Readers,
Before Jack and I leave Berlin tomorrow morning for Cambridge I wanted to mention two other places I looked at for buttons.
One was recommended recently by Helen on her sewing blog, Button & Snap: ZickZack Nähwelt, Torstraße 49.
As Helen noted, the entrance to the store is actually around the corner–and then more than a few yards’ farther, I discovered, on Schönhauser Allee.
As Helen said, ZickZack has an impressive selection of buttons.
I pulled out the green and blue tweed swatch of my jacket, and found a couple of color matches, but not in the right sizes, so no purchases here.
I happen to like trying out buttons on my own, so I was glad the salesladies left me to my own devices for several minutes before one came over to inquire whether I needed any help. 
When she heard me reply in English she had an “Oh dear” look on her face, but I’m sure that if I’d wanted to buy anything we would have completed the sales transaction just fine.
The second place I wanted to mention is Idee Creativmarkt, on Passauerstraße, across the street from the legendary department store KaDeWe.
Idee carries lots of buttons, as well as other sewing notions and fabrics.
I didn’t find buttons for my jacket there, although as at ZickZack there were some nice choices but in the wrong sizes.
I was almost relieved I didn’t see anything fantastic for my garment, because, unless I misunderstood, some buttons cost more than 3 Euros apiece and they didn’t strike me as anything special.
However, on another occasion, for another garment, I easily could have found a perfect match.
You just never know when or where that fantastic combination will turn up.
And that’s why I keep looking.
