Köln / Cologne next week. What to do?

[Tristan]

Actually, drink Alt beer is the best answer.
Go to a good German brewpub, I guess you should be able to find info on the webs searching for Brauerei or Brauhaus.
I said it here before and I'll say it again, I definitely prefer Alt to Kölsch.

[Pepe]

Heading back to Deutschland. Anything to do in Düsseldorf for a few days?

you're a brave man asking that in a Köln thread...

Yeah, it's a Springfield/Shelbyville thing.

I live in the neighboured city in the North, Duisburg. But I don't know too much what you can do in Düsseldorf. I only know a few parts of the inner city and that's it. I'm not a party animal, nor do I drink alcohol (I simply don't like the taste of it) and I'm a bit insociable so I don't really like to stroll in the town for entertainment like the "normal" folks.

[frodog]

Whoa, I was just checking out Duisburg on google earth yesterday, Pepe! I'm considering taking a trip there to see What Price, Wonderland?, Raein, Crows An Wra & Break Character at AStA-Keller in May (don't worry, I won't make you hang out with me if I go). But have you ever been to a show there? It seems they have a lot of good bands come by, for my taste anyway. So yeah, cool that you live there, it looks nice (from above).

Speaking of Cologne/Köln, I was reminded of this neat eboy picture from a while back:

[Hyphen Nation]

HA! Well, I should have probably changed the thread title. Point taken. Not to take away from Dusseldorf, but Köln is awesome and reminds me of a lot of why I like Portland. Lots of interesting creative people living there, lots of places to relax with friends and drink a beer..and there's a river running right through it.

Not sure how much I am going to be doing in Dusseldorf when I am really supposed to be working a whole bunch, but if there were any "must do" things, I'd love to learn more.

[Pepe]

don't worry, I won't make you hang out with me if I go

It always depends what's happening. I'm a bit lost in bigger groups.

But have you ever been to a show there?

Nope. I seldomly go out to visit a concert. On the other side I enjoy big gigs of my favourite musicians - the best performance was Return To Forever in 2011. Seeing and hearing Stanley Clarke in action was one of the coolest things that I experienced in my life.

So yeah, cool that you live there, it looks nice (from above).

Oh, you Scandinavians! Your shabbiest areas look like gold. I really envy you!

When exactly are you going to stay here?

[frodog]

It always depends what's happening. I'm a bit lost in bigger groups.

I am the same, dude.

Nope. I seldomly go out to visit a concert. On the other side I enjoy big gigs of my favourite musicians - the best performance was Return To Forever in 2011. Seeing and hearing Stanley Clarke in action was one of the coolest things that I experienced in my life.

Again the same, but I enjoy smaller gigs with maybe a few fast & noisy bands (the kind that never plays here) if I go out. I had to search for Return to Forever just now, never heard them before! Cool stuff, but very far from my usual cup of tea

Oh, you Scandinavians! Your shabbiest areas look like gold. I really envy you!
When exactly are you going to stay here?

I would gladly trade places with you. It's beautiful here, lots of mountains and forests, but I don't do any outdoors activities and I really miss living in a city and being able to see good live music. If I can afford it (plane tickets aren't that expensive, but I'll have to save up) it will be May 5th to the 7th or something.

[ProCarsteNation]

Köln...there's a river running right through it.

Düsseldorf has that same river & is quite possibly no less awesome than Köln. I just wouldn't know....
I think part of the rivalry is Köln being mad because they didn't get to be state-capital even though K is bigger than D?

Kölsch is nice & very drinkable. fastly drinkable.
Alt has more flavour...
enjoy!

[Hyphen Nation]

Because I am american appreciate all kinds of beer back home in Oregon I will not come down on a side in the Kolsche/Alt divide...enjoyed both. A lot. Dusseldorf has a shocking amount of shopping, though...Hard to compare, as I was in Köln in the summer when everyone was out and about drinking beers. I was in Dusseldorf on a cold grey winter weekend/Monday. Both cities did go far to make me think that I really like Germany, though.

In Madrid now...interesting week of travel for work.

[goroth]

I love Cologne and Madrid.

Good job to have bro!!

[Hyphen Nation]

Thanks, I agree! Graphic design has provided me with some pretty amazing opportunities. The art director that I am traveling with keeps saying to me "this is really our job? people are paying us to do this?" Madrid is a pretty amazing city. I can't believe how much food, wine and art is here...