Coming events: Munich Creative Group’s Pop-Up Gallery

If you’ll be in Munich this Saturday, February 11th, please stop by and see some of my paintings at Munich Creative Group’s pop-up gallery. In addition to artwork from a variety of artists, there will be drinks, snacks, and live music. And door prizes! And entry is free! And it’s all indoors where there’s heat! (This last point is actually pretty key given the crazy cold snap we’re having here in Munich.)

I hope to see you there.

Tags: art, Munich

The most wunderbar time of the year

It’s time for my annual I-love-Christmas-in-Germany post. The Christmas markets opened last week, looking much as they do every year. I’ve noticed a couple new stands here and there, but for the most part everything is in its place. Now if we could just have some snow to make them even cuter, I’d be in heaven.

I’ve written several posts about the markets over the years, such as this one about the best Munich Christmas markets for pretty much everything (or you could just view all my posts about Christmas markets). One stop I haven’t talked about yet (but is worth a mention) is the Alpen Wahn, a cozy little stand outside Der Pschorr serving red and white glühwein until 11pm each night (which is later than most of the other markets are open). Look for it at the north end of the Schrannenhalle, just off the Viktualienmarkt.  » Read the full post

Tags: Bavaria, Christmas, Christmas markets, Europe, German culture, Germany, holidays, Munich

Auf Wiedersehen, Oktoberfest!

Oktoberfest ended on Monday, and we made it all the way to the end (quite literally, as we were in the Armbrustschützenzelt finishing our last maß of beer as the staff started washing down the tables for the last time). » Read the full post

Tags: Bavaria, festivals, Germany, Munich, Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest: getting your weißbier on

You may have heard that you need to be sitting inside (or on the terrace of) a tent to be served beer at Oktoberfest. This is mostly true. Indeed, it is the only way you’ll be able to get your hands on a big old maß (liter) of special Oktoberfest brew. But if you don’t mind drinking weißbier (wheat beer) in small vessels (only half liter), head for one of the many outdoor stands that serve it up. You’ll need to drink your weißbier in the general vicinity of where you bought it, but these little areas are often quite pleasant places to hang out. I tend to prefer them to the hot, loud, sweaty insides of a tent, especially on a beautiful sunny day. » Read the full post

Tags: Bavaria, beer, festivals, Germany, Munich, Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest 2011: same procedure as every year

This is our fourth Oktoberfest as locals. Since leaving my parents’ house at 18, I’ve never lived anywhere else for more than three years, so this is kind of weird for me. I’m not used to doing things for a fourth time.

But here I am, getting out the dirndl (paired with sensible shoes for dancing on wooden benches) for Oktoberfest number four. Conversations with friends all include an exchange of details about which tents we will be in on which nights. The guest room is booked for almost a month straight with various configurations of friends and family. » Read the full post

Tags: Bavaria, beer, Europe, festivals, food, Munich, Oktoberfest, Oktoberfest tents, travel

The real dance moves you need for Oktoberfest

No matter what lazy travel writers want you to believe, there’s no Chicken Dance at Oktoberfest in Munich. If anyone tries to tell you otherwise, stop taking their travel advice immediately, lest you start looking like an arm-flapping fool everywhere you go. Instead, spend your Oktoberfest prep time (only a week to go!) learning these dances, which are sure to come in handy in each and every tent. » Read the full post

Tags: Bavaria, beer, dancing, Germany, Munich, Oktoberfest, Oktoberfest tents, video

Munich: my own private Tatort

If you find yourself sitting in awkward silence with a German, try breaking the ice by asking him about ‘Tatort.’  The mere mention of the show makes 9 out of 10 Germans’ eyes light up as their tongues trip over their lips in a rush to push out the words to describe how they have been watching it since before they were born and they never do anything else on a Sunday night ever.

From discussions such as these I had gleaned that ‘Tatort’ is a detective series kind of like ‘Law and Order.’ It has been on since the dawn of time (1970). Each episode takes place in one of a handful of cities, each city having its own recurring cast of local detectives. Germans will be happy to tell you which cities produce the best episodes, and some even schedule their TV viewing in advance based on the location of the episode on any particular Sunday evening. This show is loved.

So when we received a note in our mailbox explaining that they would be filming an episode of ‘Tatort’ Munich on the street in front of our building, we immediately understood the importance of the occasion. » Read the full post

Tags: German culture, Germany, media, Munich, news, television

When is the march to protest your slutty use of English?

Alas, the first Munich SlutWalk took place on Saturday and I missed it.  » Read the full post

Tags: Germany, Munich, Ridiculous English

Munich: dragging our butts out of bed for the Kocherlball

The Kocherlball is one of those must-try-at-least-once-if-you-live-in-Munich kinds of things. This yearly event is a throwback to the 1800s, when the rich people of Munich were so mean that they only let their servants have free time in the wee hours of the morning, which is when said servants would meet up for some dancing and beer.  » Read the full post

Tags: Bavaria, Europe, festivals, Germany, Munich, tracht

Munich Art

I’ve been rather quiet for the past couple weeks, I know, but I have a good excuse. I was busy putting together my first art show in Munich. » Read the full post

Tags: art, Germany, Munich, personal