Nov 17-23: Opera, Christmas Garden, Jazz Festival, and more!
Things to do in Berlin - Week of Nov 17!
The newsletter friends, Daria and Cynthia from WAA and Clicqui, have recently published a book titled The Feeling of Berlin. When their publisher reached out asking if I could mention it in the newsletter, I was happy to do it, especially since I managed to secure a few copies for subscribers (details below). In the publisher’s words:
“The Feeling of Berlin” is a city guide that showcases the capital through 33 portraits of women who have shaped it in diverse ways – as artists, restaurateurs, activists, entrepreneurs, or as voices of everyday Berlin life. Alongside more than 250 personal recommendations for cafés, restaurants, bars, cultural venues, and hidden gems, this guide tells stories. Each woman reveals a different facet of Berlin: a unique perspective, a slice of everyday Berlin life.
What’s in store for you this week:
🎭 Les Contes d’Hoffmann - Opera
🎄 Christmas Garden Berlin
👩🏻❤️💋👨🏻 Kennt ihr schon...?
🎷 Rejazz Festival
🎼 BAM!
🎛️ Sauna Club & Sleep Is Commercial
🍣 Sasaya - Japanese Restaurant
📅 Spotlight - Sponsored
🍽️ Dinner Roulette: 22 Nov (Sat) · 6 PM · Berlin’s most heartwarming dinner experience — three courses, three homes and lovely encounters. Cook and host in teams, dine as a guest twice and spark genuine connections and new friendships. Registration deadline: 19th of November. More info.
Want to advertise your event? Email us.
🎫 This Week’s Giveaways
We have 3 free copies (€33 value) of The Feeling of Berlin, available for 3 subscriber. Selection is random through a draw, and paid subscribers have double the chance of winning.
We have 2 free tickets to Kennt ihr schon...? available for 2 subscribers. First come, first served (Priority is given to paid supporters).
Just send me an email. ⭐ You can become a Paid Supporter for €2 per month.
1. Les Contes d’Hoffmann - Opera
Jacques Offenbach wrote more than one hundred stage works, many known for their sharp humor, satire and distinctive style. Near the end of his long career in Paris he turned to one of his most ambitious projects, the Opéra fantastique Les Contes d’Hoffmann, which premiered in 1881 and was based on a play of the same period. The work follows a protagonist shaped by the figure of E. T. A. Hoffmann as he moves through stories filled with unusual characters, shifting moods and music that changes across each scene. More info.
💵 €21+
📅 19 Nov (Wed) - 22 Jan (Thu)
2. Christmas Garden Berlin
The Christmas Garden at the Botanical Garden in Berlin turns the grounds into a seasonal light experience with a long walking route through illuminated paths, quiet corners, and detailed installations. You can move through a one and a half kilometer trail that features more than a million lights, thousands of small fixtures, and a range of color displays placed throughout the gardens. The centerpiece is the Great Pavilion, which works with the Italian Garden to present a coordinated mix of music, projections, and light. More info.
💵 €17+
📅 19 Nov (Wed) - 12 Jan (Mon)
⭐ sponsored post
3. Kennt ihr schon...? Pitchen statt swipen
Offline Dating Event der anderen Art. Ihr habt das Swipe-Chaos und endlose Chatverläufe satt? Dann ist jetzt Schluss damit! Ihr lernt euch endlich wieder persönlich kennen. Kein Standard-Dating, sondern ein Raum für echte Persönlichkeiten. Eure Freund:innen stellen euch jeweils in maximal 5 Minuten dem Publikum vor – charmant, spontan, ehrlich und mit jeder Menge Spaß! More info.
⭐ Single Men who wanna get presented to the audience by a pitch have free entrance by using the code “KIS-Men”. ⭐ Single Men who wanna just join to watch get 50% discount by using the code “KIS-Berlin”
💵 €10-€15
📅 20 Nov (Thu) / 18:00-21:00
4. Rejazz Festival
The Rejazz Festival focuses on the theme Women in Jazz and brings together bands and soloists led by women, using a broad understanding of jazz that stretches from chamber music to contemporary work, experimental approaches, and electronic influences. This year’s program features performances by Ella Zirina, Holly Schlott, and many other, offering a clear view of how varied the current jazz landscape can be within this framework. The program.
💵 €15+
📅 20 Nov (Thu) - 22 Nov (Sat)
5. BAM! – Berlin Festival for Contemporary Music Theatre
Berlin’s independent music theater scene works at the intersection of drama, performance and contemporary storytelling, and BAM! is the annual festival that brings this work into focus. The program highlights new ways artists combine music, language and stage action while reflecting current social themes. Each project follows its own direction, and the compact four day format in Neukölln encourages visitors to move between venues, discover different styles and join conversations. The program.
💵 €15
📅 20 Nov (Thu) - 23 Nov (Sun)
📍 Various locations in Neukölln
6. Sauna Club & Sleep Is Commercial
If you are looking for one party to go to this weekend, this is the right one! It has a strong lineup and, as they describe it themselves, it is “For Those Who Know.”… More info.
💵 €25
📅 22 Nov (Sat) / 10:00 am - Late
Restaurant Suggestion:
Sasaya - Japanese Restaurant (⭐4/5)
This is one of those real hidden spots in Prenzlauer Berg. It is a Japanese restaurant run by a Japanese team, and it shows in the small details, the choice of plates, the quiet way the staff speaks and the care they put into service and the menu. A Japanese DJ once told me this was one of the two places he recommends in Berlin, and I can see why. The place is almost always full, so calling ahead is important since walk ins rarely get a table. Besides their regular menu with classic dishes and sushi, they offer a seasonal selection of small plates that are great for trying a mix of flavors. We ordered several of these dishes, all priced between €3 and €7 euros, along with a sushi platter. The sushi was good, but the small plates stood out more and were the highlight for me. They accept only EC cards, and the average cost is about €30 euros per person.
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