Duisburg
Duisburg adheres to the Tatort-generated image of a beige/grey M65 field jacket. Not everyone is happy with this, while others on the other hand, are obviously ok with it. In 2012, during the mayoral elections for example, the CDU candidate turned against the alleged "Schimanski image", which was prevalent throughout Germany - and lost the election. Since 2014 there is even a Horst-Schimanski-alley in the city. No matter whether public relations officials refer to the glorious past (the royal palace, university city since 1655, engine of industrialisation) or link the city with future technology (3D printing, Nano-Dialogue, Centre for Fuel Cell Technology), 'Schimmi' still hovers over Ruhrort. Even after Götz George's death. Admittedly, one could think of a better reputation than being the blueprint for the old school Pott. This is not so bad though, because it also stands for openness, cordiality and charm. You could sink deeper: Pegida instead of World Heritage Centre (Dresden). You would have to think of something as bad as that for Duisburg. Or, no. Better not.
Wolfgang Kienast
Mareike Engelke
In the middle of the millennial years, illustrator Mareike Engelke was drawn to Duisburg because of its geographical situation. Chance changed into love, not just for her husband and their two chubby cats with whom she ...
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Krümelküche
When you enter the Krümelküche in Duisburg for the first time, you will notice very quickly that not only good food and beverages, but also the well-being of visitor is valued very highly here. When you enter the café, it feels like walking into a quaint living room. First, you pass shelves on which fair trade items such as food and clothing are offered, but also local artisans goods (necklaces, bracelets, etc.) which they can offer here free of charge. Adjacent to this area, the actual gastronomy begins. An old piano invites you to play, and the comfortable retro upholstery furniture fits into the ambience like the icing on the cake. All this is surrounded by books, picture frames and various antiquarian commodities, which may not be a novelty in the modern gastronomy culture, but in this place enrich the atmosphere in an unobtrusive and unforced way. In addition to the changing weekly menu, there is everything the culinary heart desires such as cakes, burgers, sandwiches and hot and cold drinks. The Krümelküche is everything you would want from a modern business: authentic, sustainable, friendly and very tasty.
Text: Björn Gögge
Fotos: Daniel Sadrowski
Johanniterstraße 28
47053
http://www.kruemelkueche.de
Emma+Maille
If you have been infected with the pleasant flair of the Krümelküche, you can directly go on a shopping spree in the adjacent Emma&Maille Concept Store. The two owners, Maia and Anika, design their own furniture and decorative items, but they also refurbish pieces from flea markets, which, in keeping with their motto thus "become valuable items."
Emma&Maille has three rooms which are completely redesigned and rebuilt in two-months cycles. These are defined by a certain colour, season or a specific theme. Here too, the focus is on sustainability. There is no cheap furniture from Swedish furniture houses, instead they have Grandma's old massive wooden cabinet from the cellar. Not only the name reminds us of this: it is an Aunt-Emma-Shop, the term used in German for shops in which everything which is self-made has a place. The pieces exhibited here can all be purchased, with the exception of the knitting machine in one of the rooms. This is used for the production of scarves and headbands - currently also the money-spinner for the business. Emma&Maille and the Krümelküche have looked for and found each other - people who work from their hearts for a worthy cause.
Text: Björn Gögge
Fotos: Daniel Sadrowski
Johanniterstraße 28
47053
http://www.emmamaille.de/
Plattenviertel
The churches of vinyl collectors are record shops, which in reality often appear as Nick Hornby described them in his novel "High Fidelity": slightly dusty, stuffed to the brim with records, with expert discussions among like-minded people taking place in an instant. Whether it concerns a Krautrock rarity, an Indie pop hopeful thought to have been lost forever, or a long-sought after Heavy Metal Single, all can force any music lover to the knees here, along long rows of shelves. However, the goal is quite simple. For in these black slices, real happiness is squeezed and the desired item, once acquired, will only be handed over to someone else with reluctance. It might bring your bank balance to an all time low, but you feel like you're on top of the world. Where there is a demand, in the well-stocked record store, there is always the offer. Of all places, the zebra-crossing city of Duisburg, with its preppy number of record shops, has developed itself as an Eldorado for gramophone freaks, with shops such as Onkel Stereo, Far Out and Red Rose Records. Whether it is alternative rock, reggae, jazz, funk, punk rock or dub tech - between Meiderich and Duissern, in shops such as Die Schallplatte, Andrä and 33 1/3, a wide range of new records and used vinyls can be found. Anyone who has ever held an expressive record in their hands, knows that these sacred discs are not just arbitrary products. For the music possesses a personality, it tells a very specific story and has soul and spirit - a grand piece of vitality. Like no other artistic medium, a certain song can create a highly personal dimension. David Bowie or Prince, the Beatles or Lemmy - special musicians can suggest to the listener that they have written their voiced lines in a private audience only for them.
Andrä
Sonnenwall 42
47051 Duisburg
www.cd-andrä.de
Die Schallplatte
Sonnenwall 12
47501 Duisburg
www.schallplatte-duisburg.de
Far Out
Obermauerstraße 39
47051 Duisburg
www.farout-cdshop.de
Onkel Stereo
Wallstraße 6
47051 Duisburg
www.onkelstereo.de
Red Rose Records
Sonnenwall 36
47051 Duisburg
www.redroserecords.de
33 1/3 Schallplatten
Moltkestraße 47
47058 Duisburg
www.facebook.com/33eindrittel
Text: Peter Hesse