> INSIDE: Swiss Schools Overview • MUBA • Paul Gauguin Exhibit • “The Scent of Art” • STOMP!

Volume 3 Issue 5 CHF 5/€5

A Monthly Guide to Living in Basel February 2015

TheThe FFeatureseatures ofof FasnachtFasnacht fromfromAA toto ZZ LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Dear Basel Life Readers: Following an unusually mild December, winter did finally arrive in the area, albeit a little late. And when the temperature drops in Basel, the city really February 2015 Volume 3 Issue 5 heats up. Instead of huddling indoors and sheltering from the cold, Baslers take to the streets and put on the biggest, hottest, coolest, oddest party in TABLE OF CONTENTS this part of the world—Fasnacht! If you have yet to experience Fasnacht, it is a definite must! So turn the page to learn all about one of the most unique Feature Event: Fasnacht from A to Z 4-7 carnivals you will ever witness. Those who prefer to stay indoors during these colder winter months need Events in Basel: February 2015 8-10 not despair, however, as they can attend several interesting fairs, includ- ing the vacation fair (to help you plan your next get-away) and Creativa, a crafts fair to stimulate your creative side. One of my personal favorites is the Beyond Basel: Fun Outings 11 home show MUBA, which offers so much to see, do, taste, discover, try, learn about, and enjoy—one visit is never enough and there is something for every member of the family. Information Desk: Education Options in Basel 12-15 If your taste runs towards more cultural activities, you may be interested in several new exhibits. The Fondation Beyeler opens their extraordinary exhibit Calendar: February 2015 16-17 on the French artist Paul Gauguin, while the Forum Würth Arlesheim focuses on the works of Austrian painter, graphic artist, and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Additionally, the Tinguely Museum presents their new “The Markets and Fairs 18-19 Scent of Art” exhibit and the Vitra Design Museum explores the “Architecture of Independence.” There are also many English-language tours, workshops, and talks to attend, including a talk by Lukas Straumann, author of the pow- Basel Traditions: Basel’s Fasnachtsplakette 20 erful and controversial new book entitled “Money Logging: On the Trail of the Asian Timber Mafia.” Special Report: Holiday Camps for Kids 21 In this issue you will also find a special Information Desk with an overview of the Swiss school system and the various private school options available in the Basel area to help you make the appropriate Sports and Recreation 22-23 choices for your children. In addition, you can check out a long list of camps to keep the kids busy during this February break, learn about Basel’s new traffic concept, read about the annual test of the alarm systems, Workshops, Tours, and Education 24-25 and get practical information on riding the tram across the border into Germany. Did You Know? 26-27 As always, there is also an impressive selection of concerts, shows, theater, tastings, and events to choose from—the only prob- Entertainment: Night on the Town 28-31 lem is to fit it all into your schedule! So don’t delay, turn the pages to start planning a Fantastic February Filled Ticket Counter: Get Your Tickets! 31 with Fabulous Fun!

Mark Your Calendar: March 2015 back page Christine Christine Pesold Editor-in-Chief [email protected] Basel Life Magazine Staff: Editor-in-Chief: Christine Pesold COVER: One of the most fascinating aspects of the Basler Fasnacht is the variety of amazing and always inventive masks, called “Larven.” The current Advertising & Subscription Manager / Editor: style of masks was developed in the 1920s. Since then, each mask is cre- Susanne Hiller ated from a plaster mold that is lined with several layers of a special paper and glue; most recently, cheaper and lighter alternatives are also being used. Art Director: Most Cliques (Fasnacht groups) design a new mask annually to match their Jon Hoefer theme, or Sujet, for the year. Each mask needs to be fitted to the individual wearer so that it is comfortable enough to wear for hours on end during the For more information about subscribing or advertising – please contact us: Morgenstreich and processions and allows them to walk around safely and [email protected] play their instruments. Many artists living in Basel have become involved in www.facebook.com/basellifemagazine the design of Fasnacht masks—even Jean Tinguely designed costumes and www.basellife.com masks for one of the Cliques for many years.

BASEL LIFE MAGAZINE / BASEL FAMILY GmbH © Copyright 2015 . All rights reserved. It is our goal to provide valuable, timely information to our readers. The opinions expressed in the articles in this magazine are those of the contributing authors and do not reflect those of other members of the editorial staff and of any organizations or agencies distributing this magazine. Though we make every attempt to provide accurate information, we cannot be held responsible if any event is cancelled, postponed, or modified. We encourage readers to contact the event organizers or their websites to obtain the most current event information. Please note: No part of this periodical may be duplicated in any fashion, or redistributed in any written language, without permission from the executive staff at Basel Family GmbH. If you have any questions, contact Basel Family GmbH staff at: [email protected].

2 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com photos (front and back cover): © jon hoefer February 2015 3 EventsFeature in Event: Basel: Fasnacht February 2015 2015 / (continued) February 23-25

Fasnacht from Ash Wednesday: In the Catholic Church, Ash Fasnacht Foods: There are several different foods Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40-day lent period that are typically served during Fasnacht and the weeks (sh Wednesday) (eedel) before Easter. The Basel Fasnacht starts on the Monday leading up to it. These include Mehlsuppe (flour soup), A to Z following Ash Wednesday. Zwiebelwähe (onion pies), and Fastenwähen (a type of pretzel with caraway seeds). Every year, the 72 hours of Basel’s Fasnacht are the “drey scheenschte Dääg” (three most beautiful days) for many people, when Fasnacht aficionados from near and far crowd into Bummelsonntag: The three Sundays after Fas- nacht are called Bummelsonntage (strolling Sundays). These music groups use a variety of percussion and wind the city to experience the special atmosphere of this unique event. Below you’ll find the Gugge: On these days, the Cliques return to the city streets— instruments for their deafening, discordant, but often very catchy and schedule of events as well as explanations of these events and other Fasnacht-related terms without their masks and costumes, but with their rhythmic tunes derived from pop, rock, and jazz music. They are also to help you make the most of these crazy, noisy, and altogether fantastic days. To learn instruments—from 16:00-22:00 to stroll around and play their dressed up in costumes and are led by a drum major who often wears more about Basel’s Fasnacht, visit their official websites. music as an after-taste of the Fasnacht excitement. a special costume. These groups participate in the Cortège as well as give concerts on Tuesday evening; they do not participate in the www.fasnacht.ch Morgenstreich. Clique: The Cliques are associations of like-minded people who www.basler-fasnacht.com work together all year to participate in the Fasnacht. They typical- ly include a music group consisting of pipers and drummers. Each Gugge Concerts: The traditional Guggemusik Clique decides on a Sujet for the upcoming Fasnacht, around which concerts take place on Tuesday night from 19:30-23:00. its costumes, wagons, and other props are designed. During the Organized Gugge groups meet at Messeplatz at 18:30 Cortège and other events, the Cliques march together, usually led by and march from there across Mittlere Brücke to Markt- a small group of non-musicians (the “Vortrab”) who also distribute platz and Barfüsserplatz for their concerts. Unorganized the Zeedel, followed by the musicians and then any other members of Gugge musicians meet at 20:00 at Claraplatz for their concert. After the the Clique. Practical tip: During the Cortège, the Cliques have sched- concerts, the musicians disperse throughout town, with the spectators uled breaks at restaurants and restrooms; please let them go first as tagging along, playing their music until the wee hours of the morning. they have set times that they need to be back on their route. During Practical tip: If you must bring a stroller, avoid the overly crowded these breaks, they need to leave drums and masks outside areas directly in front of the stages. of restaurants; you can admire them but please do not touch them! Kinderfasnacht: Tuesday is the day for children; in the afternoon of this day, there is no organized proces- Cortège: On Monday and Wednesday afternoon, from sion. Instead, small or large groups of adults and children 13:30 on, more than 10,000 masked participants on foot or on wag- in costume wander at random through the streets, with ons parade along a set route through the city center of Grossbasel or without playing instruments. On this day only, children and Kleinbasel in the so-called Cortège. The Cliques display their (participants and spectators) are welcome to dress up. It is a fun day Sujets accompanied by the sound of drums and piccolos while the for kids and not as crowded and loud as the Monday and Wednesday Gugge music groups march to their energizing music. Most groups Cortège. also hand out Zeedel that make fun of local events and personali- ties in verse form. Practical tips: You can find a complete map of the Larve: In Basel German, this is the term for the masks that cover route of the Cortège at http://fasnacht.ch/service/cortege-route/. the faces and heads of the Fasnacht participants. They are made from Note that tram and bus services in these areas are halted Monday- plaster bases that are covered with special paper and then shaped Wednesday from lunchtime onwards (check out www.bvb.ch for and painted to illustrate the Clique’s chosen Sujet. their alternate transit program). Because of the crowds, leave all Practical tip: The masks (and instruments) restrict the valuable items at home; only take what you really need. Hold and participants’ mobility and ability to see, so make a point of watch your children carefully, especially around the Waggis wagons not getting in their way. where candy and other goodies are given out. Agree in advance to a specific meeting place with your kids, in case you get separated. Also consider prearranging specific meeting times and places with friends Laterne: These are huge lanterns carried or pulled along by as you simply cannot hear your mobile phone or any conversation over the Cliques during the Morgenstreich and Cortège. They are made the incredible noise. from a wooden frame covered with paper or canvas with paintings

Fasnacht 2015 Schedule February 23-25 Day Time Event Thursday, February 12 17:00 School Children’s Fasnacht Parade through Basel Monday, February 23 04:00- sunrise Morgenstreich From 13:30 Cortège (procession) Monday night until Wednesday morning Lantern exhibit at Münsterplatz Monday night until Wednesday morning Exhibit of floats and props at Kaserne Tuesday, February 24 From around 13:00 Kinderfasnacht (children’s carnival) 19:30-23:00 Gugge concerts at Marktplatz, Barfüsserplatz, and Claraplatz Wednesday, February 25 From 13:30 Cortège (procession) Thursday, February 26 04:00 The Fasnacht 2015 ends

4 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com photo credit: © jon hoefer February 2015 5 EventsFeature in Event: Basel: Fasnacht February 2015 2015 / (continued) February 23-25 (continued)

Fasnacht Beyond Basel Fasnacht is also celebrated in other parts of Switzerland and neighbor- ing Germany. Many communities around Basel (eg, Therwil, Oberwil, Pratteln, Liestal, Sissach) offer their own Fasnacht programs that may include a Morgenstreich, parade, and Kinderfasnacht (children’s day). The parades often take place on the weekend preceding the Morgen- streich (February 21 and 22) because many of the groups also participate in Basel’s Cortège, so check with your local Gemeinde what activities you can expect there. School Children’s Fasnacht Parade Chienbäse Parade February 12 Liestal, February 22 For the second time after 2010, Basel’s kin- A very unique Fasnacht tradition close to dergarten and primary school children will Basel is the Chienbäse (wooden broom) have their own big parade before the school parade that takes place in Liestal start- holidays. Accompanied by 600 adult help- ing at 19:15 on February 22. During this ers, various Cliques and other groups, as parade, volunteers carry big “brooms,” well as several Gugge music groups, more which are made from kindling wood and than 5,500 children in self-made costumes lit on fire, through the center of town! will set out at 17:00 from Münsterplatz. The In addition, about 20 metal wagons parade route will lead along Rittergasse, stacked with tons of burning wood are also pulled along the route. With Bäumleingasse, Freie Strasse, Mittlere the flames rising high and the intense heat, this is a truly spectacular Brücke, and Rheingasse to its end point at experience! Theodorskirchplatz. The parade will last Practical tips: The event is very crowded, so it’s best to use public trans- about 1.5 hours. port to get to Liestal (you can buy special tickets from the SBB or tram/ www.fasnacht-comite.ch bus ticket dispensers under special tickets “Chienbäse”). Be sure to wear old clothes, because embers will be flying around. Also, the or- ganizers recommend that you don’t visit the event with children under age 6 or watch only from a distance, and if you do go with your children, that illustrate the Clique’s chosen Sujet of the year and can be up to “cannons” on the Wagen. Practical tip: Do not pick up the Räppli from you should try to find a spot near the end of the route, where the crowds 3 m tall. They are typically powered by gas lights. The lanterns are the ground and throw them at other people. are not as dense. You also shouldn’t lift the children on your shoulders exhibited at Münsterplatz from Monday evening to Wednesday morn- as the heat is more intense higher up. For the route of this spectacular ing and are illuminated on Tuesday evening. Sujet: Every year, each Clique selects a Sujet (topic) for parade, see their website. the upcoming Fasnacht, which often picks up on a local www.fasnacht-liestal.ch/02/index.php?page=30 Maske: In Basel German, this is the term for the or national event or topic of interest. Then, the costumes, entire costume a person wears, including the Larve wagons, lanterns, and other props of the Clique are designed and clothing. around that topic. They often also compose a poem about the Sujet Fasnacht in Germany that is published on the Zeedel during the processions. Lörrach, Germany, February 12-17 Morgenstreich: The starting event of the Basel Fasnacht that You can also enjoy Fasnacht activities in neighboring Germany for a takes place on the Monday following Ash Wednesday at 04:00. As the slightly different atmosphere and even a different style of traditional Wagen: These are the big floats, usually pulled by a tractor, that bells of St. Martin’s church strike 4 o’clock, all the lights in the cen- are only used during the Cortège and in most cases carry Waggis. costumes. Note that these celebrations are held a week earlier than in ter of town are extinguished and the Cliques set off from their as- They are decorated to match the Clique’s Sujet. Usually some of the Basel, this year starting with the “Schmutziger Donnerstag“ (dirty Thurs- sembly points to march through the darkened town with their newly members of the Clique ride on the wagon and throw Räppli, oranges, day) on February 12 and ending on Ash Wednesday, February 18. unveiled lanterns to the sounds of traditional tunes played on piccolos yellow mimosa flowers, candy, and many other things to the specta- The main Fasnacht events in Lörrach are the “Gugge-Explosion” and drums until dawn. The participants also wear smaller lanterns tors along the route. You can take a closer look at the floats at on Saturday, February 14, and the main parade on Sunday, Febru- on their heads, lending to the otherworldly atmosphere of the event. Kaserne, where they will be exhibited from Monday evening ary 15. For the Gugge-Explosion, more than 30 Gugge music groups Large groups with big lanterns stay on the main roads, but small to Wednesday morning. Practical tips: Please make sure from Germany and Switzerland play on several stages in the center of groups also wander through all the smaller streets and alleys in the your kids stay clear of the wheels of the wagons when they Lörrach from 11:00 onwards until midnight. (www.gugge-explosion.de/ old part of town. Practical tips: The Morgenstreich always draws tens go after the goodies distributed. Do not throw oranges or Migros_Gugge-Explosion/MGE_2014_-_Aktueller_Anlass.html). The pa- of thousands of spectators. If you plan to go, please leave your car at other goodies back at the wagons or into the crowds. rade on Sunday with its about 3,000 participants starts at 14:00 and goes home and check out the SBB and BVB (www.bvb.ch) for their special through the center of town. Before that you can already take a look at the train, tram, and bus services during these early morning hours. The wagons at the Neuer Markt from 11:30-13:00. Note that you need to buy special atmosphere of the Morgenstreich depends on the darkness Waggis: One of the most prominent traditional Fasnacht figures in a Lörrach Fasnacht badge or button (from €3) to enter the town center that is only relieved by the lights of the lanterns. Therefore, please do Basel, the Waggis is thought to represent an Alsatian farmer. Their and watch the parade. not use flashlights or flash photography. If you need to warm up, sev- traditional costume is a blue shirt, white pants, red neckerchief, eral bakeries and cafes will open to serve hot drinks and traditional wooden shoes, and a Larve with yellow hair made from bast fibers Fasnacht foods during these early morning hours. Check their doors and with a huge red nose. However, the costumes may vary to illus- to see if they are open as they may have blackened out their windows trate the group’s chosen Sujet, although the bast-fiber hair and gro- to avoid light spilling onto the darkened streets! tesque nose generally remain.

Räppli: This is the Basel-German term for confetti, Zeedel: The Zeedel (Basel German for “scrap of paper”) probably in memory of the 1-Rappen coin that was in use is a piece of paper on which a Clique has printed their until the 1990s. Each year, tons of Räppli end up on the city often sarcastic poem about their chosen Sujet, typically streets, thrown by the handfuls, dumped on unsuspecting in Basel dialect. The Zeedel are distributed to onlookers spectators by the bag-full, or rained on the crowds from large confetti during the Cortège.

6 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com photo credits: © jon hoefer February 2015 7 Events in Basel: February 2015

Paul Gauguin Exhibit Children’s Musical Theater—“Frida fliegt aus dem Konzert” a clearing where kids will discover the secrets of the forest through the music of Mozart, Brahms, Koechlin, and Ligeti, played on the flute, February 8 – June 28 February 1 violin, horn, and piano. Suitable for kids ages 4 and up who will also Gare du Nord will be presenting the musical theater “Frida fliegt As one of the great European cultural highlights of 2015, the Fondation get a chance to try the instruments at the end of the concert. Concert aus dem Konzert” (Frida flies from the concert) about a pianist and Beyeler brings together around 50 masterpieces by one of the most im- is at 16:00 at the Grosser Festsaal of the Stadt-Casino. Tickets can be a puppeteer who fly away on an unbelievable journey inside a grand portant and fascinating artists in history, Paul Gauguin (1848-1903). The purchased online or at Bider & Tanner and cost CHF 20 for adults and piano, during which they discover fantastic miniature landscapes and works are being loaned by Gauguin collections from around the world, CHF 10 for kids; families with 2 adults and 2 kids pay CHF 50, plus creatures. During their flight, the audience is entertained by music making this the most dazzling exhibition of pieces by this exceptional, CHF 7 for additional kids. groundbreaking French artist to be held in Switzerland in the last 60 for piano from the 20th and 21st century about flying, the universe, www.sinfonieorchesterbasel.ch years. The exhibition features Gauguin’s multifaceted self-portraits as and stars. Tickets can be reserved directly on their website and cost well as the visionary, spiritual paintings from his time in Brittany. The CHF 15 for adults, CHF 10 for kids, and CHF 30 for families. main focus, however, will be on the world-famous paintings he created www.garedunord.ch in Tahiti, depicting his ideal of an unspoiled exotic world, harmoniously combining nature and culture, mysticism and eroticism, dream and Circus FahrAwaY reality. The exhibition also includes a selection of Gauguin’s enigmatic sculptures that evoke the art of the South Seas that had by then already February 1 largely vanished. The FahrAwaY circus will be presenting their program “Eisenartig” (Iron-like), the story of a metal worker and his apprentice who pore The museum is expecting a record number of visitors; therefore, it is over an unfinished work piece, when they are surprised by new and advisable to book advance tickets online. An extensive art education whimsical characters who turn the workshop on its head with the program will enhance the exhibition’s impact. In a multimedia room, artistic music playing and dancing. Without much language but with visitors can explore the artist’s biography and his most important expressive movements, poetic images, and music, the circus artistry works. In addition to the scholarly catalogue, a second publication will will immerse you in a world where nothing and everything is normal, be produced for the general public. A special Gauguin shop will offer where music and circus are part of everyday life, and everyday life is items relating to the artist’s life and work. part of a circus. Tickets cost CHF 25 for adults and CHF 12 for kids and His Holiness the Dalai Lama www.fondationbeyeler.ch can be purchased through Starticket locations, including Manor, Coop City, and post offices, as well as online. February 7 and 8 www.startcket.ch. The Dalai Lama comes to the St.Jakobshalle in Basel for two days in Paul Gauguin, Arearea, 1892, Oil on canvas, Musée d’Orsay, Paris, bequest of February to convey teachings and a public talk. Children ages 6 and www.zirkusfahraway.ch M. and Mme Lang, 1961, Photograph © RMN-Grand Palais (Musée d’Orsay) / up are welcome but require a ticket. For a full schedule of the event Hervé Lewandowski on both days, and to buy tickets online, visit the website. Puppet Theater—Pinocchio www.dalailama2015.ch Basler Jugendbücherschiff 2015 Ronja Räubertochter (Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter) February 1 and 4 Until February 3 February 1 The Basler Marionettentheater will be present- Welcome Kids! ing the classic story of Pinocchio, the wooden This yearly event is a very special book fair that takes place on the Watch this children’s fantasy book by bestselling Swedish author As- February 7, 14, 21, and 28 figure that comes to life one night when a fairy ‘MS Christoph Merian’ boat that is docked at Schifflände. It houses trid Lindgren come to life. Matthias Keilich brings a fresh and child- breathes life into him. Families with kids start- The Brasserie No. 2 at the Volkshaus Basel will be giving parents all kinds of books for kids of all ages in many different languages. friendly interpretation of this story to the stage as a musical theater for ing at age 5 can enjoy this magical story and a needed break on several Saturday afternoons from 12:00-16:00. Each year, thousands of children, adolescents, their parents, school the whole family. As part of a Swiss-wide tour, they will be stopping at the lost art of large-marionette theater. The Whether you want to have lunch, enjoy a glass of wine, read a news- classes, and teachers—essentially anyone interested in children’s the Stadt-Casino in Basel for one performance, starting at 14:00. The show starts at 15:00, lasts 85 minutes (includ- paper, or have a conversation with friends, your kids will be actively literature—visit the ship to leaf through the books on hand and show, which is approximately 70 minutes with no intermission, will be ing intermission) and is in Basel dialect. Tick- minded with a variety of activities, including painting, arts and crafts, discover new reading material. presented in dialect and is recommended for families with kids ages ets can be purchase online, at Bider & Tanner, drawing, and knitting. Call 061-690-9310 to reserve a table. www.ed-bs.ch/bildung/pzbs/bibliothek/literale-foerderung/ 5 and up. Seats are not numbered and the front row is reserved for or at the theater box office. http://volkshaus-basel.ch basler-jugendbuecherschiff kids, so come early to secure good seats; doors open at 13:30. Tick- ets can be purchased through www.starticket.ch, at Coop City, post http://bmtheater.ch offices, and Manor and cost CHF 32 for adults and CHF 26 for kids; War in the Nursery Belle Haleine—The Scent of Art Coop Supercard discounts available while supplies last. Children’s Theater—”Zeit Machine” February 11 – May 17 Until March 1 www.balzer-produktionen.ch/ronja February 1, 4, 7, 8, 11, and 28 The Spielzeug Museum (Toy How does art smell? What happens when our nose suddenly plays the Museum) in Riehen is host- The Basler Kindertheater is presenting this journey into the fantastic principal role in experiencing art? For the first time, this exhibition Concert Workshop for Children ing an exhibit called “Krieg world of fairy tales—sometimes happy, sometimes sad, a bit myste- places the sense of smell at the center of our im Kinderzimmer” (War February 1 rious, and somewhat comical. This in-house production of the “Zeit aesthetic perception. Scents evoke emo- in the nursery). On the oc- After hearing the Basel Chamber Orchestra pres- Machine” (Time machine) will leave children with plenty of room for tions, memories, and associations that casion of the 100th anni- ent the concert “Hell & Dunkel” (Light and dark), the imagination. Presentations will be every Wednesday, Saturday, are subjectively and culturally shaped to versary of the beginning of with soloists Thomas Zehetmair and Ruth Killius, and Sunday, except during the two-week Fasnacht break. This show, varying degrees. Certain scents attract the Great War in 1914, the younger and older concert-goers will be invited to presented in Basel dialect, will enchant the whole family and is suit- us or repel us. The use of olfactory German, French, and Swiss jam with the ensemble “Improcontra.” Following able for kids ages 4 and up. Tickets are CHF 15 for kids, CHF 20 for stimuli in art often occurs subversively museums have organized a the normal intermission, kids will be invited to the adults; CHF 9 and 13 for Familienpass holders. and breaks many taboos. Odors provoke. cross-border exhibition that Hans-Huber Hall to experiment with sounds and in- www.baslerkindertheater.ch Internationally renowned artists make use focuses on the feelings and struments and create their own musical impressions of this circumstance and in doing so deal effects that the war eupho- from the recently experienced concert. What tran- with the big issues of our present day and soci- Family Concert ria and the war itself had on young children and their play. Toys are a spires will be brought to the stage after the concert. ety. The exhibition at the Museum Tinguely shows reflection of our culture and society, and this time led to a boom for This special concert starts at 11:00 and is a collaboration February 7 works and installations by, among others, M. Du- war toys. From tin soldiers on the rocking horse to battle zones, these with the Musikschule Basel. Tickets range from CHF 30-65 for As part of the mini.musik series, the Basel Sinfonieorchester presents champ, D. Roth, E. Ruscha, V. Soares, and S. Tolaas. and more war toys and war games are the theme of this exhibition. adults, discounts for students; admission for children under 14 is free, “Beim Förster” (With a ranger). Which tree is the tallest, the most A scent cinema and a diverse interdisciplinary Admission to the museum is CHF 7; kids under 16 are free. although tickets are required. powerful? What animal hides at the top of the canopy? The ranger supporting program complete the show. www.spielzeugmuseumriehen.ch www.reservix.de cherishes and cares for the woods and takes us through the thicket to www.tinguely.ch

8 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com photo credits: © spielzeug museum riehen / © dalai lama tour / © rick kallaher (belle haleine) February 2015 9 Events in Basel: February 2015 (continued) Fun Outings: Beyond Basel

elements and combined bright and dull colors while varying the sur- Snow-Up / Canton Jura face structures. The paintings and graphics from the Würth Collection give a comprehensive overview of Hundertwasser’s work from the February 1 1950s to the 1990s and show examples of how different techniques Similar to the annual “Slow-Up” in autumn, the Jura region of Switzerland is hosting lead to quite different representations. There will be guided tours of the 7th annual “Snow-Up.” This all-day event promotes getting around in a snowy the exhibit (in German) every Sunday at 11:30 for CHF 8 per person. environment without the help of motorized vehicles. Thus, you can walk, cross-coun- www.wuerth-ag.ch try ski, roller-ski, snow-shoe (these can be rented for CHF 5 for kids and CHF 10 for adults), toboggan, or do anything else you can think of! They provide several trails for this, including a fam- Architecture of Independence ily-friendly trail (3.1 km long), a fitness trail (8.6 km), a February 20 – May 22 cardio trail (12.3 km), and an endurance trail (15.9 km). When many countries in central and You can download the map that shows the participating sub-Saharan Africa gained their in- towns and the trails between them as well as the list of dependence in the 1960’s, experi- events and times in each of the towns (“Des parcours et mental and futuristic architecture des animations pour tous”) at www.snowup-interjurassien. became a principal means by which ch/snowup/depliant-snowup-2015.pdf. Parking is limited, the young nations expressed their so consider taking the train to one of the participating national identities. The Vitra Design towns. Museum, just across the border in Friedensreich Hundertwasser Exhibit www.snowup-interjurassien.ch Weil am Rhein, will be hosting one February 14, 2015 – January 31, 2016 of the first presentations of this re- Forum Würth Arlesheim will be hosting an exhibition of the works markable period of our more recent Art on Ice / Zürich dinner with a guided snowshoe hike through the glittering winter of Austrian painter, graphic artist, ecologist, and architect Friedens- architectural history. This exhibition was researched and curated by February 5-8 landscape (regular hike if there is no snow). The hike takes about 1.5 reich Hundertwasser (1928-2000) entitled “Die Ernte der Träume” architect and author Manuel Herz, with a substantial contribution by hours each way, with dinner in between (minimum age 12 years). (The harvest of dreams). Art was Hundertwasser’s passion, but aca- photographer Iwan Baan. The exhibition documents more than 50 Art on Ice is the unique, colorful interplay between Olympic and Cost is CHF 69 (CHF 48 for kids ages 12-16) for gondola ride, hike, demic training bored him. He spent just three months at the Vienna buildings in countries such as Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia, Ghana, world champions skating on the ice and international music stars dinner, and toboggan rental (if desired). Academy of Art, before he embarked on extensive study trips through and Senegal, which mirror the forward-looking spirit that was domi- performing live on stage. Art on Ice is among the most attended Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia, personally encountering nant in these countries at the time. indoor shows in the world, with nearly 80,000 spectators annu- www.wasserfallenbahn.ch artists at various exhibitions. He was particularly influenced by Egon www.design-museum.de ally, and this year they are celebrating their 20th anniversary! Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Paul Klee, and Walter Kampmann. In the 1950s The 2015 European Tour starts out with six shows at the Hallen- Musikautomaten Museum / Seewen, Solothurn and 60s, he developed his own unique language of forms, which was stadion in Zürich and features Canadian singer Nelly Furtado, Located in the beautiful rolling hills of the Schwarzbubenland in contrast to the emerging trends of Tachism and Abstract Expres- Jazz Concert at the Tinguely Museum English singer-songwriter Tom Odell, and Marc Sway, winner of the region, approximately 30 minutes from Basel, this very special sionism. Round and organic shapes, circles, spirals, and trees were February 27 “Best Song” award at the Swiss Music Awards. Tickets range from museum houses one of the largest and most famous collections Hundertwasser’s favorite subjects, symbolizing the cycle of life for CHF 68-168 and can be bought online. From 16:00-18:00 on the last Friday of every month, top jazz of Swiss music boxes, disc music boxes, clocks, watches, and him. The most essential element was water, which plays an impor- performers are giving concerts in the space dedicated to the current www.artonice.ch jewelry, as well as other types of music automatons. Admire the tant role in the form of raindrops in his images. His brightly colored, exhibition at the Tinguely Museum, providing a musical highlight and long-lost organ of the Britannic, sister-ship of the ill-fated Titanic, intricate ornamental images reflect his struggle with nature and with a point of focus. Concert is free with admission to the museum. and some of the largest travelling fair organs in the world; take a society. The poetic, imaginative works that transport the viewer into Skating on a Frozen Lake / Sihlsee, Schwyz www.tinguely.ch walk through the history of the juke box and player piano; and see another world show Hundertwasser’s dislike of the rectangular ra- If you would like to try the unforgettable experience of skating how the rich enjoyed music at home in the age of music players. tionality of the modern city and all ruler-straight lines. He consid- outdoors on a beautiful frozen lake, consider the Natur-Eisfeld The museum’s permanent exhibition can only be visited by guided ered this “godless and immoral” because it does not occur in nature on Sihlsee, about 1.5 hours from Basel. Cost for skating on Jazz Brunch tour, which is included in the admission fee and adds a whole new and “destroys the soul.” This stance can also be witnessed in his the lake is CHF 5 for adults and CHF 3 for kids; cost for skate February 28 dimension to your visit. The tour lasts one hour and includes ex- fight against the “violence of architecture,” which is reflected in his rental is CHF 10 for adults and CHF 5 for kids. If you go there planations and demonstrations of the mechanical music automa- actions, manifestos, and buildings. Hundertwasser also experi- On the last Saturday of each month, the Brasserie No. 2 at Volkshaus by car, you can park in front of the Schulhaus Euthal for CHF 5. tons. These guided tours take mented with a wide variety of printing methods, such as lithography, Basel presents a rich breakfast from Marc Arnold’s kitchen, accom- Sihlsee is also reachable by public transport; take the train to place every day from Tuesday serigraphy, Japanese woodblock prints, etchings, linocuts, and prints panied by live jazz from Eric Gilson and guests. Breakfast starts at Einsiedeln and then the Postauto (bus), direction Euthal, to the stop to Sunday, starting at 12:20, in mixed media. His prints are not simple reproductions of images, 10:30 and reservations are recommended at 061-690-9310. called “Post.” Check their website for ice conditions before 14:00, and 16:00. but extremely challenging works in which he united various style http://volkshaus-basel.ch heading out! This museum is also great fun www.natureisfeld-sihlsee.ch for kids. Upon arrival, they are given a questionnaire and a Fondue-Plausch / Reigoldswil, Baselland music strip to punch out their February 6 and 13 answers. The answers to sev- eral of the questions can be found in the reception hall and work- Winter magic awaits you at Wasserfallen in Reigoldswil, about 30 shop room, which you are free to visit while waiting for your tour; minutes from Basel. Enjoy a moonlit gondola ride up the Was- the other questions can be answered on the tour. At the end of the serfallen mountain and dine on a cheese fondue at the one of tour, the fully punched-out music strip can be played in a music the seven mountain restaurants—see their website for a list and player, and the tune will reveal their accuracy. to make your reservations. After dinner, you can either take the gondola or toboggan back down to the base station. The gondola Entrance to the museum costs CHF 15 for adults, CHF 6 for kids, will run until 23:30 for this event and costs CHF 15 for adults and or CHF 30 for families. For a few extra Francs, you can also in- CHF 9 for kids ages 6-15 (one-way) or CHF 18 and CHF 11 for clude a 20-minute tour of the KlangKunst-Saal that includes the return tickets. Toboggans can be rented for CHF 5.50, and snow- Britannic Organ and is well worth the additional cost. The muse- shoes and sticks can be rented for CHF 8.80 for adults and um can be reached by car or by public transport (take bus 67 from CHF 5.50 for kids. Special rates are available for groups of 10 or the Liestal train station to the stop called “Musikautomaten”). more. Feeling sporty? Then you can combine the gondola ride and www.bundesmuseen.ch/musikautomaten

10 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com photo credits: © f. hundertwasser / © vitra design museum / © jura tourism / © musikautomaten museum February 2015 11 Information Desk Education Options in the Basel Area

Finding the right school for your child is not an easy task. Add Schooling” for more information on the selection process and VET follows a broad school curriculum in Switzerland. When to that the unknowns of a foreign school system and the school types in the whole of Switzerland. combined with a vocational Matura (Berufsmatura), which is introduction of a foreign language, and the task can seem very obtained by 14% of students each year, it gives entry to a de- Binary University System gree from a range of UASAs. There is also a bridging course daunting. The good news is that the Basel area is blessed with available after the vocational Matura for bright pupils who At the tertiary education (university) level, Switzerland has a many very good school options, as well as people who special- wish to transfer to a traditional university. VET programs are binary system with traditional research universities (Univer- currently being evaluated and benchmarked according to the ize in helping you find the right choice for your child. Below you sitäten) and Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts (UASAs) European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and are likely to be will find a brief overview of the Swiss school system, written by (Fachhochschulen). Both types of university award bachelors assessed internationally as level 5. (Try googling “SBFI NQR” and masters degrees and are internationally recognized as Margaret Oertig, author of the book “Going Local,” as well as a for further information.) being in the same category (ISCED 5A). summary of the private school options available to your family, Around 3% of upper-secondary students attend a specialist Students need some type of Matura qualification to gain ac- written by Karen Dyson, who specializes in helping expats find school (FMS) and obtain the specialist Matura (Fachmatura). cess to a university education. A Gymnasial Matura allows They may go on to study at a UASA in areas such as health, the right choice for each individual child. students automatic entry to the traditional Swiss university of social work, primary education, design, art, music, theater, their choice to study almost any subject, without an applica- dance, communication, and media. tion process. This is no mean feat, as 6 or 7 of the 12 traditional Swiss universities are in the top 200 in international rankings. A further type of tertiary education, known as Professional In Basel-Stadt, nearly 30% of students obtain the Gymnasial Education and Training (PET) (Höhere Fachschule) can lead to The Swiss School System Matura each year, while in Baselland around 23% do so. highly regarded specialist qualifications in areas ranging from health and paramedical studies to IT and economics. For ex- by Margaret Oertig ample, someone who did a VET program may later obtain a PET qualification as a tax specialist. These are challenging times for newcomers trying to get to grips ages 8-10. Many parents report that by then they are under The New Swiss School System with the Swiss school system, as it is currently undergoing a as much pressure to achieve as their peers in countries with great deal of change. School structures are being harmonised early academic learning. They also start learning two foreign Late Bloomers across the cantons so that there are the same number of years languages in primary school, with French from the third grade School is not a race in Switzerland, and pupils often repeat a at each type and stage of school in all cantons. With the system and English from the fifth grade. year to build a more solid foundation. The system is geared to now being implemented, compulsory schooling starts at age give late bloomers a chance. The fast track via the Gymnasium Streaming for Secondary School 4, and children attend kindergarten for two years, from around is the most demanding route, but is not the only one that can age 4-6 (see diagram). In Basel-Stadt, children born after April A cause of concern for many parents, both Swiss and foreign, is lead to a rewarding career. It is worth informing yourself about all the different upper-secondary school options and routes 30, 2002, now have six years of primary school (Primarschule), that assessment for the child’s future educational path begins in the fifth grade of primary school. After the sixth grade, pupils to tertiary education, so that you can understand what the three years of lower secondary school (Sekundarschule), and are streamed into lower secondary school levels according to school is recommending and support your child effectively around four years of upper secondary school. The same is true their proven ability (based on class work and tests) and sense along the way. for children born after April 30, 2003, in Baselland. of responsibility. The type of upper secondary school they will later attend is based on marks alone. Early Learning There are three main types of upper secondary education (as Compulsory Swiss schooling starts with kindergarten, which shown in the diagram on the next page), and the lower sec- prepares children gently for primary school. A main goal of ondary levels prepare pupils accordingly. The highest level (P) the holistic approach is social and intellectual rather than aca- prepares pupils for the academic demands of Gymnasium. The demic development. Subjects include language, people in their middle level (E) prepares them for demanding Vocational Edu- environment, music, mathematical activity, art/handwork, and cation and Training (VET) programs (Berufsbildung), including physical movement. Teachers evaluate children’s progress in many high-tech and elite apprenticeships, as well as special- each of these. ist (Fachmittelschule [FMS]), commercial (Wirtschaftsmittel- This rather gentle start can be a matter of concern for incoming schule [WMS], which used to be called Handelsmittelschule parents who would like their children to start formal learning [HMS]) and IT school (Informatikmittelschule [IMS]). The ba- Margaret Oertig, who hails from around age 3-4. In fact, the Swiss approach of starting formal sic level (A) prepares them for more basic, practically focused Scotland, is a university lecturer in learning at age 6 is well-supported by many experts in English- vocational education (Berufslehre, Berufsmatura). Another Basel. She is the author of “Going Local—Your Guide to Swiss School- speaking countries. For example, David Whitebread, a senior type of secondary school is the Schule für Brückenangebote ing,” published by Bergli Books and lecturer in psychology and education at Cambridge University, (SBA), also known as a 10th school year, for pupils who need available from Bider & Tanner and Thalia in Basel. She has also writ- advocates a delay to the start of formal schooling in England more time to improve their marks or language skills or to work ten the book “Beyond Chocolate— until age 7 (1). He refers to studies that show how play enables out what they wish to do next. Understanding Swiss Culture.” She is the mother of two adult daughters children to become powerful learners and problem-solvers. The Swiss school system is very porous to give pupils the op- who went through the Swiss school system. Things start to ramp up for children in local Swiss schools portunity to change level from year to year, according to their around the third or fourth grade of primary school, between performance. Please see “Going Local—Your Guide to Swiss

1. www.cam.ac.uk/research/discussion/school-starting-age-the-evidence

12 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com February 2015 13 Information Desk (continued)

Private Schools in the Basel Area by Karen Dyson tional School (SIS). American families may also like Centre for Supportive Education, manned by highly to look at the Black Forest Academy in Kandern, Ger- trained staff, can truly support such children and even many, so their children can continue their American then, this is not always the case. high-school career. If you have a teenager who is al- While local schools offer an excellent level of find it difficult to learn a new language as the voice Bilingual schools can provide a middle way, facilitat- ready bilingual or motivated and functioning highly in education and one of the best routes to long-term in- box becomes less flexible. If they are at a crucial stage ing a move to the local schools or to schools back their home school system, then there is a chance that tegration, they are not for everyone. Families choose in their schooling, it may be better to continue school- home, particularly when families are unsure how they could cross over to the local system. Both the private schools for a variety of reasons: ing in their native language. long they will be staying. The SIS, Academia, and Kids SIS and the Freies Gymnasium (FG) now offer special- Camp International have a German/English curricu- > They are intending to stay in Basel for only a short We are fortunate in Basel to have a full range of ist intensive German courses for older children, and lum, while the Swiss-Italian primary school “Sandro period of time (eg, less than 3 years). private schooling solutions with curricula ranging as both are accredited for an in-house Matura, their Pertini” (SEIS) offers German and Italian and Les > They have a preference for a particular curricu- from the International Baccalaureate (IB) to the Amer- students can cross to the Gymnasium on the basis of Coquelicots offers German and French. The Inter- lum. ican high school diploma and options in between. their marks without having to take an exam. Minerva national School Rheinfelden (ISRH), plans to follow also offers a flexible German program. > They may be intending to use the local system in For mobile families intending only a short-term stay the Primary Years Program in German and English, the long term but are not yet ready to do so and would in Basel, the International School Basel (ISB) can For those parents who prefer a particular curricu- together with the state requirement for French. All of like both themselves and their children to have more offer the ideal solution. The curriculum follows the lum, École Française de Bâle follows the French pri- these latter schools work closely with the Cantonal time to acquire German. IB program, which is offered by a network of schools mary school system and Early Learning Association authorities. > Their child may have special needs that require worldwide, minimizing any serious disruption to a (ELA) Basel follows the British system, although both Every family is different the small classes and support that a private school child’s education. The lSB can also be a solution for offer instruction in other languages. The Rudolf and every child is unique, Karen Dyson graduated from can provide. Some conditions make acquiring a new those arriving with older children. Steiner School (known as “Waldorf” in English) and we are lucky that Oxford University and is a trained primary school teacher. Having language very difficult. follows a unique educational philosophy, and there Basel, small as it is, can Families coming from the British system alternatively transitioned to Basel with her are two Montessori schools in Basel as well. usually accommodate the husband and their six children, she > Their children may be at a critical age. If a child might want to consider IGCSE’s and A Levels offered diverse needs. has personally experienced all the is monolingual before the onset of puberty, they may by the College at Academia and the Swiss Interna- Special-needs children with milder conditions can schooling concerns a family has be accommodated and supported by most private during the relocation process. She works for Connectiv, a relocation schools. International children with more severe company, offering valuable edu- disabilities have limited options. Only the ISB with its cational knowledge and support to families transitioning to the Basel region.

SCHOOL AGE RANGE WEBSITE English Schools International School Basel, Reinach / Aesch / Fiechten, BL 3-18 years www.isbasel.ch Black Forest Academy, Kandern, Germany Grades 5-12 (10-18 years) www.bfacademy.de Early Learning Association, BS 3 months-12 years www.ela-basel.ch

German Schools Freies Gymnasium, BS 3-18 years www.fg-basel.ch Minerva Schulen, BS 3-18 years www.minervaschulen.ch Rudolf Steiner Schule, BS / Aesch 3-18 years www.steinerschule-basel.ch www.steinerschule-birseck.ch Futura Montessori Tagesschule, BS 3-12 years www.futura-montessori-basel.ch

French Schools École Française de Bâle, BS 2-10 years www.efdb.ch

Bilingual English/German Swiss International School, BS 3-18 years www.swissinternationalschool.ch Academia International School, BS 3-18 years www.academia-international.ch International School Rheinfelden, Rheinfelden, AG 3-11 years www.isrh.ch Kids Camp International School, Oberwil, BL 3 months-11 years www.kcinternational.ch Montessori Brigitte Bilingual Kindergarten, BS 3-7 years www.montessori-brigitte-kindergarten.ch

Bilingual Italian/German Schweizerisch-Italienische Primarschule `Sandro Pertini,’ BS 6-10 years www.fopras.ch

Bilingual French/German Les Coquelicots, BS 2.5-12 years www.maternelle.ch

14 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com photo credit: © annet van oss February 2015 15 February 2015 www.basellife.com

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Ongoing Events in February FEB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 »»Basler Jugendbücherschiff »»Basler Jugendbücherschiff »»Basler Jugendbücherschiff »»Pinocchio Puppet Theater »»Art on Ice »»MUBA »»MUBA »»Kid’s Theater—”Ronja Räubertochter” »»Family Play at Play4you »»Children’s Theater—”Zeit Machine” »»Talk—“Learning from Aalto” »»Creativa Basel »»Creativa Basel War in the Nursery »»Concert Workshop for Kids »»Storytelling in Portuguese »»Storytelling in German »»STOMP »»Art on Ice »»Children’s Theater—”Zeit Machine” Spielzeug Museum, Riehen »»Kid’s Theater—“Frida fliegt as dem Konzert” »»The Commodores’ Thomas McClary & Band »»STOMP »»Concert—Chasing Johann Sebastian »»Fondue-Plausch »»Family Concert Until March 1 »»Circus FahrAwaY »»STOMP »»Concert—Atmosphères »»Hamburg Blues Band »»Bookbinding Workshop for Kids »»His Holiness the Dalai Lama »»Pinocchio Puppet Theater »»Alarm System Test »»AFTER HOURS—Chillen im Museum »»STOMP »»Welcome Kids! »»Children’s Theater—”Zeit Machine” »»Brian Charette Trio »»Art on Ice »»Snow-Up »»Acrobatics Workshop Paul Gauguin Exhibit »»Family Sunday at Play4you »»Flip-Flop Workshop Fondation Beyeler, Riehen »»Family Tour of Guitorama »»Storytelling in Tamil »»Tour of Parasites—Life Undercover »»STOMP February 8 – June 28 »»Storytelling Spanish/German (Markthalle) »»Brian Charette Trio »»Opera—“Médée” »»Chris Thompson Belle Haleine—The Scent of Art »»Ballet—”Die Liebe Kann Tanzen” Tinguely Museum, Basel February 11 – May 17 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 »»MUBA »»MUBA »»MUBA »»MUBA »»MUBA »»MUBA »»MUBA Friedensreich Hundertwasser »»Creativa Basel »»Creativa Basel »»Family Play at Play4you »»Children’s Theater—”Zeit Machine” »»Self-Defense Workshop »»Vacation Fair »»Vacation Fair Exhibit »»Children’s Theater—”Zeit Machine” »»Book Presentation—“Money Logging” »»Self-Defense Workshop »»Tour—”A Realm of Flowers” »»Fondue-Plausch »»Welcome Kids! Forum Würth, Arlesheim »»His Holiness the Dalai Lama »»Bookworms—English/German »»Ballet—”Die Liebe Kann Tanzen” »»Self-Defense Workshop »»Tour—“Basel for Newcomers” »»Art on Ice »»Storytelling in Portuguese »»Cocktail Concert »»Disco Night at the Skating Rink »»Storytelling in Tamil February 14, 2015 – January 31, 2016 »»Tour of Parasites—Life Undercover »»School Children’s Fasnacht Parade »»Bookbinding Workshop for Kids »»Opera—“Médée” »»Tour—”A Realm of Flowers” »»Opera—“Daphne” »»Je t’aime—Burlesque Ode to Love »»Flip-Flop Workshop »»Dance Night Architecture of Independence »»Opera—“Médée” »»Gugge-Explosion (Lörrach) »»STOMP Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein »»E. Rava / G. Petrella Quintet February 20 – May 22 »»Spark—Wild Territories

Important Numbers: SOS: 112 Police: 117 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 »»MUBA »»Ballet—”Die Liebe Kann Tanzen” »»Opera – “Daphne” »»Aikido Workshop »»Opera—“Daphne” »»Opera—“Médée” »»Welcome Kids! Fire Department: 118 »»Vacation Fair »»The Black Keys »»Opera—“Otello” »»Shrek—Das Musical »»Shrek—Das Musical »»Flip-Flop Workshop »»Tour of Parasites—Life Undercover »»Shrek—Das Musical »»Chinese New Year »»Ballet—”Die Liebe Kann Tanzen” A Hand in Need 143 »»Tour—Paul Gauguin Exhibit »»Shrek—Das Musical Ambulance: 144 »»Opera—“Otello” »»Irma—Folk Pop »»Fasnacht Parade Lörrach »»Burlesque & Swing Poison Center: 145 Child/Teen Helpline: 147 Kinderspital Spitalstrasse 33, Basel 061 704 1212 Afterhours Pharmacy Petersgraben 3, Basel 061 263 7575 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 »»Chienbäse Parade »»Morgenstreich »»Fasnacht—Kinderfasnacht »»Fasnacht—Cortège »»End of Fasnacht (04:00) »»Jazz Concert at Tinguely »»Children’s Theater—”Zeit Machine” Calendar Key: (for more info refer to this section) »»Tour of Parasites—Life Undercover »»Fasnacht—Cortège »»Gugge Concerts »»Shrek—Das Musical »»Talk—“Front Design–Swedish Delights” »»Disco Night at the Skating Rink »»Welcome Kids! »»Tour—”A Realm of Flowers” »»Tour­—Belle Haleine: The Scent of Art »»The Ten Tenors »»Shrek—Das Musical »»Dance Night »»Jazz Brunch Basel Events »»Flip-Flop Workshop »»Shrek—Das Musical »»The Ten Tenors »»Shrek—Das Musical »»Shrek—Das Musical »»Shrek—Das Musical Beyond Basel »»Opera—Don Pasquale Markets and Fairs Sports and Recreation Workshops, Tours, and Education Entertainment Did You Know? Feature Event: Fasnacht

Dr. Eva Mindszenty • Specializing in Family Dentistry for over 20 years! • Convenient Office in Central Basel • Fluent in German and English

New Patients Welcome! Adults and Children Office: 061 261 09 25 For more information about our practice, staff or location, visit: www.mindszenty.ch Markets & Fairs

Creativa Basel February 6-9 Creativa is a relatively new fair running in parallel to MUBA, aimed at those who are in a creative profession or at hobbyists who simply like to be creative in their spare time. These cold winter months are ideal for doing crafts at home—and to come and learn about new products, developments, and techniques; see special shows and exhibits; and join in the many workshops. You can paint pictures with the newest types of paints, create jewelry with beads of all kinds, and even make your own dishware design with colorful ceramic paints. And if you be- come inspired, you can purchase a variety of craft materials on site. Open Friday and Monday from 11:00-20:00, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00-18:00 in the Foyer of Halle 1.0. Adults pay CHF 15 and kids under 16 are free if accompanied by a paying adult. Reduced entry of CHF 9 for unaccompanied kids ages 12-16 and holders of a GA, U-Abo, Colour-Key, or Oberrheinischer Museumspass. Entrance is CHF 9 for the whole family with the Familienpass, and free on Friday, February 6, if you display a 2015 “Fasnacht-Blagedde.” Entrance to the Creativa is also included in the MUBA entrance tickets. www.creativa-basel.ch MUBA February 6-15 Basler Ferienmesse (Vacation Fair) Just in time to ward off any winter blues, Basel’s traditional trade Childcare: If you want to peruse the different offerings, browse for February 13-15 show MUBA brings us exciting products and services to look at, learn furniture, or enjoy a wine tasting without having to drag your kids A second fair running alongside about, sample or taste, play with, order, buy, and/or simply enjoy. You along, you can leave them with a professional childcare service at the MUBA is the Ferienmesse can find everything from home furnishings, art, appliances, renova- the Robi-Kinderland set-up in Halle 5. Run by Robi-Spiel-Aktionen, (Vacation Fair), which features tions, clothing, leather, jewelry, wines, and food to innovations and it offers lots of activities for the kids, including ride-on toys, a climb- information and offers on holi- design, sports, recreation, vacation, nature, international wares, ing wall, carts, bouncy castles, dress-up castles, arts and crafts, and day packages and vacation activities, and so much more. There will be daily activities, such as much more. Kids ages 3 and up can be dropped off for CHF 5 per spots. This year, the focus will cooking and fashion shows, and many FC Basel stars will stop by for hour. Open from 11:00-20:00 on Monday-Friday, and 10:00-18:00 on be on travel to Latin America; autograph sessions. The food court will have something for even the Saturday and Sunday. through market stalls, tastings, pickiest family members, and many shows, musical sounds, and Opening Hours: Fair hours are from 11:00- vendors will offer specialty foods and contact with representatives 20:00 on Monday-Friday and 10:00-18:00 on wines for tasting. Every year, MUBA from the various countries, visi- Saturday and Sunday. The wine- and food- showcases the food, culture, recre- tors can learn about and dive tasting section (second floor right side) has ation, and tourism of a different region; into the lively and fascinating longer hours, from 11:00-20:00 on Mon- the guest country this year is Morocco. cultures of South and Central day-Wednesday, 11:00-21:00 on Thursday America. This year’s MUBA offers several high- and Friday, 10:00-19:00 on Saturday, and lights, including a special exhibit 10:00-18:00 on Sunday. Entrance to all Busreisen (coach vacations) will also be a special feature of this year’s entitled “Stille Nacht” (Silent night) sections of the MUBA is free after 17:00. Ferienmesse. Travel on coaches that offer 5-star amenities, such as about how noises influence the quality comfortable seating with plenty of legroom, air conditioning, toilets, of our sleep; an exhibit entitled “Spiegel Admission Price: A day pass for adults TVs, and even kitchens, is becoming increasingly popular. Options for der Schweiz” (Mirror of Switzerland) costs CHF 9 on Monday-Wednesday and coach vacations include day trips to winter sport areas; weekend trips where the German-language Swiss CHF 15 on Thursday-Sunday. Kids up for shopping or cultural outings, such as theater or open-air festivals; radio and television stations (SRG) will to age 16 are free if accompanied by an multi-day theme outings to wine regions or spa resorts; and longer highlight well-known Swiss personalities; a special “Nagra Time adult; students and kids ages 12-16 not accompanied by an adult pay trips to scenic regions. Specialists in coach travel will be on hand to Ride” exhibition that will take you for a ride to another world—650 CHF 9. Holders of the GA, U-Abo, or Oberrheinischer Museumspass present vacations in luxury coaches that promise to be both memo- meters down and through 180 million years of the Earth’s history; pay only CHF 9, including on weekend days; Familienpass holders rable and environmentally friendly alternatives to car and airplane and an agricultural section with fresh local products and a petting pay CHF 9 for the whole family; and Colour-Key holders get in for travel. free. Note that your MUBA ticket is also valid for the fairs that run zoo. A section entitled “Sport und Familie” will give the whole family There will also be many stands devoted to safety while travelling. For in parallel (ie, Basler Ferienmesse and Creativa Basel). And if you the opportunity to move and explore different sports, including kids’ example, you can learn what to do in the event of theft, conflict with show your 2015 “Fasnacht Blaggedde” (copper, silver, gold, or Bijou tennis, bike-parcours, Rollensprint stationary bicycle races, and a the law, or lost passports when travelling abroad. The Swiss Tropical Fasnacht badge), you can enter the MUBA for free on the opening day variety of different equipment and crazy wheels for improving bal- and Public Health Institute will also advise visitors on vaccinations (Friday, February 6). If you think you will go more than once, consider ance and dexterity. For the first time, MUBA this year will also feature and how to avoid health problems when travelling south. a special “Swap and Shop” clothing party. Bring in 3-10 articles of purchasing the “MUBA Fair Card.” It costs CHF 22 and allows free en- The fair will be held in Halle 4.0 and Halle 4.U of the Messe Basel, from clothing or accessories (no shoes, undergarments, or jewelry please) trance to MUBA and its parallel fairs for their duration. In addition, the 11:00-20:00 on Friday and from 10:00-18:00 on Saturday and Sunday. to swap for an equal number of items. Simply bring in your items in MUBA Fair Card provides free or discounted entrance to many other Adults pay CHF 15 and kids under 16 are free if accompanied by a clean and good condition on Thursday, February 12, between 17:00- fairs around Switzerland and nearby France and Germany for 1 year, paying adult. Reduced entry of CHF 9 for unaccompanied kids ages 18:00 to Halle 2.0 of the MUBA and receive a chip for each item. including the Basel Weinmesse (wine fair) and Feinmesse (gourmet 12-16 and holders of a GA, U-Abo, Colour-Key, or Oberrheinischer A crew will sort the items for an hour while you browse other sections fair)! This card can be purchased online by credit card or directly Museumspass. Entrance to the Basler Ferienmesse is also included of the MUBA, and then you can come back by 19:00 to browse and at the fair’s main entrance. in the MUBA entrance tickets. redeem your chips for “new” items—a true swap! Bring a friend to help make this the first of a successful annual event. www.muba.ch www.baslerferienmesse.ch

18 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com photo credits: © muba, mch messe schweiz (basel) ag / © basler fereinmesse February 2015 19 Basel Traditions by Susanne Hiller Special Report

Holiday Camps for Kids Basel’s Fasnachtsplakette If you want to keep your kids busy during the Fasnacht break (aka Sportferien), there are numerous camps for which you can enroll them, mainly in the first week of break. The badges in a hydraulic press, which then are Since early January, they produced and sold the first badges to table below provides you with some websites to find camps and register online. you have heard the raise some funds. Since then, a new badge trimmed to the final size and shape. Next, Camps fill-up fast, so don’t wait! cries on the streets: has been designed almost every year. The the pins are pressed into the back of the “Blaggedde! Blaggedde!” only interruption was from 1915-1919, dur- badges. Finally, the badges are polished These cries come from street vendors ing World War I, and during World War II, the or are treated further with same design was used in 1941 and 1942. a thin layer of nickel (for located throughout town selling Fas- the silver version) or gold nachtsplaketten (Fasnacht badges) to So how do they come up with the new de- before being polished. For passers-by. And when you look at people signs? Every year, shortly after the Fasnacht the “Bijou” version, the in the streets, you’ll see many of them ends, the Committee holds a new competi- silver badges are glued sporting a copper, silver, gold, or silver/ tion for the design of next year’s badge. Local artists are invited to submit their ideas and to a slightly larger gold gold badge on their coats. These badges drafts that either depict a general aspect background badge. are an integral part of the Fasnacht in of the Basel Fasnacht or a specific topic of Basel and many other communities, a sort interest that is likely to shape the upcoming This Year’s Badge of “entry ticket” to the Fasnacht. Fasnacht. For example, the winning design The design and motto of for 2013 focused on the proposed merger of the 2015 Fasnacht badge was Why Fasnacht Badges? the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Baselland. revealed during a vernissage on Decem- The profits from the sale of the Fasnacht The competitions can yield more than 100 ber 29, 2014. The winning design, which badges are the only kind of financial subsi- entries. During late summer, the Commit- was created by graphic designer, Fasnacht dies the various Fasnacht clubs, or Cliques, tee then meets to look at all entries (which aficionado, and lantern painter Tarek Mous- receive. Being an active participant in the are presented anonymously) and choose one salli, was picked from among 88 entries Basel Fasnacht is a very expensive hobby. design. This is then presented to the pub- submitted by 64 artists. It shows four typical The Cliques spend enormous amounts of lic, and the artist is revealed at the end of Fasnacht figures—an Ueli, an “Alti Dante” money on their costumes—both the face December, shortly before sales of the new (old aunt), a “Dummpeeter” (trumpeter), masks (Larven) and the rest of the costume badge begin. Usually, the design and topic of and a “Waggis”—climbing out of the draw- (Maske)—their lanterns, and possibly their the Fasnacht badge is one of the best-kept ers of a chest. This design illustrates this wagons. All of these are generally newly secrets in Basel, but occasionally the infor- year’s motto of the Fasnacht, “Mr basse in designed each year to match the Clique’s mation is leaked ahead of the big reveal, as kai Schublaade” (literally, “we don’t fit in a chosen topic, or Sujet, for the year. And happened in 2012, with the 2013 badge. drawer,” meaning “we cannot be pigeon- even if parts from previous costumes, lan- holed”). terns, or wagons can be recycled, the new How the Badges Are Made The badge is again available items require additional materials that must Since the 1930s, the Basel Fasnacht in four versions with different be paid for by the participants themselves. badges (as well as those for many other prices: copper (CHF 8), silver The Cliques receive no public funds to cover Fasnacht organizations) have always (CHF 16), gold (CHF 45), and these costs; any support for the Fasnacht been created by the same local “Bijou” (silver with a gold back- from the city is given in the form of public company. When the winning ground; CHF 100). Buying a services, such as traffic diversions, security, design has been selected, badge is a great way to support and cleaning up the enormous amounts of the artist works together the Basel Fasnacht—and they confetti and other trash that accumulate on with an engraver to cre- make for fun collectibles! each of the three days of Fasnacht. There- ate an enlarged model fore, the Cliques rely on the income from from plaster. This model is the badges to help defray their costs. The then used to create a plas- proceeds of the sales are split among all tic negative, also in the large groups that participate in the big parades size, which serves as a template on the Monday and Wednesday of the for the creation of a steel mold in Fasnacht week. the desired final size. Sep- Of course you are not required to purchase arate molds are created a badge and can attend all public Fasnacht for the front and the back events without one; however, buying and dis- of the badge. The molds playing a badge is strongly encouraged and are used to create copper you are much more likely to be doused in or brass confetti and less likely to receive any goodies during the parades if you don’t have one!

A Short History Fasnacht badges in Basel have been around for more than 100 years. In 1910, the Fasnacht Committee was founded in Basel to help coordinate the main Fasnacht activities, and in 1911

20 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com February 2015 21 Sports and Recreation

Outdoor Skating 18:30 and from 19:00-21:00. To join, contact them at 079-458-2502 or [email protected]. If you enjoy winter sports, why not take the family ice skating? Basel has two outdoor www.sabine-schmutz.ch skating rinks, Eglisee and Margarethen, that are still open until March 8. They are artificially frozen, so no matter what the weather, you can enjoy skating outdoors. You can rent skates for CHF 5, as well as little pushbars for the beginners to learn. Disco Night at the Skating Rink Rheinfelden Entrance and skate rental are half price after 17:00. Note that Eglisee is closed for the February 13 and 27 3 days of Fasnacht from February 23-25. Young and old are welcome from 20:15-23:00 at the skating rink in There are also several skating rinks in Baselland. The KuBa Freizeitcenter in Rheinfelden (Kunsteisbahn Rheinfelden), where you can skate to your Rheinfelden is also open until March 8; the Eissport- und Freizeithalle in Laufen and favorite requests played by a DJ. Entrance is CHF 8 for children and the Kunsteisbahn Sissach are covered rinks and will remain open until the middle CHF 13 for adults; skates for kids and adults can also be rented on the of March. spot. For more information and directions, go to their website. www.kuba-rheinfelden.ch/kunsteisbahn.htm

Aikido Workshop February 18 Aikido is an athletic and dynamic form of self-defense that improves breathing, endurance, strength, agility, balance, and coordination. If your child would like to try this sport, the Aikidoschule San- ShinKai Basel is offering a trial workshop for kids ages 6 and up from 15:00-16:00. You can contact them at 076-545-8897 or info@aikido- schule-sanshinkai-basel.ch; workshop costs CHF 6. www.aikidoschule-sanshinkai-basel.ch

www.kunschti-eglisee.ch www.kunsti-sissach.ch www.kuba-rheinfelden.ch www.laufen-bl.ch/xml_1/internet/de/application/d104/f105.cfm www.jfs.bs.ch/fuer-sportlerinnen-und-sportler/sportanlagen/kunsteisbahnen/kunsteisbahn-margarethen.html

Sports Classes for Everyone! are self-explanatory, but there is always a friendly staff on hand to show, explain, help, and even play with you. Address: Alte Ziegelei in As a part of Basel’s initiative to keep Basler’s healthy, they have Oberwil, Hohestrasse 134, Atelier M12. compiled a huge list of classes available for adults in the Basel area. These include classes in the daytime, evenings, and even on week- Familien Spieltreff: They are open for family play every Tuesday eve- ends in many different areas of fitness, as well as relaxation and ning from 17:00-19:00 during the colder months (except for school even yodeling! While many classes are already in progress, there holidays). Entry costs CHF 12 for adults, CHF 8 for kids, or CHF 25 for are a number of classes starting in February, including Aroha, body families. Discounts with Familienpass. forming, body shape, body-art, pilates, table-tennis, aqua-jogging, Family Play-Sunday: They are open from 13:30-17:00 one Sunday and yoga, as well as classes to train and strengthen your back. For per month from November to February, for an afternoon of fun and a complete list of courses available, go to their website, click on games. Entry costs CHF 15 for adults, CHF 10 for kids, or CHF 30 per “Ganzes Kursprogramm online” on the right side of the page and family. Discounts with Familienpass. The next Family Play-Sunday is register now. FC BASEL SCHEDULE FEBRUARY 2015 on February 1. www.gsuenderbasel.ch www.play4you.ch/agenda FC Basel 1893 (Fussball / Soccer) Red: Home Game @ St. Jakob Stadion Indoor Trendsports Acrobatics Workshop Pumpwerk in Basel is an indoor/outdoor sports facility equipped February 7 with tracks, ramps, jumps, and more, dedicated to inline skating, Date Time Home Team Guests skateboarding, BMX biking, and scootering. They also offer slackline The Acroballet Center (ABC) in Gundeli is offering a workshop for Sun., Feb. 8 16:00 Grasshopper Club FC Basel 1893 and bouldering for a comprehensive afternoon of active fun. A single kids starting at age 7 that will focus on handsprings. The workshop is from 10:00-12:00 and costs CHF 32. Participants will be assisted entrance costs CHF 5, or you can purchase 12-run tickets or season Sat., Feb. 14 17:45 FC Basel 1893 FC Sion passes for a reduced price. Check their website for available times based on their level and needs. You can register in person or directly of the different sports and to check out their Saturday afternoon on their website. Wed., Feb. 18 20:45 FC Basel 1893 FC Porto classes. www.acroballet.ch/de/aktuell/ Sun., Feb. 22 16:00 BSC Young Boys FC Basel 1893 www.pumpwerk.ch workshops.html Sat., Feb. 28 20:00 FC Basel 1893 FC Vaduz Self-Defense Workshops play4you, Oberwil Prices range from CHF 75 to CHF 20 for adults in regular seating. Chil- February 1, 3, and 10 February 10, 12, and 13 dren ages 6-16 receive a discount of 25% in the regular seating areas. play4you is located in a 500 m2 large space that offers fun for the SaSchu Ving Tsun Kung Fu is in- There is a special area for families and young adults (up to age 22) with whole family. It is filled with classic and modern games of all kinds viting kids ages 7-20 for free trial slightly lower prices. For more information on seats and pricing, visit that require skill, strategy, or just a desire to have fun. Most games self-defense workshops from 17:10- their website: www.fcb.ch/de-ch/stadion/stadionplan-preise#preise.

22 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com February 2015 23 Workshops, Tours, and Education in Basel

Book Presentation by Author German. Participation is free of charge and no registration is required. happens when our nose suddenly plays the principal role in experi- February 9 From 10:00-10:30 at Allschwilerstrasse 90 in Basel. encing art? This exhibition places the sense of smell at the center of our aesthetic perception. Admission to the museum costs CHF 15 Join Bergli Books at Bider & Tanner (Bankenplatz 1) with Lukas Strau- www.stadtbibliothekbasel.ch for adults; free for kids 16 and under when accompanied by an adult, mann, executive director of the Bruno Manser Fund and author of the otherwise CHF 10. Cost of tour is included in the entrance fee. new book, “Money Logging: on the Trail of the Asian Timber Mafia.” Basel for Newcomers—Live, Learn, and Enjoy Straumann will be speaking about the Malaysian billionaires who have www.tinguely.ch February 14 presided over the destruction of one of the most diverse ecosystem on On this tour, specially designed for new residents of the city, you can earth—with the complicity of western financial institutions. Straumann Talk—Front Design–Swedish Delights will be introduced by Richard Harvell, executive editor of Basel’s Bergli get to know the city and at the same time gain some valuable tips for February 26 Books, who will speak about the process of publishing such a provocative day-to-day life, such as public transport, post, and healthcare. You will book from Switzerland—including the threats of a lawsuit by one of the also receive useful information on where to shop, the many cultural The three designers of Front Design are among the shooting stars of world’s richest men. Presentation starts at 19:30 and entrance is free. institutions in the city, and possibilities for spending your leisure time. the international design scene. With their innovative and often humor- This is a joint project by the Presi- ously ambiguous objects for renowned manufacturers like Moroso, www.money-logging.org dential Department of the Canton IKEA, Hansgrohe, and Thonet, they explore new avenues in the field of Basel-Stadt and Basel Tourism of design. Sofia Lagerkvist, one of the three designers of Front, pro- Family Tour of Guitorama orful, glamorous, or playful—it’s up to you! Everything you need to and is designed to make new resi- vides insights into one of today’s most productive design studios. This dents of the city feel welcome and English-language talk will take place at the Vitra Design Museum in February 1 create your artwork will be provided free of charge at the workshop; glitter, sequins, beads, feathers, and of course a pair of flip-flops in at home as quickly as possible. The Weil am Rhein, Germany, at 18:00; admission is free and no registra- The Museum für Musik is offering an interactive tour all about guitars the size and color of your choice. The special exhibition is the perfect tour is in English from 10:00-12:30 tion is required. at 11:00 for families with kids starting at age 5. From Stradivari to place to draw inspiration. There you will find hundreds of ideas for and costs CHF 5; meeting point is www.design-museum.de Stratocaster, visitors will experience how they sound—big and small, the flip-flop workshop. Children ages 6 and up may participate if ac- at the Basel tourist information at old and new. You will be invited to experiment with, play, and listen companied by an adult. Participation is free and there is no need to the SBB train station. You can con- to many different guitars, from student guitars to ukuleles and bass register for the workshop, although you may need to wait for a turn. tact them at [email protected]. University Lectures for Kids! guitars. There will be a lot of questions to answer, and perhaps even www.basel.com/en/search/citytours Every year, the University of Basel a song to sign—accompanied by a guitar of course! www.spielzeug-welten-museum-basel.ch offers a series of lectures in German www.hmb.ch aimed at children ages 8-12. The lectures Tour of the Paul Gauguin Exhibit will take place for 5 consecutive weeks in February 15 Tour of Parasites—Life Undercover Tour of “A Realm of Flowers. Rebirth in the Tombs of the April and May on either Tuesday or Pharaohs” From 15:00-16:00, the Fondation Beyeler will be giving a public tour in Thursday from 17:00-18:00. This year’s February 1, 8, 15, and 22 February 8, 12, and 22 English of the temporary exhibit featuring around 50 masterpieces by five lectures are entitled: “Wieso gibt The Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, in conjunction with the Swiss French artist Paul Gauguin. This very exciting exhibit will feature the es so viele verschiedene Fische in The Antikenmuseum Basel is presenting an exhibit that is a cross be- Tropical and Public Health Institute, is presenting an exhibition that world-famous paintings he created in Tahiti, depicting his ideal of an Afrika?“ (Why are there so many differ- tween botany and archeology. Ancient Egyptians believed that flow- sheds light on the life cycles, transmission, and reproduction strate- unspoiled exotic world, as well as his multifaceted self-portraits and ent fish in Africa?), “Woher kommt die ers, plants, and fruit had special powers that assured survival in gies of parasites and illustrates their amazing ability to make their the visionary, spiritual paintings from his time in Brittany. Admission englische Sprache?“ (Where does the the afterlife. Floral decorations were laid down on royal mummies hosts mindless slaves of their own interests. Every Sunday, the mu- to the exhibit is CHF 28 for adults (CHF 56 for the whole family with English language come from?), “War- at burial, and 16 such flower arrangements that were discovered in seum will be offering 1-hour German-language public tours of this Familienpass), CHF 12 for students under age 30. The tour costs an um ist meine Oma manchmal vergess- the famous royal mummy hiding place in Thebes in 1881, and later special exhibit at 11:00 and 14:00. On Sunday, February 1, there will additional CHF 8. lich?“ (Why is my Grandma sometimes housed in the basement of the Institute of Systematic Botany at the be an additional tour of the exhibit from 15:00-16:00 entitled “Kuck- so forgetful?), “Sind die Dinosaurier wirklich ausgestorben?“ (Are University of Zurich, are the highlight of this exhibit. Visitors can ad- www.fondationbeyeler.ch uck, Katzenfloh und Kopflaus” (Cuckoo, cat flea, and head louse) that dinosaurs really extinct?), and “Wieso ist schlafen so gesund?“ (Why is mire more than 100 originals of outstanding quality, including many is especially designed for families. With riddles to solve and exciting sleeping so healthy?). The lectures are all given by University of Basel coffins magnificently painted with flowers and an exact replica of the stories about the amazing feats of parasites, this tour is sure to be fun Tinguely Tour: Belle Haleine—The Scent of Art professors and are aimed at getting kids thinking and asking ques- tomb of the architect Sennedjem from and educational. Tour costs CHF 7 for adults and CHF 5 for teens ages February 24 tions. Registration is free and the 900 places fill up quickly, so register the 13th century. There will be a 13-19; kids under 13 are free. now! Once registered, kids are expected to go to all five lectures. German-language tour of this You are invited to join a short, guided tour in English at 13:00 of the www.nmb.bs.ch exhibit on February 8 and 22 at exhibit “Belle Haleine—The Scent of Art.” How does art smell? What https://kinderuni.unibas.ch 11:00 (cost is admission plus Talk— Harri Koskinen: Learning from Aalto CHF 5). There will also be a Jukibu Intercultural Library Events free tour on February 12 at February 5 Jukibu is a multi-cultural library that houses books for children and adolescents in over 50 languages, their largest 12:30 that is entitled “Relief- Harri Koskinen, one of the most prominent Finnish designers active collection being English-language books. Below is the February schedule of the foreign-language events organized fragment & Spiegel: Objekte today, runs an industrial-design agency in Helsinki. He also works at the library. Please visit their website for a detailed list of activities or to become a member at www.jukibu.ch. zu ‘museen Basel Rezepte er- as design director for the glass manufacturer Iittala, producer of finden’.” You can also check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jukibu. Note that during the Sport / Fasnacht Aalto’s legendary Savoy vase and many other design icons. Koskinen Holiday from February 15-March 1 the library is only open on Wednesday, February 18 and 25, from 15:00-18:00. talks about inspirations and design processes in the many facets of www.antikenmuseum- his work, including furniture, lighting, glass objects, and more. This basel.ch Date Time Event Suitable for… English-language talk will take place at the Vitra Design Museum in February 1 12:00-13:00 Storytelling in Spanish and German at the Markthalle* Parents with children Weil am Rhein, Germany, at 18:00; admission is free and no registra- tion is required. February 3 16:00-17:30 Storytelling in Portuguese Parents with toddlers Bookworms Program— www.design-museum.de February 4 15:30-17:00 Storytelling in German Parents with toddlers English/German February 6 17:00-19:00 Bookbinding workshop for children Children ages 9-12 February 10 Flip-Flop Workshop Bibliothek Basel West is host- February 7 10:30-12:00 Storytelling in Tamil Parents with toddlers February 7, 8, 21, and 22 ing a book group for babies February 10 16:00-17:30 Storytelling in Portuguese Parents with toddlers In conjunction with the special exhibition “History under your feet— and toddlers ages 9 months to 4 February 13 17:00-19:00 Bookbinding workshop for children Children ages 9-12 3000 years of shoes,” the Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel invites you years and their caregivers with nurs- from 13:30-17:30 to participate in a workshop for young and old where ery rhymes, finger plays, action stories, February 14 10:30-12:00 Storytelling in Tamil Parents with toddlers you can design your own dream flip-flops. Classic, crazy, smart, col- singing, and picture books in English and * Markthalle, Viaduktstrasse, near Basel SBB

24 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com photo credits: © bergli books / © antikenmuseum basel / © juri weiss (rathaus) / © kinderuni.unibas.ch February 2015 25 Did You Know?

small children or with disabilities who want to visit people living in the Begegnungszone or public-transport corridor. Residents and busi- nesses in the restricted zones who have a private parking spot, or people who have rented parking spots in the restricted area can get free permits to access them at all times. People with disabilities who need to come into the inner city also can apply for a free long-term or short-term permit. (Paid-for) short-term permits are available for deliveries, workers, and other services (eg, construction sites, events) that cannot be done during the official delivery hours. For more infor- mation, see the (German) “Flyer zum Verkehrskonzept Innenstadt” on their website. www.polizei.bs.ch/verkehr/strassenverkehr/zufahrt-innen- stadt.html.

Testing of the Alarm System February 4 If you suddenly hear alarm sirens going off on this day starting at 13:30, there is no need to worry—this is just the annual Switzerland-wide test of all their emergency alarm systems that always takes place on the first Wednesday of February. You will probably hear several sets of alarms. The first set is the “general alarm.” This is a regular ascend- ing and descending tone that lasts for one minute and is repeated once after a two-minute interval. If you hear this alarm outside of such test situations, it would alert you to turn on your radio for further informa- tion. Where necessary, the sirens can continue to be tested until 14:00. From 14:15 to 15:00 (at the latest), the “Water Alarm” signal is tested in those areas that are in the proximity of dams. It consists of 12 low Basel’s New Inner-City Traffic Concept continuous tones lasting 20 seconds each and repeated at 10-second Since January 5, the new concept for the traffic in Basel’s city center intervals. By 15:00 at the latest, the tests should be completed. And to Saturday, every 20 minutes during evening hours and on Sunday The Extension of Tram 8 has been fully implemented, which affects if and how you can get there then we can rest assured for another year that if any emergency should afternoons, and every 30 minutes on Sunday mornings. Note that the In December 2014, the extension of the tram 8 line was opened, which by car. In general, the city wants to keep cars out of the town center and occur, the Swiss would be well prepared. frequency of trams into Germany can be adjusted if heavy traffic is crosses the border from Basel into Germany for the first time since make it more attractive for pedestrians. To this end, a much larger area expected, as happened, for example, after the recent changes to the 1967. This CHF 104 million project extends the tram 8 line from its than before on both the Grossbasel and Kleinbasel side has been turned Swiss franc—Euro currency conversion rates. The last tram will cross previous final stop at Wiesenplatz to the border by the Rheincenter/ into a 30-km zone (see darker yellow shade on the picture). There are Autobahn Vignette the border shortly before 01:00 on Friday and Saturday nights, and Marktkauf shopping center, then along the Hauptstrasse (main street) also pedestrian zones (dark blue), so called “Begegnungszonen” (meet- If you plan to drive on Swiss highways this shortly past midnight on the other nights of the week. of Weil-Friedlingen, under the motorway bridge and through the cen- ing zones, light blue), and special corridors for public transport, bikes, year, irrespective of where your car is reg- ter of Weil am Rhein, to its new final stop at the Weil am Rhein train www.bvb.ch and small motor scooters (green). As the name implies, pedestrians istered, you need to display a Swiss high- station. The opening of this line is designed to alleviate the heavy car have the right of way; in the pedestrian zones; cars can only be used way sticker (Autobahn Vignette). They cost traffic at the Friedlinger Zoll border crossing, which sees thousands for deliveries between 5:00-11:00 and must drive at a “walking pace.” CHF 40 (you can find them for less at select Ticket Prices and Information of cars from cross-border workers and shoppers as well as about 450 In the Begegnungszone, pedestrians have the right of way, the speed discount stores like Denner, while supplies cyclists and 950 pedestrians daily. However, if you are still going to Travel from Basel to Weil am Rhein is considered two zones, so limit for cars entering for deliveries etc. is 20 km/h. Parking in both of last), and are available at many gas stations, shops, and post offices. the Rheincenter and Weil am Rhein by car, be aware of the new traffic you need to purchase a 2-zone ticket at the ticket machine, costing these zones is allowed only in marked spaces. For the public-transport They are valid for 14 months, from December 1 of the previous year to flow as the tram in some sections shares the road with the cars and commuters CHF 4.40 for the trip from Basel to Weil am Rhein or corridor, the speed limit is 30 km/h and the vehicles have right of way; January 31 of the following year. Getting caught driving on the Swiss in others crosses the road, and more pedestrians will cross the road CHF 2.90 for reduced fare (children and Halbtax card holders). For however, cars again are only allowed for deliveries between 5:00-11:00. highways without a valid sticker will cost you CHF 240! You need to to get to and from the tram stops. more frequent travelers, you can consider buying a 2-zone Mehr- The rest of the inner-city area is marked as a regular 30 km/h zone place the Vignette either at the top of your windshield, behind the fartenkarte (multiple-journey card), which is good for 6 rides, and that is accessible any time, with parking only allowed in marked spac- rearview mirror, or along the left (driver’s) side of the windshield, and Cross-Border Shopping by Tram simply validate it at any BVB machine in Basel before your ride es. For all zones, however, there are a few exceptions; taxis, guests in it must be stuck directly on the windshield (not into a sleeve so it can be begins. For the return trip from Weil am Rhein to Basel, however, any of the hotels in these zones, people with disabilities, and postal removed more easily). An incorrectly mounted Vignette or perceived The new tramline will make shopping in Germany more convenient you will need to purchase a ticket at the ticket machine in Germa- services can enter the inner-city area at all times, as can visitors with view obstruction can result in a costly fine! for many people. However, remember to take your passports and of ny for a cost of €3 for all users (Halbtax cards are not applicable in course mind your customs limits, as they will be doing spot checks in Germany). Alternatively, you can purchase a multiple-journey card in the trams (particularly if you carry large shopping bags). To ensure Germany (RVL-Punktekarte), which is a 20-point card for €12. For the that the trams remain on schedule, passengers are asked to have trip from Weil am Rhein to Basel, you will need to stamp four points. their ID’s and any shopping receipts ready for presentation to bor- If you hold a monthly/yearly pass (U-Abo), GA (General Abo), or SBB der agents on the tram. Anyone suspected of surpassing their limits Tageskarte (these are the day-passes bought through the SBB Swiss or who cannot immediately present the requested documents will be railway company, not the day-cards bought at the BVB tram/bus stops asked to leave the tram for further inspection. If you have anything to in Basel), your ride on the tram 8 to the end of the line in Weil am declare, you need to do that BEFORE you get on the tram; otherwise Rhein is covered in both directions; note, however, that these passes you will have to pay a fine if you get caught. For information on border are not valid on cross-border busses number 38 (to Grenzach-Wyhlen) limits, go to www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04342/04343/index. or 55 (to Weil Haltingen/Kandern). The BVB recommends for cross- html?lang=en. border return trips to Weil am Rhein, Lörrach, Grenzach-Wyhlen, or Saint-Louis, to buy a cross-border day card called “Tageskarte Tick- Tram 8 Schedule et-Tri-Region-Mini” at the BVB ticket machines for CHF 10.50, which The tram 8 line runs as usual on its original route; however, every entitles you to cross-border travel on tram 8 as well as busses 38 and second tram now continues on the new route to Germany. This means 55 for the whole day. With this card, there is no need to validate your that the trams cross the border once every 15 minutes from Monday card or buy a separate return ticket in Germany or France.

26 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com photo credit: © bvb.ch / © basler polizei February 2015 27 Entertainment: Night on the Town

Brian Charette Trio Enrico Rava / Gianluca Petrella Quintet STOMP February 6 and 7 February 8 February 3-8 New York City organist/pianist Brian Charette has established There are very few musicians that reflect the history of Offbeat Jazz in The funniest and most original performance of himself as a leading voice in modern jazz. Charette is a Grammy- Basel over the past 40 years as well as Enrico Rava. For over 45 years, all time will be back to amaze you and make you nominated, Hammond-endorsed artist who was just named the he has been a landmark of innovation in the Italian and European Jazz ache with laughter! The irresistible energy and winner of the 2014 Downbeat Critics’ Poll in the “Rising Star: Organ” music scene. In celebration of his 75th birthday in 2014, he will be genius that began over 20 years ago with hands, feet, category. He will be playing for two nights at the Bird’s Eye Jazz Club in yet again in Basel with a fresh and young band, Tribe, together with and a few brooms, can’t be beat by any other stage Basel with guitarist Ronny Graupe and drummer Dejan Terzic. There new ECM star Giovanni Giudi and the trumpet prodigy from Rome, performance on earth. Over 15 million people world- will be two sets each night, one at 20:30 (doors open at 20:00) and Gianluca Petrella. They will be performing at the Festsaal of the wide have already been inspired by STOMP and the fine one from 21:45-23:30. Tickets are CHF 12 per set. You can reserve Stadt-Casino at Barfüsserplatz. Tickets range from CHF 30-69. art of fingers snapping, brooms swinging, and trash your tickets by email at [email protected] from Monday-Friday until www.offbeat-concert.ch bins clanging. For each performance, the idiosyncratic 17:00 or call 061-263-3341. Your seats are only reserved if you receive characters of STOMP stun audiences to a new and confirmation, and tickets must be picked up at the latest 10 minutes unrepeatable experience. You can experience “STOMP— before the start of the concert or they will be given away. Fresher! Faster! Funnier!” at Theater 11 in Zürich. http://birdseye.ch Tickets range from CHF 39-89; discounts for children, students, and seniors apply. Chris Thompson www.ticketcorner.ch February 7 English singer and songwriter Chris Thompson has decades of expe- rience playing and writing music for hundreds of artists and bands, including Elton John, Roger Daltry, Queen, David Bowie, Annie Len- Opera—Médée “Atmosphères” by György Ligeti. Francesco Piemontesi then joins the Spark—Wild Territories nox, George Michael, and Liza Minelli, to name a few. His vocals made February 1, 8, 14, 20 orchestra as guest soloist on Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in a permanent mark on the landscape of modern rock with the release February 8 C Minor, op. 37. Ending the concert is the sheer masterpiece that is This tragic opera in five acts by Marc-Antoine Charpentier will be of “Blinded by the Light” with Manfred Mann’s Earth Band in 1976. He Spark, an award winning young generation of musicians, contrast Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, op. 93. The concert will performed on the Grosse Bühne of the Theater Basel. Medea is one enjoyed continued success with The Earth Band with five more top- Baroque and Romantic works by Vivaldi, Telemann, Chopin, and be held at Stadt-Casino Basel at 19:30, with a pre-concert talk (in Ger- of the most scintillating and complex female characters in the world ten singles in England and Europe. Chris Thompson will go on tour Schumann with new creations by current artists such as Beyoncé man) at 18:30. Tickets range from CHF 30-90 and can be purchased in of literature, inspiring many an artist to interpret her story. Charpen- starting in February 2015 to present his latest CD entitled “Jukebox,” and Kenji Bunch, giving them fresh new rock and jazz beats and sex advance at Bider & Tanner. tier’s “tragédie en musique,” which, quite undeservedly, slipped into with includes over 35 titles from 40 years of musical career, as well appeal. With only a piano, a cello, a violin, and recorders, “Wild Ter- obscurity until the 20th century, paints psychologically accurate and www.sinfonieorchesterbasel.ch as unreleased tracks of Chris Thompson with Brian May (Queen) and ritories” will take you on a journey through the jungle, the time of moving portraits of the protagonists. The composer’s exceedingly even Michael McDonald. Chris Thompson will be performing at the Z7 the Vikings, into cyberspace, and a turbulent trip through the ages. colorful orchestral scoring and very expressive vocal lines offer deep Cube Session #10—Chasing Johann Sebastian in Pratteln; tickets are CHF 39.50 and can be purchased online. The show will be just across the border at the Burghof in Lörrach insight into the emotional turmoil of his characters. His Médée is a (Germany) at 20:00; tickets are 29 and can be purchased online. February 5 www.z-7.ch € proud, strong woman with a very complex personality. For a long time www.burghof.com she refuses to believe anything bad about her husband—up until the Sinfonieorchester Basel presents the Cube Concert series, which moment when, deeply wounded, she decides to seek vengeance. The fuses classical and electronic beats in a live performance. The opera will be performed in French, with German and English surtitles. 10th Cube Concert will feature two well-known classics: Branden- Cocktail Concert burg Concerto Nos. 2 and 4 by Johann Sebastian Bach. Members The production is directed by Nicolas Brieger, who has celebrated February 12 success as director on both the drama and opera stages. Tickets are from the Sinfonieorchester Basel perform with Amped & Wired. The Robert Emery joins the Sinfonieorchester Basel once again as guest CHF 50-115; discounts for children and students. concert will be held at Kuppel at 21:00. Tickets are CHF 35 and can be purchased at Bider & Tanner. conductor for the second Cocktail Concert of the season. Together www.theater-basel.ch with a wind chamber ensemble from the orchestra, they will present www.sinfonieorchesterbasel.ch an array of musical styles, including classic, pop, and swing. The con- The Commodores Founder cert will be held in the Grosser Festsaal in the Stadt-Casino Basel at Thomas McClary & Band Hamburg Blues Band 18:15, doors open at 17:45. Tickets are CHF 25 and can be purchased at Bider & Tanner. February 3 February 5 www.sinfonieorchesterbasel.ch The Commodores were an American The Hamburg Blues Band plays an intense, cleverly arranged, hard funk/soul band that was at its peak from blues. With the voice of Gert Lange, the guitar riffs of Alex Conti, and the mostly hard-rock elements in the music they are best described the late 1970s through the mid-1980s, Opera—Daphne when Lionel Richie was co-lead sing- as a hard-edge guitar blues–rock band who are best heard performing er. The band’s biggest hit singles in- live. They come to the Z7 in Pratteln to present their new CD “Friends Ballet—Die Liebe Kann Tanzen (Love can Dance) February 13, 17, and 19 clude both ballads, such as “Easy,” for a LIVEtime VOL.1,” which represents a compilation of 30 years of February 7, 12, 16, and 21 Theater Basel will be presenting this lyrical bucolic tragedy by master “Three Times a Lady,” and “Nightshift” (for which they won performances. Doors open at 19:00, show starts at 20:30, and tickets The second ballet production of the season is by German choreog- composer Richard Strauss. Leukippos and Daphne meet at the begin- their first Grammy in 1986), and funky dance hits, such as “Brick cost CHF 35. rapher Stephan Thoss, who is presenting a full-length ballet entitled ning of the ritual feast of Dionysos, dedicated to the union of man House,” “Fancy Dancer,” “Lady (You bring me up),” and “Too Hot www.z-7.ch “Die Liebe kann tanzen” as a world premiere on the Grosse Bühne and nature. They were once childhood friends who have since grown ta Trot.” The Commodore’s founder Thomas McClary & Band will of the Theater Basel. His ballets always offer a personal and unique into adults. Leukippos desires the young woman, but she shies away be playing at the METRO Grand Casino Basel at 20:30; tickets are from him and avoids the festival. Apollo appears and, in disguise, the AFTER HOURS—Chillen im Museum view of events while at the same time leaving nothing to be desired in CHF 37. Note that entrance to the casino, its bars, restaurants, and terms of contemporary dance techniques. He approaches the figures god succeeds in seducing the girl. What follows is the archetypical February 5 events hall is only permitted to people 18 years and older. in his pieces from the psychological angle and develops the chosen conflict: a confrontation between god and man, in which Leukippos www.grandcasinobasel.com The Naturhistorisches Museum Basel is inviting you to the special material meticulously and in depth. In his latest piece, the choreogra- meets his death. Daphne is overwhelmed with grief. Apollo finally exhibit, “Parasites—Life undercover.” You can visit the exhibit at your pher turns his attention to a topic that is closer to the theater’s heart asks Zeus, father of the gods, for forgiveness and the beloved returns, leisure from 18:00-23:00 and relax at the museum bar to discuss some than any other—namely, love. The stars of the evening are dance and transformed into a laurel tree, the emblem of victory in peaceful Symphony Concert—Atmosphères of the awesome facts that you have discovered. Drinks and treats are love. As silent speakers they set our hearts and bodies swinging and contest. The opera will be performed in German, with German and February 4 served up by oNo Deli Café Bar. Admission is free, but drinks are not lure us over and over into hidden and unfamiliar territories. Tickets English surtitles, on the Grosse Bühne. Tickets are CHF 67-153; David Afkham leads the Sinfonieorchester Basel as guest con- included. are CHF 50-115; discounts for children and students. discounts for children and students. ductor in this winter symphony concert. The program begins with www.nmb.bs.ch www.theater-basel.ch www.theater-basel.ch

28 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com photo credit: © joan marcus (stomp), © theater-basel.ch, © spark-wild territories February 2015 29 Entertainment: Night on the Town (continued)

Je t’aime—The Burlesque Ode to Love The Black Keys Burlesque & Swing Pasquale’s money. This piece of unadulterated fun for the theater is all about intrigue, money, power games, mistaken identity, love af- February 14 February 16 February 21 fairs, and a wittily ironic battle of character types, the generations, The American Band, the Black Keys, is one of the coolest bands on the SUD, in collaboration with Come to the Volkshaus Basel to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a and the sexes. The opera will be performed in Italian, with German planet. The two boys from Akron, Ohio, arrived on the scene in 2010 Paul Ullrich, present this very glamorous evening of Burlesque and Love. Begin the evening with a and English surtitles, on the Grosse Bühne of the Theater Basel; with their hit song “Tighten up,” and it has been uphill for them ever special event aimed at reviv- glass of Champagne while the French singer “Ô de Mon Chéri” and tickets cost CHF 27-115. pianist Arnett Williams perform a cocktail of love songs from 1910 to since. They won six Grammys, made the top of the charts worldwide, ing the golden years! An ex- today. Be entertained by international Burlesque dancers, each act and played one sold-out show after another, including one at Madison ceptional night with swing and www.theater-basel.ch geared to the theme of the evening—love. This hot evening will end Square Garden in New York that sold out in 15 minutes. They will be electro-swing music and Brit- with a music party full of inspirations from LA to Berlin. Bring a friend bringing their authentic, rude, crude, and undisputedly good sound to ish drinks; choose your favor- The Ten Tenors the Hallenstadion in Zürich to present their newest baby “Turn Blue.” ite tonic water all night with or partner for this sensual and beautiful Valentine’s party. The event February 25 and 26 starts at 21:00 and tickets cost CHF 35 (with burlesque dresscode), or This latest creation by Dan Auerbach and Patrick Fever Tree Mobile. Evening starts at 21:00, the show starts at 22:00, These 10 Australians have broken down the strict barriers of the CHF 40 (without dresscode). Carney is clean and warm as never before in the and tickets are CHF 28; no reservations necessary. opera world during the last 20 years with naughty momentum and duo’s history. www.sud.ch http://volkshaus-basel.ch witty swing. They have amazed with their renditions of famous arias www.starticket.ch www.ticketcorner.ch www.ullrich.ch from James Bond to Queen, the Bee Gees, and the Beach Boys. Now, the men from Down Under are back with a Broadway program, Chinese New Year Opera—Don Pasquale offering a soulful and energetic selection of hits from the world of Dance Night February 20 February 22 musicals, including “Music of the Night” from “Phantom of the Opera,” February 14 and 27 “Bring Him Home” from “Les Misérables,” and “Impossible Dream” Enjoy the Chinese New Year at the Grand In this opera by Gaetano Donizetti, Don Pasquale is suffering the “Tanznacht40” dance parties are for those who have at least 40 years from “Man of La Mancha.” Enjoy these original versions that can only Casino Basel with a free Chinese buffet and problems of an aging skinflint: he has lived well, earned well, and under their belts. At the event on Saturday, February 14, Claudio be brought to us by the Ten Tenors. Show will be at 20:00 just across the a great show performed by Lotus Sacré. The now he wants a young wife. Doctor Malatesta is to help him find her. Matteo will be spinning the tunes; the event on Friday, February 27, border at the Burghof in Lörrach (Germany); tickets range from €42-52 evening’s festivities will begin at 20:00 and en- It’s all about one thing and one thing only: the inheritance. Pasquale’s features House & Electro with DJ Ice. Dance Parties run from 21:00- and can be purchased online. trance is free. Note that entrance to the casino, its bars, restaurants, nephew and sole heir, Ernesto, is in love with the impoverished girl 03:00 at the Querfeld-Halle (Halle 8), Dornacherstrasse 192, Basel. and events hall is only permitted to people 18 years and older. Norina, and she is looking forward to laying her hands on Don www.burghof.com Friends, couples, and singles are welcome; admission is CHF 15. www.grandcasinobasel.com www.tanznacht40.ch/daten_basel.html Ticket Office: Get Your Tickets Now! Opera—Otello Irma—Folk Pop Who Where When Tickets February 15 and 18 February 21 Theater Basel will be presenting this opera with a libretto by Arri- Irma is a French folk, blues, and pop singer-songwriter who made Katy Perry Hallenstadion, Zürich March 1 www.goodnews.ch go Boito based on William Shakespeare’s eponymous play. Otello is an unconventional rise to fame by posting her personal videos on an outsider, a stranger in the society in which he lives, but he is a YouTube, including her own compositions like “Letter to the Lord,” Cirque du Soleil—Kooza Allmend, Bern March 1-15 www.ticketcorner.ch very successful and powerful leader. This causes envy and hostility in a piano piece called “Somehow,” as well as cover versions of other Moonwalker—Tribute to songs. In the summer of 2008, Irma signed a record deal with My Ma- many of those around him, especially in Lago, who is aware not only the King of Pop Bern, Sursee, Zürich March 5-8 www.ticketcorner.ch of Otello’s greatest weakness—his passion for his wife, Desdemona— jor Company and released her first album “Letter to the Lord,” which but also of his unbridled jealousy. Thus, Lago sets about arousing peaked in the top 10 and was certified platinum a year after its re- The Lion King Musical Theater, Basel March 5-Aug 16 www.thelionking.ch suspicion in Otello’s mind that Desdemona is deceiving him. Otello lease. In 2012, she was featured in a European Google Chrome ad, James Taylor Kongresshaus, Zürich March 8 www.ticketcorner.ch promptly falls into the trap, and the tragedy takes its course. Calixto which chronicled her rise to fame, and in early 2013, she re-released Bieito, Artist in Residence at Theater Basel, stages Verdi’s great, yet her successful single “I Know” as a duet for the German market with Badminton Swiss Open 2015 St. Jakobshalle, Basel March 12-15 www.ticketcorner.ch dark, opera about power, mistrust, and the humiliations suffered in German singer-songwriter Mic Donet. She will be performing at the personal relationships. It is sung in Italian with English and German METRO Grand Casino Basel at 20:30; tickets are CHF 37. Note that Tango Pasión Theater 11, Zürich March 18 and 19 www.ticketcorner.ch surtitles and accompanied by the Sinfonieorchester Basel with con- entrance to the casino, its bars, restaurants, and events hall is only Alan Parsons Live Project Volkshaus, Zürich March 20 www.goodnews.ch ductor Gabriel Feltz. Tickets range from CHF 32-134. permitted to people 18 years and older. Lionel Richie Hallenstadion, Zürich March 23 www.ticketcorner.ch www.theater-basel.ch www.grandcasinobasel.com Sting & Paul Simon Hallenstadion, Zürich March 27 www.ticketcorner.ch Shrek—Das Musical UB40—35th Anniversary Tour METRO Grand Casino, Basel March 27 www.starticket.ch February 18 – March 1 Night of the Jumps St. Jakobshalle, Basel April 10 www.ticketcorner.ch The daring hero Shrek and his beloved Princess Fiona have entertained millions of movie-goers worldwide, Lang Lang Stadt-Casino, Basel April 11 www.konzerte-basel.ch catching an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. Now All you Need is Love!— DreamWorks Theatricals has brought this award-winning Das Beatles Musical Congress Center Basel April 11 www.ticketcorner.ch story to the stage, where it has been nominated for eight Tony Awards. Shrek—The Musical is a colorful, cheerful, 5 Seconds of Summer Hallenstadion, Zürich May 10 www.ticketcorner.ch and naughty show experience for the whole family. The production brings the beloved characters from the movies Dianna Reeves & Band Stadt-Casino, Basel May 10 www.starticket.ch to life with vibrant choreography to rousing music, such The Australian Pink Floyd Show St. Jakobshalle, Basel May 12 www.ticketcorner.ch as the cult anthem “I’m a Believer.” The theater produc- tion of Shrek—The Musical premiered on Broadway in Mark Knopfler Hallenstadion, Zürich June 1 www.ticketcorner.ch December 2008 and in London’s West End in 2011. As a AC/DC Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich June 5 and 7 www.ticketcorner.ch part of its European tour, it will be stopping in Zürch for 14 shows at Theater 11. Tickets range from CHF 29-119, with One Republic Hallenstadion, Zürich June 6 www.ticketcorner.ch discounts for children, students, and seniors. Deep Purple Hallenstadion, Zürich November 9 www.ticketcorner.ch www.ticketcorner.ch Simply Red St. Jakobshalle, Basel November 11 www.ticketcorner.ch

30 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com photo credit: © shrek the musical, © bkt collections (sud) February 2015 31 Contact us for more information about subscribing or advertising: [email protected] www.facebook.com/basellifemagazine A Monthly Guide to Living in Basel www.basellife.com

How to Get Your Copy Basel Life Magazine is available by subscription. Simply fill out the online registration form on our website: www.basellife.com Individual copies can be purchased at: BIDER & TANNER Aeschenvorstadt 2, 4010 Basel (Bankverein) BASEL TOURISM At the SBB Train Station and in the Stadt-Casino at Barfüsserplatz

Mark Your Calendar! March 2015 Highlights

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