#72

Have you spent your summer in the south and suddenly the image of a cold and wet German autumn builds up before your eyes? Don´t worry. It´s too early for that at the moment.

Back to Berlin we take full advantage of the late summer and the attractive destinations in the city to prolong our holiday feelings. One of the particularly beautiful spots and therefore this newsletter´s This-Also-Is-Berlin-Special´s topic: Köpenick Old Town.

Strolling through narrow medieval alleys without plan or agenda and being surrounded by romantic waterways is only possible in mediterranean villages? Well, not when it comes to Berlin! 
Whether you are looking for the tracks of famous fraud Hauptmann von Köpenick or just the next kayak: you will surely find what you are looking for in the district of Köpenick. You could be equipped with the latter for example by using the innovative Kayakomat, automatically providing you with prebooked kayaks and everything you need for a day on the water 24/7 (address: Alt-Köpenick 20). Discovering Berlin from the water is always a unique experience.

Also worth a visit: Schloss Köpenick. The well-kept park at the river Dahme is perfect for picknicks and walking the dogs, the castle itself hosts the permanent exhibition “Room Art, Furniture and Decorative Art from the Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo” and provides a welcome change to the modern eye, which is used to the sight of Swedish furniture mainly.

Nothing planned for the evening yet? Don´t miss one of the shows at Altstadttheater then! Even though the plays about Berlin 20th century artist Heinrich Zille and cabaret evenings are mainly held in German, the tiny theatre itself with the original furniture from the Wilhelminian era and local specialities on the catering menu are an experience to remember.

This is where our little Köpenick special ends for today. Back to the city centre we already have another idea about how to spend our evening: let´s enjoy one of the concerts at Kunstfabrik Schlot in Mitte. It´s not the exception to find no less than the finest jazz of Berlin here – well as our guests you are used to that. And it has been like this for more than thirty years now, almost on a daily basis, always accompanied by good drinks in friendly atmosphere. It´s always best to book your table in advance here.

Talking about Mitte: since the end of May Werkbundarchiv – Museum der Dinge is not located in our neighbourhood Kreuzberg anymore, but also in Berlin-Mitte. As the Museum´s former tenancy has been terminated by a real estate fund, their first special exhibition at their new address confronts the new neighbours with some very personal, city-specific topics: “Profitopolis or the Condition of the City” presents architectural developments as well as political and sociocultural contexts. An intriguing way to bridge the gap until the permanent exhibition is ready to reopen on 8 November. (© photo: JF / Werkbundarchiv – Museum der Dinge)

Have you ever taken a selfie inside a camera? No? Off we go to Aufbauhaus at square Moritzplatz then (the multifunctional building we told you about earlier, just one block away from us)! This is where IMAGO, the only accessible camera in the world, waits for you to take a life-size self portrait, banned on silver gelatine photo paper. A truly incomparable experience – and, by the way, quite a creative gift idea for the next birthday. (© photo: Annegret Kohlmayer)

It´s time for the next Berlin-Marathon already? Yes, on 29, and this year for the 50th time! So take your running shoes or racing wheelchair and get ready for the challenge! (© photo: SCC EVENTS/Jean-Marc Wiesner) 

After all this walking and running around, collecting new impressions in this marvellous city and even working out in the end, we do feel like enjoying something sparkling for the aperitive, having a real fine dinner and listening to fabulous live music. How practical to have all of this waiting for us downstairs!