Just a reminder, in case you hadn’t noticed all the posters around town, this weekend is Zurich’s moment in the music festival sunshine (or rather sunshine with a risk of showers, if you read the forecast). Starting this evening is the 4-day Zurich Openair, which has a great line-up of bands playing, with the UK being particularly well represented. Tickets for various day combinations are still available, as are camping spots.
Thursday to Sunday, Zurich Openair, Glattbrugg

Two exhibitions are opening simultaneously at the Hauser & Wirth gallery on Friday evening. One is by contemporary German artist Martin Eder, whose work is always compelling and often controversial.  The other is by David Zink Yi, who will show his new sound and video installation of 11 Cuban musicians each filmed performing separately but creating a complete piece when combined. For the opening night the Cuban musicians will be at the gallery giving a special live performance.
Opening Night, Friday 6pm to 8 pm - Exhibition, 31 August to 19 October, Hauser & Wirth, Limmatstrasse 270, 8005

Dynamo is the largest youth cultural centre in Switzerland and provides a place for people to explore their creative impulses whether that be through dance, theatre, music or even, if you’ve ever seen the sparks exploding by the riverside, metalwork design. This weekend they celebrate their 25th anniversary with two days of everything they do best. They’ll have concerts, theatre and dance shows, a bazaar, food and djs. At the moment my highlight is looking like The Amazing Rock n Roll Circus at midnight on Saturday.
Friday 7 pm, Saturday 12 pm Dynamo

If you just happen to find yourself ambling around Langstrasse on Saturday evening and get to feeling very hungry and extremely thirsty, I have the perfect double-bill for you. Dini Mueter has the evening dedicated to serving their delicious homemade chilli con carne (or non carne, if you prefer). Although you can dictate spice levels, you should bare in mind their motto – if it’s too strong, you’re too weak. Two live bands will also be adding to the evening’s heat. If you then take a waddle up Langstrasse to Café Lang, their Belgian beer festival will take care of your thirst. Various beers in barrels are yours to try, and if you have the final drop of beer from one barrel, you get to choose the next one opened.
Saturday from 6 pm, Dini Mueter & from 7 pm, Café Lang

Hive is bringing Berlin to town on Saturday in the guise of techno dance label Upon You, and just so we can’t ignore them they’ve sent some of their big hitters to make some noise. Marco Resmann, who is an integral part of Berlin’s techno scene as well as Onno, youngest resident dj at Chemistry, Gunnar Stiller and Magit Cacoon. If that wasn’t enough there’ll also be some local djs including Animal Trainer to hold up Zurich’s side of the deal.
Saturday 11 pm, Hive

If you sometimes feel that living in Zurich isn’t getting you close enough to the Switzerland of your Heidi dreams, then get down to El Lokal on Sunday and listen to Giigestubete. They’ll be playing on fiddles a traditional type of Swiss folk dance music, and by dance they mean dance! No one is expected to sit these songs out, even if it means banging your glass on the table to the beat. They also encourage you to bring any instrument you may own and just join in. Entrance is free.
Sunday 7 pm, El Lokal

On my Sunday stroll around Uetliberg I discovered the first mushrooms. If you want to join the Swiss frenzy, here a few tips to collect your own: 1. Get a book with the most common mushrooms of your region and compare those you find carefully. Even better, take along a friend who recognizes the edible ones. 2. If you’re worried that you’d end up with food poisoning join one of the discussion tables for beginners at Zurich’s mushroom society. They meet every Monday. 3. Or bring your harvest to the official check point. It’s open every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 7 pm as well as every Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 6.30 pm at Walchestrasse 31. 4. Follow the rules: Don’t destroy mushrooms that you don’t take home. Collect maximum 1 kilo per person. No gathering allowed between the 1st and 10th every month.

The Mox pool rack fits into any home, studio or office and is easy to assemble. Leaning against the wall, it creates a lot of space for witty books and beautiful vases.
Buy now
with 15% discount

Milan, Martha or Max? No I’m not thinking about a party or baby names but which model to choose as my next bike. One of my favourite bike shops in town, Zweiradgeber, builds its own bicycles and I just can’t make up my mind. At the moment I tend towards the combination of a comfortable Amsterdam bike adapted to Zurich’s needs (gears and brakes) – Martha - but then there is Max, looking all cool and sleek. And the best: they all come in your favourite colour and you can choose all components individually.
Zweiradgeber, Anwandstrasse 57, 8004, opening hours: Mon to Fri 11 am to 7 pm, Sat 10 am to 4 pm.

Whenever you board an airplane you’ll hear the announcement: «Please switch off all electronic gear for taking off.» And you just follow the order. But why? What is the reason why you can’t use phones on planes? College Humour posted a video where passengers start to question the flight attendant and it’s one of the funniest things I discovered this week in the web. Have a look for yourself.

Last Friday, I fell in love. Ever since I had the pleasure of passing by Palestine Grill, buying some humus and aubergine mousse and savouring it at home with warm pita bread. If I could, I would marry the aubergine and have some little humus babies! The stall with oriental specialties just next to Longstreet Bar opened in May and I must say I regret that I didn’t try it out sooner! But now, I’m looking forward to tasting the rest of their freshly prepared dishes with home-made shaitan, sabich or mango sauce for as long as they’ll serve it.
Palestine Grill, Langstrasse 92, 8004, opening hours: Mon & Tue 12 pm to 10 pm, Wed to Sat 12 pm to 12 am.