HUNTING FOR VINYL AT KIMCHI RECORDS

Have you fallen back in love with all things analog again? Objects that still have buttons and headphone jacks? That’s where Kimchi Records comes in. Starting my own vinyl collection six years ago, I’ve watched it grow little by little. So, when moving to Berlin, one of the first things I was looking for was a good vinyl shop. One with niche and curated records, somewhere to explore and chill, and the freedom to grab as many vinyls as I want, put them on a record player, and take a listen before deciding which is going home with me. Little to do with Korean food and everything to do with music and discovery, the name Kimchi is a blend of owner Kim Bruun’s name and that of a former co-founder, Chicaiza. Kim grew up in Quito, Ecuador, where he made music alongside Cosmic JD and Nicola Cruz. After twelve years in Berlin, he founded Kimchi Records in Neukölln, a space built around electronic music and records from all over the world, each one listened to before earning its place on the shelf.

Walk down the stairs into the main room, where a record player spins and a couch invites you to sink in. To the left is the main room with three listening stations and plenty of crates to dig through. Further back is the pink room — part office, part expanded record area. Filled with vintage pieces, custom furniture by Aquiles Jarrin, posters, and little details, every corner is worth exploring slowly. Over seven years, Kimchi has become a hub for DJs, producers, collectors, and anyone who just loves music. On top of their extensive collection, Kimchi hosts monthly in-store events to support new labels and record releases, keeping the space alive well past closing time. Coming up is a free open-air event with Rixbox (06.06.2026). On the label side, Planet Mushrooms (Kimchi’s sub-label) is dropping its first release this summer, featuring Japanese artists Que Sakamoto and Nori (NT), followed by Kimchi007’s upcoming release from Argentinian producer Montei. So if you need your next niche listen or are looking for fun events after-hours, this is your hub.

Text: Stefania Basano / Photos: Isabelle Marten

Kimchi Records, Richardstr.7–8, 12043 Berlin–Neukölln; map

@kimchi_records

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Shops

TOOTH GEMMED BY OLIVE: ADORN YOUR TEETH WITH TINY CRYSTALS

Want to make your smile shine even brighter? Visit Gemmed by Olive, where Olivia takes sparkles seriously. Tooth gems are tiny crystals that are semi-permanently attached to the surface of your teeth using a special adhesive. If you want to understand the look, research beyond the nearest Pinterest board. Tooth jewelry isn’t a trend born out of the white fashion industry — it’s cultural heritage. From the jade inlays of the Maya to the Black community, which popularized tooth gems in the 80s and 90s as a statement of empowerment and identity. Today, Olivia brings that sparkle to Kreuzberg. What began in 2022 as a creative outlet alongside her marketing studies has evolved into a full-time career thanks to growing demand. The vibe in the studio is relaxed, but the execution is highly professional. The process begins with a consultation where the two of you discuss what suits you best, which can be difficult because the options are endless. Gems come in countless shapes, colors and sizes — from subtle little stars to bold statement pieces. The treatment takes place while lying down. Once you’ve chosen your favorites, Olivia carefully positions the gems and lets you check their placement in the mirror before the adhesive is cured under UV light. On average, the gems last around a year and a half. (I’ve actually been wearing mine for twice as long.) The gems become part of your personal expression, catching the light every time you smile. A small, semi-permanent confidence boost that lets you shine.

Text: Susi Churas / Photos: Mohit Amlani

Gemmed by Olive, Solmsstr.30, 10961 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map

@gemmed.byolive

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Events, Shops, Sponsored Post

ONE MONTH IN GREY: NEW BALANCE CELEBRATES COMMUNITY, CULTURE, AND URBAN BERLIN WITH GREY DAYS

With Grey Days, New Balance celebrates a color that has become inseparable from the brand’s identity. In the current campaign, grey stands for neighborhood, community, and urban life — inspired by the cities on whose asphalt New Balance first made its mark. Throughout May 2026, the brand is bringing together different communities across Berlin, seeing the city as a network of neighborhoods, subcultures, and cultural spaces. Runs, performances, club nights, and meeting points stretch across Berlin, connecting movement, music, and exchange. The iconic grey dates back to the 1980s: while many brands focused on bold colors, New Balance looked to concrete, asphalt, and the rhythm of the city for inspiration. Grey quickly became part of the brand’s identity and continues to shape its design language today — from running to lifestyle. Grey Days translates this understanding into a citywide program across Berlin: kicking things off on May 9 is a 5K community run hosted by Load. Starting at the New Balance Mitte Store, the route finishes at Father Carpenter Coffee Brewers, where coffee and an ice cream truck await the runners. Just a few days later, Grey Night Vol. 1 shifts the focus toward culture and performance. The intimate acoustic session takes place in a historic setting, bringing together music, atmosphere, and community in a stripped-back environment.

On May 15, Grey Night Vol. 2 at Studio 1111 provides the counterpoint to the early-morning start: a club night where DJ sets, a curated line-up, and an ice cream truck come together and carry on late into the night. The program concludes on May 17 with an activation at the Maybachufer flea market. Between market stalls and neighborhood hangouts, visitors can expect free waffles, the same ice cream truck from the club night, drinks, vintage New Balance pieces, and a raffle featuring current sneaker releases. Here, too, the focus is on connection and exchange. At the same time, international New Balance ambassadors are sharing their personal connections to the color grey as part of the global campaign. From morning runs to club nights, grey moves through Berlin’s different spaces, scenes, and neighborhoods throughout May. A month that runs through the entire city — and a tribute to the color of the city itself. This May is turning grey!

Text: Leo Sandmann / Photos: New Balance

New Balance Grey Days

5K Community Run with Load 09.05.2026. Meet Up 08h30, Start Run 09h.
Start: New Balance Mitte Store, Münzstr.21, 10178 Berlin–Mitte; map
Finish: Father Carpenter Coffee Shop, Münzstr.21 10178 Berlin–Mitte; map

Grey Night Vol.2 15.05.2026 from 23h
Studio 1111, Potsdamer Str.96, 10785 Berlin–Tiergarten; map
Register here.

Maybachufer Fleamarket 17.05.2026 10–16h30
Maybachufer, 12047 Berlin–Neukölln; map

@newbalance

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Activities, Shops

FLOWERS DONE DIFFERENTLY: CREATE A BOUQUET WITH SNAKEGARDEN

All around, flowers are blooming, and all I want to do is bring a little spring inside. Luckily, I came across Snakegarden, a flower atelier in Berlin where you can have bouquets arranged, and also take part in workshops. Just in time for Mother’s Day on Sunday (10.05.), Snakegarden offers different ways to share floral joy. Will it be a ready-made, colorful bouquet? Or one assembled yourself? Or perhaps a workshop as a shared experience? We’re leaning towards the last option! Snakegarden was founded by Xenia Zarecineva from Chișinău, emerging from her desire to return to hands-on craftsmanship after eight years of digital work. Trained as an interior designer, she began to see flowers as an essential part of spatial composition and immersed herself in traditional floristry. Very quickly, however, she realized she wanted to create something of her own, with a new approach. That’s how Snakegarden came to life. Carefully selected seasonal flowers, plants you wouldn’t typically expect in a bouquet, and contrasts that play with soft and striking forms. Her arrangements are distinct. You can order them online on Tuesdays and Saturdays and have them delivered directly to your home. And for those who want Xenia’s arrangements to become a fixed part of their space, there is a subscription option: fresh arrangements delivered every two weeks. Or get hands-on yourself in a workshop, where you have the chance to build your own bouquet step by step. Instead of simply giving flowers, make them yourself, with a little guidance along the way.

With a focus on craftsmanship, you cut, adjust and build your own colorful piece. If you opt for a one-to-one experience in a private course with your loved ones, you can decide whether you want something traditional, sculptural or minimal, in an ikebana style. From June 2026, curated floristry sets will be available online, so you can be a florist at home. If you’re looking for a special gift, you’re in the right place.

Text: Isabelle Marten / Photos: Mohit Amlani

Snakegarden

@snakegarden.berlin

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Shops

SPARKLING PHILOSOPHY — VERMENT IS SHAKING UP THE KOMBUCHA MARKET

When you go out in Berlin, you know the dilemma: the drink menu often features fantastic wines and creative cocktails, but anyone who wants to abstain from alcohol is often left with nothing more than basic spritzers. That’s exactly the gap that Verment Kombucha has aimed to fill as a non‑alcoholic alternative since early 2023. What began as an experiment in a home kitchen has quickly turned into a mission under the leadership of Lennart and Jhael. Together with Nato, the three create beverages that combine artisanal craftsmanship with added health benefits. The team’s international DNA — spanning from Kiel to Caracas and Nato’s home region of Kvareli in Georgia, one of the oldest wine regions — flows directly into the bottles. The moment you take your first sip, you can already taste how their hospitality expertise meets a deep affinity for wine. The production process is as sustainable and local as it gets. Everything is brewed in Brandenburg. Besides making the beverage itself, the fermentation process produces excess cellulose (scoby), which is upcycled into new sustainable materials and applications as part of an ongoing project.

With their concept and unique flavor experience, the Verment team has already attracted considerable attention, winning “Gold” at the Kombucha Awards in Barcelona for their “Sea Buckthorn & Elderflower” variety. But it’s the “Grapefruit & Szechuan Pepper” flavor that truly embodies the brand and wowed us as well — citrusy freshness complemented by a delicate spiciness from the famous Chinese kitchen spice. Verment’s products are available online, in selected supermarkets, wine shops, and at the Brandenburgerie. And for anyone keen on direct feedback, meet the team every Saturday at Kollwitzmarkt in Prenzlauer Berg. There, you can also buy a Scoby and dive into the world of kombucha brewing yourself.

Text: Susi Churas / Photos: Mohit Amlani

Verment Kombucha

@verment.kombucha

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Language

HUNTING FOR VINYL AT KIMCHI RECORDS

TOOTH GEMMED BY OLIVE: ADORN YOUR TEETH WITH TINY CRYSTALS

ONE MONTH IN GREY: NEW BALANCE CELEBRATES COMMUNITY, CULTURE, AND URBAN BERLIN WITH GREY DAYS

FLOWERS DONE DIFFERENTLY: CREATE A BOUQUET WITH SNAKEGARDEN

SPARKLING PHILOSOPHY — VERMENT IS SHAKING UP THE KOMBUCHA MARKET