DENIM EXHIBIT • TOBOGGAN SLIDES • BASEL GYMS • WINERY VISITS • E-VEHICLES Volume 9 Issue 2 CHF 6 6 A Monthly Guide to Living in Basel October 2020 2 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, The coronavirus pandemic has led to the cancellation of many of the wonderful events that normally take place in Basel in October, including the wine and gourmet fairs; major October 2020 Volume 9 Issue 2 sporting events like the Swiss Open tennis tournament; music events like the Baloise Sessions; and, probably saddest of all, the fabulous fall fair—the Basler Herbstmesse— TABLE OF CONTENTS that would have been celebrating its 550th anniversary this year! The city will nonethe- less attempt to mark this special anniversary year with a few highlights; turn the pages to learn more about these plans as well as about the fair’s origins and history. Events in Basel: October 2020 4–7 Despite the numerous cancellations, however, there is still so much to do and see in and around Basel. With the beautiful foliage and the cooler temperatures, October is a ter- Fun Outings: Beyond Basel 8–9 rific time for Switzerland’s favorite pastime—hiking! In our “Get Going!” section we offer some suggestions on hiking trails into the past, right here in Baselland! You are also invited to visit the vineyards and wineries of wine producers of the Basel/Solothurn re- Get Going!: Hike Into the Past in Baselland 10–11 gion and discover some the high-quality wines they produce. Or, if your family is suffering from withdrawal of the Herbstmesse rides, why not race down one of the exhilarating mountain toboggan slides in the region? Also, history aficionados who would enjoy an Markets and Fairs 12–13 insider’s peek into Switzerland’s most beautiful castles can join some of the special tours and activities organized for the annual Swiss castle day. Inside Basel: The Herbstmesse That Isn’t… 14 To satisfy your autumn nesting instincts, the month of October is a plentiful time for markets! You can browse flea markets specializing in items from vinyl records to retro design, as well as markets and fairs dedicated to the apple in all its glory, European Information Desk: Fitness in Basel 15–17 wines, and even reptiles! Also, don’t miss Blickfang, the international design exhibition for interior design, fashion, and jewelry, or venture over the border to Mulhouse to expe- rience the 60th anniversary of the Journées d’Octobre—a fair dedicated to the best that Calendar: October 2020 18–19 the Alsace region has to offer in the fields of food, wine, gardening, artisanal crafts, fashion, beauty, as well as home renovations and decor. Sports and Recreation 20-21 For additional family-oriented fun this autumn, you can join in the delightful Swiss tradi- tion of conker collecting, treat the kids to one of the many children’s theaters, circuses, magic shows, family concerts, or family Sundays at the museum, or take the family to Workshops, Tours, and Education 22–24 watch some exciting horse-jumping competitions and dog races. This month’s sport section focuses on the region’s skating rinks and the various sports Did you Know? 25–26 they offer, including figure skating, speed-skating, synchronized skating, curling, and hockey. Have you been thinking about joining a local gym and have no idea where to start? Check out our “Information Desk” to learn about Basel’s gyms and what they have Entertainment: Night on the Town 27–34 to offer, from memberships options and fitness facilities to child-care, personal training, fitness classes, and spa services. And with the ever-increasing variety of e-vehicles pop- ping up on Basel’s streets—from e-scooters and e-rollers to the more recent addition of the Enuu electric vehicle—you may want to check out our “Did You Know?” section to Mark your Calendar November 2020 Highlights 35 learn about the different requirements from licenses and helmets to minimum age and permissible riding locations. Ticket Office: Get Your Tickets Now! back page Because of the constantly evolving coronavirus situation, please make sure that be- fore you head out to any of the events listed here, you check with the event organizers or venues to verify that their offerings have not changed since the publication of this issue and what protection measures and procedures (eg, obligatory face masks) you need to follow! Basel Life Magazine is lovingly created by expats for expats, and your continued support is critical to our survival, especially in these challenging times. So, if you find our publi- cation useful, please help us by spreading the word—give a copy to a friend, neighbor, or colleague (particularly if they are new in town), leave an issue in a doctor’s waiting room, or gift a subscription to someone you want to thank! Basel Life Magazine Staff: Finally, remember to set your clocks back on October 25 for the end of Daylight Savings Editor-in-Chief: Time and have an awesome autumn! Christine Pesold Advertising & Subscription Manager / Editor: Susanne Hiller Christine Pesold Design & Print: PRINTHOUSE by jobfactory, Basel For more information about subscribing or advertising – please contact us: [email protected] www.facebook.com/basellifemagazine www.basellife.com BASEL LIFE MAGAZINE / BASEL FAMILY GmbH © Copyright 2020. 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) October 2020 3 EventsEvents in in Basel: Basel: FebruaryOctober February 2020 20202015 (continued) Denim—Stylish, Practical, Timeless October 17 – April 5 Denim is an essential part of many people’s basic wardrobe. Almost every- one owns at least one denim item. Today, however, denim is much more than just a fabric for clothing. One might think that denim and art have nothing to do with each other. Far from it! Many artists around the world have discovered denim as a material in its own right. This unique special exhibition at the Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel shows the versatility and history of this popular material. It includes paintings by “The Master of the Blue Jeans” from the late 17th century, jeans, denim jackets, bags, shoes, furniture, and everyday objects, as well as sculptures or installations such as “The Secret Garden” by Ian Berry and the “Panthers” from the Milan Art & Events Center. Denim has a fascinating history that probably began in Italy before reach- ing America and its gold miners and movie stars. Have you ever wondered who invented the material from which the jeans you wear every day are produced? The story is quite captivating, and there is an ongoing dispute between Italy and France about which city this hard-wearing fabric was born in. Now the most famous and most widely used material in the world, denim soon went from being a fabric for workwear to the undisputed star of contemporary fashion. But what are jeans actually made of, and where does the name come from? Over the years, historians have identified two fabrics outside the United States that could be the precursors of jeans: a durable fabric from the southern French city of Nîmes, from which the name “denim” (“de Nîmes”) is said to derive, and a cotton fabric from Ge- noa, Italy, which may have led to the English word “jeans,” evolving from the French pronunciation of the city’s name, Gênes. However, there is no historical evidence for either explanation. It has been more than 100 years since blue jeans were invented as practi- cal and robust work trousers. Nobody could have imagined back then that they would become a fashion item. Although they are newly styled and re- designed every year, the trousers originally worn by gold miners and cow- boys have retained their most important features—they are comfortable and durable. But blue jeans did not just become trendy clothing, they are also considered a cult object. Because of their history, they have already served as a status symbol for a wide variety of movements. Today they are a part of the standard wardrobe of both workers and their bosses. Even heads of state, models, and actors pose in front of the cameras in this comfortable leg attire. Nowadays blue jeans are available for both men and women, and for almost every occasion. In this exhibition, which features approximately 200 objects, visitors are taken on a journey through the fac- ets of this fascinating material. Items on loan from various European mu- seums and private collectors, as well as installations from galleries and artists all over the world have been brought together for this exhibition, which can only be seen in this form in Basel. www.spielzeug-welten-museum-basel.ch The Backward Glance Can Be a Glimpse Into the Future Children’s Holiday City Until November 7 September 30 – October 2 The von Bartha gallery will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2020 with The “Kinder Ferien Stadt” for this year’s fall school holiday will be held in a group exhibition entitled, “The Backward Glance Can Be a Glimpse Into Claramatte Park and SpielEstrich (the play attic in the building at Kaserne).