The FU-BEST Cookbook

Welcome to our cookbook!

Each of us in the team has come up with one (or more) tasty recipes to share with you.

We thought to share you delicious, budget-friendly, and easy recipes, and we hope these ideas will inspire you when you’re thinking about what to buy and cook. Plus, they´re also perfect for impressing your friends and family when you head back home!

Kristina´s Recipes

Pink Pasta

via Pink Pasta, das Rezept zum Foodtrend

This is a quickly prepared, very fresh and colourful meat-free spring and summer recipe (but also a great vitamin booster in winter since you can get all ingredients all year round). It’ll give your taste buds something to talk about for days!

Ingredients (for 2):

  • 200g cubed and pickled beetroot
  • 1 garlic clove
  • Some olive or sunflower oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon of grated lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
  • Salt, pepper
  • 250g pasta (Rigatoni, Penne, or Spaghetti)
  • 125g Feta (sheep’s or goat’s cheese)
  • 35g Cashew nuts (unsalted)
  • Optional: Some small mint leaves to sprinkle on top

Preparation time: 15-20 minutes

Difficulty: Simple – but you will need a stick blender!

1. Boil the pasta according to the instructions on the package.

2. In the meantime, set aside two tablespoons of the cubed beetroot. Put the rest in a pot and heat gently.

3. Add the chopped garlic, feta (put a little aside to sprinkle over the finished dish), cashew nuts, lemon juice and zest and blend to a smooth paste with the stick blender. Turn off the heat.

4. Mix together the pasta and the beetroot paste and add salt and pepper according to your taste. Serve sprinkled with the remaining beetroot cubes and feta and, if you like, mint leaves.

Guten Appetit!


Turkisch Flatbread „Pizza“

A great and quick meal for those days when you don’t feel like cooking but need more than a sandwich or a salad. Superb for sharing and lends itself to all kinds of variations.

Ingredients (serves 3)

  • 1 pide bread – you can get it in supermarkets but often also at your local Döner place
  • Mayonnaise and ketchup
  • 6 round slices of cooked ham („Kochschinken“)
  • 2-3 tomatoes
  • A little dried oregano
  • 6 slices of cheese (I normally use Gouda or Cheddar but you can use any cheese that melts well)

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Difficulty: Simple

1. Using a long bread knife, cut the pide horizontally in two halves.

2. Spread mayonnaise on the bottom half and ketchup on the top half.

3. Place the ham on the bottom half. Cut the tomatoes into slices and spread them on the ham. Sprinkle with a little oregano.

4. Lay the cheese on top of the tomatoes. The slices can overlap but shouldn’t go too far over the edge of the pide or it will get messy in the oven.

5. Put the top half of the pide on the bottom half, place on a sheet of baking paper on the oven rack and put it in the oven. Bake at ca. 180 degrees for 10 minutes (the cheese should have melted but the pide shouldn’t get too crispy.

6. Take the pide out and cut into 6 pieces like a pizza.

Variations: garlic butter, tomatoes, black olives, sliced feta cheese  /  BBQ sauce, tuna, sweetcorn, cheese  /  whatever you like

Guten Appetit!

David´s Recipe

„Kochkäse“ with bread and onions

This is a traditional meal from my hometown and its region „Hessen“. I prefer to eat it while enjoying a glass of cold „Apfelwein“, which is similar to a typical Cider. To garnish the meal you can put caraway on top of it. „Kochkäse“ can also be served with a good „Schnitzel“. As I grew up with it, I can´t imagine to live without „Kochkäse“!

Ingredients:

  • Slices of rustic bread (or any bread you prefer)
  • 50g Butter
  • 200g Harz cheese, diced
  • 200g processed cheese, diced
  • 250g curd cheese
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • Caraway
  • 3 onions, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons of vinegar
  • 4 tablespoons of oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  1. Start by putting butter, harz cheese and processed cheese e together in a pot while stirring it over medium heat until creamy.
  2. When everything is mixed into a homogeneous mass, add baking soda and stir for another 2 minutes. Then allow to cool to lukewarm.
  3. Add the curd cheese, stir in, and season with salt. That´s your „Kochkäse“!
  4. Mix vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper to make a vinaigrette and pour over the onions.
  5. Spread butter and „Kochkäse“ on the bread, add carawy seeds, and spread the onions on top.

Additional Tip:

  • You can lightly toast the bread so that the „Kochkäse“ melts on top.

Guden!

Xingye´s Recipe

Chinese tomato and egg stir-fry

Ingredients:

  • 3-4 Tomatoes
  • 3-4 Eggs
  • half Scallion
  • Salt, oil, sugar, vinegar, white pepper
  1. Boil the water and put tomatoes in it for a few seconds. Then it is easier to peel. Then cut tomatoes into wedges (optional). Or just directly cut the tomatoes into wedges (Remove the stems).
  2. Chop the scallion.
  3. Then crack all eggs into a bowl and season with a little bit salt, a little bit white pepper and a little bit vinegar (a little bit is like ¼ teaspoon). Beat eggs until the whites and yolks are well integrated (like about 20-30 seconds). *If you don’t have vinegar, then don’t add it. Black pepper is also okay…
  4. Preheat the wok or the non-stick pan over medium heat. Then add some oil (like 2 tablespoon) and add the beaten egg mixture in the pan when it is hot. Scramble the eggs and remove from the pan. Set aside. (Don’t overcook the eggs, can get it out when it takes shape but still moist looking)
  5. Back to the pan, add some oil (like 1 tablespoon) and scallion to the pan, and add the tomatoes after 5 seconds.
  6. Stir-fry for 30 seconds or so and add a little bit water. Leave to cook until the tomato becomes a little mushy. (if your stove gets very hot and liquid tends to cook off very quickly in your pan, add a little more water).
  7. Add the scrambled eggs back to the pan. Sprinkle salt, sugar and scallions over. Give everything a quick stir to combine.
  8. Serve with steamed rice or noodle. Whatever you like.

Feel free to add more or less seasonings, etc. You can adjust this recipe to your taste.

Guten appetit!

Fruzsina´s Recipe

Roasted root vegetables

These roasted root vegetables are an easy, healthy, and colorful option for a main dish or side. Roasting brings out the natural flavors, and the herbs make them super tasty. Adding red onions and garlic gives them extra aroma, while the tahini and lemon yogurt add a nice kick that highlights their sweetness and adds a bit of freshness.

Equipment:

  • large rimmed baking sheet (with or without parchment paper)

Ingredients (what i mostly prefer):

  • 2 sweet potatoes
  • 2 parsnip (medium sized) peeled and halved lengthwise
  • 3 red potatoes scrubbed clean, peel on
  • 1-2 beets (red or golden), trimmed and scrubbed clean
  • 1 carrots (large) peeled and halved lengthwise
  • 1 large red onion or 2 smaller ones, peeled and cut into larger wedges lengthwise.
  • 6 whole garlic cloves large sized
  • ca. 1/2 cup olive oil 
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary and 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or 3tsp dried rosemary and 2 tsp dried thyme)
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1-2 tsp salt or more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper or more to taste

Ingredients for the Lemon Yogurt:

Ingredients for the Lemon Yogurt:

  • Zest a lemon to get about 1,5 tsp
  • 350g extra thick Greek-style yogurt

Ingredients for the Tahini Sauce:

  • 60g tahini paste
  • 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp honey (optional)
  • A pinch of salt (to taste)
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed (optional)
  • 3 tbsp water (or more, as needed)
  1. Place a rack in the middle of your oven and preheat to 200°C (180°C for fan). Cut all the vegetables into chunks about 1 1/2 inches wide – the key is to cut everything to the same size so they cook evenly. In a large mixing bowl, toss the cut vegetables, red onions, and garlic cloves with 3 tbsp olive oil, cumin, salt, and pepper until everything is evenly coated.
  2. Brush a large rimmed baking sheet with the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil. Spread the vegetables evenly on the sheet, then place the rosemary and thyme sprigs on top, evenly spaces across the sheet. Roast for 15 minutes, then stir the vegetables, moving the outer pieces to the center and the center ones to the edges. Put them back in the oven and continue roasting for another 15-25 minutes until the largest pieces are tender.
  3. Remove the rosemary sprigs, then stir the vegetables (some rosemary leaves will stay, which is fine). Season with extra salt and pepper if needed.
  4. While the tomatoes are roasting, prepare the lemon yogurt and tahini sauce.
  5. Mix the yogurt with the grated lemon zest and ¼ tsp salt. Store in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
  6. Tahini souce: Whisk all ingredients together, except for the water. Gradually add water while whisking until the sauce is smooth and pourable. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
  7. The vegetables are great served warm or at room temperature. Transfer them to a bowl or platter. Drizzle with the lemon yogurt and tahini sauce, then serve with pita bread.

Additional tips:

  • You can use any mix of root vegetables you like. Not into sweet potatoes? Just swap them for regular potatoes. Can’t find parsnips? Add more carrots instead. Butternut squash works great here, too.
  • If you’re using red beets, keep in mind they’ll release a pink juice that can color the other veggies. I think it looks nice, but if you’d rather not have pink veggies, just leave the beets out.
  • I like to keep the seasoning simple with salt, pepper, cumin, rosemary, and thyme to bring out the veggies’ natural flavors. If you want some heat, sprinkle in some chili flakes.
  • This dish tastes just as good warm or at room temperature, and it’s super simple to make ahead and reheat. 

Jó étvágyat!

Maria´s Recipe

Blini (Russian Crepes)

via Blini (Russian Crepes) – Tara’s Multicultural Table

These large, thin pancakes are perfect for pairing with a variety of sweet or savory options.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon (12g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2-3 cups (470-710ml) milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) vegetable oil plus more or butter for the pan

For serving:

  • Sour cream
  • Honey or sweetened condensed milk
  • Jam
  • Peanut butter
  • Maple syrup
  • Ham
  • Cheese
  • etc.
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.
  2. Slowly whisk in the milk until combined and no lumps remain. Add 2 cups (470ml) milk for slightly thicker and easier to handle pancakes or up to 3 cups (710ml) milk for thinner, more delicate pancakes.
  3. Whisk in the eggs, followed by the vegetable oil. If too thick, slowly add a little more milk. If too thin, slowly add a little more flour.
  4. Cover the bowl and allow to rest at room temperature for 15-30 minutes.
  5. Place a large nonstick skillet or pan over medium low heat. Lightly grease with oil or butter.
  6. Once thoroughly heated, add 1/4 – 1/3 cup (60-80ml) batter to the center and immediately tilt the pan in a circle to coat the bottom in a thin layer.
  7. Cook until set on the top and the bottom turns golden, about 2 minutes.
  8. Flip and cook until the other side is golden, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove to plate. Rub the pan with more oil and repeat with remaining batter.
  9. Serve immediately with a topping of your choice!

приятного аппетита!

Philip´s Recipe

Vegan Banana „Bread“

Ingredients:

  • 3 big bananas (or 4 small ones)
  • 250g all-purpose flour (“Weizenmehl Typ 405” in Germany) (can also use 150g almond flour plus 100g all-purpose flour)
  • 80g sugar
  • 10g baking powder (not baking soda)
  • 80g peanut butter (use the runny, organic kind and stir before measuring)
  • Vanilla extract to taste (or use 1-2 packets of “Vanillezucker” as part of the 80g of sugar)
  • Pinch of salt
  • Plant-based milk to loosen the dough if necessary
  • Walnuts, chocolate, or whatever you want to add
  1. Mix dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and salt).
  2. In a separate bowl, smash the bananas and mix in sugar, peanut butter and vanilla extract.
  3. Mix in the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
  4. Fold in mix-ins like chopped chocolate and/or walnuts.
  5. Pour the batter into a pan lined with parchment paper (or use plant-based butter/margarine to butter the inside of the pan).
  6. Bake at 175°C for about 30 minutes (depends of the oven and pan; the time is for a 25cm loaf pan).
  7. Check with a wooden skewer after 25 minutes and use foil to cover the top if it gets too dark and isn’t done yet.

Guten Appetit!

Berlin in TV Series & Movies

🍿 Popcorn Emoji

 Although most of you guys will be leaving Berlin in a week or two, it doesn’t mean you have to stop immersing yourself in the city. We’ve compiled a list of some great movies and tv shows set in Berlin. These are a great way to continue practicing your german and keep Berllin in your hearts, even when you’re hundreds of miles away!

TV SERIES

  • 4 Blocks
4 Blocks ist die beste deutsche Serie seit langem

4 Blocks is the German answer to every American gangster movie and series. The drama series delves into the dark world of organized crime, family feuds and gang violence in Berlin-Neukölln. It stars all different well-known German actors. Watching this TV Show is a good way to polish up your gangster German. Be aware, 4 Blocks has a high potential for addiction!

Where you can watch it: Amazon Prime, for purchase on Youtube and Apple TV

Seasons: Three seasons 

  • Babylon Berlin
Babylon Berlin": Die 3. Staffel im Schnellcheck - DER SPIEGEL

Babylon Berlin is the most exciting and expensive German TV production to date. The popular show continues to make headlines across the globe, with its almost €40 million budget, stunning costume design, and renowned directors Tykwer, Achim von Borries, and Henk Handloegten. The first two seasons are based on the crime novel The Wet Fish by Volker Kutscher, which follows the lives of the main characters, played by Volker Bruch and Liv Lisa Fries, through Berlin in the late-1920s.

Where you can watch it: Free online stream from Das Erste here

Seasons: Four seasons

  • Dark
Dark“ auf Netflix: Das hat das Ende der 3. Staffel zu bedeuten

Dark– Netflix’s first German series has been a huge success. Without giving too much away, it begins with the disappearance of a child, leading four families to start a desperate search for answers to a mystery that impacts three generations. A mix between science-fiction, thriller, mystery, and drama, some people have called Dark the German Stranger Things. The oftentimes colloquial language is a perfect way to improve your German skills while simply lying in bed or on the couch!

Where you can watch it: Netflix

Seasons: Three Seasons

  • Kleo

Kleo revolves around a former east german Stasi assassin (Kleo) who is set free after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Kleo is determined to find out why she was locked up in East Germany, and take revenge on those who betrayed her. This highly stylized series is filled with the bright colors of the 80s and 90s, while also featuring funny supporting characters – such as the techno-loving West Berliner Thilo, who moves into Kleo’s apartment. Watch the first season now so you’re ready for the season 2 release coming in 2024!

Where you can watch it: Netflix

Seasons: One Season, with a second one coming out soon

  • Türkisch für Anfänger

Türkisch für Anfänger follows a German teenage girl and her new patchwork family. When Lena’s mom marries a Turkish man with two children, the two families are forced to overcome their cultural differences and get along with eachother. Filmed from 2006-2008, the series follows the characters as they grapple with teenage life in Berlin. This funny and heartfelt series is perfect for casual watching, and is a great way to practice your German.  

Where you can watch it: Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Youtube (with subscription); for purchase on Apple TV

Seasons: Three

  • Unorthodox

Unlike the other shows on this list, Unorthodox is not primarily in German. However, it is still an amazing show worth watching. It follows the journey of a Jewish woman living in an Ultra-Orthodox community in Brooklyn, who chooses to secretly run away to Berlin. Once in Berlin, she does her best to navigate a new, secular world, and discover who she is without her community. This 4 episode mini-series is a great watch, and is the first Netflix show to be filmed primarily in Yiddish!

Where you can watch it: Netflix

Seasons: One

MOVIES

  • Victoria (2015)
Victoria - Film 2015 - FILMSTARTS.de

Not quite light fare, but equally good, is Victoriaa film that was shot in one single continuous take. Two hours and eighteen minutes – shot from about 4:30 AM to 7:00 AM on 27 April 2014 in the Kreuzberg and Mitte neighborhoods. No cuts. The script consisted of twelve pages, with most of the dialogue being improvised. It draws you in with the typical boy meets girl storyline, until everything gets out of control. Very capturing from the first minute.

Where to watch: For purchase on Apple TV, Amazon, and Youtube

  • B Movie: Lust & Sound in West Berlin (1979-1989)  (2015)
B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin 1979-1989 | Trailer Original / Deutsch  | Film | critic.de

A compilation of mostly unreleased film and television footage, B-Movie documents the West Berlin sub and pop cultures that emerged in the decade before the fall of the Wall. The film is narrated by Mark Reeder, a Mancunian musician and producer, who shares his experience of Berlin when he began living there in 1978, and it tells a tale of an illusive and mysterious city that, in reality, no longer exists. Featuring notorious figures of the time like Blixa Bargeld and Nick Cave, B-Movie harnesses a strange nostalgia for a city that could only exist then; the creation, the art and the attitudes that emerged from the pain of a divided city.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime and Youtube (with Subscription)

  • Oh Boy – US title A coffee in Berlin (2012)
Debütfilm Oh Boy: Tom Schilling driftet durch Berlin - DER SPIEGEL

Oh Boy (a black and white tragic comedy) tells the story of Niko, a Berliner in his late twenties, who dropped out of university and since then has been drifting through his days, wondering about the people around him. The film has won several German and European Film Awards.

Where to watch: Netflix, for purchase on Youtube

  • The Lives of Others (2006)
The Lives Of Others / Das Leben der Anderen - Film - European Film Awards

Set in 1983 in East Berlin, The Lives of Others tells the story of a playwright, Georg Dreyman, living in the occupied and monitored city. Capturing the isolation and fear that George feels, it is tale told with inescapable resonance, showing the extremity of the spying and interference within a state under watch. The people who are spying on him become intertwined in his life, and this extraordinary film offers a poignant and paranoid picture of life in East Berlin. Acclaimed for its factual and aesthetic accuracy, the film won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language film.

Where to watch: Netflix, for purchase on Amazon and Youtube

  • Goodbye Lenin (2003)
Good Bye, Lenin! - Wikipedia

A film about Alex, a young man from East Berlin, whose mother is put into a coma during the lead to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and then wakes up in a reunified Germany. However, doctors tell Alex that the potential shock of such a revelation could give her a heart attack, so she must not be told of what has happened. As a result, Alex and his friends have to recreate the illusion of the GDR in his mother’s apartment for her, while outside, the two former countries are unifying.

Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+

  • Berlin Alexanderplatz (2020)
Regisseur Qurbani über "Berlin Alexanderplatz" - "Das erste, was jemand auf  der Flucht verliert, ist die Würde" | deutschlandfunkkultur.de

This 2020 film drama is based on one of the most famous novels written about Germany’s capital city: „Berlin Alexanderplatz“ by Alfred Döblin. While the novel is set in between the two World Wars, the 2020 film adoption transposes the storyline to our days with an undocumented immigrant from West Africa in the central role. The film, spanning almost 3 hours, offers you a vivid, colorful and captivating insight into topics such as racism, love and psychology.

Where to watch: For purchase on Apple TV, Amazon, and Youtube

  • Run Lola Run (1998)
Amazon.de: Lola rennt ansehen | Prime Video

This iconic film depicts three alternative realities as the title character, Lola, runs to try and obtain 100,000 Deutsche Mark in 20 minutes to save her boyfriend, Manni, from being killed for failing to make good on a deal. The film does not feature many famous landmarks of Berlin, but shows an intersection of every day 90s Berlin, though Berlin’s best-looking bridge, Oberbaumbrücke. It has won several German and International Film Awards.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime and Youtube (with Subscription)

Happy watching!

Picture Sources: https://emojipedia-us.s3.amazonaws.com/source/skype/289/popcorn_1f37f.png ; https://cdn.sputnik.de/sendungen/popkult/four-blocks-100_v-variantBig16x9_wm-true_zc-ecbbafc6.jpg?version=42931 ; https://cdn.prod.www.spiegel.de/images/c88543e3-26f2-4def-b61c-7c630669a3ce_w1200_r1_fpx43.52_fpy49.98.jpg ; https://www.tz.de/bilder/2020/06/30/13816245/1906606865-viele-zuschauer-verwirrte-handlung-serie-dark-2zYMO9zM9vfe.jpg; https://www.netflix.com/de/title/81216677; https://www.tvmovie.de/news/tuerkisch-fuer-anfaenger-fortsetzung-josefine-preuss-aeuessert-sich-95993; https://www.netflix.com/de/title/81019069; https://de.web.img2.acsta.net/pictures/15/03/12/12/44/563954.jpg ; https://www.critic.de/fileadmin/Images/2015/05/B-Movie_03.jpg ; https://cdn.prod.www.spiegel.de/images/662aa3ae-0001-0004-0000-000000417619_w1600_r1.4141129032258064_fpx45.26_fpy50.jpg ; https://imgtoolkit.culturebase.org/?color=FFFFFF&quality=8&ar_ratio=1.3&format=jpg&file=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.culturebase.org%2F5%2F3%2F8%2Ff%2Ff%2Fpic_1527079018_538ff92e676e94d639bd1a866dc22d9a.jpeg&do=cropOut&width=1200&height=585 ; https://assets.deutschlandfunk.de/FILE_d8e17b9c138bb9d1fee843b015037d1c/1280×720.jpg?t=1597628947256 ; https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/pv-target-images/e03ae3088f6891583737642f557536fdc595cb13200538acb4844607245301f8.RI.png

Introducing the museums of your annual museum pass

The FU-BEST-program distributes annual passes for the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin at the beginning of every semester. Here’s a brief introduction of the museums included in the pass as well as an overview over their collections.

Alte Nationalgalerie

Source: https://www.smb.museum/fileadmin/processed/a/2/csm_ANG_VB_5225_67194666ae.jpg
Source: https://www.smb.museum/typo3temp/assets/processed/8/b/csm_Skulpturenhalle-im-1.-Ausstellungsgeschoss_22A1085_xl_566ce23fb0.jpg

In their permanent exhibition Art of the 19th Century, the Alte Nationalgalerie shows a comprehensive collection of art of the era between the French Revolution and the First World War, between Classicism and Secessions. It features paintings of Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne and sculptures by Auguste Rodin as well as works by Berthel Thorwaldsen, Antonio Canova and Ridolfo Schadow.

Neue Nationalgalerie

Source: https://www.visitberlin.de/system/files/styles/visitberlin_hero_visitberlin_desktop_2x/private/image/Neue_Nationalgalerie_02_NNG_210407_1054_1A1_SO_c_SPK_Marcus_Ebener_web_1.jpg?h=29234840&itok=HP2TEULu

The Neue Nationalgalerie is dedicated to the twentieth-century art from the Nationalgalerie’s diverse collection, having featured artists such as Rosa Barba, Gerhard Richter, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker and Maria Kulikovska. Currently, they are exhibiting the work of Monica Bonvicini, amongst others.

Currently:

Monica Bonvicini
I do You

25.11.2022 to 30.04.2023

Source: https://www.rbb24.de/content/dam/rbb/rbb/rbb24/2022/2022_11/presse/cBreach_of_Decor_Chainswing_Leather_Round.jpg.jpg/size=708×398.jpg

Museum für Fotografie

Source: https://www.berlin.de/binaries/asset/image_assets/6103314/source/1583758332/624×468/

The Museum für Fotografie (Museum of Photography) has been a magnet for photography enthusiasts from all over the world since its opening in 2004.

The Helmut Newton Foundation occupies the two lower floors in the building and has for many years presented its hugely successful permanent exhibition ‚Helmut Newton’s Private Property‘, as well as individual exhibitions on Helmut Newton’s work, his wife Alice Springs, and his contemporaries.

In the Kaisersaal on the museum’s second floor, the Kunstbibliothek’s Collection of Photography presents a series of rotating exhibitions that explore the medium of photography in all its protean forms. In an upcoming exhibition, the Israeli Holocaust remembrance centre Yad Vashem is showing its much-admired exhibition Flashes of Memory: Photography During the Holocaust.

Flashes of Memory
Photography During the Holocaust

24.03.2023 to 20.08.2023

Source: https://www.smb.museum/typo3temp/assets/processed/9/f/csm_Ausstellung-Flashes-of-Memory-Museum-fuer-Fotografie_xl_7c81afd0ed.jpg

James-Simon-Galerie

Source: https://www.smb.museum/fileadmin/processed/0/e/csm_JSG_Aussenansicht_01_eac0ca28aa.jpg

Hamburger Bahnhof

Source: https://www.e-flux.com/legacy/2013/11/2c85f_nov14_hamburger_img.jpg?b8c429,1600

Hambuger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart (Museum for the present) is a former train station from the 1840s that connected the train route Hamburg-Berlin. The train station was, however, closed in 1884. From the start of the 19th century the former entrance hall was then restructured to be used as a museum. Today it is one of the most successful places for contemporary art. There are regular changing exhibitions and the building alone is worth a visit.

Currently:

Sandra Mujinga
IBMSWR: I Build My Skin With Rocks

09.12.2022 to 01.05.2023

Picture Sources: Sources: https://www.smb.museum/typo3temp/assets/processed/0/5/csm_sandra-mujinga-ausstellungsansicht-ibmswr-2_xl_86f7472820.jpg ; https://berliner-zeitung.imgix.net/2022/12/09/149a064f-d89c-4fb7-81ff-f5a6f2620e43.jpeg?auto=format&fit=max&w=1410&auto=compress

lgbtq+ Neighborhoods in Berlin

Datei:LGBTQ+ rainbow flag Quasar "Progress" variant.svg – Wikipedia

As Berlin is unofficially known as Europe’s gay capital, we would like to take the opportunity and give you a little overview of Berlin’s most gay friendly districts (obviously in no way is this a complete list). The neighborhoods featured have a rich density of queer bars and clubs and convey a general feeling of inclusiveness.

S c h ö n e b e r g

When the city was divided into East and West Berlin, the Schöneberg district slowly began to develop a vibrant gay and lesbian community. As the wall came down in 1989, Schöneberg’s queer community continued to grow. Today it is known for being Berlin’s most gay-friendly district and is considered the traditional center for gay culture in Berlin. Along Fuggerstrasse, there are dozens of clubs, pubs, restaurants and all manner of other businesses catering to the queer community. A hot spot for gay culture is also Schöneberg’s Motzstraße. For a more extensive list on queer pubs and clubs in Schöneberg see a map here.

Schöneberg’s queer set up also makes it a very fitting location for Berlin’s Schwules Museum* (Gay Museum), which moved from Kreuzberg to Schöneberg’s Lützowstraße a couple of years ago.  The museum presents a number of regularly changing exhibitions on everything queer. It also organizes talks, lectures and get-togethers evolving around gay culture. And! If you like to get a little bit of reading in on the topic of gay culture, their library consists of more than 20,000 volumes covering all areas of scientific inquiry from humanities, social science, sexology, fine arts and popular science. In this context it is also worth mentioning that in the last couple of years they have made a bigger effort to collect literature on female homosexuality, queer feminist theory and trans and inter experiences.

Where? Lützowstraße 73, 10785 Berlin
Opening Hours: Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri 2pm - 6 pm, Thu 2 pm - 8 pm,
Sat 2 pm - 7 pm, closed on Tuesdays
Approx. 15 minutes from the subway station Nollendorfplatz

K r e u z b e r g

The queer scene in Kreuzberg started as an alternative to the scene in Mitte. Although Kreuzberg’s queer culture has changed over the years, there are still a few staples to be found. One of them is Möbel Olfe, which is always incredibly crowded, but a real institution. It’s an old furniture store that has been remodeled into a bar with changing events and DJs. No chance for boredom.

Close to Kottbuser Tor at Mariannenstraße you find the women’s café Oya, which mostly caters to women, lesbians, trans, inter and queer individuals. This being said, all identities are welcome (except on Thursdays, which is reserved for wltiq). They offer vegan and vegetarian dishes for lunch, reasonably priced coffee for 1,80€ and drinks in the evening hours. Events at the café revolve around queer-feminist and anti-racist topics.

No chance for understatement provides Roses in Kreuzberg, where chairs and walls consist of fur fabric. The interior is a mixture of trashy and cheesy and definitely worth a visit.

At Mehringdamm you find the queer bar Rauschgold, which is also a good location for karaoke. What you’ll get at Rauschgold is a mixture of relaxing bar venue and alternative party location. Besides karaoke, they organize regular events, with a focus on drag shows (some shows are fee-based). Stay up to date with their event calendar or visit their Facebook page.

S c h w u Z  and  S i l v e r F u t u r e   i n  N e u k ö l l n

Neukölln is not necessarily known as a particularly gay district. This being said, a couple of years ago SchwuZ, one of Berlin’s favorite gay clubs, moved from its old location in Kreuzberg to its new and bigger one in Neukölln (close to the subway station Rathaus Neukölln). Besides having a bigger venue at hand, the decision to move was also a political one. The club’s move to the culturally very distinct Neukölln represents SchwuZ’s aim to combine different lifestyles and, as the owners state, „Neukölln’s exciting Kiez is an important catalyst for this.“

The bar SilverFuture located in Neukölln’s Reuterkiez could have easily been named PinkFuture, stemming from its interior. So get prepared for some serious pink and silver vibes.  The cosy queer bar is fully packed at peak times and features concerts, DJ sets and vernissages.

Harvest your own organic potatoes in Dahlem

For those of you who need a break from the (at times overwhelming) bustle of Berlin and want to reconnect with nature, be sure to visit Domäne Dahlem!

Domäne Dahlem is an organic farm in a historic country estate with a blacksmith shop and an open-air museum for agricultural and food culture. So if you’re at all interested in what organic farming in Germany looks like, this is the place to go!

Domäne Dahlem is an organic farm in a historic country estate with a blacksmith shop and an open-air museum for agricultural and food culture. So if you’re at all interested in what organic farming in Germany looks like, this is the place to go!

At their traditional potato festival, you can harvest organic potatoes from the field yourself. Both modern and historical potato varieties with different cooking properties and very different tastes and appearances are grown here. You can harvest the popular „Linda“ yourself as well as rarities, e.g. „Bamberger Hörnchen“ and „Blauer Schwede“.

Experience and discover selected stands with handicrafts and specialities, ecological delicacies with and without potatoes from their organic gastronomy, live music and lots of hands-on activities.

Where? Domäne Dahlem, Königin-Luise-Straße 49, 14195 Berlin
When? September 17 – September 18 2022 (10am-6pm)
Admission? €2,-

Picture Source: https://www.domaene-dahlem.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DD_Kartoffelfest_Plakat-723×1024.jpg

Queerness in Photography Exhibition at C/O Berlin

If you ever find yourself at S+U Zoologischer Garten, it’s worth stopping by C/O Berlin, an exhibition space for photography and visual media. Located right next to Amerika-Haus on Hardenbergstraße, the nonprofit organization focuses on presenting works by respected artists as well as supporting emerging talents, and welcomes everyone to discover contemporary visual culture. As a place to exchange new ideas, C/O Berlin organizes Artist Talks, Panel Discussions, Film Screenings and guided tours, offering visitors a place to exchange thoughts on the exhibition program and engage in current debates on visual culture. Their upcoming exhibtion Queerness in Photography (Sep 17, 2022 – Jan 18, 2023) examines the representation of identity, gender, and sexuality in photography in three complementary exhibitions.

If you happen to find time during your first week here in Berlin, there’s two more amazing artists being exhibited at c/o until Sep 07, 2022.

Susan Meiselas

The exhibition Susan Meiselas . Mediations is the first retrospective in Germany of the Magnum photographer’s over 50-year oeuvre—from her early portraits of neighbors to intimate shots of strippers to her iconic photographs from crisis and war zones.

Bieke Depoorter

In her solo exhibition A Chance Encounter, Bieke Depoorter presents Agata and Michael, two series that begin with chance encounters. Personal relationships with the people featured in her photographs, which were developed over the course of several years, significantly influence Depoorter’s artistic practice.

When? September 17 - January 18, 2023.
Where? C/O Berlin, Hardenbergstraße 22-24, 10623 Berlin

Picture Sources: https://artviewer.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Paul-Mpagi-Sepuya-at-Document-6.jpg; https://curamagazine.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Darkroom-Mirror-_2050021-2017-archival-pigment-print-10×13-framed-dimensions-21×24-1.jpg; Pebbles with Enzo and Tina at the Carmine Street pool, Little Italy, New York, 1978 © Susan Meiselas . Magnum Photos; https://www.kulturausflandern.de/media/CACHE/images/22/03/Artikelbild_Bieke_Depoorter_Agata_Paris_November_2_2017/30f9f976423ee51814638d688d57ccd6.jpg

Days of Jewish Culture

Each year the Jewish cultural festival presents a diverse potpourri of theatrical performances, readings, discussions, exhibitions, church services, and concerts featuring outstanding performers from around the world. This year’s theme is „Shalom Berlin“. Please find the program here.

When? November 7 - November 17, 2019
Where? Synagoge Rykestraße, Renaussance Theater, Jüdisches Gemeindehaus Fasanenstraße and more
Admission: depends on the venue

Virtual Berlin: Museums, Science and Literature

Germany is known as the land of poets and thinkers throughout the world. It can boast a rich heritage of literature, art and science that is still thriving today – with Berlin at its very center.

Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Altes_Museum%2C_Berlin_2012.jpg

Pergamon Museum:

Visiting a museum in Berlin without having to stand in line? Perfect! Many of Berlin’s museum are currently offering virtual tours via the Google Arts &  Culture App (for Android and iOS), for example the Pergamon Museum with its magnificant altar. The museum has developed a virtual tour that lets you discover their most famous attraction in amazing detail.

Freie Universität Berlin: Open Lecture Halls:

For more than 30 years, your very own FU Berlin has been holding public lectures over a broad range of topics – and now online as well! The lectures on diverse topics are free to all, offer dialog and discussion and you are always invited to participate. These public lectures cover for example body politics in feminist comics or multinational Sovjet literature in Berlin.  

Literaturhaus Berlin:

Do you want to dive into German literature? The Literaturhaus Berlin is a great place to start for opening a new chapter in mastering the German language. Their website offers many different online talks with authors, writers as well as an extensive archive of previous events.  

Museum für Naturkunde – #fürNatur digital:

The Museum für Naturkunde is Berlin’s largest natural history museum. Normally, you can admire dinosaur skeletons in the museum’s grand exhibition halls. But also during these times, you can discover the exibitions with more than 30 millions objects online, for instance by online guided tours or various podcast formats.

Virtual Berlin: Theater and Music

Berlin is Germany’s unrivalled center of all things theater and music. Even though the stages of theaters, operas and music venues remain closed for the time being, some of Berlin’s most famous artistic institutions have offered virtual alternatives until their doors finally open again.

Source: https://d24z4d3zypmncx.cloudfront.net/BlogPosts/top-mic-placement-tips-for-theater/images/top-mic-placement-tips-for-theater_header.jpg

Berliner Ensemble: BE at home:

The Berliner Ensemble, founded by none other than Bertolt Brecht, is one of Berlin’s and Germany’s top theater addresses. Their digital offers at “BE at home” include on demand recordings of panel discussions and lectures, audiowalks, podcasts, streams of historic Brecht-productions, backstage impressions… more than enough content to get you through these times!

Dringeblieben:

Dringeblieben is a collaboration of various cultural institutions across Germany bringing you streams and other digital formats directly to your home. Along with it: the Maxim-Gorki-Theater and the Deutsches Theater. No need to get lucky to get hold of theater tickets – you can just hit play!

Berliner Philharmoniker: Digital Concert Hall:

The Berliner Philharmoniker are one of the world’s best orchestras – and in their digital concert hall you can get a front row seat for free! The playlist includes various performances, conducted by the philharmonic’s chief conductor, Kirill Petrenko. Listen to pieces by van Beethoven, Mahler and Tschaikowsky as well as an interview with Petrenko.

Schaubühne Online:

The Schaubühne is the place to be in Berlin when it comes to contemporary theater. As they remain closed at least until Easter, they have launched Schaubühne Online. Every couple of days you can get free, exclusive access to recordings of plays by famed theater director Thomas Ostermeier, documentaries or panel discussions.

United We Stream:

Berlin’s clubs define the pulse of the city but were also hit hardest by the Corona crisis. “United We Stream“ aims to bring the clubs’ music and atmosphere into your home while supporting the clubs, artists and organizers at the same time. Discover different livestreams by world-renowned DJs from some of Berlin’s most legendary clubs, such as Watergate, Griessmühle or Sisyphos.

Visit a Collegium Musicum Concert

Collegium Musicum Berlin: Startseite
Source: https://www.collegium-musicum-berlin.de/_inhaltselemente/feature-slideshow/_slideshow-images/konzertmitschnitte.jpg?width=1300

The Collegium Musicum is a joint venture of Freie Universität and Technische Universität Berlin. Its ensemble consist of 450 students, professors, and and other university staff from different departments, who meet up regurlarly to make music together. Traditionally, they give a number of concerts towards the end of the German semester in February.

Chamber Choir Concert

The 35 members of the chamber choir perform a unique selection of a capella music – ranging from classics to works by Jaakko Mänyjärvi and Francis Poulenc.

When? February 7, 2020, 7 p.m.
Where? St.-Jacobi-Kirche Kreuzberg, Oranienstraße 132 (U8 Moritzplatz)
Admission: 5€

Philharmonic Orchestra

If you are a fan of classical music, this might be the perfect concert for you. The symphony orchestra and the Great Choir perform a number of classical pieces by Anton Bruckner, Felix Mendellsohn Bartholdy, and Francis Poulenc.

When? February 9, 2020, 8 p.m.
Where? Philharmonie Berlin, Herbert-von-Karajan-Str. 1 (S and U Potsdamer Platz)
Admission: 10€

Bigband Winterconcert

Don’t have plans for Valentine’s Day yet? How about an evening with the UniBigband Berlin, where you might just discover your love for jazz?

When? February 14 and 15, 2020, 8 p.m.
Where? Kunstfabrik Schlot, Invalidenstraße. 117 (U6 Naturkundemuseum)
Admission: 5€

You can find more information on their website: www.collegium-musicum-berlin.de