Stuck for Christmas gift ideas? I’ve done my shopping early this year, and I’m happy to pass on my hints and tips. Check out my new online gift guide: the PDF magazine is full of inspiration for cool gifts for everyone from your hard-to-please father to your fashion-forward niece.

Give my love to the city, Ron

Heavy news
The British quartet The Heavy plays Clubraum at Rote Fabrik, channeling the influence of Bo Diddley, Little Walter and The Parliaments. Their latest album, The House That Dirt Built, is a medley of funk, soul and old school rhythm and blues with a modern twist. Tickets are CHF 25.
Thursday 8.30 pm, Rote Fabrik

Passport to party
Ay caramba! Dj Ace, Toby Tobster and Murat turn Kreis 5 into the Latin Quarter with the Bogota on Tour show on Thursday night at Cabaret. The world music party continues on Friday night with the Democratic Republic of Tamtam party at Exil: catch the funky electrobeats of Barcelona’s Filastine, and Zurich’s own Motherland Soundsystem featuring Tozim.
Thursday 11 pm, Cabaret, and Friday 10 pm, Exil

A Clockwork Orange party
Artist Elena Habicher hosts a 70s costume party Anthony Burgess and Stanley Kubrik would approve of. Toronto dj Alexander Somm provides the background beats for this meeting of fashionistas and free-thinkers. Be sure to RSVP: admission is by guestlist only. Dress for  effect.
Friday 10 pm, ICON Club (Moloko Bar)

Lil woman, big voice
Lil Gizzelle was discovered singing in a local jump, rhythm and blues band in Los Angeles when she was 19 years old, and now the rockabilly and gospel diva is touring the world. She comes to Zurich with the Antwerp Allstars on Friday, belting out her signature blues at Güeterschuppen Wollishofen.
Friday 10 pm, Güeterschuppen Wollishofen

Beef and beer
Christmas cheer leaving you with sugarplum fairy fatigue? Then take in a more adult party this Saturday. Hosted by Gaucho and Amboss Beer, Navidad for Friends takes place behind the HB, and it just might put the holiday spirit back in your heart...or at least your stomach! Dj Dondolo performs.
Saturday 6 pm, Zollstrasse 80

Art attack

BINZ39 always seems to have something cool on display, and lately I’ve been thinking that I’d like to check out Stefan Inauen’s combinations of sculpture drawings, installations, and figurative and abstract paintings in his Mama Energy (4:00 AM) show. On Sunday, I plan to stop by Jack’s Peep Show, which celebrates a selection of images by renowned German photographer Olaf Blecker, set to music by a dj set from Laurent Charbon.
Saturday 2 pm, BINZ39, Sunday 4 pm, Pelikanbar

Good to know
Whether or not you’re a newcomer to Zurich, there always seems to be something new to explore. While I like to think I have my finger on the pulse of what’s hip and cool, I’m definitely not the expert on the ins and outs of administrative issues for expats, so I’ve referred some of my recently-arrived friends to Grüezi Newcomer!, an insider’s guide to Zurich that covers a variety of topics, including healthcare, job-hunting and schools. Happy landings, newbies!

Culture with your coffee
Kafi für Dich culture bar and café plays host to Zugluft, a trio made up of an accordionist, a clarinetist, and a drummer. Influenced by eastern European folk music and western experimental music, this jazz-infused group is definitely an interesting sound. Listen here.
Wednesday 8.15 pm, Kafi für Dich

Web
Like MapQuest, Google Maps, and other mapping applications, Ride the City, a New York City biking website, finds the shortest distance between two points, but with a difference. First, Ride the City avoids roads that aren't meant for biking, like highways and busy arterial streets. Second, Ride the City tries to steer cyclists toward routes that maximize the use of bike lanes, bike paths, greenways, and other bike-friendly streets.