my birthday is coming up and also the big party. The names behind the instruments will remain my secret for now. But I can already tell you that we’ll celebrate at two locations. The Artecotta and the Cigarettefactory just next door will be host to the bands and djs. Mark it in bold in your calendar! Facebook
29 April, 9 pm, Artecotta & Cigarettenfabrik,
Sihlquai 268/270

The sports bar Calvados at Idaplatz celebrates its first birthday today. Before it was the main venue of a Swiss soap opera – think East Enders. At the celebration, the sportive actions won’t be football or ice hockey; I’m rather expecting dancing and lifting glasses. The first beers are drafted at 5 pm and there will be music. And come hungry, because there will be local Wiediker sausages on the grill.
Thursday 5 pm, Calvados

Last year, when Beardyman came to town, Revier was so crowded it wasn’t possible to get in half an hour after door opening.  But this man does work wonders with his mouth.  He is beat box champion and combines beatboxing with electronic sounds, creating a danceable mix. And he is back in Zurich. Today. At Stall 6. And I have 2x2 tickets to give away. E-mail me for tickets
Thursday 9 pm, Stall 6

No, dj Antoine doesn’t play at the music festival, Friendly Fire. Neither does dj Tomekk and also Fat Man Scoop didn’t make it in the line-up list. Instead almost the entire underground music scene of Zurich will be present. Over three days, the whole Love Peace and Happiness building is taken over by concerts, parties, a night market, cinema and meals. Who said that there is nothing going on in Seebach?
Thursday to Sunday, Schaffhauserstrasse 550 / Tram 14, Station Seebach

There are many creative music projects but nothing like Station 17. Indie musicians make music with handicapped people. Those who think that it’s just a charity project are totally mistaken. If you’ve seen the band from Hamburg before, you know their talent. On Friday at Zukunft rock meets electronica and quirky vocals join sunny beats. See for yourself!
Friday 11.59 pm, Zukunft

With the future heading toward us so fast it sometimes feels as if the past is a foreign land, but Raphael Saadiq is happy to take us back there and give a guided tour at Kaufleuten on Saturday. Raphael, also known as the Soul Maestro, has the retro warmth and groove of the 60’s and 70’s golden age of soul but with a few modern twists to keep things fresh. As proof he’s recently recorded with both Stevie Wonder and Jay-Z.
Saturday 8 pm, Kaufleuten

If a life on the open road with painted wagons is your true calling but you haven’t yet decided to move out of your snug apartment then give yourself a taste of the gypsy life with the Zigeuner Swing Session at Jenseits. There are a couple of bands to open the session but after that it’s an open stage for you to jam with other musicians. If your inner gypsy hasn’t yet learned to play the fiddle then surely the drinking and dancing are things that will come a little easier. Beware of wanderlust after the evening!
Tuesday 7 pm, Jenseits im Viadukt

A long weekend is coming up, yeah! I love Easter: chocolate, chocolate and a little more chocolate. If you have the same craving for the sweet dark stuff then there are a few special places to get your fix: Honold, is a Zurich tradition for over 100 years; if you like your chocolatiers to be a little more chic then Vollenweider has a shop in Seefeld; but my favourite is the little Truffe shop in the Old Town, the owner will gladly tell you about her latest creations and, if you give her the right smile, you’ll get a sample in return.  Just in case you want to balance your choco extravaganza with some exercise you can always dance away at one of my tips above or, if the weather is nice, hike away. ZKB has gathered a selection of routes in and around Zurich. The descriptions are in German but if you have legs and eyes it will be difficult to get lost. Either way, Happy Easter to all of you! Don’t forget that most shops will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Some songs just pick you up, give you a big hug and then place you gently back on the ground feeling better about the world. Open Arms by Elbow is one such song. Enjoy.

When walking along Limmat, I could swear that it’s summer already. Over lunch, Obere Letten is a sunny place to be because Primitivo - the restaurant at Obere Letten - opened its doors or rather its kitchen this week. And just a little bit closer to town, right by Dynamo, Chuchi am Wasser offers three set meals , sandwiches and various salads over lunch. Who needs spring if you can have summer?
Primitivo, Obere Letten
Chuchi am Wasser, Wasserwerkstrasse 21