The world of exclusive yachting isn’t generally known for it’s affinity with dubtechno and minimalist electronic dance music, but this weekend the two worlds collide as Musiq brings their 4-day dance festival to the lakeside home of Ganz Yachting. Some fantastic underground djs and producers from around the world will be there to rock the dock and to prove once again that it’s not the size of your yacht, but the motion in your ocean, that’s important.
Thursday to Sunday 11 pm, Ganz Yachting, Bellerivestrasse 264, 8008

The Bernese gallery SOON has built itself a reputation as one of the coolest contemporary art spaces in the city and on Saturday they will be opening their new gallery in Zurich. As with Bern, their focus will be on young urban contemporary art and will bring in Swiss, as well as international, artists. They’ve also attached themselves to the restaurant Hofküche, so the gallery opening times can be a little more social. The opening night will feature music by Skor and selected works of eight Swiss artists including Remo Lienhard, Ata Bozaci and Serge Nyfeler.
Saturday 5 pm, Galerie SOON, Manessestrasse 170, 8045

So it’s Easter, it’s Sunday night, and you’ve got that “no work tomorrow” tingle in your toes, not to mention that ‘too much chocolate yesterday’ feeling in your belly, well Zukunft have got it all worked out for you. In the club itself they’ve got genre-bending French dj Ivan Smagghe, who hasn’t seen a dance floor he doesn’t want to subvert and upstairs in Disco 3000 they have Alma Negra playing live. Based in Basel but originating from the Cape Verde islands off West Africa, they play a joyful, hypnotic music that blends the rhythms of African and the Caribbean.
Sunday 11 pm, Zukunft and Disco3000

In Australia they have their Bilby, in Poland they throw water and in the USA they guide eggs with a spoon. In Zurich the typical Easter tradition is called « Zwänzgerle». It takes place in pairs at Limmatquai on Easter Monday. One throws a 20-Rappen piece and tries to get it to lodge in the hard-boiled egg. If that works, the thrower can keep the egg, if the coin falls to the floor, it belongs to the person who held the egg.
Monday 10 am to 12 pm, Rüdenplatz

For a band whose lead singer sounds as if his world has just ended, Augustines make music that slaps you in the face with euphoria and hope. The trio from Seattle are, essentially, a rock band, in that they play guitar, bass and drums but they’ve managed to rise above those constraints with songs that are anthemic without being pompous and honest without being sentimental. They play at Bogen F on Wednesday.
Wednesday 9 pm, Bogen F

Urban Research isn’t, unfortunately, an experiment to see what happens when you walk naked through Paradeplatz, but rather an ongoing film and video program that allows film makers to document their explorations of urban life and the conditions they find there using experimental, documentary and abstract forms. At Gasthaus zum Bären on Wednesday a selection of these short films will be shown that include subjects as broad as anti-war demonstrations in Tel-Aviv, the Occupy movement in Turkey and a bike tour of female nude sculptures in East Berlin.
Wednesday 7 pm, Gasthaus zum Bären

Are you one of the victims of hay fever? I offer you my sympathy and a solution that is better than staying indoors when the sun tempts you to come out and play. Tagblatt Zürich created a pollen map for the city where you see which streets you should avoid. If you’re allergic to birch for example, Kreis 6, Oerlikon and Schwamedingen are tough neighbourhoods for you. Also the parks and cemeteries can create a sneezing problem – so head to Fritschiwiese instead of Friedhof Silfeld. Next to the dangerous birches the map also provides information if you can’t stand ash trees, alder or hazel. Gesundheit!

The restaurant Karl has been part of Zurich’s Old Town for as long as I can remember. Whenever I passed Grossmünster I looked through the windows and thought to myself: «Looks cosy». But I never entered. Until a few weeks ago. For the first time I opened the door, let a lovely waiter guide me to my table, enjoyed a drink while waiting for my food and discovered that a) it’s really very cosy, b) it’s a great place for people spotting and c) the food is as promised: simple, fresh and good. If you dare, the inventive chef puts offal on the menu every Tuesday, but as attentive as they are, they also always offer an alternative.
Karl der Grosse, Kirchgasse 14, 8001. Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 8 am to 10 pm

I’m aware that most women like shoes so I’m happy to pass on this message from a good friend of mine: «Ron, you should write that Golden Carrot has the most beautiful shoes in town. Don’t look at me like this. Honestly, they’re stunning and fashionable and your female readers would be upset if you witheld that information.» So here it is.
Golden Carrot, Fröhlichstrasse 41, 8008. Tuesday to Friday 11 am to 6.30 pm, Saturday 10 am to 4 pm

Trondheim calls itself the bycicle-capital of Norway because of CycloCable. This is a 130 meter long lift which carries bikers up the steep hill. The Poma Group, who developed the piece, is now on the hunt for other cities. And to be honest, I can think of one or two other streets where I wouldn’t mind a bit of help.