This week, many of the sixty Christmas markets in the German capital Berlin will open up to create a joyful atmosphere and make the city even more beautiful than it normally is. There will be something for everybody, so that no soul will be left unsatisfied. The Opera Palace market will offer toffee apples, roasted almonds and handicraft, the Market of the Continents will present Christmas souvenirs from all over the world and the Trend Mafia designers’ place will present some nice fashion decorations, so that everybody can have fun in the city of Berlin.
A big Christmas tree shall be placed at the Red Town Hall and on the square and in the vicinity will be offered plenty of souvenirs, presents and decorations. This huge Christmas market will be open until 26th December except on 24th December. It will work every business day from 12 o’clock and on weekends from 11 o’clock until 10 o’clock in the evening.
Among the typical Christmas markets in Berlin is the Opera Palace market, which is located on the lovely “Unter den Linden” Boulevard, where are placed more than 200 wooden booths selling various souvenirs from the crafts people, but also confectionaries, candles, decorations, almond roasters, etc. the market also features a crib with animals and a wooden horse carousel. The area is beautifully illuminated and the atmosphere is great. The Opera Palace market shall be open every day until 26th December, but shall be closed on 24th December.
Travellers shall be delighted to visit the Jagdschloss Grunewald, which is the Hunting Schloss in Berlin. Every year, the greenery around the castle serves as a backdrop for a fantastic and festive fairytale atmosphere for Christmas. The romantic setting of the Jagdschloss Grunewald will await for the children and their parents on 3rd and 4th December from 11 o’clock to 7 o’clock and will offer products from artists and crafts people. The children will be able to see many fairytale characters such as Hansel and Gretel, Mother Hole, Cinderella, etc. The website of the event is here http://www.spsg.de
The other Christmas market that is interesting to visit is Markt der Kontinente, which is placed on Dahlem Museum. The event Kunst and Kulturen der Welt starts on 18th November and lasts until 11th December and its official website is here http://www.smb.museum The Markt der Kontinente will be open every weekend from 11 o’clock until 7 o’clock. It will show handcrafts from more than fifty traders coming from all over the globe. Travellers should know that by buying a certain product or souvenir, they will support the social projects in the country of origin of the artefact. For example, there will be jewels from India and hand woven cloth from Africa, as well as African tin toys and Kazakhstan felt ware. There will be also concerts from musicians coming from all over the world, as well as different music workshops.
The last market to be presented here, which will draw the attention, is the Christmas Design Market TrendMafia. It will be held in the Hackesches Quartier in Berlin MITTE from 17 December to 18 December 2011 (opening time: 13 o’clock-19 o’clock) and will present upcoming designers and artists. The market has free entry.
There is plenty going on in the German capital Berlin this November, just before the Christmas festivities are here and the holidays begin. Currently, this cosmopolitan city is hosting the annual Berlin Fairy Tale Days festival, which shall end on 27th November. The festival brings together many authors and talented artists, who bring back the childhood magic of the traditional storytelling to different places around the city. Usually, at the festival many young children participate, but also parents and other adults who have not forgotten the magic of the stories. Most of the events during the Berlin Fairy Tale Days festival are free of charge. This year the festival focuses on the fairy tales that come from the United States of America.
Another event that deserves attention in the city of Berlin this month is the Autumn Auctions, which are traditionally organised at the beautiful Villa Grisebach, which is the largest auction house in the capital of Germany. The Autumn Auctions feature various photography sessions, interesting contemporary art and modern art from the 19th century and the 20th century.
Now, those who love music will have plenty of events from which to choose. For example, they should check out the Smashing Pumpkins concert on Wednesday, 23rd November, which will start at 8 p.m. The event will take place at Tempodrom venue, on Mockernstrasse street in Berlin. The ticket prices start from 49 Euros to 240 Euros, depending on the seat and the view of the stage. Those who want to listen to The Poetic Groove, should go to the King Kong Klub on 23rd November. The club is located on Brunnenstrasse and the event will start at 9 p.m. and it promises to be quite interesting.
A day later, on 24th November at 8 p.m. one could go and listen to Luxuslarm at Magnet Club. The club is located on Falckensteinstrasse and serves some good cocktails. On the same day, but an hour later, the Neon Indian night will kick off at the same Magnet Club. On the next day, on Friday 25th November, the Magnet Club will welcome The Antlers. So, there will be a pretty busy programme these days at the Magnet Club.
On Saturday, 26th November, Motorhead will appear live in concert in Berlin. The concert will start at 8 p.m. and will be held at Zenith – Munich Berlin. At the end of the month, on 30th November the music fans could go to the venue Columbiahalle Columbiadamm, where The Kills will perform at 8 p.m.
Whatever one decides to do and whichever event one decides to visit in Berlin this November, fun and a great experience are guaranteed. The city is lively and full of young people who want to have fun, dance and celebrate. In case you hold the same spirit in your heart you should enjoy the city of Berlin as much as you can.
Since it is already the middle of November and Christmas is near, one can get nostalgic or a bit sad and it is only natural to want to hide under the blanket with a good book or to search for a nice and cosy place to meet friends, relax or just sip of cup of hot coffee. There are several such places in the German capital Berlin and they are all worth checking, as the atmosphere is very special and relaxing.
Among the first spots to be mentioned is the Teesalon of Berlin, which can be found on the street Invaluden strasse. The place serves different kinds of tea from all over the world; I think more than 250 types of tea are on offer, to be precise. One can try here the white tea from China and the black tea from India, the green tea from Japan and so many more. There are house mixes as well. The tea types are displayed in tins and there are also many tea implements to see. This special place has an interesting programme arranged every month, during which the customers can sample a selection of teas. The dates of the event can be checked on their website http://www.berliner-teesalon.de/ The Teesalon of Berlin is not open on Sundays, which is a pity.
Another place to consider in Berlin during the cold November days is Café Morgenrot, which is located on Kastanienallee, near the Volksbuehne im Prater theatre. The place has several tables outside as well, but since now the weather is cold it might be better to stay indoors. The atmosphere is relaxed and kind of intimate. The café operates as a self service place and people are welcomed to sit on small wooden tables. In case you come here during the weekend, you can enjoy a vegetarian brunch, which is very tasty and not expensive at all. Sometimes, Café Morgenrot is a venue for cultural discussions.
Another great place to stop by in the evening is the Doors Bar, which is a smoking watering hole placed on Knaackstrasse and hidden behind ivy on the building’s facade. The bar is a classic place for rock music fans. The bar plays rock music, has cable lights and opens at 8 p.m. every evening. For those who want to go somewhere else after visiting this bar there is a nice place called Siberfisch, which is open until the small hours. The staff working there is very friendly and so is the atmosphere. The music played by the DJs is great as well. The bar could become quite smoky late at night and can be too loud as well, but it offers a great menu of drinks and cocktails. There is beer as well, but the specialty of the place is the Weltfrieden cocktail, which is served in a huge glass. The Siberfisch bar has a dance floor as well.
Berlin is an overwhelming city with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and plenty of landmarks, historical sites and cultural venues to visit. It is a city with many elegant restaurants, romantic cafes and lively bars. There are however some nice little places that have a lovely atmosphere and where one could feel as if at home and here I will try to present these few special spots, which are favoured by the locals and most probably will be overlooked by the traveller unless one has that special inside information.
Among the first places that grab the attention is the homely pub Schwarze Pumpe, where one could try some delicious meals and even if one is not hungry at all, one can end up ordering a few meals as the warm atmosphere and the pleasant interior just makes one keen to do so! The Schwarze Pumpe pub is favourite among the locals and is not well-known among the tourists. It has a welcoming atmosphere and old-fashioned appeal, which creates a homely feeling to which one could add the friendly attitude of the staff. Here one could order the daily specialties such as the Fenchel Tomaten Suppe, the cheese Spatzle or the meal Grunkohl in Krauter. The prices are just reasonable and thus the place is very popular for a Sunday brunch. Here is the café’s web address: http://www.schwarzepumpe-berlin.de/index.html
Another place that should not be missed in Berlin city is the Visual Café, which is a place where one can sit and contemplate life over a cup of hot coffee or tea. The customers are mainly locals, students or staff from the nearby School of Visual Hands for deaf people. There is no music here, but still the place is amazing if one wants to be able hear one’s own thoughts in this busy city. The address of the Visual Café is: Schulzestraße 1, Outer – North&East.
Those who love books will enjoy the Buchkantine café, which has a new venue now and later opening hours. The place is a street away from the river and offers a pleasant atmosphere surrounded by many new and old books. Most of the books are in German, but there are many English titles as well. Besides that, the music played is relaxed and there is also free wireless internet available. The place is great for a quiet afternoon. The address of Buchkantine café is here – http://www.buchkantine.de/
The last café to be featured here is Café Cinema, where one could find it difficult to find a table! The place is among the most sought after venues for the locals and features an interior of old movie posters, film-set lighting above, tasteful though simple furniture and candles on each of the tables. The atmosphere is very cosy and the music is just wonderful. The staff is very friendly and the prices are reasonable. Highly recommended are the fried eggs with salad, the stew with bread and the cocktails. The place is open until late and is always full of people, talking and enjoying themselves. The address of the café is on Rosenthaler Straße 39.
The city of Berlin is renowned for its busy cultural calendar and is home to so many galleries, museums, theatres and concert halls, that being bored here is absolutely impossible. The events calendar of Berlin is full of various events, including annual fairs and festivals, special exhibitions, a great selection of parties, theatrical performances and concerts. Because of its reputation, for many years now the city has been attracting young people from all over the world, who come and settle here, finding their place in this main European centre of popular culture. The capital of Germany is provoking the interest of tourists as well, since they know that in the city of Berlin there is always something going on… and they are right!
Now that November is upon us, there are three main events and happenings that will take place and which would be interesting to see. The main one is the Jazz Fest, which starts in early November and features many famous artists and jazz musicians who perform at different venues and sites across the city of Berlin. Actually, the Jazz Fest in Berlin is considered among the premier jazz events in the world. It brings together many big bands and ensembles, as well as a good number of international jazz stars. The event lasts for four days and this year it will be held from November 3rd until November the 6th, and during this period one could listen to the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg. The Berlin Jazz Fest will take place in Haus der Berliner Festspiele and in many jazz clubs throughout the city.
It is interesting to mention that the Jazz Fest in Berlin started as a happening in the year 1964 and at first it consisted mainly of swing concerts. At that early time, the fest was associated with the late Joachim Ernst Berendt. He was known throughout the country as the ‘Jazz Pope’ and was famous for his capability to bring together on one stage jazz musicians from all over the world. There is a very good compilation that shows the quality of these concerts and it is entitled ‘Jazz meets the world.’ The Jazz Fest in Berlin wenet through a rough patch in the beginning of this century, but today it is still as popular as ever and presents all that could be of interest to the jazz fans.
Besides the Jazz Fest in the beginning of the month another event is also to take place in Berlin at that time. This is the Festwochen or the so called festive weeks, which feature various theatrical and musical performances, various film reviews and book readings, as well as art exhibitions. These are organised at many venues throughout the city of Berlin. The third major event that is worth checking out if one is visiting Berlin at that time of the year, is the Jewish Cultural Days, which are various happenings that are held at many venues across Berlin.
Today, looking out the window while the sun is shining, I thought of you and I wanted to write an article about the bars you must visit during these hot days.
Quick!. We must hurry, it will not last. Before Berlin dons his winter coat again and the sun disappears for six or seven months we must take advantage of Strandbar, terraces, pools, barbecues … Here are some addresses of places where you’ll be able to have some outdoor fun.
The Kiki Blofeld:
Located across from Bar 25, the Kiki Blofeld is one of several Strandbar that punctuate the Spree.You can drink a beer on the beach or on the “lounge” terrace , try the local food, play pool, listen to a concert or see a movie … Events are held regularly in the old factory to the left of the entrance and in the boathouse converted into a bar for those bad weather days.
Club der Visionäre:
Although a little too trendy and often packed in summer, Club der Visionäre remains a pretty cool place. Located on the banks of the Spree after Schlesisches Tor, it consists of a small brick hut with several boardwalks. Enjoyable for the evenings and for those long afternoons when you work on your tan on the boardwalk, right at the water’s edge.
Cassiopeia:
Another abandoned factory transformed into a cultural centre with many activities: club, skate park, outdoor cinema, Biergarten, climbing wall installed in a concrete tower … and you can also just eat and drink at low prices while every first Saturday of the month, the Trendmafia (market makers Friedrichshain / Kreuzberg) takes place in one of the hangars of Cassiopeia.
Prater Biergarten:
At first glance it is difficult to imagine that the Kastanienallee is in any way extraordinary. Located at the top of the avenue, the Prater is a Biergarten in the German tradition. Large wooden tables, small stands with beer and food, umbrellas and there are trees for shelter from the sun.
The Unkul:
Without wishing to say (“the Unkul, best place in Berlin” blah blah blah), it is still a good idea to enjoy this heavenly garden and its Mojitos at € 3. It is open daily from 3pm, 2pm Saturday and 10am on Sunday, the day of “Klang im Garten” (DJ sets and barbecue parties). And often the “Kunst-Strale-fest” is held here; a big party with concerts, performances et cetera.
The Funk Park:
To get there, simply walk along the Spree to the south, along Treptower Park, then take a ferry that runs between the two banks. On the other side, we arrive in the middle of the neighbourhood of Kolon, converted into weekend homes.
In short, the Funk Park is a beach, a campground and a club. Children play on trampolines while their parents sip organic fruit juice on deck chairs, grains of sand between their toes. If you prefer, you can of course keep your shoes on and drink a beer. DJs play and follow one another in the afternoon, and you find tourist boats, pedal boats and even seaplanes (yes, I swear) on the Spree.