TwoFools in Zürich

Fair warning: I am about to seriously rant and prove myself irretrievably cranky and unhip.

I've just learned that I live in a former red-light district, the now gentrified and quite pricey Seefeld. That actually explains a lot, especially the presence of lots of late-night hangouts and the tendency for for people to loudly and drunkenly make their way down the street at about 3:00 in the morning.

But our little corner of the neighborhood is about to get a bit more gentrified. The Seefeld-Razzia has closed its doors. Oh, sweet Schadenfreude!



All summer long we've suffered through the Razzia's last days, as night after night––and often all through the night––events were held to honor the passing of this hipster venue. The street below our windows was clogged each weekend night and many weeknights with the fabulous and the freakish, smoking, drinking, and chattering until the predawn hours. But now it's over.

Groovalicious Zürcher need not fear, however. Apparently the Razzia team is scouting for new space and plans to reopen.

I spotted a surveyor at one corner of the building a few days ago, and various sketchy individuals have gathered to drag tattered bits and bobs away throughout the week. My guess is that this building is slated for teardown.  I hope, actually, that the old theater that housed the party venue will be renovated rather than torn down, but I don't see much evidence of a preservationist sensibility in this neighborhood.

I haven't found out what comes next. Could it be worse than living next to hipster heaven?




Story by Kathy