The Hobbit

www.herr-der-ringe-film.de

A little bit off topic, but its just too good for not mentioning it. 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' has hit theaters and it most definitely is worth watching. R. J. J. Tolkien's tale, on which the movie is based, tells the reader the story of what happened before the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy is taking place. In his novel we get to know how the dwarfs lost their kingdom and fought to get it back from dragons and Orcs. Most importantly for the trilogy however, is that the hobbit Bilbo gets in the possession of Gollum's 'precious' ring. To find out whether young hobbit Bilbo, who travels with the dwarfs and seeks to help them get back their gold and ultimately their kingdom, will succeed you will have to wait for the next movies..

 

http://screencrush.com

Peter Jackson has followed his tradition of overlong movies with a lot of action and picturesque scenery. In his opinion, there simply is too much going on for one movie. Although some critics state that he is overusing battle scenes and extending the plot far too long (Tolkien's Hobbit is only about 300 pages long, but there are three movies that have well over 120 minutes), all people I've asked thus far have told me how great it was. So I guess we all have to check it out ourselves and make up our own opinion about the movie. If you do not want to have to listen to voice overs, you should make a trip to the Streit's movie theater at Jungfernstieg and make it soon for the theater will be closing next year.

www.bild.de

Shop and chill at the Europa Passage

Outside view of the Europa Passage

Christmas is coming! For all those who once again forgot to get presents early this means stressful gift shopping. Or does it? Although online shopping definitely is another alternative, you might like to try things out before actually buying them. The Europa Passage offers the perfect shopping experience. Whether you prefer clothing, groceries, shoes, jewelry or food, you will find all this and more here. With 120 stores distributed on 5 stories you will certainly find an excellent gift for your loved ones. If you want to relax, you don't have to go far away. Actually, you won't even have to leave the mall. There is a food corner on the underground level and several coffee shops or ice-cream venders all around the mall, so you can enjoy the food of your choice. The Europa Passage definitely is the mall with the best location in Hamburg. It is directly next to the Binnenalster, the town hall and central station so it is easily accessible for everybody.

Enjoy the pleasant atmosphere

Be charitable - make a donation

Right now the entire mall is decorated and you can stroll along enjoying the Christmas spirit. Every year there is the charity “Ein Herz für Kinder”, which collects gift donations and distributes them among poor children afterwards. Be sure to donate a small gift and fill a little heart with joy. The booth is on the ground level, so if you have a coffee break at work or are already planning on getting your Christmas gifts at the Europa Passage, you really should not miss this opportunity.

The Lion King

© tuan-min.com

Nants ingonyama bagithi baba. Nothing will truly amaze you like your fondest childhood memories. The Lion King Musical will surely remind you of those cheerful days of your youth when everything seemed so much easier. With its astonishing stage design you will feel like you are on a safari in the beautiful Serengeti. The music composed by none other than Elton John and Tim Rice will clearly blow your mind. Just take a listen and enjoy: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrvE4MufZ9c

Excited to see one of the most beautiful musicals ever written?

Located in the heart of Hamburg, the harbor, Stage Entertainment's The Lion King Musical has daily screenings and on the weekends there are two shows per day. Starting at € 49.95 the tickets clearly are affordable and most certainly worth the price. How often can you see a Broadway musical for such a great deal? The musical follows the storyline of the movie. So first little Simba lives the life of a prince, but once his father is murdered by his uncle, Simba is convinced that he is guilty and leaves his kingdom. His uncle Scar believes that Simba is dead and ascends the throne. Once Simba is reunited with his childhood best friend Nala, he learns of the ill fate of his kingdom and decides to leave his 'hakuna matata' way of life to fight Scar for the throne. Will Simba defeat his evil uncle and bring peace and prosperity back to the Pride Lands? Come and find out at The Lion King Musical.

Boat trip

View of Blankenese

It's one of the last nice days outside and you want to enjoy a nice walk, but don't want to freeze too much? A trip along Blankenese, one of the most beautiful parts of Hamburg, most definitely is an option. Ferry line 62 is famous for the trip along these shores, a must do for anybody visiting Hamburg. With the close connection to the sea, most people from Hamburg feel a little bit like sailors, and this is the perfect opportunity to feel like one as well. The harbour itself should already be part of any sight seeing tour, so while you're there, be sure to take line 62, located directly at the Landungsbrücken, the pride of the harbor.

Hadag ferry

© http://www.hadag.de

Along the trip there are several sights to enjoy. Not only can you see the shore of Blankenese, but also is it possible to visit Finkenwerder, see container boats and if you're lucky you can also ride alongside majestic cruise ships. Another advantage is that you are allowed to drink a nice refreshing beer or, especially during this time of year, a warming cup of mulled wine. So, if you want to enjoy a nice boat trip, which is included in the public transportation ticket offered by the HVV, you should most certainly check this out.

You like Asian food? Check this out!



If you fancy real Hong Kong style food (one that actually holds true to that name and promise...), you should definitely give 'Din Hao' a try, which literally means 'good restaurant' (and it really is one!). It is located next to an Asian supermarket called 'Vinh Loi', which has nearly everything you crave for if you like Chinese food and beverages, and is on the opposite of the 'Markthalle'.

Who wouldn't want to have a bite of those?... I certainly do!

© Jens K.

Char Siew Fan
©  Thepayut T.

A great diversity of authentic Chinese food awaits you, from simple fried rice and noodle soups to specialities such as fried porkbelly ('Sau Ro Fan') and Chinese BBQ pork ('Char Siew Fan') - of course there is also plenty of dishes for vegetarians. The dishes are best mixed with genuine homemade Hong Kong chili, which gives Hong Kong styled dishes their distinguished flavor.

Noodle soup with chicken breast
© Dávid C.



Although it is a bit pricier than the usual Asian wannabe-restaurants, it is totally worth it and one should have tried it at least once, just to have tasted authentic Chinese food as it is supposed to be and not those fake dishes that are especially made to please European taste. Another great thing about Din Hao, which I personally cherish about restaurants in general, is, that the dishes give you a good kind of being full: not too much, not too little but just right. In addition to that they usually serve your order in under 10 minutes. If you are one of the suspicious type and afraid they might add some weird stuff (no they don't eat dogs..), you can actually observe them preparing your dishes, so that no sneaky attempt of smuggling some chicken feet (yes we do eat that...) into your rice bowl will remain undiscovered by your eagle eyes... not to say that they won't even try to do so.

So if you are a fan of genuine cuisine or just love to eat or just want to try something new, go to Din Hao.



Wan Tan - Soup
© Vyana V.





Adress: Klosterwall 4 - 20095 Hamburg



Next train station: U Steinstraße



Lee 





Theater an der Maschnerstrasse (2)

Some more impressions of the theater and the play "Steel Magnolia", generously sponsored by The Hamburg Players:



© The
Hamburg Players e.V. and Henrik Zawischa



© The
Hamburg Players e.V. and Henrik Zawischa





© The
Hamburg Players e.V. and Henrik Zawischa



Like what you see? These plays are coming up next in the Theater an der Maschnerstrasse by The Hamburg Players:

6 February 2013 - 16 February 2013

Arms and the Man by Bernard Shaw

 

 

29 May – 8 June 2013

Go Back for Murder by Agatha Christie

 



For more upcoming plays check http://www.theater-marschnerstrasse.de/ and http://www.hamburgplayers.de/ !

 

Go get your tickets now! ;)

Lee





Theater an der Maschnerstrasse

the poster

First off: Yes, I went to a theater. Usually not my favourate thing to do, but I thought I'd give it a try (even more so because I'd won several tickets at a pub-quiz in the Finnegan's Wake...). So I arrived there being quite sceptical about what was awaiting me. That night's show was Robert Harling's 'Steel Magnolia' directed by The Hamburg Players.

Well, the theater itself is a very cozy place and apparently a must-go for English teachers, for they outnumbered the general theater visitor. One reason for that might be the English learners books that are for sale there at rather low prices and of course the play being in English. Another possible reason seemed to be the small stand where they sold authentic British snacks like 'Skittels', 'Walkers Crisps' and 'Cadbury Crunchy Bar'. If anyone is not into those savories and sweets (which is highly doubtable) there is a bar next to the stand, where they sell German snacks, Bretzels and of course all kinds of drinks from cocktails and long drinks to beer and all sorts of soft drinks.

So after getting ready with some snacks and beverages for the show, I entered the theater and looked for my seat, which was not that big of a deal as the theater is rather small. But that does not affect the atmosphere that seems to be inherent there: As soon as the lights went out and the announcer took the stage, one forgot about the size of the theater and got lost in the brightly lit up stage and its actors. The acting itself was amazing and really convincing and charming. But as far as I am concerned I genuinely disliked the play 'Steel Magnolia', for I believe that the plot does not really aim for something, but instead just stays at the same level of drama. It lacks a clear climax and fails to develop during the duration of the play. Next to Shelby's personal story there is none other worth mentioning. Yet, the play had its fair share of witty and quite amusing scenes, which was due to the actors.

Great view from every seat in the theater!

All in all I can totally recommend going to the Theather an der Maschnerstrasse and having a glimpse of that brilliant acting (that being stated by someone who is not really into theaters..)! But I believe one should catch another play than 'Steel Magnolia' as it is not that well constructed.Coming up next is a classic: Bernarel Stowan's "Arms and the Man".

Lee

The (new) Finnegan's Wake

My absolute favorite place to be in Hamburg is most certainly "The Finnegan's Wake" pub near the Hamburger townhall. The pub in question is an Irish pub ("Finnegan's Wake" alludes to the Irish author James Joyce's novel "Finnegans Wake" published in 1939) and it does not fail to deliver that kind of atmosphere one would expect of an Irish pub. Most of the staff are English native speakers and help to create that original pub feeling by speaking in their British, Scottish and of course Irish accents, although they are more than capable of speaking German. Furthermore, they are always up for a chat and really look after their guests! So if you're an English student and looking for some practice, or are just in for some delightful conversations, this is your spot.

Last time's champions: Team "Bud Spencer"

What adds to that is that they serve British/Irish food and drinks, such as the famous Fish n' Chips and Guiness draft, as well as cider and Kilkenny (not to mention the wide range of whiskeys..). Also, they show most of the American Football, Bundesliga and Premiere League matches, as well as snooker, darts and olympics, which makes it a great place to watch your favorite sports. They also feature live music (mostly accoustic Irish folk) and other events such as whiskey tasting. The most fun and interesting event is the weekly Pub Quiz, which is held on Sunday's at 8.30 p.m., where people form teams and compete to answer all kinds of questions. Most of the time the winner gets free drinks, but lately they have also been offering theater tickets or other things that come up.

Free drinks and theater tickets

If you're interested you might want to check out their website: http://finneganswakeirishpub.com/

Concerning the "new": The Finnegan's Wake moved from its original place 10m further down the road to the "Fleetenkieker".

Your second living room

Most comfortable seats in Hamburg!

"Home sweet home" is a commonly known phrase, almost everbody would agree with. But sometimes you might want to get out, sometimes you need a change of scenery and then you need a place apart from home, where you can settle back and linger in a relaxing atmosphere. This is exactly what "Zoe II" and "Zoe III"  are for. You will find those two bars in the Sternschanze, located at Alter Pferdemarkt 17 and 19. These two bars technically belong togther, as you can tell by the name. Nevertheless, Zoe II already opens at 2 p.m., while Zoe III doesn't open until 8 p.m. I payed my last visit to Zoe III with a friend a week ago, on a Friday night. Although we arrived only 5 minutes past 8,  a lot of the seats were already taken, but you will almost always find a cozy spot for you to sit. While some of the guests spend the whole evening here, a lot of people only stay for a drink and then leave, so you can be sure that even if you cannot find a sofa at first, you will not have to wait for a long time! Talking about the sofas, this is what makes those two bars so wonderful. the whole place is stuffed with old, but beautiful baroque style sofas that literally make you melt into them the moment you sit down. You won't want to stand up and order a drink at the bar, you even  won't want to get up ever again. Trust me, those sofas are amazing. Of course, the rest of the interior fits perfectly. Big lamps in the middle of the room lite it dimly and there are also baroque style mirrors on the walls, all in all the atmosphere is very appealing. Also the prices are absolutely acceptable and the service is very pleasant. In case you cannot do it without smoking, there is a special room for smokers in the cellar, so you do not need freeze out there in the cold evenings!

So many free spots! Go get them!

To sum it up: Go there! Plan a visit! Do not miss that awesome bar! It is really worth it and if you want, it is perfect to hit the clubs afterwards, as the "Schanze" is not very far from all the clubs in Hamburg!

A walk through the "Alter Elbtunnel"

The tunnel

We already mentioned the harbor several times in our blog. That is not because we lack of creativity, but because the harbor is a central point in Hamburg and one of the things this city is famous for. It is the third biggest harbor in Europe. Altough it looks interesting by day, it is not very beautiful. But if you want to see how it changes when the sun goes down and the lights turn on, you should visit it by night. You will see that in fact, it isn't so bad after all! The best possibility to get a good view of the harbor at night is to connect your journey with a walk through the Alter Elbtunnel. When you get out at the U3 station Landungsbrücken, you simply go to the end of the Landungsbrücken to the building with a big dome-shaped roof. This is the entrance to the tunnel. Either you can choose to go down taking the steps or the elevator. Personally, I would recommend to take the steps only when you are going down, and the elevator when going up, because you have to go down almost 24m! The tunnel is 426m long and had his 100 years anniversary last year. While walking through the tube, which is quite calming I think, it is amazing and sometimes even a bit scary to think of all the water that is above you. But although the tunnel is 101 years old, it is in a really good state (they are also refurbishing it right now). When you get to the other end and take the elevator up and go outside the building, you will find yourself on the southern riverbank, where a viewpoint was established. You can see the skyline of Hamburg and the Hafencity, beautifully illuminated. So take your time and maybe a camera, to enjoy this great spot with an amazing view!

Plate marking the middle of the tunnel

Sweet treats!

Truely delicious!

Probably you have already seen and eaten them, the cute little cupcakes from the USA. But probably you haven't found a place here where you get fresh and handmade ones! There is a small shop at Eppendorfer Landstraße called "Happy Kappy Company" and they offer the most amazing cupcakes you will get in Hamburg. You can pick a cake from a menu of suggestions or customize it and tell them exactly how you want your cupcake to be. You can choose the dough of the cake, the filling, the icing and what sprinkles you want to have on top of it! This way you can be sure that you get the perfect cupcake.

Customized Cupcakes!

Also, the interior of the shop is so cute, I start squealing everytime I enter it. You not only want to eat the cupcakes, but basically everything inside the shop. They also have a few seats to sit down and if you are lucky and the weather is good, you can sit outside and munch the tasty little cupcakes outside on some benches in front of the shop!

The owner of the shop, Conrad, is American and when he came to Germany he decided to bring the joy of cupcakes to Hamburg... and I think he has done a very good job!!

A cup of coffee?

Bleichenfleet

Some latte art

Just take a look outside the window... what do you see? It's dark? Windy? It's raining? Here is a suggestion how to fight the first freezing days of autumn: drink a cup of Hamburg's best coffee! Located at the Poststraße you can find a cozy café with the simple name "the coffee shop". Their slogan promises "nothing but great taste", and this is exactly what you get. Drink your favourite espresso speciality, tea, hot chocolate or simply juice while enjoying the beautiful view at the Bleichenfleet. The coffee shop is on the first floor, so if you choose a sofa near the window you can also peek at the crowds shopping or presenting their idea of "style". Anyway, when I said that this is the place where you can drink Hamburg's best coffee, that's what I meant, because their espresso won the prize for "best espresso" in Germany this year! Also, they offer some delicious sweets and bagels. If you are really in need of something chocolatey, you should go for the chocolate melt, a small chocolate cake, which is almost molten inside. If you prefer to eat some vitamines to brace yourselves against the coming winter, they also have fresh fruit-joghurts! You can easily spend a whole afternoon in this café because although it is in the heart of the city, the fact that it is on the first floor, on top of a clothing store, makes it a bit hidden to the masses you can find in other cafés. So, unless you go there on a Saturday, you can almost always be sure to get a comfy sofa with a nice view where you can enjoy your favourite coffee. And if you are lucky, you might even get some latte art on it!

You gotta love it!