> INSIDE: MUSEUM'S NIGHT • HOLIDAY ON ICE • BELLE ÉPOQUE WEEK • CYCLING MARATHON • BALLETS Volume 4 Issue 4 CHF 5 5 A Monthly Guide to Living in Basel December 2015 / January 2016 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, During the Christmas season, the city of Basel is more enchanting than ever with the glow of the lights and decorations, the smell of mulled wine December 2015 / January 2016 Volume 4 Issue 4 in the air, and the crowds of people busily moving about the city and enjoy- ing the festive atmosphere. There will be three Christmas markets this TABLE OF CONTENTS year in the Basel area—at Barfüsserplatz; at Münsterplatz; and, for the first time this year, at Rheingasse on the Kleinbasel side of the Mittlere Events in Basel: December 2015 / January 2016 4–9 Brücke. Check out our Christmas Market Special to learn about these and other markets in the area, including neighboring France and Germany. Fun Outings: Beyond Basel 10–11 Numerous other holiday events taking place in December also will surely put you in a festive spirit, including Christmas concerts—gospel, choir, and caroling—the Christmas tram and ferry, Christmas circuses, Christ- Markets and Fairs: Christmas Market Special 12–13 mas tours, a daily musical Advent calendar, the English-language Panto production, the “Nutcracker” ballet, Holiday on Ice, and several special Did you know? 14–15 museum's exhibits. To welcome the New Year in Basel, you can attend one of the many New Year’s Eve concerts and events and count down to mid- night with fellow Baslers on the Münsterplatz, followed by a spectacular Christmas Traditions: Glühwein 16 fireworks display over the Rhein. After the rush of the holidays, January is filled with tradition, starting with Calendar: December 2015 / January 2016 17–20 Three Kings Day on the 6th and ending with the odd spectacle of the Vogel Gryff ceremonies on the 27th. Other great activities in January include a Sports and Recreation 22–23 visit to a floating children's library, the nocturnal exploration of Basel’s wonderful museums during Museum’s Night, a world-class international horse show, and the death-defying motocross bike show, Night of the Jumps. Workshops, Tours, and Education 24–27 If you want to enjoy some outdoor winter fun, you can hike, snowshoe, or ski one of the trails of the annual Snow-Up in canton Jura or take a stroll Entertainment: Night on the Town 28–35 through the town of Kandersteg for a magical trip back in time during their unique Belle Époque week. Additionally, there is a multitude of ski and snowboard day excursions as well as week-long camps for the kids. In this Mark Your Calendar: February 2016 back page issue you will also learn about extended Christmas shopping hours, postal deadlines for your holiday mail, and what to do with all of your holiday wine corks. As always, the entertainment section is bursting with ideas for a Basel Life Magazine Staff: night out, from dance parties, tastings, musicals, opera, and ballet to Editor-in-Chief: concerts in all musical genres, English comedy, and an English-language Christine Pesold production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Betriebswirtschaftliches Advertising & Subscription Manager / Editor: Despite the rush of the holiday season, we hope that you can take some time to enjoy some of the magnificent events that Basel has to offer. Your Institut & Seminar Basel AG Susanne Hiller Basel Life Magazine team wishes you great holidays, safe travels, and all Design & Print: the best for 2016! Schwabe AG For more information about subscribing or advertising – please contact us: info basellife.com www.facebook.com/basellifemagazine Christine Pesold Editor-in-Chief Distance learning courses in. www.basellife.com [email protected] COVER: During the Christmas season, BUSINE SS the streets of Basel display hundreds of decorated and illuminated Christ- mas trees. One of the largest and ADMINISTRATION most elaborately decked out of these is located on Münsterplatz. It is deco- The first three readers who send us an rated by Basel native Johann Wanner, Duration: 9 to 12 months. e-mail to [email protected] with the who is considered a leading expert on blown glass Christmas ornaments and subject line “prozentbuch” will receive decorations. He has provided Christmas decorations to the White House in Wash- a free copy of the new “prozentbuch Basel” ington, various noble families, and even the Vatican. His “Christmas House” store with coupons for restaurants, night life,e, at Spalenberg attracts both tourists and locals year-round with new and vintage and entertainment. Find out more about the ornaments, and during the holiday season, you can also enjoy a cup of coffee or “prozentbuch” on page 15. tea in their Christmas café at Schneidergasse. BASEL LIFE MAGAZINE / BASEL FAMILY GmbH © Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. It is our goal to provide valuable, timely information to our readers. Wartenbergstrasse 9, 4052 Basel 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- Phone 061261 2000, [email protected] 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 www.business-education.ch event information. Please note: No part of this periodical may be duplicated in any fashion, or redistributed in any written language, without permission from the executive staff at Basel Family GmbH. If you have any questions, contact Basel Family GmbH staff at: info basellife.com. photo credit: © john varaklis (cover); © johann wanner December 2015 / January 2016 3 Events in Basel: December 2015 / January 2016 Five Centuries of Cooking History Children’s Theater—Mary Poppins Nativity Set Exhibition Until February 14 Until February 3 December 1–6 Swiss-born Anton Mosimann is one of the best cooks in the world. His guests include crowned The classic story of Mary Poppins, nanny to the Banks family in London The Heilsarmee (Salvation Army), located at Erasmusplatz 14 in Basel, heads, politicians, presidents, and celebrities from all over the world. He has cooked for five and their two children, Jane and Michael, comes to life on the stage of will display over 200 nativity sets from all around the world. They can British Prime Ministers, from Thatcher to Cameron, and for four generations of British roy- the Theater Arlecchino in Basel (Walkeweg 122) every Wednesday, Sat- be admired in the Saal der Heilsarmee Basel 1 from 14:00–18:00 on alty, including the wedding banquet for Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011. urday, and Sunday at 14:30 (doors open at 14:00) until early February. Tuesday to Friday, and from 12:00–16:00 on Saturday. Little known about this master chef is that he possesses a unique cookbook library. The The production is ideal for families with children ages 4 and up and is www.heilsarmee-basel1.ch more than 6,000 items in his collection allow us to learn a great deal about culinary history played and sung in Swiss dialect. Tickets can be purchased directly over the last five centuries. The collection includes two editions from the 1500s of the first online and are CHF 15 for children and CHF 20 for adults; CHF 5 reduc- Literary and Musical Advent Calendar at the Theater Basel printed gastronomic text, which was written by the Vatican librarian, Platina, as well as a tion per person with the Familienpass. work on the preparation of jam by the astrologist and physician, Nostradamus. December 1–23 www.theater-arlecchino.ch Just in time to put you in the Christmas cooking and baking mood, the Spielzeug Welten The Theater Basel is presenting a special advent calendar daily at 17:00 in the entrance foyer, except for December 4, when it will be held on Museum, located near the Christmas market in Barfüsserplatz, will be holding a special Silber & Gold exhibit of 120 objects from Mosimann’s collection, many of Theaterplatz (weather permitting). Members of the Theater Basel Until April 3, 2016 which will be on display to the public for the first time. HisHis-- (choir, ballet troupe, musical, and theater ensemble) as well as guests toric and royal menu cards, such as the menu for King GeorGeorgege For many centuries, Basel was a major center of excel- will present stories, poems, or songs—sometimes classically Christ- V’s coronation in 1911, and contemporary Christmas greetingeeting lence in the field of goldsmithing. With its selection of mas and sometimes quite different and even comical. Each presenta- cards from Mosimann’s club in London make this a highlhighlyy more than 300 pieces, this exhibit at the Museum tion will last about 30 minutes; entrance is free. interesting exhibition. In addition, 25 children’s cookbooks für Wohnkultur (Museum of Home Décor) presents www.theater-basel.ch will be exhibited, as well as small, sumptuous, and sensu-- the many different types of works that goldsmiths ous sculptures and painted plates by Swiss artist Kathryn produced, from medieval liturgical plates to Visit the Towers of the Basler Münster secular showpieces and silver tableware for Zellweger-Staehelin. December 1–23 www.spielzeug-welten-museum-basel.ch use in private households. Among the high- lights is tableware from the 17th and 18th The towers of the Basler Münster offer breathtaking views of the city of century, for which the Haus zum Kirschgarten Basel, as well as neighboring France and Germany.