überlin

Last Sunday I was severely hungover and debating whether or not to leave my bed. Olive gave me her best “I’m going to shit on your floor” face, so there wasn’t much choice really… thankfully it worked out good for both of us and I had the most amazing day!

The weather was perfect. PERFECT. The trees and buildings glowed a magical golden colour that made even the most hardened of Berliners smile maniacally. People were frolicking in the waters or lazing in the afternoon sun on the banks of the Landwehrkanal. It was like the whole of Berlin was outside, soaking up what might be the last of the good weather, enjoying the city.

On days like that I feel so grateful for living in such a wonderful city.

Summer’s well and truly over, but that doesn’t mean that Berlin’s burgeoning street food scene has to suffer. Sure, open air events like Markthalle Neun’s Stadt Land Food are going into hibernation, but Bite Club has moved indoors, and more and more pop-up food events are, er, popping up, seeking shelter in bars, clubs and other venues all over the city.

One recent discovery is Neue Heimat‘s bar and food night, which can be found in a converted railway shed in the RAW Complex in Friedrichshain (also the location of the fantastic Urban Spree). As well as the ever-present Mogg & Melzer, eatable treats were provided by the Happy Belly oyster bar, Schneeweiß‘s pop-up restaurant and more! We tucked into a succulent surf n’ turf burger from Fisch Art and a chorizo and bean-filled delight from Maria Maria Arepas, while lubrication came in the form of Red Snappers (gin-laced Bloody Maries), Old Fashioneds and Negronis.

If you’re a fan of jazz, you’ll be happy to note that all this deliciousness coincides with the Jazzy Fridays weekly live sessions – and those who like their music with more bleeps and bloops will probably feel the main room DJ (thanks for the Caribou!). With entertainment going on until 4am or later, and more awesome food and drink than you could safely consume, Neue Heimat’s set to live up to its name in the cold months to come. Make this your new home this winter.

“I think English Bulldogs are perfect for the city because they’re so lazy. Alfons loves other people and dogs as well and is very social. I’d love to get another one but two would be too much!”

What is it about Berlin that attracts international indie icons? Apart from Iggy and Bowie, the city’s also been home to Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus, Walter Schreifels of Quicksand and Rival Schools, J Mascis (sometimes) and, um, the bloke from Travis. Anton Newcombe, the ringleader of the confrontational and chaotic The Brian Jonestown Massacre, has also sought refuge here for the past few years, as a self-described “artist/horticulturalist/babysitter”. For today’s Music Montag, we’re screening the whole of Dig!, the Sundance Grand Prix-winning documentary about the love-hate relationship between the Massacre and their (former?) pals, the Dandy Warhols. As with many great docos, it straddles the line between fact and fiction, but it’s a sensational watch nonetheless.

Dig! from Retazovvorks on Vimeo.

“FOR FANS OF CROWBAR, MASTODON, ENTOMBED, DOWN”. Say no more, Pelagic Records!

Berlin’s Earthship have been cranking out “riffs taller than the mountains, backed by lyrics deeper than the sea” since 2010. Formed by Jan Oberg, a former drummer for The Ocean, the sludge rockers have had a revolving door lineup typical of Pelagic’s flagship project, with Jan’s wife replacing a bassist who “literally” disappeared(?), and Ocean founder Robin Staps leaving as his own band grew in popularity. Out now, third album Withered is a marked evolution in Earthship’s sound, a heady blend of stoner, doom and old school Swedish death metal they like to call “prog n’ roll”. Listen on Bandcamp, and check out the loopy lupine video for “Serpent Cult” below. Howwwwwwwwwwwwwwwl.