Daily life in colour

I try and fill my days with exciting things; meeting friends, exploring the city, drinking coffee, and the likes of it, but daily life is really grey too. I guess I'm bored. Starting a new assignment isn't really that glamourous, and I worry about times ahead all the while I miss having something to do. Note to self; do something. Here are some of the things that have made recent days colourful;

Last Tuesday, it was Cordula's turn to celebrate her 26th birthday. We all gathered in her little kitchen to have raclette, be loud and drink wine. It was great!

Ruben accompanied us on trumpet when we sang the birthday song and it was very cool. I was the only non-German at the party which was a fun experience!

On Thursday, I met Elisa for cheesecake and flat white at Five Elephant (Reichenberger Str. 101, Kreuzberg). I was approached by the sweetest Danish girl who thanked me for my Berlin guide in Politiken, and I was flattered and blushed beyond reason. Later, I met Cordula and her friends for a pub quiz at Sameheads, but the photos won't upload well (anyone else finding uploading photos to blogger to worsen the photo quality?)

On Sunday, I returned to Five Elephant to meet the lovely Ida. We talked for hours about Berlin, men, journalism and other goodies, and it was such a nice (and sunny!) afternoon.

On our walk back to Neukölln, we came by this old truck. I love them.

Yesterday, I snapped this one on Weserstraße. I like how the books are almost too heavy for the tables.

Today, I am trying to work. Really, I'm having a croissant and coffee in bed and thinking about things.

Silo

On Friday, I met Johanna for a day of working. We have been working alongside each other for a few months now, sharing tips for the freelancing business, ideas and just enjoyed each other's company while sipping coffee and staring into our computers. Sometimes, Hanna joins too, and then we speak Scandinavian and laugh a lot, which is good. Whenever we meet in Friedrichshain, where the two of them live, we always meet at Silo (Gabriel-Max-Str. 4, Friedrichshain). The café is cool and simple with wooden details that make me feel like I'm in Copenhagen and not Berlin. The coffee is sublime and served in beautiful red cups, the service is great, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is work-friendly. It's definitely worth the hike from Neukölln!

A quick walk

The other day, the sun shone so greatly, and I celebrated by taking a quick walk around my house. I crossed the bridge over to Alt-Treptow, a sort of forgotten part of Berlin, where hipsters don't seem to live, and the houses are old and quirky. When the sun disappeared, I went back into my apartment to have more coffee. (Sorry for the smudgy photo quality, my iPhone is getting old...)

Back in Berlin

I came back to Berlin on the 2nd, and I've already had this year's first visitor. Jonas celebrated New Years in Berlin and we had a few days together in the city before he had to go back to Copenhagen.

 On Friday, we had drinks at Vater Bar (Reuterstr. 27, Neukölln) before ending up in a strange bodega with young Germans wearing basketball jerseys and a frisky bar madam. The night ended at Sux in Weserstraße and a cloud of smoke.

"You should photoshop in an object between my legs", he said. I think the photo speaks loud enough on its own.

 Asbjørn was there, too, and he told stories about his autumn in Argentina!

 The following night we went to The Black Lodge, a Twin Peaks themed bar in my favourite street, Sanderstraße, where there were lots of Danes. And Pablo and Anna came by for drinks and funny stories.

Jonas looked good in front of a Sonnenallee wall on our way to brekkie at Melbourne Canteen on Sunday.

After two weeks on the move, it has been so good coming home to my own place. I've had long breakfasts and enjoyed the flowers left over by my New Years guests. Plus, today I succesfully poached my first egg - it feels like winning a gold medal!

Oh, and Cordula and I indulged in lavish cakes at a Oranienstraße cake shop the other day. So so good (and good to see C again!)

That nagging feeling

One of my wishes for 2014 is to create a base. I have spent the last many years on the move, always looking for the next adventure, never slowing down. But here we are, 5 days into the new year, and I am beginning to get that feeling in the back of my stomach. I'm thinking more and more about 'the next move', about where to go next. And it frustrates me. I am living in the city I've spent 2 years longing for, and I really am happy to be back. But the butterflies are not there. Sometimes I get a glimpse of one flipping around, but it's more or less just everyday life. The city is there, but I don't know where I am. I hope it's just a pang of winter blues, of missing my friends back home or money-worries talking, not some deeper problem. Maybe my wish for 2014 should be to figure out what to do with it all...

New Year

I spent my New Year in Copenhagen. We have a new tradition, my friends and I, to meet every 31st of December for brunch with champagne. It's such a great tradition, I think, and this year was no exception. Later, I headed over to Chris' for homemade sushi, more champagne, drinks and Abba-songs before ending the night at a friend's house in Nørrebro with AnCa.

 Kat's apartment is so fine with Scandi furniture and neon splashes.

What a feast!

 Chris and Iben carefully making sushi while listening to the queen's New Year speech. Tradition!

As it was only us three girls, there was plenty and plenty of food...!

 We shut off all the light and stood for a long time and drank champagne and looked at fireworks.

January 1st was a quiet day and Vesterbrogade was silent as I went over to Kat's for a hangover day with homemade pizza, pick'n'mix candy, bubbles and TV. The day was topped off with Lars von Trier's 'Nymphomaniac' in the cinema with Chris. What a movie! But a great one, and although it's 4 stiff hours long, I highly recommend it.

On January 2nd I had brunch with AnCa before taking the bus back to Berlin. Such nice two weeks in Denmark!

Coffee / Kaffee - a collaboration

A few months back, I did a post with Chicago blogger Oolretaw. We have never met, but sent each other photos of our respective cities, and I quite liked the result, getting a glimpse of another city and pointing out similarities across borders. Oolretaw and I also share a love for coffee, so why not do another little collaboration? I sure do want to explore Chicago's coffee spots after reading her recommendations...!

COPENHAGEN: This is my favourite place to have coffee in Copenhagen. I lived a few streets away from the small basement shop, and it was a most lavish indulgence whenever I'd treat myself to a 38 DKK coffee (€5!). Plus, they have the heavy croissants from Meyer's Bageri across the street that will butter up your insides like they've never been buttered before… 

Coffee Collective, Jægersborggade 10, Nørrebro, Copenhagen

CHICAGO: For this assignment I decided to try one new place I hadn't been to before, so I chose Lovely, A Bake Shop, which smelled of delicious garlic and savory quiches the second I walked in. I decided to get a croissant to go easy on my stomach, and having been unable to find a croissant as good as they are in France, I was so happy this one was on par with my European pastry standards. I also noticed their sign on the wall saying they 'now serve Ipsento coffee'! I gushed over their roaster choice with the employee there. The environment is huge and extremely well lit. I enjoyed reading my book for a while and pitched in an extra 50 cent for my refill.
Lovely, A Bake Shop, 1130 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago

BERLIN: As a journalist working mostly from home, I make myself a pot of coffee every day. In Montreal, I was blessed with an espresso machine that I almost had a relationship with. I miss it every day. Here in Berlin, I have my French press, an espresso maker and a filter version. I dream of having an aeropress, and I have pledged to myself that the day I get an actual grown-up job, I will treat myself to a real espresso machine. 

Beans from Five Elephant, Reichenberger Straße 101, Kreuzberg, Berlin

CHICAGO: Oh, oh, Heritage. Half bike shop, half coffee shop, this place always has such a soft spot in my heart. The drip over coffee is to die for (they serve Stumptown from Portland, OR) and Glazed and Infused donuts. It's such an adorable place to peruse around, in their giftshop mostly. They hand craft all of their bikes which are well out of my price range. This will always be one of my absolute Chicago favorites!
Heritage Bicycles, 2959 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago

BERLIN: I used to be a latte drinker, but since my summer vacation in Italy where my dad and I would sip cortados (in Italy, it's a shot of espresso with a pinch of milk) at the counter in every gas station we'd pitstop at, I have wanted my coffee stronger and with less milk. At Melbourne Canteen, the australians serve up the perfect flat white; strong, slightly milky, and most importantly without that ridiculous foam.

Melbourne Canteen, Pannierstraße 57, Neukölln, Berlin

CHICAGO: I've discovered La Colombe Torrefaction through my new work location in the west loop. They are right across the street from Starbucks, which makes me happy when I pass it by to head to La Colombe. La Colombe's idea of getting rid of all the CDs, merchandise, sandwiches, syryps, add-ons etc, are what makes the place simple and there for what you want: Coffee. It's always a fun relaxing place to visit.
La Colombe Torrefaction, 955 W Randolph Str, Chicago

BERLIN: When I lived in Berlin last time (2010-2011), berliners didn't know how to make a good coffee. The foam was too frothy and took up half the glas (!), the milk was weird, and the taste just disappointing. During my two years' absence, the berliners have learned something about coffee. The Barn is probably the best place to go, they almost sing to the coffee, so passionate are they. And it pays off so much!

The Barn, Schönhauser Allee 8 + Auguststraße 58, Mitte, Berlin

CHICAGO: Moving to my current apartment location I was so spoiled to be two blocks away from my favorite coffee shop now in the city, Ipsento. The baristas are so nice and charismatic, and I am lucky when I walk in during the morning while they're roasting their beans. I spent many nights there studying and summer days blogging. They take such great care crafting their drinks and coming up with new unique recipes. They've set the bar high for me now. I've also gifted just about everyone with their beans this Christmas. If you haven't been, you MUST go!
Ipsento, 2035 N Western Ave, Chicago

BERLIN: Coffee to me is an essential everyday luxury. I will walk far for a good coffee, and I'll enjoy it immensely all the way back. I've had coffeegasms in my life; those rare but truly amazing coffee moments where time stops, and you just have to surrender to magic. I can remember exactly where I've been the times it's happened. 

Tischendorf, Friedelstraße 25, Neukölln, Berlin

CHICAGO: Gaslight is a well decorated and comfortable (for some) place to visit for a breakfast and cup of coffee. I like spending more time here to get work done as it's a quiet environment full of wooden benches, tables, and lots of light. I always feel super productive there, and it's in the area I'd like to live next. I always recommend this place for a rustic, hipster visit for coffee!
Gaslight Coffee Roasters, 2385 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago