Noster’s Restaurant zur Hütte (Cozy Corner)

A week later, Edith was outside reading when her father yelled out for her to come into the house. When she came in, her brothers were staring at her with scolding eyes. Edith felt her heart race as she peered down at her brothers hands. Her diary laid open to the page from last week. Her father and brothers mentioned how they were so disappointed in her decision to go to the bar with strangers. Edith ran to her room crying. She had already had a tough time connecting to the world after dropping out of school. Of course the first time she is able to make new friends her family finds out and yells at her for it. After crying for what felt like hours, Edith heard the phone ring. She sprinted to the phone to get there before any of her family. To her surprise, Isherwood was on the other side of the line. He mentions that him and a friend are going to Cozy Corner (bar) in an hour. He invites her to come join them, and she agrees after thinking this meeting may cheer her up.

After sneaking out her window, Edith makes her way to the bar. On the walls, she notices pictures of boxers and racing cyclists. She notices Isherwood and another man siting at a high table. She walks over and learns the man's name is Otto Nowak. They start talking, and Isherwood notices something is off with Otto. Eventually, Otto explains what's wrong. He talks about a big Black hand he sees at night. He was still very frightened and shaking in his seat. He then mentions how his own mother would not even believe him. Otto then brings up a memory from a few days ago where him and his mother got into a shouting match. It resulted in Otto trying to cut his wrists. Next, he begins to cry that he will see the hand again one day and die. Isherwood is finally able to interject Otto's story and mentions how he is always here for him and will protect him.

Edith then begins to also breakdown crying. She tells the two men about her family issues and how she feels alone in the world. Isherwood mentions how even though he barely knows Edith that he will always be there for her. It is so important to always have a support system and friends that have your back 24/7.

The bar was established in 1909. Noster’s Cottage was a pub near the working-class district of Hallesches Tor, one that was normally avoided by tourists. Isherwood referred to the bar as Cozy Corner, however the name was Noster’s Restaurant zur Hütte. The bar was located in a rough neighborhood, but “nothing could have looked less decadent than the Cosy Corner." It was plain, homely, unpretentious. The bar mainly attracted boys and had a sort of dress code. Boys took sweaters and jackets off, unbuttoned their shirt to the navel, and rolled their sleeves up to their armpits. Homosexuals felt safe here to express their feminine nature, and men were comfortable dancing close to each other.

Isherwood stayed with the Nowaks for a period of time in the book "The Berlin Stories". He met Otto Nowak and ends up renting a room in the cramped, squalid, noisy, smelly apartment of this very working class Berlin family.

“Otto Nowak.” Books & Boots, astrofella.wordpress.com/tag/otto-nowak/. 

TheAdvocateMag. “A Peek inside Berlin's Queer Club Scene before Hitler Destroyed It.” ADVOCATE, 19 July 2016, www.advocate.com/books/2016/7/19/peek-inside-berlins-queer-club-scene-hitler-destroyed-it.