My kind of place!

So, I stayed at this hotel in Luzern called The Hotel.  It was designed by the French architect, Jean Nouvel.  Each room has blown up clips from amazing films on either the wall or the ceiling.  The film makers represented include Bernardo Bertolucci, David Lynch, Pedro Almodovar, Stephen Frears, Luis Bunuel, and a number of others that I'm unfamiliar with.  Based on the section of film makers that I do know, I'm certainly going to research the others.  In addition to being a fabulously designed building, it's setting in Luzern is breathtaking.

My room, with a scene from Pedro Almodovar's Matador.

Now that's my kind of minibar!

Breathtaking view from the balcony.

It's a bit hard to capture, but hopefully you can get a sense for the ceiling art.

Beautiful poppies.

I don't really know what to say.  Luzern is just beautiful.

More beauty.

And more.

This picture falls into the "it's a small world" category.  I didn't know who Jean Nouvel was until I stayed at The Hotel.  Then, I realized that he designed the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London's Hype Park in 2010.  I was there and absolutely loved it.  Talented guy.

Cool design...

Just stayed at this cool hotel called the Greulich.  Great design, done with a sense of humor.

Unexpected roommate.  Babette's cousin and the black sheep of the family.  Bhhaaaa.

Birch forest planted in the courtyard of the building.  Stunning.

The roof over the corridor leading to the rooms.  Two overlapping structures, open to the sky but structured to keep the weather out.  

Liquor license? What's a liquor license?

You are all familiar with the effort it takes to get a liquor license in the US, even if you just want to serve beer and wine.  The process is bureaucratic, political, subjective, time consuming, etc.  All we want is too get a drink!  Why so many hurdles?

So... let's say you want to open a bar in Zurich.  What do you do?  Well, here's how it goes.

1.  Find a place.  For example, maybe there's an eye wear boutique that's going out of business and you can just move in and occupy their space.

2.  Buy supplies.  What do you need?  Just some alcohol, some garnishes, glasses.

3.  Provide food.  Do you need some kind of health inspection?  No way!  The Swiss are super clean to begin with so why bog down commerce with unnecessary bureaucracy.  Just get some food, a grill and some friends to cook for you.

4.  Create an atmosphere.  Bring is some furniture, maybe show some movies and videos.

5.  Open.  Invite friends and starting drinking.

This is the true story behind a new Zurich bar that I went to last night.   Opening night.  A group of guys decided they wanted a bar so they could have a place for all their friends to hang out.  They took over the lease from an eye wear boutique.  They stocked it with drinks and supplies, set up a grill, and opened the door.  They didn't need a liquor license or a heath inspection.  Was I worried about health and safety?  No way!  The place was awesome!

Geophy - bar owner, bar tender, film maker, cool guy.

Are these guys cooks or customers?  Why not be both!

The kitchen.

Back section of the bar.

The garden.

Screen showing music video.  Guitar, to be played later by a customer.  Glasses, left by prior shop owner and also fun props as drinking progresses.

The bar at 6:00.

The bar at 11:00.  Mission accomplished.

Beer, Thermal Baths and Google...

What do these three things have in common?  Answer - The Hurlimann Brewery in Zurich.  In 1836 the Hurlimann Brewery was built on a hill on edge of Zurich.  Today, it has been renovated into a spectacular spa, boutique hotel and office center (where Google has it's largest office in Europe).  The original architecture has been lovingly preserved, yet updated with beautiful features that are consistent with the brewery site.  It's hard to capture the creativity of this place, but I've given it a shot.

The Library at the B2 Hotel, at the Hurlimann Brewery. 

Each chandelier is made from 300 old style Swiss beer bottles, hung on drying racks used at the original brewery.

Chandelier from underneath.

Structural light well, added for seismic stability.  The light well is above a conference room table and the skylight is below the rooftop thermal spa pool.  Amazing.

Image of the utilitarian, original architecture.

Smoke stack as seen from the Library.

Any guesses?  This is the inside of a pounded copper lamp.   The design detail in the place is amazing.

Random

Here are a few random pictures from Zurich.  I really like them but there's no theme.  The first two are from a garden shop which stood out to me because the building looks like it should be somewhere in Asia, not in the middle of Zurich.  The third picture is just happy, cute street art.   I love the detail of the little shadow under Tigers tail!

Travel Guide Zurich

The traditional parts of Zurich are beautiful too.  Not to be missed.

Zurich.... who knew it was so cool?

I consider myself to be a fairly well informed, experienced traveler... but I the more I travel the more I realize that I'm pretty clueless.  I've been to Zurich several times before but never knew that it had this edgy vibe that is similar to East London and Berlin.  The bars, the clubs, the music, the street art.... amazing.  Thank god for Shazam.  I feel a Zurich playlist in the making.  I'm just beginning to scratch the surface.

Here are a few pics.  The first one is from my favorite place in Zurich so far, a bar called Bagatelle in District 4, Langstrasse.  Wikipedia says the following on the area....  "It is notorious as Zurich's red light district, with a soaring crime rate,drug dealing and brothels."  Yeah, there are a lot of hookers, but I think Wiki needs an update that highlights the thriving club scene and cultural diversity.

If you haven't spent time in Zurich, I suggest you put it on your list.  Very cool place.  More to come.