Wednesday 27 December 2017

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, December 29th - January 1st (including NYE in Berlin)

New Year's Eve in Berlin


New Year's Eve, or Silvester / Sylvester, as it is called in Germany, is the craziest night of this already quite bubbly city. Parties are literally everywhere - even your local Späti or Döner place is likely to put on some music etc. and fireworks are accessible for purchase from Thursday (December 28th) in the morning. 

For some, especially if you have some post-trauma or plainly dislike loud noises, it is unbearable. If it is not too late while reading these lines, seek a place as far as possible from city centre and other people, try to find refuge in a farm in Brandenburg, etc. 

For others, it is an experience of a lifetime. The main public party, is in Brandenburg Gate, attracting something like 1-million guests. The police usually stops people from coming at some point, so if you want to be there, make sure to come early (and I mean early, like 7pm) and stay in the compound the whole night. 






However, any public square will be filled with celebration and fireworks, some more organised (Gendarmenmarkt), some spontaneous. Literally any bridge in the city will provide nice view of the fireworks. This is also time to find those friends with the nice penthouse. 

For those of you who want to go to sleep early (or have kids who have to), the fireworks in Breitscheidplatz will not only be at midnight, but also earlier - 6pm, 8pm and 10pm. Of course, also at midnight. 

The clubs and the bars are humming, of course. There is a long listing of parties on Resident Advisor, but if you don't know the club well, choose one that would actually fit you, as many will probably first of all use their guestlists and presold tickets. If there are any tickets/places left, parties on high places are really great for a view of the fireworks: Weekend in Alexanderplatz, Monkey Bar in Bikini25, Puro in Europa Centre, Solar near Anhalter Bahnhof, etc. 

A few other events : 




Furthermore... 

  • One of the other German traditions during NYE is to have objects that are linked with good luck for the upcoming year: four-leaf clovers, horseshoes or chimney sweeps. On Saturday, December 30th, chimney sweeps will spread the luck by giving children chocolates in the Schönhauser Allee Arkaden (from 12:00)  

  • Sport: The Silvesterlauf is a funrun on NYE in Grunewald, with costumes and a lot of hillarity. There is a children course as well. 

Silvesterlauf (source: the organisers)


And the New Year's Run



  • Museums and Casltes
    • Every Saturday: guided tour for families (in German) in the Museum of Natural History
    • And also event Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology

  • Music: 
    • Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum






About Me




I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in

Wednesday 20 December 2017

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, December 22nd - 26th (Incl Christmas in Berlin)



Merry Christmas!!!






What's Open on the 24th

Christmas Eve is known for being, unlike the usual condition in Berlin, pretty quiet. Only a few museums will be open on this day, no supermarkets (except for those usually available on Sunday) and also most Christmas markets, will be closed. 

What's open (and what's not): 


  • The Flea Market in Mauerpark is Closed , I think most Sunday flea markets will be closed, although I haven't checked all 50-something markets in Berlin
  • Museums: Open: 
    • DDR Museum 10 - 8pm 
    • Haus am Checkpoint Charlie 9:00 - 10pm 
    • Computer Games Museum 10 - 3pm 
    • Spandau Citadel 10 - 5pm
    • All of the rest are closed on the 24th, but most will be open on the 25th/26th 



  • Christmas Markets: Relatively many markets in Berlin continue after the holiday, a few are also open on the 24th: 
    • Gendarmenmarkt, 11 - 6pm 
    • Breitscheidplatz, 11-2pm 
    • Potsdamer Platz, 10-2pm 


  • Christmas is of course a religious holiday and you'll be able to find services in any church. One less conventional service is ran by the Berliner Stadtmission in the Hauptbahnhof, on Christmas Eve, December 24th, at 10pm 

  • Otherwise, there are parties... because Berlin is never asleep, not even in the quiet night of the 24th. Full listing in RA . Among the more prominent parties: Ritter Butzke (Electro); SO36 (Kurdish, Mediterranean and more, with donations to LGBTQ*s in Egypt); Bassy (60s revival)


Furthermore



    • One of the finest Christmas traditions around Berlin is the annual Christmas singing at the Alte Foersterei, FC UNION's grounds. The singing is usually totally sold out, though you might strike lucky. It is on TV this year, becoming so popular ....





    • Museums and Casltes
      • Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology

    • Music: 
      • Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum


      Jewish Traditions

      Well, usually I write here about all kinds of Jewish events, and American-Jews have this unique tradition, easy to keep up with in Berlin: both cinemas and the Vietnamese Market (Dong Xuan) are open on December 24th, offering a perfect Heiligabend


      Phở, a traditional Jewish-German soup for Heiligabend
      (Vietnamese: Stop this cultural appropriation!)


      Later in the week...


      • Rollerdisco in SO36, on Wednesday: Kids from 5pm, adults from 7pm 





      About Me






      I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in

      Wednesday 13 December 2017

      Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, December 15th - 17th (Third Advent)

      Christmas Markets

      This week, too, the Christmas Markets will be on full steam! 




      A few unique recommendations for the weekend: 



      • A special BiteClub for Christmas, on Friday from 6pm, in Q206 (Friedrich/Jaegerstr) 


      • Around the Samariterkirche in Friedrichshain 
      • The Green Market in the Rundfunkhaus on Nalepastr , features vegan products for the holiday; Sat/Sun 




      • Handmade and local: the market in the Heynhöfe in Pankow, on Saturday and Sunday, the courtyards between Heynstraße 12 and 15, 13187 Berlin, not horribly far from the Pankow station 



      •  Holy.Shit.Shopping, a designer market with a DJ and party-like atmosphere, in the Arena, Sat/Sun (Admission EUR 5) 




      Furthermore


        • More Christmas: 








        • Museums and Casltes
          • Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum. 
          • Workshop for families in the Bauhaus Archive, Sunday, 11:00 

        • Music: 
          • Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum

        • Markets and Food: 
          • The flea markets go on at the weekend, alongside the Christmas Markets
          • A special Christmas Breakfast Markt in Markthalle IX, on Sunday 

        Hanukkah!

        • Still looking for special Sufganyot? Yes, we all know that Pfannkuchen are basically the same thing, but chef Yuval Belans offers special boutique Sufganyot for your perfect Hannukkah
        Yuval's yummy looking Sufganyot

        • Every Day
          • At 6:30 pm Chabad Chanukkiya Lightning in Brandenburg Gate (the big ceremony was on December 12th) 




        • Wednesday, December 13th, 
        • Thursday, December 14th


        • Friday, December 15th
          • Hanukkah + Christmas in Gordon, 6:00 


        • Saturday, December 16th 
          • Chabad will light the Menorah in Alexanderplatz (near Galeria Kaufhof) at 7:30 

        • The Hanukkah Ball at the Grand Hyatt (for 18+), tickets are already sold out, but you can try your luck 
        • Sunday, December 17th 
        • And at 6:30, Chanukkah on Ice at the Wilmersdofer Str Stadion (you can rent shoes on the spot)
        • On Tuesday, December 19th, the wonderful Bubales will be doing their Hanukkah show in Fraenkelufer! (4:30 pm) 




        Later in the week...







        About Me






        I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in

        Wednesday 6 December 2017

        Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, December 8th - 10th (Second Advent)

        Christmas Markets

        This week, too, the Christmas Markets will be on full steam! 




        A few unique recommendations for the weekend: 


        • The market in Richardplatz in Rixdorf (between the Neukölln and the Karl-Marx-Str train stations) is well known for its traditional beauty and stands as a market, in which many of the stands are by charities and non-profits and are meant to collect donations. Fair warning though: pretty crowded, Friday through Sunday. 
        • Urban Spree runs a Scandinavian Christmas Market on Friday and Saturday (not Sunday!) , free of charge in the daytime, admission fees in the evenings. 



        • Also Southwest: in Kladow on Sat/Sun 
        • And there is also a Christmas Market around the Samariterkirche in Friedrichshain
        • A beautiful indoor designer market, in the German Historical Museum in Unter den Linden, Thu through Sun; can be combined with the fair in Alexanderplatz (which also includes a skating rink, free of charge) or the one around St. Hedwig's, which is very magical. 
        • If you're more into interesting designer items, go to Bikini25 for Sat/Sun, with a variety of new designs for Christmas , not far from Breitscheidplatz 
        • Christmas market in the Naturhof Malchow, Sunday, from noon 
        • There is also a Organic Market in Kollwitzplatz on Sunday, not far from the beautiful market in the Kulturbrauerei 


        Furthermore


          • More Christmas: 



          • Museums and Casltes
            • Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum.
            • A guided tour in the Charlottenburg Castle , Sunday 3:00 (details)

          • Music: 
            • Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum
            • The "Clown Concert" features not only classical music for kids, but also clown entertainment - Saturday, 3:30, Philharmonie 





            • Miscellaneous markets: the Sneacon calls itself the World's Largest Sneaker Market... Arena, Saturday





              Hebrew / Israeli / Jewish Heritage - Hanukkah!

              Hanukkah will start on December 12th, and plenty of events will follow! 



              • Still looking for special Sufganyot? Yes, we all know that Pfannkuchen are basically the same thing, but chef Yuval Belans offers special boutique Sufganyot for your perfect Hannukkah
              Yuval's yummy looking Sufganyot


              • Sunday, December 10th - Hanukkah Bazaar in the JCC on Fasanenstr. 78, and for the Pestalozzistr Synagogue 
              • Tuesday, December 12th, First Candle  
                • At 6:30 pm the big annual Chabad Chanukkiya Lightning in Brandenburg Gate 




              • Wednesday, December 13th, 

              • Saturday, December 16th 
                • Chabad will light the Menorah in Alexanderplatz (near Galeria Kaufhof) at 7:30 

                • The Hanukkah Ball at the Grand Hyatt (for 18+), tickets are already sold out, but you can try your luck 
              • Sunday, December 17th 
                • And at 6:30, Chanukkah on Ice at the Wilmersdofer Str Stadion (you can rent shoes on the spot)
              • On Tuesday, December 19th, the wonderful Bubales will be doing their Hanukkah show in Fraenkelufer! (4:30 pm) 



              About Me






              I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in

              Wednesday 29 November 2017

              Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, December 1st - 3rd (First Advent)

              Christmas Markets and Other Events for the First Advent

              The big Christmas Markets are out and open daily. The last of them, the one in Landsberger Allee (near the IKEA) is opening today, with 180 booths and rides. 

              Landsberger Allee


              There are, however, a few small markets that are open only at this weekend: 

              • The Japanese-Korean Christmas Market features stands with design articles, food and more from Japan and Korea. It is located in Karl-Marx-Allee 93, 10243 Berlin (the former Kosmos near the Computer Games Museum, in U5 Weberwiese), on Sat/Sun, 12:00 - 10:00pm; entry for EUR 3 . A nearby more permanent market worth mentioning is the Historic Market in the RAW Tempel 


              • If you're planning to go to the famous market in the Old City of Spandau, consider also visiting the fire brigade further north (on Triftstraße 8, 13585 Berlin; walking distance, says Google) , the fire-fighters are holding a small fair of their own, with option to see the engines and fulfil all of the Christmas wishes of Friends of Sam. Sunday, 12:00 - 6:00 
              • The Weihnachtsrodeo is an indoor designer Christmas market, with plenty of quality street food and DJs , Sat/Sun in the Kühlhaus (Luckenwalder Str. 3, near the Technical Museum and not far from Gleisdreieck). There are probably admission fees, but the organisers haven't revealed that secret info yet. 


              More markets just for the weekend: 


              • In the Späth’sche Baumschulen : the big tree-nursery in Treptow is running a small market on all weekends, including kids activities (Späthstraße 80/81, 12437 Berlin, bus 170 from S-Baumschulenweg or from U7 Blasckkoallee) 



              Furthermore


              • Museums and Casltes
                • Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum. On this Sunday: also a tour in English, at 3:30 

              • Music: 
                • Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum
                • Musical instruments workshop at the Klingendes Museum, Sat 2;30 


                • Markets and Food: 
                  • All of the regular flea markets and the addition of the Christmas Markets doesn't make the choice easy... but there are also 
                  • The Naschmarkt in Markthalle IX is dedicated to sweet Christmas goodies, including a Christmas bakery for kids and many options to try the stuff out. Sunday, from 12pm 


                Hebrew / Israeli / Jewish Heritage 




                Later in the week...







                About Me






                I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in

                Wednesday 22 November 2017

                Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, November 24th - 26th

                Sunday - Another Mourning Day

                Flea markets will be closed on Sunday, due to "Totensonntag", Sunday of the Dead. 


                Christmas Markets and other Seasonal Events

                Officially Christmas Markets will only open from Monday, November 27th, and this is also due to the abovementioned day of mourning . But a few fairs and markets exist already. 

                • The Winter World is not a Christmas Market (at least officially, which, why it opens so early). Unofficially, it is exactly what it is - a Christmas Market without Christmas, but with winter sports, decorations, stands and typical seasonal food. Lots of fun, free admission. Potsdamer Platz, until Dec 31st - closed on this Sunday 

                • Another non-Christmas-Market event, is the Chrismas Garden in the Botanical Gardens. This is the second year of this special event, featuring special light installations and all kinds of attractions, in the Botanical Gardens. The admission is rather on the pricey side, but the event is so spectacular, that I would recommend it. Open also on Sunday. 





                • The Spaeth Nursery also opened a pre-Christmas event: The Christmas Village is open between Tuesday and Friday and features all kinds of activities for the whole family. The weekends will be enriched with a Christmas Market, but also from December 2nd. 

                • Another not-Christmas-Market-at-all is taking place in the Nikolai Quarter, under the name Die Feuerzangenbowle (after a classic German film, that will be also shown). Starting this Friday, it is a tiny thing featuring 5-6 stalls with mulled wine and of course - movie screening in the open air, including this Sunday 
                • Domaene Dahlem also have a market at the weekend. 
                • There is a small traditional Finnish Bazaar in the Finnish Cultural Centre in Kreuzberg on Saturday/Sunday  

                • Last but not least for the weekend Christmas Market list, is the market in the Holzmarkt 25, with plenty of cool stuff to do . 





                Thanksgiving

                American expats (and friends) may celebrate Thanksgiving this week 


                And if we're into American traditions, what about Black Friday? There are some sales (in most shopping centres and on Amazon), but basically, don't expect the level of hysteria or violence that this date is notorious for. Nobody cares, and das ist auch gut so

                Image result for black friday SIMPSONS

                Furthermore



                  • Puppet Theatre Festival throughout the weekend at the FEZ



                  • Museums and Casltes
                    • Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum. On this Sunday: also a tour in English, at 3:30 

                  • Music: 
                    • Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum
                    • The "Town Musicians of Bremen" is a children-opera, after the famous fairy-tale. At the Komische Oper, Sunday 11:00 and 4pm , libretto in German and Turkish 

                    A donkey, a dog, a cat and a chicken: Town Musicians of Bremen









                    About Me






                    I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in

                    Wednesday 15 November 2017

                    Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, November 17th - 19th

                    Sunday - Memorial Day

                    German Memorial Day is on Sunday and is one of two days (the other one is next Sunday) that are declared "Days of Mourning", where public fests are not allowed (the exact term is Tanzverbot). The meaning for most Berliners or visitors is that flea markets are closed on Sunday. There are also no other public fairs, for example, the Winterworld in Potsdamer Platz. 

                    If you're interested in official events, there will be ones in most military cemeteries. 


                    Furthermore

                    • More Funfairs and Street Parties
                      • Christmas and "Seasonal Markets" - The Winter World is not a Christmas Market (at least officially, which, why it opens so early). Unofficially, it is exactly what it is - a Christmas Market without Christmas, but with winter sports, decorations, stands and typical seasonal food. Lots of fun, free admission. Potsdamer Platz, until Dec 31st . As mentioned before, not on this Sunday, though (Saturday - open) 


                      • Another non-Christmas-Market event, is the Chrismas Garden in the Botanical Gardens. This is the second year of this special event, featuring special light installations and all kinds of attractions, in the Botanical Gardens. The admission is rather on the pricey side, but the event is so spectacular, that I would recommend it. Open also on Sunday. 

                      • The Spaeth Nursery also opened a pre-Christmas event: The Christmas Village is open between Tuesday and Friday and features all kinds of activities for the whole family. The weekends will be enriched with a Christmas Market, but also from December 2nd. 
                      • The Bakers Association of Berlin invites the public to a Stollen Fest on Friday in the Mall of Berlin. Leave some for me, will you? 
                      • Another not-Christmas-Market-at-all is taking place in the Nikolai Quarter, under the name Die Feuerzangenbowle (after a classic German film, that will be also shown). Starting this Friday, expect the regular Christmas-Market fare as well as movie screening in the open air, including this Sunday 
                      • Last but not least for the weekend Christmas Market list, is the market in the Holzmarkt 25, with plenty of cool stuff to do . 






                    • Open Day at the Tempelhof Airport Building, including guided tours. Kids can enjoy the Cabuwazi Circus, Saturday, from 12:00 


                    • Museums and Casltes
                      • Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum. On this Sunday: also a tour in English, at 3:30 
                      • Workshop for families, in the Bauhaus Archive, Sunday, 11:00 - 2:00 
                      • Workshops for families in the Bröhan Museum, Sunday 11:00 
                      • A guided tour through the German Historical Museum, for families with kids aged 8 and over, Sunday, 2:00 
                      • A guied tour for children with the "Castle Dragon" in the Marmorpalais (Marmor Palace) in Potsdam, Sunday 2:30 

                    • Music: 
                      • Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum
                      • Musical instruments workshop at the Klingeldes Museum, Saturday, 3 pm 

                    • Markets and Food: 
                      • Breakfast Market in Markthalle IX, with the theme of Dia de Muertos





                    Hebrew / Israeli / Jewish Heritage 




                    Later in the week...



                    Thanksgiving

                    American expats (and friends) may celebrate Thanksgiving this week 








                    About Me






                    I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in