It can be a VERY long 12 weeks of winter after the holidays, so here are 5 tips to help you survive Berlin winter like a pro…. Read more
Category Archive: Life in Germany
Rental scam affects hundreds of Berlin expats
Unexpected cancellation of hundreds of expat accommodation bookings in Berlin with no signs of a refund: we outline the suspected rental scam and what victims should do next.
NYE traditions in Germany
NYE traditions in Germany aren’t exactly what I was used to in the States, aside from fireworks and fizzy wine. So since I’m home for the holidays for the first time since 2013, I decided to bring a bit of Germany back to Pennsylvania. I packed my suitcase with various holiday baked goods (Lebkuchen, Stollen, Marzipan Kartoffeln), as well a festively green bottle of cucumber liqueur from Spreewald (not bad!) and some Bleigießen Kits for New Year’s Eve.
Client Spotlight: Alex Maxwell
Introducing our first star…
Alex Maxwell is up in our new Client Spotlight Series. This series was inspired by the many amazing people our team has had the privilege of working with over the years – it is my absolute pleasure to have Dr. Alex Maxwell as the first!
Wow, where do I even start sharing this amazing human with you? Though her accent will fool you into thinking she’s from the U.S. (yes, I am a U.S. native and saying this with absolutely no pause), Alex is from Russia. After doing some cultural exchange programs in the states, Alex decided at around 20 that she wanted to emigrate.
Christmas Markets in Berlin: the main reason you moved to Germany
Christmas markets in Berlin officially open in late November: here are the most popular locations, the unexpected delights, their opening hours and – most importantly – what to eat and drink.
What can we expect from German bureaucracy in 2023?
We expect German bureaucracy to keep us on our toes in 2023. Can we expect the long-awaited citizenship reform to become a reality? Will medical matters finally go digital? Is cheap train travel really here to stay? Here’s what we anticipate from German red tape next year.
2023 Berlin public holidays (“Feiertagen”) and school vacations
What are the 2023 Berlin public holidays? If you work for a company in Berlin, you’re probably already planning your vacation for 2023… particularly if you have children in Berlin schools or Kitas, coordinating with colleagues can be a nightmare. This should help.
Down Under Berlin: Australian & New Zealand film festival is coming up!
Down Under Berlin has risen like a phoenix after a couple of years of setbacks thanks to the virus-that-shall-not-be-named. I personally am hanging out to see Nude Tuesday and some spectacular Aussie short films. I need an urgent hit of antipodean culture and humour.
What’s the KSK? Kathleen explains: all about the Künstlersozialkasse in Berlin
I was asked to speak at a Monthly Meet Up event on Tuesday evening hosted by Touring Artists e.V. as an expert on the Künstlersozialkasse (artists’ social security). With a bit of humour and a whole bunch of crazy anecdotes, we dived into the application process in delightful detail.
Thai Park Berlin – what’s new at this delicious outdoor street-food market
Have you had the new and improved Thai Park experience in Berlin?
Preußen Park is a beautiful, large park in Wilmersdorf, with a delicious history of Thai street food: from April to October each year, the park becomes home to a giant outdoor street-food market, with vendors selling their best Thai dishes to a hungry crowd. In the past the market was pretty much unregulated. Basically a bunch of cooks and vendors just set up shop on picnic blankets across the grassy field and casually sold their ridiculously good food to whomever happen to come to the park that day.
And while there were some advantages to this – for example, on sunny day I could just walk to the park and get lunch with my friends from German class without any pre-planning – the general lack of organization also ended up being problematic…especially when it came to trash and litter. Seeing as Berliners aren’t exactly known for attending to cleanliness, even when forced (!), you can imagine the state the park was left in at the end of the day.
How to do Oktoberfest in Berlin…the right way! Read our top 5 tips
What you need to know!
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, I am embarrassingly excited to offer our top 5 tips on how to do Oktoberfest in Berlin. But first, a bit of background on this internationally known and beloved folk festival…
ANOHA Berlin – a wonderful children’s world (the year-long wait for tickets was worth it!)
When I first heard about ANOHA Berlin – the Jewish Museum’s brand new kids’ museum in Berlin – I jumped at the chance to take my daughters. A year later, I finally managed to snag us some tickets.