As a resident of Heidelberger Straße in Neukölln, I am constantly reminded of the Berlin Wall. The windows of my Altbau once overlooked the East Berlin border; today a plaque commemorates the more than 100 people who escaped the GDR via tunnels into my building’s basement. While those not living in these scarred, liminal spaces between East and West might rarely dwell on the Wall, the 35th anniversary of its fall offers a moment to reflect. To commemorate the “peaceful revolution” that culminated in the breaching of Berlin’s border on 09.11.1989, two days of open air installations, events and performances will be held next week along its former route. The official program begins with The Road to Freedom, an outdoor exhibition featuring eyewitness accounts and historical photos presenting key moments and characters from behind the Iron Curtain (opens 08.11.2024). Alongside runs a four km-long open-air installation showcasing thousands of protest banners made by East Germans to demand rights and reforms. The celebrations continue on 09.11 with the Festival for Freedom where hundreds of musicians will perform in front of the former border checkpoints across Mitte (starts 20h). On 10.11 the feminist performance-art collective Pussy Riot will headline the one-day democracy festival with a multimedia punk show at the former headquarter of the Stasi (Campus for Democracy). Alongside the official program, venues like C/O Berlin and Filmtheater Colosseum will host talks, workshops, and exhibitions reflecting on a barrier that divided an entire city – for 28 years, two months, and 27 days.

Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Alexander Rentsch & Kulturprojekte

You can see the full program of 35 Jahre Mauerfall on the website.

@mauerfall35

In the dim twilight of Friday evening, when the streets of Berlin are filled with expectant energy, the Marmorbar opens its doors for a spectacle that blurs the boundaries between nostalgia and modernity. It is that magical moment when the week ends and the weekend unfurls its alluring tendrils — it’s here, in this liminal space, the “Italo Disco & Sprizz” night unfolds. As night falls, Marmorbar transforms into a melting pot. Scents of Aperol and Campari float through the air, mingling with the first bars of a Giorgio Moroder track, and suddenly you feel as though you’re in a time capsule, somewhere between Milan 1984 and Berlin 2024. The drink of the hour, of the decade, of life: Sprizz. Aperol Sprizz, Campari Sprizz, Sarti Sprizz or non-alcoholic Crodino Sprizz — simply all Sprizz. The guests, an eclectic mix of nostalgics and trendsetters, sip their clinking glasses while their bodies sway to the music.

It’s as if the spirit of a bygone era has been captured and transplanted into the present, only to find it’s more alive here than ever. The flickering light of the disco ball shines on the dancers’ faces, and for a moment, you forget the 21st century is raging just outside the door. Right in front of the Schlesisches Tor, the Marmorbar combines cocktail expertise with Berlin’s nightlife culture. The historic brick building, which once housed the Royal Hydraulic Engineering Inspectorate I and later the legendary Club Châlet, is not just a place to party, it’s a legend kept alive, week after week, Friday after Friday. And anyone who has been part of this magical night will return again and again in search of that fleeting moment when anything seems possible and time stands still.

Text: Alina Herbel / Photos: Anna Tarazevich, Mart Production & Marmorbar

Marmorbar, Vor dem Schlesischen Tor 3, 10997 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map

Buy tickets here. For group requests, write an email.

@marmor_bar