INSIDE: DUBUFFET EXHIBIT • ROMANTIC STRASBOURG • SNOWSHOEING TIPS • BASEL’S LOVE LOCKS • ROCK OPERA

Volume 4 Issue 5 CHF 5 5

A Monthly Guide to Living in Basel February 2016

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2 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

The days are short and the weather is cold, but there is no time to hibernate if you live in Basel! This February, Basel comes to life once again with the most Fantastic, Awesome, Spectacular, Noisy, Artistic, Colorful, Hip, and Terrific carnival in this part of the world—FASNACHT! With a reputation Volume 4 Issue 5 February 2016 rivaling that of the carnivals of Venice, Rio, and New Orleans, it is definitely TABLE OF CONTENTS a unique event that you have to experience at least once! Check out the Fasnacht Special in this issue of Basel Life Magazine to learn about the what, when, and where of this unforgettable event. Fasnacht Special 4–6 Looking for wintery adventure? Choose from the many ski excursions, skate on an outdoor rink on disco night, or spend the night in an igloo. If Inside Basel: Love Locks 7 you want to give snowshoeing a try, turn to the “Get Going!” section for in- formation and tips on what you need to know to find the right snowshoeing adventure for you and your group. Events in Basel: February 2016 8–11 If you are culturally minded, you may be interested in several new exhibits, highlighting topics from the attitude of designers and special old cars to Fun Outings: Beyond Basel 12–13 French artist Jean Dubuffet, Alice in Wonderland, and the weird but fasci- nating courtships of the animal kingdom. Also, the Museum Tinguely will be opening their new exhibit “Touch of Art,” which explores the role that Did you Know? 14 the tactile dimension plays in our experience of art, or you can amuse yourself by having your portrait “created” by flies. Camps Special 15 There are many things to do with the kids this month, from taking a walk with penguins to a variety of children, musical, and puppet theaters, as well as concerts for babies, kids, and families. In this issue, you will also Calendar: February 2016 16–17 find a list of the holiday camps for kids offered during the upcoming Fasnacht break, as well as the signup information for this spring’s session of the Get going!: Snowshoeing 18–20 university lecture series designed to pique children’s interest in a variety of educational topics. Other useful information in this issue explains about a postal pick-up ser- Sports and Recreation 21 vice that is available from home, the details of the annual testing of the alarm system, as well as a new BABYfriendly website that can help par- Workshops, Tours, and Education 22–24 ents locate baby-friendly places in Basel and beyond. With Valentine’s Day coming up this month, it is a great time to take a look at, and weigh in on, the Love-Locks that adorn Basel’s Mittlere Brücke. And while you are out, Entertainment: Night on the Town 26–30 you may want to hunt for the location featured in our new contest “Where in Basel?” that is designed to heighten your appreciation for all of the won- derful little gems hidden throughout the city—be the first to answer and Ticket Office: Get Your Tickets Now! 31 win a prize! Last, but certainly not least, you can as always choose from a multitude of Mark Your Calendar: March 2016 back page great evening events for that perfect night out, including concerts, theater, magic, comedy, dance, and this month’s premiere of “TEST: The Rock Opera”!­

Wishing you a fabulous February, C hristine Christine Pesold Editor-in-Chief Basel Life Magazine Staff: [email protected] Editor-in-Chief: Christine Pesold COVER: One thing you cannot miss if you spend any time at Advertising & Subscription Manager / Editor: all in town during the Basel Fasnacht is the confetti—or Susanne Hiller Räppli in Swiss German (named after the smallest coins of the Swiss currency). During the large parades, or Cortèg- Design & Print: es, it is thrown by the handful, bagful, or even from special Schwabe AG “canons.” Supposedly more Räppli are used during the For more information about subscribing or advertising – please contact us: ­Basel Fasnacht than any other comparable carnival. Although all spectators get their share of the tiny paper scraps, those without a Fasnacht badge (“Blaggedde”) are prime targets. info basellife.com While Räppli come in all colors, each bag only contains a single color. This is to demon- www.facebook.com/basellifemagazine strate that only unused Räppli are dumped on the spectators—anybody throwing mixed- www.basellife.com color Räppli must have picked them up from the ground, which is heavily frowned upon.

BASEL LIFE MAGAZINE / BASEL FAMILY GmbH © Copyright 2016. 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: © susanne hiller February 2016 3 EventsFasnacht in SpecialBasel: February 2015 (continued) Basel’s “Drei scheenschte Dääg” You haven’t really lived in Basel if you haven’t experienced at least one edition of the Basler Fasnacht—those crazy 72 hours when normal life is suspended, people in fantastic costumes roam the city at all hours of the day or night, shrill music resounds in the streets and alleys, and the city drowns in confetti. Here’s what you can expect on these “drei scheenschte Dääg” (three most wonderful days) for many Baslers and out-of-town visitors.

What Happens When? Cortège: The Cortège is a huge parade with more than 12,000 masked This year, Basel’s Fasnacht takes place from 04:00 on Monday, Febru- participants on foot and on floats meandering along a set route through ary 15, to 04:00 on Thursday, February 18. (Yes, you read that correctly— the city center of Grossbasel and Kleinbasel, starting at 13:30. Each it does start and end in the middle of the night!) The following schedule Clique has chosen a specific “Sujet” or theme that is reflected in their can help you pick out the events that you would like most to experience, costumes, floats and other paraphernalia, lanterns, and often also in if not all of them! the form of verses that are distributed on colorful pieces of paper, the “Zeedel.” The Sujets typically address local or national politi- Monday cal and cultural events or per- Morgenstreich: Fasnacht begins when the bells of the St. Martin’s sonalities in a fun or ironic Church strike 4 o’clock. At that moment, all lights in the center of town form. Some Cliques are again are extinguished with a special switch, and more than 100 large and accompanied by their piccolo small Fasnacht groups, or “Cliques,” set off from their assembly points players and drummers. In ad- for a parade through the darkened streets. The only light is provided by dition, there are many other small lanterns that participants wear on their heads and large lanterns music groups called “Gugge- that the Cliques have lovingly and artistically prepared in the previous musiken” that play a very char- months and which they carry or pull along on their march. The eerie acteristic, highly rhythmic, and atmosphere of the semidarkness is enhanced by the haunting sounds somewhat off-key music main- of piccolo flutes and drums played by many of the participants. The par- ly driven by brass instruments, pipes, and drums. The participants in ticipating groups range from large Cliques with dozens of musicians the Cortège throw tons of “Räppli” (confetti), oranges, candy, and flow- and other members pulling along carts with enormous lanterns that ers into the crowds along the route. (Please make sure your kids stay have to stay on the main roads to small groups with just one piccolo away from the wheels of the floats when they go after the goodies player, one drummer, and perhaps a couple of other members who ­because the drivers may not be able to see them.) You can find a map of also stroll through the small alleyways. The event winds down as the the Cortège route at www.fasnachts-comite.ch/webautor-data/46/ sun comes up, and participants go home to rest a bit and to change Routenplan2016.pdf. Note that tram and bus service in the area is halted their costumes for the afternoon events. from lunchtime onwards (for more information on alternate transport routes on those days, see www.bvb.ch). Tens of thousands of visitors crowd into town to watch this unique event, so if you want to be among them, here are a few tips: (1) Use public trans- Schnitzelbänke: Schnitzelbank singers are individuals or small groups port to come into town. The SBB and BVB run numerous special trains, who present satirical songs in Basel dialect that, like the Sujets, poke trams, and busses to take visitors to and from this event (www.sbb.ch; fun at well-known events or personalities of the previous year. The www.bvb.ch). (2) Darkness is essential for the special atmosphere of verses are often illustrated with specific pictures, the “Helgen.” On the Morgenstreich; therefore, please do not use flashlights or flash Monday evening, more than 100 such Schnitzelbank groups wander photography, and if you live in the center of town, cover the windows or through various bars and restaurants in the city center to present their don’t turn on the lights in your home. (3) Dress warmly and leave any songs. valuables at home. (4) If you need to warm up, many cafés and restau- rants in town will be open in the early morning hours, serving hot drinks and special Fasnacht foods, such as Mehlsuppe (flour soup), Zwiebel- wähe (onion pie), or Fastenwähen (pretzels with caraway seeds). You may need to check their doors to see if they are open as they typically blacken out their windows to maintain the darkness in the streets.

4 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com Tuesday What Makes Basel’s Fasnacht so Special? Kinderfasnacht (Children’s Fasnacht): On Tuesday afternoon, the city Many cities around the world celebrate equivalent festivals that origi- center is being taken over by a smaller, less organized procession in nated as a “last hurrah” before the beginning of the Lent period leading which also many children participate (children typically do not partici- up to Easter; just think of the carnival in the German cities of Cologne pate in the Cortège on Monday and Wednesday). Small and large groups or Mainz, in Venice, or in Rio de Janeiro and of the Mardi Gras celebra- of children and adults, with or without carts or wagons, wander through tions in New Orleans. They all have their special atmosphere and the streets, often also playing their instruments. This is also the only ­characteristics that set them apart, be it the samba dances in Rio, the day on which children among the spectators can dress up in their fa- haunting masks in Venice, or the jazz music and “beads” in New Orleans. vorite costumes. It is a fun event, especially for kids, because it is not Basel is no different—it has several characteristics that you won’t find as crowded as the Cortège, and especially in the early afternoon you anywhere else! often get to see the faces underneath the masks while groups are as- sembling, having a drink, and enjoying a chat before setting out on their The Timing stroll in full costume. And there is still plenty of confetti and candy The Basel Fasnacht takes place one week later than the corresponding ­being distributed! festivals anywhere else, and it ends on a Thursday rather than a Tues- Lantern and Float Exhibit: From Monday evening to Wednesday morn- day night. In general, the Fasnacht-related celebrations mark the be- ing, you can admire the lanterns and floats from the Cortège up close. ginning of the 40-day Lent period before Easter, beginning with Ash All the large lanterns will be displayed at Münsterplatz, and the floats Wednesday. In the 11th century, the Catholic Church changed the way and other props will be exhibited at Kaserne. The highlight of this exhi- the Lent period was calculated so that it excluded the six Sundays, thus bition is on Tuesday evening, when the more than 200 large lanterns moving the beginning of Lent up by six days. However, in Basel this are lit at Münsterplatz so you can admire their designs with cartoons change was mostly disregarded, and the original dates for the celebration and verses related to the Clique’s chosen Sujet. were kept. This practice has been maintained through the centuries, even after Basel became protestant, leading to the unique timing of “Gugge” Concerts: Also on Tuesday evening, the Guggemusik groups Basel’s Fasnacht. take over the city center. Organized Guggemusik groups meet at Messe- platz at 18:30 and then give concerts from 19:30–23:00 at Marktplatz and Barfüsserplatz. Gugge musicians who are not organized into The Music groups meet at 20:00 at Claraplatz for their concert. All groups then The traditional piccolo and drum disperse throughout the city center, playing their music into the small marches that you will hear at hours of the morning. Fasnacht are a relic of military muster parades held by the guilds that helped protect the city in Wednesday earlier centuries. These guilds Cortège and Schnitzelbänke: Wednesday is more or less a repeat of also helped Fasnacht traditions Monday’s events, minus the Morgenstreich. Thus, there will be another survive against opposition by the Cortège in the afternoon from 13:30, running along the same route as Protestant Church, which after the on Monday, and in the evening the Schnitzelbank singers entertain their Reformation wanted to abolish Fasnacht as a symbol of the Catholic audiences again. In addition, the Cliques and Guggemusik groups will Church. Thus, the guilds merged their muster parades with some of roam the streets and celebrate in bars and restaurants until it all ends the existing Fasnacht traditions, and in turn today’s Fasnacht celebra- at 04:00 on Thursday morning. tions still include the military-sounding pipes and drums.

Want to Learn More? The Basel Fasnacht is a festival of sounds and dreams, of color and fantasy, but also of criticism and mockery. In the last 100 years, it has evolved and inspired the population and artists of this city to actively participate, not only during the Fasnacht itself, but also all year round. Baslers use this festival to vent their opinions in a humorous and colorful way and to act and behave differently from their normal day-to-day lives. For those three days of the year, Basel lives in a different world! Since 2014, the Museum der Kulturen hosts an exhibit that provides an overview of the Basel Fasnacht in historic and atmospheric rooms with costumes, masks, musical instru- ments, historical documents, and a reproduction of a typical “carnival.” So if you want to learn more about Basel’s fantastic Fasnacht, visit this per- manent exhibit at the Museum der Kulturen. There will be a guided tour in English of the exhibit on February 7 from 15:00–16:00 (a tour in French will take place on February 14 from 15:00–16:00). Also, on February 7 from 13:00–17:00 they will be offering a workshop for kids ages 6 and up where they can create their own mask from a paper bag, paints, fabric, lace, pipe cleaners, and similar materials. Cost is CHF 5 for the materials. www.mkb.ch/de/programm/events/2014/Fasnachtsausstellung.html

photo credit: © stephen oliver, © knut sturmhoefel, © susanne hiller, © museum der kulturen February 2016 5 EventsWoFasnachtrkshops, in SpecialBasel: Tours, Fe (continued) bruaryand Education 2015 (continued) in Basel

The Morgenstreich And the numbers were staggering! The estimated costs included, for example: The term “Morgenstreich” also has a military background as it refers to the drum signals that call the troops together in the morning. The use • CHF 3,900,000 for costumes of drums to start off the Fasnacht first began in the late 1700s, and in • CHF 2,200,000 for the masks 1833 a butcher called Samuel Bell for the first time organized a group • CHF 1,100,000 for the lanterns of followers to march with their drums through town in the early morn- ing hours. Two years later, a Morgenstreich at 04:00 was officially sanc- • CHF 400,000 for other building materials for floats etc. tioned for the first time and has been a staple of the Basel Fasnacht • CHF 560,000 for the goodies to throw from the floats ever since. • CHF 550,000 for musical instruments • CHF 230,000 for music schools and lessons The Costumes • CHF 260,000 for the various expenses for Schnitzelbank singers Each year, the Cliques decide on a specific costume to illustrate their • CHF 140,000 for the “Zeedel” chosen Sujet. This includes the mask covering the face (called “Larve”) as well as the clothes, which often are newly created each year. The • CHF 480,000 for cantonal expenses (ambulance services, street entire costume is referred to as the “Maske.” For the two Cortèges on cleaning, etc.) Monday and Wednesday, all members of the Clique wear that costume. • CHF 490,000 for public transport (extra trains, trams, busses, staff) For the Morgenstreich, however, each participant is free to wear their favorite costume from previous years. This lack of “dress code” and resulting mix of costumes within a Clique is called “Charivari.” — An- As this list shows, the greatest expenses are incurred by the Cliques, other idiosyncrasy of the Basel Fasnacht is that generally only the par- Guggemusik groups, and other Fasnacht participants, and that doesn’t ticipants in the Morgenstreich and different parades are in costume; even include all the volunteer hours they put into the the spectators, however, wear regular street clothes. Only during the preparation of costumes, masks, events, and the Kinderfasnacht on Tuesday are kids encouraged to dress up. like (which were estimated at a value of more than CHF 18 million). Also, keep in mind that those were the expenses 10 years ago, so costs are likely to have The Costs of Fasnacht gone up since then. The only income the groups re- An event such as the Basel Fasnacht doesn’t come cheap. In 2005, the ceive to help with these costs are their own fundrais- Fasnacht Committee, which oversees and coordinates most of the ers and profits from the sale of the Fasnacht badges ­Fasnacht activities, commissioned a study from the Fachhochschule (Blaggedde) that are newly designed each year and beider Basel about the economic impact of the Fasnacht. The research- sold from the beginning of January. So go ahead and ers interviewed more than 1,500 people, including participants, visitors, support the Fasnacht by buying one of the badges! They are available businesses, hotel and restaurant representatives, as well as represen- for every budget, from CHF 8 for the copper version to CHF 110 for the tatives of the cantonal government, transport agencies, and media. “bijou” version, and they make great collectibles!

Other Fasnacht-Related Events

Liestal’s Fiery Chienbäse Parade Be aware that the fires of the brooms and wagons give off flying February 14 embers and very intense heat; therefore, you should wear old clothes and consider keeping to the back rows of spectators. Also, On the evening before the be- the organizers recommend that you don’t visit the event with chil- ginning of the Basel Fasnacht, dren under age 6 or watch from a distance; you may also want to you can experience another go towards the end of the parade route where the crowds are less unusual Fasnacht event—the dense. ­Finally, you shouldn’t lift the kids on your shoulders as the Chienbäse parade in Liestal. heat is more intense higher up. For the route of this spectacular For this unique tradition, parade, see their website. which supposedly is derived from pagan fire rituals to drive www.chienbaese.ch/chienbaeseumzug/chienbaeseumzug.html the winter away, participants carry huge “brooms” through the town center that are made Bummelsonntage in Basel from kindling wood and lit on February 21 and 28; March 6 fire. In addition, about 20 met- The end of Fasnacht on Thursday morning is not really the end— al wagons stacked with tons of there are still the three “Bummelsonntage” (strolling Sundays) on burning wood are also pulled the following weekends, when Fasnacht enthusiasts can enjoy a along the route. This is a truly spectacular sight, particularly when last dose of at least the Fasnacht music. Traditionally, on those the brooms and wagons pass through the old city gates and the three Sundays, the Cliques will return to the city—without their flames reach several stories high. masks and costumes, but with their instruments—from 16:00– To see this amazing event, it is best to take public transport to 22:00 to stroll around and play their music on the streets, river- ­Liestal as parking is very limited. The SBB and tram ticket machines front, bridges and ferryboats before they must put away their pipes offer special “Chienbäse” tickets to get there. The event starts at and drums for good for the year. It’s a mixed atmosphere of fun, 19:15, but you should try to get there early as it gets very crowded. music, and a bit of melancholy and well worth checking out.

6 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com Inside Basel

To Love or not to Love “Love Locks” Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, the day when couples show their love or dedication to one another in a variety of ways—a bouquet of red roses, a heart-shaped box of chocolates, a romantic dinner, or even a promissory ring. A recent trend has lovers expressing their undying commitment to one another with so called “love locks”—metal padlocks with their names usually written or engraved on the lock inside a heart, that are locked mostly to bridge railings but also to fences, gates, sculp- tures, trees, and even lighthouses, with the key then thrown away. This modern-day equivalent to carving one’s initials inside a heart into the bark of a tree has been met with considerable controversy in recent years.

While the idea of love locks can be traced back over 100 years, they grill of the landmark Käppelijoch, the little chapel in the middle of the have gained considerable popularity in the past decade in cities around bridge that was erected to grant safe passage to shipmen on the Rhein the world, particularly in France, Italy, and Germany. The Hohenzollern below. The irony of this chosen site is that in the Middle Ages, women Bridge in Cologne has over 50,000 locks, weighing an estimated 15 tons, accused of adultery (and other serious crimes) were thrown into the and the Pont des Arts in Paris at one time boasted over 1 million locks. Rhein to their death from this exact location! People have come from all over the world to the “city of love” to place Several articles on the locks have been published in Basel’s newspaper locks and admire the extraordinary site. in the past two years, and many local residents and even some politi- However, while some municipalities are embracing the idea, using it cians have weighed in negatively on the issue. But for the time being, for fundraising, publicity purposes, and especially as tourist attrac- the official statement by Basel authorities is that the love locks will be tions, others consider it littering or vandalism. When exposed to the tolerated, despite being against the law, as long as they remain “few in elements, the metal of the locks causes unsightly rust damage and number.” The Denkmalpflege (the organization responsible for the corrosion to the structures. Moreover, those thousands of metal keys preservation of historical buildings) is actually in favor of the idea, citing that are thrown into the river below as part of the ritual have been found that if the young generation identifies with these older structures, they to be polluting the rivers and endangering their aquatic life. In addition will be more inclined to preserve them as well. The director of Basel to tarnishing the look of the beautiful bridges, the sheer weight of the Tourismus also likes the trend but thinks that the Wettsteinbrücke of- locks is actually compromising the integrity and safety of some of these fers a more private space for the romantic moment, not to mention a historical structures. A streetlamp in Rome buckled under the weight better view! of the locks, and in May 2014, one of the grids of the railing on the Pont des Arts in Paris carrying thousands of love locks collapsed under the What do you think about the love locks in Basel? If you care to enormous strain—fortunately, no one was injured. As an experiment, weigh in on this issue, write us your opinion at [email protected] authorities mounted three panels of a special type of glass that would under the subject line “Love Locks” and we will post a ­follow-up prevent the locks from being attached, but despite these efforts, the on our Facebook page, anonymously sharing your feedback. bridge was deemed in danger of collapsing and on June 1, 2015, all of the love locks were removed. In addition to Paris, love locks are sys- tematically being removed in many cities around the world, including Florence, New York, Toronto, and Atlanta. Many cities are now prohibiting the affixing of love locks to bridges and are imposing fines for violations. In Berlin, it is treated as a misde- meanor and incurs a fine of € 35, whereas in Venice, the fine can be up to € 3,000. However, many consider bridges covered in locks as chic, and cities are concerned that forbidding the love locks may harm the image of the city. In Heidelberg, authorities have installed a so-called Liebesstein (love stone) to which lovers can attach their locks in an at- tempt to spare the city’s historic bridges. The love-locks fad has not skipped Switzerland, with the Limmat Müh- lensteg as the official “love bridge” in Zürich, and the Schönausteg as the one chosen in Bern. Basel’s bridges are mainly concrete, but de- spite that, the love-locks trend reached Basel in 2013, transforming the Mittlere Brücke into a “love bridge.” Well over 1,000 locks adorn the

photo credit: © fasnachts comité basel, © stephen oliver, © susanne hiller February 2016 7 Events in Basel: February 2016

Jean Dubuffet—Metamorphoses of Landscape Until May 8 Jean Dubuffet (1901–1985) is one of the defining artists of the second half of the 20th century. Stimulated by the works of artists on the mar- gins of the cultural scene, Dubuffet succeeded in liberating himself from traditions and reinventing art. Dubuffet’s influence can still be felt today in contemporary art and street art—for example, in the works of David Hockney, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Keith Haring. In the first large-scale Jean Dubuffet retrospective in Switzerland this century, the Fondation Beyeler presents the artist’s richly facetted and multilay- ered oeuvre on the basis of some 100 works. The exhibition starts with Dubuffet’s fascinating idea of landscape, which in his hands can trans- form itself into a body, a face, or an object. In his works, the artist ex- perimented with new techniques and materials, such as sand, butterfly wings, sponge, and slag, thereby creating a wholly individual and unique visual universe. Alongside important paintings and sculptures from all major phases of his oeuvre, the exhibition also shows Dubuffet’s spec- tacular Coucou Bazar, a multimedia work of art combining painting, sculpture, theatre, dance, and music. www.fondationbeyeler.ch

Forum for an Attitude Boris Rebetez and Friends—Sitting on a Branch Until February 14 Until March 26 What is the ambition of designers today? Why did they become design- In a new exhibition at von Bartha gallery, Boris Rebetez (b.1970 in Swit- ers? What kind of social influence do they hope to achieve? What image zerland) continues to examine the qualities of space, environment, and of design is conveyed to society? And how can an attitude be expressed architecture together with fellow artists Daniel Robert Hunziker, Doris in design? The exhibition “Forum for an Attitude” considers these ques- Lasch, Aglaia Konrad, David Thorpe, Bernard Voïta, and Claudia Wies- tions and presents positions on the topic. This special exhibit at the er. Rebetez seeks to explore how he can sculpt the experience of the Vitra Design Museum Gallery, just across the border in Weil am Rhein, audience, how he can predict their moves and guide their journey Germany, is showing works, objects, texts, and infographics by con- through the gallery. He will be creating an architectural intervention in temporary designers and opinion leaders who explore or impart a cer- the gallery by adding a new pillar, changing the context of the gallery tain attitude in design. In addition to events at the Vitra Design Museum, setting. The other artists will present works that respond to space. For the exhibition is accompanied by a program of activities—such as book example, Robert Hunziker will exhibit “Arch II/4,” a sculpture made readings, film screenings, presentations, and complementary exhibi- from found architectural objects and materials, and Claudia Wiesner tions—at Depot Basel, a place for contemporary design located near will show a photographic wall piece depicting the interior of a grand the Novartis campus. building. The exhibition at von Bartha (Kannenfeldplatz 6, Basel) can be www.design-museum.de, www.depotbasel.ch viewed during the gallery’s opening hours Tuesday to Friday from 14:00–18:00 and Saturday from 11:00–16:00. www.vonbartha.com Portrait on the Fly Until March 6 “Specials” Exhibit The HeK (Haus der Elektronischen Kunst) presents the installation “Portrait on the Fly.” It consists of an interactive monitor that shows a Until April 10 swarm of 10,000 computer-generated flies. When a person positions The Pantheon Basel himself in front of it, the insects is a forum and mu- try to detect their facial features. seum for old-timer They then begin to arrange cars. It houses hun- themselves so as to trace these dreds of classic, vin- features, thereby creating a tage, and old cars recognizable likeness of the for private owners in ­individual. Posing in front of the region. For this the monitor attracts the flies. reason, the collec- Within seconds they recognize tion is ever changing the contours of the face and and there is always place themselves along those something new to contours, but even the slight- see for visitors to est movement of the head or of the museum. From now until April 10, they are hosting an exhibit of parts of the face drives them “Specials” with vintage cars from Alfa Romeo, Allard, Alvis, American off. The portraits are thus in constant flux, they construct and decon- LaFrance, Austin, Bentley, Carrozzeria Italia, Ford, Jaguar, MG, NSU, struct. “Portrait on the Fly” is a commentary on our love for making Railton, Riley, Rolls-Royce, and Wolsley. Entrance to the Pantheon costs pictures of ourselves (selfie culture); it has to do with change, tran- CHF 10 for adults, CHF 7 for kids, students, and seniors, and kids under sience, and impermanence. Admission is free. 6 are free. An exhibition catalog is available for purchase for CHF 10. www.hek.ch www.pantheonbasel.ch

8 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com photo credit: © pro litteris zürich, foto: les arts decoratifs (jean dubuffet, coucou bazar), © christa sommer & laurent mignonneau (portrait on the fly), Alice in Wonderland Exhibit Children’s Theater—Mary Poppins Until May 16 February 3 The Spielzeugmuseum The classic story of Mary Poppins, nanny to the Banks family in London Riehen (Toy Museum) will and their two children, Jane and Michael, comes to life on the stage of be presenting a new tem- the Theater Arlecchino in Basel (Walkeweg 122). The production is ide- porary exhibit entitled al for families with children ages 4 and up and is played and sung in “Merk- und Merk­ Swiss dialect. The show starts at 14:30; doors open at 14:00. Tickets erwürdig. Im Wunder- can be purchased directly online and are CHF 20 for adults, CHF 15 for land” (Curioser and children; CHF 5 reduction per person with the Familienpass. Curioser. In Wonder- www.theater-arlecchino.ch land) in honor of the 151st anniversary of “Alice in Wonderland.” Puppet Theater—Pinocchio The whimsical world of February 3, 20, 21, 24, 27, and 28 optical games, crazy effects, and comic encounters aims to confuse The Basler Marionettentheater will be presenting the classic story of and surprise, and even have the visitor doubt their own sanity. The Pinocchio, the wooden figure that comes to life one night when a fairy Spielzeugmuseum Riehen is open daily from 11:00–17:00 (closed breathes life into him. Families with kids starting at age 4 can enjoy this ­Tuesdays) and is reachable by tram 6 (stop Riehen Dorf), or S-Bahn 6 magical story and the dying art of large-marionette theater. This ver- (stop Riehen). sion is in Basel dialect and tickets are CHF 15 for kids ages 4–16, CHF 20 www.spielzeugmuseumriehen.ch for adults, or CHF 10 and CHF 15 with the Familienpass. www.baslerkindertheater.ch Von Bildern (Of Pictures) Until October 1 The Touch of Art The exhibit at the Museum für Gegenwartskunst (Museum of Contem- porary Art) entitled “Von Bildern” presents art based on the appropria- February 12 – May 16 tion of existing pictures and genres. Such processes often entail trans- Can art be experienced fers from one medium into another: a photograph is filmed, a painting by touch? What role is photographed, or a scene in a film is tapped as the source for a does the tactile dimen- staged photograph. Appropriation adds a new perspective on the con- sion play in our experi- tent of the material being appropriated and calls its authenticity and ence of art? With this authorship in question. It may articulate a critical study of visual mod- new exhibit entitled els and blueprints from mass and entertainment media and the tem- “Prière de Toucher” plates of identity they transmit. Or it may point out the ever-fluid bor- (Please touch), Muse- ders and commerce between the visual arts and the culture industry. um Tinguely continues Appropriation can tell stories of the media trajectories along which their series on the role patterns and forms migrate between the genres and apparatuses of of the human senses distribution. Or it scrutinizes practices that evolve in the interplay be- in the arts with a group tween the publicity generated by institutions and private marketing. exhibition presenting The exhibition considers strategies of appropriation as a form of dis- works focusing on the many facets of our haptic perception. The varied course in and about pictures. It widens the scope of reflection beyond trail, encompassing many centuries, invites visitors to partake in direct the formal qualities of pictures to examine the various institutional and tactile experiences and requires our ability of “embodiment.” Baroque social settings and channels in which they originate and circulate. allegories, the avant-garde with Marcel Duchamp, body-related art Thanks to the Emanuel Hoffmann Foundation and the Christoph Merian­ forms of the 1960s and 1970s (for example, Valie Export and Bruce Foundation, entrance to the Museum für Gegenwartskunst is free until Nauman), and contemporary positions (Pipilotti Rist, Pedro Reyes, Ana mid-April 2016. Mendieta, and others) are all focal points of the exhibition. www.kunstmuseumbasel.ch www.tinguely.ch

Back in Basel! TaraGaffney,MS, LPCC LicensedProfessional ClinicalCounselor

Guided tours in Basel. Experience history first-hand. Steinenbachgässlein49 For further information or booking ProvidingEngli4051sh SpeakinBasel gCounseling please go to www.basel.com/guidedtours. ServicestoAdo+4lescents,178646Adu 97 44ltsand Couples. www.lifetransitionscounselingllc.com

© urs gautschi basel (pantheon), © spielzeugmuseum riehen, © graphische sammlung eth zürich (anonym, nach michelangelo merisi caravaggio, der ungläubige thomas) February 2016 9 Events in Basel: February 2016 (continued)

Sonntagsmatinée Children’s Theater—The Wizard of Oz February 21 February 27 and 28 If a late Sunday-morning concert appeals to you and your family, why The classic story of “The Wizard of Oz,” in which Dorothy experiences not come to the Musiksaal of the Stadtcasino Basel to listen to the Fes- many adventures in the mysterious place called Oz on her quest to find tival Strings Lucerne with Albrecht Mayer on oboe and English horn her way back home, comes to life on the stage of the Theater Arlec- play compositions by Mozart, Hoffmeister, and Fiala. The concert will chino in Basel (Walkeweg 122) every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday start at 11:00 and tickets cost CHF 46–63. at 14:30 (doors open at 14:00) until May. The production is ideal for www.konzerte-basel.ch families with children ages 4 and up and is played and sung in Swiss dialect. Tickets can be purchased directly online and are CHF 20 for adults, CHF 15 for children; CHF 5 reduction per person with the Fam- ilienpass. www.theater-arlecchino.ch

Unterwegs nach Umbidu (Heading to Umbidu) February 28 Gare des Enfants is a small music theater of a different kind. They will be presenting “Unterwegs nach Umbidu”, the story of a few quirky characters who meet under a bridge on a cold, dreary evening. Neither of these clochards are friends of big words, nor do they really know where they are heading, but somehow they feel that they can achieve something together. They quickly realize that they are bound by more than just melan- choly—one has a Jazz Concert at the Tinguely Museum trumpet with him, the next an accor- February 26 dion, the third a From 16:00–18:00 on the last clarinet, and the Friday of every month, top jazz fourth a full-blown performers are giving concerts bass. With the help in the space dedicated to the of music they get current exhibition at the Tingue- to know each oth- ly Museum, providing a musical er’s charming, wit- highlight and a point of focus. ty side and develop The concert is free with admis- a plan: together sion to the museum. they will go in www.roche-n-jazz.ch search of the place where supposedly everyone is happy—Umbidu. With music by Bach, Purcell, Ligeti, or Piazzolla the goal is getting closer, because they realize what a cool feeling it is to be able to do something Pink for Girls + Blue for Boys really well. With funky improvisations, delicate noises, wild sounds, February 26 and 27 and a fascinating fantasy language they describe their adventures on the way to Umbidu. Families are invited to embark on this wonderful The Vorstadt Theater, in co-production with the Kaserne Basel, will be journey. There are two presentations at 11:00 and 14:30; cost is CHF 15 presenting a new piece by Basel choreographer Tabea Martin. “Pink for for adults, CHF 10 for kids, or CHF 30 for the whole family. Reserve your Girls + Blue for Boys” deals with the specifics of what it means to be a tickets online. boy or a girl. Is pink only for girls and blue only for boys? Are only girls allowed to cry? Can boys climb trees and girls not? Where does the www.garedunord.ch/garedesenfants separation of the sexes start and when does it becomes exclusion? How much courage does it take to stand up for one’s own ideas and needs? What happens when we turn the whole thing around and re- Concert for Young Families move all limits? This German-language dance-theater piece, suitable February 28 for adults and kids ages 6 years and up, encourages everyone to follow The Basel Sinfonietta has designed a concert series for children ages 0–4 what suits them and not what others consider to be appropriate. The and their parents to discover music together. These playful concerts Friday show starts at 18:00 and the Saturday show at 17:00; tickets are are musical adventures for young discoverers. In a child-friendly space, CHF 10–25 and can be reserved by filling out the online form on their designed with yoga mats and blankets, the musicians will play a child- website. friendly concert for and with the children. Ensembles of Basel Sinfo- www.vorstadt-theater.ch nietta have worked out different themes for the children for each con- cert, creating new sound experiences. Here everything is permitted, from crawling up to the musicians to dancing and singing along. The Jazz Brunch children, and of course the parents, thereby find direct access to the February 27 music—playful and full of wondrous twists. The concerts start at 10:00, On the last Saturday of each month, the Brasserie No. 2 at Volkshaus 11:30, and 14:30, last 45 minutes, and take place at the Markthalle, Basel presents a rich breakfast from Marc Arnold’s kitchen, accompa- near the SBB in Basel. Tickets are CHF 5 for kids and CHF 10 for adults nied by live jazz from Eric Gilson and guests. Breakfast starts at 10:30 and can be reserved by phone at 061-335-5415 or by email at info@ and reservations are recommended at 061-690-9310. baselsinfonietta.ch. www.volkshaus-basel.ch www.baselsinfonietta.ch

10 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com Basel, our beloved smallish, big city, is an interesting mix of mod- ern architecture, historical buildings, and quaint cobblestone streets riddled with artistic sculptures, curious statues, colorful murals, historical fountains, intricately detailed mailboxes, and other such works of art. A short walk through any part of town will have you discovering interesting and artistic gems at every corner. How well do you know Basel? Check out our new monthly “Where in Basel?” picture and be the first to write us where in the city the picture was taken to win a fabulous give-away prize, such as con- cert tickets, museum entrances, and more. If you think you know where this month’s picture was taken, send us an email at info@ At academia we basellife.com with the subject title “Where in Basel?” As soon as •Educate the whole individual: academically, socially, we receive the correct answer, we will post the solution on our physically and emotionally FB page (www.facebook.com/basellifemagazine) and contact •Nurturestudents to reach their full potential and pursue the winner regarding their prize. This month’s prize is a “prozent- excellence in everything they do buch Basel,” containing 87 coupons for restaurants, night life, •Foster alove of learning and creativity and ­entertainment. •Develop compassionate global ambassadors •Emphasize team work and problem solving Good Luck! Preschool / Primary / Pre-College (K-8) •BilingualEducation (German/English) •Integrated Cambridge International Curriculum and Basel Stadt Curriculum

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Strasbourg Mon Amour filled with zest! From hotels to restaurants, concerts halls, opera February 5–14 house, and museums, the whole city will be tuned to the same rhythm. Highlights of the 10-day event include festive, delightfully retro evenings; Interested in an original, glamorous, different, and slightly quirky Val- gourmet tête-à-tête dinners; ephemeral installations under the stars; entine’s Day? Are you after romance, attractions, and something exclusive concerts; unusual visits; unexpected encounters… and many unique? For 10 days in February, Strasbourg will be reinventing this surprises! Strasbourg is 90 minutes by car from Basel and is also ­easily celebration of love. With its remarkable UNESCO heritage site; half- accessible by train. Visit their website to watch a clip of some of the timbered houses; picturesque streets; and small squares, canals, and events or download the full program by clicking on “Découvrez le Pro- bridges, Strasbourg is undoubtedly one of the most romantic cities in gramme.” France. For the fourth consecutive year, Strasbourg will be celebrating love with a program of events that is poetic, cultural, glamorous, and www.strasbourg-monamour.eu

Igloo Villages ­facilities, fondue dinner, tea served at your sleeping bag, and breakfast Davos, Zermatt, Gstaad, Engelberg, and Stockhorn in the restaurant. All is included in your stay; prices start at CHF 159 per person. To find out more or to book your unforgettable experience, If spending the night in an igloo in the Swiss mountains sounds like an visit their multi-language website. experience you just have to try once, then this may be for you. Each year in five locations around Switzerland—Davos, Zermatt, Gstaad, Engel- www.iglu-dorf.com/en/ berg, and Stockhorn—small igloo villages are built out of snow. Each village contains several sleeping igloos that range from standard multi- Fondue-Plausch bed igloos for families (up to six persons) to romantic suites with ­private Reigoldswil, Baselland Jacuzzis and even “hot igloos” heated with a wood-burning stove. You February 5 can also opt to build your own igloo (“love nests”), block by block, with the assistance of an igloo expert. The igloo villages are typically Winter magic awaits you at Wasserfallen in Reigoldswil, about 30 min- equipped with a bar, restaurant, and hot tub overlooking the moun- utes from Basel. Enjoy a moonlit gondola ride up the Wasserfallen tains. The villages at Davos and Gstaad also feature a sauna. Each igloo mountain and dine on a cheese fondue at the one of the seven moun- is built and furnished with attention to detail; large and small ice sculp- tain restaurants—see their website for a list and to make your reserva- tures carved by tions. After dinner, you can either take the gondola or a toboggan back hand transform the down to the base station. The gondola will run until 23:30 for this event rooms into glitter- and costs CHF 16.50 for adults and CHF 10 for kids ages 6–15 (one- ing fantasy worlds. way) or CHF 20 and CHF 12 for return tickets. Toboggans can be rented High-quality expe- for CHF 5.50, and snowshoes and sticks can be rented for CHF 8.80 for dition sleeping bags adults and CHF 5.50 for kids. Special rates are available for groups of that are good for up 10 or more. Feeling sporty? Then you can combine the gondola ride and to -40˚C will keep dinner with a guided snowshoe hike through the glittering winter land- you cozy and warm scape (regular hike if there is no snow). The hike takes about 1.5 hours at night. Enjoy snow- each way, with dinner in between (minimum age 12 years). Cost is shoeing or a night- CHF 69 (CHF 48 for kids ages 12–16) for gondola ride, snowshoe rental, time walk, tours hike, dinner, and gondola back to the base, or toboggan rental to go through the igloo back down (if desired). village, use of all www.wasserfallenbahn.ch

12 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com Markets and Fairs

Courtship Exhibit at Naturama Euro Dance Festival 2016 Aarau, AG Europa-Park Rust, Germany Until March 13 February 10–14 With Valentine’s Day this month, and spring right around the corner, For five days, those who love to dance and those who would like to learn the exhibit “Sexperten—flotte Bienen und tolle Hechte” (Sexperts—hot it converge on the Europa-Park for this 10th edition of the Euro Dance chicks and stunning pikes) explains the topic of courtship in a way that Festival. More than 100 coaches, national, European, and even world is educational and entertaining for the whole family. A look into the champion dancers and trainers will be teaching approximately 500 dif- animal kingdom shows that ferent workshops and seminars on anything from Ballroom, Salsa, sex is sometimes quite ex- Disco Fox, Standard, Latin, Zumba, Tango Argentina, Hip-Hop, and West hausting, dangerous, and Coast Swing to Lindy Hop, Swing, and more. There are five different costly. Male spiders must levels—from beginner to professional (level 4). Most workshops are be great dancers to impress held in German (workshops held in English are marked in the timeta- the females, whereas among ble), and each workshop runs about 90 minutes, with 20-minute breaks swans, it is the female who in between, as well as a 1-hour lunch break. On Wednesday, Thursday, suffers when her mate Friday, and Saturday evenings there will be several shows and dances pushes her under water with where you can either watch the professionals or take to the floor your- all his weight during mat- self. With a total of eight dance floors, you can practice what you have ing—she is lucky if she learned at the workshops. Go for a day trip (about 70 minutes from doesn’t drown! And let’s not forget that the female praying mantis ac- Basel) or make it a longer outing and enjoy the after-show parties by tually cuts off the male’s head while breeding. Using stuffed animals, booking a room on site that includes breakfast and access to the pool models, and films the Naturama in Aargau conveys a wealth of enter- and wellness area. For a complete list of the workshops, go to their taining stories on the topic of reproduction. Naturama is located at the website and click on “Programm,” and then on “Stundenplan.” You can Bahnhofplatz in Aargau, only 45 minutes from Basel by car, or 1 hour by book 1-, 2-, 4-, or 5-day entrance tickets, as well as afternoon or evening train. There are paid parking lots by the Bahnhof and the nearby Post. tickets. The tickets can be booked directly online—but hurry, because Open daily from 10:00–17:00 (except Mondays), entrance costs CHF 11 they go fast! for adults, CHF 5 for kids ages 6–16, and free for kids under age 6. www.euro-dance-festival.com www.naturama.ch

Art on Ice Zürich February 4–7 Art on Ice is the unique and colorful interplay between Olympic and world champions skating on the ice and international music stars per- forming live on stage. Art on Ice is among the most-attended indoor shows in the world, with nearly 80,000 spectators annually. Headlining acts this year include British singer, songwriter, and entertainer Jessie J and the legendary Jacksons, four of Michael Jackson’s brothers. Also performing this year will be 27-year-old singer and multi-instrumen- talist, James Gruntz, one of the most exciting musicians in Switzerland and winner of two Swiss Music Awards in 2015. This year’s figure skat- ers include Swiss darling Stéphane Lambiel, current world champion Javier Fernandez, two-time Olympic gold medalists Tatiana Volosozahr & Maxim Trankov, Ksenia Stolbova & Fedor Klimov, ice dancing world champions Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron, and once more the three-time single’s Olympic winner Evgeni Plushenko. The 2016 European Tour starts out with six shows at the Hallenstadion in Zürich; Tickets range from CHF 68–248 and can be bought online. www.artonice.ch

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Did you know…?

“BABYfriendly” Website Toothbrush Tip Do you have a baby or young child and are always looking for baby- During this cold and flu season, it is recommended to run your family’s friendly places to go in Basel or when traveling through Switzerland? toothbrushes through the dishwasher once per week. The heat of the The English/German website, www.BABYfriendly.ch, can provide you dishwasher kills the bacteria and viruses that can spread between with ideas and suggestions about baby-friendly places, including loca- family members and make us sick, especially if the toothbrushes stand tions such as restaurants and restrooms with breast-feeding corners. side-by-side in the same holder. At any time of the year, throwing them All places in this guide provide additional services for parents, such as in the dishwasher monthly thoroughly cleans them and prolongs their changing tables, enough room for baby strollers, breast-feeding corners, life. understanding staff, and more. This webpage was lovingly created by a father of two young children to support other parents in need of these Postal Pick-up Services from Home valuable baby-friendly resources! For more information on where you and your baby are welcome, check out their website and their Facebook Just in time for these cold winter months, the Swiss Post is testing a page (www.facebook.com/babyfreundlich). BABYfriendly needs your new service to their customers—in select communities you can now support to continue growing—become a member, suggest your favorite send your letters and packages without even leaving home. If you live in places, rate places, and “like” the project on their Facebook page. Basel-Stadt, you should recently have received a yellow folded postal card in your mailbox from the Swiss Post entitled “Die Post rückt in Ihre Nähe” (The Post moves closer to you). It outlines the new pick-up ser- vices available to you as a private customer. If you have a letter or pack- age to mail, just stick on the normal postage stamps and then leave it in your mailbox together with the yellow Post card, folded such that the yellow portion hangs out of the mailbox. This will alert your letter car- rier that you have left an item for them to take. If you don’t have the right stamps or packing material, these too can be purchased directly from your letter carrier. Just leave the same card hanging outside your empty mailbox, and your letter carrier will ring your doorbell and sell you what you need on the spot! You can also buy pre-stamped envelopes Testing of the Alarm System and packaging to February 3 make this home If you suddenly hear alarm sirens going off on this day starting at 13:30, pick-up service there is no need to worry—this is just the annual Switzerland-wide test even easier. In of all their emergency alarm systems that always takes place on the some cases, your first Wednesday of February. You will probably hear several sets of letter carrier can alarms. The first set is the “general alarm.” This is a regular ascending even sell you the and descending tone that lasts for one minute and is repeated once standard 35L gar- after a two-minute interval. If you hear this alarm outside of such test bage bags. For situations, it would alert you to turn on your radio for further informa- now, these Swiss tion. Where necessary, the sirens can continue to be tested until 14:00. Post home servic- From 14:15 to 15:00 (at the latest), the “water alarm” signal is tested in es will go through those areas that are in the proximity of dams. It consists of 12 low con- a 6-month trial in 20 locations in Switzerland, including Basel-Stadt tinuous tones lasting 20 seconds each and repeated at 10-second inter- (sorry, Baselland is not included). So if you think that this is a service vals. By 15:00 at the latest, the tests should be completed, and then we you would like to see stay, why not give it a try? For questions, write can rest assured for another year that if any emergency should occur, them at [email protected] or ask them at your local post office. the Swiss would be well prepared. www.post.ch

Penguin March Looking for something to do with your kids over the holi­ day break? The Basel zoo does not seem like the most obvious choice at this time of year, but it does offer some unique attractions: In addition to all of the heated build- ings that allow not only the animals but also the visitors to stay warm, there is another seasonal favorite event— the daily penguin walk at 11:00! This actually is only possible during the colder months as the penguins oth- erwise would get too hot. So if you would like to watch the King and Gentoo penguins go for their daily stroll, head for the Vivarium at 11:00. By the way, if you notice the lions and cheetahs lounging outside even when it’s freezing outside, don’t be surprised—they actually have heated rocks in their enclosure that allow them to enjoy the outdoors even in the cold temperatures! www.zoobasel.ch

14 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com

Camps Special

Holiday Camps for Kids If you want to keep your kids busy during the Fasnacht break (aka Sportferien), there are numerous camps for which you can enroll them. The table below provides you with some websites to find camps and register online. The camps take place in the first week of the break unless otherwise indicated. Camps fill up fast, so don’t wait!

PROVIDER Website CAMPS Age Group Badminton-Halle www.badminton-halle.ch Badminton/multisport camps 6–13 Bürgerliches Waisenhaus www.waisenhaus-basel.ch Outings, games, crafts, and other activities 6–11 Fachstelle für Jugendarbeit www.faju.ch 1-Week ski and snowboard camp (weeks 1 & 2) 8–16 E9 jugend & kultur www.e-9.ch Floor and apparatus gymnastics 4–12 “Hip-Hop meets Salsa” dance camp 9–16 Fantasia Basel www.fantasia-basel.ch Floor and apparatus gymnastics 6–9 Fit4school Early Learning Academy www.fit4school-kita.ch “Little Einsteins”: adventurous bilingual day care (week 1) 4–10 Recycling week: Turning something old into something new (week 2) Generationenhaus Neubad www.generationenhaus-neubad.ch One week of theater followed by a theater presentation 6–12 JO SAC Angenstein www.jo-angenstein.ch Ski and snowboard camp in the Freiburger Alpen region 14–17 Kids Camp International www.kcinternational.ch Arts-and-crafts camp 3–14 Kinder-Camps www.kinder-camps.ch Fun & action camp 6–12 Kinderhuus Gampiross www.kinderhuus-gampiross.ch Have fun with friendly monsters 4–9 Kindertreffpunkt zum Burzelbaum www.burzelbaum.ch World carnivals—from Brazil to Basel 4–10 Kwerk Bildschule www.kwerk.ch Portrait art workshop (3-days) 7–10 Underworld workshop about light/dark (3-days) 8–12 Ooink Ooink Productions www.ooinkooink.ch. Ski and snowboard camp in Selva/Sedrun in the Milez-Oberalp 7–12 ski area (week 2) Robi-Spiel-Aktionen www.robi-spiel-aktionen.ch Various camps about film stars, robot building, “words,” Fasnacht, and everything you can do with potatoes Rosi Fischer-Bernard www.fischerbernard.com Experiment with stamps, color, and exciting materials 6–10 Ski Club BVB Basel www.scbvb-basel.ch Ski and snowboard camp in Sörenberg (canton LU) 6–20 Sports-Department BS www.sport.bs.ch 8-Day ski and snowboard camp in Fiesch (canton VS) (week 2) 12–17 Squash Club Van de Merwe www.kinderbasel.com 1-Week multisport camps (weeks 1 & 2) 5–13 Verein Allwäg www.allwaeg.ch Outdoor camp in the forest in Bettingen to play in the forest, 5–12 fresh-air, and maybe even snow Zirkus Schule Basel www.zirkusschulebasel.ch 1-Week circus camp followed by the presentation of a show 6–12 Vitis Sportcenter www.vitis-allschwil.ch Tennis intensive camps (weeks 1 & 2) 4–9 Multisport camps (racket sports and more) (weeks 1 & 2) 7–16

photo credit: © schweizerische post ag, © zoo basel February 2016 15 February 2016

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESD FEB 1 2 3 Jesus Christ Superstar Gagliano Trio Kids’ Theater—Mary Poppins Ongoing Events in February Puppet Theater—Pinocchio Testing of the Alarm System Forum for an Attitude Jesus Christ Superstar Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein, DE Concert—Sensemayá Until February 14

Portrait on the Fly Haus der Elektronischen Kunst, Basel Until March 6

Boris Rebetez and Friends— 78 9 10 Tour—Fasnacht Exhibit Strasbourg Mon Amour Strasbourg Mon Amour Strasbourg Mon Amour Sitting on a Branch Fasnacht Workshop Chinese New Year Tinguely Tour Euro Dance Festival 2016 von Bartha Gallery, Basel Art on Ice Opera—The Magic Flute Ballet—Tewje Opera—The Magic Flute Until March 26 Strasbourg Mon Amour Family Famigros Ski Day “Specials” Exhibit Family Tour—Fasnacht Instruments Umbrella Workshop Pantheon Basel, Muttenz Tour—Wildlife Photographer of the Year Until April 10 Jesus Christ Superstar

Jean Dubuffet—Metamorphoses of Landscape 14 15 16 17 Fondation Beyeler, Riehen Chienbäse Parade Morgenstreich Fasnacht—Kinderfasnacht Fasnacht—Cortège Until May 8 Strasbourg Mon Amour Fasnacht—Cortège Fasnacht—Gugge Concerts Ukulele Orchestra Great Britain Euro Dance Festival 2016 Fasnacht—Lantern and Wagon Exhibit Tour—Wildlife Photographer of the Year Joe Jackson Alice in Wonderland Exhibit Spielzeugmuseum, Riehen Until May 16

Von Bildern (Of Pictures) Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Basel Until October 1 21 22 23 24 The Touch of Art Bummelsonntag Ballet—Tewje Bookworms Program—English Puppet Theater—Pinocchio Puppet Theater—Pinocchio Hurts TEST: The Rock Opera Storytelling in Tigrigna & German Museum Tinguely, Basel Sonntagsmatinée Al Di Meola & Group Zauberduo Domenico—It’s Magic February 12 – May 16 Family Famigros Ski Day Irish Spring Tour—Wildlife Photographer of the Year Courtship Exhibit Tour—The Sunken Treasure Tour—Jean Dubuffet Exhibit Naturama, Aarau (AG) Origami Workshop Until March 13 Opera—The Magic Flute Roger Hodgson TEST: The Rock Opera 28 29 Bummelsonntag Munich Chamber Orchestra Puppet Theater—Pinocchio Kids’ Theater—The Wizard of Oz Kids‘ Theater—Heading to Umbidu Concert for Young Families Family Famigros Ski Day Ski and Snowboard Excursion Umbrella Workshop Tour—Wildlife Photographer of the Year Jesus Christ Superstar / Ellie Goulding TEST: The Rock Opera

SIS Swiss International School Bilingual Day School Bilingual Experience Independent Strong Network and Value-Centred from Preschool through to College Approach

National Our educational concept lies at the heart of our social, pedagogical, Day School and International Community didactical and entrepreneurial approach. Recognition This benefits all students attending SIS Basel - where they live and Continuity from Performance through learn in German and English, day by day. Kindergarten to Diversity College

International Education – SIS Swiss International School, Erlenstrasse 15, 4058 Basel, Tel. +41 61 683 71 40 Local Insight [email protected], www.swissinternationalschool.ch www.basellife.com WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Basel’s EnglishDen�st 456 ’ Theater—Mary Poppins Art on Ice Art on Ice Art on Ice Puppet Theater—Pinocchio Literature Through Storytelling Fondue-Plausch Strasbourg Mon Amour esting of the Alarm System AFTER HOURS—Chillen im Museum Strasbourg Mon Amour Saturday Morning Physics Dr. GarryBonsall Jesus Christ Superstar Violino Alla Bolognese Bookbinding Workshop for Kids Umbrella Workshop Concert—Sensemayá English Comedy Dental Surgeon

High‐tech,pain‐free, high‐quality 11 12 13 family dental care andimplants g Mon Amour Strasbourg Mon Amour Strasbourg Mon Amour Strasbourg Mon Amour al 2016 Euro Dance Festival 2016 Euro Dance Festival 2016 Euro Dance Festival 2016 New‐pa�ent special: a—The Magic Flute Tour—Silber & Gold Exhibit Disco Night at the Skating Rink Family Famigros Ski Day Jesus Christ Superstar Ballet—Tewje Jesus Christ Superstar CHF 125clean andcheck Cube Session #15 Swiss Music Awards Dance Night Theater—Angels in America St. Alban Vorstadt 78 www.DrBonsall.ch [email protected]

18 19 20 Calltoday: e End of Fasnacht (04:00) Barkonzert—Roli Frei Puppet Theater—Pinocchio a Great Britain Roger Hodgson 061271 06 04 English Comedy TEST: The Rock Opera

Talent programs Coaching Bilingualism Sessions

25 26 27 Special Working Puppet Theater—Pinocchio Talk—David Chipperfield Jazz Concert at Tinguely Museum Puppet Theater—Pinocchio / Jazz Brunch needs hild techniques ytelling in Tigrigna & German TEST: The Rock Opera Pink for Girls + Blue for Boys Pink for Girls + Blue for Boys Your C duo Domenico—It’s Magic Disco Night at the Skating Rink Kids’ Theater—The Wizard of Oz Bookbinding Workshop for Kids Acrobatics Workshop TEST: The Rock Opera Umbrella Workshop / Basel for Newcomers Jon Lehrer Dance Company Storytelling in English with BCT, in French, Language German, Japanese & Italian Dayschool Opera—The Magic Flute / African Angels certificates Theater—Angels in America Small classes TEST: The Rock Opera / Night of the Musicals P.S. CORPORATION All Stars Kindergarten/Primary School Kinderspital Theodorskirchplatz 7, Tel. 061 683 96 01 Spitalstrasse 33, Basel 061-704-1212 Secondary School (all levels) Calendar Key: Afterhours Pharmacy St. Alban-Vorstadt 32, Tel. 061 278 98 88 (for more info refer to this section) Important Numbers: Petersgraben3, Basel Fasnachts Special SOS: 112 061-263-7575 www.minervaschulen.ch Events in Basel Police: 117 Emergency Dentist/Doctor Fun Outings: Beyond Basel Fire Department: 118 24 hour/365 Days Service Did you know? A Hand in Need: 143 061-261-1515 Sports and Recreation Ambulance: 144 Emergency Veterinarian Workshops, Tours, and Education Poison Center: 145 24 Hour/365 Days Service Entertainment Child / Teen Hotline: 147 090-099-3399

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Elisabethenanlage 9, CH-4051 Basel www.benedict-basel.ch Tel: +41 61 202 12 12, [email protected] Get going! Snowshoeing Snowshoeing, a winter sport that has been gaining great momentum in the past decade, is fun to do as a family or with friends. It is great exercise in the fresh outdoors (burning over 600 calories per hour), and best of all—it allows you to enjoy breathtaking sights of the pristine winterscapes that this region has to offer.

Snowshoeing, or “Schneeschuhwandern,“ as it is called in this part of Where to Snowshoe the world, has come a long way since the early days when trappers Basically, you can snowshoe anywhere there is snow, short of trespass- used large wood-framed models stringed with animal hide and sinews ing on private property of course! The Basel area is not renowned for its to trudge through deep snow. Today’s snowshoes are smaller, lighter, abundance of the white stuff in winter, so you will most likely need to and made with modern materials and flexible bindings that are easy to leave the city to enjoy this winter sport. Essentially, any trail that is con- strap on and off. Outfitting yourself for snowshoeing is much less ex- sidered a winter hiking trail (Winter-Wanderweg) is fair game, as long pensive than for other winter sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, as the terrain is not too rocky, steep, or treacherous. Switzerland has a and the best part is that just about anyone who can walk can also snow- vast number of winter hiking trails as well as snowshoeing trails, and shoe! listing them all here would be far beyond the scope of this article. The following information will help to get you started and find some snow- The Right Equipment shoe excursions that are right for you. In addition to a pair of snowshoes, you will need clothes that are warm Baselland and surrounds are riddled with hiking trails, and when the enough for the temperature and wind conditions; something water- snow is sufficient, these are good proximal options. Keep in mind, how- and wind-proof is best. As you can build up a sweat while snowshoeing, ever, that when the hiking trails are well-travelled and well packed- layers that are easy to remove and a top that zippers are best to regu- down, it may make more sense to hike them than to snowshoe them. late body temperature. Wear a sturdy pair of waterproof hiking boots For up-to-date information on snowshoeing in the Baselland region (if warm enough) or winter boots; make sure that the boots you wear in January and February, you can go to their tourist information site are compatible with the bindings of your snowshoes before heading out (www.baselland-tourismus.ch) and search for the term “Schneeschuh­ on a long trail. Other items to bring include a hat, mittens or gloves, wandern.“ The SAC also offers guided snowshoe tours throughout sunglasses (or goggles), tissues, a water bottle or thermos of warm Switzerland. For those in the Baselland region, go to www.sac-­baselland. drink, and high-energy snacks in a small backpack. Also recommend- ch/touren/. Wanderwege beider-Basel is a private organization that ed are a first aid kit, a survival blanket, sun screen, flashlight, compass, works closely with the “Schweizer Wanderwege” (Swiss Hiking Federa- map, and a fully charged cell phone. Some snowshoers like to use poles tion) to offer guided hiking tours in the Basel/Baselland­ region through- to increase stability and/or burn a few more calories due to the higher out the year. In winter, they also offer some snowshoeing tours, includ- cardio workout from the constant arm movement—in this case, ski ing on February 13 and 27. To register for one of their tours, visit their poles or other such poles that won’t sink in the snow may be best. website at www.wanderwege-beider-basel.ch/de/wandern/gefuehrte- wanderungen-8.html and download the 2015–2016 program by click- Important Points to Consider ing on “Gesamtprogramm 2015/16 (pdf, 5.1 MB).” Langenbruck in canton Baselland, with its snowy landscapes and an You can snowshoe in open areas or on designated routes. Most winter altitude of over 700 m, is only 30 minutes from Basel and therefore a sport resorts now offer marked and groomed trails for those who pre- popular destination for Basel families in winter. In particularly good fer snowshoeing to skiing. Marked routes are easier to follow, will not snow conditions, there is a small ski lift in operation, as well as a popu- lead you into avalanche-prone areas, and protect the nature and the wildlife that live in the area and need to be respected. When choosing a snowshoe excursion, consider the time/distance of the trail as well as the change in elevation. Snowshoeing is more tiring than hiking; therefore, it is important to bring enough provisions and to consider the time it will take to return as well as the number of hours of daylight to safely find your way back. Remember also that the return is often slower than the way out. Some marked trails, such as those marked by the Schweizer Alpen-Club (SAC), indicate six levels of dif­ ficulty as WT1 to WT6; this rating primarily reflects the slope, risk of falling, and risk of avalanches rather than the actual travel time or changes in elevation. Thus, some WT1 trails may be 5 hours long, whereas a WT6 trail may only take 2 hours. Marked trails are not necessarily groomed, so while they allow you to enjoy the snowy landscape, they also require some attention to signs and direction. The difficulty levels of marked snowshoe trails, like other snow sports, are designated by color: blue (easy), red (medium), and black (difficult). (See the box on the next page.) If you are not an experienced snowshoer or if you are unfamiliar with the area, you may want to join a guided snowshoe tour. Most tourist of- fices or local tourism associations in winter sports destinations offer weekly guided snowshoe tours; contact them for a list of times and degree of difficulty.

18 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com lar children’s lift for sledding. Snowshoeing is already guaranteed! To com/touren/schneeschuhtouren. Gasthof Birkenhof in Belchen also download a PDF of its 19 different trails, go to www.baselland.ch/ offers guided tours though the magical snowy landscape of the forests fileadmin/baselland/files/docs/gemeinden/langenbruck/prospekt.pdf. around Belchen. They offer 2-hour tours (4 km), half-day tours (7–10 km), The Wasserfallen region in Reigoldswil, Baselland, with its peaceful and whole-day tours (12–18 km). They can welcome you in English, and tranquil snowy landscape is only a 45-minute drive from Basel. German, French, and Italian, but unfortunately, dogs are only welcome With sufficient snow, you can take the gondola up the mountain and on leashes. To make a reservation, call Brigitte Böhni at +49-7673-888- enjoy a 4-km toboggan ride down the mountain. You can also explore 385 or email them at [email protected]. Gästhaus the area on snowshoes; a marked trail leads from the Wasserfallen Birkenhof can be reached by car in under an hour or by S-Bahn (S6) mountain station to a quaint mountain restaurant (Vogelsberg) where train from Basel’s Badischer Bahnhof to Schopfheim, then by bus to you can enjoy some typical Swiss cuisine. Snowshoes and poles can be Neuenweg, where the hosts will pick you up. www.gaestehaus-birken- rented on the spot, and guided tours can be organized for groups of 10 hof.com/­aktivitaeten/wintersport/schneeschuhwandern/ or more. Further afield, most major ski resorts in Switzerland have some desig- The neighboring canton of Jura with its unspoiled scenery and rolling nated snowshoeing trails as well as snowshoe rentals; so if you are in hills is a paradise for snowshoers. You can download a PDF of some a group who wants to ski/snowboard and you prefer trekking through suggested trails with information on distance, difficulty, and amenities, the winter wonderland, these are good options. If you are serious about such as parking, toilettes, picnic areas, and restaurants, at www.jura- snowshoeing, consider joining the “Schweizerischer Schneeschuh Ver- tourisme.ch/download/jura_tourisme/raquettes_depliant_15-16_1.pdf. band” (Swiss Snowshoe Association). Membership costs CHF 50 per year and includes a book entitled “Passport-Raquettes” that provides The southern Black Forest region of Germany with its peaceful forests tons of information on great marked snowshoe trails in each canton. and mountain elevations is also a great option for snowshoeing. Spe- Another organization called Global Trail has a great website that pro- cial maps are available for the most popular winter sports areas in the vides a list of marked trails in Switzerland, as well as the latest infor- “Hochschwarzwald,” which show routes that are color-coded for each mation, tips, and hints for safe and exciting snowshoeing. Go to their winter sport activity, including downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, website www.globaltrail.ch, click on “Routen,” then on “Markierte winter walking, or snowshoeing, as well as their respective degree of Routen,” and finally on “Alle Schneeschuhrouten” to get an alphabeti- difficulty. Snowshoe trails are indicated by pink disks depicting a figure cal list of over 100 trails, their status, difficulty level, distance, and es- wearing snowshoes. There is also a book available called “Schnee- timated time to complete. Clicking on a listed trail will also give you a schuhwandern: Die 34 schönsten Touren im Naturschutzgebiet Feld- description of the trail, a corresponding map, and directions on how to berg/Schwarzwald,” which details 34 of the most beautiful snowshoe- get there with private and public transportation. If you want to book a ing trails in the southern Black Forest. The higher elevations around guided snowshoe tour, click on “Tourenanbieter” on the same site for a Feldberg, Titisee, and Hinterzarten generally have snow from December list of organizations that provide guided snowshoe excursions in the onwards; however, the most reliable snow conditions in the low-lying areas start towards the end of January and can continue into mid- March. The Schwarzwald Tourismus lists a few dozen snowshoe trails Difficulty Level of Marked Trails that you can trek by yourself or on a guided tour, each with details about their length, estimated time, ascent and descent, degree of difficulty, Blue: For beginners. Easy terrain with ascents and descents, but suitability for families, as well as maps, driving directions, and parking no difficult crossings or steep passages. (www.schwarzwald-tourismus.info/entdecken/winterurlaub/schnee­ Red: Best for snowshoers with some experience. Moderately steep schuhtouren). The Voyageur Outdoor Services offer guided snowshoe terrain with occasional steeper or exposed sections in the ascent, tours in the Feldberg region that leave from Basel. Together you will descent, or crossings, which require surefootedness and a toler- take the train and bus from the Basel SBB to reach the starting point of ance for heights. your 4–5-hour snowshoe tour. The tour has only minimal uphill stretch- Black: For experienced snowshoers only. Partly steep and exposed es and is therefore suitable to everyone who just wants to enjoy the terrain with risk of falling. Requires good snowshoeing technique, outdoors. They also offer overnight tours; to find out more about these surefootedness, a tolerance for heights, and a good physical condition. day and weekend tours, visit their website at http://voyageur-outdoor. photo credits: © john varaklis, © stephen oliver February 2016 19 Get going! (continued) various mountain regions. “Swiss Alpine Guides” offers various types the guided tour, cheese fondue (excluding drinks), and taxi ride back to of guided snowshoe adventures in the Interlaken area, including a sce- Spiez around 22:30. Snowshoes can be rented for CHF 15 per person; nic easy 2–4-hour trek, a panorama trek, a full-moon snowshoe trek, a let them know at registration. Note that the event will be cancelled in spring glacier trek, and an overnight “Yeti” weekend tour. Learn more the event of bad weather; call 033-654-1410 for an automated message about how to book one of these adventures for groups, teams, or families regarding cancellation. www.aeschi-tourismus.ch/aktivitaeten/winter ­ on their website at www.swissalpineguides.ch/english/SnowshoeTrek/ sport/schneeschuhlaufen/gefuehrte-schneeschuhtouren.html default.html. If you are interested in a combination culinary and snow- shoeing tour, you can register for the “Culinary Tour on Snowshoes” that takes place on the first Saturday in March. Register now for the magnifi- cent guided tour of the Valais Alps in five stages leading to different Do’s and Dont’s mountain huts, to enjoy Valais wines and specialties. For this and other • Be sure to check the weather conditions before heading out. guided snowshoe tours in the Valais region, go to www.valais.ch/en/ • Never snowshoe alone. activities/ski-winter-activities/snowshoeing/culinary-tour-on-snow • Leave behind an itinerary of where you are going and your shoes. expected return time. For an unforgettable experience, try a moonlit 3-hour snowshoe tour • Choose a trail that is suitable for your level and give yourself by the light of the full moon glittering in the snow in the mountains ample time to return before losing daylight. above Lake Thun, near Spiez. On this guided tour, you will ascend on a • If your tour/trail includes a gondola, be sure to check the time scenic ridge, quickly leaving the light of the last houses behind you. The of the last ride down. trek is a moderate snowshoe hike with a few short passages in steep terrain. The fairytale views of the lake and the sea of lights below will • Never snowshoe on or near train tracks, as the snow muffles astound you. The 400-meter ascent and descent will be followed by a the sound of oncoming trains. delicious fondue in a cozy mountain ski hut. Meeting place is at the • Avoid snowshoeing on private property and respect the nature ­Aeschiried Schulhaus at 17:00. To join the tours on February 19 or 20, and its inhabitants. register at least 3 days in advance at 033-654-1424 or info@aeschi- • Leave dogs at home whenever possible. When dogs are permit- tourismus.ch (minimum 4 people). Spiez can be reached directly by car ted, keep them on a leash to prevent unwanted encounters with in about 1 hour and 40 minutes, and there is parking directly in front of wild animals. the meeting place. It is recommended, however, to take public trans- • In winter, food is scarcer and animals need to conserve their port, arriving in Aeschiried by train. You should bring/wear snowshoes, energy for heat. Do not approach wild animals to prevent any poles, good hiking shoes/boots, snowsuit (no jeans), hat, mittens, scarf, unnecessary energy expenditure on their part. headlamp or flashlight, small snack, and a thermos with warm tea. The • In case of injury or accident, call 112 but don’t leave the injured snowshoe tour costs CHF 75 for adults and CHF 40 for kids up to age 16, person alone. which will be collected at the bar before setting off. The price includes

Thursday mornings are jumping! We’ve added a new Imagine That class for 3-5 year-olds and a mixed-age Family Time session. The new semester has just begun. Come along and join the fun! www.kidsmusic.ch

GO Ahead With English English for children

Pre-school: Structured, nurturing program in Englishfor children 3 -5 year old who are not yet in kindergarten. Mornings, 8:30 – 11:30. English classes: for speakers of English who attend local schools – Several afternoons. We also offer ESOL classes. Our teachers and pre-school leaders are qualified mother- tongue English speakers. Please call or send us an email to schedule a visit. Ahead With English GmbH www.aheadwithenglish.ch Känelmattweg 5, 4106 Therwil And Haus der Vereine in Riehen 061 421 4109 or 061 901 8921

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

Family Famigros Ski Day February 7, 13, 21, and 28 If going skiing with your young family sounds dauntingly expensive, consider joining a Famigros Ski Day. Every Sunday throughout the winter months, Migros organizes a day in the snow for the whole family at a different location, at un- beatable prices. In addition to a full-day ski pass for each family member, Famigros Ski Day includes a family-friendly skiing, snowboarding, or tele- marking race where the clock starts as the first family member crosses the starting line and stops when the last family member crosses the finish line, as well as a lunch for the whole family, fun games, super prizes, Rivella drinks, a souvenir medal, gifts from Migros, and much more. The cost for the Famigros Ski Days is CHF 110 (CHF 85 if you hold a Famigros card) for the whole family of 3 to 5 members (with maximum 2 adults), with at least one child born 2002 or later. Register in advance to take advantage of this wonderful offer at http:// famigros.t3.preview.unic.com/?id=1763, up until the Thursday before. Note that spaces are limited and can fill up before this date. If you are not yet a Famigros card holder, register for free at https://famigros.migros.ch to benefit from this discount, as well as countless specials at Migros throughout the year. www.famigros-ski-day.ch

Indoor Playground at Spiel-Estrich Acrobatics Workshop The Spiel-Estrich is February 27 an indoor playground The Acroballet Center (ABC) in Gundeli is offering a workshop from located in the attic of 10:00–12:00 that will focus on Überschlag (forward handsprings) for a building at the back kids starting at age 7. Cost is CHF 35. Participants will be assisted right corner of Kas- based on their level and needs. You can register in person or directly on erne. Robi-Spiel-Ak- their website. tionen invites kids www.acroballet.ch/de/aktuell/workshops.html for supervised play- time on Wednesday and Saturday after- Ski and Snowboard Day Excursions noons from 14:00– February 28 16:00, as well as on the first Sunday of each month from 10:00–14:00. Ski Club BVB Basel is a youth organization that offers skiing and snow- The children can blow off some steam on a variety of equipment, includ- boarding day trips for people ages 6–20 under the guidance of trained ing slides, suspended swings, ladders, and ride-on toys, while parents teachers to learn or improve their skills and techniques. Cost is CHF enjoy a coffee and Gipfeli or do a little nearby shopping. 50, which includes transport, supervision, day pass, and lesson. The www.robi-spiel-aktionen.ch trips are equally suitable for beginners and advanced skiers and snow- boarders. Participants need to organize their own equipment. www.scbvb-basel.ch Disco Night at the Skating Rink, Rheinfelden February 12 and 26 FC BASEL SCHEDULE FEBRUARY 2016 Young and old are welcome from 20:15–23:00 at the skating rink in Rheinfelden (Kunsteisbahn Rheinfelden), where you can skate to your favorite requests played by a DJ. Entrance is CHF 8 for children and FC Basel 1893 (Fussball / Soccer) CHF 13 for adults; skates for kids and adults can also be rented on the spot. For more info and location, go to their website. Red signifies Home Game @ St. Jakob Stadion www.kuba-rheinfelden.ch/kunsteisbahn.htm Date Time Home Team Guests Tue., Feb. 2 15:00 FC Basel 1893 Xamax Eskimo Roll Class Sun., Feb. 7 16:00 FC Basel 1893 FC Luzern February 22 – March 14 Sun., Feb. 14 16:00 Grasshopper Club FC Basel 1893 The Eskimo roll is an important kayaking technique, so called because it was conceived by Eskimos who needed a move that would allow them Thu., Feb. 18 19:00 AS Saint-Étienne FC Basel 1893 to right themselves quickly in the event of capsizing in freezing water Sun., Feb. 21 13:45 FC Basel 1893 FC Vaduz during a seal hunt. It looks easy and effortless, but actually requires Thu., Feb. 25 21:05 FC Basel 1893 AS Saint-Étienne quite some practice. Globe Paddlers is offering a 4-week class (once Sun., Feb. 28 13:45 FC Thun FC Basel 1893 per week on Mondays) to teach the technique in the safety and warmth of an indoor swimming pool. Classes will take place at the Wasser­ Prices range from CHF 20–75 for adults in regular seating. Children ages stelzen Hallenbad in Riehen for small groups of seven participants; the 6–16 receive a discount of 25% in the regular seating areas. There is a special course costs CHF 275 for all four lessons. They provide the kayaks, you area for families and young adults (up to age 22) with slightly lower prices. For bring your swimsuit and preferably also your goggles and nose clamp. more information on seats and pricing, go to: www.globepaddler.ch www.fcb.ch/de-CH/Stadion/Stadionplan-Preise#Preise photo credit: © fred feldmann (famigros family day), © robi-spiel-aktionen February 2016 21 Workshops, Tours, and Education in Basel

Saturday Morning Physics January 30 and February 6 Would you like to know how to capture an atom? Would you like to travel to dif- ferent galaxies? If you are 14 and up and interested in learning about some cool topics in physics, then Saturday Morning Physics is for you! On two consecutive Saturdays each January/February, two scientists from the Physics Department of the Universität Basel give German-language presentations on current and interesting topics in physics. On January 30, you can learn about “Riesen- spiralen und Zwerg-Ellipsen. Rätselhaftes aus dem Galaxien-Zoo” (Giant ­spirals and dwarf ellipticals. Puzzles from the galaxy zoo), and on February 6, the topic is “Die Grenzen der Messbarkeit. Der Zufall in der Quantenphysik und die genauesten Uhren der Welt” (The limits of measurability. Coincidence in quantum physics and the most accurate clocks in the world). Saturday Morning Physics run from 10:00–12:30, starting with a presentation of the topic at 10:00, coffee-break and discussion at 10:45, and an “experiment-park” from 11:15– 12:30. On January 30, participants will also view a breath-taking 360° video projection in a full-dome planetarium, introducing them to our universe with interesting facts about life on Earth and the history of space travel. Saturday Morning Physics take place in the Grosser Hörsaal of the Physik Departement; entrance is at St. Johannsring 25 in Basel. Those who take part on both Satur- days will receive a Saturday Morning Physics diploma and will be entered into a draw to win an iPad or one of many t-shirts. These talks are popular and fill up quickly, so visit their website to register (click on “Zum Online-Anmelde­ formular”) or to download this year’s program by clicking on “Flyer Saturday Morning Physics 2016 (pdf).” www.physik.unibas.ch/smp

A Celebration of Literature through Storytelling Tour of “Wildlife Photographer of the Year” Exhibit February 4 February 7, 14, 21, and 28 English storytellers invite children from age 5 to discover new ways to The Naturhistorisches Museum Basel is hosting this year’s “Wildlife celebrate literature at the Basel West Library (Allschwillerstrasse 90, Photographer of the Year” exhibit until April 3. They are offering 1-hour Basel) at 15:30. On February 4, Jeanne Darling will present “Fractured German-language tours of this exhibit every Sunday at 11:00 and 14:00, Tales,” where she introduces a classic story, and after exploring the as well as a family tour from 15:00–16:00 on Sunday, February 7. This plot, characters, and setting, the children will brainstorm adaptations annual exhibit, which is and then act out the story. Participation to these literature sessions is organized by the Natural always free and no registration is required. History Museum London, www.stadtbibliothekbasel.ch puts on display the best nature photographs sub- Umbrella Workshop mitted the previous year— February 6, 7, 27, and 28 breathtaking landscapes, charming pictures of In former times, umbrellas were a stylish, elaborate, and intricate ac- ­animals, and fantastic cessory made of precious fabrics. Nowadays, however, creative um- nature scenarios. The brellas have become a rarity. Now it’s up to you to do something about photographs show the this monotony. In conjunction with the special exhibition “Parasols and amazing variety of life on umbrellas—from everyday object to work of art,” you are invited from our planet and simulta- 13:30–17:30 to participate in a workshop for young and old where you neously emphasize their can design your own children’s umbrella under the tutelage of experts. fragility. Entrance to the museum is CHF 7 for adults and CHF 5 for Everything you need will be provided. Children ages 6 and up may partici- teens; kids under 13 are free. Entrance is free for the last opening hour pate if accompanied by an adult. Participation is free and there is no need (16:00–17:00) from Tuesday to Saturday, as well as the first Sunday of to register for the workshop, although you may need to wait for a turn. each month. www.spielzeug-welten-museum-basel.ch www.nmb.bs.ch Family Tour of Fasnacht Instrument Exhibit February 7 Tinguely Tours If you and your children are curious about the musical instruments of Fasnacht, join a German-language family tour entitled “Fasnacht, vor- February 9 wärts, Marsch!” (Fasnacht, forwards, march!) at the Museum für Musik You are invited to join a short, guided tour in English of the permanent (near Centrepoint). The tour is for families with children ages 5 and up collection at the Tinguely Museum starting at 13:00. Admission to the that would like to learn all about, and even try the Fasnacht instru- museum costs CHF 15 for adults; free for kids ages 16 and under when ments, which include the piccolo flute, saxophone, drums, and timpani. accompanied by an adult, otherwise CHF 10. The cost of the tour is in- The tour starts at 11:00; entrance is free. cluded in the entrance fee. www.hmb.ch www.tinguely.ch

22 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com Tour of “Silber & Gold” Exhibit February 11 For many centuries Basel was a major center of excellence in the field of goldsmithing. With its selection of more than 250 pieces, this exhibit at the Museum für Wohnkultur presents the many facets of a gold- smith’s work, from medieval liturgical plates to secular showpieces and silver tableware for use in private households. On display, along- side objects from the museum itself, are numerous pieces from private collections, some of which have never been seen before in public or are recent acquisitions. One of the highlights is the 17th- and 18th-century tableware, for which the Haus zum Kirschgarten (Elisabethenstrasse 27), one of the grandest mansions in Basel, provides an ideal setting. An English-language tour of this exhibit starts at 12:30. Entrance to the museum is CHF 18 for adults, CHF 5 for students ages 13–20, and free for kids under 13. There will be a French tour of this exhibit on February 28 at 12:30. www.hmb.ch

Tour of “The Sunken Treasure. The Antikythera Shipwreck” February 21 In conjunction with this marvelous exhibit about the most important ancient shipwreck, the Antikythera wreck, the Antikenmuseum Basel will be offering a tour in English. The exhibit, which has left Greece for the first time, highlights masterpieces of Greek art and technology, in- cluding a mysterious machine consisting of bronze gears that was also found on board. This Antikythera Mechanism is regarded as a kind of computer and as one of the foremost discoveries in the history of ar- cheology. The tour starts at 14:00 and costs CHF 7; reservation is re- quired at 061-201-1212 or [email protected]. www.antikenmuseumbasel.ch

Tour of the Jean Dubuffet Exhibit February 21 From 15:00–16:00, the Fondation Beyeler will be giving a public tour in English of the temporary exhibit on French painter and sculptor, Jean Dubuffet. Best known for founding the art movement “Art Brut,” his idealistic approach to aesthetics embraced the so-called “low-art” and eschewed traditional standards of beauty in favor of what he believed to be a more authentic and humanistic approach to image-making. The exhibition at the Fondation Beyeler includes some 100 works from his ISB: where Inspiration, richly facetted and multilayered oeuvre. Admission to the museum is CHF 25 for adults (CHF 50 for the whole family with Familienpass), Engagement & CHF 6 for kids ages 11–19, and free for kids under age 11. The tour costs an additional CHF 7. Note that a French tour of this exhibit will Collaboration come to life take place on February 28. www.fondationbeyeler.ch International Baccalaureate Programmes Ages 3 - 18 • Day School Origami Workshop February 21 The Basler Papiermühle (Basel pa- per mill) is a wonderful place to vis- Fleischbachstrasse 2 it with your family. Here, historical 4153 Reinach technical exhibitions straight from the Middle Ages come together with Switzerland fully functioning workshops on all Tel: +41 61 715 33 33 steps of the process from making paper to finished book to keep the museum and its craft alive. On the AESCH | FIECHTEN | REINACH third Sunday of each month, the Origami-Verein Gelterkinden holds workshops where museum visitors can explore the colorful world of paper folding. Workshops are from 13:00–17:00 and are included in the entrance price to the museum. www.isbasel.ch www.papiermuseum.ch photo credit: © universität basel, departement physik, © fabien michenet (it came from the deep), © andreas bauer February 2016 23 Workshops, Tours, and Education in Basel (continued)

Bookworms Program—English Basel for Newcomers—Live, Learn, and Enjoy February 23 February 27 Bibliothek Basel West (Allschwilerstrasse 90 in Basel) is hosting a book On this tour, specially designed for new residents of the city, you can group for babies and toddlers ages 9 months to 4 years and their care- get to know the city and at the same time gain some valuable tips for givers. Each session is designed around a theme and includes an inter- day-to-day life, such as public transport, post, and healthcare. You will active exploration of classic stories, songs, and rhymes in English, as also receive useful information on where to shop, the many cultural well as a simple craft related to the overall theme for the children to institutions in the city, and possibilities for spending your leisure time. complete and take home. Participation is free of charge and no regis- This is a joint project by the Presidential Department of the canton Ba- tration is required; starts at 10:15. sel-Stadt and Basel Tourism and is designed to make new residents of www.stadtbibliothekbasel.ch the city feel welcome and at home as quickly as possible. The tour in English is from 10:00–12:30 and costs CHF 5; meeting point is at the Basel tourist information at the SBB train station. You can contact them Talk: David Chipperfield—Revisiting Modernism at [email protected]. February 25 www.basel.com/en/search/citytours The buildings designed by David Chipperfield are timelessly elegant, with strong links to their architectural environment and historical ref- Film, Video, Cartoon, and Animation Workshop erences. Even as an author and curator, Chipperfield shapes current architecture. In 2012, he curated “Common Ground,” a highly acclaimed K-Werk is offering an ongoing workshop entitled “Bewegtes Bild” (Mov- edition of the Venice Architecture Biennale. As a member of the jury for ing Image) for teens ages 13–18 to realize their own video or animation the reconstruction of the Masters’ Houses at the Dessau Bauhaus, on Wednesday evenings from 19:00–21:00. Participants need to have Chipperfield played a significant role in the debates about the history some knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro CS6, GarageBand, Photoshop, and future of the Bauhaus. His English-language presentation at the and iStopMotion, and/or be able to work independently. Cameras and Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany, will provide insight computer editing suites are available, as is project support, guidance, into his work. The talk will start at 18:00; admission is free and no reg- and information. When in doubt, you can always join one workshop and istration is required. determine whether these workshops are the right avenue to realize your project. The works produced will be presented to the public. Teens www.design-museum.de can jump in at any time for a series of eight workshop-evenings for a total cost of CHF 50 (the first workshop is free!). www.kwerk.ch

University Lectures for Kids! Every year, the University of Basel offers a series of lectures in German aimed at children ages 8–12. The lectures will take place for five con- secutive weeks in April and May on either Tuesday or Thursday from 17:00–18:00. This year’s five lectures are entitled: "Welche Kinder kom- men ins Kinderheim—früher und heute?" (Which children end up in a children's home—in earlier times and today?), "Was ist eigentlich ­Licht?" (What is light?"), "Kann man mit Viren auch Fangen und Ver- stecken spielen?" (Can you play catch or hide-and-seek with viruses?), "Woher kommt das Geld?" (Where does money come from?), and "Was machen Richter und Anwältinnen eigentlich?" (What do judges and ­attorneys do?). The lectures are all given by University of Basel profes- sors and are aimed at getting kids thinking and asking questions. ­Registration is free and the 900 places fill up quickly, so register now! Once registered, kids are expected to go to all five lectures. www.kinderuni.unibas.ch

Jukibu Intercultural Library Events Jukibu is a multi-cultural library that houses books for children and adolescents in over 50 languages, their largest collection being English-language books. Below is the February schedule of the foreign-language events organized at the library. Please visit their website for a detailed list of activities or to become a member at www.jukibu.ch. You can also check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jukibu. Note that during the Sport/Fasnacht Holiday from February 6–22, the library is only open on Wednesdays, February 10 and 17, from 15:00–18:00. Date Time Event Suitable for… February 5 17:00–19:00 Bookbinding workshop for children Children ages 9–12 February 24 15:30–16:00 Storytelling in Tigrigna and German Parents with children February 26 17:00–19:00 Bookbinding workshop for children Children ages 9–12 February 27 10:30–11:30 Storytelling in English with BCT Parents with toddlers February 27 10:30–11:30 Storytelling in French and German Parents with children February 27 14:00–15:00 Storytelling in Japanese, Italian and German Parents with children

24 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com photo credits: © ute zscharnt für david chipperfield architects

Entertainment:Sports and Recreation Night on the Town

Violino Alla Bolognese February 4 The Kammerorchester Basel (Chamber Orchestra Basel) will be presenting a con- cert with solo violinist and director Julia Schröder at the Martinskirche in Basel. The concert will feature works by several composers from the Italian region of Bolo- gna. It will begin at 19:30; tickets are CHF 30–65, half-price for students, and discounted by CHF 10 for Roche employees (with proper I.D.). www.kammerorchesterbasel.ch

Jesus Christ Superstar back of the percussion section. Antonín Dvo ák’s 8th Symphony comes February 1, 3, 7, 11, 13, and 28 from a world of musical perfection. Its success in the British Isles earned it the sobriquet “The English,” but on the basis of its musical In 1970, the album “Jesus Christ Superstar” by Andrew Lloyd Webber antecedents it really ought to be called “The Bohemian.” The concert and Tim Rice exploded onto the scene. The rock opera perfectly re- begins at 19:30 in the Musiksaal of the Stadtcasino Basel. Tickets start flected the feeling of the time, bringing together the ‘60s generation’s at CHF 31 (CHF 15.70 for students) and can be purchased online or at search for meaning, hippie culture, a classic musical format, and rock Bider & Tanner. in one spectacular hit concept album. It tells the story of the last seven www.sinfonieorchesterbasel.ch/en days in the life of Jesus from Judas’ point of view. However, Lloyd Web- ber and Rice do not characterize Judas simply as a traitor. They show him as a supporter and above all a friend of Jesus, who has to struggle with his increasing disillusionment as he is forced to watch how their AFTER HOURS—Chillen im Museum shared dream slips increasingly beyond their reach. The euphoria with February 4 which supporters and opponents greet Jesus escalates into a fanati- If you are interested in seeing the cism in which Jesus becomes stylized as a cult figure. He confronts this Naturhistorisches Museum Basel’s cult of stardom with a gentle strength; however, doubts about the worth new exhibit “Wildlife Photogra- of his own deeds cause him too to quarrel with God. This diversity of pher of the Year” in the evening, viewpoints drives the drama. Irrespective of its religious aspect, the here is your chance. You can visit perverse extremes of the cult of stardom are still a phenomenon of our this special exhibit at your leisure time, in a world that continually seems to be falling apart. The show, from 18:00–23:00 for free, followed which is in English with German surtitles, will be directed by Tom Ryser, by a relaxing drink with friends at with the music performed in the original band arrangements for the the museum bar (drinks are extra). legendary 1970 recording. Tickets can be purchased online and are CHF 50–118 for adults and CHF 27–61 for youths. www.nmb.bs.ch www.theater-basel.ch English Comedy Gagliano Trio February 6 February 2 American Dave Fulton can be considered another “Funny Launderer” with an inimitable, ornery, American schtick. He is one of the most dy- The Gesellschaft für Kammermusik will be presenting Zürich’s namic and innovative comedians on the comedy circuit with a decep- ­Gagliano Trio, who will be playing works by Schumann and Brahms at tively laid-back stage manner that disguises a raw aggression. He is the Hans Huber-Saal of the Stadtcasino Basel at 19:30. Tickets are joined by U.K. comic Funmbi Omotayo, a young stand-up artist with a CHF 32–62 and can be purchased through Starticket. trademark charm and charismatic style. The show will be at the Kuppel www.kammermusik.org in Basel starting at 20:00, doors open at 19:00. Tickets are CHF 40 and can be purchased online at www.starticket.ch. Symphony Concert—Sensemayá www.internationalcomedyclub.ch February 3 This concert by the Sinfonieorchester Basel features three pieces by Chinese New Year three very different composers. “Sensemayá” means a “song sung to February 8 kill a snake.” It is the best-known work by Mexican composer and revo- lutionary Silvestre Revueltas Sánchez. The concerto “The Tears of Enjoy the Chinese New Year at the Grand Casino Basel with a free Chi- ­Nature” by Chinese composer Tan Dun was the product of Dun’s admi- nese buffet and a great show. The evening’s festivities will begin at ration for the Austrian percussionist Martin Grubinger, who is also the 20:00 and entrance is free. Note that entrance to the casino, its bars, soloist in this concert. During the performance, it is the orchestra that restaurants, and events hall is only permitted to people 18 years and communicates with the percussionist. The work takes the soloist from older. the front of the stage, through the middle of the orchestra, and to the www.grandcasinobasel.com

26 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com Ballet—Tewje Swiss Music Awards February 9, 12, and 22 February 12 Tevye must watch as his family falls apart when his home is being tak- The Swiss Music Awards, which serve to promote the national music en. Yet he never loses his faith in God and his truly unshakable humor. scene and present its cultural diversity, are the most important music This story, which was made popular by the successful musical “The prizes in Switzerland. As a hub for music-makers, professionals, and Fiddler on the Roof” (“Anatevka”), recalls the vanished world of the Shtetls. personalities from the worlds of politics, society, and the media, the There is no nostalgic transfiguration, no embellished idyll to obscure Swiss Music Awards have evolved into the music prizes with the broad- the bitter reality of life of East European Jewry and the disasters that est appeal and greatest impact in the country in just a few short years. loom on the horizon at the beginning of the 20th century: revolutions, With the theme “Music to Life,” the 9th edition of the Swiss Music pogroms, expulsions. Richard Wherlock picked Scholem Alejchem’s Awards will take place on February 12, at the Hallenstadion in Zürich— classic of Yiddish literature “Tevye, the Milkman” for his new ballet. a worthy setting for this glittering celebration of national and interna- Wherlock’s contemporary dance style combines with the lively and tional musicians and performances by hot live acts, including Sido and catchy music of Olivier Truan, who was commissioned to write a compo- SEVEN. The Swiss Music Awards 2016 will be presented in the follow- sition for the new ballet. He wrote a fascinating world music dominated ing categories: Best Female Solo Act, Best Male Solo Act, Best Group, by stylistic openness, the Jewish musical traditions, Southern Euro- Best Breaking Act, Best Live Act, Best Talent, Best Act Romandie, Best pean folklore with jazz improvisations, but also borrowing from the Album, Best Hit, and Artist Award, as well as Best Act International, Western classical music, combining it into one “Contemporary Klezmer.” Best Breaking Act International, Best Album International, and Best This ballet, which promises dance virtuosity and exuberant playful- Hit International. The nomination and selection of Swiss Music Award ness, will be staged on the Grosse Bühne of the Theater Basel. Tickets winners are officially regulated by Press Play. Nominees this year in- are CHF 50–118 for adults and CHF 27–61 for kids and students. clude 77 Bombay Street, Bastian Baker, Sam Smith, Adele, and more. www.theater-basel.ch Tickets for the event are now on sale, and the ticket options are almost as varied as the awards show itself. You can put on your dancing shoes, if that’s what you enjoy, or you can just sit back comfortably and let the Cube Session #15 evening knock your socks off. You can even treat yourself to one of the exclusive VIP tickets. Tickets range from CHF 40–80 and can be pur- February 11 chased through Ticketcorner or Starticket. If you prefer to watch this Cube Sessions take lavishly produced event from the comfort of your home, the Swiss Music place four times a year Awards will be broadcast live on SRF zwei, RSI La 2, joiz, and One TV. at the Kuppel in Basel. www.swissmusicawards.ch Classical and electronic music move out of their comfort zones in search of something that’s more than the sum of its parts. They make the perfect Thursday prologue to the upcoming weekend, tak- ing the listener on a mu- sical voyage of discovery between remix, reprise, and flagrant rule- breaking. Amped/Wired will be accompanied by members of Sin­fonieorchester Basel. The concert begins at 21:00; tickets cost CHF 20 (CHF 15 for students) and can be purchased online. www.cubesessions.ch

The Magic Flute February 8, 10, 21, and 27 A cry for help, a mysterious monster, and three ladies start the fairy tale of Prince Tamino, whom the Queen of the Night commands to free Princess Pamina from the clutches of her kidnapper, Sarastro. In his quest, Tamino is helped by Papageno, who promptly warbles and stumbles his way into everybody’s heart. The story transforms gradually into a ritual that Tamino and Pamina are obliged to follow. Tests have to be passed, old ties must be broken. Previous conceptions of good and evil are reversed. The world is turned upside down. At the end of their journey, everyone is a lot wiser and more grown up. Or are they? “The Magic Flute” is an un- usual mixture of Viennese folk theatre, masonic mysteries, and fairy tale. Since its first performance in 1791 it has established itself as one of the greats of the operatic repertoire. Above all, “The Magic Flute” remains a mystery whose complexity is always open to further investigation. This grand opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will be performed on the Grosse Bühne of the Theater Basel. The performance is in German with German and English surtitles; tickets are CHF 60–137, CHF 32–71 for kids and students. www.theater-basel.ch

photo credit: © christian flierl (kammerorchester), © naturhistorisches museum basel, © sinfonieorchester basel, © swiss music awards, © sandra then February 2016 27 Entertainment:Sports and Recreation Night on the Town (continued)

Dance Night The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain February 13 February 17 “Tanznacht40” dance parties are for those who have at least 40 years Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights,” under their belts. These parties run from 21:00–03:00 and are held at Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries,” the Querfeld-Halle (Halle 8), Dornacherstrasse 192 in Basel. The event and Nirvana’s grunge anthems do on February 13 will feature Tony Scire. Friends, couples, and singles not sound like a good combination are welcome; admission is CHF 15. for one concert, However, they do www.tanznacht40.ch make for adventurous counterparts when they have one common ground—the ukulele. One visit to a Engel in Amerika (Angels in America) concert with this unique British en- February 13 and 27 semble will confirm that in music, anything is possible. Armed with This play in two parts written by playwright Tony Kushner deals with the “Bonsai-guitar," these men the theme of the outbreak of the AIDS epidemic in New York in the and women combine their strings in 1980s. The play is a complex, often metaphorical, and at times sym- a way that is country, funk, rock and bolic examination of AIDS and homosexuality in America at that time. roll, punk, pop, and classical. The ukulele, which is played from Brazil The play focuses on a gay Manhattan couple, but also has several other to India, has undergone its universal completion in the U.K., played storylines that occasionally intersect. The two parts of the play are with typical British humor that is sometimes dry, sometimes black, called “Millennium Approaches” and “Perestroika,” respectively, and and ­often both. Even the reputable “Independent” declared The Ukulele­ are performed consecutively. The play will be performed at the Schau­ ­Orchestra of Great Britain, “The best musical entertainment in the spielhaus of the Theater Basel in German, with English surtitles, start- whole country!” They will be performing at the Burghof just across the ing at 17:00. Tickets cost CHF 63–93 and can be purchased directly on border in Lörrach, Germany, at 20:00; tickets are € 24–34 and can be their website. purchased online. www.theater-basel.ch www.burghof.com

Barkonzert—Roli Frei Featuring Andrea Samborski & Sandra Merk February 19 Discover the Aktienmühle, a former flour mill turned community center and meeting place that offers play groups, flea markets, children’s area, bar area, monthly activities like cheese fondue around the camp- fire, and concerts in the bar area. In February, enjoy an evening full of light and warmth with guitar, bass, and voices, when soulful-bluesy singer-songwriter Roli Frei, who has graced the stage of the AVO ses- sion, will sing accompanied by Andrea and Sandra in this cozy setting. The concert is free, but donations are accepted. www.aktienmuehle.ch

TEST: The Rock Opera February 20 – March 6 In Happyville, everyone is genetically edited, except for one headstrong young woman who upsets the belief that only perfection brings happi- ness and compels the town to embrace imperfection. The production’s Joe Jackson objective is to create a true rock opera with an intelligent and thought- provoking theme. The genre of classic rock makes it possible to de- February 16 velop more complex and interesting music themes than the typical The charismatic singer and pianist Joe Jackson has always re- “pop-ish” sound of most musicals. The story is based on dramatic plot mained true to himself throughout his 30-year career. He is an twists and includes the traditional themes of an opera—love and death, eclectic and music lover who never stops at what has been achieved. betrayal and conflict—without forgetting the moments of comic relief. Joe Jackson hit the scene in 1979 as a New-Waver with his success- The arts can also help popularize science and technology. Genetics is a ful album “Look Sharp!”, followed by a reggae-phase with the album hot topic, but the issue of genetic optimization has not made big head- “Beat Crazy,” the energetic blues album “Jumpin’ Jive”, a brush with lines yet. TEST intends to change this lack of awareness. Through the salsa with “Steppin ‘Out,” as well as the album “Body & Soul” that is story and the characters, TEST brings the issue closer, to an emotional devoted to R & B and jazz. The Beethoven fan never allowed himself level that will also provoke your thoughts. Topics such as life extension, to be nailed down to a narrowly defined identity and always differed genetic cures for diseases, savior siblings, embryo manipulation, and significantly from the pop mainstream with his wide musical hori- cloning are becoming part of everyday life. How will you react? With zon. After a long break, Joe Jackson is now back with his new album apprehension? Or will you welcome genetic optimization as another “Fast Forward,” already deemed a masterpiece by his critics. Don’t advance in the saga of human history? TEST doesn’t give you the an- miss his live performance at the Volkshaus in Zürich; tickets are swers—it gives you the opportunity to take a stand. Performances take CHF 66.70–96.90, or CHF 56.50 for standing room. place at the Scala theater in Basel. Tickets are available through Ticket- www.ticketcorner.ch corner and range from CHF 37.80–114.90. www.happyville.ch/test-the-rock-opera.html

28 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com English Comedy Irish Spring February 20 February 24 Hal Cruttenden is one of the top comedians working in the U.K. today, Since its premiere in 2001, Irish Spring has become the most impor- as well as a highly accomplished writer and actor. Over the last year he tant Celtic Spring Folk Festival on tour, with the musical caravan has made his second appearance on “The Royal Variety Performance,” making guest appearances in more than 30 cities each year. The hosted “Live at the Apollo,” and was the guest comic in the final of “The show will entice you with virtuoso musicians and charming jigs, Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice”; he’s also appeared on numer- reels, and hornpipes, from the traditional to the modern, as well as ous other shows and wrote and performed in his own Radio 4 sitcom, the typical dance rhythms that are beloved staples of Irish folk music. “Hal.” Hal Cruttenden will be performing at the Kuppel in Basel start- The traditional grand finale brings all artists back on stage to cele- ing at 20:00; doors open at 19:00. Tickets are CHF 40 and can be pur- brate the magic and the sound of this wild folk evening of dancing, chased online at www.starticket.ch. clapping, and singing until the curtain falls! Performers include www.internationalcomedyclub.ch Caitlín & Ciarán (fresh Irish melodies and step dance), Blás (taste the west of Ireland), and Dallahan (Irish music from Scotland). Irish Roger Hodgson Spring will be stopping at the Burghof, just across the border in Lör- rach, Germany, at 20:00; tickets are € 27 and can be purchased online. February 20 and 21 www.burghof.com Roger Hodgson is one of the most talent- ed composers, songwriters, and lyricists of our time. He is best known as the voice, author, and publisher of the biggest Su- pertramp hits like “The Logical Song,” “Breakfast in America,” “Give a Little Bit,” “It’s Raining Again,” “Take the Long Way Home,” and many more. With their unique texts and pieces, the band sold over 60 million albums worldwide. In 1983, Roger Hodgson left the band to lead a simpler life close to nature and with his family. He continued to work on his music in his home studio, and in 1984 he released his first solo album, “In the Eye of the Storm,” which has sold over 2 million times. The legendary singer-songwriter will be back in Switzerland to perform his greatest hits at the Volkshaus in Zürich on February 20 and at the KKL in Luzern on February 21. Zürich tickets are CHF 109–149, and tickets for the ­Luzern performance are CHF 99–149. www.goodnews.ch Zauberduo Domenico—It’s Magic February 24 Hurts February 22 The magician duo Domenico, winner of the Swiss Talent Award 2013, combines magic with Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Hurts was met with great enthusi- comedy to amaze their audience with an un- asm with songs like “Wonderful Life” and “Better Than Love.” With the forgettable magic show. From appearing release of their debut album and two million records sold worldwide, pigeons to disappearing eggs, you will be they were among the most successful U.K. acts. It was their pure orig- truly amazed and leave rich in imagina- inality, their craft, and their determination that paved the way for the tion and fascination. They will be appear- duo into the British mainstream, with their shows in London selling out ing on the Tabourettli stage of the Theater faster than in any other city in the world, sometimes within minutes. Fauteuil (Spalenberg 12, Basel) to perform With their sublime hooks and powerful performances, they have be- their show “It’s Magic” at 20:00; tickets are come one of the biggest pop bands of the country, with a huge fan base CHF 29–49 and can be purchased online. in Europe as well. Don’t miss their performance at the MAAG Halle in Zürich; tickets are being sold through Startickets but are going fast. www.fauteuil.ch www.starticket.ch Jon Lehrer Dance Company—Modern Jazz Dance Al Di Meola & Group February 26 February 23 Jon Lehrer’s choreographies can be described as an overwhelming, The Offbeat Concert series will be bringing Al Di Meola, a giant of the rhythmic maelstrom that seamlessly merges lifting figures with ex- U.S. fusion scene, to Basel in February. With 40 years of success under treme horizontal and vertical balances, bordering on the limits of what his belt, he has played with greats like Stanley Clarke, John McLaugh- is physically possible. The critics are calling this exceptional ensemble lin, Paco de Lucía, Leo Kottke, and Frank Zappa and was also part of “brilliant” (Chicago Sun-Times) and “breathtaking” (Dance Magazine). Chic Corea’s supergroup, Return to Forever. He is one of the most vir- On the home front, the Jon Lehrer Dance Company conquered the tuoso guitarists ever—a true stylist of fusion music! In recent years, Al American dance scene in a very short time with explosive expression, Di Meola has enjoyed the success of his own projects, “World Sinfonia” combining elements of break-dance, acrobatics, modern and jazz and “Tribute to the Beatles,” and is now pursuing the “Elysium” project dance, as well as elements of humor. They will be performing at the with two other guitarists. The concert will take place at the Volkshaus Burghof, just across the border in Lörrach, Germany, at 20:00; tickets Basel starting at 20:00; tickets cost CHF 30–80. are € 34–44 (€ 12 for youths) and can be purchased online. www.offbeat-concert.ch www.burghof.com photo credit: © jacob blickestaff (joe jackson), © graham hardy (ukulele orchestra), © roger hodgson, © irish spring, © zauberduo domenico February 2016 29 Entertainment:Sports and Recreation Night on the Town (continued)

African Angels February 27 The Cape Town Opera Chorus, the renowned vocal ensemble of the rhythms of African traditionals, the African Angels get the heart of the world-class opera company from Cape Town, is finally back on tour. black continent beating. African Angels will be bringing their unique During their last tour, they were met with great enthusiasm in sold-out voices with their current show, as colorful and diverse as Africa itself, venues, including, among others, the Berlin Philharmonie, the Alte to the Musical Theater in Basel. The show starts at 19:30; tickets cost Oper Frankfurt, and the Philharmonie im Gasteig. With highlights from CHF 48–88 and can be purchased through Ticketcorner. moving Gospel, passionate operatic melodies, and the primitive www.musical.ch/de/musicaltheaterbasel

Die Nacht der Musicals (The Night of the Musicals) Ellie Goulding February 27 February 28 “Die Nacht der Musicals” will pair powerful voices with soulful ballads. The British shooting star with the angelic voice is a musical prodigy This year’s lineup includes the most famous songs from the most who masters several instruments simultaneously and ensures enthu- ­successful musicals and productions, including “Sister Act,” “Jesus siasm. In early 2015, Goulding released the song “Love Me like You Do,” Christ Superstar,” “The Lion King,” “Mamma Mia,” “Rocky Horror which was featured in the soundtrack to the movie adaptation of the hit Show,” “We Will Rock You,” “Phantom of the Opera,” and “Cats,” as well novel “Fifty Shades of Grey;” in December 2015 she received a Grammy as the hit musical “Beyond the Horizon,” based on the exciting life of Awards nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance. Her music is excit- rock legend Udo Lindenberg, which will for the first time complete the ing and sensitive and is paired with her incomparable voice, for a unique program. A combination of dance and acrobatics will make for an enter- style that has her live performances constantly sold out. Ellie Goulding taining and varied show. They are in Basel for one night only at the will be bringing her new album “Delirium” to the Hallenstadion in Stadtcasino, starting at 20:00. Tickets are CHF 54.90–99.90. Zürich as a part of her new tour. Tickets are CHF 76.90 for unnumbered www.ticketcorner.ch seating and CHF 66.70 for standing room. www.ticketcorner.ch PS CORPORATION All Stars Featuring Reggie Johnson February 27 Munich Chamber Orchestra Concert February 29 PS CORPORATION Happy Jazz entertainment, founded in Basel in 1971, has become popular because of their outstanding musicality, witty an- The Münchener Kammerorchester with pianist Martin Stadtfeld will be nouncements, and of course the unforgettable megaphone sound. The playing works by Mozart, Schreker, Liszt, and Haydn at the Stadtcasino Häbse Theater in Basel will be the location for this one-of-a-kind con- Basel at 19:30; tickets are CHF 35–90 and can be purchased online. cert featuring world-renowned bassist Reggie Johnson, who has played www.konzerte-basel.ch with jazz greats like Keith Jarret, Archie Shepp, Art Blakey, Kenny Bu- rell, Clark Terry, Sarah Vauhan, Monty Alexander, Blue Mitchel, and Johnny Griffin. The concert starts at 20:00 and tickets cost CHF 45. www.haebse-theater.ch The challenging language school. Bird’s Eye Jazz Club Fast forwardinsmall groups. If you enjoy listening to live jazz over a drink, you should check out the bird’s eye jazz club. This quaint club is located at Kohlenberg 20, a short walk up from Barfüsserplatz, and features a variety of national and in- ternational jazz bands. The club is open from 20:00–23:30, and con- certs are from 20:30–22:45. Admission costs CHF 8–24, which includes a CHF-5 coupon redeemable on refreshments and is valid for the whole Quality German and other language courses.Wealso teachonlocation! evening on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, or for one set on Friday Contact us for a cost-free, individual level evaluation and consultation. and Saturday. Tickets can be reserved online at [email protected] or inlingua Basel is dual certified: by phone at 061-263-3341 from Monday to Friday until 17:00. Check out Dufourstrasse 50 (at Aeschenplatz) •061 278 99 33 their website for a list of concert dates. www.inlingua-basel.ch •[email protected] www.birdseye.ch

30 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com Ticket Office: Get Your Tickets Now! Who Where When Tickets Roland Gift (Fine Young Cannibals) Grand Casino Basel March 10 www.grandcasinobasel.com

Apassionata St. Jakobshalle, Basel March 12 & 13 www.ticketcorner.ch

Elvis the Show—The King is Back Musical Theater, Basel March 22 www.actnews.ch

Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club Musical Theater, Basel March 31 www.allblues.ch

Disney in Concert Hallenstadion, Zürich April 1 www.ticketcorner.ch

Klangkarussell Volkshaus, Basel April 1 www.starticket.ch

Elvis—Das Musical Congress Center Basel April 2 www.ticketcorner.ch

Rock Meets Classic 2016 Festhalle, Bern April 12 www.goodnews.ch Hallenstadion, Zürich April 13

Dixie Chicks Hallenstadion, Zürich April 17 www.ticketcorner.ch

Mariah Carey Hallenstadion, Zürich April 18 www.ticketcorner.ch

Cats Musical Theater, Basel April 19 – May 22 www.ticketcorner.ch

Harlem Globetrotters Hallenstadion, Zürich May 8 www.ticketcorner.ch

Muse Hallenstadion, Zürich May 11 & 12 www.starticket.ch

Mumford & Sons Hallenstadion, Zürich May 16 www.ticketcorner.ch

Adele Hallenstadion, Zürich May 17 & 18 www.ticketcorner.ch

AC/DC Stade de Suisse, Bern May 29 www.ticketcorner.ch

Bryan Adams Hallenstadion, Zürich June 2 www.ticketcorner.ch

Iron Maiden Allmend, Luzern June 3 www.ticketcorner.ch

Coldplay Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich June 11 & 12 www.ticketcorner.ch

Rod Stewart Hallenstadion, Zürich July 1 www.ticketcorner.ch

Rihanna Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich August 12 www.ticketcorner.ch

Eric Burdon & The Animals Volkshaus, Zürich September 2 www.allblues.ch

The Cure St. Jakobshalle, Basel November 4 www.ticketcorner.ch

Justin Bieber Hallenstadion, Zürich November 17 www.ticketcorner.ch

photo credit: © kim stevens (african angels), © marfis75 on flickr February 2016 31 Contact us for more information about subscribing or advertising: info basellife.com www.facebook.com/basellifemagazine A Monthly Guide to Living in Basel www.basellife.com

Mark Your Calendar! March 2016 Highlights How to Get Your Copy Clubfestival BScene March 4–5 Basel Life Magazine is available by subscription. Simply fill out the online registration form on our website: Regio Messe March 12–20 www.basellife.com

Badminton Swiss Open March 15–20 Individual copies can be purchased at: Basel World March 17–24 BIDER & TANNER Aeschenvorstadt 2, 4010 Basel (Bankverein) Tango Festival Basel March 24–28 BASEL TOURISM Daylight Savings Time Begins March 27 At the SBB Train Station and in the Stadt-Casino at Barfüsserplatz Basel Wine Ship (Wyschiff) March 31 – April 3