I visited Scandinavia House with my mom last weekend when we were in the neighborhood. I had just returned from a trip to Sweden and was curious about Scandinavia House. I enjoyed my visit, but I think it's important to note that this is less a museum than a cultural center. So it has a great cafe (Bjork Cafe & Bistro), a great gift shop (I picked up a modern take on the Dala horse), and a small gallery space (when we visited, the exhibit was "Nordic Echoes - Tradition in Contemporary Art"), which is free to visit. But it also hosts events - concerts, lectures, workshops, etc. So if you're looking for a quick visit, stop by for a quick visit to the gallery, the gift shop, and the cafe for drink, snack, or meal. But if you're interested in Scandinavian culture, check out this website for interesting events to attend! read more

Scandinavia House - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - New York, New York

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I'm waxing poetics here but Scandinavia House is one of those gems that makes the city magical. I, quite literally, stumbled upon this place on my way to LES. Walking in, I must've looked visibly confused because the woman at the window called me over to describe the venue. I ended up perusing the first floor with its Nordic goods and picked up some Swedish candy, a few cookies and a macchiato for o go. There is a sit down cafe with Scandinavian fare, and art and movies to explore. Well worth a visit if you'd like something unique! read more

Scandinavia House - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - New York, New York

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called Scandinavia House today to inquire about the VIP Pass package for the 2025 New York Baltic Film Festival, which, according to their own website and printed flyer, starts on November 10th (today). When I selected option 2 for the box office, the man who answered confidently told me that the festival was over. I corrected him, explaining that it was clearly listed as starting today. Instead of checking or apologizing, he insisted I was wrong. When I asked to speak to someone else, he transferred me to another line where no one answered. Puzzled, I called back, only to discover that the same man was not even a box office employee, but a security guard. A security guard was answering official calls and providing completely false information about a major cultural event. This is absolutely unacceptable for an institution that positions itself as a leading cultural hub. They just lost a paying guest willing to spend $425 for a full festival pass. What a way to treat people interested in supporting their programs. If you're planning to call Scandinavia House, pack some snacks and patience, you might be on the line with the security guard getting film festival updates straight from the front door. Don't bother asking about schedules, tickets, or cultural events, he'll confidently inform you that everything's already over, even if it hasn't started yet. read more

First time at this establishment and I loved it! First, it is a multi cultural affair with a screening room, gift shop, and specialty store. The restaurant is Swedish in origin and the food is typical fare for that country AND DELICIOUS. Laid back atmosphere is a plus. Can't believe it's on fancy Park Avenue. Affordable especially if you go on Tuesdays as that is 1/2 off bottled wine day! We had two bottles. read more

I'm honestly baffled by the glowing reviews for this place. The food was mediocre at best--I've had better pre-packed, frozen meatballs. The lox and other dishes were flat and uninspired. Drinks? Also disappointing. To make matters worse, there were fruit flies everywhere--it was absolutely disgusting. My partner and I tried to make light of it by turning the fly situation into a game, but it didn't save the experience. Our waitress, though sporting a cute hairstyle (which I complimented. cute little buns and bangs ), was condescending. She repeatedly asked me if it was my *first time* trying Scandinavian food, yet didn't direct the same line of questioning to my date. Perhaps because he's Asian and I'm Black, she assumed he was more well-traveled than I am--which couldn't be further from the truth. Also, let's be honest: Scandinavian food isn't some unattainable, high-class fare. They sell the same gravlax with cheap couches in Red Hook, Brooklyn (and honestly, the food at Ikea is better than what I had here). As someone who has lived in Manhattan for 22 years and has been fortunate to travel extensively, I was not impressed by this place at all. read more

Went for brunch at a friend's recommendation. We ordered potato leek soup, which was unlike any potato leek soup I've ever tasted. A bit slimey in texture and tiny shavings of leek. We asked for bread, but never received it. Next we ordered potato waffle with roasted chicken, lettuce with honey tarragon sauce. After waiting 20 minutes and asking the waitress to check our order, she brought the wrong order. Waited another 10 minutes. When the food finally arrived, the waffle was awful. We couldn't cut the waffle and the chicken was dry. It definitely was not worth the $48. read more

I joined Scandinavia House as an out of state member during the pandemic for their fabulous virtual programming during lockdown including Scandi films, book talks and virtual discussion panels. I was really impressed with their offerings and love their quarterly newsletters. For the annual membership fee, they even threw in a decent quality reusable fabric bag. However, I'm very disappointed in a recent encounter with Yvonne of their Member Services Dept. I had emailed requesting support for some virtual programming. Instead of her attempting to listen to the questions I posed in my email, her only reply was to simply refer me to earlier emails. Hint: if I took the time out of my day to email you, it's because the initial info provided me wasn't sufficient or there's a glitch somewhere. She then doubled down by becoming rigid, citing 'previously disclosed policies' and finally starting out her final email to me with "We have forwarded a number of emails about this." Ouch! Yvonne doesn't belong anywhere near a Customer Service desk and the sooner Scandinavia House realizes this, the less damage she will do to that organization's reputation and goodwill toward its members. read more

This is a review for The Shop, the gift store by the front entrance. I go here once in a while if I'm in the neighborhood to check out seasonal goodies and products. For a small shop they have an interesting selection of Swedish chocolates, coffees and jellies. I liked the selection of Tapered candles made in Denmark . The Danish burn more candles per capita than any other country so they know good candles. They are drip less, last a long time and look good. Worth the price. Also check out the restaurant, they have a good Swedish menu. read more

Promoting the culture of the Scandinavian countries, this place is considered a museum but cultural center is the more appropriate term. I walked in one day just to see the art exhibit section and discovered that it is very small. However, they also have film screenings and concerts periodically and there is a gift shop with some unique items. This place used to be home to a very authentic Scandinavian restaurant called Aquavit. It has since closed down and been replaced by a place called Smorgas Chef. Smorgas Chef is less high end but still gets fairly good reviews. read more

Scandinavia House - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - New York, New York

Please note that I have not been to the restaurant or the gallery and this review is only for the cafe. The staff here is nice. The chocolates are cheap and there is a good selection of things. I wouldn't go out of my way to go here but for what I got, the stuff was good. As it can be assumed, the majority of stuff here contains marzipan. There's a good looking restaurant in back called this: https://www.yelp.com/biz/smorgas-chef-new-york-7 read more

This place is a really amazing cultural center and it has a really good Scandinavian restaurant inside. To start, we ordered the lingonberry soda. It was really good, and had actual lingonberries in the bottom. Next came the danish bread basket. It was amazing, and had two different types of bread and a cracker. For lunch, we got the smorgasbord. That was the best smorgasbord that I have ever had! It had pickled herring in two different sauces, pox, a cracker, cucumber dill salad, beet and Apple salad, potato salad (it was like shredded potatoes cooked with something else), and Swedish meatballs on top of a mound of mashed potatoes and lingonberry preserves. The plate looks small, but is amazingly filling. It was a little expensive, but very good, and definitely worth the experience. read more

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This was a bit of a disappointment. They didn't have that many Swedish items for purchase and the restaurant on side had a meatball lunch for $25. I know it is New York, but really? Maybe if I wasn't Swedish, I wouldn't have been disappointed but I was expecting it to have more stuff. read more

Their shrimp toast and seafood bisque made a lovely lunch. It was beautifully presented. Delicious, fresh and perfect combinations.

Holiday dinner with school friends (we go way back), ordered the Smorgasbord Platter -- the stuff of dreams! Warm potato salad like ambrosia w/ meat balls at the center of the platter competing with the best herring ever! Add cucumber salad (crisp and lovely), beet salad for flavor and color, all overshadowed the tasty salmon. Did I mention the lovely bread plate? How lucky that one of our group is gluten averse so extra for me. Ended the meal with the dessert port. In such a pretty room where you can speak in low tones. Happy new year! read more

Home of the American-Scandinavian Foundation, this is a great place for Nordic culture and life. Their gift shop, educational exhibits and children's playing & learning center lets you escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. With all this exposure, you get to experience a glimpse of Scandinavia without the jet lag! GIFT SHOP - offers classic Scandinavian design including tableware, jewelry, toys, clothing, and accessories, as well as books, music, and specialty foods. Orrefors, Royal Copenhagen, Kosta Boda and Marimekko merchandise are also available here. EXHIBITS - When I visited there was the Borrowed Time: Icelandic Artists Look Forward Exhibit which showed the work of contemporary Icelandic artists through photography, video, and collage. Go online to see the calendar of events for more opportunities. CHILDREN'S PLAYING AND LEARNING CENTER - Young children and adult family members can learn about the culture of Scandinavia through books, toys, art workshops, and interactive programs. There is both an activity room and a sensory room to enjoy all things Nordic. On Saturdays from 12-5 PM, it is $15/child and is open to the public, space permitting. From Tues-Fridays it is free from 10 am-5 pm. ONGOING LANGUAGE COURSES - Weekly evening language courses are available at the Scandinavian House. Go online to see the options and to sign up. read more

Scandinavia House - entrance to organization - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - New York, New York

This rating is just for the play space they have on the fourth floor, the rest of the Scandinavia house (cafe and exhibition floors) was lovely. I tried to take my son to the play space today and felt like I stumbled into a Portlandia episode. When you enter at the lobby, a woman at the front desk runs a two part phone call vetting process with multiple other employees to decide whether or not you're allowed to enter. We were eventually told it was much too crowded and no other children could be let in today unless we wanted to become members. Membership to the Scandinavia house is like $20/year, membership with playroom access is $500/year. I got my son a piece of cake at the cafe to cheer him up (great cake, kind server) Then since it was open house ny weekend, we went on the free walkthrough, which included an opportunity to behold the famous playroom through glass walls. There were four children inside, along with about 15 parents and grandparents, each toddler surrounded by a cheering section of relatives hovering over their every move. One father was doing an elaborate multi-character puppet show for mostly his own enjoyment. A single bored grandpa was flagrantly violating the no mobile phones rule, bless him. I don't think this is the spot for us but a certain type of New York parent looks to love it! read more

One of my favorite restaurants in midtown. Perfect for a business lunch or dinner. Restaurant is located on the first floor inside Scandinavia House where exhibits can be seen in the upstairs galleries. The space is beautiful with lots of natural light and is spacious and tranquil relative to most restaurants in midtown. Food and service are excellent. They also have a charming gift shop adjacent to the restaurant with Scandinavian chocolates and candies. read more

My first girlfriend was from Sweden. She had blue hair and blond eyes, but it was the early eighties and all sort of seemed to make sense. Until she left me to become a Greek Orthodox nun.... Flash forward 25 years to NYC and my love for all things Nordic is requited by the Scandinavia House. Check their website for the current goings on but there is something for everyone. Sure I can't afford anything but the culture but I do like to watch. The exhibits change frequently. And you know it is authentic Scandinavian because there are lots of events for children and families. (I think currently they are supporting the Pippi Longstocking Puppet show in Central Park) I think December is the busiest time. Go to the Jul Market during the Christmas season even if its just to look. There is the St. Lucia pageant but if you want to see it get your tickets early.... And the Holiday smrgsbord. But you can just hang out... see the library then go to the Cafe and meet real Scandinavians. There is a lot more to Scandinavia than Ikea. read more

I never wanted to dye my hair blond. Then I went to the Scandinavia House for lunch, and suddenly I find myself eying boxes of L'Oreal in the Duane Reade. The AQ Cafe is a really quirky find in south-east midtown. Order at the counter and a happy blond will bring you your order and beer (I hope you order beer) to a clean, shiny table in the big, bright room. My Nordic Cuban ($7.50) with Swedish ham and Jarlsberg was a welcome change from the typical lunch-hour sandwich fare. The potato salad? Admittedly weird. But sipping on a Carlsberg ($5) with my unusually tasty meal was fabulous. This classier Ikea lunch really made my week. And my hair color? Still red. AQ isnt *that* good. read more

I love it here! I'm a member of the American Scandinavian Foundation. It's not that expensive to join, and they have really great events if you are interested in Nordic culture. Everything from concerts to art exhibits to my personal favorite, screenings of contemporary and classic Scandinavian films. As you'd except from a place run by a bunch of Scanners, everyone is extremely polite and welcoming. I'm not Scandinavian but just like time spent in the Nordic countries, I feel at home at Scandinavia House too. I've never eaten at the restaurant or bought anything at the store though... Check it out! There is really fun stuff that's kind of under the radar. Because of that a lot of times they'll have the artists or directors at the events. Carlsberg provides beverages for Society events. Fun stuff! read more

I stumbled upon the Scandinavia House by accident, but what a great treat! The food, small gift shope and exhibit were a nice way to spend a few hours. Enjoy the AQ cafe, which serves more authentic Scandinavian cuisine at than it's more adventurous big brother restaurant, Aquavit. Mmmm, dark bread, pickles, gravlox and sild (pickled herring). An aquired taste, but good stuff. I unfortunately wasn't there during the holidays for what I hear is a wonderful expansion of their goods, but the existing gift shop houses great items without being kitchy. The Greta Garbo exhibit was well worth the $3 (!?) entrance fee. read more

The holiday shop is on at Scandanavia House, a yearly fantasy of items imported from Scandanavia. Clogs and glogg as well as scarves and handmade decorations. The Scandanavians are famous for their designs and their are beautiful bowls and glasses and kitchen items. Chocolates and coffee are also available. This is not Target and items can be a little pricey, but this is such a treat with beautiful stuff. They are open everyday and will run some sales closer to Xmas day. read more

I just went for a visit today. I live in the neighborhood and decided it would be a nice easy way to spend a lovely afternoon. I wasn't expecting much besides a few exhibits, a little bite at the cafe, and some browsing at the shop. Perhaps some culture. I was expecting a small-ish museum though which it really is not. So I really got none of the above! I found the facility seemed rundown, the shop not very inspiring, the cafe slightly overpriced so I didn't stay, and worst of all there was barely an exhibit. The Eco Chic exhibit consisted of about 10 mannequins with some clothes on them. The clothes weren't bad but there wasn't much to look at. I walked through the small gallery in under 5 minutes. There was nothing else to see after that. There is no permanent exhibit! All that was left was a children's floor and library also not much to look at. The cafe seemed drab and empty. The shop was more like a corner deli selling anything from chocolates to housewares. None were that appealing or nice actually. There were 4 floors total of very small space. The first floor street level was the 'shop' and cafe. The 2nd floor was closed but didn't seem to have any exhibits for viewing anyway. The exhibit was on the 3rd floor. The 4th floor was the children's floor. The basement is an auditorium but that was closed as well. I do not recommend this venue. Perhaps it's the events and film screenings that this gallery is known for. read more

AND... it shows films: www.scandinaviahouse.org read more

I used to travel to Scandinavia a lot and really missed the Fazer chocolates. Their shop had reasonable prices on chocolates and spa products. I ended up buying a bag full of chocolates and Lingonberry body lotion, which is pretty awesome and on par with the high end spa lotions sold at Sephora. The ladies at the shop were very knowledgeable on products and extremely friendly. I came back to try their cafe a couple days after and had a great brunch experience. The service is prompt and the homemade lingonberry soda was great. The poached eggs with salmon was superb. Very reasonable prices and great customer service. read more

Scandinavia House - Great shopping! - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - New York, New York

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Scandinavia House is a museum with most exhibits charging a very low entrance fee of about $3 or so. The countries of Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland are represented here. At the time of this writing, the museum is celebrating 100 years of Greta Garbo with posters, as well as a retrospective film review. I have also seen Norwegian glass sculptures on display here, photo exhibits of Finnish architecture in churches, and much more. The restaurant, AQ, is a real treat -- a low-priced Aquavit cafe with specialty Scandinavian foods. The setting is attractive in the cafe as well, with brightly colored Nordic-style chairs. The gift shop is small but has some excellent finds. However, come Christmas, the gift shop moves to a higher floor where it takes over and many unique gifts can be found here. And though I can't guarantee it, it has been my experience the past few years that in the few weeks right before Christmas, everything in the shop goes on sale with 20% off! There are many nights of entertainment at Scandinavia House as well with musical performances, lectures and films. Get yourself on the mailing list at Scandinavia House and stay informed! read more

My dream light lives here. It is practical and simple and beautiful but very expensive, which I feel like sums up most of the things that are sold at Scandinavia House. read more

A Scandinavian place in the heart of Manhattan! As a Finnish American this was a treat. Gift shop is cute, restaurant had many authentic dishes. Recommend! read more

We were here just to see the Danish painting exhibit. The collection were small. Free admission. The employee were polite. We did not see anything else when we were there. We'll go back again someday. read more

Scandinavia House - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - New York, New York

I'm not going to add much to the existing reviews, but only to agree with them. A great space for food, a seminar, a fundraiser, to view paintings, or to buy a nice item with a Scandinavian theme. Everyone is super friendly and overall it is a very inexpensive stop to check things out. read more

The prices are going up and the store is going down. Many of the items are not marked and when you finally hear the price you will know why. There are almost no sales but maybe twice a year. The lighting is dreadful in the clothing store. The front store is often unsupervised. I question the head buyer. The sales help for the most part is indifferent. This store is sitting on prime real estate. It may be time to shake it up. read more

My husband is Swedish, and his birthday is on Santa Lucia night, a big Swedish celebration. The Scandinavia House offers a special menu that night, so we thought it would be a perfect way to celebrate both event, and have Swedish Christmas food. Sorry my story is long, so here is a sum up: Loved the food, thought the cafeteria-looking space looked a little sad, although I loved the tree in the middle, adored the singing, those girls knew what they were doing and it was perfect (a group of girls sang Santa Lucia carols in Swedish), HATED the way we were treated by the staff all night. The birthday thing being the icing on the cake. Read the whole story: We booked for that Santa Lucia night weeks in advance, because we were told the event is very popular. Our friends booked a table for 4 and they had a lot of trouble to get the booking right. Someone kept calling them to confirm the booking, and they were never right: 2 for 8pm? No, 4 at 7:30. It went back and forth until that person finally got it right. When we arrived, although the room was half empty and we had booked weeks in advance, we ended up having to sit in a corner, barely enough space for our chairs. It was very uncomfortable, I had merchandise poking me in the back, but I decided not to say anything because it was my husband's birthday and I wanted it to be special. The Santa Lucia singers came and performed, it was lovely, my husband was emotional, the singing was heavenly. What a great start! I did not mind our waitress, Natalia, being a little stiff and not very warm to us. That morning, I had called the restaurant to ensure our waiter would make a special Birthday something for my husband: a candle on the desert, or simply say "happy birthday" to him. It's a tradition between us. Every year I get the staff of the restaurant we go to, to do a little something for him. I was not asking for much, and I have never had a problem with that kind of request before. Usually the staff in restaurants loves that kind of stuff. It's fun, and makes their work fun, and they get a nice tip. The person on the phone said it would not be a problem, she offered that they could sing (or at least say) "Happy Birthday" in Swedish. I was over the Moon! What a great idea! The diner went on, then the desert arrived, nothing. My husband left the table for a couple of minutes, so I asked our waiters what was going on, and if they were going to do anything at all. A young man said he would inquire about it. Then I witnessed all the waiters giggling and almost pointing at our table, looking uncomfortable. My husband came back. Nothing happened. The bill arrived. Nothing. We paid. Nothing. My husband went to grab our coats, and I decided that I would say something to Natalia. Our waitress. As I handed her a very nice tip, I said "I just want to let you know that I am shocked that you guys did not do anything, when I had made this small request about my husband's birthday. I don't think it was much to ask, and it would have made our evening perfect. I am really disappointed. I made a call this morning and was ensured it would happen". She got really pissy and answered, almost aggressively, that it was my fault, I did not tell them early enough. That kind of set me off. At least apologize for being silly, and let's move on. I said "I called this morning! How early do you need it!" She answered, now really upset, that the girl on the phone did not tell the waiters, so I should have come at the beginning of the diner to ask them. But wait, why would have to?? I had talked to someone who promised it was taken care of! Her bad faith about the whole thing pissed me off, and I said "well, it does not matter, I did not think it was much to ask, and when I talk to the young man before, it would have been easy for you to come, and say Happy Birthday in the name of the chef, or the restaurant's staff, whatever. Being nice and human about it". She said "but I don't know how to speak in Swedish!". I said "do it in English!! Why do I care??? It would have been nice of you, no matter what". At that point, my husband joined us, wondering what was happening. I told him, "nothing, let's go", but Natalia, adding insult to the injury turned to him, and without even looking at him, from above her shoulder, she launched, in a thick Russian accent: "She vanted us to say Heppy Birzday to you". I could have slapped her. How humiliating for me, for my husband and for the Scandinavian House. I could tell the whole staff was just like her though. What a sad disappointing staff. It's too bad that the staff turned such a great concept, a Santa Lucia celebration with delicious food, into a humiliating experience. Chef Smorgas, get a better staff. Or teach them to show more humanity to their *paying* customers. It's not like I had asked them to do something impossible or humiliating. I just wanted my husband to feel at home, and special, on his far-away-from-home birthday night. read more

I've been to the Scandinavian House twice now, just to check out the museum and the store. Most recently, I saw the collection of Danish paintings which was outstanding! The museum, located on the 3rd floor, is FREE. There are only about 3-4 rooms and it took me less than an hour to view all the paintings. What I also loved was that instead of making you purchase a set of headphones to listen to the artwork, you can simply plug the code into your phone and listen to the descriptions for free on your phone. Super cool! I will definitely be back to see more exhibits. read more

My professional group, American Planners Association, recently had our Holiday party here. If there is one thing that planners love, its drinking and little appetizers to hold down the massive amount of alcoholic intake that we consume to wash away our sorrows. Ok, maybe we don't drink on the level of a Bill Brasky coworker, but we like beer and wine and Scandinavia House provided not only the beer and apps, but also a great space with top notch service. This place is split up into two different areas. The first floor has a general restaurant and a gift shop below. Which, on my way out, spotted Grulg in bottles. No Trophy Wife fans, I don't think there was any Absenith in it. Meanwhile upstairs is reserved for a larger party area. The second floor was spacious, comfortable, modern, and provided excellent views of Park Ave. Based on my knowledge of spatial layout, I think it could accommodate over 200 people. The catered affair offered the standard bar layout- Amstel, Heineken, Corona (high end Imbev) and some wine. There was a delightful vegetable spread. No new veggies from any other spread, but the presentation was really top notch. Finally, staff would walk around with apps. The best being the Swedish Meatballs. Only the Swedish Chef delivering them to you could make the experience better. All in all, a great place to host a gathering, corporate affair, or your next high end child's birthday party! In addition to all above, there is also a great patio but none of us dared used it because the temperatures more Swedish than NYC that evening. read more

Love their unique art exhibitions. A great escape to Scandinavia while in New York. They also regularly have events for adults and kids, have a store with traditional Scandinavian and Finnish items and foods, and a small restaurant on the ground floor. Scandinavia House is always a pleasure to visit. read more

No permanent collection to speak of, but we saw a exhibit on Jewish Norwegians that was good, but consisted mostly of posters of information I could've read in a book. Scandinavia House would be listed as a museum, but the real reason you should come here is for the AQ Cafe on the main floor. It's operated by the popular Aquavit restaurant, and serves Aquavit food for people on a budget. I had a smorgasbord plate and my friend had salmon lasagna or something crazy like that. Great for lunch. And as long as you're there for a the food, why not go upstairs for a bit? It's free. read more

This is a review of the restaurant only: Microwaved meatballs that are no better than IKEA's, stale bread, dusty ceiling vents, and painfully slow service. Will never eat here again or recommend to anyone looking for a taste of Scandinavia. The only thing that felt authentically Scandinavian about the food was how expensive it was. read more

This is definitely not a museum. There is a tiny gallery where they have temporary exhibits. Came here to se the Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershøi exhibit. It was OK, but had I known how small the exhibit would be, I would not have made the trek here. read more

I went for the dessert. They are great! love it. I had the Swedish Princess Cake: Marzipan covered genoise, vanilla cream, raspberry filling and also the Chocolate Espresso Cake: Mocha butter cream, salted caramel, hazelnut ice cream - both succulent! read more

I'm teaching myself Icelandic, so when I heard about the Icelandic Saga Sites exhibition at the Scandinavian House, I knew I had to go. It was great! The exhibit features paintings and photographs that depict the locations in which the medieval Icelandic sagas were set. The pictures themselves are beautiful, and each one is accompanied by helpful text that explains where the location is and which sagas they are connected to. One feature that I really liked was the fact that you could dial a toll-free number and actually hear the sagas recited (in English) by a famous Icelandic actor. It was a nice touch, and hearing the sagas while looking at the pictures made the stories much more vivid to me. I'd highly recommend this exhibit; it's free and open until January. This was my first visit to the Scandinavian House, but it won't be my last. I didn't eat at the cafe downstairs, but the food smelled heavenly. I don't like the smell of fish at all, so much so that I usually can't eat at primarily-seafood restaurants. Since Nordic cuisine is big on fish, I would have expected to be put off by the smell, but that wasn't the case at all. It smelled delicious, so they must be doing something right. I plan to go back and try the food soon! There's a cute shop here as well and, although a lot of the items are on the expensive side, they look really nice. Plenty of cozy hats, scarves, and sweaters for the winter, various Scandinavian knick-knacks and, of course, candy... actual Swedish fish! There's also a play center for children (I don't have any so I didn't check it out), and they periodically hold film screenings, lectures, and other events. I'll definitely be going back. Although it's called the Scandinavian House, they actually focus on the other Nordic countries (Iceland, Finland, et al.) in addition to the three Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark). Unfortunately for me, though, Icelandic is not one of the languages that they teach there. Go visit the Scandinavian House if you're in the area and want to try something new. It's not huge, and if you're not the "cultural" type then you probably won't like it. But if you like learning new things and/or like northern Europe, this is the place for you. read more