If that don’t beat all! We used to say that a lot. But these days, with so many extreme things surrounding us, I’m not sure how useful the phrase still is. Except . . . for last Friday. I went to a dentist in Weimar, … Read more
Hummel, Septet Op. 74 (1st Movement) Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837) deserves a spot in this series for several reasons, the least of which is that I walk by his house often when I’m in Weimar. He spent the last 20 years of his life in … Read more
Advent starts early this year: November 27. Here in Germany, we are just days away from the building phase of Weimar’s delightful Christmas Market. It takes a surprisingly long time to lay out the boards, brackets, and electric wiring that transform this quiet town into … Read more
The bells are ringing at 6 p.m. in Weimar, Germany, as I look directly at the dome of a tiny Russian Orthodox church. This church is so small it would fit inside a lecture room at a university. It was built in 1860 to be … Read more
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
It might seem silly, particularly when we honor our US Veterans on the same day, but serious things were happening today on Weimar’s Market Square. Even if people were wearing Fools’ Hats. The official beginning of Fasching, known as Carnival most places, was triggered by … Read more
We will have missed the Onion Market when we get to Weimar next week. Now in its 360th year, the ultra German Onion Festival (Zweibelmarkt) will be a memory. A scent in the air, you might say. Yup, onions. You should see the weeks of … Read more
These last days before Christmas can be frantic for families. Or they may bring much-needed peace, as the string of holiday concerts and parties winds down. The focus finally can shift to the family and to activities under one’s own roof. The first Christmas I … Read more
