The restaurant with bar has a laid back, cool environment. The main front room is inhabited by a fat angel......she's huge! The angel alone is reason enough to pop out of the U-bahn. But while you're gawking at the angel's proportions sample the tiramisu because it is the best that Berlin has to offer.

The restaurant is located in Moabit, right next to U-bhf Birkenstrasse. The address is Birkenstrasse 44 (Map).  Reservations are available, and are recommended for the Sunday brunch. Here is the restaurant's web-site: www.Dicker-Engel.com.

Opening hours are from 4pm - 3am Monday thru Saturday & Sundays from 10am - 3am.  But the Sunday brunch runs from 10am - 4pm. The kitchen always closes at 2am, so it's a nice place for a late night meal.

Tickets: Oy-vey it gets complex:

10 Euro for weekdays, and 12 Euro on weekends; Children and teens up to 16 years of age have free entry. There is a new system in place regarding entry times (to prevent the insane lines witnessed at the first MOMA installment): Each ticket is pre-numbered. There are monitors displaying times of entry for various groups of numbers.  Usually there will be about two hours between the time of your ticket purchase until your scheduled entry. During this time you are welcome to leave the area and check out the sites nearby (such as the Sony Center).

Long lines are expected at the ticket purchasing counters.  There are two ways to avoid this: order an "early-bird ticket" or arrange for VIP tickets. The "early-bird ticket" can be purchased for 10 Euro and is valid on a specific date for an 8am entry time; this ticket & VIP tickets can be purchased on-line at: www.metinberlin.org. VIP tickets are 30 Euro, and include an audio tour and private entry.

This segment features 19th century French masterpeices from artists such as Matisse, Gauguin and Manet. If the exhibit is any where as good as the last it's worth the trip, and the wait.

The gallery is located at Potsdamer Straße 50 (Map) and is best accessed via U-bhf Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Park, S or U-bhf Potsdamer Platz, Bus M29, or Bus M48. Here is a convenient link to the public transportation system, use the "Journey Planner" located in the right-hand column.

I found this salon by accident a few years ago: Coiffeur Sercan, and I've been going there ever since. It takes years and grueling amounts of labor to become a certified master stylist in Europe, but Sercan has accomplished it in both Germany and Turkey. 

In Berlin there is a plethora of hair salons, yet women literally come from all over the city for Sercan's cuts, highlights and extensions.  If your looking to try a new "European" hairstyle check out Sercan's modest little shop (Map), sip some tea and wait for the surprise; all of which occurs with very reasonable prices.

Be sure to call ahead of time for an appointment. Somedays you can get an immediate appointment if you're willing to wait a little. It's best to reach the shop via U-bhf Birkentstrasse or take the M29 Bus to the Perleburger/Birkenstrasse stop (Public trans. link).

If your looking for a new "European" hairstyle check out Sercan's modest little shop (MAP), sip some tea and wait for the surprise.

After being here for a few years I've noticed something about Berlin haircuts: They're really stylish; they look professional,  and they change frequently.

Middle aged women in Berlin don't shy away from funky highlights and youthful cuts, they don't walk around with poofy football helmet hair. Some of these Germans may have funny clothes, but man, they've got great hair!

Berlin's Karnival der Kulturen takes place each year during the Pfingston holiday weekend.  It is the culmination of the artistic and musical abilities of Berlin's immigrant culture.  More than 70 nations are represented with nearly 1,000 performers.

The Karneval runs along Blücherplatz, Blücher Str., Zossener Str. and Waterlooufer. The area is best reached via U-bhf Hallesches Tor (MAP) The Karneval runs from May 25th-28th. The English press release for the Karneval der Kulturen provides further information.

It is truly a unique experience that proves fun for all ages.

Beginning September 2007 all German trains will be non-smoking. The Germans parliament is finally taking action in order to protect non-smokers and children from second hand smoke, thanks to a fat & embarassing reprimand from the European Union's Health Ministry.

It is often cheaper to fly with some of Germany's & Europe's no-frill airlines, but nothing can replace a European train traveling experience if you've never had one.

Some tips: Get to your train station early. Purchasing the tickets from the automatic vending machines is annoying and confusing even if you speak German. Until you get the hang of the Deutsche Bahn system purchase tickets at the kiosks or offices. It is extremely wise to make seat reservations, unless you don't mind sitting on the floor on a Friday evening. If you're staying in a hotel, you can call Deutsche Bahn to order your tickets and have them delivered to your hotel prior to your departure.

If you don't know your track number then try to get help at a Deutsche Bahn information kiosk (usually English speaking employees work here). On the tracks are posters detailing specific train layouts according to model. On these posters you can often tell where along the track your car number will be located....just make sure you check under the proper model number witch should appear on your tickets.

Be aware of the fact that Deutsche Bahn personnel who service the track platforms often speak little or no English. So be prepared to show your tickets and pantomime what you want.

Here is a link to the Deutsche Bahn's English Website: http://www.bahn.de/p/view/international/englisch/international_guests.shtml.

Berlin was chosen way back in 1985 for the BUGA. With the money the city created Britzer Gardens (Britzer Garten).  Despite Berlin's poverty Britzer Garten has continued to flourish. In fact Britzer Garten is still ranked among the top gardens in Germany. Every year they present their Tulip Festival "Tulipen", und meine Freunde, it's amazing!

For more information on the Tulip Festival which runs from April 27th - May 28th, please click here. For directions on reaching Britzer Garten please click here. (Keep in mind that it will require an U-bahn ride and a bus ride in order to reach the gardens.)

Even if you miss the Tulip Festival Britzer Garten is still worth a visit from mid April up through the fall months. There are plenty of other events taking place in the gardens as well, and there are great play areas for children. The park is also relatively handicap accessable. There are cafe's on the grounds which offer non-smoking sections.

Berlin is known for having these fantastic courtyards; little oases tucked away just waiting to be discovered.

Osteria No. 1  (address: Kreuzbergstr. 71) (map) is a cute Italian cafe/restaurant that offers terrace dining on warm weather days. The courtyard has plenty of green foliage, the air is filled with the sounds of a water fountain's trickling and various bird's songs. 

This Kreuzberg establishment has long been know for it's excellent food, but I really have to say that to get the best terrace dining experience you need to go around lunchtime in order to enjoy the sun. There are great lunch specials, and the staff, in true Italian fashion are boisterous and friendly.

After you stuff yourself stroll next door and walk through one of Kreuzberg's best parks: Viktoria Park (Viktoriapark). The park is huge. There are rolling hills with plenty of places to lay out on the grass and soak up the sun.

So, this is one of those odd little tips that you won't find in your Rick Steves Guidebook, yet it is seriously one of the funniest things I've experienced in Berlin.....

At U-Bahnhof Berliner Strasse on Bundesallee 39-40A (map) there is a company called Ceragem. They are a South Korean firm that manufactures and sells programmable massage tables throughout the world.  They are so convinced that you'll love their technology after trying out one of their massage beds that eventually you will buy one....even if you choose to purchase one years from now.

Just show up between 8am and 5:40pm Monday through Friday or until 1:20pm on Saturday with a sheet and a blanket  (or any combination of the two) and you will get a free 40 minute massage.  It's totally legitimate; not creepy in any way and it's really fun.

Here's the catch: You have to listen to a 5-10 minute talk in German about the beds that includes lots of hooting, hollering and clapping...if you speak German, you'll laugh; if you don't speak German you'll laugh even harder.....and then you get 40 minutes on one of their 50 or so wonderful massage beds.

The technology and technique behind the heated massage beds are inspired by traditional Korean massage and accupressure. The company claims that their beds will improve your health in a number of ways.

The massage is great and it's even more fun if you go with a small group of people.

I was never a fan of Vietnamese food back home in the States, but Monsieur Vuong's Vietnamese/Indochina Cafe has set me straight. Over the last few years it has been consistently favored by locals, so if your looking for a cool, Mitte style restaurant check this place out.

The restaurant is located on Alte Schönhauser Str. 46 (map), which is in itself an interesting area in terms of shopping and cafés.

Monsieur Vuong's offers a small menu that changes daily or every two days in order to ensure the freshest ingredients. There is a nice tea selection, and they usually offer delicious shakes or smoothies in addition to the daily menu. The portions are generous and the prices are equally so.

The decor and lighting is  surprisingly inviting and warm. There's also a beautiful aquarium in the back of the room.  There are stools at the bar for eating and sitting, but you can usually get a table right away if you beat the rush hour as the turnover is relatively quick.

 If the restaurant is packed you can offer to share a table with another party. The trendy waitstaff enjoy speaking English, so even if you want to speak German they'll still answer you in English.