Berlin Reified

A picnic on the Spree

Once again, we headed down to the water.

Have you got a favorite spot for picnic provisions? Our baskets were filled with buttery biscuits from the new Albrecht's on Sophienstraße, with Grüner Veltliner and Morbier from the charming Jens Garlipp on Große Hamburger Straße, with figs and rolls from the supermarket.

By nightfall, all we could see of the pleasure boats were their lights reflected in the river.

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Albrecht's, Sophienstraße 5, Berlin-Mitte (map) Pocket-sized pâtisserie with perfect tartes and tortes.
Garlipp Weinhandlung, Große Hamburger Straße 1, Berlin-Mitte (map) Unpretentious and competent wine shop with a small selection of cheese and antipasti.

Let's store up this summer

Let's store up this summer against all the other summers that are gray and drizzly, damp and dispiriting. I don't go out much these days. Even on the kitchen sofa, silhouetted against the balcony curtains, though, there's the light of these endless evenings. It seems to grow more lovely as dusk draws in.

Honey Honey (& More Sky & Art School Open Days)

Oh, but the sun is shining, the bees buzzing. Not one, but two events on this weekend for amateur apiarists and those who just love honey. Do bees drink only nectar, or water too? Do bumblebees make honey? Oh yes, my daughter will be in tow.

On Saturday, Slow Food Berlin, Prinzessinnengarten, Mellifera and Berlin's beekeepers' associations join forces to stage the fourth annual Stadthonig-Fest (or Urban Honey Festival). More than 30 city beekeepers will be on hand to speak about their work and sell jars of fresh spring honey, and there will be a children's program. Prinzessinnengarten's lovely garden cafe will serve up dishes featuring Berlin honey, culminating with a honey-themed dinner—think calzones with honey and regional goat's cheese—beginning at 6:30pm. Spaces are limited, so do email to check if there are still spots free.

Then on Sunday, the reconstructed 13th century village Museumsdorf Düppel in Zehlendorf will host Honigtag (Honey Day). On this day, children can help the beekeepers spin honey from the honeycomb. As always, one can also find live demonstrations of woodworking, weaving, iron working, and more.

Stadthonig-Fest, Prinzessinnengarten, Prinzenstr. 35-38, Berlin-Kreuzberg (map). Admission free.
Saturday, 19 July 2014, 11am–5pm, dinner 6:30pm

Honigtag, Museumsdorf Düppel, Clauertstraße 11, Berlin-Zehlendorf (map). Admission 5 EUR adults, 2.50 reductions. 
Sunday, 20 July 2014, 10am–5pm

PS: & also - Otto Piene's More Sky installation opened at the Neue Nationalgalerie on Tuesday. This Saturday's Sky Art Event celebrates the opening and marks the debut of the three star sculptures, including the Berlin Superstar. But the installation is worth visiting any evening from 10pm-3am with a picnic basket, a chilled bottle of Grüner Veltliner, and a few good friends. 

&& the always-inspiring open days at the Kunsthochschule Weißensee and the UDK are this weekend: go!

Lindens in the sun

And their perfume when it rains!

Book Stand II with Claire Cotrell

The loveliest of Sundays: Book Stand II with Claire Cottrell and Jordan Sullivan at the Freunde von Freunden apartment.

Light filtered through the drizzle. We sipped fragrant bowls of Sacred Emily , smiled to see friends' work in the summer print shop, chatted with Claire, Jordan and Anne, admired the corners of the redesigned apartment, and agonized over which of the nature-centered publications to take home.

Tonight there's a candlelight reading from Jordan's new book. Wine and cake will be served; it begins at 8:30pm. Do go.

Book Stand is an online art bookshop based in Los Angeles.
The FvF apartment is at Mulackstraße 26 in Mitte.