Issue 119
Dia de los Muertos in Berlin
The Day of the Dead (Oct 31-Nov 2) is fast approaching – do you know where your sugar skulls are? From mariachi to mescal, celebrate properly with our "Mexberliner" guide. Read more
Kitty corner
A purr can be heard from the heart of Neukölln courtesy of PeePee's Katzencafé, an idea based on the petting farms of East Asia. While only ruled by two ferociously cute housecats, fans of cat-kitsch should go there right meow. Read more
Straight outta Tempelhof
Is Bushido all Berlin has to offer by way of hip hop? Hell no. The rightwinger's got competition from a new generation of conscious rappers with a political outlook on the city's problems – like Chefket, whose "Identitäter" video dropped last week. Read more
Past lives
OUT NOW! The life of 1970s terrorist Magdalena Kopp is rivetingly portrayed in IN THE DARK ROOM. Read more
Bite Club: Foodie cluster-truck
LAST CHANCE! Every other Friday, Berlin's trendiest street food slingers from have been congregating on the Spree for Bite Club, serving up burgers to bao and attracting throngs of would-be Williamsburgers. Is it worth the hype? Find out on Sep 27. Read more
“This is your country: if you don’t like it, make it better”
INTERVIEW. What does it mean to 'wear black'? In the new play Schwarz Tragen, director Branwen Okpako addresses this question within an all-too-familiar context: the Berliner WG. Catch it at Ballhaus Naunynstraße as part of their Black Lux festival. Read more
Old wavers
OUT NOW! STORM SURFERS 3D follows two aging surfers driven by their love of the wave and by Red Bull. Read more
Too much? Not enough
OUT NOW! From Norway to Germany, post-Wende, ZWEI LEBEN isn't as thrilling as the premise promises. Read more
The master's room
OUT NOW! ROOM 237 investigates the aura of a master rather than the ramblings of fanatics. Read more
Life inside the bunkers
Ever wonder what life was like for Berlin kids in WWII? Author Regina Schwenke experienced it firsthand as a five-year-old and recalls nights in an overpacked air raid shelter. On Sep 21, Schwenke guides a special tour of Fichtebunker. Read more
All's fair in art
Artforum might be no more than a memory, but starting this week, on Sep 18, three Berlin art fairs will carry the torch as the official kick-off to the second annual BERLIN ART WEEK (Sep 17-22). Fridey Mickel has the lowdown. Read more
Street-savvy tour
BEST OF BERLIN. On September 15, The Querstadtein Homeless Tour will hold its first English-language excursion, following a personal journey through what it's like to live without shelter on the streets of Berlin. Read more
Ask the authors: Jeet Thayil
INTERVIEW. Indian poet/novelist Jeet Thayil reads at International Literature Festival from the hypnotic meanderings around the backstreets of a heroin-riddled Bombay in "Narcopolis" on Sep 14, 21:00. Read more
Neukölln underground
OUT NOW! An ex-cop makes unlikely friendships while running from the past in UMMAH. Read more
Dark and stormy
OUT NOW! In 16th century France, MICHAEL KOHLHAAS seeks to right the wrongs of the rich and crocked. Read more
Family ties
OUT NOW! Orphaned, working class siblings stumble to create a new family in the memorable IL FUTURO. Read more
Animated wonder
OUT NOW! An exploration of the mixed-medium future of filmmaking and complex ideologies, THE CONGRESS sparkles. Read more
The truth about Nestlé
OUT NOW! The documentary BOTTLED LIFE looks at the big business of harming the planet. Read more
Naked Lunch: A garden of eatin'
LAST CHANCE! Keep watch for those remaining warm and sunny September days. That way, as the leaves fall, you'll be able to make a date to take in the atmosphere – and the dishes – at Naked Lunch, a Mitte garden getaway. Read more