Random Sunday

PARIS—The Promenade Plantée, 1998.

Berlin Weekend Roundup: Berlin Festival

I know it's a little late but I thought I would share some of my weekend with you. The main event was the Berlin Festival on Friday and Saturday, which I can almost confidently say will be my last festival. Not that I didn't have fun (I did! I did!), but I think I may be past that stage of my life. I knew I was done with American festivals when they started penning you up in "drinking areas" and regulating the amount of beers you were allowed to buy for $10 (water for $5). Not like you want to drink too much anyway, because you will just end up spending all your time in line for the porta-potty. But I knew I wanted to try out a European festival and since I didn't make it to Glastonbury, Roskilde or Melt, it seemed like a good idea to go to one in Berlin, even if it meant a little less rock n' roll and a lot more techno. Okay maybe I will go to another festival if it has an amazing lineup, yeah probably, and I actually like the camping part.

But...this one took place at Tempelhof, the old Nazi airport turned into a park/venue, and I must say it was pretty cool walking in through the huge fascist architecture and seeing the bands listed on the arrival/departure boards and seeing them play on the runway and in the hangars. Hitler might have rolled over in his grave. Anyway, even if we were allowed to roam free with beers in our hands, there was still the long bathroom lines, the short sets, and the long sound checks that are synonymous with festivals. But enough with the negativity, I had a great time amongst great company and I got to wear festival attire, one of my favorite things to do even if it was too cold for rompers and sun dresses. The rest of the weekend was pretty nice too and the weather on Sunday was just perfect for laying in the park, making flower crowns and dining outdoors.

Outfit Day 1: Army jacket, leather shorts, brown bag (thrifted Humana Berlin), brown booties (Beacon's Closet NYC), white sweater shirt (thrifted San Francisco) grey tights and black headscarf (H&M).

Outfit Day 2: jeans (thrifted Salvation Army NYC), hat (Jumbo Second Hand, Berlin), t-shirt (I was wearing a little cropped tee originally but I felt uncomfortable so I borrowed a shirt from my boyfriend), earrings (ebay), booties (Beacon's Closet NYC)

The Morning Benders (my fave band at the festival)

Can you see that they all have headphones on? Weird.

Treptower Park

Berlin Weekend Roundup

This weekend was the best welcome home a girl could have. I was finally over my jet lag and able to really get out and enjoy the city. It was a great reminder of how much I love the summer in Berlin.

It all went something like this: evening walk, gazpacho and shrimp avocado salad on the river, Anne meetup, first beach bar of the season, lightning show over the water, Jay spinning at Muschi Obermaier, dance party, late night sleep, brunch at home, local designer White Market, East German stamp necklace purchase, Prenzlauer Berg walk, glasses and hat shop fun, eiskaffee (coffee with ice cream), Mitte window shopping, Alexander Platz, Vietnamese food on Oranienstrasse, photo booth, sunset at Görlitzer Park, experimental theater surprise show, Rioja outside at favorite Spanish place, next door nightcap, sleeping in, breakfast in bed, cleaning house, shawarma dinner on the balcony, the United States of Tara.


(Dress: thrift, boater hat: Prenzlauer Berg hat shop)

Farewell New York

New York is what it is: heat waves, rooftops, beaches, parks, subways, shopping, eating, drinking, biking. So fun, so hot, full of my friends and family, full of familiarities and full of all the comforts and drama that come with that. Some of my peeps are doing amazingly well, some seem sad and bored of the city, some are embarking on whole new lives and adventures and some were too busy to even see — this is my New York. It was my home for almost five years and feels mostly as it always was when I was back for almost three weeks. Every time I left the house I enjoyed myself, spent too much money, over-heated, laughed and walked my butt off. But despite it feeling just like home, I have come to the realization that it no longer is.

I was nervous to go to NYC at first because I thought I would never want to leave; then I was nervous because I was up for a job that would move me back permanently. In the end neither scenario played out: I came this close to getting the job but didn't and I definitely was ready to go back to Berlin when the time came. NYC will always hold a place in my heart and another dream job may lead me back there one day — but if the time comes I do not want to be dropped off splat in the middle of my old life. Although it felt good and comfortable to live it once again, I have realized that I should keep my eyes focused on the future and that somethings and some lives are better left in the past. So tschüß New York (that's German for toodles!).

Here are some pics from that past three weeks in good old NYC.

More pics here. 

Berlin Weekend Roundup

I finally sorted out my camera situation so now I can tell you about my lovely weekend.

It all went something like this: Görlitzer Park with Sebastian, Manuel and the Messiah, pho, Jens and Karsten at Ä Bar, Badeschiff, thrifted and shortened tiger dress, floppy hat from Rome, first swim of the season, a long game of M K F, bike ride through BBQ madness, Spanish food, toilet guard dog, pompadour fun (for me), early bed time, S Bahn to the lake with the boys, picnic, first freshwater swim, beer garden, adult talk, twin outfit, escape to Italy/Italian dinner.  

Sorry for all the pics Karsten :)