Berlin - whither should I go?

B

baboon2004

Darned cockwombles.
Yeah, that's the bit I don't understand, how it stayed affordable for so long in comparison to other cities of comparable stature. Why did property developers seem to leave well alone?
 
crofton

crofton

Well-known member
Don't really know. But I think that, at least in the 90s and early 00s, there was a lot of property around, lots of choice, and lots of areas that were still a bit off the map for a lot of people (nkln was very off the map of most non-nkln-residents until as little as 10 years ago, I've heard, fwiw). Berlin has a pretty small population compared to its large geographical spread and I think there were always plenty of flats to go round. Apparently this is now not the case, it's now hard to find flats. I don't know if this means the population has grown, or speculators have snapped up the empty flats as they suddenly discovered that supposed no-go areas were really quite nice. Maybe it's still possible to get cheap accommodation in resolutely untrendy areas like Rudow, Koepenick, Marzahn......

Another factor might be that for a long time there weren't really any jobs in Berlin, no industries as such. So people who wanted to make money as opposed to hang out and go clubbing etc. probably weren't that attracted to it. Now Berliners are complaining that the place is full of "Schwaben" whom they view as particularly capitalist, whereas Berlin was traditionally insulated from the demands of capital.

On the 20th anniversary of the Mauerfall there was a survey that said that c. 20% of the population of Berlin wanted the wall back. That says a lot.
 
M

MatthewH

makes strange noises.
Quebec just elected a separatist (i.e. nationalist) government, which opens up the interesting possibility of turning back the Montreal gentrification clock 20 years, if things get suitably oppressive.

Not like we need any more bohemian artist types as is.
 
Mr. Tea

Mr. Tea

Let's Talk About Ceps
I'll be in town from Weds to Sun next week. Anyone got any recs for stuff to do there that's hot at the moment? With the emphasis on good techno nights mainly, but also cultural stuff if there's anything in particular on. Still need to do a bit of xmas shopping so might go to something as resolutely unhip as a trad xmas market. I've got a friend who's lived there for a couple of years so I'm hoping he'll be able to help us find some good places.
 
crofton

crofton

Well-known member
You could head to Rixdorf for the world's largest schnitzel. That would be cultural. (I have seen it - wouldn't recommend one person attempting to eat all of it.) There is an xmas market there but not sure whether it will have been and gone already.
 
Mr. Tea

Mr. Tea

Let's Talk About Ceps
Hot DANG that sounds good.

Yeah, I think those markets tend to be held around late Nov/early Dec, don't they.
 
e/y

e/y

Well-known member
Markets should be open until the end of the month - at least the ones here in Bonn / Cologne are.
 
crofton

crofton

Well-known member
It varies - the Rixdorf one is just one weekend. And is in fact now, 7th-9th. The Alexanderplatz one is all month.

the schnitzel is about 2 foot long or almost.
 
Corpsey

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
Thinking of going in February for my birthday - is that a good time to go? Might be a stoopid question but I'm just thinking it'll probably be bloody freezing (just as it is here) and maybe I should save the visit for the summer?

But I've been saying I want to go for years and a birthday is a good excuse.
 
Mr. Tea

Mr. Tea

Let's Talk About Ceps
One of the friends I'm going with says it's forecast to reach -13. So pack yer thermals and man up. :)
 
B

baboon2004

Darned cockwombles.
Corpsey said:
Thinking of going in February for my birthday - is that a good time to go? Might be a stoopid question but I'm just thinking it'll probably be bloody freezing (just as it is here) and maybe I should save the visit for the summer?

But I've been saying I want to go for years and a birthday is a good excuse.
Click to expand...

I went for my birthday in Feb a few years back, was cold but not freezing. Def go.
 
B

benw

Well-known member
mr tea im actually there this weekend - fri - sun. i think friday ill be at horst kreuzberg - axel boman / tresor - rick wilhite. saturday ill be at berghain / panorama bar for sure.
 
Corpsey

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
Okay so I'm going to try and organise this (I've started a Facebook group and everything) - where's the best place to find out what is going on when I want to go? It's Fri 1st Feb weekend btw.

I guess Resident Advisor?
 
Mr. Tea

Mr. Tea

Let's Talk About Ceps
Got back yesterday after a brilliant few days. We decided against trying for the Berghain as it was rainy and freezing and generally a bit horrible out and didn't want to get turned away and have to improvise a plan B, but we heard some pretty good techno at a Kompakt night in About Blank (stupid name, great club). Also ate lots of kebabs, drank some great Weissbier and enjoyed the Bauhaus Archiv.

An urban transit system that runs 24/7 is a truly wonderful thing. Why can't the Tube be like that in London?
 
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