🌋 The Tapa Weekend: September 8
Immersive (and volcanic) exhibits, fashion shows and amazing Brazilian music.
By @IanMount and @AdrianBono | September 8, 2023 | Madrid | Issue #20
🎉 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).
🇪🇸 If you haven’t subscribed yet, hit that button below so you have some fresh ideas in your inbox every Friday about where to go and what to do.
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Here are 5 Things to Do in Madrid This Weekend
We are back, baby! And now that vacation time is over and Madrid is alive again, we’re happy to return to our weekend edition to help you decide how to spend the weekend in this vibrant city that many of us call home.
Unless you live somewhere else, of course. (We still can’t afford to do every major city in Spain, but with your support we hope to get there one day).
Anyway, here are a few cool things for you to do this weekend.
1. Last Days of Pompeii: An Immersive Exhibit
Ever wondered what it was like to be in Pompeii the day Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD? If so, wow you’re dark. But also, you now have a chance to experience it (sans the deadly volcanic ash, of course).
In a world first, Madrid is hosting The Last Days of Pompeii, an immersive exhibit in which you get to see what the doomed city’s inhabitants (Pompeians, I guess?) were up to right before they turned into a part of history. You get to learn to about their customs, architecture and gastronomy (the boring part) and see how the entire city was devoured by the devastating pyroclastic flow (the actual reason why you decided to go).
There are also gladiator fights right before everything goes boom so it’s all pretty entertaining, courtesy of virtual reality technology.
The Last Days of Pompeii. Plaza de Legazpi, 8, Nave 16, Immersive Experiences Center of Matadero Madrid cultural space, Madrid. Sept. 8 to Oct. 15. Tickets start at €15,90.
2. Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Madrid
You know when you say you really hate reggeaton and people judge you and tell you to “go listen to classical music”? Here’s your chance to do it and feel infinitely superior.
This Sunday, the Municipal Symphonic Band of Madrid (so much better in Spanish) will offer a new concert at the bandstand in Retiro Park (you know, here) under the musical direction of Dutch conductor and clarinetist Jan Cober.
The band is a large musical ensemble where wind instruments are complemented by sections of strings, harp, and piano (and of course, none of this crap) and its show will feature a repertoire that includes "Cielo Andaluz", by composer Pascual Marquina, the overture from Giuseppe Verdi's "Las Vesperas sicilianas," and "Las hijas del Zebedeo" by Ruperto Chapí. So if you’re in the mood for something other than gym music, don’t miss this one.
Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Madrid. Plaza de la Independencia, 7, Parque del Retiro, Madrid. Sunday, Sept. 10. 12 p.m. Free entry.
3. Madrid Es Moda
The devil wears Zara this month, as the Madrid Fashion Week kicks into gear (the big event is called the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid, because money). Get ready for the new edition of the Madrid es Moda (MeM) fashion show, which marks the beginning of Fashion Week.
This year, MeM is presented under the theme "Cronos: the value of time, a creative concept that explores the authentic intangible value of designer fashion.” (That means something, we think.)
The event’s goal is to bring designer fashion closer to the public by showcasing the work of over 20 designers through original events throughout the city and it takes place at the National Archaeological Museum, where fashion and flamenco will merge in a performance featuring models, music by prominent flamenco figures, and dance.
Miranda Priestly’s pursed lips would approve.
Madrid es Fashion. Multiple locations. See program for information.
4. XIII Ruta de la Tapa: Fiestas 2023 (Yes, that’s still happening)
Do you know where the La Elipa neighborhood is in Madrid? If you don’t, a) you need to get out more, and b) it’s right on the other side of the M30 (an area known by some of you newcomers as “there be dragons”, although in this case you may be right as there’s a giant dragon sculpture there).
But we digress: the tapa routes are back! And yes, this time you need to go to La Elipa to participate in this weekend’s ruta. The Elipa Neighborhood Association is organizing another edition highlighting the traditional cuisine of one of the most traditional areas of Madrid.
13 bars are participating, and they include a small beer or bottled beer with a tapa for just €3 (or the same combo with a soft drink, wine, or larger beer instead of a small beer or bottled beer for €3.5). See? Not a bad deal.
La Elipa de Tapas. Participating venues near La Elipa metro station, Madrid. Through Sept. 10. Click on the link for list of participating bars and restaurants.
5. Suite Brasileira at Casa de America
Fine. If you’re one of those people who don’t venture into the city unless it’s walking distance from their homes, this option is literally in front of the Cibeles Fountain. It doesn’t get any more central than that.
Tonight, Casa de América is hosting the Suíte Brasileira dance show, a composition of six choreographies that explore the most popular Brazilian rhythms such as samba, bossa nova, forró, and chorinho. There’s also "gingado" (a unique Brazilian dance style) show that is choreographed by Henrique Talmah.
Suite Brasileira. Anfiteatro Gabriela Mistral de Casa de América, Marqués del Duero, 2, Madrid. Friday, Sept. 8, 8 p.m. Free admission (but limited occupancy so try to get there early).
See? You can’t complain about not having options this weekend. You’re welcome.
Also we’re very happy to be back. We have missed you, even though you (mostly) never comment below. But maybe we can change that? We’re now taking recommendations so make sure you let us know of future events below!
👨🏻💻 Viral Story of the Week: Crude oil reality
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Thought the Spanish reaction to Jamie Oliver putting paella into chorizo—a mix an apoplectic violence and sly humor—was fun? Now imagine what happens when the world messes with Spain’s most holy commodity—extra virgin olive oil.
Fueled by drought, generalized inflation, and the desperate need for a good salad dressing, Spanish oleic oil prices have more than doubled in the last 18 months. This has inspired a wave of olive oil thievery in Andalusia and, thank god, a wave of snarky dark Spanish humor.
So here’s let’s play improv prompter: “Imagine olive oil as Louis Vuitton bag, and add a celebrity.”
Spain, you run with it.
🔔 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
🙏 Once again, please remember to share this newsletter with your friends on social media. The more we grow, the more information we’ll be able to offer each week.
We’ll be back next week with more.