I hope to get snowed in in the mountains after Christmas so I’m taking a break next week. Therefore you’ll find happenings for both weeks and you’ll hear from me again when I’m back in January – relaxed and with many good intentions.  If you’re going on holiday too (or later in the year), you can also interrupt your subscription.  Go to ronorp.net, log in, under ‘account’ click on ‘newsletter’, there you can fill in the dates  on which you don’t want to receive my newsletter. Postcards to Ron from your holiday you can send to Ron Orp, St. Jakobstr. 54a, 8004 Zürich.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year, Ron

It wasn’t so long ago that Christmas parties in Zurich were banned, and still are in some parts of Switzerland. To honour the brave revolutionaries who fought for our right to party I offer you my selection of some of the best in town. On Thursday, the Cabaret Club goes retro with Hang the dj playing party tracks from the 20s to the 80s. If you arrive before 11 pm with a gift, you will receive one in return. On Friday, Phonogen are having another one of their legendary Christmas parties at Les Halles. Regional Liga will provide the tunes with warm-up by Tonangeber. If you still have the stamina, on Saturday Amboss Rampe is putting on a Christmas-fest. Dj Milieu Mauri and others will be playing purely party tunes and classics of the last decades. The right to party is a sacred one – so get out there and dance like you mean it!
Thursday 10 pm, Cabaret Club
Friday 10 pm, Les Halles

Saturday 11 pm, Amboss Rampe

We all know the week between Christmas and New Year is the calendar equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle. Time loses all meaning and you feel stranded and adrift. Insomnia Sessions hopes to cure this malaise with 6 consecutive ‘happenings’ at Starkart.  Bringing together various musicians in revolving and evolving line-ups, the sessions should carry you over the hump until life begins again.
Sunday-Friday 10 pm, Starkart

If the thought of waiting until New Years Eve to dance is just too much for you, Frieda's Büxe have Format:B playing live, one day before, on the 30th. He’ll be supported by local djs Ajele and Marc Fuhemann. This party is the party to get you in the mood for the New Years party. I do ask myself sometimes, if it’s possible to have too many parties. I ask myself and the answer is always no. Glad that’s sorted out then.
Thursday 10 pm, Frieda’s Büxe

There is not much chance that you’ll get bored over the next two weeks but you might get cold or hungry. So if you’re in the neighbourhood, have a Glühwein or some food at Geroldküche, just next to the entrance of Hive. They also serve fresh sandwiches, pasta and specialities from all over the world. They don’t have a website but a facebook-group. Opening times are suitable for party goers.  Tuesday to Friday 11.30 am to 2 pm and Friday and Saturday from midnight until 6 am.  In January they take a two week break.

It happened a while ago. I was walking through the streets of London when pleasant sounds reached my ears. I followed them right away and found Dub FX. The amazing musician only uses his mouth for his songs – and a little bit of electronic. With that he creates a mixture of drum and bass, jungle and hip hop. This was the song I heard: Love Someone.

We all know the story of Mary and Joseph and of course baby Jesus. But how would this have worked in today’s digital age? Have a look at this original story on youtube - Digital Story of Nativity. Thank you Emir for pointing this video out to me. Very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Here are some tips for New Year parties in town:  1. Seefeld-Razzia:  As in the cult series MadMen you find American glamour of the sixties combined with selected cocktails, mash-up music and free bubbly for the toast at midnight.  2. The Lion: Sing a song, get a free beer, enjoy the night.  3. Pfingstweide: Modern beats in one of the newest clubs in town. Pfingstweide plays host to electro and techno with Dinky and Oliver Klein. 4: Gemüsebrücke: the classic – go and watch the fireworks from the Gemüsebrücke. Drink a lot of Glühwein so no parts of your body freeze off.
Friday 10 pm, Seefeld-Razzia, pre-sale tickets 45 francs
Friday 8 pm, The Lion, free entrance
Friday 11 pm, Pfingstweide, probably about 30 francs