Classic Copenhagen

A house of mirrors

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:29:00 +0000

It turns out that Tårnlegepladsen the Tower Playground in Fælledparken, with the mini skyline of Copenhagen, is only part of a major "park lift", with all kinds of projects in the works. You wouldn't think that this playground could get any better, but they found a way to top it: both ends of the big black house on the side (the only one in actual size) have been fully covered in slightly curved mirrors.

Riget/The Kingdom.

During special hours, when they know for a fact that I am not around, the hidden doors on the side open to reveal some seriously warped mirrors. Amazingly we are still not at the point where they alert Classic Copenhagen when introducing crazy goodness like this.

Mirror polished stainless steel.

A two-in-one shot of Fælledparken, the least pretentious park in Copenhagen, where people go to walk the dog, run, play sports, hang out and barbecue in the summertime. I wonder if it will stay mellow after the big makeover? I would like to think that one doesn't rule out the other.

So good. And from what I hear, they are only just getting started...

Links:

Architects MLRP

The house of mirrors in Elephant Magazine.

The Tower Playground on Classic Copenhagen

Winter whine

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:07:00 +0000

I conveniently forgot what a cold-hearted beast January can be. Oh, man. Something happens this time a year that somehow seems to affect everyone. Grumpy frozen faces everywhere you look, including the mirror. It is not good. But, insufferable as they may be, at least the days are getting longer again, the light is slowly returning. You gotta look at the bright side, right?

Look how big they got. By the way, I may have solved the mystery of four swans becoming six. You probably figured it out already: there are two couples, one have four, the other have six. They made it so just to mess with my mind. Well played, swans.

Maniac seagulls, creeping me out.

One day they will invent the water bike. This was not that day.

The dogs of the homeless are cared for better than most. They are usually well-fed, loved and never left home alone in an apartment with a full bladder and nothing to do. This guy is selling the paper "Hus Forbi", about and for the homeless, earning a part of the proceeds of every paper sold.

Car lurking is really a pedestrian pleasure, if I had been on my bike I would surely have missed it. The ultimate spin on the classic traffic pillow: the matching car portrait pillow. It is almost enough to make you forget it is January.

Links:

Hus Forbi (in Danish only)

The royal subject

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:52:00 +0000

Every time we have a royal birthday or anniversary (which is pretty much all the time), we face the same discussion: does a monarchy even fit in the 21st century? Is it reasonable that we have someone overspending public funds because they were born-, or simply married someone royal? I have always had a soft spot for our Queen Margrethe. For some strange reason I consider her untouchable, even if she only pops into my life for about ten minutes at the end of the year. But she is the only character left standing in this fairy tale, as far as I am concerned. When she retires (from the look of things not any time soon), you will probably find me closer to the other camp, rooting for a change. I don't exactly see us as a republic either, but clearly the concept of a monarchy is ripe for a modernisation. I recognize that they do work for the country, and as such should be compensated, but 340+ million crowns a year?

I might have felt more protective about our royalty if I sensed they were sincerely engaged in our society. They may be, but it doesn't really show. The show mainly consists of flashing expensive wardrobes, having babies (another one rumored to be on its way as I write this)(it annoys me that I even know this, but there is no escaping these updates), cutting ribbons and waving from boats, balconies, luxury cars and golden coaches. Financed by a country with an overwhelming share of citizens struggling to get by. As much as I love Queen Margrethe, it just doesn't seem right.

Once upon a Princess, 1966.

This year marks the 40th on the throne for Queen Margrethe II, celebrated with a ride in the golden coach through the streets of Copenhagen, the balcony appearance, parties, dinners, concerts and most importantly cake:

1972-2012 40 years for Denmark

The Margrethe cake by La Glace, since 1972.

(Someone and her big mouth just got themselves crossed from the royal Christmas list, hahaha)

Unseen Copenhagen

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:32:00 +0000

There is a whole side of Copenhagen, accessible only from rooftops and private apartments, just itching to be explored. Once in a while I catch a glimpse of something familiar from a different angle, and it makes me fall in love with my city all over again. I had a meeting the other day at the top floor of an old building in the historical centre, and the first thing I did was rush to the window and take in the view:

Utter coolness. This only fuels my desire to (find a way to) explore the hidden angles more. And it makes me think of the CphCph guys, climbing roofs and tunnels, like undercover agents mapping the unseen Copenhagen. Crazy beautiful stuff:

CphCph The unseen Copenhagen from CphCph on Vimeo.

Ah, I am so inspired!

links:
CphCph
CphCph in the news (in Danish)

Get lost

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:16:00 +0000

Get lost. I can't recommend it enough. And I mean that in the nicest way possible, of course, haha. It's just a matter of making space for surprises, allowing for time to be "wasted". Although it never is. Not really. If you live by the sea, you may take long walks on the beach. Living in a city, the landscape is urban, but it is the same sense of peace and belonging. I think well in laundromats, I relax riding my bike wherever it takes me and I enjoy drifting and getting lost in the backyards of Copenhagen.

If I didn't, I would have missed this precious strip of art vanishing in a backyard on Nørrebrogade. It smells like something from the 60s or maybe 70s? I am trying really hard to come to terms with the fact that it will be gone by spring. Practicing the "oh, well, that's life". Not quite there yet.

Is that a top hat blowing off the little guy on the roof?

Stuff like this just makes me so happy.

♥

Wishful knitting

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:32:00 +0000

In the middle of a massive construction bonanza on Sankt Hans Square (heat, this time), our yarn bombing trooper Blød Lykke (Soft Happiness) have comforted a lonely tree. Judging from the embroidered wish list, I date it a mid to late December piece, making this a huge oversight on my part. I must have passed it on several occasions, but this was the first time I noticed it. I tell you what it is: the construction mess have a blinding effect on me. Looking at something ugly is like having your eyeballs sanded, almost physically painful. With the overwhelming amount of construction work in Copenhagen, I have learned to block it out. At the apparent cost of missing the very highlights I live for:

Wish list of Soft Happiness. Love for all. Snow + beautiful winter weather. Kisses + hugs, yes please.

The effort put into this... that's love.

And the double take:

Tweet.

That should keep you warm until spring?

♥

Hi

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:56:00 +0000

On days when I am out of words, it gets really quiet here, but I am thinking it doesn't have to be that way. There may not be words, but there are always pictures. Always. Copenhagen says hi:

About once a year the water rises a meter above the usual level, and that day was Friday. Gammel Strand in the historical centre, undergoing major construction for the upcoming Metro station. An incredibly fragile location.

Thorvaldsens Museum. Remember this vintage postcard?

And these guys just cracked me up:

Delusions of grandeur by pigeons on the Storck Fountain. Hahaha.

Why should the pretty birds have all the fun?

(Words making their way back, I can feel it)

♥

Give me a sign

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:46:00 +0000

The master plan of having one part of the world doing all the manual labour (the others), and the other half (ours) doing all the thinking... it is just not panning out. Because, big surprise: not everybody is cut out to sit on the bench and get a higher education. And the ones that already have one, now sit on their hands waiting for the jobs that were cut. When they did the math, they forgot to count in the human aspect. As I see it, the solution is simple: we need to revive the dying trades, call in the craftsmen and have them pass on their skill to the next generation, while there is still time.

On one side

I have had this idea brewing in the back of my mind for a while, or.. it is more of a matchmaking plan, really. In the old days Copenhagen were famous for its street signs, hanging from above the store, making it easy to see from afar if there was a bakery, a barber or a cobbler in the neighborhood. Some signs were three dimensional, others cut, painted or welded, but they were all informative and beautiful. These days we are mostly down to eyesores: soulless industrial run-of-the-mill signs, and full body stickers.

The match

On the other side we have a generation of kids roaming the streets, with an obvious love for painting and coming up with creative ideas. Sometimes it turns into plain vandalism (I get the frustration of not fitting in the single box provided for you), but I am sure that if given the opportunity, at least some of them would appreciate learning the craft of sign making. And perhaps even take the trade to the next level? I smell a huge potential here. Can someone perhaps see to it that this match is made?

One of the oldies still hanging in:

Of course the coolest Copenhageners are already on board. Teteria on Vesterbro:

Harbo Bar in Blågårdsgade:

And a few steps further down the street, This Issue:

The classic hand painted sandwich signs are good too. Personal, informative and cosy, you want to hang out in this place before you even set foot in it. A good sign.

Can we agree this matchmaking business should be set in motion, or what?

Old school

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:38:00 +0000

If the global financial meltdown is good for anything (other than the change we all long for, of course), it is how it has put a halt to real estate speculation, and bland "urban lifts". The places the sharks go for are the ones they can buy cheap, evicting the original inhabitants, and re-sell to a brand new and wealthier group of people. Enter a sea of beige and fancy overpriced juice bars, I call it the new ugly.

Over the last ten to fifteen years Copenhagen has lost so many special places, the old school Copenhagen, gritty and authentic. A city needs those places to be complete, not everything can or even should be regulated. And the scary part is that once they are gone, that's it, there is no "reinstall". Money can't buy this:

Painted glass, mmmm.

All this in one place..

...it is almost too good.

F for fred. The peace line.

For fred. For peace.

I feel it.

To do

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:52:00 +0000

New years eve in Copenhagen turns into an outdoor party after midnight. We all gather to watch fireworks, and one of the most popular meeting places is Queen Louises Bridge. Every year the party grows a little bigger and more organized, but there are always music, bonfires, fireworks, broken glass and some degree of vandalism. As I passed the bridge yesterday afternoon, I saw a crew setting up a big stage across from my other favorite statue Young People Sitting. I wish I was able to hover over my friends all night, and keep them safe, and I have often wondered why the city would not take measures to protect them on nights like these. There is always someone with a can of paint or a fat marker itching to leave his trace. On my friends. Heartbreak every single year. If only they could be protected. And then I finally did it. Skipped the "if only" part, and acted out my old plan:

Running out of plastic bags and tape... this would have to do. Two things could happen: either people would recognize it as an act of love and let it be, or they would see it as a provocation and vandalize it even more.

Before going home, I stopped by the bridge at five in the morning, and it was a mess. Packed with cleaning crews and trucks mopping up after the festivities... I was afraid to look up.. but my experiment worked! It worked, it worked, it worked!

Today:

Yaaaayyy, I am deliriously happy.

What a way to start the new year.

♥

The happiest new year!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:03:00 +0000

I would like 2011 to end on a change, and not just give 2012 all the credit for what is to come. After all there would be no 2012 without a 2011. I would like to exit my comfort zone, and pursue some of the many ideas popping up in my head. I would like to end the overthinking and just DO. I did tonight, just a little thing, something I have been meaning to do for a long time. Tomorrow we will see if it panned out, or simply backfired. I am so fired up right now. Grateful for 2011 and exited about 2012. We are going to have so much fun next year!

Happy new year!

♥

With love from Copenhagen

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:44:00 +0000

Today I was taking my bike for a spin, and as darkness set in all of a sudden light popped up everywhere. In one spot entire facades were lit up in bright colors.

Lit up from below. It could be a temporary installation, a cool safety measure or maybe advertising for the paint company nearby. It doesn't even matter, I just love it. See the slice of orange on the other side..

And further down the road the railway underpass in a pretty dress. That I am pretty sure is a safety thing, making it less creepy to pass by foot or bike. But still insanely cool.

Chauffeurs Union showering the entire block in a red light. I wonder if it bothers the neighbors?

Red asphalt. Crazy. Romantic.

Copenhagen loves me.

♥

Happy holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 13:16:00 +0000

This could have been the jule post to end all jule posts. Instead I am busy running victory laps around the block, celebrating my first blues free month of December... ever. This year I have taken a different approach, not dwelling on anything jule related. It is like I have been living in a parallel world, observing the Martians as they have acted out their rituals, and not participating in any way. Maybe it is that. Or maybe it is because I have taken up exercising, or maybe it is because I quit my job. Whatever it is, it works: it is jul and I am happy. Unbelievable. I wish you all the best and happiest of holidays. Big hugs!

♥

We love our bikes

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:15:00 +0000

We start at an early age...

... and we take passengers too.

All kinds.

We never get too old to ride...

...and we are always up for a challenge.

We love our bikes.

Always have.

Always will.

♥

Frederiksberg

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:52:00 +0000

Going to Vesterbro from Nørrebro I almost always cross through Frederiksberg. It is only a ten minute trip, but even just passing through you clearly get the difference between the three. From the outside the transition appear seamless, but don't be fooled: everything is different. If you have ever seen the classic Danish TV series Matador, you know what I mean when I call it Korsbæk. It is the old world, neatly groomed, with only the faintest trace of graffiti or street art. Dog poop (delivered by small to medium sized dogs only) is properly disposed of, and should you ever forget, there are polite signs to remind you and little stations with complimentary dog-poop-bags on every other corner.

If Frederiksberg was a relative, she would be the distinguished elderly aunt, who eats from the fine china and keep up appearances at all times. She may not have a great sense of humor or even pretend to understand you, but she belongs at the table as part of the family.

Creme de Cafe...

...also known as Creme de Nial.

Worlds collide. In passing I thought this was painted blinds, haha. Such an unlikely mix.

The tiniest hint of rebellion. Maybe we are related after all?

Link:

Frederiksberg by CC on Flickr

The bicycle highway

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 20:30:00 +0000

Yesterday was the grand opening of the bicycle highway on Nørrebrogade. On any given day there are more people celebrating the city's widest bike lanes than at this event, it was not exactly drawing a crowd... but despite the sparse attendance and the creepy cold it was a crazy beautiful day, with a heavy hit of "hygge".

Balloons, confetti and color... a true blues-buster.

Cushioned seats! Just for the occasion. And a small tent for the performing DJ. I wish I could have made a soundbite for you (I want to learn how to make/add homemade soundbites, do any of you have good tips for that? Help will be greatly appreciated).

Queen Louises Bridge with a minimum of traffic. Weekends are blissfully quiet.

DJ Mike Sheridan, making jaws drop on the electronic music scene from the ripe age of fourteen. Do you see what I see? Look closely... as always the real party is backstage:

Hello birds!

Hahaha, I love Copenhagen madly, did I ever tell you that?

Link:

Mike Sheridan on Soundcloud

♥

Field time

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:35:00 +0000

If I was confined to an office chair five days a week, I would wither and die. My best ideas always come when I am playing, and inspiration appears only when I charge my batteries properly. What to outsiders look like aimless drifting is what I call field time. I love my field time:

Swiss Bustart.

C215. The technique of this guy..

C215 in a recent interview. Good stuff.

This reminds me of Dain, perhaps the worlds oldest living street artist, what I would not give to see one of his pieces live. Ah, New York... hungry eye wants more.

Right next to the aboriginals was a wall dedicated to the memory of the legendary Rammellzee, American street artist and hip hop pioneer working his magic in full costume.

The evo griller 1960-2010.

Style Wars OST Beat Bop Rammelzee vs. K-Rob

And from the garage on Spuistraat, every time I go, a new spot is revealed. If I could only make the parked metal disappear for five minutes, so I could show you the whole thing in one big bite. Crazy yum. Crazy, I tell you.

With the tounge continuing all the way out on the floor, licking the underbelly of a huge black van.

Link fest:

Bustart

A collection of C215 on Flickr

Rammellzee on the blogs here and here.

Calligraffiti (Rammellzee memorial mural)

Crazy love!

Corners unturned

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:19:00 +0000

As journeys go this was a quickie, but any destination outside the comfort zone, however short, is inspirational. It's not even that long ago since I visited Amsterdam last, but true to form almost everything about the experience was different. Big cities are full of surprises and corners unturned, one of the many reasons why I love them.

Recently I have found myself occupied with the public space. How much of it has been earmarked for cars (and advertisers), and how we are slowly beginning to question that. In Amsterdam they are not just a few steps ahead of us, it's a whole different ballgame. First: the car is not king, and second the inhabitants have found a way to make the city and the public space theirs. Nothing illustrates that better than the floating bike seats:

Introducing the Zit Paaltje "Zip", bike seats mounted on the classic Amsterdammers.

You can just imagine the happy dance performed when I came across these. And reading up on the story behind them only made it better. From the site: Zip is for the people and not for cars. Zip invites people to consider the importance of the street as a social space instead of a mere traffic domain. By providing comfort and fun, Zip can transform an empty space into an attractive spot.

Jihyun David, creator of the Zip project, have made it temporary and nomad. If you are in Amsterdam make sure to look up the latest location and strike a pose. Crazy good. Crazy up my alley.

Another way of inhabiting the public space is with improvised urban gardens. Sometimes it is just a way to cover a ground floor apartment window for a little privacy, and at other times it is more of a public garden, but it is not confined to back yards and appointed areas, as is the case in Copenhagen. I want to do something about that now. As in right now. Or at least come spring.

Liebe / Love

Vertical garden curtain for ground floor privacy.

Built-in potted plants. Poke some holes in the wall and attach plant holders, a super simple solution.

And even fake mixed with real ones. I am predisposed to love them because of my grandmother, who kept plastic plants in every room in the house. Classic "farmor". You can just tell these were planted by a good person.

One thing that never changes in Amsterdam is the overall laid back feeling. Traffic moves at a human pace, and there is no display of fear. The pushing of unnecessary protective gear is not promoted here, and as a result people move about their business with nothing but wind in their hair. As it should be. Can someone tell me why the Danish Cycling Federation* have not only been allowed, but also succeeded in shocking and bullying my people into overpriced plastic hats that they really don't need? If they really consider our infrastructure unsafe (which it is not), then change that, don't make us dress for it. Seriously.

And just when you thought you had seen everything on a bike...

♥

(to be so very continued)

Links:

ZIP seats

More Amsterdam on CC

*Incidentally The Danish Cycling Federation makes a profit selling helmets and similar "protective gear" in their online shop. You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to smell something wrong with that..

The window seat

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:04:00 +0000

This is why I love the window seat! The scratchy window offered an almost Hitchkockian view of the world, in muted colors. How simple simply everything looks with a little distance. I have so much yum to show you, right after this:

Cabin crew, take your seat...

Sometimes...

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 09:31:00 +0000

This was probably not how that poster was supposed to work. Sometimes things don't go as you planned...

...but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

That's a wrap

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:03:00 +0000

For early December, not clinging to the edge of the cliff is progress. So far, jul and I have found a way to co-exist. I know it is still early, but I can't help but hope that I have somehow evolved and that the war is over. Also there is less bling, less jingle bells and less general hysteria this time around. Maybe it helps in a small way that recession has put a muffle on consumption. Overspending is over, and for all I care it can stay that way. I am not missing what we call "the gift race" either, but I do love a nice surprise and good packaging. This house totally made my day:

Classy Copenhagen construction workers at it again. Wrapping the small towers in a protective green copper colored cloth, how brilliant is this?

So crazy cool!

Superlove

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:17:00 +0000

The coming attraction that is the multi cultural bonanza Superkilen has been delayed. Part one, the red square, was supposed to be up and running by now, but the crazy summer rain made that impossible. The area is still fenced off, but at the same time it is used as a parking lot so there is easy access. And so much to see. The attention to detail is almost unreal, and you can tell that no corners are cut, it's just perfect. And it is not even done yet.

Garbage cans are brought in from all over the world.

Swing-benches (?) about to happen, and a touch of Shepard Fairey in the back.

Some of the details: all the manhole covers are from a different country.

From Gdansk. Seriously, I love these people!

One of the many different benches, with a touch of turd. I really hope this project, and by extension the kids and neighbours will be treated with the appropriate respect. Trashing it is like taking a dump on your own carpet. I fail to see the point.

Playground sets from India, benches from Iran.

The lights were fading (as were all sense of feeling in my fingers, holy crap, winter), so I moved towards the giant Japanese octopus I had been eyeing in spring, this time I found a way in. Hello monster crush:

This belongs to the second part of Superkilen, the black square, with a giant star shaped middle eastern mosaic fountain, stripey, swirly floors, rows of stone tables with inlaid board games, palm trees (!) and too much to cram in here because we need to dwell on the octopus a little longer:

This is so good that it makes me want to break out in song. Hallelujah! You think I am kidding? You should have been there, haha. The daylight disappeared, and I headed home the same way I got in, crossing the red square, and then I saw the light. Before anyone starts on me with energy concerns, and what not, keep in mind that we are deprived of daylight in this part of the world. Every twinkle and every ray of light is a potential life saver.

Thank you.

♥

Gay times

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:07:00 +0000

It never fails: when the seasons change, right around the turning point, I find it hard to fit in my own skin. I can't fall at sleep at night, and I can't wake up in the daytime. So frustrating. Also, jul (you may know it as Christmas) is approaching, with all kinds of reminders and rituals that I am not a part of. Same procedure as last year... unless I make an effort to turn it around, and somehow make it work for me. In a way this is a golden opportunity to make friends with jul. Look on the bright side and all that. I will let you know how that goes (like you will be able to miss it, haha).

As always, the gays knows how to have a good time:

Gay bar Centralhjørnet already at it in early November. I need more gay people in my life.

And while we are on the subject: our new government have decided that gays should be allowed to get married in church. Not all priests are equally enthusiastic (I would have been surprised if they were), but local church Stefanskirken is embracing the 21st century:

Love knows no gender. Congratulations Denmark.

Okay jul, here I come, be gentle with me.

(link: previous hits of jul, if you dare..)

♥

Ugh you very much

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 20:16:00 +0000

Among some of urban life's biggest mysteries are how architects keep getting away with erecting phallic monstrosities of glass and steel. They are even rewarded by press and peers, naming these buildings the most livable (despite the fact half of the apartments are often vacant). The fortress of glass and steel lining the city harbour is downright uninviting (it's all office buildings, so it is a closed party anyway), sucking all the energy out of an area that should be full of life. I am not impressed. To me good urban architecture is about making a city livable, meeting the basic human needs. I prefer the approach of making what is already there work for you, like turning rooftops into gardens and offering sundecks to a light-deprived population.

Speaking as someone suffering her teens in a concrete brick, I would never again want to live in anything "modern", ugh you very much. Just to be clear: I am not promoting a ban on modern architecture here, I am just suggesting that it be done with real people in mind. Ah, I will earn myself a spanking for saying this one way or the other, haha. Anyway, on the subject of architecture, I find myself strangely drawn to the playfulness of these balconies:

Behold the new Copenhagen Lamp at half steam (it takes them a while to fire up to killer blue). I don't know if the pink sky drowns it out, but the balconies here are all shades of ochre, and it looked particularly appetizing on that night. Ochre + pink = yum.

None of these are from the scary era, but as houses go they are still fairly recent. I like them older, lived in and oozing history. Mmm, squeaky old wooden floors and unmodernized kitchens that you can make your own. Very near impossible to come by because at the end of the day that is what we all want. Including the architects. Go figure.

Æ Ø Å

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:38:00 +0000

I recently re-read the immigrants poem, I found in a backyard last year. At the time I thought it was sad, but after reading it again, I now see it differently. Like the writer actually appreciates the opportunity to drift unseen. So strange. Today I came across another souvenir from an immigrant. It might even be the same person?

Æ, Ø, Å, the last letters of our alphabet, unpronounceable to most if not adapted at an early age. Reads: Æ... rlighed (honesty), Ø... velse (practice), Å... penhet (open-mindedness). I think it is in Swedish, or maybe Norwegian? It is not often you hear foreigners here rave about being one, even Danes harp on other Danes for being unwelcoming, so I find this one quite refreshing.

It is stenciled on a glass recycling container, and as I walked around the other side, sure enough there was an addition:

Are you kidding me?

Hahaha.