nordstjernan The Swedish Newspaper of America
Published by Swedish News. Volume 144 No. 08, April 30, 2016. Price per copy $2.50
This Week, Page 10
Roxette’s touring days are over but they’re continuing to record.
Sweden, Page 2, 3
Today’s May First demonstrations still engage thousands of people in many cities in Sweden although the messages on the placards aren’t always related to working conditions. Above activists are sitting by a placard saying, “Everyone has the right to a second chance in school.” / Page 9
Photo: Lennart Månsson/Bildbyrån
Denmark and Sweden join forces to merge border control / Support grows for a Swexit from the EU / Housing minister quits after controversy / A baby boy is born to the Prince couple / The King’s sister writes a book about Drottningholm Castle.
Feature, Page 4
An update on a controversial import Sweden shares with the U.S.
Feature, Page 5
Interview with a Swedish soccer player-turnedarchitect in New York City.
Fashion with a soul
Page 11
Gudrun Sjödén, designer, entrepreneur and “kulturtant” at the Greene Street store.
Happy Birthday Your Majesty!
A sensational celebration is planned for HM King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 70th birthday. It may be the biggest royal party in modern history – rumored to be bigger than the Crown Princess’s wedding in 2010. His actual birthday is April 30, when Swedes are otherwise celebrating Walpurgis Night, and the last night in a week-long celebration during which royals, politicians and personal friends from all over Europe will be in Stockholm. The week of special events in honor of the King starts on April 25 and goes full force through April 30, with events of various kinds throughout the city. The King and his Chief of Staff Major General Håkan Pettersson have organized the festivities, one of which /Continued on page 11
Photo: Kristofer Dan-Bergman
Dashboard, Page 10, 11
The Royal Court, Sweden. Photo: Bruno Ehrs
New York’s downtown artsy, hip SoHo area got a little bit greener and a little more Nordic with the opening of Swedish designer Gudrun Sjödén’s first concept store in the U.S. When I walk in I feel just the same as I did when the store opened in 2013: The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the loud speakers release soothing jazz tunes, everyone’s relaxed and I have a hard time telling who’s a shopper and who’s working — the only give-away being the bling of the cash register. My natural spot is on the couch next to the bread basket, where I start browsing a guestbook. A previous visitor sums up my own feelings: “This is my absolute favorite spot to wait for my wife.” New Yorkers and Americans have embraced Sjödén’s col- Continued on page 6
Photo: Marie Andersson
by Ulf Barslund Martensson editor@nordstjernan.com
Four bear cubs make their debut as Skansen celebrates its 125th anniversary year / Swedish mobil giant Telia has an offer for friendly customers / You may have seen this restored Swedish Bulldog at an airshow / Have you called a random Swede yet?
Feature, Page 16
It was a long trip, but a few Easter witches made it to Atlanta in time for an after-Easter feast.
Perspectives, Page 11
Living between Russia and the USA...
Page 8 Swedish Michigan based Autoliv goes the extra mile in testing for passenger safety.