đž The Tapa Weekend: June 9
Yet another tapa route, a soggy music festival and a street party.
By @IanMount and @AdrianBono | June 9, 2023 | Madrid | Issue #11
đ Welcome to a new issue of The Tapa: Weekend Edition! An English-language newsletter about what to do this weekend in Spain (plus memes because why the hell not).
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Here are 5 Things to Do in Madrid This Weekend
We must admit that weâre worried by now. Weâre less than two weeks away from the summer and the weather still feels like early May, April, March. Cold mornings and rainy afternoons is not what we had in mind for June. But at least we have reason to celebrate, as Spainâs Central Electoral Commission announced Thursday afternoon that those who have made travel arrangements (i.e. purchased flight tickets, paid for accommodation, etc.) before May 30, right after Prime Minister SĂĄnchez announced the July 23 election date, will be exempted from poll worker duties. Hurray! Suddenly we all got our vacations back. (Can you get backdated reservations? Asking for a friend.)
Here are five cool things for you to do this weekend.
1. Letâs Start with the Obvious: Primavera Sound
The Primavera Sound Festivalâs 2023 edition marks the first time there will be shows outside Barcelonaâas in, in Madrid. From June 9-10, this highly popular and Instagram-friendly musical event lands in Arganda del Rey (37 km outside Madrid) and features over 200 performances in various stages, with artists and bands such as Depeche Mode, Kendrick Lamar, Blur, RosalĂa, Calvin Harris, Halsey, New Order and Skrillex, among many others. Thereâs something for everyone: punk, reggaeton, K-pop, salsa, metal and techno. Now, you know that this is one of Spainâs largest music festivals and pretty much everyone will be there this weekend, right? Get your tickets while you can! We expect them to be sold out soon. See you all there!
PS: Unfortunately yesterdayâs show was canceled due to the bad weather, but those tickets are still valid to attend today or tomorrow, so itâs not a total loss. The organizers are saying if you choose not to use it, you will be automatically refunded for it.
Primavera Sound Festival. Ciudad del Rock, Arganda del Rey. June 9-10. Tickets start at âŹ125.
2. Calle del Pez Street Party in Malasaña
Leave it to Malasaña to throw a really cool street party.
Every year the Esto es Pez and Vive Malasaña organizations get together to offer residents a multi-day street party on Calle del Pez. Like, really. The reason? To celebrate the Feast of St. Anthony (itâs on June 13, so the celebrations take place this weekend, and we hear St. Anthony liked Mahou). For four days starting today, there will be live music, workshops, games, performances and even an open mic day.
As Calle del Pez is full of bars, restaurants and cafes, you can go see a live band and then grab a table at one of the terrazas and sip an Aperol Spritz while remembering how cool it is that you live in Madrid. Click here to see the full list of activities. If your body is still in the mood for some post-Primavera Sound activities, this is one you shouldnât miss.
Fiestas Calle del Pez. OnâŠCalle del Pez in Malasaña, Madrid. June 9-12. Free admission.
3. The Tapa Literaria Route
Yes, yes. âAnother tapa route?â you ask. And the answer is: obvi. Considering how devilishly delicious tapas are, we see no reason to complain. (Plus, we like to think they named it after this newsletter.)
For two scrumptious weeks, the âLiterary Tapa Routeâ is the perfect complement to the Madrid Book Fair. After book shopping in Retiro Park, you can check one of the 10 bars and restaurants that are participating in this ruta, each with a unique appetizer (plus beverage) to honor a writer, a book, a poem and other popular literary references. Most of them are located near the Prado Museum or Retiro, so itâs perfect to disconnect while reading a hardcover copy of a classic. As their website says, this route involves âcutting-edge cuisine alongside traditional recipes that combine into a new chapter in the love affair between books and stoves." Words and food. Yum.
Ruta de la Tapa Literaria. Around Madrid. June 2-18. Check their website for participating bars and restaurants. Tapas are âŹ6 to âŹ18.
4. PHotoESPAĂA Exhibit
PHotoESPAĂA is back for its 26th edition, showcasing a crazy big number of photo exhibits in museums and art galleries so visitors can explore âthe latest in photographic artâ.
This year a total of 96 exhibits are taking place in locations such as the Circulo de Bellas Artes, the ICO Museum and the Royal Botanical Garden. They feature 303 photographers and visual artists who have been tasked with addressing three key issues in today's society: art, environment, and gender. Photographers participating this year include Marina Abramovic, Bernard Plossu, Edward Burtynsky and Fina Miralles.
If youâre not in the mood for loud music and traveling all the way to Arganda del Rey this weekend, this is a great plan for you.
PHotoESPAĂA. Multiple locations around Madrid. May 31 to September 3. Check the website for additional information about schedule and tickets.
5. 2 Many DJs and Juan MagĂĄn
South SummitâMadridâs startup, tech and VC festivalâwraps up Friday (i.e. today) with a free concert in Plaza España. This âFiesta Callejeraâ (street party) features Juan MagĂĄn, a big-time Spanish producer, singer, remixer and DJ of electronic dance music, best known in the "Electro Latino" world, and 2 Many DJs, Belgian electronica superstars from the late â90s and early â00s. The latterâs 2002 album 'As Heard on Radio Soulwax Pt. 2' was named best of the year by the New York Times, so expect a heavy Gen X contingent at this show.
This oneâs free, so it wonât sell outâbut it will get crowded, so get there early
South Summit Street Fest 2023, Plaza España, Madrid. June 9. 7:30 pm.
đšđ»âđ» Other Headlines of the Week
These are some of the most ridiculous or viral stories in Spain this week that didnât make our Thursday edition but we felt deserved a (dis)honorable mention today.
đŽ At least Ryanair has a sense of humor
Ryanair was in hot water (hot pork fat?) for reportedly trying to charge fliers âŹ45 in baggage fees to take their ensaimada pastries off the Balearic islands. The perceived slight to Mallorcan pride was so fierce that the regional tourism minister called the airline in for a meeting. Whether Ryanair changed its policy isnât clearâthe airline said there was a misunderstanding and theyâd never charged for ensaimada transportâbut now at the very least even passengers without luggage allowances can take âa normal quantity of ensaimadasâ on board without charge. And Ryanair left us with that gem of a meme đ.
đ§ You thought the Fyre Festival was soggy?
We mentioned that Primavera Sound was canceled on Thursday on account of rain, right? But thatâs cool, because it canât rain every day and itâll all be good Friday. Uhm, maybe. Judging from pix on Twitter, itâs a wee bit soggy completely f-ing flooded on the festival grounds. Note to self: bring canoe.
đ Once again, please remember to share this newsletter with your friends on social media. The more we grow, the more information weâll be able to offer each week.
Weâll be back next week with more.