Category Archives: Life in California

May Events in California’s German Communities

Posted on May 4, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Bayerische Tradition und Kultur beim Maibaumfest in Putzbrunn bei Muenchen.

The month of May in Germany starts out with the “Tag der Arbeit” ( Labor Day), an official holiday throughout Germany. On that day the Unions have ‘the say’ and demonstrations are a common picture. But May is also a time for many festivities around the “Maypole” and it’s also the time for a special beer: The “Maibock” .

While it may be hard to find a “Maibock” in California, here are some German “Maifest” celebrations for you to enjoy. From San Francisco to Los Angeles. Here are a few.

MAIFEST 2013 – Oakland :

Hosted by Nature Friends Tourist Club you can enjoy some great German food, beer, music and dancing at Nature Friends Tourist Club, a beautiful, spacious, park-like, outdoor setting in the Oakland hills. The Gruber Family Band will play many favorite Bavarian and other songs and Nature Friends Schuhplattler Dance Group will perform a variety of German and Austrian folk dances.

ADMISSION is $10 per adult (free for kids under 14). Food, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

Please RSVP here and specify the number of guests in your party. Info regarding the program, tickets and parking instructions will be sent in the week prior to the event to those who have RSVP’d.

WHEN: Sunday, May 5, 2013 • 12:00pm

WHERE: Tourist Club (Oakland branch) 3115 Butters Drive Oakland, CA 94602

CONTACT: 510-531-2930

To receive the Nature Friends Tourist Club festival announcements, please make sure that you are on our NEW group email list: Click on the link below and then click on “Join This Group”: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tourist_Club-Oakland_branch/

Alternatively, you can send an email to Tourist_Club-Oakland_branch-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and you will be automatically added to the announcements list.

MAIFEST AND KINDERFEST in Orange County

The Phoenix Club in Anaheim celebrates its annual Maifest And Kinderfest. Come and join in at their Biergarten with the Express Band, Deutsch-Amerikanische Schulverein Südkaliforniens, Die Gemütlichen Schuhplattler, The Phoenix Club Youth Dance Group, and The Donauschwaben Dance Group. Enjoy great Bier and German cuisine.

There will be Arts and Crafts, Pony Rides and a Bounce House for the Children and a special performance of:  Der Löwe Lacht by and with Christof and Vadislava Altmann “Ringmaster Christofferus Wackelzahn and Ladulina”

WHEN: May 5th 11:30am-5:00 pm

WHERE: Phoenix Club, Anaheim

ADMISSION:  $5.00

SPARGEL FEST – “White Asparagus Gala Dinner in San Francisco”

The German-American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco (AHK) has 100 kg of fresh harvested Spargel imported directly from  the “Spargelhof Schulze” in Rheinland -Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate) straight to the plates and palates of the German American community in San Francisco.

Come and join the second annual White Asparagus Gala Dinner! It will take place in San Francisco on May 10th, 2013 at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins on San Francisco’s Nob Hill. Tickets will include a Champagne Reception, 3-course Gala Dinner and beer/wine/soft drinks.

WHEN: May 10th, 2013

WHERE: InterContinetal Mark Hopkins , San Francisco

Buy Tickets here.

More fun for Kids in Los Angeles at Tivoli Kindergarten

Tivoli Kindergarten L.A. is having their annual May Fair Celebration on May 11th from 11-3pm!

Enjoy a fun-filled day for the whole family with Arts & Crafts for Kids and a Music Performance by Karma Auger & Band. Famous Karma Auger will be teaming up with his legendary father Brian Auger for some Organ Grinder Trio, a blend of funky grooves, smooth driving bass lines and some funky jazz melodies.

Kids will love the Tivoli house band and Kasperle theater show. Furthermore there will be a Fire Truck, a Bazaar and a Raffle.

Refreshments and delicious food will include German style sausages, potato salad, pretzels, coffee & cake.

Suggested donation $10 per family • Everyone is welcome! •

All proceeds will go towards the improvement of Tivoli Rainbow Garden Preschool

Mark the date!

WHEN: May 11th 2013 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

WHERE: Tivoli Rainbow Preschool, 4051 Tivoli Ave, L.A. 90066

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Posted in Attractions & Events, CA For Kids, Cultural Happenings, Fun For Kids - Kinderecke, German Festivals, Life in California

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Deutsche Spargelzeit – German White Asparagus Season : Get the Real Deal in San Francisco!

Posted on April 30, 2013 by | 3 Comments

Spargelsaison_2013_620x159px

‘Unfamous’ in CAlifornia,  white asparagus has celebrity status in Germany.

Traditionally, “Spargelzeit”, the white asparagus season, starts in Germany around mid-April and lasts until June 24th. But this year, because of the harsh winter, the harvesting time has been moved out to almost the end of April. It was just too cold for the asparagus to grow and the only available one until recently arrived usually from other European countries with warmer climates.

But now it’s finally here! Germany’s Spargel season has officially started and with great anticipation connoisseurs are looking forward to tasting the new season’s  “royal vegetable”.

A Spargel Dinner – the traditional German way in San Francisco

During the season the vegetable also referred to as “edible ivory” or “white gold” is prominently featured on menus everywhere. In order to bring this tradition a little bit closer to everyone in California, the German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (AHK) will import fresh white asparagus from Germany to San Francisco!

100 kg of fresh harvested Spargel will be imported directly from  the “Spargelhof Schulze” in Rheinland -Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate) straight to the plates and palates of the German American community in San Francisco.

Spargel Dinner AHK San FranciscoThe second annual White Asparagus Gala Dinner will take place in San Francisco on May 10th, 2013 at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins on San Francisco’s Nob Hill. Tickets will include a Champagne Reception, 3-course Gala Dinner and beer/wine/soft drinks.

Get ready for an original Spargel Dinner, the traditional German way!

Tickets are available here  -AHK Spargel Signatur RSVP now

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Last year’s Spargel Feast by the German American Chamber of Commerce in NY city. Video by RTL in Germany:

http://www.rtl.de/cms/news/rtl-aktuell/amis-sind-heiss-auf-unser-weisses-gold-23179-51ca-14-1150839.html

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Posted in Attractions & Events, Cultural Happenings, Life in California, Networking Events

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“Verklärte Nacht ” – Schoenberg’s Early Masterpiece in Concert in Los Angeles

Posted on April 20, 2013 by | Leave a comment
Gustav Klimt - The Kiss 

Arnold Schoenberg, 20th-Century Austrian composer and known for inventing the Twelve-tone technique (Zwölftontechnik) wrote some wonderful pieces in his early years that follow the tonal structure of late romantic works, reminiscent of Richard Strauss’ and Richard Wagner’s music .

One of these early pieces and in fact one of Schoenberg’s earliest important work is “Verklärte Nacht” (Transfigured Night), Op.4 . It is a string sextet in one movement and was inspired by Richard Dehmel‘s poem of the same name.

Arnold Schoenberg is very much connected to Los Angeles, the city he eventually moved to after his emigration from Nazi Germany. In L.A. he held teaching positions at USC as well as UCLA.

Experience Schoenberg’s “Verklaerte Nacht” in Los Angeles this May 2013

This May, Angelinos will have the chance to experience Schoenberg’s early work “Verklaerte Nacht” together with J.S. Bach’s St. Anne Prelude on two different concert days in Los Angeles.

Verklärte NachtThe Salastina Music Society is bringing this concert to stage in Los Angeles:

  • May 10th at 8 pm at the Edye Second Space at the Broad Stage (Santa Monica),
  • May 11th at 8 pm at Zipper Hall at the Colburn School (Downtown LA).

KUSC 91.5 FM DJ Brian Lauritzen will host an in-depth exploration of Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht, based on German poet Richard Dehmel’s poem of the same name.   Performers include Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Principal Cellist Andrew Shulman, Pacific Symphony violists Meredith Crawford and Luke Maurer, and celebrated young chamber cellist Rebecca Merblum, as well as Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper, Salastina’s co-artistic directors and violinists.

Special $10 Tickets available for the CaliforniaGermans Community

Salastina Music Society has set up an exclusive event code for our CaliforniaGermans community (code “GERMAN“) to receive tickets for only $10! The regular ticket price is $28.

Please purchase your $10 tickets at the Salastina Society Website  and enter Exclusive Event Code “GERMAN” at check out to receive your special ticket discount!

Take a Chance & Win Tickets to this Exciting Evening

In connection with these two Chamber Music Events, CaliforniaGermans will raffle off 2 tickets for each concert day. Two winners will be chosen at random to experience this chamber music evenings with a friend.

We will announce our Give-Away this week (April 21 – 27) on Facebook as well as on our website. Please keep posted by checking our Facebook Page and website to get a chance at winning your Concert Tickets!

Salastina Music Society in Los Angeles

Salastina Music SocietySalastina Music Society founded by violinists and chamber musicians Maia Jasper and Kevin Kumar, is dedicated to bringing a fresh approach to chamber music to Los Angeles. Now in its third year Salastina Music Society has became a distinctive new element in the LA chamber music scene with a contemporary approach to programming.

Photo Credit:
Policymic.com & Google
Salastina Music Society

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Villa Aurora – Artists Residence and Cultural Meeting Point in Los Angeles

Posted on April 16, 2013 by | Leave a comment

gardenview_christiane-schuetz-1

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Villa Aurora in Pacific Palisades is a place where German, European and American culture meet.

Originally the private domicile of German-Jewish novelist Lion Feuchtwanger who had bought the villa in Pacific Palisades in 1943, Villa Aurora quickly became the meeting place for exiled German intellectuals and their American colleagues.  Artists and scholars from different disciplines gathered at Villa Aurora for readings and musical evenings, for celebrations and discussions. Albert Einstein, Bertold Brecht,Thomas Mann and Heinrich Mann, Fritz Lang, Arnold Schoenberg, Kurt Weill and many more were part of this eclectic cultural group.

After extensive renovations, Villa Aurora picked up on its tradition in 1995, and since then has continued to be a meeting place for the arts again. With its Artist-in-Residence Grants Villa Aurora awards up to 12 scholarships every year in the areas of literature, fine art, film and music in the German-American cultural exchange program. The villa itself beautifully restored to its former grandeur is listed on the historical register.

Events at the Villa Aurora

Villa Aurora hosts many cultural events throughout the year that open up the splendid residence and location to the public.  Some exciting events coming up as soon as this week are listed below:

- Music Memory Metamorphosis - 

Los Angeles | April 20, 2013 (7:30 pm)

Viktor Ullmann:
Piano Sonata Nr. 7 (1944) &
“The Lay of Love and Death of the Cornet Christoph Rilke” (1944)
12 excerpts from the poem by Rainer Maria Rilke for speaker and piano

As Cinematic-Musical-Montage

Produced and directed by Gwyneth Bravo with the support of REZN8′s founder Paul Sidlo and featuring live performances by Neal Stulberg and pianist Steven Vanhauwaert, this multi-media program presents composer Viktor Ullmann’s final 1944 works—the Piano Sonata No.7 and his melodrama The Lay of Love and Death of Cornet Christopher Rilke — against a cinematic backdrop. In the spirit of early film and Erwin Piscator’s experimental Berlin theater of the 1920s, the production re-imagines the theater and concert hall as a cinematic space where the live performance of these works takes place inside a cinematic framework, where a kaleidoscope of projected and slowly shifting montage images serves as a visual counterpoint to the poetry and music. Employing a postmodern compositional aesthetic, her film, which Robert Elias, President of the OREL Foundation, describes as “a moving and beautifully wrought immersive work of art,” unfolds in thirteen, short movements and is composed of a series of densely-textured images constructed from the superimposition and animation of a multi-layered and harmonically-conceived series of visual elements.

Neal Stulberg, Recitation
Steven Vanhauwaert, Piano
Paul Sidlo, Technical Production & Design
Gwyneth Bravo, Producer & Artistic Director

For more information and tickets, please go to the following website: http://musicmemorymetamorphosis.brownpapertickets.com/
Admission: Members & Students $10, General Admission $25

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 - Two Who Dared - 

Los Angeles | Saturday, April 27@ 7:00 p.m.

A documentary by Artemis Joukowsky III                                                       USA, 2012, 76 min., digital                                                                                           Presented by Villa Aurora, Artemis Joukowsky III and Robert Lemelson

Q & A and reception for the filmmaker after the screening.

This film tells the story of Unitarian minister, Waitstill Sharp and his wife Martha who, just days prior to the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia, left their young children in Wellesley, Massachusetts to help save thousands being persecuted in Eastern Europe.

Who were these American heroes? What drove their willingness to put the well-being of strangers over that of themselves and their family?

Waitstill and Martha were also involved in the Feuchtwangers’ escape from France. They are two of only three Americans who have been honored as “Righteous Among Nations” by Yad Vashem.  Two Who Dared has received a number of awards in 2012 including the Special Jury Prize from the Amsterdam Film Festival; Official Selection, River’s Edge Film Festival, and Redemptive Storyteller Award, Redemptive Film Festival

The screening at Villa Aurora is part of a grassroots, community-based effort, at synagogues, churches, theaters, and schools; in cities world-wide!

For more information visit www.TwoWhoDared.com
RSVP required at infola@villa-aurora.org - you will receive a confirmation.

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-  Bis an die Grenze – Up to the border -

Los Angeles | Thursday, May 2 @ 7:00 p.m.

A documentary by Claus Oppermann and Gerald Grote                Germany, 2011, 95 min.                                                                                                   Presented by Villa Aurora and Pacific Palisades Film Festival

Sunday, August 13th 1961, the government of the German Democratic Republic lays the foundation stone for the “ugliest monument in the world”. A whole city is in a state of shock. At first the “atrocious century-construction“ is watched in disbelief. Then people start pulling their 8mm-cameras out of their cupboards to capture the images of the events.

On the basis of these extraordinary, widely unknown recordings and found footage, Claus Oppermann und Gerald Grote’s first feature film tells many impressive but forgotten stories about the rise of the Berlin Wall in 1961 to its fall in 1989, about the division of Germany and a bloody borderline through the middle of Europe.

The Wall, 155 km long, symbol of the Cold War, photographed and filmed million-fold, seen from a private and personal point of view. A unique documentary, put together out of hundreds of previously unreleased substandard films that have never been seen like this before. Many private archives were opened for the first time – a time travel, well worth seeing.

For more information visit http://www.bis-an-die-grenze.de/
Free for members / General $ 5
RSVP required at infola@villa-aurora.org

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VILLA AURORA:

Location: Villa Aurora, 520 Paseo Miramar, Los Angeles, CA 90272

Street parking is available on Los Liones Drive. Event Shuttle service starts usually one hour prior to an event and will start from Los Liones Drive, off Sunset Boulevard two blocks North-East of Pacific Coast Highway.

Please do not park on the Topanga State Park Lot!

To Listen to an Audio Report on the Villa Aurora by PRI on theworld.org click here : PRI- Villa Aurora Audio

 
 
Source:
Villa Aurora -
German Mission in the United States -
 
Photo Credit: Villa Aurora
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Posted in Art & Cinematographie, Attractions & Events, Cultural Happenings, German Literature & Theater, Life in California

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Berlin Wall is Making Headlines in Berlin, California and the World

Posted on April 12, 2013 by | Leave a comment

 berlinwall_large

While the world witnessed how Berliners stood up for the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall not to be removed last month, two other Berlin Wall segments found a permanent home in Mountain View, California.

A few days before Easter shortly before dawn construction workers started with the removal of the famous ‘East Side Gallery’ in Berlin, the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall (1.3 km long), and an international memorial for freedom. The reason behind it: The East Side Gallery needed to make way for a luxury apartment complex. Despite days of protest and even a short-lived halt of the project, when politicians tried to find a solution for keeping this famous section of the Berlin Wall untouched, the developer was ultimately given permission to proceed with his project after all.

As the international community followed the unfolding of events, Berliners were stunned and plainly shocked.  “I can’t believe they came here in the dark in such a sneaky manner,” said Kani Alavi, the head of the East Side Gallery’s artists’ group. “All they see is their money, they have no understanding for the historic relevance and art of this place.” By mid morning people witnessed in disbelief how a 6 meter gap was guarded by a wooden fence and protected by police.

And…that’s not all. The controversial project continues to make headlines. Latest news unveil that the investor behind this project, Maik Uwe Hinkel, had apparently strong ties to East Germany’s communist party SED (Socialist Unity Party),and in fact may have been a spy for East Germany’s notorious secret police, the Stasi, so the news magazine ”SPIEGEL” in its report “Stasi Suspicions: Berlin Wall Developer’s Past in Question”.

Mountain View in CALIFORNIA becomes Home to two Berlin Wall Segments

On the other side of the world in the meantime two large segments of the Berlin Berlin Wall Mountain_View,_CaliforniaWall found a permanent home in a much quieter venture and with much less media attention.

The more than 10 feet tall donated wall sections depict a caricature of Elvis Presley on one slab and a heart with the words “Wir lieben Dich” on the other. They were previously displayed at an office park, before they got donated to the city last year by the family of Frankfurt native Frank Golzen, who had purchased them after the wall came down in 1989.  “These pieces of the Berlin Wall remind me that freedom is not free. Freedom is paid for in blood,” said Bahl, a local resident who had urged the city council to pick a spot that offered good public visibility.  The famous slabs will now greet visitors to the public library at Franklin Street in Mountain View.

Villa Aurora in L.A. features Documentary on the Berlin Wall in May 2013

In connection with the Pacific Palisades Film Festival, Villa Aurora in L.A. is presenting the documentary “Bis an die Grenze – Up to the border”.

On the basis of extraordinary, widely unknown recordings and found footage, Claus Oppermann und Gerald Grote’s first feature film tells many impressive but forgotten stories about the rise of the Berlin Wall in 1961 to its fall in 1989, about the division of Germany and a bloody borderline through the middle of Europe.

In this unique film one can see how on the historical Sunday of August 13th 1961, the government of the German Democratic Republic lays the foundation stone for the “ugliest monument in the world”. An event that puts a whole city in a state of shock. The “atrocious century-construction“ is at first watched in disbelief. Then people start pulling their 8mm-cameras out of their cupboards to capture the images of the events.

“Bis an die Grenze – Up to the border”
A documentary by Claus Oppermann and Gerald Grote
(Germany, 2011, 95 min)
Thursday, May 2 @ 7:00 p.m. 
At Villa Aurora, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles

For more information visit http://www.bis-an-die-grenze.de/
Free for members / General $ 5
RSVP required at infola@villa-aurora.org
 
The East Side Gallery is the longest remaining...

The East Side Gallery is the longest remaining part of the Berlin Wall. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Article Sources:
http://blog.invisiblechildren.com/2013/04/01/east-side-gallery-of-remaining-berlin-wall-dismantled/
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/27/17485506-historic-parts-of-berlin-wall-removed-despite-protests-over-luxury-building-project?lite
http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/shock-as-part-of-berlin-wall-knocked-down-to-make-way-for-luxury-apartments/story-e6frfq80-1226608053342
http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_22829559/berlin-wall-sections-find-new-home-mountain-view
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/stasi-suspicions-east-side-gallery-developer-hinkel-past-in-question-a-893110.html
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Elli Quark To Bring German-Style Quark Cheese To US Stores This Spring

Posted on April 4, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Elli-Quark

If you’ve wanted to make an authentic German cheesecake in America, the main ingredient has been almost impossible to find without getting a special order of it online.  Quark (pronounced “kvark”) is a German staple that not only makes for a delicious cheesecake but is a healthier snack alternative to cottage cheese or Greek yogurt.  Germans who have made their new home in the US have craved the taste of this homeland treat, and starting this spring, a new startup company in Southern California is going to put an end to their wait.

Elli Quark showed off their German-style Quark cheese during the Natural Products Expo West show in Anaheim last month after the founder set out to find a healthy snack that wasn’t filled with salt or sugar.  Founder Preya Patel Bhakta had a nutritionist recommend cottage cheese, but was put off by the excessive amounts of salt and did not care for the texture.  Greek yogurt has also been a favorite among people looking to eat healthier, but uses a large amount of sugar to enhance the flavor.

After making some modifications to cottage cheese, Preya thought that there had to be something similar to what she made already on the market.  It turns out that what she had created was very close to the popular German Quark cheese.  Since there are not many options for getting this cheese in the US, she headed out to Germany to sample the variety and get a better idea on how the cheese is made.

Due to the differences in the cows milk between the two countries, the manufacturing process of Elli Quark cheese had to be modified slightly.  But after hearing the response from Germans visiting their booth at last month’s Expo, it seems that the difference is unnoticeable.

Starting this month, Elli Quark will be rolling out to stores selling natural products around the country.  The 80-90 calorie snack will initially be available in five different flavors (plain, strawberry, lemon, red velvet, and pineapple) and will be found next to the cottage cheese section in the diary aisle.  While this isn’t the first attempt to bring German Quark cheese to market in the US, some good marketing and product placement on the shelf can make a difference.

Sources: Food Navigator-USA, Elli Quark
Article Source: German Pulse

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German Language Immersion in the Summer – German Summer Camps In CA

Posted on March 20, 2013 by | 1 Comment
Tivoli Rainbow Garden Preschool
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Spring is just starting today and we are already  talking summer! In fact now is the perfect time to think about a camp that your child will not only enjoy but that will help him/her strengthen his German language skills during summer!

Growing up in a multilingual family offers many advantages, but often it can also be challenging, especially in regards to the second language, the language that is not spoken as frequently. To help your child with this process experts recommend to find different ways to get him/her immersed into the non-dominant language as often as possible. This gives the child the opportunity to connect to that language and become more familiar with its usage as well as its particular culture.

In the case of many CaliforniaGermans this ‘second’ language is German. Once children are in school they speak English for most of the day. Back home again they might hear some German, and if lucky also speak some German with their mother or father.

Spend Summer in California Attending a German Immersion Camp

Many expat families plan on going back  home to Germany, Austria or Switzerland during the summer months to visit family. This of course proofs to be the perfect solution for giving your children a firsthand experience and immersion into the German language and culture. But that’s of course a perfect scenario.  What if work or other factors don’t allow for a European vacation?

Wouldn’t a German language camp in somewhat close vicinity to your home in CA be a great alternative for your child to still benefit from speaking, hearing and learning German all day long for the duration of a fun summer camp?

That’s exactly what we thought and put together this compilation of German Language Immersion Summer Camps throughout California. We hope you find the perfect one for your child and would love to get your feedback on your experience.

German Immersion Summer Camps for Children in California.

Southern California offers camps in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Big Bear. Northern California has camps in Oakland, San Francisco, Menlo Park, Mountain View and Berkeley.

Tivoli Rainbow Garden Preschool

Southern California:

Big Bear – (offered through the German-American School Association of SoCal) 7 Days German Immersion Overnight Camp

  • Dates: 23 June – 29 June, 2013
  • Minimum age: 7 years
  • Fun Activities include: archery, swimming, rock climbing, nature hikes, baking & much more.
  • All activities are in German
  • Cost: $575.00
  • Location: Presbyterian Conference Center, Big Bear
  • Contact: Email for enrollment forms, gasa54@aol.com

Los Angeles – (offered by Tivoli Rainbow Garden Preschool – Regenbogen Kindergarten )    - “Spiel, Spass und Sommer-Aktivitäten”  -

San Diego – (offered by Enrichment4Kids – 3 Sessions available )

  • Dates:  Session 1: July 29th-2nd;  Session 2: Aug 5th-9th;  Session 3: Aug 19th-23rd
  • Age Groups: Pre-K to Elementary Age
  • Activities: “Enrichment for the Head, Heart and Body”. Math & reading, both in German will be taught for the first 3 hours each day before activities like swimming, piano, field sports, tumbling, skateboarding, etc.
  • Cost: Call for info
  • Contact: Kimberley@ReCenter.org
  • Website: https://www.facebook.com/Enrichment4Kids?ref=ts&fref=ts

Northern California:

Oakland – (Organized by BAKS plus – 2 Sessions available )

  • Dates:  Session 1: June 17th-28th; Session 2: July 1st -12th
  • Age Groups: 4-14 years
  • Activities: Session 1 - ”Wer waren die alten Germanen? – Who were the Germanic tribes?   Session 2  – “Klaus Stoertebeker & CO. – A Pirate’s Life for Me! “
  • The whole program is in German Immersion. Prior knowledge of German is advisable.
  • Hours: Sessions run from 9-1pm daily. Extended Care is available until 5pm
  • Cost: Session 1 – $400; Session 2 – $360 (Discounts available for siblings, Combination of session 1 & 2, and early bird sign ups )
  • Location: Archway Lower School, 250 41st Street, Oakland, CA 94611
  • Contact: sommerschule@kinderstube.org
  • Website:http://www.kinderstube.org/plus/plusprogram.html#summercamp

Menlo Park - (organized by GASPA-German American School of Palo Alto)     One 4-week full immersion summer camp session .                                    “Gedanken in den Wolken…Füsse im Matsch!”

  • Dates:  One session from June 24th – July 19th, 2013 (9am- 2pm Mo-Fri; extended time 2-6pm available)
  • Age Groups: 3-12 years ( no prior language knowledge required!)
  • Activities: music, art, cooking, crafts, sports games, dancing & much more
  • Cost: Early bird – $995 and Regular – $1095
  • Location: GAIS School Campus, 275 Elliot Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94303
  • Contact: office@gaspa-ca.org;
  • Website: http://www.gaspa-ca.org/summer-school-program/overview
  • Note: Earl Bird Tuition valid through March 31st & non-refundable $150 registration fee for all registrations per child!

GISSV – German International School of Silicon Valley offers German Summer Camps in 3 different locations in NoCal: San Francisco, Berkeley & Mountain View. ( www.gissv.org/summerprogram )

San Francisco - (Organized by GISSV – 4 one-week sessions available)

  • Dates: June 17th – July 12th 2013 (Four sessions)
  • Ages: 4.9 -7 years
  • Activities: Indoor & Outdoor Adventures. Per session children will discover one of the four elements, air, earth, fire & water.
  • Hours: 9am-4pm
  • Cost: $395/Full Day Session
  • Location: San Francisco Campus, 4 Funston Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94129
  • Contact: office@gissv.org, phone: 650-254 0748
  • website: www.gissv.org/summerprogram

Berkeley – (Organized by GISSV – 5 one-week sessions available)

  • Dates: June 17th – July 19th 2013
  • Ages: 3-6 and 7-12
  • Activities: Explore the world with topics like Ocean, Circus, Space, and Fairy Tales from Around the World!
  • Hours: 9am-2pm
  • Cost: $247/Half Day Session
  • Location: Berkeley Campus, 1581 Le Roy Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94708
  • Contact:  office@gissv.org, phone: 650-254 0748,
  • website: www.gissv.org/summerprogram

Mountain View – (Organized by GISSV – 4 sessions available)

  • Dates: June 24, 2013 to July 19, 2013
  • Ages: Ages 3-4, ages 5-14, and adult classes
  • Activities: Students will be exposed to German throughout the day. Music, Art, Art History, Soccer, Basketball and much more. For further information on our program
  • Hours: 9am – 12pm/ Half day, Afternoon activities available from 12pm – 4pm
  • Cost: $375 – $750
  • Location:  Mountain View Campus, 310 Easy Street, Mountain View, CA 94043
  • Contact:  office@gissv.org, phone: 650-254 0748,
  • website: www.gissv.org/summerprogram
  • SPECIAL Website: http://www.gissv.org/podium/default.aspx?t=151553&rc=0

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Related Articles:

Hilfe, mein Kind spricht Kauderwelsch! - http://www.bibernetz.de/wws/interview-rosemarie-tracy.php

Wie lernen Kleinkinder sprechen? Prof. Rosemarie Tracy, Sprachwissenschaftlerin an der Universität Mannheim, im Interview mit Leslie Rowe über Spracherwerb und Mehrsprachigkeit - http://www.br.de/radio/bayern2/sendungen/radiowissen/gespraech-rosemarie-tracy-100.html

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Cook Your Brats On The Go With the Backbrat Bike Grill

Posted on February 24, 2013 by | 1 Comment

Backbrat

Riding a bike around is generally seen as a great way to get some exercise in while you’re on the go.  As you pedal your way to your destination you may get hungry, so wouldn’t it be nice to have a meal cooking on your bike so you’re ready to eat once you stop?  Mathias Hintermann, a Switzerland native living in LA, has come up with a bike accessory that will do just that.

The Backbrat is a small grill attachment that to fits on the back of your bike and will accommodate four regular sized brats, thüringers, or frankfurters all while being made to withstand the potholes you may encounter on your journey.  Since the grill cooks with charcoal, you don’t need to worry about the dangers of peddling with an explosive tank of gas towards your rear… unless of course you eat a few greasy sausages before you make the trip.

Backbrat Grill Size

Hintermann plans to target the German market, which is known for loving their share of sausage and cycling.  He figures his bike can take advantage of two growing trends in the country… group cycling and grilling out at the park.  You could of course wait until you arrive to fire up the grill, but it is much more efficient to get a head start as you pedal away, and we know how the Germans like to be efficient.

Backbrat Seamless

Source: Mathias Hintermann
Photos by Mathias Hintermann
ArticleSource: GermanPulse

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World class Tennis in CA – 2013 BNP PARIBAS Open in Indian Wells

Posted on February 21, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Roger Federer at BNP Paribas Open 2012

Ready for some Tennis?

Living in California offers so many great possibilities that one can surely feel spoiled. Not only do we have the ocean and snowy mountains right in our vicinity, but also world class tennis is part of California living.   Every year in spring the BNP PARIBAS Open attracts thousands of tennis enthusiasts to watch the world’s best in tennis compete right here in Indian Wells, CA, just a two-hours drive away from L.A.!

On March 4-17, 2013 it’s time again for one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world. For a couple of weeks world class tennis will make its home at the beautiful Indian Wells Tennis Garden.   Plan ahead and get ready for some suspenseful matches watching Federer, Djokovic, Azarenka and Sharapova and so many other world ranked players compete for the title!

Fun Facts about BNP PARIBAS Open at Indian Wells:

Last year more than 370,000 fans passed through the gates, making it the most attended tennis tournament in the world behind the four Grand Slams.

The seating capacity of the Stadium Court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden (16,100) is the second largest of any tennis-only stadium on either Tour. Only the U.S. Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium (22,500) is larger.

Hawkeye replay technology was installed on all match courts for the 2011 event. To this day, the BNP Paribas Open remains the only tournament in the world, including the four grand slams, to have the line call challenge system on every match court.

In 2011, the BNP Paribas Open became the first non-Grand Slam tennis tournament to offer $1 million to its singles champions, increasing total prize money to more than $11 million.

In 2012, Roger Federer became the only four-time men’s champion of the BNP Paribas Open. His previous titles came consecutively in 2004, 2005 and 2006, the only player to win three consecutive times.

Annually, the men’s event is the first of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events played on the ATP schedule. The other eight premier events are held in Miami, Monte Carlo, Rome, Madrid, Montreal/Toronto, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris.

The women’s event is one of only four Premier Mandatory Events on the WTA. The others are Miami, Madrid and Beijing

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Source: BNP Paribas Open
Photo: CaliforniaGermans (Federer at BNP Paribas Open 2012)
 
 
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‘Kiepenkasper’ – Uwe Spillmann’s Puppetshow Visits San Diego

Posted on January 16, 2013 by | Leave a comment

 Kiepenkasper - Uwe Spillmann‘Puppentheater auf zwei Beinen kommt nach San Diego’

Famous German hand puppet player Uwe Spillmann will be on US tour and has planned to make a stop in San Diego to enchant the California-German audience.

‘Kiepenkasper‘ keeps fascinating his audience of young and old since 15 years. He is present at all kinds of events and ‘Kasper’ has traveled the world! Mexico, Australia, Russia, and even Namibia as well as many other countries around the world are familiar with him and enjoy his shows.

January 2013 is the month to get a chance to meet Kiepenkasper in person right here in Southern California. Mr. Spillmann has agreed to an Open Air Performance at the Balboa Park near the House of Germany (part of the International Cottages).

Uwe Spillmann is writing his own scripts for his ‘Kiepenkasper’. Based on traditional puppet shows (‘Kasperltheater’) his performances bring a breeze of fresh air into this old tradition of puppet play. He usually performs two plays, each lasting about 20 minutes. During the break he entertains children and adults alike with tricks and exotic musical instruments.

Enjoy a performance on January 23 at 3pm at Balboa Park near the House of Germany in San Diego !

KIEPENKASPER with Uwe Spillmann

WHEN: January 23, 2013 at 3pm

Kiepenkasper: der Kaspar!

Kiepenkasper: der Kaspar! (Photo credit: Sørn)

WHERE: Weather permitting this will be an Open Air event, in front of the House of Germany at Balboa Park  : International Cottages, 2191 Pan American Rd, San Diego, CA

In case of rain the show will take place at Balboa Park, Hall of Nations, 2191 Pan American Rd. W , San Diego, CA 92101

COST: Please plan on giving your generous donations at the time of the event!

QUESTIONS:  Please email sdsaturdayschoolprincipal@yahoo.com

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