Today, many clothes shops around Bahnhofstrasse stay open until 11.30 pm, host fashion-shows, offer wine and tips. And when the shops finally close it all continues at Hiltl. Shop til you drop takes on a whole new meaning. Check the website of «Lange Nacht der Mode» to see what’s on the shopping list.
Thursday 6.45 pm, city centre

Whenever I see someone rowing on the lake, I envy them. It looks so relaxing and peaceful that I’d like a piece of it. If you feel the same, the Limmat Club hosts a trial training tonight.
Thursday 6 pm, Limmat Club

The M4Music festival is setting up camp again. It’s the annual shindig for all of music's great and good to gather in our city and blow our little minds. As well as panel discussions, conferences and a demo-clinic for aspiring musicians there are, of course, a fantastic selection of bands, singers and djs to see play live. My highlights this year include Broken Bells, Fryars, Glass Animals and a dj set by Little Dragon. I have 2 x 2 tickets to give away. E-mail me
Thursday to Saturday, various times, various locations

The international gaggle (or is that giggle?) of comedians of The Improv Comedy Kitchen are playing at Boulevard on Friday evening, creating a comedic stew out of the raw ingredients thrown to them by the audience (in case you’re thinking of taking an onion, I’m using metaphor here). And if you’ve ever wondered how improvised comedy works or have been tempted to give it a shot yourself, they are also running a couple of improv workshops on Saturday afternoon – Introduction to Improv Comedy and Introduction to Character Creation. No experience, but comfortable trousers, necessary.
Friday 8 pm, Boulevard
Saturday 1.30 pm, Boulevard and Töpferei

In the now long history of electronic dance music there have been a few pioneers along the way that have created and defined new realms for others to explore. One of the greatest is perhaps Derrick May who, along with Kevin Saunderson and Juan Atkins, were at the centre of Detroit’s early techno explosion and set a template for dance music that is still relevant today. Derrick, as well as his legendary label Transmat, will be taking over Zukunft on Friday for a night of techno pleasures – past, present and future. I have 2 x 2 tickets to give away. E-mail me.
Friday 12 am, Zukunft

It’s time to get back in the saddle. If you’re looking for a fair priced bike, then the up-coming auction might be your thing. Bikes that the city council collected on public ground were repaired and will be sold this Saturday at Hans Bader Saal. First offer 50 francs. If you cannot make it this Saturday, you’ll get another chance on 26th April, 24th May, 28th June and 30th August. Before the auction starts, you’ll have half an hour time to check out the bikes, though a test run is not allowed.
Saturday 1 pm, Limmatstrasse 114, 8005

Style Wars is a cult documentary from 1983 that gave a unique vision of the burgeoning street, graffiti and hip-hop culture of New York and helped spread the graffiti movement around the world. Now, in homage to the original, Veli and Amos, a Swiss-Slovenian artist duo, have made Style Wars 2, a wild global road trip to discover what has grown out of the seeds the were sown by Style Wars. At Riff Raff on Sunday they have a double feature of both documentaries, also in the presence of the directors of both. I have 2 x 2 tickets to give away. E-mail me.
Sunday 7 pm, Riff Raff
Other showings Friday 28Mar/4Apr and Saturday 29Mar/5Apr 11.15pm

I like me some modern, progressive music as much as the next groovster but by ignoring music rooted in the past it can become a little lonely on Hipster Island. The Temperance Movement are a UK blues-rock band who have drunk the primeval elixir of Sticky Fingers Stones and Rod the Mod Faces to become an authentic slice of 70’s rock cool in the 21^st century. They are quickly becoming the next big rocknroll thing in Britain, so to see them in an intimate venue like Bogen F on Wednesday evening might soon, just like the band itself, be a thing of the past.

Wednesday 9 pm, Bogen F

I’ve already told you about Wirtschaft im Franz a few months back after their opening. Last weekend, I found the time to visit it myself. When we made the reservation, the food to be served was still unknown as they serve just two four-courses-dinners per night (one meat/fish, the other vegetarians). But the staff are very flexible. We were ten people including few with difficult palates, but all wishes were fulfilled with a friendly smile. Thank you again, team Franz, for a lovely evening. This Tuesday and Wednesday instead of the standard «Metzgete» (you know, the meat plate with blood and liver sausages) they serve an inventive «Gmüesete». Meaning: all dishes are vegetarian. Best book ahead as the place can get busy.
Wirtschaft im Franz, Bremgartenstrasse 18, 8003. Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 6 pm to 12 am

I love Zurich as well as local goods and foods. So I was delighted to discover a new Zurich wine label at the Kuss-Vernissage. Up to now, I frequently enjoyed the wine from Staatskellerei, red in winter and white in summer. I usually don’t chose white wine but this Staatschreiber comes with a beautiful golden colour and hits just the right note. Until I came across the wines from Winzerei zur Metz – their seco is one of the best sparkling wines I ever tasted and the Blauer Burgunder conquered my heart, well palate at least. Patrick Thalmann, the man behind the label is so enthusiastic that I’ll make sure to visit him at the Expovina Primavera at Puls 5 in Zurich (from Thursday to Thursday). He also pointed me towards the page « Zürcher Wein» which lists various local producers. I’ll make sure to taste my way through them. Just in the name of research of course.

If you’re looking for glimmering 80’s synths being caressed by a voice of emotional intensity look no further than the Future Islands song, Seasons (Waiting for you). If you also want a performance of the same song that will change your life, see here.