The Theater Spektakel is one of the big annual events in Zurich that I always get excited about. Like a siren's call for the world's theatre and street performers it brings the weird and wonderful to the lakeshore each summer. They have also included a lot more live music acts into the programme this year. A few acts that caught my eye this year are Ganesh Versus The Third Reich, a stage play in which the elephant-headed Indian god is sent to Nazi Germany to reclaim the Swastika; Suddenly Everywhere Is Black with People, a dance performance exploring the fear of the unknown with dancers painted pitch-black; and Shilpa - The Indian Singer App, a one-women show with Shilpa, the first live app for smartphones. There are also the bars, food and free street performers for those just wanting to hang out.
Thursday until 31st August, various times, Landiwiese

Banksy may be the most well known artist using stencils as a form of public art but he’s certainly not the only one. At Starkart they are hosting eight of the worlds best Stencil Artists in their third edition of the group exhibition, affectionately named, Stencil Bastards 3. The concept is that each artist has a room of their own for them to put their stencils on found objects, canvases and, of course, all over the walls.
Thursday, Friday 5 pm – 9 pm and Saturday 2 pm – 8 pm until 29th August, Starkart Exhibitions

It’s a Dutch invasion on Friday night as two Amsterdam institutions leave the lowlands and head for the Zukunft club. The Trouw Night will host Young Marco, a dj/producer who’s tracks over the last few years have moved house music forward by incorporating the strange and exotic sounds he’s discovered through his love of weird and worldly vinyl. Also djing will be Olaf Boswijk, the owner and artistic director of the Trouw Club, the first club in Amsterdam to get a 24-hour licence and which has become the influential heart of the city’s music scene. I have 2 x 2 tickets to give away. Email me.
Friday 12 am, Zukunft

I had a dream the other night where I was sitting in a wonderful beer garden alongside a river, surrounded by trees and meadows. I was offered a cornucopia of the finest beers with names like The Dude and In a Galaxy far away, whilst being served food that tasted like my mother used to make, if only my mother had learnt to cook properly. And in the corner, playing live, were the Foo Fighters, The Killers and The Pretenders. I then realised it wasn’t a dream but a premonition. This Saturday see Mother Tongue, an alternative rock covers band play live, at Fork and Bottle as part of their Summer Concert series. Show cancelled in case of rain.
Saturday 7.30 pm, Fork and Bottle

There are a couple of free mini openair festivals happening again this weekend – one in the city centre and one most definitely not. The Idaplatzfest is taking place, surprisingly, on Idaplatz. Saturday afternoon is more child friendly but as the sun sets the bands and djs take over. On Sunday morning you can enjoy brunch while listening to the gypsy-folk of Zéphyr Combo. Meanwhile, outside of town, at the far end of the lake on a grassy hilltop in Hittenberg is the L'air caché 2014 by HiddenAir  festival. It’s a relaxed affair going on through the night, with bands playing music from disco to country, but no time schedule for them to appear. But then who needs time when you can dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free.
Saturday 2 pm, Sunday 10 am, Idaplatzfest, Idaplatz
Saturday 5 pm until Sunday 1pm, HiddenAir14, Hittenberg, Wald

Kurt Vile seems to be the living embodiment of the phrase ‘busy doing nothing’. To make an album as laidback and lackadaisical as his latest, Walkin’ on a Pretty Daze, and yet still keep the songs interesting, must take some effort. The stoner-fuzz sounding guitars drift by like clouds while vocal melodies poke through the mist like rays of sunshine. He’ll be playing at Rote Fabrik with his band The Violators on Wednesday evening.
Wednesday 8.30 pm, Rote Fabrik

If you’re looking for a single speed: DesignYourBike! Easier said than done? Not really, DesignYourBike is actually a website where you choose it all, from the colour for each piece to the saddle and the handlebar. Alberto Fernandez launched this service in Berne together with the help of mechanics. His bikes are ideal for Ronsters, who like to cruise through town and value unique design and quality for a fair price

Caduff’s Wine Loft is an institution in Zurich. Located at Kanzleistrasse it was one of the first restaurants to turn industrial space into a gourmet restaurant. The chef is known for quality and his team buys the ingredients daily at the market and prepares the dishes fresh from scratch. One of the highlights is to choose your wine in the vast wine cellar, accompanied by Beat Caduff himself. And as I know him, he always has an anecdote to share. They also offer lunch, but I prefer to visit the venue in the evening when I have time to enjoy the wonderful tastes on my plate (and palate).
Caduff’s Wine Loft, Kanzleistrasse 126, 8004. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 11.30 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to midnight. Saturday 5 pm to midnight

With all this rain, my outdoor training falls a bit short. Instead I get my fill of sport from my TV. But at present, there is a major live event in town: The European Athletics Championships 2014. More than 1400 athletes from 50 countries participate until Sunday at Letzigrund. Tickets are still available with highlights each day. Today you get to see the women’s pole vault as well as the men’s 110 metres hurdles. Or be there for the hammer throw on Friday. Or watch the finals of the women’s marathon on Saturday or the men’s on Sunday in the stadium. So if you want to cheer on your favourites, there is nothing stopping you. Not even sunshine.
Thursday & Friday from 9 am to 10 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 5.15 pm, Sunday 9 am to 5.30 am followed by the closing ceremony

In his third email, Ronster Florian tells me about his project that he launched together with his brother Laurin half a year ago. It’s a beautiful, digital catalogue of young art, called Up & Coming. Each week they highlight a new artist. Additionally, the website hosts a useful calendar with exhibition tips in Switzerland and abroad. If you struggle with the German, there are more than enough pictures to enjoy. And you can also send them your own works, if you’re that creative.