I dream of experiencing Zurich like a tourist and to get to know the city from a new perspective. I think I’m not alone with that dream. To blast away your January blues, I have three stays at 25 Hours Hotel for two people each to give away. Just send me an e-mail.
Give my love to the city, Ron

To either add an air of mystery or of mild paranoia, JJ & Palin are a Zurich based duo whose names are neither JJ nor Palin. Sarah Vieth and Hans-Jakob Mühlethaler have been making music together for a little over a year, and tonight have their album release party at Helsinki. They sound like a more organic version of The xx, which clearly isn’t bad thing, and their new video has them pushing an old piano through the streets of Zurich. 
Thursday 9 pm, Helsinki Klub

Coming to live and work in Switzerland is exciting (why else come?) but also very daunting, and whilst being labelled an ‘expat’ gives you some form of membership to an invisible club, many of the experiences and problems you may have can seem as if the relocation gods have selected you alone for special attention. Having it’s premier at Theater Neumarkt tonight, but continuing over the weekend and selected evenings throughout February and March, is Expats, a semi-documentary stage show that dramatises the expat experience and culture.  Go see your personal experiences acted out on stage and feel slightly silly you ever thought you were in this alone. In German and English.
Premier on Thursday, 8 pm, Theater Neumarkt

Have you ever wanted your dear old Swiss granny to cook you some warm and comforting food from recipes that have been passed down your Swiss family since forever, but always run into the same problems – a) you’re not Swiss, b) neither is your granny and c) see previous 2 problems. Well, fear not. At the Senior Design Café on Friday evening, their fastest waitress, Germaine (71) and her son, Martin, will be cooking a 3-course menu surprise, all based on traditional family recipes and will be eaten around the big family table. Needs reservation.
Friday 7 pm, Senior Design Café, Josefstrasse 146, 8005

January is an odd month. After the highs of Christmas and New Year, we can find ourselves in the middle of a grey no-mans-land, checking the calendar for the next bright spot on the horizon. My January Blues Busters (see above) try to smooth things along, but if they don’t work then how about a little hypnotic, chilled-out oblivion. At Bazillus on Saturday, djs Leonie and Phil from Eternia will be playing a selection of the chillingest tunes around covering genres as diverse as chillwave, shoegaze and witchhouse. And if you need a helping hand to send you on your way, video artist Roger Arletti will be ready to blur your reality with visuals beamed in directly from the dark side of the mind.
Saturday 10 pm, Bazillus

On a cold and snowy Sunday e.g. this Sunday, why not stay close and warm to your favourite snuggle partner in the back row of the movies. Those looking for someone to snuggle can meet each other on the back row and improvise. On Sunday afternoon, Xenix are showing West Side Story, a fantastic adaptation of Romeo and Juliet set in 50’s New York and also my favourite musical. Later on, Uto Kino has a rock n roll rebellion themed evening. Starting with drinks on the balcony, then a live rock n roll concert by Admiral James T. and Stella Glitter, then ending with the movie Cry-Baby, another Romeo and Juliet musical adaptation set in the 50's by the crazy director John Walters, with a young Johnny Depp doing his best James Dean.
Sunday 2 pm, Xenix
Sunday 7:30 pm, Uto Kino

Through the new vegan blog Vlowers I discovered the new vegan gelateria at Müllerstrasse. It’s too cold for me to enjoy ice cream at the moment, but they also offer snacks, salads, smoothies, shakes and juices. Certainly worth a visit.
Vegelateria, Müllerstrasse 64, Monday to Saturday:
11 am - 2 pm and 4 pm - 9 pm

Darwin said: Everything that’s against nature won’t endure. Therefore you should fight with it and not against it. Also, one of you wrote me, asking where he could volunteer, so I thought I’ll compile a few addresses. If you want to become active, you can help as a volunteer – instead of just donating money - to save hurt animals at Tierrettungsdienst, tend to forests with Bergwaldprojekt or support the work of WWF or Zoo Zurich. Your salary will be gratitude and a good karma.

Zurich looked like a winter fairy tale when it was snowing over the weekend. And in the mountains, it’s paradise! As I’m stuck at work, I won’t be able to go out and enjoy the snow. But browsing the net I found a great film that eases my pain: White Noise by Time Line Films accompanied snowboard crack Xavier De La Rue through Europe’s powder.

When I went to see Ron Pope at Komplex 457 a couple of weeks ago, I also had the chance to listen to his support: Luca Little from Zurich. The newcomer has a great voice and his songs are lovely. Perfect to make you feel dreamy but alive. Tune in on his website to his "lala"-music (his words, not mine!).