Ron Orp’s Mail is available as an app now. I searched my mind and came up with a few practical functions which are also interesting if you’re on the road. For example you can take pictures with your iphone and upload them directly into the urban city trip section – so that my wish for more photos might become true! The app is available in German, French, English and Portuguese accordingly to the city you choose. You can download it here.
Give my love to the city, Ron

As we all know the predicted future of transportation is a little behind schedule. The personal jetpacks and teleportation devices are still in development alongside the hover-car but there are companies whose ideas are bringing the real future closer everyday. The Hub is hosting two of these companies – Tesla Motors and Flyerelektrovelo – who will present their company stories as well as taking questions and giving advice to any upcoming social entrepreneurs. If you do invent something, call it the Ronorpatron – it’ll make me happy.
Thursday 8 pm, The Hub

Owning original art is normally reserved for the rich or the daringly criminal but Station21 is giving you the chance to own an original piece without being either. 26 artists from around Switzerland are being gathered for an art show under the name Himmelwärts 10 (Skywards 10) where you have the opportunity to talk directly with the artists and, if the mood grabs you, to also buy the art. Prices range from 1 to 199 francs.
Friday 6 pm & Saturday 12 pm, Station21

Cómeme is a new electro-dance record label from South America founded by Matias Aguayo and Gary Pimiento. They will be focused mainly on South American artists but are happy to colaborate with any Europeans biten by the Cómeme bug. See what the new label has to offer as they perform a live set with percussionists and a backing vocalist from London at Zukunft.
And if you need a little easy food, music and shopping before the South Americans rock your world then the Nacht Markt at Kasernanareal is back again.
Friday 7 pm, Kasernanareal
Friday 12 am, Zukunft

With December comes the ice but also the skating. The second Zurich Ice Disco is happening at the Dolder Ice Rink this weekend. No need to worry about falling over as the disco, soul and electro beats will keep you upright and flowing along all night. The night has some great djs as well as a live show by Les Retardieux. The after-party is happening at Plaza Club with Kraak & Smaak leading the dj charge.  Just remember, the sliding backwards will be a lot harder and less cooler at the Plaza then the Dolder.
Saturday 5 pm, Dolder Ice Rink
Saturday 11 pm , Plaza Club

If you want to get away from the Bahnhofstrasse Christmas crush then get down to the Plaza Club, which is transforming itself into an urban Christmas village for the week leading up to Christmas. Not only confined to the club but also the streets surrounding it, you will find stalls from some of the local boutiques and they have also planned a party program for each day. As you’ve been good readers this year I have some special surprise gifts to give away from Meine Garderobe and Cloud8, two of the labels at the market.
e-mail me.
Sunday-Friday 11.30 am, Plaza Club

This Monday, jazz singer Sophia Bastian sings at Kaufleuten. As a thank you to everyone who visited the club, lounge and/or restaurant this year, the concert is for free. Make sure you get there on time.
Monday 8 pm, Kaufleuten

Each year it’s the same game. December comes around and everyone acts surprised that only a few weeks are left until the holidays. The workload increases and the inner city is ruled by shoppers. And there are so many of them. Now, Christmas is only one week away and of course you haven’t had time to do your present shopping. But don’t get scared. You don’t have to throw yourself into the  crowds at Bahnhofstrasse. In my latest digital magazine I put together gift ideas so you can pick the missing presents at home. Unfortunately, amongst the Christmas frenzy I wasn’t able to translate it into English. Sorry about that! But what is it what they say? A picture speaks a thousand words.

Ron’s assistant: You look happy…
Ron: I just had a great lunch!
Ron’s assistant: So you’re drunk?
Ron: No, great food! At Hin & Weg. It’s a catering and take- away place between Schmiede Wiedikon and Goldbrunnenplatz that cooks so tasty that I’d like to book them as my personal catering service!
Hin & Weg, Birmensdorferstrasse 171, Zurich

And yet I’m telling you about another publication which is in German only: Transhelvetica. Why? Because it’s new and because it’s produced in Zurich. And also because you might have German speaking friends or colleagues for which you’re searching for the perfect gift. (Because it's also really nice!)  An annual subscription (6 issues) is only 45 francs.

Flavorwire puts it so well that I’ll quote:  “If you’re sick of hearing Frank Sinatra tell you that he wants to be a part of it, or Alicia Keys gushing about how these streets will make you feel brand new, then rejoice – here’s an alternative musical history of the Big Apple.”  So have a look and wander through the streets that wrote music history.