Month: July 2018

Stammtisch? What’s a Stammtisch?

July 27, 2018
Posted by Don Bender

What exactly does the name of our website – German Stammtisch – mean?

The German word Stammtisch is composed of two individual words: Stamm and Tisch. Tisch refers to a table. The word Stamm, related to the English word Stem, can refer either to a tree trunk or to a group of people, for example, a group of regular customers.

Stammtisch, then, refers to a “regular’s table”. This could refer to a table, for example, in a restaurant where a group of people meet on a regular basis. Somewhat less literally, the word Stammtisch refers simply to an informal meeting. A good example of this concept can be seen in the vintage American television series Cheers.

The name of our website combines the notion of the Stammtisch or informal meeting with the word German. It suggests a group that meets regularly to converse in German. Unlike Cheers, however, the only drinks we occasionally serve are limited to Sprudelwasser – sparkling spring water!

▸ Photo by Mitchell Hollander on Unsplash
 

Bauhaus 2019: Renowned Art, Design & Architecture School Turning 100

July 23, 2018
Posted by Don Bender

During 2019, destinations all across Germany will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Bauhaus – Germany’s highly influential art, design and architecture school. The Staatliches Bauhaus (more commonly known simply as the Bauhaus) was founded in Weimar by architect Walter Gropius during 1919. The Bauhaus was later moved to Dessau, and subsequently, to Berlin.

Although the Bauhaus remained open for less than two decades, its influence on the art, design and architecture of the 20th century, and beyond, has been profound. Essential elements of the Bauhaus style include simple, functional design and a minimalistic approach. Architect Mies van der Rohe, one of the school’s founders, summed up this approach as, “Less is more”.

Some of the better-known artists and designers associated with the Bauhaus include: Anni Albers, Josef Albers, Herbert Bayer, Peter Behrens, Max Bill, Marianne Brandt, Marcel Breuer, Andreas Feininger, Lyonel Feininger, Walter Gropius, Johannes Itten, Vasily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Lilly Reich and Gunta Stölzl.

Today, the innovative steel-and-glass Bauhaus building in Dessau, and some associated buildings, are open to the public. The Bauhaus campus is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Bauhaus-inspired buildings can be found in many locations across the globe. In New York City, some of the most famous buildings influenced by the Bauhaus include: the Seagram Building by Mies van der Rohe; the Met Life (formerly Pan Am) building by Walter Gropius; and, the Whitney Museum (now known as the Met Breuer) by Marcel Breuer.

For more information about the Bauhaus and related 100th anniversary events, visit their official site at: https://www.bauhaus-dessau.de/en/index.html

▸ Photo by Michael “Tegula” on Pixabay.com
 

Wer? Was? Wo? Germany’s Online Telephone Book

July 21, 2018
Posted by Don Bender

Looking for a telephone number in Germany? Try the German national telephone directory on the Web! This highly useful resource covers the entire nation making it easy to locate individuals and businesses from Bavaria to the Baltic Sea.

The standard search (Standard-Suche) allows you to configure searches using two fields: who/what (Wer/Was) and where (Wo). The interface provides search hints for both names and locations. For example, entering “Berlin” in the where field displays a list of choices including Berlin, Bernau bei Berlin, Neuenhagen bei Berlin, Schöneiche bei Berlin and several other options.

The online telephone directory is particularly useful if you want to get back in touch with a friend or relative overseas. From a genealogical perspective it is a useful resource for locating potential relatives in Germany.

Try it for yourself! Germany’s national online telephone directory is located at https://www.dastelefonbuch.de/ .

▸ Image by Don Bender
 

Word of the Week

July 16, 2018
Posted by Don Bender

The German language possesses many colorful words and expressions. You can learn more about them by visiting the fun and informative Word of the Week feature published by the German Embassy in Washington, DC.

Recent words and expressions featured here include: Sauwetter (literally “pig weather”) meaning lousy or unpleasant weather; Katzenwäsche (“cat washes”) signifying a quick wash in the sink as an alternative taking a shower, and, Tante-Emma-Laden (“Aunt Emma Store”) referring to a “Mom and Pop” grocery store.

Want to learn what Schneidersitz, Dreikäsehoch and Erbsenzähler mean? Visit the German Embassy’s Word of the Week for yourself!

▸ Photo by Wokandapix on Pixabay