Like a music fairytale: the iHeartBerlin picnic at Staatsoper für Alle

Like a music fairytale: the iHeartBerlin picnic at Staatsoper für Alle

Summer arrives with one of our favorite events of the year: “Staatsoper für Alle” – the annual open-air classical music festival on Bebelplatz. And as every year, we have another special picnic pop-up for our readers to win seats for.

Emotions, pathos, singing, and fans: what sounds like a short and sweet description of the currently omnipresent European Football Championship applies just as much to the world of opera. And every summer, one of the core objectives of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden is to bring opera to life for everyone. 

Every year, Bebelplatz is transformed into a fantastic backdrop for classical and opera music.  As part of the free open-air concert Staatsoper für Alle on July 12 and 13, fans of classical music and those who might want to become one can let themselves be carried away by the music of the Staatskapelle Berlin. So if you want to use the break in the European Championship drama on both days to indulge in the drama of the opera, you can simply drop by at the free event. And even if you weren’t a fan of opera music in the past, attending this event may change your perspective. 

Last year alone, over 33,000 people came to Bebelplatz to listen to the musical sounds of Verdi and Bruckner. This year, the opera performance of Melancholy of Resistance will be broadcast live on 12.7. and on 13.7. Wagner and Strauss are on the program, whose timeless pieces deal with the twists and turns of love and human nature. 

Be there – our picnic pop-up at Staatsoper für Alle
As we know that all this can be overwhelming for those who have never attended this event before or have had little exposure to classical music, we at iHeartBerlin give our readers the opportunity to experience this event in a more intimate circle every year. We are giving away 3×2 places for a picnic with us before and after the concert.

Dates of the picnic:
Date: 13.07, 19.00
Place: Bebelplatz
Participants: You & your BFF
What: Live concert by the Staatskapelle

Although the joint picnic with our readers has now become a tradition, it remains a very special kind of get-together that is as unique each time as the people we get to meet.

To make the picnic a visual and culinary delight, this year PicknickDeluxe 030 is equipping us with their amazing setup and delicacies from Meo Meo’s Kitchen, which are not only pretty to look at but also incredibly tasty. Meo Meo’s Kitchen is run by Kim and her husband Tuan. They are well known in the Berlin street food scene and have permanent stalls in Mauerpark on Sundays and in Thaipark on Saturdays and Sundays. Together with Katharina the founder from PicknickDeluxe030, they now also offer picnic boxes and catering for large groups.

To take part in the raffle for a place on our picnic blanket, simply do the following:
1. Follow us on Instagram to make sure our messages get through to you if you win.
2. Comment on this post with your favorite opera and tag your friend who you would like to take with you.
3. Check your inbox on 10.7. – we’ll let the winners know via DM. 

Staatsoper für Alle is organized by the Staatsoper Berlin in collaboration with its long-standing partner BMW, which supports the opera in making this event free for everyone and providing access to classical music.

25 Years Potsdamer Platz: A Free Festival For Everyone

25 Years Potsdamer Platz: A Free Festival For Everyone

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When I went to Berlin alone for the first time 24 years ago, one of the first places I visited was Potsdamer Platz. At that time I was insanely impressed by the architecture, the stores, all the cinemas, theaters, and restaurants. I felt as if I had been transported to the future. What they came up with for this historic place back then absolutely resonated with me. 

This coming weekend, September 15-16, Potsdamer Platz is now celebrating its 25th anniversary with a big, free festival. A lot has happened in this quarter of a century. A whole neighborhood has developed around it, and the square as a whole is even busier and more active than when I first visited. In particular, the restructuring of the former Potsdamer Platz Arkaden into The Playce is probably the most striking recent change. It is the first mall in Berlin to undergo a major overhaul and attract visitors with a new concept.

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Enjoying Together: Of Inclusive Food and Non-Binary Gingerbread

Enjoying Together: Of Inclusive Food and Non-Binary Gingerbread

photo: Manfred Weber. 

Have you ever experienced this? You’re standing in front of a packed buffet at the company Christmas party and you’re just about to start feasting when you think: wait a minute, where are the vegan and gluten-free dishes? Sometimes you’re lucky and find at least a selection of, well, one dish. But often there are simply no dishes that meet one or the other criterion – let alone both. Eating then becomes an exclusive and, let’s face it, exceedingly monotonous affair.

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The Most Bizarre Food You Can Find in German Supermarkets

illustrations: Berk Karaoglu.

We all know Germans have their quirks – previously, we’ve written about their obsession with bureaucracy, their linguistic fondness for the Wurst, and their unique sense of humor, among many other riveting subjects. This time, we’re entering the strange realm of German food inventions: things you can easily find at a German supermarket, but would really rather not. A warning: this article doesn’t really fall into the NSFW category, but you should probably avoid it around lunchtime. 

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Feast Your Eyes on This Sexy Dinner Event: Die Weisse Maus 2022

Feast Your Eyes on This Sexy Dinner Event: Die Weisse Maus 2022

photos: Fruit Salat Films and Weisse Maus. 

Step into a time machine of the senses and transport yourself back a century to the “Goldener Zwanziger” or the Golden Twenties, of Weimar Berlin. Let yourself be intoxicated by the decadence of the smoky and sweet Berliner Luft, and pay homage to the legendary Weisse Maus. From the creative minds behind The House of Red Doors and some of Berlin’s finest performance artists, chefs, musicians, and sommeliers, comes Die Weisse Maus 2022.

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Experience The Original Way: Coke Food Festival in Berlin

Experience The Original Way: Coke Food Festival in Berlin

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This weekend a very special event for food lovers is happening here in Berlin: The Original Way – Coke Food Festival is taking place on Saturday and Sunday at Alte Münze in Mitte. Bringing together the best flavors from around the world prepared by local restaurant owners the festival is set out to be true culinary highlight you shouldn’t miss.

Last year Coke started their new web series The Original Way that portraits the most interesting restaurant owners from Germany that have a unique story and cook really original dishes from their home countries. From Berlin, the web series dedicated episodes to Nauta, Chutnify, Linos BBQ, Standard Pizza and Kanaan which are all really amazing places with great food and an inspiring backstory. The show recently started their second season after the first one last year was such a success. To give people the opportunity to experience the spirit of the series live they came up with the Coke Food Festival that features some of the protagonists of the show.

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Discover the Secrets of Cacao Ceremonies in Berlin

Discover the Secrets of Cacao Ceremonies in Berlin

I experienced pure cacao for the first time last winter after ice bathing in the frozen lake of Plötzensee with the group Ice Dippers. Its founder, Jonas, served us hot cacao as we came out of the water. The first sip of pure cacao is really bitter and far away from the warm chocolate you probably experienced as a kid. Though, I enjoyed a full cup of it, not only for its taste, moreover for the mixed feeling of relaxation and stimulation it provided me. I couldn’t stop asking myself where this cacao could come from? Or if there was anything added to it. I had to ask Jonas about the story of this Moruga cacao that he had served us which goes actually way beyond our usual experience of cacao.

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SchokoKiez – Get your Favorite Berlin Kiez as a Chocolate Bar

SchokoKiez – Get your Favorite Berlin Kiez as a Chocolate Bar

I love chocolate! Everyone knows that eating chocolate that is shaped in a cute way is so much more fun, than just eating a plain chocolate bar. So we are used to pleasurably bite chocolate Santa’s head off and devour yummy easter eggs, but have you heard of someone eating their favorite Berlin Kiez in chocolate? Us neither. That is why we thought this idea is brilliant!

Ray and Lena from SchokoKiez invented a tasty chocolate bar, that has the map of your favorite Kiez engraved! This uniquely shaped artisanal chocolate bar is a treat for all sweet-toothed Berlin fans. Their first SchokoKiez is the much loved Schillerkiez, to be followed by many equally famous and loved Kiez’s, such as Bergmannkiez, Boxhagener Kiez or Kollwitzkiez – just to name a few.

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A Night of Italian Food Culture with Bertolli in Berlin

A Night of Italian Food Culture with Bertolli in Berlin

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While the grey November is already in full swing, we had the chance to escape the cold and darkness of Berlin Winter for one night. We recently had the chance to travel with our eyes and our taste buds to one of our favorite countries to visit for holidays: Italy.

The Italian olive oil brand Bertolli invited us to take part in a workshop about Italian food culture. Together with 10 other media colleagues, we spend an evening with Aperol Spritz, little Italian delicacies and lots and lots and lots of different oil blends to taste.

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Berliners Love Italian Food – The True Italian Food Festival

Berliners Love Italian Food – The True Italian Food Festival

photos: Jule Müller

Some love art and some love pasta. We love both. So switching between fancy art events and delicious Italian cuisine might be a challenge in the next few days of Art Week for us.

The reason: the True Italian Food Festival is in town and is bringing lots of amazing restaurants together in one big food event. The idea is to offer a special regional dish with a drink for only 7 EUR. Very convenient for shy foodies who usually might not try the craziest thing on the menu.

Today the festival hits off and goes on until Sunday. Check here for the list of participating restaurants and go on a food adventure with your friends and lovers.

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