May 19-25: City Reading, Photography Exhibition, Food Market, and more!
Things to do in Berlin - Week of May 19!
There are lots of events this week, and 2 event giveaways for paid supporters of the newsletter. So let’s get right into it.
Here's a sneak peek of what’s in store for you this week:
📚 StadtLesen (City Reading) at Bebelplatz
🖼️ Lygia Clark: Retrospective - Exhibition
📷 BBA Prizes 10 Year Anniversary Exhibition
🎻 Curtis on Tour with Gary Hoffman
🌼 Human Design Match Night
📷 Documentary in Flux - Exhibition
🥟 Bite Club - Food Market
🎷 DINNER SOCIAL CLUB - BERLIN SHANGHAI NIGHT
🎫 This Week's Free Tickets for Paid Supporters
🎻 We have 5 double tickets (5x2 tickets) for Curtis On Tour | Chamber Music with Piano (event details below) at Berliner Philharmonie available for 5 paid monthly supporters.
🎷 We have 2 single tickets (€52 value each) for DINNER SOCIAL CLUB meets BERLIN SHANGHAI NIGHT (event details below) for 2 paid monthly supporters.
⭐ You can become a Paid Supporter for just €2 per month and claim your free tickets. It's first come, first serve, just send us an email.
1. StadtLesen (City Reading) at Bebelplatz
The event brings over 3,000 books and comfortable seating to Bebelplatz, turning the square into an open-air reading space where you can browse freely across genres. The event offers a quiet moment within the city, inviting people to pause, pick up a book, and spend time reading in a public setting. Since starting in 2009, the project has grown into a traveling reading initiative across three European countries. Its goal remains simple: to make reading accessible, visible, and part of everyday urban life. More info.
💵 Free
📅 22 May (Thu) - 25 May (Sun) / from 9:00 am
2. Lygia Clark: Retrospective
The Neue Nationalgalerie will present the first German retrospective of Brazilian artist Lygia Clark, showing around 120 works spanning from the late 1940s to the 1980s. The exhibition will cover different phases of her practice, from early geometric-abstract paintings to later participatory objects and performances. A key focus is Clark’s shift toward involving the viewer, with many works designed for direct interaction. Replicas produced for the exhibition will allow visitors to engage physically with her ideas. More info.
💵 €14
📅 23 May (Fri) - 12 Oct (Sun)
3. BBA Prizes 10 Year Anniversary Exhibition
From 22 May to 1 June 2025, Kühlhaus Berlin will host a three-floor exhibition marking the 10th anniversary of the BBA Prizes. The event brings together the BBA Artist Prize, Photography Prize, One Shot Award, and Made in Berlin Award, alongside works from artists and photographers discovered by BBA over the past decade. Visitors will be able to explore pieces from more than 100 international artists, offering a broad view of how contemporary art has evolved across mediums and styles. More info.
💵 €14-€22
📅 22 May (Thu) - 01 June (Sun)
✨ Sponsored event
4. Curtis on Tour with Gary Hoffman:
Music of Debussy, Ravel, and Fauré
On 23rd of May, renowned cellist Gary Hoffman and Curtis alumni will tour Europe, performing a captivating program. Highlights include Debussy’s Sonata in D minor, Ravel’s Piano Trio in A minor with jazz and Baroque influences, and Fauré’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, a deeply moving and celebrated French chamber work. It promises an unforgettable musical experience. More info.
💵 €15-€28 (🎫 5x2 free ticekts for paid monthly supporters)
📅 23 May (Fri) / 20:00
✨ Sponsored event
5. Human Design Match Night 🌼Open Connections - Friends & Community🌸
❓❓❓ You can expect: 👻 Contact games that are fun and enable deeper connections. 🙌 Partners selected according to human design criteria. Let yourself be surprised. Maybe you'll meet someone here: 🕺your new best friend. 👯♂️ your long-awaited project partner. 👨🦳 the grandpa you've always wanted to have. 💏 your next romance. 👭👫 an open community 👬💃.
❤️🔥We are looking forward to meeting you! ❤️🔥. More info.
💵 €22-€33
📅 23 May (Fri) / 19:00
6. Documentary in Flux - Revisiting the C/O Berlin Talent Award
C/O Berlin is marking its twenty-fifth anniversary by reflecting on nearly two decades of the C/O Berlin Talent Award. Established in 2006, the award has remained a consistent part of the institution’s program. Since its founding in 2000, C/O Berlin has focused on supporting emerging figures in both creative and academic fields, offering a space to explore photography as a form of thought and expression. More info.
💵 €12
📅 24 May (Sat) - 16 Sept (Tue)
7. Bite Club - Food Market
Bite Club is a street food event where you can try dishes from different parts of the world, enjoy drinks, and listen to music in a relaxed outdoor setting. The pool area next to the Spree offers a clear view of the sunset, adding to the rhythm of the night. There will be 18 food stalls serving a wide range of regional and international dishes, and 10 bars offering cocktails, wine, natural wine, and craft beer. More info.
💵 €5
📅 25 May (Sun)
Submitted Events
8. DINNER SOCIAL CLUB meets BERLIN SHANGHAI NIGHT
Berlin Shanghai Night offers a chance to connect with others who share a link to Shanghai or a curiosity about its culture. It’s an easygoing evening filled with good food, music, and conversation. No formalities, just people coming together over shared memories and new encounters. With street food favorites like scallion noodles and shengjian bao, cocktails inspired by the House of Blues & Jazz, and live jazz from the Liraz Brothers Duet, this is a rare opportunity to experience the spirit of Shanghai right here in Berlin. More info.
💵 €52 (🎫 2 free ticekts for paid monthly supporters)
📅 23 May (Fri) / 18:30-22:00
📍 C*SPACE
❤️ Support the newsletter for just €2 per month and get access to 🎫 free event tickets. 🧉 It's cheaper than the third Club-Mate you didn’t need.
Restaurant Suggestion:
LOTTA Tagesbar - Cafe (⭐4/5)
Lotta is a laid-back daytime spot serving up tasty salads, sandwiches, and baked goods. Perfect for brunch and just a stone’s throw from Lietzensee. The charming courtyard is a great place to hang out and relax. Definitely a go-to if you’re around Charlottenburg!