Salon du Chocolat Zurich 22nd – 24th March

Salon du Chocolat Zurich 22nd – 24th March

If you’re a big chocolate fan this is THE chocolate event to go to in Zurich.  Not only will you find all the newest and latest information about chocolate, the latest chocolate creations and innovations, as well as firm choccie favourites, but each day there will be a chocolate fashion show at 5pm – yes, really!  The models will be wearing clothes and designs made up of chocolate.  Quite a high risk strategy you may think, especially under the hot stage lights – and when you see the designs themselves you are sure to be even more impressed.

The Salon du Chocolat takes place in Hall 5 at the Messe in Wallisellenstrasse 49, Oerlikon from the 22nd – 24th March. Open each day from 10am – 7pm

ENTRANCE FEES

Adults: CHF 18
Children (3 to 12 years): CHF 9
Free for children under 3

Transport:

– Bus / Lines 63 and 94 from Oerlikon station
– Tramway / Line 11: Messe/Hallenstadion stop
– Tramway / Lines 10 and 14: Sternen stop

To whet your appetite here is a video from last year’s Salon du Chocolat. (Tip – you may want to fast forward to around the 3min mark to skip the intro in German)

Photos: © Salon du Chocolat

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What’s On In and Around Zurich

There’s lots on in and around this coming week – so here are a few ideas:

1. Joanne Finnegan’s Mountain Paintings at the AWC – Vernissage 2nd February

British painter Joanne Finnegan is exhibiting her paintings at the  American Women’s Club Zurich from February 2nd to March 30th. Don’t miss the Vernissage is on Saturday February 2nd from 6:30 to 9pm. www.joannefinnegan.com

2. Laura Heselton, International psychic medium and motivational workshop leader is now in Zurich. Join her for her Workshop on Wednesday February 6th and learn to become your own guru. She is also conducting readings and more so why not  contact her now to arrange a consultation via email here.

3.  There will be amazing ice skaters as well as Leona Lewis performing at Art On Ice at the Hallenstadion on 2nd and 3rd February. If you are lucky enough to be going check our previous post for information and photos.

4. Why not learn all about the “Giant Trees” at the a photo presentation lasting 110 minutes with Michael Brunner (in German) at the Volkhaus, Stauffacherstrasse 60 in Zurich on Sunday February 3rd at 4:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. It costs CHF 25 entrance and tickets can be bought (subject to availability) just before the event. For more information in German please read here.

5.  Comedy in English: Missing humour in English? Laugh along with American actress/comedienne Sylvia Day and her special guests in “50 Shades of DAY!” Don’t miss this unforgettable variety/sketch comedy show which runs March 15 and 16 in Zurich. “A hilarious and thought-provoking look at the crazy times we live in.” For details and to buy tickets go to the website.

6. Pure Beauty Spa in Seefeld is now open!  It’s conveniently located in Zollikerstrasse 82, 8008 Zurich and  Georgina and Alex have a Special Introductory Offer for NewInZurich readers offering 10% discount off your first treatment. Simply quote NewInZurich when booking. Appointments can be booked via our website or by sending an email to: info@purebeautyspa.ch  or by calling: 043 544 31 31 or 078 640 71 78.

7. **** FREE TICKETS **** for John Thade

There is still time to enter the free prize draw for 5 sets of double tickets to see the American tenor John Thade sing at the Jecklin Forum in Zurich. Please note the date of 9th February has been changed to 13th April (due to illness) but the second date remains 9th March. For more infromation read here.

8.. The 29th International Country Music Festival is coming to town and is being held at the Schutzenhaus in Albisguetli from 1st February – 24th March. Full details of the 38 day line up and the schedule can be viewed here.

9. Fonds ’13 – the Funds Fair takes place in Zurich on 6th and 7th February at the Kongresshaus near Burkliplatz in Zurich. February 6th is the “Professional Investors Day” and 7th February is the Public Day. For more information and for tickets go to the website.

10. Valentines Masquerade Dinner and Ball at Schloss Sihlberg on Thursday February 14th for singles and couples. For more information go to the website.

11. FESPO – travel and holiday fair continues and concludes on Sunday 3rd February at the Messe in Oerlikon in Zurich. It is open from 10am till 6pm and tickets cost CHF 14 but you can get  reduced entry of just CHF 8 by showing a valid public transport ticket. Children under 12 are free. For more information please visit the website.

12. Golfmesse.ch is part of the FESPO holiday fair and is geared at golf lovers. Just like the FESPO exhibition, it continues and concludes on Sunday 3rd February from 10am till 6pm. For more information read on.

13. Tauchmesse.ch is also part of the FESPO holiday fair,  concentrating on all things to do with diving.  For more information click here.

Whatever you do, have a great weekend and a fabulous week ahead!

Art on Ice 2013 – Leona Lewis, 2Cellos (video) and Breathtaking Ice Skating

Leona Lewis

The premiere of Art on Ice 2013 opened on Thursday night in Zurich at the Hallenstadion in Oerlikon and the show was truly captivating. The headline act was Leona Lewis who was singing her greatest hits as the ice figure skaters danced and performed on the ice rink in front of the stage.

Having never been before I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect but I was enthralled by the beauty, skill and talent of the ice figure skaters.  It’s not surprising that the performances were so good, as the performers at Art On Ice all belong to the top echelons of the skating world and between them share a raft of World Championship and European medals.

Leona Lewis

Florent Amodio performed impressive gravity defying moves on the ice.

Florent Amodio

The elegance and grace as the skaters waltzed across the ice to differing music from Leona Lewis, Seven, the 2Cellos year (who last year accompanied Elton John on his tour) was amazing and gave the performances variety and made them simply stunning to observe. Stephane Lambiel not only gave an amazing skating performance but also sang with Larissa Evans a special number entitled “Live Your Fantasy”.

Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte

Adelina Sotnikova

Sarah Meier looked totally at home at Art On Ice, having been a regular performer here for a number of years.

Sarah Meier

The Singer Seven (Jan Dettwyler) performed opening songs together with Mummenchanz, the mime group or “magicians of silence” who perform on stage as two giant hands.

Seven and Mummenschanz Art On Ice 2013

Florent Amadio and Maxim Trankov

Later at the “after party” the performances continued, though this time the ice skating champions took a back seat and enjoyed a well deserved rest as some of the singers including Seven and the Two Cellos gave energetic and lively performances till the early hours.

Anna Cappellini, Lucas Lanotte & Shizuka Arakawa

Tatyana Volosozhar

Having played on stage, the 2Cellos, Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser went on to entertain a very enthusiastic audience at the After Show Party with their energetic interpretation of popular chart songs with their cellos.   Here is a video of the 2Cellos performing at the After Party and them performing a snippet of an AC DC number.

The 2Cellos

Here is a video of Seven performing at the After Party

The two founders of Art on Ice in Zurich, Reto Caviezel and Oliver Hoerner and the Head of Marketing, Marc Lindegger, should take pride in an amazing show and the fact that Art on Ice Zurich is now sold out.  If you plan on going next year you can already reserve tickets for Art On Ice Zurich 2014.

To see the official Art On Ice 2013 Official Trailer click here.

Art On Ice in Zurich 31st January – 3rd February

World Champion Ice Skaters Aljona Savachenko and Robin Szolkowy

Art On Ice takes place from 31st January to the 3rd February with Leona Lewis, Swiss singer Seven and a fantastic line-up of European and World figure skating champions demonstrating their skill and expertise on ice at the Hallenstadion in Oerlikon.

Aljona Savachenko and Robin Szolkowy

After Zurich, Art On Ice will go on to be staged in Lausanne, Davos, Helsinki, and finally Stockholm. There are only a few tickets left so for more information please go to the website.

World Champion Ice Skaters Aljona Savachenko and Robin Szolkowy

Yesteday was the final day of rehearsals before the show begins and the skaters were going through their paces. The Russian figure skating champion Adelina Sotnikova, who finished 2nd last week in Zagreb at the European figure skating championships, was also busy rehearsing.

Adelina Sotnikova, European figure skating champion

Swiss singer “Seven” was accompanying them on vocals as they practised their complicated routines.  Seven is no stranger to “Art On Ice” having participated for the first time back in 2010.

Seven

There has been a small change in the line up as due to injury Jewgeni Plushenko is unable to take part and instead French skating champion Florent Amodio, European Champion 2011, who took the silver medal last week at the European Championship 2013 in Zagreb will be attending. French ice skaters Nathalie Péchalat & Fabian Bourzat are also unable to perform as Fabian has also been injured and Victoria Sinitsina, 17, & Ruslan Zhiganshin, 20, the current World Junior figure skating Champions, will now be performing.

Video: If you’ve never been to Art On Ice before click here for a short video of Aljona Savachenko and Robin Szolkowy to give you some idea of what you have in store for you if you go along to Art On Ice.

 

Are you an Expat in Zurich? Why not go and see “Expats” at Theater Neumarkt in Zurich?

Photo © Philipp Ottendörfer

There is a new play showing in Zurich at the moment which is bound to have a lot of resonance with many of Zurich’s English speaking population.  The play is called “Expats”, by Barbara Weber and is in English and German, and as the name suggests all about expats in Zurich.

Photo © Philipp Ottendörfer

From the reviews so far it looks like an interesting work, sure to play on both the virtues and vices of the expat lifestyle. The play is at Theater Neumarkt, 5 Neumarkt, 8001 Zurich and the performances are as follows:

Wednesday 6th February, Friday 8th February and Saturday 9th February at 8pm. There are also further performances in March on Friday 15th March and Saturday 16th March at 8pm.

Tickets cost CHF 45 and children and reduced tickets cost CHF 20. For further information visit the website and to buy tickets online go here.

There is also a “Theatre Trilogy Night” where all three plays that are currently being performed as part of a trilogy at Theater Neuhaus (Expats, Dr Madam ihre Mössiö and Truppenbesuch) are shown in succession on Saturday 30th March starting at 6pm. Tickets for this performance cost CHF 75.

Photo © Philipp Ottendörfer

35th Balloon Festival at Chateau-d’Oex

Chateau d’Oex is famous for it’s spectacular annual hot air balloon festival and this year it is celebrating its 35th birthday. It is definitely worth a trip out of town to go and visit. It’s on all week, finishing next Sunday 3rd February. As well as the usual colour and excitement of this famous “balloon week”, Saturday 2nd February will be particularly notable as they will be staging a unique show called “Night Glow”.

The evening will start at 6.45pm and the theme very aptly, will be “Happy Birthday”. It promises to be an amazing evening with 300 performers and extras taking part, amongst them 20 complete balloon crews, the Swiss Ski School, skydivers, fireworks experts, sound engineers and many volunteers. The local atmospheric conditions play a crucial role in influencing the positioning of the balloons and the requirement for precision timing. The fireworks will be set to music, there will be a torch-lit ski descent and paragliders will take to the skies – all this against a backdrop of illuminated balloons.There’s a complete programme of entertainment organised for every day this week available to download from the website and even the opportunity to take a ride in a helicopter with Air Glaciers – simply book on the spot.  Rides cost CHF 60 for adults and CHF 40 for children.

Entry to the Chateau-d’Oex Balloon Festival is free during the week. At the weekend it is  CHF 10 for adults and under 14’s are free. Included in the cost is the parking, a visit to the “Espace Ballon” museum and a visit to Etivaz’s cheese cellar at 10am or 3pm.

Enjoy the wonderful sights and sounds and do take your camera! For more information.

Photos: © Chateau-d’Oex Tourisme, Julie L and Fabrice Wagner

Snow and Sunsets in and Around Zurich

Well we’ve had lots of snow in and around Zurich this past couple of weeks but right now it’s starting to disappear and the forecast for the coming week is a mixture of cloud, rain, sunshine and snow showers – but who knows! The city looked pretty last week covered in a white blanket – though some of the bikes and bike seats have been looking decidedly chilly! Definitely the weather to find a cosy cafe and order a hot chocolate to warm yourself up!

Outside the Viadukt there were lots of bikes lined up in rows in the snow but this poor bike looked in rather a sorry state, abandoned in the snow.

Stadelhofen looked very pristine and white though they’ve turned off the fountain so we’re missing out on the cool ice sculptures we used to get when the water froze artistically over the statues.

Overlooking the lake around Meilen and Kusnacht there were some beautiful sunsets with gorgeous reflections which made the snow turn pink.

And as the sun set it almost looked as if this tree was aglow.

And up on the slopes in Davos today it was sunny and clear.

Do you have any photos of Zurich in the snow that you’d like to share?  If so, email them to us and we will post up a selection of your photos and attribute them to you.

Have a great week ahead whatever the weather!

What’s On In and Around Zurich this coming week

The forecast looks set for a fabulous time to go skiing and snowboarding in the mountains!  The snow is great following the recent snow showers and the sun looks set to shine.

So where are you heading?  Klosters the resort with royal connections where you can recline in a deckchair by the palm trees and catch the rays, Davos where you can take a dip in a hot tub perched right in the snow after a hard day’s skiing or hard day’s networking at the World Economic Forum – or perhaps Flims/Laax where you can show off your latest snowboarding tricks at the snow park? Or why not explore one of the closer resorts like Atzmaennig, Hoch Ybrig, Pizol or Flumserberg?  If you want to check the conditions in nearby resorts take a look at our Practical Info page under Skiing.

Another possibility is the St.Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow which is on till this Sunday 27th January. This event is the world’s most prestigious Winter polo tournament – so if you’ve not been to one before, this is a great one to experience. It all takes place on the frozen lake there – lots of fun, excitement and colour! Click here for our previous post.

If you’re staying home in Zurich there are lots of things to do:

1. The Kunsthaus’s exhibition of Paul Gaugin’s “The Prints” has been extended till this Sunday 27th. For more information check here.

2. The Migros Museum in Zurich is showing a “VideoInstallation” exhibition by the Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson called “The Visitors” which also ends on Sunday 27th January.  Please check the website or read our previous post (complete with rather interesting photo!).

3.“Tango Fire” is an exciting Argentinian dance group from Buenos Aires consisting of 10 talented young dancers bringing the passion of the tango to life in their new show “Flames of Desire”. Click here for more information and to book. Take advantage of our special NewInZurich offer: 20% discount off any performance of Tango Fire up till Sunday 27th – just quote code XP2013TF to get this offer. You can also book tickets online at www.tangofire.ch/angebot with the promotional code XP2013TF             

4. Aura Grand Opening Party Saturday 26th If you are in Zurich on Saturday why not visit Aura, the new place to be in Zurich,  as they will be celebrating their grand opening from 11pm – 4am. Tickets CHF 30 .To book please go to this website.

5. The Helmhaus Museum in Zurich shows a lot of contemporary art and their current exhibition is entitled “Nach dem Spiel ist vor dem Spiel” (After the game is before the game) and also runs till the 27th January. Entrance is free and the exhibition is open 10am – 6pm Tuesday to Sunday For more information.

6. The Original Cuban Circus

Another exciting event coming up is the Original Cuban Circus performing live at the Volkshaus from the 24th to the 27th January. Featuring unicycles, clowns, acrobats, dancers, fire-eaters and lots more it’s sure to be a treat for the whole family. Tickets available here. 

7. The Mercedes Benz CSI Golden Moments is bound to be of interest to horse lovers and is on this weekend at the Messe in Oerlikon from the 25th to the 27th January. For more information please read our previous post.

8. Pure Beauty Spa Opening Party

Our friends at Pure Beauty Spa are celebrating the opening of their new salon in Zollikerstrasse 82 in Seefeld, Zurich with an opening party on Thursday 31st January at 6pm . Lots of special offers and treats and an opportunity to see what is on offer. For more information. 

9. Simply Theatre Auditions in Zurich for “The Jungle Book” production

This weekend could be your chance to audition to be part of the exciting play. If you are aged between 8 – 18 you can come along to audition on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th for a part in Rudyard Kilping’s Jungle Book. For more information and to book online or phone directly click here.

10. Orell Fuessli’s English Book Club

Kazuo Ishiguro’s book “Never Let Me Go” bookclub event moderated by Jill Prewett, author of “Beyond Closed Doors” and “Raw Material” will be discussed at Orell Füssli at 8.30pm on 31st January at The Bookshop, Bahnhofstrasse 70, Zurich. This is a free event.

 

11. Joanne Finnegan’s Mountain Paintings at the AWC 

British painter Joanne Finnegan is exhibiting her paintings at the  American Women’s Club Zurich from February 2nd to March 30th. The Vernissage is on February 2nd from 6:30 to 9pm. www.joannefinnegan.com

12. Laura Heselton, International psychic medium and motivational workshop leader is in Zurich now until February 8th. She is conducting readings and workshops and more so why not  contact her now to arrange a consultation via email here.

13.  Leona Lewis will be performing at Art On Ice at the Hallenstadion on 31st January till 3rd February. There are still a few tickets available for purchase. Check this link for the latest details and for more details on the event itself read our previous post.

14. Beauty and Detox at Palais Kraft on 1st February

There is a Beauty and Detox event taking place at Palais Kraft, Kraftstrasse 29, Zurich on Friday February 1st from 5pm featuring catered food and drinks, lounge music,detox tips, information about Botox and fillers, shoes by Colette Sol and lots more.  For more information and to book this free event email karin.gaida@beautydetox.ch

15. **** FREE TICKETS **** for John Thade

Free prize draw for 5 sets of double tickets to see the American tenor John Thade sing at the Jecklin Forum in Zurich on 9th February and 9th March. For more infromation read here.16. Grafik 13

Lastly, if you someone in your family with an artistic flair, why not get them to enter their work into the “Grafik 13” showcase for grafic design and young art.  The closing date to register is 4th February and Grafik 13 will be taking place at the Maag Halle.  For more information read here.

17. The 29th International Country Music Festival is coming to town and is being held at the Schutzenhaus in Albisguetli from 1st February – 24th March. Full details of the 38 day line up and the schedule can be viewed here.

Whatever you do, have a great weekend and a fabulous week ahead!

Free tickets to see John Thade in Concert & The Visitors Exhibition by Ragnar Kjartansson

Up for grabs! We have 5 x 2 sets of tickets for the concerts by the tenor John Thade to give away. Please show your interest by “liking” our Facebook page or if you are already a Facebook fan simply comment on our Facebook page or send us an email to newinzurich@gmail.com before the 8th February with your name and email address and you will be entered in the draw.

Following his Swiss premiere in November 2012 which was completley sold out, tenor John Thade is now back in Zurich for two concerts. The first takes place on the 9th February and the second on 9th March 2013 at the Jecklin Forum in Rämistrasse 30, 8001 Zurich. Both concerts start at 4pm , with the doors opening at 3.30pm. The musical repertoire of this American born singer who grew up in St.Gallen but now lives in Zurich, ranges from Viennese operettas to classic Broadway songs and he projects a great on stage presence as he intermixes his music with entertaining anecdotes. For more information please go to the John Thade website or the Jecklin website.

If this isn’t your cup of tea and you’re looking for something quirky and different why not pop along to the Migros Museum in Zurich and check out a “VideoInstallation” exhibition by the Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson called “The Visitors”?

Set in a mansion in upstate Manhattan it depicts the artist, his friends, and residents performing a “feminine nihilistic gospel song” with various musical instruments being played in different rooms. “The Visitors” is an act of homage to friendship—and also, to the Swedish pop band ABBA. If you’re interested you need to be quick as it finishes on Sunday 27th January. For more information go to the website.

Photos: © John Thade and  © Ragnar Kjartansson

New In Zurich – BringBee Home Delivery Service from Ikea

You’ve just moved to Zurich and your apartment is sorted with all your major requirements, your beds, wardrobes … but you still need to get your basic cooking utensils, blankets and clothes hangers etc.  So where do you go?  Probably Ikea. However, with the new service launched by BringBee, YOU don’t actually have to go and get the little items … BringBee will buy them for you and deliver them to you!

BringBee is a pickup service for your smaller Ikea requirements. BringBee finds other Ikea customers living close by and gets them to shop and deliver on your behalf, saving you the hassle of going to Ikea yourself. Simply write your shopping list online (in English or German) at www.bringbee.ch selecting from the 2500+ most popular smaller Ikea products (children toys, decorations, kitchenware etc) and they will be delivered to your doorstep!

So how much does it cost? The BringBee service costs you 9 CHF + 15% of the cost of the item, most of which goes directly to your shopper as a reward. BringBee ensures that the transactions are dealt with securely online as well as providing support and transport insurance for each transaction. BringBee’s mission is to use the unused capacity of existing shopping trips more efficiently. On average 70% of all road journey are inefficient. By using one shopping trip for a number of customers in one neighbourhood, BringBee is offering an eco-friendly way to shop and deliver. BringBee is a service provided by the young Zurich based startup PolyPort and is supported by the WWF Switzerland and Ikea Switzerland. The service will be launched in Zurich on 28th January. Why not try it now?