🎃 The Tapa Weekend: November 1
Halloween, Day of the Dead and Saul Steinberg.
By @IanMount and @AdrianBono | November 1, 2024 | Madrid | Issue #73
🎉 Welcome to a new issue of The Tapa: Weekend Edition! An English-language newsletter about what to do this weekend in Madrid (plus memes!)
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Here Are 5 Things to Do in Madrid This Weekend
Halloween weekend is finally here. But first, an important message:
We’re sure you’ve all seen the heartbreaking scenes coming from Valencia. This is one of the worst natural disasters in Spanish history. The devastation is total and many people in the region are still unable to return to their homes — or worse, find their loved ones.
If you can, please help. No matter how small, your contribution can make a huge difference.
Cruz Roja (Spanish Red Cross): You can donate via Bizum, wire transfer or sending an SMS with the word AYUDA to 28092.
Cáritas: Check their website to donate via Bizum or call 900 33 99 99
El Periodico de España has put together a good list of locations in Madrid and other major cities where they are taking donations to the victims of the storm (food, water, clothes, blankets, etc). If you have a minute to spare, please check it out.
Thank you 🙏
1.🎻 A live orchestra featuring the best music from horror movies
Are you a horror movie buff? Love soundtracks? The Film Symphony Orchestra is Europe’s premier ensemble solely dedicated to touring with a repertoire of movie scores.
Specializing in bringing beloved cinematic scores to life, the orchestra’s performances span a wide range of classic film themes and renowned composers connected to the world of film music. The performance is led by maestro Constantino Martínez-Orts, with an orchestra featuring 80 seasoned musicians chosen for their exceptional skill.
The director and orchestra captivate audiences each year in major venues around Spain with their impressive concert tours. Their presence has become a highlight at prestigious film events, including the Goya Awards, the Zaragoza Film Festival and The Hobbit trilogy’s final premiere, among many others.
Some of the music performed tonight comes from classics such as Dracula, Psycho, Jaws, A Nightmare Before Christmas, Poltergeist, The Omen, Coco, Casper, Gremlins and The Addams Family.
A state-of-the-art lighting system intensifies the experience, transforming each performance into a truly immersive journey. With over 100,000 people having already witnessed the power of the Film Symphony Orchestra, there’s no better time to experience it yourself than on Halloween weekend.
Film Symphony Orchestra: Dracul. Auditorio Nacional de Música, C. del Príncipe de Vergara 146, Madrid. Nov. 1, 6 p.m. Tickets start at €29.
2.💀 Celebrate the Day of the Dead with Three Altars in Madrid
Celebrate Día de Muertos in Madrid with four stunning altars honoring this vibrant Mexican tradition that is now making its way into the city, probably because of how big the Mexican community here is getting. (Also, we’re thankful for the fact that you can now buy pan de muerto too, which we desperately love).
On top of the well-known altar at the Casa de Mexico (admittedly the best one of the four), there are three new installations this year thanks to the Madrid city hall and Fundación Casa de México. Each altar, filled with symbolic decorations like candles, incense, colorful flowers, and traditional foods, represents the spiritual journey taken by loved ones visiting from beyond. From sugar skulls to marigolds, every element serves to welcome back ancestral souls with joy and reverence.
Curated by renowned Mexican artist Cristina Faesler, the altars offer visitors a beautiful and immersive way to experience Día de Muertos. Whether in CentroCentro’s Plaza de Cibeles, Retiro Park’s Artificial Hill, or Café Naves in Matadero Madrid, each location tells a story that merges pre-Hispanic and Catholic traditions.
Plan your visit:
• CentroCentro (Plaza de Cibeles, 1): Tues-Sun, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Montaña Artificial del Retiro (Paseo de Fernán Núñez, 30): Daily, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (Nov. 3 until 2 p.m.).
• Café Naves de Matadero (Paseo de la Chopera, 14): Daily, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Teatro Fernán Gómez (Plaza de Colón, 4): Through Nov. 10, Tues-Sun, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Don’t miss the chance to witness this UNESCO-recognized tradition and reflect on its message of remembrance, joy, and connection with those who came before.
Day of the Dead altars. Multiple locations around Madrid. Check website for additional information.
3.🖍️ Saul Steinberg Retrospective
Does this image look familiar? If you’re an avid reader of American magazines, there’s a chance it does. View of the World from 9th Avenue is an illustration by Romanian artist Saul Steinberg that was featured on the cover of the New Yorker in 1976 and became instantly iconic.
And guess what: you can now see the original one in Madrid (along with many more).
The Fundación Juan March is hosting Spain’s first complete retrospective dedicated to Steinberg, a visionary of postwar art and illustration. This exhibition traces the full breadth of Steinberg’s career, revealing the diverse layers of his artistic journey.
Born in Romania in 1914 and later settling in New York, Steinberg became a huge name in postwar art. His works span multiple genres, combining elements of art and literature to mirror his unique life experiences, his era, and the world around him.
His drawings for the New Yorker appeared on the magazine for almost six decades, as Steinberg’s art brought both humor and criticism into American homes, often challenging societal norms.
This extensive exhibit showcases nearly 400 works, sourced from both private and public collections across Europe and America, offering a comprehensive view of Steinberg’s multi-faceted legacy.
Saul Steinberg Retrospective. Fundación Juan March, Castelló 77, Madrid. Through Jan. 12. Check website for opening hours. Free admission.
4.🔥 Exhibit 1: “Damos vueltas en la noche somos devoradas por el fuego”
OK, maybe this weekend not everything has to be horror.
To that end, discover the vibrant and experimental side of Madrid with the exhibit “Damos vueltas en la noche y somos devoradas por el fuego.”
As part of the innovative “Múltiplo común” series, this show redefines the role of art curation by placing collaboration and shared exploration at its core. The project invites a fresh look at contemporary artistic narratives by featuring an array of voices and perspectives, helmed by curators Carlos Maciá and Cristina Mejías, who both have deep roots in Madrid’s evolving art landscape.
The exhibit brings together 16 creators—each contributing unique works that span visual arts, interactive installations, and literary pieces. From well-known figures to emerging talents, artists such as Adrián Vilar, Aïcha Trinidad, and Elisa Pardo Puch create a tapestry of work that reflects Madrid’s contemporary spirit.
This interconnected approach emphasizes the dynamic, unexpected connections among various media and themes, each piece resonating within a wider network of creative expression.
In addition to exploring the art, visitors can enjoy a distinctive atmosphere crafted through an open-ended curation style, transforming the space into an evolving dialogue between artwork, viewer, and curator. If you’re a contrarian who hates Halloween, this plan is right for you.
Damos vueltas en la noche y somos devoradas por el fuego. Sala de Arte Joven, Avenida de América, 13, Madrid. Through Nov. 17. Check website for schedule. Free admission.
5.🏺Exhibit 2: “Between Chaos and Cosmos: Nature in Ancient Greece”
Nothing says “horror” like ancient Greece. Right?!
Explore the rich, mythic landscape of ancient Greece at this groundbreaking exhibition, where nature’s central role in Greek culture takes center stage like never before in Spain.
Take a journey through the mythological and symbolic connections the ancient Greeks held with nature, guided by classical texts that breathe life into the visuals.
From the creation myths of the cosmos and Earth to the taming of wild landscapes that enabled cities and democracy to flourish (before we decided to elect autocrats that plan to destroy them), the exhibit delves deep into nature’s role as both a social construct and a source of timeless inspiration.
Highlights include the significance of Mediterranean staples—wheat, vine, and olive—as well as the ancient Greeks’ fascination with the sea, a realm of danger and opportunity. You’ll also encounter hybrid creatures, tales of transformation, lush gardens, and delve into the mystical world of potions and brews before exploring the Greek vision of the afterlife as a fertile, eternal realm powered by the primal force of Eros.
This temporary exhibit celebrates two milestones: 10 years since the reopening of the MAN (2014-2024) and the 150th anniversary of the acquisition of José de Salamanca y Mayol’s renowned classical collection, a treasure that shaped the museum’s origins.
Between Chaos and Cosmos. Museo Arqueológico Nacional. C. de Serrano, 13, Madrid. Through March 30. Check website for schedules. Free admission.
👨🏻💻 Viral Stories of the Week
🦸♀️ No todos los héroes llevan capa
It’s been a tragic week, so we’re celebrating those who helped. Which isn’t funny, but hey…
⚽️ El Clásico. The moment when Natalie Portman trolls Real Madrid for losing to FC Barcelona 0-4
We talked about this yesterday in our two (2!) stories about football and Real Madrid—specifically about racism at the Bernabéu and Vini’s big tantrum. And yes, that’s Lamine Yamal next to her.
🔔 A Message From Our Sponsor
Secret Kingdoms is your English bookstore in Madrid. It specializes in Spanish history and literature, contemporary and classic novels, books for children and young adults of all ages, history and historical fiction, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, poetry, biographies and much more.
Located on Calle de Moratín 7 — a few blocks away from the Prado Museum — and with over 20,000 new and used books, Secret Kingdoms has something for everyone.
Find out more at www.thesecretkingdoms.com
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We’ll be back next week with more.