The Federal Constitutional Court declared the Berlin rent cap “unconstitutional” this morning at 9:30 a.m.… Read More
Tag Archive: life in berlin
What’s the Deal with Kirchensteuer/Church Tax?!
You moved to Berlin, landed a job and just received your first pay cheque. You notice a deduction called “Kirchensteuer” in the small print and wonder what it could possibly be…
What is Kirchensteuer?
Kirchensteuer (church tax) is a tax imposed on members of some religious congregations in Germany.
Bergkind Cafe in Berlin
The new kid on the block in the quarter north of Schönhauser Allee is a mountain child. Cosy, warm, and kid-friendly, Bergkind Cafe is run by the charming Carmen Garcia, who today donned bright pink sneakers and a high-topped bun and told me that the cafe opened just before Christmas last year. She’s decorated the intimate space in light, earthy colours, with tempting cake displays, a comfy sofa, lots of pillows, a stack of magazines, and jazz standards playing in the background. It’s tasteful and welcoming, and yes, the WLAN password hangs invitingly from the wall.
It’s true….. Everyone is moving to Berlin!
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrgnkd-Lsl8]
About the Author: Kathleen Parker dedicates her time to helping English speakers settle into life in Berlin. Through her company Red Tape Translation, she offers phone interpreting for English speakers who are reticent to make German phone calls, and accompanies Australians, Kiwis, Canadians, Brits, South Africans, Americans, and many other international Berliners to their appointments at the immigration office, the job center, real estate agencies, and banks.
Kaffeehaus Grosz – 1920’s Life in Berlin
This place is an extra special treat if you’re living in Berlin. The love and care that has gone into restoring and designing this glamorous 1920‘s coffee house is extraordinary. Freshly opened at the beginning of December 2012, we visited just before Christmas with friends, and we left enchanted. Every detail, from the plates, trays, cups, chairs, cutlery, artwork, ornamentation, and even the serving uniform, has been lovingly thought out and charmingly executed.