A day in the life
A new salon hopes to harness Antwerp’s trendy spirit and demonstrate that there’s more to the city than cutting-edge fashion
If you’ve ever wondered what all the fuss is about Antwerp, you may want to pay a visit to A.CityLife, the new salon taking place at Antwerp Expo between February 11 and 19. Unusually for an event in a city best known for its contribution to the world’s catwalks, the focus at A.CityLife isn’t on fashion but interiors, gastronomy and design. Event co-ordinator Harry Vanhoyweghen explains why: “Antwerp is a very trendy city and, unusually, people who live in the surrounding neighbourhoods tell people they live in Antwerp. That doesn’t happen anywhere else in Belgium. People from Sint-Martens-Laatem don’t say they come from Ghent and people from Tervuren don’t say they live in Brussels.”
It is this strong city identity that Vanhoyweghen says would make it very difficult to roll the concept out to other cities in Belgium. “We have thought about doing other CityLife salons but Antwerp is a very special city; I am not sure it would be so easy.” So what can visitors expect to see there? As well as more than 80 exhibitors, there will be workshops, fashion shows and ample opportunity to buy a slice of Antwerp at the show. There’s the A.CityLife concept store, which will sell everything from gadgets to fashion, and there will also be a designers’ market on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19, hosted by Belgium’s vintage stalwart, Frederic Rozier of the Design 7 Galerie.
But the highlight of the salon is a special ticketed event on Friday 17, when the Crazy Horse cabaret show from Paris will put on a one-off show catered by two-star Michelin chef Bart De Pooter of De Pastorale. “People in Antwerp really know how to live a good life – fun, stylish, quality. We just want to capture that spirit for a few days,” says Vanhoyweghen.
A.CityLife
The A.CityLife salon takes place from February 11 to 13 and again from February 17 to 19. Opening hours are from 10.00 to 22.30 on Saturday 11 and Friday 17 and 10.00 to 18.00 on all other days. Tickets cost €8 in advance or €10 on the door
Antwerp Expo
Jan Van Rijswijcklaan 191
Elsewhere in Antwerp
Some choice address around town where you can get acquainted with Antwerp city life
Food & drink
1. RA
A shopper’s paradise, yes, but this concept store also has a restaurant where it serves food all day and hosts Friday night dinner parties
Kloosterstraat 13, www.ra13.be
2. De Vagant
It may not rank highly on the (missing text missing text missing text missing text) erving more than 200 varieties of jenever, this bar is a must-visit on any trip to Antwerp
Reyndersstraat 25, www.devagant.be
Shop
3. Coccodrillo
The New York Times said it “may be the world’s best shoe store.” Need we say more?
Schuttershofstraat 8-9, www.coccodrillo.be
4. Renaissance
Shop and eat in style in this exquisite multi-brand store.
Nationalestraat 28-32, www.renaissance-antwerp.com
