6.4.11

BYO Couch

Mauerpark

I'm posting about my weekend at the wrong end of hte week, but it's taken me a little while to get back into the swing of things post-holidays.  Thursday already. Ooops, the week seems to have escaped me.

Mauerpark on the first 'hot' day of the year; twenty degrees and it seemed every man, dog, BBQ and couch (!) was out enjoying the sunshine. We wandered down to enjoy the Karaoke which has become a bit of a Berlin Sunday institution. A couple of years ago a man decided to set-up a small amplifier and a Karaoke kit and invite people to join him in singing a couple of well known tunes.  He came back every Sunday and slowly the handful for cuious onlookers became a couple of thousand.  People now arrive hours before the "official" start time just to reserve a spot. It functions like almost any other Karaoke I've been to with an official 'list' where people who want to sing write their name and their song of choice. If you're good enough the crowd will get behind you and sing along too. Somewhat surprisingly the police or city council or nay-sayers that usually get involved in things like this are yet to materialise and the whole thing functions happily without permits, tickets, licences or governmental control. It's things like this that really make me love this city of mine.
Karaoke

12 comments:

Jamie said...

What an amazing tradition - would love to find something like this in my city

Stephanie said...

Yet another reason to move to Berlin... what a lovely Sunday activity.

SJ said...

i love that things like that start up and the local officials leave them alone. i have my doubts that the same would be possible in sydney.

Brandi said...

How incredible. I think there need to be more BYO couch parties.

Monique said...

It's things like that, that make me love that city of yours as well. I've been to Mauer Park. I went to the flea market and then hung out and watched people sing. These photos are certainly bringing me back. Glad you had a good weekend and that you've been relaxing

Siobhan said...

Taking your sofa to the park is such a great idea! In London the Karaoke would have been shut down after about 2 minutes!! Would love to vixit Berlin one day.

Jess said...

Sounds like lots of fun :)

elle said...

thats so cool bear

Anika said...

I love that. How great that people can just handle having some good fun on their own... that is something that should happen more often! What a great happening. LOVE this!
There are people that bring sofas to the free movie downtown thing-y here every Friday. The whole couch! Makes for a good photo and I suppose a comfy movie!

urban muser said...

wow, that looks so amazing. love it.

k said...

that is the way to go sit in a park or watch an outdoor concert

Kristina said...

ahh, just returned from Berlin this morning. we also spent a nice afternoon at the Mauerpark yesterday, crazy!! it feels like a festival, loved the karaoke! I was laughing so badly!
hope you had a nice weekend,
kristina