Menotti's THE MEDIUM 31.10.2014

Menotti's THE MEDIUM

"The Medium" is a two-act, one hour opera by the italian-american composer Gian Carlo Menotti. 

It tells a story of Madam Flora/Baba as a fraud communicator with the dead (think Whoopie Goldberg in the film "Ghost"), until this particular seance, whereby she has a true experience of someone (or something) touching her throat. From that moment she continues to become more obsessed with finding out the answer and growing with fear, frustration and anxiety. At the end of the opera she shoots the mute, Toby, thinking that he is the ghost. 

Design: Ellen Leather

While this a rarely performed Chamber Opera, it is extremely well composed, compact and dramatic. 

A performance in Berlin recently took place at the restaurant P103, Potsdamer Strasse 103, and another is planned for Halloween on Friday 31 October at 22:00. I suggest getting along to see it, as the performance is by donation only, and it is easy enough to have dinner first then enjoy drinks during the performance itself. 

L. Rose Nolan & R. Elizabeth Baz in THE MEDIUM / Photo: Niko Tourkos

The opera is sung in English and features an international cast as follows:

Monica - Elizabeth Baz

Madam Flora - Rose Nolan

Mrs Gobineau - Ellen Leather

Mr Gobineau - Oskar Koziolek-Goetz

Mrs Nolan - Alexandra Broneske

Toby - a mute (imagined)

Musical Director - Matthew Toogood

Come along and support these young artists by leaving a donation!!!

Kaffee in Berlin series: #9 EINSTEIN in Quartier 206 (neue/wieder Eröffnung)

EINSTEIN in Quartier 206

As you may be aware if you live in Berlin, Einstein Coffee is a Berlin chain of Coffee Houses, starting I believe with the original Einstein Villa in Schöneberg.

Now in Quartier 206 (C) MJT

The Einstein new opening on Friedrichstrasse in Quartier 206 is a welcome return to the area, as it was one of my original haunts when I first moved to Berlin.

Kaffee Einstein (C) MJT

Living long distance, I would spend hours each day skyping back to Australia in the cosy Coffee Shop close to my work. However the manager/owner decided to move to Savignyplatz, and the lease was taken over by a watch store (a watch store!! really??!! it was the best coffee for blocks!) However, Einstein Kaffee have now re-opened after a number of delays on the opposite side of the street in the centre of Quartier 206 in a much bigger store with upstairs seating. Directions here:

Espresso macchiato (C) MJT

While this is still a chain, the friendliness of the staff (particularly the manager) and the loyalty cards, makes this an extremely reliable place to grab a quick espresso, or if you are on a skype date enjoy a larger beverage such as the hot chocolate, or even for a lunch of cous cous salad or panini.

A quick espresso macchiato date (C) MJT

My only reservation is that the prices are slightly too high for a chain (particularly on lunch food) and there are now more places around Berlin to get good coffee. Given that the location is tourist central and Quartier 206 is considered hoighty-toighty, this is perhaps not so surprising.

Care of www.einstein-kaffee.de

In summary, EINSTEIN Kaffee in Quartier 206 comes in at a good recommendation, particularly if you are in the area around Checkpoint Charlie or Gendarmenmarkt and need a refresher:

Coffee: ★★★☆

Service: ★★★★☆

Atmosphere: ★★★★

Recommended Drink: Espresso macchiato or Hot Chocolate

Price: €1,80 or €3,50

Best Quality: Wifi, Service (particularly the manager) and atmosphere (now upstairs seating and in Quartier 206)

Burgers in Berlin: #1 District Môt

District Môt

Saigon Street Food

(C) MJT

Near the intersection of Rosenthaler Platz and on the corner of Mulackstrasse is a new(ish) vietnamese restaurant. Directions here:

We tried their Mittagsmenü when they first opened approximately a year and a half ago, and were intrigued but not overly impressed. 

Since then they have modified their menu, and their Bao Burger is an award winning creating in Berlin. 

  

(C) MJT

Basically if one is familiar with the dough of chinese buns (eg BBQ Pork Buns), this is the bread of the burger - so the texture and density is quite different to that of a regular burger. 

The ingredients are strong in flavour, enhanced particularly by the coriander and chili. 

Care of www.districtmot.com

The effort that has gone into making this Berlin corner restaurant resemble a busy Saigon street is impressive, if not a little too crowded - but that is probably part of the theme. 

While I would recommend trying the Bao Burger, I have to confess that I do find that the service is extremely poor - both in attendance and manner. Given the number of Vietnamese restaurants in Berlin, in order to compete, the service does need to improve.

More information regarding the regular menu can be found on their website: www.districtmot.com  however this does not have the Burger information, as it is usually a special item.

A week in May

Hello everyone, 

A quick blog post to actually re-blog a video that franklovesellen.com posted a while ago, which includes footage from our trip to Szczecin and the Olympus Photography Playground. 

If you have a few free minutes have a watch, and see some of our daily life, as it was this past May, and how clever E is at compiling and editing videos!

Enjoy!

M

Kaffee in Berlin series: #8 Barcomi's Deli

Barcomi's Deli

Tucked away in the Sophie-Gips-Hof is a treasured large coffee and cake house. Though not as busy as the Hackescher Höfe, this courtyard has a more local feel and is ideal for a weekend brunch or an afternoon coffee and cake. Directions here:

 

There is an abundance of seating inside for the winter months and outside in the calm courtyard opposite Gestalten.

Care of www.barcomis.de

I have previously written about the Sophie-Gips-Höfe, that it was originally a factory for bike chains and then sewing machines. The full post can be found here:

Barcomi's Cappuccino (C) MJT

The café itself seems to be based on an Austrian tradition with New York style feel. There is a page worth of coffee beans to choose from, and it has been one of the few coffee houses I have found to serve a condensed milk "cortado" (as they name it).

Cortado at Barcomi's (C) MJT

I can also recommend sharing the three dips lunch, or a bagel. To date I have resisted the temptation to try the cakes, though I'm sure that wont last long and I will follow up this post with a dedicated cake one.

Bagel at Barcomi's (C) MJT

Another great quality or touch that I appreciate is not having to ask for water, as each coffee drink comes with sparkling water to cleanse the palette. 

Espresso at Barcomi's (C) MJT

Overall a very calm, traditional coffee and cake house.

Coffee: ★★★★

Service: ★★★★

Atmosphere: ★★★★☆

Recommended Drink: Cortado (condensed milk)

Price: €2,80 (€3,80 doppel)

Best quality: condensed milk coffee "cortado" or the cakes

Japanese food in Berlin: #1 Introduction

Japanese food in Berlin: #1 Introduction

Since we are both great fans of Japanese cuisine, it is no surprise that we have sought out our favourite eateries in Berlin.

Hence in this series, I will be recommending a number of lunch/dinner, formal/delivery places where you can find good Japanese food in Berlin (ie not just sushi).

And if you have any further suggestions, we would be very interested in discovering other good restaurants. 

(C) MJT

 

Sophie-Gips-Höfe / Gestalten Space

SOPHIE-GIPS-HÖFE / GESTALTEN SPACE

Between the streets of Sophienstrasse and Gipsstrasse in Mitte behind Hackeschermarkt lies one of the most peaceful and interesting spaces in Berlin. While many flock to the courtyards (Höfe) at Hackeschermarkt, this subtle gem known as either Sophie-Gips-Höfe or Gestalten Space is well worth the look in for numerous reasons.

Care of www.berlin.de

Care of Google Maps

First of all, the actual address is Sophienstrasse 21, and while there are two entrances, this is the easiest to find first, as it is directly opposite the back corner of the Sophienkirche and next to a musical instrument shop. Google map directions here. In the late 19th century it was a sewing machine factory, later becoming a bicycle chain factory and other shops. 

There are three courtyards between the two streets, each with a distinct artistic flavour, though subtle and refined. According to the official page of Berlin.de and the plaque on-site, the entire property was purchased by the family Hoffmann in 1995, who ensured that the thoroughfare would be opened up to the public and would patronise the light installations, garden works and artwork. The property was subsequently converted into individual apartments and lofts.

First Hof covered with Ivy (C) MJT

Antonyms Artwork (C) MJT

The first Hof from Sophienstrasse entrance is not unlike that of a normal Berlin Alt-bau (old-building/historical) except for the list of antonyms running down the wall from the top storey in clear simple typography, made intimate by the remaining walls covered in ivy. On closer inspection of the buzzers, one notices that many local business such as Ampelmann have their offices in the building.

Middle Hof with Loft Apartments (C) MJT

Gestalten Publishing (C) MJT

The second and middle Hof is by far the busiest, with Café/Deli Barcomi's filling out the courtyard with tables and chairs for coffee and lunch patrons, while the shop opposite - "Gestalten" is a homewares and bookstore, exclusively of the books that they themselves publish. The space at the back of the shop also changes regularly to accommodate artistic projects.

Recent "gestalten" purchases (C) MJT / franklovesellen

Third Hof (closest to Gipsstrasse) (C) MJT

Finally the third Hof is again subtle and is more open than the other two, and again features some writing on the top walls and what seems so simple yet brilliant, a geometrical designed lawn, that adds a subtle touch to an otherwise lawned area.

Simple yet effective (C) MJT

Peaceful space (C) MJT

I will write shortly about the café Barcomi's, as it makes a visit to the Sophien-Gips-Höfe well worth the effort. Plus there are so many boutique shops and locally made and designed products, that the area is extremely vibrant.

E & #Nikolaithehusky (C) MJT

Other entrance at Gipsstrasse (C) MJT

We love finding new spaces and investigating the Hofs of Mitte. Do you like it too Nikolai?

#nikolaithehusky (C) MJT