Yasmin | iHeartBerlin.de

A Berlin Reading List

Just recently we told you about some of the most famous writer Exiles of Berlin. Today we get down to the nitty-gritty and present to you some books that revolve around Berlin. You will recognize some of the featured authors here. We’re concentrating on giving you a list that features books that are available both in German and in English. Since the current weather is perfect for a good, long read, we present to you our very own Berlin reading list. Without further ado, here are ten books that you should get your hands on. Right after the jump. read more…

An Iconic Berlin Book: Gender as a Spectrum

by Yasmin | Books, Photos

photos: Joseph Wolfgang Ohlert

Gender, identity and self-expression are very delicate, intimate subjects to address.
The true kaleidoscope of human identities, facets and preferences is as diverse as there are people on this planet. Beyond a world of black and white, there is a whole range of color, which makes life interesting. Yet we all want the same thing: recognition for who we are and what we feel.
And to get said recognition, visibility is crucial.

“Gender concerns anybody and is part of every identity,” says Joseph Wolfgang Ohlert, author of the new book ‘Gender as a Spectrum’.

The photographer teamed up with entertainer, artist and Transgender activist Kaey, and portrayed people from Berlin and various places on the planet. All of them are a facet of the kaleidoscope, moving between the polarity of gender. For over two years Ohlert worked on this book with Kaey, capturing people in an authentic, emotional way that is both raw and rare. While Ohlert took the photographs, Kaey interviewed the portrayed people, so the reader gets to know the personalities behind the picture even better, learning about their personal self-concepts, self-definitions, views and wishes.

And maybe the reader starts asking himself these questions, finding answers about himself, or maybe just learning about the people that are all with him on the kaleidoscope of being a person.

The Most Photogenic Places in Berlin

by Yasmin | Photos, Places

photos: Alicia Kassebohm

There is nothing like making memories with your loved ones and Berlin serves as the perfect setting for that. Every street, every corner could be worth capturing.

When wandering around the capital, common touristic attractions like Brandenburger Tor and the Fernsehturm are great to have in the back of a photograph, but let’s face it: they are quite overused. There are so many other photogenic locations in the capital that are just as beautiful and, judging by the latest trends on Instagram, even more popular than traditional Berlin sights. We took it upon ourselves to filter some of the most popular locations to make memories at and take pictures that stand out.

We went outside on a sunny day to explore the city and took photos at some of the most popular Instagram hotspots. Our lovely co-writer and photographer Alicia Kassebohm captured us, the ladies of iHeartBerlin, on our little photo tour, and so we present to you: our most #iconicBerlinshots.
And what a day we had!

See the results of our shooting right after the jump and get some inspiration for your next photo tour in Berlin!

Berlin is… Remembering

by Yasmin | Photos, Stories

photos: Anamaria Tatu

Oh what times we live in. Everyone is afraid, it seems. Afraid of each other. Some citizens worry for their life, though they should worry about their character. They’re hiding behind their fear of the unknown, wrapped up in a cocoon of convenience, shouting slogans that give them an illusion of unity – a unity they seem to lack within themselves. Concealing their racism through lies of frustration – frustration about their own lives that are so much safer than they realize. So worried, they don’t seem to notice that we all see what they really are. And we condemn.

We condemn all the angry eyes and furious words spoken unknowingly. All the fire thrown at shelters. We distance ourselves from their distance to life. And we remind them of where to never go again.

To learn from mistakes, you need to be aware of what has been. To move on to a good path, you need to know the past, with all its wrong turns. And the right way was not the “shift to the right.” Looking around now, it seems many of us have forgotten how far things have gone before, more than once.

Berlin Gone Wild in the 80s – New Order’s New Video

by Yasmin | Music, Videos

“If you can remember the 80s, you weren’t there”, says the slogan of the Berlinale success B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West Berlin. Watching the video to the new single ‘Singularity’ by New Order, you get an idea why. The night scene of the 80s in West Berlin was raw, fueled with drugs, and filled with musicians. The times were agitated and the nights were long.

The band from the UK seems to process some of these memories in their newest music video from their 2015 album Music Complete. And they used footage from the iconic B-Movie in it, edited to the song perfectly. Get a glimpse of the good old days and see the new music video right after the jump.

A Guide to Nonsmoker Friendly Bars in Berlin

by Yasmin | Bars, Charlottenburg, City Guide, Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Mitte, Neukölln, Prenzlauer Berg

photo: Alicia Kassebohm

Berlin is a city that ends up in smoke. No hard feelings here, if we’re being real: a cigarette with a good drink is one of the most oddly satisfying things. It is bad though. For the environment, others and mostly you. We all know this moment the next morning when smelling your hair and clothes from last night. It’s a rough one. Suddenly, all of your choices from last night are just the burn mark on your new sweater that smells like it was manufactured out of ash in a volcano. Not only non-smokers, even the toughest chain-smoker must be grossed out in this moment. Not to mention: hangovers are way harder when you didn’t only have Mr. Gin and Mr. Jack Daniels with you, but also the Marlboro Man. Or Pepe.

If you’ve had enough of all of the smoke and fire and want to burn the bad choices, we have some addresses for you where you can get a drink or dance without the fumes. Right after the jump is our list of favorite non-smoker friendly bars (which by our definition are bars that have separate smokers and non-smokers areas or are completely smoke-free). read more…

Famous Exiles of Berlin: Writers

by Yasmin | People

Wladimir Kaminer, photo: Katja Hentschel

Excuse me for repeating myself. I have to emphasize though, just how much of Berlin’s spirit is shaped by the many different parts and past particles floating in the air – stories that are engraved in house walls, moments that are carrying on. All the tears cried in bars, all the words spoken on park benches, every fight in front of a house: worth telling and still palpable. When you walk around the city, you don’t see them. But be sure to know: the city’s vibe is made of every single one of them.

Germany is the country of poets and thinkers, of word acrobats and phrase artists. A great deal of writers and poets have seen the light of day here and – at some point or another – lived in Berlin. We did some researching and now present to you part 2 of our series “Famous Exiles of Berlin” – the writers edition. From Kafka to Kaminer, we present to you a list of 10 famous and gifted writers and chroniclers – of poets, that graced this city with their presence at some point. Right after the jump. read more…

Dangerous Photography: Above and Beyond on Berlin Rooftops

by Yasmin | Photos

photos: Franz Becker

Remember when we told you about the dangerous photography in the underground tunnels of Berlin?
This time, no less dangerous but a lot higher- we want to take you to the top.
Started from the bottom, now we’re here. Sometimes, to get a clearer image of things an overview right from the (roof-) top is all you need. With your legs dangling from the edge and your head in the sky some problems seem teeny tiny.

Young photographer and urban explorer Franz Becker seems to feel the same way and takes you above and beyond with his photos, right to the rooftops of Berlin. Where others stop is where he begins. On his Instagram he captures extraordinary views of the city that are nothing short of breath-taking. And dangerous to shoot. Rooftops, Railings, Stairs – anything elevated really serves as a platform to the aerialist.

With his photos Franz allows us a perspective of Berlin that is exclusive and majestic. We love his airy images so much that we included him in our #berlin Instagram exhibition. Time for you, to check out some of his shots right after the jump and float around in the sky.

Steps To Yourself – The Stairways of Berlin

by Yasmin | Photos, Stories

photos: Jorge Alva

Berlin – always a step ahead – has countless stairways. To doors, apartments, to heaven.

Young Berlin-based photographer Jorge Alva captures these stairs perfectly for his Instagram account Urbanentdecker. His photographs focus on abstraction and colors, structures and perspectives. Every single photo he publishes embodies the perfect composition. Jorge seems to love interesting staircases in particular, photographing a lot of them here in Berlin. While looking at them, we couldn’t help but wonder about ourselves. About how steps are just like the road to self-discovery, climbing to ourselves. Our thoughts and Jorge’s marvelous photographs – right after the jump. read more…

A Guide to Live Music Bars in Berlin

by Yasmin | Bars, Music

photo: newthinking / CC

Oh the good old days with cigarettes, sophisticated drinks and live music. Mysterious nights with charming strangers. Red lipstick, hats and jazz in the air. Wait a minute – that’s still current!

It’s not all techno, beats and Berghain. Berlin has a lot more to offer when it comes to music. Numerous famous Exiles lived here but also many artists in the making currently reside in the capital. Often they perform at open mics – events where anyone and everyone can register to perform their special art. And sometimes, there is nothing more exciting than having a tasty drink with some good live music.

These 10 live music bars are a must for any music/night/drink-lover. Cigarettes, hats and red lipstick are optional. See our selection right after the jump. read more…

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