This photo was taken by someone who's name I don't remember for an art project I can't find...in some communal academic cultural place in Friedrichshain.

Berlin - Kreuzberg/Friedrichshain picks

April 06, 2016 in TRAVEL, INSPIRATION

I've been super ahhhh busy - and haven't had a chance to sit down and gather some of my favorite places in Berlin for a friend's trip. I finally did! There are a ton of other places I love, but here's short short list of some post in Kreuzberg/Friedrichshain:

Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien - cultural center with various art galleries and orgs in a history hospital

Club der Visionaere - river side bar

Balkan Tripps - ping pong bar on Glogauer Strasse

Kaufbar - super cute cafe

Kosmonaut - club

Görlitzer Park - park

Treptower Park - another park

drink Club-Mate with vodka, eat döner kebab, explore abandoned buildings and ride bikes everywhere

Now go get lost!

DC reminds me of Berlin and I don't know why

April 02, 2014 in TRAVEL, INSPIRATION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3huoI5XbNk&feature=youtu.be

Happy Friday! You made it!

August 23, 2013 in TRAVEL, IN THE STUDIO

Hope you are having a great Friday. If you want to try some ping pong + karaoke, check out this event:

I will be the one singing with very unsuccessful pingin'. In Berlin, it's called 'Chinese-style ping pong'...and I somehow always ended up at my favorite place with a ping pong expert, you know that person that wins or is runner up for every match. I have yet to check out this event in San Francisco, mostly because I am scared people here are just as good.

If you are in Berlin, you should go to Balkan Tripps and then Kosmonaut für tolle Musik:

And tomorrow, if you are in fact in San Francisco, stop by Noise Pop's 20th street block party, but go on the later end so you can come by the after party.

Enjoy!

ping pong

June 10, 2013 in TRAVEL

Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin.

I can't wait to play ping pong here.

wanderlust wednesdays: spa day in berlin

May 29, 2013 in TRAVEL, INSPIRATION, STYLE

Berlin, Germany.

Travel time from San Francisco: a transcontinental flight, hopefully around ten hours, but if it is over 20 this post is for you. Ideal trip length: day, if you are already in Berlin. Nice to haves: Extra Euros. Directions: Cab it, or take the U-Bahn to Potsdamer Platz.

After a long (and quite horrendous flight -- but more on that in a future post) to Berlin, I was a bit distraught and my mom gave me good advice: go to the spa. This is something I probably would never do in the States, but I was on vacation and let's just say the incident on the airplane (with me) almost caused us to land somewhere over France.

I googled some spas and for some reason decided on Ono Spa at the Mandala Hotel in the center of Berlin. I probably liked the name, and the idea of standing on the 11th floor and looking down at the main street.

The staff was very friendly and understanding of my German skills, which at the time were nonexistent. They helped me pick a massage and offered me cucumber, ginger, or lemon water. I even got a nice nut and cheese plate after the massage. There was absolutely no one else there at the time, or at least it seemed that way, which really added to the atmosphere and gave me some much needed peace and quite.

I got their basic classic massage. It was just what I needed to make the transition from airplane rollercoaster to fun times in my favorite city. I also got my nails painted this snot green color, which I've been trying to find ever since and finally found the color at Target this week. Afterward I got a drink at the Qiu Lounge Bar on the first floor and skyped my sister with the bartender.

The Mandala Hotel Potsdamer Straße 3 10785 Berlin

pricelist

Have you been to a spa in Berlin? What was your experience? Leave a comment below and share your travels!

wind smashed ipads now have hope Berlin has Apple store...

April 26, 2013 in TRAVEL, INSPIRATION

Berlin. August. 2012. // Berlin. May. 2013.

When I was in Berlin last summer I took only my ipad. One day I had it plugged into my friend's power strip and I was doodling away at some silly thing when the wind gushed in from the open window (you know those giant windows that open with that twist handle that remind me of insane asylums for some reason--white, thick, stark). Because my ipad was connected by cord it flew out of my hand and slammed on the floor, the glass smashing into a million pieces. Or at least this is how I remembered it. I think I was hung over.

Anyway, it was maybe day 5 of my 2 and a half week trip and there went my ipad. I was sad, but also kind of giddy. I don't know why; the trip had a very strange start and everything was just so amazing I couldn't really be upset.

I wrapped it in clear plastic before I boarded my train to Leipzig. When I got back to Berlin I ended up going to Potsdam for the day with my friend and my borrowed bike. I left my ipad at my friends house because it was a sunny day and I wanted to bike around the lakes and go swimming.

In Potsdam, I found this store that sold apple products and got myself an ipad protector clear plastic thing. I put it on my ipad when back in Berlin and it all stayed intact until I got back to the US, weeks later, and was able to get it repaired.

Point is, next time I'm in Berlin I can just go to the Apple store because one is opening Friday, May 3rd at 5pm. You heard it here first (and I heard it here first).