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🦩The Tapa Weekend: July 28

Gloria Trevi, a new tapa route and... a mountain of cats?

Yes, we’re very much aware this isn’t Madrid. (Photo by Vicko Mozara on Unsplash)

By @IanMount and @AdrianBono | July 28, 2023 | Madrid | Issue #18

🎉 Welcome to a new issue of The Tapa: Weekend Edition! An English-language newsletter about what to do this weekend in Madrid (plus memes because why the hell not).

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Here are 5 Things to Do in Madrid This Weekend

We know. The last thing you wanted this week was to deal with the unbearable uncertainty of not knowing who will be the next Prime Minister of Spain. Way to ruin our vacations, democracy! At least it’s Friday and those of us stuck in this city have some options that, while definitely not better than sitting on that floating flamingo above, can still help us forget our mundane tribulations.

So here are a few cool things to do this weekend.

1. Universal Music Festival 2023

OK, we have good news and bad news. First, the bad. The Universal Music Festival started three days ago and you’ve missed Rufus Wainwright, Israel Fernández and Kraftwerk. The good news: there’s three days left of live music for you!

The seventh edition of the festival showcases a program with amazing international artists offering concert goers a great musical experience this weekend. If you’ve always wanted to see Gloria Trevi, Gilberto Gil or Lola Índigo, this is your opportunity!

Universal Music Festival. Plaza de Isabel II s/n, Madrid. July 25-30. 9:30 p.m. Tickets start at €85.

2. Ruta de la Tapa de Tetuán

The good thing about being stuck in Madrid in July and August? The city is empty, meaning that it’s the perfect chance to make a reservation at that restaurant you’ve been meaning to try since 1996 but is always full—especially if that restaurants is part of a ruta! So make sure you check out the Ruta de la Tapa de Tetuán, in which 57 establishments in the Tetuán district offer a great tapa and a beer (or a non-alcoholic drink) for €3.50.

In this second edition, bars and restaurants in the neighborhoods of Almenara, Berruguete, Bellas Vistas, Valdeacederas, Castillejos, and Cuatro Caminos (you can check the full list here), offer a fab selection of tapas that you shouldn’t miss during these warm summer evenings. Face it, it’s the perfect plan: a tapa de tortilla and a tinto de verano. Boom. You’re welcome.

Ruta de la Tapa de Tetuán. Various locations in the Tetuán district, Madrid. Check website for participating establishments.

3. Symphony of Sorrows & Cantata

Portugal’s National Ballet Company arrives in Madrid to present their Symphony of Sorrows/Cantata, which brings together two choreographers who, with different approaches and settings, propose works that explore collectiveness:

  • Symphony of Sorrows is choreographed by Miguel Ramalho to the music of Henryk GĂłrecki, and Cantata, by Mauro Bigonzetti, featuring original and traditional music from southern Italy performed by the group Assurd.

Symphony of Sorrows unfolds in a dense and somber ambiance in which people demonstrate their strength to overcome the sometimes tortuous paths of humanity, Cantata, in contrast, reflects the musical and folk traditions of Italy—a kind of Italian community celebration where music serves as the inspiring element, infecting both the dancers and the audience.

Symphony of Sorrows & Cantata. Centro Cultural Conde Duque. Calle del Conde Duque, 11, Madrid. July 28 & 29, 10 p.m.. Tickets start at €24.

4. Go Visit La Montaña de los Gatos

In Retiro Park, you may have noticed in the past a strange mound on its northeast corner that has been closed to the public for a while now (20 years, to be exact). And that mount, known locally as La Montaña de los Gatos (or Cats Mountain), has finally reopened—recovering one of the most popular historical treasures that the park has to offer.

This artificial mound (definitely not a mountain) was built by King Fernando VII in the 19th century and used to be a regular hangout spot for cats that lived in the area (hence the name). Now, after eight months of restoration work, the site is finally open for people to visit. If you want to learn a bit more about Madrid and its history (and presumably see cats), it’s definitely worth a visit.

Montaña de los Gatos. Retiro Park, Paseo de Fernán Núñez, 30, Madrid. Free admission.

5. Seasonal Proximities Exhibit

We recommended you check out the Guangzhou Symphony Youth Orchestra last week as it commemorated the 50th anniversary of Chinese-Spanish relations. Well, the celebration is still on going and this week we’ve got something else to recommend. Chinese artist Cao Yuxi, who was responsible for the audiovisuals during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games ceremony, is presenting "Seasonal Proximities" an exhibition where he explores one of his favorite themes: the influence of technology and the digital age on our perception of reality.

This fascinating artwork uses interactive screens and moving image projections to showcase “vivid natural landscapes in a 360-degree immersive cinematic experience, transporting visitors outdoors.” His monumental installations have already been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide, such as MOMA PS1 and Beijing Today Art Museum. Sounds cool, doesn’t it?

Seasonal Proximities. Espacio Cultural SerrerĂ­a Belga, Madrid. Through August 6. Check website for opening hours. Free admission.

👨🏻‍💻 Viral Story of the Week: Perro Sanxe

It’s probably no surprise that most of the memes that appeared on our feeds this week were related to the 23J election. But there was one that rose to the top and trended on Twitter X for several hours on Sunday: Perro Sanxe.

For the uninitiated, that’s what many on the right used to call Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. It was an insult that began several years ago and probably peaked during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns after an angry kid (angry because they were shutting down his ski resort, that is) called him that on live television.

For years, the Prime Minister was allegedly not happy with this insult (“perro” means dog and “Sanxe” is just a bad spelling of his last name) but suddenly he (or his social media team) realized that perhaps it was best to own up to it and start using it himself. While appearing on the über popular Spotify podcast “La Pija y la Quinqui” a few days ago, Sánchez laughed it off and said he liked how “it had been turned around” and was being used as a compliment.

He liked it so much, actually, that two days before the elections he posted a photo with his dogs on social media to celebrate World Dog Day. The best part? He chose the song “Perra” (bitch), by Rigoberta Bendini, to go with it.

So now when you open Twitter X it’s very likely you’ll see his supporters sharing memes and jokes using the hashtag #PerroSanxe.

You’re welcome.

đź”” A Message From Our Sponsor

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