Border Child: My Childhood Between East and West Berlin

Border Child: My Childhood Between East and West Berlin

“East or West?” the taxi driver asks in the course of our conversation while driving from Mitte to Kreuzberg. It goes without saying that I am also a Berliner by birth, like him. We talk about the resurrection of the Kurfürsten Damm and the crime on Kottbusser Tor, about the inadequate rents in the city center, and about those who have moved to Berlin, both new and old. “Uh, both,” I reply, biting my tongue at the same time. I realize what’s coming now. “Well, both doesn’t work” he corrects me, wise-assed. “Where did you go to school?” I could just lie and spare ourselves further questions. But we are right there, so I say: “In the West, but we lived in the East. That was before the fall of the Wall. “Now he is quite confused. I know the reaction. Anyone who grew up in Berlin in the 80s is either from the West or the East of Berlin. Only I can not answer this question clearly, because between 1986 and 1990 I lived in East Berlin, but went to school in West Berlin. I crossed the border daily in the Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears), as the commute to my school in West Berlin was called. I am neither Ossi nor Wessi, rather maybe Wossi: a child of both sides. I am familiar with the gray East with its bullet holes in the walls of the houses, the empty shelves in supermarkets, and the cozy East German atmosphere.

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Exhibition Opening Lichtrotor // Hautskizzen

Exhibition Opening Lichtrotor // Hautskizzen

You probably know Backyard in Kreuzberg from various parties and events such as the Last Days parties, but Backyard’s origins are that of an art gallery.  Tonight they open a new exhibition called Lichtrotor // Hautskizzen with an installation by upcoming industrial designer Danai. The project she did with three other artist shows a hypnotizing kinetic installation that rotates and creates an interaction between humans and the object. In addition, artist Suzan Rinow who you might happened to see at Berghain bar during the weekends, is going to present her beautiful tattoo sketches, right now available in a tattoo studio in Torstr. So tonight, at the opening, you might stumble about your next tattoo motive ( which you can chose exclusively from Suzan ) and get hypnotized by the Lichtrotor installation at the same time. Of course there will be music and we have seen these exhibition openings eventually turning into an after party. You can join the Facebook event here and get an impression of the tattoo sketches after the jump. read more…

Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen – The German Pancake Club

Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen – The German Pancake Club

If you’re up for yummie German cuisine and want to try out the sweet sin named Eierkuchen, a usually sweet dish we Germans eat during our childhood and beyond, we can recommend you a new food project called Friede, Freude und Eierkuchen that launches this Thursday at Vögelchen Bar in Kreuzberg. Find out more about tasty “Eierkuchen” that will be served in every possible variation and can be prepared salty or sweet after the jump. read more…

Berlin Festival 2014

Berlin Festival 2014

photo: Stephan Flad

This year’s Berlin Festival features once again the cream of international top acts such as Woodkid, Moderat, Editors and K.I.Z. Furthermore Sven Väth, Darkside, Jessi Ware and Zoot Woman, Chase and Status, Austra and many others will perform at the old aiport in Berlin Tempelhof. Watch the teaser video and some music videos after the jump. read more…

The Last Days of Tori Spelling Party

The Last Days of Tori Spelling Party

We are looking forward to our favourite party Last Days that is gonna take place this Saturday! Once a month the chance to meet that special person is enormously high as there are Last Days-couples who met at the party and meanwhile live together. Apart from that the party is great fun, being based at lovely Backyard in Kreuzberg. Watch some pics of last time here. This time the Last Days of Tori Spelling will be celebrated. Tori used to play naive Donna in Beverly Hills 90210 and has recently filled the celeb news on addiction, anorexia, divorce, cheating and what else. The girl who’s father gave her the role of Donna is meanwhile clearly a wrecked case of a Last Days celeb. Last Days adapts the early 90s theme of Beverly Hills 90210 that used to be the most successful TV show of this time. So get dressed up und celebrate Donna with a lot of 90s hip hop, 80s music, RnB and all that dance stuff that is played at Last Days. See you on Saturday!

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The Last Days of Kim Kardashian Party

The Last Days of Kim Kardashian Party

If you wanna party on Saturday, we know where you got to go! With Kim Kardashian having made it on the cover of fashion bible Vogue by the help of her hubby Kanye West, one might think she has climbed up the fashion olymp to the top. But Kim doesn’t fool us. The next Last Days Party coming Saturday therefore is The Last Days Of Kim Kardashian. Following last month’s Justin Bieber Party this will be an even greater fun and Last Days is giving us the hit guarantee! More on the party at Kreuzberg-based Backyard and how to win guest list here.

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Last Days of Justin Bieber Party

Last Days of Justin Bieber Party

Coming Saturday the Last Days of Justin Bieber Party takes place in Backyard in Kreuzberg, next to U – Bahn Prinzenstraße, and we are looking forward to see all of you there. The best party to dance away the night to HipHop tunes, 80s and 90s and Indie hits happens this week and we got all the facts plus you guys can win guest list. After Lindsay Lohan, Tom Cruise and Miley Cyrus Justin Bieber is taking over the part of a Last days testimonial and, honestly – what is going on with this guy? read more…

Backyard Dinner Club

Backyard Dinner Club

This Friday Backyard hosts one of its infamous Dinner Clubs starting this Friday with a special German edition. The ones who have participated in the first evenings know that they are very special and comfy and a good chance to meet new people and dine together with the Backyard team. Take your chance and make your reservation quickly ( info@backyardberlin.com ), cause there is limited capacity to ensure the family – like atmosphere of the Backyard dinner nights. More on the dinner and what’s the menu after the jump.

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