Things of the heart at the Lokpark
Acutally the saying goes: “Summertime and the living is easy”. This summer however not only the Corona restrictions are giving me a hard time. Also the changeable wheather spoils my plans for the weekend. Once again the prospects for saturday are dull. At first there is less rainfall than predicted. That’s why we dare to visit the designer market “Herzensdinge” at the Lokpark. “Get naked!” as an imperative seem to be a winner this summe, either as a cross stitch or as an inscription on a soap dispenser. Is that the modern version of “Down to business, honey?” When the heavy rainfall finally arrives we escape into the “little café” in the Magniviertel. A successful afternoon on a rainy august day.
Show your status
This saturday we intend to make use of the three-hour rain pocket – according to my wheather app – in order to visit the “Herzensdinge-Markt” on the lokpark compound in Braunschweig. We take the cycle path on the Ringgleis to go there. Like anywhere, where events take place, it is quite crowded this afternoon. To begin with we have to put on our masks – even though we are outside. We then take a ticket or at least want to. But prior to the purchase there is the showing of the certificate of vaccination. Oh, which app was that again? After having taken this hurdle we are asked to draw two lots. Unfortunately we go away empty-handed.
Get naked!
It is my first time on the Lokpark compound. As the exhibition takes place outside as well as in the halls we supply ourselves with an overview over the open air area. Right at the first booth, the DruckVoll UG, I notice something weird. Next to some advertising slogans there’s written “Get naked!” as an imperative. Is this like going like a bull at a gate? After all small souvenirs are being pressworked with these words. I am not quite sure if that is supposed to be a joke.
We pass by numerous decoration and china booths and other accessories. I decide to have a look at the loco supply of the club. From steam train to diesel locomotive, from railcar via luggage van to coaches – everything is on stock at this place. The compound provides a nice framework for different kinds of events.
Between baby fat and sex object
The sky gets greyer and greyer. We take a look at the foodtrucks, but finally prefer the interior. The booths with the baby clothes are not very interesting for us, we rather have a look at the workshop for glass design. Here they show how to work with glas and scratch patterns into it. A technique I did not know of before. Suddenly I a sign catches my eye: “booze! No honey!” Finally this seem to be the right place for me. We test the different spirits made in Berlin. Too bad, the stuff is too sweet for me.
At the studio Luuni with its tambour frames and its wall decorations I once more come across the dictum “Get naked!” What is that? Did I miss a trend? We return to the open air area and discover a really inventive booth with bootlelamps. At JK Redesign the good old gin bootle gets a new determination and is transformed into a table lamp. That is what I call meaty upcycling!
The little café
Unfortunately the wheather app lied to us. Already after 1.5 hours it starts raining heavily. According to our information this will last at least half an hour. We take shelter in the hall and use the dry spell afterwards to cycle to the Magniviertel. Over there the next shower comes down. We hastly look for shelter at the “little café” under a sunshade converted into a big umbrella. I think it is quite ludicrous to sit with pouring rain and moderate temperatures on the church fourcourt of St. Magni drinking cultivatedly café latte or an americano. Well, that is German summer in 2021 with all its challenges – but we make the best out of it!
