Konzert Haus, beleuchtet

Here's another look at one of the buildings taking part in this year's Festival of Lights. This is the beautiful Konzerthaus which stands in the middle of the Gendarmenmarkt. It's a beautiful building any time of the year, but especially so during this special spectacle! I hope you're enjoying the highlights.

September theme day: Library

These Book Boxes are popping up all over Berlin. I have already featured two on my blog: this one on the square near my home and another one near the S-Bahn station Grunewald. Here's a new one for you at Leon Jessel Platz. It's heartening to see that these boxes are so popular. Every time I pass one by there is at least one person digging through the selection or waiting to add a few new titles to the pile. I guess reading hasn't gone out of style yet!

I can't believe September is upon us already. Where did the summer go? You'll find more interpretations of today's theme here.

Potsdamer Platz

I love the Sony Center on Potsdamer Platz. I often head over there to go to the movies and I always have to take a picture of the futuristic architecture. I never get tired of it! It's Wednesday again and you'll find more signs at Signs, Signs.

Cherry benches year three

The cherries on the square have not been nearly as beautiful as last year or the year before. But I suppose that's a byproduct of an unseasonably warm winter - these trees were almost in full bloom back in January! It's shame though, they can be really beautiful.

Everyday beauty

You can sometimes find the most amazing details in the most mundane of places. Take this art deco style chandelier found at the rather plain Bundesplatz S-Bahn station. From the outside, it looks very similar to yesterday's stop, lots of hulking concrete.

 

On the inside you're greeted by a long stretch of light that leads you right to the chandelier and up to the platforms on the left. The decorative brickwork on the ceiling and the upper walls is also a nice touch. Sometimes it pays to give a place a second look!

PS: Don't forget to stop by Halcyon Travels for of the beautiful Alsace.

Der Platz

A few Sundays ago I made the trek to the Lidl at Inssbrucker Platz, only to find it closed. That particular Lidl was famous for being one of the few supermarkets that was allowed to open on Sundays. I don't know why it's not open anymore, but I ended up going to a store at Sudkreuz train station where I had to wait 10 minutes outside because the store was overcrowded. On the positive side of things, I did get a nice shot of the S-Bahn sign and the crest. I'm linking up with Signs, Signs.

PS: There's more of beautiful Colmar on Halcyon Travels.

On the Gendarmenmarkt

A look at the beautiful Konzert Haus on the Gendarmenmarkt in Mitte. It's always a nice place to walk around and I think the beautiful architecture lends itself well to black and white. Hope you agree!

PS: I have an Alsatian mural of sorts for you at Halcyon Travels.

Kollwitz Platz

An imposing statue of Käthe Kollwitz stands right in the middle of Kollwitz Platz in Prenzlauerberg. There are tons of cute cafes and restaurants right around here and if you're lucky enough to be in Berlin in the springtime, you'll find an abundance of cherry blossoms lining the square.

This sculpture is both of and by Kollwitz. I really love her work. The people always look so ordinary, but somehow that's what touches me about them. I've shown another one of her sculpture selfies here.

Bayerisches Viertel

I was out and about recently trying to build up my archives a bit when I came across this large-scale mural near the Bayerischer Platz. It's a rendering of how the square looked in its heydey. Unfortunately, the decorative structures and fountains in the middle didn't survive the war and weren't rebuilt. It's still a fun neighborhood to explore though. It's Monday again and you'll find more murals at Monday Mural.

August theme day: Bicycle

Berlin is a city chock full of bicycles and bicycle riders, so I was very excited about finally having a monthly theme with lots of possibility. I found many more "traditional" bike shots, but this crazy display caught my eyes a few days ago on Schloßstrasse in Steglitz. I have no idea how or why someone hung these bicycles on the streetlamp, but there they are! Another mystery for the ages.

Hope your August is off to a good start. If you'd like to see more bicycles from around the world, click here.

Summertime

Summer weather has finally arrived and people are flocking to the Wine Fest! I was among the numbers tasting some of the Rhine wines this weekend and I'll be back for more this week!

Enjoying the view

These benches on Leopoldplatz are a good place for some people watching in Wedding. There's a weekly market here on the square and when it gets warmer there is also a nice fountain for the kids to play in. I enjoyed my cappuccino from le garçon here a few weeks ago.

PS: I've also got a Viennese sign for you over on my travel blog. You can see it here.

Decorative mural

I think it's nice when boxes and buildings are painted to make them a little less dull. This is a utility building that stands on Breitenbachplatz, a small square with a U-Bahn station of the same name nearby. Interestingly, though the mural states this is Wilmersdorf the Wikipedia entry for the square says it is in Steglitz-Zehlendorf and the entry for the U-Bahn station says this is Dahlem. A mystery for the ages! It's Monday again and you can find more murals here.

PS: For those who are interested, I saw Mozart's The Magic Flute this weekend at the Komische Oper. It was a wonderful production done in a 1920s, silent film style. You can read more about it here or see pictures here.

Cherry tree benches: year two

These beautifully shaded benches are not far from my home. At this time last year the blossoms were already fading, creating a wonderful cherry snow. I guess spring is a little later this year!

Cherry snow

You'll find these benches on the square across from my new apartment. Those benches look fantastic with the beautiful cherry trees in bloom above them. Unfortunately, the blossoms don't last long, but the "cherry snow" is so pretty! I'm sure this won't be the last time you see this scene, I hope to show it throughout the seasons.

Looking out

Remember this place that I showed you back in November? Pretty soon, I'll be moving in! Although we didn't get the first apartment that we saw, another unit came up in January and after a lot of hard negotiating we were able to come to an agreement. We sign the papers today, but won't be moving in until the end of the summer as a lot of renovations are needed. It's very exciting though and the view you see here is from my new living room balcony. I'm sure this won't be the last time you'll be seeing this square on my blog. Happy Friday!!!