It will get a bit food-centric around here since I am in search of good street food vendors in Berlin.
This little truck parked by Nordbahnhof on Bernauer Straße sells Quarkkeulchen, which are comparable to donuts, but better than any I’ve ever had. A little more gooey on the inside and nicely crisp on the outside. Perfect breakfast or sweet snack for a great price: 5 are only EUR 2.20.
…and this literary ornament on a wall in Mitte’s Heckmann Höfen. Time for “pulling the hoodie over your head” before “entering the day”.
Heckmann Höfe are not as famous as neighboring Hackesche Höfe, but much sweeter, not just due to the Bonbonmacherei. A candy factory which I’ll visit after their summer break.
Founded in 1839 Rudolph Hertzog turned his small Manufactur-Waaren-Handlung store via mail order business for carpets, furniture and dress fabrics into Berlin’s biggest and most popular department store.
This landmarked building from the early 1900’s on Brüderstraße and Scharrenstraße is the only piece left of the complex. In 1949 Hertzog’s heirs lost the building to disposession.
Chic zu dritt, a typical Jugendmode youth fashion store in GDR times, and a shop for wedding apparel, closed in 1990.
While cat sitting in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park area I was introduced to the most delicious sandwiches, fresh, tasty & spicy, my favorite! I was sad to leave both cat and the shop around the corner when my friends returned.
After moving to Berlin I found a lot of wonderful Vietnamese restaurants, but no sandwich shop, until CôCô opened in Mitte! A sweet little spot near Rosenthaler Platz with a backyard, moderate prices, nice service, and the best bánh mì East of Sunset Park.
My favorite on “meatless days”: Bánh Mì Tofu – Bánh Mì Chay
This morning I went on a guided tour with StattReisen. As much as I love biking in the city - to really experience a neighborhood I prefer the slower walking pace. A good reminder to stop and get off the bike once in a while.
In 1990 French artist Christian Boltanski researched former residents’ names, dates of birth and death, and occupations of a house destroyed during the war. Plaques were installed on the walls of neighboring buildings. A memorial dedicated to “absence”.
