-
Andere Länder, andere Sitten!
Having lived in the US for over 2 years now, I still need to get used to the fact that it’s allowed to possess and carry firearms. Just the occasional sign reminds you to please refrain from bringing them into hotels, government building or supermarkets… Given it’s such a big part of local customs and…
-
Winter snuggles
January is, for many, a bleak month. The holidays are over; it’s cold, grey, and missing the warmth of festive anticipation. I’ve always loved it, though—not just because it’s my birthday month, but because it brings a sense of fresh air and quiet possibility, a feeling that anything could begin. If you’re firmly in the…
-
Birthday Cake
My first post of the year is about this gorgeous homemade marble cake I got for my birthday—which happens to be today 😊 Marble cake is such a traditional birthday cake in Germany, and one bite instantly takes me back to so many past birthdays celebrated with friends and family. Each one special, each one…
-
Reflections
This is my last post of 2025—and what a year it has been. So much happened: travel to faraway and beautiful places, returns home and reunions with old friends, great times with new ones, and busy work schedules made easier by fun and relaxing weekends. There were ups and downs, as there always are, but…
-
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
I kept my best Christmas picture for last: the famous tree at Rockefeller Center. I managed to catch a short window in the run-up to Christmas and ran over during a work break to see it. Even on a weekday, at a very random time, it was already crowded with people. So yes — I…
-
Carnegie Hall
Today is Christmas Eve—Heiligabend– the main event in Germany with afternoon cake, traditional food, presents and one of my favorite parts: my mum revealing her special surprise for the holidays. Always treating us to a concert, the ballet, or a cabaret. Even though I’m not spending Christmas in Germany this year, I’m keeping that tradition…
-
Christmas Trees
This year I’m spending Christmas in Manhattan, which means scaling things down — but of course not the level of cosiness. After choosing a cute, real fir tree, decorations followed: lights and a variety of ornaments. But have you ever wondered where this tradition actually comes from? It goes back much further than modern Christmas…
-
Lebkuchen
The run-up to Christmas is a beautiful time, but the Vorweihnachtszeit doesn’t feel quite right without one quintessential item: Lebkuchen. They’re almost impossible to find in the U.S., especially the originals, so my family came to the rescue and sent a generous care package from Germany. Lebkuchen are traditional German Christmas cookies, originally from Nuremberg,…
-
Hot chocolate with a kick
This Saturday I popped by a Baileys pop-up — the tasty, creamy liquor that’s especially famous during the holidays. I had a hot chocolate with Baileys and whipped cream on a very cold December day, surrounded by fairy lights and Christmas trees. A nice little warm-up. It reminded me of all those beautiful Christmas markets…
-
Happy Thanksgiving!
Unverhofft kommt oft. Some things really do happen out of the blue — like getting a Thanksgiving invitation three hours in advance from my friend in California to her parents’ house in New York. She wasn’t even there, but I went anyway and ended up spending a wonderful evening. It was a traditional Thanksgiving dinner…
-
Underground Stage
So much can happen in New York subway stations, and it’s not uncommon to have musicians performing. But the other day, it felt like one station briefly turned into its own small stage, making room for a particularly nice performance. The duo was set up on the platform. One of them was mixing really cool…
Josephine in New York City
Me. In New York City. With excellent food and lots of fun!
Josephine in New York City 