Reverberations

Charm & History: Things to Do in Lititz PA

Historic stone and wooden houses line Main Street in Historic Downtown Lititz, PA.

With its miles of rolling farmland, small towns, and Amish community, Pennsylvania‘s Lancaster County has become a popular destination for day trips and long weekends. And Lititz, PA, is rich in that small-town charm. Sitting less than a dozen miles from the city of Lancaster, downtown Lititz is a world away and ideal for exploring on foot. Visitors can gawk at the more than hundred-year-old buildings of exposed stone and wood that dot Main Street. And beyond that, there are further enticements like antique stores, coffee shops, and even an authentic British pub. There are enough things to do in Lititz, PA to keep you busy for several day trips.

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Learn German with Music of Tim Bendzko

German Music, Learn German

Learn German with the music of singer Tim Bendzko!

When your debut single is a big hit, it can be difficult to live up to expectations. There is a lot of pressure on your shoulders. But for Tim Bendzko, that simply has not been a problem. Since grabbing the attention of music fans in 2011 with the track “Nur noch kurz die Welt retten,” he has kept music fans eagerly listening. The German singer-songwriter has stayed true to himself while continually winning over fans with his memorable and likable pop-tinged tracks.

So this month, let’s get to know Tim Bendzko better and learn German with music!

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Learn German with Films of Werner Herzog

German Films, Learn German

Learn German with the films of director Werner Herzog!

Filmmaker Werner Herzog does it all. He is perhaps best known as a director but he is also a writer, a producer, and, from time to time, an actor. Since directing his first short in the early 60s, he helped shape the New German Cinema movement along with the likes of Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Wim Wenders, and Volker Schlöndorff. Herzog has been incredibly prolific with both feature films and documentaries on his resume.

How is all of that for a sales pitch? If you’re not already familiar with the films of Werner Herzog, now is a great time to get to do so and practice some German along the way!

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Hershey Gardens: Sweet PA Botanical Garden

Travel

Spring flowers brighten the landscape at Hershey Gardens.

It is undoubtedly the chocolate and the amusement park that usually draws visitors to Hershey, Pennsylvania. And who could blame them? But, if you’re looking for more fun things to do in Hershey, Hershey Gardens is a charming and relaxing way to spend several hours. It goes without saying that the gardens are sugar-free and thrilling in a much more low-key way.

The 23-acre botanical garden and arboretum are modest but just the right size to comfortably see in a single visit. And the magic of gardens is that they are always changing: there’s never a bad time of the year to visit as each season brings something special.

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Learn German with Music of Die Fantastischen Vier

Learn German, German Music

Learn German with the music of Die Fantastischen Vier.

German hip hop groups and rappers like K.I.Z. and Cro are currently gracing the top of the German language music charts. However, it was bands like Die Fantastischen Vier that paved the way. But one should not talk about the group in the past tense. These guys haven’t hung up their microphones just yet. The four-member group has had big hits that are sure to catch your ear.

Fanta Vier, as they are affectionately called, is a winning combination for German learners. Their delivery is clearly articulated while the lyrics and music videos are often entertaining and very humorous. Let’s get to know Die Fantastischen Vier better with this month’s German music feature.

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Learn German with Films of Benno Fürmann

German Films, Learn German

Learn German with the films of Benno Fürmann!

With piercing blue eyes, if you have already seen actor Benno Fürmann in a film, you would probably remember him. And with over 100 acting credits to his name in film and television, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility.

For this month’s German film recommendations to help you learn German, let’s better get to know Benno Fürmann with three great films: North Wall (Nordwand), Jerichow and The Princess and the Warrior (Der Krieger und die Kaiserin).

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Philadelphia Flower Show 2021 Heads Outdoors

Travel

The FDR Gazebo welcomes visitors to the Philadelphia Flower Show 2021.

Last year’s Flower Show in 2020 was held on the verge of the pandemic. Despite that, it was still one of the best in years. For a while, it seemed questionable whether there would be a Philadelphia Flower Show 2021. But, oh, what a difference a year makes — and those vaccines aren’t half bad, either. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) has truly embraced the challenges in front of them with the Philadelphia Flower Show 2021. For the first time in the show’s nearly 200 year history, it is being held outdoors. And that’s not all that’s different.

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Philadelphia Flower Show 2021 Preview

Travel

Will Philadelphia Flower Show 2021 live up to the hype? Here's what you can expect, what I'm anticipating, and how to plan your visit.

In any normal year, the Philadelphia Flower Show is a sure sign that spring is coming. But, as we all know: things are a little different this year. But don’t fret, you will still be able to attend this inspiring East Coast tradition in 2021. Forget Memorial Day, the unofficial kickoff to summer will be the Philadelphia Flower Show 2021. Titled “Habitat: Nature’s Masterpiece” and running from June 5th through the 13th, it will be held outdoors for the first time in its 193 year history.

But with all these changes, the expectations are sky-high for the flower and plant festival. Will the Flower Show live up to the hype? I’ll be attending the Flower Show and will share a follow-up. But until then, here are all the details of what you can expect, what I’m anticipating, and how to plan your visit.

(Update: The outdoor venue really added a lot of new energy to the show, although it still needs some additional tweaks. Read more in my full review.)

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Learn German with the Music of Cro

Learn German, German Music

German rapper Cro certainly isn’t the first musician to have a gimmick. His just happens to be a panda mask that covers the top half of his face, obscuring his identity. It features an upside-down cross drawn on the mask between the eyes.

Who is Cro, really? While you may ask that about any celebrity or public figure, it is especially relevant when learning about this music star. With no official private identity, we have only the information he provides in song as insight.

But while Cro might be considered a rapper, his music is positively poppy. Since the release of Raop, his debut full-length, in 2012, the young musician has been a star of the German music scene scooping up awards and topping the music charts.

Let’s get to know Cro for this month’s German Music feature!

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Learn German with Films of Martina Gedeck

German Films, Learn German

Learn German with the films of actress Martina Gedeck!

Martina Gedeck is an acclaimed actress who is well respected and has dozens of awards to her name. Gedeck’s trademark is not being pigeonholed: she’s appeared in comedies, dramas, and everywhere in between. And she is known for major roles in German films including The Lives of Others and The Baader Meinhof Complex. If you are not already familiar with Martina Gedeck, now is most definitely the time to become familiar with this talented actress.

This month’s German film recommendations for practicing your German skills are Jew Suss: Rise and Fall (Jud Süss – Film ohne Gewissen), The Elementary Particles (Elementarteilchen) and Mostly Martha (Bella Martha).

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Grounds for Sculpture’s Fun, Thoughtful Art

Travel

"To Marcel Duchamp, 1887-1968, Artist, Tool and Die Maker" by William T. Wiley.

It’s always important to keep an open mind when visiting a museum, but Grounds for Sculpture takes it to a whole new level. The sculpture garden located near Trenton, New Jersey, beckons you to look closer and expect the unexpected. The couple cuddling in the grass? A sculpture. The gigantic pumpkins? Sculptures. The vibrant peacock? Well, no that’s an actual peacock strutting around and calling out.

Grounds for Sculpture is a great blend of something for everyone. There are dozens of impressive works that you’ll marvel at and wonder how they were even constructed. And there are plenty of kitschy social media photo opportunities that will thrill and engage visitors of all ages.

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Learn German with Music of Casper

Learn German, German Music

Learn German with the music of rapper Casper!

If you are reading this post, then you are probably already pretty aware of how challenging it can be to learn a new language. So, as a German learner, you can empathize with and be wildly impressed by the rapper Casper. Raised in America, he moved to Germany at the age of 11 when his parents split up. And despite having a German mother, his German-language knowledge was practically non-existent. Today, Casper is one of Germany’s most popular rappers. Like I said, impressive — right?

Let’s use his journey and his successes as motivation set to a fantastic soundtrack. This month, learn German with the music of Casper!

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