Ich bin ein Berliner

[odin70]

Im going to Berlin a couple of weeks from now. Great city. This time i would like to check out instrument shops, live music clubs etc. Any Germans (or others) here who knows where to go?

[perogato02]

Oranienstrasse! SO36 for live music and there is an instrument shop.
But there is more, much more to do and find in Berlin. Just shop around, ask the locals.

[EdHunter]

I spent a couple of weeks there last summer, and all I found for basses was a little shop on the Oranienstrasse, which had a couple of old Fender copies hung very high up on the wall...

[murphylus]

concerning instrument shops: there are two 'JustMusic'-stores:

Kontakt

The one in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg is quite huge.
A smaller shop I really like:

Borkowsky Instrumente & Band-Equipment - Kontakt

They say that they will move to another location (Torellstraße 1 10243 Berlin) in the middel of june.

I hope these links are helpfull in any way. Couldn't find an english version of their contacts.

[odin70]

Viel danke!

[Ed Fuqua]

You know, a "berliner" is a small, jelly filled pastry...

[odin70]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

You know, a "berliner" is a small, jelly filled pastry...

Thats me

[robobass]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

You know, a "berliner" is a small, jelly filled pastry...

This topic comes up all the time in my circle of Germans and various Auslaender (foreigners). In normal spoken Deutsch you don't use an article when identifying your nationality, profession, sexuality, etc., you just say "ich bin Kontrabassist" for example. But as far as I gather, it isn't really grammatically wrong to add the article and say "ich bin ein Berliner", just awkward. The best we can come up with is that JFK's staff actually knew all about this and planned it brilliantly. If he had said "I am a Berliner" properly, it might have sounded arrogant or something. By making the mistake and giving a silly double meaning, he endeared himself more to the Germans with his seemingly foolish effort than he ever would have by speaking properly! This is just my take on the issue.

A tip though; There is also a baked good called an "Amerikaner". So, when travelling in Germany, if asked "woher kommen Sie?" (where are you from?) You don't want to say "ich bin ein Amerikaner", or maybe you do

[N.F.A.]

I am also thinking of going to Berlin, Magdeburg, Quedlinburg this summer. Want to research my roots and maybe hook up with some old friends near Weilburg/Giessen. Keeping an eye on this thread.

[odin70]

Originally Posted by robobass

This topic comes up all the time in my circle of Germans and various Auslaender (foreigners). In normal spoken Deutsch you don't use an article when identifying your nationality, profession, sexuality, etc., you just say "ich bin Kontrabassist" for example. But as far as I gather, it isn't really grammatically wrong to add the article and say "ich bin ein Berliner", just awkward. The best we can come up with is that JFK's staff actually knew all about this and planned it brilliantly. If he had said "I am a Berliner" properly, it might have sounded arrogant or something. By making the mistake and giving a silly double meaning, he endeared himself more to the Germans with his seemingly foolish effort than he ever would have by speaking properly! This is just my take on the issue.

A tip though; There is also a baked good called an "Amerikaner". So, when travelling in Germany, if asked "woher kommen Sie?" (where are you from?) You don't want to say "ich bin ein Amerikaner", or maybe you do

Interesting. I should have paid more attention in my German classes. When i think of it..its almost the same in Norwegian, but it depends on the situation. Of course there is much German in Norwegian. Some say 25%