Events in Berlin, January 21st - 23rd

 The boy who is also a magician

My friend Y. had once a blackout - he had forgotten the name of the most famous magician-boy in the world, and in his honour, some events (happening this week) and places (which are open most of the time) where Harry Potter fans can visit Berlin: 

• You can start off with a concert of music from "Harry Potter " in Potsdamer Platz , on Friday / Saturday at the Theater am Potsdamer Platz (details and tickets); by the way, if you will have missed it, there is also another concert with Harry Potter tunes in March in the "Mercedes Welt" , as well as a marathon of all movies in Babylon in two weeks

• Have you always dreamed of playing Quidditch in real life? Because the Quidditch Berlin team is holding an open day this coming Sunday (in the Eichkamp area of  Charlottenburg) and you can try your hand at the game. I have a feeling you will not be able to fly with a broom, but do enjoy 

• The Magic Museum in the Mitte area gives a bit of a tourist trap vibe, but that doesn’t stop it from being, well - a museum of magic themes. 

• The MitVergnügen website has 11 recommendations for places that, if you exercise your imagination well, are similar to places from the movies or books. To me, most similar is the Amtsgericht Mitte, but read the list and decide for yourself! 
• By the way, two places I would add to the list: Spandau's old town, which is quite similar in some of its alleys to Diagon Alley, and the castle's restaurant can in some of its corners definitely give the feeling that we're at the Leaky Cauldron. 

• And, admittedly not really in Berlin, but the Brieselang Forest is very, very "Harry Potter" in spirit 

• Whatever you do, don't go to Müggelsee (sorry, I had to. It is said that women become similar to their mothers as they get older, but at the level of jokes, I am definitely gender bending when it comes to dad-jokes) 

• And if you really need Harry Potter products, the " Sieben Königslande " store in Mitte (in the Hoffman courtyards on Oranienburger Str. 32, 10117 Berlin), specializes exclusively in everything you need, except a scar on your forehead 

In the meantime, with the Muggles 

• Flohmarkt @ Baergarten Market in Schoneweide  , Saturday from 12:00 (Schnellerstraße 137, 12439 Berlin) 

• Cleaning together in the Wuhlheide Park ( details ) and at Samariter Kiez in Friedrichshain  ( details ), both on Saturday

• Disco on Ice at Lankwitz on Saturday night ( details ); And if you're less into the ice skating, there's also a kids' disco in Sprungraum , the trampoline hall in Templehof 

• Sunday: The street food market of Kulturbrauerei ( Prenzlauer Berg)  and Winterzauber on the Wendeschloss beach in Koepenick ( details of the latter )

• I have no idea if this is really going to happen or is it some kind of comic event, but just in case it happens: The Pitcairn Islands (check the atlas) are celebrating "Bounty Rebellion Day" on Sunday, and will (reportedly) set a model ship on fire in James Simon Park in Mitte

Events for January 27th

And a somewhat sharp transition: January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day and ceremonies are expected all over Germany. 

This coming weekend: 

• On Sunday, an action by Hashomer Hatzair  Ken Berlin will take place. The little ones will take action online; Larger groups will hold a memorial service at one of Berlin's memorial sites (details: berlin@hashomerhatzair-eu.com) 

• Another ceremony will be held by the "Nevatim" organization that is somehow connected to the Jewish Agency, on Sunday afternoon ( details )

On Thursday: 

• At 12:00 you can hear an online lecture , by the Fritz Bauer Institute, entitled "Der kalte Blick. Letzte Bilder jüdischer Familien aus dem Ghetto von Tarnów" 

• At 15:00, a memorial service at Loeperplatz in Lichtenberg 

• At 19:30 at the Jewish Community House at Fasanenstr 78 ( details )

Activities, but under the duvet

Some more recommendations, for those who can not (or do not want to) leave the house, because of the weather / the corona / life-itself 

• A trip for children to South Africa courtesy of "SIVA", on Saturday at 11:00 

• How do you draw polar animals? It's a bit like a famous joke from art classes (a white horse drinking milk in the snow), but in an online SIVA course kids will be able to learn it (Sunday, 10:00) 

• Although already mentioned in the context of "International Holocaust Remembrance Day", Hashomer Hatzair's youth group meets online this week, and you can join by email berlin@hashomerhatzair-eu.com

Events in Berlin, January 14-16

The corona regulations are changing yet again, and as usual not in our favour ... As of Saturday, the following rules will apply:

• Restaurants are in G2 + conditions - that is, you should be recovered or vaccinated, and with testing. Exceptions: Those who received a booster, which is equivalent to a test. If you have a booster from another country, it is important to make sure that it is included in the German app.

• Important! This only applies to adults: “Up to and including the age of 18, children and young people are not subject to the 2G or the 2G + regulation. So they can accompany their parents in restaurants. "Children and young people between seven and eighteen years of age have to show a negative test result. A school ID card is also valid as test evidence until the winter holidays.

• Children and young people from the age of 6 can only enter museums and other attractions with a test or school ID.

• On public transport, the ride is with FFP2 masks.

Celebrating the Weekend Outdoors

• One last chance to enjoy the Tierpark light show, which closes on Sunday. 

• Only on Saturdays: The Flohmarkt @Baergarten, in Revier Südost in Schöneweide 

• And just so we'll have something to eat on Sunday as well: the street food market in the Kulturbrauerei is back, this coming Sunday.

Or rather, fun in heated spaces?

• Film music under the starry sky in the Planetarium (Prenzlberg), Sat 8 p.m.

• At FEZ, the "Just Play" program continues with suggestions for the whole family and children between the ages of 2-12 

Jewish Culture

• It's Tu BiShvat and the synagogues in Berlin will hold ceremonies on Sunday. Chabad are delivering "Tu Bishvat" kits (see image below) 

• The Fraenkelufer Synagogue is organising kids activity in the Gleisdreieck Park on Sunday (more information here); 

• On Sunday evening, there will be a virtual Seder Tu B'Shvat that is also suitable for those who do not live in Berlin, of the Fraenkelufer synagogue. Details

• Another event is organised by BASE Berlin and is more adult-oriented, who can join a TuBishvat mindfulness hike in Brandenburg, on Sunday. 

• If you also speak Hebrew, there are a couple of Tu-Bishwat events in Hebrew on my Hebrew blog. 

• High schools in Berlin are holding open days (virtual and with attendance) in the coming weeks, to help sixth- and fourth-graders in high school selections. Among other things, the Moshe Mendelssohn Jewish High School holds a virtual open day (Sunday)

Events for the weekend, January 7-9th

Unfortunately, the numbers continue to rise and this week there are several things that have changed online. Despite everything, there is still a lot to do in the city this weekend.

Christmas leftovers

There are still spectacular lights in the city (Potsdamer Platz, KuDamm and more), and of course there are the Tierpark and Botanical Garden light shows that come in on the last line (this is the last week for the botanical garden and the penultimate one in the Tierpark).

• Lights celebration in the Botanical Garden and in the Tierpark , daily from the afternoon, for an entrance fee, in the botanical garden until Sunday, January 9th, in the Tierpark until January 16th.

• You can still enjoy the magic of winter in "Winterzauber", in the Strandbad Wendenschloss (Köpenick), on Sunday 

Still Outside 

• The FEZ invites us: "Just play!". That is the name of the weekend program. Families with children from 2 to 12 years can enjoy themselves with various activities. Admission from € 3

• If you are more of a board game fan, you can also register for the "game afternoon" in the Hansa library and let the dice roll on Sunday afternoon

• And back to the Wuhlheide area: not far from the FEZ you can also find the Haus Natur und Umwelt, where you can bake waffle (s) together on Sunday afternoon (details)

• Weekend art sale at Atelier cocon coloré in Wedding (Amsterdamer Str 6), On Saturday (from 12:00) you will be able to find different works of art to take home with you. 

• And speaking of art: this weekend an exhibition will open at the Pavillon am Milchhof on the border of Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg (Schwedter Straße 232 10435 Berlin) which is part of the "Festival of Light Art". The exhibition, called LUX, features various artists and their versions of light art. Free entrance

Jewish Culture

• Hashomer Hatzair have decided to move their activity online. The groups will meet online on Sunday afternoon, you can get more information or join by mailing berlin@hashomerhatzair-eu.com 

• The film "Kiss me Kosher" will be screened on Saturday, with the director, as part of Queer Film Evenings in the Jewish Museum

• The opera "Hansel and Gretel" comes to the State Opera from Friday, recommended for ages 6+.