with small children during the day. Breuren is ready with a pile of games, books and coloring pencils. Smoking is allowed inside the restaurant which isn't so child friendly.

DUTCH & ASIAN FUSION MENU
And what about the food. The menu is a fusion mix Dutch, Asian and personal favorites. For example, on the menu is caviar, Japanese sashimi, and Chinese spareribs, but also nachos and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.

Breuren makes their own kroketten, a Dutch fried beef gravy snack. The Breuren chef uses thick slices of bread, not pre-cut, to make its open faced stacks like goat cheese topped mixed leaves with roasted nuts and caramel.

Breuren's menu changes six times a year. A main dish example this month is Chicken Massaman with lemon rice and spicy cucumber. Food presentation fits with the trendy decor, however, prices are reasonable for a quality plate of food.

INSIDE, OUTSIDE
Breuren is smallish, seating about 50 people. Breuren is on the corner so it is well lit and the new square has opened up the view and given them more room for terras seating outside.

Inside every inch of space has been well-thought out and decorated to a high standard. The daily specials are written in chalk on window shades made of blackboard fabric.

The window bench seating are covered in black suede. With real wood tables, a brick wall and warm red chairs, the atmosphere is inviting. Even a flatscreen in the corner continuously runs live fireplace screensaver.

GETTING TO WOERDEN
If you want smaller village scenery with a less or no touristy feel, then try the city of Woerden, just 10 minutes in the train from Utrecht Central Station. Drop by Breuren in the new square for a fancy snack, lunch or dinner. Let the kids play dominoes and color, you can read a magazine peacefully while drinking your latte.

Breuren Restaurant, "all day eating and drinking"
Opens at 10:00am
Wednesday and Thursday until 24:00
Friday and Saturday until 1:00
Sunday until 22:00
Closed Monday and Tuesday
No reservations.
Sandwich: €6-10
Main course: €12-20
Coffee and variations: €2.40

Cash, Pin, Visa, Euro Mastercard
Location: Groenendaal 28
3441 BD Woerden
Local phone: 0348-415-300
info@breuren.nl
http://www.breuren.nl/

© 2007 Tammie Nolte
tammienolte@gmail.com

FEBRUARY 21, 22, & 23 at CASTLE de HAAR
If your little trolls need to get out of the house during the school vacation, take the kids to the Trolls' Festival at Castle De Haar. String big plastic noses on the whole family, put on some big fat pants and you are ready. Castle de Haar is the largest Dutch castle with plenty of towers and bridges for trolls to hide under.

TROLLS IN THE FOREST
For hundreds of years the Scandanavian trolls have been living in the Dutch forest. The trolls leave their forest homes all around Holland to come to dance, make music, laugh and celebrate with the children at the castle.

AUNT TROLL'S THEATER
During the three day festival, Aunt Troll, her sister Nigella and the rest of the family will put on a happy one hour play in an open-air theatre. Before and after the shows, you can take pictures with the troll family.

FESTIVAL DETAILS
If you forget your bag of troll food, the castle has a restaurant with warm drinks, cold drinks and pancakes. Wear comfortable shoes, for special events parking is in a pasture and a 10 minute walk to the castle.

February 21, 22 & 23 with two shows a day at 13:30 and 15:30
Entry €11.50. Parking €3.

Kasteel de Haar
Kasteellaan 1, 3455 RR Haarzuilens, NL
Phone: 011-31-(0)30-677-8515
Fax: 011-31-(0)30-677-8530
e-mail: informatie@kasteeldehaar.nl
www.kasteeldehaar.nl

© 2007 Tammie Nolte
tammienolte@gmail.com

ELVIS CORNER
Elvis lives in Utrecht, on the corner. Elvis Corner. For all your Elvis needs, and who doesn’t need an Elvis necktie, Elvis bottle opener and an Elvis dishtowel? Didn’t you always want your bedroom to smell like Elvis? Need a hunka-hunka burnin’ love? Elvis Corner has the answer: Elvis incense sticks.  

THE ELVIS COLLECTION
Serious collector or not, you have to be impressed with the collection of Elvis CDs, vinyl albums, video tapes and DVDs. The owners Cherry and Johan van Wezel started out running an Internet shop with a CD collection from various artists. Johan admits,"We are big Elvis fans and always specialized in Elvis CDs. Now we sell only Elvis."

 The Elvis stock in the store on the corner is equally as impressive as all the Elvis offerings on the website: http://www.elviscorner.nl/.

ELVIS CDS, DVDs, VIDEOS and BOOKS
Shop owner Johan says, "We are very proud of our CD collection. That's really unique. We have the biggest CD collection in Europe and probably even outside of Europe."

Cool and strange combinations are: Elvis Sings the Beatles, a 5 track promo CD of Elvis singing Beatles songs; Elvis the 56 Sessions Volume One, an upgrade of the 1978 album with 5 introductions to the original master recordings; Elvis in Oklahoma, not Live in Vegas, not Aloha Elvis from Hawaii, but a book about Elvis in Oklahoma.

Rare CDs include: Elvis in Nashville out of Australia, Elvis La Pelvis out of Argentina, Elvis Off-Camera out of Europe.

On DVD and video, look for Elvis documentaries, Elvis Live performances, Elvis Films, and of course Kareoke King and 3 other Elvis karaoke DVDs.

"We import from Chili to South Africa," says Johan, "Everywhere there's an Elvis CD we try to obtain them for the shop."

OTHER ELVIS GIFT IDEAS
Smoking may not be politically correct anymore. But if you have a smoker in the family, you can buy plenty of Elvis accessories to prolong the habit. Elvis Corner has Elvis cigarette lighters, Elvis cigarette boxes and Elvis ashtrays.

Other gift ideas include: An Elvis Beanie Bear for niece Presley whose mother adores the King. An Elvis Jukebox for your grandma who never saw Elvis in concert, but is still his biggest fan. And, Father’s Day is around the corner. Elvis Corner.

LOCATING ELVIS
If you are in Utrecht city center, this shop isn’t just around the corner. From Utrecht Central Station it is a 10 minute bus ride until you are neck high in all that is Elvis. Hop on bus 3 toward Zuilen. Ask the driver to let you off at Concordiastraat. Walk 2 minutes toward the traffic light on the corner. Elvis Corner.

ELVIS CORNER
Amsterdamsestraatweg 293 in Utrecht                        
OPEN: 10:00-17:00 Tuesday-Saturday & 1st Sunday of every month.
phone: 011-31-30-264-0351
fax: 011-31-30-264-0352
postal address:
Elvis Corner, Postbus 10061, 3505 AB Utrecht NL
e-mail: info@elviscorner.nl
http://www.elviscorner.nl/
   

© 2007 Tammie Nolte
tammienolte@gmail.com
You found a writer.