Posts Tagged ‘nightlife berlin’

A Live and Kicking Music Venue

Monday, May 11th, 2009

Fischerspooner recently played a stormer to a near capacity crowd at Lido in Kreuzberg. Fischerspooner is an art pop outfit headed by Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner, whose conceptual lyrics and deep, expansive sound fuses art and pop culture through Warren’s pulsating, addictive beats, Casey’s synthesised rich emotional vocals, and a crew of experimental theatrical performers.

The show, complimented by androgynous male and female dancers, and Casey’s wardrobe of flamboyant outfits and illuminated head-gear, left one standing in awe at the innovative on-stage performance. Through extremely energetic dance sequences, where exaggerated facial expressions played as much of a part as enthusiastic synchronised routines, the dancers endeared themselves to an attentive crowd. Especially since they continued unscathed despite an intense and building heat, which at one point caused Spooner to pause and say: “I can’t do this, hold on, I gotta take some of these clothes off”.

Unlike at some larger, more formal shows, the crowd were not forced to stand a metre and a half from the stage, behind a metal barrier. In this relatively small venue fans can get right up to the stage, providing for a far more intimate experience between the band and the crowd. Although someone did, perhaps accidentally, spill some water on a monitor that the singer and dancers were using to keep their movements in time, thus obscuring their view and forcing them to pause for a moment to wipe the monitor. Still, it only makes the performers seem more human when small things go wrong on stage and they make a joke of the situation, and interact with the audience, as Spooner did on a few occasions. Fischerspooner left the fans still wanting more, even after a multi-song encore.

Lido hosts concerts or DJ sets most nights of the week in an intimate and atmospheric setting, with DJs, musicians and bands from various musical genres. This well laid out venue with two bars and a beer garden, friendly staff and reasonable drink prices (€3 for a bottle of Carlsberg) is a worthwhile venture for all live music lovers.

Author: E. La Crey

OTA-Berlin Constituency Blog, brought to you by OTA-Berlin Holiday Apartments

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Kreuzberg’s Best Kept Secret – Hubertus Lounge

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

Alighting from the U1 at Gorlitzer U-Bahnhof, we followed a rough map to Eisenbahnstrasse 6, getting lost once, briefly, due to slight intoxication and because, in keeping with Berlin-style venues, there was no name on the door. Upon entering Hubertus Lounge the first thing you will notice is the relaxed, homely atmosphere. This is not a place hardcore clubbers, but rather a place for enjoying your drinks and socialising. The ambient, acid jazz and lounge music, and the comfortable sofa seating area compliment the chilled out atmosphere.

Hubertus Lounge’s young owners, Daniel & Holger, consciously excludes big brand beers and soft drinks from their offerings, and it was here that we discovered Rothaus Pils Tannen Zäpfle, a bottled beer from The Black Forest, which we have now grown to love. On occasion you may have the pleasure of meeting the lounges third owner, a very sociable black Labrador, who uninhibitedly strolls around the lounge, meeting the customers and claiming her right to sit on whichever sofa she pleases.

Although the venue seems to be virtually unknown on the popular nightlife scene listings, Hubertus Lounge has always been busy when we have visited it. But the lounge’s biggest secret is that you can happily mooch around for hours, like it’s your living room, and then, probably through the enlightenment of a local, you’ll discover a tiny cupboard in the corner, which upon opening, reveals a staircase leading to a basement club. I’m sure this is not what C.S. Lewis had in mind when writing The Chronicles of Narnia, but it does feel like an adventure all the same, not least due to the steep descent on a narrow wooden staircase, after consuming numerous alcoholic beverages. The club DJ plays more upbeat dance tunes to the lively crowd that populate the dance floor, whilst there are also lounge chairs dotted around the circumference for those who wish to sit.

Hubertus Lounge is the kind of place that you will want to become a regular of, rather than just a place to say that you have been to once.

Author: E. La Crey

OTA-Berlin Constituency Blog, brought to you by OTA-Berlin Holiday Apartments

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Zpyz : A trip into the Underground Club Crypt of Berlin

Friday, April 24th, 2009

Zpyz
Reichenberger Str. 125
10999

Half the people in the club don’t know the name of the club they are in, or at least how to pronounce it (like the word ‘spice’.) And forget meeting tourists in Zpyz, you probably won’t meet anyone who doesn’t live in Kreuzberg – which is not actually as bad as it sounds. The crowd is essentially a mix of poor students and poor young professionals who shun ‘mainstream’ clubs and like to party well, well into daylight.

Kreuzberg is, like many eastern sections of Berlin, replete with abandoned warehouses which have been made into various types of clubs. Zpyz is a little less dirty than many of its underground siblings, although you can leave your cigarettes at home – the second hand smoke should more than suffice for your fix for the evening.

The interesting part of this club is watching people enter in waves throughout the night and into morning. It’s not dead until it’s almost time to close, nor is it ever too stuffed to dance. People tend to come from ‘in the neighborhood’ so they are not reliant on public transport to get to and fro. The peak hours range from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m plus or minus a couple hours depending on how good the DJs are, which can vary greatly.

Outside of K’berg, Zpyz is not known, and if you desire avoiding the clubs like Weekend that ‘you could find in any city’ and exploring some authentic Berlin underground mania, then it’s worth hitting up.

Tip 1: Zpyz is hard to find if you have not been there, so take a map with its locale circled and if need be take a cab and show the driver where it is on the map. Expect to get lost at some point looking for it, and when that happens watch to see where other people on Reichenbergerstr go.

Tip 2: If the bouncer stops you when you try to enter to ask you if you are on the guest list, appear indifferent to him, say no and walk right by him into the club, like any Berliner would. Works like a charm.

Author: CA

OTA-Berlin Constituency Blog, brought to you by OTA-Berlin Holiday Apartments

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The Clubbing Capital of Europe – Berlin Nightclubs

Monday, April 13th, 2009

People often ask: “What’s the best thing about Berlin”. As a young newcomer to Berlin, and speaking from my seven months experience in the city, I have to say the very best thing about Berlin is the Nightlife.  There is a seemingly inexhaustible supply of clubs to choose from, with new clubs opening on a regular basis. Interestingly, there is no legally enforced closing time for Berlin Nightclubs. In many of the clubs the night ends when the party’s over. And it’s not over till the clubbers decide that it’s time to call it a night… or more likely “a morning”.

An ever popular choice is Weekend Club in Alexanderplatz, spinning house, electronic and pop tunes, whilst The Watergate in Kreuzberg specialises in House and Drum and Bass. Another favourite is Berghain in Friedrichshain, boasting a hard techno and electro style, whilst electro, acid and industrial music dominate the decks of Tresor in Mitte.

But there is also a range of alternative clubs with the most noticeable being White Thrash Fast Food, a restaurant and late bar/club playing punk, indie, rock and electro music and featuring live bands. Havanna’s Latin, reggae, salsa, and soul theme is complimented by live salsa dancers, with the option of a crash course in salsa one hour prior to opening. For something completely different try the Kit Kat Club in Kreuzberg, where no regular street fashion is allowed. In this gay, lesbian and straight friendly club, only those in fetish, kinky and costume wear are admitted.

In search of something a little grittier, we stumbled upon a great club on Friedrichstrasse. Housed in an old run down building beside The Oscar Wilde Irish Pub, Scala features two floors with varied musical styles from techno to hip hop and reasonably priced drink. For just a standard club entry price of €8 we were treated to the mastery of American DJs N.A.S.A. A slightly more planned expedition led us to Icon on Cantianstrasse in Prenzlauer Berg. U.K. DJ Caspa played and excellent set that ran until the early hours.

Berlin, physically situated at the heart of Europe, is becoming a musical hub and the European clubbing capital. If you are planning a trip to Berlin make sure you’re at clubbing ground zero, and stay in the Mitte or Prenzlauer Berg, where Berlin’s centre of gravity has shifted to. OTA Berlin has a range of spacious holiday apartments ideally located in these central areas. You can view and book our apartments at www.ota-berlin.de

 

For more details on the clubs listed and many more, go to Club Guide Berlin.

Author: E. La Crey

OTA-Berlin Constituency Blog, brought to you by OTA-Berlin Holiday Apartments

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Best Bars in Berlin

Monday, April 13th, 2009

The twisted lemon in the drink whose name you don’t understand because it’s in German that you order in Berlin, is its variety.  Berlin’s nightlife is an inexhaustable parade of the thriving, the wild, the trashy, and the….artistic.  While other cities can boast exclusive celebrity-only clubs and red carpets, Berlin can also brag a bit about those, along with about everything else that comes with the territory of having arguably the best nightlife in the world. Here are some of the best bars.

Riva
Dircksenstrasse 142 Mitte
Chic and fabulous, this bar lies in the center of Berlin. The over-30
business crowd mingles here every night of the week, leading one to wonder how they indeed are the business crowd if they never seem to need to work.

Weinerei
Veteranenstraße 14
10119 Mitte
One of Berlin’s too-much-fun machines attracting a laid back crowd. After
6pm, put one euro down for a glass and drink as much wine as you want.
When leaving ‘donate’ whatever  you think appropriate. When most leave they seem to have a harder time counting than when they entered, so it’s not unusual for patrons to leave generous tips, and the waiters don’t refrain from encouragement.

Bar am Lützowplatz
Lützowplatz 7
D-10785 Berlin
A visual sight to behold. Stylish and refined guests come here to drop some Geld and display their subtley marked flrting skills. Yet because it is Berlin, it’s anything from a snobby place.

Karakas Bar
Kurfürstenstraße 9, 10785 Berlin
Here you’ll meet a spanish vibe, and sometimes even live music. Get  your mojitos here, or one of their many exotic cocktails. The heart of the west pulls in every kind of person you could ever imagine meeting plus some.

Hackbarth’s
Auguststr. 69a, U-8 Rosenthaler Platz
A chill atmosphere, no tourists, and a super friendly staff. Popular  with ‘Berliners,’ so don’t mention it to any other visitors you meet.

Haifisch Bar
Arndtstr. 25, U-7 Gneisenaustr.
A cocktail bar that also serves sushi. Due to its Kreuzberg locale,  expect mainly southern Berliners despite a drink and food menu that would attract a far posher crowd if the bar were situated in say, Mitte.

Zapata
Oranienburger Str. 53/54, S-1/25 Oranienburger Str.
Who knew there was a pretty nice place hiding inside Berlin’s last  squater building? Go at night and check out a piece of vintage Berlin.  Artistic, dirty, and somehow alluring to guests of all types. Very smoky inside, and probably the most uninhabitable bathroom in Berlin. That alone is worth photographing.

Author: CA

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