The Whimsical Esayista

A Best Coffee Guide to Berlin - Short list of Favorites

2012-10-08T23:23:00.000+02:00

Berlin´s Coffee Heaven(s) - for Princes and Princesses,
or where Kings and Queens are even made ;)

Hey there coffee lover, thinking of a good cup of fresh brew? The one that satisfies your senses in a direct yet special way? Then you might be just perfectly matched in a little bit. As a coffee lover - speaking of the perfect cup of coffee - I consider the whole production cycle from the bean´s origin to the steaming black gold in front of you: So considering the right brew, taste, smell, consistence and atmosphere - I have gathered my "go to places" and "new finds" here.

"Coffee is like Wine. Equally important aspects for the quality are the soil in which the beans are grown, and then the process of production: the roasting, the storing and the grinding."

(Bonanza Coffee Heroes Owner quoted)

Personally tested and found to be of honest good or supreme quality - the following are just tinted with that extra love.

Once upon a time ... A British Bakery called Hudson´s Cakes: Where expats meet the neighbors and become neighbors themselves - An English or we should state THE English bakery that also delivers highly well brewed coffee treasures to treasure hunters. They offer really excellent coffee but what appeals most is they do the greatest variety in Brit deliciousness ... from authentic well baked scones (those mini scones are highly recommended!) to all kinds of cakes you could ask for, lemon bars, brownies & more they do also deliver their foods to other Cafés and Shops. Make sure to check their calendar for upcoming events such as neighborhood quiz and movie nights.
http://www.hudsonscakes.com/

Where the Brezel meets the Coffee BrezelBar (& LeseLounge) get your freshly baked brezel with a fresh brew. This Coffee Bar is mainly a contributor to Berlin´s Brezel Lovers. When he left Tel Aviv with 21 years and moved to Berlin Oren Dror worked at cafés, restaurants and such until he decided, also being inspired by talking to friends, to get a mobile brezel car and travel through the streets of Berlin with an idea. Nowadays, he applies all his time and passion to offer Brezels in the most different ways, mini brezels and normal sized ones that are either plain or with certain goodies on top. They have the hearty ones and the sweet options. The bakery is just within walking distance so they are always freshly made and arrive that way in the Café where the customer has loads brezel outcome to order form. Also known for their reading lounge...which is not to be missed.
http://www.brezelbar.de/

Brazil and good coffee seems not so far since Café Mori where the Brazilian standard meets fresh entrepreneurial ideas day to day. Not only does the Owner Alexander Mori offer one of the best coffees throughout Berlin BUT oh well if your heart beats for a Brazilian plate...you can be sure to have delicious Brazilian (hearty) cooked food yet you also get to chose from a variety of sweet cakes and sandwiches as long as they are not sold out! The mezzanine spot is reached with a few steps in and you get a cosy couch corner to rest or the straight up table to work on some scripts on your physical notebook or on your laptop as you are dipping good drinks or good food.
http://www.cafemori.de/

An updated version of good old (Berlin)Kreuzberg still exists: Café Dresden a fairly new etablissement in Kreuzberg that could have been here since the early days. The new old Kreuzberg - proving the face of old fashioned style can be way more exciting and comforting than all new spotted cafés everywhere popping up under the motto "we focus on serving to a cool crowd - lets (over-)design and let it look less so it´s still and even more accepted as the cool". What´s missing sometimes though, is Charisma and a good old Soul behind things. This one provides new aspects in a beautiful surrounding of a place with loads of Charisma. It´s the first spot in Berlin, at least a Café (& Restaurant) of that I know, that offers healthy wheatgrass shots. Alternatively, to the strong shots, for the less brave or the morning person they do serve a softer version, the "Weizengras Schorle"(wheatgras spritzer), wheatgrass mixed in with natural cloudy apple juice and sparkling water. The shots might be a little bit overpowering and not for everyone however, I can really recommend the spritzer instead. Get your vitamins in and set your goals - you are ready to start a good good day when leaving here! Refreshen your senses...
Quick tip: They have the best Müsli-Yogurt combination (see picture) for only 1-2 Euros.

(no website but google helps you find this spot easily - go by the given name)

KREUZBERG:CAFÉ DRESDENDRESDENER STR 19 | 10999 BLN

The cosy pretty happy quick fix and even more to stay and come back KaffeeBar Jenseits des Kanals sampling a nice mix of cosiness laid back coffee gem yet an easy pop in and grab a delicious to go when you are walking by. People here are usually relaxed and really feel invited on their mission to breath easy for the time being and zip on a good coffee while doing so! So surely, you can have this here, Johanna (Schellenberger) - the owner - has definitely achieved great atmosphere and a nice place to spend some time which with its simplicity feels just very easy to make yourself feel at home. The brewed coffee really is delicious and you can chose from a great variety of coffee beverages.

http://www.kaffeebar-jdk.de/

Where you can catch the Art of (World) Coffee, slowly brewed Chapter One where they say the "slow coffee" gets served daily. "zen your coffee" and take that feeling as you continue with your day... described as where you get the slow coffee. They do switch up their beans and therefore coffee which you can perfectly keep up with on their facebook page for instance. Whether this is the Kenyan brew on Monday or the Ethiopian delight on a Friday - start or end your week with a match in heaven...

http://www.chapter-one-coffee.com/

Is the name just a name or is it a luck charm? Find out at Five Elephant - Another English Inventor´s Spot is the "Handcrafted coffee & cakes" promise. They have gorgeous coffee & Co. not to be missed if you spent a day near the Kanal in Kreuzberg or go out later on in the nowadays famous Reichenbergerstr. 101, where most locations whether hidden or profound invite to candles, good music and a relaxed atmosphere. Always good people to meet around that area, too.

http://www.fiveelephant.com/

Where French Café still tastes as it does in good old France, vive la france for good café, Bateau Ivre - Means the drunken ship - Is a nostalgic bistro-bar establishment in Berlin Kreuzberg right in the middle of todays not only quirky but crazily crowed Oranienstraße, where no day passes by without a changing surrounding. Yet, Bateau Ivre has remained all in all the same at the same corner spot, with the same people working here over the last years and even the same attitude still remains same: We serve you, but we are in Berlin (Kreuzberg). So we decide when and how we connect to you. This being said, Bateau Ivre is and always will a great spot - get the cheese plate a coffee or a wine and sit back and dream away or watch people passing by.

(no website but google helps you find this spot easily - go by the given name)

Italian profound Coffee is still being brewed outside Italy Family owned Brandi - I was told by the owner Claudio Canale they have another coffee shop (Baretto a small but fine espresso bar) which was the first venture of the family at their Wrangelstr.-address. However, we are looking at Brandi, which is to be mentioned because most and for all I´ve experienced my greatest coffee moments here for a while now! It is such a super gem and makes you want to return anytime you zip on a cup here. It is some Italian magic, the traditional brewed coffee - nice interior and great organic food, too. Pssss...I read once Sale e Tabacchi used to offer the best coffee in Berlin (Mitte). Well Claudio used to work there in earlier days and the coffee roastery of trust of the "Sale". The very same Roastery, namely the famous one of Andrea Trinci in Pisa, also hangs as a picture on the walls of Claudio´s own venture nowadays...guess could be one of the "secrets" that add to their charismatic and authentic coffee outcome.

(no website but google helps you find this spot easily - go by the given name)

Lastly on this list to mention a mobile coffee hook up Kjosk - Situated for a while at U-Bhf. Görlitzer Bahnhof just in front of the Angry Chicken this Bus offered great coffee even after midnight. So passing by made it a little happy stop by for your childhood sweets (that you cannot find in stores nowadays) and other fun little things. With its new Home at Margrafendamm you are sure to be served a perfect cup of coffee also if you are looking for a midnight (coffee) drink (until 2am!). http://www.kjosk.com/

Moreover, there are those coffee spots added to the soon to try list - that may also be of interest to one or the other out there:

Bonanza Coffee Heroes - Making Coffee is an Art -

best for espresso involved in every step of the coffee process chain, from relationships with suppliers to roasting the beans in-houe for the guaranteed freshness and checking the right steam temperature. http://www.bonanzacoffee.de/

Double Eye - the premium coffee wonder in Schöneberg, that even holds a certificate marking the quality served coffee. http://www.doubleeye.de/

Godshot The Future Urban Coffee Klub - a cool spot to be said one of the best in serving pretty decent if not brilliant coffee. http://godshot.de/

Sing Blackbird - Who isn´t by now familiar with "Kreuzkölln"... - Where the concept is also relevant to the coffee lover. Hip thrift store shopping while ordering your coffee. Vegans will be happily served with foods they admire as well. At the end we are all a happy family.

http://www.singblackbird.com/

Personal Disclaimer:

Photos were added as available no preferences or such - just simply where Photos were made once visiting. Sometimes you chose not to grab your cam and just relax without bothering on taking pictures at all.

The list of best or brilliant coffee could go on and on...so that certainly means there will be additions to this article. Yet these are well selected finds.

On the Dark Side - The Magic Makeup & Fashion Trend 2012

2012-09-19T01:56:00.003+02:00

A black dress:

Always a timeless and elegant option. Most likely we could easily agree on that, on the other hand there is this stigma whether you´d cross the line towards the "Gothic Look" or not if you stick to the "all in dark look".

So why would we choose by choice such controversy in fashion, does it really pay off trying with a risk you could certainly go over board with things? I clearly say, if you feel comfortable with it, stick to it and just do so - one for sure: You will be only once young and adventurous.

I am not sure why people are scared of experimenting and trusting their instincts with this but I do feel this trend will be spotted at the end of this year more than ever.

The makeup and fashion world is inspired by the dark side and goes out all the way - you see the dark (yes even black) lips on the catwalk and international magazine covers and pretty surely will you see these trends on the "catwalks in the streets". There is time for everything and if not before, this year you´ll definitely wear that dark lilac lipstick that makes your woolen dark grey or burgundy outfit stand out like no other.

A dark lip is bold and for the brave ones - if you wear it with the right attitude you will be rocking a very exotic winter look. The night will call you out on even wearing more dark with your wardrobe combined... so change up the lighter to medium dark tops and pants that you wore during day time and quickly switch into the black dress or in one of those black leather(imitated) coated pants and keep your grove for the night on - no matter if this would be a bar, a friend´s/season´s house party or a club that night you clearly will stand out.

Here are a couple of selected photos taken from magazine articles... lets get inspired and just dare your own magical thing - make it happen!

Dear World, We love Kotti!

2012-09-17T00:21:00.001+02:00

Support from Buenos Aires to Berlin spotted:

Kottbusser Tor, epicenter of culture in Berlin´s famous borough Kreuzberg, is currently arena for protests against rising rents.

The Declaration of Kotti & Co. started off with a small yet resistant group of people and a continuous protest camp - residents fighting against a giant. The colossi called property managements, the senate (in the function of not releasing a protecting law for a cap of increasing rents, lacking a fairly regulating rent and social housing policy) and political parties not acting up on concerns of Berlin´s complex issue social housing policy.

When tourism hits the "Kiez", i.e. a district, this certainly indicates an area has developed into an attraction. Demographic change in neighborhoods starts slowly and yet once a certain stage is reached, things often enough (with their good and bad effects) evolve quickly into a barely manageable situation - the demographic cycle takes over, old things fall apart and new things come alive.

When residents of an area feel they are slowly losing their own space to live then there are two common reactions: Either they move on or else they decide to stand up and raise their voices against circumstances.

Kotti & Co. is an initiative raising a voice - step by step receiving support by artists. One latest artist being a street artist from Buenos Aires who covered a gastronomy building, located right beside the Kottbusser Tor underground train station, in the colors of resistance.

Now, I would like to let pictures speak for themselves and would like to invite anybody who is interested in further facts on the protests and would like to read more to check this link http://kottiundco.net/.

Ohhh Tierra Colombiana - Meet Authentic Colombian Food

2012-08-27T23:19:00.000+02:00

down those stairs is where the flavor steams up!

When you walk the streets and look around you normally wouldn´t complain not to find a lot of things that catch your eyes, especially this being said when you think of the stereotype of big cities like for instance Berlin. Normally that leads us to new views, sights or places every day, that we simply find walking by. Other than that another classic way is to stick and talk with friend´s recommendations. But what if both don´t lead you to the real pearls? Do your instincts sometimes play a special extra part and a little sprinkle of luck?

That is when you find the so said "secret places" - yes those ones! Just believe in coincidence or some what along that same road and imagine you can simply get to see the most precious parts in a city where millions of people walk the streets and walk with eyes open yet don´t see the hidden spots.

Some of us don´t have the wide view and the nerves and interest or passion to do so. Yet, there are some of us left with this greater interest and wide eyes open that espy the rather hard to find gems. One of these is an authentic Colombian place - the Tierra Colombiana.

Tierra Colombiana is a Restaurant that is situated in a Souterrain, nearly invsibile from the street as it´s rather not that screaming loud place that you could possible find straight walking by. However, let me tell you once you found your way to this place - it will stick to your list.

The kitchen is dedicated to traditional, freshly cooked true and authentic foods that are typical on Colombian´s Tables. Ester, the owner, is steaming up the most delicious foods that you may have tried at last in Colombia itself. I doubt that you will find those places too often outside Colombia. But with small restaurant in you are sure to get served a Colombian Dish that Ester herself cooks up to the point of "Ah´s" and "Oh´s" sighted when you catch the nice smell in the air. The little main room of the restaurant seats just a view people which explains well that all is cooked from scratch while you are seated and gets steaming fresh onto your plate.

While that general restaurant vibe is going on, the Owner also offers some of the Homeland delicious Candies and other products that you can shop to make your own lovely dinner at home - just try to remember and learn while you are there. From real raw Cane Sugar to nice sauces she has them well displayed - a small but neat selection.

I´ve been there a couple of times and the quality never let me down.

I appreciate good coffee and authentic fresh foods with the little extra... In this case this may be Ester´s own coffee brand Café Taryona, personally chosen and I remember once told that she visited the region to make sure she got some of the best coffee beans, which sums up to the nice scent in the air when you order one of the coffee beverages at the table. By the way you can buy this as well to steam it up at home and give your house a nice touch of this Colombian finest selection!

* Quick tip: Every Sunday = Colombian Breakfast ... Delish Fresh Smoothies & Much more to choose from *

Sharing one of my all time favorite places - steams up dream flavor...

While all that´s left to say for now is: Viva Colombiana!

Contact details:

http://www.tierra-colombiana.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tierra-Colombiana-Berlin/206535719384010

Horarios

Martes a sábados 15:00 - 22:00
Domingos 11:00 - 17:00
Lunes cerrado

Öffnungszeiten

Dienstag bis Samstag 15:00 - 22:00 Uhr
Sonntag 11:00 - 17:00 Uhr
Montags Ruhetag

Chaparro Cocina Mexicana - like at a Mexican family´s table

2012-08-23T00:22:00.000+02:00

Another Mexican Restaurant you may wonder... No, simply not just another Mexican Restaurant but a special gem, I´d not even call strictly Restaurant in a classic way...

Chaparro (http://chaparro-berlin.de/) is the Spanish word for "chubby" - and let me tell you straight from the start: If you find your way to this place you may find yourself eating through more than just one of the dishes they serve...Please feel completely free to disagree at any stage. But beforehand, read what makes this special and even extra special to be called more than just another Mexican Restaurant. Situated in Berlin Kreuzberg. Right in the middle of the famous Wiener Straße, where the Spätzle-Express (http://www.spaetzleexpress.de/) used to have its first pop up location which now proudly moved on to a bigger space next door, the family owned eatery Chaparro opened its doors early this year (March was the official opening month) to become a small hidden culinary spot. It resembles nothing I would refer to of at least what I know - it seems different to anything anybody could possibly come up with. Such circumstance always makes me smile inside - a deeply rooted passion to find a hidden spots.

One of the reasons of course being, that it´s at a frugal stage in the very best sense it could ever exist. All is still new and the smell of motivation fills up the room, which in addition to the fresh flavors is a great mixture. Once inside you can choose to seat yourself at either one of the 2 to 3 tables - yes, indeed we are in a small gem and loving it just like at

mama´s home table - or climb on one of the bar stools at the mirrored wall. Thanks to summertime there is a third option - the front door tables that invite you to feast with fresh air. The inside though offers a lovely put together feel as if you´d eat out - I would like to believe - at a corner food shop in Mexico City for instance.

Another "pro" reason for this small diner is the fresh produce food - no preservatives as all is homemade and freshly put together served eye candy like on a nice plate. With a clearly arranged menu you don´t find yourself in a challenging - your hunger and lust questioning status - dilemma as so often which simplifies a lot when to choose one of the main courses of the Mexican Cocina: Burritos, Quesadillas, Tacos or Salad. You can at all times ask for a vegetarian alternative and e.g. order tacos with grilled veggies as I did, which I recommend to the fullest. If I had to give points/stars I´d give at least 4 out of 5 (5 being the over the top bit which I want to keep one star for "a possible more" though thinking to myself how could that possibly look like...shaking head...)! I chose the vegetarian 3 tacos, without rice (just a personal preference) - keep in mind they are traditional tacos and therefore rather a small variant - filled with grilled veggies then beans, guacamole as well as salsa verde for side orders. Options are to get side orders such as the above mentioned and even more.

If you can appreciate the charming rural state and the non-existant poshness...then you´ll definitely find yourself in food kitchen heaven. This being said ... let me shhhh you something the nachos are homemade, too and amazing. You can order them for a stay in night at home or simply as a unhealthy lunch option - with a tendency towards an addictive plan.

Enjoy your future stay here - for instance at one of the lovely tables that, because of their used look, do look like you are eating on the globe.

https://www.facebook.com/ChaparroCocinaMexicana
http://chaparro-berlin.de/

Opening Hours:

Mon-Wed 12:00-22:00
Thu-Sat 12:00-23:00
Sun 15:00-21:00

(From London,) Berlin to Babylon - Berlin Film Society presents...

2012-08-17T23:23:00.003+02:00

Berlin is calling - again&again...

This time Berlin calls in with a Jubilee: 50 years of Jamaican Independence rang in these days.

Where better to celebrate than at YAAM - Berlin´s first address for Caribbean Lifestyle and Reggae Music. After a stop in London´s Café 1001 at famous Brick Lane, the Berlin Film Society Crew now headed off to Berlin, the second place to show the legendary movie Rockers, a movie showing Reggae and Jamaican life in Kingston.

After their first Screening Event in London, YAAM seemed a perfect location match for a second exclusive screening in Berlin. YAAM being a well known institution in the Berliner venue landscape, a location favored for its amazing outdoor fun and beach areal as well as being one of the main Reggae Music Locations in town at night.

The Berlin Film Society, a young and motivated group, formed during this year´s Berlinale, invited to traditional Jamaican BBQ, Cult Jamaican Classic Film and After Party. The traditional Barbecue as a good kick start wit typical Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Plantain - just to name some of the mouth watering pleasures that couldn´t possibly be missing - before the legendary 1978 Movie Rockers was on spot light that night.

A film that initially started of as a documentary though, naturally evolved while filming into a regular movie starring some of the Reggae stars of that time and their lives in Kingston Jamaica, portraying the story of the main character Lero Wallace, aka "Horsemouth", struggling to put his foot onto the music business career path. While the 100 minutes-long Film was well embraced, especially strongly engaged the viewers with it´s Patois (along with English under-titles) dialogues and melodic tunes, it certainly left the audience asking for more, more of those good beats and vibes.

Barney Millah & Stefan, Berlin´s Reggae Veterans, called these in at the turntables. With a fine classic selection of old school music for the Vintage Reggae After Party right at the Beach they formed a nice end of that glowing Jamaican Night in Berlin!

Special thanks to Jack Howard and his colleagues of the great Society Team for an exciting Event - they claimed to create a whole new approach as to experiencing film and did indeed well this time!

For more monthly cinematic, as well as international pop-up film events with themed culinary treats and live music, please check out the Berlin Film Society´s website as well as their facebook page where they keep upcoming events on notice.

If you´d like to connect for Locations, Dates & Co. go ahead with these links:

Website Link: http://berlinfilmsociety.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berlinfilmsociety

Café 1001: http://www.cafe1001.co.uk/

YAAM: http://www.yaam.de/

Berlin(ers), where do you brunch again? The answer is (today): The Petit Fleury

2012-07-19T23:41:00.000+02:00

The Saying "Like Mother, like Daughter." - Not just an empty Phrase...

Looking at the "CAFÉ FLEURY" as the mothership, a well organized sun lover desk provider, work likewise eat and relax environment, called one of the best spots to have a classic French inspired Breakfast in Berlin,

you´ll find it´s first and latest descendent the "PETIT FLEURY" a pretty treasure.

Le "PETIT FLEURY" is just across the street at Weinbergweg. Its bigger and older "parent café" is keeping an eye on the little precious thing. Though, it´s certainly only a proud eye (glance) not a concerned look with both eyes wide open - the reason for it being that it´s doing pretty well on its own. While the well established older café is known for good food, the concept of the little younger one is not far away from the cuisine highlights you would look for. Although similarities are obviously not just by accident the younger fella really offers a wide range of its own.

Since the start a couple of months ago, precisely on a Sunday in March, it has prospered to become another scenic café in the Berlin Mitte area with a distinct selection of all homemade foods and well chosen drinks you may not find again in Berlin - on a side note I have to stress that they have a perfect organic iced green tea in a gorgeous bottle one should try on a warm and sunny day.

It screams Paris, Paris, Paris but even in a better stronger joined way - it´s Paris mixed in with the certain well-known Berlin Vibe.

What else would make your heartbeat speed up? A lustful and healthy selection of the most delicious foods that are certainly on the french culinary side, yet well chosen to fit in into todays life style of a Berliner Lady or Gent if it´s on the go or sitting back for a read and munch.

A well meant suggestion is the original Flambée - really try it out if you can!

Here is just a well chosen list to get your mouth watery thinking about the foods we remember from the last France visit!

Imagine you could have this now...

Breakfast,

Tartines Tarte,

Flambée,

Sandwiches,

Salates,

Cakes,

Sweets,

Smoothies,

Fresh Juices

...And remember all Homemade.

How to get there, all you need is a little Google and this:

Petit Fleury in Berlin Mitte

Weinbergsweg 5

10119 Berlin

Red Hair Dreams - the flame headed vixen

2012-07-16T23:16:00.003+02:00

Seeing Red - A Homage to Redheads

Red hair,

the she-ruby may rarely cross your ways, but when they do the redheads are said to shoot sparks like the lava within a beautiful dark Vulcan landscape.

From rich colors as coppery tones to lusciously deepest ruby shades, flame-haired vixen (said in all the respected way as it could ever come from) can mark their ways. It´s a statement color also mainly because of the fact that they are the so called unicorns across all the dark and blond hair dominated society.

My sister, for instance, is a gorgeous deep red hair beauty and belongs to the approximately 1-2% of the human population, red hair occurs naturally just that often. This is out of my imagination such a seldom and precious fact.

What´s so fascinating is that reds are not that often portrayed yet when they are they strike out and gloom in the dark.

Thinking of the photo range I photographed out of a magazine I get all excited those pictures are simply a gorgeous homage to the rare beauty marks - like footprints in the desert...

Sea-Salt-Variations...a blogger afternoon

2012-07-08T22:31:00.002+02:00

With Salt being one of the most popular seasonings in cooking and on the table, many of us don´t really appreciate the way it serves us as it does.

The other day I was invited to try several different sea salts in a small little food heaven and did not regret doing so.

What a blogger afternoon may look like simply is getting in the so called inspiration and seeking and trying new things that open new perspectives - this could be anything from reading magazines, interesting conversations and even a relaxing tea with a nice trial of salt on the table. Lets say it sets the thoughts free...

The owner let me try a couple of their Gourmet Salt variations and I spontaneously accepted. I was glad I did, it opened up a whole new world of tastes and I am sure you wonder if that is possible with salt. Yes, it shows that quality salt defined with a certain taste is a very delicate option to season your food. Sea Salt & Gourmets Salts you name it as e.g. Fleur de sel, Flake Salt, French Sea Salt, Hawaiian Sea Salt, Kala Namak - a Black Salt - being the well known and delicious sorts of salt with interesting names to them. I had never been into Salt yet I loved Sea Salt if and only when well used and not overly poured.

Let me suggest you to try at least a new variation from time to time, get to know what amazing salts are used around the world and dig in a few...all you need is a nice bread and spread with butter to accompany well... Enjoy!

And on a side note: Soon I will present some happy healthy ways of eating and buying foods that raise your energy levels and set you for the day.

about the gentlewoman - beneficial timeless freedom...

2012-04-19T19:44:00.002+02:00

Wherever we see beauty it must not be in a cage...Like a free bird with wide spread wings every moment ready to fly, the free spirit sets in and takes your breath away when you see the confidence and free beauty in a person.

Inspired by a photo shoot of Christy Turlington by the gentlewoman who by the way is in her 40ies we learn once again about a woman that is very dedicated to a healthy and fun lifestyle.

Christy has been known for being a dedicated Yogi and healthy living oriented lady for years.
She has since the supermodel era throughout the 80ies and 90ies stood out of the mass and addressed the benefits of mental and physical health.
Her activities have never been limited to only Education and Charity though these have been early of great concern to her. Yet she was a smoker herself and did probably not only healthy choices right from the very early days.
By quitting modeling in the mid-90ies for also studying literature and philosophy, leaving her famous catwalk days behind she clearly showed a transformation and her diverse interests. Which she also added a Masters in Public Health in 2009.

Nowadays she seems to find strength in yoga, meditation and Ayurveda.
Those can be a great set-up for those focused on finding the flexibility and balance that is essential for good health. She has been reported a yoga author and published a book called Living Yoga.

Now enjoy some nice shots of of the gentlewoman...

& always remember be gentle to yourself and others.

As Seen Behind Windows & Walls

2012-04-19T18:42:00.000+02:00

"KAFFEE AM SEE" Bonjour - A moment in time

2012-03-31T21:17:00.003+02:00

Once in a lifetime there was... Just kidding at this point.

Every now and then there are these calm times when it´s only you spending quality time with your very self. Doing the only thing - relaxing a moment or even two.

Where better to go than to a tiny little French bistro-ish location that would easily pass the description Café dans la rue... xy?
Even if Paris sounds promising at this point, right now, you can make it happen anywhere. With the right ingredients you don´t need any kind of authentic surroundings per se you can have it all by your local environment and still get all the benefits of a chill out moment. Just the set up and the mind set are the secret flavors to what is making you day dream away. It is just as simple as the moment in the bath tub thinking of the ocean. Not always do we depend on that, we can simply enjoy without the hassle of traveling for more. We just stay where we are and enjoy straight away - no need to waste time we are straight set up to it. There is no gainsaying, traveling most of the times is pure magic. But it takes not away the most simple magic breaks you can have immediately without bothering about planning a trip.

This is just a wakeup call to all of us that need some lone time here and there to enjoy the great company of ourselves more often and to invest at least as much time as we spend with others.

Bonjour - get yourself a precious moment in time. Anywhere anytime possible, sit back and let things pass by!

Not only Graffiti spread words... A tour along Oranienstraße

2012-03-31T00:09:00.000+02:00

Berlin is a place where things fall apart, and where things fall into place. All in the same City.

While you are on Berlin streets you can make sure to find artistic and outspoken signs of the unsaid words. Words and pictures that tell stories of the city and stories of their creator.

Berlin is diverse and so is the city outlook.

Besides posh neighborhoods as for instance some parts of Zehlendorf, Wannsee or even still Charlottenburg you make sure to visit the spots where rebellious times are manifested in the urban cityscape.

Many cities such as Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon, London, New York and many more are famous for their street arts. Since Banksy everyone and more than just the younger crowd has become aware of the "painted street art" that has made it more into the light of recognition. Even more than that it has taken over art galleries nowadays.

However, how it all started is in the often less privileged yet culture rich areas of cities. Where words only find their right of existence by living a life in the shadow, hidden on doors, house walls and such telling stories that would not be told if not so. Populating the streets it is where the small things, one by one being created as a statement whether political or personal and start and combine and merge into artful declarations.

This is what democracy is all about - everyone expressing along the personal opinion and engaging in what is on the mind to show others what is going on educating each other by evolving thinking into expressions such as Graffiti and others that are making an appearance to be seen by a wide and diverse crowd that would usually not get in touch with these.

If you find it appealing or not it is nevertheless nearly one of the last authentic ways and opportunities for some to express and engage without boundaries in todays society. Which is nowadays a value nobody should underestimate. It can give you a sense of what is going on in a city and every region has its own personal style to what is expressed and in what way.

Lets just be words simply words and stop for now. Make yourself familiar with the following and get a picture of just a handful authentic Berlin Art that is meaningful to some and essential to many as it is showing a rebellious adventurous way of thinking. Which may open doors for creating and evolving more...

Inside Coledampf's & Companies - An Afternoon Delight

2012-03-29T17:54:00.002+02:00

As promised lately we are taking a trip to Coledampf's today. All the good things come first, right? Well all the good things also take time and this article was planned to be written even earlier this year.

Good things need their time, as a visit to this Gastro Culinary Location will need some time. Time you should invest in order to make the impression last a little longer. Don´t rush into this space short breathed and expect to have seen everything within a short glance and in the next second blast out the door on the streets again.
Take your time and make it a good visit, meet a friend, co-worker or have a lovely date with a book or newspaper and hit the spot as soon as you can - it´s well worth to be seen.

Situated at the front side of the Aufbauhaus facing busy Prinzenstraße in Berlin-Kreuzberg you are not far from interesting neighborhood spots. Heading to Coledampf´s means also you are most likely to see nice things before and after your visit as well - it all merges in that area. The Urban Garden Project Prinzessinnengärten for instance, running for a couple of years now, is just in opposite, situated on the other side of the road which is a gorgeous outside venue that is really lively during the summer months. The attractive and famous waterside the "Kanal" with its weeping willows and grassland (perfect for a picnic) is also just a simple 5-minute walk away, so you are in best company.

Coledampf´s is a approximately 500sqm space that is set up partly like a bistro in the front part and a restaurant slash book store and open kitchen situation with high quality cooking equipments on the shelves for sale. Needless to say, there is not a moment of lacking inspiration for your eyes... When you walk in you can immediately grab a seat close to the window front and enjoy a large wooden table or sit yourself on one of those high bar stools overviewing the situation: And what kind of a situation - Just in opposite to the bistro with lovely eatery presented in the most beautiful ways, little snacks and drinks you can see the wine barrel set-up that is presenting a wide range of all sorts of wines.

The food is supposed and said to be really good, though I cannot refer to it by personal experience yet. The coffee though is one of a kind and really very well made - just a perfect candidate for a lovely coffee date. During the warmer months you can head outside and stick to the tables in front of the location and watch while people walk by and catch some sunlight and fresh air.

By the way for cooking interested folks: You may be interested in checking out the program on cooking courses with many great guest cooks they are offering. In addition to that there may also be hosted interesting events from time to time. Just keep an eye on it and see if it also reminds you of other places as it does with me - I can simply picture this in a city like New York City... It kind of does have a vibe that reminds one of such a New Yorker spot I guess.

And on a different page if the kid in you is seeking out lets just say there is a punching bag hanging in the very middle of the space... Give it a go it is a fun equipment!

Coledampf's & Companies,
Prinzenstrasse 85d D-10969 Berlin +49. (0)30. 22 19 60 95 - info@coledampfs-and-companies.de
Homepage: http://www.coledampfs-and-companies.de/kontakt

Öffnungszeiten:
Café und Bistro
Montag – Freitag:
ab 09.00 Uhr – 20.00 Uhr
Samstag: ab 10.00 Uhr – 18.00 Uhr

Einzelhandel
Montag – Freitag:
ab 10.00 Uhr – 20.00 Uhr
Samstag: ab 10.00 Uhr – 18.00 Uhr

Küche
Montag – Freitag:
ab 12.00 Uhr – 18.00 Uhr
Samstag: ab 12.00 Uhr – 17.00 Uhr

Sonntag: nur für Veranstaltungen

Aufbauhaus, Planet Modulor & Co. - "Creative Network Moritzplatz"

2012-03-28T22:58:00.002+02:00

Berlin is richer, has gained one more highlight - A spot that has it all: The Book Store with a well chosen variety of literature on its shelves, the Cafés inside and outside the Building and mostly and very famous Modulor.

Planet Modulor and its Partners.

After nearly two years of redevelopment and extension of the former "Bechsteinhaus", Planet Modulor was finally called ready to move in at a huge commercial space at Moritzplatz in Berlin Kreuzberg.

Close to the former Border between East and West Berlin, where the districts Kreuzberg and Mitte meet, they have placed a new business and cultural center.

Given this area a new impulse, Planet Modulor is made up by Modulor and its Partners.

An example of today´s prototype as they describe themselves for a place that combines Retail, Handcraft and Services and where it connects creative, cultural and social projects giving them a lobby to merge.

The Book Shop BM Buchhandlung Moritzplatz is such a little gem and has the most exciting and amazing book selection. It is extremely well chosen and is a true highlight walking in and seeing the latest picks of the book store´s staff. The selection represents what you would call a competitive yet individual approach of today´s relevant literature and more. It is a "Kleinod" as you call it in German meaning it is a nugget or treasure after all. Certainly a place where you spend a couple of minutes dipping in some stories...

Modulor.

Yes, the name that lets craftsmen´s hearts pump a little faster, invites the creative to find some accessories to paint or sew or what not and is an open playground for anyone desiring to enhance its office, creative or private space. You can find everything in Modulor from as little as a sharpener, various calendars, a wide range of the most beautiful wrapping paper to furniture and paint.

Besides Modulor, the rather craftsy shop, Galeries, Cafés and Offices can be found in this impressive Building that shows a contrast to todays shopping malls - is trying to offer a meaningful and social perspective on today´s need while still being the epic commercial center yet, with a certain social responsibility in perspectives.

The Galery that is most attracting is an art space that has dedicated its program to Contemporary Art of the Roma and Sinti. The "Galery Kai Dikhas" is one of, if not the first, Galery that opened up a terrain for the minority group that is and has been under-represented.

One of the main spaces is occupied by Coledampf´s & Comanies, a culinary destination - a culinary heaven so to speak...

Coledampf´s & Companies, nicknamed Coledampf´s, is a group project that aims to offer high quality food, gastronomy courses e.g. cooking courses and offers its customer´s cooking books and cooking utensils. The inside is highly recommended and will be discussed separately soon.

Besides the mentioned spaces there is one particular that is very rare as well: IMAGO.
Imago 1:1 claims to be the biggest walk-in camera in the world. This being said, it is a camera if you walk in you will see yourself in a mirror that shows you how people recognize your outward appearance - which apparently is different as to what you usually see in the mirror. I have tried it and it was out of my own comfort zone focus as I was really surprised to see the new perspective. Certainly some sort of thing you can book as never done before. It is amazing stuff.

In any case even if you would only want to stroll around Planet Modulor is the location you really have to hit once in Berlin not only but definitely also for its impressive Architecture.

There is not one reason that should hold you back from doing so.

Go out - Explore!

Where to find:

Aufbauhaus:

http://www.aufbauhaus.de/

Planet Modulor:

http://www.planetmodulor.de/pm/

Modulor:

http://www.modulor.de/shop/oxid.php/sid/7c1ec6b6d96958aca9b5c832bcbb25de/cl/start/tpl/-/lang/1

Buchhandlung Moritzplatz:
http://www.buchhandlung-moritzplatz.de/

Galerie Kai Dikhas - Galerie für zeitgenössische Kunst der Sinti und Roma

http://kaidikhas.com/de

Coledampf´s & Companies:

http://www.coledampfs-and-companies.de/

Imago 11 - Photo Studio:

http://www.imago1to1.com/de

Urban Turbanista - Head turning Summer...

2012-03-24T01:35:00.002+01:00

http://amandafatherazi.com

Ladies,

here comes the turban parade in full power edition.

Keeping your hair in place when you face the warm summer winds at night, offering your head a shield against the ever shining sun - we find a turban will provide this and even a whole lot more.

It has been around and yet, it still is standing strong. The Head Turban subject, whether traditional or modern styled you will be sure wearing these kinds, keeping your head up as life is all about feeling good and while you do so you will empower your head with these beautiful assistants. Life is about living it up, feeling your head being in a good place.

These pieces are nothing less than statement pieces making you get to experience for a moment what women wear in other parts of the globe on a daily basis, not just for the reason of showing nice textures and a nice accessory but more of having a practical yet wearable accessory helping against all sorts of nature´s moods. Since I can recall I have always been interested in different countries and traditions, was always fascinated by tribal and traditional wear. Anything that sets me into another world is playing with my mind and educates myself and my personal environment at the same time. We as human can not only choose to wear but choose to "ambassador" from time to time and fill things in with some meaning. If one is interested in other cultures it can easily appear to others as well and you get into skin-deeper talks about all kinds maybe starting with where things originate and what you connect to your fashion statements.

Certainly not a Must-Do for Everyone.

Though, there are options that may adapt easier to your personal style such as a midi or semi-turban spotted as a softer variation of the closely related turban family. Below you can track the semi-option that is less of a deal but still gorgeous for a nice road trip, the beach or any other activity during the upcoming summer months.

lesmads.de

The turban as a practical garment is found in many different countries all over the world, yet I have been particularly fascinated by the photo below which made me dedicate a whole article to this little fella. It has to be the Beduin-Feel that delivers through the picture. I am not sure but it had an impact on me. It inspired me to think about what beautiful cultures are on earth and every single one has beautiful and meaningful garment. If I consider Beduin tradition I have to instantly think of Desert stories and plain aspiration of adventure. I am thinking it transmits an emotion and when I wear one of the turban-options whether complete, half, third or fourth of what it is I don´t care - as long as it makes me feel warm inside and kicks off a good mood I am all in. That´s how its sold in my world - Feel right and you do right and vice versa.

lesmads.de

As we are talking the turban it certainly has made its impact already. Celebs and people across the media world that we get to see from time to time are wearing all sorts of head garments - though one of the staples has become the (semi-)turban, especially throughout warmer months.

zeitgeschmack.de

Especially the editorial world has made the turban look chic and city wearable, heading out for dinner or starting of a cocktail summer night party with friends. You will get to see these and even if you do not like them - they have had their impact already, do not depend on todays decisions. People wear the turban and enjoy and some don´t but hey, that´s the game of fashion anyways - thankfully we are all individuals and can live by "live and let live".
You may find a starting point in this little excursion to the "Mental Sahara Oasis" as a kick of for your little day dreams and saying goodbye for now letting you know it is a lot of fun experimenting with accessories that have stories behind...

http://she.hr/

http://trendspotting.com.au

Saturdays - Perfect Market Days

2012-03-19T20:33:00.002+01:00

If you love seeing foods in an atmosphere passed the supermarkets you may find satisfaction visiting one of the beautiful Market halls that every City offers. What would be a visit to Barcelona if you´d not visit the City´s very famous Mercat de la Boqueria. There is just such simple thing called Flair you get only to experience on a market day - a busy market day. Meeting loads of different people enjoying their weekend dedicating little of their time for a trip to the market buying fresh foods to put on the tables. Like Barcelona does offer a great market, so does Berlin offer an atmospheric scenery at a market nicknamed "Markthalle".

Today, we are talking about this market, one of the nicest situated in the heart of Berlin´s District Kreuzberg at the beautiful Marheinekeplatz. The Marheineke Markthalle was re-designed not too long ago and has found back to its good old days when the neighborhood met during Saturday shopping strolls with the whole family bunch, friends and whoever you would have met during an extensive shopping morning. Spontaneous cups of coffee, sitting back and chatting, talking latest gossip and Co. and sipping on your Espresso while watching the buzz of activities along the market lanes.

There is clearly a hidden passion in strolling around in a lively airy hall that offers many different stands with Italian, Spanish, French, Greek Food and even more on the menu. Here and there some pretty little corners with surprising offers, a corner shop selling the most beautiful flowers in all gorgeous colors that nature can offer us.

In case of empty stomachs and the urge to indulge you would not need to search that long and have way more than just one spot to hit - many options guaranteed and great views on the displayed foods, just smelling deliciously and attracting eyes and noses the same way. You can find a stand with organic pastries, bread and cakes which offers daily fresh round mini pizzas as well for a lunch break pausing a long day.

If you´d visit the market just before one long day ends you may find a nice seat just right in "the front row" at the window wall with lined up stools - ready to sit back and viewing passengers passing by and sipping on your glass of red wine with e.g. some nice Spanish Antipasti.

The French stand LeBretagne is a nice spot to get yourself some of the best and fresh French supplies for a beautiful Sunday morning breakfast. If you tend to be more of the impatient you may just get yourself a good start right away ordering a nice (second) breakfast while stopping by. There is no harm getting your hands straight on the traditional French cuisine - you will enjoy it!

And for all most if you get to visit the beautiful spot Marheineke Markthalle on a sunny day make sure you get yourself some nice images to bring home to your beloved ones and show them some of the Dolce Vita in Berlin...

For Details on opening hours and location advice you can visit their homepage:
http://www.meine-markthalle.de/

Opening Times as of today
/Öffnungszeiten:
Mo-Fr: 8 - 20 Uhr
Sa: 8 - 18 Uhr
Su: closed

Adress:
Marheineke Markthalle
Marheinekeplatz/Bergmannstraße
10961 Berlin

Berlin´s Big Department Store - KadeWe by Night

2012-03-18T21:16:00.003+01:00

Berlin without a visit to famous Kaufhaus des Westens, the short take being more commonly known as KadeWe, is just one sight less seen. Oh well - so no big deal as department stores are all the same...

But then again it would simply cause that you had to come back for its beautifully presented shop-windows as every City has its very special vibe also communicated via their local Design & Street trends.

Passing by makes you see the latest ideas on artful creation and always thoughtfully themed showcases by Visual Merchandiser. Visual Merchandising as a form of projecting emotional needs has a long tradition. Showcases being well displayed and all over the world have their own Flair. Cities such as New York, London, Paris and Berlin are on the top notch when it comes to creating these on point.

Berlin´s Department Store is well known for its trimmed showcases. With its creations Visual Designer are aiming for Customer´s attention. As Visual Communication is a key element in today´s Retail Marketing and an effective instrument to the potential Customer´s heart it is measured by how far it may or may not so awake Customer´s senses along the way. With the following pictures you´ll get an overview of the latest edition that is displayed throughout March 2012.

Enjoy and make it a point on your list to check before you leave Berlin for good!

Scroll down and get to see what is on right now in Berlin´s famous Department Store KadeWe:

For information on the Department Store check its Homepage here: http://www.kadewe.de/

"(Get your) Pants on Floral Prints"

2012-02-26T21:09:00.002+01:00

One soft promise on the following: After seeing through this selection of Florals you will certainly consider getting your hands on floral pants.

This take on pants is so girly yet womanly attractive and works nearly in every environment whether i.e. for a casual sunday stroll or a monday morning in the office. Those Pants still get their good reputation in your workplace within a second if you pair them simply up with a very classic blazer.

More than that you will be happy to find any coloring going more on the darker side of color spectrum or getting your good to go pair of trousers in a light colored edition. Anything works if you combine well - combining is key. As to most outfits it´s not what you wear but HOW YOU WEAR IT. This is not just a saying but has a quality proven background - most stylists will sign this paragraph.

There is an option again for everybody. If you like to take it to the extreme you may opt for a colorful print shirt/blouse as well - which will make the overall look appear more dramatic as you are showing off prints head to toe as seen below:

In those cases of the less brave moments and a rather sophisticated take you can certainly pair things up with a classic trench or any other coat that keeps you warm during early Spring. Just make sure you tone it down with some e.g. earthy colors such as you find in the darker range like dark navy green, dark brown or such. For a night out black is one of the most effective ways to let your pants scream Lady on board! Black is the most elegant way to make your outfit come alive at night. Think of some gorgeous black peep toes (peep toe pumps is what we are talking right now), a nice clutch and you are out the door for some glamourous night.

At the end of the day you are heading out for a pants that is a all-rounder. You can honestly wear these for a brunch date, to church, to the playground or to a work event. It depends on your taste and on your styling skills what you get out of these on a daily basis. So get started and play around, match things together and enjoy the results "anywear" you go...!

With the first serious sunshine moments and temperatures tending towards higher degrees on the scale...we are ready for flowers - for florals surrounding our legs! Lets go

The Healthy Food Corner - filling up the Cupboards

2012-02-21T21:10:00.000+01:00

Starting the Series: That´s in a Townswoman´s Basket - Grocery Shopping List of a semi Vegetarian

www.elcivics.om

I am totally aware of cases people stating that they cannot live the healthy life constantly and break their habits as soon as the instant motivation is gone. However, I have experienced countless times interested people asking themselves what to buy for a healthy meal and a healthy cupboard pile-up. Therefore, I decided to open up a little insight view of what I tend to get on a regular basis and for unexperienced yet curious folks to get an idea what is out there and to make happy choices.

Nowadays, people easily complain about not knowing how to eat nutritious and what not. The common alibis are: It´s way too time consuming to cook from scratch, healthy food is way to expensive, I don´t get satisfied by healthy foods, it tastes boring and many other excuses come towards my way. Getting confronted with these I have to say one thing: What is your priority? To me it is a healthy fun loaded life that makes you easily move and do what you want. Though, I try to stress that everything holds its challenges and still I find there is no reason not to go by the healthy road but do the short cut and walk the "convenience food or instant meal section" of the road. Which is like making a pit stop at the first possible junction you see...up to the extent as if you are not willing to go the complete way although you know the destination holds treasures for you.

For me, it is all pretty simple: What you see is what you (really) get. If you look at various baskets in the supermarket you see what people buy and you instantly can - with a little trained eye - see which basket may belong to whom. If you realize how many pre-conserved foods are on the table of families you will guess where the vitamins went... you may come to the conclusion little to nowhere. They are left behind in the nirvana of the food industry that replaces lost vitamins and is generous enough to add a little nice flavor here and a little nice flavor there, just to make you smile when you bite into your soft´ n fluffy ready to serve meal. Well done I´d say... But the satisfaction may not last that long. What do we expect from a pre-fix that may take less than 5 minutes to heat up?

If you are only a little willing to pull the wheel around, you may be ready for a shopping list of healthier options (at least from time to time). Upcoming I will present choices and foods that are made by a city slicker this way you will get to see what may optionally find a part in your everyday life, too. It´s all about inspiration and lustful and thoughtful choices we make every single day. Though, everyone is different and therefore you have to find your own shopping behavior just as to fit your schedule, life and taste. And don´t forget: Everything grows on you - event this (healthy) habit!

www.healthyfoodssite.com

So come and join for some fun little food shoppings... It´s going to be a bit like a decent "follow me around" yet you can just enter by the comfort of your own home - how convenient is that?! Keep interested, keep updated and follow as to what will come!

(smile,) live, laugh & love

Little Cheese Advisory

2012-02-19T21:09:00.001+01:00

Are you a kind of a sucker for cheese? I am sometimes and if so it has to be of great value. I do not support the so called cheese for 99cents which often is made out of less quality ingredients.

Today, we are looking at my favorite cheeses around the world. First of all it is just a tiny overview for more inspiration along the way... You may dig further into this matter but this is just introducing you to some good choices I trust in.

First of all is there anything better than very good Parmigiano Reggiano? Yes, there is if you ask me: It is called PECORINO NERO and has the best taste I find. Mostly this is a great little snack and still be a perfect topping on a baguette or any other classy bread.

http://www.gourmetto.com

Another beauty that has to be mentioned is the QUESO MANCHEGO. This is a Spanish pick and very delicious I feel I cannot stress enough at this point. One of my very best lovely cheese finds. You will be able to mix this cheese with anything on a great bread, in a salad or as a tapas itself.

http://sevillatapas.blogspot.com

To be fair I will admit that another great one is from France. It is funny how the name makes you want more. L´AMOUR ROUGE is a softer cheese that is just the right one for on top of a nice bread. Think of a cross Baguette and fuchsia velvety Red Wine - so there you go imagine...! L´amour rouge.

alnatura.de

The QUESO ARICO from the region Arico in Teneriffa got (out of 1500 cheese sorts) voted best world cheese. It is a great choice and very delicate - as a side dish or just in between meals!

www.nycheese.org

Whether you are preparing a vegetarian barbecue or a simple alternative to meat at your grill party you may consider the Cyprus HALLOUMI a typical grill cheese that has a very nice taste on its own and can be paired easily with other foods.

http://dinnerdiary.org

In case you are tasteful looking for a back up list of cheeses you can visit this http://www.thefiftybest.com/food/best_cheese/ page and check out the best cheeses that got chosen worldwide.

A Fine Italian Gem called PAPPA E CICCIA

2012-02-19T11:24:00.000+01:00

What a great find: PAPPA E CICCIA show that sustainable and Gourmet work hand in hand as a result presenting: Good Food.

If you wonder whether Organic will simply mean boring and less delicious options in your lunch times you may find interesting that this small Italian Bistro is all about the most gorgeous while healthy food. The colors when you come into the door and walk up to the front vitrine are amazing. We are talking vital and deep colors and you will get right into it standing there - food everywhere and probably one of the best pasta I have seen.

Whether it means you want to come in for a cup of fresh Italian coffee or get your hands on some delicatesse to bring with you home... This space is all loaded with amazing treats and healthy options for during the day: Morning, Lunch and late snacks. I had the best ciabatta, best coffee and what not at this little place situated in Berlin Mitte.

You will find loads of things you admire in the Italian Cuisine and creative other new deals that they pull out and show off in their little "nugget".

By the way just to be mentioned for any of you who may wonder: At PAPPA E CICCIA they offer concept lead help on sustainable gastronomy. Just contact Benjamin at Pappa e Ciccia and you are in for a startup concept based on visual, calculated and any other matters that will come in as a question when you build your own new business. Even for those business owners that want to check if they are on track... go and find out!

Contact:

http://www.pappaeciccia.de/

FEINKOSTLADEN & CAFÉ

Italienische und deutsche Spezialitäten
Choriner Str. 19 · 10437 Berlin
Mo bis Fr 9-20 Uhr · Sa 10-17 Uhr

Christian Siriano - Spring/Summer 2012

2012-02-12T11:58:00.002+01:00

Not only Christian Siriano but most Designer show off sum good color explosions on the runway these days. Especially for spring and summer we are all in for the fresh appetizer and all that reminds us off fruit and ice cream and as well as the sun. This can have an immediate boost on our wellbeing. The buzz about it is that most tend to be color-shy rather than experimenting. But with 2012 there won´t be any chance to freshen up your wardrobe without putting some colorful brightness onto your hangers. The grocery stores are full with Easter eggs & Co. and so are the fashion retailer.

Enjoy Christian Siriano´s latest Edition starting this spring...

http://www.christianvsiriano.com/

Berlin Berlin - Boring?

2012-02-08T22:11:00.000+01:00

The Guardian states in one of its late online editions "Fifty years on, modern-day beatniks are all Berlin, Berlin, Berlin. Boring!".

No doubt Berlin is a great fun place - however, to some it is nothing more but an open secret by now and it is definitely not the most adventurous place these days to visit as it has been seen and discovered by so so many already. This article is not meant to deprive you away as that would totally kind of work against this blog but it is a try to open your eyes for more.

More than ever it has been important to find your own true path which has become less easy as you get influenced by so many ways nowadays and there is nothing less exciting than traveling your way on the marks of others. It´s rather called playing safe, which ultimately is not the way to go if your intention is to go into the world with your own will, interests and thoughts as well as your own experiences at the end of things.
Try to find your personal access to the world following your intuition. The Guardian suggests Hamburg, Germany´s second biggest city, to be one of the five best places right now to look for if you want to decide on where to live not only where to "stay" for a while.

Out of five this is a really good take on Hamburg - I´d say. It has to be something about Berlin that though the hype still is unbreakable makes things change so that it didn´t even got mentioned e.g. Parisienne, Londoner and New Yorker still prefer Berlin for setting up art spaces, meeting with Like-minded and for starting projects. For many there is also the reasoning to find a new apartment and move to the cool German Capital. Sure, everyone wants to be where the heartbeat is pumping and you can feel that tremendous Energy still, though you will never be able to call back the times of the first that came and discovered Berlin´s Streets and abandoned spaces where they found what "a New York" was lacking for decades, "a London" certainly for many years and "a Paris" for quite a bit as well. For a while Berlin was very nouveau and experimentally artsy and home of one of those incomparable vibes you find only a handful, maybe two, worldwide.

With this being said the main reasons to move to Berlin back then was in everybody´s mouth. You could here the words spreading in Berliner Cafés especially in famous Berlin summer time whether in Spanish, French or English. People discussing on House prices, often (very often) primarily about purchase prices, for some an alternative to expensive real estate situations back home. I once witnessed a discussion of an American guy sitting in front of Bateau Ivre - a quite popular little bohemian at least say Kreuzberger French Café, being probably in his early forties talking to his female company about housing prices on the Berlin real estate market. I remember he stated, which was still back in 2008 or 2009 I believe, that there was a good chance to get a nice apartment to buy in the area of "Neukölln" (which years ago used to be referred to as actually a former rather poor and quite overpopulated area of a laborer district with its up and downs anyways). Today "gentrification" is key word for that area and hipsters have found places in clusters and have left their foot prints already - Neukölln became rather a place to be over the last few years.

It´s arguable if Berlin still up until today got it´s Backbone. At least historically, there will be always a special background and to those who get there, Berlin will offer a dynamic not many cities in the world do. So its not arguable whether Berlin is still worth visiting or for travel purposes but it has maybe lost and gained other charms here and there...At least it leaves room for an opened discussion that is well worth to understand and share with friends as to what they think. The fascinosum "Berliner Mauer" (the Berlin Wall) will always belong to Berlin and its development and will be an historic fact that shows in many ways in Berlin still up until today. The districts in "West" and "East" Berlin offer different dynamics and than on the other hand have similarities where you´d not expect at all. Its all one and than it is not all the same...

But all this is not a new reason in favor of Berlin. It has been the reason for tourists back then... Nowadays, where are the new views on the capital? What are fresh reasons that make you get excited to go to Germany? I believe there are undiscovered places and parts of Germany that are still to come. One of them the gate to the world, as for Germany, surrounded by many lovely smaller cities and the ocean just by your hand is Hamburg. At least you should make sure to give it a go and visit. A trip is the least you can invest to experience a city that the Beatles where known to visit and what would be more of an interesting but already travelled path if you can follow at least the Liverpooler Boys... Think about it!

And just on another side note we are talking the 1960s: Everyone knows the Beatles but only a few know where their success started. It was the harbor city Hamburg, not England where it all actually began, where the stars where "born"! At this time Hamburg was known as one of the places where things where the wildest and the Beatles felt they where able to evolve into what they became later the world known stars. They once said "Hamburg was the city that allowed us to develop our talent.". If that´s not interesting to start with!

If you like to travel by your own but need inspiration from time to time then fall back on this: http://www.beatles-tour.com/.

For Reference and more on the Article "The five best places to live in the world, and why" try this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/jan/20/five-best-places-to-live-in-world.

"Haute Ladies in April, May, June" - Chanel Nails

2012-02-04T16:18:00.002+01:00

Every year the same procedure but always great awaited news: The beauty industry waits impatiently for the official presentation of - or even trying to force a sneak preview - the very latest and upcoming Chanel lacquers. The colors determine a whole wide audience´s choice as to what they will look for in a nail varnish - and by saying this we mean all over the world.

This year Chanel is all about April, May and June. June being already the number one nail varnish (even by now nearly every fashion magazine printed June as "the nail color in 2012") to be sold over worldwide counters as experts recon so far. And whoever isn´t buying one of these is sure to be expected to pick a "Chanel-dupe" for these gorgeous fresh colors after another long winter...

vogue.de

The women that wear the latest edition of the Chanel lacquers influence the rest of the non-Chanel female world enormously even though sometimes only subtle but it happens. The newly polished Chanel hands receive looks like nearly no other, as we are talking a carefully chosen fashionable statement that psychologically brand marks into our brain well planned by the Chanel associates.

Chanel has some visionaries sitting in the companie´s heart choosing wisely and with sure instinct what the next it-colors will be looking like. They look for colors that are applicable regarding tomorrows fashion and which will be well working with the next purse.

According to Chanel PR advertisement, April is inspired by "the highly luminous garnet of wild berries.", while May is the "intense pink, the universal shade of happiness" and June is supposed to be that "Pastel apricot, like a foretaste of summer."

glamour.de

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"Haute Ladies in April, May, June" - Chanel Nails

Martes a sábados 15:00 - 22:00
Domingos 11:00 - 17:00
Lunes cerrado

Dienstag bis Samstag 15:00 - 22:00 Uhr
Sonntag 11:00 - 17:00 Uhr
Montags Ruhetag