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FRANKFURT

This Week’s Highlights: February 21 – 27

This Week's Highlights: Robot music in Berlin, Irish dance in Cologne, Dutch art in Frankfurt, and Dessau celebrates Kurt Weill.

Published: 21 February 2013 07:10 CET
This Week's Highlights: February 21 – 27
Performance of a Kurt Weill piece. Photo: DPA

BERLIN

Music/Concerts

Inhuman Music – Compositions by Machines, by Animals, and by Accident

Sir Elton Junk may be made of old tubes, scrap metal, and a discarded shopping cart, but this guy can rock like the best of them. His electro clinks and clanks come straight from his industrial heart. The music making robot, created by Berlin artist Kolja Kugler opens a series of concerts by non-humans Thursday. All weekend, music by birds, whales, and mechanical beings fills the room at the House of World Cultures.

Price: Various

Location: Haus der Kulturen der Welt, John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10

Times: Thursday, February 21 – Sunday, February 24

Phone: 030 397 870

More Information: www.echtzeitmusik.de

A Celebration for the Queen – Historic Organ Concert

Oh how it sings! Pedals, pipes, and keys work together to create an invigorating tapestry of both jumpy modern melodies and solemn sacred songs on the Mighty Wurlitzer. The energetic electric organ joins the Berlin Philharmonic’s Karl-Schuke-Organ, the Gray Organ, and other historic organs at a special concert Sunday. The day-long celebration features music by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Johann Sebastian Bach, Maurice Ravel, and other organ composer greats at the Musical Instrument Museum.

Price: €8

Location: Musikinstrumenten-Museum, Tiergartenstrasse 1 (Entrance: Ben-Gurion-Strasse

Times: Sunday, February 24, 10am – 5pm

Phone: 030 25 48 11 78

More Information: www.mim-berlin.de

Events

Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen Meets Cocina Latina

Nothing like a hearty meal from West Africa or South America to spice up these chilly winter nights. Zoe Adjonyoh brings her London pop-up restaurant to Berlin’s City Stay Hostel on Saturday, offering two set menus. Indulge in the mashed yam balls and mutton stew of traditional Ghanaian kitchens, or the ceviche and empanada of the Latina cocinas across the Atlantic.

Price: €20

Location: City Stay Hostel, Rosenstrasse 16

Times: Saturday, February 23, 7-10:30pm

More Information: www.facebook.com

COLOGNE

Galleries/Museums

Paris 1.0

Next stop: Paris. Cologne’s Galerie Biesenbach is embarking on a journey around the world without leaving its pretty white-walled space on Sankt-Apern-Strasse. For its latest exhibition, five artists from the French capital offer a snapshot of the art scene in their little corner of the world. See Laurent Chéhère’s dreamy digital collages, Rebecca Bournigault’s provocative watercolours, Yassine Mekhnache’s big colourful canvases, and thoughtful portraits by Neïla Serrano and Sébastien Mathieu when the show opens Thursday.

Price: Free

Location: Galerie Biesenbach, Saint-Apern-Strasse 44-46

Times: Thursday, February 21, 6-9pm (Opening); Tuesday – Friday, Noon-6pm (Regular Hours)

Phone: 0221 169 3892

More Information: www.galerie-biesenbach.com

Dance

Irish Celtic – Spirit of Ireland

They’re a spirited bunch the Irish. And when they get their feet moving, there’s no stopping the stomping. From step dancing, to village tavern-style folk dancing, this jubilant stage show features an assortment of Celtic dance steps that will make an Irish heart sing. Tap your toes along to the rhythm of the bagpipes and fiddle at Musical Dome this weekend when the dazzling dancers of Irish Celtic step and kick in time to live tunes.

Price: €39 – 63

Location: Musical Dome, Goldgasse 1

Times: Thursday, February 21 and Friday, February 22, 8pm; Saturday, February 23, 4pm and 8pm; Sunday, February 24, 2pm and 6pm

Ticket Hotline: 01805 2001

More Information: www.musical-dome.de

DESSAU

Festivals

Dessau may be known for its link to the Bauhaus movement, but the Saxony-Anhalt city also shares a close relationship to another icon of Germany’s cultural landscape, Kurt Weill. A festival devoted to the great composer focuses on his time in New York, highlighting the impact he made on the Great White Way. See seminal works like “The Threepenny Opera,” and other musical theatre pieces, concerts, ballets, and films inspired by the master this week in Dessau.

Price: Various

Location: Various

Times: Friday, February 22 – Sunday, March 10

Tickets: 0341 14 990 900

More Information: www.kurt-weill.de

FRANKFURT

Galleries/Museums

Rineke Dijkstra – The Krazy House

The Dutch artist Rineke Dijkstra takes pictures of people. She has an exquisite ability to capture a range of human emotions in her images. Her series from the late 1990s, “The Krazy House” took the concept of portraiture one step further by using video to convey the subject’s personality through dance. See works from this series, and others, including two new videos, at MMK’s new exhibition. Free guided tours in English take place every Saturday afternoon.

Price: €10

Location: MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst, 
Domstrasse 10

Times: Friday, February 22, 8pm (Opening); Tuesday – Sunday, 10am-6pm, Wednesday, 10am-8pm; through May 26 (Regular Hours)

Phone: 069  2123 0447

More Information: www.mmk-frankfurt.de

HAMBURG

Film

Bag It – Is Your Life Too Plastic?

As far as living consciously with regard to the environment, Germany does a pretty good job compared to the rest of the world. But it’s still good to get a little reminder every now and then about how bad plastic can be. Colorado-based filmmaker Suzan Beraza’s documentary about how our lives are so entwined with plastic has won a string of awards since its release in 2010. Catch a screening Sunday at the Museum of Art and Trade in Hamburg, and check out the exhibition “The Plastic Garbage Project” while you’re at it.

Price: €9

Location: Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg
, Steintorplatz

Times: Sunday, February 24, 3pm

Register: 040 428134 402

More Information: www.plasticgarbageproject.org

Family Events

Felt Jewelery Workshop

Joseph Beuys had it right. Felt. It’s an essential fabric. Not only can you make interesting avant-garde artworks with the material, you can make pretty jewelery too! Gather among the stunning natural scenery at the Haus der Wilden Weiden and learn how to make beautiful necklaces, bracelets, and even cell phone cases from the soft, durable fabric. Adults and children ages six and up are invited to take part in the afternoon of cozy constructing.

Price: €9

Location: Haus der Wilden Weiden, Eichberg 63

Times: Saturday, February 22, 1pm

Register: 040 18 04 48 60 13

More Information: www.hoeltigbaum.de

MUNICH

Events

UAMO Festival 2013

Whether its a toddler stacking blocks, or grandma dealing a game of gin rummy, everyone likes to play, making the theme of this year’s UAMO Festival “Play Time” especially universal. The Urban Art and Media Organisation has hosted this four-day art festival since 2003, and this year’s program is as entertaining as ever. Take a “Stop Trick” workshop and learn about animation; get an overview of the historic paper theatre genre; and don’t miss the opening party on Thursday. Performance artists, a live band, and DJs will have you in a playful mood all night.

Price: €8

Location: Einsteinstrasse 42

Times: Thursday, February 21 – Sunday, February 24

More Information: www.uamo.info

Music/Concerts

Marc Ribot Ceramic Dog Collective

They’ve been called “the rawest band in ages,” by Time Out New York, an apt description to be sure. Marc Ribot’s projects are multitudinous, ranging from a Cuban rock band to this one, a wild free-punk trio that merges guitar, bass, and drums with a cacophonous raw energy. See the talented New York-based threesome at Unterfahrt Thursday.

Price: €22

Location: Jazzclub Unterfahrt, Einsteinstrasse 42

Times: Thursday, February 21, 9pm

Tickets: 089 448 2794

More Information: www.unterfahrt.de

For members

BERLIN

EXPLAINED: Berlin’s latest Covid rules

In response to rapidly rising Covid-19 infection rates, the Berlin Senate has introduced stricter rules, which came into force on Saturday, November 27th. Here's what you need to know.

Published: 27 November 2021 16:16 CET
Updated: 29 November 2021 14:17 CET
A sign in front of a waxing studio in Berlin indicates the rule of the 2G system
A sign in front of a waxing studio indicates the rule of the 2G system with access only for fully vaccinated people and those who can show proof of recovery from Covid-19 as restrictions tighten in Berlin. STEFANIE LOOS / AFP

The Senate agreed on the tougher restrictions on Tuesday, November 23rd with the goal of reducing contacts and mobility, according to State Secretary of Health Martin Matz (SPD).

He explained after the meeting that these measures should slow the increase in Covid-19 infection rates, which was important as “the situation had, unfortunately, deteriorated over the past weeks”, according to media reports.

READ ALSO: Tougher Covid measures needed to stop 100,000 more deaths, warns top German virologist

Essentially, the new rules exclude from much of public life anyone who cannot show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19. You’ll find more details of how different sectors are affected below.

Shops
If you haven’t been vaccinated or recovered (2G – geimpft (vaccinated) or genesen (recovered)) from Covid-19, then you can only go into shops for essential supplies, i.e. food shopping in supermarkets or to drugstores and pharmacies.

Many – but not all – of the rules for shopping are the same as those passed in the neighbouring state of Brandenburg in order to avoid promoting ‘shopping tourism’ with different restrictions in different states.

Leisure
2G applies here, too, as well as the requirement to wear a mask with most places now no longer accepting a negative test for entry. Only minors are exempt from this requirement.

Sport, culture, clubs
Indoor sports halls will off-limits to anyone who hasn’t  been vaccinated or can’t show proof of recovery from Covid-19. 2G is also in force for cultural events, such as plays and concerts, where there’s also a requirement to wear a mask. 

In places where mask-wearing isn’t possible, such as dance clubs, then a negative test and social distancing are required (capacity is capped at 50 percent of the maximum).

Restaurants, bars, pubs (indoors)
You have to wear a mask in all of these places when you come in, leave or move around. You can only take your mask off while you’re sat down. 2G rules also apply here.

Hotels and other types of accommodation 
Restrictions are tougher here, too, with 2G now in force. This means that unvaccinated people can no longer get a room, even if they have a negative test.

Hairdressers
For close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, it’s up to the service providers themselves to decide whether they require customers to wear masks or a negative test.

Football matches and other large-scale events
Rules have changed here, too. From December 1st, capacity will be limited to 5,000 people plus 50 percent of the total potential stadium or arena capacity. And only those who’ve been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed in. Masks are also compulsory.

For the Olympic Stadium, this means capacity will be capped at 42,000 spectators and 16,000 for the Alte Försterei stadium. 

Transport
3G rules – ie vaccinated, recovered or a negative test – still apply on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses in Berlin. It was not possible to tighten restrictions, Matz said, as the regulations were issued at national level.

According to the German Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, people have to wear a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask  on public transport.

Christmas markets
The Senate currently has no plans to cancel the capital’s Christmas markets, some of which have been open since Monday. 

According to Matz, 2G rules apply and wearing a mask is compulsory.

Schools and day-care
Pupils will still have to take Covid tests three times a week and, in classes where there are at least two children who test positive in the rapid antigen tests, then tests should be carried out daily for a week.  

Unlike in Brandenburg, there are currently no plans to move away from face-to-face teaching. The child-friendly ‘lollipop’ Covid tests will be made compulsory in day-care centres and parents will be required to confirm that the tests have been carried out. Day-care staff have to document the results.

What about vaccination centres?
Berlin wants to expand these and set up new ones, according to Matz. A new vaccination centre should open in the Ring centre at the end of the week and 50 soldiers from the German army have been helping at the vaccination centre at the Exhibition Centre each day since last week.

The capacity in the new vaccination centre in the Lindencenter in Lichtenberg is expected to be doubled. There are also additional vaccination appointments so that people can get their jabs more quickly. Currently, all appointments are fully booked well into the new year.

 

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