Chrysanthemums

What a funny composition in the window of a fashion store on Praterstrasse: A vase of chrysanthemums and a headdress very much looking like one of these flowers. (If you click here, you can see another headdress that caught my eye in this shop window some months ago.)

Demel Shop #1

The shop of the famous K.u.K. (Imperial and Royal) Court Confectionary Bakery Demel (founded in 1786) in the city center is set up in the historic salons on the ground floor. You can find here a wide range of sweet products that have been poured, filled and formed by hand for over 200 years. If you go there, be sure that you have enough money in your purse... You can check the prices by clicking here.

1st Sunday of Advent

In Austria we are celebrating today the start of the Season of Advent - it begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. The word "advent" derives from the Latin "adventus" which means arrival and denominates the time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.

Cakes

Heart-shaped cakes (and their reflections) in the window of the "Patisserie Zum Schwarzen Kameel" in the city center.

Yellow sculpture

This wooden sculpture by Belgian artist Arne Quinze can be found in the Swarovski shop on Kärntner Strasse in the city center.

Old-fashioned

Bars of milk chocolate in the shop of the famous confectionary Demel in the city center. I love the old-fashioned wrapping!

Colourful Clothes

I will never understand why in autum/winter most people dress in muted colours, therefore I was very glad to find these colourful dressed mannequins in the window of a fashion store in the city center.

Pink Bicycle

I discovered this pink bicycle some weeks ago in the city center. It´s the same type as the ImPulsTanz Bicycles I discovered in July near my place.

You can stand under my umbrella

In autumn you should never leave home without an umbrella... I discovered this beautiful selection of umbrellas in the window of Wilhelm Jungmann & Neffe, a company which has been offering since 1881 a wide selection of the finest cloths, ties, scarves and accessories (as for instance handmade umbrellas in various styles and original designs). One of the company´s most famous customers was Empress Elisabeth.

Sweet Sunday #8

In Vienna, the days in autumn are often dull - therefore I decided to post colour themed photos within the nex few days to cheer me (and you) up. Let´s start with the current decoration in the window of the confectionary Oberlaa in the city center. I think it´s a nice way to promote their macaroons (they call them "LaaKronen").

-50%

These mannequins in the window of an outlet store in the city center seem to have already lost more than 50% of their clothes...

The Town Hall

The Town Hall seen from Heldenplatz in the city center last sunday. Click here to see more photos of the Town Hall.

Winter in the MQ #2

The "Winterlight" projection on the outside facade of MuseumsQuartier shows what you get in the courtyard. If you click here and then on "Preview Winterlight" you can see a short video of the projection.

Winter in the MQ #1

During "Winter in the MQ" (11 November - 23 December) the inner courtyard of MuseumsQuartier (MQ) in the 7th district is transformed into an atmospheric winter location. In six new ice pavilions the MQ restaurateurs serve up unusual punch varieties and delicious treats. DJs provide a diverse mix of music, there´s an ice curling rink and a race track for remote-controlled cars, and video projections on the facades bathe the MuseumsQuartier in a very special light.

MUMOK #2

This photo was also taken inside the Museum Moderner Kunst (MUMOK) and allows you to catch a glimpse of the area of another exhibition currently on display ("The Moderns"). The MUMOK is a rather dark building, except for the puristic white exhibition areas, but I like it anyway. For an exterior view of the museum, please click here.

MUMOK #1

Yesterday the admission at the Museum Moderner Kunst (MUMOK) was free thanks to a cooperation with the auction house Dorotheum. I went there to see the exhibition "Hyper Real" where I took this photo. The two ladies are standing in front of the painting "Cargo Cults" (1984) by Amercian painter and sculptor Eric Fischl.

Eyes On

Vienna is currently taking part in the European Photography Month: With more than 200 photography exhibitions as well as an extensive program of events taking place at more than 100 different sites "Eyes On - Month of Photography" is Vienna´s largest photography festival. Some days ago I went to the old markethall in the 3rd district to throw a glance at an exhibition of young photographers. The ambiance was very peculiar but also interesting as the market hall is currently a construction site. Some of the photographs were really good, unfortunately I didn´t note any name - that is why I can´t tell you who created the photograph pictured above.

The curious plant

Unfortunately I don´t know which kind of plant this is, but I like how it grows through the "window" of a garden wall. It seems to me as if the plant wants to know what is going on outside the wall.

Triton and the nymph

A detail of a fountain in Volksgarten, a public park in the city center. The two figures represent Triton and a nymph. I love the yellow leaves in the background.

The colour of the sky

When I saw the colour of the sky during my recent walk in the northern outskirts I just had to pull out my camera...

The blue door

I recently discovered this house in a quiet street in the northern outskirts. It´s rather unspectacular, but I love the autumnal colours of the plants as well as the colours of the house and the entrance door.

Waiting for Frida

The Bank Austria Kunstforum in the city center is currently presenting the very first comprehensive exhibition of Frida Kahlo in Austria. The exhibition is a big success, within two months it was attended by 200.000 visitors. The show runs through December 5, and I can highly recommend it. Be sure to buy your ticket online otherwise you will have to line up.

Glamour Hunting

The Swarovski shop on Kärntnerstrasse is currently presenting the installation "Glamour Hunting" in one of its windows. It´s dedicated to Josephine Baker and her love of glamorous outfits and shows "La Baker" sitting at her vanity table awaiting her grand entrance.

Girls, girls, girls

I saw these pictures of girls in the window of a shop or gallery in the city center. They seem to be used as visual protection so that nobody can see the renovation works going on in this place. I will have to pass by soon to find out what these girls are currently hiding.

Let´s have some tea

Today Austria is celebrating the "Day of the Tea". According to a study of the Austrian Tea Institute one third of the Austrians is regularly drinking tea - women because they want to maintain their slim figure, men because of its stimulatory effect. I don´t know to what extend the general public is aware of this special day, but as tea is my favourite beverage (I´m drinking it literally at any time of the day), I have to mention it here. And it´s a good reason to show you a part of the rich selection of teapots in my favourite tea shop.

Strudlhofstiege

The Strudlhofstiege is an outdooir staircase near the Liechtenstein Museum, designed by Johann Theodor Jäger. It was opened in November 1910 and is regarded as an important Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) work. It is named after the sculptor and painter Peter Strudel who owned property on the street above the staircase.
In 1951 the Austrian author Heimito von Doderer published a novel named after the staircase, around which some central plot points take place: "Die Strudlhofstiege oder Melzer und die Tiefe der Jahre" (The Strudlhof Steps or Melzer and the Depth of the Years).

A walk in the park

The Liechtenstein Museum is surrounded by a public park which was newly designed some years ago in the course of the reopening of the museum (2004). It remembers not only the original baroque garden but also pays tribute to the nineteenth-century landscape garden. On the other side of the park there is the "new" summer residence which was built for Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein and designed by Austrian architect Heinrich von Ferstel. It is not part of the museum, but serves as office building.

Liechtenstein Museum #2

This baroque garden palace houses the Liechtenstein Museum which shows a large part of the Princely House of Liechtenstein´s baroque art collection. The palace was constructed during the reign of Prince Johann Adam Andreas I of Liechtenstein (1657-1712) who was one of the greatest builders of his day. He assigned the planning to the Italian architect Domenico Egidio Rossi who designed a real palazzo instead of an airy summer house. This photo shows the garden facade of the palace.

All Soul´s Day

In the Catholic Church today is All Soul´s Day which commemorates the faithful departed. It´s a tradition to go to the cemetery and to light the candles and decorate the graves of the loved ones with flowers. Unlike yesterday´s All Saints´ Day today is no holiday, yet schools and universities are closed. Unfortunately I have to go to work...

November Theme Day: Public Transportation

I took this photo already in summer, but I think it suits the November Theme Day... The bus itself is not particularly exciting, but I love the text on the display: "Driver and bus are taking a break!".
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants