All work and no play is by no means a way to spend the summer. Escape doesn't have to mean expensive tickets and ambitious plans; simply browse through art events listed below and find those that suit your tastes. Exhibitions, magic tricks, workout props, international foods, film screenings, art installations, dance and interactive performances - all happening in Berlin.

WEDNESDAY 13.08

19.00 Magic Tricks @ insitu

WHY: Being an artist is all about doing magic tricks and getting away with it. Tobias Dostal and Ariel Schlesinger are simply being honest about it with their first artistic collaboration titled "Magic Tricks". Driven by a fascination for moments of deception and illusion, the collaboration promises surprising interventions. Before you even say the magic word, the two tricksters might convince you into believing some weird things about their art.

insitu / Kurfürstenstrasse 21-22, 10785 Berlin, U Kurfürstenstr. 7 / free entry / more info

19.00 David Adamo, Nik Kosmas @ OZEAN

WHY: The rumor says that the former garage turned project space OZEAN, turns into a workout zone for the new show by David Adamo and Nik Kosmas. What is supposed to be an artistic intervention behind the locked fence, might become a box full of surprises, especially with this playful artist duo taking over the place. Come over for a workout session with beers, fruits & M&M's under the sunny, partly cloudy sky.

OZEAN / Schleiermacherstrasse 31, 10961 Berlin, U Gneisenaustr. / open through 03.09 / free entry / more info

THURSDAY 14.08

19.00 "Food Court" curated by Carson Chan @ Little Wood

WHY: "Food Court" is a one-night event serving dishes from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Tibet. Many of us in Berlin know about these places only from news sources, which report mainly on their current political unrest. Food makes up a large part of a place's cultural life, and "Food Court" aims to celebrate it. Each place will be represented by a native chef, who will serve up some summer recipes. You too are invited to help in the preparation, and learn about the significance of each dish in their culture.

Little Wood / Invalidenstrasse 5, 10115 Berlin, U Rosenthaler Platz / free entry / more info

21.00 Lichtspiele, Punk @ SOX

WHY: For this special occasion, SOX uses the unusual one-shot format of the Project Space Festival to show a film screening in the backyard of its space, which is actually rarely (if ever) seen. Films by Martin Brand, Stefan Panhans, Ulf Aminde, and Annika Eriksson will be on view for this event, while inside the actual space, with its characteristic large display case window facing the street, a work by Nina Schuiki will be shown.

SOX / Oranienstrasse 175, 10999 Berlin, U Kottbuser Tor / free entry / more info

FRIDAY 15.08

19.30 Speisekino Moabit #11 - Das Traumhaus @ ZK/U Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik

WHY: ZK/U invites guests to their terrace for the special festival edition of "Speisekino Moabit"evening with dinner starting at 19.30h, followed by film screening at 21h. Anneke Raker is responsible for preparing the dinner with vegetables and herbs grown in the garden of the villa, which matches the story of the film "Das Traumhaus" (Germany 1979/80, Director: Ulrich Schamoni).

ZK/U Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik / Siemensstrasse 27, 10551 Berlin, S Beusselstr. / free entry (meal €5) / more info

20.00 Contemporary Art Exchange @ Das Gift

WHY: "Zusammenspiel" explores the process of interpretation and description essential to the practices of Silja Korn and Jan Bölsche, two Berlin based artists with visual impairments. The audience is encouraged to participate in the creation of the exhibition itself during the opening night event, by describing Jan's photographs to Silja, so that she may interpret them live in painted form. This event gives you the opportunity to turn your usual gallery visit into a fun interactive play.

Das Gift / Donaustrasse 119, 12043 Berlin, U Rathaus Neukölln / free entry / more info

SUNDAY 17.08

14.00 Ignacio Uriarte - Black and White @ Sonntag

WHY: A special art event with cake, coffee and tea takes place at the home of April Gertler and Adrian Schiesser, who generoulsy turn it into an exhibition space every third Sunday of the month. Guests can enjoy a one-day art show with a cup of their preferred hot beverage, this time with works by the artist Ignacio Uriarte. His favorite cake - fresh fruit tart - will additionally sweeten the afternoon.

Sonntag / Gossowstrasse 10 (top floor, bell: Schiesser), 10777 Berlin, U Nollendorfplatz - U Viktoria-Luise-Platz / free entry / more info