BEWARE OF DODGY JOBS

SPOTLIGHT NEIL MCGREGOR

A beginners guide
to minijobs in Berlin
Page 8

Neil McGregor as foundational artistic

director of the Humboldt Forum
Page 13

Berlin Logs
15
PROBLEM WITH
STARTING UP
Investment problems of
Berlins Silicon Allee & its
startups

18
STARTUP
PROFILE
This startup has set out to
greenify safe sex. Can it?

New Beginnings
in Berlin
10

2015S 48 STUNDEN NEUKLLN ARTS FESTIVAL IS ASKING A BIG

QUESTION: CAN ART SAVE THE WORLD?

Berlin Logs Magazine. | www.berlinlogs.com | June 2015.

LOCAL ENGLISH MAGAZINE

Berlin Logs

JUNE
CONTENTS

04

Whats New: DNA BLN, Goodbye

Arm&Sexy, and more

14

Impressionism Expressionism:
Art at a Turning Point

06

Guide to Berlins Coolest English

Language Blogs

15

Getting Started in Berlin:

Problems, Ideas, Hopes for Success

08

Beginners Guide to Dodgy MiniJobs in Berlin

20

Beer Hunting: Top Five: Berlins

Best Cheap Pints

10

Artistic Reality: 48 Stunden

Neukolln art festival

21

In Search of Berlins Grimiest Pub

Crawl

12

Cultural Calendar: Be Artsy This

June

24

Exploring Dark Worlds: Berliner

Unterwelten

13

Neil McGregor: Berlins Latest

Cultural Import

28

On Budget in Berlin: Breakfast,

Lunch & Dinner

Team

New Beginnings in Berlin

Managing Editor:

For the first issue of Berlin Logs, we wanted to focus on

Beginnings. In Berlin, the beginnings most conspicuous
in international headlines might be those occurring in
our much-hyped startup culture, our so-called Silicon
Allee. And indeed weve included some stories of Berlin
startups.

Daniyal Waseem
Senior Editor:

Linda OGrady
Editors:

Conor ORourke
Jane Walton
Sarah Coughlan
Art Editor:

Hazel Rowland
Nightlife Editor:

Lindsay McKean
Office Manager:

Karmijn Simons
Berlin Logs.
Habsburger Str 10, 10781. Berlin
+ 49 (0)30 982 942 02
info@berlinlogs.com www.berlinlogs.com

But for many, Berlin represents a different kind of

beginning. Starting a masters degree. The first few hours
of a new job. Getting to know a new neighborhood.
Exploring a previously-hidden part of ones own
personality. Opening day at a new business. Or just that
first drink before a big night out.
Sure, Berlin Logs is a magazine created by expats in
Berlin, but its not a city guide. Its a collection of Berlin
stories, connected by a common thread: this month,
starting something new in Berlin. Whatever happened
before and whatever happens after, Berlin Logs is about
leaving the things you know behind and trying your hand
at creating something new. You created art, music, and
friendships. You opened a trendy cafe, a cozy bar, or a
new club. We made a magazine.

The Berlin Logs Team

Berlin Logs

DIGGING HISTORY:

Confronting The
Ghosts of Berlin

W
By Callum Campbell

We each have our own way of interacting with the buildings,

monuments, and history in Berlin, but Brian Ladds book, The Ghosts
of Berlin: Confronting German History in the Urban Landscape
offers a different perspective to most. Locals and tourists alike have
varying levels of engagement with the buildings and monuments.
There are those that just like to marvel at their wonder certainly,
the Brandenburg Gate is a sight to see in itself. At the same time,
others like to inspect them a little closer, investigating a structures
architectural integrity or analysing its place in architectural fashion
or history. But beneath the surface, the structures here have stories
to tell of their own. The paths now trod by tourists were once the
paths of tyrants and philosophers (now the ghosts), people who
impacted world history. This is no surprise to anybody who has even
the slightest understanding of Berlins history, but Ladd digs a little
deeper: what perspectives do the structures around Berlin give us
on this history? After all, they have witnessed it all. This is what The
Ghosts of Berlin explores. It is a book which should be added to the
summer reading list of any Berlin enthusiast.
With each construction of a significant building or monument in
Berlin, the people respond to it. Is it pleasing to the eye? Does it
signify national culture or identity? Practically, is it what the city
or the country needs? Brian Ladd analyses the debates that were
had and, through them, we learn not only about the history, but the
buildings themselves. How a structure is treated in these debates
and in real life gives a great insight into the thoughts and minds
of the people of the day, which allows the reader to connect even
more so with the environment around him or her. Early in the
book, Brian Ladd talks about the Berlin Wall and about how, soon
after its demise, Berliners hacked at the Wall and collected its
fragments often to be sold, making what was once a communist
fortification a capitalist commodity. Such an image portrays a vivid
disregard for the structure itself, a disregard which you can see but
not understand fully when visiting it. The book takes us through
many of these journeys, exploring the conflicts and controversies
surrounding structures from different eras, such as the Royal Palace,
the Palast der Republik, the Topography of Terrors, and many more.
Ladds ability to describe the debates in the context of the history
and people of the time is the books greatest asset. It encourages
the reader to engage more deeply with the city and connect with
its present and past. Im no architecture buff in any sense, but I
enjoyed learning about the structures and understanding what
they were and where they came from. The book is dry in parts
and it explores less sexy constructions such as the Mietskaserne
(meaning rental barracks, these were rows of housing blocks built
in the mid- to late-19th century which surrounded the central
city). Dont get me wrong, these were important in Berlins social
history as the city developed, but when compared to stories of
uncontrollable tyrants and communists versus capitalists, theyre
just less interesting to read about. Ultimately, Ladd interweaves the
stories of the structures themselves with what went on within and
around them. It is a nourishing read and now I feel I have a greater
understanding of Berlin as it moves into the future.

It is a book which
should be added to
the summer reading
list of any Berlin
enthusiast.

Berlin Logs

WHATS NEW
By Conor ORourke

Preview: DNA BLN

People routinely cite Berlins lively art and music scenes as the reason they decided to move here. Living
in Berlin gives you the opportunity to lightly perch on whatever bleeding edge piques your interest.
Here is one such opportunity: On June 11th, DNA BLN (short for Discover New Artists) is back with
another showcase of all things new and Berlin. (See page 21 for our full preview of the one-day festival
and an interview with one of the artists.)

Obituary: Arm&Sexy
Like many great things, Arm&Sexy began on a birthday. Way back in 2007, Delphine and Sofiane, two
French-speaking expats, hosted a birthday party at the low-key Kneipe Mittelpunkt on Sanderstrae
(now occupied by hipster favorite, The Black Lodge). For a night, the venerable Stammkneipe was
flooded by a crowd of stylishly v-necked foreigners. It was the perfect mix of new and old, and in some
ways a metaphor for Berlins modern condition: a colorful and foreign chemical glaze over primeval,
smoke-stained Germanic substrate. Inspired, the lucky parents decided to make the party a regular
event, and Arm&Sexy has been tearing it up at Berlins dingiest pubs ever since. Last month, more than
seven years after the first event, Arm&Sexy occupied the Eierschale Zenner in Treptower Park one final
time, sending pilled-out partiers crashing through the woods of Treptower Park all through the night of
May 15th. In Berlin, where physical venues appear and disappear on quarterly timescales, Arm&Sexy was
an elder queen of festivity. Were sad to see her go.

Berlin Logs

Canadian anniversary
Ron Teleskys Canadian Pizza celebrated its eighth birthday last month. Eight years
ago, Sebastian Hunold started Ron Teleskys Canadian Pizza on the then-unassuming
Dieffenbachstrae, just down the road from Admiralsbrcke. The miniscule basement has
been cooking up inventive pies ever since. Now, with the ascendant Graefekiez one of the
hottest neighborhoods in Berlin, Canadian Pizza is a Kreuzklln institution with plans to stay
that way. Sebastian Hunold says hes got some tricks up his sleeve for the summer, but the
only way to find out what they are is to stop by for a slicethe website has unfortunately
transformed into a moose.
Ron Teleskys Canadian Pizza, Dieffenbachstrae 62, www.ron-telesky.de

Kraft Bier
The craft beer scene in Berlin is blowing up,
and Bierlinie in Prenzlauer Berg is adding
fuel to the fire. Since its April 2015 opening,
Bierlinie has stocked micro-imports from the
U.S.A., Canada, Ireland, England, Belgium,
the Netherlands, and Liechtenstein, along
with some interesting brews from the
homeland as well. Not sure what the big
deal is about? Quench your curiosity at one
of the public tastings the shop offers every
other week. The tasting schedule is regularly
updated on their website, so if youre
seeking a sip of something new, pop by, pop
a bottle, and see how the Germans do craft
beer.
Beirlinie, Schliemannstrae 2, www.bierlinie.
de
Monday - Friday 1:00 pm - 7:00pm, Saturday
11:00am - 7:00pm

Berlin Logs

Berlins
Coolest English
Language Blogs

Days of Deutsch
daysofdeutsch.com

For those wanting to learn a bit of German,

Londoner Polly brings you a word a day with a
complementary image to enhance your vocab
training. Youll be fluent in no time.

Mdels With a Microphone

maedelswithamicrophone.wordpress.com

By Jane Walton
Not sure where to start in Berlin? Heres our
comprehensiveyet by no means definitivelist of
some of the citys best English language blogs:

IHeartBerlin
iHeartBerlin.de

For something a bit different, head on over to

Mdels With a Microphone for an informed selection
of podcasts on the city, whether social commentary,
historical and political contextualisation, or just
sounds of the city

Digital in Berlin
digitalinberlin.de

A classic, and deservedly so. A great place to start if

youre wondering where to go, what to do and whats
coming up in the city. Available in English and German.

For all you music lovers, Digital in Berlin is Berlins

music newspaper. Come here for the latest about
Berlins music scene, from album reviews to concert
previews.

StilinBerlin

Kreuzbergd

The slickest lifestyle blog on the block, StilinBerlin

brings you a neatly categorised list of great places to
eat, drink, shop and spend your day, and even has a
handy map to find the spots nearest to you.

Claiming to offer everything you never knew

you wanted to know about Berlin and Kreuzberg,
Kreuzbergd offers fascinating insights into the citys
history and lesser-known stories.

Collidoscopeberlin

A must for those wanting to swot up on Berlins rich

cultural heritage.

stilinberlin.de

collidoscopeberlin.com

Run by two Americans with backgrounds in

social anthropology and international education,
Collidoscopeberlin focuses on migration and the
cultural collisions and perspectives that form Berlins
various communities.

What Ali Wore

alioutfit.tumblr.com

A bit like Humans of New York, but featuring just one

guy (85-year-old Ali), and his wacky daily outfits. This
blog is like its titular subject: simple, original, brilliant.

Wholy Goodness
wholygoodness.com

Its probably time for a food blog Wholy Goodness

is so delightfully designed I fell in love with the food
before I even knew what I was looking at. Thankfully,
the recipes deliver in the taste department, too. I can
recommend the Sloppy Burgers. All the recipes are
vegan. Get cooking!

The Needle
needleberlin.com

Some interesting and thought-provoking opinions on

the city, covering everything from politics and culture
to disco snacks by Canadian writer Joseph Pearson.
Updated weekly.

kreuzberged.com

Berlin Food Stories

berlinfoodstories.com

A comprehensive guide to Berlins vast array of

restaurants, this blog spotlights New Restaurants
and also offers handy map of selected spots for you
to stuff your face.

Digital Cosmonaut
digitalcosmonaut.com

If you fancy yourself as an urban explorer, or

youre just bored of the tourist traps, head on over
to Digital Cosmonaut, the well-established blog
specialising in off-the-beaten-track places perfect for
arty photography.

Slow Travel Berlin

slowtravelberlin.com

Like an alternative Lonely Planet, this blog does

what it says on the tin, offering articles, tips, tours
and workshops on Berlin that encourage a deeper,
more thoughtful exploration of Berlin and its culture.
Looking for something a bit more substantial?
Check out their new book, 100 Favourite Places, now
available to for purchase on their website.
ENJOY BROWSING.

Berlin Logs

Scrabble, Jenga, Chess;

If you Can Name it,
Die Spielwiese Has it
By Bonny Herington

In the heart of Friedrichshain lies a special place that offers entertainment for all. It is Berlins first board
game caf: Die Spielwiese. Die Spielwiese (The Playground) is a caf, library and shop, packed with rows
and rows of board games ready for your enjoyment.
Situated on Kopernikusstrae, the caf is only a short
walk from Warschauer Strae station.
The place opened around eight years ago consisting
of one mans private collection of six hundred board
games! Since then, Spielwieses collection has grown
to over two thousand board games, so make sure
you budget some extra time to browse through the
brilliant collection. The board games are collected
from fairs where staff members test out the hottest
new games on the scene. The staff members are
therefore extremely knowledgeable about board
games as well as being friendly and accommodating;
so dont hesitate to ask them for a recommendation.
The friendly atmosphere is also reflected in the
cafs dcor. The small space is packed: little wooden
tables, chairs in primary colours, and of course,
thousands of colourful game boxes lining the walls.
Relaxing background music gives a chill ambiance
amidst the competitive curses and laughter from the
players.

On Mondays at 19:00, the place opens its doors to

game designers, who create and test out the new
games. On Tuesdays, the place can be rented for
private parties.
With an extensive selection of games both old and
modern, this place has anything youre looking for:
from Monopoly to UNO to Mikado. It is the perfect
place to for an inventive date, to chill with friends
or spend just spend some time with the family.
Each player must pay 1 per hour, but drinks go for
relatively cheap, ranging from 2 - 3. Its a great place
to spend a Sunday afternoon or rainy day having fun
and taking a break from the hustle and bustle of city
life.

Spielweise
Kopernikusstrae 24,
Berlin, 12205
U12 Warschauer Strae

Berlin Logs

Beginners Guide to Dodgy

Mini-Jobs in Berlin

By Conor Kilkelly

A truly wonderful thing happened this week - I was

fired. Its an odd and ambivalent sensation, smiling like
an idiot on the U-Bahn home from your work place,
from now on seemingly referred to solely as a placeplace, after being told it was best I left the company.
The reason I was overjoyed was the result of relief.
Being a newcomer to Berlin comes with a set of
daunting criteria most must adhere to, or fall victim
to, before they settle into the city. First, theres
the attempted learning of the German language.
Thankfully, this is overcome quite easily as Berliners
are incredibly well versed in English, and by the fact
that Anglophones are incredulously ill-equipped at
learning even the simplest of phrases not pertaining
to the procurement of beverages. The second notch
upon the bedpost of losing your Berlinnocence (oh
dear, sincere apologies for that) is finding a place, or
at least a mattress, to call your own. This is a struggle
that knows no bounds, or dignity. Facebook groups
offer an insight into the melting pot of internationals
grovelling for the chance to pay 500 euros for a 10m/
sq room share in Xberg.
Having fumbled my way through these initial pit-stops
with relative success, I set about completing stage
three: taking a mini-job out of desperation. Money
is necessary and unavoidable, like child birth, or the
inevitability of death. In order to pay rent, there comes
a point when facing your bank account surpasses your
concern at facing the mirror, and you do what you
need to do. In my case, I took a job as a tour guide on a
motorised contraption that I had very little confidence
in operating. The prospect of earning a cool twenty
euro a day, despite long hours and minimal breaks
was too good to pass up. Food is pleasant, after all.
What was unexpected and unnerving was everything
else. These devices were designed to do away with
what the inventor apparently deemed to be an

inconvenience of the human condition, namely,

walking. Somewhat inevitably, they failed miserably
as the vehicles of the obese future he envisioned,
now solely operating within the domain of tourism.
Our company had a knock-off equivalent of the
original product, but it worked just as well until
it didnt. This brings us to the unpleasantness that
goes hand in hand with mini-jobs. When youre
working on the fringes of legality, and general
working welfare guidelines, things occur that may
leave a sour aftertaste. In my case, these were the
scenes of terror etched onto the faces of those
unsuspecting tourists who fell, or witnessed falling.
Only one ambulance was ever needed on one of
my tours, and I honestly believe it was his own
doing that he fell, but this did nothing to quench
the feeling of guilt which arose upon seeing him
reel in agony on the pavement. At any moment, I
knew a battery could die, and fling a body a fair
distance before I could manage to utter a tidbit of
information about the famous statue now impaling
my client.
Before I was let go, I had a run in with the police.
They informed me that I had committed two
offences: taking a child on a tour, and going
through a park on what was essentially a road
vehicle. Both of which I assumed were fine as
training was not the most intensive component
of my short-lived career. Effectively, we were told
to just go, get people, and do tours. The rest was
on us. When I was warned I may be held solely
responsible for these sanctions, I became a little
peeved. After a nice bout of cursing the company,
my employer, and myself for getting into this
situation, it became clear to my boss I was not
entirely suited to the role of tour guide. I was paid
kind of - and told it was for the best that I leave.
Upon hearing these words, happiness rose within
me, and the guilt finally subsided. I could now pay
my rent, and knock off another notch. Only ten more
until Berghain.

Berlin Logs

BERLIN CASHES IN

The Old Fashioned Capital

By Alice Higgins

The economic powerhouse of Europe you say?

Germany may well be carrying the hefty weight
of fellow European flailing finances on its broad
shoulders, but it certainly has a funny way of
showing it.
Paying the bill in a restaurant has never been and
will never be the highlight of an evening. Or at least,
if it ever was a highlight for you, were sincerely sorry
about what was probably the worst night of your
life. Nevertheless, someone has to cough up. This is
nothing new, of course. We are all well accustomed
to paying the bill by now. Hand over the plastic,
pencil in the gratuity, and sign with a flourish. Easy
right?
Not really.

You can flash card after card, or anything else for

that matter, but until the waiter hears that sweet
papery whisper of a bank note hitting the table, you
wont be leaving in a hurry. More often than not, you
will be confronted with the words cash only or no
cards. As we all know, Berlins an accepting city that
welcomes citizens from all walks of life, so long as
that walk of life led you past a cash point on your
way in.
It would appear that, for locals, the plastic credit
card is the stuff of nightmares. Keying in your pin
code just doesnt push a native Germans buttons.
In this cold war time warp of a city, cold cash is the
chosen method of payment. Despite the advanced
economy, Germany jealously guards its privacy
protection and anonymity. Maybe its because cash
payments supposedly limit spending power, whereas
that cheeky card could tempt you into all sorts of
impulse buys. So whether youre heading out for
dinner or booked in for a haircut, make sure you go
via the bank. Shouldnt be too hard in a capital city,
right? Wrong. Im afraid this too, is easier said than
done.
Another seemingly normal feat can turn into a wild
goose chase. I have often felt trapped in a live urban
game of Wheres Wally (Wo ist Walter, in German!).
Rather than a red and white bobble hat, Im seeking
a red and white bank named Berliner Sparkasse.
Meanwhile, all I can spot is Berliner Bank or the
blinding yellow of Commerzbank. Or Deutsche Bank.
Just not my bank. I cant help but think back to the
day I signed for my account as I was reassuringly
informed, theres a Berliner Sparkasse on every
corner.

Wrong again.
There is a Matratzen Concord on every street
corner. And I thought I was done with mattresses
when I opened my bank account! In order to take
out money in Germany, you need to take it out
from your own bank. Otherwise you will be fined a
withdrawal fee.
After leaving London where you can stick anything
and everything on the card, old habits die hard. But
here in Berlin, its all a little backwards. You can
stick it anywhere but on the plastic.

10

Berlin Logs

ARTISTIC REALITY
2015s 48 Stunden Neuklln arts festival is asking
a big question: can art save the world? Maleen
Schwinger gains an insight into this years festival
from its directors.

48

By Maleen Schwinger

48 Stunden Neuklln is Berlins largest and oldest

open arts festival with around 300 events and 100
open studios and galleries. From the 26 to 28 June,
people can visit different locations in Neuklln and
see countless artworks, both in public spaces and in
private homes. This years theme, S.O.S. Art Saves
the World, revolves around the subject of rescue,
whether it is our souls, ships or the world in need

of saving. Under the experienced direction of Dr.

Martin Steffens and Thursten Schlenger, 48 Stunden
Neuklln is in safe hands. Steffens has a PhD in art
history and has organized the festival since 2008.
Schlenger joined him as festival director in 2013
after participating as an artist in the 2012 festival.
Here they discuss their thoughts and visions for this
years festival.

Exhibition at Neukolln Arcaden at last years festival, 48 Stunden Neukolln 2014. Photo Tobias Lehmann

Berlin Logs
The thematic focus S.O.S. Art Saves the World
suggests something more radical than previous years.
In what ways has the artworks content changed in
response?
Steffens: I think this years festival may be more
controversial. We have usually had themes that
provoked strong statements, but now one has to be
clearer in stating, Yes, arts saves the world, or No,
art does not save the world without pussy-footing
around the issue. This year it has developed into two
parts; first, the S.O.S. part refers to how we get so
much information about what is happening in the
world that we are unable to grasp it and dont know
what to care about any more. The festival is about
how the artist confronts this issue. The second part
Art saves the world, on the other hand, represents the
excessive demands that artists face while having to
function within this mess. There is a lot of strength in
that tension field.
Do you often have a favourite project at the end of
every festival? What do you think this years is going
to be?
Schlenger: Unfortunately, we never manage to see
everything, as much as we try. And you can always be
disappointed by a project that you thought you would
like very much, but also be fascinated by a project that
did not initially attract your attention.
Steffens: There are projects you get to know before
the festival even starts. The project by Plastique
Fantastique at Tempelhofer Feld will be dealing with
escape by transporting the maritime Morse signal to
land. It will be an installation of a big, transparent
rubber dinghy, which will serve as a temporary
memorial to the victims of drowning. Inside, there
will be a sound installation that discusses the subject
of escape from different perspectives, including
quotations from the Odyssey. Our expectations for this
project are quite high. There will be similar projects
on the Neukllner Schifffahrtskanal, which we have
planned in advance, and therefore know are going to
be good. However, there is always a blind spot in the
festival, which makes it incredibly fun and exciting.
Have you had many positive surprises during your time
as festival directors?
Steffens: Its the same as in normal life. When I go to
a museum there are always things I like, but there are
also banal things where I ask myself whether I am
too stupid to understand or simply lack the context.
We do, however, have a specific criteria that needs to
be fulfilled to avoid any unfortunate surprises, which
is: the project should neither be done unlovingly, nor
unambitiously.

Festival Directors of 48 Stunden Neukolln, Dr. Martin Steffens und

Thorsten Schlenger. Photo Heiko Hildebrandt, 2015

projects differently because they also tend to be in

private houses. An example of this is a project from
the Muslim-Jewish initiative that works against
prejudice and discrimination: Salaam-Schalom.
The fact that it is in private homes makes it more
authentic.
How important is the festival for Neuklln, for
Berlin, or even farther afield, and do you think it
has an impact on Neukllns image?
Steffens: We do not intend to change Neuklln. We
are more like a seismograph in revealing what is
happening right now. Of course, the Neuklln art
community is very important compared to other
districts, partly due to conditions like its once
low rent, its higher heterogeneity and its creative
reputation. Neukllns structure of people and
places that want to present art together within this
structure is also crucial. The festival serves as an
event to make them visible. We would not say that
we are a marketing instrument or serve to support
tourism, but it is about creating a substantive
dialogue. If that happens to attract people, then it
is a good thing.
Schlenger: We see Neuklln as a laboratory where
all kinds of things happen and the festival tries to
mirror these. And this is not merely for Neuklln,
but also for Berlin as it is open to the citys whole
independent art scene. The festival therefore has
quite a mass appeal because it is the biggest
German arts festival, which also shows the range
of independent art in Berlin, as well as serving as a
springboard for new artists.

Schlenger: Thats right, this is the criteria that has

crystallized. But, in general, the festival is always a
frenzy of people going to the exhibitions, intensely
arguing and praising, agreeing and disagreeing. The
immediacy and impact of the festival and the direct
contact between the artist and the audience is very
unique. It is different from an absent artist and a work
you hang on your wall, which is only talked about (if at
all) with your partner over breakfast.

Steffens: There are other German arts festivals that

took 48 Stunden Neuklln as a role model, like 48
Stunden Wilhelmsburg in the similarly independent
district in Hamburg. Most other projects took the
idea of openness and serving as a platform for
new artists from Neuklln. But as we have been
directing this festival for some time now, we feel
confident enough to build on this and give artists
a theme to work with. It is then up to them to
develop and present their own statements on it.

Steffens: Here in Neuklln, you also compare it to your

own reality. You walk up to the third floor, past the
new caf and the kebab shop and you perceive the

This years 48 Stunden Neuklln runs from 26 to

June in various locations around Neuklln. Visit the
festival website for further information.

11

12

Berlin Logs

CULTURAL CALENDAR

BE ARTSY THIS

JUNE
The BIG exhibition opening

The Alte Nationalgalerie Berlin has big ambitions for

their summer exhibition, boasting that Impressionism
Expressionism will be ground-breaking. With over
170 pieces, it will trace the similarities and differences
between two of the most important and popular art
movements of the 19th- and 20th-centuries. Featuring
works by pioneering artists including the likes of
Claude Monet, Pierre-August Renoir and Max Kirchner
this exhibition has set itself up to be an unmissable
event.
Impressionism Expressionism is on at the Alte
National Gallerie Belin from 22 June to 20 September.
Tickets: 12/6.

Image: Vlatka Horwat

Much to do about Shakespeare

Need more Shakespeare in your life? Then British
theatre company, Forced Entertainment, has your
antidote. As part of the Berlin Festspieles Foreign
Affairs festival, Forced Entertainment will perform
all 36 of Shakespeares plays. If that sounds like a
marathon, the company has also set themselves a
unique challenge: one performer, one metre square
table and only 40 minutes per play.

Photo Forschungslabor Neurorobotik Hochschule fr Technik Berlin

Complete Works: Table Top Shakespeare is on at the

Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Kassenhalle from 25 June
to 4 July. Tickets: 10/8 for one part, 15/12 for
two parts, 25/20 for three parts.

Robo-opera

Colour indulgence

The German/British artist collective Gob Squad, the

Komische Oper Berlin and the Neurorobotics Research
Laboratory at the Humboldt University are joining
forces to produce an opera with a twist. Instead of a
living, breathing and singing person, taking the centre
stage will be a robot. The creators behind My Square
Lady believe that it will be a power plant of emotion.
The opera will follow Myons journey through each
department of the Komische Oper Berlin, and will ask
some thought-provoking questions as Myon learns
what it means to feel human emotions.

If you want to be mesmerised by colour, then dont

miss the final weeks of German artist Katharina
Grosses exhibition The Smoking Kid. This is the first
exhibition to be hosted at the Knig Galeries new
gallery space at the St. Agnes Kirche. Grosses works
take advantage of the old church buildings high
ceilings and wealth of light with her shimmering
large canvases. It is tempting to stand back and look
only at the bigger picture, but taking a step closer
is a rewarding experience too. Grosse paints with
sumptuous detail, whose beauty spoils those that
take the time to look.

My Square Lady premiers at the Komische Oper Berlin

on 21 June, with further performance on 25 June and 5
July. Tickets: 12-85.

The Smoking Kid runs at the Knig Galerie, St Agnes

until 22 June. Entry is free.

Berlin Logs

Berlins Latest Cultural Import

The appointment of museum director Neil McGregor as foundational artistic
director of the Humboldt Forum is regarded as a major triumph for the project
organisers. Berlin Logs explains the buzz behind this British cultural polymath.

By Hazel Rowland

The building of the Humboldt Forum on the

grounds of the former Berlin City Palace on Unter
den Linden is an exciting prospect. Scheduled to
open in 2019, its organisers the Humboldt Forum
Foundation have described it as the centurys
most important cultural project in Germany. The
Humboldt Forum aims to become a unique centre
of art, culture and science, which will inspire
debate and analysis on issues of global significance.
But this 590 million project is ambitiously farreaching, prompting criticisms that its underlying
concept is vague and confused.
Yet the appointment of Neil MacGregor, the
outgoing director of Londons British Museum, as
foundational artistic director of the Humboldt
Forum has encouraged critics to rethink their
stance. From October 2015, the 68-year-old
museum director will chair its Advisory Board,
making recommendations on how to shape the
new cultural institution. MacGregors appointment
has been unanimously met with enthusiasm.
State broadcaster ARD has described MacGregor

as a polyglot world spirit who will make the

Humboldt Forum a stage on which the cultures of
the world will present themselves. For art expert
and chairman of the Society of Friends of the
Nationalgalerie in Berlin, Peter Raube, MacGregor
was born for this role and choosing him was
a stroke of genius. Why, then, has MacGregors
appointment provoked such excitement? For a
start, he has an excellent track record of leading
big cultural institutions, having been director of
both Londons National Gallery and the British
Museum. His tenure at the British Museum was
particularly successful. When MacGregor was
appointed in 2002, the museum had a deficit of 5
million. Not only did he wipe out this debt, but the
number of visitors rose from 4.6 to 6.7 million per
year, making it second only to the Louvre as the
worlds most visited museum.
MacGregors achievements should not only be
measured in numbers, however. The museum
director is desperately academic. He studied French
and German at Oxford, Law at Edinburgh University,
Philosophy at the Ecole Normale Suprieure in
Paris, and he specialised in Renaissance Art at
Londons Courtauld Institute. But most impressive
is his ability to maintain intellectual rigour whilst
still attracting large audiences. His forays into
broadcast media particularly illustrate this. His
two BBC radio series, A History of the World in 100
Objects and Germany: Memories of a Nation were
popular for being incredibly informative but also
comprehensible to the non-expert.
There will be little doubt surrounding the
appointment of a foreigner either. MacGregor has
an acute understanding of German culture and
history. Horst Bredekamp, art historian of Humboldt
University believes MacGregor knows, in a certain
sense, Germany sometimes better than Germans.
Indeed, his 2014 BBC radio series and exhibition at
the British Museum that ran alongside Germany:
Memories of a Nation gave a considered and
highly knowledgeable presentation of the countrys
history.
MacGregor is enthused by the new possibilities
that the Humboldt Forums rich collection offers.
He wants to use its objects to address the
big questions of human existence and culture
and engage not just the Berlin public but the
whole world. The aims of this ambitious cultural
institution have not become any less vague or
far-reaching with MacGregors appointment. But
given his unrivalled expertise in museum curation,
Berliners have much to be excited about.
Image Copyright: Jason Bell

13

14

Berlin Logs

Impressionism Expressionism:

Art at a Turning Point

By Hazel Rowland

The Alte Nationalgalerie can expect major hype for

its summer exhibition. The inclusion of superstar
artists (Monet, Degas and Van Gogh to name a few)
means that Impressionism Expressionism: Art at
a Turning Point is certain to draw visitors. But the
curators believe that what they are doing is more
groundbreaking than a straightforward crowd-pleaser.
The exhibition aims to compare the movements,
showing how they shed light on each other when
presented side-by-side.
But visitors hoping to see iconic works by the most
famous artists may be disappointed. The one Van
Gogh painting on show is rather unexceptional, and
the exhibition features none of the super famous
Impressionist paintings countlessly reproduced on
tablecloths and tea towels. This is the exhibitions
strength, however. No particular artwork or artist
dominates the exhibition. It is the relationship
between the two movements that remains its focus.
The comparison between the movements works
particularly well for some artworks. Berthe Morisots
The Cheval Glass (1876) and Karl Schumidt-Rottluffs
Girl Before a Mirror (1915) both show a woman poised
before her mirror. Positioned next to each, viewers are
offered a striking contrast between Morisots pleasant
haziness and Schumidt-Rottluffs harsh outlines.
Meanwhile, Pierre-Auguste Renoirs Bather with Loose
Blonde Hair (c. 1903) and Max Pechsteins Seated Girl
(1910) take the same alluring subject: the female
nude. Yet positioned next to each other, viewers
have a unique opportunity to compare their severe
differences. Renoirs bather is sumptuously soft, whilst
Pechsteins is unforgivingly brash.
Sometimes the similarities and differences between
the Impressionist and Expressionist artworks are
obvious enough for them to simply be placed next to
each other without further explanation. The exhibition
does not suffer from an overload of information, even
if you pay the extra 4 for an audio guide. Each of
the exhibitions twelve rooms dedicated to different
themes has a written introduction. But other than that,
viewers are left to their own devices.
There are, however, points where further information is
desired. Sketches, prints and woodcuts also feature in
this painting-dominated exhibition. Some of these are
rather remarkable. Edvard Munchs charcoal drawing
Separation II (1896) is unnervingly moving, whilst
Ernst Ludwig Kirchners woodcut version of Frauen
am Potsdamer Platz (1914) has a lively immediacy
to it. But these lack any explanation. Placed in a
smaller side-gallery, their importance is relegated. The
opportunity to emphasise that these artists excelled in
mediums other than paint is missed.

Berthe Morisot, The Cheval Glass (1876). Oil on canvas, 64 x 54 cm.

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid. Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza,
Madrid

The sparseness of information leaves questions

hanging. Similarities and differences between the
movements are clear, but little is said on the actual
relationship between them. Did artists from the
different movements interact? What did they take from
each other? The curators are cautious about forcing
their own slant upon the artworks, leaving it up to
the viewers to form their own opinions. But it means
that the thought-provoking ideas that must have been
behind their decision to pair these two movements
together are sadly hidden.
Impressionism Expressionism is nevertheless an
achievement. The show could have relied on big
showstoppers, giving audiences something they
already know they like. The quality of the artworks is
high, and some are extremely captivating. Here is not
only an opportunity to see two of the most influential
and popular art movements juxtaposed, but also to be
introduced to some highly enthralling art.
Impressionism Expressionism: Art at a Turning Point
is on at the Altenational Galerie (Bodestrae 1-3, 10178
Berlin) until 22 September.

Berlin Logs

The Problem With

Starting Up In Berlin

By Sarah Coughlan

Berlins Silicon Allee has attracted a lot

of attention since the term started to
gain traction in 2011. Ostensibly a rival
to Londons Silicon Roundabout, and to a
lesser extent to Californias Silicon Valley,
the high tech hub in Europes cheapest
capital has been waiting to be the next-bigthing for a while now.
The reality continues to fall short of the
hype, however. Despite the noise at Rocket
Internet, the truth is that a disproportionate
number of start-ups in Berlin fail compared
to London and California. The reasons for
this are complicated, but there are two key
issues. The first, a lack of structural support
for young and young-ish entrepreneurs
compared with the Roundabout and the
Valley which leaves many start-ups without
a clear direction. The second issue is less
easy to rectify: the problem of raising
capital in Berlin.
In California, there is no better marker
of quality for a start-up than admittance
to Y-Combinator (Y-C). This is a highly
prestigious start up academy and
accelerator which provides start-ups
with seed money to the tune of $120K
as well as access to angel investors for A
round funding and beyond. Y-Combinator
is responsible for sites like Reddit, Uber
and Dropbox. In London, Seedcamp is less
successful, but offers much of the same as
Y-C, albeit on a smaller scale. And where is
Berlin in all this? Well, Seedcamp stops by
for a week, and Rocket Internet continues
on its quest to dominate the world, one pet
food site at a time; but for entrepreneurs
with a good idea, their best bets are off the
continent, cheap rents be damned.
But the real kicker for start-up founders
(and their underpaid employees) is the lack
of angel investors willing to make the leap.
Unlike their US and UK counterparts, startup founders here face a formidable task
in raising capital. For most founders, their
seed money and beyond has to come from
abroad, so risk adverse are the potential
local investors (welcome to the horror of
the perception of riskiokapital). Whether
this can be put down to a kind of cultural

aversion to risk or a lack of faith in the

sustainability of the kind of start-ups in
the scene is hard to tell. Theres no doubt
that many start-ups here have a Germanyorientated mindset (the so-called language
island) and tend to have all-German
leadership teams. The other half, the more
internationally-orientated start-ups seem to
have better success, perhaps because they
are better placed to attract international
capital, a sign perhaps of how to do things.
But with local investors apparently less and
less willing to take the risk on start-ups
often preferring to wait for B or C funding
rounds there are significant challenges
for burnt out investors. For many, that
means that they hit the so-called trough
of sorrow where there is no end in sight
for money problems, staffing issues and
other essential start-up basics that are
responsible for the collapse and closure of
lots of start-ups.
Despite this, examples like Bill
Gates-funded ResearchGate, Jamba,
Brands4Friends, Quandoo and CityDeal
prove that a successful exit is possible, but
usually when start-ups look abroad.

15

16

Berlin Logs

STARTING
SOMETHING
By Conor ORourke

Young internationals are flocking to Berlin to start businesses

ranging from coffee roasters to Scottish pubs, showing a spirit
of entrepreneurship that would seem more at home in an
American history textbook than a 21st-Century European capital.
With Berlins era of squats set firmly in the past and Germanys
notorious bureaucracy working as slowly as ever, why are these
people still coming?

Topsy-turvy bar and venue Madame

Claude was founded in 2007 by JeanChristophe Simon and two friends from
his home in southern France. After
years of living apart in the western
European capitals of London, Paris, and
Madrid, they visited Berlin together
for a weekend and felt something. It
felt like you didnt need anything but
enthusiasm to start something. It wasnt
like London, where you had to have
investors. Or Madrid and Paris, where
you need connections just to get started.
We felt like all we needed was energy.
They werent the only ones. When they
started, the most foreign business in the

area was the McDonalds across Skalitzer

Strae. Now theres an Australian owned
caf, a Russian-themed bar, a Mexican
restaurant, and a yoga studio all within
a couple blocks of Madame Claude. And
this isnt unique to the Wrangelkeiz. One
only has to walk down busy Graefestrae
or tree-shaded Maybachufer to see
storefront after foreign-lettered
storefront stretching into the distance.
Berlin has long been a city in flux. The
war and years of division conspired
to slow development and produce a
disjointed and uncoordinated city, with
no real center to speak of. Population

Berlin Logs

Foreigners need to have

residency and prove they have
the capital necessary to start a
business - Kris Shackwell
has yet to return to prewar levels, and
manufacturing jobs have dried up, leaving
desiccated industrial husks scattered across
the fringes of the cityscape. The advent of
Instandbesetzung (rehab squatting) in the
early eighties inaugurated a spirit of occupation
and collective participation that became central
to the Berliner ethos. Now people from all
corners of the world come to Berlin to start
businesses, sensing opportunities in areas
ranging from gastronomy to nightlife.
It helps that German law is fairly friendly
toward business-minded foreigners. EU citizens
have the same rights as Germans, and actually,
those unfortunate enough to have been born
outside of Europe dont have it especially bad
either. Foreigners need to have residency and
prove they have the capital necessary to start
a business, Kris Shackwell, co-founder of Five
Elephant Coffee said, it helps to show them
that youre going to hire Germans. They like it if
youre going to create jobs. If you have all the
things you need, theres no reason you wont be
allowed to start a business. But as it turns out,
getting permission is only the beginning.
To get the necessary papers, potential business
owners must prostrate themselves before a host
of bureaucratic entities, including the Industrieund Handelskammer, the Ordnungsamt, and
more than a few tax offices. The Ordnungsamt
in particular felt like a Kafka novel; there were
unlabeled doors everywhere, long, brightlylighted hallways, and stressed-out looking
people coming to us asking if they were in the
right place, when we didnt even know where
we were explained Rachel Burns, co-founder
of Das Gift, a bar in Neuklln. We were having
problems with our status as a Raucherlokala
bar where smoking is allowed. The guy denied
our application, saying that the room was
against regulation, but wasnt able to tell us
exactly why. He just knew it wasnt. We ended
up having to put up a plexiglass wall to divide
the room in half, and made one side a smoking
room. She shrugged. I still dont really get it.
Perhaps more absurdly, Kris of Five Elephant
was forced to set up a customs-free
international zone inside his coffee shop to
comply with the differing regulations for raw

and roasted coffee beans: Essentially, when

they come out of the roaster, I have to pay an
import tax of about 2 on each kilo that comes
out. [he laughs] Theres no way we could have
done this without our tax advisor. Even she
didnt know about that one.
Five Elephant has also dealt with less officiallysanctioned resistance to its arrival. Since
opening in December 2010, the shop has been
hit with xenophobic graffiti more than once.
Kris thinks the aggressive scrawls add character
to his storefront. He chalks the hostility up to
the lower-income housing projects down the
street, adding that he gives discounts to all the
people who live in the neighborhood and has
generally felt very welcomed. Everyone in the
neighborhood apologized when they saw the
graffiti. I dont think it represents the general
feeling here at all.
Therein may lie the reason new businesses
keep popping up here. Berlin is simply more
open, more ready to accept new ideas and
experiences. Theres a lot of potential to make
things happen here. Other cities seem more set
in their ways, more static. I think it has a lot to
do with the wall coming down and all of these
desolate industrial spaces opening up for cheap.
It feels like a new city, even though its old says
Rachel from Das Gift, Berlin has a tradition of
migration, whether it admits it or not. Look at
the Turkish people. Germans used to come to
[West] Berlin to escape military service. Now
a lot of foreigners are coming. It seems like
the city is ready to accept people. The people
who come here, its a particular type of person,
someone who is open to new things, willing to
try them out.
Its this enthusiasm for new ideas that contains
the key to success in Berlin. Kris has this advice:
Ive seen other businesses open, typical Berlin
cafs, and they sometimes struggle. You get
a breakfast with cold cuts, cheese, a little
Brotkorbits all the same. In order to survive,
to thrive in this city, you need to give people
something new, something youre passionate
about. Says Jean-Christophe of Madame Claude,
Dont come here to get rich. Come here for
more space, for less stress, to make a living
doing something you love.

17

18

Berlin Logs

STARTUP

Try Eco Friendly Sex

By Daniyal Waseem

Lets face it; if we strip ourselves down to our

most basic human needs, food comes first, and sex
comes second. For those who are environmentally
conscious, it doesnt make sense to be mindful
about having a sustainable diet but be heedlessly
irresponsible while having sex. Think about it: every
time you have safe sex using a condom, you are
contributing to the destruction of the Malaysian
rainforest. The largest source of the rubber used in
condoms is the Malaysian rainforest, which is rapidly
shrinking, day by day.
But is there a way to avoid this arboreal shrinkage?
Can sex also be eco-friendly? A Berlin start-up
called Einhorn has the answer. Einhorns mission is
to develop completely eco-friendly condoms made
of earth-friendly rubber, so that you can have fun
without also having a bad conscience.
Einhorn wants to raise awareness about the intrinsic
costs of natural resources, like the rubber that
we use daily. Rubber is a natural material found
in thousands of products ranging from tires to
condoms, and humanitys appetite for it grows by
the day. If you listen to Einhorn, this is a recipe
for disaster. Fortunately, we can help to avoid
this disaster by planting new trees, using natural
pesticides, and educating consumers about where
rubber products come from to help them make better
choices.

every time
you have safe
sex using a
condom, you are
contributing to
the destruction
of the Malaysian
rainforest

Einhorns co-founders are reaching out to

Malaysian rubber harvesters to help them
plant more rubber trees to compensate for the
ongoing deforestation. These will be bio-trees,
grown without the use of groundwater-polluting
pesticides. Einhorn will also ensure that these
harvesters pay fair wages to their workers. Rubber
harvested from the new trees will be used to
produce the condoms in Malaysia, again following a
fair wage model.
Einhorn condoms are just as safe as other condoms,
but theyre more fun, a bit cheaper, look better,
and give you a much better feeling (at point of
purchase, the author has yet to take them for a
test drive). In May, Einhorn finished a crowdfunding
campaign on StartNext, raising over 100,000 to
execute their idea.

Berlin Logs

PEOPLE BEHIND THE PROJECT

Waldemar Zeiler and Philip Siefer are seasoned Berliner
entrepreneurs and have been working together for years
on several digital startups in Berlin.
They have a special approach towards social business
and want to leave a positive footprint with their
endeavors.
Einhorn fits this criterion and they are committed
achieving their objective. Their goal is to prove that
successful entrepreneurship can also have a positive
social impact.

19

20

Berlin Logs

TOP 5 CHEAP PINTS

Beer Hunting
By Bonny Herington

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Weekenders from London and Stockholm love the cheap drinks in

Berlin. But once youve been here for a while, you start to wonder just
how low it can go. Heres our top five 0,5s for (well) under a fiver.

Astra Stube Neuklln

If youre a football fan, this is the bar for you. Situated on

Weichselstrae, Astra Stube shows the top games every
weekend. This place is dynamic and alive, with football shirts
and scarves draped from the ceiling and some interesting
seating in the form of comfortable Strandkorbs. A large range
of international beers including San Miguel, Carlsberg and all
types of Astra costing only 2 make this place worth a visit.
Weichselstrae 69. U7 Rathaus Neuklln

Rockz

On Simon-Dach Strae, a street full of bars, one stands out. Rockz,

perhaps more of a Kneipe than a bar, is lively, rough and ready;
the vinyl covers that tile the walls and the guitars that hang
gleaming from the ceiling give this place zest. The rock music
is loud, but this only adds to the fun. Beer comes cheap with
bottled Staropramen Pils costing 2,10 and bottled Becks 2,30.
Simon-Dach Strae 37. U12 Warschauer Strae

Trude Ruth and Golddammer

Situated in central Neuklln, Trude Ruth and Golddammer is
hip, upbeat and dynamic. Like most bars in Neuklln, it is dimly
lit and full of secondhand furniture, but this one has an air of
sincerity. It is chilled out and relaxing even when packed with
people. With a bottle of Pilsner costing only 2, you cant go
wrong here. (Bonus: check out swing dancing on Wednesdays)
Flughafenstrae 38. U8 Boddinstrae

Lerchen and Eulen

Hidden in central Kreuzberg lies a lovely little bar covered by a web

of majestic green plants. Lerchen and Eulen is charming yet minimal,
with great ambient music. Its one of the rare Berlin bars that serves
coolness and humility in equal parts. With a small Berliner Pilsner
going for 2, and a big Augustiner setting you back a very reasonable
2,50, this place is definitely top of the list for a relaxing beer!
Pcklerstrae 33, U12 Gorlitzer Bahnhof

Spati International (wild card)

Spti International is spare and simple but has everything you need.
A dark, cosy room at the back of the Spti invites you to enjoy your
drink indoors, Spti International offers a casual space to chill out,
have a laugh with friends, and listen to the owners eclectic musical
selections (hello, Mulatu Astatke). When youre down to your last
few euros, this place is a great shout, with the price of bottled
beer ranging from 70ct (Sternberg) to a paltry 1,50 (Augustiner)!
Weserstrae 190. U7 Rathaus Neuklln

Berlin Logs

21

JUNE 11, MAGNET CLUB, FALCKENSTEINSTR 48

PREVIEW DNA BLN

As the festival season draws closer, new artists are emerging out of creative hibernation
ready to showcase new musical projects and collaborations. Interested? Tickets cost only
5, check dnabln.com for more information.

By Holly Amber

As the festival season draws closer, new artists are

emerging out of creative hibernation ready to showcase
new musical projects and collaborations. With hopes to
launch a full-fledged festival in 2016, DNA BLNs music
event will be returning to Magnet + Comet club for a third
showcase of new music.
After two successful events this year, DNA BLN will open
its doors on June 11th to fans eagerly awaiting a night
of innovative sounds. The seven Berlin-based acts set
to perform are Janice Prix, Those Goddamn Hippies, Jack
Strify, Black Prez, Lowrider Betty, Sweet Tempest and
Antonio Gram. The festival doesnt just limit itself to
musical performances, but will also showcase new visual
and media artists at the event.
The DNA BLN event introduces a selection of diverse
music genres for all tastes. Its a place to discover new
artists (D-N-A), both musically and visually, and meet
other new music enthusiasts. The aim of the event is
to create an evening of artistic collaborations from
different creative communities, whilst also promoting the
interaction between the artists and the public.
I caught up with one of the headliners, Black Prez, to get
his thoughts on the event and the lowdown on how his
music has changed since moving to Berlin.
How and when did you first get into music?
Just like most people, I have been into music since I
was a little kid. My mom shows me videos of a 5-yearold version of myself running around the house with a
microphone singing along to Aretha Franklin. Apparently,
R-E-S-P-E-C-T was my jam as a young buck! Every time a
song came on the radio, I would instantly make a freestyle
parody version of it to get everyone laughing. When I was
a little older, I would find beats online and record songs
at home just for fun.
After showing them off to a few friends, they encouraged
me to keep doing it because they liked what I was doing.
College was when I started taking music a little more
serious. I started doing real shows, shooting music videos,
traveling, and even started making money with music!
When I graduated college I moved to Los Angeles to
pursue music full time. After a few years in LA, I moved to
Berlin to do the same.
How would you describe your genre of music?
If I had to simplify it, I would say Rap. I consider myself a

rapper but I rap on all different types of beats. Hip

hop, rap, pop, electro, country and acoustic. I do it all!
I would say an eclectic version of rap.
Why is it important for events/festivals like DNA BLN
to support new music?
I think it is a great way to showcase new talent and
get it heard. Its also a great opportunity to network
with other artists in the area. Its always great being
on stage, so that is one of the things I am looking
forward to the most. I am also excited for all of the
people that will be there and being able to meet
them. Most of all, I think it will be really fun.
What are your plans for the up-and-coming year?
This year I will be releasing an album with my friend
Shaun Reynolds out of London. I also plan on keeping
up with my YouTube channel by posting music videos,
vlogs, and other cool stuff. I also plan on doing some
more collaborations.

22

Berlin Logs

IN SEARCH OF BERLINS

GRIMIEST
PUB CRAWL
By Julian Sylvester

As Berlin continues its ascendance to that

great tourist heaven in the sky, where the
shots flow freely and every hour is happy hour,
one sometimes wonders if its still possible to
have a proper, old-school bender in this town.
Never fear. We put our intrepid reporter Julian
Sylvester on the case, searching Berlin high
(and low) for that perfectly degenerate odyssey
through the weekend darkness.
With so many fine drinking establishments
blessing our lovely city, where to begin? Fear no
more, dear drinker, for this is a comprehensive
guide to where and how to get hammered in
Berlin.
Were going to skip the pre-drinking rituals and
put you straight on the U1 train until you reach
Kottbusser Tor. Truly the belly of the beast and
one of Berlins real meccas of decadence, Kotti
is host to the underbelly of humanity: from local
street dwellers to aging crust punks with dogs to
youngsters rendezvousing in front of the Kaisers,
where incidentally, our journey begins.

STOP ONE: Kaisers,

Skalitzerstrae 134: 0.80 can
of lager, 1.79 Schinken-Kse
Brtchen
The Kaisers on Kotti seems aware of its
surroundings, and so happens to be a great place to
procure your first beverage and maybe something
solid to line your stomach with. How much for that
soggy sandwich in the window? Grab a can of beer
to round it out and enjoy your dignified meal out
front like a true creature of the night.

STOP TWO: Anonymous Spti,

Adalbertstrasse 97: Pack of the
fags, 5.40
Youve devoured that chemical sandwich and
skulled your can of lager, now head up to the Spti
on Adalbertstrasse and get yourself a pack of the
fags. Whats that? You dont smoke? Do you think
this is a game?

Berlin Logs
STOP THREE: Mbel Olfe,
Reichenberger Strae 177: 2 Pints,
5
Now, make your way towards the left until you hit
Mbel Olfe. If youre having a hard time finding the
entrance while youre still reasonably sober, just
imagine how hard its going to be to get out. Now,
if you dont tend to like establishments with an
abundance of very well-groomed and handsome
chaps, then get over yourself, because what city do
you think this is? Once youve managed to get the
attention of the bar staff, order those two drinks at
the same time because it will be a royal pain in the
tits to get back there again. Thats better. Feels good
right? Sure does, but its about time to move on, so
grab your stuff and evacuate.

STOP FOUR: Gorgonzola: Glass

of Pinot Grigio, 4 Focaccia con
Pecorino 3, Salad 4
As you emerge blinking into the darkening night,
youll will find yourself standing on Dresdener
Strae. Walk down the street until you find a fine
Italian eatery called Gorgonzola. Those pints made
you a bit peckish, so indulge in some olives, a nice
focaccia, or whatever they have on offer. A glass of
wine? Why not? It might be good to have something
lighter for a change. Go for white. Now wasnt
this worth it? Isnt it great to have some cheese
and enjoy a lovely glass of Pinot Grigio? Oh yes
and cigarette would hit sure hit the spot. Since you
bought a pack, crack that bad boy open. Try to look
sophisticated while youre at it. Look at you, you
refined son of a bitch.

STOP FIVE: Roses: 3.50 Cocktail,

2.50 Bottle of Lager
If you havent heard of Roses, you probably need
more fabulous friends. Dont feel intimidated by the
tasteful, classic decor or the pink fur on the walls.

Remember what I said about establishments with

well-groomed and handsome chaps? Get used to
it, because that was only the beginning. This place
is a wonderful caesar salad of humanity with extra
anchovies. Just relax, try to find a place to lurk, and
get yourself a drink. Its time for a cocktail anyway.
Feel like having a dance? Yeah, a few drinks will
do that to you. But its too full here, so get out and
walk back towards Kaisers.

STOP SIX: Monarch: 2 Entry,

2.60 Pints
Kaisers is closed, but do you hear the ruckus
coming from the windows above you? Find your
way through the intricate labyrinth of doors and
stairs until you hit Monarch. Pay the man at the
door, or he wont let you in. Ooooh yes. The DJ is
blasting something you dont know, but its fine
because youre drinking and smoking and talking
to some random people in the toilet. By now youve
already spent way too much money on that third
pack of cigarettes and shots for your newfound
friends, plus whatever the hell you were doing in
the bathroom. Time to wind it down. Not to worry,
were off to the last oasis in the deserted streets of
Kottbusser Tor this time of night the Rote Rose.

FINAL STOP: Rote Rose: 2.80 Pint

Now, I cant account for what youll find yourself
doing here or who youll end up with, but please try
to take it easy. These people are professionals. The
jukebox is strangely adequate, so dont be ashamed
to invest in some Alice Cooper or Kiss tunes: after
all, youre dazed and probably confused. Be polite
to the friendly strangers, but do not engage more
than necessary. At Rote Rose, less is more. If youre
lucky, you might be able to interact with cast of
magical characters that will range from middleaged drinking wizards to a dancing midget. If
you encounter the latter, leave the jukebox alone.
Its simply not your place. This is the place for
you to wait the night (and maybe the drugs) out.

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Berlin Logs

Exploring
The Dark Worlds:
Berliner Unterwelten

By Linda OGrady

Whenever I mention Berliner Unterwelten tours to my friends, they usually

say something like, Oh, Ive been meaning to do that since I got here but I
havent got round to it yet... or, Oh, I walk past that place every day and I
keep meaning to do a tour...
If youre in the same boat, Ill tell you the same thing I tell my friendsstop
faffing about and do it already. Youre missing out if you dont.
Established in 1997, the primary aim of Berliner Unterwelten is to explore
and document the citys underground architecture and make it accessible to
the public. Berlins numerous underground buildings include caverns, air raid
shelters, disused railway tunnels, derelict brewery vaults and other places
the public normally has no access to. A range of tours are available in several
different languages, including German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, and
Dutch. To say that this association is something of a phenomenon would be
an understatementin its first year, B.U. racked up 3,000 visitors; last year,
it had passed the 300,000 mark. On Thursday, they added one more to this
number: me.
I had previously taken part in the fascinating Tour M, Under the Berlin Wall,
which tells the stories of the East Germans ingenuity in finding ways to
escape the DDR by going under the Wall. And although everyone knows about
the Berlin Wall, this tour really hammered home the human aspect of it. We
learned of the successes and the failures, the tales of true love, and the sheer
bravery and spirit of these people who just wouldnt be kept down.
This time I opted for Tour 1, which aims to give visitors an idea of what it
was like to shelter in a bunker while your city was being bombed to bits
above your head. It definitely succeeds in this. Our tour guide Sanne, from the
Netherlands, brought the experience to life for the 24 people in our group.
These came from countries as diverse as Iceland, Korea and Canada.
Walking through an unremarkable door in Gesundbrunnen station, we were
suddenly transported into another world. We stood in a room designed to
hold 20 people, which in reality probably ended up sheltering between 60
and 70. Drawing on what Berliner Unterwelten has learned from the air
raid shelter at Alexanderplatz, Sanne explained how they would light three
candles: one at ground level, one at bench level, and one at hip height. When
the ground level candle went out, you knew that the room was running low
on oxygen, but things werent that serious yet. When the second candle went
out, you might start to get a little nervous. When the third candle went out...
well, you can imagine. I certainly could.
The problem was that the rooms were designed to shelter a certain number
for a certain amount of timethe amount of time a bombing raid usually
took. But as the war progressed, war tactics became more sophisticated, and
the city was bombed in waves. So air raids that used to take 15-20 minutes
could now last for up to an hour, with four waves of bombs being dropped
overhead, and oxygen running out below ground. When you did finally emerge

Berlin Logs
from the bunker, there was a good chance your house didnt exist any
moreup to 80% of the city centre was destroyed by the end of the war.
During the course of the 90-minute tour, we saw unique photos and posters,
weapons and bombs, the fluorescent paint that kept people from panicking
in what would otherwise have been total darkness, and countless other
artefacts that had been buried for decades. Near the end of the tour, we
were treated to a demonstration of the pneumatic dispatch system which
could send objects at speeds of up to 60 miles an hour.
The tour was so interesting that, in the end, it was a bit of a surprise to
learn that an hour and a half had passed so quickly. Emerging into the
bright sunlight, a nice way to round off the tour is to take a stroll through
nearby Humboldthain Park. Much of the rubble from the bombings was
piled around the flak towers during the rebuilding of Berlin. Take a walk up
the hill to enjoy the views from the top of the tower, all the while knowing
that beneath the grass and well-maintained footpaths lies the dark history
of this city we call home.

Images: Berliner Unterwelten e.V.

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Berlin Logs

FROM 1937 TO TODAY

The Devils Mountain

By Arlette Seiler-Fuller
If one wanders through the northern part
of Grunewald, they will come upon three
white domes rising above the trees. Set
on a hill overlooking the rest of Berlin,
the domes are surrounded by two chainlink fences, which are scarred with the
cuts from people breaking in over the
years and their resultant patchy repairs.
Graffiti covers almost every plausible inch,
and some implausible inches. Named
after a nearby lake, Teufelsberg, or Devils
Mountain, has as much history as it does
layers of graffiti.
The foundation, literally and figuratively,
of Teufelsberg began in 1937, before the
outbreak of WWII, when Hitler was busy
planning his empire. Berlin was to be the
cultural center and capital of the world.
In order to achieve this, it needed a much
larger university. Breaking a contract not
to build in Grunewald, the Nazis began
construction on the Military Technical
University, but stopped once the war
started. Eight years later, the half-finished
building was located in the center of
West Berlin, leading the Allies to come
up with an ironic solution. Why not take
all of the rubble and debris leftover from
the war, pile it on top of this unfinished
Nazi project, cover it with earth, and call
it a day? The next question was what to
use this new mound for. The first idea
was to create a haven for West Berliners,
where they could get away from the
fast-paced life of the city. Construction
began on a sports center, complete with
ski jump, and a vineyard was planted, but
it wasnt long before the Americans came
up with another possibility. Looking for
a place to set up a top-secret military
facility where they could spy on the
Soviets, Teufelsberg, tucked away in
enemy territory, surely seemed perfect.
In 1963, the facility became operational.
Employing more than 1,000 American
men and women, Teufelsberg was

Teufelsberg in, 1974.

officially a translation center. In reality,

the three domes housed long-range
radars that could pinpoint exactly where
a broadcast was coming from, while
the employees worked on decoding the
information. In addition to the two chainlink fences, there was an inner and an
outer station with only certified personnel
allowed into the inner station. On site,
there were guard dogs, housed in their
own separate building, and night guards
to protect the top-secret information 24/7.
All of the paper that wasnt filed or sent
(secretly) to either America or Britain was
burned in two industrial-sized furnaces.
Despite these precautions, for almost the
entire two decades that the station was
operational, there was a spy that passed
on all the information received to the
Soviets.
After the fall of the wall, when the station
was no longer needed, the Americans
ripped out all of their expensive
equipment, leaving the plot of land to the
Berlin Senate. Seeing no use for it, and
not wanting to foot the bill of its costly
upkeep, Teufelsberg was then sold to a
private company who planned to build
luxury suites and a hotel. For financial
reasons, this never happened and, since
2005, no more construction has taken
place. One might think that that would
be the end of Teufelsberg, but quite the
contrary. Since 2011, Teufelsberg has
taken part in Tag des offenen Denkmals,
a European Heritage Day, which allows
artists to showcase their talents in
one of the largest graffiti galleries in
Germany. And there may no longer be
top-secret information stored there, but
security is tight. Luckily there are also
daily tours, easily booked online. And so
it goes, from Nazis and espionage to a
graffiti artists wet dream - Teufelsberg
is a representation of the messy, hidden
history that is Berlin.

Graffiti inside of the building.

Berlin Logs

LATEX, LATEX, LATEX:

A Night at German a Fetish Ball

By Eileen Carelock
Its not every weekend that my plans include attending a
ball. For this, special preparations were in order. I needed
the perfect dress, the right accessoriesblack leather and
stainless steel. I also needed to shine my boots, for this was
no Cinderella-style affair that I was preparing for. This was
for the 12th Annual German Fetish Ball that took place over
the long Ascension Day weekend here in Berlin.
The Fetish Ball on Saturday night was the climax of a series
of events that make up the German Fetish Ball Weekend,
which included a two-day fetish fair and multiple parties
at some of Berlins kinky hotspots like DarkSide, KitKat, and
Insomnia. Germans as well as visitors from all over the world
had already been partaking in these festivities before the
big evening. Being a large-scale, high-end party, the Fetish
Ball was primed for fetishists and BDSMers to descend upon
at Spindler & Klatt in Kreuzberg. The event would feature
rope, burlesque, and aerial stage acts. Not to mention seven
different fashion shows by latex and fetish designers coming
out of Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK.
The cost of entry was a bit intimidating, especially since Ive
become acclimated to Berlins usually reasonable prices.
Some of my Berliner friends had long before balked at the
cost of tickets saying, Those events are always too crowded
to do anything but drink, and why should I pay 60 just to
drink beer? Taking that into consideration, Id attended some
similarly bloated and overpriced events in San Francisco and
departed with little satisfaction. However, Berlin is regarded
as one of the worlds great fetish capitols, so I had to give the
Fetish Ball a chance. What to wear, what to wear? Or perhaps
the more pressing dilemma here: To wear latex, or not to
wear latex?
I was conflicted. Worn down by the Berliner practicality, I was
concerned about things like comfort and range of motion
things that have no bearing when it comes to fetish styles.
Maybe I was overthinking the latex a bitbut costume,
or more specifically fashion, is a very integral part of the
German Fetish Ball. Its all about exaggeration, amplification,
objectification, transformation. Dress to impress, and come to
be impressed. So, in an act of aesthetic compromise, I chose
a strappy wetlook vinyl mini-dress, arm-length fingerless
gloves, and the classic fishnets and combat boots beloved
by those of the gothic persuasion. To elevate the look, my
partner helped me fasten a thick, contoured leather posture
collar around my neck. Prominent metal D-ring in the front,
large buckle in the back. The Ball opened its doors at 21:00,
but in typical Berlin fashion we failed to leave home before
midnight, putting our arrival nearer to 1:00 by the time we
located Spindler & Klatt. The clubs streetside faade was
deceptively calm, but the telltale bass that faintly thrummed
lead us down a precarious cobblestone walkway toward
the entry overlooking the Spree. Once inside the venue, my
partner and I found ourselves immediately swept up in a
sultry, sweaty, pulsing turbulence of fetish finery: straps,
snaps, corsets, heels, studs, tassels, boots, pasties, collars,
hoods, gasmasks, goggles, ball-gags, inflatable tits, lingerie,
uniforms, armor, catsuits, pony suits, things that lace up,
things that zip down, over-the-top, see-through, barely-there,
topless, bottomless, and so, so much more. One recurring
theme, though: latex, latex, latex. Although we were too
late to see the last of the stage performances, the clubs
energy was in little danger of ebbing. We pushed our way
through the seemingly unending press of rubber-clad bodies,
propelled first by the need to check our coats, then by the
desire for libation. Choked walkways shuddered and shifted

around us, revealing cocktail bars along their borders with

walls lined by backlit Tanqueray bottles. The bar wares
contained a truncated selection of liquor and plenty of
Carlsberg beerserved by a mirthless bartender whod
clearly seen enough tits and ass that evening to be
phased by much of anything.
The main room featured the ubiquitous electro and tech
house one might expect to find at a dance club. Fetish
porn (mostly rubber-centric) flickered overhead across a
number of video screens. To change dynamics, the second
and smaller room spun Goth and 80s tracks. However
different the music was between the two rooms, both did
a decent job of keeping their dance floors packed with
enthusiastic characters sporting their risqu attire. They
looked content while dancing, drinking, and conversing,
since there seemed to be little going on in the way of
kinky activity. Clandestine sexual acts, perhaps, but the
same happens regularly in Berlins non-fetish nightclubs.
Although abject hedonism appeared to be playing coy
that evening, my partner and I later discovered an upstairs
play area with some basic tables and equipment. Of
course others had discovered it, too. Masochistic bottoms
were bent over benches or rails. Sadistic tops wielded
various smacking/thudding implements. Exhibitionist
couples were scening under the gaze of voyeuristic
friends and strangers. More viewable sex was indeed
happening up there, but it still remained a trifle reserved
in its perversion and excess for the German Fetish Ball.
The upstairs play area also provided a nice overview of
the main rooms dance floor. From there, I took in the
entire crowd and picked out eye-catching outfits. The
time was nearing 4:00 and pieces of costumes were being
discarded or lost, hair was becoming mussed, and makeup
was beginning to smear. Naughty little shenanigans broke
out here and there like brief, shuddering ripples in a great
current of water. The night wasnt over just yet, but things
were beginning to wind down. It was a good time to head
home.
All in all, the German Fetish Ball worth the 60 for the
experience. If I could do it again, I would show up earlier
to catch some of the shows and Id definitely wear my
latex, comfort and range of motion be damned. But this
is Berlin, and there will certainly be opportunities for doovers. More fetish events will be hosted in the upcoming
months, and of course the German Fetish Ball Weekend
will be back again in May 2016

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Berlin Logs

BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER

ON A BUDGET
By Karmijn Simons

Its easy to find cheap eats in Berlin.

As long as your tastes dont stray too
far from dner, ambiguously pan-Asian
curry, or the occasional wurst, you can
find an affordable, of somewhat unpalatable, meal on practically every corner.
But rarer is that cherished confluence
of gut and gnstig. Never fear, for weve
done the legwork for you: heres three
spots where you fill your belly without
emptying your wallet.

Breakfast
Szimpla Kaffeehaus Budapest, Grtnerstrasse 15, 10245
Berlin
Middle Eastern and European coffee, bread and Nutella,
fresh salad with brie, Hungarian sausages and homemade
sauce made out of eggplant. Or, for the sweet tooth:
waffles, croissants with marmalade, honey, walnuts and
fruit.
Hungry yet? Szimpla, a Hungarian colony in the heart of
Friedrichshain, offers a delicious and extensive breakfast
menu. Szimpla, which means simple, is a nickname for
espresso in Hungarian. During sunny weekend mornings,
sit outside and watch the bustle of Boxi go by while you
sip coffee and work on your tan. Raining? No worriesthe
inside is decorated beautifully. In a nod to its Eastern
European heritage, this place is seriously cheap, so you
can indulge in breakfast for only a couple euros. Bonus:
if you ever find yourself in Hungary, drop by its cousin,
Szimpla Kert, one of Budapests original ruin pubs.
Caf Morgenrot, Kastanienallee 85, 10435 Berlin
Sick of cheese and cold cuts? Fancy something healthier?
Then try Caf Morgenrot , an all you can eat vegan buffet.
Every weekend between 11:00 and 15:00, Caf Morgenrot
offers only the best bread, vegan sauces, couscous, yogurt,
salads, muesli and coffee. Their philosophy? Breakfast
should not be a luxurious event, and should be affordable
for everyone based on how much they can pay. You heard
that right: this breakfast buffet is priced at each according
to his needs. If youre hurting for cash, dont afraid to be
modest, and if youre feeling a bit flush, then whats the
harm in dropping a couple extra euros in the bucket? A
tip: be on time, because it can get pretty crowded.

Berlin Logs

Lunch
Stadtklause, Am Anhalter Bahnhof, Bernburger Str.
35, 10963 Berlin-Kreuzberg
Strictly speaking, this hole-in-the-wall lunch joint
is technically in Kreuzberg. But with just a fiveminute walk to Potsdamer Platz, its a great spot
for lunch if youre out sightseeing.
It might not look like much, but trust usthis
is one of the best budget lunches in the city.
The menu changes daily from a revolving list of
classic German dishes (Linsentopf mit Bockwurst
anyone?) and the schnitzel lunch is a proper
thing of beauty.
Order at the counter and pull up a bench in the
kitschy dining room, surrounded by German civil
servants and a handful of young folks. In true
Kantine fashion, this place leans heavily on the
meat products, particularly of the porcine variety,
so might not be the perfect place for your veggie
friends.
But for real working-class German food on a
budget, we cant think of anything better.
Habba Habba, Kastanienallee 15, 10435 Berlin
In Berlin, you can get falafel and halloumi more
or less anywhere. What sets this Prenzlauer Berg
caf apart is its fresh take on Lebanese food. Far
from the sandy-tasting falafel or gummy halloumi
youre used to, this place specializes in fresh, light
food from the Middle East.
If you get a sandwich, it will come wrapped in
delicate, fresh flatbread, but we recommend the
salad bowls.
Huge portions of fresh Lebanese ingredients
means that you can indulge without experiencing
that after-lunch crash. Most sandwiches cost
under a fiver, and the salad bowls come in
between 7-9, so it wont exactly break the bank,
either.

Dinner
Sadhu, Falckensteinstrae 41, 10997 Berlin
Nestled at the northeastern end of Kreuzberg 36,
Sadhu is a Pakistani/Indian restaurant that offers
fragrant dishes from across the subcontinent.
Sadhu is well known for their cozy atmosphere,
friendly waiters and cheap, delicious dishes.
Offering everything soups, salads, chicken dishes,
lamb biryanis (rice), and tandoori (grill) plates. We
recommend the multi-course sharing platters as a
way to try a bit of everything.
Try the chicken vindaloo, shahi kofta, batak chili,
or other typical specialties of the subcontinent.
Bonus: after your dinner, try one of their fresh
tasting cocktails.

In Berlin, you can get

falafel more or less
anywhere so we looked
for the best

Matreshka, Boxhagener Strasse 60, 10245

Berlin
Matreshka, a Russian and Ukrainian restaurant
on Boxhagener Strasse, is a cheap and
popular place to go to for dinner on a budget.
A super friendly staff, good vodka, Russian
pancakes, soup, schnitzelwhats not to love?
You should eat here. A lot. Fair warning: you
should be ready to drink some vodka. Really,
this is everything you want from a budget
dinner outhot, filling, tasty, with a chance
of getting drunk. Fair enough. Thats just how
Russians roll, isnt it?

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Berlin Logs

CEASE AND UNI-DESIST

Apply to University in
Germany as a Foreigner

By Sarah Coughlan

Its getting towards that time of year again where

students everywhere are contemplating applying
to Masters programmes in a desperate bid to avoid
getting a job. I can sympathise because in 2012,
when I was finishing up my undergraduate degree
in London and getting exactly zero interest in my CV
which was a memorandum of a youth pulling pints;
I was doing exactly the same. Things are tough
right now for people finishing at university, and as
such, here are my insider tips on applying to Berlin
universities.
Im a Brit, and we Brits are unlucky enough to have
a government keen to extract every possible penny
from my generation (I owe them GBP 30,000) and
a Masters degree would have set me back another
GBP 10,000 that I didnt have. Between pulling pints
for perpetuity or pursuing a career as a professional
job-applier, I wasnt exactly overwhelmed with
exciting prospects in London. So I asked myself why I
didnt look abroad. And by abroad, obviously, I meant
Berlin. And the wonder of this plan, of course, is that
it has that veneer of respectability about it. It isnt
like youre moving to Berlin to just bum around, no!
Youre a graduate student thats the kind of thing
your Mum can tell her friends bonus.
So how does one get into a Masters programme in
Berlin? The answer is: with difficulty. If you already
live in Berlin, you already know how brain-meltingly
incomprehensible German bureaucracy is to a
foreigner; universities, in general, are worse.
There is not a plethora of Masters programmes
offering in English at Berlin universities (caveat
here: if you are well-endowed both with money and
a lack of sense, there are plenty of private places
willing to take your cash in exchange for a degree
of dubious value). Public universities in Germany
are, rightly, catering to German students, so Englishlanguage programmes are few and far between but
they do exist. So your first job is to find a programme
you fancy (try Masters Portal) and then go through
the entry requirements with a fine toothed combs.
The first potential stumbling block is this: Germans
take their entry requirements really, really seriously.
Now, in most countries a person in possession of an
undergraduate degree in anything humanities-y can
apply to a grad programme in more or less anything
(scientists, I know nothing of your struggle) this is
not how we play ball in Germany. Most programmes
here are designed to build on your undergraduate
degree (because the Bologna Process is mostly a

myth here) and as such, if you want to do a Masters

in International Relations, youre almost certain
to need at least some modules in IR on your
undergraduate transcript.
Then comes the real fun. Enter: Uni Assist.
Uni Assist is among the least accurately named
organisation I have ever had the misfortune to
deal with. Their role in this process is to ready
foreign students (and German students with foreign
degrees) for submission to the various admissions
departments. The whole process is a Kafkaesque
nightmare.
Youre going to need your secondary school leaving
certificates (originals, naturally) notarised, as well
as your degree certificates. Uni Assist will only
accept documents in German or English, so if
youve got documents in other languages youre
also going to need a sworn translation (around
100) of everything. Also, youre going to need
two or three passport pictures, a CV, a letter of
motivation and whatever else your university might
need to assess your suitability. Next you have to

Berlin Logs

submit that online (another 75) and then make

copies of everything and submit that too. Via post.
My absolute favourite part of this whole rigmarole
though, and Im taking this verbatim from the
website, is this:

Yep. You will have no idea whether your degree

actually meets the standards required to be admitted
to the degree in the first place.

Please provide your foreign

grade as stated on your
certificate. The conversion of
your average grade via the
German grading system will
not be carried out until uniassist actually processes your
application therefore you
cannot know what this German
grade will be when you submit
your application form.

Uni Assists job is to provide a pre-screen of your

documents before they reach the admissions
office. As such, Uni Assists refusal to forward your
documents is not the same as being rejected by
the university. If you get a letter saying that your
application wont be forwarded to the university, and
you act quickly, you can fix it.

Now, for me I was told that they were unable to

forward my application to my preferred university.
I was furious. I knew I was right for the programme
and I was desperate to get in. So, heres my super
insider tip for this end-of-the-world scenario.

You have 14 days to make two complaints to Uni

Assist and ask them to forward your documents
to the university regardless; thats how I got my
documents on the admission tutors desk.
Best of luck.

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Berlin Logs

The 1st of May

in Pictures
By Linka A Odom
My first visit to Berlin was in a late April. The Mayday celebrations of that year
remain etched in my brain: Ill never forget the chaotic brilliance of the day, a
brilliance that eventually drove me to move to Berlin. This year, May 1st fell on a
Friday. Living directly at Schlesisches Tor, trying to go to sleep on Thursday night
was a useless endeavor. I woke at 5am and could already feel the city buzzing like a
power cell.

Berlin Logs

I gave up on sleeping and blinked my way over to Rummelsbucht,

a club that had started its 4-day soiree the evening before. Later
in the day, I made my way back towards Kreuzberg. I had started
drinking earlymost of the borough would be consumed with
drunken street parties, so it only made sense to show up in a similar
mindset. The moment I arrived at Warschauer Strae, I was greeted
by a group of singing punks exiting the train across from mine.
Crossing the street, I saw a line of police vans three blocks long.
Once I crossed the Oberbaumbrcke, things started to get wild.
Winding my way down Skalitzer Strasse and into Gorlitzer Park,
the sound of techno, smell of weed, and stink of drying beer hung
thickly in the air. I walked with my camera held out, barely looking
through the viewfinder, shooting from the hip.

Images: Linka A Odom

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Berlin Logs

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