It's costume time!
Submitted by gpinkner on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 15:14
Carnival is approaching and you are either preparing to flee or getting ready to party. If you’re doing the latter then you’ve probably planned your costumes already. But if you’re still at a loss for ideas, get down to Cologne’s Südstadt on Saturday 04 February and find yourself a funky costume at the Karneval Flohmarkt in the Lutherkirche.
Picture book heaven
Submitted by gpinkner on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 09:45
Fans of children’s illustrated books and cartoons might be interested to hear about this little gem of a place I found at the weekend. The Bilderbuch Museum in Burg Wissem in Troisdorf is a museum dedicated to picture books. From the outside it looks like a picturesque schloß with its turrets and moat. On the inside it’s a cross between a library, gallery and a kids idea of heaven – with a huge playroom, dress-up costumes, toys, and picture books galore. Until 3rd March there’s an exhibition of newspaper cartoons by Winsor McCay on the first floor.
Ménage à trois in Bonn
Submitted by gpinkner on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 16:45
The KAH in Bonn is well known for its great exhibitions, but in the coming months there’s a double whammy of good things to see. ‘Art and Design for All’ is a cooperation with London’s famous Victoria and Albert Museum.
Down by the riverside
Submitted by gpinkner on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 23:16
Walking along the Rhine, whether in Düsseldorf, Cologne or Bonn, is always a pleasure. Each city has its own riverside charm: Düsseldorf the glorious Rhine promenade linking the river to the heart of the city; Bonn its endless quiet, treelined paths. And Cologne? Cologne just got better, for Südstadt dwellers in particular. The new development that begins beside to the Chocolate Museum and stretches almost to the Südbrucke, is pretty much complete.
Sculpture Park Köln
Submitted by gpinkner on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 22:18
Get off at the tram stop Zoo/Flora in Cologne and you will suddenly be spoilt for choice for things to do. Should you take the cable cars across the Rhine or visit the Zoo and Aquarium? A leisurely walk around the Flora and its botanical gardens or how about a visit to the Sculpture Park? On a grey Sunday afternoon I chose the sculpture park and it made for a nice change. Firstly because it didn't cost a thing (unlike the Zoo and the cable cars), and second because it was pleasantly thought provoking. You can't help asking: Why the car crashed around a post in a hole in the ground?
Let's do the Time Warp again, and again...
Submitted by gpinkner on Sun, 06/19/2011 - 19:04
Who'd have thought back in 1973 when the Rocky Horror Show was first conceived by Richard O'Brian, that it would still be running in 2011 - and that its German première would be right here in Cologne? The success of the theatre show owes a lot to the film, which featured the unforgetable Susan Sarandon as Janet and Tim Curry as the inimitable Dr. Frank N. Furter. The 1970s midnight movie craze made the film cult and the audience participation rituals that evolved around it have now almost eclipsed the film.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice-Cream!
Submitted by gpinkner on Mon, 05/30/2011 - 20:47
This is going to be a bit controversial. Everyone in Cologne has a favourite ice cream parlour, and everyone insists that their's is the best. I've opened up this discussion in the past and it's always heated. I'll start by stating my preference: Il Gelato in Bayenthal. Nowhere have I eaten a creamier, dreamier ice cream. And the flavours! Chilli chocolate, black cherry with dark chocolate, Tiramasu, Mango, Rhubarb - and a number of rather unusual flavours like watercress. Il Gelato has its very own 'Ice Cream Professor'.
A journey into the past
Submitted by gpinkner on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 21:27
The Freilichtmuseum in Kommern is a wonderful open air exhibition that gives you the chance to step back in time and experience village life around the Rhine region in bygone times. The museum founders have rescued buildings destined for destruction, relocated and rebuilt them in a gorgeous forest setting. The whole museum sits in an area of natural woodland interspersed with pastures and glades filled with wild flowers.
A little bit fishy
Submitted by gpinkner on Mon, 05/16/2011 - 21:33
If you like fish you're in for a treat in Cologne and Düsseldorf over the next few months. The Fischmarkt is all about eating - not just fish - it's a veritable outdoor food-fest in the guise of a fish market. On the flyer there's a fresh lobster, prawns and crab on a bed of ice with a slice of lemon. Don't expect to find this at the fish market (at least not the one in Cologne). I think it was some kind of decoy. The closest thing to fresh fish I found was a dozen fresh oysters - but I wasn't dissapointed.
