Between Schoeneberg's bars Wittenbergplatz you'll find Prinz Eisenherz (Lietzenburger Strasse 9a), a large gay-and-lesbian bookstore. The friendly, English-speaking employees here are helpful guides. Here are vended all the local gay press and maps, and they offer a large gay assortment of books of every kind, magazines, videos, postcards, and photography from the world-over. They also have a good English section and a pleasant garden patio in which to sit and relax awhile.

Galerie Janssen (Pariser Strasse 45) is a men's gallery of imagery offering a large assortment of gay video DVDs, photo books, magazines, and cards spanning a wider and deeper range of male erotic themes than can be found most anywhere else -- from art to raunch, of several eras, and for many varied tastes.

Men & Media (Nollendorfstrasse 23) is a pleasant internet cafe at the center of the gay neighborhood with all the local gay mags and maps and the Guide too. Christopher Isherwood, who wrote so evocatively of his years in Berlin, lived on this street (at number 17) over 70 years ago.

Mister B (Motzstrasse 22) -- the leather, rubber, and accessories store with its roots in Amsterdam -- also has a boutique here in Berlin. From cockrings to leather chaps, you'll find all the famous, well-designed Mister B items for sale here plus cards, videos, and magazines of interest to Berlin's thriving leather, rubber, and fetish scene, plus their own brand of lubes and slippery sex-enhancers. They also sponsor the ongoing series of leather and fetish "Perverts" parties -- large affairs that take place in some of the big and crumbling, but very atmospheric, industrial cast-off buildings around the city twice a year. For more info and dates, see Perverts, or stop by the Mister B store.

At Gear (Kalckreuthstrasse 13) owner Rob and his staff are outgoing and helpful at their centrally located, spacious, comfortable store. They stock an imaginative line of leather, rubber, and urban sports wear, footwear and accessories, plus cards and photo books.

RoB Berlin (Fuggerstrasse 19) is another Amsterdam transplant to Berlin with a store full of leather clothing and accessories and a helpful and engaging staff