☠️ The Tapa Weekend: October 6
A Picasso exhibit, Día de Muertos celebrations and El Rastro—on Saturday.
By @IanMount and @AdrianBono | October 6, 2023 | Madrid | Issue #24
🎉 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
Let’s face it, you won’t be putting any pumpkins outside your house anytime soon, especially if you live in an apartment in La Latina. But that doesn’t mean you can’t buy a few packages of Pantera Rosa and Chupa Chups “for the children” (meaning you).
Before you stuff your face with sugar (and regret it) here are a few cool things for you to do this weekend.
Oh, and can you please give us a few more likes below? We’ve given up on asking for comments (🥺 you must be busy) but likes are free and take no time.
1. Picasso Exhibit: The Sacred and The Profane
One thing we know? You can never get enough of Pablo Picasso. The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum agrees and has decided to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the famed painter’s death with a special exhibit featuring many of his works alongside a selection of works from other artists in the museum collection.
In total, it presents eight original paintings by the Malaga-born artist and a few others on loan from the Musée Picasso-Paris and other institutions and collectors.
The paintings are organized into three different sections: the sacred and the profane, identities, and the visual and the tangible. The exhibit “represents the spirit with which Picasso faced the art of the past, transforming it into a personal, traumatic, existential, yet vital and hopeful form of art”.
We’re sold. We hope you are too.
Picasso: Lo Sagrado y lo Profano. Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, Paseo del Prado 8, Madrid. Through Jan. 14. General tickets start at €13.
2. Casa de Mexico’s Dia de Muertos
It’s that time of the year again! And no, we’re not talking about Halloween—we’re talking about Mexico’s Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), which celebrates the memory of those loved ones who have left us.
Lucky for us, every year Casa de Mexico in Spain celebrates this tradition by adorning its façade with typical Día de Muertos elements (like, last year it was adorned with a giant 13-meter calavera of Frida Kahlo, two-meter diameter flowers, and paper mache skulls).
It’s one of the most impressive displays you’ll see on the streets of Madrid this month. And then of course there’s the Mega Altar of the Dead, located on the lobby staircase, adorned with flower garlands and confetti. All of it made by artisans from the town of Tepozlán, in the Mexican state of Morelos.
And…there is a slew of activities such as culinary and crafts workshop, film screenings and guided tours. Remember: you need to subscribe to their newsletter to get a link to the invites that get added every Friday. (Hurry, slots get filled out fast.)
Casa de Mexico’s Día de Muertos: Casa de Mexico, Calle de Alberto Aguilera, 20, Madrid. Oct. 7 to Nov. 12. Free admission (registration required).
3. I’m Nowhere / Desvanecimiento
Inspired by two real-life cases, this play tells the tale of the assisted suicide in Switzerland of Australia's oldest biologist…and the death of Alfie Evans, a two-year-old child who was kept alive. It’s not usual to hear topics like euthanasia or a coma explored on stage, but I’m Nowhere is not afraid to openly talk about them.
“Who should decide about our lives? The law? Medical progress? The courts? The church? Ourselves? Are we responsible enough to make irreversible decisions?” asks a play that tries to describe how we might face these sort of issues both on a social and moral level.
Polish director Norbert Rakowski brings this dance and theater performance for the first time to Spain in a production that is performed in both Spanish and Polish with Spanish subtitles. If you’re looking to impress your date, this should be your choice.
I’m Nowhere. Teatros del Canal, Cea Bermúdez, 1, Madrid. Through Oct. 8. Tickets start at €9.
4. Los Sábados del Rastro
Did you know that the Rastro street market comes alive on the first Saturday of every month as well? Yes, we’ve all been there on Sundays but if you’re a contrarian, here’s your chance to go against the current.
At the Plaza del General Vara del Rey, you can not only find vintage items, collectibles and antiques but also street food options, amazing cocktails, arts, craft, music and much more!
Back in the 70s there was something called the Feria de Desembalajes (“the unpacking fair,” we guess) and the Saturday edition of this classic Madrid destination tries to recreate its original allure. So if you think it’s just like every other Sunday, you should know you’re wrong. Head there tomorrow and you will find:
Feria de Desembalajes: antiques, collectibles, and vintage clothing on display.
Gastro Circuit: a route to savor traditional and innovative Madrid gastronomy.
Shopping Circuit: a route to discover the best neighborhood shops.
Family Circuit: a variety of family activities at La Glorieta de Puerta de Toledo.
Seriously—what more do you need?
Los Sábados del Rastro. Plaza del General Vara del Rey, La Latina, Madrid. Oct. 7. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Free admission.
5. Hispanidad 2023!
Madrid knows how to throw a street party. And now that we’re days away from Oct. 12 (Spain’s national day), be prepare to be amazed.
Hispanidad is back for its third edition starting today, and for a full week the city becomes a non-stop celebration of the Spanish language (spoken by 600 million people around the world) and diverse Hispanic cultures.
The city will host activities such as live music, literature, art and food (yes, food!).
The big celebration is next Saturday, with Colombian singer and multiple Latin Grammy awards-winner Carlos Vives performing live at 1 p.m. in Cibeles.
There’s a total of 165 activities (most of which are free) distributed across more than 50 locations, streets, and stages in Madrid (for the first time, Seville is joining the celebrations). Next time you say you’re bored and “there’s nothing to do” remember to check this newsletter.
Hispanidad 2023. All around Madrid (and Seville!) Oct. 6 to Oct. 15. Check official program for additional information of activities and shows.
👨🏻💻 Viral Stories of the Week
🍼 You do what with the milk?
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American comes to Madrid. American (who speaks pretty fab Spanish) takes in local chatter. American picks word that is bizarrely omnipresent and sorta makes no sense.
Funny! Comedy ensues.
In other meme-y comedy, Madrid governor Isabel Ayuso mocks acting second deputy PM Yolanda Díaz’s thing about Richie Rich going to the moon, and comedian Miguel Lago gives Equality Minister Irene Montero a going over about what her job might be when she’s not in government (hint: she used to work a checkout line).
🔔 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.
I miss Madrid, so enjoy reading your newsletter to stay informed on its activities. Thanks for the news!!
And we love your recipes!