Ten years and still going strongOh my, the St. Oberholz! A temple of digital Berlin Bohème for some and the path to the forever glowing apple for others. But after exactly ten years now, the cafe located directly at Rosenthaler Platz is far more than that. When Ansgar Oberholz opened his shop in 2005, countless concepts for the same place had already failed – including a Burger King Franchise. (Kind of makes you wonder how this was even possible during the early noughties?!) Meanwhile, Rosenthaler Platz has turned into a Mitte Hotspot, the once godforsaken Torstraße has come to life and the cosmopolitan creative power of the capital city is sprouting everywhere. Just a question of luck? No, not at all. The driving force of St.Oberholz is one of the main reasons why this area has evolved the way it has. Berlin’s start-up scene is booming, revolutionary ideas are born (and discarded again), young creatives from around the world are drawn here – lured by the dream of the next big thing and a way of life that releases potential rather than limiting it. The St.Oberholz does not only serve good coffee and organic snacks, it’s an office space, a meeting room and has been the birthplace of some of the best concepts that the city has spawned in recent years. You can practically taste the sweet spirit of entrepreneurship when you walk in. Upstairs you can now officially book co-working spaces or even rent guestrooms another flight up. St. Oberholz has taken things to an even higher level with its own publishing company and their sister company St. Meze is winning fame for its coffee and cakes. Today there’ll be a big ten year anniversary bash with music and snacks and tons of founder stories (including those famous aha moments). Plenty of good reasons to stop by and return to the place where it all – or at least something – began for so many. Let’s raise our soy lattes to that – Happy Birthday! |
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In clarity lies strength. Vodka and such are slowly but surely shaking off the bad rep of just being the hard stuff for cocktails. The cheaper the booze, the sweeter the taste – that’s no longer the way to go. As with food, beer and whatever else ends up on our tables, more and more consumers and producers are getting back to basics by appreciating genuine, pure and high quality alcohols and good spirits. Fräulein Brösel, for example, sweetly finishes off any dinner with her hazelnut and fruit brandies distilled in Berlin Neukölln. The craft movement is clearly experiencing a boom – new distillates, brands and manufacturers are popping up on the map of ardent spirits almost daily, covering a range from absinth and brandy to vodka and whiskey to rum, gin, mezcal and pastis, the motto here being quality rather than quantity. Alcohol in moderation: enjoying a drink instead of guzzling it down. This weekend, together with co-organizers and liquor experts Dr. Kochan and Theo Ligithart, the creators of Markthalle Neun invite you to the 4th Craft Spirits Festival Destille Berlin held in the warehouse of the Heeresbäckerei. On an area of 750m2, connoisseurs, enthusiasts and spirit seekers can discover up to 500 top-notch spirit specialities from 50 German and international exhibitors. Due to artisan skills and substantial quality, the use of natural and regional ingredients and the small structures, both manufacturers and their products meet with the Slow Food criteria. Thus, this event is designed in line with the ideas of Markthalle Neun as an alternative to industrial mass production and offers genuine craft spirits from around the world for a relatively small amount of money. During numerous presentations, interested novices may gain a profound insight into the world of firewater. Handcrafted quality can be savoured at free tastings and at the Craft Spirit Bar, so be sure to line your stomach! You could conveniently stop by the Naschmarkt (Easter candy market) at Markthalle Neun just around the corner… During distilling demonstrations, you can also watch how fruit brandy is made. On Saturday evening, the best spirits from three categories will receive the “Craft Spirits Award 2015”. Enjoy in moderation.
