The German chancellor says she wants to keep Athens in the eurozone, but that EU lenders have already made substantial concessions on the terms of the bailout.
As many as 60,000 people are expected to attend the rally, in what could be one of the biggest protests in the eastern German city since pro-democracy marches a quarter-century ago.
German automakers have several plants in the South, and Florida counts on European tourists. Analysts hope efforts to stimulate Europe's economy will keep investments in the U.S. from slipping.
With refugees streaming in, Germany is running short of places for them. One city has proposed housing refugees in a barracks on the grounds of the notorious Buchenwald camp.
Chancellor Angela Merkel was among those who attended the event organized by two Muslim groups. The event was meant to counter growing support for a group that opposes Muslim immigration to Germany.
The protest in Dresden drew about 25,000 people who are against what they see as the "Islamization of Europe." Their rally was met by counterdemonstrations.
A group calling itself PEGIDA has protested since October against Germany's asylum and immigration policies. The German political and public mainstream has responded sharply.
In Berlin, street fashion's trendiest figure is Ali Akdeniz, age 85. His dapper attire is the focus of a blog that went viral. Its creator, Zoe Spawton, won Germany's most prestigious design prize.
In a country that strives to protect work-life balance, there are calls to ban employers from sending work email after business hours. Some big companies are already doing that.