“Frankfurt for Beginners” – A tour through Frankfurt with Matthias Arning and Eva Feuchter

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“Frankfurt for Beginners” – A tour through Frankfurt with Matthias Arning and Eva Feuchter

The book “Frankfurt für Anfänger”, published in spring 2018, takes its readers on a journey through Frankfurt’s districts, passing along the city’s sights. Author Matthias Arning is a journalist and former chief of the local news section at Frankfurter Rundschau. The Frankfurt guide, published in English and German, contains by illustrations by Eva Feuchter.

Thera are usually two reason for living in Frankfurt:  professional fate or coincidence. The author explains this fact in the books preface as following: “Because who would ever move to Frankfurt by free choice – the way you relocate to Berlin or settle in Munich? People often end up in Frankfurt by chance – or to make money. It tends to start as unromantically as that. However, once they get over the initial shock, most realize: Life in Frankfurt is not just about work, it’s about enjoying a great place”.

“Frankfurt for Beginners” serves as a guideline for living in the metropolis. Frankfurt is no longer believed to be uninhabitable. Over time, the city has developed into a green, family-friendly home to more than 736,000 people – another 25,000 are expected to relocate to the centre within the next two years. The city is considered to be the centre of Europe, with a great network of motorways and Germany’s largest airport – but still is a city with short distances, ideal for cyclists.

The author moved to Frankfurt at a young age. He studied political science at the city and later in Berlin. In this declaration of love, he shows the entire world around the city he grew up in.

The city tour is divided into six chapters: Frankfurt Classics, Landmarks, Small Escapes, Milestones, Fotsam and Jetsam and Views of Frankfurt. In addition to illustrations, historical backgrounds on the individual topics account for the great reading experience.

“You have to get used to it, like you do to your first Handkäs – this Frankfurt specialty also tends to be love at second bite.”

Just like your love for Frankfurt, happiness must be conquered in this city, it doesn’t fall into your lap.

How to get to know the city is upon the reader. Frankfurt for Beginners gives readers the freedom to explore the city as they please – the book does not present a fixed order that should be followed.

In 210 pages, Matthias Arning takes the reader on a unique. Filled with insider tips, localities, landmarks and much more, the book is not only suitable for newcomers, but also for experienced Frankfurters, allowing for the rediscovery of the city.

Book details

Frankfurt for Beginners

210 pages

Edition Frankfurter Ansichten; Edition: 1000 (January 14, 2019)

Language: English

ISBN-13: 978-3000616198

Illustration: Eva Feuchter www.evafeuchter.de

 

 

 

 

Von: Tonia Sanner

The Rhein-Main-Region celebrates Fasching

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Where in Frankfurt and the surrounding areas is carnival being celebrated? On which parades and floats should we not miss out on? We have asked ourselves these questions and compiled a list of tips for the carnival season.

After doing some research, one thing is certain: The Financial Centre Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main area have a lot to offer when it comes to celebrating the foolish season to the fullest extent before Lent begins leading up to Easter. In many places, Fools take control over the cities from Weiberfastnacht on Thursday, 28. February, to Ash Wednesday, 6. March.

Financial Centre Frankfurt

Carnival is a grand festival– no one celebrates it like we do is the motto of this year’s Frankfurt carnival parade 2019: “As in previous years, the parade on Shrove Sunday will inspire both Frankfurters and visitors”, writes Frankfurt’s Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann in his welcoming address in the current carnival brochure of the Council of Carnival Associations Frankfurt am Main e.V. Where to celebrate after the great parade, which ceremonial sessions are worth experiencing and which balls are particularly traditional can be looked up on FRANKFURT.de. You will surely enjoy a visit to the carnival metropolis Mainz, should the events happening at the Financial Centre not be enough for you.

Mainz

The carnival stronghold Mainz is known throughout Germany for its large and colourful carnival parade. Political topics are often comedically addressed – but also in Wiesbaden, Darmstadt and surrounding areas people dance, laugh and throw confetti until Ash Wednesday.

Wiesbaden

In the Hessian state capital Wiesbaden, the young Fools take the centre stage on Saturday. The popular children’s festival begins at 10.00 a.m, of which the popular children’s parade starting at 14.11 p.m. is a major part. On Shrive Sunday, the infamous Sunday Parade starts at 13.11 p.m. at the Elsässer Platz and moves through the streets of the state capital. “On Ash Wednesday, 6 March 2019, the festive season comes to an end, and the Fools return the key to town hall to Lord Mayor Sven Gerich,” it says on the city’s website.

Darmstadt

In the neighbouring city of Darmstadt and the surrounding areas, the foolish season is widely celebrated. Since 1902, the Carnival Association AHOI cultivates the tradition of carnival in its hometown Gräfenhausen and is convinced that once again, visitors will be satisfied with the carnival festivities happening this year.  In Griesheim, South Hesse, and in proximity to Gräfenhausen, the largest Weiberfastnachtsparty will take place. In Weiterstadt the carnival club Weiterstadt invites visitors to a colorful mixture of carnival festivities, having something to offer for everyone’s taste: children’s session, Kräppelkaffee, Rosenmontagsball, and rag-ball. More carnival celebrations in Darmstadt and surroundings can be found here.

Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt - © #visitfrankfurt, Holger Ullmann#visitfrankfurt, Holger Ullmann

Frankfurt Christmas Market

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Regional specialities and a festive sea of lights: The Frankfurt Christmas Market attracts visitors from around the globe

The Frankfurt Christmas market has a long tradition and is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany. Up to the year 1393 it can be proven that markets took place in Frankfurt on Christmas. The traditional centerpiece of the market is the Römerberg, which with its historic half-timbered houses provides the backdrop for one of the country’s most beautiful and largest Christmas markets. The approximately three million visitors can enjoy the festive atmosphere between the city center and Römerberg from November 26 to December 22, 2018.

The highlight of the opening ceremony will be a live-concert of the Frankfurt Opera on November 26. And until  December 22, the musical offer ranges from the performance of international Christmas carols, the playing of the tower musicians of the Old St Nicholas Church to the big ringing of the city with the simultaneous ringing of 50 bells.

To celebrate its completion, the outline of Frankfurt’s newly rebuilt Old Town can be found on the new 2018’s Glühweintasse. Those wishing to secure one of the very first cups will be able to purchase it from 26 November at the Tourist Information Römer and Hauptbahnhof, as well as directly at the market in the Frankfurt Information Hut.

Frankfurt Christmas Market - © #visitfrankfurt, Holger Ullmann

Frankfurt Christmas Market – © #visitfrankfurt, Holger Ullmann

 

Over 200 Christmas stalls

Over 200 Christmas stalls attract visitors with lovely products and treats. In addition to the classic roasted almonds, mulled wine and sausages, you can enjoy typical Frankfurt Christmas specialties such as Bethmännchen (“a little Bethmann”), hot cider and Quetenkännchen. In addition to the culinary diversity, visitors can expect classic Christmas market decoration and folk art articles, as well as modern handicrafts and typical Frankfurt goods such as ‘dippe’ (ceramic pot) and earthenware products. On the adjoining craft market in the Roman halls and the St. Paul’s Church, there is also the opportunity to search for an extraordinary Christmas present.

At the gates of the city there are also a variety of romantic Christmas markets in Odenwald, Rheingau, Taunus and Wetterau.

Christmast market tours

On December 16, the Christmas market tour “Glühwein, Geschichten & Gebäck” (Mulled wine, stories and pastries) will be offered in many languages as well as for the blind and visually impaired and the Frankfurt Christmas market specialties will be presented. Also stories about the historic and modern Frankfurt, the Christmas market and famous Frankfurt personalities are part of the tour.

Another highlight is a guided tour through the winding alleys of Frankfurt’s new Old Town. A German-speaking tour starts at 2 p.m. every day. The tour through the new Old Town is also offered to English-speaking Christmas market visitors. On six dates, starting from 1 December, English-speaking guests can enjoy the Frankfurt Old Town flair. Visitors can expect an exciting mixture of new buildings and reconstructions.

Rosa Weihnacht

At the Frankfurt Hauptwache (Main Guard) there are more Christmas market stalls, which extend the classic Christmas market area up to the shopping street Zeil and thus form a passage to Christmas shopping. On Friedrich-Stolze-Platz there is also the so-called “Rosa Weihnacht”, which is organized by the gay community of the Rhine-Main region and creates a special atmosphere with its colorful lights, unusual decoration and design.

More information.

 

Photo: © #visitfrankfurt, Holger Ullmann, www.frankfurt-tourismus.de

The Newcomers Festival: Information and orientation for New-Frankfurters from abroad

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A new job, a new city, a new country, a new language – like David Hart from the USA, many have taken this big step. And many have experiences similar to those of the former journalist and current communications and event expert: “It is a challenge and an adventure, but sometimes you are simply overwhelmed by the many changes.” When Hart first came to Germany 30 years ago, he almost gave up after nine months, but then he had his breakthrough and arrived in Frankfurt. It is this uncertainty amongst expats that the agency Communication Solutions, founded by Hart, is tackling. He and his team provide information on living and working in Germany, schools and networks, weekend planning and leisure activities. At the same time, they offer orientation that helps you find your way around the general information offered, the foreign language and despite cultural differences. They want to make the region more accessible and help newcomers settle in more quickly.

“Frankfurt is a city you fall in love with at second sight”, David Hart sums up his experiences at that time, “at the beginning one only knows the striking places, like the airport and the fair”. Frankfurt’s highlights are not as centralized as in London, for example, but the entire region contributes to the attractiveness of the location. That is why it takes a while to discover the many peculiarities of the cities by yourself. “I have collected so much information about Frankfurt, about the cultural offerings, clubs and associations in the region, and I wanted to share this with the many expats who share the same experiences. I wanted to create a platform for this exchange and thus contribute something to the culture of welcome,” Hart said in an interview with Frankfurt Main Finance.

The Newcomers Festival was born. The 18th annual event will be held on the 9th of September. Compared to the first Newcomers Festival in 2001, Hart observes significant changes in Frankfurt’s international community. “When I came to Frankfurt, mostly British and American expats lived here. Today, the community has become more international and colourful, partly because of the end of the Cold War and the eastward expansion of the European Union. By now, the expat community in Frankfurt comes from so many different countries, the city is almost a replica of the United Nations,” describes David Hart his observations. His work has become much more diverse as a result. However, the diversity in languages and cultural backgrounds has posed   new challenges for networking within the community and the corresponding concepts and platforms. This development is also reflected in the Newcomers Festival.

The Newcomers Festival is an event for the whole family. It offers an overview of the entire Rhine-Main area: regions, cities and municipalities present themselves and their leisure activities, service providers familiarise visitors with what they have to offer, schools and universities present themselves and various churches are represented. Clubs and networks will also be present. An event on “soft location factors”, as Hart sums up. There are exhibitions, seminars and workshops, supplemented by practical information on life and work in Germany, Frankfurt and the wider region. In addition, visitors can expect a musical programme and the culinary offerings will reflect that of the region. The festival takes place on Sunday, 9th September from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Frankfurt’s city hall, the Römer, and admission is free.

Events such as the Newcomers Festival are becoming increasingly important due to Frankfurt’s steady growth: “Last year we had a net influx of 13,000 newcomers to Frankfurt. Although the Brexit conditions are still being negotiated and there is still a lot of uncertainty regarding the outcome, one can already notice an increase in demand because of the Brexit.,” reports Hart. Currently, the most important thing is that growth in Frankfurt is managed appropriately. Traffic, schools and kindergartens as well as living space must be developed accordingly. But Hart is very confident that “the right course is being set in the Rhine-Main area at the moment”. After all, the region has gained a great deal of quality of life over the past 30 years and much has been done right.

J.P. morgan Corporate Challenge. Quelle Logo J.P Morgan

Frankfurt prepares for J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge

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The world’s biggest corporate run

On June 7th the world’s biggest corporate run takes place in Frankfurt am Main: The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge! On running day it’s all about team spirit, communication, collegiality, fairness and health.  In 2017 63,776 runners from 2,419 companies took place in the event at which sports and competitiveness come in second. The registration period has closed a few days ago and the Financial Centre Frankfurt now prepares for one of Frankfurt’s biggest yearly events.

63.776 runners from 2.419 companies

The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge in Frankfurt is part of a worldwide connected network of running events for permanent employees and employees from all business areas. In 2018 the run will start at Hochstraße and Börsenstraße. It will end after a distance of  5.6 kilometers at Senckenberganlage (Dantestraße).

Source: J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge

A 360 degrees perspective on Frankfurt and the region

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Discover first traces of the Brexit in Frankfurt? Or how about taking a tour of the musical specialties ranging from Mozart to The Doors? Would you like to discover the Main Metropolis from the perspective of a former homeless man? Or would you rather discover the Frankfurt city forest in the context of an Irish Roadbowling experience? What about discovering gossip and love stories, Indian spots, graffiti and street art, espionage and secret societies or the most popular watering holes of Frankfurt?

All of the aforementioned is a mere tiny excerpt of the meanwhile 250 different events offering you, since 2009, a glimpse into Frankfurt organized by the Journal Frankfurt magazine in cooperation with the renowned city guide Christian Setzepfandt. The core question of the program is the following: We’re traveling to foreign countries and far away cities and yet we should ask ourselves what we ourselves really know about our own hometown located at the main? The goal of the extensive program is thus supplying Frankfurt locals with a new perspective on their city and in this context immerse into unknown but appealing locations and ways of living, traditions and the cities culture and take a glimpse behind the curtains of cultural institutions, popular buildings and popular spots of Frankfurt. For tourists and recently settled citizens, the organizers would like to take a focus on crushing persistent preconceptions about Frankfurt as a lifeless commuter town, the red light district and crime by showcasing the multifaceted nature of Frankfurt and offering a close experience of the various neighborhoods, the history, the unexpected, curiosities, scary elements of the city, the fascinating, the romantic and lost treasures.

Aside from the multitude of originally themed city tours in the categories architecture and extraordinary buildings, secret locations, parks and nature, children, families and the elderly, culture, art and city history, parties and red light as well as streets and neighborhoods, the program also includes various workshops taking a special focus on Frankfurt, it’s vicinity and beyond. The program ranges from rather ordinary courses of photography in Frankfurt, acquiring sport techniques and cooking classes of special dishes to extraordinary workshops on Apfelwein (apple cider), airline pilots in the flight simulator, film animation or a course for adults on making your own soap bubbles.

The program by Journal Frankfurt is not limited on the Main Metropolis, however, but rather invites you to discover the surroundings of Frankfurt as well: Starting from touring Offenbach with the topics ranging from weather, industrial change, the Offenbach harbor or migration in Offenbach bringing to light desires as well as existential fears, to a champagne tasting along the mountain route, a meeting with the city beekeeper of Kassel up to workshops on the creative rural cuisine of the Odenwald or a culinary tour of local dishes through the Wetterau.

Early planning of your participation will pay off. Some especially exceptional tours and workshops only take place a few times per year. The price range starts at being free of charge to a participation fee of 89 euro; the average participation fee is about 20 euro per person. An increasing part of the city tours will also be offered in English. You will find an overview of the Journal Frankfurt program right here.

Colorful lights and sounds to fight winter’s darkness

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During wintertime, parks and gardens often suffer from a drop of visitors; even popular parks like the Frankfurter Palmengarten are no different. To oppose this trend, but mainly to change the winter’s twilight into colorful lights and the area of the Palmengarten into a shining wonderland, the Palmengarten is hosting the exhibition “Winterlichter”.

The main idea of the project is to project light effects, pictures, videos and slides onto trees, plants, and the lawn as well as statues and water surfaces while accompanying everything with music. With this, the peaceful atmosphere of the illuminated park can be thought of as the opposite of the troublesome, lively atmosphere of the city. One of the highlights is the magnificent entrance building of the Palmengarten, whose dome looks like a freshly shaken snow globe while being illuminated. Another one is a colorful, life-sized horde of horses, who gives the Palmengarten a magical appearance.

The concept to use musical light effects in parks as a contrast to hibernal twilight was solely designed by artist Wolfgang Flammersfeld and had to withstand many dissenting votes. In 2006, Flammersfeld could realize his exhibition for the first time at the Dortmunder Westfalenpark, where it will be presented for the twelfth time this year. Thereupon his installations were transferred to the Frankfurter Palmengarten, where the winter lights will be presented for the sixth time now, as well as to Mannheim, Erfurt and Bonn. At the Palmengarten, visitor numbers raised from 1500 in the first year to over 32000 in 2016. Meanwhile, the exhibition was expanded every year, bringing more visitors in with more and more installations.

The overall 17 installations made out of 700 lamps (696 of them being LEDs), four video installations and five projections of slides can be seen every day between 17: and 21:00; a tour around the whole exhibition takes upon one hour. After visiting the exhibition, snacks and mulled wine can be savored at the Café Winterlichter as well as the Café Siesmayer.

World’s first solo exhibition for the “Queen of Less”

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Jil Sander is one of the most influential contemporary fashion designers. The simple and timeless elegance of her designs, together with the high-quality materials and sophisticated cuts gave her the title “Queen of Less.” After all, it’s the restraint and clarity that make Jil Sander’s fashion spectacular. An exhibition of the Frankfurt Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) entitled “Jil Sander. Present Tense” is now dedicated to the elegancy of the designer in her fashion and beyond and conveys this to the visitor through multimedia elements.

Down to the smallest detail, the fashion designer herself, in close collaboration with the museum and especially with the museum director Matthias Wagner K, co-designed and implemented the world’s first solo exhibition on her versatile oeuvre in a museum.

On three floors and over 3,000 square meters of exhibition space, almost the entire museum area of the MAK, the visitor is not chronologically guided by the life and work of the fashion designer, but thematically. The exhibition is not a retrospective of Sanders career and the history of the company, neither a retrospective of her collections – time details are completely missing from the exhibits and thus underline the timelessness of Sanders designs. On the contrary, the visitor explores the artist’s complete works, going through rooms on the topics of fashion collections, accessories, cosmetics, fashion photography and campaigns, but also on architecture and garden art. A catwalk, Sanders Atelier and a flagship store were modelled for the exhibition.

Sanders choice for the first exhibition of her work came down to the MAK not without reason. The building by Richard Meier, with its rectilinear and transparent architecture, reflects the clear and reduced aspects of Sanders fashion and forms an ideal setting for the exhibition. Because of the architecture of the MAK and the convincing concept of the museum director Matthias Wagner K, the exhibition came first to Frankfurt and did not go to London, New York or a classical fashion metropolis.

The overall experience “Jil Sander. Present Tense” is musically ‘covered’ by the sound designer Frédéric Sanchez, who already provided the music to Sanders fashion shows, and its restrained, electronic sound. The exhibition is much more than a retrospective of Sander’s fashion; it is a multimedia overall experience, an interplay of architecture, light, film, music, text, photography, fashion and art that brings to visitors the simple elegance of the designer.

The “Jil Sander. Present Tense” exhibition runs until May 6, 2018 in the Frankfurt Museum of Applied Arts.

Unique Concerts at the German Jazz Festival in Frankfurt

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The German Jazz Festival in Frankfurt is known for its musical and cultural diversity. No other German festival can present so many unique, cross-cultural performances. True to the festival’s profile, first organized in 1953, the program brings together renowned German and international jazz musicians, for joint performances in one of a kind stage events and outstanding festival projects.

The event’s promoters also enable the young generation of jazz musicians to take a set place within the festival program. In this way, young musicians from Hessen are offered a platform. In the past, major jazz musicians began their careers at the German Jazz Festival in Frankfurt. In addition, the festival is characterized by a mixture of different styles, ranging from classical influences like gospel to modern elements like underground hip-hop and avant-garde jazz.

Through this concept of variety and the encounter between stars and newcomers, national and international artists, traditional influences and modern, experimental elements, the German Jazz Festival is a vehicle for exceptional performances and unique musical experiences.

This year, the festival, organized by Hessischer Rundfunk, takes place in its 48th edition. From October 25 to 29, more than a dozen concerts will take place in the Alte Oper, the Musonturm and the Hessischer Rundfunk. The German Jazz Festival will also be broadcast live on hr2-Kultur and later on hr2-Live Jazz.

Frankfurt Christmas Market – regional specialties, international Christmas carols & a festive sea of lights

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The Frankfurt Christmas market has a long tradition and is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany. Up to the year 1393 it can be proven that markets took place in Frankfurt on Christmas. The traditional centerpiece of the market is the Römerberg, which with its historic half-timbered houses provides the backdrop for one of the country’s most beautiful and largest Christmas markets. The approximately three million visitors can enjoy the festive atmosphere between the city center and Römerberg from November 22 to December 22, 2017.

This year, the Christmas market goes under the slogan Music City Frankfurt. Similarly, this year’s Christmas market cup is provided with the text of a Christmas song – with which visitors can find out from the opening day. The highlight of the opening ceremony on November 27 will be the performance of the pop singer Michelle. And until  December 22, the musical offer ranges from the performance of international Christmas carols, the playing of the tower musicians of the Old St Nicholas Church to the big ringing of the city with the simultaneous ringing of 50 bells.

Over 200 Christmas stalls attract visitors with lovely products and treats. In addition to the classic roasted almonds, mulled wine and sausages, you can enjoy typical Frankfurt Christmas specialties such as Bethmännchen (“a little Bethmann”), hot cider and Quetenkännchen. Furthermore, you can taste some traditional regional dishes cooked in an unusual way, such as green sauce crêpes with ox breast or Handkäs (“hand cheese”) fondue. In addition to the culinary diversity, visitors can expect classic Christmas market decoration and folk art articles, as well as modern handicrafts and typical Frankfurt goods such as ‘dippe’ (ceramic pot) and earthenware products. On the adjoining craft market in the Roman halls and the St. Paul’s Church, there is also the opportunity to search for an extraordinary Christmas present.

On Advent weekends, the Christmas market tour “Glühwein, Geschichten & Gebäck” (Mulled wine, stories and pastries) will be offered in many languages as well as for the blind and visually impaired and the Frankfurt Christmas market specialties will be presented. Also stories about the historic and modern Frankfurt, the Christmas market and famous Frankfurt personalities are part of the tour, which is completed with a visit to the roof gallery of the Old St Nicholas Church and the spectacular view of the sea of lights from the Christmas market and skyline.

At the Frankfurt Hauptwache (Main Guard) there are more Christmas market stalls, which extend the classic Christmas market area up to the shopping street Zeil and thus form a passage to Christmas shopping. On Friedrich-Stolze-Platz there is also the so-called “Rosa Weihnacht”, which is organized by the gay community of the Rhine-Main region and creates a special atmosphere with its colorful lights, unusual decoration and design. In addition to this contiguous Christmas market area also Frankfurt-Höchst and Sachsenhausen invite you to visit small district Christmas markets. At the gates of the city there are also a variety of romantic Christmas markets in Odenwald, Rheingau, Taunus and Wetterau.