Looking for a room in Berlin?

Roughly 3.5 million people currently live in Berlin. Many of them are students who just stay for one or two semester in Berlin. And some just stay for the summer. Since the revolutionary student protests in the 70s it is common to live together in a big shared flats. It is the easiest way to settle down in Berlin and you will find many shared flats (WG) available. Since the wall came down and Berlin has grown up to be a busy metropolis the situation with the rent market has changed and the prices have gone up. Finding a proper room in a WG (German for shared flat) isn’t that easy any more. The location is very important. Among the Berlin Hipsters Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg and Neukölln are the best districts in Berlin. But finding a room there is a troublesome adventure. Standing in a long line with about 20 other Students can be a normal situation now days. But maybe we can help you. We as Berliners got plenty of experience in finding a WG since we used to live in shared flats for a long time.

Your room at the In-district

Which area is the best to live in? This is the first and most important question. In Berlin the answer usually is Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. There you will find a lot of old buildings and old buildings mean large rooms and plenty of space. A must if you’re looking for a shared flat. No one wants to live in the broom closet. Friedrichshain and especially the neighbourhood around Boxhagener Platz is crowded and popular among students. It offers many pubs and cafés and of course the Revaler Straße, also known as “Technostrich” where one club chases the other. This gives you a good diversion from a stressful study. Neukölln has gotten very popular during the last few years but think about the everyday transportation. The FU Berlin is located at Dahlem. For us locals here in Friedrichshain it is in the middle of nowhere. Every day pilgrimage thousands of students to the campus in Dahlem. From Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg area the transportation could easily take you 45 minutes. The HU Berlin and TU Berlin are located straight in the middle of Berlin and are easier to reach. The technology and science headquarters are in Adlershof and it is relatively easy to reach from Friedrichshain using the S Bahn.

How much is a shared apartment

The times when you could get a cheap apartment in Berlin are long gone. But shared apartments in Berlin are still a good option for those making their first steps in the city. Around semester breaks and in the beginning of spring the renting price rises and it gets harder to find a place. There are however companies who make a lot of money with shared apartments with high rents, so when you are in Berlin take your time for your search for suitable apartment.

Intern ship in Berlin

It can be really hard to find a room if you are a trainee looking to stay only for few months in Berlin. For those people we got the magic word they need to look for: “Zwischenmiete” (interim tenant). Many locals are leasing their apartments/rooms out for short time period and you will find them online as well.

Resources

For Berlin and surroundings the websites wg-gesucht.de and wg-welt.de are the most important flat- search websites on the Internet If you are staying for a short period of time look at “Mietwohnzentrale“. Of course we at the U inn Berlin Hostel can help you out ones you are here and give you a hand searching for an apartment or maybe we already know a residential community that is searching for a new member.

Photos by: Libertinus _timl and offshore @ Flickr

Wasserschlacht oder Gemüseschlacht – Water-fight or Food-fight! Call it as you like! The last Wasserschlacht took place in 2008 at the Oberbaumbrücke between Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. And it was an epic event. No need to guess who won the fight coz as always Friedrichshian WON!! Why we do it?

Simple answer! Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg were once 2 separate districts. But politicians made a decision and now it is one big district. They take care of all the basic stuff like new street name signes and so on…But they forgot the far most important question. Who will be the king in the new born district. hat’s what the fight is about and so far Friedrichshain always wins. The last Wasserschlacht took place 4 years ago and now Kreuzberg claims once agin that the throne belongs to them.

We want you to help Friedichshain and join us on the 28th of August at 12am at the Oberbaumbrücke. Equip yourself with a camouflage rubbish bag a water gun and some old vegetables. Everything what is old rotten or soft is allowed. Prepare yourself to get a little dirty

See you at Oberbaumbrücke.

At 8:30 PM on Saturday 26th of March 2011 U inn Berlin will participate in switching off lights for Earth Hour. As a statement against climate change Earth Hour will be happening all around the globe and has already managed to darken cities like Sidney or San Francisco during Earth Hours over the past years. After the recent happenings in Japan it seems more obvious than ever that the way towards a better future lies in working together and commonly creating awareness.

More information at: http://www.earthhour.org/

In April the “Punk and Disorderly Festival 2011″ takes place at the Astra Club in Berlin – Friedrichshain. There is no question, disordered punk is Berlin – disordered punk is Friedrichshain. That’s why our fringe group is looking forward to this wicked punk festival with its amazing line up. Local heroes like “Oxo 86″ as well as “Deadline” – finest UK street punk and many more bands are ready to make a orderly mess with us. These three nights of punk rock will bring fans from all over Europe together. The Astra Club is the perfect venue for this event, as it is located at the R.A.W. right between the Berliner districts Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, which got the punk most deep in there hearts. Loads of all kinds of clubs as well as tons of bars are located there too. We’ve got the people, we’ve got the beer. So what do we need more. YES!! The line up!!

01.04.2011 till 03.04.2011

FRIDAY

00:10 pm – 01:10 pm ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE

11:10 pm – 11:55 pm ARGY BARGY

10:10 pm – 10:55 pm PÖBEL & GESOCKS

09:15 pm – 09:55 pm OXO 86

08:30 pm – 09:00 pm URBAN REJECTS

07:45 pm – 08:15 pm ON THE JOB

07:00 pm – 07:30 pm KITTY IN A CASKET

06:00 pm DOORS OPEN

SATURDAY

00:10 pm – 01:10 pm LAST RESORT

11:10 pm – 11:55 pm DEADLINE

10:10 pm – 10:55 pm VARUKERS

09:15 pm – 09:55 pm TV SMITH plays THE ADVERTS

08:30 pm – 09:00 pm THE FILAMENTS

07:45 pm – 08:15 pm MOPED LADS

07:00 pm – 07:30 pm THE RUCKERS

06:00 pm DOORS OPEN

SUNDAY

11:10 pm – 00:10 pm COCK SPARRER

10:10 pm – 10:55 pm MARK FOGGO’S SKASTERS

09:15 pm – 09:55 pm KLASSE KRIMINALE

08:30 pm – 09:00 pm THE GRIT

07:45 pm – 08:15 pm DROOGIEZ

07:00 pm – 07:30 pm THE HITCHCOCKS

06:00 pm DOORS OPEN

Harden your shoulders, pogo won’t wait for long.

For more Information: http://www.punk-disorderly.de

What is Döner anyway? The Berliner Döner is a Turkish fast food, invented in Berlin by a Turkish immigrant in 1971. Its white Turkish bred with salad, meat and sauce. First thing you need to know is that there are few different kinds of Döner’s. It can be served with different sauces and different kinds of meat. You can also change the make-up of the salad, so if you don’t like onions for example you can naturally leave them out, as everything else you don’t like. If you don’t like to eat the bred, you can also order the Döner on a plate.The standard Döner is served as follows:

White bred cross and warm baked with lamb or chicken, different kinds of vegetables like onion, tomato and cucumber, corn and red cabbage. You usually have three different sauces to choose from: Garlic sauce, herbal sauce and hot sauce. It’s common to mix the hot sauce with one of the others but not garlic and herb sauce. The hot sauce is really hot and only for the brave ones – and be warned, it might burn two times. If you want to try it, we recommend asking for only a little bit hot sauce – “nur ein kleines bisschen scharfe Soße”

So let’s imagine: You’re starving and have dreamed about trying a Döner your whole life. You want to order a Döner, but you speak English and the Turkish guy at the fast food restaurant speaks German and Turkish. What to do? Desperation! No Turkish-English interpreter around? F*** you’ll have to starve.

Or let us help you and use the following crib:

Just click on the link to hear the translation –> [1][2][3]

• One/ two/ three Döner – Ein/ zwei/ drei Döner  [1] [2] [3]

  

• Without / with – ohne / mit [1] [2]
• Onion – Zwiebeln [1]
• Tomatos and cucumber – Tomaten und Gurken [1]
• Red cabbage – Rotkohl [1]
• Hot sauce – Scharfer Soße [1]
• Garlic sauce – Knoblauchsoße [1]
• Herb Sauce – Kräutersoße [1]
• Chicken – Huhn [1]
• Lamb – Lamm [1]
• A Döner on a plate (without bred) – Ein Dönerteller [1]

For example:

I would like to have a Döner with chicken, without onions and with hot and garlic sauce.

Ich hätte gern einen Döner mit Huhn, ohne Zwiebeln, mit scharfer Soße und Knoblauchsoße. [1]

The Dönerman is asking: “Mit scharfer Soße?” Wich means „With hot sauce?“ and you might say:

“No thanks, no hot sauce.” – “Nein Danke, keine scharfe Soße.” [1]

“Yes, but only a little bit.” – “Ja, aber nur ein bisschen (scharfe Soße).” [1]

As you finally trust us, try out this with your favourite Dönerman:

Ick hätt jern nen Döner mit scharfa Soße und’n  Sterni [1]

And now some basics:

• Please – Bitte [1]
• Thanx – Danke [1]
• Good bye – Tschüss [1]
• It was delicious – Es war lecker [1]
• I love Döner – Ich liebe Döner [1]

We hope you will find this guide quite helpfull and enjoy the Google Translation links as much as we did.

Liese & Chris

This years transmediale.11 is going to take place at the “Haus der Kulturen der Welt” from 1st until the 6th of February 2011. The title RESPONSE:ABILITY presenting a programme withe more than 150 projects, all focused on the radical changes in our digital age. We all living in a time where Web 2.0, Social media connects everybody with everything at every time. This edition of transmediale.11 will also connect you directly to all our events and venues. RESPONSE:ABILITY this years slogan reflects the way we life together and how work and all political processes designed in a new way. A fine selection of lectures, performances, workshops, screenings, concerts and art installations awaits you at the “Haus der Kulturen der Welt”

International renowned speakers including , Franco ‚BIFO‘ Berardi, Tim Etchells, Jordan Crandall and Carolyn Guertin will give a lecture at BODY:RESPONSE. Audio-visual live performances will present et al. People Like Us, Cécile Babiole & Vincent Goudard and Ei Wada at the performance programme LIVE:RESPONSE. The film- and video programme SyncExistence will screen in total 58 new works as well as rare and historical works by artists like Lynn Hershmann Leeson, Ho Tzu Nyen and Sergei Komarov. Furthermore the HacKaWay Zone will establish an experimental room for art, workshops and performances of artist like Paul Vanouse, UBERMORGEN.COM and Daito Manabe. In the Open Zone artists, scientists and activists like Heath Bunting, FakePress, and Elizabeth Stark will create interactive, open workspaces, workshops and stages which are symbolizing the open culture. This programmatical focus on open and collaborative structures is reflected in the comprehensive approach of the festival. Everything is connected with each other and fluent crossings are developing in which the participants get active in the different emphases of transmediale.11.

But a transmediale would ne be perfect without the ClubTransmediale CTM.11. Extended Club Nights at Berghain and Maria am Ostbahnhof on the weekend of February 4–6 present an update on affairs in the ever-expanding club music universe. There’s a special focus on the diverse and continually shifting styles derived from the exploded genres of dubstep, grime and UK funky. Catch up with the latest developments on the UK scene around mastermind Kode9 at the big Hyperdub night at Berghain on Friday 4.2, when Darkstar, King Midas Sound, Ikonika, Cooly G and others among the label’s advance guard will test the membranes of Berlin’s premium sound system. Another special highlight is the Modeselektion night scheduled for Saturday, 5.2 in Maria am Ostbahnhof, compiled by Berlin’s own home-grown heroes of the bass line, Modeselektor, who invited along some of their talented cronies: the video collective Pfadfinderei, Jackmaster, Ben UFO, Cosmin TRG and Siriusmo. Other highlights include a Perlon night at Panorama Bar, club concerts by Swedish techno-minimalists The Field, French duo Zombie Zombie, and the young Cologne trio, MIT, who fuse Kraftwerk-inspired conceptual electronica with the cold wave aesthetics of Joy Division – and will present their latest album at the festival.

Opening
Tue 1.2.2011 at 6 pm
Duration and Opening hours
2. – 6.2.2011, daily 10 am – 22 pm

Venue
Haus der Kulturen der Welt
John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10
10557 Berlin

Tickets
tm Festival-Pass: 80 Euro / 45 Euro concessions
tm Day-Ticket: 25 Euro / 18 Euro concessions
tm/CTM Combined-Pass: 105 Euro / 80 Euro concessions
Conference: 7 Euro / 5 Euro concessions
Performance: 12 Euro / 8 Euro concessions
Film + Video: 7 Euro / 5 Euro concessions

Links: transmediale.11 CTM.11

Goin` for the beach in Berlin? Oh yes! The Spree river that curls through the city is about 46 kilometers long. Enough space for a vaste variety of beaches and beach bars. Which of those spots is the best, coolest or most relaxing place? – You´ll have to define for yourself. Here is our 5+1 list of recommendations for Berlin beach action. (The „Club der Visionäre“ ['club of visionaries'] is not a real beach bar, yet it has to be on the list, as it is one of Berlin´s finest chill-out locations.)

Club der Visionäre

The „Club der Visionäre“ is no beach bar as such. The sand is replaced by wooden planks, which makes the bar partly floating on the water. Sitting with dangled legs in the cool water, sipping on your drink while trees all around the club provide you with shade. This is the perfect place to relax. On the weekends the CdV turns into a floating party with cool techno beats by well known DJ’s of the scene.

Homepage: www.clubdervisionaere.com

Address: Am Flutgraben/Lohmühlen Insel

Kiki Blofeld

The ‘Kiki Blofeld’ you´ll find right opposite of the Bar25 at the river Spree. The place is cozy and relaxed with more green and less sand around. On the premises is also an old (sea-) bunker from the times of GDR border-police. Nowadays this is where the music plays after nightfall. There is also pool and table tennis and for the culinary well-being you can order pizza or grilled sausages. By the way: Kiki Blofeld is the daughter of Ernest Stavros Blofeld the villain from the early James Bond movies. Kiki wanted to redeem her name and so she gave us this compound of nearly1 hectar.

Homepage:  www.kikiblofeld.de

Address: Köpenickerstr. 48

Yaam

The Yaam has earned itself quite a reputation over the years as „Berlin`s finest place in reaggae culture” and most Berliners know it of course. Here one can hang out and relax to reaggae vibes. On the premises you´ll find fields for basketball, a halfpipe and the obligatory table tennis. At night the beach bar is magically transormed into a hot club where one can dance and party till dawn.

Homepage: www.yaam.de

Address: Stralauer Platz 35

Bar 25

You´re jus´ looking for a break, silence and relaxation? You jus´ wanna hang out in the sun with your feet in the ice-cool water, while nothing bothers you? Then definitely avoid Bar 25! as this is the location for afterhours in Berlin. Though it´s not really clear, when the afterhour starts or ends, but most certainly you can dance and party on even on a monday night.

Homepage: www.bar25.de

Address: Holzmarkt 25

Badeschiff

Berlin’s swimming pool in the river Spree. Here you can drop by – to see and be seen. Students reading books, DJ’s spinning the records and Checker checking. Paddling lonely is not a townie’s thing, so do not be surprised if it gets tight. Sitting lonely at the lake is quite a back number.

Homepage: www.arena-berlin.de

Address: Eichenstrasse 4

Oststrand

The ‘east beach’ is situated in the former border strip of the berlin wall, right behind legendary east-side-gallery, just next to the O2-World arena. Since going to see the east-side-gallery is on top of most visitor´s checklist, attending ‘Oststrand’ is definetely worth the small detour. Just give yourself the time to hang out for a cool beer or a fruity cocktail. They also make fresh pizza! In july the 8th Völkerball – worldchampionship will take place here.

Homepage: www.oststrand.de

Address: Mühlenstrasse 24-26

Shakira?? WM-Song 2010?? Neeee!! Wer hats erfunden? Die Lena, die Uwu Lena!!!!

Naja nicht so ganz, aber irgendwie schon. Zur Zeit bahnt sich der wohl beste Kandidat für den Ohrwurm der Weltmeisterschaft 2010 in Afrika, seinen Weg durch das Internet. Bei Youtube ist Schland o Schland von Uwu Lena einer der meist geklickten Clips. Die 8 Studenten aus Münster haben mit ihrem Spass-Remake des Songs Satellite von Lena. die Herzen der Internetgemeinde erobert. Mittlerweile ist man auch außerhalb von YouTube, Facebook und der Blogger-Gemeinde, auf die sympathischen Jungs und Ihr Video aufmerksam geworden. Der Plattenvertrag ist schon in der Tasche und die Single wird noch Ende dieser Woche ihren Weg in die Supermärkte der Nation finden. Schaden kann es nicht, vielleicht haben wir ja auch endlich ein Mittel gefunden das Getöse der Vuvuzelas zu übertönen.

In diesem Sinne Waka Waka …  ähm  … Schland natürlich!!

Auch wenn die offizielle Freiluftkino Saison schon vor 2 Wochen begonnen hat, geht es jetzt erst so richtig los. Wer hatte schon Lust bei 10°C im Regen zu sitzen. Aber an diesem Wochenende hat die Sonne Berlin endlich wach geküsst. In den Parks wird wieder um die Wette gegrillt und die Clubs haben plötzlich ein “Outdoor” Floor. Sommer!

Nun wird es aber auch Zeit sich einmal das Programm der Freiluftkinos in Berlin anzuschauen. Zu den Klassikern der letzten Jahre, wie dem Freiluftkino Friedrichshain und dem Freiluftkino Kreuzberg, haben sich im letzten Jahr erfolgreich das Freiluftkino Insel im Cassiopeia und das Freiluftkino in der Bar25 gesellt.

Neu dabei ist in diesem Jahr das Haus Schwarzen Berg mit dem Freiluftkino Mitte, das sich dem Independent Film verschrieben hat. Sowie das Freiluftkino im Kulturforum am Potsdamer Platz, wo man Blockbuster unterm Sternenzelt genießen kann.

Um bei diesem Angebot nicht den Überblick zu verlieren, haben wir für Euch eine kleine Liste mit dem Kontakten für die einzelnen Freiluftkinos zusammengestellt. Auf deren Homepage findet ihr auch immer Informationen zum aktuellen Programm. Ihr könnt Euch natürlich auch jeden Abend eure ganz persönliche Empfehlung bei uns an der Rezeption abholen.

Freiluftkino Friedrichshain

Gelegen im Volkspark Friedrichshain ca 20 Minuten vom Hostel, finden sich jeden Abend 300 Kino-begeisterte zum gemeinsamen Kinoerlebnis ein.

Adresse: Im Volkspark Friedrichshain, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, Telefon: 030 / 293 61 629

Wann: 19. Mai bis 19. September Beginn der Filmvorführung um ca. 21:30 Uhr.

Eintritt: 6,50 Euro (Vorverkauf: 6,90 Euro)

Homepage

Freiluftkino Kreuzberg

Das Freiluftkino in Berlin Kreuzberg hat eine lange Tradition.Und auch in diesem kann man zwischen Highlight der aktuellen Saison sowie aus Klassikern wählen. Viele Filme werden auch in Originalfassung angeboten.

Adresse: Am Mariannenplatz 2 in Kreuzberg Stadtplan Telefon: 030 / 293 61 628

Wann: Die Saison 2010 startet am Freitag, 30. April mit “Neukölln unlimited” Filmbeginn ist um 21:30 Uhr (manchmal auch 21 Uhr).

Eintritt: 6,50 Euro (Vorverkauf: 6,90 Euro) *

Homepage

Freiluftkino Insel

Nicht weit vom Hostel Friedrichshain bietet eines der Wohl schönsten Kino Erlebnisse. In Cassiopeia einer alten Industriebrache Könnt ihr zwischen alten Backsteingebäuden viele Filme mit Berliner Bezug genießen.

Adresse: Freiluftkino Insel im Sommergarten des Cassiopeia Stadtplan Telefon: 030 / 54 71 32 47

Wann: ab 13. Mai Die Filme beginnen um ca. 21:30 Uhr. Spieltage: Mo, Do, So, gelegtenlich Specials

Eintritt: 6,50 € , ermäßigt 5,50 € (außer für Specials) *

Homepage

Sommerkino Kulturforum Potsdamer Platz

Vor beeindruckenden City Kulisse am Potsdamer Platz wird ein einmaliges Kinoerlebnis geboten. Blockbuster auf Liegestühlen ist hier das Motto.

Adresse: Piazzetta des Kulturforums Potsdamer Platz Stadtplan Wann: ab Mitte Juli

Eintritt: 7 Euro / ermäßigt 6 Euro *

Homepage

Bar 25 präsentiert von B.Ware TV

“Ein ausgezeichneter Sommer” Immer Dienstag, Mittwoch und Donnerstag ab 21:30 Uhr

Wo: Im Circus25 unterm Zelt! Di-Do ab 19:00 Uhr gibt es detaillierte Infos über mögliche Absagen.

Homepage

Finally the soccer world championship is back. But still if you couldn’t afford to travel to South Africa, you can even join the world championship in Berlin via public viewing. As South Africa is in the same time zone as Germany you can watch the games without time delay. All games that will take place at 04.00 pm and 08.00 pm will be shown via public viewing in Berlin. The start is on June 11^th and the final will be one month later in South Africa, which is the 11^th July.

The biggest public viewing party takes place at the “Fanmeile” in “Straße des 17. Juni”. Although the first games of the German team will be shown on a huge screen in front of “Olympia Stadion”. But from the eighth-finals it’s going on at the “Fanmeile”. Several hundred thousands of people are expected to visit.

If you prefer a more comfortable atmosphere you can experience public viewing in many Berliner bars, beach bars, restaurants, pubs and beer gardens in Berlin.

If you want to organize a public viewing event yourself, you have to apply for a license at the “FIFA” website. You can publish your location and also find help and the most important application forms at www.public-viewing-berlin.de. Public viewing in Berlin is most popular since the world championship in 2006. So if any bar owner wants so make some money on the side, they can’t go wrong with that!

This is just a few tips from our side:

Fanmeile at Brandenburger Tor

Straße des 17. Juni, Mitte

Max. Capacity: 500 000

Entrance fee: Free

The big “Fanmeile“ at “Brandenburger Tor” only takes place at the half-finals/ eights-finals

at the final game. The big screen is 80qm.

Arena Berlin

Eichenstraße 4, Treptow, Telefon: 533 20 30

Max Capacity: 1.000 indoor/outdoor

The “Arena Berlin” will show all games of the world championship live, inside as well as outside on the big screen. All broadcasts are presented by celebrities.

Bar 25

Holzmarktstr. 25, Friedrichshain, Tel: 0157 71 53 04 25

Max. capacity: 500

Entrace fee: Free

The Berliner scene bar “Bar 25“ will show all games of the world soccer championship 2010.

Certainly you can party and hang out in this location before and after all games. Directly situated on the river “Spree”, this is probably one of the most beautiful public viewing locations in Berlin.

Rosi´s Klub

Revaler Str. 29, Friedrichshain

Max. Capacity: 500

The “Rosis” is situated in the “Revaler Straße“ which is the party street in Berlin. All games will be shown there. Entrance begins 1-2 hours before game start.

Yaam

Stralauer Platz 35, Friedrichshain, Tel: 615 13 54

Entrance fee: Free

You can cheer all games in the “Yaam“ club on the big screen. At the same time you get nice beach feeling.