Valentine’s has passed. The wine has been drunk, chocolate is gone…

Now, quietly, Lent begins.

Before you worry, this isn’t a sermon. I just like the idea of it: a small reset. A gentle subtraction.

What could you remove that might improve your life?

Less scrolling?
Less rushing?
Maybe less sugar…?

On another note, I was genuinely sad to hear that Cultivate is closing. They were early supporters of The Scoop and our favourite local restaurant! (Those coconut chocolate truffles will be sorely missed in our house).

Although… perhaps it’s a small mercy.

I’m giving up chocolate and bedtime doom-scrolling for Lent.

So maybe this is divine timing!

The fact is that Cities change. Places close. New ones open.

So this week’s Scoop leans into renewal.

Fresh starts. Fresh events. Fresh reasons to get out.!

And maybe one small thing you quietly decide to let go of.

If you were cutting one thing for 40 days, what would it be?

Hit reply, I love hearing your stories and suggestions

• Berlin flights from Oslo (OSL to BER)
Direct flights to Berlin, typically ~1 hr 35-40 min. Berlin mixes cool culture with cosy winter wandering. Prices and schedules updated live.

• Edinburgh flights from Oslo (OSL to EDI)
Search cheap options to Scotland’s historic capital — ideal for cosy pubs, castle views, and brisk walks.

• Gdańsk flights from Oslo (OSL to GDN)
Direct flights to this Baltic gem — great food, old town charm, and easy to explore in a weekend.

If your face is currently showing clear signs of January, you’re not alone. The cold air + indoor heating combo does something to Oslo skin that feels slightly personal.

That’s why I’m happy to feature Néroli this week - a calm, expert-led skincare studio that does the kind of treatments where you leave looking like you’ve slept properly, drank enough water, and never once forgot to put sunblock.

Their signature treatment is the Néroli Dyprens 60 min (deep cleansing facial) - properly thorough, but still relaxing. It’s ideal if you want a reset without turning it into “a whole spa day.

Scoop offer (new clients only):
20% off Néroli Dyprens 60 min
Use code SCOOP26 when you book (enter it in the “additional info” field).

«Book here»

This week isn’t about marble kitchens, interior elevators or clever lighting.

It’s about location.

Nearly two acres on the water.
Around 35 metres of private shoreline.
Big, open views across the Bunnefjorden.
Sun that hangs around until late evening.

What’s on the plot right now?

A house from 1900 that’s completley derelict

Estate-agent translation: demolition project.
Real translation: Rip it up and start again!

Because opportunities like this are disappearing fast.
You’re buying land, air, horizon, privacy - the things nobody can build more of.

It’s untamed. Overgrown. Full of promise.

You can almost picture what comes next:

Glass towards the fjord.
Steps to the water.
Dinner outside while the sun goes down
A home people invent excuses to visit.

Yes, it needs vision.
Yes, it needs a big budget.

But waterfront in Oslo doesn’t arrive to be practical.

Price quote: 21,000,000 kr
Total price: 21,526,090 kr
Type: Detached house (selveier)
Bedrooms: 0
Primary room: 311 m²
Usable area: 381 m²
Year built: 1900
Energy rating: G
Plot: 1,970 m² (owned)
Shoreline: approx. 35 m
Municipal taxes: 33,287 kr / year
Property tax: 23,904 kr / year

Some homes are finished.

This one is waiting for its second life.

And if you’ve ever paused by the fjord and thought,
I’d love to live right there…

I cut through Vår Frelsers gravlund quite often, and every time it feels like stepping through a kind of peace filter. Established in 1808 and the resting place of cultural heavyweights like Henrik Ibsen and Edvard Munch, it carries history quietly. But what I notice most isn’t the names, it’s the stillness. Even when I’m just using it as a shortcut, I slow down. In summer it’s especially beautiful to wander, full trees, warm light, people sitting quietly on the benches, it feels less like a cemetery and more like a little sanctuary.

When I took this photo, the winter light stopped me. The sun seemed to merge with a streak of cloud, forming this strange abstract shape above the gravestones, dramatic and almost painterly. For a moment it felt surreal, like the sky was putting on its own expressionist show. Snow underfoot, long shadows, that crisp Oslo air… it was one of those moments where you don’t just pass through, you stand still. Munch might have smiled at that sky.

Some dinners are meals. This, my friend is theatre.

Sabi Omakase Oslo holds a Michelin star and centres everything around the Japanese concept of omakase, which literally means “I leave it up to you.” You sit at the counter, trust the chef, and surrender to a meticulously choreographed sequence of around 20 courses over a minimum of three hours. Nordic seafood meets traditional Edomae technique, each piece prepared and served directly across the counter with calm precision.

This is not somewhere you just “pop in.” It’s a full evening. The room is intimate (around ten seats), the pacing deliberate, the atmosphere focused. Reviews consistently mention the quiet intensity, the quality of the fish, and the way the experience builds course by course. Pairings, wine, sake, or non-alcoholic, are curated to move with the menu, not compete with it.

Insider reality: book well in advance. Sit at the counter. Ask questions. And make sure you genuinely like sushi - you’ll be eating a lot of it. This is curated dining at its most refined, which will live long the memory..

Make sure your bunad fits perfectly - book your alterations now.
A Bunad isn’t just something you wear. It’s tradition, pride, and craftsmanship - and it deserves a fit that feels just right.

At Fru Hang, we offer 30 years of experience in professional Bunad tailoring and adjustments so your Bunad sits beautifully and comfortably for the season’s biggest occasions.

Book an appointment and quote SCOOP

Sat 21 Feb -14:00 A Pre-Season friendly before the Eliteserien season starts on 15 March 2026. It’s a genuine match with both sides sharpening up and trying out combinations before the stakes are official. KFUM Oslo bring a strong local rivalry feel, many of their players have history with Vålerenga’s youth teams.

Sat 21 Feb, 18:30 - Vålerenga host Frisk Asker in what’s shaping up to be another top-of-the-table clash. The last time these two met at Jordal it delivered everything you want from a rivalry: packed arena, high pace and a strong home win.

Centrum Tigers vs Asker Aliens – Wed 18 Feb, 18:00
A midweek home game, the Tigers, who have won their last 3 matches, play the Aliens who are having an absolute nightmare start to their season losing all 5 of the opening games. Could this be their first win?

A relaxed, English-speaking quiz night in the cosy retro setting of Arv Kaffe & Retro, Schweigaards gate 57B.

Questions range from Einstein to Taylor Swift, so you don’t need to be a specialist, just curious. Come with friends or join a team on the night. Popular with internationals and newcomers looking to meet people without awkward networking vibes.

Fast-growing Norwegian fashion brand Urban Pioneers is hiring a Store Manager at Byporten - lead daily operations, build a strong team, drive sales and shape the customer experience in one of Oslo’s busiest retail hubs; retail experience preferred but attitude and leadership matter most.

Gymbutikken is hiring part-time and full-time store assistants and the hiring sign has been in the window for months, so they’re clearly still looking for the right person; advise customers on supplements and training gear, support daily operations and bring strong product knowledge to a niche fitness environment.Apply via [email protected] or DM @gymbutikken.

If you’re looking for an English-speaking church that actually feels like a family, Grace International Church of Oslo might be the city’s best-kept secret.

It’s a warm, international fellowship that’s growing so fast they’ll soon need a bigger home. Services are relaxed, joyful, and genuinely welcoming – and after every service they serve a full hot meal buffet. As far as I know, they’re the only church in Oslo doing that every week, and the welcome is just as warm as the food.

You’ll find a mix of Norwegians, expats, and long-term locals who’ve found real friendship and faith under one roof – and around one table.

Tue 24 Feb, 18:00–20:00 – Christian Krohgs gate, Oslo
Not your typical performance night, this is a local community open gathering hosted by Bipolarforeningen Norge. It’s a space for conversation, connection, and shared experience great if you’re interested in community initiatives, mental health dialogue, or meeting people in a thoughtful, welcoming setting.

Wed 18 Feb, 19:00 – Iron Roses, Sentrum, Oslo
A playful mid-week live event blending music, mingling and social vibes for anyone curious to meet new people without the typical format of a “meetup.” Expect DJ sets, beats and an open environment where the focus isn’t forced interaction - just good sound, casual crowd and an easy Wednesday evening out.

Laugh your mid-week worries away with local comics trying new material and seasoned pros dropping polished bits. Latter’s crowd knows how to react, expect warm energy.

The all-female comedy collective Peak Performance returns with their second stage show -a high-energy, genre-bending sketch spectacle packed with absurd humour, over-ambitious dance numbers and theatrical chaos.

Creative grooves and unique soundscapes: this is a genre-bending live set at one of Oslo’s most imaginative venues. SALT’s programme is one of those nights you discover by curiosity rather than headline.

Underground flavour and indie energy for weekend ears, a night of eclectic beats, unexpected sets and a crowd that’s here for a good time and a sweaty dancefloor

Classics done well: melodic, familiar and delivered with craftsmanship, a good Sunday plan if you want to hear the Sultans of Swing in full flow and prove that some guitar lines never go out of style.

No experience needed: build a jazz tune from scratch with live musicians in one of Oslo’s cosiest venues, part sing-along, part social night, all good atmosphere.

A quietly compelling literary evening with Kim Hiorthøy in conversation about his new novel. Deep ideas, thoughtful dialogue as part of the literature @ Blå events

Want to meet up IRL?

«A few people have asked about a very casual Scoop get-together, nothing formal, just a drink and a chat with other readers.»

If that might be something you’d enjoy, just hit reply and say “interested.”

The Scoop grows through word of mouth, so if you liked this week’s issue, send it to one friend and help me spread the word.
Behind the scenes, I’m also helping a handful of Oslo businesses get found and remembered. If that sounds like you, let’s talk.

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Stay curious, Oslo.

Spence

PS. Know someone in Oslo who’d love The Scoop? Hit reply with their email and I’ll add them.