alternative Berlin

What did we ever do at festivals before cell phones were invented?  Last year, when my cell phone battery died at the Nation of Gondwana I found myself literally disempowered.  Unable to communicate with my friends, I wound up spending about half of the festival looking for them in the dark.  If only the Electric Hotel had been there to light the way.  This pioneering energy project seeks to empower festival goers by providing a mobile point where they can charge up their smart phones, cell phones, tablets and other gadgets with green energy.

As you can see in the photo below, the hotel is not actually a building but a van so people can’t actually sleep in it.  But it does house an awful lot of electricity that is generated by solar panels, a wind turbine and even stationary bikes.  In addition to providing a place to charge up, the Electric Hotel also acts as a mobile sound system, art gallery and cinema.  It also features a permanent installation about renewable energy, naturally!

If green energy is your thing then you may want to check out the 11th international Solar Energy Trade Fair which happens in Berlin February 21st to the 25th.

If you’re after a more grassroots view of Berlin’s green scene then watch this space: an upcoming Alternative Berlin tour will be following in the tracks of pioneering projects like the Electric Hotel.

It Starts today, Berlin Fashion Week 17-22 January 2012. Twice a year the city of Berlin becomes the international center for fashion and lifestyle with some of the biggest names in fashion coming to the city for only a short time the streets will buzz. There will designs shown in the city from Eco, sustainable designs to the always inspiring exclusive Haute Couture pieces. Find out the best locations in the city for some of the best and well known names in fashion at http://www.fashion-week-berlin.com/de/

Came upon this awsome documentary the other day while following the artist Roa, who has done a number of large murals throughout Berlin.  HERE COMES THE NEIGHBORHOOD show cases some of the most reconized  street artists in the world today.  If you want to see more, click the link below the trailer.

HERE COMES THE NEIGHBORHOOD is a Short-Form Docuseries exploring the power of Public Art and innovation to uplift and revitalize urban communities. The Pilot Season revolves around the Arts District of Wynwood Miami, featuring an array of internationally acclaimed and locally respected Street Artists, Graffiti Writers and Muralists.

http://vimeo.com/herecomestheneighborhood

A common Question we get on the tours is,

“where in this city can I find myself some vegetarian food?”

Glad you asked.  Even though Germany and Germans are thought to be eaters of meat, and in that department they do eat an array of meat, gelatin, cartilage, and well all of the animal. Berlin has a huge Vegetarian and Vegan culture, with Breakfast included.  Here are some of our city favorites for you to check out on your stay.

Cafe V:  In the Lausitzer platz right across from the park sits this unsuspecting vegan/ Vegitarian Restaurant with slow service but excellent food.  the menu is always changing, always fresh, and makes for a romantic evening meal on a budget.

Naturkost Seerose – vegetarisches Buffet und Partyservice:  This place is great, and if you the confidence to muscle up to the buffet than you will not be disappointed.  Naturkost Seerose is a Buffet restaurant, with a huge assortment of Mediterranean dishes to choose from to fill on of your three plate options.  just go to to Mehringdamm U-bahn station and head south on the left side of the street.  Enjoy!

Babel:  This is a Berlin institution located on the cities posh Kastanienallee.  Babel may look from the outside as a simple kebab shop. But its Lebanese inspired dishes and vibrant flavors attract score of people from all over the city for a filling and satisfying food.  We recommend the Vegitarian Plate for 8 euros.  its enough food for two people, or a single hungry backpacker. The dish is a combination of restaurants best veggie assortments,and is really just the tip of the asparagus.

Enjoy!

Alternative Berlin Tours is always trying to keep things different.  Different as in what you would normally never expect to see on any traditional tour.  Just recently we stumbled on to a great shop with a similar idea of keeping things out of the norm and more original.  The Dudes Factory on Torstrasse is something new and fresh in the world of art and retail.  Each month the factory chooses and collobrates with an up and coming artist, or group of artists.  Together they create a collection of t-shirt design, collectable art works, and crafts.  All products are sold in house or online where you can also  personalize your own design. The month begins with a large opening with live music, art performances, and the artist on sites.  All Proceeds from sales are divided between the factory and artists.

This month the Dudes Factory collaborated with the artist group The Studiokillers.  The event opened with a live Painting of cherry in the video below as well and original designed guitar and video works by the artist group. If you ever find yourself in mitte stop by the Dudes Factory and checked the ongoing creativity.

Dudes Factory Berlin

Torstraße 138

10119 Berlin, Germany

If you’ve wandered around a city long enough you start to overlook the obvious and begin to see the least expected.  Giving a tour last week a girl screamed as we walked under the Oberbaumbrücke.  As we all looked up our eyes met a figure crouching against the side of the bridge, its black face gazing down upon the concrete.  “How absolutely scary and funny!”  I thought.  I’ve never seen anything like it, and with the help of Alternative Berlin’s Tour Guide Liam, the mystery of the phantom street artist has been solved.

Mark Jenkins is an American born artist who’s street and installation art is as unsettling as it is irresistible to watch.  its like watching a car accident the moment right before impact when you can’t look away.  Jenkins produces situations that scare you to look away.  Keep your eyes peeled.

Its time for some flat track action!   The Berlin Bombshells, one of Germany’s premiere Roller Derby teams, will be playing against London’s talented Rollergirls this Saturday the 22nd at 6pm.  If your up for some fast, hard carnage on eight wheels, than The Arena is the place to be in Berlin this weekend. Be there or be square.

For those who don’t know what I’m taking about. below is a brief Explanation.

Enjoy!!!

And Here are some great hits from the LA Rollergirls:

For more check out the Bombshell’s website:

http://bearcityrollerderby.com

As well as local skate shops

http://de-de.facebook.com/pages/Quad-Roller-Skate-Shop/209855909035630

see you there!!!

Derived from the original game of Golf.  Urban Golf is the bastard child of urban explorations and sheer boredom, spiked with a little booze to help lubricate the technique.  This now international sport is played in various forms, with even its own World Urban Golf Day on the 10th of September.

The city of Berlin has its own form of urban golf.  with its many abandoned industrial areas, buildings, plots of land and really anywhere forgotten by the rest of us.  Berlin’s Natural born Golfers is force all its own.  started as simple joke, this elite group of club swingers march through the wide open spaces of the half abondoned city taking shots off of cars, concrete, and rooftops.

With no belief in an ultimate truth, or an artist statement to sit on. FAITH47 decorates the street knowing that her works are only temporary in nature.  She embraces this idea as she throws her creations on places forgotten, the nontraditional surfaces of abandon factories, cars, allies, ghost towns.

Yes, you see it all the time. graffiti that you can’t even read. Wildstyle is an intricate form of graffiti involving highly stylized lettering that interweave and overlap.  Commonly artist will use arrows, dramatic perspectives and other elements to add depth and originality to the work.  Because its so complex, its often impossible to read.  But, there is a way to help recognize letters… An Alphabet!  take a look, print it out and come along on a tour and learn how to read these arcane works of art.