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Volume 9 Issue 6 CHF 6 6

A Monthly Guide to Living in Basel March 2021 2 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Dear Readers,

Like every year, March meets us with a sense of renewal with its warmer temperatures, increased daylight hours, and the start of the blooming season, which in Switzerland March 2021 Volume 9 Issue 6 includes crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, wisteria, cherry trees, and the magnifi- TABLE OF CONTENTS cent magnolia trees. This year, however, March will hopefully also bring another form of renewal with the long-awaited, albeit careful, lifting of some of the coronavirus-related restrictions, including the opening of shops, museums, libraries, zoos, botanical Events in Basel: March 2021 4–9 ­gardens, outdoor sports facilities, and other such venues. As announced on February 17, most of the current restrictions will not yet be lifted at the Fun Outings: Beyond Basel 10–13 end of February as originally anticipated, forcing us at Basel Life Magazine to once again discard nearly half of the already laid-out March issue. This revised and slightly short- ened version is nonetheless filled with information about what is happening this month Calendar: March 2021 14–15 in Basel, including some very inviting new or re-opened museum exhibits. The topics of these exhibits range from the works of British artist Banksy and cartoonists’ views of big cities to 3000 years of Egyptian culture, the history of Basel’s pharmaceutical industry Information Desk: Pregnancy & Postpartum Fitness 16–17 and of Mercedes Benz cars, and Jean Tinguely’s do-it-yourself art machines, to name just a few. Inside Basel: Construction Projects 2021 18–19 Also, rather than cancel their events altogether, some organizers are opting to hold their events without an audience and live-stream them for all to appreciate. This way, you can enjoy symphony concerts, music composition competitions, story times, first aid and 20–21 Workshops, Tours, and Education theater workshops, and sporting events like the Yonex Badminton Swiss Open. Even Basel’s annual apprenticeship fair will be taking place in an online format this year! Health Matters: Nutrition Labels 22 If you have been aching to go somewhere warm this winter, but the pandemic has ­prevented you from getting on a south-bound plane, check out our “Beyond Basel” ­section to discover how you can enjoy that tropical feeling in some of Switzerland’s trop- Did You Know…? 23–27 ical gardens or houses. If, on the other hand, you are not quite ready to hang up your snowsuit for the season, you can also read about some additional ideas for cool winter Mark Your Calendar: April 2021 27 fun, such as a “Mario Kart-type” sledding run, snowbiking, and dogsledding. In addition to these suggestions, this issue is packed with information and tips about life in Basel. You can get some practical information on recycling, new parking rules, the ins Ticket Office: Get Your Tickets Now! back page and outs of Swiss nutritional labels, safe exercising during pregnancy and after birth, and Switzerland’s new paid paternity leave, or learn about the 50th anniversary of ­women’s suffrage in Switzerland; the 10th anniversary of Basel’s Technologiepark; and how nearly 30 years ago, you could get across the Rhein in Basel by gondola! You can also discover what major construction plans are in store for Basel this year, including the complete makeover of Freie Strasse, or learn about Basel’s milkman service, wild garlic, rules for street musicians, and so much more. With a little luck, patience, and perseverance, we will hopefully soon see a return to a more “normal” life with a re-opening of restaurants, cafés, bars, cinemas, concert ­venues, casinos, fitness centers, swimming pools, etc. Meanwhile, continue to respect social distances, carefully and frequently disinfect your hands, and wear a mask around people from other households. Check out our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ basellifemagazine) for up-to-date information about cantonal/federal decisions and other important news. Remember that things may still change following the publication of this issue, so please be sure to check the provided websites before heading out to avoid any unforeseen closures! Wishing you a magnificent March! Basel Life Magazine Staff: Editor-in-Chief: Christine Pesold Christine Pesold Advertising & Subscription Manager / Editor: Susanne Hiller Cover: In late March, trees in Basel are starting to flow- er with beautiful blossoms. Among the first are the Design & Print: magnolia trees that typically start blooming towards the PRINTHOUSE by jobfactory, Basel end of the month. You can find them all over town, but some especially beautiful specimens grow in front of the For more information about subscribing or advertising – please contact us: Pauluskirche. The spectacular purple flowers of the [email protected] wisterias also begin to appear towards the end of March. You can find them in many locations in Basel, particular- www.facebook.com/basellifemagazine ly along Feldbergstrasse. Another highlight are the www.basellife.com plentiful cherry trees, particularly in Baselland.

BASEL LIFE MAGAZINE / BASEL FAMILY GmbH © Copyright 2021. 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: [email protected].

photo credit: © susanne hiller (cover, page 3) May 2020 3 EventsEvents in in Basel: Basel: March February 2021 2015 (continued)

Banksy—Building Castles in the Sky March 1 – May 30 This temporary exhibit at the Messe Basel—labeled as “an unauthorized exhibition”—will bring together more than 100 original works and objects of the British artist who goes by the name of Banksy that represent his entire oeuvre. They reflect 20 years of activity, from the paintings of the very first phase of his career to the prod- ucts of the last year, including works that come from Dismaland, such as the sculpture “Mickey Snake,” with Mickey Mouse swallowed by a python. Banksy’s visual language is simple but not elementary, with messages that explore the themes of capitalism, war, social control, and freedom in a broader sense and within the paradoxes of our time. For the first time, an exhibition examines Banksy’s images within a semantic framework that examines their origins and references. Completing the exhibition are several posters, “Banksy of England” banknotes, some rare t-shirts, and vinyl cover designs. The artist known as Banksy is in no way involved in this exhibition; the works shown all come from private collections but are certified and authentic. This temporary exhibition will take place at Halle 5 of the Messe Basel; they are open 10:00–18:00 on Monday to Friday and 10:00–19:00 on weekends and holidays. Tickets are CHF 24 for adults, CHF 21 for students, CHF 16 for children ages 5–15, and CHF 63 for fam- ilies (2 adults and 2 children); they can be purchased online. www.banksybasel.ch

Pharmacy Museum Egypt. 3000 Years of Top Culture on the Nile It is no secret that Basel has a long Starting March 1 history in the field of pharmaceutical The Antikenmuseum Basel has the richest and most diverse collection of research and industry, so it is fitting Egyptian art in Switzerland. The newly designed Egypt exhibition, in which that one of its many museums is a 600 objects are staged in immersive, multimedial, and interactive displays, Pharmacy Museum! The Pharma- takes visitors into the mysterious land of the pharaohs in six themed areas. ziemuseum Universität Basel pres- A children’s course invites you to discover and reflect and offers exciting ents the history of remedies and how entertainment for young and old. they were produced. Founded in 1925 by Professor J. A. Häfliger as a uni- www.antikenmuseumbasel.ch versity study and reference collection, the museum has been preserved in its original form as a scientific gallery to the present day. From carbonized squirrels to powdered mummies, the extensive collection of medicinal Katja Aufleger. GONE substances from all over the world used in times past illustrates the variety Until March 14 of ways in which disease was perceived and the healing approaches taken The Museum Tinguely is pre- over the ages. The exhibition includes two historical laboratories: an alche- senting works by the Ber- mist’s workshop that houses originals from the 16th and 17th centuries and lin-based multimedia artist bears witness to the quest for the Philosopher’s Stone, and the apothecary’s Katja Aufleger (*1983 in Ol- laboratory from the period around 1800, where the most important work was denburg). With her works, the manual preparation of medicinal herbs. The furnishings from three his- she seeks the simultaneity of torical pharmacies represent the changes that have occurred over the cen- possibilities to pose existen- turies: The lavishly decorated court pharmacy from Innsbruck was built tial questions—sculptural around 1755. Another pharmacy from around 1820 presents itself in the and filmic, visual and audito- classical Empire style. The furnishings of the Basel Barfüsser Apotheke ry. The seductive aesthetic of from the period shortly before 1900 represent the dawn of the industrial era. her works surprises with un- It now serves as the museum shop and is positioned at the entrance to the expected, dangerous, or profound twists. Such interconnections are creat- museum. The museum also houses an important collection of pharmaceu- ed, for example, when Aufleger brings a glass pendulum construction into tical ceramics. These so-called faiences have been used to store ingredients the exhibition space, which stimulates viewers to contemplate setting it in and remedies in apothecaries since the 15th century. So if you work in the motion. In addition to the obvious fragility of the glass flasks, the compo- pharma industry or are simply curious about the history of pharmaceutical nents of nitroglycerine are also found in the thus literally explosive muse- science and medications, why not pay a visit to this most curious of muse- um installation. With such ambivalence, the artist exercises institutional ums? Located at Totengässlein 3 in Basel, they are open Tuesday to Sunday critique, questioning power structures and systems. In Aufleger’s world, it from 10:00–17:00 and your ticket is valid for both this museum and the Ana- is only at second glance that one becomes aware of both the fleetingness tomical Museum of Universität Basel. of a moment and its complexity. https://pharmaziemuseum.ch www.tinguely.ch

4 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com Joachim Bandau—Die Nichtschönen (The Not-Beautiful) Memphis: 40 Years of Kitsch and Elegance Until April 18 Until January 23 At once technoid and bodily, minimal and mon- strous, often with spouts or hoses that resemble weirdly organic orifices and tentacles, the early sculptural works by Joachim Bandau (*1936) re- main as strange and singular today as when he first made them. An overview of the artist’s still relatively little-known sculptures and drawings from the period 1967–1974 will be on view at the Kunsthalle Basel. www.kunsthallebasel.ch

Big City Life The Memphis group of Italian designers and architects was one of the most Until June 20 unusual phenomena in the design of the past decades. Despite its short- lived existence from 1981 to 1987, its history and impact are legendary. The long-legged bed of Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo nimbly climbs over With their bright colors and fantastic patterns, Memphis designs seemed New York’s high-rises. Bob Kane’s Batman defeats criminals in front of to have walked off the pages of a comic book and gave rise to a completely Gotham City’s grim urban canyons. Tardi’s Nestor Burma chases crooks new look in which popular culture, an advertising aesthetic, and post-­ through dark Parisian alleyways. Upturns and downturns alternate in Will modernism merged in a crazy medley. Forty years after the group was Eisner’s tale of the fictitious Dropsie Avenue. Since the end of the 19th founded, the exhibition “Memphis: 40 Years of Kitsch and Elegance” at the century, cities have frequently inspired artists to create outstanding com- Vitra Design Museum Gallery presents objects, drawings, and material ics. The city’s role ranges from that of a spectacular setting for adventure from the archives that give insight into the Memphis world. The exhibition comics to that of a leading protagonist in deeper explorations of societal also introduces the group’s main protagonists, from its mentor Ettore developments. The perspectives from which the city is observed are just as Sottsass to Michele de Lucchi, Martine Bedin, Michael Graves, Barbara varied and multifaceted as the ways in which it is perceived by artists. It is Radice, Peter Shire, and Shiro Kuramata. celebrated as a space for innovation and the modern, but also branded as a venue of vice and decadence. It is a place longed for by migrants, an in- www.design-museum.de sular domicile for the wealthy, and an anonymous home of the penniless. Many comics artists also use the endless possibilities of drawing to let Yonex Swiss Open their stories take place in the city of the future. Cartoonmuseum Basel presents originals by comics artists from various eras and genres—works March 2–7 that are set in the city, are about the city, or take the city’s appearance as The 30th anniversary edition of the their starting point. A wide variety of accompanying events thematize both Yonex International Badminton the city as a social and shaped space, and how it is perceived in the comics. Grand Prix Gold Tournament had to https://cartoonmuseum.ch be cancelled in 2020 due to the coro- navirus pandemic. The anniversary tournament has been postponed to March 2–7 of this year, to the week before the German Open. This tem- poral proximity will allow the players to travel from the tournament in Switzerland to the one in Germany by car, keeping the athletes in a kind of “tournament bubble.” The exact form in which the YONEX Swiss Open can take place is still undecided. What is clear, however, is that if the tournament can be held, it will not only make up for the missed anniversary event, but also bring the world’s elite to the St. Jakobshalle once again. It will also serve as an exclusive qualifying tournament for the upcoming Olympic Special Exhibit—Mercedes Benz Games in Tokyo. The Yonex Swiss Open is a forum where teams from around Until October 17 the world prove themselves, doubles are checked out, and young players try The Pantheon Basel is a forum and museum for old-timer cars. It houses new moves and leave lasting impressions. Badminton fans can expect to hundreds of classic, vintage, and old cars for private owners in the region. discover new players and talents at this tournament. The competition will be For this reason, the collection is ever changing, and visitors to the museum exciting and dramatic, with smashes clocking in at over 400 km/h and world- can always discover something new. From now until October 17, they are class players competing for $ 175,000 in prize money. Unfortunately, the hosting an exhibit of Mercedes-Benz cars, from the early type 10/30 from event will have to take place without spectators, guaranteeing the bubble 1924 and the 630K from 1927 to the 290, the 320, the 170, the Adenauer, concept that will hopefully allow the entire world elite will be represented at and the SL series. Around 24 vehicles on exhibit will give you an amazing the YONEX Swiss Open 2021. Consequently, there will be no tickets on sale. impression of the cars that populated the roads. Entrance to the Pantheon Nevertheless, badminton fans can still experience the YONEX Swiss Open costs CHF 10 for adults and CHF 7 for kids, students, and seniors; kids live at www.srf.ch on Saturday, March 6, when six semi-final matches will be under age 6 are free. An exhibition catalog is available for purchase for livestreamed without commentary, and on Sunday, March 7, when all five fi- CHF 10. nals will be livestreamed with commentary. www.pantheonbasel.ch www.swissopen.com photo credits: © banksy (love rat, 2004; mickey snake, 2015); © pharmaziemuseum universität basel (pharmacy museum); © courtesy of the artist; galerie stampa, basel; galerie conradi, hamburg; photo: March 2021 5 katja aufleger (katja aufleger, "and he tipped gallons of black in my favorite blue"); © philipp hänger/kunsthalle basel (installation view, joachim bandau "der tänzer," 1968); © gabriella giandelli "tutto l'anno," 2014 (big city life); © vg bild-kunst, bonn, photo: marirosa ballo (memphis); © uwe zinke/yso (yonex swiss open) EventsEvents in in Basel: Basel: March February 2021 2015 (continued) (continued)

Videocity.bs Basel Composition Competition Until March 28 March 4–7 Since 2013, videocity.bs has opened new ways for culture and business to No person is more representative of Basel’s musical scene live together. Basel shops and cultural institutions make their shop win- than Paul Sacher (1906–1999). He devoted himself tireless- dows, halls, or billboards available to the video artists. For several weeks ly to the music of his century in his various roles as conduc- each year, videocity.bs has become an immaterial part of Basel and has tor, commissioner of new works (eg, by Béla Bartók, Bohu- inspired unexpected encounters. Many people are currently complaining slav Martin , Igor Stravinsky, and Arthur Honegger), about the “corona blues”—the sadness about a world without culture. In sponsor, and member of numerous guilds and institutions. times of crisis such as the current pandemic, videocity.bs screenings are in In 1973, Sacher established the Paul Sacher Foundation, which gained an demand because they can be viewed individually and outdoors free of international reputation as a leading research institution after acquiring the charge. The organizers of videocity.bs have therefore started a new se- estate of Igor Stravinsky and collections from Anton Webern and Bruno ries—“Videocity visits“—where they are guests of other cultural organiz- Maderna. In 2017/2018, years after his death, Sacher’s spirit was revived as ers, office communities, or private individuals who want to bring inspira- composers of any age were invited to present new, non-premiered pieces for tion into your everyday life. Perhaps there will be one around the corner the first edition of the Basel Composition Competition (BCC), an internation- from you soon? These guest performances will be accompanied by social al event open to the public. Because of its success, the competition is now in media activities, so follow them on Facebook & Instagram to get updates its third edition. New pieces up to 20 minutes in length had to be submitted on upcoming videocity.bs locations. This month, the videocity.bs production by July 2020. The jury has shortlisted six works for chamber orchestra and “Food” will be a guest at Ecke_122. The topic of food has become an in- six works for symphony orchestra, all of which will be premiered at the BCC creasingly important theme, especially in the coronavirus crisis, in which over three evenings by the Sinfonieorchester Basel (March 4 at 18:30), Basel we suddenly find ourselves thrown back to our own four walls. Have you Sinfonietta (March 5 at 18:30), and Kammerorchester Basel (March 6 at changed the way you deal with the basic need for food? Have you been 18:30) at Don Bosco Basel. From these, four works will be selected that are confronted with hamster purchases or a partially restricted or rationed performed again in the final concert on March 7 at Don Bosco Basel at 11:00, range of goods? Or did you feel isolated during your meals in quarantine? and the three best compositions will be awarded prizes totaling CHF 100,000. During this crisis, attitudes towards food have changed for many. To ad- It is not yet clear whether the epidemiological situation will allow the con- dress these issues, 10 videos from the “Food” cycle can be seen daily from certs to be performed with a live audience and/or if they will be recorded and 9:00–23:00 until March 28 in the window of the office community "Ecke_122" streamed later. Check their website for details! (Mülhauserstrasse 122, Basel). videocity.bs is an international public art www.baselcompetition.com/eng project by curator Dr. Andrea Domesle. Digital tours, where you can sit comfortably at home, can be booked at [email protected]. Landon Metz: Euphoria / Barbara Stauffacher Solomon: https://videocitybs.ch GROP March 6 – May 8 Le Définitif—C’est le Provisoire The von Bartha gallery presents two solo exhibitions by Landon Metz and Starting March 2 Barbara Stauffacher Solomon that will run concurrently in the gallery’s At the beginning of his artistic career, in the late 1950s, Jean Tinguely’s Basel space. New York-based artist Metz (*1985, Phoenix, USA) is known do-it-yourself art machines caused a sensation both in the art world and in for his subtle, evocative paintings composed of sparse, richly-hued bio- the international press. With his drawing machines, the Méta-Matics, he morphic shapes on raw canvas. By spreading thin washes of dye on raw catapulted himself onto the front pages of major newspapers, prompting canvas, the artist achieves varying degrees of coloristic saturations. His journalists around the world to write headlines like: “Want to be an artist? exhibit “Euphoria” will feature 12 new diptych paintings created over the Just buy this machine, and you are in.” A quarter-century after the opening last year, which will be presented in a continuous line throughout the hall of Museum Tinguely in Basel, a new permanent exhibition will focus on the space of the gallery. “Euphoria” will continue Metz’s ongoing investigation charismatic artist Tinguely and the media impact of his kinetic sculptures into the interrelated nature of our existence via the metaphor of elemental and actions. The new exhibition draws to an unprecedented degree on the painting. By means of repetition and system, the aesthetic vehicle of these museum’s unique collection of documents and archive materials. new works, specifically shape and color, intentionally directs towards the www.tinguely.ch experience itself rather than a singular static object. Barbara Stauffacher Solomon (*1928, San Francisco, USA) is a seminal artist, graphic designer, and landscape architect whose career spans eight Shaping the Invisible World decades. The exhibit “GROP” will showcase over 40 drawings and paintings March 3 – May 23 by the artist from the 1980s to 2021 and demonstrate the progression of her practice over this period. The title of the exhibition is an acronym for The exhibition “Shaping “Green Rectangle of Paradise” (c.1980s), both a key work in the show and the Invisible World” at the a reoccurring motif in the artist’s work that explores Solomon’s preoccu- HEK (Haus der elek- pation with utopia and making the invisible visible. Both exhibits will also tronischen Künste) exam- be available to view through von Bartha’s online viewing room. ines cartography as a tool between knowledge and www.vonbartha.com technology. The exhibition presents a selection of Promenade Concert—To Solitude artists who use carto- graphic strategies and lo- March 7 cation technologies to discuss geopolitical contexts or uncover hidden For this promenade concert, sopranist Christina Landshamer, pianist Ger- worlds and unknown realities. There will be a digital vernissage on March old Huber, and musicians from the Sinfonieorchester Basel will be playing 3 at 19:00, and on the opening days from March 3 to March 7, visitors are works by Johann Krieger, Franz Schubert, and Robert Schumann at the invited to view the exhibition for free. Gare du Nord at 11:00. There will be a live-streaming of this concert. www.hek.ch www.sinfonieorchesterbasel.ch

6 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com German Design 1949–1989: Two Countries, One History March 20 – September 5 Driven by the Bauhaus and Werkbund movements, German design gained wide recognition in the early 20th century. After 1949, its development followed a unique path as designers in the divided nation continued working under opposing political systems in East and West Germany. More than 30 years after the German reunification, the Vitra Design Museum presents the exhibition “German Design 1949–1989: Two Countries, One History.” It is the first overview that explores German design on both sides of the Iron Curtain. While giving insights into the different design philosophies in the German Democratic Re- public and the Federal Republic of Germany, it also reveals the many parallels and interrelations linking design in East and West during the nation’s divi- sion. www.design-museum.de

Sinfonieorchester Basel—Harmony In Algorithmic Waves March 10 March 14 On this evening, the Sinfonieorchester Basel The Basel Sinfonietta, under the di- under the direction of Marek Janowski and rection of Taiwanese conductor Lin with the exceptional Russian pianist Anna Vin- Liao, will immerse their audience in nitskaya, will be performing three works. algorithmic waves of sound and These include Franz Schubert’s “Overture in gestures of the contemporary or- the Italian Style,” D 590; Robert Schumann’s chestral sound. The concert will Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, op. 54; and open with a work by the Greek com- Richard Strauss’ “Metamorphoses.” The con- poser Iannis Xenakis with the cryp- cert will be live-streamed; check their web- tic title “ST / 48-1.240162,” an early site for details. example of a stochastic, computer-generated composition. The title reads www.sinfonieorchesterbasel.ch like a version of software, but the information behind it is extremely sim- ple: ST is an abbreviation for stochastics, 48 indicates the ensemble size, 1 means that it is the first composition for this ensemble, and the remaining Aterballeto—Don Juan numbers indicate the date of completion of the composition. “Traces,” a work for chamber orchestra by British composer Rebecca Saunders, who March 14 is known for her finely woven sound textures, is a game with silence that “Don Juan” is a full-length choreography that the composer encircles with sounds, but which is sometimes destroyed the restless Swedish choreographer Johan In- with harsh and loud sounds. The work “Wave” by Swedish composer Jes- ger developed for the Italian company Aterbal- per Nordin, which was written for the Basel Sinfonietta, explores the pos- letto. With 16 dancers, this production realizes sibilities of using new technologies in music. It uses an app developed by an interpretation of the Don Juan myth, which, the composer, which helps the conductor to record, sample, and play back based on older adaptations of the material by the orchestra in real time via movement sensors, thereby turning her ges- Molière, Brecht, or Lilar in the form of a chamber play, gains a new perspective tures into sheet music! It’s a visionary interaction between people, music, on the eternal core of this narrative. In Inger’s interpretation, the dance acts as and technology. The Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg strives in his mu- a magnifying glass that lets the characters emerge three-dimensionally and sic to break sound down into its physical details. He also examined the captures the inner world of the protagonists in dance. The insatiable lover Don properties of electronically generated music and composed with synthetic Juan of our day meets us in a world that is empty, hollow, and homeless due to sine tones. More recently, he has turned back to instrumental writing, with digitalization and the shifting of real life into the virtual. But people don’t fit into the computer serving him as a compositional aid. The result of this reori- this world. They cannot leave behind their real feelings and their flesh-and- entation towards traditional orchestral tones is “Marea”, which was in- blood passions. This dance performance will take place at the Burghof, just spired by the monotonous repetition of the ocean tides. The concert will across the border in Lörrach, Germany, at 20:00; tickets are € 42.00. take place at the Stadtcasino Basel at 19:00 and will be live-streamed. www.burghof.com http://baselsinfonietta.ch photo credits: © polakvanbekkum (shaping the invisible world); © ddrbildarchiv.de/manfred uhlenhut (german design, left); © vitra design museum, photo: jürgen hans (german design, March 2021 7 right); © marco borggreve (sinfonieorchester basel); © lorenza daverio (aterbaletto); © gert mothes (in algorithmic waves) EventsEvents in in Basel: Basel: March February 2021 2015 (continued) (continued)

Lehrstellen Börse (Apprenticeship Fair) The King’s Singers March 17 March 18

Since their founding more than 50 years ago, The King’s Singers have belonged to the world’s top vocal ensembles, even with a cast that has changed over the years. With fabulous technique, British charm, and an incomparably vel- vety sound, they take the hearts of their audiences by storm on every continent. That they make no dis- tinction between sacred music, secular vocal works, or pop songs and simply fill everything with their compelling musicality is part of the DNA of this exceptional for- mation. The ensemble has now created a huge library of works, including some pieces that were composed especially for them. “The Library” pres- ents a selection of the most beautiful specimens in the musical library of the King’s Singers, including, as a final highlight, their beautiful arrange- If your child is thinking about doing an apprenticeship in one of the many ments of pop classics. The concert will take place at the Burghof, just well-respected trades in Switzerland, this fair, which takes place every across the border in Lörrach, Germany, at 20:00; tickets are € 42.00. year (alternating between Basel-Stadt and Baselland), helps young people www.burghof.com to find out what is available this August. The Lehrstellen Börse (Appren- ticeship Fair) is a platform that allows direct contact between apprentice- ship seekers and businesses that look for apprentices. Companies that Sophie Taeuber–Arp. Living Abstraction still have one or more apprenticeships available for this year will be partic- March 20 – June 20 ipating to talk to interested applicants. This fair normally takes place in person at the Messe Halle in Basel. How- The Swiss artist Sophie ever, due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s edition will take place Taeuber-Arp (1889– ONLINE from 13:00–17:00 on one Wednesday afternoon per month, includ- 1943) was a pioneer of ing March 17, April 21, May 19, and June 16. This is how it works: Youths abstraction. With an air looking for an apprenticeship position for the summer of 2021 should go of playful ease, her in- online and find out which companies will be participating in their field of terdisciplinary cre- interest. The list of companies that still have positions open and will be ations dismantled long- participating in the upcoming fairs are announced online via the homepage standing barriers of the Basel-Stadt trades association (https://gewerbe-basel.ch). Inter- between art and life. ested applicants should then go to the website and book an online appoint- Fusing the experimen- ment with the desired company/companies; to participate in one of these talism of the avant-gar- online fair dates, you must register for it on their website up until the de circles in which she Thursday before the appointment date. You can choose between two ap- moved in Zürich and pointment slots, 13:00–15:00 or 15:00–17:00, and calls are offered every 15 Paris with her technical minutes per time slot. You will be sent an email confirming your time slot; training and experience be sure to also check your spam/junk email folder regularly! You will also as a teacher of applied receive a reminder SMS, including a Zoom link, one hour before the call. art, she devised a form Your discussion with potential vocational trainer(s) will then be conducted of abstraction brought to—indeed, integrated into virtually all domains of— via PC, tablet, or smartphone on the agreed date and time. At this time, life by expert craftsmanship. At the time of her death in a tragic accident in documents such as applications, resumés, or results of aptitude tests can 1943, her oeuvre encompassed textile pieces such as pillows and table- also be exchanged. cloths, bead works, a puppet theater, costumes, murals, furniture, archi- Youths interested in participating should also download the “Checkliste” tecture, graphic designs, paintings, drawings, sculptures, and reliefs. In as well as “ZOOMGUIDELINES und TIPPS & TRICKS” for a successful 1937, Taeuber-Arp contributed numerous works to “Konstruktivisten,” an meeting. There, you will find important information about how to best pre- exhibition at Kunsthalle Basel that gave a major boost to the development pare materials and documents, how to dress for the interview, questions to and dissemination of abstraction. This spring, the Kunstmuseum Basel prepare for the vocational trainer and their company, as well as tips for dedicates the comprehensive retrospective “Living Abstraction” to Taeu- optimal conduct (eg, be polite, motivated, and address your interviewer by ber-Arp’s oeuvre. The first exhibition to present her work to large interna- their last name). On the day of the event, starting at 11:30, you can also tional audiences beyond the German-speaking countries, it is produced in take part in a Zoom training course for apprenticeship seekers to get cooperation with the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and Tate, London. last-minute tips and tricks for your afternoon interviews. The Lehrstellen After decades of relative neglect—though the artist’s face will be familiar Börse is organized by the Basel-Stadt trades association in cooperation to many visitors thanks to her presence on the old CHF 50 bank note—it with the Basel-Stadt vocational counseling service and the secondary establishes her as one of classic modernism’s leading avant-gardists. The schools and vocational training of canton Basel-Stadt. You can find out captivating survey allows visitors to experience the evolution of her work more about the ONLINE Apprenticeship Fair 2021 and register on their from her beginnings in applied art to the architecture-related projects of website. her Strasbourg years and the abstract paintings of her time in Paris. www.gewerbe-basel.ch/online-lehrstellenboerse https://kunstmuseumbasel.ch

8 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com Basel offers an interesting mix of modern 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. Access for All: São Paulo’s Architectural How well do you know Basel? Check out the “Where in Basel?” Infrastructures picture in each issue and if you recognize the location you have a chance to win a fabulous prize. If you think you know where this March 20 – August 15 month’s picture was taken, send us an email at [email protected] This temporary exhibition at the S AM Swiss Architecture Museum pres- with the subject title “Where in Basel?” by Friday, March 5. Among ents architecture and infrastructural projects in São Paulo, Brazil, from the respondents, we will raffle a “prozentbuch Basel," a copy of the 1950s to today, focusing on how architecture interweaves with the city the book "50 Amazing Swiss Women" by Bergli Books, as well as a and how these structures provide safe and inclusive spaces of encounter copy of the book “Leaps in Time—A Brief History of Basel.” We will through various publicly accessible functions. then post the solution on our Facebook page www.sam-basel.org (www.facebook.com/basellifemagazine).

Good Luck! Making the World March 26 – January 23 The Museum der Kulturen Basel and the Kun- stmuseum Basel jointly explore the theme “the human making of the world.” For its part, the Museum der Kulturen Basel focuses on how humans and their environment are intertwined. Arranged into five groups, exhibits from the two museums engage in a dialogue with each other. They inspire visitors to reflect on the incredible diversity of human creativity and reveal how the creators are rooted in their environment. There will be a public opening of the exhibit on March 25 from 18:30–20:00; entrance to this event is free. www.mkb.ch

Flohmarkt auf dem Dach (Flea Market on the Roof) March 28 This flea market and collectors’ fair is the largest in northwest Switzer- land, with about 200 stands. It will be held on the roof of the Interio in Pratteln from 8:30–16:00. Here you can find agriculture, antiques, appli- ances, arts and crafts, bicycles, camping, clothes, coins, collectibles, elec- tronics, games, garden, household, jewelry, motorcycle clothing, musical instruments, sports, stamps, tools, watches, and so much more. The site is covered, so the market takes place rain or shine. www.flohmarktkoenig.ch Brochures Ring binders Books Postcards & flyers Folded cards

Daylight Savings Time Begins

March 28 Folded flyers & Envelopes & personalised Rollup-Displays Posters Business cards letter papers Mailings In Europe, daylight savings time this year begins on March 28; when the ... and other solutions for your individual communication. clocks strike 2:00, they will be advanced to 3:00. Please note that this dif- fers from the dates in North America, where daylight savings time this year starts on March 14, and Australia/New Zealand, where the time change Job Factory Basel AG | Bordeaux-Strasse 5 | 4053 Basel | 061 560 01 44 | www.printhouse.ch occurs on April 4. Daylight savings time ends here on October 31. photo credits: © gewerbeverband basel (apprenticeship fair); © rebecca reid (king's singers); © stiftung arp e.v., berlin/rolandswerth, photo: alex delfanne March 2021 9 (sophie taeuber-arp, "equilibre," 1932); © ciro miguel (access for all); © mkb/omar lemke (making the world); © christine pesold (where in basel) Fun Outings: Beyond Basel

Switzerland’s Tropical Gardens

If you would like to go somewhere tropical this winter, but the pandemic two large (paid) parking lots nearby. On very busy days (Sundays and has prevented you from getting on a south-bound plane, you can immerse ­holidays), there are also remote parking lots from where you can take a yourself in the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes of a tropical environment, shuttle bus to the zoo entrance. at least temporarily, at one of Switzerland’s tropical gardens or houses. www.zoo.ch The luscious tropical greenhouse at the botanical garden of the Universität Basel is unfortunately currently not accessible to the public due to renova- Botanischer Garten der Universität Zürich, ZH: A visit to the Universität tions, but there are other tropical houses in Switzerland that are certainly Zürich’s botanical garden is always a rewarding experience. With around worth a visit. The specially created microclimates mimic the conditions in 7,000 different plant species spread over an area of about 53,000 m2, humid and warm tropical forests, so be sure to dress in layers that can there is always something in bloom, not to mention the diversity of fruits easily be removed! and leaves that are also on display. A large meadow and a pond (which in spring is full of singing frogs) also attract visitors. The gardens are most Zürich Zoo, ZH: While Basel famous, however, for their dome-shaped greenhouses: One dome, which is home to a fantastic zoo, houses the “Tropischer Bergwald” (tropical mountain forest), has cool the Zürich zoo is also worth temperatures and high humidity, recreating a cloud forest with its unique a visit, because many of its flora. Artificial epiphyte trees are populated with a wide variety of ferns, over 380 different animal orchids, and bromeliads, while tree ferns form a dense vegetation else- species cannot be found in where. Colorful flowers in this forest are pollinated by birds, and as many the Basel zoo, including plants have large and often red-colored flowers, they attract humming- pandas, polar bears, specta- birds and nectar birds. The largest dome houses the “Tropischer Tief- cle bears, baboons, and ant- landregenwald” (tropical low-land rainforest). It is up to 16 meters high eaters. One of the most no- and has a hot and humid climate. It houses a collection of typical tropical table attraction at the Zürich tree genera, so the upper part of the building is dedicated to tropical Zoo that is especially nice to visit in the colder months is the Masoala Rain- crops; additionally, a 6-meter-high platform allows a view of and into the forest. This 11,000 m2 dome houses a tropical forest with over 20,000 tropical treetops. Lianas creep up the tree trunks, while epiphytic plants enjoy plants, as well as 50 species of wild animals in action, such as lemurs, cha- their place in the sun. Along the side, agroforestry areas have been cre- meleons, geckos, frogs, birds, and monkeys, that can roam freely in the ated where useful trees such as coffee, cocoa, and coconut grow together dome. You will truly feel like you are trekking through the rain forest as you with climbing plants like vanilla and pepper. Light-loving, relatively low walk through the dome and see the over 500 rainforest plant species, 80% of species, such as pineapples, cassava, or peanuts, grow in the middle of which can be found in Madagascar. A special attraction is the treetop walk- this crop garden, while spice and medicinal plants tend to be on the edg- way with two towers 10 meters and 18 meters tall, respectively, that are es of the plantation. The third dome, “Tropische Trockengebiete,” houses covered in lianas and epiphytes, with a kapok tree growing in the middle of plants from tropical arid zones, which are arranged geographically. No- the larger tower. Bring binoculars so you can best observe all the animals where do plants show such a strange variety of growth forms as in the around you from the designated paths (touching any of the animals or plants arid regions of the Tropics, where the plants’ morphology has adapted to is forbidden). A trip to the Zürich Zoo would not be complete without a visit the lack of water and the burning sun. In the middle of this house are to the Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park, as well as the fabulous Lewa Savanna African plants, while a whole side is reserved for plants from the Ameri- exhibit, which spans over 5.6 hectares and houses white rhinos, reticulated cas. A smaller area shows the unique variety of dry-adapted plants from giraffes, Grevy’s zebras, scimitar horned oryxs, impalas, pancake tortoises, Madagascar, including the Madagascar palms that are popular as indoor crested porcupines, South African ostriches, spotted hyaenas, Dahomey cat- plants. On the lowest side of the dome, the flora of the Canary Islands is tle, meerkats, giant plated lizards, grey parrots, helmeted guineafowl, and displayed on terraces made of lava rocks. At the upper entrance, plants naked mole-rats; several of these species are in international breeding pro- from the deserts of southwest Africa, the Namib and Karoo, are shown on grams. The Zürich zoo also offers several restaurants, cafes, picnic areas, one side, and a selection of carnivorous plants are on display on the oth- playgrounds, and a petting zoo for the little ones. It can easily be reached by er side. Located 70 minutes from Basel, the Botanischer Garten der Uni- public transport by taking tram 6 from the Zürich main train station to the versität Zürich is open year-round, and the tropical houses are open dai- end of the line (about 25 minutes), from where it is a 5-minute walk to the ly from 9:30–16:45; entrance is free. zoo. If you take the car from Basel, it is about a 1-hour drive and there are www.bg.uzh.ch

10 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com Tropenhaus Wolhusen, LU: Over 120 tropical Papiliorama, FR: Papiliorama is an ex- plants are grown at the tropical house in Wolhu- traordinary nature exhibit in canton sen, including papayas, mangos, star fruit, ba- Fribourg. Its main feature is a huge nanas, and guavas, giving visitors the feeling dome that houses a tropical garden that they are in the middle of a jungle. Visitors with thousands of butterflies flying all can take a tour through the production house around you—120 species of all shapes where in addition to fruit, they grow herbs and and colors originating from Costa-­ spices like chili peppers, ginger, vanilla, pepper, Rica, Malaysia, the Philippines, and and lemongrass in a sustainable manner; these Tanzania. In addition to butterflies, the are used in the on-site restaurant, The Nucleus, dome houses tropical birds and fish, as or for sale in the shop. The heat used for the well as several dozen species of tropi- tropical house originates from the waste heat from the Transitgas AG com- cal trees and plants, with more than 15 species of palms and nectar plants pressor station. Kids especially enjoy a visit to the “Erlebniswelt Wirbel- that provide shelter and food for the butterflies. Another large exhibit at lose” (World of Invertebrates), Europe’s first insect zoo! In this tropical Papiliorama is called Nocturama—a separate dome specially lighted to house, you will be amazed by insects, crustaceans, arachnids, and more. mimic moonlight and therefore nighttime. This dome houses only noctur- You can discover in an entertaining way how grasshoppers, beetles, wood- nal animals that you can observe in their active cycle, including armadillos, lice, and other insects live; what role they play in the cycles of nature; and Brazilian tree porcupines, free-flying bats, kinkajous, night monkeys, oce- what you can do for invertebrates at home. The generously designed aviar- lots, pacas, tree-dwelling sloths, and many more. There is also a jungle ies offer plenty of space to observe the natural behavior of the insects, trek, which is an exact copy of the protected area of Shipstern in Belize. explore their network of relationships, and truly appreciate the beauty of Amidst tropical dry forests, mangroves, and orchid ponds, visitors can ob- this microcosm. Entrance costs CHF 15 for adults, CHF 9 for kids starting serve iguanas, roseate spoonbills, toucans, and numerous other animals. at age 6, or CHF 39 for families. The Tropenhaus Wolhusen can easily be A 7-meter-high panorama bridge will take you up into the canopy, where reached by car in about 70 minutes (park at the Wolhusen Hospital and you can enjoy a fantastic view. Papiliorama has a cafeteria-restaurant, but walk 10 minutes), or by public transport by train to Wolhusen Bahnhof, picnicking is also allowed. Entrance costs CHF 19 for adults, CHF 16 for followed by a bus to the front entrance. students, and CHF 9.50 for kids ages 4–15 (free for kids under age 4). Pa- piliorama can be reached by car in about 70 minutes from Basel and offers https://tropenhaus-wolhusen.ch a large parking lot (CHF 4). The train to “Kerzers Papiliorama” takes about 1 hour 45 minutes from Basel; the station is a few minutes’ walk from the Tropenhaus Frutigen, BE: main entrance. Tip: The butterflies are attracted to the bright colors of This exotic wonderland flowers (yellow, orange, pink, red); therefore, visitors wearing such colors houses an immense tropi- are far more likely to have butterflies landing on them—consider whether cal garden filled with tropi- this would be welcome or not! cal fruit plants, yielding an www.papiliorama.ch annual production of two tons of bananas, papayas, mangos, star fruit, dwarf Geneva’s Botanical Gardens: The Conservatoire et Jardins Botaniques bananas, guavas, lychees, Genève, which was originally established in the 1800s by A.-P. de Candolle, mangosteens, grapefruit, avocados, pineapple, and kumquat. You can en- has been located within the Parc de l’Ariana since the beginning of the 20th joy some of the products grown in-house, which are freshly prepared and century. Close to the city center and within the series of lakeside parks, the served in their restaurant or sold in the on-site shop. The continuously 28 hectares of the botanical garden provide visitors with a place of beauty warm temperatures in the hothouse also sustain a small but fine collection and relaxation all year round. In addition to its various outdoor gardens— of orchid varieties, as well as a large selection of herbs and spices, such as seasonal flower beds, historic rose garden, vegetable garden, herbarium, ginger, chili peppers, vanilla, and pepper, which you can buy in their shop picnic area, playground, and other recreational areas—the garden’s green- or taste in their restaurant dishes. In addition to plants, flowers, fruits, and houses replicate different climates suited to the culture of tropical and herbs, Tropenhaus Frutigen is considered a pioneer in the field of fish Mediterranean plants. The collections come from all five continents. In the breeding in land-based aquaculture. A high-performance, sustainable, main tropical greenhouse, visitors can admire 386 species especially professional production facility for breeding freshwater fish is at the heart adapted to the high temperature and humidity conditions of a rainforest. In of the facility. The 18°C high-quality water from inside the Lötschberg this tropical environment, visitors will find numerous epiphytic plants, mountain forms the ideal environment for the Siberian sturgeon. Top pri- which absorb water carried in the humidity of the air, such as orchids, ority is given to breeding processes appropriate to the particular species, ferns or Rhipsalis, a flowering plant from the cactus family. The largest without the use of antibiotics, medicines, or chemical pesticides. Fish water lily in the world, a native of South America, can be found in the pond stocks in the Tropenhaus have now grown to around 80,000 fish, yielding a facing the entrance, as well as several other aquatic plants. The green- production of 18 tons of delicate, bone-free sturgeon meat every year. With house recreates a jungle atmosphere, with creepers and palm trees, both caviar from wild sturgeon being such a rarity, the caviar made from Siberi- of which are common in the Tropics. The botanical garden’s three other an sturgeon raised in the warm and naturally pure water of the Lötschberg greenhouses include the Volcanic Greenhouse, which reproduces the Ca- mountain has opened a new chapter in the history of caviar in Switzerland. nary Islands’ volcanic landscape with particular drought-resistant plants; The Tropenhaus Frutigen is open from 9:00–23:00 Tuesday to Sunday the Bromeliaceae Greenhouse, which showcases species related to the (closed Mondays); exhibition hours are 9:00–18:00 (last admission at pineapple family; and the Gesneriaceae Greenhouse, which displays plants 17:00). The onsite restaurant, Oona, is open evenings from 18:00–23:00, as from tropical mountain areas. With over 200 years of history, the affiliated well as for lunch on Sundays (restaurant reservations at 033-672-1143 or museum carries out its various missions of exploration, conservation, re- [email protected]). Entrance to the tropical garden and exhib- search, teaching, and protection of plant biodiversity, while also continu- its is CHF 18 for adults, CHF 9 for kids ages 6–16, and free for kids under ously enriching its priceless patrimonial collections, ranking it as one of age 6; there are also reduced entries for families or for a visit to the tropi- the leading botanical institutes in the world. The Conservatoire et Jardins cal garden only. The Tropenhaus Frutigen can be reached by car in about Botaniques is open year-round and can be accessed with a 10-minute walk 90 minutes or by train, with a 7-minute walk from the Bahnhof Frutigen. from the nearest carpark or from the Geneva-Cornavin train station. http://tropenhaus-frutigen.ch www.ville-ge.ch/cjb photo credits: © tropenhaus frutigen (left page, top; right page, middle); © zoo zürich, tobias kramer (left page, middle) © tropenhaus wolhusen (right page, March 2021 11 top left); © stiftung papiliorama (right page, top right) Fun Outings: Beyond Basel (continued)

Since the late 1800s, people have been flocking to Switzerland every winter in huge numbers to enjoy the snowy mountain ranges and pristine land- scapes, top-notch resort hotels and spas, and a diversity of snow sports activities. Despite the request to stay home as much as possible during the pandemic, health officials are recommending that people stay fit and en- courage fresh-air activities for those not in high-risk groups. In contrast to neighboring countries, Switzerland decided to keep their snow resorts open this season with rigorous new safety measures in place. Swiss tour- ism trade associations from the accommodations sector, catering industry, wellness and spa sector, public transport, mountain railways, and ski ar- eas have launched safety concepts to protect visitors and staff to the great- est degree possible against infection with the coronavirus (www.clean- and-safe.ch). For loads of practical information on winter hikes, tobogganing, snowshoeing, cross-country and downhill skiing, and so much more, check out the “Winter Special” in our February 2021 issue of Basel Life Magazine, which you can find in our archives at www. basellife.com. Here are a few more suggestions, including a multi-sensory night toboggan ride in the newly opened LIGHT RIDE Lenzerheide, ticket in advance at their online shop. The purchase of a LIGHT RIDE ticket snowbiking as an exciting alternative for people of all ages and skills, or includes one transponder (communication device for the ride). You can dogsledding in the pristine winter landscape. also rent a Davos-style wooden sled in the online shop at Pesko Sport. Visit their website for a cool video on this new sledding experience. www.lightride-lenzerheide.ch Light Ride Lenzerheide: There is a new and exciting winter adventure wait- ing for you near Arosa/Lenzerheide in canton Graubünden this winter! The LIGHT RIDE is a new kind of sledding experience for young and old that Snowbiking: If you are looking for an exhilarating snow sport of a different combines multi-sensory lighting installations with a new sledding chal- kind, why not give snowbiking a try? As the name implies, the equipment lenge. It is brought to you by the creators of the Lenzerheide Magic Forest, looks like a bike with a seat to sit on and front handlebars for steering, but who have been working on an idea for a combination of light art, games, instead of two wheels, it has a short ski in the front and one in the back. and sledging for some time. The LIGHT RIDE combines modern tracking The front ski controls your direction, and the skid of your rear ski controls and light technology with a gameplay that is otherwise more familiar from your speed. Snowbikes are light (approximately 7 kg), easy to handle, and the world of computer games and allows you to test your skills, measure intuitive to learn. While this is a great sport for beginners, it is also becom- your dexterity, break speed records, and ride through a light tunnel. At a ing more and more popular with total of eight stations, the rider collects virtual objects, knocks obstacles sports enthusiasts. Even if you out of the way, sets speed records, and thus achieves as many time credits have been avoiding winter as possible for the final tally at the finish line. Whoever collects the most sports because of foot, knee, or points will be crowned “Light Rider”! The LIGHT RIDE is located on the back pain or injury, snowbiking Scharmoin-Canols sledge run and can be reached via the Rothorn 1 gon- is an awesome alternative that dola lift. This first interactive sledge run in the world can be likened to a is great fun for families, cou- kind of “Mario Kart on a sledge.” This year, the LIGHT RIDE is open on ples, youths, and old-timers Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings from 18:00–22:00 through the alike. Snowbikes are permitted first week of April. To keep riders safe during the pandemic, only a limited on select runs in winter sports number of tickets and sleds will be available each evening, so buy your resorts around the world, in-

12 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com cluding Austria and Switzerland (eg, Lenk, Grächen, Gstaad). They can be folded up in about 30 seconds and can be transported on all lifts and gon- dolas. To rent a snowbike, you will need to present a Snowbike-Card, which proves participation in a Basic Course (approximately 2 hours). This class needs to be completed once and is valid worldwide. Go online to find out more about snowbikes—you can watch videos on how to handle them, where to take lessons, as well as where to rent them and try this exciting sport. https://snowbike-fun.ch/en; www.snowbike.com

Dogsledding: People who like to enjoy Switzerland’s beautiful winter land- scape in a completely new way may want to consider the unique experience of dogsledding. Many places now offer dogsledding for different levels of experience. You and your warmly-bundled family can glide through the snow on a sled pulled by a team of strong and healthy huskies, doing what they love the most—running through the snow. You can also learn to indi- vidually steer a dogsled and get all kinds of fascinating insights into the world of huskies and the life of a dogsled guide (aka musher). You can opt for rides lasting from 20 minute to get a feel for the experience, to as long as a half-day outing or a 1- to 2-day tour around a chosen region. Many of the large ski resorts have dogsledding offers nearby, which can serve as a fun family excursion away from the slopes during your ski week. Within a 2-hour drive from Basel, you can experience dogsledding at Erlebniswelt Muotathal in canton Luzern (www.erlebniswelt.ch), Flumserberg in can- ton St. Gallen (www.flumserberg.ch), and Chiens de Traineau DuBelly in La Gruyère in Charmey (www.chiensdetraineaudubelly.ch). Roger Timbrook from Expert World Travel has described some of the best dog- sledding tours in Switzerland, including some in canton Wallis and Geneva; visit his website at https://expertworldtravel.com/best-dog-sledding- tours-switzerland.

Visitez / Besuchen Sie / Visit ECOLE FRANÇAISE DE BALE

Samedi / Samstag / Saturday 30.01.2021 9 : 00 – 12 : 00

Samedi / Samstag / Saturday 06.02.2021 9 : 00 – 12 : 00

Jeudi / Donnerstag / Thursday 28.01.2021 18 : 30 – 21 : 30

Jeudi / Donnerstag / Thursday 25.02.2021 18 : 30 – 21 : 30

Jeudi / Donnerstag / Thursday 25.03.2021 18 : 30 – 21 : 30 The cultural

CRECHE / KITA / DAYCARE + resource in Basel. MATERNELLE / KINDERGARTEN / NURSERY Dornacherstrasse 192 – 4053 BASEL 0041 61 271 75 72 [email protected] [email protected]

ELEMENTAIRE / PRIMARSCHULE / PRIMARY + Books | Music | Tickets SECONDAIRE / SEKUNDARSCHULE / SECONDARY Aeschenvorstadt 2 | 4010 Basel Engelgasse 103 – 4052 BASEL www.biderundtanner.ch 0041 61 311 07 30 [email protected] [email protected] photo credits: © erlebniswelt muothatal (left page, top; right pa ge, dogsledding); © cemil erkoc (left page, light ride); © jürg turtschi (left page, snowbiking) March 2021 13 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY MARCH 1 2 3 Ongoing Events in March Yonex Swiss Open Yonex Swiss Open Egypt. 3,000 years of Top Culture on the Nile Starting March 1

Katja Aufleger. GONE Until March 14

Videocity.bs Until March 28

Joachim Bandau—Die Nichtschönen (The Not-Beautiful) 7 8 9 10 Until April 18 Yonex Swiss Open Sinfonieorchester Basel—Harmony Basel Composition Competition Banksy—Building Castles in the Sky Promenade Concert—To Solitude March 1 – May 30 Memory Card Workshop Big City Life Until June 20

Special Exhibit—Mercedes Benz Until October 17

Memphis: 40 Years of Kitsch and Elegance Until January 23 14 15 16 17 Aterballeto—Don Juan Lehrstellen Börse (Apprenticeship Fair) Le Définitif—C’est le Provisoire In Algorithmic Waves Tour of Observatory St. Margarethen Starting March 2 Luxembourg European Theater Summer School Workshop—Cool Bags for Dreamers Shaping the Invisible World March 3 – May 23

Landon Metz: Euphoria / Barbara Stauffacher Solomon: GROP March 6 – May 8

Sophie Taeuber–Arp. Living Abstraction March 20 – June 20 21 22 23 24 Luxembourg European Theater Summer School Toddler Tales (Online) Access for All: São Paulo’s Architectural Infrastructures March 20 – August 15

German Design 1949–1989: Two Countries, One History March 20 – September 5

Making the World March 26 – January 23 28 29 30 31 Flea Market on the Roof Calendar Key: Daylight Savings Time Begins (for more info refer to this section) Workshop—Cool Bags for Dreamers Events in Basel Workshops, Tours, and Education

Your DENTIST in Basel

Dr. med. med. dent. Christoph Villiger

Member of: FMH Swiss Medical Association Swiss Dental Association

Holbeinstrasse 81 061 281 60 05 4051 Basel www.zahnarztpraxis-villiger.ch WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 4 5 6 Yonex Swiss Open Yonex Swiss Open Yonex Swiss Open Yonex Swiss Open Basel Composition Competition Basel Composition Competition Basel Composition Competition Wine Shop After-School English Story Time (Online) Saving Lives: CPR & Emergency First Aid Wine Bar Boulevard Basel for Newcomers Just for you! Fondue Vigneronne

11 12 13 Sinfonieorchester Basel—Harmony After-School English Story Time (Online) Luxembourg European Theater Summer School Workshop—Cool Bags for Dreamers

… probably the most beautiful wine bar in Basel 18 19 20 Lehrstellen Börse (Apprenticeship Fair) The King’s Singers Luxembourg European Theater Summer School Tuesday - Saturday 11am to 10pm Tour of Observatory St. Margarethen After-School English Story Time (Online) Blumenrain 24 · 4051 Basel · vin-optimum.ch

Basel’s English Dentist

Dr. Garry Bonsall

25 26 27 Dental Surgeon Public Opening—Making the World Workshop—Cool Bags for Dreamers Award‐winning After-School English Story Time (Online) Author

Painless, latest family dental care, braces, implants, and hygienist — in English Important Numbers: Kinderspital, Spitalstrasse 33, Basel SOS: 112 061-704-1212 Police: 117 Afterhours Pharmacy, Book 24/7 online Fire Department: 118 Petersgraben 3, Basel www.DrBonsall.ch A Hand in Need / Suicide Hotline: 143 061-263-7575 Ambulance: 144 Emergency Dentist/Doctor, Poison Center: 145 24 hour/365 Days Service Child / Teen Hotline: 147 061-261-1515 St. Alban Vorstadt 78 Emergency Veterinarian, 24 hour/365 Days Service Call today: 061 271 06 04 090-099-3399 WhatsApp: 079 926 30 99

SIS Swiss International School Bilingual Day School from Kindergarten through to College

SIS Swiss International School Erlenstrasse 15, 4058 Basel Phone +41 61 683 71 40 [email protected] www.swissinternationalschool.ch

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Exercise During Pregnancy and Postpartum—A Guide to How and Why By Emma Ferguson

Starting a family is an exciting time! When you find out you are pregnant, own, without proper support and help, may just not be enough of a strate- the focus is usually first on the baby and all the things you must plan for gy. Equally, don’t be scared to exercise during pregnancy if it’s something and can look forward to. However, as a mother-to-be, there is also a lot you want to do and there are no medical reasons why you can’t! You are to think about in terms of your own health and wellbeing. This can some- pregnant, not powerless! times be a bit of a challenge—especially if you take to consulting “Dr. Google”! Unfortunately, even in this day and age, there seems to be little Tips and Things to Keep in Mind Before Exercising While Pregnant or conflicting information specifically relating to exercise, what you can » Make sure you have a doctor’s clearance to exercise during pregnancy. do during pregnancy, and when you can safely start again afterwards. Is This is especially important if you didn’t exercise before pregnancy. it really as easy as waiting to get the “all clear” from your doctor to start » Book an appointment with a pelvic floor physiotherapist (PFT) who is again once your baby is born? In this article I hope to bust some myths specializing in women’s health and who can help guide you with what and help you understand where to find the best information and support exercise may or may not be ideal for you. that you can trust! » Find a coach or fitness business that is equipped and educated to work with pregnant clients. Ask about their qualifications. Just having “worked with a pregnant client before” doesn’t count! Pregnancy: Continuing or Starting to Exercise During Pregnancy » Scale your workouts dependent on trimester and how much energy you There is a lot of information online about how being strong and fit during have. your pregnancy will guarantee you an “easy” or “quick” birth and help you » Your bra cup and rib cage size can increase by up to 2–4 sizes when preg- “bounce back” afterwards. Unfortunately, that’s not quite true! Some stud- nant, so I highly recommend looking for a supportive maternity sports ies have shown that exercise during pregnancy helps support a shorter bra that is also made for nursing. It should be good to go if you are nurs- second stage of labor—BUT, every woman is different, and exercising ing when you return to exercise postpartum. during your pregnancy won’t guarantee you a natural birth with no compli- cations or a celebrity-style “bounce back”! Postpartum: Returning to Fitness Once You’ve Had Your Baby Still, exercising during pregnancy has many benefits to you and your baby. These include lower blood pressure, a lower chance of gestational diabe- A lot of new mothers are eager tes (or support managing it if you already have it), better sleep, and im- to get back into fitness after proved mental health, to name just a few! If you are feeling well during your giving birth, for understand- pregnancy and have clearance from your doctor, it is highly recommended able reasons like weight loss, to continue some type of movement. The key is to start slowly and build it mental health, and feeling “a up as you feel able. All of us, pregnant or not, should be aiming to do 150 bit more like themselves.” minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week. Your doctor or midwife has Whether you’re a CrossFitter or love your Pilates—most of your activities given you medical clearance to are scalable to pregnancy. This is why connecting with someone who restart exercising at around 6 knows what they are talking about is so worthwhile as they can help you weeks postpartum, so it’s fine continue what you love doing with some adjustments. It is completely un- to get back into your fitness derstandable that you may want to continue doing the exercises that you’ve regime, right? The answer, in short, in most cases is... probably not! Some- always done (and you can!), but if you want to get back to them within a thing that a lot of new mothers don’t know about is the importance of vis- reasonable time after birth, scaling back during pregnancy may well be the iting a PFT. A good PFT does an internal examination of the pelvic floor best thing you can do to support that goal. If you are not sure about what is along with a check of your abdominal muscles to check for separation. safe or doable during pregnancy, help is available. The age-old advice of Usually, the PFT will be able to give you a more realistic timeline on when “just listen to your body” is great and absolutely worth doing, but on its you may return to fitness, including the level of intensity you could start

16 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com with, which all depends on your pelvic floor strength. Returning to your normal exercise routine too early or without any consideration of the mas- Useful Resources for Women in Basel sive impact that having a baby has had on your body could potentially cause pelvic floor damage, but it can also simply delay your body’s healing pro- As an expat in Basel, there aren’t cess after birth. Even if you have had a caesarean section, you may suffer a huge number of offerings in from as weak a pelvic floor as someone who has had a vaginal birth. Pelvic English in terms of exercise floor strength is different for each woman, often regardless of birth type. during pregnancy or postpartum. This being said, I usually find clients are ready—not just physically but often At such a critical and challenging also mentally—to start exercising again at around 8–12 weeks postpartum. stage of life for many, under- But again, this really is dependent on each individual. standing what you are being told about your body and about Why Is the Pelvic Floor so Important? changes to make to your every- The pelvic floor is the base of the core—the day exercise regime is very im- region of the abdomen that also includes the portant. Listed below are a few diaphragm, spine, and abdominal muscles. resources that may be useful if During both everyday movements and exer- you find yourself expecting or did cise, the internal pressure in the abdomen is just have a baby! constantly changing. It is vital to have strength in this “base” to help manage all Empower Fitness & Coaching: Emma is a certified pregnancy and sorts of pressure changes, such as sneezing, postpartum fitness coach and helps women continue what they love coughing, or just lifting your baby. In most doing while pregnant or after their babies are born. She is inclusive, people, this pressure regulation happens automatically, but if any of the English-speaking, and progressive in her approach. Her aim is not core muscles are weakened or damaged, this automatic action may be al- only to help women with their fitness but to also help women feel part tered and cause symptoms. of a community and meet other like-minded expat women in Basel. Some common symptoms include leaking urine or any other form of incon- Group classes (in-person and online) and personal training are both tinence, abdominal separation (diastasis recti), pelvic organ prolapse, and offered. www.empowerbasel.com pelvic pain. Ensuring you perform pelvic floor-focused exercises (also known as “Kegels”) is important, and a visit to a PFT is essential for mak- ing sure you know how to do these exercises correctly. Ideally, you should Mignon Baby: Susie Atkinson is an amazing resource in Basel. She book a first visit during pregnancy! Some women have an overactive pelvic runs pre- and postnatal yoga classes and an array of different ser- floor, which means their pelvic floor is constantly contracted and the inter- vices for mothers and babies. www.mignonbaby.com nal muscles do not relax. In this case, doing more pelvic floor-strengthen- ing exercises can increase pelvic floor symptoms. Every woman is differ- Saanscore: Susanna Cervià Serra is an excellent pelvic floor physio- ent, and this is another big reason to see an expert! therapist that specializes in women’s health. She also offers pre- and When you are ready to start working out again, look into programs that postnatal Pilates and gymnastics classes at her central location near help to gently rehabilitate and strengthen targeted areas of the body that Basel SBB. www.saanscore.com need dedicated focus after you have had your baby. It is important to work on core strength, including the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles, and to look at strategies such as breathing that can help get you back into your Umi Health: The three women of Umi Health are on a mission to make normal routine sooner. You have had a baby—it’s a big deal, and your body pelvic health accessible to every woman, everywhere. They offer on- has been through a lot, so be kind to it and do the right thing in caring for line courses, many for free, where you can learn more about your pel- its rehabilitation! It is vital to have a strategy to help alleviate pressure on vic floor and the changes you go through during pregnancy and be- the pelvic floor and internal systems to reduce any possibility of pelvic floor yond in an easy-to-understand way. www.umi-health.com symptoms or, in some cases, manage those symptoms. Take your time, start small, and work your way to getting stronger and introducing more Natal Active: This company was founded by a mother who couldn’t find intensity over time. quality sportswear during her own pregnancies, so she started her own line. Natal Active specializes in pre- and postnatal activewear. Tips and Things to Keep in Mind Before Exercising Postpartum Based in the U.K. with low-cost postage to Switzerland, they have a » Make sure you have your doctor’s or midwife’s clearance as well as a wonderful range of sports tights and sports nursing bras in beautiful PFT’s advice. colors that are really worth the investment. www.natalactive.com » Don’t feel pressured to start exercising when you’ve had the green light— sometimes you just aren’t ready in more ways than one. » Find a coach or program to help you rehabilitate and prepare your body for returning to fitness, ensuring your coach is certified in postpartum fitness. There are many online courses that offer a postpartum rehab Emma Ferguson is a certified fitness trainer and pregnancy and postpar- program and can be helpful for most women, but advice tailored specifi- tum qualified. She set up Empower Fitness & Coaching originally with an- cally to your needs is worth its weight in gold! other expat in August 2020, born out of a passion to serve women at this » If you start exercising and notice any leaking of urine, pain, or really any- special time of life. Empower offers a range of classes both in person and thing that doesn’t seem right, don’t ignore it—these symptoms are not online, as well as personal training. Emma is passionate about creating a normal, and you can help manage them with the right guidance. strong expat community for women in Basel and is very active on social » As mentioned in the pregnancy tips, if you are nursing, make sure you media, sharing not only exercise modifications and workouts but also gen- have a decent nursing sports bra! Many women struggle with a lack of eral useful information about making life easier as a mother in Basel. She support, which holds them back from certain activities and causes them is often running events for their community and the greater general public, unnecessary pain and discomfort. It’s also recommended that you wear like clothing exchanges for children or webinars and talks. Please visit her breast pads in your sports bra in case of any leaking, and that you try to website for more information or follow her on either Facebook or Insta- nurse before you work out too! gram. www.empowerbasel.com photo credits: © emma ferguson; © brianna battles/everyday battles llc (right page, diagram) March 2021 17 InsideEvents Basel in Basel: February 2015 (continued)

Freie Strasse Is Getting a Makeover

Every major city has a magnificent showcase shopping street lined with At that time, the second stage began, which includes work to the side streets ­luxury goods, international chains, and the big brand stores, like New York of Barfüssergasse and Streitgasse, as well as the stretch of Freie Strasse in City’s Fifth Avenue, Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive, Paris’ Champs-Elysées, between these two alleys. Phase 3, which will cover the stretch of Freie ­London’s Oxford Street, or Zürich’s Bahnhofstrasse. In Basel, Freie Strasse Strasse from Streitgasse to Pfluggässlein, will begin at the end of 2021. Mid- is where the best shops are found, and a large-scale reconstruction project 2022 should mark the beginning of Phase 4, which will extend to Rüden- is now underway to make it the glamorous center of Basel’s shopping district. gasse, and the last phase will include the remaining stretch to the Markt- platz, with a planned completion date of December 2023. The scheduled The entire Freie Strasse will be covered with continuous slabs of quartz timetable of the work includes pauses for the Christmas seasons and sandstone, with the sidewalks removed to transform it into a wide, uniform Fasnacht, but does not include unforeseen delays due to other factors like promenade that will allow the cafés and restaurants to spill out onto the archeological finds, which are not uncommon for construction projects in street with plenty of outdoor seating. The more open space will also make it Basel-Stadt. There have already been numerous archeological finds in the more conducive to large events like Fasnacht (carnival) and the Stadtlauf first phase of construction. For example, they discovered cellar and building (city run). The impressive Dreizackbrunnen—the large water fountain walls from the Middle Ages as well as from early modern times, likely be- adorned with a trident that was located at the foot of the Münsterberg—will cause the 12-meter wide Freie Strasse was only half that width until the 19th be moved several meters, towards the center of the widened area, so that it century. Even more significant was the discovery of 800-years-old graves can be seen from all directions. The tree near Bäumleingasse will also be thought to have belonged to a former hospital (Spital an der Schwellen) that moved to a more prominent position and framed with bench seating to make was founded in 1265. Layers of Roman pottery were also discovered in some it a place where you can linger in the shade and soak up the sights of this places, as well as a compact layer of gravel that could be a remnant of the beautiful pedestrian shopping mile. Movable seating throughout the street Roman road that passed through the region. All findings are meticulously will give it a dynamic “living” atmosphere for pedestrians to stroll, enjoy, documented by Basel’s archeology department (Archäologische Bodenfor- experience, and linger. The street edges of Kaufhausstrasse and Barfüsser- schung Basel-Stadt), and those items that can be removed are archived. gasse will be paved with polished “Rheinwacken” (cobblestone), and to em- phasize the historic charm of the Barfüsserkirche, the lower part of The redesign of Freie Strasse has been Barfüssergasse will be paved with continuous cobblestone. In the lower a hotly debated topic for several de- Freie Strasse, near Rüdengasse, a new drinking fountain will be installed, cades. It was first proposed to Basel’s and at the top of the street, a bollard system will be put in place to prevent parliament, the Grossrat (Grand Coun- non-authorized vehicles from entering the pedestrian zone. cil), 30 years ago and again in 2002, but To minimize the noise, inconvenience, and burden to the current businesses, was rejected both times. It was finally the execution of the three-year project is planned in five phases, starting at approved in 2015, primarily because the Bankverein end and ending at Marktplatz. The first phase began last the lighting and aging underground utility lines needed to be replaced. The August, despite the coronavirus pandemic. If you have walked along upper Grossrat approved CHF 15.6 million for the project, which will include replace- Freie Strasse since then, you will already have noticed some ripped-up ment of all utility lines, such as sewage, electricity, drinking water, and tele- street sections, metal-covered sidewalks, and bridge walkways to shop en- communications, thus hopefully eliminating the need to dig up the new quarz trances. The Dreizackbrunnen has also already been removed, piece by sandstone slabs for many years. This is even more important because Basel’s piece in a delicate and well-orchestrated operation, and is currently in stor- new energy law that was approved in fall of 2017 requires the switch from age at the IWB, where it will remain until the final phase of the reconstruc- fossil fuels or gas to climate-friendly district heating. Thus, Freie Strasse, tion. This first stage (from Bankverein to Barfüssergasse) was completed in Rüdengasse, Streitgasse, Kaufhausgasse, and Barfüssergasse will all be sup- January. plied with district heating, a milestone in this reconstruction project.

18 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com Additional Major Construction Projects Basel’s District Heating Network Continues to Grow Planned for Basel in 2021 The energy revolution has reached Basel’s heating systems. Basel inciner- ates its waste, and the heat created during this process is used to produce In 2021, the Department of Civil Engineering, the Basler Verkehrsbetriebe steam that drives turbines and generates electricity for district house- (BVB; the public transport provider), and the Industrielle Werke Basel holds. In addition, the extracted heat also warms 45,000 households (IWB; Basel’s energy provider) will start several major construction proj- through a 223-km pipeline network, as well as numerous small and large ects to renew roads, tracks, and energy and water lines. In addition to the businesses. The large red and white striped smokestack that dominates renovation to the Bruderholz tram lines 15 and 16 that we wrote about in the skyline in the northwest corner of Basel is the chimney of Basel’s incin- the February 2021 issue of Basel Life Magazine, there are also plans for eration facility. The polluting soot from the smoke is captured in a series of bridging measures in Burgfelderstrasse, Missionsstrasse, and Spalen- specialized filters, which are disposed of as solid waste, thus minimizing vorstadt that cannot be postponed. At the same time, the IWB will be push- air pollution. ing ahead with the expansion of the district heating network for a cli- In 2020, Basel’s “Fernwärme” (district heating) network grew by 3 kilome- mate-friendly heat supply. Together, these projects for improving Basel’s ters and 140 house connections, and the IWB is planning further substan- infrastructure will help secure the supply of energy and water, promote tial expansion of the network until 2035 to help achieve Basel’s climate public and individual transport, and increase traffic safety as well as the targets. The replacement of fossil-fueled heating systems with district attractiveness of the city. heating has already led to a significant reduction of CO2 emissions in Ba- sel-Stadt by around 70,000 tons per year. In fact, the cantonal energy law Tram Track Renewals in 2021 now only allows new oil and gas heating systems to be installed in excep- By the end of the year, BVB will have tional cases; otherwise, a switch to “Fernwärme” is required for any oil- or cleared the backlog of maintenance gas-powered systems that have reached the end of their service life (for work on its track infrastructure, which example, during the renovation of Freie Strasse). will require some patience from com- In addition to the work on Freie Strasse and its side streets, the IWB will be muters. From January to the end of Oc- further expanding the district heating network in 2021, particularly around tober 2021, at least one tram line is the Viertelkreis in Gundeli and probably in St. Alban-Vorstadt. They will expected to be affected by track renew- also be working to eliminate bottlenecks in the district heating network als at any given time. With the renewal between Rheingasse and Bäumlihofstrasse, as well as between the Areal of Viertelkreis-Gundeli, tram line 16 Wolf site and Reinacherstrasse. At these sites, IWB is building large trans- along Gundeldingerstrasse will be in- port pipelines, the main arteries of the district heating network, in prepa- terrupted until July 17. They are also ration for future expansion. IWB will be investing almost a CHF 100 million planning to renew the Bruderholz tram in its networks in 2021 alone! line starting in Wolfsschlucht; this would disrupt tram lines 15 and 16 from running via Bruderholz from June to November. The corresponding plan approval process is still ongoing, and it is currently not certain whether the entire project or only parts of it can be implemented. Another project concerns the renewal of the track crossings at Dreirosenbrücke. This would impact tram lines 1, 8, 14, and 17 in Kleinbasel, each of which would be affected briefly between August and December. Finally, for the replacement of the tram tracks on Margarethen- strasse, a tram replacement service with buses will operate on tram line 2 for eight weeks, from September to the end of October. Some of these con- struction projects will not only affect public transport but necessitate more wide-ranging restrictions for motorists and cyclists. For example, bus, car, and bicycle traffic between Zwinglihaus and Viertelkreis in Gundeli will continue to be diverted until the end of 2022. In addition, urgent track ren- ovations in Burgfelderstrasse, Missionsstrasse, and Spalenvorstadt will necessitate a detour on this axis towards France. Finally, due to the reno- vation of the Wettsteinallee/Grenzacherstrasse area, the Wettsteinallee will be closed in both directions between Peter Rot-Strasse and Schwarz- waldstrasse during the 2021 summer vacations.

photo credits: © bau- und verkehrsdepartement basel-stadt (freie strasse); © basler verkehrs-betriebe (tram track renewals); © matthias leeman (district heating, top); © iwb March 2021 19 industrielle werke basel (district heating, bottom) Workshops,Events in Basel: Tours, February and Education 2015 (continued) in Basel

Camps for Kids If you would like to keep your kids busy during the Easter school break, various clubs and organizations offer a wide range of day camps for all age groups, from sports such as acrobatics, hiking, horseback riding, soccer, and tennis, to creative arts such as painting, pottery, and a variety of arts and crafts. For parents looking to find the right camps for their kids during school breaks, we have created a table with a long list of camp providers, with a description of the camps, the seasons in which the camps are nor- mally offered, the approximate age range of the kids, the main language of the camp, as well as their website for more information and registration. You can find the table in the “Resources” section on our website at www.basellife.com and download it.

After-School English Story Time March 4, 11, 18, and 25 The Basel West library invites children ages 3–8 on Thursday afternoons at 15:30 for an ONLINE story time to discover new ways to celebrate litera- ture. The events will be presented via Zoom. Go to their website, www.stadtbibliothekbasel.ch, and under “Veranstaltungen” pick the date you are interested in and fill in the registration information, including your email address. You will then receive a separate email from them with the access link for the Zoom call as well as additional information. Basel for Newcomers—Live, Learn, and Enjoy www.stadtbibliothekbasel.ch March 6 On this tour, specially designed for new residents of the city, you can get to know the city and at the same time gain some valuable tips for day-to-day Saving Lives: CPR & Emergency First Aid life, such as public transport, post, and healthcare. You will also receive March 6 useful information on where to shop, the many cultural institutions in the “Saving Lives: CPR & Emergency city, and possibilities for spending your leisure time. This is a joint project First Aid” is a 4.5-hour ONLINE by the Presidential Department of canton Basel-Stadt and Basel Tourism course teaching basic skills to en- and is designed to make new residents of the city feel welcome and at able participants to save lives by ad- home as quickly as possible. The tour in English is from 10:00–12:30 and ministering cardiopulmonary re- costs CHF 5; meeting point is at the Basel tourist information at the SBB suscitation (CPR) and emergency train station. You can contact them at [email protected]. first aid. The course is lively and www.basel.com/en/search/citytours packed full of information that is easy to understand and remember. Topics covered include a step-by- Memory Card Workshop step approach to medical emergen- March 7 cies with a protocol to follow; how to In connection with the “Memory” exhibition taking place at the Museum call for emergency help in Switzerland and what to say; how to assess a der Kulturen, they will be offering a workshop for children ages 6 and up person’s level of consciousness; putting an unconscious baby, child, or from 13:00–17:00. On this afternoon, participants will make a set of their adult into a safe position (the “recovery position”); how to give CPR to ba- own memory cards, using pictures of objects from the museum itself. bies, children, and adults; an introduction to using an automated external defibrillator; what to do in the case of drowning; signs and symptoms of a www.mkb.ch/en/programm.html heart attack or a stroke and what to do; and first aid for a choking baby, child, or adult. How does this special format work? To enable each partici- Luxembourg European Annual Theater Summer School— pant to practice the first-aid techniques taught in the class, they will be On Tour posted their own inflatable CPR manikin to their chosen address. This manikin will then be theirs to keep. Participants will also receive a paper March 13/14 and 20/21 copy of their abbreviated course booklet with the main emergency proto- The Luxembourg European Annual Theater Summer School (LEATSS) will cols, medical phrases, and emergency numbers. The training will be deliv- be coming to Basel virtually for their second edition of “LEATSS on Tour,” ered via Zoom and participants are asked to enable their camera to allow held in cooperation with four of Basel’s theater groups. Following the suc- maximum interaction and for the course trainer to assess practical exer- cess of last summer’s inaugural virtual school, LEATSS OnLine will be un- cises. There will be plenty of opportunities for questions throughout the dertaking their second such venture—“LEATSS on Tour Basel,” a series of session. The workshop will also use other interactive features, including virtual workshops hosted by The Semi Circle, Basel English Panto Group, polls. If two participants in the same household who would usually have Betwixt & Between Theater, and the Boutique Theatre Basel, in collabora- close physical/intimate contact are able to share a manikin, then only one tion with the LEATSS organization. The program includes online courses in registration is needed. Following the course, attendees will receive a singing, writing, creative acting, and voice work, as well as a collaboration course certification (HealthFirst Certificate of Attendance in CPR), which is between writers and dramaturgs/actors, offered by professional and expe- valid for 2 years. The workshop will be conducted in English by the organi- rienced theater practitioners who are also exceptional tutors. The courses zation HealthFirst, costs CHF 140, and will be held from 9:00–13:30. Regis- will be held over two weekends this month, March 13/14 and March 20/21. ter online at www.healthfirst.ch/event/saving-lives-6-march-online. Visit their website for details about the courses, prices, and how to sign up. www.healthfirst.ch www.leatss.lu/2021/Course/Overview.php

20 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com Workshop—Cool Bags for Dreamers March 13, 14, 27, and 28 Denim is the stuff that baggy dreams are made of. They have three ingredients: creativity, imagi- nation, and enthusiasm. In con- junction with the exhibit “Denim— Stylish, Practical, Timeless,” the Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel will be hosting workshops from 13:30–17:30 on select weekends, where participants can decorate their own fashion accessory out of denim—a basic backpack with a cool draw- string with denim flair. Turn it into the bag of your dreams with a whole cornucopia of fabric patches with fun print motifs in all shapes and sizes— stars, elephants, emojis, and much more—and countless other trendy em- bellishments. Children age 6 and up may attend together with an adult guardian. Everyone else is free to join on their own, no matter their age. The neutral denim drawstring backpack and everything you need to make it uniquely yours will be provided for free by the museum. Of course, every artist gets to take their finished creation home. No registration is required, but you may need to wait your turn. www.spielzeug-welten-museum-basel.ch

Tour of the Observatory at St. Margarethen March 17 The Programm für Elternbil- dung (Program for Education for Parents, PEB) is offering a tour for one parent and one child (ages 8 and up) of the Stern- warte St. Margarethen (Obser- vatory St. Margarethen). Do you know how many stars there are? A visit to the Sternwarte of the Astronomical Society of Basel will provide an insight into our fascinating universe, be it through the tele- scopes or, in case of overcast skies, through animations and Power­Point presentations. The German-language tour will also include explanations of all the astronomical instruments. The tour will be from 19:00– 20:30 and Until we are costs CHF 30. Register now as spaces fill up quickly; go to the PEB website permitted to meet under “Familienkurse entdecken,” click on “Familienangebote für 1 er- wachsene Person und 1 Kind,” and then on “Jetzt anmelden” for workshop again in person, number FK02. please join us for fun www.peb-basel.ch and music via Zoom!

Toddler Tales www.kidsmusic.ch March 23 Toddler Tales is designed for young listeners ages 9 months to 4 years as they discover the wonderful world Happiness of books and the fun of language in 45 minutes of interactive exploration is Reading. of classic stories. For the time be- Where you find the best stories. ing, Toddler Tales takes place in a virtual format via Zoom call from 10:15–10:45 on every fourth Tuesday of the month. Go to their website, www.stadtbibliothekbasel.ch, and under “Veranstaltungen” pick the date Orell Füssli you are interested in and fill in the registration information, including your Freie Strasse 17 email address. You will then receive a separate email from them with the CH-4001 Basel access link for the Zoom call as well as additional information. Tel. 061 264 26 26 www.orellfüssli.ch www.stadtbibliothekbasel.ch photo credits: © pixabay (saving lives); © basel tourismus (basel for newcomers); © spielzeug welten museum basel (workshop cool bags); © canton basel-stadt/juri weiss (tour March 2021 21 observatory); © ggg stadtbibliothek basel-stadt (toddler tales)

OF_Inserat_Basel_90x60.indd 1 26.01.18 10:06 HealthEvents Matters in Basel: February 2015 (continued)

Nutrition Labels (Nährwerte) By Emily Johnson-Haug

When moving to a new country, understanding nutrition labels can be com- the EU label is 160 calories and on the U.S. label is 180 calories. Further, the plex, not only due to the language differences but also because the ways in total amount of carbohydrates is recorded at 22 grams per 130 grams of beans which nutrition facts are presented and calculated vary around the world. on the EU label, yet the U.S. label indicates there are 32 grams of carbohy- drates. Despite the differences in calorie reporting, the health benefits of di- To comprehend the labels, there are some basic concepts that you need to etary fiber are profound, and a healthy diet should include fiber-rich foods. understand. Calories (“Kalorien /Energie/ Brennwert” in German) are sim- ply a measurement of how much burning power or energy a food provides Other Key Differences in Nutrition Labelling the body. The total caloric value is determined by the breakdown of the Serving Size: Nutrients need to be reported per serving size in the United macronutrients: fats (Fett), proteins (Eiweiss), carbohydrates (Kohlehy- States and Canada, while in the EU, Mexico, and Switzerland, nutrients drate), and alcohol (Alkohol). The traditional caloric estimate for one gram must be reported per 100 grams or milliliters, with no requirement to indi- of fat is 9 calories, one gram of protein and one gram of carbohydrate each cate serving size information. In some cases, such as the example shown provide 4 calories, and one gram of alcohol provides about 7 calories. To here, the Swiss product does include the serving size, which allows for a determine the caloric value of a certain food, you can make the following quick comparison of the two labels. calculation: total calories = (grams of carbohydrate x 4) + (grams of protein x 4) + (grams of fat x 9) + (grams of alcohol x 7). Sodium and Salt Content: Sodium and salt do not have the same definition Differences in Reporting Fiber Content according to the two systems of reporting. The U.S. format specifies total Each macronutrient can be further broken down into their chemical com- sodium content measured in milligrams. The sodium contained in salt is a ponents. Specifically, carbohydrates are defined as being comprised of starch- component of the total sodium, but additional ingredients such as baking es, sugars, and dietary fibers. However, there are differences in international soda are also included to calculate the total sodium content. European la- definitions for determining which components are included in the carbohy- bels, in contrast, report salt content ("Salz" in German) in grams. Salt is drate total based on how a food is chemically analysed, especially with regards the mineral comprised of mainly sodium chloride. to dietary fiber content. In the United States and Canada, the total carbohy- drate content is determined by subtracting the grams of protein, fat, alcohol, How Accurate are the Labels? ash, and water from the total weight of the food; this is known as “carbohy- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s rules for labelling state that nu- drate by subtraction.” In contrast, in the EU, Mexico, and Switzerland, carbo- trients such as proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, and fats are compliant if hydrate content is determined by adding the sugars and starches in a sample, “present at 80% or more of the declared value.” The EU Commission re- which does not include the fiber; this method is known as the “available car- quirements allow for a deviation of ±20% for proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, bohydrate” method. Furthermore, fiber ("Nahrungsfasern" in German) is list- and fats between 10–40 g macro content per 100 g of the food item. In ed separately from the total amount of carbohydrates and is given a caloric other words, you could be consuming 20% more proteins, carbohydrates, value of only 2 calories per gram. and/or fats than you believe when you consume packaged goods. There- fore, it is recommended to consume the majority of your nutrients from This subtle difference in the way in which dietary fiber is handled can have a whole, minimally processed foods. profound impact on the total amount of calories reported on the label. The two labels shown here are for the same food—black beans; the one on the left is the EU Nutrition Information Label and the one on the right is the U.S. Standard­ Emily Johnson-Haug is a certified nutri- Nutrition Facts Label. Notice that the caloric value per 130 grams of beans on tional advisor and fitness trainer com- mitted to coaching, educating, and sup- porting clients in achieving their health, fitness and nutrition related goals. She uses scientifically proven methods and does not believe in ultra-restrictive diet practices such as ­cutting out entire food groups or following diet trends. Food is the most important factor affecting your health and wellbeing. Get in touch with her today if you are ready to reshape your habits and health! [email protected]

22 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com DidEvents You Know…?in Basel: February 2015 (continued)

The Long Road to Women’s Suffrage in Switzerland

Fifty years ago, on February 7, 1971, women were finally granted the right to vote in federal elec- tions and referendums in Switzerland—one of the last countries in Europe to do so! In a referen- dum on that day, over 65% of Swiss men entitled to vote finally said “YES” to voting rights for women at the federal level. (Only 12 years earlier, in 1959, a similar motion had been soundly de- feated.) Prior to that date, women only had the right to vote at the cantonal level. In 1966, the men entitled to vote in Basel-Stadt had spoken out in favor of women’s right to vote, making Basel-Stadt the first canton in German-speaking Switzerland to introduce women’s suffrage at the cantonal level. Since then, the canton has continued its pioneering role and has achieved important gender equality milestones. For example, Basel-Stadt was the first, and so far only, canton to introduce a gender quota for the boards of directors of state-affiliated companies and has implemented this requirement very successfully. The proportion of women in these bodies is currently almost 48%.

The Department of Gender Equality in Basel-Stadt, together with the Historisches Museum Basel, the Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt (State Archives), the research project Stadt.Geschichte.Basel, the Junges Theater, the Feminist Salon, the Grossrat (Grand Council, Basel-Stadt’s parliament), and the canton Baselland is organizing a varied anniversary program. The celebratory program, which already started in February of this year, includes initially a number of virtual events, such as dis- cussions analyzing women’s roles in politics, especially that of lesbians, trans persons, non-binary people, migrants, or people of color. The celebrations will, if the coronavirus situation permits it, culminate on June 20 with a variety of diverse events that will take place in downtown Basel. At that time, all will be invited to toast this important milestone and the commitment of the many women together. You can find more information on the anniversary celebrations at www.gleichstellung. bs.ch/Frauenstimmrecht/Basel-Stadt-feiert.html.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of women’s right to vote, the Historisches Museum Basel has also added a new extension to their exhibit “Zeitsprünge— Basler Geschichte in Kürze” (Leaps in Time—A Brief History of Basel) entitled “50 Years of Women’s Suffrage in Switzerland.” They are presenting the topic in the form of a short film describing the arduous struggle. While the museum is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, you can view the film di- rectly on their website at www.hmb.ch/en/news/exhibitions/leaps-in-time/#c7000.

However, even before the introduction of voting rights, women have shaped community life in Basel for centuries in a variety of ways and across all social classes. The achievements of 12 of these women are depicted in a sticker album entitled “Starke Frauen in der Basler Geschichte” (Strong women in Basel’s history), which is presented by the Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt and the research project Stadt.Geschichte.Basel. The sticker album is available in bookshops and museum shops, and starting in March, selected portraits can also be viewed in poster form in the courtyard of the Staatsarchiv (www. staatsarchiv.bs.ch).

In addition, Bergli Books has just released a book to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Swiss women’s right to vote entitled “50 Amazing Swiss Women,” with the inspiring stories of 50 extraordinary women. This beautifully illustrated book is aimed at teach- ing kids about the amazing things that daring, ingenious, and brave Swiss women have done—as activists, athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs, midwives, mothers, politicians, spies, and more. By including women from six different centuries, dozens of voca- tions, many different backgrounds, and every part of Switzerland, the book proves to kids that in Switzerland, it isn’t where you started but who you are inside that counts. The book is available for CHF 29.90 in English, German, or French at bookstores or through www.bergli.ch. photo credits: © xxxxxpixabay (nutrition labels, top); © emily johnson-haug (nutrition labels); © eth bibliothek, photo: hans gerber, comet photo ag zürich (women's suffrage, top); © eth biblio- March 2021 23 thek, photo: comet photo ag zürich (women's suffrage, middle); © bergli books (women's suffrage, bottom) DidEvents You Know…?in Basel: (continued)February 2015 (continued)

Aluminum Coffee Capsule Recycling whole-fat, to cream and double cream, all in pasteurized, UHT, and lac- tose-free forms. Other dairy products include cream for all purposes, Nespresso has always used aluminum quark, cottage cheese, butter, yogurt, yogurt drinks, as well as a variety of as the natural choice for the shell of cheeses, including cheese for fondue and raclette. Some milkmen also their coffee capsules because it is the deliver juice, local honey, Swiss beer, mineral water, and even seasonal only material that can preserve the full specialties. To find out which milkman delivers to your street and to get a aroma of the coffee by protecting it from list of their offers and prices, contact them at 061-692-5548 or by email at light, oxygen, and humidity. It was also [email protected], and be sure to provide them with your address. chosen because it can be recycled end- lessly without losing any of its proper- www.basler-milchhandel.ch ties. As early as 1991, Nespresso set up a system for collecting and recy- cling their aluminum capsules throughout Switzerland. Today, there are Reduced Bus Service to the Airport three different ways to return your used capsules for recycling. First, you can return them at all Nespresso boutiques and partner stores. Second, Since mid-January, the schedule of the bus line 50 between Friedrich for even more convenience, you can collect your used capsules in the ­Miescher-Strasse and the Basel EuroAirport has been reduced from Mon- sealable Nespresso recycling bags and leave them on your mailbox day to Friday between 9:00–15:00, until further notice. The frequency of for free pick-up by the post, thanks to the free “Recycling at Home” collec- busses on this route has been cut back due to the coronavirus-related re- tion service (www.nespresso.com/ch/en/services-new#/recycling/ duction in air travel; so if you are going to the airport, be sure to check the recycling-at-home). And finally, you can drop them off at one of their 2,700 schedule before heading out. public collection points, which now include Migros stores. As a part of the www.bvb.ch recycling wall for PET bottles, batteries, and other recyclables found in many Migros stores, you will also find a place to deposit your used alumi- num coffee capsules. Since the spring of 2020, Migros has been using re- Technologiepark Basel Celebrates 10 Years! cyclable aluminum instead of plastic for their Nespresso-compatible Café Royal capsules. They will now be recycling these in partnership with ­Nespresso. During recycling, the aluminum is separated from the coffee and further processed. Some of the recovered aluminum is used for new cap- sules, as well as for the industrial production of window structures, bicycles, and even cars. By recycling your capsules instead of throwing them away, you reduce the carbon footprint of their packaging by 20%. The coffee grounds are also used to produce biogas or natural fertilizer, closing the loop.

Recycling for the Environmentally Conscious but Busy Person Established 10 years ago, the Technologiepark Basel is the premier ad- People who would like to do their part for the environment but don’t quite dress for early-stage tech start-ups in Basel. It offers a collabora- have the time or space to separate, manage, and transport their recycla- tion-friendly, yet business-driven environment and is part of the rapidly bles to the designated collection locations now have another option—out- growing Stücki Park in the northern part of Basel. The Technologiepark sourcing! Private customers can hire one of several recycling-service Basel provides office space and fully equipped laboratories at highly favor- companies in the region to properly dispose of all their recyclables. Com- able terms and offers shared facilities and a variety of other services to panies like Mr. Green (https://mr-green.ch/) or Eco House Recycling tech start-ups. With the long-standing support of its parliament and gov- (https://recycling-basel.ch/) will come directly to your door to collect all of ernment, canton Basel-Stadt has pursued the goal of locating and promot- your household recyclables in their own designated collection bags. You ing innovative, technology-oriented start-ups in Basel, as well as to im- decide on the size of the bag and the frequency of the pick-up, and they will prove networking between businesses and universities. take care of sorting your recyclables (like batteries, coffee capsules, corks, Due to incredible demand and to meet the growth plans of the existing electronics, glass, ink cartridges, metal, paper, PET, and other plastics) tenants, the Technologiepark Basel had to be expanded in four stages from 2 2 and bringing them to the appropriate recycling locations so you don’t have the original 1,400 m to the current 6,700 m . It is currently home to 32 to. Service with a conscience! companies with around 230 jobs from various industries. The Technolo- giepark Basel is a success story, not only because of the high occupancy rate of around 90%, but also because they are selective about their ten- Get to Know Basel’s Milk Man—Dy Milchmaa ants. It is crucial that the innovation takes place on site and that the com- If you think that a “milkman” was an pany has the potential to create value by adding jobs in canton Basel-Stadt. icon of an era gone by, think again! The Investments in Basel-based start-ups have increased steadily from around “Milchhändlerverband Basel und CHF 2 million in 2012 to CHF 540 million last year (Venture Capital Report Umgebung” (Milk Traders Association 2021). Many of these companies are either based in the Technologiepark of Basel and the Surrounding Area) is an association of regional farmers Basel or have originated there. One of the greatest success stories of the that deliver milk and other local home-grown specialty products to Basel last 10 years is NBE-Therapeutics, which was recently sold to Boehringer and its surrounding area. “Dy Milchmaa” (Basel German for “your milk- Ingelheim for € 1.18 billion. NBE-Therapeutics was founded in a 12 m2 man”) attach great importance to regional production and guarantee the ­office in the Technologiepark Basel and today employs around 30 people. high quality of the respective products. They offer a wide variety of milk and The successful concept of the Technologiepark Basel will be continued other dairy products, as well as other culinary delicacies and specialties— over the next few years. While no further expansion is planned at the mo- all from hand-picked local producers. ment, they will continue to invest in the quality of their services with the They will deliver your order directly to your door in one of their 20 cooled support of the canton. In addition, the park will work even more closely vehicles. Their customer base includes local restaurants, nursing homes, with its partners in the region—for example, as a site for the successful hospitals, shops, offices, and private households. Each individual milkman BaseLaunch program of Basel Area Business & Innovation. brings goods from different producers, so their products and respective In this anniversary year, the Technologiepark Basel will bring the success- offers/prices may differ. Generally, their milk ranges from skimmed and es it has achieved together with its tenants to the public and get as many

24 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com WERBEVELO (Advertising Bike) Have you already spotted one of Basel’s WERBEVELOS (advertising bikes) and wondered what they are about? As their name implies, these bikes serve as advertising platforms. How does it work? WERBEVELO provides the high-quality bikes and pairs advertisers with riders. Small businesses that would like to get the word out about their business (restaurant, day- cares, etc.) can contact WERBEVELO about placing an advert on their bike(s). Motivated individuals can apply to be a rider and if there is a good fit, they will be loaned—free of charge—a WERBEVELO bike for their per- sonal use, for example, for riding to work or university and for all other leisure activities. In addition to getting a bike to use for free, riders also receive free cleaning and maintenance services on the bike so that they can continue to ride around town problem free and that the advertising space is always clean and gives a good impression—a win for the riders, the advertisers, and the environment! In exchange for the free bike, the riders agree to use the bike every day and park it in clearly visible public spaces to maximize the exposure for the advertiser. Using a mobile app, riders document their location and the condition of the bike and the adver- tising space daily and upload photos to the cloud so that the customer (ad- vertiser) can monitor the condition at any time. Based on the advertise- ment and their customer base, the app can also suggest ideal routes for the riders to allow advertisers to optimally reach their target customer. If you are interested in learning more about advertising options, go to their website and fill out the online form under WERBE by clicking on “Informa- tionen anfordern.” If you are interested in becoming a rider, fill out the online form under VELO by clicking on “Jetzt als Fahrer bewerben” at the bottom of the page. https://werbevelo.ch

people as possible excited about the topic of innovation. They will start with “life task” with pleasure and determination. (To date, he has progressed to a series of lectures in the newly developed “virtual auditorium” in cooper- streets beginning with “I”.) In addition to the street name signs, he photo- ation with the Swiss Biotech Association. If the coronavirus situation al- graphs the architectural features, typical snack bars, graffiti, stickers, par- lows, the public will be able to get an insight into the technology park at an ticularly beautiful terraces, shop windows, as well as other unusual fea- “open day” this summer. A scientific symposium with future-oriented tures and eye-catchers in each street. He also provides historical short presentations will conclude the anniversary year. Check their web- information about the street, the origins of its name, and just about any- site to learn more about Technologiepark Basel and their plans for this thing he finds interesting—from the price of rents at some of the residenc- anniversary. es in previous times to what buildings were once standing there. He is pub- lishing his photos and information in a public Facebook group called www.technologiepark.ch “Streets of Basel (Schnappschüsse).” The group has no commercial or political agenda—he and like-minded Basel enthusiasts post pictures and Gift a Theater Ticket to Someone Less Fortunate write about what they find interesting about each street with information they acquire from online sources. So if you have a decent command of Ger- In a previous issue of Basel Life Magazine, we wrote about several coffee man, or are proficient in Google Translate, why not take a look at this fun and baked-goods locations in Basel where you can “pay-it-forward” for and fascinating Facebook group and learn something about Basel’s inter- someone less fortunate. In these establishments, when you pay for your esting and curious streets. coffee or pastry, you can pay a little extra to provide a coffee and/or baked goods for people in need (for more information, check out the December www.facebook.com/groups/1556213424684651/ 2020/January 2021 issue of Basel Life Magazine in our archives at www.basellife.com). In a similar scheme, you can also buy a ticket for Toothbrush Tip someone who cannot afford it when you enjoy a performance at the The- ater Basel. So next time you are buying your ballet, opera, or theater ticket During cold and flu season, it is at Theater Basel, consider purchasing one (or more) additional tickets for recommended to run your fami- only CHF 20 per ticket to share the joy of culture and entertainment with ly’s toothbrushes through the someone with an empty wallet! This service by Theater Basel is referred to dishwasher once per week. The as “Eins mehr” (One more). heat and strong detergents of the www.theater-basel.ch/de/serviceundpreise dishwasher kill the bacteria and viruses that can spread between family members and make us Visit Basel’s Streets—Virtually! sick, especially if the toothbrush- Claudio Rivoli clearly loves Basel. When he got a new camera a while back, es stand side-by-side in the same he decided to take photos of all the streets of Basel, one by one and liter- holder. Throwing them in the ally from A to Z! Using an alphabetical street directory, he started with “A” dishwasher monthly thoroughly (Achilles Bischoff-Strasse) and in time, hopes to work his way up to “Z” cleans them and prolongs their (Zwingerstrasse). This may take him a long time, but he has taken on this life at any time of the year! photo credits: © pixabay (coffee capsule recycling); © technologiepark basel; © christine pesold (werbevelo, toothbrush tip) March 2021 25 DidEvents You Know…?in Basel: (continued)February 2015 (continued)

Wild Garlic crushing any part of the plant between your fingers—wild garlic will smell strongly of garlic or chives, whereas the Lily of the Valley won’t. The approach of spring brings with it so many wonderful things, including Just be careful that you don’t mistake the smell already on your fin- longer days, the return of the songbirds, the appearance of colorful cro- gers for that of the newly crushed plant. cuses, and fresher air. Here in Europe, however, in addition to the wonder- ful smell of flowers, spring is also accompanied by the distinct smell of 3 Fox urine can carry a virus that is dangerous to humans. Therefore, if garlic—wild garlic to be precise! Here it is called “Bärlauch” (bear’s leek), you are picking your wild garlic in a forested or rural area where fox whereas in the English-speaking world it is also known as wood garlic, may live, it is best not to pick it from a flat surface where an animal devil’s garlic, gypsy’s onion, ramsons, buckrams, and bear’s garlic (be- may urinate, but rather from a slanted surface. Also, you should al- cause bears love it and dig it up with voracious appetite). A relative of ways wash the leaves well before use. chives, it is a bulbous perennial with elegant, broad, pointed leaves, a very This recipe for wild garlic pesto will allow you to enjoy its distinctive flavor small bulb, and white flowers at maturity. Before it flowers, it has a strong well into the summer. It can be added to variety of dishes, including resemblance to Lily of the Valley, which is highly poisonous to humans. mashed potatoes, risotto, pasta, soups, quiche, omelets, and even on Plentiful in spring, wild garlic grows mainly in semi-shaded wooded areas meats in BBQ season. with moist, slightly acidic soil; it therefore can be found all around the Ba- sel area. It can come up as early as late January and last until June, with Wild Garlic Pesto: the peak season being the months of March (in warmer winters) or April. It is not uncommon to see people carrying large bags foraging for wild garlic 150ml olive oil in the spring in the woods, near riverbanks, or on the edge of the highways 100g wild garlic leaves (washed) at this time of the year. If you are not inclined to collect your own wild gar- 60g lightly toasted pine nuts or almonds lic, you can also buy it from the farmers markets, many of which are dedi- 50g Parmesan cheese (optional) cated to wild garlic in the spring. Salt to taste

Although all parts of the wild garlic are edible—bulb, leaves, and flowers— Put all ingredients in a food processor and pulse it briefly until smooth. it is mainly the leaves that are used. The bulbs are quite small, and the Transfer pesto to jar and cover with a light coating of olive oil to keep it plants need to be uprooted to harvest the bulbs, which means that they will fresher. Close tightly and keep refrigerated. not come back the following year. When you buy wild garlic from the mar- ket, you will generally only get the leaves.

Wild garlic is extremely versatile, with a taste that is as similar to domestic garlic as it is to chives, albeit slightly milder. The leaves are delicious raw or cooked and work well in salads, soups, cream, cottage cheese, sauce, mashed potatoes, omelets, risottos, and pesto.

If you do plan to forage your own wild garlic, here are a few tips:

1 Try to harvest the smaller leaves, prior to the flowering stage, as these will be more tender and not have any of the bitterness that appears as they mature.

2 To be sure that you are picking wild garlic and not the poisonous Lily of the Valley, look at the plant carefully. The leaves of wild garlic are con- vex, have smooth edges, one main vein, a matte underside, and each leaf has its own green-colored stem. For the Lily of the Valley, in con- trast, several leaves come from a single purple stem, and the under- side of the leaves tends to be shiny. Let your nose also guide you by 26 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com Basel’s Gondola Across the Rhein Street Musicians in Basel Did you know that in the Do you like to listen to street musi- year 1992 there was a cians playing as you stroll through cable car that took rid- the inner city? You may be among ers across the Rhein? the people who think that it adds to For the 600th anniver- the charm and atmosphere of the sary of the coming to- old town. What if you don’t like the gether of Grossbasel music, however, and the musicians and Kleinbasel, a cable are parked just outside of your living room window all day? Worse yet, what car, which was known if they are scaring away the customers at your store or restaurant terrace? as the “Schwääbetram” To be fair to the street musicians, merchants, as well as the public, canton (levitation tram), was in- Basel-Stadt has adopted some rules to help keep the peace (and a certain stalled to connect the amount of prescribed quiet). Street musicians do not have to acquire a per- two banks of the Rhein. mit to perform; however, they do need to abide by a set of specific rules: The cable car, which Street music is only permitted during the hours of 11:00–12:30 and 16:00– looked like one of Basel’s old-timer trams, connected the Palatinate near 20:30 on Monday to Saturday. Playing is forbidden on Sundays and holi- the Münster Cathedral to the opposite bank of the river. The aerial tram- days, except for the couple of times per year when the stores are open on way, which could hold up to 25 people plus the operator, took passengers Sundays; for those days, permission is granted from 13:00–18:30. During on a 185-meter crossing at 3 m/sec across the Rhein for the price of CHF 5. the permitted hours, performances are only allowed in the first half-hour At the time, the project was rather controversial among the people of Ba- of the hour; for example, from 11:00–11:30, 12:00–12:30, 16:00–16:30, until sel. In fact, in June 1992, an interpellation was dealt with in Basel’s Grand 20:00–20:30. Additionally, each performer is only allowed to play once per Council calling for “an immediate halt to construction of the Münster cable day for a maximum of 30 minutes in a given location (i.e., they need to move car.” The Schwääbetram was installed nonetheless, but was operational around), they cannot be in earshot of where they previously played, they for only 6 months, from June to November 1992, before it was dismantled need to keep a sufficient distance from each other (so that listeners cannot again. hear two performances simultaneously), and a performing group is limited www.tramoldtimer-basel.ch/unt216.html to a maximum of 4 people. Breaking any of these rules, or singing/playing excessively loud, can lead to a CHF 100 fine. www.bs.ch/publikationen/polizei/strassenmusik-busking.html Basel’s Historical Museum now Offers Audio Guide Tours in English Discover Basel in 3-D Aerial Photos The Historisches Museum Basel is continuously expanding its digital offer- ings for visitors to their three locations—the Barfüsserkirche, the Haus In March 2020, the land registry and zum Kirschgarten, and the Musikmuseum. Since November 2020, the mu- surveying office of Basel-Stadt, to- seum has been providing a free audio guide tour through the exhibitions in gether with Weil am Rhein and Lör- the Barfüsserkirche in three languages (German, English, and French). rach in Germany, had new aerial English-language eGuides for the exhibitions will soon also be available photographs of the region taken. for the Music Museum and the Haus zum Kirschgarten. Last month, we wrote about how you can view historical photos of www.hmb.ch/en Basel (check out the February 2021 issue of Basel Life Magazine at Switzerland’s New Paternity Leave www.basellife.com). In addition to the already published orthophotos— rectified aerial photographs—and the oblique aerial photographs, a cur- In addition to marking the 50th anniversary of women’s right to vote at the rent interactive 3D aerial photograph is now also available in the Ba- federal level in Switzerland, 2021 brought with it another huge step for- sel-Stadt 3D viewer. This photo allows you to go on a three-dimensional ward in gender equality—starting this year, fathers are granted 2 weeks of tour of discovery through Basel. The 3D aerial photos can be combined paid paternity leave that can be taken within the first 6 months after the with selected construction projects or project ideas, thus making it possi- birth of their child. Like maternity leave, paternity leave will be financed by ble to analyze height profiles, measure distances, and visualize shadows the Loss of Earnings Compensation Act, which will cost the government an cast at different times of the day and year. By comparing it with the 3D ae- estimated CHF 230 million per year. The rate of compensation will be the rial photo from 2017, you can also identify structural developments. same as that for women on maternity leave: 80% of the average earned income before the birth of the child, up to a maximum of CHF 196 per day. www.geo.bs.ch/3D-Luftbild Mark Your Calendar! New Parking Rules for 2021 April 2021 Highlights In addition to all the new traffic rules announced for 2021 (see the February 2021 issue of Basel Life Magazine in our archives at www.basellife.com), Relay Race “Quer Durch Basel” April 17 there are also a few new rules regarding parking in Switzerland. First, driv- Jazzfestival Basel April 17 – May 24 ers are now permitted to take their hands off the steering wheel when us- ing their car’s parking assistant. They are also permitted to leave the vehi- BaselEduCa Expo 2021 April 20 & 21 cle, if the assist system allows it, but they need to be ready to intervene at any time in the event that they need to regain control of their vehicle. Sec- Clubfestival BScene April 23 & 24 ond, starting in 2021, municipalities have the right to charge parking fees Blickfang Basel Design Show April 23–25 for motorcycles, mopeds, and e-bikes that can go 45 km/h or faster. While this has not yet been implemented in canton Basel-Stadt, you may want to Open House Basel April 24 & 25 be vigilant when parking your motorized two-wheelers. photo credits: © susanne hiller (wild garlic, top); © pixabay (wild garlic, bottom; street musicians); © btm (basel's gondola); © canton basel-stadt (aerial photos) March 2021 27 Contact us for more information about subscribing or advertising:

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Ticket Office: Get Your Tickets Now! Who Where When Tickets Elvis—Das Musical Musical Theater, Basel April 14 www.nicetime.ch Jazzfestival Basel Various locations in Basel April 17 – May 24 www.offbeat-concert.ch YES Volkshaus, Zürich April 19 www.ticketcorner.ch European Artistic Gymnastics Championships St. Jakobshalle, Basel April 21–25 www.ticketcorner.ch Amy Macdonald Samsung Hall, Zürich April 23 www.ticketcorner.ch Young Stage 2021 DAS ZELT, Basel May 14–18 www.ticketcorner.ch Pink Floyd: Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets KKL, Luzern May 24 www.ticketcorner.ch Pentatonix Samsung Hall, Zürich May 27 www.ticketcorner.ch Cavalluna—Legend of the Desert St. Jakobshalle, Basel May 29 & 30 www.ticketcorner.ch Iron Maiden St.Jakobshalle Basel June 5 www.ticketcorner.ch Eric Clapton Hallenstadion, Zürich June 5 www.ticketcorner.ch Pearl Jam Hallenstadion, Zürich June 29 www.ticketcorner.ch Kiss—End of the Road Tour Hallenstadion, Zürich June 30 www.ticketcorner.ch Alan Parsons Live Project Augusta Raurica, Augst July 1 www.ticketcorner.ch Bryan Ferry Augusta Raurica, Augst July 3 www.ticketcorner.ch Rammstein Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich July 5 & 6 www.ticketcorner.ch Alicia Keys: ALICIA the World Tour Hallenstadion, Zürich July 13 www.ticketcorner.ch Melissa Etheridge Z7 Summer Nights, Pratteln July 14 www.z-7.ch Toto Z7 Summer Nights, Pratteln July 19 www.ticketcorner.ch America—50th Anniversary Tour Z7 Summer Nights, Pratteln July 24 www.z-7.ch James Arthur Heitere Open Air, Zofingen August 8 www.ticketcorner.ch Groove Now Blues Festival Atlantis, Basel September 2–30 www.starticket.ch Hurts Halle 622, Zürich September 19 www.ticketcorner.ch Night of the Jumps St. Jakobshalle, Basel September 25 www.ticketcorner.ch 77 Bombay Street Volkshaus, Basel October 1 www.ticketcorner.ch Elton John Hallenstadion, Zürich October 5 & 6 www.ticketcorner.ch James Blunt Hallenstadion, Zürich October 12 www.ticketcorner.ch Sting—My Songs Tour 2021 Hallenstadion, Zürich October 15 www.ticketcorner.ch Deep Purple Hallenstadion, Zürich October 21 www.ticketcorner.ch One Republic Hallenstadion, Zürich October 29 www.ticketcorner.ch Chris de Burgh Samsung Hall, Zürich November 22 www.ticketcorner.ch Simply Red: Blue Eyed Soul—Tour 2021 Hallenstadion, Zürich November 22 www.ticketcorner.ch Sunrise Avenue—Thank You for Everything Hallenstadion, Zürich November 23 & 24 www.ticketcorner.ch Blues Festival Basel Volkshaus, Basel December 18–22 www.bluesbasel.ch