Search Results

Hair removal should be optional, but if you choose it, make it smooth, affordable and vegan. This article is a collaboration with Estrid . Estrid is a 5-blade razor, specifically designed for those of us who believe that the hair removal process should be a pain-free affair on the skin, the wallet and for the planet. Lots of things in life are expensive. But a smooth shaving experience delivered to your mailbox shouldn’t be one of them. Did you know that there’s a price difference on a lot of everyday items where the ones marketed to women are more expensive? It's called the pink tax, and they're here to change that For every purchase you make, Estrid donate a portion to the German women's rights organization Medica Mondiale. Since 1993, they have supported and empowered women and girls in war and crisis zones in more than 13 different countries worldwide. NO MORE BAD SHAVE DAYS – AFFORDABLE nearly half the price of the competition – SHARP 5 blades for a closer, smoother finish – VEGAN encased in cocoa butter, aloe vera & shea butter

With no sugar and no calories Shanghai Mate is as naked and pure as this magazine’s latest front cover. And with only natural caffeine it makes it unique compared to other products. This article is done in collaboration with Shanghai Mate. Ever had an energy drink, gotten super energized and then experienced an instant “crash” a couple of moments later? Been there done that. That’s because a lot of the products we’re used to consuming are full of synthetic caffeine which is absorbed into our bodies way faster than natural caffeine. That results in an unnatural energy boost that is powerful but short and makes you crash right after. Since Shanghai Mate contains only natural caffeine, which is always combined with vitamins, it counteracts the breakdown in the body and protects you from the crash. The natural caffeine is also broken down more slowly in our body than the synthetic caffeine – making the process of natural energy sustain longer. Make Shanghai Mate your parachute.

Playful's Emma Maar strolled around Neukölln enjoying a späti beer with Chef Roo of the restaurant Hinterland. By: Emma Maar In the midst of Berlin’s “Teil Lockdown”, I met with Chef Ruhi Parmar Amin (Roo). We strolled around Neukölln, enjoyed a späti beer and spoke about food, art, her part in the restaurant, Hinterland, and more. Roo has sculpted a culinary world in which one cannot help but desire to taste. Roo’s vibe is instantly felt, her essence is charismatic, fiery, and creative. She comes from an art background, yet food and cooking have always been powerfully present. Roo’s culinary journey began in London, and has since traveled to Berlin. You will now find her in the kitchen of Hinterland, the subtle, radiating green rose of Bergmannkiez or within the intimate realms of the culinary collective Lucky You. When we spoke of the lockdown, Roo expressed the immense love and support Hinterland has been shown. This is true for many restaurants, cafes, and bars in Berlin. We, as guests are deeply connected to the kitchens and environments, which spark inspiration, lust and delight within us. Through reinventing themselves and their reality, we are shown that the Berlin community is brave, and eager to withstand the crashing waves of Covid-19. Hinterland is currently closed, using this time for further research and development. But make sure to bite down on the deliciousness they have to offer, once open again in the new year. Chef Roo continued to feed me her thoughts and stories. My appetite increasing as she began to describe the food collective, Lucky You, which she has with her two friends, Chris and Evan. Lucky You hosts creative and flavorful meals, curating a space in which art, food and social connection intertwine and ferment. Roo explains, “Lucky You is all about us sharing our love of food and connection with our guests. What started as a supper club has now shaped into a multi-faceted creative collective. We print zines and talk to our guests before each course to explain why we’re all gathered around this table and what has inspired us to make this meal for them.” Lucky You feels like a crispy, saucy, symbiotic dish, the kind I feel Roo burns for. Unfortunately, through the lockdown, Lucky You has had to take a break from their pop up meals. Stay tuned for future cooking. When I asked Roo where she finds inspiration, her friends and her family remain the strongest, specifically her head chef at Hinterland, Stefanie La, whose nurturing relationship with Roo has ignited culinary and creative growth. Roo is fueled by the diversity within those she surrounds herself with, coming together to create through cooking, connecting and eating. While speaking with Roo, I was reminded how important it is to create and connect within our own culinary atmospheres. To learn from Roo, Lucky You and others, what it means to be playful and funky within the kitchen. Berlin is here to taste. Lucky You Roo Hinterland Restaurant

We're collaborating with Wundertax, to make the process as easy as possible. This article is an advertorial article sponsored by Wundertax. When moving to Germany as an expat the tax system may be as new as the language. Finding an accountant that has time for you and someone you trust, or learning to do it yourself (and trust that you do it right) are both options that may not seem very convincing. It can be difficult to know where to start as well as knowing how much it will cost to do it. Playful are therefor proud to collaborate with Wundertax and help expats like ourselves get up to 3,000€ back in taxes, in just 15 minutes - for only €24.95. Get your money back - visit our link: www.germantaxes.de/playful

W e talked with Paulita Pappel on what the festival is offering during Berlin's second lockdown. Since it's 2020, in what ways will the festival be different from past years? "This year we are only able to do a Corona Edition of the festival, meaning where there would be usually a full program, workshops, panels, parties, lounge and more, this year will consist of a reduced film program that has been screened at the cinemas Kino Moviemento and Babylon Kreuzberg, special screenings at the Kino Moviemento throughout the year until September 2021, and an online streaming week, from 26th Oct to Nov 1st." "We also had 3 panels that were presented at the cinema, with remote speakers, on we streamed live and the others will be available also in the streaming platform. We're sad to miss our international guests and our audiences, but excited about exploring new ways of creating events that are inclusive and have a wider reach out as we can stream and connect with people globally." What's trending within porn at the moment? Is there a special theme you can find in some films this year? "We have a corona short film program, as many filmmakers made films with this topic. As usual, there are more independent productions with new proposals and more diversity." How do they differ from last year? "Since the Covid crisis has affected the porn world hard, this is a topic that keeps coming." What film producers sites would you wanna highlight or recommend? "Our sponsors Erika Lust Films, Lustery, Ersties and Erotic Lounge, and our partners for the online streaming Pinklabel.tv ." "We aim to present a selection of films that showcase the diversity of sexuality, thus we welcome many different perspectives and aesthetics. This year we're excited about our opening film Urban Smut by Berlin filmmakers and our closing film Goodbye Seventies by Todd Verow." How can we enjoy the festival this year, at place as well as online? "There will be special screenings every month at Kino Moviemento from November 2020 to September 2021, and currently the streaming is happening until November 1st!"

Costume Designer and Stylist Elfee Duquette has been working within theatre, opera, film, tv and fashion shoots in over 10 years. This time she’s letting her magic shine on Playful’s shoot together with Patrick Mason. An opulent costume or a period piece completes the talent’s ability to assume a role Tell us a bit about yourself I was born in Seattle, Washington. I have a twin brother, (Michael Walrond), and he’s my best friend and an amazing photographer. I studied at L'accademia di Costume e Di Moda in Rome for Costume Design. How did you end up in Berlin? It just felt like the right time to be here. So I just decided to pack my belongings and bought a one way ticket. What got you into costume design? The reason why costume design has so captured my interests is that there is something intrinsically immersive about the transformation an actor, actress, or model undergoes once they are put into a costume An opulent costume or a period piece completes the talent’s ability to assume a role. It allows them to distill some more referential material from the apparel they don. I love nothing more than to be a part of that catalytic process. Clothing can become inseparable from one’s identity as well as the character portrayed, whether perceived or inherent to their nature. What one does and what one wears has always been a topic of interest to me as the power of another’s gaze transforms us in numerous ways. Who’s your top 3 favourite designers? Christian Lacroix, Alexander McQueen and Elsa Schiaparelli. What’s your favourite thing about working as a costume designer in Berlin? In Berlin I have the ability to be as weird as I wanna be. What do you do in Berlin to feel inspired when/ if feeling uninspired? Go to art openings, listen to David Bowie, read romantic poems, read fashion magazines or talk to my mentor. What’s your favourite thing about this city? Appreciation for artists and the quality of life! Read the cover story: Patrick Masons true self is coming true Get your printed copy of Playful Magazine

Have you ever considered that you would like to create your own music but never really took the step to do so? Maybe because it seems like it’s too much to learn? Then this is your chance. This article is produced in collaboration with Novation. Launchkey Mini MK3 from Novation is all you need to get started right away. It’s the manufacturers most compact and portable 25-mini-key MIDI keyboard controller, so small that it easily fits in a regular backpack. That makes it your perfect keyboard for both making music at home and when travelling, and you never need to pause the creativity. It's not just the compact size that makes the Launchkey Mini K3 available. The price tag of 109.99 € also means that most people can afford to start creating. The Launchkey Mini MK3 is easy to use in Ableton Live and gets you instantly going. It’s got its own inituitive Ableton control, an arpeggiator, fixed chord mode, MIDI out and a lot of different sounds available in the box. This will make you put less time into learning the techniques behind it and more time on getting creative. Plug it in and start When testing the keyboard, the first thing that strikes us is how easy it is to use by just plugging it into the computer. An hour later we have our first intro to a track. Availability is crucial for the Launchkey Mini MK3, which makes it easy to experiment and play in Ableton Live in search of the right soundscape. With this product, Novation makes music creation accessible to everyone and only our creativity now sets the limits.

Farah Haze gets invited to a sex party. Illustration by: Iza Buleczka I assumed I’d get to a sex party in this city sooner. With a sexual appetite you’d struggle to describe as modest, sane, or even safe, I thought the moment would present itself. The usuals intrigued me, but the queues put me off. I wanted maximum debauchery, minimum effort. I’d like an orgy to spontaneously coalesce around me, please. Don’t the best things in life come to you? And on you, in a room full of strangers fucking? It didn’t quite happen like that. But it is true things find you in the end. I was a month into a blossoming friendship-romance with Eli, 25, from Barcelona. So it was make or break territory: flirting with being forever refined to the new-friend-graveyard of Insta DMs, a memorial for those relationships that never get off the ground. (The people you have to catch up and need to get a drink with, DM to make, postpone and cancel plans with ad infinitum. This goes on for years. So long one of you moves to Prenzlauer Berg and you are finally free.) But Eli was captivating. Naturally energetic, stunning and disarmingly smart, she’s also a true deviant. An enlightened sinner. Text from the enlightened sinner. Do I want to come to a sex party tonight? Her friend’s dropped out and there’s a €50 ticket to snap up. I’m deep in my ‘say yes’ phase, before the pandemic essentially cancels the concept of decision making, and chaotic energy is my lifeforce. So I’m in, no questions asked. Well, one. Where the fuck do you get a hooded robe from in Neukölln on a Friday night? It’s the dress code, as specified in on the group message sent out from the organizers. I muster a vintage silk robe and cheap lingerie that just about passes as matching. Of the 150 people crammed into the private party in a penthouse overlooking Boxhagener Platz, I’m one of the few without one. The enlightened sinner is more prepared, wearing strappy lingerie under a full length red velour cape, little red riding hood style. When we arrive, she’s hood up, clutching two bottles of Rötkappchen in the lift up to the top floor. The hero Berlin deserves. The place is packed. The 300sqm penthouse is basically a sex club for the night. There’s a main room with a dancefloor. And three separate rooms, each startlingly well-lit and filled with damp mattresses and people grinding unselfconsciously under the bright lights. The enlightened sinner and I take up space on the side of the dancefloor, clutching our wine in cups and watching the bodies in the room. She dives straight in, snogging guys and girls and making a big show of it as others watch. Turns out, I’m not so much of a natural. I’m not super aroused when two minutes of average small talk is the gateway to guys shoving their tongue down your throat, but I think, I guess I did come to a sex party? So I let go, and one of the two-minuters slips his fingers in my pants. Something about the dull lack of connection and awkward dancefloor finger bang makes me feel like a teenager, and I pull away. Consent is sexy. And there doesn’t seem to be a huge emphasis on it from the guys hungrily prodding pussies on the dancefloor. So I spend a lot of time grilling people about their life in the sex party scene. I meet an NYC rich kid with a thing for ketamine. Wholesome party people genuinely warmed by the sense of community in the scene. A few unfriendly hotties. While everyone around me’s fucking, my insistence on getting people’s life stories doesn’t make me hugely popular. On the balcony around 3am, I’m wasted and ready to admit defeat. I need a final cigarette before I slip away in an Uber. A woman with unbelievable, cartoonishly-perfect boobs softly demands I touch them before I’m allowed one. Next to her, a woman in a mask, bunny ears and latex (under her cape, of course) lightly roasts me for my sloppy German. Straight away, I’m in the palm of her hands. Though not as much as her slave. Stood obediently at her side, she holds a tight grip on a lead attached to the neck of his full face, leather mask. She barks orders at him and tugs on his leash. His devotion is touching. And in her tough controlling of him, there’s true tenderness in her eyes. So yeah, I need the story. He tells me what they have is love. They’re both married and their partners are aware of the dynamic. She offers him something transcendent. And in a way I can’t understand, he does to her. The dom bunny looks at my waist. “Can I touch it?” Yes! Finally. I blather on about how I’ve been missing that sexy consent all night. She laughs knowingly. “Can I kiss you?” She pulls me in, her leather harness presses against me. This was the genuine connection I had given up on. She asks her slave if she can take me inside. It’s on. She walks me to the front of the dancefloor, parks me by a chaise longue. We start making out. Drop our robes. At some point I end up on the chaise, on all fours, ass facing the dancefloor, face buried in the cheap velvet. Kneeling behind me, she grinds against me and pulls my head back to kiss. She asks if she can spank me, tells me to say if it’s too much. Then she gives me loud, hard smacks, increasing in intensity. She knows what she’s doing. In between she puts her mouth on my pussy, her hands in my hair. It’s ecstatic, electrifying, and the crowd behind us melts away. She tells me she’s going to give me some really hard ones. I’m hers. In the moment, I slip off somewhere else, and breathe into the pain. We’re both pretty blown away. We gather our things and have a drink by the bar, giddy. Brought back to life, the crowded room comes back to us and we can’t match the same intensity. I lose the dom bunny shortly after that. I leave the enlightened sinner to her debauched evening, and sit my flushed ass in an Uber back to Neukölln, smug and giddy about the moment that had presented itself, when I wasn’t looking.

Factory Berlin and Sónar+D’s Artist in Residence program supports artists exploring new lines of inquiry, intersecting technology & society. With support from Beats by Dr. Dre, the program aims to discover how creativity in technology and exploratory art can work together. This autumn the program is launching its second edition, with hundreds of applications from artists all around the world. The multidisciplinary designer, AR filter creator and creative technologist Tabitha Swanson was one of the participants. – I joined with 11 creatives from a collective I’m a part of, Digi-Gxl . We all came from slightly different creative backgrounds, myself coming from multi-disciplinary design and creative tech backgrounds. I work in art direction, UX/UI, and XR, but have a background in marketing, design, and fashion as well. So many of the other creatives are also multi-disciplinary and I think that allowed us to look at things from many different angles. The main project Tabitha Swanson and her fellow colleagues worked on during the residency was a collaborative VR gallery where they all showcased pieces of the work in a surreal fantastical space that the user could walk around and experience. Today she is very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the program. – It meant a lot in different ways, honestly. The Factory Berlin team is incredible, with a special shoutout to Sandira Blas (Curator & Researcher, Artist Residencies) who’s the backbone of this program. I appreciated having a safe and open space to work on and talk about ideas that were sometimes very outside of common practices. I think it’s what naturally happens when you put a bunch of creative people who are very passionate about what they do in enclosed quarters for a long time – the ideas just start flowing and don’t stop. Factory Berlin has taken up a very solid part of my life in terms of community and the people I worked with in the program have not only become peers to work on projects with, but dear friends. Another participant was Caroline Barrueco , experienced in 3D printing and experimental tech, who was also involved in the VR gallery. During the residency she took the opportunity to collaborate with several fellow residents and finalized many creative projects. With residents Yifan Pu and Jutta Babak she developed a facial recognition blocker mask and with Reeps100 she 3D printed a vocal sculpture, giving a physical shape to his voice. – I – I learned a lot about how to brand my art. This connection of artists and entrepreneurs is truly needed by both parts, and the Factory Berlin x Sónar+D residency was good in bridging such conversations. Click here to learn more about the program, the artists, and meet the new residents! This article is made in collaboration with Factory Berlin .

And there is an opening party this weekend. It has stormed around the legendary club, which was forced to move due to expired contracts and gentrification. But now everything seems to have been resolved, despite COVID-19 and a dance ban. The organizers behind Griessmuehle have found a new location, slightly to the east, in the district Niederschöneweide. The premises are part of a Bärenquell-Brauerei, a brewery that existed until 1994. On Friday, the club premieres in its new location, Revier Südost, with a lineup that you can find below. Acierate (synoid, southeastern district) Content of the night (lively, revier southeast) Lokier (district southeast) Parallx (r-label group, district southeast) Tham (synoid, lively, river southeast) More about the event on Resident Advisor.

You may have heard that Berlin is called the ‘capital of loneliness’. If you have ever felt lonely, you’re probably not surprised to learn that loneliness has a big impact on our health. We have some great tips on where to live and what to do to avoid loneliness in Berlin. This is an advertorial article in collaboration with LifeX. Everything from our lifestyle choices to the people we spend our time with has an effect on our physical and mental health. When we talk about health, most conversations naturally revolve around diet and exercise - we often overlook other important factors, such as loneliness. Our sense of belonging has a huge impact on health, though it might seem less obvious than what we eat or how often we hit the gym. It’s natural to feel lonely when you’re living in a new city - luckily, we have some tips for you that will help you connect with like-minded individuals and solve your housing needs . Join a Club If you’re feeling a bit lonely it’s the perfect time to start a new hobby or get back into an old one! Joining a club is an excellent way to meet like-minded people who enjoy similar activities. A running club is a good example, most cities have running clubs available at all levels. It’s a great way to work on your fitness and meet new people - plus it never hurts to get outdoors and get your endorphins pumping! If you’re not into sports, try something like a meetup group, or sign up for a class (language, art, music etc.) If you’re part of a community, like LifeX, attend an event or kickstart one of your own. These are excellent ways to meet others and learn something new! Log Off (Take a Tech Break) Stop the endless scrolling! Practice good technology habits by limiting your amount of screen time. If you don’t have the willpower, delete your most addictive apps or get an app that limits screen time. Spending too much time with your head buried in your screen disengages you from the world around you, especially if you’re browsing social media. It’s easy to compare and feel negatively about your own life, remember that social media is a highlight reel and no one is sharing their ‘real’ day-to-day struggles. Invest your time in chatting with your flat-mates and neighbors - you’ll be surprised what you missed while you were scrolling! Volunteer Help others in any way you can, whether it’s committing to an organization/cause or simply making yourself available to those who need it. No matter what your skill set is you can make a difference by giving your time and energy. Not only will you improve someone else’s life, you will be exposed to many new people this way! It’s a win-win situation and should also serve as a mood booster if you’re feeling low. Think about your skills and how you could impact your community, contact your local volunteer organizations and find opportunities to get involved! Try Co-Living! Co-living is a modern type of shared living for those who want to experience social and hassle-free living. It’s not just for those who are new to a city, many people live in co-living homes to achieve a better balance between their busy professional and social lives. A balanced lifestyle is easier to maintain with co-living as you’re not sacrificing your free time on household upkeep. Co-living with LifeX helps you feel at home and provides the foundation for you to thrive in Berlin . Their Scandinavian designed apartments in the city center will be a calm oasis in your busy life. Share a flat with people who are just as excited as you are to explore the city and submerge themselves into the Berlin lifestyle. If you’re currently on the market for a new place and interested in co-living, you’re in luck as they are offering the first month’s rent free* Whether introverted or extroverted, scientific studies report better mental and physical health from social interaction - companionship may be the key to making your life in Berlin everything you dreamed of and more. Moving into your own room in a beautifully furnished co-living apartment is a great place to start. Especially since you will be sharing a home with people just like you - but from all over the world! If you’re moving to Berlin, it doesn’t have to be lonely or stressful, just pack your bags and let LifeX take care of the rest. Instead of spending your first months organizing to get settled, you can spend your time doing what you love. Whether it’s focusing on work and creative projects, learning German, or just winding down at home with your flat-mates. Co-living with LifeX, and following our tips, will be sure to keep feelings of loneliness away! *The first month's rent is free for new members joining in Berlin with a 6-month minimum stay. Valid until November 1st 2020. S ee the homes & apply online today here! Check out LifeX’s other cities here!

This exhibition takes place right now. We went on an vernissage dinner at The Reed to eat a three course dinner, wine and drinks – while enjoying a digital exhibition featuring artists such as Harriet Davey and Tabitha Swanson and it was beautiful. Today the doors are open at The Reed - pass by and enjoy a Moscow Mule, some Lamb ribs or vegan alternatives and the beautiful work done by the talented digital artists. ABOUT THE ARTISTS Gabriel Massan is a digital artist origined in Brazil who works on the dependency relationship between fictional existences and digital environments. Tabitha Swanson appears as a specimen of an online race. A designer and creative technologist using 3D rendering, AR face filters and sometimes synthetic makeup on her own body, she offers the vision of a migrant from a virtual world. Julia Parchimowicz is a Polish born, Berlin based 3D sculptor, VR explorer, an art director and a VJ. She takes inspiration from the world of video games, primal aesthetics, and cute animals. Naive aesthetics and sly virtual entities meet in her worlds, born out of nostalgia for cave drawings of the digital age. Harriet Davey is a 3D Artist, Graphic Designer, and AR creator based across London and Berlin. Obsessed with questioning what it means to be fluid and human in a digital world: her work examines and interrogates the ugly and the beautiful; the maximum and the minimum; the online and the offline. Jurek Górecki is a digital Artist and Illustrator based in Berlin, Germany. Heavily inspired by the comics and cartoons of the early 90s and his childhood, he started drawing comics and designing characters at the age of seven. His work can be characterized by the use of bold outlines, an extreme range of color and contrast, speechbubbles, vibrant backgrounds and onomatopoesis. ABOUT THE REED As a culture and lifestyle hub, THE REED is the heart of the John Reed brand. The Club House where the brand values fitness, lifestyle and music are given the appropriate stage. Be it Berlinale After Show or Fashion Week Parties, Record Release Events or exhibitions during Art Week.