« Profile: Aiko | Main | DORBEL figures by Jim Woodring »
November 19, 2003
THE ESSENTIALS #9 - Mackplakt's Top Ten City Guide to Antwerp
Mackplakt's Top Ten City Guide to Antwerp
Hi everybody. I'll be your guide for the evening. I am born, raised, and am a current citizen of Antwerp (a city of fashion, diamonds, chocolate and fries). Antwerp's got a street art history. It dates back 10 years with artists such as Spaghettiman and Nikske Fluo. Other people such as Tyfusch, Apetown and Prutpuss became involved in the scene in the middle nineties. They became the most well known sticker artists in Antwerp during that period. Lots of Dutch and French people had previously visited and invaded our city with their stencils and tags. In '99 the Antwerp street art scene got a lot of media attention, primarily because of an overdose of stickers. The result was lots of cleaning.
What can I say? Should I tell you about the Kammenstraat, a so-called "hip" street with overprised streetwear clothing and trendy rich children running around like crazy? Maybe not. That is, except for a record store called 'Stereophonic'. The store features a painted wall by Tyfusch and has a great taste for experimental music.
For cans and mags you say? You go to Mekanik Strip, the biggest comic shop in Belgium, located at Sint Jacobsmarkt 73. You can also buy Rotkop magazine there, the Antwerp based art zine.
Also for magazines, some cool clothes, and toys you should go to Shutzmarket at the Zakstraat 1. They also had some great expos in the past (Krsn, Zedz, Heavyweight, Flying Fortress...)
The only real skateboard shop in town is Lockwood, at the Lange Klarenstraat 21, where my girl Ephameron works.
For food you must go and try the sandwiches at Lombardia. They're way too expensive but very good. It is situated at the Lombardenvest 78.
Art books can be found at the Nationalestraat 28a in an arty farty bookshop called Copyright. It's next to the fashion museum. It's really worth the walk.
When you need to get something printed, it's best to go to Printshop, Vleminckstraat 13.
There's a legal graffiti spot, the Muntplein near the river. Sometimes there's stuff worth checking out. Watch out for dog poo, though.
The Museum for contemporary art, MUHKA, is also around there, but a bit down the river in a trendy neighbourhood called "'t Zuid". There are some nice galleries, museums, bars and clubs located there. Leuvenstraat 32.
A nice old bars is called "De Billenkletser" at the Hoogstraat 22. It has the coolest toilet- occupied-sign-construction ever. If you want to know what that means, you must certainly go there sometime. (Over 100 kinds of beer!)
For further questions or anything else, you can always contact me at mackplakt@hotmail.com
Greets,
Mackplakt
Posted by marc at 7:20 AM in City Guides | Recommend this! |
|