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Entertain yourself! One could be content talking about entertainment in Berlin and claiming that Berlin is one big entertainment complex in itself. But there are special places and spaces in this entertainment nirvana. My last count of cinemas came up to 95 movie theatres. Apart from multiple multiplexes, Kudamm theatres UFA-Palast and the Marmorhaus are as old as the black-and-white film. An early monumental theatre is the Soviet-style International on Karl-Marx-Straße; for more obscure films try the Acud, where you will often be alone with the projectionist. Don't worry if you feel your German isn't up to it: The Odeon features the latest flicks for the English-speaking diaspora, while the Cinéma Paris services the francophone community. Comedy? Germans? Yes, if you can take some heavy satire, East Berlin is the place to be. From the decades-old Distel to the new Chamäleons late night shows in Hackesche Höfe, go to Mitte for a good laugh. Not that the west hasn't anything to offer, with its traditional Wühlmäuse and Stachelschweine ("The Voles" and "The Porcupines") and the more comedy-oriented Bar jeder Vernunft. Theatre can mean a lot of things in Berlin. Controversial contemporary Anglo-American drama at the Baracke or a light comedy with mass appeal on Kudamm (Komödie am Kurfürstendamm, Theater am Kurfürstendamm). While enfant terrible director Schlingensief insults the audience at the Volksbühne, veteran Claus Peymann reinterprets Brecht at the Berliner Ensemble. International avantgarde dance troops step it up at the Hebbel Theater, acrobats and magicians put a spell on the Wintergarten, while the Grips Youth Theatre interacts with its young audience. Anglophones, check out the Friends of the Italian Opera (sorry, no opera but off-theatre). Berlin is certainly a capital for music lovers, even after David Bowie and Iggy Pop have moved on. Kreuzbergs Junction Bar for Jazz, the Flöz for Blues, SO36 for alternative/punk/rock, Mandingo for Afro-pop, you name it. Big gigs happen at the Arena or the Columbiahalle. Classical afficionados have to make the painful choice between four opera houses -two east, two west- or go straight to the world-famous Berlin Philharmoniker. All too middle-of-the-road? Check out the uncountable alternative cultural centres Berlin is famous for. The UFA-Fabrik is the place to be in summer with its multicoloured festivals. East Berlin has always had its Kulturbrauerei for alternative theatre, art, concerts. A kaleidoscope of modern Chinese art, Cuban parties or readings by writers from developing countries is on the menu of the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. The Pfefferberg concentrates on the hipper, younger multicultural clientele of reggae and rai concerts. You'll probably need a drink and a bite to eat after all this cultural intake. Friedrichhains Simon-Dach-Straße neighbourhood is the funky address. Toast Lenins bust in the Tagung and enjoy other emblems of the not-so-long-gone GDR. Nearby Prenzlbergs Kollwitzplatz is another hangout for the in-crowd. There, Anita Wronski cafe and Pasternak restaurant cater for more sophisticated wining and dining. And if you still want to aim higher, Savignyplatz in western Charlottenburg offers an array of canapés and champagne lunches as well as tasty, affordable Indian cuisine. It is getting late and you want to move your dancing feet? The clubs around Rosenthaler Platz have the remedy. Some tucked away in backyards and with unforeseeable opening hours (Boudoir), some hard to find for lack of a name over the door (Eimer, a bucket hanging outside gives you a hint), but all open till dawn. The Sophienclub quenches the pop, soul and Latin thirst; for large-scale pure techno, move to Leipzigstraßes Tresor. Can't decide up front? Recently opened Potsdamer Platz has a US-style mall set-up plus casino, 3-D Imax theatre, musical theatre, multiplex, fast food places and fancy bars for the earlier night hours. But then, you will always find something going on in the two streets that even Berliners like to love and confuse, Oranienstraße in Kreuzberg and Oranienburger Straße in Mitte, each with a grown mix of restaurants, small shops, bars, movie theatres, and music spots that guarantee a great evening. |
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