Copenhagen in 35mm

I can’t believe I made it back to my favourite place on earth - Copenhagen, Denmark. A spur of the moment decision turned out to be one of the best I’ve made all year, as I forgot how much of my heart I had left in this city all those years ago. I hadn’t been back since 2016 and I’m upset with myself for waiting this long to make my what was once a yearly pilgrimage. The great thing about Copenhagen is that things never really change. The grocery store I used to live next to on Blegdamsvej is still there, albeit larger and more flashy; the local bar I would drag my friends to when they would come visit is still alive and kicking on Nørrebrogade; and the iconic buildings I remember so fondly are still proudly standing (except for beautiful Borsen, which sadly burnt down earlier this year). It was so great to be back and even a month later, my heart still hurts thinking about much I love it here.

Although I was only in Copenhagen for three days, I tried to fit in as much as humanly possible. I stayed at Babette Guldsmeden on Bredgade, one of my favourite streets in Indre By. It is steps away from Churchillparken and Marmorkirken, one of the most beautiful structures in the city. I made it a priority to visit Designmuseum Danmark, Det Nationale Fotomuseum in det Kongelige Bibliotek, and the Dansk Arkitektur Centre, all of which were phenomenal. I even caught the tail-end of Irma: A Design Story at the Designmuseum which was just amazing. I shopped at Posterland (an old favourite), Jazzcup (a jazz cafe and store, where I picked up a record by Plum and I), Storm, New Mags, Naked Copenhagen, HAY, and Flying Tiger. I stopped by the TikTok-famous Lidkøb, an incredible flea market in Østerbro, where I found a Stine Goya dress for 1/5th of the original price. I ate pastries at Hart Bageri and Apotek 57; drank øl at Warpigs in Kødbyen and vin at the Lille Blå Vinbar on Esplanaden where I met a new friend; and had delicious meals at Bottega Barlie, La Banchina, Hija de Sanchez, and Studio X Kitchen. I spent quality time with my Danish mor which healed my heart and soul. I visited her pilates studio, PWR 8 (absolutely gorgeous!), and we explored the new area of Copenhagen, Carlsbergbyen , and went to the Van Gogh Exhibit on Refshaløen. It truly was such a special trip and I am already longing to go back - if my soul was a city, it would be København.

Photographs were taken with my Canon ELAN 7 using a combination of Fujicolor 200, Kodak Portra 400, and Kodak ColourPlus 200 films developed and scanned at Downtown Camera.

Copenhagen 2016, pt. 2

Our return to Copenhagen consisted of ten perfect days complete with blue skies and sunshine, and a city infused with an early summer bustle. Parks packed with picnickers, canals lined with sunbathers, it seemed as if every Copenhagener was outside enjoying one of the few beautiful weeks of summer a year. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

One part of this trip I had been looking forward to was meeting up with one of my oldest and best of friends who has been studying abroad in the States. Already traveling through Europe with her family, she was able to fly over and join us for Distortion, and we used this as an opportunity to do some sightseeing. No matter how many times I visit Copenhagen, I know I will never tire of experiencing the city’s many sites and attractions. The Rundetaarn is one of my favourites. Located in central Copenhagen down the winding street of Købmagergade, this 17th-century astronomical observatory still operates as such, but also acts as a venue for cultural events and art exhibitions. As you ascend the tower by way of a radial, cobbled passage, the windows allow for beautiful natural light to leak in, and offer glimpses of the quintessential orange Copenhagen rooftops. At the top awaits one of the most photogenic spots in the entire city, where one can truly appreciate Copenhagen as the "the city of spires".

We spent a lot of time exploring Christianshavn and Holmen, an area of the city which soon became one of my favourites. Situated on the island of Amager, Christianshavn boasts a charming, authentic aesthetic that helps it stand apart from the rest of the city. Christianshavn's urban composition of canals, bridges, and houseboats take inspiration from the urban design of Amsterdam, looking almost identical to the Dutch capital in some places. Although this neighbourhood is predominately residential, there are many things to see and do. We wandered through Freetown Christiania, an autonomous and peaceful "hippie" commune, browsed the fantastic design book selection in the Danish Architecture Centre, relaxed outside of noma, and ate at Copenhagen Street Food, a new sustainable street food market established in the old newspaper factory Papirøen. 

Our main reason for visiting Copenhagen this time of year was Distortion, the ultimate Scandinavian party experience. Dubbed a "celebration of Copenhagen nightlife", Distortion is a five-day street festival that transitions from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, with street parties in the Inner City, Nørrebro, Vesterbro, and a final party on Refshaleøen, Copenhagen Ø. With an incredible variety of music, cheap beer, and engaged locals, Distortion is a unique and worthwhile opportunity to not only party, but use as a basis for justifying your own trip through Denmark – it is truly something to be experienced.

We said our goodbyes to Copenhagen with a final dinner at Den Røde Cottage in Klampenborg. A suburb north of Copenhagen, Klampenborg is home to Bakken, the world's oldest amusement park, Jægersborg Dyrehave, a natural area known for its deer population, and Bellevue Beach, where some of Arne Jacobsen's finest work can be found. It was the perfect finale to our ten days in the happiest city on earth.

See you soon, Copenhagen.