Transgenialer CSD, Berlin, June 2008

Bite the beat

Everything went maaaaarvelously well. All perfect. It was all there : the people, the glamour, the drama (queens), the happiness, the love, the friends, the places, the colours, the sun, the rain (sometimes, just when you get your hair done), the caperinha (a lot), the night (too short, Bite the beat) and at the exit this morning, boys kissing each other deep mouth against the wall (no picture !). It looks like everyone just enjoyed where he was at this very moment. I didn't see any agressivity nor threat. I must say that police forces were there during the demonstration. And I say forces, trust me, you could notice that was special forces. I never saw so gigantic men (outside gay parties of course). Talking about it with a friend during the evening at the Kotti Terassen, his argument is that It shows that the city protects the community. I answer back that we can see it as well as being parked and we are not allowed to go out of the circle. Anyway, just be happy to be there. The party was fabulous and the location even incredible. Nothing special, even the light was bad, but the mood was there and It made everything. We were lucky enough not to have rain after the evening so we could breathe outside on the terasse of this building in the middle of Kreuzberg. People of the neighbourhood are used to see strange things so no big deal at all. We tried one other party as we could travel from place to place with our ticket but came back quickly because the Kotti was the place to be. So now It's sunday and back to basics : shirts to iron and mixed salad for lunch (not sure my stomach could stand anything else anyway).

Nightwalk

Danse avec moi . Of course tonight the city will be a big party place. All the big names are out : GMF, Klub International, Schwuz, and all the other ones I don't even have enough space to name it. The program of the city takes 2 pages and only to make a choice can take you the day and you will pass the best of the event. Furthermore you will always regret what you've done, thinking the party was better opposite. Never mind, meet friends and enjoy simply the time. But why joining 1 party when you have the possibility to join 3 ? I made up my mind very quickly. Knowing the party freaks of the area, I am certain this will be a great time. Again far away of the strass of the official CSD (again) this party of the Transgenialer CSD is much more interesting : because people there just want to have fun after a big day of demonstration, they don't care how they look and they don't need to show their perfect (boring hairless, no sight of sex appeal) body, because you are in Kreuzberg which is called here multi-kulti which is easy to understand. The motto of the night is : Lesbians, gays and transgenders, come and celebrate with your neighbours ! that shows certainly the mood of it all. Can't wait ...

Instantanés

Pander

Wonderful party ... but why women always want to introduce me their (single) gay friends ? As if, because we have the same sexual orientation, I have to start a relationship with anyone I didn't choose. The worse is that the girls completely phantasize about it. They already have all planned and "would be delighted" if the match would work. Because of course their senses tell them they are not wrong about their choice. I played the game a little, actually the other guy did not at all and left, so I guess 1) he was not interested, and 2) he has no sense of humor, which is already a bad beginning with me. I came back home when the sun was rising but you know ... in Berlin the sun is rising definitely too early !

Raumfahrer

Tonight I am invited to a birthday party. The bar Raumfahrer is in this newly trendy area which is in the end of Kreuzberg and beginning of Neuköln. We call it in the city Kreuzköln (how surprising !) and It still has this Berlin touch. The bar is in a street paralelle to the big boulevard and I've been there for the first time a few weeks ago. The place tonight will be crowdy because 80 people are expected and are coming from all over the world (I heard people are flying now from Hong Kong, some other from London, and the other ones from wherever, there is a bus waiting at the airport). It will be a great mix and I am sure, knowing the host, It will be very interesting to be there. The bar is nothing special but has an atmosphere despite the lack of charme. It has nothing to do with those design places and friends say they serve some other beer (from Hamburg) as the one usually served in the area (from Bayern). It's not super chic, half renovated, with some art on the walls and furniture from the 70's. I agree with some who say It's not the place I would go everyday but It's definitly the place for me tonight.

Transgenialer CSD

Tomorrow Saturday 28th, will take place in Berlin 2 big events, long awaited each year by the gay community : the official CSD, of course, which will celebrate its 30th birthday ("The teenage years are over and the “Berlin Event” has grown up") with a new route and festivities but as well the alternative Transgenialer CSD, not together with its big famous sister but in another part of the city between Neuköln and Kreuzberg when the first one will go from the townhouse and the Potsdamer Platz (It's the first time It goes through the "East). I've decided to follow the second one. When the CSD is more a demonstration of colours, music and parade, sponsored by famous brands, under a motto that no one really cares of, the Transgenialer CSD follows a political view and tries to survice with only helping hands. Why ? because in the city lately, attacks against LGBT increased dangerously. So we must show that we are a strong community and we are not scared of extremists. "For us, fascists, the gentrification of our diverse, urban neighbourhoods and the attacks on queers a few weekends past - to name just a few - are important issues, that give the Transgenial Christopher Street Day it's legitimation and make it all the more important". This year nevertheless, names of the night of the city will participate. That shows people starts to care about this demonstration. I guess as well It's more Berlin than the official one and much less touristic. Not sure we will see in there many "beautiful" people but they all look the same so It's not big interest. I fancy much more people with a heart and a mind. I thought I would look as a paria because I took my decision not to join the friends this year in order to participate to the Transgenialer but strangely It looks like to some other ones a good opportunity to try something new and that exists for years, so I won't be alone. I wish they all will enjoy their time with us. Let's hope so !

Instantanés

Don't ask ...

This is soooooo me sometimes : I've lost the bin on my desktop !

how do I get it back ? I feel lost ...

CSA

This is one of the most beautiful cocktail bars I've ever been in. Located in a former sales office for the Czech State Airline (hence the name) which used to be located in this building, the CSA Bar has a sleek minimalist decor, lighting that flatters, an attentive staff, and broad plate glass windows that look out at traffic whizzing by on what was intended to be East Germany's grandest boulevard. History does have its pleasurable ironies because Friedrichshain area used to be a run-down former East Berlin neighbourhood, but is now something of a hipster hangout. I love the stylish Soviet retro feel. The bar is popular with a 30-something artsy crowd, who like the sleek, well-lit, leather-couch-filled space and the excellent cocktails. The piece of furniture I love in the bar are those ashtrays built in the tables. My grandfather used to have the same and I remember playing with it waiting him to put his ashes in it and me pushing the leverage to make roll the metal plate. I was there at the opening in 2001 and go time to time, just because. They have a terrasse now and I enjoyed last Friday drinking my martinis feeling the breeze of the night.

Saki

There is a french library not very far from my place. It's called Zadig and It's been a long time that I passed by and said I must go. Because I'm not a fast reader, a book at my night table stays a long time. Surprisingly the other night I noticed I have nothing left to read so the next saturday I said It was about time. It seemed that, to go there I had to pass many steps because on my way, I met a friend who was sitting outside of her hairdresser waiting her colour to be fixed, having a smoke (having a drink with her that very night, I noticed she had too much sun ... on the hair !) so I was afraid to miss the opening hours. It's not a big place but the choice is wide. Not by quantity but by subjects. Whenever I go inside a library, I just don't know what to choose. I have no idea, I have no memory whatsoever my friends suggested me and It's always this moment I don't carry my Moleskine notebook (I love those little things). So I started wandering inside, listening this father being told in english by the nice lady a book for his child (she made the story "live", was very funny), looking at the new visitors and their choice, tourists, and finally picked up one which I didn't know anything about, except that It is english translated in french, which is, normally, as bad as you might think It is. How do you want to translate english humour ? It's like putting the Eiffel Tower in the middle of Trafalgar Square, non-sense. Nevertheless I trusted the owner of the shop, who we can see, is a book addict and must read everyday more than I do in one year. He approved my choice and said he was a fan of the author and of his short stories and on my remark about the french translation, said I can go for it eyes closed. So this is it : Hector Hugh Munro (December 18, 1870 – November 13, 1916), better known by the pen name Saki, was a British writer, whose witty and sometimes macabre stories satirized Edwardian society and culture. He is considered a master of the short story and is often compared to O. Henry and Dorothy Parker. His tales feature delicately drawn characters and finely judged narratives. "The Open Window" may be his most famous, with a closing line ("Romance at short notice was her speciality") that has entered the lexicon. In addition to his short stories (which were first published in newspapers, as was the custom of the time, and then collected into several volumes) he also wrote a full-length play, The Watched Pot, in collaboration with Charles Maude ; two one-act plays; a historical study, The Rise of the Russian Empire, the only book published under his own name; a short novel, The Unbearable Bassington ; the episodic The Westminster Alice (a Parliamentary parody of Alice in Wonderland), and When William Came, subtitled A Story of London Under the Hohenzollerns, an early alternative history. He was influenced by Oscar Wilde, Lewis Carroll, and Kipling, and himself influenced A. A. Milne, Noël Coward, and P. G. Wodehouse. What I took is, I would say, the "best of" of the short stories and the title in french is one of the story. But I'm sure you can find it in your language. The best thing of it is that I read it so fast, that now I have to go back to the library !

British Airways and Pam Ann Full Feature

To A. : thank you to make me laugh ! always a great source of ideas, inspirations and support.

Equal Rights for the Unequal

Under the slogan "Equal Rights for the Unequal" Berlin´s Rainbow Fund presents its fifteenth annual Lesbian and Gay Festival - Europe's largest - this weekend. As usual, it´s being held in the traditional gay stomping ground around Nollendorfplatz in Schöneberg. The festival will take place in the area bounded by Motzstrasse, Eisenacher Strasse, Fuggerstrasse and Kalckreuthstrasse, spreading over 25,000 square meters, and featuring the Worlds of Sports, Radio, Travel, Film, AIDS and Politics, as well as other exhibits from a wide range of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups. Along with dozens of information booths and market stalls, there will be a varied range food, drinks, fetish, associations, handcrafts, whatever. And on both days of the festival, there is as well performances at The Connection with house and techno music (Amongst others situated in Fuggerstr the Connection Disco, open Friday and Saturday, is one of the oldest and is legendary in Berlin. It is in the same building where Romy Haag had his West Berlin tansvestite show. The disco has three bars and three floors together with a huge dakroom for labyrinthine cruising. The music is Techno/House with various guest DJs.), the "Disco Ball" with hits of the 70s and 80s, the "Queer Media", a mix of lesbian and gay entertainers and DJs, as well as the "Women´s Showcase". Again this year the high point of the festival will be the Personality Interview Show, »Das wilde Sofa« (The Wild Sofa), taking place on the Main Stage at the corner of Eisenacher Strasse and Fuggerstrasse. Between three and four each afternoon, Gerhard Hoffmann and Biggy van Blond will put guests from politics and culture through the meat grinder for the delight of all. Following »The Wild Sofa« on Saturday, there was a varied programme of rock and pop until 11 pm, and on Sunday until 10 pm. With more than 350,000 guests expected over the weekend, the festival´s beer gardens, cocktail bars, stages and dance floors transforms the area around Nollendorfplatz into Berlin´s favourite party quarter. It opens at 11:00 a.m. Last night was a beautiful one and you could notice in the air, simple happiness. It must be the only time of the year that gays are just happy to meet. No agressivity in the looks, just a recognizable sign that we belong to the same community. We share drinks, we meet people we know and if you're walking with friends, you're pretty sure you will stop every half meter to say hello and hug. But even with the crowd, It stays very quiet. After midnight, people are requested to go inside the bars because the booths must close but there are so many people that everyone stays outside. You just can't stay inside : too warm, too loud, too crowdy. And after a while you don't even have enough strenght to carry on partying. The mayor of the city came by for the opening with his man and managed to congratulate some people on booths. A bit political oriented but It belongs to the job, so all OK. We had dinner at the Raststätte, which is the same house as Moebel Olfe. We had dinner outside while DJ Tropical was doing a set inside but we still heard what was happening. Then back to the streets to share one "for the road".

Instantanés

Toca Rouge

In those troubled times with silly guys running after a ball and earning too much money for it, It is quite difficult to find a nice cosy place without TV. Last evening I had planned dinner outside and I had to cancel my table at Nord & Sud because of that. The owner understood me but I know he's making money this month. So I ended up at Toca Rouge, almost at the end of Torstr. It's a small place but the weather is again nice and the tables are out. The only disapointment comes from the fact that It is a very busy street and sometimes we had to repeat twice what we just said. Nevertheless for the second time I go there, the food is amazing. I don't really understand what they have on the menu because It is a mix of tasty food of Asia (something between Thaï and japanese) and the vision of the plate is as equal quality of the taste of it. The wine is OK but you don't stay very long because the service is maybe a bit too quick and the kitchen closes early. But you have dinner for 10,-€, which makes the place worth going. Then you drink your next glass somewhere else.

Instantanés

Tomb Rider

Can anyone teach the German to smile, please ? and while you're there try as well to make them understand, whenever they cross my cycle path, they could also look beforehand, don't you think ? and thank me to let them go ...

Call me

This week-end in Paris is taking place the 4th edition of the Pocket films festival. It will take place at the Pompidou Centre, from June 13 - 15 where you can see what you can do with a mobile phone. I remember I discovered this festival by accident the first year It happened in 2005 if I recall correctly. It's simple : you have a mobile, It has many possibilities you don't even know about, well now then, direct a movie and submit it to the jury. It's an international competition for films made with pocket cameras and shown on movie theater screens and a competition for films made specifically for the mobile screen. Isabella Rossellini is invited this year and will present her series « Green Porno » for mobile screens. It's amazing what you can do with those little toys. Can't believe ...

Madame Claude

Madame Claude was between the 60's and 70's in France what you would call a brothel keeper : she "had" girls and was linked with the french power because whenever It was needed she was asked to organize the event and beautiful girls were requested to join beautiful parties with beautiful people. For obscure reasons (probably of power) she was given away although everybody knew and even worse used her "services". Now Madame Claude is also the last opened french bar in Berlin, in Kreuzberg. A very nice and trendy area closed to the Spree and where the good locations to go out are. It's not by accident if the guys named their place Madame Claude because the location they found was a brothel (long ago), of course. There is a feeling of Cabaret inside. I learned talking with people there It was also before a karaoke among many other activities. At the main entrance you see nothing because you have to go down. And then It's a following of many places including a bar, a concert room, sofa corners for private talks, stairs. Also is funny the decorative concept because if you look at the ceiling, you'll notice there is a life up there ! tables, chairs, occupied poker tables, the place is all upside down. So the place is one for people to meet and socialize. Not bad. You can eat a little something when there is still is but we arrived too late and It seems like any french I know in the city was there last night. A place worth going back to celebrate the Berlin night with a french touch.

Nine lives

Unlike the cat you only have one life. Don't try to play Catwoman from your balcony, I'm not sure anyone would appreciate the result. And if you don't believe in reincarnation, I'm not sure neither you would appreciate the next thing you would come back into. The movie 9 lives is the provocative film debut from writer/director Dean Howell and writer, Michael Kearns. We sometimes could think of Altman's Short Cuts (I love those stories) because we zoom in on nine individuals whose lives intersect - emotionally, sexually and dangerously - over the course of one day. It begins with Ronnie, over-the-top and just about over the hill. He waxes on about his love affairs, past and present, including his new life as hotpozdad@ aol.com. Introspective drug dealer, Mikey (the one I like most because completely opposite of his actions, he has feet on earth, meaning he's not only thinking for himself), has a casual infatuation with a sexy hustler, Bo, while trying to provide for his mentally challenged younger brother. A menage-a-trois between Daniel, a television producer, Corey, his hunky boyfriend and their pool boy, Carlos, threatens to go completely out of control, while Lisa and her perpetually late husband, Ralph, prepare for their first child. The story comes full circle when Lisa gets an unexpected phone call and must face her own inevitable fate. A voyeuristic peek at lives that may be more like yours than you think, 9 lives will grab you with its graphic sexuality and heartfelt performances. It's a film about love and loss and the private fears and hopes we all share. We are connected in more ways than we may think and life goes on... no matter how harsh and no matter what the consequences may bring. But I also say that It is typically an L.A. thing. Of course these stories can happen anywhere but everytime I went to L.A. I felt the same kind of feelings which are not very happy : this autodestructive feeling of being a failure but having no other choice than to keep on being beautiful and looking strong. It's an inhuman city. I was always happy to leave from there, actually. Mikey is the only one who could be in Europe because he shows true feelings for his brother and is really concerned about him. Maybe that's why I liked the character so much. Worth seeing.

Instantanés

Heart beat

Don't believe German are rude. They're not. They just have no sense of civism. Especially here in Berlin. So if anytime you're traveling here, don't be surprised if someone in front of you opens the door and without a look behind, slams it at your face. Believe me, if you're not ready, it can hurt badly (body and soul). I first was very upset about those behaviours and then I learned to stay a few steps forward when I know a door will be opened in front of me. And I am never surprised. I don't know why they're like that. I tried many times to bring the subject at the table but It seems they just don't care. German still believe they rule the world and their way is the ultimate one. That's why many of them leave the country, learning there is another way and feeling fed up of their neighbour. Since the wall fell, It is a big turn for them. Some learn, some don't. The agressive look, no manner of politness, not helping, take and no give, I don't care what you do so don't mess around, the community against the personality ... . I could give other examples that I experienced but It's no fun. Outside the country journalists say that the city noticed a change, so It's a reality. Strangely at the time of East Germany and its totalitarist politic, It was a well known fact that It existed buildings occupied by "alternative" people. No one cared and It created this alternative move, well-known in the city and which attracts people from the rest of the country and abroad. Those buidlings were claimed back by the owners, family or relatives after the fall. Those buidlings were for most of them confiscated by the nazis and stayed abandonned after years, that's why people without ressources or with another way of living just took advantage of it. Now speculation makes it that owners sell buildings for profit and vamparize one of the heart of the city. It soon will not live anymore.

Instantanés

Nightmare

Is there any bar, any restaurant in this town where there is no flat screen TV playing football ? I really don't appreciate feeling like a hostage because of this. One month every evening trying to find a cosy place without hearing screaming looks like mission impossible. Am I now in the 5th dimension ? Do I not belong to this world ? Or maybe a chance to discover fancy locations ?

Postmortem

If I was an actor this is the kind of role I'd like to play. I don't say It is easy to act but I guess that because most of the stories ask so much from your personal life that in the end you must play something "déjà vu". This is the case with Postmortem which is a short as you know I like very much. Two men meet after a long break and because of the confusion between them you learn that they had a relationship together. They hardly find a good answer to the questions they ask each other and they can't communicate the first minutes. You understand the attitude of the character in the train, feeling unsecure about the actions he will make. They both have a new life and even if circumstances are obscure, It's not relevant for the story except that they were at a point not together anymore. The metaphore with the sugar is obvious I think, meaning that their relationship was not "sweet enough", one of the guy pouring half a kilo in his capuccino. Would you accept to meet an old flame if It ended badly ? would you accept his new life ? Will he accept yours ? Why torturing ourselves believing that It can restart where you left things and acting nice and smooth to find out the whole thing is a mistake ? Would you share your intimicy a new (last ?) time redoing by heart and with pleasure every move you shared for years ? You're sad when It does not happen, you feel guilty when It happens. What's best ? In 16 minutes Postmortem is showing you this story. Actors are good from my point of view because you really believe It happened. Both go so well together (outside the smoking part but It's a detail). In the end the strongest is not the one you believe he is. There is no problem if It based in New York, It could be anywhere in the world. The main idea would be sometimes you just must make choices. The short is awarded by the gay and lesbian film festival in Barcelona and is also a start for the movie "August" with which you will get the full story.

Leon Jean Marie - Bring It On

Coquillages et crustacés

... Like was singing in her own way Brigitte Bardot in La Madrague. In Berlin It sounds weird but we have the best beach bars ever ... without the sea nearby or not the concept you have of it. Very popular are those Strandgarten : mostly open spaces like a parking lot or any unused place big enough where sand is brought together with a wood bar, chairs, sundeck and everything you need to enjoy the day, evening, night. Because those places are located not so near from any inhabitants, owners are allowed to play music loud. Lunas Strandgarten for example in Fridrichshain has a dance floor and popular DJ's come for a set. We went yesterday because our evening for a saturday was not so good and we needed to relax and chat. This week-end in Treptower park was a firework event but last evening for the finale It was definitely too crowdy and we saw nothing. Lucky us they made it short. Because the weather is still unbelievable, the option of Lunas' place came spontaneously. I agree that puting your bare feet in the sand in the city provides a strange feeling. Drinks are OK but of course because It will only be open for few months they need money. Don't forget to claim your coin ("Pfand") after receiving your drinks because if you bring your glass back you'll get money back. I needed a refull very quickly because of a guy who didn't see my glass in the sand so queueing at the bar I noticed there are a lot of foreigners in the city. Straight clientele, pretty young. I guess for apéritif you can meet some other type of people. I learned you even can eat there but I didn't try. Maybe some other day. A good alternative to close places that I will keep when the weather will change.

Black gold

Something very interesting is taking place in the world these last months. We hear day after day after day (I even sometimes switch off the radio at the news time) that € is too expensive compared to $, political climate is uncertain, States want to establish a common life but in the end only act for their own purpose ... and oil. Oil prices are driving mad and I hear here and then professionals (truck drivers, fishermen, ...) striking because they can't pay anymore to tank their work tool, even the french army on sea canceled maneuvers because of this situation. It is a certain fact that earth ressources are not expendable and sooner or later before the sun will hit our planet man will have to find other solutions. Can we live without black gold ? Try.

The most beautiful country in the world

France. Of course. I'm French. But even if I like my country (as a country with its panel of landscapes, seas, mountains, countryside, valleys, cities, people, ...), I'm not the only one. If we are, as a people, bottom of the list regarding behaviours and welcoming, my country stays the first country (in 2007) the first touristic destination in the world with 82 millions of people (even more than the country itself). Europeans come first (I guess in winter for ski and summer for sea and of course Paris) and then Americans who stay longer (easy to understand because of the journey). Strangely we don't talk in this survey of Asians. I heard lately that, because of this little story regarding the olympic flame in Paris (such a fuss for nothing) France is no longer on the touristic catalogue in China. And where are the Japanese ? Africans are part of the list and they are the ones who spend the longest time visiting the country. I just would be happy to have a look on the dispatching on a french map.

Instantanés

Drunk on a bicycle

The law hesitates. Of course being on bicycle, drunk, is dangerous. Who already lived those scenes of ordinary life knows perfectly that suddenly the pedals are not at the right place, balance is at the best a souvenir, you can't read the signs (which ones ?), everywhere there are obstacles (can't believe ...) and the road is never, never a straight line. We could believe that a drunk cyclist put at the first place himself in danger and if he falls, It will help him (or her) to sober. German think another way. It's an official judgement now that drunk on the handlebars will now cost points of your driving licence. But not to every drunk : you must have at least (!) 1,6 gramm of alcohol by liter of blood (pfff, so eeaaaaassssyyyyyyyyyy, finger in the nose). In France since there are cyclists everywhere, they noticed there are more accidents (those French, always having fun). This story of having less points on the driving license is only a rumour (strike ? anyone ?). Wrong. French consider that this sanction will create discrimination between people who have a driving license and those who don't (not bad ...). A fee is nevertheless on schedule but in France It is to know that the bicycle is not considered as a vehicle and the cyclist is a "fast pedestrian". But don't get wrong : cycling and drinking is not that easy. Being recognised drunk on a public street can cost you a little journey in a cell, maybe with a fee (150 €). But a case can cost you your driving license and a fee of 750 € : you're driving drunk on your bicycle and you cross the big white line under the nose of the police agents, then the cars coming in front of you, breaking and trying to avoid you, create accidents all together, then you take the first street which is a one way one (that you easily take on the wrong way, of course) and you finish your race on the sidewalk, hurting frightened pedestrians on your finish. Next time a friend of yours says at the bar "can come back ome chycling", take the bike and put him in a taxi. Damm ! lucky me I wasn't aware of this last night ...

According to regulations ...

A ticket collector of the french railway company SNCF demanded to a passenger to pay a fee of 5,10€ because he was travelling with a box full of ... snails. The collector explained that like for a cat, a bird or a dog this is regulation that any pet of less than 6 kg travelling in a bag has to pay this fee. For any bigger animal, you need to pay a half-price ticket. That puts the dozen of oysters at ... 120,-€ .

Instantanés

Echoes of my mind

Everyday when you go to work at the same hour, you meet the same people doing the same things. I guess those people are saying the same thing about me when they're watching me passing by on my bike enjoying the heat with my tight trousers. I'll meet during my way the dad taking his sleepy child to school, the couple kissing for the day goodbye, the man staring at his window so early and where I'll see him again in the afternoon, the woman parking her car and never paying attention crossing the road, the workers, the other people riding their bicycle going to work just like me, the drunk youngs coming out from the disco and the tired eye of the doorman ... It's only 6:30 a.m. and all this showing me that nothing changes in everyday's life and on this little way from home to work, Echoes of my mind , all is well in the perfect world. This special offer is only valid today.

Instantanés

25

Approaching 30°C in the city, when friends ask to have dinner in a closed location, It's a no no. We're looking places where we can spend the evening (and sometimes the night) so we don't need to move and do the full circus again. I discovered the Bar25 last year. What was a a cool place is now a real industry with an open-air cinema, fireplace, restaurant, bar, lounge, disco, ... . But the location is very good, not too far from home, and watching sunset on the river in Berlin, It's worth it. Of course we don't have the sea here but they still call Beach Bars anyplace they can rent on the river Spree. When they open, they bring some sand and BBQ so you can have grilled sausages and beer looking at the tourists cruising boats. At the Bar25 the level is a bit higher and I prefer to book a table because if you arrive later in the night you have to queue a long time outside, It breaks the mood and the move to go out and you're not even sure to get inside because the doorman can make a very good job and you have to pay a fee. At least when you have dinner there, It's really OK. I admit the portions are small and the prices high but It is good quality (They even have a somelier, french speaker in a Livingstone look). Of course you pay the location and the temporary time It's open but last year It's been said It will be definitely closed because of the sale of the place but then they re-opened again this year (marketing I guess ?). And since Tarantino came here with his friends to celebrate "Death Proof" It became even more popular and for all kind of evening. If you're too drunk, stoned, tired or horny there are some wood cabans you can rent (shower to share). It seems the place to be because I met people there I didn't see for a long time and speaking of people I am certain you can find your type there, along the river or on the dance floor where even if It is open-air It is very warm. When I left at 3.00 a.m. people were still queueing at the netrance door and I guess when I enjoy watching sunset the young crowd prefers to enjoy sunrise. The place is opened from Thursday to Sunday round the clock so meet you there anytime ...