Berlin’s fashion scene and especially our local Fashion Week have gone through some fundamental changes in recent years. What we appreciate most about it is: It has shed the old veil of the past and presented itself in a new guise. What we have seen here in the past year brought together everything our fashion hearts desire: exceptional talents from Berlin, whose creations surprise us, captivate us, blow us away, and inspire us to dream. Believe us: we had more than one moment where we thought: “Wait, what’s happening right now? And is this really happening in good old Berlin?”
In our opinion, six labels in particular have the potential to be true game changers, not only shaping Berlin through their work but also re-establishing the city in the ranks of the international fashion scene. What impresses us most about them is their courage to break with conventions and rethink fashion. They say goodbye to superficialities and celebrate craftsmanship, individuality, sustainability, and diversity. And an equally new and fresh audience celebrated them during Berlin Fashion Week. We have the feeling that Berlin propelled itself into a new era and our favorite city is finally showing again why it can easily keep up with the big fashion metropolises of this world.
Read on…
by Paula | Mar 20, 2023 | Design, Fashion
It’s a strange time right now, isn’t it? Winter is over and spring is not yet here. Or, to put it another way, it’s too mild not to leave the house and too cold to stay out in the fresh air for long. So if you just want to get outside without freezing, you should head for the nearest museum. Because some of Berlin’s art houses are offering us not only a change of scenery and heated rooms right now, but also really good exhibitions.
Here are five of them that are worth leaving the house for:
Read on…
by Paula | Mar 13, 2023 | Art, Galleries, Museums
How much of the German forest can we still save? Together with Staatsoper Berlin, iHeartBerlin is trying to find a constructive solution through our new event series Sustainable Listening. Check out the recap of the climate performance from early January.
Last summer was considered a so-called forest fire summer. That year alone almost, 4300 hectares of forest were destroyed in large fires throughout Germany. Of course, many of these were hectares around Berlin, for example, in the Berlin Grunewald, where in August 2022 a blast from ammunition caused the accidental destruction of about 42 hectares.
Read on…
by Claudio | Feb 8, 2023 | Events, Music
Photo: Hotel Plan Murin
Berliners unfortunately, spent most of the winter either with firmly cemented gray clouds in the sky or with abstruse squalls. The meteorological situation was honestly more desolate than usual. And after two years of lockdown, we felt the desire for a Berlin escapism even more. But where to? So where do you actually have snow, fresh air and almost always good weather? In the Dolomites!
Visit Südtirol invited us to explore the skiing and hiking region, and we have summarized our main highlights for you.
The Dolomites, located in the southern part of South Tyrol, are known for their sunny days, for the mostly trilingual town signs (German, Italian, Ladin) and probably even more known for the so-called Enrosadira, the Alpenglühen, which puts the landscape into a mystical state and around which many legends entwine, such as that of King Laurin and his rose garden.
Image: Giovanni Castellaz (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Hiking
In addition to traditional alpine skiing, which is very popular in the Dolomites, alternative sports such as winter hiking, snowshoeing and ski touring, which do not require lifts, have become more and more popular during the pandemic. We took advantage of this opportunity to go on a guided hike from Corvara through the snow-covered forest up to the mountain hut La Marmotta. This is known for its particularly good dumplings, which we highly recommend.
The second winter hike took us from La Val across the idyllic Armentara meadows to the pilgrimage church of La Crusc, which has been standing under the rock face of the Sas dla Crusc in the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park since the 15th century. The neighboring hospice has existed since the beginning of the 18th century and used to accommodate pilgrims in the past. Today, the listed building is used as a mountain hut, and you can enjoy local delicacies there, too.
Reaching the summit & experiencing history
The next morning, our journey took us two valleys further: to Arabba. So, we strapped on our skis and headed for the Marmolata, the so-called Queen of the Dolomites. At a dizzying 3343 meters, it is the highest mountain in the Dolomites and part of the Marmolata group, home to one of the largest glaciers in the Dolomites.
This, like many other places in the region, has been important in recent history. During the First World War, the Marmolata was also a border mountain between Austria-Hungary and Italy, where tunnels were blasted into the glacier for food supplies and a veritable “ice city” was built.
The so-called “First World War Ski Tour” also commemorates this dark chapter of history, with its many victims on the Italian as well as the Austro-Hungarian side. The tour leads around the summit of the Col di Lana, which was brought down by blasting, along the former front. Traces of the war, such as tunnels and embrasures, can still be seen in many places. Probably the most spectacular and longest descent of the tour is the slope that leads from the Lagazuoi mountain to Armentarola in the valley.
Dinner—from rustic to elegant
A tour like this can make you very hungry and if you make a reservation in good time, there is no better place to enjoy local food than at Maso Runch Hof, a typical Ladin inn in Badia. The traditional menu consists of barley soup, Tutres (deep-fried dumplings filled with spinach and ricotta), Schlutzkrapfen (spinach and ricotta ravioli), pork knuckle, ribs, or goulash with homemade dumplings or polenta, and apple strudel with ice cream. Of course, you also have vegetarian options. But the inn isn’t fascinating only in the evenings with its rustic parlors; the family-run farm can also be visited during the day and holiday flats can be rented.
As a contrast to this, there is the modern and minimalist Guide MICHELIN restaurant L’ostì in Corvara, which impresses with its extravagant Italian cuisine and biodynamic wine selection. Vegan dishes are prepared on request and are truly delicious. The chefs and staff really do credit to their star.
Observing the stars
If you are interested in more than Michelin stars, you can join the torchlight walk that takes place regularly in all Alta Badia valleys. Due to the low light pollution, this is an opportunity to admire the stars, planets, and constellations that will be explained by an astronomy expert. With the help of a professional telescope, the stars or, depending on the phase of the moon, the moon and its craters can be seen very clearly. In August of this year there will be the Dolomites Star Party again, a festival where stargazing takes place in the context of concerts. So be sure to make a note for this summer.
Relax
While the sun has already set in other valleys, you can still enjoy the evening sun in La Val, especially in the spa area on the roof terrace of the recently renovated Hotel Plan Murin. The panoramic view of the mountains makes this place a true oasis of tranquility.
Relaxation guaranteed!
by Guest Author | Feb 8, 2023 | Accommodation, City Guide, Places, Travel, Wellness
photos: Frank R. Schröder.
When I entered the main stage of the Sopiensaele theater on Wednesday evening and saw the three performers of Olympia Bukkakis’ new production “replay” twirling around in a set of silky white and translucent fabrics hanging from the ceiling like clouds I thought to myself: This must be a queer version of heaven.
The piece poses the question: What would happen if a drag queen and two non-binary performers would take charge? It would be a world where women like Breonna Taylor and Mahsa Amini would never be forgotten. A world where people from different backgrounds learn from each other in harmony. Where local drag queens get recognition before international pop stars. Where someone could break out in a Britney performance at any given moment. Where empathy, reflection, humor, and kindness are practiced with grace.
Read on…
by Frank | Feb 3, 2023 | Theater
photos: Frank R. Schröder.
Dear iHeartBerlin readers, it’s time to grab your popcorn and your drama glasses, because the newest production at the Volksbühne Berlin is about to give you a front-row seat to the drama that goes on behind the curtains.
Constanza Macras, the queen of theatrical chaos, has once again outdone herself with her latest masterpiece, DRAMA. This performance is not for those who prefer their theater neat and tidy. No, this one is for those who live for the drama, both on and off-stage. If you have never seen a piece by Macras, Drama might be your time to start.
Read on…
by Claudio | Jan 31, 2023 | Theater
left: artwork by Tony Cragg, right: Bar Brass.
You all know the story of Alice in Wonderland, right? Young Alice falls down a rabbit hole one day and lands in a magical world unknown to her. That’s more or less what it’s like when you visit the Bildgießerei Noack in Berlin. Maybe you haven’t even thought about it, considering all the art to be discovered in Berlin. Why this should change as soon as possible, I tell you here.
Most of the time, all roads to art lead to the Museum Island – after all, there’s a lot to see there. But sometimes you get off the path. Then you may suddenly find yourself in front of an impressive industrial building that calls itself the Bildgießerei Noack. What at first glance is architecturally stunning carries in its interior the history of a long tradition: the casting of sculptures.
Read on…
by Paula | Jan 2, 2023 | Art, Museums, Restaurants
Advertisement.
New Year’s Eve is coming up and everyone is all excited because it’s the first time in two years that official parties and events are happening again after the various pandemic lockdowns. We are certainly excited to hit the clubs again.
But there is one small but cute subgroup that unfortunately will have to stay home for New Year’s Eve once again: The kids! And isn’t that unfair? New Year’s Eve is historically really an adult kind of thing, isn’t it? The late hour of the main event, the booze, the firecrackers, the clubs – these are all not really kid-friendly things. It’s really unfair though because kids do sense that this is a special happening, yet one that many of them are excluded from.
Read on…
by Frank | Dec 23, 2022 | Events
The end of the year is coming. Not long now and the old familiar feelings are spreading: a bit of melancholy, a touch of longing, but above all the anticipation of the new year. It’s not called “New Year, new happiness” for nothing, is it?
And even if you already had a lot of joy in 2022, I’m sure we all share the desire to have even more of it in 2023. Be it through traveling, festivities, reunions, work or time for ourselves. We just shouldn’t lose track of all our plans. And what better way to keep organized than with the enchanting calendars of Berlin’s artists? We have looked around and compiled the most beautiful among the beauties for you.
Read on…
by Paula | Dec 23, 2022 | Art, Products
Club Mate fans take note: Have you ever stared into your Club Mate and wondered who you really are? Have you ever wanted to really explore yourself? Find out what paths, opportunities, and feelings the universe has in store for you? Then you no longer have to stare at the bottom of the empty bottle. Because we have the right deck of cards for you – literally.
Club Tarot is the new must-have for all fans of the cult drink and friends of self-reflection. The card set consists of 78 lovely-designed tarot cards and a guidebook, which explains in detail how you can dive into the world of tarot. All beautifully sorted in a box whose design, of course, reminds us of our beloved Mate.
Read on…
by Paula | Dec 14, 2022 | Products
Deutsch