Chances are, if you’ve ever wrapped a gift with care, sent mail with flair, or hung a poster the creative way, you’ve crossed paths with it: washi tape. The little rolls of colorful adhesive come in every width, pattern, and mood imaginable, equal parts functional, fun, and fantastical. The original masking tape from Japan was created by the company mt — short for “masking tape”. Now, the brand behind it — Kamoi from Kurashiki, Japan — is taking over Berlin with the “mt Super Tape Festival”, running through May 10. The heart of it all is an exhibition at Aedes, where tape scales up to the architectural. Expect an immersive installation by mt’s longtime art director Koji Iyama, alongside experimental works by students of the Raumklasse at Berlin University of the Arts under the guidance of Prof. Gabi Schillig and Tape That. Think tape as furniture, structure, and free-form expression. The exhibition runs through Gallery Weekend, so consider adding it to your route at Pfefferberg. But the tape takeover isn’t just about looking — it’s about doing. Eleven Berlin shops are joining in with pop-ups, live taping events, and creative workshops. From the mother of all things material, Modulor, to stationery favorites like Luiban or R.S.V.P., you’ll find plenty of spots to dive in, whether you’re after some creative downtime or a fun family activity. Or simply stop by to grab the limited-edition tapes and rekindle your love for paper and pattern — this one’s worth sticking with.

Text: Nina Trippel / Photos: Ruby Watt

Aedes, Christinenstr.18–19, 10119 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
Finissage at Aedes 09.05.2025 19h. Free admission.

@mt_masking_tape_global
@atelierpapier.berlin
@boesner_berlin
@luibanberlin
@modulorberlin
@_papierhaus_
@polly_paper
@rsvpberlin
@ting.shop.berlin
@wlkmndys

We’re stronger together! This is the ethos of trade unions this year’s First of May. We would like to join in and do what we do best: observe what is happening in the city. Here are our tips for the long weekend. Club Ost opens its doors on International Workers’ Day (01.05.) and provides a never-ending line-up that stretches from midday across four floors into the night. For the Free Party, the Alt-Stralauer Club will be hijacked by Sound Metaphors, who’ll spread out with over 70 DJs: on two outdoor floors for the sunny hours and two indoor, with a lavish sound system. If you can, donate to support the DJs and all the helping hands on the day. Disclaimer: The queue outside the club is as long as the line-up if you’re not there in time. If you find yourself amid the Berlin workers’ movement on Thursday (01.05.), there’s plenty to discover in Kreuzberg. In addition to cultural events, which will be sponsored by the district office for the first time this year, there are many reasons to celebrate with Pinci, including four fun-loving DJs. The Pinci Party location, Paul-Linke-Ufer, for one. See you by the water! Further east, Prenzlauer Berg and London are joining forces in the name of culinary delight for the Kricket Pop-up. On Friday and Saturday (02.-03.05.), Sathutu welcomes Kricket, an up-and-coming restaurant from London. Under the direction of Michelin chef Will Bowlby, Sri Lankan and Indian cuisine merge to create a seafood menu that can only be tasted for two days. Spend time browsing through Stefan Marx’s presentation this weekend: a font for everyone — and a book about what it means to share handwriting.

On Friday (02.05.), he and Dinamo Typefaces will celebrate the launch of their joint typeface (and the book that tells the story behind it) at the new Café Tiergarten. There will also be a cake in typo form. On the weekend (03.-04.05.) they will open the ABC Reading Room for browsing. In addition to the new book project, find other works by Stefan Marx and Dinamo Editions. An invitation to lose yourself between typography, art and cake. If you find yourself on your way to the next gallery on Potsdamer Straße, stop by Andy Wolf‘s showroom. A colorful collective of beautiful things is organized here: the Sunglasses Archive Sale attracts visitors with pop-ups by Luce, Rayas and Zaaz Design, with Jaja serving drinks. If, like us, you can always make room for bagels, on Sunday (04.05.), a special collaboration invites you to the terrace of Bagel Bro. Bouche and Bagel Bro are teaming up for a Sunday session to fill stomachs and glasses, with cream cheese bagels with a subtle bouche note (I wonder how that tastes?) and kombucha on the house. There are also tempting events outside the city limits, such as Gut & Bösel in Alt-Madlitz. The organic farm is hosting a spring festival on Sunday (04.05.) and is opening its gates and barns to visitors. You can explore the farm and discover the first calves on the pasture alongside organic products from the farm store, compost workshops, and delicious treats from the farm kitchen. There will also be a colorful children’s program and fresh young plants for your balcony. The motto for this weekend: make yourself strong. Or make yourself beautiful. But don’t do it alone.

Text: Emma Zylla / Photos: 8am, Bagelbro, Bouche, Gut & Bösel, Sathutu

Club Ost, Alt-Stralau 1–2, 10245 Berlin–Friedrichshain; map
Free Party 01.05.2025. Outdoor from 13h, indoor from 22h

Paul-Linke-Ufer 42, 10999 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Pinci Party 01.05.2025.

Sathutu, Rykestr.15, 10405 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
Kricket Pop-Up 02.–03.05.2025 18–23h. Reserve a seat here.

Café Tiergarten, Altonaer Str.3, 10557 Berlin–Tiergarten; map
Typeface & Book Launch 02.05.2025 from 16h. Reading Room 03.–04.05.2025 14–18h

Andy Wolf Showroom, Potsdamer Str.105, 10785 Berlin–Tiergarten; map
Sunglasses Archive Sale & Pop-Ups 02.–03.05.2025 11–21h, 04.05.2025 12–18h

Bagel Bro, Reichenberger Str.104, 10999 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Sunday Session 04.05.2025 17–21h

Gut & Bösel, Schlossstr.32, 15188 Briesen (Mark); map
Frühlingsfest 04.05.2025 12–18h

@club.ost
@soundmetaphors
@pinci.berlin
@kricketlondon
@sathutu.berlin
@will_bowlby
@stefanmarx
@andywolfofficial
@luce.berlin
@rayascollective
@zaazdesign
@jaja.berlin
@booouuuche
@bagelbro__berlin
@gutundboesel