There are numerous initiatives that have come to the aid of Berlin’s gastro scene during this time, but what about the measures and innovations needed for the post-Corona era? The Feminist Food Club deals with precisely this issue. Launched in 2017 by Stil in Berlin founder Mary Scherpe and designer Ruth Bartlett to provide a platform for women and non-binary people in the industry, the project’s new Corona Crisis Talks address the challenges currently faced whilst looking to the future too. These Instagram interviews have seen Mary talk to Berlin restaurateurs including Anders Alkaersig from Albatross and Sarah Durante from Humble Pie about individual approaches in areas like PR, online selling and financing. The series asks important questions that are relevant to business owners planning for the future, but does it in a way that’s interesting to the regular restaurant-goer. The interviews go out live on Instagram; check out previous talks on the Feminist Food Club website. (Text: Hanna Komornizyk / Photos: Viviana Blihoghe & Margaret Flatley)

Feminist Food Club talks 
With Peter Duran (Isla Coffee), Thu 16.04.2020 19h
With Camden Hauge (Shanghai), Sun 19.04.2020 12h
With Soleil Ho (San Francisco Chronicle), Sun 26.04.2020 19h
@feministfoodclub

It’s not often that we see a literary event and club night at the same time and place. But there’s much to be gained from bringing together these two expressive forms, especially when the creative lineup is as rich and full of surprises as at Halb Halb (06.03.2020) at Rixdorf’s Arkaoda club. The night is a collab between Berlin lit collective Kabeljau & Dorsch and arty partymakers Cereals which starts with readings, segues into live music and ends up as a full-blown party. Writer Marius Goldhorn starts proceedings with a reading of his tales of an increasingly insecure Europe, followed by a selection of Ianina Ilitcheva’s 40,000 Twitter ministories read by Luise Hart. The musical half of the night kicks off with a wave-garage-synth-punk gig from Berliner band Das Das, before the disco ball is lit up for a danceable set by Andre Pahl. Closing up the night, Cereal co-founders Smidek and Balaban will get behind the booth to bring funky flashes and guaranteed grooves. This mashup of words and tunes is something we can get behind. (Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Das Das, Arkaoda)

Arkaoda, Karl-Marx-Platz 16–18, 12043 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Halb Halb, 06.03.2020, 22h–6h
@kabeljauunddorsch
@arkaoda

Don’t know what to do with all those unworn t-shirts and pants in your wardrobe? How about the indoor flea market at Marsano this Saturday (29.02.2020)? With the motto “Great women sell great clothes”, this fashion treasure trove is for a good cause. Numerous clothing, interior and jewellery designers will be bringing their collections, including Cee Cee favorites Lala Berlin and the elegant Thone Negrón. And every visitor is invited to bring and donate their own clothes to Evas Haltestelle – an emergency shelter for homeless women in Wedding – and charity Caritas. Time for a rummage through your wardrobe we think. If you don’t have time this weekend, we’ve got another event to look forward to at Marsano. On 06.03. Berlin-based artist Sonya Schönberger will be presenting her lecture, “Kenyan Roses for the Kingdom“, which takes a behind-the-scenes look at the Kenyan cut rose industry, revealing colonial entanglements that still have an impact today. Two weeks, two flowery and worthwhile events. (Text: Sophie Döring / Photos: Marsano, Sonya Schönberger)

Marsano, Charlottenstr.75, 10117 Berlin–Mitte; map
Flea market: 29.02.2020, 11–15h
Lecture: Kenyan Roses for the Kingdom, 06.03.2020 from 18h30
@marsanoberlin