Thurs. Jan 15. BEAST – Eastern Europe`s culture magazine presents …

DDR Disco. A Tape revival with Täter & Ostbrot, two former cassette DJs. This thursday january 15th. Presented to you by BEASTNATION. 

BLY in HONG KONG

 

Behind the scenes.

 

Asia. Finally. We did a shooting for BERLIN LOVES YOU in HONG KONG. On january first we had the chance to take Violet the model Harry C and his assistant + Crew through Hong Kong and take a great couple of shots. Harry C is one of the upcoming chinese photographers who – amongst Berlin Loves You shoots for interntaional brands or international celebrities like Kate Moss and lots of Asian celebrities. Harry, thanks again for your time and the great pictures – which will be published on the Berlin Loves You Webpage in a bit. Hong Kong is a crazy city and I loved being there and doing a shoot for Berlin Loves You. 

Dinner "Rice in a Pot" after the shoot with the crew.

Winter in Berlin … COLD! Pictures from Cityslang.

So here it is – finally a really cold and white winter in Berlin. Reminds us of how close the east and the cold Russia really is. I am posting some pictures of our friend Jürgen Gässler who is a photographer in Berlin and has been here longer then the most of us – how does 30 years sound?! Check out his webpage: Cityslang. 

 

Awards where awards are due

Last week we had the honour to attend an awards ceremony at the Filmhaus on Potsdamer Platz, in the Sony Center buildings. A friend, Luca, was due to receive an award for his work on technological innovation in the film industry. Luca created an online marketplace for film-makers and film festival organizers, and when he had told me about that project several weeks earlier my first thought had been: Who needs that?

Obviously this reaction is ample testimony of my ignorance when it comes to film-making. Because as it turns out, there is an urgent need for such a marketplace indeed. With more than 800 annual film festivals around the world and thousands and thousands of directors trying to get an audience, the process of placing the right films at the appropriate festivals so far has been a nightmare. No more, because with Luca’s website, film-makers get access to a comprehensive festival calendar, including all prerequisites: formats, deadlines, festival topics, legal issues – everything. On the other hand, festival organizers won’t have to browse throught hundreds of DVDs and accompanying leaflets sent in by hapless directors anymore since much of their applications will be done and previewed online from now on.

Prosecco and hors d’oeuvres were served as a small crowd gathered for the ceremony. As was befitting for a proper German award, His Excellency the Kultur-Staatsminister would be handing over the prizes – and as was befitting, too, a substantial amount of money would change hands on that occasion. 25.000 Euro to Luca, 25.000 more to another team and their project. The location at Sony Center was a proper stage for this as well; from the 4th floor you look down right into the yard which from up there looks quite a bit like a giant modern Amphitheater. All very posh.

So on it went. Speeches were held, respect was paid, and as my companions Marco and Flip dozed off into their Prosecco-induced stupor, it was me who had to point out the essential goodness of this evening. Because as both the Kultur-Staatsminister and Luca underlined, this award here was pretty unique in the world. In the film industry, most non-experts follow only the actors’ or directors’ awards, but in the shadow of those, I was surprised to learn that it’s German companies that are habitually being showered with high-ranking accolades for technical innovation. In other words: Right there, we were witnessing a ceremony that, in a niche that most movie-goers overlook, fosters some rather significant developments on the bigger picture. Developments that seem to be a lot more substantial than what some over-hyped startups in the Berlin “cool” scene are churning out.

And what’s more: Our much-maligned political and cultural establishment with all its detachment and formality seems to be supporting the right thing here, not only with words but with tangible assets and funds!

All this I pointed out to my somewhat sluggish fellows.  So it was a happy crowd that, after the ceremony, walked over to celebrate in style at the Ritz Carlton bar (my choice). Luca placed his award certificate, indicating the sum of 25.000 Euros, on the table so that proper credit was established. After midnight, we went home with the good feeling that Berlin even allows for some poshness where poshness is due – and that this wasn’t all bad.

Not bad at all, in fact.

Another Sunday at the Flohmarkt

Here in Berlin, Sundays are about leisure, relaxation, and fun. If you’re not still tripping the light fantastic at Panorama Bar or nursing a hangover over Sunday brunch, chances are you’re probably headed to the flea market. With dozens of markets scattered throughout the city, you probably won’t have to go far to partake in this Berlin Sunday tradition.

Flohmarkt am Mauerpark is a busy, sprawling market located next to the Friedrich Ludwig Jahn Sportpark in Prenzlauer Berg. Bargain hunters and fashionistas alike gather here each week to peruse the seemingly endless rows of tents, kiosks, and tables. Though the variety of things for sale is impressive, it’s the huge numbers of items that can be really striking: Hundreds of rubber office stamps, boxes upon boxes of Japanese slippers, rows of tacky landscape paintings, dozens of chandeliers, towers of old reading glasses, and zippers in every size, shape and color imaginable.

Looking for some GDR-era furniture to give your flat a touch of East German chic? There are enough white plastic chairs, glass coffee tables, and geometric light fixtures to decorate every trendy dive bar in Friedrichahin. In need of that perfect one-of-a-kind t-shirt to show the world how impossibly cool yet casual you are? There is no shortage of colorful silk screened delights at the Flohmarkt. Even if you don’t know what you’re looking for… you’ll probably find three of them at the flea market.

You can find more information about the Flohmarkt am Mauerpark at www.mauerparkmarkt.de

Fine Italien food on Danzigerstr. 18 “Vai Mo Enoteca Salumeria”

It`s pretty tiny. It seems very small. It seems like your neigbors are listening to your conversations. You will be disappointed if you expect pizza! But it is soooo cosy and yummie! And its italien! Calculate 50 Euros for a starter, 2 main dishes and a good bottle of italian vine + a bottle of water (there is free tab water served if you don`t need the San Pellegrino). Make sure to bring somebody that you care about and make it a nice dinner! You might want to call ahead to reserve a table since it is rarely empty (I think there are 7 tables in there): 030/ 484 95 655.

Beautiful sunset views from Flakturm Humboldthain

You may not find yourself in Wedding often. Few people outside the local community visit this remarkably unglamorous, working class district in the West. Though certainly not the most stylish part of town, Wedding posesses a certain grit which gives it its charm. Like Kreuzberg without the hipsters, Wedding is the kind of place where Muslim-run corner stores will sell no alcohol, yet items of questionable legality are easily purchased in the back rooms of sketchy shopfronts. Not exactly a tourist hotspot.

High above Wedding’s busy streets and bustling markets, is an unexpected island of tranquility. The Flakturm is one of three anti-aircraft towers erected in Berlin during World War II. The massive, partially demolished concrete structure stands at the top of a man-made hill near the Gesundbrunnen Ubahn station, overlooking Wedding and Volkspark Humboldthain. A climb up a spiraling path brings you to a small park amidst the remains of the tower, where you’ll find some of the best sunset views in this remarkably flat city.

Hackesche Höfe uncensored part II

Guys! It still looks pretty messy here on a saturday night!

Alice in Slumberland

Welcome to the wild wild west!
It`s a saturday. We are in west Berlin. Yes, there is life as well. After a stroll on the saturday market at Winterfeldplatz (close to Nollendorfplatz for example the U2 will take you there) it`s time to hit a bar called Slumberland. Slumber? Ask the Bartender with the Rasters what “slumbering” is. You will slumber there – we promise. It`s a great atmosphere with locals, young and old, children and dogs, some sand and a lot of drinks… 4 pm or as we say in Germany 16:00 is a great time to go there and start your saturday night routine. Prost! And keep on slumbering!

“Fish in an elevator” Radisson Berlin

I would call this the most spectacular elevator ride in Berlin. Its slow, its not wet, it costs money and the fishes will love you. Check it out if you walk by the Radisson. The aquarium is 25m high and it better doesn`t burst when you walk in there!