Just like a Nick Cave or Tom Waits tune, some music is best listened to whilst being embraced snugly by the night. My Jerusalem come to Eldorado this evening from Austin, Texas and bring with them music that has the velveteen comfort of darkness, but with their lush melodies and bouncing bass and drums the songs are always one step ahead of being downbeat. And if this doesn’t tempt you to visit Eldorado, maybe the 101 beers from around the world they offer will.
Thursday 8.30 pm, Eldorado

Like a kaleidoscopic sun at the centre of the reggae and dub universe, Lee Scratch Perry has dazzled and frazzled his way to the level of living legend over the last 50 years. Imagining reggae without Perry, is like rock’n’roll without Elvis. He’ll be playing live at Exil on Friday alongside two of Zurich’s own Soundsystems, Stepas and Zhion. If you can’t make it to see the main man himself, on Thursday at Der Kern bar dj’s Susie Star and Martin Klein have organised a Tribute to Lee Scratch Perry night full of reggae and dub classics.
Thursday 10 pm, Der Kern
Friday 10 pm, Exil

“To every thing there is a season.” Although I’m pretty sure the writers of those words weren’t referring to Zurich’s summer nightlife when they wrote them, it applies beautifully to the annual 30-day sound blast that is Rundfunk.fm. Starting this Friday, as it has for the past 13 years, Rundfunk will take over the radio airwaves of Zurich, and the world. One hundred dj’s and music makers will be broadcasting live from Remise, rather than its usual Landesmuseum venue. In addition to the bars, food and music on offer, Rundfunk have also teamed up with Cinema Unlimited and Brush magazine for some integrated art exhibitions and movies.
Broadcast all day, every day from Friday until 17th August
Bar, food, etc 5 pm until 12 am, Remise

Pétanque. Boules. Metal Balls. What ever you call it or think you need to step up in public and play it, I’m sure we all want to be the best. Well, Les Garçons (see additional tip below) are organising a tournament to make your childhood dreams of becoming Pétanque Meister a reality. This Saturday and the next are the qualification rounds, with the Grand Final on Saturday 3rd August. You’ll need to register with your full name and phone number here and entry will cost chf 20. There are some prizes on offer but these will pale into insignificance against the fact your name will live forever in the annals of Pétanque history.
Qualification: Saturday 20th & 27th, Final: Saturday 3rd August, Les Garçons

Since 2003 Zurich has a sister, and her name is San Francisco. To celebrate this 10-year anniversary a joint exhibition is being shown in both cities called Twisted Sister – Reimagining Urban Portraiture. In Zurich it is being shown at Museum Bärengasse, then moves to San Francisco in October. 15 artists from both cities have used photo and video to distil the essence of each city, to show us new ways of looking at, and experiencing, the urban centre we call home and how we can often miss the most interesting aspects of a place, that are right before our eyes.
Sunday (Open Wed - Sun only) until 8th September, Museum Bärengasse

If our glorious summer is getting you in the mood for something a little exotic but you haven’t had a chance to book your escape flight yet, then head down to Barfussbar next Wednesday and listen to Jenny Chi & Chibossa. Let their samba rhythms and gentle melodies sweep your away on a Bossa Nova cloud, and although you’ll arrive back where you started, the journey will still have been worthwhile.
Wednesday 8 pm, Barfussbar

Summer returned - just in time to coincide with the school holidays. This means that all the pool areas and parks - as well as the rest of the town - will be emptier than usually for the upcoming five weeks. It's the right time to find out what the city has to offer and to change your routine. On badi-info.ch you'll find an overview of all outdoor swimming areas in Zurich, ranging from the smallish lake Katzensee to the oldest pool area in town (Frauenbadi), and from the stylish Max Frisch Bad (a famous Swiss architect) at Letzigrund to the city beach in Wollishofen. Take your pick, relax and enjoy - summer is here!

I'm happy that the fine gentlemen re-opened their bar at Kaufleuten! You don't know what I'm talking about? Les Garçons moved into the heart of the city, independently but as a part of Kaufleuten at Talacker 34. They serve excellent cocktails but are well hidden from view - in the picture you'll see how to find them (if you click on it, it becomes larger), starting point is tram stop Sihlstrasse. Cheers!

It sounds like a fairy tale: On Exil's facebook page you can vote on which acts they should bring to Zurich. And make suggestions of your own. I just hope that many of you share my taste (or for a fairy god mother to do her magic) and support my suggestion (which I won't share here). I'll keep my fingers crossed (just in case the fairy god mother doesn't turn up).

Pimp up your bike with a Helios front bike bar. Each handle has a LED at its end which you can use to indicate. If you activate Bluetooth on your smartphone – and get their app - the lights turn on when you’re nearby. You can also then programme a route on your smartphone and the lights indicate when you have to turn left or right. Pretty cool – like K.I.T.T. was reborn as a bike.