🌬️❄️ -1°C (feels like -3°C), strong easterly winds. The "Beast from the East" arrives Jan 21–24
A missing boy, 600 protesters in the streets, 220 kilos of cocaine, and Eintracht's coaching meltdown. The DAX hit a record high, but nobody was watching.
CITY PULSE 🏙️
Eight-year-old Noah vanished from Weißfrauenschule on Gutleutstraße on Wednesday morning. His school bag was found nearby. For two days, Frankfurt police searched. On Friday, they found him safe in Heppenheim—hiding with his non-custodial mother at an acquaintance's home. The investigation into the mother continues, but the city can exhale: the boy is unharmed.
After conceding 39 goals in 17 games, Eintracht Frankfurt fired head coach Dino Toppmöller. The final straw was a winless run of four matches, culminating in a 3-3 draw that exposed the defense's collapse. The club is scrambling to hire a replacement before Saturday's match against Hoffenheim. Marco Rose (ex-RB Leipzig) leads the race. Interim coaches Dennis Schmitt and Alexander Meier are running training until then.
Around the city:
Iran Protests: Around 600 people gathered at four locations Saturday—Rathenauplatz, the US Consulate, and elsewhere—to protest the Iranian regime. Demonstrators carried portraits of Reza Pahlavi and demanded Germany list the IRGC as a terrorist organization. No incidents reported.
220kg Cocaine Bust: Six suspected drug dealers arrested in Frankfurt and Groß-Gerau after 220 kilos of cocaine were found in a Hamburg shipping container traced back to the Rhein-Main area. Five are in custody.
Airport Paralysis: Ver.di's warning strike canceled 3,400+ flights nationwide Wednesday, grounding 510,000 passengers. Frankfurt's entire departure schedule: wiped out.
S-Bahn Derailed: A locomotive accident blocked the line between Frankfurt-Höchst and Hattersheim, disrupting S1 and S2 services.
LIVING HERE 🥨
Hessen is seeing a sharp spike in respiratory infections. Flu cases jumped from 747 in mid-December to 1,783 in early January—more than double. RSV cases tripled (from 40 to 143 per week). COVID numbers are also climbing. If you've been sniffling, you're not alone. Wash your hands, stay home if sick, and maybe skip that crowded U-Bahn car.
Worth knowing:
Vacancy Crisis: Frankfurt's apartment vacancy rate has dropped to 2.5%. Studios now average €700+/month, and listings in Bockenheim or Nordend last 7–14 days before they're gone.
Cleaning Workers Get a Raise: Minimum wage for Gebäudereiniger rose to €15/hour this month—a boost for thousands of essential workers.
New Restaurants: Greta Oto (Latin American, JW Marriott), Gennaro's (Berger Straße), and Frankfurt Bagel Co. (Sachsenhausen) all opened this month.
Bonobo Baby: Frankfurt Zoo welcomes a new male Bonobo, born to mother Mixi. Her fourth offspring—a win for the endangered species program.
MONEY MOVES 💰
The DAX hit an all-time high of 25,507 on Tuesday, crossing 25,000 for the first time. By Friday, it had pulled back below that mark on tariff fears. The trading floor's celebration feels hollow: corporate insolvencies hit a 20-year high in 2025 (17,604 cases), and nearly 38% of SMEs report a worsening credit crunch. The gap between the stock index and the real economy keeps widening.
Also in business:
Fintech Conference: Frankfurt Digital Finance returns Feb 11–12, gathering 1,500 decision-makers for Europe's premier English-language fintech event.
Startup Ranking: Frankfurt's startup ecosystem now ranks #5 in Germany and #133 globally. Top startups have raised over $637 million.
BEYOND THE SKYLINE 🌍
President Trump announced a 10% tariff on all goods from Germany and seven other EU nations, effective Feb 1—rising to 25% by June if demands aren't met. German auto stocks (VW, BMW, Mercedes) tumbled. The EU is preparing a $108 billion retaliation package. Deutsche Bank warned that a prolonged trade war could trigger European governments to sell off $8 trillion in US assets.
Quick takes:
Lufthansa at 100: The airline celebrated its centennial (founded Jan 6, 1926) with a new "Berlin" Dreamliner and restarted flights to Tehran.
"Work More": Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz said Germans need to work more, noting Swiss employees work ~200 hours more per year.
Mercosur Done: After 25 years, the EU-Mercosur trade deal was approved—the world's largest free trade zone.
THIS WEEKEND 📅
Jan 23–25
The jazz festival continues its second round at the historic Bockenheimer Depot. High-caliber performances in a stunning industrial setting. A perfect escape from the cold.
Also happening:
Eintracht vs. Hoffenheim – Crucial home game, likely with a new coach in the dugout. (Sat, Jan 24)
Pracht pres. Daughter in Law – Techno night with Elisa Cielo b2b Unico and Tobi Frate. (Fri, Jan 23)
Tik Tak Traks – Electronic beats at Silbergold. (Fri, Jan 23)
Mama's Bassment – Bass music night at Shuka Bar. (Sat, Jan 24)
Nostalgia Antikmarkt – Indoor antique market at Hessen-Center for vintage hunters. (Sun, Jan 25)
WDC Hub – World Design Capital exhibition at Museum Angewandte Kunst. Free entry, ongoing.
BY THE NUMBERS 📊
1,783 Flu cases reported in Hessen in early January—more than double the December peak of 747. RSV tripled. Stay healthy out there.
COMING UP 🔜
Jan 30: The immersive Titanic Exhibition opens at Raumfabrik in Heddernheim. Mark your calendar.
Feb 11: The Kaisermarkt moves from Bahnhofsviertel to Hauptwache due to construction. Adjust your Tuesday/Thursday lunch route.
069 EXPLAINS 🤓
Why is the Apfelwein glass ribbed? The diamond-patterned Geripptes isn't decorative—it's functional. In old cider taverns, patrons ate greasy meals with their hands. The textured glass gave slippery fingers something to grip. Hessian practicality at its finest.
That's all for this week. Stay sharp, Frankfurt.
📬 Forward this to someone who needs to know what's up
💬 Got a tip or story? Reply to this email
