Offbeat Bargains In Berlin
PROOF User: 155273 Time: 12:37 - 04-28-2011 Region: SundayAdvance Edition: 1
THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2011
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7
FORAGING
Offbeat Bargains In Berlin Known primarily for its dreadlocked denizens and enormous warehouse nightclubs, Berlin’s Friedrichshain district has lately developed a reputation as a retail destination. Chain stores are few and far between, but a growing number of offbeat independent shops sell their wares for prices much lower than those found in more polished city center neighborhoods. Most of the action happens around Boxhagener Platz, a park that hosts a popular farmers’ market on Saturdays and an excellent flea market on Sundays. And the area’s night-life scene is still thriving; stores often stay open until 8 p.m., catering to a crowd that may have stayed out late the night before. RACHEL B. DOYLE
PHOTOGRAPHS BY GORDON WELTERS FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES
Z SCHOENE SCHREIBWAREN
Niederbarnimstrasse 6 schoeneschreibwaren.com This small, elegant shop specializes in beautiful writing accouterments like handmade tweed, wool and leather laptop bags (99 to 139 euros) by socially conscious labels like Affentor Frankfurt and cult graphite pens from the 221-year-old Czech firm KohI-Noor (4.50 to 9.50 euros).
BROKE & SCHÖN
[ BLACK DOOR BEAUTY
Kopernikusstrasse 7a (49-30) 5471-9098 blackdoorbeauty.com Styles at this alternative jewelry emporium include a brass ring in the form of a pagoda (53 euros) and a stunning silver and onyx teardrop necklace (54 euros).
[
Krossener Strasse 9-10 (49-30) 7790-6534 Most of the clothing, shoes and accessories in this ninemonth-old women’s wear shop costs less than 50 euros. “We wanted the prices to reflect the neighborhood,” said the friendly employee behind the register, as she rang up a flattering Italian black mohair sweater (27.95 euros, or $40 at $1.42 to the euro).
Z BIG BROBOT
Kopernikusstrasse 19 (49-30) 7407-8388 bigbrobot.com A this quirky comic-themed clothing and book store, you’ll find USB memory sticks that look like robots (39.90 euros), as well as men’s sneakers and jeans and casual ladies’ clothing, like a blue skirt with stitched polar bears (59.90 euros). Half the store is devoted to art books, and many, like Jason Lutes’s absorbing graphic novel “Berlin: City of Stones” (22 euros) are in English.
THE NEW YORK TIMES
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THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2011
TR
7
FORAGING
Offbeat Bargains In Berlin Known primarily for its dreadlocked denizens and enormous warehouse nightclubs, Berlin’s Friedrichshain district has lately developed a reputation as a retail destination. Chain stores are few and far between, but a growing number of offbeat independent shops sell their wares for prices much lower than those found in more polished city center neighborhoods. Most of the action happens around Boxhagener Platz, a park that hosts a popular farmers’ market on Saturdays and an excellent flea market on Sundays. And the area’s night-life scene is still thriving; stores often stay open until 8 p.m., catering to a crowd that may have stayed out late the night before. RACHEL B. DOYLE
PHOTOGRAPHS BY GORDON WELTERS FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES
Z SCHOENE SCHREIBWAREN
Niederbarnimstrasse 6 schoeneschreibwaren.com This small, elegant shop specializes in beautiful writing accouterments like handmade tweed, wool and leather laptop bags (99 to 139 euros) by socially conscious labels like Affentor Frankfurt and cult graphite pens from the 221-year-old Czech firm KohI-Noor (4.50 to 9.50 euros).
BROKE & SCHÖN
[ BLACK DOOR BEAUTY
Kopernikusstrasse 7a (49-30) 5471-9098 blackdoorbeauty.com Styles at this alternative jewelry emporium include a brass ring in the form of a pagoda (53 euros) and a stunning silver and onyx teardrop necklace (54 euros).
[
Krossener Strasse 9-10 (49-30) 7790-6534 Most of the clothing, shoes and accessories in this ninemonth-old women’s wear shop costs less than 50 euros. “We wanted the prices to reflect the neighborhood,” said the friendly employee behind the register, as she rang up a flattering Italian black mohair sweater (27.95 euros, or $40 at $1.42 to the euro).
Z BIG BROBOT
Kopernikusstrasse 19 (49-30) 7407-8388 bigbrobot.com A this quirky comic-themed clothing and book store, you’ll find USB memory sticks that look like robots (39.90 euros), as well as men’s sneakers and jeans and casual ladies’ clothing, like a blue skirt with stitched polar bears (59.90 euros). Half the store is devoted to art books, and many, like Jason Lutes’s absorbing graphic novel “Berlin: City of Stones” (22 euros) are in English.
THE NEW YORK TIMES
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