Horse Feathers
Weinhaus Sittl, 2010
Step out the venue, cross the road and pop in a tavern. Portland-based Horse Feathers do so and find themselves in a completely different setting with an audience that has no clue what is going on, but supposes that the foursome are ordinary buskers. Without being able to make a difference whether a complete layman or an exciting band from Oregon is playing, a tipsy guy addresses the band, showing (as he does not speak English) how he thinks that they should play their instruments. Singer Justin Ringle can’t be put off his stride so easily and counts in for the spirited performance of “Vernonia Blues”. Before that they’ve given the melancholic “Thistled Spring” to the best. When leaving, multi-instrumentalist Sam Cooper introduces himself to the men at the counter and even though their worlds are much apart, the great music and friendly gesture might still have left a lasting impression on the frequenters.
- Photography
- Bettina Freiberger
- Artist
- Horse Feathers
Weinhaus Sittl
Surrounded by red-light bars, music venues and the busy Gürtel road, Weinhaus Sittl is an oasis of the typical, traditional Vienna. The interior hasn’t been changed for decades, and the same seems to be true for the people visiting the rustic restaurant. Time stands still at Sittl and you can easily imagine what it was like in the 19th century, when the restaurant was situated in the suburb Neulerchenfeld, then a popular destination for the Viennese to enjoy a day off. Even at that time the 1740-founded Sittl was the oldest of over 100 restaurants of the area. It has certainly kept its charm until nowadays and is a traditional place well worth exploring. Classic Austrian dishes such as Schnitzel and – for those who like it – offals including brain with egg and roasted liver are generally good value. In the backyard a huge, shady tree is the center of an atmospheric outdoor dining area. From time to time cultural events are happing at „Pelikanstüberl“, the back room of the restaurant. But Weinhaus Sittl tell its own tale every day, even if there are no special events scheduled.