Next week is all about fireworks and barbeque and you won’t receive a newsletter from me. It’s 1st of August, our National day, and therefore a bank holiday. Enjoy the short week and you’ll hear from me again in August.

Give my love to the city, Ron

If all this sunshine has stopped you from venturing into the hot, dark grip of a gig to get your musical fix, then Stadtsommer is here to save the day, or rather your evening. They have got together 6 bands, with styles ranging from folk to electronica, to play live over the next couple of weekends. All are in cool outdoor spots around town and all are free. Tonight, reggae artist Stereo Luchs plays in the courtyard of Restaurant Reithalle. I’m also looking forward to seeing The Legendary Lightness at Platzspitz and IOKOI at the Botanical Gardens.
Thursday 9 pm, Stereo Luchs, Restaurant Reithalle
Thur – Sat (25-27 Jul & 1-3 Aug), Stadtsommer, various times & locations

The city’s two football clubs hardly ever agree on anything, but when it comes to a new stadium, they stand side by side. FCZ because Letzigrund is really a venue for athletics first; GC because the club has been homeless since Hardturm was closed. The last project for a new stadium was turned down a couple of years ago. But now, the city displays its latest plan until 27 September (just after the vote by the locals on the matter) in the foyer of the city council. A built model and a short film visualize what Zurich’s so-called Hypodrom could look like.
Now until 27th September, Monday to Friday from 8 am to 6 pm, Amtshaus IV, Lindenhofstrasse 19

If you’ve ever spent a night at Hive, chances are you’ve bumped into Samy and Adrian, also known as the dj-duo Animal Trainer. As the resident dj’s they’ve put on more great nights than I’m sure they’d like to remember. Well, let me remind them. It’s actually been seven years since they started, and on Saturday they’ll be playing at their anniversary party. Joining them will be a collection of Hive’s best dj’s from the last couple of years.
Saturday 11 pm, Hive

Why does life need to be complicated? Just give me a summer’s night, a bar by a river and a band playing carefree power pop, and suddenly simple just seems so right. Generationals are a duo from New Orleans who’ll be bringing their breezy guitars and catchy melodies to El Lokal on Monday night. Free entry, collection after.
Monday 8 pm, El Lokal

If the opening question from the previous entry has started your head spinning looking for answers; firstly, please don’t take my writing so seriously, and secondly, maybe you should get down to Corner College on Wednesday afternoon. Interventions is an afternoon symposium for international scholars and philosophers to present their most recent ideas and thoughts, covering a pretty broad cross-section of perspectives and interests. In the evening a barbeque with bar will be held which, as we all know, is where all the best ideas are born. English spoken.
Wednesday 2.30 pm, Corner College

Do you sometimes think that Zurich is a bit small? That depends on the perspective. If you were to walk around the city border, it would take you about two days (55 km). But once in a while the city organises a tour around Zurich that takes 6 to 7 hours.  It includes a lot of walking but public transport as well, and shows you the best views of the town. The next tour takes place on 17th of August. Starting point is Bahnhof Wollishofen at 7 am. It costs 30 francs and includes transport as well as food (Ghackets with Hörnli at Brahmshof and some snacks). If you’d like to take part, you need to enrol by 9th of August, which is why I thought I'd let you know today.

Summer time, and the living is easy! Especially when I head to Rimini in the evening. The men’s pool turns into a bar and the surrounding gives you an impression of being on holiday – while you stroll in the middle of town. Now that the sun has decided to stay, it’s open daily from 7.15 pm. A great venue to enjoy after work drinks, grab a bite to eat or to stroll through the Monday design market they host irregularly.

Browsing the net, I came across a wonderful picture gallery on Bluewin, which made me want to grab my surfboard right away and head to the ocean. For the moment, the pictures will have to do: Photographer Sarah Lee dived deep into the ocean on the coast of Hawaii, taking pictures of female surfers from under water. Her photos show the force of breaking waves and the grace and skill of the surfers.  I like!