save the date! It's my birthday on 29 April. More news later.
Give my love to the city, Ron

On the largest trash dump there isn’t just garbage to be found but also human stories. The Brazilian artist Vik Muniz wants to give these people hope. Together with scavengers he creates art out of trash. The awarded movie Wasteland accompanies the ambitious project in an impressive but also entertaining manner. For the show on Thursday at Arthouse Movie I have 3x2 tickets to give away. Trailer

E-mail me for tickets.

Thursday 6.30 pm, Arthouse Movie 1

Rise up, my Ron Revolutionaries! It’s time to take back our city! Ugliness is the enemy and sunflowers are the weapons. Join the Sunflower Guerrilla's for a day of renegade gardening, dropping sunflower seeds into those grey corners of Zurich that need your private blitz of bloom. If after all this guerrilla activity you need a well-earned break, Fiasko is a brand new bar and cafe opening on Friday. It looks a great place to refresh and plan your next revolution.
Friday all day, everywhere
Fiasko, Langstrasse 65, 8004

In a world of big problems it can be hard to see what good you can do sometimes, however small. The answer can be just choosing to do one thing instead of another.  At the Viadukt Market Hall, you get to pour, taste and create your own Easter chocolate delights. All money received at the event will be given to SOS Children’s Villages charity. Also, a new social group called Zum Bunten Tisch (The Colourful Table) take over the Restaurant Hallwylerhof one evening each month, allowing young men and women, who are intellectually challenged, to be responsible for service for the evening. There is a sense of passion and charm from all involved, and a chance to get more out of a meal than just feeling full.
Saturday 10 am, Viadukt, Berg & Tal
Saturday 6 pm, Restaurant Hallwylerhof

The 3 members of Jahcoozi come from London via Sri Lanka, Berlin and Tel Aviv, and their music has the same lack of concern for borders. Mixing in sounds and genres from all over the dance world, you’ll get techno rubbing alongside dubstep as they twist in hip-hop beats to create maybe even a new genre just for you.  They play the Da Continent night at Stall 6 and will be supported by dub-meister Kalbata, as well as the usual Da Continent dj crew.
Saturday 10 pm, Stall 6

As music zooms digitally off into the 21st Century it’s good to see that there are still some bands out there that realise a fuzzbox guitar, 3 chords and a leather jacket are all that’s needed to create a joyful sound.  If punky Patti Smith sang for a 60’s garage band you’d have The Jackets, who are at Zukunft on Wednesday. They don’t try to reinvent anything from the past but play the music as if it’s vital and new. And whilst this kind of simple music isn’t exactly rocket science it might just take to the moon. Hold tight.
Wednesday 9 pm, Zukunft

Easter is coming up and you might have some time to plan exploring the city. Here a few selected tours in English through my beloved city. Ghostwalk: Daniel Dent, a professional street entertainer from England, guides you through the old part of the town, telling tales of Zurich’s bloody history. It takes place every Thursday and Friday at 8 pm (until end of May then starting again in August), starting at Paradeplatz next to the fountain.  No need to book ahead. Costs: 15 francs. My Sweet Zurich: If food and travel is your passion, join Kerri Rousset on her sweet tour through Zurich, finding spots which you’ve never read about before. You’ll get a taste of, and for, Zurich. Tours take place in small groups on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 2 pm. Book ahead. Costs: 85 francs. Art Tours Etc.: Olga Stefan’s tours concentrate on art. She offers biweekly gallery events on Wednesday evenings discussing art history as well as topical art tours through town.

Sphéres is one of my favourite lunch spots in town, serving two hot dishes, various salads and sandwiches. Though sometimes you feel like you’ve been standing at the bar for hours before someone takes your order. But the spot itself is worth it. Inside you’re part of a book shop, outside you have the busy side towards the road offering great people watching and to the back you find an idyllic oasis right at the Limmat.
Hardturmstrasse 66

The American Dream is a 30 minutes long animated film that takes an entertaining but hard look at the problems the USA has today. It explains in a provocative way how the American financial system works.

Watch video