Basel Family Magazine Want to Thank You for the Overwhelmingly Positive Response That You Have Given Us Following the Launch of Our Magazine Last Month
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C’est arrivé! Basel’s Stadtlauf: Celebrating So You Think You The Beaujolais A Running Tradition St. Martin’s Can Drive (in Nouveau 2012 Day Basel)? Volume 1 Issue 2 MAGAZINE A Family Guide to Discovering Basel for the Expat Community NOVEMBER 2012 LIFE TRAVEL EVENTS D I N I N G MAGAZINE LETTER FROM THE EDITOR NOVEMBER 2012 Volume 1 • Issue 2 Dearest Readers, TABLE OF CONTENTS We at Basel Family Magazine want to thank you for the overwhelmingly positive response that you have given us following the launch of our magazine last month. It is Featured Event: Stadtlauf 2012 4 clear that the expat community of Basel is a strong and thriving population that is eager to make the most of their Basel experience. Basel is a vibrant city with so much to offer November Events in Basel 5 for children, parents, families, and singles. There are always major events going on, such as concerts, art exhibitions, numerous museums, as well as countless possibilities for Basel Traditions: Celebrating St. Martin 6 outings in and around Basel. The month of November is no exception with the excitement Article: Thanksgiving in Basel 7 of the Herbstmesse (fall fair) already in full swing, the delight- ful indulgence of the Weinmesse (wine fair) and Feinmesse (gourmet fair), the AVO session with a hot line-up of concerts, Markets and Fairs in Basel 8 the charming Swiss tradition of the Räbeliechtli-Umzug (lantern procession) through the old town to commemorate St. Martin’s Day, the lighting of the holiday illumination Fun Family Outings: Beyond Basel 9 and opening of the Christmas markets in Basel, the magical atmosphere of the Basel Stadtlauf (city run), and the multitude of wine tastings, concerts, and shows to enjoy. Center Calendar: November 2012 10-11 In this issue we have attempted to summarize the highlights of these events, provide ideas for great family fun, explain Workshops, Tours, and Education 12 the cultural traditions and history behind some of the celebrations, as well as give you tips on celebrating Thanks- giving and driving in Switzerland. Don’t forget to pull out Sports and Recreation in Basel 13 the convenient “centerfold” calendar designed to hang on your wall and provide you with an instant visual of what is happening each day of the month. The Info Desk: Driving in Basel 14-15 We sincerely appreciate your interest and continued readership of our magazine. As Basel Family Magazine is written by expats for expats, your feedback is most Entertainment: Parents Night Out 16-17 welcome! So feel free to drop us an email and let us know if the information we present is helpful to you and whether there are any other topics that you would like Eating Out in Basel: Beyond the Kids’ Menu 18 us to write about. Sincerely, Wine Notes: Beaujolais Nouveau 19 Christine Mark Your Calendar: December 2012 20 Christine Pesold Editor-in-Chief Basel Family Magazine Contacts [email protected] Editor-in-Chief: Christine Pesold Advertising Manager / Editor: Susanne Hiller Art Director: Jon Hoefer For more information: [email protected] www.baselfamilymagazine.com COVER: St. Alban Tor is one of the many places that is fun to take the family during the fall in Basel. Not only is the 13th century tower (one of three remaining portals of the old city walls) worth a visit, but this location has a small park and a path that leads you through Basel’s “Little Venice” over the small canals that lead you to the Rhein. (Photo credit: © J. Hoefer ) photo credit: © jon hoefer credit: photo BASEL FAMILY MAGAZINE © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. 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 Magazine. It is our goal to provide valuable, timely information to the expat community of Basel. 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. If you have any questions, please contact Basel Family Magazine staff at: [email protected]. NOVEMBER 2012 3 FEATURED EVENT November Events in Basel BuchBasel (Basel Book Fair) Basler Weihnachtsmarkt (Basel’s Christmas Market) November 9–11 November 22 – December 23 This book and literacy festival will take place at the Messe in The Christmas market in Basel, which will open in conjunc- Basel. Halle 4.0 will host Kinder BuchBasel (children’s books) tion with the lighting of the Christmas illuminations, this and Halle 4.1 will host BuchBasel. It will include exhibitions year will be located in Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz and by hundreds of publishers, readings by authors of adult and runs daily from 12:00-20:00. It is a wonderful place to pick children’s books, workshops, book signings, arts and crafts, up some unusual Christmas gifts while enjoying the decorated and the presentation of the Swiss Literature Award trees, lights, and a warm cup of mulled wine. The Kleinbasel (Schweizer Buchpreis). In conjunction with the event, side of the Rhein will also host a Christmas market with vari- booksellers, museums, and other cultural institutions ous stands and foods in Claraplatz. Look for more information Basler Stadtlauf 2012 organize the 2nd Basler Buchnacht (book night) on about Christmas markets in and around Basel in the next issue (Basel’s City Run) November 9, with book stores staying open late and of Basel Family Magazine! Family Tips numerous special events throughout town. You can find more information and the full program on their website. Saturday, November 24 All races start at Münsterplatz and end Basler Wunschbuch (Basel’s Wish Book) at Marktplatz, with different age groups www.buchbasel.ch November 22 – January 4 starting and finishing at different times. This is a public wish book located in the front courtyard of the It is therefore advisable that you decide city hall at Marktplatz. Everyone is invited to come and write before the race on a specific meeting place Der Zauberer von Oz (The Wizard of Oz) their thoughts; what they are thankful for; lists to Santa Claus; for you and your children after the race. November 9–24 or wishes for peace, love, and health. It is also great fun to read The organizers also suggest you write your Theater Basel is presenting the family classic “The Wizard what other people are wishing for! cell phone numbers on the number bibs of Oz,” written by Lyman Frank Baum in 1890. This German photo credit: © jon hoefer credit: photo of your kids so that the Stadtlauf helpers production of “Der Zauberer von Oz” has been directed by www.wunschbuch.ch can quickly reach you to help reunite you Niklaus Helbling since 1999. At the end of November, on the Saturday after the lighting with your children, if necessary. www.theaterbasel.ch Family Concert of the holiday illuminations and opening of the Christmas November 24 market, Baslers gather for the largest running event of Warm-ups The Sinfonieorchester Basel is presenting a family concert Northwestern Switzerland—the Basler Stadtlauf. For this year’s Coffee Morning All runners are invited for a free entitled “Taucherglockenklang” (diving bell sounds). This 30th edition of this magical and cool run, approximately 9,000 professionally led warm-up session November 13 runners will gather at the Münsterplatz and race their way special concert will explore the fantastic sounds of the at the Münsterplatz prior to their race. The GGG Stadtbibliothek is hosting through the festively lit streets, lined with sparkling Christmas underwater flora and fauna and fascinate you with Warm-ups start at 16:30, 17:00, 17:20, a coffee morning for Basel’s English-speaking community trees and decorations as well as scores of spectators. There are dancing fish and iridescent beads. The concert takes 17:50, 18:20, 18:50, and 19:20. at Basel West Library (Allschwilerstr. 90, 4055 Basel, Tram 6 races for all age groups, from children ages 5 years to seniors. place at the Tinguely Museum and starts at 18:00. to Morgartenring) at 10:00. Children are welcome! For more Distances vary by age group, from 1.0 km for the youngest kids www.sinfonieorchester.ch Massage information, contact [email protected]. to 5.5 km for adults. There are also longer-distance runs for The Swiss Massage Team provides a free elite male and female runners, but participation in these is English Panto, Mother Goose by invitation only. massage service for all men and women runners in their respective changing rooms Basel Head November 29 – December 2 Children will start at the Münsterplatz beginning at 17:00 (Garderoben), which are located in the November 17 The Basel English Panto Group will be presenting the panto, and make their way through the old town, down Freie Strasse, Gymnasium Leonhard, Leonhardstrasse (for For the 8th time, Basel is the breathtaking setting for this inter- “Mother Goose”, at the Scala Basel, Freie Strasse 89. There will ending at the Marktplatz. Adult racers will also start at the men) and Holbein Turnhalle, Kanonengasse national regatta, which attracts 50 rowing teams from Switzer- be six performances, including two matinees. Tickets are CHF Münsterplatz and then run 2.5 circuits through the old town, (for women). land and abroad. The boats start at the Johanniterbrücke, race 30 for adults and CHF 20 for kids; they are available at many down Freie Strasse, across the Mittlere Brücke, through the quaint up-river to just below the Birsfelden power station, and then locations, including Bider & Tanner, Ticketino outlets, the Kleinbasel old-town alleys, back across the Wettsteinbrücke, and Registration come back down to the finish line at the Mittlere Brücke.