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Friday, May 16, 2008

Weekend Edition: San Isidro

Weekend Edition: San Isidro

And, of course, we have some more suggestions to coast you through the weekend. Since it’s the festival of San Isidro the city will be crawling with art from symphonies to rock ’n’ roll to puppet theater...

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Soccer/Football in Madrid: The Real Madrid Store

The Real Madrid Store - For all Your Buying Needs

If there is any lingering doubt in your mind that Real Madrid qualifies for cult status, simply visit their store. I assure you; you’ll come away a changed person. From infant pacifiers to women's underwear, they have managed to brand every product on the planet. Although some items are available on line and others at the stadium, this is the most complete collection of Real Madrid paraphernalia in the known universe. Now, if you’re guessing that you can find t-shirts, polo shirts...

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Luxury Hotels in Madird - Meliá Madrid Princesa

Luxury Hotels in Madird - Meliá Madrid Princesa

by Justine Bayod Espoz
Another first-class Melía hotel in Madrid is the Princesa, which is more centrally located than the Melía Castilla. On the periphery of the historic center, the Princesa is very close to the Oeste Park and Plaza España. Plus a nice bonus in the area for foreigners is the complex...

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Five Star Hotels in Madrid: The Villa Real Hotel

Five Star Hotels in Madrid: The Villa Real Hotel

by Justine Bayod Espoz
The Villa Real Hotel is located in prime tourist area, just steps away from the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza art museums and a few blocks from Puerta del Sol. A guest at this hotel will not have to rely on public transportation to see...

Photo of the day

Art at the Villa Real Hotel

At the Vlla Real Hotel you don't have to leave the premise in order to see great art. The in-house collection includes everything from Ancient Roman sculpture to Modern Warhol Portraits. See review for more.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Hotels in Madrid: Gran Melía Fénix

Hotels in Madrid: Gran Melía Fénix

Justine Bayod Espoza
The most centrally located and luxurious of Melía’s hotels in Madrid is the Gran Melía Fénix. Situated to one side of Plaza Colon, the Gran Melía Fénix sits on the doorstep of both the exclusive Barrio de Salamanca and Paseo de Recoletos....

Monday, May 5, 2008

English-Language Movies in Madrid - Elegy with Penelope Cruz

English-Language Movies in Madrid - Elegy with Penelope Cruz

by Andrew Poole
Far from the “Roses are Red, Violets are blue” simplicity of most “love stories”, Elegy...

Photo of the Day

English-Language Movies in Madrid at Cine Ideal

Penelope Cruz and Ben Kingsley star in Elegy, the adaptation of Philip Roth's short novel, "The Dying Animal". See today's review for more.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

English Language Movies in Madrid - The Counterfeiters

English Language Movies in Madrid - The Counterfeiters

Anna Bogutskaia
What do you live for? What would you die for? These are questions that The Countefeiters...

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

photo of the day

Madrid Neighborhoods: La Latina

La Latina is affordable, artistic and fun. By day it's a lovely barrio for a stroll, in the evenings a great place for nightlife, and on Sunday it erupts in to the "Rastro" one of the biggest flea markets in all of Europe. Photo by Quico López.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

photo of the day

The Mirasierra Hotel

The Royal Botanical Gardens in Madrid are are great complement to the action-packed days and nights in this 24-hour city.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

London Fashion in Madrid: Trendy Tube - Be a Step Ahead

London Fashion in Madrid: Trendy Tube - Be a Step Ahead

by Heather Hart
Hey girls - love designer clothes but can’t handle the designer price tags? Looking for something truly unique? Make your way over to Trendy Tube, Triball’s highly...

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Travel in Spain: The Feria de Sevilla (Seville)

Travel in Spain: The Feria de Sevilla (Seville)

by Sean McNamara
The six-hour southbound bus ride passed quickly, as my anticipation for Sevilla’s famous spring Feria (Fair) grew and the monumental silhouettes of Andalusian bulls floated over the hills. Socibus, the company that shuttles travelers...

Photo of the Day

Preparing for the Feria

Preparing for La Feria de Sevilla - dance, drink, food, horses and more. See for more article info. Photo and story by Sean McNamara.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

photo of the day

Shopping Day

Has the recent weather left you a bit blue? If it's a bit cold for terrazas or a walk in the park, don't forget your shopping options.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Hotels in Madrid: AC Palacio del Retiro Hotel

Hotels in Madrid: AC Palacio del Retiro Hotel

Opened in September 2004, the Palacio del Retiro is one of Madrid’s newest luxury hotels. It is located in a stunning building right off of the Retiro Park, just steps away from Cibeles Fountain and the Puerta de Alcalá, two...

Photo of the day

Bathing a la Lichtenstein

The Thyssen Bornemisza Museum containing work from Gothic Italian to American Pop Art is just minutes away from the AC Palacio del Retiro Hotel. Don't miss the hotel's Turkish baths! See review for details.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Terrazas in Madrid: Argumosa, "Café Street"

Terrazas in Madrid: Argumosa, "Café Street"

In Madrid, when does spring officially begin? For optimists it’s the budding of delicate leaves, for pessimists it’s the banging of annual construction. For the vast majority, however, spring is the beginning of terrazas (sidewalk cafes)...

Photo of the Day

Argumosa, the Street of Many Cafés

Calle Argumosa is lined with terrazas cafes serving juice, coffee, beer, wine and sangria. A couple of hours on this magical street will cure whatever ails you.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

photo of the Day

The Intercultural Spring Market in Madrid

Roberto Wonka and the Chocolate Facory? Yes, that is a fountain of chocolate you are looking at. If you're seeking a quick lunchtime or evening escape in Madrid, try the current market in the Plaza de la Luna just off Gran Via. Roberto and his molten chocolate are waiting for you. For more information on Roberto's company, Chocolate Fondue (weddings, parties, conferences...), call 619 928 242.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Atocha Station in Madrid: Trains, buses, subways and... turtles

Atocha Station in Madrid: Trains, Buses, Subways and... Turtles

Next time you’re headed off on a day trip from the Atocha train station make sure you arrive early enough in order to enjoy all that this historic Madrid landmark has to offer. Yes, really...

Photo of the Day

Atocha Station

Atocha Station in Madrid comes complete with a... tropical forest inside. The rare mix of French architecture, swaying palms, cafes, candy shops and, yes, even night clubs ought to keep you entertained while you wait for your next train. See review for details. Photo by Kike - also see his websites 1 & 2.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Madrid museums and exhibitions

Museums & Exhibitions Madrid

Museums in Madrid are some of the best in the world. Whether you want to check out Spanish classics at El Prado Museum, contemporary art at the Reina Sofía Museum, or a bit of both worlds at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, our comprehensive guide to museums in Madrid will give you an informative overview.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Photo of the Day

Relaxing at the Madrid Terrazas

Relaxing at a terraza on Calle de Moratin.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Hotels in Madrid: Five Star Hotels

Hotels In Madrid: The Westin Palace Hotel Madrid

The Westin Palace Hotel sits directly across from Madrid’s Ritz Hotel, just on the other side of the Neptune fountain. Even...

Photo of the Day

Salvador Dalí

Just minutes away from the Westin Palace Hotel is the world-famous Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza featuring works by all the European masters. Don't miss Dali's beautifully intriguing and lengthily titled, "Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee around a Pomegranate Minutes before Waking." Whether Salvador woke on the "right" or "wrong" side of the bed that particular morning is still disputed; however, all can agree it was definitely the "surreal" side.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Monuments in Madrid: Plaza Mayor

Monuments in Madrid: Plaza Mayor

Pick up any Madrid guidebook and you’ll find Plaza Mayor listed as one of the “must see” historical sites. No doubt the article will be accompanied...

Photo of the day

Plaza Mayor from Bullfighting to Royal Weddings

Artists in Plaza Mayor capture Spanish life on canvass. Photo by Kike - also see his websites 1 & 2.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Photo of the Day

Exhibitions in Madrid

Igor Mitoraj continues to display his sculpture along Paseo del Prado just down the street from the Madrid Ritz - near Atocha Station at the entrance to Retiro. Sponsored by Caixa Forum.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Info on Madrid's Famous Avenue, Gran Via

History of Madrid's Most Famous Avenue, Gran Via

by Andre Nakazawa
Anything with the word “grand” in its name had better live up to this lofty title. The main thoroughfare of Madrid, Gran Via, does just that. Conceived in the mid 19th century...

Photo of the Day

Gran Via in Madrid

For more infomation on Gran Via, its history and its monumental architecture, see our article. Photo by Kike also see his websites 1 & 2.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Botanical Gardens of Madrid

Everyone Needs a Day in Madrid's Botanical Gardens

Although the Real Jardín Botánico (Royal Botanic Gardens) may sound like a destination for those who travel by horse-drawn carriage and not sleek, modern jet, it shouldn’t be overlooked when...

photo of the day

Royal Botanical Gardens in Madrid

The Real Jardín Botánico is in full bloom and waiting for your visit.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Bars and Cafes with Terrazas in Madrid

Jazz Bar: A Terraza AND Cocktails with a Dose of Magical Realism!

by Andrew Poole
It's only natural that my experience in Jazz Bar starts off on a great note, “Wow, 5.50 for a cocktail! Que Bueno!” “That’s not all,” continues the bartender, “Since I’m from Colombia, I mix every...

photo of the day

Terraza Time

Inès and Audrey enjoying Saturday afternoon at the Jazz Bar Terraza.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

March in review

Check Out All Events in March

March was a busy month full of tapas bars, restaurants and flamenco.
For a peek into the real flamenco scene, see our feature, Flamenco 101- A Lesson in Life . For suggestions on where to catch a bit of flamenco action, see our flamenco page.
...

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Museum of the Metro

Madrid Museums - Take a Tour of the Historic Underground!

by Jolijn van der Zanden
Perhaps you remember that last year MAP Magazine tried to encourage you to smudge the windows of metro line 1 to see the remains of the Chamberí...

Thursday, March 27, 2008

cafes/bars

Pepe Botella: King of the Drunks - God of Coffee

by Phil Stark
The Pepe Botella café takes its name from Napoleon’s alcoholic brother, José Bonaparte, who was King of Spain during the French Occupation. Nicknamed “Pepe Botella” by the Spanish...

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Photo of the Day

Salamanca by Night

Salamanca is a city that boasts a world-famous 13th-century university, Cathedrals, and Roman architecture - not to mention huge tapas and great discos. How can you resist? See review. Photo by Andre Nakazawa.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Bars and Pubs - Belgium

Devil Dogs and Bitter Belgian Beer - Are You up for the Challenge?

by Ben Dornan
Tucked away behind the imposing Plaza Mayor on calle Cuchilleros you can find the Belgian Beer Café. If you're a fan of the arts of the Flemish master brewers then this place has to be a regular stopping-off point. They have an excellent selection of beers on tap and in bottles...

Friday, March 21, 2008

Art - Picasso

Up Close and Personal with Picasso

by Sydney Kunz-McCarthy
Naked people, crying people, minotaurs, guitars, his women and himself: the 400+ piece Picasso exhibit at the Reina Sofia gives a fascinating perspective of the artist as he saw himself. The works...

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Semana Santa (Holy Week)

Epic Biblical Drama Revisits Madrid

If anything can reignite the sheer terror of Biblical events, it’s Easter in Spain. Between Palm and Easter Sundays...

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

art - Painting of Otto Dix

The Camera and the Canvas

When "Video killed the radio star" this wasn’t the first instance of carnage in the world of art. New mediums and technologies always...

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Castles - Castillo de Manzanares el Real

Fairytale Castle Just outside Modern Madrid: Castillo de Manzanares el Real

by Andre Nakazawa

Knights in shining armor, the King on his throne and sentinels patrolling their watchtowers. Everything you assumed was mere childhood fantasy materializes in the 15th century Castillo de Manzanares el Real. Beautifully preserved, the castle lies a stone’s...

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Spanish History in Art - Dos de Mayo

Why do We Riot? Exhibit on Dos de Mayo

If you were here on the 2nd of May last year (2007), you’ll remember the riots in the barrio of Malasaña: hooded activists lobbing stones and lighting fires, police in combat...

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Art Spaces - Caixa Forum

Caixa Forum: Corporate Responsibility or Long-Term Publicity Stunt?

By Andre Nakazawa
Any recent stroll down the Paseo de Prado has surely been interrupted by the sight...

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Art in Madrid - Architectural Photography

Architectural Photography: Gabriele Basilico "Intercity"

Collectively we have officially become city slickers. The shift in the bulk of the world’s population from rural to...

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Madrid in Film History

Madrid in Film History - Skip the Exhibit but Read this List

According to Así es Madrid…en el cine, an exhibition of Madrid in film, around 300 films have been shot in Madrid so far. Not as impressive as New York, London or Paris, they say...

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Theater - Alternative Festivals

Theater in Madrid - Festival Alternativo de las Artes Escénica

The Festival Alternativo de las artes Escénica, in its 8th year, provides Madrid and surrounding areas with ground-breaking performances from around...

photo of the day

The Alternative Scene

The Festival Alternativo de las artes Escénica starts today the 30th of Jan. See article for more info. Pictured is RAIO X from Brasil. Photo by Dominik Fricker .

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

wine in Madrid- high quality, low price

Don’t Whine about Your Budget, Budget on your Wine!

Yes, Carrefour and MaxiDia have cheap and oftentimes decent wine. But hasn’t their lack of variety left you yearning for a store that offers more than alcohol-infused grape juice? Look no further than Bodega Santa Cecilia . This swanky yet price-friendly...

Sunday, January 20, 2008

shopping - rebajas

Rebajas: The Epic Battle

Neither the morning darkness nor the rain could hold me back. Early the day after the celebration of the Three Kings, just like every woman in the country: I woke up early, renounced my stilettos, and rushed off to war - the first day of rebajas (the sale season). The battlefield: the mall. The ammunition: Cash and cards. The goal: to procure all things bright and beautiful. If you think that rebajas are but...

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

culture/history - Italian Sculpture Chosen by Velásquez

Velásquez on a Spending Spree!

Have you ever been to Rome or The Vatican and had the irrational urge to start buying up sculpture and take it home? The Bronze Lion? “I’ll take it.” The Cabeza de Apolo? “Give me two.” The Cabeza de Safo? “Yes, I’ll buy two of these as well.” Well, Diego...

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

art - Flamenco on Canvas

Flamenco Hits the Reina Sofia

Most of us, if asked to visualize flamenco, would probably conjure up the images sold to us in every tchotchke-hawking tourist trap around Puerta del Sol: castanets, brightly colored dresses, fans and shawls, images of men with guitars or the quintessential form of the foot-stamping, hand...

photo of the day

Images of Flamenco

More than twelve rooms of flamenco art cover the visual legacy of flamenco at the Reina Sofia. See the review.

Monday, January 14, 2008

culture/history - Rome Exhibit

There's No Place Like Rome – The Madrid Exhibit

At its height, the Roman Empire stretched from Great Britain to the north of Africa and from Syria to Spain. Trajan, a Spaniard, even ruled the Empire briefly. In addition to the infamous gladiator...

Sunday, January 13, 2008

photo of the day

Madrid Photojournalism: Luis Ramón Marín

The work of Luis Ramón Marín is on Exhibit until the 21st of January. See review for details.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Comedy - Modern Mime Comedy

Tricicle Mime Comedy Troupe – Doctor Recommended and Audience Approved

If laughter is the cure for all ailments, then an evening with Tricicle will certainly send you home alleviated and restored to perfect health. Having been in the business of making people laugh for almost...

Friday, December 14, 2007

art - Young Artists Awards

Art that doesn't Suck!

So maybe classic art isn’t your thing. Perhaps portraits of anemic royalty and painstakingly rendered platters of fruit don’t “speak” to you – fair enough. If you are looking for something a bit more “now”, swing by the Circulo de Bellas Artes between now and the 13th of January, 2008. Displayed in the Sala Picasso are the winners of the Creación Injuve 2007, the award for young artists. Young, in this case, refers to the under 30 set. Divided into three categories - visual arts, comics and illustration, and design – the show hosts 50 artists. Within these categories...

Friday, November 30, 2007

art - ice sculpture

Mystery Solved: Missing Polar Ice Turns up in Madrid!

Ironically, as the ice caps are disappearing from the poles they are turning up in… sunny Spain? Nearly 300 tons of it, anyway. This inversion is not the wayward effect of global warming - it is all in the name of art. If you’d like to catch just a bit of the arctic this season...

Thursday, November 29, 2007

comedy - Giggling Guiri presents Zoe Lyons

The Funny Thing About Fear...

Yes, you can order a coffee; yes, you can do small talk; and yes, you can get your basic political views across, but what about wisecracks, puns and general joking around. For many, humor is the one of the biggest hurdles in adapting to life abroad. Another common...

Monday, November 26, 2007

Art - Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol - Artistic or Autistic?

Due to his soup-can choice of subject matter and bizarre persona, the perennial question with Warhol is “Was he taking the piss?” It is, after all, a valid question for a man who actually urinated on an entire series of canvasses to achieve certain color effects...

Thursday, November 15, 2007

art and community - a Photo walk with David Sifry

Photowalk - Unleashing Scores of Photographers on the City

When you browse your photo collection, are you disappointed that you don't have a better representation of the city you live in every day? It happens easily enough: when we travel...

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

music - Jazz Festival

Jazz Therapy

A very wise man once said, “Never underestimate the restorative powers of jazz and cocktails”. OK, maybe no one has ever uttered exactly those words in exactly that order, but the point is - they should have. If you don’t know what I am talking about, get yourself to the The XXIV Festival de Jazz de Madrid. With over 14 clubs and countless performers participating, there is no reason to miss out. This year the festival is dedicated to the memory of...

Saturday, November 10, 2007

cinema - festivals and flicks

Three Film Festivals and More!

As the weather turns cold, it’s always good to have film weekend. This weekend there is no shortage of festivals and flicks. Madrid (and neighboring Alcalá de Henares) offers a full spectrum of possibilities. For those interested in the Spanish scene, there is El Festival de Cine de Alcalá (Alcalá Film Festival). Focusing on short films by young directors, this event offers a smorgasbord...

Monday, November 5, 2007

Festival de Otoño - The Collected Works of Bill the Kid

A Play from the Author of "The English Patient"

The United States is often chronicled and critiqued, quite well, by our quieter cousins in Canada. From Marshall McLuhan, to Douglas Couplan to all the folks at Adbusters Magazine, they consistently offer perspective on the sprawling spectacle that is....

Sunday, November 4, 2007

escape - Segovia

Segovia - Close, Cheap, Great Suckling Pig - What More do you Want?

Once upon a time, there was a quaint little town by the name of Segovia, found deceptively close to the metropolitan city of Madrid. Perfectly preserved in its medieval splendor, the city of Segovia exemplifies the more traditional side of Spain. El Casco Antiguo of the city is where a majority of the historical sites are located, all of which can be found within walking distance of one another. This scenic walk begins at the ancient Roman...

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Photography - the 20th century

The Círculo de Bellas Artes Tackles the Entire 20th Century and Wins! (More or Less)

I saw that the Círculo de Bellas Artes was putting on an exhibit called Leading Moments: Photography in the 20th Century and I thought: "All of the 20th century?" An ambitious goal to be sure, but an...

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

art - photography

Isabel Muñoz - The Best of Brain and Braun

Isabel Muñoz is one of the most important and exciting figures in Spanish photography today. She is renowned for using one of the most difficult photo developing techniques, platinotype, using platinum paper to produce superior quality B&W photographs. Her work is a treat for the...

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Madrid Museums - La Reina Sofia

The Reina Sofia - The Epicenter of Modern Art

Nestled amidst the bustling city of Madrid is that sanctuary of modern art known as La Reina Sofia. The museum is host to a truly wide-ranging permanent collection as well as visiting exhibits from around the world. Their most notable collections include that of Picasso, especially the renowned...

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Politics - March to End Poverty

Keeping Politicians Accountable - An estimated 50,000 March to End Poverty

Today at high noon, as many as 50,000 Madrileños, clad in white, will march to end poverty. The concept of the march, whose motto is “Zero Pobreza, Ya!” (Zero Poverty Now!)...

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Art - Portraiture

The Friendly Face of Art

Strangely enough, portraits, as often than not, tell us more about ourselves than the subjects involved. Do we as a society chose to valorize religious figures, military officers, members of the royal family or average folk on the street? Furthermore do we do this through the means of photography, photorealism, impressionism or abstract expressionism...

Photo of the Day

Olga in Armchair

The famous portrait "Olga In Armchair" is part of the exhibition currently in Madrid at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

history - Tertulias (conversation cafes)

The Art of Talking - Tertulias in Old Madrid

Between the end of the 19th century and the middle of the 20th, Madrid’s favorite pastime - talking, talking, talking - was taken even more seriously than usual. Part of a proper bohemian life was engaging in tertulias, informal gatherings to chat about, of course, everything counter-cultural. The newly developed tradition of sitting down at a marble table...

photo of the day

A Bunch of Bull

Bullfighting is one of the most commented on and least understood phenomena that Spain has ever exported. And, no, we are not going to follow that first sentence up with a sober, historical explanation marveling at its raw animal power and nuanced technical splendor. We are still... struggling with a profound understanding of this sport. Stay tuned as we explore this and other aspects of Spanish culture.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Festival de Otoño

The Festival de Otoño is Picking up Where Summer Left Off

Hardly have the summer festivals finished when the fall excitement begins. Starting Monday, the 15th of October, and running until Sunday, the 18th of November, The Festival de Otoño presents a vast array of theater, dance, and music to insure that autumn is every bit as exciting as summer was. The agenda covers every possible point on the spectrum of performing arts from the high-energy modern circus of “Piratas, Piratas” to more traditional...

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

History

Was That "Under Construction" or "Under Destruction"?

Even after years in Madrid, I am still waiting for the day I will finally get to see a Puerta del Sol/Gran Via or any other main street in the center without holes in the ground: this city is just one massive “obra”. Madrid is changing and always has been - the Museo de Historia (formerly known as Museo Municipal)charts this chaotic process...

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Gifts

Gift Giving for Dummies!

Hidden on the side streets of Lavapiés, La Antojá is someplace you aren’t likely to stumble upon, and, if you did happen past, chances of you entering are a bit slim. Furthermore, having entered you might be tempted to spin on your heel and exit – a potential mistake.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Photography

The Personal is the Political: HIV Sufferers in Africa and Central America

I’m an absolute sucker for real-life photography. But I almost feel guilty going to ‘look at’ someone’s private life a photographer is publicly exhibiting. However, when it’s an awareness or fund raising exercise done in conjunction with a charity organization, it’s valid; Omar Ayyashi’s exhibition of people with HIV in Mozambique and Honduras is a perfect example.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Flamenco

Flamenco Festival – The Inside Scoop!

Like all traditions, flamenco has a beautiful past to preserve and exciting frontiers to explore – the series revels in the tension between these two poles. But beyond this duality of old and new, the art itself is a miraculous blending of Andalusian, Islamic, Jewish, African, and Indian cultures.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Festivals

Block Party – Not the Band, The annual Street Fiestas

For the next nine days the streets in the center will be turned into three separate party zones celebrating the Fiestas de San Cayetano, San Lorenzo and la Virgen de la Paloma thus making the world once again safe for “Botellon” a.k.a street drinking.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Mix it up

DJs, Opera, or both - You Decide…

Interested in broadening your cultural horizons in a classy, unique, (and affordable) way? Don’t miss this opportunity to see some quality Spanish opera! It’s called Zarzuela, and it takes place at the Sabatini Gardens. Even better, it’s a double feature, so you get to see two great shows. But hurry, it only runs for two more Sundays, so call up that special someone and have a night on the town, MAP-style!

Sunday, July 8, 2007

From our former site

San Ginés - Madrid’s Church of Chocolate

The next time you are heading home after your run of weekend party rituals – standing in long lines to e...

Monday, July 2, 2007

From our former site

The Making of Madrid - How the Architectural Style Came To Be

Palacios or How to Build a Metropolis. If Antonio Palacios would have had his way, you would now be living in a city crammed with cathedral-like buildings serving as hotels, art centres and government buildings. Sol would have been ellipse-shaped ...

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

From our former site

Lo(s) Cinetico(s) - Kinetic Art At The Reina Sofia

All it takes are a few mirrors, an electronic motor or just some very strategically placed blobs of paint to leave you in awe and wondering, “How did they do that?” Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía present Lo(s) Cinetico(s), an exhibition where every painting and object seems to move. Not recommended if you are still suffering from a hangover. True, not everybody will be equally moved by modern art. A big white canvas with some black lines...

Sunday, June 24, 2007

From our former site

Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales - Madrid’s Royal Convent

Tired of shopping on nearby Preciados, worn out by modern-day life and disappointed in that eternal struggle called "love"? There is always the option of getting away from it all and becoming a nun in the Convent of “the Barefooted Royals”. If you aren’t ready to commit to a lifetime of cleric service, you can, of course, just visit...

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Art - Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh: The Final Landscapes (Los Ùltimo Paisajes)

Vincent Van Gogh had a remarkably productive career but nothing came close to the output of his final two and a half months. In May of 1890, having recently recuperated from a mental illness, he moved to Auver-sur-Oise, France. It was here that he would end his life, but...

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Bars - Old Madrid and the Jerez (Sherry) experience

La Venencia Bar - Jerez (Sherry), the Old-School Way!

A Spanish living room, 70 years ago. There is no beer, no cappuccino, no hip minimalist interior, no music, and the bartenders are middle aged brothers. The first layer of presumably white paint, which was applied more than 80 years ago, was also the last. And yet there’s every reason to include La Venencia, on Calle de Echegaray, on your list of favourite hang-outs. Life in this memorable Spanish bar, where time has apparently stood still, is all about sherry. This is also the only drink you’ll be able to get - apart from the odd glass of water...

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

From our former site

Photoespaña 2007 - The Best Photography Show of the Year

Photoespaña website Sexier than Your Ancestors I think everyone would agree that there’s a monumental difference between dutifully studying your family tree and eagerly glancing around the room considering who you might want to perpetuate that pa...

Sunday, May 27, 2007

From our former site

Three Great Restaurants - Glorieta de Montera, Bazaar & La Finca de Susana

Glorieta de Montera Caballero de Gracia, 10 Bazaar Calle de la Libertad La Finca de Susana Calle Arlaban, 4 Fine Dining For Less Glorieta de Montera along with its sister restaurants La Finca de Susana and Bazaar stand out on the Madrid scene by s...

Sunday, May 20, 2007

health - Medina Mayrit

Medina Mayrit - Turkish/ Arabic Baths in Madrid

Medina Mayrit, Turkish bath and restaurant, ingeniously combines Madrid’s three major historical cultures: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. While, in many other restaurants, there is a disturbing tendency to Disney-ify cultures making them “user-friendly”, Medina has kept their cuisine and spa-facilities deliciously authentic. Before you disparagingly decide that such an experience is out of your budget, read on...

Topics: eatgifts