Monat: Oktober 2018

Visit Tempelhofer Feld – Winter Edition –

One of our favorite spots in Berlin is Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport that has been transformed into a green recreational area, where Berliners come together to do sports, have a picnic, go for a walk or enjoy amazing sunsets. Additionally, it provides space for up to 7000 migrants and has become one of Germany’s largest refugee camps.

As winter is approaching, obviously, it is too chilly to lie in the grass, but this doesn’t mean that the Feld should be ignored during the winter months. Here are some activities that are definitely winterproof.

1) As long as the Feld is not fully covered in snow, you can still do sports: go for a run (there are special markings on the ground for runners and skaters to train), play basketball, soccer or table tennis.

2) Fly a kite (winds can get quite strong).

3) Speaking of wind: be adventurous and book a kiteboarding lesson.

4) Put on a warm hat, rent a longboard and head down the former airport’s runway (straight into the sunset).

5) …whilst on the topic: dress warmly and watch the sunset.

6) Enjoy wildlife: Tempelhofer Feld is quite the bird sanctuary and 2 nature reservation areas have been created to help wildlife.

6) Book a guided tour and explore the area’s rich history: Tempelhof Airport is one of only two Nazi-built buildings to survive in Berlin (the second is Olympiastadion).

7) Get informed about the Feld’s refugee camp.

Where? Main entrance Tempelhofer Damm/S,U-Bahn Tempelhof, side entrance Tempelhofer Damm/U-Bahn Paradestraße; main entrance Clumbiadamm/Lilienthalstraße, side entrance Columbiadamm/Golßenstraße; main entrance Oderstraße/Herrfurthstraße, 5 more side entrances at Oderstraße
Opening Hours: January and December: 7:30am - 5pm
February and November: 7am - 6pm
March: 6am - 7pm
April and September: 6am - 8:30pm
May and August: 6am - 9:30pm
June and July: 6am - 10:30pm
October: 7am - 7pm

[After closing hours the park can be exited via revolving doors at the main entrances].

 

Find the perfect rhyme at a poetry slam

Best of Poetry Slam – Lüneburg | Kampf der Künste

For all poetry enthusiasts, Berlin offers a number of different poetry slams that take place regularly in different locations throughout the city. If you want to attend Germany’s oldest slam, Bastard Poetry Slam, taking place since 1993, you can do so every third Friday of the month at Ritter Butzke in Kreuzberg. Other fun poetry slams include Bubble Slam in Oberschöneweide, Kreuzberg Slam or Inselslam at Insel Berlin. Most slams take place monthly and admission is between 3 and 7 Euro.

Watch ‚Tatort‘ with Berliners

Have you heard of the longest-running German TV drama series Tatort (“crime scene”) yet? On the air continuously almost every Sunday since the 70s, Tatort is a crime series shown on Das Erste which features a different team of inspectors in a different city for each 90 minute long episode and has become a cultural phenomenon. Due to its popularity, there is a large number of Bars in the city where you can meet fellow Tatort enthusiasts to watch the newest episode every week. What better way to spend your Sunday evening now that it’s getting colder and the days are getting shorter?

When? Every Sunday at 8:15pm
Where? Different bars throughout the city. You can find a list of bars that show Tatort here.
Admission: Free

Eat yourself into a tapas food coma at Alaska

Alaska is a plant-based Spanish tapas bar that serves a number of delicious small plates of food that are perfect for sharing, as well as Spanish wine and beer. The Spanish/Catalan owners are incredibly welcoming, and make you feel like you’re visiting friends, which is underlined by the relaxed atmosphere, cozy couches and fun art on the walls. While the name does not immediately make one think of a Spanish tapas bar, the owners picked it to pay homage to Spanish singer and animal rights activist Alaska, combining two of Alaska’s central elements. The small size of the dishes makes is easy to try many different things, and our personal favorites are the Spanish tortilla and the croquetas, as well as the patatas bravas and of course, the Spanish beer. While some of the dishes are always available, you can be sure to find something new and exciting with every new visit, and prices are reasonable, starting at 3,50€ for a dish.

Every once in a while, Alaska hosts one of their legendary pintxos parades, were you can get one tapa for 1€ and eat yourself into a tapas induced food coma. While it’s their most popular event and always incredibly crowded (so wear comfy shoes because you might have to stand), it’s a great way to get into a conversation with people (and practice your terribly rusty Spanish with all the Spaniards who frequent the bar), plus having to stand at the bar just means easier access to all the food. Overall, Alaska is the perfect place to spend a nice evening with friends, share some delicious food, have a few drinks, and you’ll likely meet some incredibly friendly faces there as well.

Where? Reuterstraße 85, 12053 Berlin Neukölln
Opening Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday 6PM - 12:30AM, Friday and Saturday 6PM - 3AM
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Drink at Velvet

We do not fall in love easily, but we did fall in love with Velvet, a small cocktail bar in the heart of Neukölln. This bar is located a little bit off the bar packed streets, but we would still suggest coming here early, as it gets crowded quickly. The menu changes on a regular basis, so we cannot recommend a specific drink, but are sure that whatever you will end up getting, will certainly challenge your taste buds in a very positive way (maybe you will never have a better cocktail in Berlin). Velvet believes in regionality, so instead of the standard pineapple, you’ll find local herbs, fruit and vegetables in your drink. Examples for some special ingredients are: mushrooms, black walnuts, plums, sorrel,… . Waiters are happy to help you with your choice and are eager to explain flavors and ingredients. The cocktails are quite pricy (around 10€+), but definitely worth it!

Velvet Bar: Wo die Ernte in den Cocktail wandert

Where? Ganghoferstraße 1, 12043 Berlin Neukölln
Opening hours: Wednesday - Sunday, 8pm - Close