I blasted the January blues with presents but I’m sure you fancy some more. So I continue straight away with another contest: Show Ron you favourite venue. You can win a Lumix digital system camera DMC-G3W, sponsored by the Swiss bargain platform QoQa.ch And this is how it works. Search for your favourite restaurant, café or bar in town on my website, write a comment and tell me why this is your favourite venue. If you have a picture to add, even better. Write me an email, if you can’t find your venue in my list. Deadline is the 18th February; afterwards a winner will be selected by a random generator. To the restaurants
Give my love to the city, Ron

Which film won the first Academy Award for Unique and Artistic Production? Sunrise – A Song of Two Humans (USA, 1927). You never heard of it? Well, it is a silent film. Joke aside; this classic will be screened by the IOIC this Thursday with four renowned free jazz musicians providing the soundtrack. Their improvisations will colour the pictures of love, passion, betrayal and forgiveness.
Thursday 8.45 pm, IOIC

Darkstar released their first album in 2010 and promptly set about subverting and reinventing the dubstep genre they were born out of.  And for such a niche sound their single at the time, Aidy's Girl Is a Computer, got plenty of mainstream love. Now they’re back with a new album and will be playing at Exil on Friday night. They seem to have embraced the electro sounds of the early 80s, whilst adding the atmosphere and drama of soundtrack music. Basically, if Vangelis and Radiohead had a baby, not only would it be quite ugly but Darkstar would be its name.
Friday 8.30 pm, Exil

Feinraus is a great fashion store that’s opened up as part of the Europallee complex. They stock designs from some great new and independent labels as well as accessories and magazines, all with an urban slant. This Friday they are teaming up with the beats label Boyoom Connective, to offer you a little live entertainment while you shop. Wodoo Wolcan, Maloon The Boom and Melodiesinfonie will all be playing live, and you’ll also get some beer, drinks and pretzels to keep your mind focused. Shopping, sounds and snacks – it’s what Friday night was made for!
Friday 8 pm, Feinraus, Lagerstrasse 16a, 8004 

Clubs can be fleeting creatures, opening and closing seemingly on a whim, so it should be noted when any reach a decent milestone. This weekend Hive will be celebrating its 7^th year, and will be taking both Friday and Saturday to do it properly.  Both nights see the return of some well-loved faces as well as the introduction of some new talent. Friday sees Berlin djs Till von Sein, Adam Port and Chopstick & Johnjon return to Hive and electronic duo NTFO will be playing live. Saturday sees a more Swiss-centric line-up with, amongst a cast of many, Deetron, Animal Trainer and Manon djing, while Kölsch play live.
Friday and Saturday 11 pm, Hive

District 4 plays host to a British invasion on Saturday. If you’re wondering what’s been happening in the UK dance scene, then Madam X should be able to provide the answers. She currently djs on BBC 1Xtra, the UK’s only national dance station, and will be playing tunes across the spectrum from UK grime, garage, bass and hip-hop. If you’re looking for a flavour of home or just want to see what those Brits are up to, District 4 will be the corner of a foreign field that is forever England (at least for Saturday night).
Saturday 11 pm, District 4

I’m not a big fan of Valentine’s tradition, but I’m aware that this is a very Swiss attitude. So I let myself be conquered by love and compiled a few special tips for the special day.
Party: Amore Dolce (fitting name) hosts a masquerade ball at Schloss Sihlberg with 5 course dinner, fashion show and live music. Tickets: 160 francs / 40 francs (ball only) can be purchased on their website. Chocolate: Send your Valentine a not so secret greeting with the Chocolate Booth app. It transforms photos into a chocolate heart.  Sweet and personal. Present: You’re looking for something special to give to your beloved? But those stuffed animals are too cute! Kisabom has a solution – and turned stuffed animals into art. You can get your jar of love online or at Cabaret Voltaire.

The five guys from Snowmine met at a UFO-convention, which is fitting for their album Pet Animal. Spacy sounds, which I cannot really place, based on arrangements which show a passion for classic music. To be honest, it takes a while until the dream indie pop hits, but when it does, it’s heavenly, like from another world. Maybe from out of space?

I like comic strips and the one French Le Tueur by Matz and Jacamon is one of my favourites. The story of a nameless contract killer, who fights with loneliness and moral questions, is intoxicating. The Dutch production studio Submarine put twelve stories as motion comics online. The result: a cool combination of comic strip and film.