Random Sunday

NEW YORK CITY — Central Park, 1981.

Berlin Weekend Roundup: Ping Pong, Cards and Karaoke

This was the first proper weekend I have had in Berlin in quite some time, and the first my brother has had since two summers ago, and it was a proper Berlin weekend indeed. The sun was shining (I have gone back to wearing cut-off jean shorts pretty much every day, with tights yes, but still, shorts), the skies were so blue (see!), everyone was out and despite the still chilly crispness in the air, we did all those outdoor things (biking and ping pong!) that make me love this city. Sadly, I also had the realization that I better get out of here quick before it actually heats up (and I can take off the tights) and the warm weather Berlin attitude kicks in and I start regretting my decision to leave — I really do love this city in the summer...almost as much as I love New York.   

The photos above were taken yesterday at and on the bike ride to the Mauerpark flea market — where it seems everyone else in the city went as well — to peruse the goods and take in some serious outdoor karaoke. Do you see how many people are sitting and watching in that pic up there? Yeah that is for karaoke, pretty insane. So all in all a fun weekend with my bro, but one that had a bittersweet undertone as the number of weekends left in this city widdles down to just a few. 

It all went something like this: greek chicken for three, juice for one, wine for one, dinner party for four, weird, Joaquin Pheonix documentary (warning: do not watch this!), doubles ping pong at Görlitzer Park, yummy street food, German card game and hot chocolate then dinner at Edleweiss, Hearts at a bar across the way, late night ride home, sleeping in again, long ride to Prenzlauer Berg, coffee and ice cream, flea market, ring, necklace and tote bag purchase, karaoke amphitheater, short story tears, Vietnamese food, Portlandia.

Viking Biking and a Little Thing I Love About Paris

One of the things I love more than anything is riding my bike, and up until recently I have been doing just that to get to and from work every day. It is a bit of a ride, but it wakes me up in the morning, keeps me active and in shape, and makes me feel good about myself. But lately since the temps have dropped so low, I have lost a bit of my motivation. And with that has come guilt (especially with all the holiday eating), because there are certainly a lot of bikes still on the road, and in some of the coldest European countries people ride all year round. Do you see these pics from Copenhagen Cycle Chic? Viking biking is what they call it. Pretty amazing huh? Has definitely given me some motivation to ride to work tomorrow with the between -3°C and    -11°C weather. Eeek.

I know, I know, I should stop writing about exercising in winter. So how about this: speaking of biking, one of the little things I loved about Paris was seeing all the bicycles around, and I am not talking about those silver rent-a-bikes. Similar to the way Parisians dress (awwe-mazing), there seemed to be a bike chicness protocol that everyone adhered to. All the bikes I saw were vintage or vintage-inspired and black, no joke, never anything else. I loved seeing them all parked next to each other at the racks, waiting for their well-dressed owners to unlock them and ride off with a baguette in the basket... Here are a couple examples via the Sartorialist and Yanidel's Street Photography in Paris blog. Cute, right?

  

Random Sunday

SANTIAGO, Cuba—1997.

Copenhagen Cycle Chic

Anyone who knows me or probably anyone who reads my blog knows I love fashion and I love bikes. Not so sure if I love Copenhagen, as when I was there all I got to see was the inside of a fashion week trade show but I have a feeling I might like it if I actually got to hang around — and one of the reasons is this blog. So I wrote a story about what is "cycle chic" for my jobby job and how it has changed the way the world looks at bikers. Read it here.

My Baltic Sea Vacay

All I have to say is that I wish I was still on vacation where all I had to worry about was whether I was finishing my book too quickly, if we had enough bread and cheese to eat, wine and Diebel beer to drink, whether it would be a sunny lay on the beach kind of day or a foggy long bike ride through the forest kind of day, whether I could handle the sauna for more than ten minutes or if a German massage would be up to my standards, whether we should eat fish in a restaurant or cook in the hotel, whether I should play cards or swim laps...

Berlin Weekend Roundup

The thing about my weekends is: they just keep getting longer. I know this is nothing to complain about, but the things I need to do in my week keep expanding too. Hence the lack of posts. But anway, last weekend which happened to involve my birthday, my brother, his wife and their 11 month old (there they all are on one bike!) ended yesterday at about 4 when I said a bit of a tipsy goodbye after our final of many liquid plus cheese plate lunches. Although the weather (curse you Berlin) was only pleasant for a day and half of their stay, we had a wonderful time being together and doing the usual: eating, drinking, being merry, and these days hanging with baby. And Saturday was one of those quintessential Berlin warm days and maybe one of the best days I have had here. Karsten also had a friend in town this weekend who was fun to chat with and who tagged along for some of the family fun as well. We even managed to find a proper Mexican food restaurant for my birthday dinner (no piñata this year though, probably for the best). I can't wait to go back again and again. I also can't wait for next weekend when we have no guests (no offense, it's just tiring) and no plans whatsoever. But that said, I am sure it won't compare to the fun the last few days.

It all went something like this: "pre-birthday" kebabs, carnations, and wine, downstairs for drinks with Andreas from Munich, morning family greeting, an empty before 11 am Berlin, hilarious but annoying wait for brunch, cheese plate that wasn't called a cheese plate, free "hot drinks," road soda, walk through the park, ping pong, playground, pool by the river (badeschiff), grapefruit beer, Nani run in, Manny run in, Andreas meetup #2, evening sun, evening swim for the boys, beds of sand, dinner on the river dock, Andrew, Karsten, Sadie schnitzel-off, stroll to the ice cream shop, bike ride home, Andreas meetup #3, first ex-girlfriend run in (eeek), 29!, new birthday shoes via K, chocolate croissant breakfast, family bike ride, a bicycle built for three, Russian Memorial, fitting thunder storm, bratworst and beers, cards at my house, playground, Mexican feast, Zoolander, dead tired sleep.

Bike Month

May is bicycle month in the good old U S of A. Have you been riding? I highly suggest a good bike ride, sometimes there is nothing better than being on two wheels and feeling the wind in your hair.

Berlin Weekend Roundup

After a rough week where "budget cuts" once again thwarted my existence, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect weekend to lift my spirits. It started off with a bit of a headache after a long night out with a new friend on Thursday (who also cheered me up and got me excited about all the possibilities in Berlin) and ended with a day of all days where there was not a cloud nor a plane in the sky, the park was packed, the people were partying at the river clubs already and my pasty legs finally got to see some sun.

It all went something like this: excessive creamy treats, The Graduate, thrift shopping, yummy lunch outside, bike ride, a favorite little bar with Anne, night walk on the river, too much French wine and olives, gypsy music, fresh squeezed orange juice in bed, long long lunch with Erin, sun!, Görlitzer Park, dusk drinks on the river, in bed early.

Biking is for Lovers

Can't wait to take our new bikes (albeit non-attached ones) for a city tour this weekend!

Thanks for the tip JO.

P.S. Don't you just love the tattooed bearded model? Oh Williamsburg, how I miss thee... Too bad the tee is sold out.

Berlin Weekend Roundup (Spring Fever!)

Saturday was the first day of spring, and thank the lord spring has finally sprung in Berlin. I am still waiting for the flowers, but the sun will do just fine for now. Oh man, it makes my life so much better and contributed (among a few other things) to making our weekend quite lovely.

It all went something like this: our first dinner guest, my first attempt at cooking for a guest, yummy enchiladas, sleeping in, new bike!, walking in Friedrichshain, carrot cake and coffee, skate park and graffiti photo shoot, a Cold War history lesson over beers, lightning, house party, dancing dancing dancing, cheese fight (don't ask), guacamole, Weeds, Sunday cleaning, a much needed phone call with Miss Diebel.