#316: Fires, daycare, Nefertiti
#316: Fires, daycare, Nefertiti
Some doctors charging €40 no-show fees
Dear 20% Berlin,
My cousin didn’t show up to a family event at the weekend because there was a fire in her building in Wedding. Luckily, there was no significant damage to her apartment, just a lot of smoke and a sleepless night. That fire didn’t make it into the news. But it seems we’re in the middle of a wave of fires: The charming Teehaus im Englischen Garten in Tiergarten virtually burned to the ground early Sunday morning. Monday night about 50 cars were damaged in a fire in the parking garage of the Neukölln Arcaden mall. On the same night, cars were burned elsewhere in Neukölln, Mitte and Hellersdorf. Nowhere seems to be spared: Early last Friday, fires raged in garbage containers in two separate Prenzlauer Berg locations.
Is there a pattern here? Traditionally, arson has been committed by anti-capitalists or eco-radicals targeting fancy cars. This looks more like the kids having a bit of very destructive fun. It’s impossible to speculate — and the police generally remain reluctant to share details about arson — maybe because they fear copycat incidents? Meanwhile, in one Berlin newspaper office or another, they’re writing the next “what’s wrong with the kids these days” think piece.
Your thoughts?
More news below.
Maurice
PS: Thanks to insurance platform Feather for their support! More from them below.
Plenty of Kita spots?
In the not-so-recent past there were so many babies in Berlin that finding any daycare for your youngsters felt like hitting the jackpot. Now, according to RBB, there are thousands of available places in daycare centres and kindergartens across town. Why? Because of the falling birthrate. Last year, 34,000 kids were born in the city, versus 40,000 in 2018. According to the education department, 1,565 spots were available at state-run Kitas in June — while a whopping 7,215 were unfilled at privately-run facilities. Good news for parents, no doubt. Based on my own experience in the past 12 months, however, finding that perfect bilingual international Kita for your tots still isn’t easy. Waiting lists galore. This makes sense since the non-German population of Berlin continues to grow faster than the German population.
€40 no-show fee?
Doctors are getting sick of patients not showing up for appointments. The Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung (say that 10 times as fast as you can) — the lobby group representing doctors who treat patients insured by the quasi-public Krankenkassen, i.e. most people — is asking the Krankenkassen to fine patients who don’t show up at agreed times. Heads up, Berliners: According to Tagesspiegel, some docs in the city are already charging their own €40 no-show fees.
Return Nefertiti to Egypt?
A little over 100 years after the Bust of Nefertiti first went on display in Berlin, prominent Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass has launched a petition demanding that the bust be returned to Cairo. The sculpture is the main attraction at the Neues Museum and regularly features in Berlin marketing campaigns. Berliners see her as one of their own but Hawass says the 3,400-year-old bust was illegally smuggled out of Egypt by German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt in 1912. Whenever Egpyt asks for Nefertiti to be repatriated, the Berlin culture establishment counters: Sorry, the priceless artwork is too fragile to be transported anywhere.
A few events this week — curated by our friends at at The Next Day Berlin:
🎨Berlin Art WeekThe most important art event in the city: Berlin Art Week. With more than 30 exhibition openings, galleries opening their doors until 10 pm on Friday, and a diverse program of activities, it’s hard to choose where to begin. Check out our Berlin Art Week Special here.
🎸Maple Glider
Friday, 13.09, 8 pm. Privatclub, Skalitzer Str. 85-86, 10997 Kreuzberg. Tickets: €28
If you like deeply emotional folk rock with intimate, personal storytelling, you’ll love Maple Glider. 🎧 I Get Into Trouble
🎤Unsettling Sounds – Iran & Afghanistan
Saturday, 14.09, 8 - 9:15 pm. ACUD Theater Berlin, Veteranenstrasse 21, 10119 Berlin, Mitte. Tickets: €5.
“Unsettling Sounds” blends contemporary music with poetry from Iran and Afghanistan. Featuring the 🎧 Trickster Orchestra and works by five female poets, the event explores themes of freedom and exile from a female perspective.
🪩17 Years Renate - 7 Floors - 60 Hours Birthday Party
Fri-Mon, 13-16.09, 5 pm - 8 am. Renate, Alt Stralau 70; Friedrichshain. Tickets: €11/38.50.
One of Berlin’s most iconic clubs is throwing a weekend party for its 17th anniversary. With the sad news that Renate is closing next year, it’s the perfect time to celebrate its long history. 🎧 Vio PRG
Germany-wide news
👮Germany tightens border controls
📈Labour minister wants €15 min. wage
😔German artist Rebecca Horn dies at 80
Factoid
😞Groove Records in Kreuzberg’s Pücklerstraße is closing after 40 years in business because its landlord, Swiss real estate firm Blue Rock Group, bumped up the shop’s monthly rent from €700 to €2,500 in one swoop. Not bad for 70sqm in a side street. Owner Detlef Müller has to clear out his store by the end of the month — so there’s a 20% discount all all records and CDs.
🪶Visit our sponsor!🪶
What insurance do you really need?
Germany has a particular love for insurance and so, as an expat, it can be overwhelming trying to understand what insurance products you really need versus what's simply 'nice to have'.
Feather aims to simplify the whole process by offering everything from sign-up to claims processing online, and in English. Plus, with Feather's recommendation tool, you can get a quick assessment of which insurances are a necessity, which are worth considering, and which are not relevant to you based on your lifestyle.
Fantastic. Can we also charge Doctors when we show up at the agreed time but still have to wait 1h+ in the waiting room?
Fear not Maurice. There is still one or two spots left at a wonderful english-german bi-lingual Kita in Prenzlauer Berg called Zebra Kindergarten
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rkvPhEVDiWxWwGoG9