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On three separate evenings this past week I went to look at Festival of Lights. It was good to go on weekdays to avoid the crowds. Tonight was a race against the clock to walk from Victory Column to Brandenburg Gate before the lights shut off for the last time - made it with 2 minutes to spare!

Structures of the Oberbaum bridge are illuminated with vibrant red and blue lights against a dark, cloudy night sky.Colorful beams of light are projected across the night sky over the river Spree with buildings reflecting on the water.A tall red brick building on Potsdamer Platz is illuminated with blue light projections against a cloudy night sky.The brightly illuminated Berlin Fernsehturm tv tower sphere body stands against a clear starry night sky.A building facade (Hotel Rome on Bebelplatz) is illuminated with a vibrant, colorful light projection featuring swirling patterns in shades of blue, purple, red, and yellow.A golden winged statue stands atop the tall Victory Column illuminated with colorful lights against a night sky.

Went to two more concerts recently, two great shows for the 2nd time seeing each group over the years: Lisa O’Neill last week and Buffalo Tom (one of my all-time favorite bands) last night. Both venues were within walking distance, so we got to stretch our legs on the way home.

A musical group performs on a stage with warm, orange lighting and a rustic brick wall backdrop inside an arched venue, Theater im Delphi.A three-member band is performing on stage at Kulturhaus Peter Edel with purple and blue lighting while a crowd watches.

A third visit to the dahlias at Britzer Garten today where the trees are beginning to show their autumn leaves. Got there with just an hour of sunlit flowers left in the evening. Sketched an orange colored blossom on a broken stem in the waning sun.

A large tree with green and orange leaves stands in a park area with a grassy field, benches, and a few people walking in the background.Vibrant orange and red flowers bloom brightly in a sunlit garden with green foliage and trees in the background.A sunlit garden path is surrounded by vibrant pink and red flowers with a white gazebo visible in the background amidst tall trees.A vibrant pink and white dahlia flower is in full bloom with several other similar flowers blurred in the background.Two vibrant pink dahlia flowers with yellow centers are blooming amidst green foliage under natural sunlight.A detailed marker and ink drawing of an orange dahlia flower with a bent stem is shown, accompanied by handwritten text indicating Britzer Garten Dahlienfeuer 2026-10-10.

Started playing the new numbers and colors game Tupo regularly this vacation week - it’s addictive. Learning the nuances, getting better…

Sketched Champi sleeping on the blu-ray player in front of the tv where the Germany v Serbia (2:0) soccer match just ended.

A purple ink drawing of a white cat with dark flecks curled up and sleeping on top of a video player, as indicated by the handwritten note.

The latest Pedal & Paint episode, in which artist Mike Dutton rides around San Francisco with a friend on a 2021 challenge to sketch author-named streets on the Bike to Books Tour by City Light Books, is a sumi ink highlight on a YouTube channel dedicated to wonderful plein air painting bike trips.

Second time viewing the dahlias at Britzer Garten this year. It was busy, so I set my plans to draw the flowers from up close aside for now. I found a bench above the fields and in the shade so the low sun was not glaring in my eyes, and I sketched the view with pencil and Neocolor II’s.

A drawing of a colorful garden scene with a variety of blooming flowers, green trees, and a winding brown path running through the middle.A well-maintained garden with various colorful flowers and large trees under a clear blue sky.

Went out after work just after 7pm, and we were presented with the whole sky as far as we could see in all directions in a pink and blue then purple sunset cloud pattern. Many people were taking pictures; usually it’s only me.

A vibrant pink and purple sunset sky serves as a backdrop to streetlights, traffic signals, and the tall Berlin Fernsehturm tv tower with a spherical observation deck.

A couple hours before autumnal equinox in Berlin in the middle of the night. The leaves have started changing color, here today’s first yellowing linden.

Leaves on a linden tree are turning yellow and green against a partly cloudy sky.

Saw Sigur Rós play live tonight with the Young Class X orchestra on the last show of their Orchestral Tour.

A conductor leads an orchestra performing on a dimly lit stage with musicians playing various instruments surrounded by small individual lights.