Oz Baby is a huge baby and children store in a semi-industrial zone a few kilometers from the Turku downtown. The trip is worth the drive, as the selection is unbeatable in the Turku region.

The place looks a bit like a factory store, but unfortunately the prices are on normal high-street level. As the store is spacious, everything is shown and the clerks are eager to answer your questions and in generally help you. There is a small playroom for children in the middle of the store, and usually dads are parked there, too.

www.ozbaby.fi, Satakunnantie 162, Turku, Finland, +358 2 880 0650

[This is a slightly modified entry from my company's blog.]

Despite (or due to) the hard times in financials, web related innovative companies are alive and kicking here in Finland.

During this year and especially this autumn, I and my teams in Exove have participated in a number of projects for companies to jumpstart their business. This work includes helping them to conceptualise their offer, designing user experience, and implementing the needed systems to actually run the show.

Besides readymade and on-going projects, we are working with a number of other startups that have good and grand ideas for services that will shake certain segments or niches on the markets.

There is happening a lot also outside of Exove, too. Finnish startup scene has been pretty lively for the past year or so.

This all is due to the fact that implementing a web based business has become really cost-effective compared to the old ways of doing software business.

If you are pondering on an idea, consider also discussing with us. Let’s talk.

A men only clothing shop is a rare sight in Finland, especially outside Helsinki. Turku’s Hansa center can boast having one: Brothers. The store is part of a Swedish chain, and this outlet is their first ones in Finland.

The garments are seemingly designed for young urban men that use some more money in clothing than in average. It is not a luxury store, though, and the price level is in par with H&M and Zara — as well as the quality and the design of the items.

Brothers, Eerikinkatu 15 (inside Hansa center), Turku, Finland, +358 2 231 0016

Panimoravintola Koulu is the biggest microbrewery in Finland, producing somewhat 170 000 liters of beer every year. A lot of that beer is consumed on their large summer patio behind the old school building that has been converted to a set of restaurants and a brewery.

The patio or the school yard is served from a kiosk that sells only drinks and some bar snacks. Food can be ordered, too, and it will be delivered from the building. We were not exactly hungry, so we decided just to bask in the sunshine with some drinks. The tables are spread around in the huge yard, so you can enjoy some privacy. Mind you, the yard is dusty on dry days and probably a bit muddy when it has rained.

Inside the building, the charm of an old school has been preserved well. The whole restaurant complex is huge, and they have several bars, cabinets and halls for almost any occasion.

www.panimoravintolakoulu.fi, Eerikinkatu 18, Turku, Finland, +358 2 274 5757