Sketching Berlin: Jazz, Views, and Coffee-Fueled Wanderings
Departure: A Tension in the Air
The journey begins at the airport. A French-speaking woman catches my eye—she looks tense, absorbed in her own thoughts, staring at the tarmac while sipping a coffee. I take out my sketchbook and quickly capture the stiffness in her posture, the way she clutches her phone as if bracing herself for bad news. Airports are always filled with untold stories, fragments of lives intersecting in transit.
First Taste of Berlin – Lunch at Maximilians
Fresh off the plane, bags barely dropped in the hotel, and our mission was clear: find a proper German meal with a good beer. Maximilians Berlin welcomed us with open arms (and full steins). The staff, warm and hospitable, made us feel like we had been regulars for years. Plates of schnitzel, sausages, and sauerkraut arrived, and suddenly, Berlin started to feel real. Between sips of beer and sketching the cozy atmosphere, I caught snippets of lively conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the smell of hearty food that lingered in the air.
Swinging into the Night – Jazz at B-Flat
I find myself at B-Flat, one of Berlin’s legendary jazz clubs. The place is packed, dimly lit, and buzzing with that electric anticipation only live music can create. On stage, The Savoy Satellites take over—swinging straight into the night like it's 1939. The All Stars deliver sharp, complex arrangements straight out of the Count Basie and Benny Goodman playbooks, while the quartet channels Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald with effortless charm. The brass section radiates energy, the clarinet wails, and somewhere - in the crowd, toes tap involuntarily. It’s the kind of night where you forget the time—until the last note fades, and you step outside into the cold Berlin air, still humming.
Heavenly Sounds and Views – Berliner Dom
Saturday brings a shift in tone—literally. I step inside the Berliner Dom, and suddenly, Berlin’s chaotic streets feel miles away. The grand organ roars, its deep, rolling sound filling the cavernous space, vibrating through the pews. I let the music wash over me, sketching quickly as the echoes linger. Later, I climb up to the dome, wind in my face, and take in the full panorama of Berlin. The city sprawls beneath me—a mix of history, modernity, and an overwhelming number of cranes.
Art and Espresso – Berlinische Galerie
The final stop: Berlinische Galerie. A haven for modern and contemporary art lovers, where bold installations and thought-provoking exhibitions blend into an elegant space. I grab a coffee at the museum café, because nothing says ‘serious art appreciation’ like sipping espresso while contemplating abstract forms.
The highlight? Rineke Dijkstra’s portraits—stunning, intimate, and unsettling in the best way. The kind of art that follows you home, lingering in your thoughts long after you've left.