In the early days of the Cold War the Soviet Union blocked all the Western Allies’ rail and and road access to West Berlin in efforts to force them to hand over control of the entire city. The Berlin Blockade lasted from 24 June 1948-12 May 1949, and resulted in the Berlin Airlift: the Western Allies flew over 200,000 flights carrying fuel and food to West Berlin that year.
I love this story in particular (via wikipedia):
Gail Halvorsen, one of the many Airlift pilots, decided to use his off time to fly into Berlin and make movies with his hand-held camera. He arrived at Tempelhof on 17 July on one of the C-54s and walked over to a crowd of children who had gathered at the end of the runway to watch the aircraft. He introduced himself and they started to ask him questions about the aircraft and their flights. As a goodwill gesture, he handed out his only two sticks of Wrigley’s Doublemint Gum, and promised that, if they did not fight over them, the next time he returned he would drop off more. The children quickly divided up the pieces as best they could. Before he left them, a child asked him how they would know it was him flying over, and he replied, “I’ll wiggle my wings.”
The next day, on his approach to Berlin, he rocked the aircraft and dropped some chocolate bars attached to a handkerchief parachute to the children waiting below. Every day after that the number of children increased and he made several more drops. Soon there was a stack of mail in Base Ops addressed to “Uncle Wiggly Wings”, “The Chocolate Uncle” and “The Chocolate Flier”. His commanding officer was upset when the story appeared in the news, but when Tunner heard about it he approved of the gesture and immediately expanded it into “Operation Little Vittles”. Other pilots participated, and when news reached the US, children all over the country sent in their own candy to help out. Soon, the major manufacturers joined in. In the end, over three tons of candy were dropped on Berlin, and the “operation” became a major propaganda success. The candy-dropping aircraft were christened ” raison bombers” by the German children.
Also, and in true Berlin form, the lineup for the Berlin Festival is looking like a pretty good time. Originally constructed in the 1920s by the Nazi Government and apparently once counted among the world’s largest buildings, I would normally make a small list of reasons to visit the now defunkt Tempelhof Airport, including architectural interest, historical significance through the Second World War and the Cold War, and current (extensive) use of the former runways and surrounding open spaces by barbequers, in-line skaters etc. Next weekend, you can add Santigold, Beirut, the Bloody Beetroots and Diplo to that list.
These beautiful pieces from The Lake and Stars are making me want to press inky fingers all over my best white clothes. Which could make for a fun summer project…
Also, their Spring/Summer 2011 campaign is strange, excellent, and full of the prettiest underthings.
play sports.
eat fruit.
first photo via Nadinoo
second photo, vodka soaked watermelon, instructions here
Before there were skyscrapers and restaurants, the city’s wealth was measured in flora and fauna. Early Dutch sailors were disoriented by the scent of wildflowers wafting out to sea from Manhattan. Even today, forests, marshes and meadows cover nearly one-eighth of the city. But it is not a safe haven for flowers. Of 1,357 native plant species documented in New York City’s history, only 778 remain here. There are various reasons for their disappearance, but always the causal factor is human — a pest we accidentally introduced, a habitat we made unwelcoming or destroyed altogether. Our urban lives are impoverished in their absence. Here is a selection of plants that have vanished from the city. Some thrive elsewhere; others are barely hanging on. And one has recently reappeared in New York City, a signal of hope in a concrete landscape.
from this article
dear Berlin,
you know that thing you keep randomly doing where you suddenly heat up so much that your people can leave yesterday’s thick coat on the floor and walk around bare legged under blue skies, picnicing and flip flopping around with big smiles on their faces? thank you so much, and please keep it up.
here are some nice warm weather clothes & photos from Orla Keily…
… and Sessun
Suarezstraße in West Berlin is a street lined almost exclusively with vintage and antique shops. Shops filled with ancient blouses in wispy pressed cotton and sparkly things with labels that read Dior and Escada. To me, they are mostly the kind of shops that are best experienced from the snowy side of the display windows, for fear of breathing in the wrong direction and knocking over a tiny display of crystal elephants, or falling unfortunately in love with a floral silk dress from the 1920s that has the tiniest pleats and the largest price tag.
There are two shops I wouldn’t miss, though. Spitze is a little boutique with an extensive collection of men’s and women’s vintage, all immaculately kept and neatly organised, and (relatively) well priced, the owner carefully pressing seams in the corner and eager to share some of his encyclopedic knowledge on costume history. There is also the most charming antique store – I didn’t see it’s name but it’s on the corner of Pestalozzistraße – with a little cafe serving cakes and coffees under an infinite sky of antique chandeliers.
Certainly worth the train ride to Charlottenburg.
images from the beautifully styled film Atonement skillfully paired together with William Morris wallpaper and textiles in a way that certainly pleases the eyes. {by Miss Moss}
It has been a white Christmas and then some, and it looks like this is just the tip of the more-than-proverbial iceberg. Strategy : layers, layers, layers and maybe just a few prayers. Oh, and i’ll have another glass of Gluhwein, please.
These days I have been bundled up in black and not entirely differentiable from a walking sleeping bag, so these particular layers are looking very attractive right now.
1960s vintage Icelandic Shag grey sweater coat, Allen Company Inc. / The English Thompson in Fisherman, handknit by Yokoo / 1980s Kilim Toggle Coat, The Church of Vintage / Mountain Sweater, Sirena con Jersey
..and some orange soled kicks for good measure, Sperry via J.Crew
a mobile, ecological, urban garden; a cozy green spot for an afteroon kaffe und kuchen; a maze of flowers and vegetable plants in unusual pots to wander through and explore; somewhere to enjoy fresh air and big bowls of hearty soup, or other meals made from organic produce from the garden, or to buy herbs grown in milk cartoons recycled from the cafe; and idea of two friends to create a gathering point for community, lush and green, in the middle of the city, for people to spend time together, to relax, to help garden, for people to talk politics or maybe learn about 16 different types of potatoes.
I stumbled upon the Prinzessinnengarten on a Sunday afternoon the first week I was back here as I was wandering around with no particular aim but to get reacquainted with Berlin. To me it seemed such a perfect example of all the exciting projects that are able to come to life in this city full of passionate and creative people and, let’s be honest, cheap rents. I think its such great idea, a neat way to use an abanandoned space, to bring people together, and to get people thinking and talking about all sorts of things.
A few weeks ago, they started the immense task of packing up all the plants to move the garden indoors for the winter, and this Saturday the garden will re-open in its new (temporary) location at a Markthalle in the Kreuzberg 36 area. Check out their blog to learn more: http://prinzessinnengarten.net/2010/
Since seeing this for the first time last week, I have heard the song played soo many times, all over Berlin. Its always neat when a song comes on that brings on a special feeling or memory, but to walk by an outdoor beer garden blasting this little tune and have my hands spontaneously bust a move is just the best. This music video is so good.
