Laternenumzug / St. Martin's Day Lantern Parade on Nov. 10, 2009 at the PDX Gernan American School

One of my favorite fall events has always been the Laternenlauf.  The German American School of Portland invites all children to join in this great tradition.  Please see below for details.  Have fun :) 

St. Martins Laternenumzug/St. Martin's Day Lanternparade

Dates:

11/10/2009

Time:	5:45 - 6:15 & 6:30 - 7:30
Ages:	all ages
Cost:	Free

Be part of this annual holiday tradition of sharing and join our students as we parade around the Beaverton library blocks with our handmade lanterns. We have added a story time at the library at 5:45 so you can find out about St. Martin. Refreshments will be served after the parade. For more information please go to our website at www.gspdx.com

 

BACH CANTATA VESPER Nov 1, 2009

BACH CANTATA 

BACH CANTATA VESPERS AT ST. JAMES

SUNDAY November 1 at 5:00 p.m.

Bach Cantata Vespers on Sunday afternoon November 1 at 5 pm in downtown Portland's historic  St. James Lutheran Church will feature  J.S. Bach's Reformation Day Cantata 79, Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild (God the Lord is sun and shield) with soprano, Christine Welch-Elder and bass, Kevin Helppie.

A new motet "That They May Rest" by Carson Cooman will be premiered.  

FREE PARKING in lot at SW 10^th and Columbia.   

Freewill offering supports the Bach Vespers series in its fifth season at St. James. 

 

CONTACT: Nancy Nickel, 503-227 2439

St. James Lutheran Church

1315 SW Park Ave. (corner of SW Park Blocks and Jefferson St.)

Portland, Oregon 

Moviec Night - this Tuesday, Sept. 29

This  Tuesday is movie night! 

Presented at the German Haus, 7901 SE Division St., Portland, OR 97206 

7:30PM  -  $2 /free for members                        

All movies with English subtitles  -  Post-viewing Discussion  -  Refreshments

September 29, 2009

Schultze Gets the Blues 

2003 directed by Michael Schorr

Tagline: It's never too late to re-tune your soul. 

Schultze (played by Horst Krause) has spent his whole life in a small town in Saxon-Anhalt near the river Saale. Schultze's life, divided between work and the pub, the allotment, folk music and fishing, is rudely interrupted when he is made redundant. As entropy sets in and maintaining the daily routine deteriorates into a farce, Schultze discovers a life on the other side of the hill.

All films shown in German with English subtitles

Learn German - Registration at the German Saturday School is open

Now is the time to learn German!

German Saturday School offers a fun way for everyone, toddlers to adults, to learn German.
Classes are small, tuition is low, and the program is award-winning!
Sign up now! Classes start September 19.

For more information, check out our web site:

http://www.gssop.com/

The German American Society of Portland can now be followed on Facebook

Do you have a Facebook Account? Yes? Gerat news, now you can follow the Society on Facebook. Just follow the link, become a fan and you will get automatic updates to events, etc. http://http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/German-American-Society-of-Portland-OR/119043595910?ref=nf

The new Journal is now available...

The new Journal published by the German American Society of Portland is now available. You can read it at http://germanamerican.org/newsletters.htm. Enjoy!

German Play on August 4th, 2009 @ Lewis & Clark College

This sounds like it will be a great event...this was just received :) - Would you please let me know if this was fun? It certainly sounds great. We will be camping and therefore will not be in PDX :(

The Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik, America's premier summer institute for German Studies and German language immersion for over half a century, invites you to its annual theater production on Tuesday, August 4th at 7:00 pm --- an original production, "Ich liebe mein Handy...und dich auch." -- in the Fir Acres Theater Complex on the campus of Lewis and Clark College. The play is in German and we hope that you will invite all of your friends and students to attend---admission is free, any donations gladly accepted!

Professor Steven Fuller
German and International Studies.
PSU Director --- Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik (DSaP)
fullers@pdx.edu

PS. For information about the Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik, please visit our website: www.summer.pdx.edu/dsap

Ich liebe mein Handy?.und dich auch: A one-act Cabaret-inspired piece in German by the Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik Theater Troupe

Technology allows for communication at alarmingly fast speeds. Gadgets can accomplish work faster and more efficiently than ever before. But what about our personal lives? What about love? Is it possible for two people to find love in a society that relies on websites, text messaging, and quick fixes? Maybe???

Summer Time = Fun at Mt. Hood National Forest

Is the "summer time" theme getting boring? Oh, well there will still be a couple more ;) Mt. Hood National Forest really is fun any time of year. Sking, snow shoeing, cross country skying in the winter, and wonderful hiking in the summer. You just have to love the area we live in, that is if you love nature ;)

I pretty much spent the entire weekend in the National Forest. On Saturday a group of German women took the Ramon Falls hike. Somewhat like in Germany but yet very different. It is one of the most popular hikes because it is so close to Portland, and also very moderate. It is a 7.1 mile loop. The south side is along a picturesque creek where you would expect fairies, and the north side is somewhat barren. There is an elevation gain of about 1,000 ft., so I really would not recommend this hike for little children. I said a couple of sentences ago, that it is very similar to Germany and you know what? We saw another large group of German's en route, and I read that the Austrians of Portland went hiking "Wandertag" today, Sunday. Do you know where they went? Yup, also to Ramona Falls. It must be the all German hiking spot ;) If you would like to check it out here is the link http://www.oregon.com/hiking/ramona_falls.cfm. There is a picture of Ramona Falls on the site, and you know what? The falls really do look like that. Just amazing...

So I went hiking with girlfriends yesterday, and today we took a family trip out to the Wildwood Recreation area in the Mt. Hood National Forest. Again, just wonderful and I like to take nice walks on Sunday's. Nothing "German" happened...we did not meet any other Germans, but at the fish viewing area a boy asked me whether I spoke a different language to my kids. I said "yes" he then asked whether it was "Japanese", and I then told him that it was "German". It was quite cute. Here is the link for the Wildwood Recreation Area. That is just a fun all around family place http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/files/brochures/Wildwood_brochure07.pdf.

Summertime = Farmer's Market Time

Who does not love summer. Sunshine, flowers, fruits, and veggies are abundant here in Portland. I just love it, and going to the farmer's market to me is like a celebration of the season. They are so fun, there is music, dancing, food, and of course the highlights of local seasonal fruits, veggies. We went to the Eastbank Market on Thursday and there was even a vendor selling fresh fish. In so many ways Portland is so similar to Germany, yet so different. Tuttlingen has markets twice a week in the spring and summer, but I have yet to see a band and dancing there :) Here are some links, http://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/, Hollywood Farmer's Market http://hollywoodfarmersmarket.org/, Montavilla (East Side neighborhood) Market http://hollywoodfarmersmarket.org/, Sellwood http://www.morelandfarmersmarket.org, to name a few. Check this link for a listing of markets throughout the State of Oregon http://www.oregonfarmersmarkets.org/directory.html. Enjoy!

Summertime = Campingtime

Last year was my first time camping in Oregon, OK I admit in the United States and you know what? I LOVE it...quite fantastic. We really like tent camping and this year we also discovered Yurt Camping. Wow, is that great!!! It is very, very, very rustic but there is electricity, a table, two chairs, a bunk bed, and a futon. Plus a fire-pit, and picnic bench. Very nice. Oregon State Park calls it "camping lite" and yes it is true. Here is a link to the site describing Yurts...http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/rustic.shtml#RUSTIC_YURTS. It is somewhat, remotely, similar to camping with a rented tent. For example, we travelled to France before from the United States and stayed on a campground in an already set up tent. That tent had cots, but different to the Yurt it also had a camping stove, utensils, bedding, etc. So yes, similar but oh so different.

This time we went to Champoeg for the All American, or should I say Oregonian, experience. Great, great campground. It is a "State Heritage Area" and it is easy to imagine what it must have been like for the early settlers. Plus it is less than an hour drive away from Portland. Check it out...here is the link to the park. http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_113.php Happy camping :)))

Call for Entries: Photo Exhibit 2009

I would like to pass this along to everybody... The German American Society of Portland is calling for entries for a 2009 Photo Exhibit on the topic "After the Wall - Changes in a German Landscape".

The German American Society of Portland will commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the "Mauerfall" in November 2009 by offering a week of cultural activities. Part of this diverse cultural program will be the planned photo exhibit "After the Wall - Changes in a German Landscape". The photo exhibit will be shown at Portland City Hall.

We are looking for digital images that we can print in a 16x20 format. We are less interested in technical perfection (although that is welcome!) and more interested in images that represent the changes, challenges and achievements resulting from re-unification. Landscapes, Cityscapes, portraits and, of course, images of the wall or its remnants are all welcome.

If you are interested to submit your photographs please follow the attached submission guidelines and send your work to info@germanamerican.org, with Photo exhibit in the subject header.

Deadline is August 30, 2009.

Submission Guidelines

2009 Photo Exhibit

After the Wall

Changes in a German Landscape

The German American Society is seeking photographs for an exhibition at Portland City Hall to commemorate the 20^th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall in November. We are particularly interested in images that depict changes in Berlin and the former East German States over the last two decades, as well as photographs that reveal glimpses of the political upheaval following reunification on both sides of the country.

• COPYRIGHT: The copyright remains with the photographer, although by entering you authorize the German American Society to print, frame and show the images in the exhibit without compensation

· ELIGIBILITY: Open to amateur and professional photographers of all nationalities

· SUBMISSION: All photos must be submitted in a digital form by email or on a CD. Mailed CD's cannot be returned. There is no maximum file size for photo submissions on a CD. E-mailed photos should be in JPEG format with a file size of 3 MB or smaller per email. The final dpi needs to support 16x20 prints.

· RESTRICTIONS: you may submit up to five (5) photos

• ENTRY DEADLINE: August 30, 2009

To submit photos, please mail to info@germanamerican.org

German American Society

7901 SE Division St.

Portland, OR 97206

Please include your name, address, city, state, zip code, daytime phone number, email and description of your photo including where and when the photo was taken.

We will print and frame the selected works at our cost and announce the chosen images on our website. Depending on interest, the exhibit might travel to other German organizations in the country.

Mt. Angel Strassenfest - Streetfair July 11, 2009

Mount Angel Celebrates Oregon's 150^th Birthday with an "Old World" Strassenfest (Street Fair) this Saturday, July 11. Enjoy a wide variety of activities from 11 AM to 4 PM. Don't miss out on any of the fun.

11AM Dedication of Oktoberfest village entry signs – corner Wilco Highway & Academy Streets

10:30-3:30 Motorcycle Cruise-in – downtown – awards

Noon 150 Miles for 150 Years – races arrive – sausage time

Noon-4PM Historic Display at Mount Angel Library

Noon-4PM Scavenger Hunt – prizes

1PM Accordions at the Gazebo

2PM Bonnet and Dress Fashion Show at the Gazebo

3PM Square Dancers on Garfield Street

ON GOING EVENTS

Ø Merchant Street Sales

Ø Sausages & other treats

Ø Woodcarving demonstrations

Ø Coloring books for the kids

Ø Glockenspiel performances

Ø Old time music

Ø 150 Specials at restaurants & pubs

Info Booth in front of City Hall

It's summer time...Berry Picking

I just love summer. Walking around barefoot, kids running around in their summer dresses with dirty feet, long evenings, sunny days, camping, and berry picking time. Honestly, I am quite sad that we are not going to Germany later on this summer but then again this is the time of year to be in Oregon. Plus, it really is just like home just different. Well, this slogan really cuts both ways, right?!

When I thought about this entry earlier today I wanted to give it the title "Ode to Oregon" well a little over the top, is it not?! In any case I just LOVE Oregon, and Portland. Many reasons including that it just feels so much like Europe. The scenery, the abundance of fruits, veggies, nuts and I can see that the earlier settlers must have seen this as the place where "milk and honey flows". OK - I think that I may get a little carried away :) In any case, topic "Berry Picking". This is one of my favorite things to do in the summer. We like to go out to Sauvie Island which is so close to the city yet feels like a totally different world. There are a ton of different "U-Pick" Places on the island. There is Kruger's Farm (http://www.krugersfarm.com/), Sauvie Island Farm (http://www.sauvieislandfarms.com/) just to name a couple. Check out Sauvie Island at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauvie_Island.

Our favorite U-Pick on Sauvie Island is Sauvie Island Farms. In June we picked Strawberries. Enough for eating plus I made six jars of jam. Today we went again and picked Blueberries, and Raspberries. One note, I did not really eat Blueberries in Germany nor in Chicago. Never have I tasted and seen Blueberries like the Oregon berries. Huge, sweet, just so wonderful. - Oh, and the Raspberries we picked today? They are also huge, sweet and yummy. Today we had a total of 12 lbs. of berries, and we will have to go back...

So yes, I love Portland and Oregon with all my heart. It is my home, just like Germany and both places are so alike in so many ways, but yet so far apart...OK, guess I better call it a night :)

Lufthansa to end non-stop flight to PDX

The sad news was in the Oregonian yesterday.  Lufthansa is ending it's non-stop service between Frankfurt and PDX. They may bring it back next year....so maybe if we ALL complain we can get them to change their mind and they will cancel the Seattle flight instead?  What do you think? Certainly would love to get some feedback from everybody.  Here is the link

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/07/lufthansa_to_end_portlandfrank.html

Happy 4th of July...

Happy Independence Day everybody...the quint-essential all American experience. I hope everybody is having a fun day with lots of BBQ, games, etc. We are certainly looking forward to a fun day with our German friends. I am making a Flag Cake as has become a tradition. So fun, and so good. The recipe is on my other blog, here is the link http://galactopdx.blogspot.com/2008/07/4th-of-july-flag-cake.html

Have a great day, everybody!!!

Timbers vs. Bayern Muenchen II...July 2nd, 2009

Did you go to the game? Belive it or not, we went with the entire family and we had so much fun. We actually sat right next to the "Timber Army" and I thought it was a blast.

I have not been to a soccer game in years and certainly never before in the States. How fun!!! The mascot of the Timbers is "Timber Joey", which is a guy dressed like a logger. He is in front of the stands, swings a chainsaw (really, I am NOT kidding) which is running, and rattles the engine every so often...it is hilarious. On the field there is a big log, and whenever the Timbers score Joey, cuts off a slice from the log. He then "presents" the slice to the audience...people (including my 5-year old) get to touch it and cheer it. It's a trophy...unfortunately (for us) the Timbers won 2:0. So this means, that Joey cut a slice for each person who shot the goal AND a third slice for the goalkeeper. When the game was over, Joey presented the "slices/trophies..." to the players in front of the Timber Army. It was sooooo... loud, but so much fun...

So if you have a chance, go to a Timbers game. Thursdays are great days b/c $2.50/pints (and yes they have IPA), but soda is still $3.75 (!!!), the other great thing is that with general admission you can choose your seat anywhere in the general admission section. So, so fun...

German Movie "Jerichow" at the Hollywood Theater

Starting June 26, 2009 through July 2nd, 2009. Jerichow will be playing at the Hollywood Theater in NE Portland. The movie theater is located at 4122 NE Sandy. Here is a link to the movie http://www.cinemaguild.com/jerichow/. It will be shown in German with English subtitles.

I don't know about you, but I will definitively go and see the movie. Have fun!

July 2, 2009 - Bayern Muenchen Reserve Team vs. Timbers

Do you like soccer? Do you like German soccer? This coming Thursday July 2nd, 2009 the Bayern Muenchen Reserve Team will play the Portland Timbers at PGE Park. Tickets are $15/ea. The game starts at 7 PM. For more information, or to get tickets go to http://www.portlandtimbers.com/tickets/exhibitinfo/, or http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0F004296BADB768E

Have fun!

I am back...

So now it is June and I have not blogged since February. WOW!!! That was a super long hiatus. Lot's of things happened on the PDX German front :) - In March the girls and I went to Germany for three weeks. We got back the second week of April and had a really fantastic time. There was snow, but Lufthansa just had the most fantastic deal...The condo was great, food was good, and I went to the Sauna at least two times every single week. "This is the life"... back in Portland everyday life caught on quickly. Yes, and I started up blogging on the other blog way before this one. Not that I don't think about it...but feels like I have been just not having any spare time. But now, I am BACK...

Summer is here and the market's are back on. It is just so European. Wonderful, but I have to admit that I am quite sad that we are not going to Europe this summer :(. Hopefully we will be able to visit again around Xmas time. My oldest daughter has already been asking Ron when we will go back... :(

As for German things this summer, there a lot of things going on here in PDX. The playgroup is meeting every Friday. Contact me for more information about that. German camp at the Deutsche Haus, a German movie at the Hollywood Theater starting June 26th, the second team of Bayern Muenchen will be playing the Timbers, etc....Check back. I will update the events page shortly.

For us this summer brings camping, and exploring the great state of Oregon. This coming weekend will actually be the first time this summer to bring out the tent...Have a great evening.

Laugenstangen and Lufthansa...

What?! - Did you know about the great sale Lufthansa is currently running? You sure do, right?! Airfare for about $500 round trip from PDX - FRA, I think Munich was about the same fare. The only issue is that the outbound has to be between Feb/March/April and you cannot return any later than May, 2nd 2009. I really like to be in Germany in mid/late summer but for that price I can honestly say that I will not mind being there early in the season. That will leave the entire summer for a great beach vacation at the Oregon coast....So why did I also put Laugenstange in the title. Easy answer, as I am currently eating one of the delicious Laugenstangen from My little t American Baker in SE PDX. We bought 24 last weekend (we need them special made b/c my kids cannot have milk products) and put a bunch of them in the freezer. Delicious!!! Put them in the pre-heated oven at 350F, warm up for about 10 minutes and you have delicious Laugenstangen for breakfast.

Happy Sunday everybody :)

Another day another Spaziergang...

Have I said that I LOVE Portland?! Oh yes, its fantastic. We took a really, really long walk through our neighborhood today and ended with having dinner at a restaurant. It is just so wonderful to live in a place where you can walk, don't need a car...and the best thing about it all is that it seems like spring has sprung. Just a wee bit. I saw the first crocuses, and Schneegloeckchen. Oh how do I love Portland!!!

The weekend Spaziergang...

Is there anything better than a nice Spaziergang (walk, mini hike...) on the weekend? We love it and Portland is a great place to get these walks in. Lots of places and parks...Today we drove over to the west side and went to Forest Park. Check it out on here....http://www.forestparkconservancy.org/ Tons of trails, enough walks for weeks on end...Happy Spaziergang everyone :)

The taste of home...

I am getting ready for a girls weekend including a great hike and am just so excited. Its a "German Girls Weekend" and I just went to pick-up our snack (Vesper) for the hike. Do you want to know what I got?! Laugenstangen, Pretzelbread...yum. I already ate mine, as I could no longer wait. They are just so, so, so delicious. - FYI - he can also make Brezeln if you pre-order. Minimum is 24 pcs (but I am sure they will freeze great) and he needs a couple of days lead-time. So who is the "he"...My little t American Baker http://www.littletbaker.com/ located at the corner of 26th and Division. If you have not yet checked it out, go...just to forewarn you so today there may not be a lot of Laugenstangen left over as I got a bunch of them ;)

Kinderbazar - Children clothing, toys consignment sale...

Lot's of things are happening here in PDX. Lot's of German things :) There are playgroups, women get together, etc. It feels like you are somewhat in Germany, maybe a German subculture?!

In any case, there is a Kinderbazar in the making which will be at the Deutsche Haus on 7901 SE Division. It is basically a children's clothes, toy, and furniture consignment sale. Individual sellers do not need to be present. Isn't that nice? I am expecting to be able to get some nice German kids books, toys, and also great clothing. If you are interested to participate please e-mail kinderbazarpdx@gmail.com. More information is also available on a separate blog http://kinderbazarpdx.blogspot.com/.

Schoenen Tag noch allerseits :)

It's snowing again...

I cannot believe what I am looking at this morning...SNOW, again, here in Portland!!! Last week I already saw blooming Camelia bushes downtown and now this!!! - Good thing is that its only a little bit and I think (well I hope) that the snowstorm in December taught people how to drive, or not drive in snow...

Hello there...

Yes, I am still here...Portland is still fantastic and yes there are so many links to Germany. Sorry if you were looking for new posts and saw nothing...

Lots of things are going on next week. First the Annual Election at the General Meeting at the German American Society of Portland on January 28th. Are you a member? Are you interested in becoming a member? Maybe you want to check it out. More details are in the new Journal.

Second thing is that we have been planning a ladies night out for the last Saturday this month. There will be over 20 of us hanging out at Edgefield this coming weekend :)

On a personal level, we are starting to look when to travel to Europe this year. Our oldest will be starting Kindergarten in the fall so this is really the last year we could leave early in the season...I think that we will make it contingent on finding great airfares...

Have a great day everyone....

Interested in German movie's?

Are you interested to see German movies? Once a month movies are shown at the Deutsche Haus at 7901 SE Division in Portland. There will also be a children's movie on March 1st. I hope you take advantage of this. The schedule is posted under "Events"...

The new Journal is available online :)

I just put updated the link to the new Journal...Enjoy :)

Spring has sprung...OK not quite but today it sure feels like it...

Why do I love PDX so much? One of the reasons is that in January there can be fantastic weather. Yup, and today is just such a day. The girls and I went to OMSI, afterwards we rested on a bench along the river. Yes, we sat outside on a bench enjoying the sunshine :) I also noticed today that the crocuses are already well on there way. How exciting.

So what does this have to do with being German in PDX? Well I admit not much but I do not remember having ever been able to sit outside on a bench enjoying the sunshine in January :)

Have a great day.

The results and the long awaited answer...the New Years Eve bubbly

Only two people voted, but I am sure that all of you are curious to find out about our drink of choice to toast the New Year. One person voted for Prosecco, and the other person voted for Cremant. What is wrong with Cooks?! - OK, ok the answer is Cremant...sorry no prize to win :)

Have a great day all...

Children Theater Classes - Flyer :)

Theater Classes for Children - German/English

Great opportunity. The German American Society is offering theater classes for kids. There are two sessions

Group I
Der Regenbogenfisch - Ages 4 - 6
Starting Thursday January 15th, 2009
3:45 - 4:45 PM, 10 classes, 1 hour each, max. 10 children
$100 for the entire session
Performance is on Sunday March 15th, 2009

Group II
Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten - Ages 8 - 12
Starting Thursday January 15th, 2009
5 - 7 PM, 10 classes, 2 hours each, max. 16 children
$150 for the entire session
Performance is on Sunday March 15th, 2009

CALL 503.775.1585 to register

All classes are at the Deutsche Haus 7901 SE Division Street, PDX, 97206

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We had our usual New Year's Eve non-party. Just the family hanging out. Our traditional dinner is fresh Dungeness Crab and we were lucky to get a couple this year. They are just SO GOOD...we all love them. Ron and I had a bottle of delicious German Gutedel from Grunern, Germany. This is the last of the bottles we brought back with us in 2006, time to go to the Baerenbad again :). Check it out it is such a fabulous place...http://www.baeren-bad.de/.

The rest of the night we watched Sesame Street New Years Eve selection followed by Dick Clark's New Years Eve show on ABC. Alena made to the New Year, well if we'd live in the Midwest. Mia Rosie beat her by making it through the Mountain Time Zone New Year...Once the girls were sleeping it was time for the toast. This year we had fantastic bubbly...just great and you know what, I will make you guess what kind of bubbly we drank :). Yup, please vote on the new poll. This is fun :)

Happy New Year to all of you.