SLR, DOF, ASA, TTL, F-stop. Still with me? Then you are likely the kind of photographer who has a few great shots to contribute to my Zurich Photo Trip. To submit, click on the teeny tiny link at the bottom of the page (you may need to take out your loupe to find it!). If I like what I see, I will feature your image in a newsletter, and eternal glory and bragging rights will be yours. Annie Liebovitz, you’ve been warned.

Give my love to city,
 Ron

Street-Files is packing up their threads and moving two doors down on Badenerstrasse. Come to the grand re-opening party to see the latest fashions (including the spring 2010 collection from Clae) and party with local djs. A burlesque show in the window will get the dancing started. And what’s happening to the old store location? It’s now Poeme, a style maven’s dream.

Thursday 10 pm, Street-Files

Goldgebrochenes were known as great parties at the legendary Dachkantine. This Friday, Cabaret revives the tradition. Djs include Ajele, O-Gee, Don Ramon and Manon. I have two pairs of tickets to give away – email me.

Friday 11 pm, Cabaret

Cabaret Voltaire hosts Zurich's first Saddest Song Contest this Saturday night. Ten musicians, including Icky Undressed, Verena von Horsten, Kate Mason and Zurich’s own Reza Dinally compete for the title, and the winner will play a full set. Get your hankies ready.

Saturday 8.30 pm, Cabaret Voltaire

If all that sadness is getting your down, dry your eyes and take a trip to Mars Bar, a charismatic little watering hole near the Langstrasse. Gabardine, Zurich’s answer to Midlake, plays on Saturday night. Inspired by folk and hippie-indie bands, Garbardine’s sound is chilled-out and straight ahead – no tears required.

Saturday 9.30 pm, Mars Bar

EXIL is the home of Montags, and this week the zen-funk quintet Ronin (founded in 2001 by Nik Baertsch) plays ritual groove music. The goal: create the maximum effect with minimal means. Bernhard Wagner plays ambient guitar between sets.

Monday 9 pm, Exil

Alina Amuri, who was born in Kinshasa and now lives in Zurich, brings her soul, hip-hop and Afro-beat sound to Forum on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, Prader and Knecht (that’s Martin Parder on lead vocals, guitar and blues harp, and Ronja Rinderknect on cello, bass and vocals) lends its folksy Americana-sound to Kafi für dich.

Tuesday 7 pm, Forum

Wednesday 8 pm, Kafi für dich

St. Patrick’s day is now nothing but a foggy memory for me, but there are those who are still paying the price for their antics – and I mean that literally! Zurich has a brand new drunk tank to house the soused and disorderly, and it doesn’t come cheap: a 3-hour stay will set you back 600 francs, and if the police think you need more time to sober up, you’re looking at 950 francs (as much as a deluxe double room at the Dolder Hotel, as World Radio Switzerland points out). More seriously, please take care of yourself and your friends: if you can’t drive after a night on the town, the friendly volunteers of Nez Rouge will take you home in your own car.

ChatRoulette is exactly what it sounds like: click “Start” and you find yourself face-to-face via webcam with a stranger. If you’d like to chat (or do who knows what else), go ahead; if you’d rather try your luck again, simply click “Next”. Brutal? Yes. Intriguing? Most definitely. Sam Anderson of New York Magazine writes about his foray into this online social gamble.

“No, Honey. I haven’t forgotten about that family dinner with your parents.” Not very convincing when there’s Highway to Hell blasting in the background and the sound of your buddies clinking glasses. Could there really be a way to transport yourself out of a bar (and out of trouble) at a moment’s notice? Watch this video and you tell me.