News Update - Leisure from knowitall.ch

: Published: 09 November 2026

GAOS has been keeping this glorious tradition alive for over 50 years, presenting a pantomime almost every year. And every bit of it — on stage and behind the scenes — is created by volunteers. Make plenty of noise, and remember: the louder you are, the better GAOS is doing! This year's panto is The Brothers Grimm’s "Hansel and Gretel", a dark, cautionary tale of survival rooted in the grim realities of famine and abandonment.

However, when adapted into the vibrant heritage of traditional pantomime, this bleak German folklore undergoes a spectacular, festive transformation. While the core narrative remains—two lost children outsmarting a cannibalistic threat—the pantomime replaces the story's inherent dread with boisterous theatrical conventions. The terrifying witch becomes a comic villain to be booed, the desperate parents make way for slapstick archetypes, and the eerie forest turns into a stage for song, dance, and audience participation.

Ultimately, where the original Grimm tale uses fear to teach resilience, the stage pantomime repurposes the same journey into a communal celebration of good triumphing over evil.

: Published: 28 October 2026

Join the Geneva English Drama Society in Coppet for this classic work of Nigerian literature the fuses modern and traditional elements of storytelling, song and dance to satirise the conflict between traditional values and modernity by Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.

Young, beautiful Sidi is the 'jewel' of her village. After her photos are published in a western magazine, she is torn between two proposals of marriage: from Lakunle, a young schoolteacher who embraces Western culture, and the cunning, traditional village chief Baroka.

The Lion and the Jewel is a light comedy by Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka. It is considered one of the most important works in Soyinka’s oeuvre. The play depicts the conflict between traditional values and modernity, as embodied by the two main characters: Lakunle, a young man who embraces Western culture, and Sidi, a woman who represents the traditional values of her community. The play was written during a time of great change in Nigeria, as the country was transitioning from colonialism to independence. It is considered a classic work of Nigerian literature and has been translated into many languages, and staged all across the world, including at the Royal Court Theatre in 1966. It also serves as prescribed literature text for the West African School.

: Published: 10 September 2026

ccOctober 2024 scherrenschnitte

SCHERENSCHNITTE WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS:
SWISS DECOUPAGE ART
Contact Lisa to organize a workshop for you; get between 5-10 participants and find a date that suits you.

13h30-16h30 (3 hours)

Workshop held in Bellevue, GE

lisa@coffeeandcreations.ch

Cost Fr. 50.-/person for the 3-hour workshop, includes the special black coated decoupage paper, a frame, a pattern, coffee/tea/drink and a treat. The special decoupage scissors and scalpels, cutting mat, and instruction will be on hand.

Join this special black paper decoupage workshop - a typical Swiss craft named scherenschnitte - that will hopefully give you the perfect souvenir from Switzerland and inspire you to create your own! Click here to see video of what it is.

By car: Parking available outside house.
By train: A five-minute walk from the nearby Les Tuilieries train station.

Example from a previous workshop above and in links below.

Coffee and Creations was launched in 2005. Once a month on a Thursday in Bellevue (GE), this English-speaking workshop gives you the opportunity to use your creative skills in a fun and friendly environment. During each two-hour session, you can try your hand at a new "creation", applying a wide range of techniques. You can be sure of a warm welcome with a home-baked treat provided each month with your tea or coffee!

lisadoormat

Painted doormats were created in March 2010

Here are some comments from the participants:

“I have never been creative or artistic in my life, but your coffee and creation mornings are wonderful. Such lovely ladies and a very pleasant morning spent in wonderful surroundings.”

"C+C is my 5-star spa each month!"

“It was a great pleasure joining the group in your great space with immense resources (still curious how/where you store stuff). And you - you are so amazingly competent, creative and organized! I am so impressed.”

“My husband said the jewelry I made today looked great with my dress and like I paid a lot of money for it!”

“I always am amazed at how we all take a single concept and come up with different and amazing ‘takes’ on it.”

“The only feedback I can really give you is that I wish you could do more than one a month! It is a constant source of inspiration for me.”

Take a look at the forthcoming dates and send Lisa an email to book your session and be sure of a place!

Workshop includes: surprise project, coffee, tea, cold drink, a home-made treat, conversation in English, parking, home setting.

Contact: send Lisa an email (put Coffee & Creations in the subject line please otherwise it may go into a spam folder)

Please note that these dates are only provisional and may be changed. To avoid disappointment make sure you check the date on the confirmation email that will be sent to you nearer the date.

Fore Edge Painting September 2018

Browse any of the finished creations we have made by clicking on the dates below:

2024 (18th year)

142) November 2024 Scherrenschnitte TUTORIAL LINK
141) October 2024 Scherrenschnitte

2021-2022 (17th year)

2020-2021 (16th year)

2019-2020 (15th year)

129) July 2020 - Scherenschnitte
128) June 2020 - Scherenschnitte VIDEO LINK
127) May 2020 - Pop up Tree Card TUTORIAL LINK Download template
126) February 2020 - Swiss Army Dot Mandala Bags
125) January 2020 - Photo tritype
124) December 2019 - Book Folding
123) November 2019 - Jewelry Creations
122) October 2019 - Beaded Wine Coolers TUTORIAL LINK
121) September 2019 - Serviette Jewelry Boxes TUTORIAL LINK

ccsept 2021 sharpiesbag

Sharpie and alcohol patterns - September 2021

2018-2019 (14th year)

120) May 2019 - Stenciled Tea Towels TUTORIAL LINK
119) April 2019 - Flower Mandala made into cards TUTORIAL LINK
118) March 2019 - Painted Glass Lanterns TUTORIAL LINK
117) February 2019 - Cupcake Bouquets
116) January 2019 - Salt Dough Poya/Desalpes
115) December 2018 - Scherrenschnitte
114) November 2018 - Tea bag Advent Calendar
113) October 2018 - Loom contruction and Seed Bead Bracelets
112) September 2018 - Fore Edge Painting

2017-2018 (13th year)

111) May 2018 - Dot mandala shopping bags
110) April 2018 - Cake decorating
109) March 2018 - Sharpie ribbon boxes
108) February 2018 - Pom Pom Sculptures
107) January 2018 - Card organizers
106) November 2017 - Matchbook Advent calendars
105) October 2017 - Signet rings and Fimo
104) September 2017 - Painted Doormats

Cake Decorating - April 2018

2016-2017 (12th year)

103) May 2017 - Smocking
102) April 2017 - Copper chimes
101) March 2017 - Photo Triptych and Quilling
100) February 2017 - 3d Clocks with Reverse Glass Painting
99) January 2017 - Quilling
98) December 2016 - Various Christmas Decorations
97) November 2016 - Recipe plates
96) October 2016 - String Baskets
95) September 2016 - Stained glass candle lights

2015-2016 (11th year)

2014-2015 (10th year)

June 2015 - 10th anniversary party: see photos at bottom of this page.
85) May 2015 - Scherenschnitte
84) April 2015 - Jewelry
83) March 2015 - Engraved glass vases with inspirational phrases
82) February 2015 - Cross-stitch birthday agendas
81) January 2015 - Layered photos
80) December 2014 - Globe candleholders
79) November 2014 - Advent pillows
78) October 2014 - Homemade butter and flavors
77) September 2014 - Napkin decoupage lamps

Smocking - May 2017

2013-2014 (9th year)

2012-2013 (8th year)

2011-2012 (7th year)

59) May 2012 - Fimo salad servers
58) April 2012 - Scherenschnitte
57) March 2012 - Plate stands
56) February 2012 - Jewelry
55) December 2011 - Christmas lights
54) November 2011 - Painted ceramic pieces
53) October 2011 - Scented tea trivets
52) September 2011 - Painted brooms

2010-2011 (6th year)

51) May 2011 - Jewelry creations
50) April 2011 - Easter cookies
49) March 2011 - Pansy dolls
48) February 2011 - Tissue and drawer boxes
47) January 2011 - Leftover projects
46) December 2010 - Painted glass Christmas ornaments
45) November 2010 - Dust-flops
44) October 2010 - Carved pumpkins
43) September 2010 - Pop-up cards

Untitled

Scherrenschnitte - May 2016

2009-2010 (5th year)

2008-2009 (4th year)

2007-2008 (3rd year)

26) May 2008 - Toiletries
25) April 2008 - Plastic lamps
24) March 2008 - Pasta
23) February 2008 - Fleece pillows
22) January 2008 - Perpetual calendars
21) December 2007 - Christmas ornaments
20) November 2007 - Coasters
19) October 2007 - Halloween treats
18) September 2007 - Rag weave patchwork pillows

Dust Flops - November 2010

2006-2007 (2nd year)

2005-2006 (1st year)

cc10a

10th anniversary C+C party in June 2015!

cc10b

10th anniversary celebration cookbooks joined by one quilt, June 2015

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: Published: 07 September 2026

We spoke to Roger from ACMGS - Association de Country Music Genève Suisse, a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 following the first Grand-Saconnex Country Music Festival. Its goal is to promote country music in our region. Roger explained two upcoming country concerts and we learned that he has been organizing these for decades! He answered a few questions and is offering an unbeatable price for dinner and concert.

Why did you start? What has been the inspiration?
When I was young, I loved listening to good ol' rock'n'roll, rockabilly and country music. I often went to the Swiss German part of the country to attend country music festivals. In addition to the concerts, I also observed how these concerts were being organized, and took the opportunity to make some contacts.

We also made some trips to the US in the ’80s and ‘90s to attend concerts and to make some contacts there... we even met Crystal Gayle and her husband three or four times... and Kenny Rodgers, just to name a few.

Due to lack of concerts around Geneva, in the late 80’, I thought I should start organizing one. Thus the first country music festival took place in 1990 in Grand-Saconnex, organized with a neighbor who also enjoyed my idea.

The first edition was quite a success and the second one, in 1992, was, as well. So for the third year, we decided to move to the festival to Palexpo to be better prepared for bad weather conditions and also in case of an electricity shortage at the tent location.

Right after the first festival, in September 1990, we decided to create the ACMGS (Association de Country Music Grand-Saconnex, now Association de Country Music Genève Suisse to keep the same acronym).

In 1992 after moving the festival to Palexpo, we decided to call the event the (Geneva) Country Jamboree and we ran it until 1996. Due to a lack of sponsorship, we had to give up the organization of that bigger event, despite it attracting up to 1500+ people per day to the concerts.

: Published: 01 September 2026

Press release June 2026

To mark the opening of Van Cleef & Arpels’ Geneva boutique, the exhibition "Van Cleef & Arpels in Geneva: the Story Continues" is showcasing a selection of pieces from both private collections and the Maison’s patrimonial Collection from 4 June to 10 October 2026.

An area devoted to Van Cleef & Arpels’ history will host exhibitions exploring themes that reflect the Maison’s style and creativity through the decades. To mark the opening of Van Cleef & Arpels’ Geneva boutique, an exhibition held from June 4th to October 10th will showcase a selection of pieces from private collections and the Maison’s patrimonial Collection, paying tribute to its emblematic sources of inspiration and its ties with Swiss clientele.

A world of enchantment dedicated to the Maison’s poetic universe opens its doors on the shores of Lac Léman.

Present in Switzerland since 1960, Van Cleef & Arpels celebrates its historic ties to Geneva in 2026 with the inauguration of a new boutique at 23 Rue du Rhône. Over two floors in the heart of an entirely renovated building, the Maison unveils the poetry of its universe in a warmly elegant setting for its collections. Within this 5,200 square meter space, Van Cleef & Arpels brings together the radiance of creations and the art of hosting to offer visitors an experience instilling wonder.