überlin

[EDIT: this competition is now closed. Click here to see if we’re running any open competitions] 

Check this out! As a thank you to all our loyal readers and fans, we’re giving away LOADS of Berlin swag this Christmas. Lots of kind folk have contributed to a grand prize that is worth nearly €250 (!) and includes: exclusive überlin merchandise, t-shirts from local designers, a luxury cheese and wine gift box, and some other lovely stuff produced here in the Haupstadt. Scroll down for full details of this epic prize, and to find out how to get your hands on it. Good luck, little elves!

The grand prize in full (worth nearly €250!)

1 x cheese & wine gift box from GiftsforEurope.com. This bestseller includes three distinct Primello cheeses – fresh cheese in elegant roll form with salmon, pineapple, and pepper – a gorgeous red wine from Château des Tourtes, tangy Japanese crackers, and nuts.

IMPORTANT NOTE: we can only get this prize shipped to these EU countries – if you win, and live somewhere else, you’ll just have to send the gift box to some lucky European!

1 x überlin t-shirt lovingly hand-printed here in Berlin by Mother Drucker, in our classic white-on-black colourway. Exclusive – you can’t even buy these yet!

 1 x überlin tote bag – another exclusive!

1 x t-shirt from AKA, the place we got our matching überlin tattoos. This Philippe Fernandez anatomical heart print is only available in the AKA store in Berlin!

1 x either: Bowie t-shirt or Björk t-shirt from SAY IT. Your choice of a tee featuring the most famous Berlin expat, or – for the ladies – a tank top inspired by our favourite ice queen, both hand-printed here in the city. 

1 x 2013 calendar featuring panoramic streetviews of Berlin, created by Panorama Streetline and published by archimap.

1 x Notes of Berlin book. Joab Nist of the fabulous blog Notes of Berlin has collected his favourite witty, pretty and sometimes crazy notes submitted by locals, into a book. Read more about it here.

1 x music DVD from Berlin-based “queen of electronic soul” Billie Ray Martin, “Five Takes (A Song About Andy)”, in 8 panel deluxe silver metallic packaging.

2 x free tickets for C/O Berlin photographic centre, for when you’re next in town and feel like seeing some inspirational images.

1 x set of beautiful greetings cards from Berlin-based illustrator Petal to Petal, featuring exquisite hand-drawn snowflake designs.

How to win (it’s easy!)

Just tell us what you’d buy überlin for Christmas. Find the perfect gift for any or all of us – James, Zoë, Olive, Iggy and Otis – and we’ll pick our favourite. Be creative, and be generous – remember, we’re giving you something worth about €250!

Enter by posting a comment below, by 6pm on Christmas Eve. We’ll announce the winner our Facebook page on Christmas Day, and send out the prize shortly thereafter.

So has Santa got a bunch of Berlin swag in his sack for you? Find out by entering our Big Christmas Giveaway NOW!

The Boring Bit (yawn, RULES):

1. You must be 18 years or older to enter.
2. The cheese & wine gift box from GiftsforEurope.com can only be shipped to these EU countries – if you win, and live somewhere else, you’ll just have to send the gift box to some lucky European!
3. You have until 6pm (Berlin time) on Monday 24th December to enter.
4. We will announced the winners via our Facebook page on Tuesday 25th December.

by Greta Riondato

This picture tells you two things about this man: 1) he is from either Canada or the American Midwest, and 2) he makes folk music. Indeed, Canadian (right first time!) Tobin James Stewart makes beautiful pastoral music that delights even the most reluctant user of the f-word. His Carpet of Horses project, which started as a recording experiment in his Toronto bedroom, has travelled with him to his Berlin base via Tel Aviv, drawing in international collaborators and growing in ambition and production scale. The new six-track EP It’s Only Light, recorded across the three cities, embraces ambient atmospherics, swelling post-rock experimentalism and down-home plucked acoustic guitars. Listen to it below, buy it at the Carpet of Horses bandcamp, and make it the soundtrack to your winter.