š® The Tapa Weekend: September 29
Featuring Latin American food markets, architecture week and summer paintings.
By @IanMount and @AdrianBono | September 29, 2023 | Madrid | Issue #23
š 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
Septemberās coming to an end and people are already making Mariah Carey jokes on Instagram as weāre only 13 weeks away from Christmas. So letās make the most out of the last quarter of the year before the winter season gets here and we (probably) start preparing for a winter general election.
Here are a few cool things for you to do this weekend.
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1. La Hispanoamericana Food Market & Festival in Plaza EspaƱa
Ready for tango, arepas and burritos? This is your chance to enjoy the art, culture and, of course, the food or Latin America at the āLa Hispanoamericanaā festival in Plaza EspaƱa. The festival runs through Oct. 15 and is set to coincide with the National Day of Spain on Oct. 12 (which weāre not going to comment on for obvious reasons).
Alongside the many Latin American flags waving in the plaza, you can find silver necklaces, t-shirts and delicacies while people dance to the tune of salsa or reggaeton that comes from the main stage, located right behind the stands. Oh, and if you want to learn how to dance them, there will be various activities related to that too.
So lose yourself in the delicious aromas of Latin America and learn more about the undeniably rich cultural heritage of these countries this weekend. Then get ready to pick fights with people on Oct. 12 over whether Columbus was a great guy or a bad man. Have fun!
La Hispaniamericana. Plaza EspaƱa, Madrid. Through Oct. 15. Free admission.
2. Semana de la Arquitectura (or āArchitecture Weekā) 2023
The 20th edition of Architecture Week in Madrid is here and this year is focuses on Ukraine with the aim of reflecting on its local architectural and artistic heritage, currently endangered by the war with Russia, and the necessary efforts for reconstruction.
Architecture takes center stage for 10 days, with over 300 activities including exhibits, conferences, concerts, events, guided tours of buildings and walking tours of recognized architectural and historical value and even an artisanal market. The event invites you to discover the architecture of the capital from new perspectives through urban exhibitions and classics like their architect design market (Pop Arq Store), and conferences with art and design as the guiding thread.
Beyond the oohing and aahing, Madrid architects intend to promote a discussion on how the rebuild cities devastated by war or natural disasters, such as the earthquake that hit Morocco last month.
XX Architecture Week of Madrid. Multiple locations around Madrid. Check website for more information.
3. Fancy a Play? Asesinato y Adolescencia looks pretty cool
This cool looking Asesinato y Adolescencia ādelves into the mysterious and tumultuous world of adolescence through a research process involving workshops, studies, consultations, and rehearsalsā. It stems from the concern to understand the world of adolescence and our complex relationship as adults with it.
Based on an idea from "M, the Vampire of DĆ¼sseldorf" (the story about a child killer), the play involves Luis and LucĆa, two isolated souls pushed to the brink by a combination of personal and external violence. Murder and Adolescence also explores the possibility of love, not so much in a romantic sense, but in terms of the continuity of life.
Have you checked the teaser above? Itās pretty dark but itās definitely worth it.
Asesinato y Adolescencia. Nave del EspaƱol en Matadero, Paseo de la Chopera, 14, Madrid. Tuesdays to Sundays, through Nov. 5. Tickets start at ā¬20.
4. Go See Norwen Live
Considering his name and how good his English is, youāll probably think Norwen is a Swedish singer whoās touring in Spain. But you couldnāt be more wrong. In fact, heās from LogroƱo (La Rioja) and his real name is Alberto OrtĆz. On this musical project, he skillfully navigates through pop, rock, and American folk.
This is an energetic live performance in which he presents his first EP, which was extremely well received by both critics and music lovers. Additionally, he will preview some of the songs from his upcoming first album, set to be released next year.
Itās an intense and exciting concert that will make you dance and maybe event move you to tears. Donāt say we didnāt warn you.
Norwen. Clamores, Albuquerque 14, Madrid. Sept. 30, 1 p.m. Tickets start at ā¬11.20.
5. FundaciĆ³n MAPFREās Los Veranos de Sorolla
āLos Veranos de Sorollaā (The Summers of Sorolla) is a carefully curated exhibit of 40 artworks by Valencian painter JoaquĆn Sorolla, as we celebrate 100 years since his death. The goal is to let visitors explore the artistās career focusing on his favorite theme: the beach.
The collection includes numerous scenes from the Mediterranean coast, highlighting the playful aspect of enjoying the sea, as well as scenes set on the Cantabrian coast, portraying the ambiance of affluent summer vacationers in San SebastiĆ”n, Zarauz, and Biarritz (all expensive places weāve never been to).
Whatās interesting about this exhibit is how the paintings provide a āglimpse into the evolution of the seaside environment in relation to the therapeutic properties of bathing and the emergence of summer as a period of leisure and sociability.ā Not a bad way to end the week (reminiscing about the kind of life we all had just one month ago and now desperately miss).
Los Veranos de Sorolla. FundaciĆ³n MAPFRE, Sala Recoletos. Paseo de Recoletos 23, Madrid. Through Jan. 7. Tickets start at ā¬5.
šØš»āš» Viral Stories of the Week
š Happy Birthday, Mr. Famous Singer Guyā¦
Julio Iglesias turned 80 on Sept. 23, and nobody wanted to miss it! Even the ex-King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, sent an emotional video message to his old buddy.
But old JC#1 wasnāt the old celeb to send their deepest respects. Far from it!
Richy Castellanosāevent organizer, man about town, friend of starsāput together a video (above) of 465 celebrities (!) wishing Don Julio a Happy 80th. Really a lovely gesture, though we might have suggested a shorter format (Julio might expire or at the very least fall asleep before he wades through its 3+ hours).
While the stroll down memory lane is a treat, we were especially curious to see the football (soccer, Americans) world wishes. In his youth, Julio was a goalkeeper for Real Madrid Castilla in Spainās Segunda DivisiĆ³n, and heās still remembered.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta wished him Happy Birthday a la Marilyn Monroe, which is marginally awkward to watch.
The current goalkeepers of AtlƩtico de Madrid, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and many others porteros also paid homage.
Ā”Feliz cumple, Julio!
š¤¬ No, youāre rude!
āMaleducadaā was a big trending topic on the old Twitter this week, after Acting Equality Minister Irene Montero (and others) traveled to Zaragoza (in AragĆ³n) for an event related to the Spanish presidency of the Consejo de la UniĆ³n Europea.
When Montero went down the receiving line of regional officials, the speaker of AragĆ³nās parliament, Marta FernĆ”ndez did not offer her hand to shake (neither did Montero, to be fair), and FernĆ”ndez straight up refused to shake the hand of Monteroās deputy Ćngela RodrĆguez (aka Pam).
Why so snippy? FernĆ”ndez is from Vox, and Vox and Podemos (the home of Montero and Pam) get along like a cobra and a mongoose. Oh, and one other thing: in 2022 FernĆ”ndez tweeted that Montero āonly knows how to get ahead by getting on her knees.ā (We wonāt explain that one.)
No surprise here that this led to many of critique of FernĆ”ndez. āOne cannot be more cretinous, disrespectful, and rude,ā tweeted former RTVE journo JosĆ© RamĆ³n Peterson, in one example.
This in turn inspired those on the right of the aisle to republish examples of left-wing ruditĆ©s, like when PSOE deputies in the Castilla y LeĆ³n parliament refused to shake the speakerās hand because he was in Vox.
No, youāre rude! Or something. Happy days!
š A Message From Our Sponsor
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Located on Calle de MoratĆn 7 ā a few blocks away from the Prado Museum ā 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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Wonderful newsletter as usual! So witty it makes my day!