WORLD CUP COMPANION EVENTS

Football capital

For three years the Football Globe, a walk-in exhibition hall, toured Germany's 12 World Cup cities. Coming full circle, it returns to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin (June 1 to July 9), signifying that the city is not only the capital of Germany, but the capital of the World Cup as well. The supporting programs are as diverse as Berlin itself. The "Platz.wunden" exhibition in the Charité hospital museum dissects the medical perspective on the sport (May 12 to Oct. 1). A female view of the male-dominated game is the focus of a photography and video exhibition in the Berlin ARD TV studios (May 5 to July 2), and a display of works by 11 women artists at the Galerie im Körnerpark (May 13 to June 25). Sports photography captures the World Cup story at the Deutsches Historisches Museum (April 29 to July 30), and the relationship between football and television is explored at the Filmmuseum (May 5 to July 30). Berlin's own football history, from 1880 to the present, is on display at the Sportmuseum (May 18 to July 16), while the Georg-Kolbe-Museum probes the historical background of the Olympic Stadium (May 28 to Aug. 20), where the Final will be held. Dance, music, comedy and football artistry merge into a gesamtkunstwerk in "11 - The Football Show" at the Estrel Convention Center (June 21 to July 9). The Sonambiente Festival features sound-art performances at the Akademie der Künste on Pariser Platz (June 1 to July 16), and the Copa da Cultura exhibition in the House of World Cultures showcases Brazilian talent (May 25 to July 9). Music from countries participating in the World Cup sets the tone for the popKick.06 arts festival in Treptower Park and the "Heimatklänge" (Sounds of Home) festival in the Kulturforum on Potsdamer Platz (both June 9 to July 9): Both events promise to be just as loud and lively as the official Fan Fest at the big screens on the Strasse des 17. Juni.

SIGHTS

REICHSTAG

Platz der Republik 1

Architect Norman Foster transformed the Reichstag into a modern government complex and crowned it with a 23.5 m glass dome. The home of the German parliament, the Bundestag, since 1999.

POTSDAMER PLATZ

An urban wasteland until the fall of the Berlin Wall, then Europe's biggest construction site. Today it's the city's architectural Disneyland featuring Sony Center and Daimler City.

RESTAURANTS

BORCHARDT

Französische Strasse 47, Phone 030/81 88 62 62

Where Berlin's high society goes to see and be seen: politicians and media people dine on oysters and Wiener schnitzel in a tasteful bistro atmosphere.

C - MATTO

Rosenthaler Strasse 44, Phone 030/28 09 77 15

Italian comfort food served in a combination of restaurant, bar and café at Hackesche Höfe.

PUBS

RIVA

Dircksenstr. Bogen 142, Phone 030/24 72 26 88

Legendary Sardinian soccer hero Luigi Riva gave this bar its name.

SHOPPING

HACKESCHE HÖFE

Rosenthaler Strasse 40/41

Today this Art Nouveau jewel is east Berlin's affluent avenue. Eight interconnected courtyards now lure shoppers with boutiques, workshops, movie theaters, cafés and cabaret.

KADEWE

Tauentzienstrasse 21-24, Phone 030/21 21 0 Europe's largest department store offers a staggering assortment of 380,000 products. An entire floor showcases a legendary selection of gourmet foods.