The Tartu Observer / December 2024

1 / Sketchy Stuff: Rüütli Street

2 / Ad: The Bridges of Tartu for Christmas

by @sketchingpaas

Rüütli Street is the Rome of Tartu’s evening and nightlife. Eventually, all the roads lead you there. Also, it is our Pompeii. A site of well-preserved memories from a bygone golden age. Find a 30-something-year-old (former) Tartuvian and (s)he will tell you about the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ and how big was Rüütli in the early 2010s. I know I would.

When I as @sketchingpaas started drawing and writing down Tartu as I have experienced it – seen it, listened to it, ate it, drank it, etc. – I came to one conclusion pretty quickly. Who knows how it will go, but I would definitely like to draw and write about Raekoja plats, Emajõgi and its bridges, and Rüütli Street!

And now "Rüütli Street" is also finished. I drew its first lines in May 2022. So it only took two years and seven months. In the meantime, of course, I did other things too… 🙂

And then again, it has taken me over 15 years to experience the street and its many institutions that offer food, drinks, company, and atmosphere.

"Rüütli Street" is kind of timeless, because some parts of it are from 2012, some from 2024, some from 2016, etc. That's how my memory has recorded this street and that's how I would introduce it to guests from afar, for example.

An artwork done, I'll have a Pühaste beer to celebrate it (and to support my investments)! 😉

→ You can see the artwork in a larger format (as well as some discovery tips and behind-the-scenes photos) on the ‘How to Tartu’ home page howtotartu.ee.

Add a touch of Tartu to your Christmas gifts!

“The Bridges of Tartu” provides a brief overview of Tartu's history and present through the seven bridges crossing Emajõgi. Bridges and interesting stories and facts about them have been drawn and written in postcard format by me, Tartu illustrator @sketchingpaas.

→ The postcard set ‘The Bridges of Tartu’ is on sale for 13,50€ in the Rahva Raamat online store or at Tasku Rahva Raamat!

→ Keep on exploring Tartu and Southern Estonia, find events at kultuuriaken.tartu.ee and Tartu2024.ee!