Berlin & I

Nobler in the Mind

evm — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:31:26 +0000

Is there nothing Dan Aykroyd can’t do? In between chasing ghosts and singing the blues, the Hollywood veteran has also found time to develop his own brand of vodka. His award-winning Crystal Head Vodka doesn’t just taste good, the elegant skull-shaped bottle is also handy for impromptu Hamlet productions.

For its German launch, Dan himself will be in Berlin for an exclusive bottle signing on Saturday the 18th of February. If you would like to win a bottle to take along then you know who to email: Berlin&I! Alternatively you can leave a comment below. You must be 18 or over to take part. Berlin&I promotes responsible drinking and home theatre.

Dan Aykroyd with a bottle of Crystal Head Vodka

Crystal Head Vodka bottle signing with Dan Aykroyd
KaDeWe, Gourmetetage
Tauentzienstraße 21-24
Saturday, 18th February at 3pm

Bring on the Bears!

evm — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:09:55 +0000

It doesn’t matter whether you’re an evangelical film buff or you just like the taste of popcorn, it’s impossible not to get caught up in the excitement and glamour of the Berlinale. This year’s festival takes place from today until the 19th of February so it’s time to wrap up warm and make your way down to Potsdamer Platz where the red carpets and central ticket desk are located.

We recommend taking a look at the programme before you set off into the cold as there are around 400 films to choose from in every genre, length and format imaginable. You’ll also be spoilt for choice when it comes to celeb spotting, with the likes of Meryl Streep and Jake Gyllehaal in town; Streep will be here to pick up her honorary Golden Bear whilst Gyllehaal will be helping decide who else should take home one of the prestigious awards.

It can be frustratingly hard to catch the eye of a celebrity heartthrob from behind the crowd control barriers. But if you send us an email or leave a comment below you could win a little something to help you stand out from the screaming crowd: we’ve got some Clinique “Chubby Sticks” to give away. Brace yourself, Jake.

Clinique Chubby Stick

Berlinale 2012
9th to the 19th of February
Berlin

Image: (c) Alexander Janetzko / Berlinale 2011

The Good Life

evm — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:26:15 +0000

What does it mean to live a good life? Artists from all over the world have been invited to reflect on this subject within their various communities and, from the 7th to the 24th of February, the SurVivArt exhibition in Berlin will be showcasing the results. The variety and range of artistic responses is testimony to the fact that there is no one definition; it can mean different things for different people in different places. But the message behind every one of the projects, from Ethiopia to Cambodia, is that sustainability and social equality have a direct impact on the wellbeing of individuals and communities. The Heinrich Böll Trust, which is run by the Green Party in Germany, is behind the initiative.

SurVivArt Exhibition
7 – 24th of February
Tue-Fri 12-18:00, Sat 11-16:00
Mikael Andersen / Meinblau Gallery
Christinenstraße 18/19, Prenzlauerberg

It’s Rude to Stare

evm — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:46:05 +0000

Roll up! Roll up! The Tiger Lillies Freakshow is in town!

Until the 6th of February, the Wintergarten Berlin invites you to make the acquaintance of the world’s most dexterous siamese twins, a supple snake woman with a penchant for gin, and some surprisingly lithe lobotomised ladies. All to the unique sound of the Tiger Lillies, whose darkly humorous lyrics, husky vocals and catchy melodies have earned them a cult following. For the chance to win tickets to the closing night performance in Berlin on the 6th of February at 8pm, just send us a mail or leave a comment below.

Die Tiger Lillies haben schon immer mehr zu bieten gehabt als einen netten Abend. Schräge Zirkusmusik, traurige Moritaten – leidenschaftlich vorgetragen, ironisch gebrochen. Damit haben sie sich bei ihren Fans Kultstatus erarbeitet. In der Freak Show treten zur Musik der Tiger Lillies kuriose Artisten auf, eine Schlangenfrau, jonglierende siamesische Zwillinge, Menschen mit überzähligen Gliedmaßen… Gar nicht nett, aber ein toller Abend für Menschen mit Sinn für abseitigen Humor.

Wir freuen uns, zwei Tickets verlosen zu können, für die letzte Aufführung am 6. Februar, 20:00. Schreiben sie uns eine Mail oder hinterlassen Sie einen Kommentar auf der Website.

Tiger Lillies Freakshow
Wintergarten Berlin
until 6th of Februar
Potsdamer Straße, 96, Tiergarten

Foto: (c) Atelieri O.Haapala / Tiger Lillies

Friend Request Pending

evm — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:23:53 +0000

The Transmediale Festival is a platform for the cultural underdogs of this world, with a focus on hybrid art in electronic forms: an alternative Berlinale. This year marks its 25th anniversary so expect more exhibitions, workshops, discussions and videos than ever before. Under the title in/compatible, 2012′s Transmediale will be exploring the phenomenon of social networking and the problems which can arise from connecting things which do not necessarily belong together. Ignore the icy temperatures and get yourself down to the opening ceremony this evening for a spot of in/compatibility.

Transmediale
Haus der Kulturen der Welt
Opening: 31st January, 5pm
1st to 5th February, 10am-11pm
John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, Tiergarten

Image: (c) Till Nowak / Transmediale

Political Mother Reloaded

evm — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:10:26 +0000

The Spielzeit’europa Festival is set to go out with a bang on the 27th and 28th of January. Hofesch Shechter is in town with “Political Mother: The Choreographer’s Cut”, a reworking of his critically acclaimed “audio visual marvel” from 2010. Brace your senses for a show which is part rock concert, part electrifying dance performance and part political and social critique. Fancy a cheeky peek before the German premiere on the 27th? Oh, go on then. If you like what you see and think you can handle the pace then why not drop us a line or leave a comment below for the chance to win a pair of tickets to the show on Friday the 27th at 8pm.

Haus der Berliner Festspiele
Schaperstr. 24, Berlin-Charlottenburg
27th and 28th of January, 8pm

Image: (c) Tom Medwell

Fashion Victim

evm — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:12:27 +0000

It was a fine affair, but now Fashion Week is over and it’s time to repent for our sins: the late nights, the early starts and the indecent amounts of free champagne. But public flagellation is such a hassle. Surely there must be a simpler way? Luckily for you, we’ve got our hands on some heavy-duty beauty products from Eucerin.

The Hyaluron-Filler range from Eucerin is designed to rejuvenate tired, worn-out skin. It does so using hyaluronic acid, an important natural component of the skin, responsible for keeping it supple and firm. It has been found that the body’s natural levels decrease as we get older, which may be why we get wrinklier.

Send us an email or leave us a comment below if your skin is in need of some TLC. Smooth, soft and fresh-looking skin… just in time for the next Berlin Fashion Week in a few months’ time!

The Hyaluron-Filler range from Eucerin

Ultraschall

evm — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:34:09 +0000

The Ultraschall Festival in Berlin, which this year takes place from the 20th to the 29th of January, is a celebration of new music. Works from young, contemporary composers as well as “classics” from the last 50 years are performed by a host of talented musicians. This year, the focus is on the early works of Claude Vivier and Jean Barraqué. We are giving away a pair of tickets to the opening concert: a joint performance by the phenomenal violinist Carolin Widmann and the RIAS chamber choir. For the chance to win, just send us an email or leave a comment below.

Carolin Widmann and the RIAS chamber choir
20th of January, 8pm
Parochialkirche
Klosterstraße 67

Ultraschall
20th to the 29th of January
various locations

Dry Clean Only

evm — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:12:23 +0000

Berlin Fashion Week: one day down, a few to go! Let’s take a look at what’s been going on so far at two of the biggest events: The Premium and the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Plus something you probably won’t find on the rails come autumn/winter 2012: an unholy fashion-food fusion.

The Premium Fair, which is taking place in Station Berlin from the 18th to the 20th of January, has played a vital role in shaping the city’s fashion scene since it was set up almost ten years ago by Anita and Norbert Tillmann. Back then, Berlin was a far cry from the “poor but sexy” fashion capital it is today. The Premium is not open to the public but the F95 Store, which is located next door, gives you the opportunity to purchase items from some of the hottest designers out there. Blame, Lamperia and Rita in Palma, the winners of the Premium Young Designers Award, are three of the most recent additions. The Premium has always been committed to supporting young talent and approximately 20% of the stands are reserved for establishing designers. Some of the biggest names on the Berlin fashion scene, such as Acne or Lala Berlin, started out at the Premium.

Elsewhere in Berlin, the first models have begun strutting their stuff at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. From the 18th to the 21st of January, this temporary catwalk in front of the iconic Brandenburg gate will be giving both commercially successful, international brands as well as up-and-coming labels, the chance to present their visions for the autumn/winter 2012 season. We particularly enjoyed Lena Hoschek’s new collection which featured feminine cuts and fresh, floral prints. (For more on Lena Hoschek and her Berlin store check out our January/February issue). Another one to watch for 2012 is Alexandra Kiesel.

Edible fashion may not be particularly practical but it’s sure to get you noticed. Until the 29th of January, the “Fashion Food” exhibition in the Museum for Kommunikation will be displaying photos of fashion created entirely from food. The outfit above features a queen crab hairpiece, soybean top and a ring made from sugar.

Premium Fashion Fair
Station Berlin
Luckenwalder Strasse 4, Kreuzberg

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week
Brandenburg Gate, Mitte

Fashion Food
Museum für Kommunikation
until 29th of January
Leipziger Strasse 16, Mitte

Local hero

avi — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:51:26 +0000

Hats off to Alexandra Kiesel (photo left), winner of the Designer for TomorrowAward from Peek&Cloppenburg. She lit up the Fashion Week catwalk at the Brandenburger gate on Wednesday evening with her very first collection, entitled “Support Your Local Heroes”. Kiesel studied fashion design at the Berlin-Weißensee School of Art and Design. In addition to fashion she is also interested in art and illustration, which can be clearly seen in her designs. We particularly liked the colourful patterns, which originate from Berlin artists such as Golden Cosmos or Edith Carron.

Toller Erfolg mit der ersten Kollektion: Alexandra Kiesel (Foto links), Gewinnerin des Designer for Tomorrow Awards von Peek&Cloppenburg, hat am Mittwochabend mit ihrer Show im Rahmen der Fashion Week begeistert. Kiesel hat Modedesign an der Kunsthochschule Weißensee in Berlin studiert. Neben Mode interessiert sie sich auch für Kunst und Illustration. Das konnte man gestern auch Ihren Entwürfen ansehen, die sie auf dem Fashion-Week-Catwalk am Brandenburger Tor auf ihrer ersten eigenen Show präsentierte. Berlin&I hat besonders das Spiel mit farbenfrohen Stoffdesigns gut gefallen. Die Stoffdesigns, die Kiesel für ihre Kollektion “support your local heroes” ausgesucht hat, stammen von Berliner Designern wie Golden Cosmos oder Edith Carron.