He says it was always his dream to be posted to Munich. This not only has to do with his German roots, but also with his soft spot for Bavarian. Timothy Liston is enthusiastic about the local dialect, likes traditional costumes and the Oktoberfest. For a year, the diplomat has held the office of American Consul General in Munich. In addition to his many political commitments and efforts to promote good transatlantic relations, he always makes time for another passion: sports. He runs long distances, occasionally stands in the ice hockey goal in Grafing and jogs through the English Garden with the deputy mayor during his lunch break.
Monday: smart for the Oktoberfest
Monday morning is always meeting day at our consulate. Meetings are a must, they are much better than their reputation. First I talk to my office manager Esther. Without her I would really be lost. Then I meet with the department heads. We go through the appointments of the coming days together. This much is certain: It will be a special week with many highlights! The Theresienwiese has spruced itself up. After two years of the compulsory Corona break, it should start on Saturday with the Oktoberfest go off. So I have to dress up a bit too. So in the afternoon I move out to one of the well-known Munich costume shops. Of course, I already have my leather pants, custom-made by the family workshop of the Lichtenauer-Heil company on Schliersee. But I could really use a smart shirt and jacket or waistcoat.
Tuesday: contemporary art
Christine Sun Kim and Thomas Mader are showing drawings and sketches in their joint exhibition in the Kunstraum.
(Photo: Iga Drobisz)
“Various Others” has been on my calendar for a long time and I’m excited to see contemporary international art in many places around the city. Today I’m visiting the Exhibition of the American sound artist Christine Sun Kim and the German conceptual artist Thomas Mader in the Kunstraum. Since 2013, their joint practice has been dealing with the complexity of communication, the possibilities and limits of understanding and linguistic power relations in various formats. Kim is no longer unknown on the international art scene – but she gained notoriety among the general public in the United States after her performance at the NFL Superbowl 2020, where she performed the national anthem and “America the Beautiful” in American Sign Language. Diversity and inclusion in the arts is essential to our community awareness and I am proud to support artists like Christine Sun Kim and the art space.
Wednesday: special run
She is Timothy Liston’s favorite jogging partner: Munich’s deputy mayor Katrin habenschaden.
(Photo: Alessandra Schellnegger)
Did I mention Oktoberfest? That requires quite a bit of fitness from his followers. I’ll ask my favorite jogging partner, Munich’s second mayor Katrin creditwhether she would like to take a stroll through the English Garden with me at lunchtime. Subsequent stop in the Hirschau with an isotonic drink is not excluded.
Thursday: new literature
Lauren Groff is one of Barack Obama’s favorite authors. Now she is coming to the Literaturhaus with her new book “Matrix” in her luggage.
(Photo: Eli Sinkus)
Thursday has long been set: waiting for us under the heading “Great American Novels” a great American “Double Feature” in the Munich Literature House. Lauren Groff is known to be one of President Barack Obama’s favorite authors. Today she is coming to the Literature House with her new book “The Matrix” in her luggage. And on the same evening Hernan Diaz will present his new novel ” Loyalty” in the Literature House. Diaz – born in Argentina, raised in Sweden, at home in the USA – is a true globetrotter and definitely a rising star in the American cultural sky. I could easily pitch my tent in the Literature House these days, because already for Tuesday, September 20th, another literary heavyweight from the USA is announced: Amor Towles Stay tuned!
Friday: Bavaria’s little America
Europe’s largest military training area is located in Grafenwoehr. Unique habitats were created here as a result of military use, which the photographer Lila Hartig captures in impressive photographs.
(Photo: Lila Hartig/America House)
Anyone who has seen Lila Hartig’s “51st State” exhibition in 2015 at the Amerikahaus knows that she is an intimate connoisseur of the US military presence in Bavaria – and a great photographer. This Friday, back at the Amerikahaus, she is presenting her follow-up project “Home Based In Bavaria” that was created in cooperation with us and our friends from the US Army’s 7th Training Command in Grafenwöhr in the Upper Palatinate. If you want to know what the “Bavarian Serengeti” is all about and how it is on and off you of the largest military training areas in Europe, then you are welcome to join us!
Saturday: Beer tent diplomacy
O’zapft is: After two cancellations due to corona, the Oktoberfest starts again today on Munich’s Theresienwiese.
(Photo: Matthias Balk/dpa)
We have been looking forward to this day since 2019. When it says “Ozapft is” again in the Schottenhamel marquee today, my boss, the US ambassador, is also there Amy Gutman, with the party. Members of the diplomatic corps jokingly call what awaits us in the next two weeks “beer tent diplomacy”. But under the white and blue tent roof and in a relaxed atmosphere, some things can actually be discussed better than in the boring office.
Sunday: hearty brunch
Nice place for a late breakfast: the Café Reitschule on Königstraße.
(Photo: Stephan Rumpf)
As an absolute fan of authentic traditional costumes, I will of course also have that Costume parade on Sunday don’t miss. But such a Oktoberfest start is pretty exhausting. So it’s time to recharge your batteries with a hearty brunch. This works very well in the Café Reitschule – especially on the sunny terrace, with a traditional white sausage breakfast. In addition, the beautiful ambience invites you to linger after a long day at the Oktoberfest. Then we go for a walk in the English Garden – a classic on Sundays, no matter what the season.
Timothy Liston has a special connection to Bayern. His wife comes from the Free State, a daughter was born in Munich. The 51-year-old has been a diplomat for two decades, with stations in Vienna, Vilnius and Vietnam, among other places. He has been US Consul General in Munich since July 2021. Growing up in New Jersey, after his youth he was drawn out into the world, in his case to Germany. Before joining the foreign service, he worked at the RAND Corporation, was a fellow of the Robert Bosch Institute and took part in the internship program at the German Bundestag. Liston speaks German, Vietnamese and Lithuanian.