TCSD 2011

So we had at the same day the CSD in Berlin but also the day of architecture open doors and Transgenialer (the alternative CSD in Kreuzberg) and finally the flower power party of a friend. Interesting how you manage your time when you have planty to do. The architecture office was the first. A friend bought an old ceramic factory and transformed it as a basis office for his company. He also rents the other floors with a monthly rate with all included and It's full.The concpet is good. Then cross the city back to Kreuzberg to see the arrival of the train of the alternative CSD (the officila one is so boring). We metwith friends and started to have nice glasses of wine while listening music and looking at people. Bu we had to leave to attend a birthday party of another friend who lives in a very nice place where there is a garden behind her home. Actually, there is a forest too ... in the middle of the city ! The subject was the flowers and It was planned to be all showered by flowers and water but because of the chilly weather, we stayed with only the flower. Was great fun and we met there interesting people that we keep contact with. Then It was bedtime. What a day.

Instantanés

Turkish delight

It is something I always wanted to try but never had the occasion to do. How strange does this sound when you live in the second biggest city of Turkey : Berlin, Germany. I have a friend, she is vegetarian and last week-end, she welcomed from west Germany a friend of hers. After a city tour which last the afternoon, they decided to have dinner in the turkish district, Kreuzberg, and have some food. They called and asked me if wanted to join, and as I had no other plans and the night before was pretty alcoholic, again, I decided to give it a go, very curious about the food. It was absolutely delicious. The restaurant is called Defne, is located on the river, just paralell of the trendy district of Graefestrasse. True, I never been in a turkish restaurant before. When you enter the place, your nose is so happy to find those flavours that when the menu arrives with the friendly waitress, you just want to have it all. But I stayed quiet and ordered something simple with meat and vegetables and was not disapointed at all. The prices are normal for the plate you receive and the quality is excellent. During summer, they have a beautiful terrasse near the river with reinforce again the pleasure you have to be there.

instantanés

Fête de la musique

June 21st is always the Fête de la musique. The idea of having "free music" in the streets was taken up by Minister of culture Jack Lang in 1981 and first took place in 1982 in Paris.Its purpose is to promote music in two ways : amateurs and professionals are encouraged to perform in the streets. The slogan Faites de la musique (Make music), a homophone of Fête de la Musique, is used to promote this goal. Many free concerts are organized, making all genres of music accessible to the public. Two of the caveats to being sanctioned by the official Fête de la Musique organization in Paris are that all concerts must be free to the public, and all performers donate their time for free. In 2011, the festival utilized online booking site to organize its performers. Yet It takes place in many countries in the world and this was the moto of the French Institute in Berlin : In the spirit of the French Centre project in Berlin, which is to promote friendship between peoples in particular through the culture, the team invites you to discover more bands and musicians who will play French and German for the occasion. Programming, consisting of two distinct parts, will be festive and eclectic. The first part, 16 to 19.30, will focus mainly rock / ska / reggae / hip hop. We pass a young rock band from Berlin, the Monoton Polyphon, a group already recognized in the ska-rock scene nationally and internationally, Ginsengbonbons, which can brag of being the opening act for bands like Saian Supa Crew . Ya YZA group then takes us to the discovery of reggae and rap made ​​in Marseille. And we will close this first part with the Berlin group of German Hiphop ZDZ. The second part will be devoted to French song with Amalia, actress and singer based in Berlin, the French duo Songs, composed of Balandjian Alexia (vocals) and Doron Burstein (piano), which will include French songs, and the BB and Mélinée Band which surprise us with their original compositions.

Miam Miam

Wrapped in paper and carefully adjusted in a pastel box is a sweet book, replacing Ladurée's famous macarons. It's a delicious and precious art book by Philippe Andrieu, chef of Ladurée. 100 recipes of the famous Maison are revealed and edited for the sake of the general public. The best features include fraiser, the famous pink bignè, pistachio financiers and macarons, iconic pastries with juicy nuances as pastel green, acid purple and yellow. The introduction, "La Petit histoire de Ladurée", says it all: the story of a small bakery founded by Louis Ernest Ladurée in 1862 that has become an institution of French gourmandise.

Instantanés

48 Stunden Neukölln

This week-end takes place a festival of the arts in one of Berlin's most socially underprivileged areas with the theme of “Luxus“ (luxury) is obviously meant to provoke. For a while now, the value of art has been a matter of debate, especially when discussing the idea of guaranteeing that those working in the arts can make ends meet, as well as the discussion about whether Neukölln can remain a location for the arts scene. 48 Stunden Neukölln provides a forum to exchange ideas about these issues, to investigate other positions, and to give due attention to issues that concern people today. Exhibitions such as “surviving.art“ at the former Kindl-Brauerei and many of the other highlights in the programme, not to mention the plethora of other projects in the festival, all provide food for thought in the form of art, while also calling attention to societal and urban development issues that have an impact on this district. Neukölln is definitely in the process of being transformed. It is now internationally recognised as the happening neighbourhood in Berlin for those interested in sub-culture, especially in terms of the arts, cafés and pubs. A new segment of the population has appeared: mostly young, creative people who frequently have an international background. Neukölln has become established, beyond Germany, as an attractive “place to be“. This, along with a few other factors, such as the closure of Tempelhof airport and general developments in Berlin at large have had an impact on the property market. Demand for rented accommodation has risen substantially and with this, rents have also risen. The challenge for the future is controlling this process of change. Creative individuals, long-term residents and newcomers should all be able to co-exist. District offices, initiatives such as [Aktion! Karl-Marx-Straße], property owners and all residents strive for mutually agreeable solutions to this quandary. Potential inherent in the positive aspects of these developments for education, living together in harmony as well as strengthening cultural diversity must be taken advantage of, offering “improvements”, benefits for all. Neukölln offers an amazing amount of potential in the arts. Unfortunately, however, as is the case in much of the rest of Berlin, there are few who are able to sustain themselves by working exclusively in the arts. Artists and alternative spaces are notoriously under-financed. When rents and the cost of living rise, the so-called arts caravan has to hit the road again in search of another “neglected“ neighbourhood. That would prove fatal for Neukölln. Although the production and presentation of art here has received accolades all over the world, little has been done on the ground to improve infrastructure. Hardly any of the locations where this are properly financed. They are only able to exist because people are willing to work for free, to exploit themselves, or often managing to survive through subsidised low-wage employment programmes for the long-term unemployed, which give the appearance of a virtual, luxurious art biotope being able to sustain itself. Long-term, all of these existences are precarious. Even the financing of this figurehead of culture in Neukölln, 48 Stunden Neukölln, is never sure whether the festival will continue next year or not. From that perspective, the question has to be asked: is art is a luxury or not? Is it all right for art to be perceived as a luxury? Shouldn't “society“ insist that the arts receive more support that is presently the case? The organisers of this festival, Kulturnetzwerk Neukölln, dare to dream the dream of “Luxus Neukölln“ even further: that everyone who wants a job has one that he or she can live from. Neukölln is where you'll find an abundance of art exhibitions, theatre, dance and performance, readings, guided tours and parties. These activities take place in the streets and other public spaces, in garden allotments and parks in Neukölln, in addition to galleries, theatres, artists' studios and neighbourhood centres, pubs, private flats and a number of other, often unexpected locations in the district. Were you aware of the fact that there's a prison in Neukölln, hidden behind the district courthouse, in a courtyard? This building will be open to the public for the first time and c. 40 artists will react to the space. There's also an enormous amount of activity on at the former Kindl-Brauerei (brewery). Additionally, Kiez International (Berlin's longest running intercultural street fair) will again, this year, be organised by people from Neukölln from the most diverse backgrounds, cordially inviting all to get involved, even to sing and dance along! There are a lot of new things to experience during this year's 48 Stunden Neukölln. By clicking “Programme“ on this website, you can navigate your own route, with nearly 600 events to choose from at 330 venues.

One afternoon in Berlin, Pankow

One afternoon in Pankow

I have housewife headache

Making beds, getting meals, acting as family chauffeur — having to do the same dull, tiresome work day after day — is a mild form of torture. These boring yet necessary tasks can bring on nervous tension, fatigue and what is now known as ‘housewife headache.’ For this kind of headache you need strong yet safe relief. So take Anacin®. Anacin is a special fortified formula. It gives you twice as much of the strong pain-reliever doctors recommend most — as the other leading extra strength tablet. Minutes after taking Anacin your headache goes, so do its nervous tension and fatigue. Despite its strength Anacin is safe, taken as directed. It doesn’t leave you depressed or groggy. See if you don’t feel better all over with a brighter outlook after taking 2 Anacin Tablets.