Hidden Gardens

April 29, 2012

Gallery weekend continues. This time solo. Hunting down more affordable art. My sense for affordable art is that with a few 2x4's, some spray paint and a few curios from ebay I am at least as qualified as the locals to build an installation. Art was unimpressive but the courtyards I was able to explore while gallery hunting made the day worth a long bike ride.

Baby huey?

April 28, 2012

Spring is here today. 80 degrees outside. Shorts are making an appearance for the first time. Beautiful day for brunch (and dinner) outside. Today feels like vacation.

Here is the local "bio market" egg section.  Wondering what's up with that ginormous egg?

Matt Mullican

April 27, 2012

This weekend is the Berlin Gallery Weekend. Getting a taste of the art scene.  With some friends enjoying a laugh with Matt Mullican. Visit the website for the full interactive 3D experience of the gallery weekend.

Staff Meal

April 26, 2012

Directly outside the office is one of the top restaurants in Berlin. With the weather turning nicer, it's a normal occurrence to see the staff eating outside for their staff meal. Looking forward to trying before I leave.

Tosca

April 25, 2012

Time for work life balance. Verdi is on at the local opera house. A new experience with German subtitles only.

Soaked

April 24, 2012

Still learning about biking everywhere as my only transportation. Rather soaked for the business dinner this evening. Rained out from the rest of the night. (Now I carry rain gear everywhere.)

Bacon Bourbon

April 23, 2012

Long day at work. Nothing like coming home to home cooked lamb stew and glass of bacon-infused Knob Creek.

48 hours on the bacon leaves it a little too intense. Needs a dash of celery bitters.

Memorable

April 22, 2012

These are the days you remember. An island on the outskirts of town. Great company. Fantastic feast. Sauna and dips into the frigid water. Music and conversation. And naps. Berlin from the inside.

Red Bag

April 21, 2012

Two Ortleib classic pannier bags. Gives me a new sense of biking freedom. It's how people here carry on a bike. Rode nearly an hour in the rain today to try a new grocery store. (The Draegers of Berlin.) Came home wet and loaded down but happy.

Cash

April 20, 2012

This country runs on cash. Credit is barely taken. EC (debit) cards pin and all are not as frowned on. The good news is that the cash machine lets you take out 500euro at a time. The bad news is that it won't last nearly long enough. And for the unsuspecting who may use the wrong ATM - $10 withdrawal fee.

Illuminated

April 19, 2012

In the groove. Productive day at work and then dinner at the local "no prices" restaurant. Feeling more like a local than we did in SF.

Safety Line

April 18, 2012

Spring is in force. The bikes that have been dormant are now out in force. And speeding along at insane speeds. Sidewalks are divided into bike lanes and walking lanes. I am not forced to 'merge' when getting on my bike and starting to pedal.

Good week so far. Reclaiming lost energy and management cycles.

BioShock

April 17, 2012

Looking for adventure in the mundane. Work rules out daytime adventures but the evening offers opportunity. Found a bio market (think Whole Foods).  Wondering if I will have regrets in the morning as I spoon rhubarb yogurt over my muesli.

Rotes Kreuz

April 16, 2012

Exciting day. Marianna interviewed at the German Red Cross for a position. They were salivating over her experience in San Francisco and her credentials. Now they just need to decide what to do with her!

Regrouping at work. The calm before the storm.

Sunday Paper

April 15, 2012

Just outside Cafe Einstein. Hope someday to be reading the Sunday paper surrounded by skyscrapers.

Reentry to work is beginning. New hire starting tomorrow. Exciting to bring in reinforcements. Just in time. 

Sad Day

April 14, 2012

Kids heading home. Didn't realize how much I missed them until we spent the week together.

KaDeWe

April 13, 2012

Quiet day.  Found time for prom dress shopping and dinner in the food hall.

Night Life

April 12, 2012

Good day. Flack tower tour for a look back into wartime Berlin.

Wild night. Dinner at Kater Holzig. Birthday event at Victoria Bar. Nightcap at Buck and Breck.

And another Berlin first. The family hangover.

Seeking Billy Pilgrim

April 11, 2012

Dresden. Kate seeking Slaughterhouse 5. Vonnegut term paper gains context.

Also saw the Transparent Factory  Starting to feel like a family vacation. (Usual stresses included.)

Hertha

April 10, 2012

Good day. Biking everywhere. Turkish Market. 1€ of elstar apples is close to a bushel. 


Hertha soccer team loss in the evening. Subway ride full of mourning fans.

Alexanderplatz

April 9, 2012

It's been great hanging out.  Here we're on our way to the top of the iconic TV tower for dinner.

Berliners

April 8, 2012

Kate and John are old enough to drink legally here. (At least beer and wine.) We're at the oldest restaurant in Berlin. Jet lagged as hell.

Nice afternoon at the Mauerpark and the Berlin wall. Kids kaving Club Mate to stay awake.

Friends

April 7, 2012

Nice to find partners in crime. One native Berliner. One New Yorker. Seeing a different side of Berlin now through his lens. Spent the afternoon at Rogacki traditional German indoor market. You dine standing up. Exploring more in West Germany now.

Pass

April 6, 2012

Taking a photo pass today.  This is the last thing I saw before falling asleep.

Late night after TED. Lazy day today.

notTED

April 5, 2012

TEDxChange. In an old East German powerplant. First TED event. Had higher expectations due to all the great TED speeches I've watched on the web. This turned out to be a fake TED - sponsored by Melinda Gates as a pulpit to get her message out. 

But afterwards an amazing dinner out at the Golden Cock.

Feeling celebratory. Good day at work today. Good can prevail.

Basket Case

Ready for action. Now with front basket for those farmers market purchases.

And yes there are now two hardened locks. One of which cost nearly as much as I paid for the bike.

Work is taking a back seat now to planning for Kate and John's arrival. So many options for the 6 days there are here.

Out back

April 3, 2012

View from the back balcony. Peeling. Unrestored. Fewer buildings like this remain.

Everyone is traveling this week. Slow day. Nice to catch up and be home before sundown.

Photostrips

April 2, 2012

Curbside photo booth in use. With digital photography ubiquitous, paper still holds appeal.

Seems a good insight for managing. Presenting something real feels more genuine than digital recognition.

Entryway

April 1, 2012

Anticipating the kids coming through the door less than a week from now. Day spent in preparation -- from activities to sleeping space.

Sundays have become the day of chores. Something to be said for having a day set aside to tackle the things. Feels better with a designated day of reckoning. Also something to be said for a lower overhead lifestyle.

Forgotten Friends

March 31, 2012

Why are there are thousands of abandoned bikes throughout Berlin? These two were abandoned in front of what has to be one of the most depressing soviet-era department stores in all of Germany. (Strauss)

Bike trouble and sudden sleet flurries made for an interesting day on the bike.

Friday

March 29. 2012

A well deserved weekend has arrived. Sending off a good friend, Adlon style.