Swedish brand Denim Demon has taken the leap from selvedge to the spirits market, launching their own brand of schnapps with Buustamons Fjällgård.

Taking cues from the names of their two most popular jean styles, the Aajja and Aahka (which mean “grandfather” and “grandmother” in the Sami language of the Arctic indigenous tribes), Denim Demon has produced two limited-edition schnapps. The first, called Aajjavit is flavored with cumin, fennel and oaky, barrel-aged whiskey. The second, dubbed Aahkavit, is lighter and more crisp, infused with cumin and dill. Traditionally drank chilled and straight-up, this Nordic liquor is not for the faint hearted. It also goes down well with some smoked, dried reindeer meat or a little reindeer salami which they served on their stand during the SEEK trade-fair in Berlin this summer.

While I can enjoy playing (and inevitably losing) a round or two of pool amongst friends, I’m usually less inclined to play (and lose by a potentially embarrassing margin) in a crowded bar where I would have an audience to witness my shame. The same should apply to ping-pong – a game which, it turns out, I’m terrible at – but the recent ‘berlin-style’ ping-pong parties held at the Secret Alley make the prospect of drunken, public competition much more appealing.

Rather than pitting a casual participant who’s just looking to have a good time against a ruthless winning machine with superhuman eye/hand coordination who will stop at nothing to demolish the opposition (i.e. what I like to call ‘American’ ping-pong), Berlin-style ping-pong is a group affair – players form a circle around the table and take turns paddling the ball back and forth one after the other. If you lose a point, you leave the circle, so what begins as a casual volley becomes more desperate as the players thin out, leaving the last handful of players sprinting around the table to get to the opposite side before it’s their turn again.

So, everybody wins at American Tripps (which is what they’re calling these parties): regular people get to have fun and are weeded out of each round in time for the winning machines to run themselves ragged, sprinting in circles while the rest of us watch. And drink. And dance, it’s still a party after all.

Frank Höhne is an illustrator. Which means he does nice little drawings for various magazines and any other avenues that appreciate art. He does this pretty much better than everybody else. He was born in the GDR but had to flee living in many differnt places before coming back to Berlin to study in Weißensee, get his diploma, get married, have kids and live in East Berlin yet again. In the meantime his works were published in NEON, fluter, Bild am Sonntag and he even made an illustration for the Nike Showroom in Berlin.

Augustine Teboul is a clothing label that is on the edge between ready-to-wear and haute couture. It consists of two young international and fashionable masterminds, the German-born Annelie Augustin with subtle, minimal shapes and French-born Odély Teboul, the rather chaotic, nostalgic craftsman – of course. It‘s aesthetics arise from the conception of two contrasting personalities resulting in the 2009 founded label’s creation of a beautiful double face among the fashion world. It has already been honored with three awards both in Germany and France.

Die Nacht is an exception in Paris. The answer to every clubber whining about the tiny Parisian clubs with low ceilings , where they have no choice but to go to experience house and techno dj sets in Paris, while envying Berliners’ clubs by the Spree and Londoners’ warehouse parties.

Despite the closing of many illegal spots and the terrible housing offering in Paris (rents have been in constant growth for years) the team behind Die Nacht are proving capable of finding exciting places for their unique nights. From an old paper factory in the11th arrondissement to empty buildings right in the middle of the extra expensive rue Madeleine, their quest is never-ending. These unusual places, plus their secret nature (only subscribers to the mail-out can buy tickets, you get the exact address last minute, etc.) brings them an ever-growing attendance of 1000+ people most of the times, despite the sound system problems that often come along with the different setups. This month they are entering a place which is a little more well known. Under the codename MXXXXXR stands what used to be a swimming pool, already well known by the oldschool techno heads for the collective Heretik free party which took place there in the 90’s (and documented in their DVD). Rumor is that after these three weekends when Die Nacht will invite Parisian labels like Versatile and Marketing, the place will be destroyed. One more reason to go and rave on like there is no tomorrow.

Check this.

Pegah was born into an Iranian artist family, but grew up and lived in Berlin-Reinickendorf, one of the toughest places, during her childhood.
On screen she has been seen in such television shows as “SOKO 5113″ as well as in the hugely successful “Tatort” franchise, which has played in Germany for nearly 40 years. Her first role on the big  screen was in the 2004 movie “Folge der Feder” and just two years later she won best actress at the German television awards for her role in “Türkisch für Anfänger”. In 2007 she was nominated for the Adolf-Grimme price and has be seen in numerous television and film productions from then on. From this year she is hosting her own magazine format on ZDF.kultur.

It only took the Berlin based band Bodi Bill about a year to become one of Germany’s top independent electronic music acts. Bodi Bill are defining the Zeitgeist right now, with their smart electro avantgarde consisting of cool electronic tunes and touching, modern folk music. They have recorded two records already and have built up an enthusiastic fan base out of nowhere. While Germany was conquered by them in one big leap they are now focusing on the international market, as a band that represents the vivid German music scene at the moment. It shouldn’t be difficult to carry the passion, charm and freshness of the city of Berlin out into the world.

“Sameheads” is the brainchild of three brothers who moved to Berlin five years ago. When Nathan, Leo and Harry visited the city, they felt the urge to stay. Which they did, but staying is one thing, they had to come up with an idea to make some money, cause even though the living in Berlin is rather cheap you need to have some cash to be creative on your own in this creative city.

They invented the “Sameheads” concept and opened up their first boutique in the middle of Kreuzberg where fashion, music and art meet. Kreuzberg was widely declared a so-called “problem neighbourhood” by the mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, and to some extent it’s still not the nicest place to live in, with it’s high unemployment and crime statistics, but at the same time Kreuzberg and Neukölln have become the heart of the young and creative scene in Berlin. With the fairly cheap rent and freedom you will hardly find in any other neighbourhood of Berlin, it has become a magnet for hipsters, avant-guardians and open-minded people from all over the world. Like Nathan, Leo and Harry themselves. With virtually no money they started a business based on creativity, which would have been impossible in any other European city, with their higher rents and expenses.

Their Boutique is a weird outlet for the Berlin hipster scene, which specialises in highly creative clothing, accessories, paintings, music and all kinds of other things you wouldn’t imagine actually exist. All of these things are being produced by young, creative and upcoming Berlin designers and artists who see the store not only as a place where their creative output is being put on display but also a hangout spot for them, their friends, and the cool kids of the neighbourhood. They are now showcasing over 30 designers, all of them live in Berlin but moved here from all around the world. Even if Berlin might be fashionwise one season behind the major fashion capitals such as London or New York, it’s these young and creative people who are aiming to change this very soon.

With the emblematic “poor but sexy” attitude of Berlin they create fashion that is wearable but at the same time cutting edge and different from what you can get anywhere else. But next to the shop they’ve created a complete new scene in Kreuzberg/Neukölln with their parties. Their raves, which they organize a couple of times each month have become a proper alternative for everyone who’s into electronic music but tries to avoid the overhyped clubs throughout the city. Like the concept of their store, their parties are all about creativity. Whether it’s the location which is special, like an old garage, or the music is played by well-known dj’s who’ve became friends with the three brothers, or whether it’s just the casual and nice flair which is refreshing and different compared to the usual techno parties in Berlin.

One of the best examples for this is their regular English breakfast event which they host in different locations all around town, to cure the nostalgia of the English Diaspora in Berlin which has even become attractive for Berliners who just need some more after-party music and of course a proper breakfast. They recently moved their subculture empire to a new and larger location in which they now have a bar/cafe and a separate exhibition space for their parties and gigs. It’s just about making things a little bit different and being more creative than the rest.

Oliver Rath wasn‘t always a photographer. His roots come from DJing and club culture, where he toured and played the clubs of the world.It was there that he got bored of what he was doing and constructed his new existence as a photographer. It was also there that he learned the basic skills of his profession as well as to train his eye to see what’s going on behind the curtain.

His pictures are mostly centred around the topics of sex, drugs and rock’n'roll and the tendency of our society to be inclined to hedonism everywhere and every time. Whether he’s hanging out in high society, with the likes of Karl Lagerfeld or at an after-party in his apartment with some random people he just met in a club.

Kreuzberg, also called “Problemkiez” is sort of the Bronx of Berlin. Therefore, it just makes sense to start a very different and rough label here that reflects the character of Berlin.
But what makes Muschi Kreuzberg so special is that, while being very minimalist, it is at the same time extremely extravagant and provocative. The concept behind the whole collection is also reflected in the models Muschi chooses to promote the clothing. Normal, rather “very special”, looking people who can be seen all around Kreuzberg and who underline the character of Muschi.