Social Scene Costa del Sol 29 Feb – 6 March 2024 Issue 2017

Car Treasure Hunt

INDULGE in the best Bottomless Brunch experience in Marbella as La Sala Puerto Banus extends its popular promotion to every day of the week.

Whether it’s a midweek treat or a weekend delight, you can now enjoy the fabulous two-course Bottomless Brunch Menu at La Sala from 10am to 2pm, every day. Revel in a delightful spread accompanied by free-flowing Bucks Fizz or Orange Juice for a duration of two hours, all for just €30 each.

Get started with freshly baked croissants and seasonal fresh fruit to share before tucking into the main

event with a choice between La Sala’s fabulous Full English Breakfast, Smoked Salmon with Scrambled Eggs, Three Egg Omelette, American Pancakes, or a wholesome Full Vegan Breakfast.

Perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a birthday celebration, hen party, stag party, or a leisurely golfing trip. Make your brunch experience even more special with a Champagne upgrade available for an additional €17.

If you want to book Bottomless Brunch in Marbella, reserve today at: reservations@LaSalaBanus. com or call 952 814 145.

LA CALA LIONS

have organised a Car Treasure Hunt on Sunday March 24. It’s a leisurely drive through the Spanish countryside for just €10 per person (with a halfway pit-stop where drinks and food are available).

There can only be a maximum of 12 cars so, get your tickets from the Charity Shop as booking closes on March 17. Report for the start at 11am and the event starts and ends at Olé’s Restaurant in La Cala de Mijas. Please drive carefully, respect other road users This is not a race so drive slowly!

La Cala Lions Club was formed 26 years ago and has since then,

tirelessly to help the less fortunate locally: feeding families, supporting children needing specialised medical care, paying for equipment to enable children to enjoy many sports played locally, funding educational aids for schools, helping to feed the homeless, animal shelters, and many more associations and charities.

Members are able to serve others through the public’s generosity, supporting their social activities and charity shop. Tickets are available now for this great event with proceeds going to a worthy cause.

Brian Bamford

Photo: Shutterstock / MichielTon

Historic parade

THE seventh edition of the Historical Recreation and Romantic-Liberal period parade ‘Homage to Salvador Manzanares and Pedro Manrique’, will take place on Saturday March 2, through the streets of the historic centre of Estepona. Some 200 people will participate dressed in the costumes of 1831. The parade will take place between 11am and 2.30pm, stopping at 11.30am at the monument

Grease is the word

to Salvador Manzanares in Calle Villa. At midday, the route takes the parade to Plaza del Reloj and at 12.45 to Plaza de las Flores. The cultural association ‘Manzanares Estepona 1831’ works to preserve the cultural heritage of Estepona, particularly the Spanish hero, politician and military leader, Salvador Manzanares, killed and buried in Estepona in the chaotic period following the Napoleonic wars.

THE world’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll musical, Grease, comes to Teatro Salón Varietes in Fuengirola on Thursday March 21 to Sunday March 31, nightly at 7.30pm, Sundays at 7pm, a matinee

Kevin Fraser Park

ESTEPONA is hosting the FAD Andalucian Federation of Darts which will hold the Andalucian Championship of Steel Darts 2024 from Friday March 1 to Sunday March 3, at the Hotel Ona Valle Romano Golf Estepona. The matches will start

performance on Saturday March 23 At 3pm. (there is no performance on March 28 and 29).

The show stars Dylan Perez Gale and Gracie Cooper plus a cameo appearance by John-

Andalucian bullseye

on Friday March 1, at 6pm, with the blind pairs tournament, and at 7pm the selection tournament will begin.

On Saturday March 2, the games will start at 6pm with the teams, and at 7pm with the individual rounds. Finally, on Sunday March 3, at

ny G. Box office hours are 11am to 2.30pm Monday to Friday and one hour before each performance. For more information phone 952 474 542 or email boxoffice@salonvarietes

theatre.com. Grease debuted Off-Broadway on February 14, 1972 at the Eden Theatre in New York City. The show transferred to Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre, and later to the

9am, the pairs will play, and at midday, the Junior and Baby categories. The awards ceremony will take place between 1pm and 3pm, once the couples championship is over. The event is organised by the Andalucian Federation of Darts with the collaboration of the town council of Estepona

Royale Theatre, closing on April 13, 1980 after a record-breaking 3,388 performances.

The stage show meanwhile has spawned more than 123,000 productions worldwide.

Photo: Wikimedia CC

Photo: Facebook / Manzanares Estepona 1831

TORREMOLINOS has scheduled more than 20 activities to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Always invincible

A concert, exhibitions, a series of workshops and sports activities, are among the proposals and, on Friday March 8, a march will be held under the slogan, ‘Never invisible, always invincible’.

The mayor of Torremo-

linos, Margarita del Cid, together with the councillor for Equality and the Women’s Centre, Francisco García Macías, and the president of the DIMEE Association, Luisa Giráldez, presented the programme planned for the month of March on occasion of International Women’s Day.

“A complete, cross-cutting programming, which starts from a slogan that is an absolute declaration of intent: never invisible, always invincible.”

The main event will take place on Friday March 8 with a march that will start at midday from the town hall to the Pablo Ruiz Picasso Cultural Centre, where a series of awards will be presented to several women in the field of communication.

During the event there will be performances by students of the School of Dramatic Art (ESAD) and the Dance Centre of Torremolinos.

Los Rebeldes

Michael Carrington

FAMOUS Spanish band, Los Rebeldes, have joined the line-up of Locos por la Música (Mad for Music) on Saturday July 20, as the second confirmed band, in this festival of the 80s and 90s to be held at Marenostrum Fuengirola. The legendary band celebrates its 45 years of artistic career with a show of authentic rock and roll and tickets are already on sale at marenostrumfuengir ola.com. “What is considered the rock and roll band par excellence of this country, led by Carlos Segarra, celebrates 45 years on the stages of Spain,” said the Fuengirola councillor for Culture, Rodrigo Romero, who explained that the celebration of its 40th anniversary was partly truncated, like so many other tours, by the pandemic of the co-

ronavirus of 2020. From their meteoric rise in the early 80s to the present day, Los Rebeldes have recorded 15 studio albums and four live albums, as well as performing countless gigs that have made them one of the bands that have travelled the most kilometres in Spain.

During their 45-year career, Los Rebeldes have sold almost a million records and are listed in rock encyclopaedias as the first and most important rockabilly band on the Spanish music scene. It is said that their strength and power lie in their live performances, as in 45 years of history they have never stopped touring. The current band contains the same essence and spirit with which Los Rebeldes were born, and that is what you will be able to see and hear in Fuengirola on July 20.

A great evening

!

Happy birthday from the EWN team

RESPLENDENT in her dress, designed and made by Brian Piccolo, Val Williams celebrated her 85th birthday in style, and the EWN was delighted to be able to present Val with a memento in the form of a framed copy of her birthday wishes as printed in the paper, and, of course, the customary bouquet of flowers.

The setting for this celebration was the wonderful La Sierra Restaurant in Cerros del Aguila, and the restaurant was packed to capacity, a sign of the affection in which Val is held. Acting as Master of ceremo-

nies, Brian made sure that everyone was carried easily through the evening, including adding his own serenade to the proceedings.

Of course, Val’s celebrations would not have been complete without Elvis making an appearance. Val began preparing for his performance last year at a community celebration in Cerros, and he kindly obliged.

The atmosphere was as it should have been, happy, joyful, and everyone ready for a good chat over an excellent dinner washed down amply with refreshments. Over the last

years, Val has not only become an even more well-known character in the Costa del Sol social scene, she has been a tireless fundraiser for good causes.

She didn’t miss the opportunity on her birthday celebrations, with a collecting tin for Last Chance Animal Rescue at the entrance.

Congratulations must also go to Jeremy of La Sierra and his team for the service and the experience for all who attended. Again, from the EWN team, may you see many more, Val Williams.

Photo: Vicky Anderson

Scrap metal motor racing...

Michael Carrington

ON Saturday March 16, Castellar de La Frontera, near Sotogrande, will be the setting for the official start of Chatarras Raid, one of the craziest motor racing events on the European scene. The race will feature 220 vehicles and teams from various countries and consists of 3,000 kilometres and six stages, from the town of Castellar de la Frontera to Marrakech, where it will finish on March 22.

In addition to the delivery by all the participating teams of 10 kilos of basic food products, the Food Bank Campos de Gibraltar, in collaboration with the town council of Castellar de la Frontera and Chatarras Raid, are setting up a special collection point where they invite all people who come to watch the event to collaborate with this charity initiative.

“For us it is important to integrate charity into Chatarras Raid and contri-

bute from this sport to support a good cause. We believe that this gives even more sense to the race, so we want to encourage everyone who wants to contribute their bit to join the ‘soliRALLYdad’ in the collection of food at the start ceremony,” said a spokesperson from Chatarras Raid.

“Any car of any make and model is welcome. The only rule is that cars and vans must be more than 15 years old, and SUVs more than 20 years old. The only thing that matters is to enjoy yourself and try to get to Marrakech in the craziest way possible,” said organisers.

Chatarras Raid has experienced strong growth in recent years and is now one of the most popular events of its type in Europe. The fusion of sport, adventure and fun, as well as a philosophy based on the ‘scrap metal’ concept, have managed to build a community that currently has thousands of followers all over the world.

Sponsored by

Singing for Aspandem

GET ready for a unique evening on Saturday March 16 at 7pm at El Trapiche Cultural Centre in San Pedro Alcantara. The 20th Meeting of Singer-Songwriters will bring a night full of emotions and memorable moments, all in support of Aspandem, the association in favour of people with disabilities on the Costa del Sol.

It will be an opportunity to enjoy good music and let yourselves be carried away by the talent of great artists such as Luis Quintana, Jesus Garriga, Jose Antonio Delgado and Miguel Perez, who will captivate the audience with their art and

passion.

The artists are ready to offer a unique show, with their instruments and their enigmatic voices to start an emotional journey that will awaken senses and immerse everyone in an ocean of sensations.

This is not just a concert, but an experience that invites the audience to connect with music in a unique and profound way. And the best thing is, it’s all in aid of a great cause.

Reserve your place and experience a memorable evening, call Aspendem on 952 787 650, tickets are €15.

Gwledd Dewi Sant ar y Costa del Sol

BENALMADENA

prepares to celebrate the Welsh feast of Saint David at the beginning of March, the biggest festival of the Welsh community in Benalmadena and an event that has been held in the town since 2012.

The St David’s Day events will be held on Friday March 1 in the Plaza de la Mezquita, between 1pm and 10pm,

with food and drink stalls featuring typical Welsh food and drink accompanied by musical performances.

A concert by the famous Welsh choir Cor Meibion Morlais is scheduled for Monday March 4, to be held in the Casa de la Cultura, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost €5, with the proceeds going to the Cudeca Foundation charity. Every year the Welsh Association, through the St David’s

celebration, raises funds for charity. Over the years they have raised more than €22,000.

“We invite everyone to join in the celebration of an important festival for the community of foreign residents in Benalmadena, allowing residents and visitors to get to know their traditions better while supporting a good cause,” said councillor for Tourism and Foreign Residents, Presi Aguilera.

Photo: Facebook / Luis Quintana

Kevin Fraser Park

Photo: Benalmdena Town Hall

Sponsored by

EASTER’S COMING!

Egg battles, Sofia, Bulgaria

THE buildup to Easter in Spain is gaining momentum and little by little the local authorities are planning for Semana Santa. In the meantime, we look at Easter traditions around Europe. Each country has its own traditions: some will be familiar to us, but others may seem quaint or a little quirky. We will bring you up-to-date with the Spanish celebrations as the information comes in, but for now, enjoy Easter around Europe.

Easter food

THE Bulgarian capital boasts the magnificent Aleksander Nevski Cathedral at its heart, offering an unforgettable setting to partake in Orthodox Easter festivities. Similar to many Eastern European nations, the midnight Mass stands out as the pinnacle event: elegantly dressed worshippers gather within churches, enveloped in a blend of prayer and incense smoke, welcoming Easter Sunday (Mass typically commences at 11pm on Easter Saturday).

Following tradition, Bulgaria, along with other Balkan countries, hosts a lively egg-cracking competition the morning after. Families, friends, and church communities engage in friendly rivalry, each member wielding a hardboiled egg in hand. With a single tap,

eggs collide in a test of strength, determining whose shell proves the toughest. Victory signifies a prosperous year ahead, while a shattered egg marks defeat. This cherished tradition ensures a festive and spirited celebration of renewal and vitality.

EASTER in Spain is an important time. Parades and solemn religious observances go handin-hand with music and ritual at this time. Spain is also famous for its culinary arts which usually centre around the sharing of food between family and friends.

these is possibly the ‘Mona de Pascua’ (Easter Cake), which can be seen everywhere. This is a round sponge cake topped with boiled or chocolate eggs and colourful decorations.

Spain.

Credit: https://curatetrips.com

The most famous of

‘Flores fritas’ (fried flowers), are sweet and crunchy with a cookie like texture, found in many bakeries throughout

‘Borrachuelos’ (fried dough), are pieces of dough soaked in wine or brandy and dusted with powdered sugar. The name is derived from the word ‘borracho’, which means ‘drunk’ in Spanish!

‘Bacalao’ (cod) in pilpil sauce was particularly popular in the past during

Lent, since fish was the only flesh that people could eat. Oil from the fish is released during cooking then whisked with olive oil and vinegar to form a rich, thick sauce.

Lastly, ‘Torrijas’ (French Toast ) is a Spanish version of the French classic, dusted with cinnamon and sugar.

A summer of Jazz

Sohail Jazz

Marenostrum Fuengirola with Kurt Rosenwinkel and Telmary on July 4 and 5 and tickets are already on sale now at https://marenostrumfuengirola.com

This was announced by the councillor responsible, Rodrigo Romero, who said that, “Every year we receive a large number of artists and musical styles to offer attendees a variety worthy of excellence. This summer 2024, the stage at Sohail Castle will see two great international artists: Kurt Rosenwinkel with his new show ‘The Next Step Reunion’, on July 4; and Telmary with Habanasana for July 5.” The American composer, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader and producer Kurt Rosenwinkel has more than 30 years of experience in composing and performing and will visit Marenostrum Fuengirola for the first time with his voice and guitar. The artist is considered among the best guitarists in the world. On July 5, the leading street poet at the forefront of hip-hop and urban music in Cuba and the fresh and vibrant sound of the Habanasana collective will share the Fundación Unicaja stage. A unique performance that fuses traditional Cuban rhythms with the dynamism of contemporary hip-hop.

David Hart

THE

Festival returns to

Photo: Kurt Rosenwinkel

Sponsored by

Exhibiting local talent

Michael Carrington

THE Casa de la Cultura of Fuengirola is hosting a painting exhibition ‘Maktub’ by Yurdana Ríos until March 31 with free admission.

“This is a new painting exhibition with an artist from Fuengirola, Yurdana Ríos who has spent her whole life dedicated to drawing every time she has a pencil and paper in

front of her”, said Coun cillor Rodrigo Romero who opened the exhibi tion.

Yurdana Ríos, “draws in oils, she also draws in pencil; she likes realism, and above all she likes to characterise and draw characters. So we are going to be able to enjoy a new exhibition where once again we are betting on local talent” added Romero.

Inspired by nature

THERE’S a new exhibition of paintings by the artist Ana Villalobos in room 2 of the Casa de Las Tejerinas, located in Estepona’s Plaza de las Flores, which can be visited free of charge until March 6.

The pictorial exhibition, which consists of 15 works all inspired by nature, is open Tuesday to Friday, from 9am to 8pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 2pm and from 4pm to 8pm.

Ana Villalobos was born in Barcelona, and discovered, at an early age, a passion for art and, specifically, for painting. Although she had no academic training she always felt the need to express herself through art.

Born in Fuengirola, Yurdana Ríos is a lover of art in all its aspects. With a degree in Dramatic Art in Sevilla, she always takes advantage of any kind of paper to draw on. Her techniques are oil and pencil, although what she really enjoys most is drawing in pencil.

“I prefer a realistic drawing but without losing the unique essence that this technique provides. As art calls for art, I find inspiration in films, series, scenes and phrases that move me so much inside that I need to capture them. I can’t explain very well why I paint what I paint. I just know that I couldn’t live without it,” said the artist.

When she was still very young, she moved to Estepona with her family for work reasons, where she has lived for more than 30 years. During that time she combined painting with part-time education and her work and family life. But it has been a few years since she found the time to devote herself to full time painting.

Throughout her life she has worked with different painting techniques, but it is oil at the beginning and acrylic at present, the techniques with which she feels most comfortable.

The artist also finds in the female portrait a source of inspiration, which she reflects in most of her works. She also works on recycled surfaces, such as cardboard, wood, cork or feather cardboard, which she mixes with other arts such as decoupage or collage.

Photo: Fuengirola Town Hall

Personal support network?

WHEN I was thinking about the content for this article I mused that it might be a little self indulgent as it focused on my personal support network - but then we all have to start a story somewhere.

My wife Sally and I were embarking on a special holiday cruise taking in Eastern Australia and New Zealand. All was going well until we reached our final destination, Auckland, when I started to feel unwell.

What I thought was a cold turned out to be acute bronchitis and when we arrived back home I went to bed for the next 10 days. Sally nursed me day and night and when family and friends found out that I was ill, she was constantly taking calls from well-wishers.

I want to draw your attention to the incredible work of Age Concern

Marbella-San Pedro.

Through them I joined Helicopteros Sanitarios the home doctor service.

As an Age Concern Member we get a special discount which means we both have access to a doctor 24 hours a days for the cost of a single cup of tea each day.

Age Concern also operate an amazing Helpline which is open five days a week from 10am

to 6.00pm. So please put this number in your phone book, Age Concern Marbella Helpline 689 355 198.

Or why not pop in to one of our regular local coffee mornings where it’s so easy to catch up with old friends and make new ones.

There is so much help that is readily accessible which means that before you know it you’ve established your own personal support network.

Sponsored

Alhaurin Rock

THE Vites Association, in collaboration with the Council of El Portón, has launched the second edition of the contest Alhaurin Rock 2024 Awards, with the aim of promoting new talent in the province of Malaga. With this objective, Alhaurin Rock 2024, will feature a performance by the three finalist groups or bands. It will be held on Saturday June 8, on the stage of the Municipal Park Mirador de Bellavista where the group Malavé will also perform.

Participants must include a photo of the band or group and one or two URL links to a YouTube or Vimeo, where you can view and listen to the songs of the band or artist. They must contain original songs of the band or group and may or may not include a video clip.

The requirements to qualify for the contest are that at least one of the band’s members has Spanish nationality or residence; that at least one is registered in Malaga Province; that they do not have a multinational recording contract in force before March 14; that they have a repertoire fully prepared to be performed live of not less than 40 minutes of which at least 20 must be original compositions.

The jury, composed of four people, will select the three finalists according to the criteria: interpretative quality, innovation, compositional creativity and projection. For Andrés García this initiative was a success last year and that is why the prizes have increased: the first classified will receive €1,200 plus the recording of a song in the Impala Recording Studio, located in Mestanza. The second prize wins € 600 and the third €400.

Open from Tuesday to Saturday, dinner only.

Kitchen open from 1 8.30 to 23.30, last ord ers 23:00.

Ever y night with

Phone: 952 888 077

Phone: 670 604 392

Michael Carrington

THE Andalucia Performing Arts Society (TAPAS) has organised a ‘Gentle Walking Group’ on Wednesday March 6, starting at 11am from the Periurbano Urique park in Alhaurin el Grande (near Finca La Mota).

The cost is a €2 donation which goes to the group’s charities including Asociación Huellas Terapéuticas a non-profit association that provides dog-assisted interventions for children with functional diversity, the elderly and others.

They help many people to promote social inclusion and achieving autonomy.

The TAPAS group meet every Wednesday morning for a charity walk with different locations each week and, depending on the route, usually pets are very welcome.

For further information please contact 685 386 923.

Photo: pxhere CC

Photo: Alhaurin Town Hall