🌮 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
🎉 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
September’s coming to an end and people are already making Mariah Carey jokes on Instagram as we’re only 13 weeks away from Christmas. So let’s 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 España
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 “La Hispanoamericana” festival in Plaza España. The festival runs through Oct. 15 and is set to coincide with the National Day of Spain on Oct. 12 (which we’re 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 España, Madrid. Through Oct. 15. Free admission.
2. Semana de la Arquitectura (or “Architecture Week”) 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 “delves into the mysterious and tumultuous world of adolescence through a research process involving workshops, studies, consultations, and rehearsals”. 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 Düsseldorf" (the story about a child killer), the play involves Luis and Lucía, 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? It’s pretty dark but it’s definitely worth it.
Asesinato y Adolescencia. Nave del Español en Matadero, Paseo de la Chopera, 14, Madrid. Tuesdays to Sundays, through Nov. 5. Tickets start at €20.
4. Go See Norwen Live
Considering his name and how good his English is, you’ll probably think Norwen is a Swedish singer who’s touring in Spain. But you couldn’t be more wrong. In fact, he’s from Logroño (La Rioja) and his real name is Alberto Ortíz. 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.
It’s an intense and exciting concert that will make you dance and maybe event move you to tears. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Norwen. Clamores, Albuquerque 14, Madrid. Sept. 30, 1 p.m. Tickets start at €11.20.
5. Fundación MAPFRE’s Los Veranos de Sorolla
“Los Veranos de Sorolla” (The Summers of Sorolla) is a carefully curated exhibit of 40 artworks by Valencian painter Joaquín Sorolla, as we celebrate 100 years since his death. The goal is to let visitors explore the artist’s 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 Sebastián, Zarauz, and Biarritz (all expensive places we’ve never been to).
What’s interesting about this exhibit is how the paintings provide a “glimpse 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.” 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. Fundación MAPFRE, Sala Recoletos. Paseo de Recoletos 23, Madrid. Through Jan. 7. Tickets start at €5.
👨🏻💻 Viral Stories of the Week
🎂 Happy Birthday, Mr. Famous Singer Guy…
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 wasn’t the old celeb to send their deepest respects. Far from it!
Richy Castellanos—event organizer, man about town, friend of stars—put 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 Spain’s Segunda División, and he’s still remembered.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta wished him Happy Birthday a la Marilyn Monroe, which is marginally awkward to watch.
The current goalkeepers of Atlético de Madrid, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and many others porteros also paid homage.
¡Feliz cumple, Julio!
🤬 No, you’re rude!
‘Maleducada’ was a big trending topic on the old Twitter this week, after Acting Equality Minister Irene Montero (and others) traveled to Zaragoza (in Aragón) for an event related to the Spanish presidency of the Consejo de la Unión Europea.
When Montero went down the receiving line of regional officials, the speaker of Aragón’s parliament, Marta Fernández did not offer her hand to shake (neither did Montero, to be fair), and Fernández straight up refused to shake the hand of Montero’s deputy Ángela Rodríguez (aka Pam).
Why so snippy? Fernández 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 Fernández tweeted that Montero “only knows how to get ahead by getting on her knees.” (We won’t explain that one.)
No surprise here that this led to many of critique of Fernández. “One cannot be more cretinous, disrespectful, and rude,” tweeted former RTVE journo José Ramón Peterson, in one example.
This in turn inspired those on the right of the aisle to republish examples of left-wing rudités, like when PSOE deputies in the Castilla y León parliament refused to shake the speaker’s hand because he was in Vox.
No, you’re rude! Or something. Happy days!
🔔 A Message From Our Sponsor
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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.
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We’ll be back next week with more.
Wonderful newsletter as usual! So witty it makes my day!