BERLIN
Events
Carnival of Cultures
If you live in Berlin you’ve probably got friends from all over the world. The capital is Germany’s most international city. Gather up that melange of mates and celebrate multiculturalism this weekend. The Carnival of Cultures is a colourful spring fiesta complete with African drummers, Spanish flamenco dancers, Brazilian guitarists, and plenty of German beer. Sport your lei from last weekend’s bachelor party and join the parade.
Price: Free
Location: Blücherplatz
Times: Friday, May 25 – Monday, May 28 (Street Festival); Sunday, May 27, 12:30pm at Hermannplatz – 9:30 pm at Yorckstrasse (Parade)
More Information: www.karneval-berlin.de
Comedy
Laughing Cows
Pining for a bit of British humour? Head to Comedy Club Kookaburra Tuesday night when Maureen Younger, Shazia Mirza, and Jo Caulfield step up to the mic. The hysterical trio of critically acclaimed UK comics will have you in stitches. Laugh your head off all night long.
Price: €10
Location: Club Kookaburra, Schönhauser Allee 184
Times: Tuesday, May 29, 8:30
Reservations: 030 48 62 31 86
More Information: www.comedyclub.de
COLOGNE
Film
Kurdish Film Days
Harsh realities come to light in eight films screened this week in this mini festival of Kurdish films. Stories of displaced peoples, forced adoption, and war are told in the original Kurdish or Turkish version with English or German subtitles. Expand your knowledge through cinema.
Price: €6
Location: Filmforum, Cinema in the Ludwig Museum, Bischofsgartenstrasse 1
Times: Friday, May 25 – Sunday, May 27
Phone: 0221 221 24498
More Information: www.stadt-koeln.de
HAMBURG
Festivals
St. Georg City Fest
It’s always party time in Hamburg’s St. Georg neighborhood, but this weekend especially so. Three days of dancing (to the live music on two open-air stages) and bargain hunting (at an extra-large flea market) make the St. Georg City Fest a win-win on all fronts.
Price: Free
Location: Lange Reihe
Times: Saturday, May 26 – Monday, May 28
More Information: www.stadtfest-stgeorg.de
Music/Concerts
Elbe Jazz Festival
Two days. Ten venues. Fifty concerts. The Elbe Jazz Festival is a musical extravaganza featuring top notch jazz acts from around the globe. Witness the skilled improvisations of brothers Joachim and Rolf Kühn, esteemed veterans of the German jazz stage; and sway to the sprightly rhythms of Dutch vocalist Caro Emerald.
Price: €42 (Day Ticket); €64 (Festival Pass)
Location: Blohm and Voss dockyards, HafenCity, and Hansahafen
Times: Friday, May 25 and Saturday, May 26
More Information: www.elbjazz.de
Big Fox
Charlotta Perers is one of those uber talented ladies who writes, sings, plays many different instruments, and even arranged and produced her own debut album. The Swedish songstress, who goes by Big Fox, wraps up her German tour in Hamburg Friday night. Go see the show and fall in love with her pretty voice.
Price: €9
Location: Molotow Musikclub, Spielbudenplatz 5
Times: Friday, May 24, 8pm
Phone: 040 310845
More Information: www.molotowclub.com
MOERS
Music/Concerts
Moers Festival
The Afro-Cuban All-Stars, the Gunter Hampel Quintet, a premiere by American composer Carla Bley, and the dream-team duo of guitarist James “Blood” Ulmer and trombone player Joe Bowie are just a few of the reasons why you should head over to Moers this weekend. Now in its seventh year, the Moers Festival is a great place to see great jazz.
Price: €36 (Day Ticket); €72 (Festival Pass)
Location: Schlosspark
Times: Friday, May 25 – Monday, May 28
Tickets: 180 50 40 300 (0.14 €/min from landlines, max. 0.42 €/min from mobiles)
More Information: www.moers-festival.de
MUNICH
Galleries/Museums
Exhibition Opening – Erich Hartmann: New York Stories 1946 – 1957
Born in Munich, Erich Hartmann fled to New York in 1938. He served in the US Army during World War II and upon his return to the Big Apple launched a career as a photographer. See the Jewish refugee’s gorgeous black and white images of the streets of New York in the postwar period.
Price: Free
Location: Amerika Haus, Karolinenplatz 3
Times: Friday, May 25, 7pm (Opening); Monday – Friday, Noon – 5pm, Wednesday, Noon – 8pm; through July 27 (Regular Hours)
Phone: 089 55 25 370
More Information: www.amerikahaus.de
Children’s Workshops
Cartoon Drawing With Children’s Author Mike Artell
Kids! Gather up some paper, a pencil, and a clipboard or a hard book to draw on and head over to the Munich Readery Saturday. The American children’s book author and illustrator Mike Artell is hosting a cartoon drawing workshop in English for kids aged seven to 12. Cartoons rule! And now you can make your own!
Price: Free
Location: The Munich Readery, Augustenstrasse 104
Times: Saturday, May 26, 2-3pm
Registration: [email protected]
More Information: www.readery.de
The Treehouse Open House Workshops
Munich’s bilingual German-English kindergarten Treehouse is hosting an open house Saturday complete with dance, music, and theatre workshops. And lest the moms and dads feel left out, career coach Katya Barry will lead a workshop for adults to help them figure out what it is they really want to do. Be sure to hit up the Geldautomat beforehand because there will be children’s books for sale.
Price: Free
Location: Treehouse Kindergarten, Schleissheimerstrasse 53
Times: Saturday, May 26, 11am-4pm
More Information: www.toytowngermany.com
SCHOPPINGEN
Music/Concerts
Grolsch Blues Festival Schöppingen
It’s getting steamy in Schöppingen. Blues musicians from the United States, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Germany, are setting up their amplifiers and microphones this week as the Grolsch Blues Festival swings into town. Cee Cee James’ raspy howl joins Kenny Neal’s quick picking, and Delta Moon’s raunchy electric guitar licks at this twelve-bar wingding. Pitch your tent.
Price: €49 (Two-Day Festival Ticket)
Location: Vechtebad Freigelände , Metelener Strasse 2
Times: Saturday, May 26 – Sunday, May 27
More Information: www.kulturring-schoeppingen.de