1. Gegenbauer's Viennese Straw Rooms

© Hans Schubert

Why is there straw lying around here? Because "vinegar baron" Erwin Gegenbauer lives by unconventional ideas. The operator of the vinegar brewery, of the same name, who is also a successful coffee roaster, brewer of beer, and landlord of the "Viennese Guest Rooms", presents his latest trick with the "Viennese Straw Rooms". They do what it says on the tin: Gegenbauer's guests can overnight on beds of straw in a total of five rooms. But not only are the beds made of straw – the walls of the rooms are also made from the natural material. The rooms are also fitted out using materials that are no longer used elsewhere. For example, the chair and washstands in the rooms are made from discarded barrique barrels from the brewery.

2. Fluffy rockhopper penguins

© Daniel Zupanc

Schönbrunn Zoo is especially fluffy this June. And that's all thanks to eleven rockhopper penguin chicks, which were born in Schönbrunn in April and have recently been put on show in the zoo's Polarium. The little ones are still really clumsy and therefore sweet to watch. The rockhopper penguins are seriously endangered in their homeland, the Tristan da Cunha island group in the South Atlantic. Which makes conservation programs in zoos all the more important. It's an area in which Schönbrunn Zoo leads in Europe. No other zoo breeds rockhopper penguins so successfully.

3. Enjoyment and discourse – the Kraus

© Stefan Fuerthbauer/Das Kraus

An exciting reinterpretation of the classic Viennese coffee house opened its doors at Grosse Pfarrgasse 7 in the 2nd district at the beginning of June. The Kraus is named after the powerfully eloquent Viennese publicist and satirist Karl Kraus. Accordingly, the intention here is to revive the tradition of the Viennese coffee house as a center of intellectual gatherings and debates. The motto is: Enjoyment and discourse. On the menu are classics of Viennese cuisine and reinterpretations of international dishes – in the evening, the restaurant transforms into a bar. Discussions and events in the field of contemporary art and media are planned. The remarkable interior design is reminiscent of the design language of the 1920s.

4. Something terrifying in the Geymüllerschlössel

© Bildrecht, Wien 2021 Foto: Aslan Kudrnofsky/MAK

Those who prefer things a little terrifying should visit the Geymüllerschlössel in the 18th district. The branch of the MAK (MAK – Museum of Applied Arts) is currently showing the latest exhibition of art superstar Erwin Wurm. Wurm's clay sculptures created between 2018 and 2020 can be seen in a museum context for the first time. Not for the faint-hearted: "Dissolution" presents sculptures from which individual body parts – such as fingers, lips ears and noses – protrude, while the bodies are deformed to the point of abstraction. Further sculptures by Wurm in Carrara marble can be seen in the garden of the Geymüllerschlössel palace, which overall makes a highly exciting contrast to the Biedermeier interior of the Geymüllerschlössel.

5. Laughing under an open sky

© Jan Frankl

Yes, laughing's allowed again. And under especially safe circumstances: With the Globe Wien Open Air, the creators of Globe Wien, Michael Niavarani and Georg Hoanzl, are organizing a series of cabaret and music events right next to the Marx Halle in the open air, which will run into September. Michael Niavarani will also appear on stage there in June with Viktor Gernot, as will voice imitators Alex Kristan and Maschek, who will once again provide quirky synchronizations. Musical guests are the singer/songwriters Avec and Pizzera & Jaus. Waiting for you in the summer months are big names like Michael Mittermeier and Torsten Sträter.