http://www.dw-world.de/english/?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Scene in Berlin: a culture column from the capital en 2012 DW-WORLD.DE, Deutsche Welle Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:39:53 GMT Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:39:53 GMT http://partner.dw-world.de/syndication/media/rdf_dw_logo.gif http://www.dw-world.de/english/?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss News, Analysis and Service from Germany and Europe - in 30 Languages 88 25 30 http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15735082,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15735082,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss The 62nd Berlin Film Festival got under way this week in the capital's February chill. It gives the students of Berlin's two major film schools a chance to see where their hopes and dreams could take them. Culture Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:03:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15712341,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15712341,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss It used to be that there was a bar on every corner in Berlin, where workers would order a beer to wind down from the day. But these institutions of yore are close to extinction, as more modern watering holes take over. Culture Fri, 3 Feb 2012 09:58:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15697605,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15697605,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss There's been a new migration to Berlin from across Europe since the EU opened up, but few have flocked in like the Spanish, it seems. As DW's Stuart Braun found out, most have little choice but to stay. Culture Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:44:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15676969,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15676969,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss The Turkish community might dominate Kreuzberg, but Neukölln is Berlin's Arab heartland. Deutsche Welle's Stuart Braun explores Little Beruit. Culture Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:21:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15665087,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15665087,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin's Roma community have been in the capital for a long time, but many continue to live in limbo. Deutsche Welle's Stuart Braun details their search for acceptance. Culture Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:35:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15649644,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15649644,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss It's often said that no one in Berlin is from Berlin. But among the city's shifting ethnic milieus, a well-established African community is building a strong Berlin identity, as DW's Stuart Braun discovers. Culture Fri, 6 Jan 2012 10:21:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15621262,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15621262,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Thinking of visiting Berlin? That's great. Or maybe not. Many Berliners feel the crush of tourists is destroying what made the city worth experiencing. Fortunately, DW's Jefferson Chase has tips to reduce the tension. Culture Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:48:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15620197,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15620197,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Frankly, you're better off in Prague than Berlin if you're looking for Christmas spirit. But DW's Gabriel Fawcett explains why Berlin is Germany's most popular holiday destination. Culture Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:54:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6681093,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6681093,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin loves to buck trends. While many readers are trading their paperbacks for tablets, independent booksellers are seeing a renaissance in Berlin - from niche shops to a book hawker who can read more than just texts. Culture Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:13:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6676651,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6676651,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Parking a Trabant in front of Starbucks or sleeping in a socialist hotel in the heart of a democratic country is probably impossible on your side of the planet. In Berlin, everything is doable, says DW's Lavinia Pitu. Culture Fri, 9 Dec 2011 11:39:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15573042,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15573042,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin's a great city, but it's commonly advised that you avoid it between the months of November and February. Deutsche Welle's Stuart Braun, however, isn't going anywhere. Culture Fri, 2 Dec 2011 08:57:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15550483,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15550483,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin's long-buried imperial past has come back into fashion. DW's Jane Paulick takes a look at a surprising trend. Culture Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:49:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6661398,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6661398,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berliners like to take it easy. And each one seems to have a favorite spot for passing time, while drinking a hot cup of coffee. Anne Thomas checked out just a few of them in search of God In A Cup. Culture Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:12:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15525505,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15525505,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss While much of the world stops to remember the dead of the world wars, Berlin is business as usual on Armistice Day. DW's Stuart Braun ponders the muted memorializing of war in the German capital. Culture Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:02:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6652490,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6652490,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Summer is over so no more outdoor swimming for Berlin's water-mad residents. But fear not, even with another biting winter just around the corner, the city still offers plenty of places to swim. Culture Fri, 4 Nov 2011 09:26:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6630630,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6630630,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss There are more and more foreign tourists coming to Berlin every year, statistics show. But apparently it's not the sites are the draw, because they're all covered in scaffolding, says DW's Lavinia Pitu. Culture Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:23:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6593935,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6593935,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Is there anything you dislike about Berlin? We don't want to know. Yes, we Berliners are full of ourselves. Culture Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:19:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15445368,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15445368,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss While it's well known for electronic music, Berlin is also considered one of the world's tango capitals outside of Buenos Aires. The German capital boasts dozens of clubs dedicated to Argentine tango. Culture Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:17:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6574788,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6574788,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin's mayor Klaus Wowereit’s description of his city as "poor but sexy" are some handy adjectives to attach much of Berlin. But DW's Gavin Blackburn thinks the city's demos are in serious need of further sexing up. Culture Fri, 7 Oct 2011 09:24:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15427869,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15427869,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Dragging a pink rickshaw, dressed in stilettos, a jolly gang of expats is trying to bring Berlin's diverse groups together for "magic moments." But DW's Jenny Hoff wonders whether togetherness is even a Berlin thing. Culture Fri, 30 Sep 2011 09:01:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15411166,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15411166,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin's Südgelände Nature Park is off the beaten track, hidden in the suburb of Schöneberg. It's a secret garden for sheep, graffiti artists and joggers like DW's Leah McDonnell, who wants to keep it for herself. Culture Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:39:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15389394,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15389394,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Klaus Wowereit is hoping to win a third term as mayor of Berlin this weekend, boosted by an ad campaign with a bit of folksy charm. DW's Jane Paulick is disappointed she won't be joining in the election extravaganza. Culture Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:12:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6612372,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6612372,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss The Jewish Culture Days have begun in Berlin. With poetry readings and concerts, the festival brings to life a community that was almost wiped out by the Nazis. Its ghosts haunt the city today. Culture Fri, 9 Sep 2011 05:58:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6609359,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6609359,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss A strange phenomenon is occurring behind the scenes of Berlin's urban jungle. Berliners are trying their hand at planting blue potatoes, purple carrots or black beans, and finding out how satisfying gardening can be. Culture Fri, 2 Sep 2011 10:40:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6586031,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6586031,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Throwing open its doors to travelers in 2006, Berlin's central station - Hauptbahnhof - is the largest two-level crossing station in Europe and has risen from mere travel terminus to an emblem of unified Germany. Culture Fri, 26 Aug 2011 07:34:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15275772,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15275772,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Germany might be known for beer and bratwursts, but Berlin is starting a new culinary trend. With "Vöners" and Sun Day Vegan burgers, it's becoming an oasis in the meat-loving desert of Deutschland. Culture Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:17:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15317681,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15317681,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Do mini skirts and cleavage take the blame for sexual harassment? Thousands across Germany said no this weekend. DW's Lavinia Pitu joined the Berlin Slutwalk to find out how so-called rape culture is being changed. Culture Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:02:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15311145,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15311145,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss The Left and Social Democratic parties have governed so-called Red Berlin for over a century. State elections are coming up and Berlin's left is divided. DW's Stuart Braun tries to sort the left from the left. Culture Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:58:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6577611,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6577611,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss As temperatures soar, only one thing can appease an unruly kid or an overheated hipster: ice cream. Whether it's Persian, Peruvian or Prussian that you want, there's plenty of supply to meet demand in Germany's capital. Culture Fri, 5 Aug 2011 08:45:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15237728,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15237728,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss The feeling in Berlin can change dramatically from one street to the next. Local district museums help preserve Berlin's unique community character, even in the face of globalization and gentrification. Culture Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:55:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15256526,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15256526,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss There's a rumor that the döner kebab was invented in Berlin. It's probably not true. But anyway the city is over the döner. The variety of Mid-Eastern meat sandwich in the capital is now basically infinite. Culture Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:28:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6569417,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6569417,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Admittedly, Berlin isn't exactly famous for its friendliness. Just try taking a bus ride through the capital. But even the city's rude bus drivers can be good for an occasional surprise. Culture Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:13:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15213578,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15213578,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss It takes a slightly elastic imagination to think of Berlin in the same terms as Venice, but that's what many Berliners do - and they like to do it while basking in the sunshine next to one of the city's many canals. Culture Fri, 8 Jul 2011 09:33:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15204070,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15204070,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin kicks off on July 6. The event is consistently attracting fashionistas, celebrities - and plenty of attention. But what's really worth a look is the work of home-grown talent. Culture Fri, 1 Jul 2011 11:52:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15186412,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15186412,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Wear a suit and your I-am-successful face if you're ever looking for a decent flat in Berlin. Long famous for cheap rents, getting a nice place in the German capital is beginning to resemble a job interview. Culture Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:47:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15160445,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15160445,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss It's not just for old English people whiling away their time in musty watering holes any more. Berliners have discovered the pub quiz and are taking the passion for trivia to absurd new dimensions. Culture Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:38:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15145198,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15145198,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss You don't see many police or surveillance cameras in Berlin compared to other major cities. Indeed, the locals seem to do what they want - within limits, of course. DW's Stuart Braun doesn't see many cops in town. Culture Fri, 10 Jun 2011 08:43:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15127303,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15127303,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss You might have walked past Berlin's allotment gardens and wondered what dark mischief goes on behind those sinister rows of hedges. Not to worry - it's just a part of Berlin's rich pageant. Culture Fri, 3 Jun 2011 09:59:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15111026,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15111026,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Had Frank Sinatra lived in the German capital, we would probably be singing "Berlin, Berlin" at karaoke nights. Nothing against wonderful New York, but my city doesn't sleep either - for musicians of all genres. Culture Fri, 27 May 2011 10:19:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15091088,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15091088,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Two decades after German reunification, Berlin is home to a unique cultural landscape boasting three publicly supported opera houses. Long live the excess. Culture Fri, 20 May 2011 09:38:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15069431,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15069431,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Is the Berlin courtyard the heart and soul of civic life in the capital? DW's Stuart Braun wanders into some Berlin backyards to find out. Culture Fri, 13 May 2011 07:47:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15055943,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15055943,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin may be famous for its tolerance, but when it comes to fashion, the rules are strict - and vary by neighborhood. Metropolitan chic in the German capital is a much more complicated style guide than you might think. Culture Fri, 6 May 2011 11:44:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15032218,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15032218,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss The musical "Linie 1" has been featuring in Berlin's theater listings for a quarter of a century, so DW's Jane Paulick decided it was time to find out why exactly it's so popular. Culture Fri, 29 Apr 2011 08:10:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15011135,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15011135,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss While shoppers make a last minute dash to stock up on chocolate eggs and bunnies, DW's Tamsin Walker asks what role they play in a typical Berlin Easter. If indeed there is such a thing… Culture Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:55:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14983291,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14983291,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Germany has a rich soccer culture, but to experience it all you'd have to crisscross the entire country ... or would you? There's another way: Cruise Berlin's streets, following the cheers and the scent of beer. Culture Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:25:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6495833,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6495833,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss When Berlin's mayor described the city as "poor but sexy," he certainly wasn't talking about the women standing on Oranienburger Street. Still, prostitution in Berlin is as colorful as the metropolis itself. Culture Fri, 8 Apr 2011 09:39:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14958814,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14958814,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin is obsessed with being unique. And while Berliners still shop at Ikea and H&M, there's no better place to find that one-of-a-kind accent than at a flea market, says DW's Anne Thomas. Culture Fri, 1 Apr 2011 07:36:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14941669,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14941669,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss In Berlin, don't mention the "G" word - gentrification. But is Berlin really about to turn into Manhattan? Deutsche Welle's Stuart Braun has his doubts. Culture Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:37:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6474772,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6474772,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Like it or not, Berliners leave behind information about where they go, what they buy, what they eat, and who they're with. The data they unwittingly pass on is changing the city, says DW's Jonathan Gifford. Culture Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:36:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6463170,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6463170,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss It's definitely not a sausage. It's a phenomenon. Otherwise Berliners wouldn't have been crazy enough to dedicate an entire museum to the legendary currywurst. Culture Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:28:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14831706,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14831706,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin's burgeoning arts scene offers no lack of unusual past-times. But the experimentalism can go too far, as Rebecca Schmid found out at a late-night concert and yoga session. Culture Fri, 4 Mar 2011 09:06:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14873445,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14873445,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Queer Berlin is almost a tautology. In a city in which homosexuality was once glorified, and then so horribly vilified, today LGTB culture is a driving force of the Berlin underground, as DW's Stuart Braun found out. Culture Fri, 25 Feb 2011 09:51:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14851160,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14851160,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss It may be in its 61st year and is one of Europe's key film-market meeting points, but that doesn't mean everyone is seduced by the glitz of the Berlin International Film Festival. Least of all DW's Gavin Blackburn. Culture Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:05:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14836569,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14836569,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Every year, Berlin welcomes the film industry for 10 crazy days of screenings, parties and star-watching. DW's Anne Thomas finds the best way to enjoy the festival is to be open to surprises. Culture Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:06:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14816280,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14816280,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss For better or for worse the heady days of 1920s decadence made Berlin synonymous with excessive nightlife. But as Tamsin Walker finds out, there is more to an evening's entertainment than drink, song and dance. Culture Fri, 4 Feb 2011 09:09:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14777855,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14777855,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss If there is one thing besides its history for which Berlin is famed, it has to be music. Less so the electronic beats that put it on the techno map, as the gravelly voices and tinkling piano of musical theater. Culture Fri, 28 Jan 2011 08:55:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14778217,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14778217,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin's semi-annual Fashion Week is now underway. Germany's biggest catwalk event makes winter bearable for any fashion victim, says DW's Lavinia Pitu. Culture Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:21:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6369262,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6369262,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin's Russian community recently came out en masse for a long-awaited concert by post-Soviet star Maxim Galkin. While he draws the older generation, Berlin's Russian bars and cafes enliven the youthful subculture. Culture Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:02:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14755647,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14755647,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss While for some, January is a time to spend Christmas money, for others it is a month of frugality. For those looking for something between the two, Berlin just might be the perfect place. Culture Fri, 7 Jan 2011 11:01:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6358926,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6358926,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss As yet another year draws to a close, it's time to sit down with a glass of hot mulled wine, draw the curtains on all that awful snow and look back at some of Berlin's highlights from 2010. Culture Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:31:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14730602,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,14730602,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss These past two decades, the festive season in Berlin has been changing almost as rapidly as the capital itself. But when it comes to Christmas, some old habits are reluctant to die. Culture Fri, 24 Dec 2010 10:39:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6350994,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6350994,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss The holiday spirit couldn't convince DW's Anne Thomas to crawl out from under the covers and venture into Berlin's Christmas markets, but promises of mulled wine did the trick. But was it worth leaving bed? Culture Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:02:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6315368,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6315368,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin has the highest unemployment rate in any of Germany's 16 states (12.8 percent). The capital is also easily the arty-fartiest place in the country. Coincidence? DW's Ben Knight doesn't think so. Culture Fri, 10 Dec 2010 10:08:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6272103,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6272103,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin is mean and demanding. It's unpredictable and needs its space. Deutsche Welle's Lavinia Pitu explains how she fell in love with the German capital and why it's become a relationship that will last. Culture Fri, 3 Dec 2010 10:29:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6264550,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6264550,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Boules is cool again, or so they say, with registered clubs mushrooming all over France and the UK. But there's a whole other petanque culture to be found on autumn evenings along Berlin's canal banks. Culture Fri, 26 Nov 2010 10:28:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6129454,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6129454,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Is Berlin's status as Europe's unofficial Capital of Cool under threat as the city rides an enthusiastic wave of karaoke fever? DW's Gavin Blackburn and the rest of the city certainly don't think so. Culture Fri, 19 Nov 2010 09:13:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6195247,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6195247,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss From old Nazi bunkers to train stations, art can be found nearly everywhere in Berlin - even in museums. DW's Anne Thomas discovered art in the most unlikely places and found some striking juxtapositions. Culture Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:42:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6184845,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6184845,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss The roaring Twenties were Berlin's cultural heyday, and gave the city its reputation as a hotbed of hedonism. Weimar-era decadence is once again all the rage, as the party crowd trades in hooded tops for feather boas. Culture Fri, 5 Nov 2010 09:05:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6129491,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6129491,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin's mayor, Klaus Wowereit, once proudly announced that his city was "poor but sexy," but with this rather chic poverty comes a cynical exploitation of eager young workers. Culture Fri, 29 Oct 2010 09:33:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6138405,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6138405,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Nerdnite is the latest addition to cool Berlin's social calendar. Deutsche Welle's Jane Paulick got her geek chic on and had a look. Culture Fri, 22 Oct 2010 07:55:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6111818,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6111818,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss With the German cuisine not particularly known for having a kick, lovers of spicy food agonize over the dearth of flavor in Berlin. DW's Susan Stone, however, has discovered the city's newly flourishing spice scene. Culture Fri, 15 Oct 2010 07:22:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6092980,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6092980,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin is known throughout Germany for its "WG" communal living arrangements. Part socialist throwback, part progressive social experiment, the city's denizens are known for carefully picking their fellow WG inhabitants. Culture Fri, 8 Oct 2010 10:12:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6000823,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6000823,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss As Germany celebrates a very historic anniversary, lots of people are engaging in personal recollections - although, as is the case after all good parties, those memories can be a bit blurry. Culture Fri, 1 Oct 2010 07:36:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6036112,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6036112,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss In just two decades Berlin has undergone a major facelift. But it’s not only the buildings that look different - the people have changed as well. Culture Fri, 24 Sep 2010 09:46:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6000744,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6000744,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss An unloved, underprivileged district south of the River Spree has become a magnet for Berlin scenesters. DW's reporter offers a homeboy view of an area usually dismissed as a ghetto. Culture Fri, 17 Sep 2010 07:35:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5980641,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5980641,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss As Berlin plays host to Germany's biggest music industry gathering, Popkomm, visitors may well be wondering what's happened to the music. Culture Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:41:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5963657,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5963657,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss A low-budget film released in Germany this week takes a look at that quintessentially Berlin phenomenon, the late-night corner shop known as the "Spaeti." Culture Fri, 3 Sep 2010 07:29:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5944348,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5944348,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Germany is the birthplace of the modern printing press and, even today, Berlin is home to a number of letterpress printers. DW's Gerhard Schneibel found out why printed books hold a magic he'll never find on a screen. Culture Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:48:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5865796,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5865796,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berliners no longer have to argue about whether to spend an evening at the movies or sit back and watch their favorite TV series; at the so-called Gernsehclub they can do both. And they are...in droves. Culture Fri, 20 Aug 2010 07:52:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5907188,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5907188,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss London is no longer the only European capital with a Speaker's Corner. A public-speaking trainer has now planted one in Berlin. For a city so used to creative art, it's a strange new challenge for artistic Berliners. Culture Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:37:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5871442,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5871442,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Ignored, used and abused for centuries past, the river Spree has quietly found a place to stay in the hearts of Berlin's inhabitants. Culture Fri, 6 Aug 2010 07:47:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5843853,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5843853,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss For some Berliners, summer means ditching the clothes and strutting around without a care in the world. There's nothing wrong with that per se, but for bashful ex-pat Brits, it can be a truly miserable experience. Culture Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:42:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5825161,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5825161,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Now that the 30-something, latte-drinking generation has finished colonizing central Berlin, it's set its sights on the backwaters of Brandenburg. Jane Paulick wonders if the provinces got the short end of the stick. Culture Fri, 23 Jul 2010 07:38:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5795430,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5795430,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss There's a certain lawlessness about biking in Berlin, and it works. At least until the city's busybodies get involved. Culture Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:29:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5771053,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5771053,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss This week sees the Berlin glitterati in a fever as yet again the German capital hosts Fashion Week. But as a city with more hipsters per square mile than most, Berlin has a rather DIY approach to high-end fashion. Culture Fri, 9 Jul 2010 08:04:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5753707,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5753707,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss On the whole, Germans are not famed for being overtly child friendly. But that hasn't stopped parts of Berlin from becoming one giant playground. Culture Fri, 2 Jul 2010 14:21:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5705755,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5705755,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Anglophone comedy is now a bona fide "scene" in Berlin, thanks mainly to a bar called SIN. Driven by desperate attempts to fit in, and jokes about shelf toilets, insecure Anglo-Saxons have finally found a bolt-hole. Culture Fri, 25 Jun 2010 07:32:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5686138,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5686138,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss No one wants to watch World Cup matches at home, and there are thousands of places to go to see them. The trick is to find somewhere that's not completely irritating. Fortunately, Berlin still has some safe havens. Culture Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:59:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5666511,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5666511,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Its anarchic atmosphere has made the Mauerpark in the district of Prenzlauer Berg a popular hipsters' playground. Tourists love it, but locals see quite a few cracks in the free-spirited facade. Culture Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:27:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5638147,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5638147,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the wave of gentrification sweeping the city is irrepresible. With more and more areas transforming into homogenized yuppy-villes, is this the death of Kiezkultur? Culture Fri, 4 Jun 2010 07:44:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5624492,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5624492,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss While a decade ago the sound of English in central Berlin still had a slight scent of the exotic about it, these days its flat vowels can be heard on pretty much any street corner - but less so in cinemas and theaters. Culture Fri, 28 May 2010 10:06:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5595123,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5595123,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss The ultra-hip club Soho House has had the in-crowd clamoring for membership since its doors opened in London's Notting Hill. Now it's arrived in Berlin. But can it attract members in Germany's capital? Culture Fri, 21 May 2010 09:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5571111,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5571111,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Boulevard Theater is an outdated format where theater is pure entertainment. But in recent years, English plays and films have started to influence this incomparable genre in Berlin - with rejuvenating effects. Culture Fri, 14 May 2010 11:20:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5540965,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5540965,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Berlin might be renowned as the home of techno, but DW's Kyle James looked at the city's lively dance hall culture, and found that it brings together an eclectic mix of people in a relaxed and retro atmosphere. Culture Fri, 7 May 2010 09:23:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5522321,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5522321,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Not famed for their jovial nature, Berliners are learning to chuckle en masse at laughter clubs across the city. Culture Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:03:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5489998,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5489998,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss What started as a niche scene in the late 80s has become one of Berlin's main selling points for young tourists. Techno and Berlin go hand in hand. Now, an influx of international clubbers are changing the demographic. Culture Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:51:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5473387,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5473387,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss A rash of theaters in Kreuzberg and Neukoelln are increasingly bringing to the stage a raw and unabashed view of life in their heavily immigrant surroundings as seen through the eyes of the people who live there. Culture Fri, 16 Apr 2010 07:23:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5444001,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5444001,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss In Berlin, ping-pong isn't just played at summer camp. It's also a chance to go out, meet people and - of course - drink a few good German beers. Culture Fri, 9 Apr 2010 07:57:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5415881,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5415881,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Easter is not a major event on the Berlin calendar, and the most notable expression of religious fervor this week was probably a much-talked about tribute to 'Jesus Christ Superstar' performed by electrorapper Peaches. Culture Thu, 1 Apr 2010 15:33:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5388243,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5388243,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Live literary entertainment in Berlin is in the middle of a slow and relentless revolution. The classic reading stage is being deposed by the cut-throat poetry slam, and the poetic old guard is grumbling. Culture Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:48:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5359974,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5359974,00.html?maca=en-rss_en_culture_column-5303-xml-mrss Think music and Berlin, and you'll think of pounding electronic beats and subsonic bass frequencies. But increasingly, alternative clubs are going unplugged. That's easy on the ears - and the neighbors. Culture Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:17:00 GMT