The opening reception for the Drawing Exhibition at the Blütenweiss Galerie begins at seven. I get there a bit late so that it is completely packed. My work is well hung and can be seen directly one enters the gallery. The ambience is terrifically friendly, chummy. Manfred is also in the exhibition, and Tom has come as kindly support. Afterwards Tom and I go to a Russian restaurant near Kathė Kollwitz Platz to celebrate. It's called Pasternak and it is the works: cut glass chandeliers, long white table cloths, serving staff in wrap around white aprons over black, a small orchestra, wailing violins and a tenor singing his heart out. Dark brown velvet swathes to keep out the draughts from doors and windows, black and white familial photographs on the walls and interspersed in the full Russian menu with its delicious vareniekas, pirogy, blinis, shashlick, cotelettes and compotes. It had character and good food. Just right for a very cold night.
