Kate | iHeartBerlin.de

The First Impression of Berlin

photo: Alex Soloviev

As we move around the city in our every day routines and take the same trains, walk the same streets and pass by hundreds of people – things get dull, our attention is fading and sometimes we lose the sense for the special something Berlin is offering us every single day. Yes, we barely take the time to take it all in, to feel and see Berlin for it’s unique places, people and vibe. It takes effort, it is like a relationship – we need to take the time to appreciate Berlin and sometimes it is easiest, when we get to see our city through the eyes of someone else.

Because you get the firsts only once, that first impression or lovely spark when you visit a place for the first time. Alex Soloviev, a freelance filmmaker who travels around the world, caught those first glances on camera. His short video captures the special spirit, freedom and lightness he felt, when he visited Berlin for the first time. The video is a lovely little reminder to keep the love for our beautiful city alive and burning – because there really is no place quite like Berlin…. read more…

Eating & Drinking For A Good Cause

by Kate | Events, Food

photo: Oh Sophia

It’s Christmas time, a good chance to be thoughtful, thankful and helpful. Especially with thousands of refugees arriving in Berlin this year, giving back to people in need becomes an even bigger issue and responsibility for our community. We’re living in a time were we need to reach out to each other, face our global challenges and help together. After visiting some Charity Christmas Markets and donating some money to our Blogfabrik Project #HelpDontHate, we want to look at some other alternatives to help in Berlin. So what do you think about eating and drinking for a good cause?

We found some wonderful and delicious events happening this month that we want to share with you after the jump…

Berlin History: 19th Century Berlin in Paintings

by Kate | Art, Stories

Everything is constantly moving and changing: We are changing, the world is changing and Berlin is changing. As the year 2015 is coming to an end, it’s time to look back at the year and probably some events that changed everything for you. But while personal transformations might be more apparent and important to us, changes in your area are happening too. Maybe your favorite bookstore closed, a new burger joint opened and the Späti around the corner has new owners.

Sometimes it’s tough at first to see the positive in things going in a new direction and especially with Berlin people get super sensitive and upset – because we’re allowed to change, and move and be – but Berlin, its districts, housing situation, rents, and residents are supposed to stay the same forever. In the name of change, we’re throwing it back a couple of centuries: Berlin in the 19th century seen by painters and barely recognizable by us. Because who would have thought back then that Berlin would become a party capital, had a never-opening airport and a Dönerladen on every corner.

The Best Coworking Spaces In Berlin

by Kate | Kreuzberg, Mitte, Neukölln, Tiergarten

photo: Mindspace

In Berlin – not only the capital of Germany but also of freelancing – it’s actually really hard not to stumble upon some kind of coworking space in your daily life. There are so many options that it might seem a bit overwhelming at times. There’s the sofa at home (added bonus you can stay in your pjs), the sunny café around the corner and of course the membership working with like-minded people. Digital nomad, freelancer, self-employed – whatever you want to call it, chances are that you are looking for a place where you can work on your own, but socialize and synergize with like-minded people.

Depending on what exactly you are looking for it may be more about the space for you, or maybe more about the people. So while you have the choice, make sure you really find the spot that’s all you. Where you feel comfortable and get your stuff done at the same time. If you’re anything like me you may want to switch it up every now and then to get some variety into your week. If you haven’t found your hotspots yet, read on after the jump to see our list of recommended options.

Snippets Of A Lifetime: A Look Beneath The Surface of Berliners

by Kate | People, Videos

We pass thousands of strangers each and every day and we tend to forget, that behind every person there is a unique life story; an individual path that led those strangers to be where they are today and right in this moment. Intrigued by this thought and her passion for the stories beneath the surface, Carolin Kraft spend the last 2 years working on her film project Snippets Of A Lifetime.

So far Carolin filmed 12 episodes, following 12 totally different individuals from Berlin, Chemnitz, Switzerland and Senegal into their personal universe, letting them talk about their ups and downs in life. Carolin’s short films remind us how important it is to look beneath and listen to people and their valuable lessons they have to share. Learn more about this beautiful project after the jump…

Christmas, Design & Charity Markets in Berlin 2015

by Kate | Market

photo: Weihnachtsrodeo

It’s that time of the year again! After we’ve already had some little snowflakes, the first official Christmas weekend lays ahead of us. And instead of wondering where the time and year has gone so quickly, we’re so looking forward to some Glühwein, Plätzchen and proper Christmas shopping. Because the best places to find unique gifts and delicious Christmas treats are of course the numerous Christmas and design markets around town.

And because the cold Christmas season is not only about us, but about neighborly love and solidarity; we added some nice charity markets to our selection, so you can not only enjoy for yourself, but also give back something. So here are the best tips to fully embrace one of our favorite German Christmas Tradition: The Christmas Market!

Berlin is… Cold and Dark

by Kate | Stories

photo: Christian Schirrmacher / CC

Every year around the same time – yes, let’s say, every year in November – the darkness is creeping up on us. Sometimes slow, sometimes fast, sometimes without us even realizing – until it’s to late. First the time goes away, almost unnoticed: only one little hour, one hour of light, one hour of Summer. When the Summer sun leaves us and the November nights become longer, never-ending – you slowly take our breath away. Your grey covers are like a thick blanket, ready to tuck us in and push us down. You are ready to rest, but are we ready yet?

The Strawberryman and his Techno-Didgeridoo in Berlin

by Kate | Music, Videos

Music is a huge topic in Berlin: Wherever you go, each district has its own special vibe and unique sound. In some areas it’s just street noises, screaming babies, sometimes it’s the distant bass of a club – or actually musicians playing on the street. Especially in summer a lot of musicians try their luck and spread their musical love at busy places like Schlesisches Tor or Warschauer Straße. Thousands of people pushing and rushing by, only catching glimpses. But sometimes the talent catches our attention and just for a moment in time, everything stops and we take in the sound, the love and passion.

One of those special and crazy street musicians is Strawberryman, who travels the world with his music, living his dream and the goal to inspire others to live their dreams too. But Strawberryman does not only have an unheard name, he also plays an instrument that is one-of-a-kind. See for yourself after the jump…

How (un)welcoming is Berlin for Expats?

by Kate | Misc.

As you know our beloved Berlin is a huge favorite for many people in the world to migrate to for career or leisure. In the last 5 years we had such an influx of newbies that it has changed the face and pace of the city a lot. The term “Expat” has grown into a whole lifestyle and has become an inspiring and interesting part of life in Berlin. Many of those who come and visit Berlin instantly fall in love and want to stay here. But living here is of course another thing as visiting. So how welcoming or unwelcoming is Berlin actually compared to other places in the world?

InterNations, the largest global network and information site for people who live and work abroad, just published their annual survey about the living situation and happiness of expatriates. For that they asked more than 14,300 expatriates representing 170 nationalities and living in 195 countries or territories to rate and provide information on various aspects of expat life, as well as their gender, age, and nationality. The ratings of the individual factors were then used to draw up the favorite expat destinations, but also to rank the friendliest nations. Well, which rank do you guys think Germany took? You’ll find the interesting results after the jump…

Urban Legends of Berlin: Better Internet in the U-Bahn?

by Kate | Misc.

We all know some urban myths: Everyone has heard about them, but no-one really knows if they are true and so rumors make rounds and are passed on. We want to take a closer look at some of Berlin’s urban legends and stories that we’ve all heard of and finally uncover the one and only truth.

So let’s begin with the mobile internet connection in the Berlin U-Bahn: Is it really true that you get a better wireless data connection the closer you’re to the front of the train? And what about free Wifi at the train stations in the near future?

We talked to the BVG and got our mystery questions answered. The whole truth after the jump…

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