Get some spiffy New Year's duds at Herr von Eden, a Hamburg-based tailor whose exquisite suits, coats and shirts are cut with old-fashioned flair and modern verve.

The new VOO Concept Store opened last month in Berlin Kreuzberg, a gigantic 300 square meter retail space featuring a nice mix of high-end and more affordable brands, from classic with an alternative, progressive edge, to street wear and high fashion, from known to unknown names.

This is two Italian restaurants in a row we've reported on, but this one is too lovely to keep to ourselves... Muret la Barba brings great joy: a simple, autenthic, delicious Italian restaurant and wine bar near the Miniloft apartments, with a huge wine selection, most of which can also be ordered by the glass.

For a different kind of Berlin Christmas market and a one-stop Christmas shopping extravaganza, head to Holy Shit Shopping. At this 'Christmas Shopping Lounge,' over 150 designers, artists and craftspeople sell their wares in the HBC gallery and Gallery Hopping, with DJs and snacks to boot.

Shopping for something special in Kastanienallee? check out Anna von Gwinner's very personal selection of design and art.

Heading home to your Miniloft in that netherland between night and day, the smiling potato with the backwards baseball cap is there to save you from your hunger. Tom's Fritten (Berliner for french fries, of course) serves hand-cut, hand-made fries out of its cheerful truck.

Don't be fooled by the hum-drum exterior on a busy street: La Galleria Italiana, a homey little hole in the wall with 30 seats, serves tasty homemade pastas and other delectable delicacies. It's another great addition to the roster of good restaurants within walking distance of Miniloft.

Celebrate the crisp days and glorious colors of fall by dancing the night away in the beloved Clärchens Ballhaus, at the "Großer Herbstball". The ballroom extravaganza rings in the glories of the cold seasons (which are, of course, the best time to dance at Clärchens).

Direktorenhausis in a beautiful old building on the Spree, now a huge new art space. It utilizes the total space to build an atmospheric framework to explore the different elements of art, craft, design and performance.

Where once there was only Popkomm, now there is Berlin Music Week, as the music industry consolidates to create a vast 7-day program for music lovers and industry folks.