I’ve had many people come up to me over the last few months telling me about their passions and the things they love to do in Zurich, and whilst I love to hear your stories, I think the Ron family would also like a chance to hear you too, so I thought it might be time to remind you of Cityscribes, an idea that I introduced last year. If there is something you love, whether it is about or in Zurich, or it might be your favourite book, film, music or anything else for that matter, and you would like the world, and me, to know about it, then become a Cityscribe! I will publish the best in my newsletter and you get to have your own band of loyal Ronsters to impress. Download details here.
Give my love to the city, Ron

The new year is a time for dumping the past and cuddling up to the future. To help us find our way into 2012, Longstreet Bar and Lux Plus are holding the Lux Plus Longstreet Festival. Over the next 12 Thursdays, 12 new and upcoming Swiss music acts will be on stage showing why they should lead the way into a brighter tomorrow. The first act will be Zurich singer/songwriter Julian Amacker, a guy I’ve seen play before and can highly recommend. 
Thursday 8 pm, Longstreet Bar

The street artist Yves Lavoyer travelled one year through half of Europe. This is not much, one might think, but he didn’t use any trains or planes but walked and cycled the whole way. Camera, sketching book and spaying can were his only company. The results you can see at the exhibition at Blamblamblam Gallery. The opening is this Friday and the first person who mentions the code word TJT81 at the door, receives a limited serigraphy.
Friday 6 pm, Blamblamblam Gallery

The party label Run/Away brings the sound of the catwalks to Exil this Fiday. Jerry Bouthier is the right man for this assignment. As Fashion Week DJ he already got Vivienne Westwood’s models moving with his indie-dance brand Kitsune. But fashion isn’t fashion without some rock. Therefore the Zurich band White Stiff Music brings in the needed portion of rock’n’roll.
Friday 10.30 pm, Exil

Those who think of fruits when I mention Peaches, must have lived on the moon for the last ten years. I’m referring to the Lady which actually deserves the last name Gaga. With one-woman-shows such as Peaches-Christ-Superstar, wild costumes, brilliant songs and remixes for Daft Punk, she enthralled the world of music since the beginning. Now, she’s visiting us to spin some records at Hive this Saturday. But those who know her also know that she does that a bit different too.
Saturday 11 pm, Hive

The term sustainability has become part of our vocabulary over the last years. But the topic is still surrounded by various theses, suggestions and unanswered questions. The performance Expanding Energy takes these questions and answers them in an artistic context on Saturday at Gessnerallee. Artist Davis Freeman created four performances which lie somewhere between conference, stand-up-comedy, choreography and concert.
Saturday 4 pm, Gessnerallee

RundfunkFM beamed their radio waves full of beats and grooves over the city during December from the heights of Sihlberg, they are now taking over Stall 6 for a couple of Tuesdays each month to record a team of great djs producing a live radio show which will then be broadcast later as weekly two-hour shows called Stall6 FM. Entrance to the recording sessions is free. Just remember not to shout out ‘Ron Orp Rocks’ otherwise it’ll be broadcast over the whole city!
Tuesday 10 pm, Stall 6

For several years, there was the rumour that Tessinerkeller will close soon. Last year it finally happened. Unfortunately. Therefore I was very glad when I heard that the former patron of Tessinerkeller  took over Grüntal. A restaurant I also like a lot. It’s just next to GZ Wipkingen and sports a laid back, simple interior with a stunning terrace facing the Limmat. I wasn’t able to visit yet, but I will soon. Because from today until 18 February they serve Bio-Metzgete.
Grüntal , Breitensteinstrasse 21, 8037

Recently I came across a blog showing the logos of major corporations through the decades. My favourite is Nokia’s first. I think it would have been cool for them to keep it. See here.

The platform Design with the other 90% unites 60 humanitarian projects, which try to create a better environment in socially disadvantaged cities in an innovative way. It is their goal to show that a lot can get achieved with a few creative and sometimes very simple measures.