Firolino - Undiscovered Italian Fare in Berlin

Firolino is a small and inconspicious place in one of the many Friedrichshain streets that are home to a myriad of restaurants, bars, cafés, and take out places - some more and some less fancy.

Though it does not deserve to be called more than a coffee shop and despite its rather unspectacular appearance, Fiorolino definitely is one of the more creative places with a simple but tasty food concept: piadinas. These thin Italian flatbreads, typically prepared in the Romagna region, are an Italian snack that for the majority is still undiscovered here in Germany. Prepared on an electric griddle and stuffed with fresh ingredients such as mozzarella, parmesan, prosciutto, mortadella, tomato, rocket salad, grilled vegetables and much more, piadinas can be enjoyed in the shop accompanied by a refreshing Aperol spritz or devoured on the go. Either way - they are well worth a try!

http://www.firolino.de/

Berlin - Sightseeing of a different kind

Just recently I had the honor of accompanying a guide friend of mine on one of his city tours about which I would like to tell you today. Why in the world am I writing about a guided city tour, you may be thinking, aren't there more exciting things to do in Berlin?

The reason being is that these tours are not the boring standard city tours that present fact after fact but leave no extraordinary memories. On the contrary, this excursion is more than just a city tour - it combines the art of movie making with the historical sights but also less known spots of Berlin. A company called Zeitreisen (Time Travels) lead by a young historian entrepreneur has developed an outstanding city tour experience that remains incomparable in Berlin!

Departing every second Sunday at 1:30pm from the famous boulevard "Unter den Linden" on a bus that is equipped with several video screens, this tour attracts tourists and locals alike. While the bus takes guests through town, the guide brilliantly combines facts about Berlin's history, its sights and movie making showing short episodes of outdoors scenes featuring Berlin's streets and squares on the screens. So for example, driving by the square Gendarmenmarkt one realizes that all major outdoor scenes (supposedly in London) of Jacky Chan's "In 80 Days Around The World" were taken right there, or that Lola in "Run Lola Run" was standing right in front of Hotel de Rome with the view over Bebelplatz after robbing her father's bank. One can also see the original streets in which "The Legend of Paul and Paula" took place as well as outside facade of the home of the protagonist of "The Live of the Others". Truly intriguing!

Of course many more contemporary but also historical films are being featured during this diverting city tour so that the 2 1/2 hours fly by in no time. This is not only due to the entertaining mix of cinematics and sightseeing but also for the nearly indefinite knowledge of the guide about the city in every aspect.

So, now that winter is coming up this may be the perfect Saturday afternoon activity - not only for tourists but also and especially for the Berliners of you!

http://www.videobustour.de/berlin.html

Let there be light!

One of the more recently established traditions is the so called Festival of Lights in Berlin. Every year in fall when the days get shorter (and the nights longer) Berlin’s attractions in and around the city center are being illuminated by companies and artists - this year some 60 sights and buildings.

So, for example does the renowned Ritz-Carlton on Potsdamer Platz put up its scenography motto “We are” on big letters on the outside walls of its building. The linden trees on the famous avenue “Unter den Linden” are illuminated in colorful tones giving the idea of an Indian summer atmosphere in Berlin. Of course, the main focus is on the illumination of Berlin’s main attractions: the Brandenburg Gate, the Gendarmenmarkt Square with its Concert House and two Domes, the TV tower changing color every 15 seconds like a disco ball, the tower of the Messe (exhibition area) and among others the Berlin Dome where Wolfgang Joop projects patterns of his new fashion collection.

While the illumination of outside facades of buildings is certainly not a new concept, one must admit that it does add a nice touch to the beginning of the “dark season”. Despite the many windy and rainy cold days inhabitants and tourists alike decide to leave their cozy homes to go for a night time stroll, ride a velo-taxi or get on board a bus or ship through Berlin’s main streets in order to indulge in this somewhat tacky but festive atmosphere. Not as must see – but definitely a nice event!

After four months of absence I think it is time again to resume blogging. But where to start? During this incredibly short summer that seems to have passed at the blink of an eye I have enjoyed the city more than ever, and I begin to think that this could be my home for an unlimited amount of time.
I have discovered a myriad of new places, tried out restaurants, bars, clubs, made new friends and most of all have collected innumerable unforgettable memories of which some I would like to share with you now that the days are getting shorter and the pace of life is slowing down for the next months to come.
So please, sit back and enjoy reading. And if it entices you feel more than welcome to announce your visit. There is always a guest couch ready to host you...

Sunday highlight at Mauerpark

There are many ways to spend your Sunday in Berlin: Sleeping in late after a long night out dancing, trying one of the numerous brunches offered, strolling through town, taking a bike ride or spending your afternoon at the renowned Mauerpark.
This park carries its name because back in the days the death strip of the Berlin wall used to go right through this area. Today, 20 years later it is a huge green area and a meeting point for young people from all backdrops of life. Apart from a flee market, various musicians and artists entertaining the crowds and many private vendors who sell everything from second hand clothing, to lavender, to home-made pastries and cool beer in order to boost their "pocket money", for me the highlight of Sunday is Bearpit Karaoke, an event that lacks comparison in the world!

Bearpit Karaoke is an improvised karaoke show in the amphitheater of the park. Every Sunday large crowds of people find their way to the stone stage with its ascending rows of stone seats where a guy from Dublin (who by the way sings really well himself) puts on the greatest show. Equipped with a karaoke machine, a giant generator and a tin box to collect money for a good cause (I haven't found out which one yet) :-) he draws in thousands of people ... always! The show is simple: whoever has the courage and wants to sing gets a chance to do so: locals, tourists from all over the world, great singers and dancers, great entertainers, and even people who can't sing at all. But no one gets jeered. The atmosphere is amazing, people meeting friends, having a beer or some of the home-made pastries mentioned earlier, clapping, laughing, dancing, cheering, singing along... and all that for free. So, if you wake up late on a Sunday, the sun is shining and you are up for a party come on over to Mauerpark between 3 and 6pm! You will not regret it...

Not your ordinary breakfast

Having breakfast outside of your own four walls has become increasingly popular during the last years. Though the number of places catering to this demand - often even until 4pm for the late risers - is very high, it is hard to find a place that sets itself apart from the usual breakfast fare of rolls, butter, cheese, cold cuts, jam and eggs. So, whenever I go and try a new breakfast location the originality of their breakfast menu is my main measuring point, followed by the atmosphere of the location and the service.

Tomasa at Villa Kreuzberg ranks high on all of these three measuring points. The staff was quick and friendly despite the high volume of guests. The location is an old mansion right next to Victoria Park in Kreuzberg with a nice outdoor terrace for warm and a fireplace inside for cold days. Last, but most importanly, the menu offers an exquisite selection of breakfast dishes of excellent quality. Take for example the breakfast of the month:

# Egg Benedict
# Scrambled egg with white asparagus
# Cottage cheese with cherry tomatoes and basil
# Serrano ham and cantaloupe
# Brie with pepper and onion rings
# Strawberry-chili-jam
# Strawberry tartlet with cream of vanilla and mascarpone
# Fruits for garnish
# Butter, honey and mixed bread basket

You don't have to choose from any of the items listed, but all of them come on one plate! The items were creative and presented on a huge plate in an appealing way. The price of 12,80€ is not cheap but on the other hand lunch will the unncessary after this delightful breakfast!

Recently I heard that dinner there is also really nice. So, I am considering doing another trip to check it out and report on it at the next possible opportunity.

Solar - a trendy Berlin bar

There are plenty enough bars in Berlin but only few manage to really set themselves apart. Solar is such a place.
Hidden in an old ugly building from the 70s not far from Potsdamer Platz it is almost something like a secret tip. Once you find the place and get passed the scrutinizing look of the door man a glass elevator lifts you on the outside of the building - up to the 17th floor. There you enter a hip restaurant with huge glass windows all around. The atmosphere and the view are astonishing - the food and the service above average. Reservations for dinner are indispensable.
If you are more into drinks you can climb a short flight of winding stairs and you reach the bar area that welcomes you with classy white sofas (some of them dangling from the ceiling), loungy music provided by a live DJ, and an extraordinary view over half of the illuminated city. The drinks are a bit on the expensive side with about 8 to 10 Euro for an exotic cocktail but nothing close to what you would pay on a rooftop bar in New York or Paris! It is also worth mentioning that the DJ stands in a movable cabin that rises and declines between the two floors. Exceptional location, exceptional atmosphere and exceptional view! Must check it out!

Solar
Stresemannstr. 76
10963 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)163 7652700
www.solarberlin.com

Exotic Dining in da city

It's time to dedicate a new article to Berlin's huge food culture...

Cafe do Basil

This little Brazilian restaurant in the lively and multicultural district Kreuzberg features an opulent dinner buffet on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings starting at 6pm. For the unbeatable price of 9 Euros one can try typical Brazilian dishes such as grilled chicken, moquecas (stews), Feijão, yummy fried veggies as well as cold salads, fresh fruit and a couple of different desserts. Definitely something different from the usual! Make sure to reserve a table ahead as the restaurant is very small!

http://www.salgados.info/

Gasometer adventures

Who of you knows what a gasometer looks like, what it is used for... yet has even been on top of one??? I can answer all these questions with "yes" - and let me tell you, it's a real Berlin adventure!

In other cities people climb bridges secured to the construction with ropes... in Berlin people climb gasometers. One of those gasometers can be found in Schoeneberg, an area in the southwest of town. It is a facility that was used to "store" gas through underpressure between 1910 and the 90s. So much for the technical part. Then someone had the idea that it would be a great look-out point - and born was a new attraction for Berlin tourists and locals alike!

The climb is a bit exhausting but nothing worth to mention for an ex-athlete like me. :-) Short stops at different levels of the landmark give the visitor a chance to adjust to the height and rethink the undertaking. It is never too late to ask the guide to accompany one back. Not me though; I was burning (or was it my leg muscles?) to get to the top. And I was not to be disappointed! Boy, was that an amazing view. One could see everything in the city, and even beyond its borders. Of course, the height was a bit frightening, probably mostly due to the fact that the banister as high as my waist line was not very protective and the "floor" was totally see-through. Plus, it was a bit windy up there.

It took almost one hour to walk around the entire circle once, for the guide was able to explain every single building or tower on the horizon. Amazing. I could have stayed there all evening... This is a real adventure! An absolute must for every Berlin visitor free from giddiness.
During the summer time the company even offers "excursions" on top of the gasometer to watch fireworks from there. Maybe worth a second trip up those 456 stairs!

http://www.climb-berlin.com/de/