🎺 The Tapa Weekend: October 4
A Harry Potter exhibit, lots of jazz and architecture and amazing street markets.
By @IanMount and @AdrianBono | October 4, 2024 | Madrid | Issue #69
🎉 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
Happy Friday, everyone!
If you refuse to put on a sweater when leaving your house in the morning because you will not accept that the summer is over, please know that you’re not alone.
Yes, the cold weather has arrived suspiciously quickly and the city is already installing its Christmas decorations (for real), but at 3 p.m., one can still bask in the golden glow of the sun, as its gentle warmth lingers in defiance of the inevitable twilight, offering a fleeting embrace—a tender reminder of summer’s reluctant farewell.
In other words, we f*cking hate the cold weather.
Here are five great options for you this weekend.
Enjoy!
1.🎷 JazzMadrid 24 International Festival
If you were hoping for reggaeton, go somewhere else.
JazzMadrid, the acclaimed Madrid International Jazz Festival, is in full swing again, transforming the city into a hub for global jazz. This festival brings together renowned artists and emerging talents in a fantastic program that’s spread across iconic Madrid venues such as CentroCentro, Matadero Madrid, and Fernán Gómez Cultural Center.
This year boasts over 100 concerts and 47 venues, and it offers an eclectic mix of styles, from traditional jazz to avant-garde influences, with elements of flamenco, electronic, and African rhythms.
This year’s lineup highlights several South American artists, including Cubans Gastón Joya, Román Filiú, and Maykel Blanco, as well as celebrated pianists Ernán López-Nussa and Roberto Fonseca. Influences from blues and spirituals will also be present through artists like José James, Vinicio Capossela, and Gaby Moreno. The festival’s diversity extends to Catalan singer-songwriters Láu Noah and Judith Nedderman, among others.
And of course, there’s also the Spanish jazz talent: local musicians such as Moisés P. Sánchez, Antonio Lizana, and Kris Davis are participating this year, as well as the flamenco-jazz fusion from trios like Carmona, Colina & Bandolero, and Martirio & Chano Domínguez.
Don’t miss it if you’re a jazz enthusiast!
JazzMadrid Festival 2024. Multiple locations around Madrid. Through Nov. 30. Check website for venues, hours and ticket prices.
2. XXI International Week of Architecture 2024
If you’re not into jazz but love architecture, we have great news for you!
The International Architecture Week is back in Madrid for its 21st edition, putting the spotlight on the city’s architectural heritage.
For two weeks, people can visit 60 buildings and follow 35 themed routes around Madrid, with some 300 free activities, including exhibits, conferences, building tours, and activities for children (if you have any).
Lima (Peru) is this year’s invited city and exhibition areas like the COAM include a monographic display on Renzo Piano Building Workshop and another on Peruvian architecture titled Lima Humeda, focusing on the city’s landscapes and inhabitants. There will also be a Pop Arq Store and concerts.
Visitors will have the opportunity to tour notable buildings such as the expanded Reina Sofía Museum, the renovated Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the Fernán Núñez Palace, and the Bank of Spain.
These tours, along with workshops, talks and exhibitions, will offer a deep dive into both Madrid’s and Lima’s architectural landscapes that you shouldn’t miss. Who knew architecture could be so much fun!
XXI International Week of Architecture 2024. Multiple locations around Madrid. Oct. 4 to 17. Check website for exhibits, locations and opening hours.
3.🧙🏻♂️ Happy Potter: The Exhibit
(Yes, the video above says Barcelona but fret not, it’s for the same exhibit).
Do you love Harry Potter? Do you reminisce fondly about the many times you went to the movies to follow the adventures of Harry, Ron and Hermione? Do you hate the fact that HBO is rebooting it in a series format? Then this is the place for you!
This month Madrid welcomes this traveling exhibition focused on the astonishing universe of the Harry Potter saga, bringing together authentic props from the films, exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpses, and fun interactive surprises. It offers a space to indulge in nostalgia and enjoy some of the favorite moments from this magical world.
You can try on a robe, wield a wizard’s wand, or dress in the colors of your favorite Hogwarts house, whether it be Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin.
So there you have it. You can discover iconic behind-the-scenes moments from the Harry Potter films and celebrate the cinematic magic that happens off-camera. Get your tickets, you dirty muggle.
Harry Potter: The Exhibit. Espacio Ibercaja Delicias. Paseo de las Delicias, 61. Madrid. Oct. 4 to Jan. 6. Check website for opening hours. Tickets start at €17.
4.🎭 A play: Juana de Arco (as in, Joan of Arc)
Here’s a contemporary and feminist reinterpretation of the Joan of Arc legend in a theatrical production by local theater director Marta Pazos. The play features an all-female cast including Georgina Amorós, Katalin Arana, Macarena García, and Ana Polvorosa.
The play brings Joan’s story to life with a fresh and modern perspective and reimagines her beyond the historical figure, portraying her as a symbol of resistance and courage.
The play is structured as an epic, “using poetic and mystical language to delve into the life and myth of Joan of Arc”. It not only revisits the historical narrative of Joan leading French troops to victory at the age of 17 but also emphasizes her divine connection and the spiritual motivations behind her actions.
In case you don’t know who Joan of Arc was (which is possible), you can read about her on Wikipedia. But long story short, in 1430 she was captured by the English, accused of heresy, and condemned to death by burning at the stake. Great stuff for a Friday night.
Marta Pazos’ Joan of Arc. Nave 10 Matadero. Paseo de la Chopera 14, Madrid. Through Nov. 3. Check website for schedule. Tickets start at €21.
5. The Salesas Festival & Street Market
The Festival Street Market in the Salesas neighborhood (north of the Chueca subway station) usually takes place on the first Saturday of every month. (Ed. note: Did you know that Salesas is about to become a lot cooler once Soho House opens to the public next year? You’re welcome.)
If you haven’t checked it out, it’s definitely worth a visit (the festival, not Soho House, that’s still closed). The self-described “crazy, cosmopolitan and unique” street market is a place where you can buy modern art, listen to cool music, try on some hipster hand-made clothes and sample chocolate from Papua New Guinea.
Our recommendation for this week is El Chico Llama, who will be selling his iconic and beautiful drawings of Madrid and other cities, as well as many other iconic stuff. Check his website and fall in love with his art.
Artisans, fashion designers, bartenders and poets are all mixed together here. And best part is, once you’ve made your purchase (trust us, you will), you can head over for brunch to one of the many cool cafés and restaurants in the area. (We suggest Meat, for its incredible burgers).
Check their official website for more information on what to expect.
The Festival Street Market. Near the Alonso Martínez metro station. Oct. 5. Free admission.
👨🏻💻 Viral Stories of the Week
👴 And the award for Boring Old Dude of the Week goes to…
Some old dude took a moment while on stage to complain about those new-fangled bottles where the caps don’t come off, and how they made him spill water all over his shirt. Oh, that was former PM Mariano Rajoy, on stage with another former Spanish PM, Felipe González, and Portugal’s ex-PM António Costa. Retirement is clearly not going well. (By the way, complaining about the caps is all the rage on the anti-Brussels-regs right.)
🔔 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.
Who knew it was a thing?
Tbf, I do absolutely hate those bottle caps.