Summer of pop-up stores

It is plenty of pop-up store in the Eastern part of Berlin, but thanks to the creative people from Bikini,also in the West. The temporary fashion spaces are becoming not only places to trade merchandise, but also to offer inspiration and creative energy. Brunnenstrasse 190 is hostign till July 31, Popup Fashion BLN and went this week to have a look around.

The space is big enough to accommodate a lot of people and different kind of tailored products, from evening gowns and glittering rocks to jewellery made practically out of everything.

There is even a Japanese-inspired corner using traditional kimono textures for bags - love them - or caps. The prices are medium to high, the usual average in an area with many cretive hubs and tailored unique fashion.

For the environmental aware, there are home-made Brazilian soaps that look like tempting pieces of chocolate. 

Near by, at no. 195, a different pop-up store is aimed to create no only shopping temptations, but also to bring a piece of Japan to Berlin. Connecter Tokyo Pop-up Store aka. Tokyo meets Berliner is open till the beginning of August.

 I was disappointed because I was expected a bigger space, but still it is enough to exhibit gorgeous dresses with manga motives. The colours are so pleasant and fashionable that I would love to buy them all.

And if I want some pancakes with honey to dress my feet, I know from where I can bring a bit of extravaganza into my life. It is never too late to dramatically change my style and a Japanese pop-up store is the right place to start the rewamping. 

Reasons for not shopping (at Edeka) between 12 and 13.30

As a freelancer, I am free to organize my time. Usually, I wake up early in the morning, have a long coffee, read my mails, check my agenda, do some writing and reading and writing and reading. Around 12-13, I need a break, either for some book exchange at the library or for buying fresh food for lunch.

My problem is that when I am going to buy my fresh food for lunch, I should cope with a lot of speed problems. Not mine, as I am usually faster than the light, but of those accidentaly found on my way. Take, for instance, the Edeka shop from Blissestrasse. A lovely place, where I can buy lots of products from all over the world with a limited budget. And I do the shopping part very well and fast - 10 minutes. But I need to pay, and I should wait in one of the 3-4 lines. At each line, you will find more than 4 people, with big trolleys. The cashier is looking calm, and does not hurry up at all. The lines are getting longer, and from time to time you can see the undecided customer, moving - slowly - from a line to another, where he/she stays for 3 seconds and move to the other line. Today, an elegant looking man in his 60s did this switch for at least 5 times. It is even nicer when you see a counter apparently free, you run, eventually by losing your good place, only for being told that the counter is closed. Nice job, you mutter, and you turn back to your line, where you are already 4 persons behind your previous place. And there you should wait and wait and wait again.

The line is moving slowly, the small change is counted one cent after the other till I don't know how many euros. You may roll your eyes but nothing will change. The clients will not hurry up to discarge their baskets otherwise than one product, breath, look around, another product, breath, smile around. The cashier is even slower, sometimes forgetting the precious 'hearts' or to give you the change or to include on the bill all your products. Sometimes, you may have one product twice, but you are - at least I am - so happy that everything is over that you do not care why you bought two bottles of oil. You promise yourself, your spouse and children that you will never ever go to shopping at this time of the day. But as a writer, you need more inspiration and tomorrow, the same time the same place you are back. 

I will be back, of course. 

Iceskating at Alexanderplatz

I hate iceskating. I tried only once and I was terrified promising myself that I will never do it again. Aparently, it is among the few promises to myself which I'm keeping religiously. For those in a better mood, Alexanderplatz is offering the occasion of some funny moments.

We visited the place the last Sunday. It was not crowded at all. Shoes were available for rent and many tourists were trying their luck chilling and killing some time.

If I am trying to be as ironic as possible, I would say that iceskating was the missing element at Alexanderplatz.

Wish I had this help when I was their age and curious to iceskate for a little bit (and nothing more).

Bikes for every size

Small, delicate, easy to carry and colourful. It may be a cake, a flower shop or a jewelry parlor. Maybe, but in other gifted capital cities of the world. In Berlin, at the fancy Galeries Lafayette this description fits a bike store.

At 2pm, there were a couple of curious or interested - or both - visitors listening to the presentations made on the spot by a talkative hippie. 

Are you interested for a luxury shopping? Go to fold a bike, then...

Ready for Hanukka?

In less than two weeks, Hanukka is coming and maybe you didn't buy yet the gelt. It is what I was looking for when I stumbled upon the Levy's Spielzeuge, at Hackeschen Hoefen. The shop isn't offering exclusive Jewish-related products - as you will find here various other items related to other celebrations from other religions - and I didn't find the gelt, but instead you can find mezuzot, hanukiah, books for childrens, toys and dreidels, among others. During my time spent there - a Sunday afternoon - a Japanese music played in the background and the shop was full of people buying or simply looking around. 

First, a stop at the Golem Kollektion

An attractive kids' friendly entrance

If interested in such topics, you can give a chance to a different kind of shopping.

From a market to another

It's again this time of the year when everybody is inviting us to meet at a "markt" nearby and we are politely refusing such honors. The boiling wine and the various temptations of toys aren't temptations enough for us for a joyous inter-cultural experience. Case in which, we prefer to take the full advantage of the evenings starting around 3pm for long reading evenings or other cultural happenings. Otherwise the craziness may be your best companion until the end of the winter - probably somewhere around the end of March. 

Sometimes, the "markt" are unavoidable and while crossing the "happy" areas I took a couple of pictures of some poor toys waiting to be liberated somehow from the prison of the kitsch. There are also good sides of such events, with lots of food and cheap merchandise, sometimes some street concerts and a lot of boiled wine.

In Spandau where the small streets of the former village aren't large enough to host the visitors from all over the  corners of the city.

The charity actions - the good side of the winter markets.

Chimps'world

Hanging tigers in Wilmersdorf

I am more than convinced there are many real cultural opportunities to spend your time and money on in the spontaneous city of Berlin. Till then, enjoy some snapshots of a sad show of plush toys.

Discovering Tempelhof

A monument in a no name park

The lights of the old Park

A monument in the memory of the Tsunami victims from Berlin/Brandenburg in the yard of Dorfkirche

The old Dorfkirche

Going back to the city life

Another port of Berlin

The port

You can spend some relaxing time on the boat-lounge

Mariendorferdamm

Dear Edeka management,

did you checked recently - the last three months, at least - the level of happiness, optimism and enthusiasm of your employees? I know that client service might be problematic sometimes here, but I am very happy with the services offered by your company: cheap, clean, nice locations, nice people. Or, in the light of the latest experiences, I used to be happy with your services, until the last 7 minutes spent at EDEKA Friedrichstrasse, just at the basement of the famous S-Bahn station. 

Tuesday not so-late-afternoon, around 3pm, many people, but not continuum flux. Quiet people - from time to time, at this very circulated railway station you can observe or interact against your will with various sorts of craziness - and...two ladies at the paying counter. One was looking so sour that I immediately decided to delicately move to the other waiting line. My happiness lasted only a couple of seconds - maybe three: the other lady looked angry at me, but I thought I was wrong - too hot outside and a lot of thought in my mind. And after finishing with the other two persons before me, she checked my products - a new juice - called vivaris, with yogurt taste, not an excellent choice at all and some toast and announced me how much do I have to pay: 2.03 Euro. Not a friendly voice at all. The second checking: something is wrong with this lady, for sure. But I continued to smile, grab some small change from my purse and gave to her. "I said 2.03. Here is only 1.03". The last 03 was told with a tone and half higher than the usual politeness rules. It took me a couple of seconds to realize where I was. For the first time in the last two years, I was facing this rude behavior. Answered her in German, as aggressively polite as possible that it's fine, I will gave her the missing 1 Euro and that she doesn't have to get worry at all about the final payment. Gave her the change, smiled and wished ironically 'Good luck' and left. As I was living, she was displaying a kind of grinny smile.

In conclusion, dear EDEKA management, do something for changing this situation. I am going quite often to buy stuff from this EDEKA shop and I'm afraid to face the two iron ladies again...Something should be done: a retreat, coaching, smiling sessions, higher salaries... 

Shopping Sunday

Berliners, are you ready? For spending your money and shopping as crazy? Here is a short list of the shopping program for this Sunday. Despite the opposition against this practice expressed by religious leaders, there are still opportunities to enjoy the lures of capitalism. 

Good luck and inspiring shopping, Berliners!