The London based electro-pop trio Is Tropical come to Hive tonight and I would seriously consider wearing your dancing boots. With songs that have the New Order-ish shimmer of pop, rock and dance battling for supremacy combined with a band that doesn’t take itself too seriously – wearing bag masks over their heads, for example – this should be a night for shaking off the leaves of autumn and bringing back the sunshine. I have 2 x 2 tickets to give away. E-mail me.
Thursday 9 pm, Hive

I try my best to tell you all the best things happening around town, well, who wants some free money? Yes, you heard right. At the Turn of the Era exhibition at Starkart, Zurich artists Bruno Stettler and Philipp Hänger will be using a 1940’s printing press to crank out ‘emergency money’ in the form of German Francs with the portraits of such ancient European luminaries as Erich Honecker and Andreas Baader on them. The exhibition is a commentary on the current political and economic troubles engulfing Europe. Each of the 2000 sheets of money will be signed and numbered.
Friday 6 pm, Starkart

The Cat Empire may be huge in their native Australia but have yet to stretch their paws this far north, until now. Their music brings together rock, pop and funk influences along with a sprinkling of world and roots rhythms. They play at Komplex this Saturday and if their albums sound like they’re having fun, then playing live these guys pack a power pop punch that will leave you reeling for days.
Saturday 7 pm, Komplex 457

As Christmas slowly sneaks up on us, those nice people at Plaza are putting on a fantastic market this weekend so you can subtly point out all the fancy things you want bought for you this year. There are local designers and fashion labels with stalls as well as jewellery, vintage items and art. It all takes place inside Plaza, who will also be supplying dj Captain Teis to help you shop and bop until you drop.
Saturday 1 pm, Plaza

Thinking of ice rinks, usually the song by Vanilla Ice comes to my mind. Long live the 90s. Anyway, this has nothing to do with the upcoming event. This Sunday, the use of the ice rinks at Heuried and Oerlikon are for free including the rental of the skates. A good start into the winter pleasures, offered by the city. Break a leg!
Sunday, 10 am to 7 pm, Heuried and Oerlikon

Did you ever take the tram number three until the final stop at Albisrieden? There, you’ll find a pretty centre which reminds of a historic old town. The restaurant Sternen lies in the middle of this traditional heart and specialises in traditional Swiss cuisine. The veal in cream sauce served with crispy hash brown (Zürich Gschnätzlets mit Rösti) was beautiful. So I was surprised to find Asian specialities on the menu as well. Swiss and Asian don’t really go together, I thought, until I saw the couple running the place. Seems to work just fine.
Restaurant Sternen, Albisriederstrasse 371

When asked about the quality of living, the citizens if Zurich named traffic, flats and construction sites as their main problems. There really have been a lot of constructions going on, over the last two years. Also due to a new bypass around Zurich. But hurrah – the Hardbrücke finally reopened and Weststrasse seems to be finished as well (more or less). And from 11 December, Zurich has a new tram line, which goes from Escher-Wyss-Platz to Bahnhof Altstetten. I hope we’re near the end, although I just received the news that Lettenbrücke will be closed until next October, do to some – wait for it – construction works.

I’d call NRBLN-BLNRB a fruitful culture clash. The Gebrüder Teichmann and the Goethe-Institut Nairobi initiated bringing together the club music scene from Berlin with the one from Kenya. This resulted in a music project which sounds good and gets your legs moving. Watch the clip.