Events in Berlin, June 10 - 12

Shavuot in Berlin

Shavuot (called Schawuot in German) is that one Jewish holiday that is not based on the old Woody Allenesque adage of "they tried to kill us, they failed, let's eat". This festive occasion is actually a celebration of inclusion (at the focus of the Biblical story: Ruth, a refugee, and her integration into society), and a celebration of the summer harvest of wheat, the new fruits and therefore even vegetarian-friendly. 

There are several Shavuot Events in Berlin. One of the most interesting ones are organised by Elements of Food and Habait : 

• On both days there will be a pop-up vegetarian restaurant at the Botanico Restaurant in Rixdorf (details)

• On Saturday and Sunday, at 5 pm, there will be tours in English through Rixdorf, ending with a meal at Botanico (details) 

• And on the night between Saturday and Sunday, Tikkun, an intellectual debate , from 8:30 PM till 2 AM (details) 

The Jewish Museum offers a special guided tour on Sunday, aimed at families with children aged 6 and up and with a special Shavuot context. In the end of the tour, the children will get to do paper flowers, following the tradition of covering the house with flowers in Shavuot (full details)

Bambinim will hold two Shavuot events for kids on Sunday:

• On Sunday, 9:30 am - at the Rykestr Synagogue (donation based) 
• On Sunday, 3 - 6 pm - at their centre in Charlottenburg (Brandenburgische Str) , EUR 4 p, P 

These are not the only Shavuot events in Berlin. Several synagogues will also hold a Tikkun (at Pestalozzistr., Joachimstaler Str., Passauer Str, Chabad Alexanderplatz and Oranienburger Str) and there is also a celebration at the Jewish Grade School, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the school.

Long Night of Science

Another "Long Night" in Berlin, this time the event is dedicated to the city's many research facilities and enables us to see science in action. Many of the activities are suitable for children.

Saturday, all around berlin
http://www.langenachtderwissenschaften.de/

Furthermore

• Sat/Sun Arts and crafts festival near Schloss Schönhausen in Pankow

• Saturday, 2-5pm, Family Saturday in the Haus am Waldsee, dedicated to modern/contemporary arts. 

• Saturday from 1 pm, garden party at Nirgendwo (details)

• Saturday from 1 pm, also an open day at the Humboldt Forum construction site, including a "Harp Flash Mob" 

• All weekend long: Medieval festival in Schloss Britz (details, public transport: U7 Parchimer Allee) 

• Sunday, 1pm, a workshop for families with children aged 6 and up, around the Lee Miller exhibition in Martin Gropius Bau, titled "Portraits – Abseits von Germany‘s Topmodel Öffentlicher Workshop für Familien und Kinder (ab 1. Klasse) zur Ausstellung „Lee Miller – Fotografien“ 

• This is the last weekend for the traditional "Steglitzer Festwochen". In Bäkepark , a walking distance from S Lichterfelde Ost (S2  and S25) 

Markts Etc

• Saturday, the designer market in Karnoldplatz (Neukoelln) 

• The Street Food Market, at the Kulturbrauerei

Meanwhile in Brandenburg...

• Fri/Sat/Sun - The "Medieval" Weberfest in Weberplatz in Babelsberg (five minutes walk from the S-Babelsberg Station, details) 

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. 

Events in Berlin, June 3rd - 5th, 2016

Jewish Heritage Events

The Jewish High School on Grosse-Hamburger-Str will celebrate on Sunday (12 to 3 pm) with a Hoffest, supposedly also for Yom Yerushalaim (Jerusalem Day). 

Moreover, Shavuot is next week, and while the events will be only published in this blog (hopefully) in the next weekend, the main event is so fabulous it would be really a shame to miss: A pop-up restaurant in Rixdorf and more, here. 

Furthermore

• From Thursday and until June 12th: African Culture Festival in Alexanderplatz. 

• A children event at the Humboldt University main courtyard, Friday from 3 pm 

• Saturday afternoon: music workshops at the Klingendes Museum

• Also on Saturday: Street-Fair in Österreichpark (not far from the Mierendorffplatz U7)

• All weekend long: The Berlin Air Show, ILA, which includes aeroplanes and aircraft of all types, including - as you can see - information about space travel. At the exhibition grounds near Schoenefeld, which was supposed to be used (oh, the irony!) for BER. Shuttle buses from Schoenefeld and Rudow train stations. 

התערוכה האווירית (צילום: המארגנים)

• On both weekend days: A fest at the Hafenkueche Restaurant in Rummelsburg (Lichtenberg)

• Another event will take place on the KuDamm: A Classic Car exhibition

• Open air gallery at the Oberbaumbruecke, Sunday June 5th , for free

• Also on Sunday, 1 pm: the workshop "Abseits vom Schein: Mach Dich hübsch! Öffentlicher Workshop für Familien und Kinder (ab 1. Klasse) zur Ausstellung „Isa Genzken: Mach Dich hübsch!“" at the Martin Gropius Bau. 

• The Naschmarkt in Markthalle IX, Sunday 

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. Contact Me. 

Events in Berlin, April 29st - May 1st, 2016

Jewish Heritage: Mimouna Parties in Berlin

The Mimouna does not belong originally to German-Jewish tradition. This tradition, which originated in Morocco, marks the end of Passover by eating lots of sweets, mostly made from Chametz that was stored in the Muslim neighbours' houses (more in Wikipedia). In any case, while this is not an original Berlin tradition, there is no reason why it should be celebrated in the capital of Multikulti. 

And so, there are in fact several places in Berlin where you can celebrate Mimouna this year. It is actually traditional to do some party-hopping, visiting more than one party in the evening

• Sat, April 30th, 8 pm, in Kanaan (Kopenhagener Str. 16, 10437 Berlin,  S+U Schönhauser Allee) details

• Sat, April 30th, 9:30 pm, at the Fraenkelufer Synagogue (U Kottbusser Tor), with desserts provided by the awesome Eivgy kosher Moroccan restaurant in Berlin. details

Mimouna at Fraenkelufer

• Sat, April 30th, 11pm, at the Chabad House on Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 34 . The reason for the very late hour is that the ultra-fromm Chabad don't want to start cooking until 9:30, when Passover is officially over. 

Lubavicher Mufleta

By the way, there used to be a similar German-Jewish tradition called Rumpelnacht. Since there weren't any Muslim neighbours to store the Chametz with (and the Christian neighbours were not always as neighbourly), the essence of this tradition is totally different: it is the night, in which the family changes the dishes (from Passover dishes to Chametz dishes), lots of quick work and eating is supposed to be done with light food, outside the house, although I did find this lovely recipe for a Rumpelnacht Cake . There is, though, a very German aspect of the Rumpelnacht (besides Ordbung muss sein, that is): First thing the men of the house would do with the end of the holiday is run off to drink beer, forbidden as Chametz in Passover. It was even recognised as Havdalah Wine, for this occasion.

May Day

May Day is this year on a Sunday, and unfortunately unlike other countries, there is no bank holiday on Monday to compensate the working class of cheating them out of an extra day-off. But still, expect the regular May Day festivals, including the big MyFest party in SO36 (Eastern Kreuzberg). This party is in fact so popular, that it might be a little too much for parents of younger children (or those who tend to get lost). 

http://www.myfest36.de/

A street party, a demonstration, and a little of both: MyFest in Kreuzberg

Walpurgisnacht, April 30th

Back to Saturday night, because there is not only Mimouna going on, but also "The Night of the Witches", Walpurgisnacht. 

The Kulturbrauerei will have a party (starting at 10pm), with a bonfire, but there are also children events, e.g. a ride with the FEZ Parkeisenbahn , which witches stories, sausage and some fizzy drink .  details and registration

Furthermore

• The "Gallery Weekend Berlin" will open on Friday (till Sunday). Openings, special events and more - some also suitable to bring children to tag along 

• Also opening on Friday (but staying longer) is the Neukoellner Maientage funfair in Hasenheide (U Hermannplatz). There will be shows, rides, funfair food and such. Until May 25th, everyday (on Wednesdays rides for half price). 

Neukoellner Maientage

• The Berlin Reads festival in Bebelplatz provides an open air free library and on Sunday, with family day details

• Fri/Sat/Sun - "Art and Wine" street-party in Lichtenrade. details

Art and Wine in Lichtenrade

• Fri/Sat/Sun : Watersport fair and exihibition in Gruenau (close to the train station with the same name), there are admission fees (EUR 2 for adults) 

• Sat: Vegan bake sale in Herrfurthplatz (Neukoelln, near Bodinstr). 

• And more food: the street food market at the Kulturbrauerei, Sunday 11:00 - 18:00 

Brandenburg: Baumblütenfest in Werder

The town of Werder, just west of Potsdam, celebrates the Baumblütenfest From Saturday and until May 8th. Including beautiful flowers, a "queen", rides, food and music. 

Baumblütenfest

Until May 8th, in Werder (Havel), get there by using the RE1 from Berlin's main staitons. 

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. Contact Me. 

Events in Berlin, April 8th - 10th, 2016

It's Almost Passover

It's almost Passover (this year conveniently for those who actually work/study, on a Friday, April 22nd). On Sunday, the Jewish Museum will run the workshop In der Mazzebäckerei, where kids will also get the opportunity to bake a handmade Mazzo. 

Sunday, 11:00, at the Jewish Museum, EUR 3 for participation + admission fee for the adults. 

Markets, Everywhere... 

Spring has begun and there are nice markets all over the weekend. 

• The Archenhold Observatory will hold an "Astro-Börse", a market for amateur astronomers, with family oriented activities and programme. Sat from 2pm , Free admission. 

• Sat/Sun at the Spandau Citadel, "Crafts and Arts" market, with historical atmosphere. EUR 3 admission, from 11:00 

Crafts and Arts Market in the Citadel

• The Neukoelln Flowmarkt on Sunday and a "Stoffmarkt" on Saturday, both in Maybachufer

• The Kulturbrauerei's Street Food market, Sun, 11:00 - 6:00 

• Rohvolution, a raw food fair at the FEZ, Sat/Sun, admission fees apply (EUR 7-9). details

Furthermore

• Saturday morning: Pankow's Spring Run, including a route for really young children (2009 and younger) and for older children (born in 2004 - 2008) details and registration

• Also on Saturday: free entertainment and activities at the Mercedes Welt, to celebrate the new Mercedes E (details) 

• Saturday, 11:00 - 6:00pm - Spring celebration in the Wedding community garden, himmelbeet (Ruheplatzstr. 12, 13347 Wedding, Berlin ), (details) 

• Sunday at 3:30 p,: the "Funny-Family-Mitmach-Sinfonie" concert, at the Philharmonie (tickets)

• The Herzgrün Festival offers free music at the weekend, including for young children, but tickets are all out. Perhaps you'd be lucky at the centre itself.

• Sunday: Cosplay, Manga and Anime convention in the Museum for Communication , free admission under 17 

Cosplayers (Wikipedia)

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. Contact Me. 

Weekend Events in Berlin, March 18 - 20 , including Purim Events

Purim 

Purim will be on March 23rd/24th this year. Some of the events, accordingly, will be listed in next week's listing. However, there is still quite a list for Purim Events in Berlin this week. 

• Saturday, March 19th - A Purim party for the youth members of Ha-Shomer Ha-Tzair and Noam (teens who are not members are also invited, registration and details: dikla@hashomer.de 

Teens Purim Party 

• Sunday, March 20th, between 11 and 2 pm : A Purim party for primary school aged children, at Bambinim West (Brandenburgische Str) including lunch and special activity by the primary school group of Hashomer Hatzair. 

• Monday, March 21st, a Bambinim purim party between 4:30 and 6 pm (at the West branch, Brandenburgische Str). 

• Wednesday, March 23rd, from 4:30 PM - Chabad East (Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 34, near S/U Alexanderplatz) organises children activities followed by Megillah reading 

• Wednesday from 5 pm, the Fraenkelufer Synagogue (in Kreuzberg, between U Kottbusser Tor and U Schoenleinstr.), together with Bambinim, and with a special reading of the book Die Schlaue Esther; of course followed by Megillah Reading and Hamantaschen

From "Die Schlaue Esther"

• Also on Wednesday at 5 pm: Megillah reading and kids activities at the Rykestr Synagogue (U Senefelder Platz). This Purim Party has an afterparty (for adults), starting at 10pm in ACUD (further information) 

• The Pestalozzistr Synagogue (U Deutsche Oper or S/U Charlottenburg/Wilmersdofer Str) will also start at 5pm, and there will be a magician as well as Megillah and Hamantaschen. 

Culinary Delights

Plenty of culinary activities this weekend:

• It starts with a popup Israeli gourmet restaurant (the organiser: "no hummus!", but believe me, lot's of really-really good food). Carmella was a legendary Tel Aviv chef restaurant, which will open on March 17th through 20th (for dinner, and at the weekend also for brunch). Highly recommended, (RESERVE A TABLE)

Fine Israeli/Local Dining: Carmella in Mitte

• The "Berliner Weisse Summit" fights against the image of the local Huguenot brew. Meet several small/craft breweries which are now restarting traditional methods of Weisse brewing (hint: no green syrup here!) - at Wilner Brauerei (Address: Berliner Str., 13189 Berlin , not far from  M13, M1 and tram 50 in Bornholmer Str/Schoenhauser Allee) - details

• Sat/Sun (March 19th/20th): The Green Market at Neue Heimat - a vegan fair with music, products and obviously, lots of yummi vegan food. 

• Breakfast and Vinyl, a market at Markthalle IX, this Sunday 

• And also at the Kulturbrauerei, with their regular street-food market, between 11 and 6pm. 

• Karl's Strawberry Farm, an amusement park based on the famous strawberry distributor, starts its season on Saturday, with a new slide and many other attractions. In Elstal, near the Outlet. (site) 

Furthermore

• Berlin Bike Weekend at the Station is a big bike fair, including lots of interesting events, as well as a big second hand market for bikes and more. There is children care and activities for children. (website)

Berlin Bike Fair

• The Charite organises an anual charity run "against cancer" in the Rehberge, Sunday morning including a course for kids aged 11 and up details and registration

•  Spring fair at the Domaene Dahlem, Sat, March 19th. 

• Sat at 2 pm, children Easter craft activities at the Britzer Garten (details) 

• Saturday in museums: craft workshops at the Bauhaus Archive (details) ; family tours in the Museum of Technology (details) ; and building a Mars Rover from Lego at the Archenhold Observatory (details) 

• Children aged 6 and up can experiment with different instruments at the Klingendes Museum , Sat at 3 pm (details) 

• The Brohan Museum will present workshops on Jazz posters for children on Sunday (details) 

• Under some pretext of an anniversary, Das Schloss in Steglitz will have fireworks this Saturday and events throughout the day. 

• Children flea market on Sunday, in Helmholzplatz 

• The first Easter market will open on Friday, at Alexanderplatz. Every day until April 3rd. 

Hebrew Culture

• Writer Eshkol Nevo will read from his books in BuchBund Neukoelln, Saturday evening (details) 

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. Contact Me. 

Weekend Events in Berlin, March 11 - 13

Purim

Purim is coming and the first sign might be the activities, this weekend, at the Jewish Musuem - the puppet show "Die Schlaue Esther" (Clever Esther) will be shown at 11:00 and 2 pm, including Hamantaschen. Registration at kinder@jmberlin.de 

The show will repeat again on the 27th at the Jewish Museum and during Purim in the Fraenkelufer Synagogue. 

More Jewish Events for the Family

• Bambinim will offer self-defence workshop for kids aged six and up on Sunday, between 12 and 3pm. In the Western Branch (Bambinim) 

• Also on Sunday: Hashomer Hatzair, with two groups, one for kids aged 7 to 12 and the other one for older teens. Contact: ido@hashomer.de 

Hashomer Hatzair

Furthermore

• The International Tourism Fair, ITB is taking place at the Messe since Wednesday. The weekend is also open to the general public and includes interesting stands by hotels, countries, regions in Germany and attractions; lots of freebies (gummy bears, pens, tote bags etc.) and also some exciting try-ons. There are admission fees, but you can usually get a free ticket if you're an Ikea Family member, at your local Ikea. 

• Because of the trade fair, the shops will be open on this Sunday, from 1 pm to 6 pm 

• "Forest Hour" for kids aged 2 to 4 in Plaenterwald (details)

Forest Hour in Plaenterwald

• Museums on Saturday: An open day at the U-Bahn Museum (once a month, details). In addition, an open day at the Bauhaus Archive (every Saturday from 11:00 to 2pm) and guided tours for families at the Technical Museum  

The U-Bahn Museum

• Pianist Alma Deutscher will play for children on Sunday in Prenzlauer Berg, free admission. On Friday, an evening concert for the adults. Prenzlauer Allee 227 (M2 to Knaackstr or U2 to Senefelderplatz) 

• A children run (as well as an adult course) in Spandau on Sunday. Kids younger than ten can participate (details in German:  Kinderlauf) 

• Museums on Sunday: Easter activities in the Maerkisches Museum  and the Communication Museum. Also in the Koepenick Castle and the museum there, but in that case, registration is required. info

Hungry Yet?

All those activities are mouthwatering, but sometimes all you want is a nice food market. This weekend, you have three to choose from. 

• Friday in the Platoon, a Korean Street Food Market, from 6 pm 

• Sunday from 11:00, the Street Food Market at the Kulturbrauerei 

• Sunday from noon, Naschmarkt in special Easter edition, in Markthalle IX 

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. Contact Me. 

Events in Berlin, for All, March 4 - 6

Tonal Worlds at the FEZ

The FEZ offers a weekend of experimenting with different instruments, music and just noises at the Klangwelte Festival. And yes, I have avoided the corny "Sound of Music" title! [fun fact: most Germans and Austrians haven't heard of the film or at least haven't seen it. It was also seriously re-edited - read: censored - for German public in the 1960s, because, you know "Don't mention the War"]. 

Klangwelte Festival. FEZ, on Straße zum FEZ 2, 12459 Berlin (public transport: take the S3 to Wuhlheide or trams 27, 63 or 67 to Freizeit- und Erholungszentrum. Admission fees apply. 

More Music 

• The Klingendes Museum offers experimenting with musical instruments for 3 to 6 y/olds on Saturday, 2:20 - 5 pm 

• Nikolaikirche in the Nikolai Quarter offer a guided tour in their huge organ, followed by an opportunity to try to hit a few notes. Sunday, 3 pm. Admission fees apply

• Also on Sunday (3:30 pm); the children-concert "Mozart's Magic Tupee" tickets

Furthermore

• Sometimes coloured - Selected Second Hand makes a big vintage sale this weekend. (address: Grünberger Str. 90 10245 Berlin , near U5 Samariterstr., further info); also - on Sunday in Neukoelln, the "Weiberkram" clothing and accessory market, in the Kindelbrauerei (details)

• Sat/Sun : Easter fair with handcraft and music, at the Museum for European Cultures, in Dahlem 

Easter Market in Dahlem

• Guided tours (in German) in the Naturkundemuseum: 
• Friday through Sunday at 6pm: torchlight guided tour
• Sat/Sun at 11 and 2pm: a 45 minutes tour through the exhibition for families
• Sunday between 3 and 4:30 pm : Dinosaur Researchers' Day for kids (aged 8 to 12) 

• Korean street food market on Friday at Platoon (starting at 6pm) (postponed to the 11th) ; and on Sunday, a street food market in the Kulturbrauerei (from 11 to 6 pm) 

Jewish Heritage/Events

• Bambinim East (on Fuerstenwalder Str in Friedrichshain) will offer interesting Purim activity for kids , and for the parents - a discussion on multilinguality and language immersion. Sunday 3-6pm , the discussion for the parents in Hebrew; the activity for kids - multilingual. 

• Stay tuned for more Purim events next week... Purim is on 23th-24th of March (with Shushan Purim on the 25th). 

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. Contact Me.