If the Japanese film industry means nothing to you beyond monster movies, animation and The Karate Kid then the Ginmaku Film Festival is here to shed a new aesthetic light onto your movie going experiences. From today (Thursday) until Sunday at Kino Houdini, Ginmaku will be showcasing new and upcoming Japanese films and filmmakers. They’ll be screening 11 films across the weekend including August in Tokyo, which has it’s international premiere at the festival, Fires on the Plains, a WWII movie as seen from Japan’s perspective and Sayonara, a film with the world’s first human-android acting duo. The directors of August in Tokyo and Oyster Factory will be at the screenings and answering questions after. All films have English subtitles.
Thursday to Sunday, Kino Houdini, various times

Apartments in Zurich are harder to come by than hen's teeth, and certainly more expensive. That’s why organisations like Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich (ABZ) should be celebrated. ABZ provides affordable, sustainable housing and apartments in Zurich, focused on the ideas of community and cooperation. This year they are celebrating their 100 ^th anniversary and will be holding lots of events over the next 3 months, taking place in community buildings around town owned by ABZ, including an open-air silent cinema with Evelinn Trouble providing the soundtrack; gardening & street theatre; and a big party toward the end of June at Bullingerplatz (see full programme  here). If you want to get involved immediately there is an ABZ Music Night at Helsinki Klub tonight (Thursday) which will have an eclectic mix of bands and singers from Latin rhythms to reggae-punk, and all from the ABZ communities. 
Thursday 6pm, Helsinki Klub

Since August of last year Amboss Rampe has been under the creative guidance of Nemo, Hakan and Markus – three guys who have lots of ideas but little time. So little, in fact, that they are only just getting around to officially saying hello to us with a party. But when it’s a two-day party full of great bands and djs, I guess we can forgive them the occasional calendar slip. Friday has a collection of surf, garage and indie bands for you to rock the night away, with an after-party by dj Frustfoul, and entry will be free. Saturday has a more electronic feel with Berlin’s Midnight Operator playing live, followed by 7 djs playing you through to midday on Sunday. 
Friday 8 pm, Saturday 11pm to Sunday 12 pm, Amboss Rampe

In 2003, after the Rana Plaza textile factory collapsed in Bangladesh, killing 1,134 people, the Fashion Revolution movement was born. Since then they’ve been organising an annual worldwide week-long event designed to highlight the social and environmental impacts of fashion and, just as importantly, offering solutions. They have a lot of different ‘upcycling’ events, the chance of late-night sustainable shopping and workshops happening throughout town this week, including the kick-off event at Popup store  WEST (Monday 18^th) with champagne, cupcakes and some great sustainable fashion labels showing their collections; a Jewellery Workshop at Salon (Wednesday 20^th ) by DIY blogger Virginie Peny - bring in your old or damage jewellery and leave with bright sparkly new ones; and the final event at Volkshaus (Saturday 23^rd), with a street demonstration, Fair Fashion Market and Walk-In Closet clothing exchange. See full list of events here.

Monday to Saturday, various times and locations

Spring is here and I’m tempted to spend all my time at the lake, sucking in all the sunshine I can get. This brings me to neighbourhoods I don’t frequent often enough, such as the area around Tiefenbrunnen. A fresh wind blows in the place where Christa de Carouge used to hold court: Restaurant Kornsilo just opened its doors a couple weeks ago. They promise to serve the best coffee in town, seasonal and fresh cuisine, and as the name promises - crispy fresh bread. Let me know if you think they've kept their word.
Kornsilo, Mühle Tiefenbrunnen, Seefeldstrasse 231, 8008. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm, Saturday & Sunday 9 am to 5 pm

Monday sees that time of the year again where a part of Zurich’s male population plays Robin Hood – or at least men in tights. Sächseläuten starts with the children's parade on Sunday but the highlight is on Monday with the guilds marching through the centre. When the church bells start to ring at 6 pm (hence the name) it's time to burn the Böögg, a snowman effigy stuffed with firecrackers. The sooner its head explodes, the better the summer weather forecast.. Afterwards you can grill a sausage on the still-hot coals of the Böögg’s pyre. Or chose one of the many stalls to get a bite to eat or a drink. Of course, there is also the infamous party at Mascotte starting at 7 pm.

Spring is here, I cannot say it often enough. Time to get your bike dusted off. Second hand: If you don’t own a bike (yet) check out the second hand bike market in Oerlikon this Saturday. Rent: If you don’t have time for that you can also rent bikes at the main station at Velostation Nord or at Velostation Süd. Borrow: From April until the end of October you can also borrow bikes with Züri rollt. They’re free but you’ll have to return them within the same day. You find them all year round at the mainstation (Velostation Nord and Süd) and from 22nd April at Bahnhofstrasse (Pestalozziwiese), Bürkliplatz, Bahnhof Enge (Tessinerplatz), Viadukt (Josefstrasse) and Bahnhof Altesttten (Altstetterplatz).