Berlin Notes: Events

Monday, February 26, 2007

The GDR is fast disappearing from Berlin's cityscape. If you want to get an impression of what East Berlin looked like before the Wall came down, check out the upcoming exhibition "East Berlin - The Last Decade" (German title: Berlin-Ost. Das letzte Jahrzehnt) at the Linden-Center out in Hohenschönhausen showing photos of everyday life between 1979 and 1989 by Thomas Uhlemann.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

New York, stark black and white street photography: the trademarks of photographer Arthur Fellig (1899 - 1968), commonly known by his pseudonym "Weegee". Beginning on Saturday 24th February (vernissage: 23rd February, 7pm) an exhibition at gallery C|O Berlin in the Postfuhramt (Oranienburger Straße) will show 217 photographs by Fellig from the Berinson Collection as well as documentary videos about the photographer and his work.

Fellig's nickname is said to derive from "Ouija" due to his seemingly uncanny knack of arriving at incident scenes just minutes after they occurred. This wasn't through some paranormal abilty though - he was the only New York newspaper reporter who was allowed to have a portable police-band shortwave radio.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Ravers at the 2006 Love Parade Good news for the Tiergarten: Berlin's (in)famous techno festival, the Love Parade, will not be taking place this year - the organisers cite administrative problems with the authorities and are considering taking the parade to another European city. This is the third year the Love Parade hasn't taken place: it was revived in 2006 under new management after a break in 2004 and 2005.

It's possible, but unlikely that some last-minute arrangement can be made to "rescue" the parade; if not it's probable some other dance event will take place around the same time.

Opinion: it's time for the Love Parade to be put to rest, by an injection at the vets if needs be. I went to the 2006 event (as an observer, I hasten to add - neon-coloured hairy leggings are really not my thing) and it was a pale shadow of its former self. At least a third of the "participants" were "normal" people who'd come to gawk like me, and there was even a elderly people being pushed around in wheelchairs, for heaven's sake.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

In recent years Berliners have witnessed the introduction of a strange ethnic festival to the German capital: yes, Fasching - carnival season - has come to town, brought in mainly by migrants from less cosmopolitan areas of the nation such as the Rheinland, particularly Cologne and Bonn. Fasching was virtually unknown in the city until the federal government moved here; since then it's become an event, but one which Berliners have not really taken into their hearts, which is understandable because it seems to involve very silly hats.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Swiss parfumiers LesNez Parfums d'Auteurs have written to say they are holding a perfume presentation and trial tomorrow (Saturday, September 23 from 2pm - 5pm) at the Grand Hotel Esplanade, presenting the latest creations by Isabelle Doyen from Annick Goutal. She will also be demonstrating some of the materials and ingredients used in perfume production.

Entrance is free; it's an informational event so there's no selling involved.

Further details (in German) available here.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

The Jewish Museum Berlin is celebrating its fifth anniversary on Wednesday (September 13). It's putting on a series of events between 10am and 10pm, including a range of tours, a children's rallye, a T-shirt workshop, live music, birthday cake, interviews with eyewitnesses, and a peek at the back of paintings. The museum's archive will also be presenting the bequest of Elisabeth Wust and Felice Schragenheim, who inspired the film "Aimée and Jaguar". Entrance to all events and exhibitions is free.

Monday, September 11, 2006

The Centrum Judaicum in the Oranienburgerstrasse is opening an exhibition with the title "Kickers, Fighters and Legends: Jews in German Football". Running until December 15, the exhibition will show the history of Jewish players in pre-war German football. Exhibits include film sequences, photos and historical artefacts such as postcards and pennants.

The Centrum Judaicum is located at (S-Bahn Oranienburger Strasse). The exhibition is open daily except Saturdays and Jewish high holidays from 10am. Closing times vary according to weekday and season; see the website for details.

Friday, September 8, 2006

The rail transport exhibition Innotrans is holding its traditional open weekend (Publikumstage at the Messe Berlin (Messegelände, Berlin's exhibition center) on the weekend of September 23 - 24, where the general public get to crawl all over the latest innovations in rail technology. There'll also be a real live steam engine there, although that presumably isn't one of the innovations.

Entrance is entirely free and gates are open from 10am - 6pm on both days. The location is the Frei- und Gleisgelände der Messe Berlin and access is via the Haupteingang Süd (main entrance south) in the Jafféstrasse, nearest station is Messe Süd (Station) (S75, S9). It'll probably be possible to follow the crowds from the station - Berliners love their traditional freebies and will probably turn up en masse. Note that this is also Berlin Marathon weekend, so it'll probably be easier to use public transport unless you're coming in from the west.

Some more information and photos of past events are available here (German only).

Thursday, September 7, 2006

The creator of the Multiverse, Terry Pratchett will be in Berlin on Tuesday September 12 to promote his lastest Disc World book Klonk!. He'll be reading from it (in English of course, though Klatchian is a possibility) at the Renaissance-Theater at Hardenbergstrasse 6, beginning at 8pm. Tickets are available by telephone at (030) 312 42 02.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

It's confusing enough having the Oktoberfest in September, but Berlin - being the innovative, forward-looking powerhouse of cool that it is, is having one beginning on the last day of August. That's right, today. Beginning at 6pm outsite the Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall) with the cermonial spiking of a 100 litre cask of beer. For those not willing to brave the Berlin summer weather, there's a tent with a 2,500 capacity. Experts predict the presence of large amounts of pretzels and white sausages as well as copious volumes of wheat beer. Lederhosen are not compulsory. The fun lasts for an entire week - get it while you can.

Top Tip: Bavarian beer is available from any decent Berlin Supermarket - you can hold an Oktoberfest in the privacy of your own home at any time of the year.