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EXBERLINER MAGAZINE

BERLIN

The best of Berlin in April

This month Exberliner, Berlin's leading English-language magazine, picks the best places to meet real-live bloggers, pick up a bitchin' Deutsche Bahn bike and spot quirky public art from Danish artist Nike.

Published: 4 April 2009 12:36 CEST
The best of Berlin in April
Photo: DPA

Web geeks meet in the flesh

Born three years ago as a blogger get-together, the re;publica conference has morphed into an expanded ‘social media’ shindig this year. It takes place at the Kalkscheune and the huge Friedrichstadtpalast, a rather bizarre venue for something so forward thinking. Under the motto “shift happens,” Wikipedia founder Jimbo Wales and Creative Com¬mons instigator Lawrence Lessig will be headlining discussions involving more than 100 other speakers. The topics will range from the Atheist Bus Campaign (its slogan “there’s probably no God – now stop worrying and enjoy your life” helped it raise almost €160,000 in online donations) to the huge impact Obama’s web campaign had on the American elections.

Don’t despair if you find the program a tad serious (“Health 2.0” or “The Future of News,” anyone?): there will be plenty of time to discuss LOLcats and Rickrolling at the Saturday night party. /CN

Re;publica ´09, Friedrichstadtpalast & Kalkscheune, www.republica.de/09. April 1-3; one-day tickets are available at the door for the Friedrichstadtpalast events, presale tickets are sold out.

Brewing up the avant-garde

It’s hard to go out in this city without hearing at least one jaded hipster lament the “death” of Berlin, longing for the lost 1990s when a reunited cold war battlefield served as a sort of post-apocalyptic playground – a haven for anarchist squats, illegal clubs and unbridled liberalism. Tacheles is living proof of the city’s self-cannibalization. What was once an open living space for artists and romantics has become little more than a tourist attraction. But fear not, fellow dreamers: Berlin is alive and well, and the spirit that once haunted Tacheles has found a new home at the old Berliner Kindl brewery in Neukölln.

The space is massive and mostly untapped. Wandering through the building’s labyrinthine basement and looming tower, you’ll stumble upon artists scattered about, at work and play in its crumbling nooks and filthy crannies. One group pulled together installations, musicians, and dirt cheap beer for an opening in March, but the growing community is still largely unorganized: it lacks a website and any coherent management. There’s no one to guide you through or take your money, but those bold enough to drop in can experience firsthand what’s bound to become a nerve center for the emerging Kreuzkölln art scene.

Rent is paid and the space is owned, but Alte Berliner Kindl Brauerei’s DIY attitude will bring you back in time: forget what the cynics say – Berlin isn’t kicking the bucket anytime soon. /NH

Alte Berliner Kindl Brauerei, Werbellinstr. 50, Neukölln, U-Bhf Boddin¬str.

Bike season prep

Don’t trust what the weather tells you: to check if spring has arrived, keep your eye out for Deutsche Bahn’s top-tuned rental bikes. They are the bomb. Just pick up one up where and when you see it, call the number listed below… and you’re good to go. These little monsters may look like high-tech granny bikes, but they combine the speed of a city two-wheeler and the agility of a BMX. They’ll send you flying over curbs at the blink of an eye. If you’re looking for a free ride, you may be lucky enough to spot an unlocked bike, but beware: Big Brother Deutsche Bahn is following you by satellite. /CN

Info:

-Register at www.callabike.de or telephone 07000 522552 if you want to use a bike. They speak English.

-You only pay for the time you are riding. Payments can be made from MasterCard, Visa or a German bank account.

-You can use them all over city, but the bikes must be returned within the S-Bahn ring

-Standard rates: €0.08 per minute of cycling time; €0.06 if you have a BahKarte. The maximum charge is €9 for 24 hours.

Art hunting

While Easter egg hunting this April, keep an eye out for something a little different – tucked away amongst the trees and bushes you might find a small white doll strung up from a branch or a white-painted helmet hanging in the boughs. Nike, a 67-year-old eccentric from Copenhagen whose eyes sparkle and glisten with wicked teenage innocence, carefully placed them around Berlin’s most popular parks: Volkspark Friedrichshain, the Tiergarten and Kreuzberg’s Victoria Park.

“This is real public art,” says the Danish painter. “It’s for people to look at for free, to pick up and bring home for a while or move to a place they find more suitable.”

There’s no edifying message behind Nike’s playful art; the fragility of the dolls and the helmets – which resemble eggshells – conjure up parental feelings, while the coat of white paint symbolizes peace and protection. Both elements click into place when you see the tags Nike attaches to each one: she asks treasure hunters to donate to a charity of their choice or to extend the idea in whatever way they wish. /MCK

Click here for more from Berlin’s leading monthly magazine in English.

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BERLIN

EXPLAINED: Berlin’s latest Covid rules

In response to rapidly rising Covid-19 infection rates, the Berlin Senate has introduced stricter rules, which came into force on Saturday, November 27th. Here's what you need to know.

Published: 27 November 2021 16:16 CET
Updated: 29 November 2021 14:17 CET
A sign in front of a waxing studio in Berlin indicates the rule of the 2G system
A sign in front of a waxing studio indicates the rule of the 2G system with access only for fully vaccinated people and those who can show proof of recovery from Covid-19 as restrictions tighten in Berlin. STEFANIE LOOS / AFP

The Senate agreed on the tougher restrictions on Tuesday, November 23rd with the goal of reducing contacts and mobility, according to State Secretary of Health Martin Matz (SPD).

He explained after the meeting that these measures should slow the increase in Covid-19 infection rates, which was important as “the situation had, unfortunately, deteriorated over the past weeks”, according to media reports.

READ ALSO: Tougher Covid measures needed to stop 100,000 more deaths, warns top German virologist

Essentially, the new rules exclude from much of public life anyone who cannot show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19. You’ll find more details of how different sectors are affected below.

Shops
If you haven’t been vaccinated or recovered (2G – geimpft (vaccinated) or genesen (recovered)) from Covid-19, then you can only go into shops for essential supplies, i.e. food shopping in supermarkets or to drugstores and pharmacies.

Many – but not all – of the rules for shopping are the same as those passed in the neighbouring state of Brandenburg in order to avoid promoting ‘shopping tourism’ with different restrictions in different states.

Leisure
2G applies here, too, as well as the requirement to wear a mask with most places now no longer accepting a negative test for entry. Only minors are exempt from this requirement.

Sport, culture, clubs
Indoor sports halls will off-limits to anyone who hasn’t  been vaccinated or can’t show proof of recovery from Covid-19. 2G is also in force for cultural events, such as plays and concerts, where there’s also a requirement to wear a mask. 

In places where mask-wearing isn’t possible, such as dance clubs, then a negative test and social distancing are required (capacity is capped at 50 percent of the maximum).

Restaurants, bars, pubs (indoors)
You have to wear a mask in all of these places when you come in, leave or move around. You can only take your mask off while you’re sat down. 2G rules also apply here.

Hotels and other types of accommodation 
Restrictions are tougher here, too, with 2G now in force. This means that unvaccinated people can no longer get a room, even if they have a negative test.

Hairdressers
For close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, it’s up to the service providers themselves to decide whether they require customers to wear masks or a negative test.

Football matches and other large-scale events
Rules have changed here, too. From December 1st, capacity will be limited to 5,000 people plus 50 percent of the total potential stadium or arena capacity. And only those who’ve been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed in. Masks are also compulsory.

For the Olympic Stadium, this means capacity will be capped at 42,000 spectators and 16,000 for the Alte Försterei stadium. 

Transport
3G rules – ie vaccinated, recovered or a negative test – still apply on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses in Berlin. It was not possible to tighten restrictions, Matz said, as the regulations were issued at national level.

According to the German Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, people have to wear a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask  on public transport.

Christmas markets
The Senate currently has no plans to cancel the capital’s Christmas markets, some of which have been open since Monday. 

According to Matz, 2G rules apply and wearing a mask is compulsory.

Schools and day-care
Pupils will still have to take Covid tests three times a week and, in classes where there are at least two children who test positive in the rapid antigen tests, then tests should be carried out daily for a week.  

Unlike in Brandenburg, there are currently no plans to move away from face-to-face teaching. The child-friendly ‘lollipop’ Covid tests will be made compulsory in day-care centres and parents will be required to confirm that the tests have been carried out. Day-care staff have to document the results.

What about vaccination centres?
Berlin wants to expand these and set up new ones, according to Matz. A new vaccination centre should open in the Ring centre at the end of the week and 50 soldiers from the German army have been helping at the vaccination centre at the Exhibition Centre each day since last week.

The capacity in the new vaccination centre in the Lindencenter in Lichtenberg is expected to be doubled. There are also additional vaccination appointments so that people can get their jabs more quickly. Currently, all appointments are fully booked well into the new year.

 

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