The Street Parade is a huge event for Zurich and has been going since 1992, but our wild techno-beast had an inspiration for its birth, and that was the Berlin Love Parade, which began way back in 1989. But if Love Parade begat Street Parade, who the hell begat Love Parade? Well, that was Dr Motte. He is a legendary dj within the techno scene, and can justifiably be called 'Father of the Love Parade', and therefore 'Grandfather of the Street Parade'. If you want to listen to the man who changed the way electronic dance music developed and is perceived, then he'll be playing a dj set at Hive on Friday. 

Friday 11 pm, Hive

 

 

There's always something happening in Zurich and, like a trusty event-hound, i sniff out the best and drop them at your feet, just awaiting a gentle tickle behind my ear as a reward, but occasionally something will be happening that is obvious to all but just needs me to point you in the right direction. In the case of Friday night, that direction is skyward, as the Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak activity over Zurich. It is expected that upwards of 200 'shooting stars' will be visible per hour as we pass through the tail of Comet Swift-Tuttle. So, grab a grill, a few bottles of your favourite tipple, some blankets and a group of your favourite star-children, and head for the hills. You'll get a clearer view if you're away from the city lights, so the Uetliberg and Zurichberg areas might be best, but one of the city parks would also suffice. And if it's a cloudy night? Then you'll still be laying on a blanket, full and possibly drunk, gazing up at the night sky. That doesn't sound too bad either, does it? Details of when and where to see it, here.

Friday from 10 pm (better after midnight), The Universe

 

 

This weekend is full of parties and parades of one sort or another, but spanning the entire time from Friday to Sunday is Lethargy at  Rote Fabrik. Often billed as the alternative alternative to the Street Parade, they make sure they cram so many  live bands, djs and performance pieces into three days and nights that the name 'Lethargy' seems to mock the very idea of the English language. As a refuge from, and an extension to, the Street Parade, Sunday will be an open air and free affair. I have 1 x 2 Festival Passes to give away for Friday and Saturday. E-mail me.
Friday 10 pm to 8.30 am, Saturday 10 pm to 7 am,  Sunday 1pm to 9 pm, Rote Fabrik

 

 

If you're anywhere within the city centre limits on Saturday, the Street Parade is going to be unavoidable, and if you're looking to have a good time, you certainly won't need me to point you in the right direction - just pull up your lycra thong and look around you. If, however, you're looking for a couple of Ron-spots, where i'll be hanging my hat, you've come to the right man. Amboss Rampe have a 24-hour Street Parade after-party in collaboration with the Moroccan record label Cosmo, who have been fusing traditional African and contemporary electronic music for the last six years. The line-up will be a cross-cultural mix of live acts and djs. The British djing legend, Carl Cox, will be playing at Kaufleuten, showing why, even after all these years, it's the veterans who have the va-va-voom. If you want to escape from the masses around the actual parade, then head upriver to Dynamo, where they'll have two floors of psy-trance live acts and djs to get you blissed out. Every year, Backyard Hype change the location of their street parade party, and this year they've managed to get Strandbad Mythenquai, right on the lake, and with a selection of fine djs matched together and playing back to back sets . And if you need a little palette cleanser from all the electronic beats then SEXY, a hot'n'nasty rock'n'rolly band, will be playing live'n'dirty at Safari Bar. Free entry.
Saturday 11 pm - Amboss Rampe, 11 pm - Kaufleuten, 9 pm - Dynamo,   6 pm - Strandbad Mythenquai, 9.30 pm - Safari Bar

 

 

Binz is happening. The nights used to be quiet in the industrial waste land, except for the spontaneous party here and there. Until the team behind g27 decided to open Daizy, a bar and diner with high ceilings, creative lights, murals and flowers, flowers, flowers everywhere. Well, it's not really a surprise that Daizys is already busy - g27 was known for its great kitchen and decor. Over lunchtime, Daizy is a simple restaurant with an as-much- as-you-can-eat buffet. In the evening it's all about sharing plates brimming with taste with friends. Binz, I like you more and more.
Daizy, Räffelstrasse 28, 8045. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8 am to 12 am

 

 

If you want to avoid Street Parade, why not take a little trip outside of town? For example to the Sihlsprung. There are two ways to travel to the source of the Sihl (the Limmat's little sister). Either you take the train to Sihlbrugg and start hiking from there or you cycle all the way. If you go for the more strenuous option, keep in mind that you need a mountain bike for the second half of the route. From Sihlbrugg onwards it goes over hill and dale. After admiring the Sihlsprung you should continue for a little bit. Until you reach Sihlmatt, a restaurant which serves the best and freshest trout. A nice treat after all that work.

 

 

It all began with a shopping trip. Co-founders Andreas Guggenbühl and Michael Berli went shopping for jeans with their girlfriends for more than two hours and returned home empty-handed and frustrated. I'm sure you can relate. However, the two technical wizards decided that this should never happen again, found a creative directer as well as designer, and started Selfnation – the perfect jeans for women. These days, the brand tailors jeans, chinos and shorts for men and women, produced in Switzerland and Germany. You choose a style, add your measurements (a few more than when ordering online) and check your choice in a virtual mirror. And voilà – perfect fitting pants.

 

 

If you take great photos at Street Parade you might want to sell them. Tilpy.com is a new Zurich-based platform that kills two birds with one stone: If you're a phototgrapher you can sell your pictures easily. If you looking for photos, you can avoid the usual stock libraries. You just add your search topic and get suggestions to buy. Registration is free for both parties.