Just say the words Foire de Printemps and locals are picturing having a fresh crisp Pinot Gris poured into their upheld glass at the Vinigast part of the fair; strolling by gleaming kitchen cabinets and cookers in the household section; admiring swimming pools and land­scape gardening in the outdoor section and giving themselves up to total consumer bliss at the Shop-in section where everything from jewelry, beauty products and fitness equipment is on sale. It’s huge – last year there were more than 400 exhibitors from a dozen countries – and it’s hugely popular. Despite the size, Luxexpo aims to limit the fair’s environmental impact now and in the future.

From 14 to 22 may, Luxexpo.

www.luxexpo.lu

The annual day of street sales Stroossemaart takes place on Saturday 12 May in the city centre and gare neighbourhood.

www.cityshopping.lu

The leader of the CSV party in the city council talks about her roots in the capital and what she thinks are the most pressing challenges it faces.

Bringing about change

Martine Mergen took a shine to politics as a youngster, sitting on the conseil d’education at school and joining the CSV party at a relatively early age. “I’m one of those people who thinks you should be able to change things that you don’t agree with,” she explains. Her choice of the CSV stemmed from a belief that it was the people’s party that gathered together many facets and could best meet the need to further the aspirations of ordinary citizens.

Delicate balance

But it was not until 2000 that Mergen first entered the city council. Four years later she won a seat in the national parliament and was also promoted onto the college of aldermen in the city – in charge of education and the environment – when Claude Wiseler entered cabinet in the national government. But she has continued to work as a doctor at the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg with a responsibility for the prison in Schrassig. “I try to strictly separate the two activities, but it is a delicate balance,” she admits. However, she has been given dispensation to work in the Chambre des députes and for the city council. “But I could never give up medicine; I am really attached to my profession.”

City native

Mergen is a true native of the capital city. She was born in Limpertsberg, grew up in Cents and, following 12 years in Austria to study, now has returned to live in Limpertsberg. “And as a tourist guide I always had a strong tie to the city. I really enjoy living and working here.” As head of the CSV faction in the council, Mergen principally helps plan political strategy. She is also vice-president of the party’s faction in national parliament.

Architectural heritage

Mergen’s interests in local politics lie chiefly in the architectural heritage of the city as well as its history and culture. “But I am also interested in the external image of the city, as a national and European capital.” She says the housing problem is the main challenge facing the city right now. “It is becoming a city for singles and very rich people. Young families with children are being forced to move outside the city because of the high price of housing.”

Sustainability problems

Furthermore, she argues, the more retail and commercial zones are created – like in Gasperich, Kirchberg and Hollerich – the more difficult it becomes for people to be able to live in proximity to their place of work. “And that creates a problem for sustainable development – because the easiest way to solve traffic problems would be to have people who work in the city live in the city.” On the other hand, Mergen is proud of the city’s reputation for tolerance and multiculturalism. “Few capital cities are so colourful and can boast such harmony. Foreigners really appreciate that, and it should be seen as an opportunity.”

What can happen in just 10 minutes? Just about anything, as theatre goers will see at the Got 10 minutes? Play Festival from 10 to 12 May at the Kinneksbond in Mamer. There will be 10 ten-minute English-language plays by local and international playwrights, directed by six directors. Each play will transport the audience to a different time and place and there will be less than a minute between plays, so the pace will be as a lively as the plays. Produced by the New World Theatre Club, the festival showcases 23 actors. What can happen in just two hours? That one’s easy. A fabulous evening of diverse theatre! Reserve at www.luxembourg-tickets.lu, tel. 47 08 95-1, or by email to ticketlu@pt.lu.

He’s not your usual bike messenger, nor does he have the typical background of someone who would start up his own courier service. Jean Fischbach bought his first road bike a mere two years ago, is not an active environmentalist and, at 25 years old, never dreamt of owning his own business. “My passion has always been psychology. But after finishing my bachelor’s degree last year, I decided to take a year off to work. I’d seen a lot of bike messengers during my studies in Basel and it seemed natural that a modern city like Luxembourg should have the same service.” While bike delivery is a big industry in places like New York and Hong Kong, it is not yet the case in Luxembourg. “People are open to the idea, aware of environmental issues and know that a bike is quicker than a car in the city, but it takes time for habits to change.” Bikecourier offers classic services to businesses, but has individual customers too). “In fact we can accommodate anyone, at any time. People should really use courier services more often, it makes life easier.” And – in Jean Fischbach’s case – also better. “I’ve never been in such good shape! I love being a bike messenger. It’s interesting and has opened a whole new world to me!”

www.bikecourier.lu

Mayor Xavier Bettel and social policy coordinator Madeleine Kayser talk about the upcoming disability awareness campaign.

The Ville de Luxembourg has been dedicated to assisting people with a disability for many years. How has that engagement intensified recently?

Xavier Bettel: In June 2008 the college of aldermen decided to engage a coordinator, Madeleine Kayser, who would be a reference point for people with a disability. This involves many different services such as sports, transport, circulation, architecture, schools and so forth. It was important to have someone who could not only coordinate the implication of policy, but also ensure there was follow up.

How does the Ville engage with the disabled themselves?

XB: Even before we hired Madeleine we had started organising annual meetings with the associations that are involved in working with the disabled – the journée annuelle de réflexion sur le handicap. It is important not just to make studies, but also to hold dialogue with the people working in the field.

Madeleine Kayser: We are constantly trying to improve conditions for the disabled, such as helping them get to work. We create solutions that allow wheelchair users to negotiate roadworks and the disabled can use our Rollibus system. Our services are very proactive and react quickly to situations.

How did the idea for an awareness campaign arise and what will the programme involve?

XB: We wanted to raise public awareness of the problems faced by the disabled. So we have created a programme that will last one week, but should be valid for a whole year. Nobody is more qualified to speak about this subject than someone who is affected.

MK: We are working with the different associations so that people can experience what it is like to have a disability. But we also want to give those with a disability a chance to express themselves. On 5 May – European Day of People with Disabilities – we are organising information stands and demonstrations on the place d’Armes. And on 13 May we will have a sports afternoon involving lots of local and international clubs playing sports such as blind football.

May traditionally begins with a dance, and the focus of much of the month’s cultural programme is on the art of choreography. The annual Danz Festival Lëtzebuerg takes place over four days at the end of the month. The festival is dedicated to contemporary dance and allows audiences to not only watch guest companies from Switzerland, France and Germany but also provides an opportunity to receive some hands-on training.

A further dance highlight is the appearance of La La La Human Steps at the Grand Théâtre. The Canadian company, directed and created by Édouard Lock, is renowned for its revolutionary and profoundly innovative choreography. Earlier in May the Trois C-L continues its monthly Trois du trois programme at its Banannefabrik home.

The most famous name to make an appearance in Luxembourg in May is French actress Juliette Binoche, who takes on the title role in Frédéric Fisbach’s version of Mademoiselle Julie by August Strindberg. The Capucins pays homage to another famous actress, with Chris Pichler playing German icon Romy Schneider. And English language theatre fans are treated to the New World Theatre Club’s 10-minute Play Festival.

With the weather warming up, there is also plenty of sport on offer. The biggest event is the ING Europe-Marathon Luxembourg, which attracts a full field of 8,000 runners every year. In Olympic year, the annual COSL Spillfest in Kockel­scheuer will also be a popular event for kids and families. And the Skoda Tour de Luxembourg provides a neat warm up for the Tour de France later this summer.

And, ahead of a slew of outdoor music festivals and performances in June and July, there is plenty of music indoors at den Atelier and Exit07 to keep everyone entertained.

From 30 April to 6 May Notre-Dame cathedral will be illuminated as part of a special QuattroPole project to mark the Heilige Rock (holy cloak) pilgrimage in Trier. The projections, created by Katarina Veldhues and Gottfried Schumacher, show details of skin. “Skin represents warmth and energy, and in its vulnerability is an organic garment… just like the holy cloak,” say the artists.

www.quattropole.org

Initiated in 2002 by the Table Ronde Luxembourgeoise, the annual Duck Race has become one of the most popular events of the Spring in the city. On 28 April, thousands of plastic ducks, each numbered and owned by a “god parent”, will be released into the Pétrusse near the mini-golf under the Viaduc and race downriver.

Ducks can be purchased for 5 euros each online or from the Luxembourg City Tourist Office, Electricité Steffes in the Gare area of the city, Aral in Junglinster, Jerrytravel in Esch-Belval, Asport and branches of Autocenter Goedert. There are great prizes for the owners of the first ducks across the line, including shopping vouchers, dinners and a new Twingo car sponsored by Garage de l’Est.

A programme of entertainment for all ages is being laid on, including a bouncy castle and the miniature train in the Pétrusse valley. Food and refreshments will also be available from noon, with the grand depart of the Duck races itself scheduled for 3 p.m.

This year, profits from the event will go to projects being run by two local charities. The first is the renovation of a residential home in Westende in Belgium run by the Fondatioun Kriibskrank Kanner, which supports the families of children diagnosed with cancer. The second project is the construction of a new young people’s home in Gasperich for the Fondation Kim Kirchen, which provides aid in all form to children suffering severe illness, a physical handicap or who reside in foyers. Last year some 50,000 euros was distributed to the Casa Sf Iosif in Romania and the Foyer Namasté in Mauritius.

www.duckrace.lu

When garden designer Fiona Hampton moved to Luxembourg five years ago she was faced with more challenging landscapes than in her native England. “There are a lot of slopes here; heavy clay soil with pockets of sand, surprisingly different climates meaning you can grow kiwis near the Moselle while spring comes late in the North… No garden is the same in Luxembourg; it’s what makes it interesting.” Just as stimulating is being confronted with the many nationalities, all asking for very different gardens: “Everybody wants to recreate a little bit of home.” Whether she’s contacted to provide ideas, to rebuild a garden or to implant one from scratch, Fiona Hampton, also the president of the Green Fingers Club here (www.greenfingers.lu), takes pride in finding the perfect solution. “I can see thousands of possibilities in each garden. The thing is to find out what people want, how much – or how little – time they want to spend gardening, what’s possible and what looks good, all while staying within the budget.” She frequently tries out ideas in her own garden (currently being transformed into an edible forest garden) and goes plant shopping in Holland and Germany.