Hi again, long time no see!
First off, I just want to extend a huge thank you to all you lovely readers of this here dinner party — old and new. If you’re new here, there’s a great chance you subscribed to this newsletter ages ago and are wondering who I even am. You might have found me through this TikTok, and I’m so glad to have you at the table. And if you’re a returning dinner guest, thank you a million times over for sticking around!
So now it’s time to reveal the surprise that I’ve been alluding to over the past week! I’m happy to announce I’m launching a paid version of this newsletter, called Brunch at Sera’s. It’ll go out every week on Thursdays. You can think of it as a deeper dive on recommendations, weekly design tips, a complete breakdown of recipes and parties I’m planning, career advice, stories from the week, and the more existential of musings, i.e. thoughts on life/love/loss. I’ll also be taking topic requests from paid subscribers. A gated space gives me a little more freedom to dig deeper, as well as talk about some of the more personal topics I’ve been saving up, with a more intimate community.
In the spirit of transparency, I know it probably feels a bit weird to pay for someone’s writing (and that’s why I of course won’t be offended if you don’t) but with a busy schedule, the first thing to get kicked off the list was my free Sunday newsletter, no matter how much I loved writing it. Offering a paid newsletter simply creates structure for writing in my day-to-day life, and a set schedule for me to stick to. If you want to check it out but aren’t quite ready to commit, feel free to start with a 7-day free trial when the first issue of Brunch goes out this Thursday, the 14th.
And don’t worry, if you’re a free subscriber, you’ll still receive the traditional Sunday edition of Dinner at Sera’s.
Without further ado, it’s time to sit down for dinner!
The ultimate Berlin weekend
One of my greatest joys in life is planning itineraries, and after four years living here, I consider myself to be something of a Berlin expert by now. I’ve written out a Berlin itinerary before, and I think it’s still a great guide, but in this week’s issue I’d like to offer my take on what my perfect weekend in Berlin would look like.
Friday:
Drop by Sway after work for a glass (or bottle) of natural wine at golden hour, head to Beuster for dinner.
Swing by Wax On for a nightcap. *Optional, drop by Panorama Bar at Berghain if you’re feeling adventurous and in the mood for clubbing. Have an espresso martini there!
Saturday:
Wake up early (rare in Berlin!) and walk to Mitte, have a coffee at Bonanza on Alte Scönhauserstr. Do some shopping on the side streets off of Weinmeisterstraße or head to a museum, either the Hamburger Bahnhof or the Neue Nationalgalerie.
Head to the canal and have lunch at Kitten Deli, then stop by La Maison for a croissant and an espresso (or a margarita) — with a side of people-watching. Do some tipsy vintage shopping at Sing Blackbird.
Have a long dinner with champagne at Torbar and then check out Arkaoda for some drinks and dancing.
Sunday:
Spend the morning swimming at Schlachtensee.
Head to Tempelhofer Feld with your roller skates and stay for a beer at sunset.
A guide to choosing great art
If you’re familiar with my social media, I’m sure you’ve seen my gun poster hanging over the dining table. Aside from my blue blanket, it’s the number one item in my home that I get questions about (I’m sure I’ll be getting these questions on my deathbed as well).
I’ve said this many times before, but it’s an original exhibition poster from 1984 and to my knowledge, there are (unfortunately) no other copies. I got it from artistsposters.com for 30€. To me, what’s most interesting about it is that it sat in my shopping cart for months while I decided which other pieces I would be buying alongside it.
I think the key to picking out incredible art is about trusting your instincts quite a bit. Back in 2020, when I bought the gun poster, I couldn’t visualize what my space would look like — I didn’t have the red rug under my dining table yet, so that was a great coincidence that it matches so well. It’s obviously quite a bit easier to fill in your space if you at least have a sense of your color scheme. Nonetheless, your first instinct on a piece is typically the correct one. Usually, if I even have to remotely convince myself that I like something (this goes for people as well, but we’ll talk about this next week) it’s over before it even started. This is probably my best money saving tip (and general life advice) I could give you — if it isn’t an overwhelming yes, it’s a no.
Ultimately, you need to make decisions for yourself, and stand steadfast in them. Not one person has ever complimented or asked me about the Hann Trier poster next to the gun (although this may be because its origins are self explanatory) but I absolutely adore it. It was the first piece of art I chose for my flat.
I’m not on the market for new art, but if I were, I thought it would be fun to share with you what pieces I would go for. I follow Curated Copenhagen on Instagram, and they have an amazing selection of rare posters, so I’m going to rank my top picks. My methodology was simple, I quickly scrolled over this page and pulled out the three pieces that most caught my eye.
In third place, this Sonia Delaunay poster from 1977.
In second place, this Francesca Llopis poster from the 80s.
And in an indisputable first place, this stunning Picasso poster from 1992. Sadly, it’s already sold.
What’s interesting is that if you search “Picasso dove poster” on Etsy, I don’t actually like any of the results. There’s something very precise about the Curated Copenhagen option that specifically catches my eye. Which is a great reminder, the devil is really in the details.
*if you enjoyed this, Brunch at Sera’s will feature my art recommendations each week, alongside in-depth explanations as to what I like and what I dislike about pieces.
Song of the week
“Enjoy Your Life” - Romy
Required reading
Every year, on the anniversary of 9/11, I read this New Yorker piece by James B. Stewart called “The Real Heroes Are Dead.” It’s about Rick Rescorla, who was VP of security at Morgan Stanley in 2001. It’s equal parts sad and beautiful, and I really recommend it.
I’m also reading The Guest by Emma Cline right now (who I talked about in my very first volume of this newsletter). It’s something of a light beach read, about a former escort finding her way during a summer in the Hamptons. It’s maybe too unnecessarily suspenseful at times, but the writing is excellent, and she does an incredible job at capturing the most simple aspects of the human condition.
I hope you all have an amazing week — I’m going to be in Hamburg for a couple days for my company’s summer party, holding on to the last few sips of summer. I’ll see you again next Sunday, for another Dinner at Sera’s, or if you’re a paid subscriber (!) I’ll see you on Thursday, for Brunch!
Thanks for reading, chat soon!