Barabbas on stage.
Swedish author Pär Lagerkvist (who received the Nobel in literature in 1951 wrote “Barabbas” in 1950. That novel, about the criminal released instead of Jesus, has now gained new life at Teater Moment in Stockholm, where Peter Jern plays the main character in jeans and a hoodie. On a stage set that looks like a factory, Barabbas wonders why the crucified Jesus is cause for such commotion. When he hits the pub for a beer, his friends surface as grotesque doll heads, congratulating him on the release. Just like the novel, the play “Barabbas” is about the business of being an outsider, and ultimately about faith. Dagens Nyheter gives it excellent reviews.

Coffee par excellence.
We’ve already reported how Swedes (not to mention Finns) gulp down coffee, but who doesn’t like a cup o’ joe? Here are a few recipes from Allt om Mat to dress up your java for fancier occasions. Kaffegök Orange. For four servings you need: 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup water, 1 teaspoon finely grated orange peel, 3 oz brandy, 1 cup vanilla ice cream, and 1-2/3 cups coffee, strong and hot. Mix sugar, water, and orange peel in a small pot and bring to a boil. Run through a sieve and let it cool somewhat. Add the brandy. Pour the mixture in four glasses, add a ball of ice cream to each and fill with hot coffee. Decorate with some peeled orange. Caffé Carib. For 1 glass you need: 2.7 oz warm coffee, 1 teaspoon raw sugar, 1 oz coffee liquor or melted dark chocolate, whipped cream and peeled orange. Pour the coffee and the coffee liquor (or chocolate) in a cocktail glass and stir in sugar. Add the whipped cream and the orange peel in layers. Garnish with cocoa powder.

Fried Apples with Feta Cheese.
Allt om Mat also offers the following interesting recipe: Fried Apples with Honey and Feta Cheese. For 4 servings you’ll need: 4 apples, 2 tablespoons butter, 3 oz finely grated Feta cheese, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1 tablespoon mint. Core the apples, cut them in wedges, and fry them in a pan with butter. Put them on plates and sprinkle them with the Feta cheese, top it all with honey and mint.

Household remedies for colds.
Cold and flu season is here. Again. And it’s only the beginning of October. “We get sick because we’re spending more time indoors, which we do when the weather’s bad,” says nurse Lars Ehmer. “And when we’re indoors we’re just closer together - that’s when it’s easy for a virus to spread.” Trying not to get sick? “That’s very difficult,” Ehmer continues. “Isolation is the only thing that works.” There’s no cure against the common cold, but there are remedies that bring some relief. Here are some tips: 1. Drink a mix of the juice from a lemon, three garlic cloves, grated ginger and honey. 2. Sleep more. 3. Sinus trouble? Flush your nasal passages with a nasal irrigation using a neti pot with lukewarm water and salt. 4. Sore throat? Wrap a towel drenched in Slivovitz (a distilled beverage made from Damson plums) around your neck and go to bed. 5. Find a sauna. Sitting in a sauna eases a cold.

What Mikael Rickfors listens to.
What does a guy like Swedish musician Mikael Rickfors listen to? Where does he eat lunch and what does he buy at the pharmacy? Nosy Dagens Nyheter asked, and we pass on the answers right here: When you take a walk, where do you go: Around Djurgården. Where do you lunch: Sibiriens Soppkök or Hermans on Fjällgatan. Worst headgear: A Viking hat. Favorite product at the pharmacy: Stilnoct. Car: Mercedes. What is your latest CD purchase: Can’t afford to buy CD's. What do you listen to: Birdsong. Favorite shoes: Sandals. What do you read now: “Devil May Care” by Sebastian Faulks. How much do you spend on clothes monthly: Around 100 SEK. Favorite alcoholic beverage: Champagne. Do you recycle: Yes.

Tricky Swedish Accents.
What did you just say?? Swedish accents can be a bit tricky, says Expressen, asking its readers if they can interpret the following words: “Gôrgo” (Värmländska), “Guzz” (Rinkebysvenska), “Hurvigt” (Norrländska), “Gödigt” (Östgötska), and “Hialös” (Skånska). Key: Gôrgo = someone very nice. Guzz = girl. Hurvigt = Cold. Gödigt = good. Hialös = unhinged, hysterical.

Rare knife from ancient tomb.
Swedish archaeologists have been captivated by a Bronze Age knife, which was uncovered from an excavation site near Falbygden in central Sweden. The knife was discovered at the Firse Sten tomb in Falköping and is in remarkably good condition, despite having been buried for thousands of years. “It’s a knife blade which ends in a handle that looks like the throat and head of a horse,” said antiques expert Peter Jankavs from Falbygdens Museum to Sveriges Radio. The knife was found near the entrance to a 5,000-year-old tomb, although the knife itself is thought to be about 3,000 years old, since the Stone Age burial site was later re-used by people from the Bronze Age. The knife is so well preserved that its blade is still sharp. “The edge is such that you can almost cut yourself on it,” said Jankavs.

Systemet’s most expensive bottles.
Do you have money to spare? Then you might want to have a look at the more expensive bottles offered by Systembolaget. How about a bottle of whiskey for 36,000 SEK ($5,195)? A bottle of Black Bowmore from 1964 will cost you 24,998 SEK ($3,608). Among the red wines, there’s the Château Latour from 1988, which sells for 5,100 SEK ($736) a bottle. Prices like these give a whole new meaning to the saying “Drink responsibly” don’t they?

Fashion for Swedish women.
Expressen polled its female readers about what’s fashionable this fall. The result shows that the Swedish woman will most likely greet autumn in matchstick jeans, Lypsyl lip balm on the mouth for soft lips, and wine-red polish on the nails. The Swedish woman also prefers shopping at H&M. Her style icon is Kate Moss, followed by Princess Madeleine. Swedish women also said Gwyneth Paltrow has the best celebrity hair cut.

Most seen Swedish films.
The list of most seen Swedish films since 2003 is topped by “Så som i himmelen” (“As it is in heaven”) by Kay Pollack. In second place is “Arn – Tempelriddaren”, third is “Ondskan” (“Evil”).

Anna-Karin is the new Garbo!
An almost unknown Swedish actress, Anna-Karin Eskilsson from Östersund, knocked out Uma Thurman and other famous actresses when she nailed the part as Greta Garbo in an upcoming film about the legend’s life. “It’s amazing!” she says. “I’ve been waiting so long for something like this.” Eskilsson has been living in New York the past 14 years, where she’s had smaller parts in TV-series and films (“Sex and the City” and “The Wrestler” among others).