Dec 15-21: Christmas Film Festival, Xmas Concert, Ceramic Market, and more!
Things to do in Berlin - Week of Dec 15!
Usually there is a period in Berlin when events slow down, as people prepare for Christmas and the New Year. We are in that period now. This has created more space to include a review of a Michelin star restaurant I recently tried, looking at whether it lives up to the hype. You can find the review at the bottom of the newsletter.
What’s in store for you this week:
🎷 TOPO Concert Series
🎬 Christmas Film Festival
🎻 Xmas in Concert - Classical Music Meets Pop Songs
🎛️ BERLIN FINEST - ANNIVERSARY
🍶 Winter Ceramics Market at Kleistone Studio
🎶 Harmonia Sessions #8
🍽️ LOUMI Restaurant
📅 Spotlight - Sponsored
🎶📘 Dative–Accusative sing-along exercises: Adjectives scare you? Endings, too? German grammar can be tricky. But here are some self-made songs for you to practice. They’ve already helped many German learners. Enjoy! Check them out.
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1. TOPO Concert Series
This small and cozy concert presents two sets of improvised music that examine how sound spaces form and change. The concept draws from topology, which studies how spaces can transform while keeping their essential qualities. Musicians work together to build these sound environments through spontaneous performance, with the interaction between performers and listeners shaping what happens. The first part features Chris Heenan, Birgit Ulher, and Ute Wassermann, while the second part pairs Heenan with Andreas Voccia. More info.
💵 €8
📅 17 Dec (Wed), 19:30 - 23:00
2. Christmas Film Festival
This festival focuses entirely on films about Christmas, showing works that go beyond typical holiday stories. The program includes comedies alongside serious, satirical, and darker takes on the season. Films come from 25 countries, with titles like an Irish documentary opening the festival, a Swedish horror film, a drama from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and comedies from the Netherlands and the Balkans. The selection offers different perspectives on what Christmas means to people around the world. More info.
💵 €10-€12
📅 18 Dec (Thu) - 21 Dec (Sun)
3. Xmas in Concert - Classical Music Meets Pop Songs
For this event, a string quartet performs classical arrangements of well-known pop songs by artists like Madonna, Drake, and ABBA. The group takes these familiar tracks and reworks them using traditional string instruments, creating a different way to hear music people already know. The performance happens in a cinema setting, combining the formal structure of classical music with the accessibility of popular songs. More info.
💵 €24
📅 20 Dec (Sat), 20:30 - 22:00
4. BERLIN FINEST - ANNIVERSARY
An old-school techno and industrial warehouse rave returns to Berlin with local and international acts, rooted in the city’s club culture. After three years shaped by long nights, loud systems, and packed floors, the event moves back into a warehouse setting for two nights focused on heavy sound, stark lighting, and a raw dancefloor vibe. More info.
💵 €15+
📅 19 Dec (Fri) - 21 Dec (Sun)
📍 TBA
⭐ sponsored post
5. Winter Ceramics Market at Kleistone Studio
Come visit us for a very special winter market on the 4th Advent! You will find beautiful ceramics made by our studio artists, wrapping paper and festive twine. This is also a great opportunity to buy pottery class gift vouchers, pottery supplies for the potters in your life and last minute gifts, all while supporting local artists. More info.
💵 Free
📅 21 Dec (Sun), 13:00-18:00
Submitted Events
6. Harmonia Sessions #8 🎶 | Marc Gilodo
The series returns with another small-scale living room concert, featuring Marc Gilodo, a Berlin-based singer, songwriter, and pianist known for piano-led songs and a warm vocal style. His work draws on influences from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s while remaining grounded in a personal and contemporary approach. More info.
💵 Donation based (Cash, Minimum Suggested €10)
📅 18 Dec (Fri) / 19:00-22:00
📍 Near Potsdamer Platz, Berlin
Restaurant Suggestion:
LOUMI- One Michelin Star ⭐ Restaurant
I recently had a chance to eat at LOUMI, one of the Michelin star restaurants in Berlin. When you go to places like this, it always raises the question of whether the price is really worth the experience, and in many cases, once you pass a certain euro threshold, I do not think it is. The restaurant offers a €150 set menu per person, along with a selection of cocktails, wines, and champagnes ranging from €12 to €22/per glass. There are also optional extras, like oysters and Wagyu beef (€69), which we ended up ordering because we still felt hungry after finishing the set menu. As explained on their website, their cuisine is based on French traditions, refined by Japanese precision, and inspired by Nordic and Asian techniques, with a strong focus on sauces.
The most interesting ingredient for me was Chinese artichoke, which I was trying for the first time. The duck with brioche for dipping into the sauce was excellent, and the Wagyu beef was superb, though the fact that we had to order extra did not sit well with me. The desserts were also enjoyable.
The place itself is chill and laid back, without a fancy atmosphere, which I see as a positive. The selection of tableware and serving dishes is also well chosen and visually appealing. The staff were friendly and attentive, although I did feel a slight push toward ordering extras, which I did not particularly appreciate.
In conclusion, it was a nice experience and definitely worth trying. Would it be a revelation though? I do not think so.
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