Cocktail night with Lugano's Evening Group

By now you probably know there is a popular monthly event in Lugano organized by some very energetic and committed ladies: The Evening Group of the International Womens' Club of Lugano.

Please join the IWCL Evening Group on October 18th, 2011 from 19.30 onwards for a casual get together. This time the good faires have arranged a rich buffet at the hip Restaurant New Orleans in the Quartiere Maghetti.

So come and have your Martini - shaken not stirred- by some cool bar tenders!

For your info drinks start at
CHF 5.50 for water/sodas
CHF 6.50 for beer
CHF 8.50 for wines
CHF 13.00 for cocktails

Please let the Evening Group know if you are coming by October 14th by emailing them at: iwcleveninggroup@gmail.com

Venue: Restaurant New Orleans (www.neworleansclublugano.com)

Where: Quartiere Maghetti, 6900 Lugano 

Tel. +41 91/921.44.77

When: October 18th, 2011

Time: from 19:30

Seeking Mystery shoppers in Lugano

Girls, are you ready for this? I have the perfect job offer lined up for you: Mystery Shopper!

Albatross Global Solutions (www.albatross.fr), a mystery shopping agency based in Paris, are currently recruiting mystery shoppers to perform visits in luxury brands stores in Lugano.

As a mystery shopper, you will need to visit a specific store with a scenario (clothes/shoes, watch...) and your role would be to let the Sales staff helps you and guides you. The store can be a watch & jewelry boutique, a corner in a department store or a fashion boutique.

For the Sales staff, you are a normal customer but discreetly you will be evaluating different criterias such as the shop environment, the sales advisor outlook and the quality of service.

Mystery shopping is not a full time job. It is a mission based job and as long as you respect our deadline, you can perform your visits anytime: lunch break, afterwork, week ends... no time constraints!

The qualities a mystery shopper should have:
- personal interest in customer service improvement
- good memory and narrative skills
- for the mission we are currently hiring for: be a luxury brand customer

Within 24 hours after the visit, you will need to submit an online report.

If you are interested in mystery shopping, please register on the website, www.albatrossonline.com as a shopper and email directly to: nlydin@albatross.fr for follow up. Do not hesitate to email Nicole Lydin if you have any question.

So????? What are you waiting for, go ahead and write that e-mail!  Good luck.

How about a little challenge?

I love to smile. I smile at my hubby when I feel in love or when I want him to do something. I smile at my kids because I love them to bits or because I don't want to lose my patience. I smile at strangers I cross in the road because I'm in a good mood. I smile a the driver who is cursing me because I just took a wrong turn (that really throws them!!!). I smile at nature or a new born baby and remind myself what a wonderful day it is!

A smile works wonders. A smile is free. It can give you so much in return. In Latin cultures it can get you a long way when you need something done. In Nordic cultures it can break the ice and maybe the routine?

I have come a cross a list of 100 ways to make people smile. I thought I'd share the first 10 with you. Go ahead, go out and try it! The other 90 ways will follow in time.

1. Call an old friend, just to say hi.
2. Hold a door open for a stranger.
3. Invite someone to lunch. (Don't worry about the cooking, get take-away and serve it on your Sunday dishes. The idea is to have fun!)
4. Compliment someone on his or her appearance.
5. Ask a coworker or a friend for their opinion on a project.
6. Bring cookies to work. (Or to school)
7. Let someone cut in during rush hour traffic. (Keep smiling!)
8. Leave a waitress or waiter a big tip. (it just might make their day)
9. Tell a cashier to have a nice day. ( I love this one!)
10. Call your parents.

I'm off to make a phone call to an old dear friend to wish her Happy Birthday!

Kids' activities in and around Lugano

Once in a while I come across a like-minded women who loves to explore and take the time to share. This is the case with Jasmine. Following is a list she wrote for the International and American Women's Mums & Tots group. It is an extensive list and comes in very handy when you need some inspiration on a Wednesday afternoon or a weekend. It does not include the most obvious attractions that are well publicized and you can find under my "Out and About" section on the sidebar of this blog.

So, are you ready? Here goes:

In Ticino:

http://www.carona-tourism.ch/en/carona/ - Parco San Grato, has a playground, restaurant and beautiful surroundings to explore

http://www.lugano-tourism.ch/en/95/the-tassino-park - Parco Tassino, large playground and deer! Great park with lots of space, picnic and play areas

http://www.montetamaro.ch - bobsleigh track, flying fox (zip wire) restaurant and great playground

www.tarzaning.ch an adventure park with zip wires, rope bridges and climbing frames between trees in the forest

http://www.ticino.ch/The-Verzasca-Valley-trail/ - A walk rated as easy, so possible with kids, in beautiful scenery

http://www.cardada.ch/estate - take a cable car up to Cardada for some lovely family friendly walks.

http://www.ticino.ch/en/commons/details/Parco-giochi-Parsifal-Monte-Verità-Ascona - one playground in Ascona, however I have been told that there is a really great playground on the lakefront of Ascona. If you go down to the mini roundabout where the start of the pedestrianised promenade is on your right (where all the restaurants are), instead turn left, walk past a large public car park, and you will see this playground - it has electric minicars - need 1CHF coins for them.

http://www.ataf.ch/ - steam miniature railway - strange opening hours though.

http://www.ticino.ch/en/commons/details/Isole-di-Brissago-Parco-Botanico - a boat trip to the island of Brissago, perhaps combine with a trip to Ascona and the playground on the lakefront!

www.minigolfcaslano.ch - Has electric mini-cars and great trampolines as well as the mini golf. Is next door to a great little lido too, with a very nice beach. (and they sell Ben and Jerry's ice cream)

Near Zurich:

http://www.zoo.ch - Switzerland's largest zoo and definately worth a trek up north

http://www.alpamare.ch - amazing looking waterpark - it is two hours away from Lugano by car but it looks like an excellent day trip nonetheless

http://www.tierpark.ch/english - Goldau wildlfe park, with restaurant and playground, came highly recommended by one of our members

Just across the border in Italy:

www.safaripark.it - brilliant safari park, not far from Malpensa airport, complete with amusement park with rides suitable for toddlers, reptile house, animal shows... a fantastic full day out

http://www.parcodellapreistoria.it/ - a large park with models of dinosaurs, playground, and restaurant

www.minitalia.com - a fantastic day out, an amusement park with lots of rides suitable for the youngest members of the family, reptile house, aquarium, mini farm, and to-scale models of the famous monuments of Italy

http://www.minigolf-adventure.it - has a playground, inflatable slides and trampolines as well as the minigolf

http://www.idropark.mi.it - man made lake in Milan with playground, lido and restaurant

http://www.jungleraiderpark.com - same as www.tarzaning.ch (adventure park with zip wires, rope bridges and climbing frames) but in Italy

http://www.latorbiera.it - large natural park to explore, with a large lake, restaurant and what seems to be a zoo too

http://www.lecornelle.it - a zoo with a wide variety of animals, white tigers, elephants

http://www.castellodivezio.it Castle of Vezio on the shores of Lake Como, complete with a display of falconry if you are lucky

Ever wondered where that stunning backdrop to Daniel Craig's rest & recuperation in the film 'Casino Royale' was? Well, the name's Como, Lake Como!
So, go see for yourself and explore the villas on Lake Como (http://www.lakecomovillas.net/villas.php) - the kids may enjoy running around the gardens while you excape into James Bond's or George Clooney's arms (in your dreams). Perhaps best combined with eating ice cream somewhere, and feeding the ducks on the lakefront, or a boat trip on the lake

Villa Carlotta - the most well known, parking is easy, you can have access to the villa as well as the grounds. There is a fountain that is full of fish and toads which can kept little explorers amused for at ages while they watch 'toad arguments'. Also a nice cafe there, picnic areas and beautiful scenery

Villa Del Balbianello (Lenno) - only the gardens are open to the public

Villa Melzi (Bellagio) - only the gardens are open to the public

Villa Monestero (Varenna)

Punta Balbianello - Villa Balbianello is the romantic spot featured in the second episode of the Star Wars saga

Now isn't this is a smashing list? 

Thank you so much for sharing. 

This should keep your little explorers busy for a while. 

The question is can we keep up with them???

Come visit me in Paris

Come visit me in Paris at:

www.expatwithkidsinparis.blogspot.com

Lugano's Autumn Festival

“Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower”
Albert Camus

On the first weekend in October, Lugano celebrates the beginning of Autumn with a festival dedicated to local products.

The Autumn festival concludes the open-air events with a large fair in the pedestrian zone of Lugano.

In the classic city scenario, in a grand choreography of colors and tastes, you will be able to find the typical grottini, a lot of folkloric music, Ticinese gastronomic delights and above all the celebrations of the grape and wine. The center of the city will welcome the visitors in numerous grottini operated by local companies which will offer typical Ticinese specialties, such as polenta with stew or beans and mortadella or roast pork, risotto, minestrone, gnocchi and many other exquisite local delights. Yummy!!!

Swiss and foreign guests and the local population will be able to taste and relish, in cheerful company, the best Ticino's region can offer: apart from the delights for the palate, also musical groups, artists and entertainers invited specially for the occasion, who will stage a series of very different shows. The grape harvest is a big festival for all, from the children to the elderly: why not take advantage of the opportunity for a pleasant celebration of the end of summer?

Venue: Autumn Festival
Where: Piazza Independenza and city center
When: September 30th to October 2nd, 2011
Time: Friday 16.00-1.00, Saturday: 10.00-2.00, Sunday: 10.00-18.00

Your chance to mingle with Miss Schweiz

This is your chance to mingle with Miss Schweiz. This Saturday the new Miss Switzerland will be elected at the Centro Esposizioni in Lugano and you can be part of it.

Don't miss this opportunity and cruise over to the Miss Schweiz site to book your ticket for the show (CHF 70.-). Should you feel like splashing out you can go for the whole Spiel: Aperitivo at Lugano's Lido followed by the Show and a Gala Dinner culminating with the Aftershow Party (CHF 400.-).

Click here to see the whole programme and muster your most spectacular evening robe to show off at this unique event. Who knows your friends might even spot you on TV.  All three Swiss channels will be airing the Miss Schweiz event live as of 20:05!

Venue: Miss Schweiz Elections 2011
Where: Centro Esposizioni, Lugano
When: Saturday, September 24th, 2011
Time: 20:05

Stralugano 2011

"Most people run a race to see who is fastest.  I run a race to see who has the most guts. "
Steve Prefontaine

Get ready this weekend. There is a fantastic sporting opportunity for you and your kids coming up. It is a social happening that you cannot miss. Head down town this weekend and enjoy the last summer vibes during the annual event of Stralugano.

Stralugano's philosophy extends from elite athletes to the occasional runner but - above all - it has a big heart. A heart logo displays the sensitivity not only in sports but towards neighbours and especially towards those who are not lucky enough to live full and free movement of their body.

Therefore, since it's creation 6 years ago, Stralugano has paid particular attention in supporting worthy organizations and enhance their sensitivity.

This year Stralugano renews its support of the Telethon movement by providing visibility throughout the event as well as financial contribution.

The Stralugano is a run and fun event: a folklore festival is held at the "Stralugano Village" that includes amusements, music, fitness, shopping and support for various charity associations. The festival kicks off on Saturday afternoon and continues all Sunday.

The five races planned are:

30km Panoramic
10km City
Kidsrun
Miglio
Handbike

Please head over to their site for more detailed information: www.stralugano.ch

Becoming a Parisienne

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Head over to my other blog:

www.expatwithkidsinparis.blogspot.com

Come follow me through Paris...

Lugano's IWCL Evening group and MEETUP celebrate Happy Hour

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.”
James Beard

Welcome back from the Summer Holiday! 

Come share the souvenirs of your vacation time.

Please join us for a surprise aperitivo on 

Thursday, 22 September from 19.30 onwards at the trendy SOHO café. The International Womens' Club of Lugano (IWCL) is joining forces once again with The Lugano English speaking group for some fun and relaxation. This is a good opportunity to make new friends as this is a joint event with the Meetup Group. (www.meetup.com/newintown-922). The last few joint events have been great successes.

Please, make your reservations with:
 iwcleveninggroup@gmail.com or s_nelisse@yahoo.fr

Venue: Soho Café, Corso Enrico Pestalozzi 3, 6900 Lugano (www.soholugano.ch)

Date: Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Time: 19:30 onwards

Looking forward to seeing you there.