Starting Fall With New Ideas About "Gemuetlichkeit"!

Summer is almost over and we are back from breaks, family visits and vacations, full of new ideas and energy for fall events.
EventWorks President Janet Elkins and husband Steve went to visit their son Brad in Germany.
Brad got lucky and spent the summer in Berlin working as an intern.

Steve reported back via email during the trip that Janet definitely went local in a big way!

For those of you who know Janet personally, foot massages in Pasadena and meals of mineral water and salad -"hold the dressing, please" - come to mind. But yes, this lady on the bicycle in Berlin is Janet! Family Elkins explored the German capital on bikes just like the Germans who consider bikes the most practical mode of transportation in a city.

It got even wilder in the restaurants! Here is visual proof of Janet eating SAUSAGES!!! washed down with a brewski from the tap, of course. When in Berlin.......

One thing did not change and that is Janet's Type A personality.
Berlin and Munich in summertime gave her plenty of fun ideas.

Janet: "My husband works with many German TV stations so we have local friends. They taught us an important German proverb: Man muss die Feste feiern, wie sie fallen - you have to celebrate all occasions as they come. We were amazed how many hardworking Germans were out having fun and enjoying summer to the fullest. After all, their winters are cold, long and dreary so they transform their cities into summer fantasies as soon as the thermometer allows.
This picture here below shows a "Beach Cafe" in Berlin!
Berlin has many lakes and rivers but no ocean and most certainly no palm trees. These beach cafes are summer installations only."

During a long weekend in Munich, Bavaria, Janet experienced more local culture and partying.

"Munich really is as Bavarian as we imagine it. Oompa bands, pretzels, dirndl dresses on the women. They really do wear these traditional dresses in Bavaria in daily life.
What impressed me most was the great atmosphere.
Germans have the reputation of being stiff and somewhat standoffish.
You would never believe it seeing the easy laughter at the communal tables in the Biergartens.
We photographed constantly to remember these locations.
We have had Biergarten events before but I have learned a lot about some details that really create that feeling of being in the moment and celebrating it.
I am very inspired to bring this kind of great community energy and "Gemuetlichkeit" to events in our country.