Travel
Friedenssaal and the Peace of Westphalia – Münster Germany
Through the Arches, up the front steps, and inside the Historic Rathaus along Münster’s Prinzipalmarkt you’ll find the Friedenssaal, Hall of Peace. The room has remained essentially unchanged for the past 375 years, from the time when envoys across Central Europe arrived to debate and hammer out details for the Treaty of Westphalia and Peace of Münster which ended the…
German Food and Events
Where to Buy German Food Online -German Bread, Sausage, Groceries & More
Wondering where to buy German Food Online? Unfortunately, we don’t all live in a city with a good German Restaurant… and there isn’t a German Deli or German Bakery on every corner. But all is not lost! You can order German food to enjoy at home! Lots of companies sell German Food Online! Almost everything you buy in German Grocery…
German Genealogy Databases Online -Find your German Family
For many German-Americans, tracing their history is not so easy. Records were lost or destroyed, and the old script can be difficult to read. While I am by no means an expert, I have found some German Genealogy Databases online that can help you find a little more about your German Ancestry. If you know of any websites or pages that…
German Festivals in America, Events and Celebrations
Looking for German Festivals in America? Events and Celebrations? Take a look at our list! There’s something for everyone! Maifests, Sommerfests, Oktoberfests, Christkindlmarkt, Concerts, and More!! We also have a special page set aside for Christmas Markets in the United States and Canada–> German Christmas Markets Do you know of any Events or GermaFestival that’s not on the list? Send…
German Restaurants in America- Also Bakeries, Delis and Online Sources
Ever wonder “Are there any German Restaurants near Me?” Readers have kindly sent me the names of their favorite German Restaurants in America, as well as German Bakeries, Delis and Online Sources. It looks like we will all be able to eat Rouladen, Bratwurst, Brötchen and Torte as we make our way across America. And now we’ve even added German…
Traditional German Clothing
Where to Buy a Dirndl for German Festivals and Oktoberfests
All Summer and Fall you’ll find German Festivals and Oktoberfests popping up across the United States… and for you lucky travelers… there are plenty of Festivals and Events happening IN Germany! Sure, you can show up in shorts and a t-shirt, but why not get into the spirit of the festival, and wear a Dirndl?! This iconic Bavarian dress…
German Recipes
Apricot Marzipan Cake Recipe- Aprikosen Marzipan Kuchen
The flavors of Apricot and Almond complement each other, so it’s no surprise that an Apricot Marzipan Cake (Aprikosen Marzipan Kuchen) gets gobbled up every time I serve it. Instead of chunks or a layer in the cake, the marzipan gets whipped into the cake batter to create a light, almond flavor base for 2 pounds of Apricots! The hot…
Rhubarb Streusel Cake Recipe with Vanilla Cream- Rhabarbar Streuselkuchen
I love a cake that contains all sorts of flavors and textures. This Rhubarb Streusel Cake Recipe with Vanilla Cream (Rhabarbarkuchen mit Vanillecreme) does just that… the base is simple, with a bit of vanilla, the Vanilla Cream filling is sweet (but not too sweet) and smooth. On top of that, you’ll find over a pound and a half of…
Red Cabbage Salad Recipe – Rotkohlsalat
Warm and comforting Rotkohl or Blaukraut, flavored with cloves, is a fairly standard side dish for so many German dishes, but in the summertime, I crave something cold and crisp. Something for my Salatteller (salad plate). This Red Cabbage Salad Recipe, or Rotkohlsalat, not only tastes delicious, but the jewel-like color of the cabbage looks beautiful on a plate. This…
Reformationsbrötchen Recipe- Luther Rose Reformation Rolls
October 31st, bakeries in Leipzig, bake up a special treat….Reformationsbrötchen or Reformation Rolls. The rolls with five petals and a blob of red jam in the center represent the Luther Rose, the symbol Martin Luther used to sign all of his documents. So what are they exactly? Reformation Rolls are semi-sweet yeast rolls filled with raisins (or cranberries), chopped almonds,…
In the Garden
Crocuses in Germany- Spring Beauty & Autumn Saffron Crocus
Hundreds of purple crocus flowers were making their first appearance when I visited the Münster Botanical Gardens on a chilly March morning. This sign of Springtime lightens hearts in Germany. The sweet blooms signal an end to the grey winter blahs. But these are only half of the story of crocuses in Germany. Although there are a few different…
German School
German History
A Visit to Ellis Island- Ellis Island Immigrants from Germany
A few years ago I visited the Bremerhaven Auswandererhaus (Emigration Museum), this year I paid a visit to Ellis Island, where many of the immigrants landed on the other side of the Atlantic. The museum houses the other half of the immigration story. I went, unsure of how much German history I would see, after all, Ellis Island acted as…
The General Slocum Disaster of 1904- A German-American Tragedy
1021 people, mostly women and children perished in the General Slocum Disaster of 1904. And yet, the tragedy is mostly forgotten. Kleindeutschland (Little Deutschland) in New York City thrived through the 1800s into the turn of the century. German-Americans lived, worked, shopped, and worshipped in this thriving neighborhood. Then on June 15, 1904, 1358 people climbed aboard the General…
A Visit to the German American Heritage Museum
The German American Heritage Museum may be one of the smaller museums in Washington DC. Still, their efforts to preserve the history of Germans in America make up for its tiny footprint. (Plus I firmly believe that small museums are the best.) Since 2010, the museum has occupied Hockemeyer Hall on 6th Street NW, in the Penn Quarter just a…
Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift Washington DC
On May 21, 2024, I was honored to represent the Berlin Airlift Remembrance Alliance at the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. The event took place in the shadow of the imposing towers of the US Air Force Memorial in Washington DC. Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift Washington DC The Ambassador of the…