Heimathafen Neukölln, photo: Verena Eidel / CC
A classical concert in a non-classical setting is just about the right kind of Wow-effect for your brain. The old and the new merge perfectly, creating something that is new. Gone are the times where classical music seemed old, a bit stiff and hard to understand for anyone who is used to the very different scales of, let’s say, mainstream pop. Nowadays, classical music seems to make an Ancora or – dare I say this: was never gone.
The thing that is changing about it though is the setting in which the music vibrates. What other place than progressive Berlin would provide the right kind of locations that frame these melodies from another century in a way that only this century could. See five of the most unusual places to enjoy a classical music concert right after the jump. Read on…
by Yasmin | Music
photos: Jeisson Martin
I still remember the streets of Istanbul. More so, the scent of them. When I think of the city, I think of the dust, flying around, mixing with the different smells of food from the streets. Carrying the life of the people through the alleys, being baked in the sun and cooled down at night. I remember the flavor of apple tea floating through the city, I remember the sea. When I think of Berlin I smell an evening, a sundown, some concrete. I think of the possibilities that dance through the streets, the lights and the music. A smell can predict danger, a scent can mean home, a fragrance can make a promise.
The scent of a city is sort of its emotional fingerprint. The identity and announcement of events. How warm the smells surround you, how cold the night could be. How harsh a certain district smells and how soft the sea. Kreuzberg smells different than Zehlendorf, Mitte has a different perfume than Neukölln. Not to get all Grenouille, but scents to me are the texture that memories are made of.
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by Yasmin | Stories
‘How much Turkish am I and how much German do I have to be?’
The struggle of finding and being yourself in a world full of restrictions and limitations is real. Anyone with a second (or third or fourth or…) ethnicity in their persona, DNA or environment will have to ask himself these questions eventually.
The search for your ‚true‘ self gets even harder, when identity and integration come into the mix and interfere with your general soul searching. Suddenly, to find an in-group, as social identity theorists would call it, you need to check their markers and face possible rejection. The fear of the Unknown comes with obsession of control, dividing more than including.
To fit in, one has to adapt. To be recognized, one has to fit in a box. To be equal, one has to be the same. At least, that’s what society taught us. Is it right though?
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by Yasmin | Neukölln, People
Verena von Stackelberg is a brave woman with a burning passion for film. Opening her very own cinema was her idea for a while and when she stumbled across the perfect venue on Weserstrasse, she jumped at the opportunity. After years of hard work WOLF Kino is now open to the public. We spoke with Verena about her vision, the cinema scene and her favourite film of all times…
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by Lia | Movies, Neukölln, Places
Living just a few blocks away from Elbestraße, I was surprised to find Rosenkind there, inconspicuously tucked between apartment buildings. Located on one of the more residential streets of Neukölln, this charming café-boutique serves as a cozy local hangout that offers more than just delicious coffee and cake. This family-owned space also offers a unique shopping experience, while supporting young Berlin-based artists by providing a platform to present their work, be it art, handicrafts, music, fashion or events. With an interior that feels like a little treasure chest and a patio space to enjoy a beer or coffee in the sun, Rosenkind creates an inviting atmosphere that reminds us all to enjoy a break when our lives get too stressful and chaotic. I paid them a visit to have a chat with the lovely and charismatic Janan, who shared the recipe for her homemade vegan cake and told me about the concept behind their space. Click on to see why Rosenkind is the perfect afternoon stop on your stroll through Neukölln.
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by Skylar | Cafés, Neukölln, Shops
Since their opening in April 2014, friends have been telling me to check out the charismatic new Neukölln watering hole, Twinpigs, and the hype has only been building. I’m quite fond of the type of neighborhood bar that doesn’t seem to disappoint (who isn’t?) and as I stepped into Twinpigs for the first time, I knew it was going to be the first of many. The brainchild of a Chilean architect and a Swedish filmmaker, Twinpigs literally happened overnight. After deciding to open their own bar, the two seized the opportunity to take over the serendipitously freed space of a former Boddinstraße speakeasy. After putting in a lot of hard work, love, creativity and dedication, Twinpigs was born. If you enjoy strong drinks, craft beer, and a great atmosphere, click on and see why Twinpigs should be your new favourite hangout.
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by Skylar | Bars, Neukölln
photo: Gary Lafargue for Neukölln Shopping Nacht
From vintage to design, edgy brands to accessories or even records to food, Neukölln has become a multifaceted shopping district. We’ve checked out a bunch of them lately to create a little guide to Neukölln for you guys because we hardly ever feature this youthful and blooming district of Berlin that especially the foreigners and expats love so much. So have a look at our selection of places in our Neukölln Guide after the jump. If you are looking for even more recommendations in Neukölln we recently published The Vintage Path Neukölln tour on our Friendly Berlin App with a great itinerary to spend a day in this beloved district in the name of vintage.
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by Frank | Neukölln, Shops
When it comes to vintage fashion the options in Berlin are countless. There are many sources, big markets, kilogram shops and small boutiques. We have quite a few really good little stores with a nice, almost personal selection of clothes. But when it comes to the reflection of contemporary style and youth culture the options are getting fewer.
Calypt might very well be one of the rare vintage shops that closes this gap. The little store in Boddinstraße just opened a few months ago but has already managed to gather a little fan base of the young and fashionable in Neukölln. When you browse through the racks you can tell that the store owners select their pieces meticulously with love and care. For them every garment is unique and special that they hang into their shop.
Right on the wavelength of current trends in fashion they have a focus on the 90s, both for boys and girls. They cover various styles, but what stood out the most two me where two things: One is their selection of sports and active wear. With all the mesh tops, sports jerseys, shorts and neopren jackets you could totally style an editorial for any renowned style magazine and no-one would know it’s all vintage. And the second section that I think is interesting is the “club rack” which is a fun selection of some more crazy and daring pieces you could wear for your next night out in the techno nightclubs of Berlin.
Head over the jump to get your first impressions and the details of the store, but even better schedule a visit on your next trip to Neukölln.
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by Frank | Fashion, Neukölln, Shops
So, this is pretty much how you can imagine how the young and hip in Berlin areas such as Neukölln live nowadays. Altbau with Dielen, of course, well, unless you got lucky and got an apartment in the Plattenbau across from Hasenheide. Sparsely decorated, like you don’t really care. Always the air of an afterparty from the previous weekend in the room. The dinner table littered with alcohol bottles, the cheap stuff of course. The bathroom is lit with candles because you don’t know how to fix the lamp without getting electrocuted. Clothes on the floor because your one Ikea rack is full / no more free wire coat hangers from the dry cleaners. Tattoos and/or piercings are mandatory – there cannot be too many. Everything is tinted in a grey haze because it looks cooler this way. Praise the gloominess, praise the I-don’t-care, praise headache pills. If mom thinks the place is a mess she can clean the fuck up herself.
At least this is the picture drawn by director John Lee Siebert in his little film that he shot in a local apartment and rooftop for music act Submerse released by Berlin-based label Project: Mooncircle. What do you think? How spot on is he with his impression of the Berlin lifestyle? Well, maybe leave the dramatic plot twist toward the end of the short film out of the equation 😉 Enjoy the cool video after the jump.
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by Frank | Music, Videos
Last year around this time I was still very relaxed and the Christmas corners in the supermarkets annoyed me like most other people. But then I sat in our kitchen with a good friend and we came up with idea of an Advent calendar that contains real experiences instead of stale chocolate. What was said was done and relaxation was quickly replaced with excel-sheets, nights of filling paper bags and plenty of anticipation for the Holiday season. Although the KreuzbergKalender was a fairly improvised project in its first year, it was a surprisingly great success. Our handmade Advent calendars sold out quickly and plenty of friends and fans visited the events we hosted and created memories we still talk about.
Now December is approaching and we decided to give the KreuzbergKalender another go in 2012. But this time around we’d like to not only do it for our friends, but with all those cool kids interested in what’s new and exciting between Schillerkiez and Moritzplatz.
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by Lia | Art, Events, Kreuzberg, Neukölln
