Museum of European Cultures reopens in Berlin

by Sean McLachlan on

The Museum of European Cultures has reopened after a two-year renovation.

Located in Berlin, this museum focuses on the life of the common people of old Europe. While most museums focus on the famous accomplishments of the elite, this one looks at the everyday lives and traditions of regular people so often forgotten by the history books. Folklore museums can be found all over Europe and make for fascinating visits. With a collection of some 27,000 objects, the Museum of European Cultures is one of the largest.

The latest temporary exhibition is of the paintings of Wilhelm Kiesewetter, who traveled across Europe 150 years ago to paint the traditional costumes and lives of various ethnic groups. There’s also a study collection of old toys.

While many of the costumes and artifacts on display are now only museum pieces, some traditions have survived. One of the stranger ones takes place in the Alps over the Christmas season-the Perchten processions. Perchta is an old pagan goddess who was never quite suppressed by Christianity. She can appear as a beautiful maiden or an old crone and has single huge swan’s foot. She roams the countryside during the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany, checking to see if children and servants had been good and done their work. The good ones are rewarded with a silver coin in their shoe, while the bad ones get gutted and stuffed with straw.

Her entourage, called Perchten, includes glittering animal figures that bring luck and ugly critters like this one to scare away evil spirits.

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Kids travel gift: Junior “crumpled” city maps

by Alex Robertson Textor on

Last year we reported on Italian designer Emanuele Pizzolorusso’s crumpled city maps, a delightful series of maps made out of tough waterproof material. Pizzolorusso’s maps can withstand crumpling and crushing. They fit in a little pouch and are easily transportable. They are a wonderfully fanciful yet solidly utilitarian tool for tourists.

Pizzolorusso, working with Berlin-based illustrator Alvvino, has just released a series of maps for children, colorful and vibrant objects containing main attractions as well as “not-to-be-missed” junior locations of particular interest to younger tourists. In addition to illustrating the maps, Alvvino is also responsible for their packaging. See the Berlin version of the Junior map above. (Note that the superimposed figures and monuments are not included.)

Thus far, junior maps to Amsterdam, Berlin, London, New York, and Paris have been released. Additional cities will follow.

Currently, Junior crumpled maps can be purchased online through the Palomar shop for €10 ($13.25) apiece.

Airberlin announces new direct route from Los Angeles, California, to Berlin, Germany

by Jessica Festa on

The USA is Berlin’s most important market overseas, as can be seen by the 180,000 Americans that visited Germany’s capital from January through August, 2011. That is why it is so exciting that airberlin has announced a new, direct route from Los Angeles to Berlin that is set to begin on May 11, 2012. From then on, travelers will be able to take the Airbus 330-200 direct, with three flights going out per week.

Airberlin is the first airline to offer nonstop flights from the west coast of the United States to Berlin. The tourism industry in Germany’s capital plans to work with the airline to heavily and successfully market the new route.

For more information, go to visitBerlin.

Enjoy art and brunch in the same place in Berlin, Germany

by Jessica Festa on

What do you get when you mix an American editor and art curator and a French chef? Heroes, a venue in the Neukölln district of Berlin, that is equal parts food and art. In fact, there is an exhibition space in the back of the restaurant.

This small cafe has a funky, laid back vibe with flashes of bold colors against white walls. A bright red lamp sits next to a navy blue vase, while a red, green, yellow, and purple stripe pattern form rainbow-esque slants on the walls. And, the kitchen actually looks like a real home kitchen.

While the menu depends on who is working, some usual items include crepes, salads, quiches, fruity French toast, cookies and chocolate cake. Some of the specials you are likely to encounter combine American and French fare and include stewed chicken, meatloaf, or French beef stew. On Sundays, patrons can enjoy Heroes famous brunch, which includes an array of options such as eggs, toast, pancakes, French toast, and more.

In terms of art, Heroes showcases different exhibitions every month or so, with the current one being “Big Face and Friends” by Emily Ritchie, a series of unusual and abstract images that are also interesting and thought-provoking. Book exchanges, film viewings, and concerts are also part of the experience at Heroes.

To see a full list of events, click here.

Serial public art around the world

by Libby Zay on

Public art exhibitions featuring a common sculpture that is multiplied and then embellished by various artists have been popping up in cities worldwide since 1998. Artistic director Walter Knapp first came up with the idea and convinced artists to dot Zurich, Switzerland with a collection of artfully-decorated lions. Within a year, Chicago businessman Peter Hanig had taken the idea and ran with it, using life-sized cows for an exhibition titled CowParade that is still circling the world today.

This idea of serial public art spread like wildfire into over 70 cities across the United States and many other locations worldwide. Tourism administrations seem to think the installations draw a crowd, while the exhibitions typically end in pieces being auctioned off to charity. It’s a win-win for all–unless, of course, you think the artworks are an eyesore.

From mermaids to gorillas, click through the gallery below to see a sampling of serial public art from around the world.

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