This is Where I'll be on Fridays...

Earlier this afternoon I met up with my friends Nani and Elif at the Turkish Market in Kreuzkölln and it couldn't have been lovelier. Who knew screaming Turkish men and major crowds could be so delightful, definitely the most exciting farmers market I have ever been to. It was almost like stepping into another world for a bit where the fruits and vegetable are bright and fresh, the smell of flowers is intoxicating, and there is so much goodness to eat right there at your fingertips it's hard to decide what you want (we got some delicious bread, olives and vegetable spreads for lunch and I left with some cilantro, avocados and tomatoes for a Mexican feast and a bouquet of purple hyacinth). 

As usual we weren't the only ones in our demographic with this idea, as every well-dressed Berliner seemed to be gathered on the river at the end of the market eating their treasures and listening to a live three-piece band (does anyone have full-time jobs here?). The sun was shining again and I finally got to see some blossoming trees. I will keep my mouth shut from now on when it comes to complaining about spring in Berlin. As I found out today the Germans say "April, April - der macht was er wil," when it comes to weather this month will do what it wants. Well I am glad April wanted it to be nice today and if you didn't get enough close-ups of fruit and veggies (my fave, obviously) there are more and some others on my new flickr.

Holy Moly

My Itunes shuffle just gave me these three songs in a row as the sun is beaming through my window after returning from a lovely afternoon with friends (pics to come). Coincidence (all those sunshine/happy tunes)? Most likely. But it all makes me feel so sweet...
Belle and Sebastion "Legal Man"

Velvet Underground "Rock and Roll"

Van Morrison "Here Comes the Night"

Friday Morbidness

Okay maybe this might be a regular occurrence. At first listen this indie pop goodness by the Drums doesn't sound all too morbid, just a good sweet tune to play when hopping around in the sunshine. But then in fact it's all about a "best friend but then you died, when I was 23 and your were 25." Bummer. But I am gonna stick with it as a good poppy little diddy that gets me excited for more and more and more and more and more sunshine.

And I swear to God I know someone who dances like this? Anyone got any ideas.

Is it Weird...

...that I want to see The Addams Family Musical on Broadway when I am in NYC this summer? 

I think not...

Caricature of Herself

The other day I blogged about what I would wear if I was a celebrity, well it looks like if I in fact wore Ginnifer Goodwin's fab Vionnet dress, I would have gotten a sketch done of me as well. According to Vogue:

When time and geographic proximity allow, Rodolfo (or Rudi for short) Paglialunga for Vionnet, a talented artist, likes to commemorate ladies wearing his dresses by drawing them.    

Read the whole story here.

Speaking of Tulips

My mom has been sending me a bunch of emails lately with her random thoughts and the not so random things happening in her life. It is almost like her own little blog written just for me and I love it. It makes us a feel a lot closer than Berlin and Oakland, California really are. Can't wait to see her next week in Scotland (thank God for planes). Anyway, today's email made me smile:

Desert Storm

Like everyone this week, I have been perusing the Coachella style shots from those fashion mags that covered the celebrity shit show in the desert last weekend. Surprisingly, nothing really got me too excited and I was a bit disappointed with the lack of inspirational festi wear. As a girl who lives in rompers and cut-off shorts every summer, a good festival outfit is dear to my heart. I am hoping to try a few out at the Melt Festival this summer.

And does Coachella in general seem a little ridiculous these days? I mean the lineup was pretty awesome and I had a blast both times I went years ago, but that was before Elle Mag started covering it and the likes of Hayden Pannettiere were in attendance. My friend Sarah seems to think so. Anyway, as for the fashion I was into these girlies channeling the 90s with floral dresses and combat boots and this lady who I wish was my grandmother.

Update: I like Daisy Lowe and Rebecca Dayan's looks I just saw on Vogue.com as well. 

                                                                                           

                                                                                                      

Gimme More

Or can I just borrow the $405 to buy these beauts. 

*Note to self: shoe obsession is getting out of hand.

I Heart Facebook and My Bro

A lot of people have a love hate relationship with Facebook and I agree that it definitely has its pros and cons. Luckily I have tended to date people that are actually not members (can you believe it?), so I have only got a tiny taste of the stalker it brings out inside of me, but have heard so many horror stories of people seeing what they shouldn't be seeing time and time again.

But with being in Berlin and all, Facebook has been such a blessing - a comfortable forum to be connected with friends of friends living here who I may have been too nervous to call at first and of course an easy way to stay in touch with all of those people who I don't have phone relationships with. And then there are these people from my past who keep posting childhood pics, I found this kind of disconcerting at first but then I came across this young pic of my brother (on the left) and it made my heart melt a little. Last time I was in Berlin he was here with me and there so are many moments that I wish we could get in a little German trouble together once again. But thanks to Facebook I get to know that at least he is having a good time back in San Francisco jumping on trampolines and all. Miss you Michael!

Fall in Love in West Berlin

Iggy Pop recommends it (so do I but I prefer it done with red wine)...

You look so good to me
Here in this old saloon

Way back in West Berlin

A bottle of white wine

White wine and you

A table made of wood

And how I wish you would

Fall in love with me

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.

Random Sunday

MUNICH, Germany—Spring sunshine at the Glyptothek, 1950.


Spring sunshine indeed, today was blissful.

Gimme

Or can I just borrow the $470 to buy these bad boys.

A Perfect Pair

Mary-Kate's sister and a love wall in one, not bad. A little cheesy of course, but you know, it's not the first cheesy thing I have done today.

Thanks for the pic 0814.

Friday Morbidness (RIP)

Don't worry, I don't think this will be a regular Friday occurrence but I came across this Find a Grave site today (don't even ask how I got there, the Internet takes me weird places) that unearthed some sort of morbid fascination within and made me a bit sad at the same time. Apparently, Heath Ledger was buried in Perth, Australia; Kurt Cobain's ashes were scattered in the Wishkah River in Washington; and Audrey Hepburn was buried in Vaud Canton, Switzerland. 


Photo from here. 

Wish I could be there...

I am dying for New York right now. I've been hearing about the fabulous spring weather via Facebook and the blogosphere (been trying to avoid actually checking the temp these days, looking outside my gray window makes me depressed enough) and now tonight is the Working Class Free Issue launch party where actual free print issues will be given out. So proud (and jealous) of you guys.

Keeping up with Chloë

Sevigny, that is. I have been meaning to write a blog entry for awhile now how Chloë has single-handedly brought the grunge and femininity of the 90s back to the fashion mainstream. Much to the dismay of fashion editors and bloggers alike, Chloë's second line for Opening Ceremony in 2008 (pictured above) was full of it. Although it was completely panned, those same editors are now embracing florals, leopard prints, high-buttoned blouses, clogs and the whole deal.

Originally I was just going to focus on Chloë's role in the re-appearance of the floral jean, but yesterday while I was sifting through photos of Chloë over the years for work, I realized that she has in fact tried all the quirky trends that people are dabbling in today before anyone else had the nerve. She's worn straw boater hats, bandeau cut-out dresses, big blazers, knee highs, socks with sandals, and the earlier said floral jean, when we were still trying to be boho chic. Apparently, Chloë is even more of an ahead-of-the-curve trendsetter than I even thought. And I love how she still holds true to the 90s, the era when she came of age and when her star began to rise. Maybe I'll keep an eye on her for my style barometer of trends to come more than I already do. 

If I Was a Celebrity...

I might dress like this:

OR this:

Seriously.

Long-Haired Man

On Mick I'll take it, and her glasses too. Can you dig it?

Thanks for the pic Child of the Moon.

No Words

While writing about Michelle Williams this weekend for work, I came across this picture of Heath Ledger and their daughter Matilda and couldn't help but just stare. So heartwarming and heart wrenching at once. Michelle and Heath were such an NYC couple, I saw them once in the East Village before that little one came along and they seemed to meld right in.

Berlin Weekend Roundup

Even though the weather was complete scheisse, I missed New York once again (could have something to with it), I had to work all day Saturday, and Sunday was spent mostly cleaning; this weekend still had some seriously enjoyable moments, including an awesome show and some vintage dresses.

It all went something like this: Franziska's birthday dinner party, my first spätzle, balcony magic, old Germany matching outfit, work!, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings at Astra Kulturhaus, funny cat conversation, sleeping, house cleaning, pizza, Weeds.

Random Sunday

PARIS—American singer Nina Simone at Olympia Concert Hall, 1969.

True Street Style

More of The Sartorialist in Berlin.

Big Echo

I am trying to ween myself off the new She & Him album and I think I may have found the band to do it. The Morning Benders are just as sweet but a little more subtle with their poppy nostalgic harmonies, a little less twang and a lot more surf. I mean they are a completely different entity, perfect for summer and reminiscent of Grizzly Bear or the Walkmen or a few other bands I just can't put my finger on right now. But their sophomore album "Big Echo" certainly stands on its own, I think I am in a love a little, I mean they are from San Francisco and all. And it looks like I am not the only one with this sentiment (as usual) — all their upcoming NYC shows are sold out. Maybe they will come to Berlin before everyone catches on here.

P.S. This is the first album that I have actually purchased from iTunes in a long while. I am still trying to figure out the best way to listen to new music now that I am in Europe, does anyone know of a site like Lala that the non-American world can use?

I Want To...

...run through some tulip fields. Isn't it just ultimate taste of spring? This week I stumbled across the blog Abby Try Again and her beautiful photos of the Wooden Shoe tulip fields. I really love bulb flowers, I have been buying a bouquet of tulips every week since the sun started shining. But the difference between a vase of 12 and fields of thousands is well, huge. The ones she shot are in Oregon, but weirdly these days I am closer to the real thing in the Netherlands (pictured here). Shall we go?

Photos from here and here.

WTF

Germans are weird, but the NYC/Berlin connection continues. Maybe this is the only way to convince my German boyfriend that cupcakes (preferably one from Sugar Sweet Sunshine in the Lower East Side) are to die for, well actually maybe not.

McDonald’s Germany has just introduced cupcakes inspired by four different neighborhoods in New York City. Each ad features a Manhattanite from each 'hood explaining why the cupcake is characteristic of where they live: There's a hipster from the East Village, a savvy shopaholic from SoHo, an earthy Central Park gal, and a clean cut young professional from Chelsea. The questions is: which German McDonald's cupcake are you?

Click here for the shitty English translations of each cupcake character and the whole story.

Why Can't I?

...Pull off a straw boater hat like these lovely European bloggers?

A) My head is too big.
B) I am lacking that certain je ne sais quoi.
C) My head is too big.

I like this look, a lot. But although I am usually quite ready for risky fashion endeavors, I think I will continue to adore this one from afar unless some over-dose of confidence comes my way or maybe if I just find one that actually fits my gargantuan head. What trends are you too nervous to try?

Pics from Miss Pandora, Filappa Berg, TheCherryBlossomGirl.

Pretty Much

Yesterday was a day full of language with a few hours of editing for Working Class and then my first German lesson (ja!) — my brain was swimming with words. And today with so much work to do I am busy, busy, busy once again. But I would certainly rather be rummaging through all the little used shops in Neukölln‎ (dreaming of the ones in New York and San Francisco) in search of a Persian rug, an old chair, a hanging lamp and more goodies for the apartment which is slowly but surely coming together.


Via SFGirlByBay. 

Little Things I Love About Berlin...

The lakes. This city is surrounded by my favorite bodies of water. I can't wait to take a dip.

Photo from Flickr.

The Sartorialist in Berlin

I guess I will have to keep my eye out for Scott, a very fashionable man with a camera.

Berlin 
Open to the Public
A moderated discussion on blogging and fashion
April 7th
Michelberger Hotel, Warschauer Strasse 39 – 40.
7pm to 9pm-ish

Family Love

Last night I had great conversations with my Dad, my brother Michael and my sister-in-law Deanna, which makes me feel so good today. It's hard to be across the world from so many of the people I love, but phone calls like these make it all okay. And in three weeks I will be in Scotland with my brother Andrew, his family, and my Mom. I can't wait!

This is a pic of the Cahn gang (minus my Mom and baby India) in Italy last summer.

I'm in Search of...

First it was my retro orange-y red lipstick, now I want a maroon-y reddish brown similar to the shade on this lovely lady. It kind of reminds me of a color called Vacha that my friends and I all wore way too much of in junior high paired with an overdose of eyeliner and baggy pants. Any new suggestions?

Photo by Facehunter.