Apart from walls for graffiti, the only other modern canvas that gives artists and designers the ability to have their art seen by the masses is the T-shirt. From its beginnings as a garment worn by workers in factories and mines to its current place as the item of choice for individual statement and protest, the humble T-shirt has had quiet a journey. The exhibition at Starkart, T-ribute, is a celebration of the T-shirt, and especially contemporary T-shirt graphics. It’s been organised by Amateur Magazine and will show 100 T-shirts from four decades selected by 10 European T-shirt aficionados (yes, such people exist). On Saturday they’ll have a T-shirt market for you to pick up your own designs.
Thursday to Sunday, various times, Starkart Gallery

As you wander the streets of Kreis 4 you may occasionally notice, through an alleyway or opening in the buildings, open courtyards hidden at the centre of the surrounding architecture. Unless you live in the apartments, these courtyards are normally inaccessible but this Friday, Zukunft are organising themselves a little HofFest. They will open up their own private space behind Bar3000 and fill it with live music from Teké Acoustic Sessions, grilled homemade sausages from the Lier family and a Filipino Food Corner. If the weather refuses to believe summer has gone, I don’t see why we shouldn’t too. Entry is free.
Friday 5 pm, Zukunft (behind Bar3000)

Dj’s may think they’re something special and certainly when one of them plays a beat that gets this Ronster doing his slippery shuffle on the dance floor, i may agree, but to call it art was always a stretch. That’s until performance artist and dj Nic Lloyd put together his Don’t Judge show at Gessnerallee. His one-man, two-turntable show will see him using vinyl to mix and manipulate fragments of words, instructions, music and sounds to assemble new language structures that, he hopes, will influence the audience. You may feel your feet wanting to dance but your mind won’t be too far behind.
Saturday 9 pm (also on Sunday through Thursday), Gessnerallee

I think the saying goes something like, ‘caught between a rock and a jazz fan’. Now, i could be wrong but then it wouldn’t fit so well with this piece of writing, so I’m going with it. Over the weekend you’ll get a chance to hear some of Switzerland’s finest jazz musicians play some of the finest rock music in a cross-genre showdown at Hits Recycled in Moods. On Saturday it will be Pink Floyd vs. Black Sabbath, while on Sunday it will be The Police vs. U2. Each jazz band will compete against each other head-to-head, hit-for-hit, song-for-song in a battle for the loudest audience applause of the evening. Now, if only there was a phrase that could describe being at an evening like this…hmmm.
Saturday 8.30 pm and Sunday 7 pm, Moods

Monday is International Car-Free Day, when many cities around the world encourage, or outright ban, drivers from using their cars. This allows pedestrians, public transport and cyclists to reclaim streets that are clean, quiet and safe, at least for one day a year. Strangely, given the number of bikes in the city, Zurich does not participate in Car-Free Day but given the Swiss view that ‘people-power’ can change most things eventually, there is an organised Velodemo taking place Monday evening. Starting at Bürkliplatz, hundreds of cyclists will set off for a tour of the city, and just by sheer numbers will reclaim any section of the city they happen to be passing through. The city cycle should last about an hour, returning to Bürkliplatz where a cycling fashion show and music will await you.
Monday 6.30 pm, Bürkliplatz

If there’s one thing the French know how to do well, outside of baguette baking, it is electro-pop. Issac Delusion hail from Paris and, despite the name to the contrary, are a band. The four members all seems to bring a diverse mix of sounds to the party with glimpses of Aphex Twin, Pink Floyd and Sufjan Stevens all somehow making their influences felt, but it is the singer’s soft, folky vocals that gently float over the electronic rhythms and melodies that elevate Issac Delusion to something special. They're playing at Bar Rossi on Tuesday evening.
Tuesday 8 pm, Bar Rossi

The last few days were full of sunshine but despite the golden rays, autumn is in the air. And autumn is followed by winter, which is fondue season!  However, Rimini doesn’t stick to seasonal labels and has already started with melted cheese dishes this week. From Thursday until 18th October, their open-air fondue parlour is open daily, even in bad weather. They're stocked up on blankets and Schnapps to keep you warm. 28 francs/person
18th September – 18th October, daily from 5.30 pm, Rimini

Finding the right present can be difficult: Too expensive, too small, too self-made. I love home-made presents but they shouldn’t look like a three-years-old's piece of work. Sueco is a great alternative. They offer DIY-sets which include all required materials. You just have to sew the leather pieces together according to their instruction. Like that, even beginners manage to create stylish simple bags, covers or wallets.

Whenever you wander around the Old Town you might think that time has stood still in the city. The stones have an air of eternity to them. But if you compare todays Zurich to the Zurich of 1793, many things have changed (and I’m not just talking about hygiene). For example, the lake came all the way down to Börsenstrasse and extensive gardens were situated between Talacker and Sihlporte. How do I know this? The official Geoportal put together the drawings by engineer Johannes Müller from 1793 with current street view images. A slide function lets you slip into the past and discover what the city was like back in the day. Just follow the link and click ok. 

Salvador Dali wasn’t just a painter, he was also involved in publishing a cook book. Top chefs as well as his wife Gala created the recipes while Dali was responsible for the illustrations. This oeuvre «Les Diners de Gala» is out of print, but thanks to the virtual world I found some images and recipes online at «Brain Pickings». Let me know how your dishes turn out.