Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

FRANKFURT

What’s on in Germany: December 13 – 19

This Week's Highlights: Fantasia in Cologne, a new kind of Nutcracker in Hamburg, and an art exhibition for kids opens in Frankfurt.

Published: 13 December 2012 06:30 CET
What's on in Germany: December 13 - 19
Photo: The Lucia Christmas Market in Berlin

BERLIN

Music/Concerts

Lucia Christmas Market – Lucia Parade

Angelic voices fill the Culture Brewery’s courtyard Thursday night when Lucia leads her choir of girls on a parade across the cobblestones. The former brewery’s historic atmosphere becomes enchanting every holiday season when the Scandinavian style Christmas market sets up its wooden stalls, but it’s especially magical on Decemer 13. Go and sip a warm mug of glogg as the candlelit procession streams by.

Price: Free

Location: Kulturbrauerei, Schönhauser Allee 36-39

Times: Thursday, December 13, 6pm

More Information: www.lucia-weihnachtsmarkt.de

Galleries/Museums

Paule Hammer

For his series of “interview pictures,” the artist German Paule Hammer invited his friends to his Leipzig studio where he painted their portraits while they discussed issues close to their hearts. Text and imagery combine on canvas or cardboard with the vivid energy of bright contrasting colours. Get contemplative as you stroll among them at the Galerie Jette Rudolph this week.

Price: Free

Location: Galerie Jette Rudolph,
Strausberger Platz 4

Times: Tuesday – Saturday, Noon – 6pm; through January 12, 2013

Phone: 030 613 03 887

More Information: www.jette-rudolph.de

Music/Concerts

Stimmen-Voices – A Benefit Concert for Gaza

Jewish and Arab artists share the stage in Berlin this week in support of Palestine. Through original music and poetry, as well as works by the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish and the Jewish writer Lea Goldberg, the performers express their thoughts on the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Bring your hand drums and join in on the jam session that wraps-up the evening. The event is free, but donations will be collected for Medico International, a human aid organization, supporting projects in Gaza.

Price: Free

Location: Filmbühne am Steinplatz, Hardenbergstrasse 12

Times: Tuesday, December 18, 8pm

Phone: 0176 312 12 109

More Information: www.facebook.com

COLOGNE

Film

Fantasia

Oh Mickey, you little sorcerer you. There’s no denying the iconic mouse has cast a spell on young and old around the world. If you’ve fallen for his wizardry, be enchanted all over again in Cologne Wednesday, when Walt Disney’s masterpiece unfolds with its melange of delightful animation and beloved music. Who can resist those charming little mushrooms hopping around to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite? The Cologne Philharmonic presents the event at Filmforum.

Price: Free (Afternoon); €6.50 (Evening)

Location: Filmforum, Bischofsgartenstrasse 1

Times: Wednesday, December 19, 12:30pm and 8pm

Phone: 0221 221 24498

More Information: www.koelner-philharmonie.de

FRANKFURT

Children’s Events

Storytime with Rita Storee – Holiday Happenings

Once a month, the entertaining Miss Rita tells stories in English to children ages three and up. Some of her favorites include classics from children’s literature like Peter Rabbit and The Little Engine That Could. This week the friendly narrator pulls from her holiday shelf, bringing along books about Christmas and Hanukkah. No promises, but a Christmas carol sing-along may be part of the program.

Price: Free

Location: Theatre Language Studio Frankfurt

, Gärtnerweg 5

Times: Tuesday, December 18, 4pm

More Information: www.tlsfrankfurt.com

Galleries/Museums

Pssst. An Exhibition for Kids

What kid doesn’t love a secret? Artists from Frankfurt and England created artworks especially for children around the theme “secrets” for a new exhibition opening Friday at the MMK Zollamt. Take the tots to the museum this week to meet characters like Rob Flowers’ “Eyeclops Leafmann”and Matthew Bromley’s “Piggy Back” monsters. Interactive pieces feature imaginary escorts, puzzles and secret compartments. It’s never too early to start nurturing their art appreciation skills.

Price: €10; €5 (Students); Free (Ages 6 and under)

Location: MMK Zollamt, MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst, 
Domstrasse 10

Times: Friday, December 14, 6pm (Opening); Tuesday – Sunday, 10am-6pm; Wednesday, 10am-8pm; through January 27, 2013

More Information: www.mmk-frankfurt.de

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN

Music/Concerts

Cuban Night With the Band Son Pa Ti

There’s nothing like Cuban music to shake off the winter chill. Those Caribbean beats have an inherent warmth that conjures sunshine and palm trees. Seven musicians from Cuba, Mexico, and Germany comprise the band Son Pa Ti, who play in the Lake Constance town of Friedrichshafen Saturday night. Escape to the islands. If only for an evening.

Price: €12

Location: Dornier Museum, Claude-Dornier-Platz 1

Times: Saturday, December 15, 9pm

Tickets: 07541 487 36 00

More Information: www.dorniermuseum.de

KARLSRUHE

Film/Concerts

”Pilgrimage from Scattered Points” Film Screening, and Luke Fowler and Richard Youngs Concert

The concept was simple. With graphic scores, and an emphasis on improvisation, anyone could play in The Scratch Orchestra. Formed in London in 1968, the experimental ensemble is the subject of Luke Fowler’s 2006 film Pilgrimage from Scattered Points. Fowler himself plays cinematic analog synth sounds after the screening with fellow Glasgow-based musician Richard Youngs. Go early to check out the exhibition “Sound Art. Sound as an Artistic Medium.”

Price: €5

Location: ZKM Medientheater, Lorenzstrasse 19 


Times: Friday, December 14, 8pm (Film Screening); 9:15pm (Concert)

Phone: 0721 81000

More Information: on1.zkm .de

HAMBURG

Dance

Antje Pfundtner – The Nutcracker

It’s a nice tradition, going to see The Nutcracker every year. But how many more perfect pas de deux can you handle? This year supplement your grand ballet outing with something a little off the wall. Hamburg choreographer Antje Pfundtner has cooked up her own whimsical rendition of the classic Christmastime dance piece. Eight dancers and a corps de ballet move to original music by Sven Kacirek.

Price: €12-32

Location: Kampnagel Hamburg, Jarrestrasse 20

Times: Thursday, December 13 – Saturday, December 15, 8pm

Phone: 040 270 94949

More Information: www.kampnagel.de

Music/Concerts

Marcin Wasilewski Trio

These guys started playing together as teenagers in the early 1990s. They quickly caught the eye of Polish trumpet star Tomasz Stanko, who helped buoy their presence on the European jazz scene, and have been blazing a trail ever since. The critically acclaimed piano trio takes the stage at Hamburg’s Laeiszhalle Friday night. Find a seat in the audience and take in Marcin Wasilewski, Slawomir Kurkiewicz and Michal Miskiewicz’s blend of refreshing originals, covers of respected contemporary tunes, and maybe even a bit of improvisation.

Price: €11-39

Location: Laeiszhalle,
 Johannes-Brahms-Platz

Times: Friday, December 14, 8pm

Tickets: 040 357 666 66

More Information: www.elbphilharmonie.de

STUTTGART

Music/Concerts

The Traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

The Victorians started celebrating the birth of Christ with a dazzling service of bible stories and Christmas carols back in 1880. The program became a fixture of the Anglican church that’s attended each year by Christians and non-Christians alike who just want to be immersed in holiday splendour and sing! Practice your vocal scales and harmonies, because St. Catherine’s Anglican Church in Stuttgart is holding the Yuletide event at Leonhardskirche Sunday evening.

Price: Free

Location: Leonhardskirche,
 Leonhardsplatz 26

Times: Sunday, December 16, 5pm

More Information: www.stcatherines-stuttgart.de

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

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.

 

SHOW COMMENTS