Events at the DANK Haus German American Cultural Center

• Cabaret Fundraiser

  24 Feb 9 p.m.

  Venture into the dark strasse and even darker cafes of Weimar Berlin with us.
  Somewhere through the haze of tobacco, a sultry voice calls to you, its gender erased by wine and liquor, its message of heartbreak and heat warms your cheeks as the champagnes cools your lustig thirst.
  
  And you can only wish the caress of the ivory keys was for you.
  
  
  Elizabeth Doyle seduces you with German & French sets and gets a little bawdy.
  
  Ticket includes one glass of sparkling Sekt and appetizers.
  $30 each or 2 for $50

• German Cinema Now - Grave Decisions

  24 Feb 7:30 pm

  Contemporary German films with English subtitles. FREE admission!
  
  An 11 year-old boy's attempts to overcome guilt related to his mother's death may not seem like ripe comedic territory at first glance--but co-writer-director Marcus H. Rosenmueller makes it work in this hilarious, touching and distinctly Bavarian tale.
  
  Sebastian, the boy in question, sees life as one big adventure, yet believes he is responsible for his mother's death because she died while giving birth to him. Sebastian has an array of other terrible "misdeeds" to answer for, and in a naive attempt to evade the eternal blaze, he tries with all his might to cleanse himself of his sins.
  
  Sebastian's overzealousness, however, does not reap the success he had hoped. Finally, he believes he has received a sign from his mother: he is to find a new wife for his father.
  
  Popcorn $2, Pretzel $2, Landjaeger $3. Cash bar.
  FREE parking at MB Financial Bank at Western and Gunnison.

• German Cinema Now - Distant Lights

  23 Mar 7:30 pm

  Winner of the 2004 German Film Critics Association award for Best Picture, Distant Lights is an ensemble drama telling the interconnected stories of several people whose lives are influenced above all by their location: the German-Polish border towns of Frankfurt an der Oder and Slubice (which was part of the former until 1945), then the barrier between a no longer political but economic "east" and "west"
  
  "After re-unification, Germany's eastern border..[became] a dividing line between two worlds: the rich west and the poor east. The wealthy countries in the area covered by the Schengen agreement, an area without internal borders, barricaded themselves against the less affluent countries around them. And consequently also against people who often take major risks to better their own situation just a little and who see no future for themselves or their children in the countries from which they have fled." -director Hans-Christian Schmid
  
  Events that have transpired since the film's release would give a sequel a different tone entirely: Poland joined the European Union in 2004 and became part of the Schengen Area in late 2007, which abolished border controls between the countries. Today it is Poland that must confront the issues related to border crossing with its eastern neighbors, Belarus and Ukraine and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.
  
  Popcorn $2, Pretzel $2, Landjaeger $3. Cash bar.
  FREE parking at MB Financial Bank at Western and Gunnison.

• Germania on the Pier

  15 Apr 12pm - 5pm

  Come out to Navy Pier for an afternoon of German dance and musik performances plus vendors and great German food & bier.
  
  Neighborhoods of the World transforms Navy Pier's Crystal Gardens into a premier destination spot for cultural celebrations that appeal to visitors of all ages. Navy Pier has collaborated with many consulates, neighborhood chambers, community museums, arts groups, and cultural organizations to produce this unique performance series.
  
  Free admission

• Euro 2012 Viewing Parties

  Begin at DANK 9 Juni

  Are you ready for another summer of DANK Haus soccer viewing parties? The draw for Euro 2012 is complete: Germany's group stage matches are:
  
  Saturday June 9 at 1:45 p.m. Germany vs Portugal
  Wednesday June 13 at 1:45 p.m. Germany vs Netherlands
  Sunday June 17 at 1:45 p.m. Germany vs Denmark
  
  The DANK Haus is THE place for Germany fans to watch Euro 2012 - stay tuned for more details on our Euro 2012 viewing parties as the dates get closer! We'll keep you up to date, as results will dictate the rest of the schedule.