My second day of exploring Berlin brought me to Mitte, which is clearly where the “hip” people hang out. It reminded me a lot of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. If you visit, you need to wind around a bit away from the main streets to see the nice small boutiques and restaurants. I saw a lot of great stuff here, so I’m going to have to be very selective– otherwise there would be 40 posts about Mitte alone. Highlights on their way later today or first thing tomorrow including excellent shops for clothing and design, aswell as some of the best food I have had all trip!

The second annual Conduit National Design Competition is now open for entries, and the deadline is July 1st. The categories are great products, beautiful objects, and smart ideas. The Conduit Group was founded to address what they call New American Design. The groups incredibly talented designers (many of whom are found through competitions like this), have some seriously wonderful products, and you can see most all of them on the site.

I know this made the circuit a while ago, but the incredible “Concierge Service Club”: quintessentially, has recently opened an L.A. office, and now hosts a weekly party at Hollywood Roosevelt’s Tropicana Bar for members only. They seem to be heading towards serious domination in the concierge scene– which I know is very competitive.. You’ll never hear the words “Sold Out”, again. Quintessentially is a service that can arrange anything for it’s members; whether it be a private jet, a flock of ostriches for a last minute party, or front row tickets to a sold out U2 Concert. It’s a card for “people who have a lot of money, and not a lot of time”. Or simply, people who have a lot of money, and like the turn key feel of not needing to work. $1500 a year will get you a general concierge, $3500 and you get your personal staff member, from 9-5. Finally, $40,000 a year and you get a 24/7/365 assistant who boasts they can find you quintessentially, anything, anytime.