Berlin Notes

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

It seems that Berlin's little polar bear Knut is becoming famous - judging by the number of people finding their way here from around the world. So here's a round-up of the latest pictures of Knut, the baby polar bear from Berlin, Germany. (Most of the pages linked are in German, but the photo, videos etc. are easy to find).

• Berlin's Zoo has a page full of Knut pictures and images here
• Knut's "homepage" - at local TV station RBB - is here
• Knut's blog (also at RBB) is here
• and there are some desktop backgrounds here
• A local newspaper, the Morgenpost, has another picture gallery here
• Another newspaper, the Tagesspiegel, also has a picture gallery here
• Yet another newspaper, Welt: here

Added: some recent amateur photos

Added: Youtube videos of Knut

Update: Knut is currently on show at the Zoo. He can be visited daily between 11am and 12pm, and 2pm - 3pm. Note that he won't be with the other polar bears; instead you can see Knut at the spectacled bears' enclosure (Brillenbärfreianlage). Just follow the crowds.

Added: recent Knut pictures

Update: get your very own Knut EC bank card from the Berliner Volksbank. More info (in German) here.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

It seems that Berlin's little polar bear Knut is becoming famous - judging by the number of people finding their way here from around the world. So here's a round-up of the latest pictures of Knut, the baby polar bear from Berlin, Germany. (Most of the pages linked are in German, but the photo, videos etc. are easy to find).

• Berlin's Zoo has a page full of Knut pictures and images here
• Knut's "homepage" - at local TV station RBB - is here
• Knut's blog (also at RBB) is here
• and there are some desktop backgrounds here
• A local newspaper, the Morgenpost, has another picture gallery here
• Another newspaper, the Tagesspiegel, also has a picture gallery here
• Yet another newspaper, Welt: here

Added: some recent amateur photos

Added: Youtube videos of Knut

Update: Knut is currently on show at the Zoo. He can be visited daily between 11am and 12pm, and 2pm - 3pm. Note that he won't be with the other polar bears; instead you can see Knut at the spectacled bears' enclosure (Brillenbärfreianlage). Just follow the crowds.

Added: recent Knut pictures

Update: get your very own Knut EC bank card from the Berliner Volksbank. More info (in German) here.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

"English Events in Berlin" in cooperation with Cinemasports is showing 15 short films from around the world in Neukölln. The showing starts at 8.30pm and will last about 1.5 hours, after which there'll be a party complete with DJ. Entry is €2. Location is the WAMOS loft at Hasenheide 9, 2nd Hinterhof, Aufgang 1.

See English Events in Berlin's website for more details.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

"English Events in Berlin" (link) will be holding their regular weekly Language Party on Wednesday, March 21 beginning at 7pm. As always entry is €1, there'll be an opportunity to exchange English language books and early-comers might snag some homemade hummus.

This week's feature will be concert fromRussian / Welsh duo (guitar & violin) "Future Free".

Location is the moored hostel ship Eastern Comfort close to Schlesisches Tor / Warschauer Straße - see their website or our information page for details on how to get there.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Big news just in - the incredibly famous Mr. Bean, aka Rowan Atkinson, will be at the Kulturkaufhaus Dussmann on Thursday, 22nd March, and will be available to sign things. From 6 to 7pm.

Some details (in German) here.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Travelers to / from Berlin's Schönefeld Airport beware: on the next three weekends the S-Bahn train link will be interrupted due to building work. Trains will still be running but there will be no direct connection between the airport and the city centre.

• March 16, 2007 (Friday), 10pm - March 19, 2007 (Monday), 1.30am
• March 23, 2007 (Friday), 10pm - March 26, 2007 (Monday), 1.30am
• March 30, 2007 (Friday), 10pm - April 2, 2007 (Monday), 1.30am

Passengers are advised to take the regional train (Regionalbahn) instead: these run every half-hour from Flughafen Berlin-Schönefeld Station.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

The pay strikes which have been threatening to close Berlin's threeAirports have been called off following agreements between the main service workers' union Verdi and the airport operators, Berlin Flughafen-Gesellschaft.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

"English Events in Berlin" are hosting their weekly party once again on Wednesday on the Eastern Comfort ship, moored on the Spree near Schlesisches Tor. This week's event features a salsa-ruida lesson beginning at 10pm. Cost is €1.

Further information on English Events in Berlin's website.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

The Reichstag's cupola (dome), a popular tourist attraction, will be closed to the public from today until Sunda, March 18, for cleaning. It will reopen on Monday, March 19. The roof terrace and restaurants will remain open.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Ever turned up at a bank or department store (typically early in the morning) and found the doors unexpectedly closed and adorned with a cryptic notice about a "Betriebsversammlung"? The dictionary will tell you it's a "company meeting", but companys have meetings all the time without having to close to the public, don't they? Well, a Betriebsversammlung is actually a legally-required meeting to inform employees about the situation in their company, and so no-one has to get up early or go home late, they're usually held during normal company hours, and include everyone. So doors closed.