photo: Marco Förster
It’s that time of the year again! To be exact, it’s the end of that time of the year.
New Year’s Eve is just around the corner and if you’re anything like us: You don’t have anything planned yet. Berlin is bursting with opportunities to transition into the new year. With all these offers, it’s hard to know the Do’s and Don’ts of the festivities of the year. Luckily, we made a selection for all sorts of different types of New Year’s Eve. Whether you feel like a fancy dinner, going outside into the fields of flying firecrackers, dancing at some major parties or just staying home, hiding from the fuss: We got your back! With our suggestions for each kind of evening you won’t miss a thing. Have a blissful year’s ending, we hope to see you healthy and happy in the new year ahead. “Guten Rutsch!” Read on…
by Yasmin | Events, Party
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!
Read on…
by Kate | Market
photo: Mobile Kino
In the summer of 2009, brothers Joel and Joshua Alas decided to invest some money in a digital projector with plans to start their own open-air film night. What resulted from the little open-air screening in the Lessinghöhe Park in Neukölln was what we now know as Mobile Kino. The digital age has hit cinemas, and as 35mm projections began to fade away, we lost some of the magic of the movies. So, the Mobile Kino crew (comprised of a team of Berlin projectionists, cinema managers and programmers) decided to step in and create an HD digital cinema-on-wheels in the form of a beautiful Christiania transport bike. Over the years, the project has evolved working with a variety of partners, filmmakers and guest programmers; working with filmmakers directly or German distributors to ensure their proceeds go to the right people. Also iHeartBerlin has teamed up with the guys from Mobile Kino for basically all of their film events including the Berlin Film Nights and the Cinéma de Mode. Click on to find out more about this project that has become a household name among movie-lovers, and see which screenings you can catch this month.
Read on…
by Skylar | Events, Movies
Peachbeach, Urban Spree, 2014
Berlin is a mecca for street art murals, thanks to its many abandoned places and empty fire walls all over town. Obviously this attracts many artists who come here to find huge canvases for their work and a freedom of expression that they might not have where they come from. In Berlin the people have an openness, even an eagerness for all the different genres of art and they especially enjoy it when it’s out in the public for everyone to see. I think I have never been in another city in the world where street art murals have achieved a similar status as the normal sights of a city that people come to see here.
Wall Dialogue was a group exhibition at Neurotitan Gallery that showcased the work of 11 graffiti and street artists from Berlin (and one guest artist) who are mainly known for their large-size murals here in Berlin but also work in other cities all over the world. We have checked up on the artists and collected some of their murals here in Berlin, some of which still exists while others have been painted over already. Enjoy our new set of amazing artworks on the walls of Berlin after the jump.
Read on…
by Frank | Art
Berlin-based photographer Yuto Yamada has two favorite objects for his camera: Berlin and the city where he comes from: Tokyo. For his ongoing series Berlin Raw he is taking us on a journey to the dirty and abandoned side of Berlin with all its graffitis, decay and destruction. It’s a total contrast to his otherwise very futuristic and shiny photos of Tokyo’s illuminated skyscrapers. It’s exactly this contrast that is the appeal for Yamada. Get an impression of some his Berlin rawness after the jump.
Read on…
by Frank | Photos
Yasmin May Jaafar
Wow, what a load of fun this year’s Pictoplasma festival was! We loved the new venue at the former Crematorium in Wedding now titled “silent green” and the main show (that was good, but maybe a bit small?) and even more so did we love the Academy All-Stars show at Urban Spree! Character design has always been something that deeply fascinates me and so all the creatures, monsters and critters doing funny things just make my heart jump like a candy bar does for a little kid. Enjoy my impressions of the group exhibition at Urban Spree after the jump.
Read on…
by Frank | Art, Photos
No other abandoned building became such an iconic representative for the mysterious past of Berlin like the former NSA station at Teufelsberg. On top an 80 meter artificial hill (made out of war detruits) in the Grunewald forest on the west edge of the city, this very impressive building is a strong recall of strategic importance of Berlin in the cold war. Several photo excursion, short clips and art projects are proof who much the collective imaginative is empowered by the fading architecture of this place. One really nice artistic dedication to this monument is the Teufelsberg series that was previously exhibited at Urban Spree Gallery. It is a set of 19 hand painted originals created by several Berlin street artist on a black-and-white screen print of the iconic Berlin-Teufelsberg landscape designed by Chrisse Kunst. The entire set comes after the jump.
Read on…
by Claudio | Art, Galleries
Ave Maria
It’s Oscar season again, and as the eagerly anticipated and globally televised event airs on February 28, 2016. Mobile Kino will be giving Berliners two special screenings of the short films in competition. The Oscars have narrowed down hundreds of internationally submitted short films to just 10, and Mobile Kino will be holding events at Babylon Mitte for you to experience them projected onto a big screen. The shorts program is divided into two categories: Live Action and Animation. The 5 animation shorts will be screened on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at 20h and the 5 live action films will be screened on Monday, February 29, 2016 at 20h. Click on to see the trailers of these innovative stories.
Read on…
by Skylar | Events, Movies, Videos
The holiday season is upon us, and the atmosphere in Berlin couldn’t be more unique and lively this time of year, thanks to the gorgeous Christmas markets sprawled across the city. These markets give our city a distinctive spirit during the holidays, and there’s a lot more to them than Glühwein (not to understate Glühwein though; we seriously wait all year for that stuff). Whether you’re in search of the perfect gift or just want to be a part of the festivities, it goes without saying that Christmas markets are a fundamental part of the German holiday tradition. From one end of Berlin to the other, you will find a profusion of markets in various sizes with varying products. So how do you choose the ones worth visiting? If you’re lucky enough to be in Berlin this time of year, market hopping is a must, so we’re giving you a run down of the top Christmas markets to check out; some classics, some exciting new concepts. Find our selection of Christmas markets and special events after the jump. Read on…
by Skylar | City Guide, Events, Places
Vidam
If there is one thing certain about the Urban Spree gallery in Friedrichshain it’s that they will always deliver about their exhibition. Few galleries manage to be so consistant about their style while still being always full of fun and surprises.
The new group exhibition opening tonight curated by the artist duo behind the collective Peachbeach is one more example for Urban Spree’s genious choices of arists. They got all their favorite fellow artists together to create a spectacular show and of course yet another huge mural that is going to cover the outside of the gallery. Apart from Vidam and Look from Peachbeach there will also be the work of DXTR,BASE23, Mike Friedrich, Martin Krusche, Deedee Kid, John Reaktor and Zipper die Rakete. After the jump you will see a preview of the show, but make sure to come by the vernissage tonight as there is going to be quite the party going on.
Read on…
by Frank | Art, Friedrichshain, Galleries
