Basel Reaches New Heights Old and New Towers Dot Basel’S Skyline Fast Forward in Small Groups
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
> INSIDE: WHITE DINNER BASEL • IWB MARATHON • LABYRINTHS • SLOW-UP • AUTUMN CAMPS Volume 4 Issue 1 CHF 5 5 A Monthly Guide to Living in Basel September 2015 Basel Reaches New Heights Old and New Towers Dot Basel’s Skyline Fast forward in small groups. inlingua-basel.ch At academia we • Educate the whole individual: academically, socially, physically and emotionally • Nurture students to reach their full potential and pursue excellence in everything they do • Foster a love of learning and creativity Contact us for a cost-free, individual • Develop compassionate global ambassadors level evaluation and consultation. • Emphasize team work and problem solving Preschool / Primary / Pre-College (K-8) We also teach on location! • Bilingual Education (German/English) • Integrated Cambridge International Curriculum and Basel Stadt Curriculum College (9-12) • High Quality Exam Preparation • Entry into Swiss and International Universities inlingua Basel is accredited by: Dufourstrasse 50 at Aeschenplatz • 061 278 99 33 Phone +41 61 260 20 80 www.academia-international.ch www.inlingua-basel.ch • [email protected] bfacademy.com Black Forest Academy Quality Christian School pick-up and drop-off Schooling since 1956 at Basel Badische Bahnhof Hammersteiner Strasse 50 Mulhouse D 79400 Kandern, Germany Kandern F T +49 (0)7626 9161 0 Basel Zurich E [email protected] CH 2 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, As we start our fourth year of Basel Life Magazine, we want to take a moment to welcome our new readers, as well as to thank our loyal readers who September 2015 Volume 4 Issue 1 have helped drive and shape this incredible journey. Committed to helping Basel’s English-speaking community make the most of life in this incred- TABLE OF CONTENTS ibly vibrant and culturally rich city, we bring you information monthly on events, entertainment, sports, markets, tours, traditions, exhibitions, and Feature Event: White Dinner Basel 4 culture, as well as tips on everyday life and ideas for excursions from Basel. There is always so much to do and see in Basel that it is hard to pack it all into each issue—and this one is no exception! Events in Basel: September 2015 5–9 This September, Basel will play host to White Dinner Basel — a unique event where 10,000 people all dressed in white will dine together at ele- Fun Outings: Beyond Basel 10-11 gantly set tables in the streets of Basel’s city center. But that is only the tip of the iceberg! Check out the Entertainment section for plenty of other ideas for a night out on the town, from opera, theater, and concerts to dance par- Inside Basel: Towers of Basel 12 ties, wine or rum tastings, and Oktoberfest celebrations. September also brings us a multitude of festivals celebrating everything from theater, pup- pet theater, film, Chinese culture, children, and youth culture to squash, Information Desk: Autumn Camps for Kids 13 architecture, music, and even cupcakes! Check out the newest models at Basel’s car show, learn about environmentally friendly ways to get around Calendar: September 2015 14–15 during Mobility Week, join thousands for a day of non-motorized locomo- tion at the annual Slow-Up, partake in the IWB marathon, or check out a rowing championship on the Rhein. No matter what your interests are, you Markets and Fairs 16–17 will find something to draw you in—and out of the house! September is also a great time to celebrate the season’s beauty and bounty: Sports and Recreation 18–21 Travel the Wine Route of the neighboring Baden region of Germany to dis- cover its fabulous sites and flavors; spend a few hours at the Street Food Festival in Zürich; or try to find your way through one of the many autumn Workshops, Tours, and Education 22–24 labyrinths. If you are relatively new to Basel, you may want to join one of the tours or information evenings specifically designed for Basel’s new Entertainment: Night on the Town 25–27 English-speaking residents. And with the opening of the new Roche build- ing scheduled for this month, we take a closer look at several of the tall towers that dot the skyline of Basel. Ticket Office: Get Your Tickets Now! back page Wishing you a great start to the new season, Mark Your Calendar: October 2015 back page Christine Christine Pesold Editor-in-Chief [email protected] COVER: The new Roche tower that now is a distinguishing feature of the Basel skyline Basel Life Magazine Staff: was supposed to look much different. The initial plans called for a building in the Editor-in-Chief: form of a twisting spiral, like a DNA double Christine Pesold helix. However, despite several modifica- Advertising & Subscription Manager / Editor: tions, these plans could not be realized Susanne Hiller because the costs would have been too high and the design could not accommodate all Photography: the functional requirements. As a result, the initial plans were scrapped and the Alexandra Mizrahi current design developed. But not everybody is happy with the new tower and Design & Print: especially with Roche’s plans to build a second, even higher tower right next to it. Schwabe AG Some residents of the Wettstein neighborhood are concerned about the impact the new developments have on their quality of life and property values and have For more information about subscribing or advertising – please contact us: founded an organization to represent their interests. Their concerns center on the info basellife.com increased traffic flow into the area and the long shadows the current tower and its www.facebook.com/basellifemagazine projected neighbor will cast on the neighborhood, leading to a daily “solar www.basellife.com eclipse.” 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 respon- sible 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: info basellife.com. photo credit: alexandra mizrahi September 2015 3 EventsFeature in Event Basel: SeptemberFebruary 2015 2015 (continued) White Dinner Basel September 11 Have you ever been to a dinner party with 10,000 guests? In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Pro Innerstadt Geschenkbon, Basel will play host to a “White Dinner”—a one-of-a-kind event that originated in Paris half a century ago and has been repeated in numerous cities around the world since. For this event, 1,250 tables decked in white linens will be set up throughout the city center—from Marktplatz through Eisengasse, over the Mittlere Brücke, and on to Greifengasse in Kleinbasel. You reserve your spot at one of the tables, where you enjoy a dinner with friends, acquaintances, or even strangers under the stars. Throughout the evening you will also be enchanted and surprised by a variety of entertainment acts: Dance groups will be presenting their latest cho- Your Tableware: You also have to provide your own dishes, cutlery, reographies throughout the evening, BMX riders and acrobats will be and glasses. To do this special occasion justice, you are asked to performing tricks in the streets, a comedian will suddenly appear at your bring your classiest tableware, silverware, and crystal glasses (don’t table, and a magician will show you his startling tricks first hand. Check forget your wine bottle opener!). You can decorate the table however their website for a full scope of the entertainment for the night. This you like—bring flowers, great-aunt Cora’s candelabra, tea lights, or magical picnic in white, with live music and dancing, will be an event your prettiest napkin rings. The fancier the better! Disposable table- that you surely won’t want to miss. And best of all—while you enjoy this ware is prohibited; besides, who wants to sip a fine wine from a plastic special evening with family or friends, you help to raise money for char- cup? Nothing will be provided, so if you need a bread knife or other itable causes! utensil, be sure to bring it with you! Globus is also offering a Pick- nickkorb (picnic basket) for purchase (CHF 40) that contains all of How Does the White Dinner Work? the dishes and cutlery needed for two people for the dinner, including plates, utensils, napkins, cutting board, bread knife, and wine and Your Chair: Essentially, your chair is your entrance ticket! Buy two water glasses. chairs for yourself and your date (they come in pairs), and bring them Dress Code: The dress code is simple—festive white from head to toe. with you to the dinner. The chairs cost CHF 40 each (which includes While there will be no fashion police frowning at your lack of necktie a charitable donation), are of course painted white, and are branded or the shortness of your skirt, bear in mind that the theme of the with the White Dinner logo and numbered. Each chair is assigned to event is elegance and sophistication. a specific table, so when you buy your chairs, you can pick which table you want to sit at.