Jim Kroft goes Solo

This article first appeared on the excellent BangBangBerlin.com website.

BANGBANGBERLIN.COM can exlusively tell you all that Jamie, previously of beloved Berlin band Myriad Creatures fame, has GONE SOLO! He shall also now be known as Jim Kroft. Tres Rock’nRoll, we know. Of course it’s sad when a band part ways, but we cant help feeling excited for Jim as his solo album was released just last week and after a listen, we have to say i’ts bloody fantastic. Titled ‘Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea’, it showcases what a truly talented songwriter and singer he is. Jim has been busy gigging around between Berlin+London and we can’t wait to catch him live ourselves. Enjoy the interview!! Read the rest of this entry »

Calypso. A vintage shoe gem in Berlin

If you are a shoe lover then put on your ruby red slippers (you know you have a pair or something like it) click them twice and say ‘there’s no place like Calypso‘, because this vintage shoe store down town Mitte, is your Kansas. Shoes cover every square inch of the room, hanging from the walls like art works, lovingly scrubbed up by the shops owner, Rosemarie, whose rocking shoe fetish is all too apparent.

Shoes from every decade spanning 60 years can be found inside and just about every style you can think of including comfortable shoes, high heels, army boots and fetish shoes. The designer range isn’t that extensive although you can find the odd gem, but what’s special here is the range of designs on offer from platforms to court shoes, knee high, PVC boots to steel toe caps. This shop is a lesson in shoe design over the centuries and Rosemarie knows them all. Her knowledge of her shoes is thorough and she’s very quick to help should you require some assistance, snapping off in an instant when the desired size and style is communicated. It’s no surprise then, that film and theatre companies often call upon her to help dress the cast according to their remit when in town. The prices range from around 50 Euro for a really nice pair up to about 250 or more if the shoe is really unique as Rosemarie explained to BANGBANGBERLIN when we interviewed her below. If you never really know someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes, then at Calypso you can walk thousands of stories from hundreds of lives; with your feet looking fabulous and interesting throughout.

Calypso – Vintage Shoe Shop from prinzengold on Vimeo

Calypso is 15 minutes in your ruby red slippers from the Lux 11 Hotel in Mitte.

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Category: Berlin

Contributing writer: Bang Bang Berlin

Pauls Boutique. Vintage clothing in Berlin

It was the first real sunny day of the year when me and the BANGBANGBERLIN crew rolled up outside Paul’s Boutique on Oderberger Strasse to interview Frank – the owner – about his life’s passion, vintage clothing. I choose my words carefully and passion can be the only way the describe the voluminous collection of vintage wear on offer in Paul’s Boutique which has become something of an institution for fashion lovers from all over Berlin, and beyond. The shop comprises of 4 different buildings, 3 of which sit side by side on Oderberger Strasse 47 in Prenzlauer Berg and the fourth is on Tor Strasse in Mitte (all within 15 mins walk from the Lux 11 Hotel in Mitte). We went along to Pberg to discover the Aladdin’s cave of treats on offer.

Aside from the clothing, Frank is also a collector of film memorabilia and every spare inch of the shop is covered with Star Wars figures and the like arranged by himself, who, having grown up in East Berlin never had the opportunity to own such an abundance of toys as a child. This all adds to the wonderfully quirky atmosphere; next to Chewie you’ll find an array of urban street wear with all the high street labels such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Reebok and some real old Skool designs such as the classic Nike Air Max for around 25 to 30 Euros. A few doors down is the designer boutique which got me all in a fluster when I discovered a pair of virtually unworn Stella McCartney heels for 60 Euro. The list goes on, Prada brogues for 50 Euro, Manolo’s (slightly scuffed but who cares for 50 Euro) and designer jackets inclusive of Versace, Gucci, Hugo Boss and Ralf Lauren in both men and women’s for unbelievable bargains! It’s not the greatest place for a party dress but you can get everything else including a Burberry Trench for around 70 Euros.

The most beautiful thing about this shop though by far, is the ethos behind it; when we interviewed Frank (below) he told BANGBANGBERLIN that he set up so that kids who couldn’t afford designer fashion could have designer fashion. Frank, we salute you!

Pauls Boutique from prinzengold on Vimeo

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Category: Berlin

Contributing writer: Alexandra Stone for Bang Bang Berlin

Berliner Designer Sale: April Only

Those of you who are no stranger to snapping up great fashion-finds in Mitte/Prenzlauerberg should already know the store called ‘Gallery’ on Oderberger straße (just next door to Pauls Boutique). It houses a well-selected mixture of Berlin, English and Scandanvian labels (that all share a modern, elegant and cool aesthetic) plus some gorgeous accessories. However, the Gallery owner, Andrea Schwalbe, is moving on to do other things and so as of next month the store will cease to be. (Schade!) Read the rest of this entry »

BANG BANG You’re Alive

Tired as we are of the usual guides to cities, albeit nicely packaged and iPhoneable, we have much the same opinion of them as we do hotels.  Most of them are samey, safe, bland affairs.  We ‘re only interested in the ones that are unique, insightful and above all, honest.

Aligned to the challenge of hand-picking unique, special hotels for our collection and similarly-minded collaborators, we are hunting down those in the know in the cities where we have hotels to share with us what’s happening….which is where BANG BANG BERLIN comes in.

Our new friends over at BANGBANGBERLIN.com are going to be providing you and I with some insights on Berlin life, so that when you do book Lux 11 in Mitte to experience the real Berlin, you can do it properly, with some local knowledge.  The lovely Liz will be sharing treats from her team at regular intervals.

To kick things off, BANG BANG BERLIN is launching a new night in the Luchs Bar at Lux 11 this Saturday – The 11th Hour.  Kicking off at 21:30 on Saturday 10 April, Liz and Jobot will be hitting the decks and cometh the hour of 11 one lucky person will be handed the keys to a suite where they can sleep off the night before.

Get yourself on the guest list by emailing Liz via liz@bangbangberlin.com.

See you there…and don’t forget your toothbrush.