InMadrid December 2010 Issue by InMadrid

DECEMBER 2010

W W W. I N M A D R I D . C O M

T H E E N G L I S H - L A N G U A G E M O N T H LY

features arts &culture 7 A SHINING LIGHT?

ad index

BARS

Social newspaper La Farola and the men who sell it

15 Month Ahead

8 NOT JUST ANOTHER PAIR OF SOCKS Finding Madrid’s quirkiest Christmas gifts

Art & theatre listings

music

9 JUST THE TICKET

16 Concerts

CINEMA YELMO CINES IDEAL, inside front

Our pick of this month’s gigs

The tradition and complexities of the Spanish lottery

16 Album reviews

10 MORE THAN A JOG IN THE PARK

PICNIC, p17 TABERNA CHICA, p7 TEMPLO DEL GATO, p7 TUPPERWARE, p17

The best new music releases

Working out in the Retiro

HEALTH ASHTANGA YOGA, p14 AZUARA DENTAL, p14 CLINICA DENTAL CISNE, p14

17 Nightlife

11 THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

The most up-to-date clubbing guide

The craft and cameras of lomography

JOB OFFERS

books and movies

13 BRIGHTON SHOCKS

See Service Guide for job offers, p20-22

18 Movie reviews

Interview with best-selling author Peter James

New releases on the big screen

18 Book Buzz

LANGUAGE SERVICES See Service Guide, p20-22

New titles for your shelf NIGHTLIFE

outandabout 4

Scene WHAT’S NEW IN TOWN

Mad World MADRID RANDOMNESS!

Another Fine Mes

GOA, back cover TWIST, p17

PUBS DUBLINERS, p6 FINBAR’S, p7 IRISH ROVER, p5 O’CONNELL ST, p6 O’NEILL’S, inside front SHAMROCKS, p9 TRISKEL TAVERN, p9

THE MONTH’S NEWS DIGESTED

5 Great Places to Buy... CHOCOLATE!

Peter James

12 Food & Drink ¡GOOD GRIFO!,

14 RAVE ON AND ON

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Catching up with The Raveonettes and their music

RESTAURANTS ARTEMISA, p14 EL ESTRAGÓN, p12 MIL Y UNA NOCHES, p12 TERRA NOVA, p13 See Restaurant Guide, p19

regulars TRAVEL SERVICES

iven the success of children making and singing the Spanish Christmas lottery draw, we propose that the kids themselves should be drawn from a large cage, just like the lottery balls and prizes. If nothing tel: 91 523 30 91 else, this would solve the contentious issue of which email: child goes first. Next year, the football results should be editor@in-madrid.com sung every weekend, and also the weather forecast temperatures. After all, if a system works, exploit it. In InMadrid this month, Kedzie Teller’s article “Just The Ticket” (P9) should help you with the intricacies of the lottery, and we also bring you Madrid’s quirkiest Christmas presents (Elise Carter’s “Not Just Another Pair of Socks”, P8). Away from seasonal celebrations Andrea Maltman takes a look at La Farola and its vendors (P7), whilst Leah Rodrigues exposes Lomography (P11). In fact, there’s more than enough to keep you entertained until January, so we’ll simply wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

editor’s note

19 RESTAURANT GUIDE 20 SERVICE GUIDE 23 CLASSIFIEDS

WILLETT TRAVEL, p13

WEB SERVICES JAN JAEGER, p13

InMadrid

Cover credits: Photos: Flickr:(boot) randy son of robert, (dog) alan miles nyc, (snow scene) wwarby. The Raveonettes: Matias Uris.

Want to contribute to InMadrid? Or how about being an intern? If you’re interested in collaborating, send your CV, samples of journalistic writing and ideas for articles to editor@in-madrid.com

Want to advertise in InMadrid? Quieres anunciar en InMadrid? Email us! ¡Escribenos! marketing@in-madrid.com Call us! ¡Llamanos! 91 523 30 91

PUBLISHED BY: CITYSCOPE S.L. (UNIPERSONAL) MANAGING DIRECTOR: NICK HAUGHTON • EDITOR: JEFF WISEMAN DESIGN: KNIC • MARKETING AND SALES: marketing@in-madrid.com • ADMIN: ELENA ORTIZ • ART: ELENA RODEMANN • MUSIC (REVIEWS): RUSSELL PARTON • MUSIC (GIGS): OLIVIA WATERS • NEWS: MARTIN DELFIN • NIGHTLIFE: EMMA PARNWELL • SCENE: LAURA EDGECUMBE • THEATRE: RAVEN KELLER • INTERNS: MARIT HARM, KEDZIE TELLER, ELISE CARTER, ALEXANDRA LIGHT, ALEJANDRA SARAGOZA, TESSA WHITE, GABRIELLE EASTER • THANKS TO: LAURA EDGECUMBEANDSELL, NICK FUNNELL • WEBMASTER: KNIC • PRINT: IMCODAVILA

STAFF

Views expressed in InMadrid are the opinions of the writers and are not necessarily endorsed by the publishers. Although we make every effort to quote the correct prices and opening hours for establishments mentioned in the magazine, it is possible some may have changed since we went to press. All advertisements are published in good faith. InMadrid cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions in individual ads or accept responsibility for work, service or goods. InMadrid is published by CityScope SL (unipersonal), c/Marqués de Valdeiglesias, 6-4ºA — 28004 Madrid. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and artwork will not be returned unless accompanied by sufficient postage. D.L.: M-11696-96.

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DECEMBER 2010

scene

■ By Laura Edgecumbe-Ansdell

Take a stroll around the Plaza Mayor Christmas market to really capture the festive atmosphere of Madrid. (Indulging in a bag of hot chestnuts is a must.)

Revox–New experiences in sound poetry Make a trip to the Reina Sofía modern art museum where Revox will seek to redefine poetry and experiment with sound. Performances will include the Decade project–French poet AnneJames Chaton collaborating with Alva Noto, German electronic musician, and the guitarist for The Ex, Andy Moor, to create a convergence between voice and electronics. There will also be Brazilian poet and Berlin-based DJ Ricardo Domeneck, mixing video and poetry with help of poet and musicologist Jelle Meander, along with madrileño Peru Saizprez and Austrian Jörg Piringer. Revox IV, Museo Reina Sofia, Ronda de Atocha, esquina con Plaza del Emperador Carlos V (Metro: Atocha/Lavapies). 16 and 17 Dec, 7.30pm. Free. www.museoreinasofia.es

Christmas with Bach, Vicalvaro The Baroque Orchestra of Salamanca University and Royal Chapel Orchestra celebrate Christmas by performing some of Bach’s classic obras. Cantatas Bach, Parroquia de Santa María La Antigua, C/Vírgen de la Antigua, 1 (Metro: San Cipriano). 18 and 19 Dec, 6pm. Free. www.esmadrid.com/cantatasdebach/

New Year Gala If you are looking for some Spanish music to welcome in 2011 look no further than this flamenco show from the National Dance Company, the Madrid Symphony Orchestra, actress Laura del Sol, flamenco guitarist Juan Manuel Cañizares and Argentinean conductor Alejo Pérez. Laura del Sol will host this quintessentially Spanish show that will be aired live all over Europe on Canal Arte television. The music will be led by Alejo Pérez, who at the age of 35 is already one of the finest conductors in Argentina; having performed in some of the world’s most coveted venues. New Year Gala, Teatro Real, Pza. de Oriente, s/n (Metro: Ópera/Sol). 31 Dec, 7pm. Tickets: 6-109. www.teatro-real.com

Cuvo: Lydia Lunch

Photo: Jonas Lindstroem

Tchaikovsky meets Dickens Prague’s National Theatre Ballet blends Dickens with Tchaikovsky in this production of Cascanueces. Un cuento de Navidad (The Nutcracker. A Christmas Carol). Under the direction of the renowned choreographer and dancer Youri Vamos, the National Theatre Ballet of Prague presents this new and creative take on Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet. In this production, a fairy tale about a little girl with a magic nutcracker that transports her to a world of toys is mixed up with elements of “A Christmas Carol”, set in 19th century London. Cascanueces. Un cuento de Navidad, Teatros Canal, C/Cea Bermúdez, 1 (Metro: Canal). 30 Dec-9 Jan, Tue-Sat 8.30pm; Sun 6pm. Tickets: 20-40. See www.teatroscanal.com/

Cuvo–Information overload Cuvo, an experimental theatre company, perform a show that includes 15 minute plays and dances exploring the problem of information overload in the modern age. With live performances by avant garde artists such as Lydia Lunch, Esther Planas, Sonia Gomez, Miguel Noguera, Pere Faura and Anamor, this is sure to give you a new perspective on surfing the internet. Cuvo, Café Teatro, Matadero Madrid, Paseo de la Chopera, 14 (Metro: Legazpi). 11 and 12 Dec, 7.30pm. Free. www.mataderomadrid.com

Call for cassette players The British Ladies Assn. have a large collection of audio books on cassette which form part of their library. These are still extremely popular, but they are finding that people who would like to listen to them no longer have cassette players to play them on. If you have a player that you no longer require, and could donate to their library, it would make the collection available to a much wider, and hugely appreciative, number of listeners. Contact Jenny on 628 601 125 (jennyeffer@hotmail.com) or Stephen on 650 984 329 (madridbeast@hotmail.com)

Circo Teresa Rabal From 2 December the circus comes to town for Christmas. Take a trip there to see award winning Spanish actress and singer Teresa Rabal perform from her extensive repertoire, as well as a host of

Give my regards to Gran Vía As we say adios to the year of Gran Vía’s 100th birthday, we thought we’d look at the thoroughfare through writers’ experiences. Have times really changed? 1952—Round and About Spain by A F Tschiffely (Hodder and Stoughton)

1964—Madrid by Nina Epton (Dodd, Mead & Co)

THEN: “The pension was situated in a side street leading to Gran Vía, the fashionable main thoroughfare of Madrid. Every morning I was awakened by throaty cries of street vendors and hawkers, and by loud annoying tappings. Looking across the street, I saw maid-servants, busy beating carpets and rugs which were hung over the rails of balconies.” “Until about 11 o’clock in the morning there is not much movement in the fashionable centre of Madrid, of which Gran Vía and Calle Alcalá are the favourites among the elite, wealthy and otherwise. Especially in the former avenue, the sidewalks are packed with a throng of slow-moving idlers who chatter away as if the fate of the universe depended on their tongues.” NOW: Street vendors? Hawkers? Idlers chatting away as if the fate of the universe depended on their tongues? Are you sure that wasn’t yesterday?

THEN: “When Uncle Humberto wanted to buy Aunt Nieves a new fan for her saint’s day, he went to Aleixandre’s in Gran Vía, the smartest street in Madrid. No other shop would do.” NOW: Still smart, but the elegant Aleixandre’s has gone. However, if you ever wondered why the McDonald’s near Gran Vía metro has such an elegant shop front, now you know.

1955—A Stranger in Spain by H V Morton (Methuen & Co) THEN: “.. the crowds were thicker, the shops continuous, and the smell of petrol and oil from the oldest motor cars in use in the world more penetrating....glancing in the shop windows, wondering who could possibly want a little model of a banderillero sticking darts into a bull ....” NOW: Well, at least the cars are now modern.

DECEMBER 2010

1973—Winter in Castille by Honor Tracy (Eyre Methuen) THEN: “Strolling along Gran Vía, I caught sight of a motorist turning her car into a one-way street, to face a long line of approaching traffic. The rightful users of the way all burst out hooting together, to which she responded grimly and steadily, as if hoping in time to bring them round. With a disdainful shrug, she accepted defeat and backed with tremendous verve into Gran Vía again, just as the lights turned green and a solid phalanx of vehicles thundered up the hill towards her. It was like a child on a pony backing across a cavalry charge. The air was rent with the squeals of brakes and roars of fury. She swung the car round and stalled. Pandemonium broke out once more.” NOW: Want to see the same? Just grab a coffee, sit down at a sidewalk café and wait a while.

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T H E E N G L I S H - L A N G U A G E M O N T H LY

Photo: Diana Zehetner

other artistes including clowns, acrobats, ballet dancers, jugglers, tightrope walkers and a troupe of giant puppets. This is not an animal circus so rest assured you won’t see any real beasts being prodded or jabbed. Circo Teresa Rabal, Big Top, Glorieta de Cuatro Caminos (Metro: Cuatro Caminos). 2-31 Dec. Tickets: Children 10-15. Adults 15-25. Telephone bookings: 659 783 889. www.bellmusic.es

Nutcracker: Adela Pollertova

Revox: Ricardo Domeneck

mwoarldd w

Christmas List Ten Ways To Keep Yourself Entertained This Christmas

Every time you visit friends’ apartments, secretly place a Warhammer figure in their nativity scene.

Put a proposal to the Madrid Council that, for the health of the general public, the Three Kings’ Parade should remain stationary this year and onlookers should be forced to walk past it.

Dress up as a giant moth, get on the Christmas Lights Sightseeing Bus, and flutter irritatingly at the bus windows throughout the tour.

Start a rumour that due to financial cuts not one Roscón de Reyes–the traditional round Spanish cake–will form a complete ring this year. Five percent will be missing.

In a department store, choose the cheapest but most peculiar-shaped product you can find and insist on having it gift wrapped. Then buy another one and request the same.

Eat ten blocks of turron just to see how long you remain hyperactive.

Take a tranquiliser gun to Sol one evening, scream “Oso!” every time you see a madrileña in a fur coat, and see how many you can “dart”. (InMadrid takes no responsibility for the consequences should you pursue this option.)

Photo (CC) flickr: Dress in a protective silver suit, don a helmet, and walk around the centre of GJFamily Madrid holding a luminous body accessory (necklace, bracelet, headband) at arms length in metal tongs. Shout “Cuidado! Radioactivo!”, making sure you walk past as many people as possible who are wearing the same.

When it comes to eating 12 grapes to the 12 chimes on New Year’s Eve, drink a full bottle of wine instead. Explain to fellow celebrators that with your method the winery has done all the hard work, and there are no pips to get stuck in your teeth.

Buy a bright, glittery wig and a pair of flashing antlers. Put them on and parade around endlessly. Because ultimately, if you can’t beat ‘em...

Competition winner!

WIN TICKETS TO THE CINEMA!

Every month InMadrid is giving away FREE PASSES for two people to the Ideal Cinema in Plaza Benavente, Madrid’s premier VO cinema where you can see all the latest flicks in English. To claim yours simply send us a photo of somebody reading InMadrid in an unusual place. Happy snapping! Note: Winners will not be notified. Get in touch if you win to claim your passes! Send entries to competitions@in-madrid.com. Here is this month’s winner: We always like to hear of InMadrid’s international travels. Here Floriana Bove brandishes her copy of InMadrid in Prague. She is standing in front of “The Dancing House” (NationaleNederlanden building) which was designed by Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunic in co-operation with Canadian architect Frank Gehry, and constructed on a vacant riverfront plot in 1996.

Fairy Tales By Jerome Apolda

Kiss Me Baby One More Time Having enjoyed some quite remarkable make-out sessions lately, I got to thinking about kissing and its importance. I’m not referring to how amazingly elated it makes one feel but to how it affects others. Seeing two men kissing is still believed to be the most horrid thing anyone can ever experience, almost more disturbing than starving children or war casualties. Yet when lesbians go at it, straight men clap and ask for more. So in a world with such double standards, what is one supposed to do? November 7, 2010. The Pope has come to visit. Spain is bathing in the light of God and the faithful impatiently await their leader. They have gathered in the thousands to cheer him on. The leader of the Christian faith, God’s representative on Earth, has made it his business to save us from temptation and sinners had better watch out. If you have sexual intercourse outside of matrimony, use condoms. Or if— and God help you—you are gay, Benedict XVI is here to put you back on the right path. Unsurprisingly, Gays are not easily converted and they’ve decided—infidels!— to stand up for their right to love one another. Blasphemy! On that Sunday morning, two hundred of them made their way to the front of the line. In a sea of “Jesus is my friend” T-shirts, they were careful not to draw attention to themselves and behaved as normal as their deviance allowed. The Pope Mobile came into view and what did those queers do? They locked lips and started snogging each other’s face off. What a disgrace! Did the Pope feel his breakfast making its way back up? He looked away but he was surrounded. On both sides of the street, men were kissing men, women were kissing women. He closed his eyes, hoping it would make the nightmare go away. By continuing on his merry way, it did. God answered his prayer. He arrived at the Sagrada Familia where he preached for a world ridden of such atrocities. The gays had made their disgusting point but the Pope remained supreme. Unaware of what was happening some 800 kilometres away, I was walking hand in hand with (you want to know, don’t you? I’m not telling!) in Malasaña. I heard a murmur as if the wind was carrying a prejudice; it brought to my ears this refrain …maricón…maricón… and I shivered. The Pope being.. (you can insert your own words here, but you can probably guess what mine would be) ..is one thing, and let’s face it, it’s his job. But being called names, some mere two streets from where I live and just a few steps from our Mecca, Chueca, really unsettled me. Is bigoted behaviour still so overwhelmingly present? Have we closed our eyes to reality? Is kissing still a political gesture? And so I stopped. I refused to be bullied, to be made an alien in my own town. I stopped and we kissed. Much like those 200 protestors in Barcelona, I stood up for what I believe was right and with a simple kiss, I stood my ground. For Bonus Fairy Tales go to: www.jerome-apolda.com

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W W W. I N M A D R I D . C O M

DECEMBER 2010

Another fine mes Marty Delfín dissects the past month’s news headlines

Show for Sahrawis

Discrepancies inside PP

Thousands gathered on 13 November in Madrid for a massive demonstration to condemn the Moroccan government’s raid on a refugee camp in Western Sahara. The raid took place on 8 November outside Laâyoune, the capital of the former Spanish colony, which Morocco annexed in 1975. Troops moved in to evict about 20,000 people, most of them Sahrawis, from the camp. The raid ignited deadly protests in Laâyoune, with as many as two dozen killed, according to some reports. The National Coordination of Associations in Solidarity with Sahara, as well as opposition Spanish politicians, accused the government of Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of taking a passive stance to “Morocco’s crimes” in the former colony. Among those who took part in the protest were actor Javier Bardem and the leaders of Spain’s biggest trade unions. Morocco has expelled journalists and activists from Western Sahara and there are no accurate figures on casualities. Moroccan officials say 12 people were killed, including 10 from its security forces, but the pro-separatist Polisario Front, says Moroccan forces killed dozens of people and wounded more than 4,500. Reports from Laâyoune say that the once noisy capital appears like a ghost town after Moroccan security forces arrested 163 people and imposed a curfew.

Madrid mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón says he wouldn’t change the Homosexual Marriage Act if the Constitutional Court upholds the law. The act, which was passed in 2005 and affords same sex couples the same right to marriage as heterosexuals in Spain, is currently being challenged by RuizGallardón’s conservative Popular Party. The mayor’s comments, published on 14 November in El País, are contrary to those given by his party’s leader, Mariano Rajoy, to the same daily a week before. The PP wants the word “marriage” written out of the law but favours same sex civil unions, similar to those afforded in Britain and Germany. Rajoy said that he won’t accept an upheld decision from the Constitutional Court and would change the law if he was elected Prime Minister. “I will listen to the Constitutional Court and the people, but I do not like the name marriage, and I think it is unconstitutional,” he said. But Ruiz- Gallardón said that politicians must respect the rule of the courts. “From my point of view, I would obey what the Constitutional Court says. If the court rules that maintaining the designation of marriage goes hand-in-hand with our Constitution, then I would leave it that way.” In a freewheeling interview, in which he touched on a variety of subjects, the Madrid mayor also said that he was against the legalisation of drugs. “Legalisation is not the solution because clearly it would lead to more consumption. My priority in this policy is the rights of the drug addict. The addict is the first victim because he is sick. He should never be denied an alternative substance for his addiction because it would condemn him to marginalisation. But this prescription should be given under a doctor’s care.” A few years ago, the progressive mayor came under criticism from his own party for setting up “shooting galleries” in which addicts could go and get “their fix” under medical supervision.

Shuffling for strategy

Photo: (CC) flickr: saharauiak

DECEMBER 2010

Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero engaged in his biggest political move since he was elected in 2004 when he announced a massive Cabinet shakeup on 27 October. The strategy was designed to shore up his government and develop a commanding presence with Socialist heavyweights taking the top ministries, including a fresh face to help try to smooth things over with the trade unions. The major move was the appointment of Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba to become deputy Prime Minister, taking over from María Teresa Fernández de la Vega. The 59-

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Visit Expocomic 2010, from 9-12 Dec, in the Recinto Ferial Casa de Campo, Pabellón de Cristal. Open 10am-9pm daily. Super, man!

year-old Cantabria native has been the government’s point man in the fight against terrorism since taking on the reins at the Interior in 2006. Coordinating the battle with French law enforcement, Rubalcaba oversaw a series of stunning blows on ETA, including arrests of the organisation’s military chiefs and their subsequent successors in 2008-2009. He will continue to serve as Interior Minister. Zapatero’s new Foreign Minister is Trinidad Jiménez, who just weeks before lost a bid in a priTrinidad Jiménez mary to become the Socialist candidate for Madrid regional premier. At the Labour Ministry, Valeriano Gómez, another veteran negotiator, took over from Celestino Corbacho who, after losing almost all respect from the unions, was pushed to Catalonia where his name will appear on the Socialist election slate in the upcoming regional race. Gómez, a former member of the UGT technical committee and previously an analyst at the Ministry, has gained the trust of the workers organisations. Although the negotiations over labour reform broke down, leaving the Socialists to seal their own version in Parliament, Zapatero has said he is willing to reopen talks with labour and big business to fine-tune the package as well as discuss pension reform. Gómez will be the man heading up that job. Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba Photo (CC) flickr: www_ukberri_net

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A shining light? Andrea Maltman looks at social newspaper La Farola (“The Street Lamp”) and its vendors. Is it offering a much-needed lifeline? Or should we be reading between the lines?

Happy Christmas & a peaceful New Year to all our customers

Christmas Party Fri 10th WITH LIVE MUSIC! Keep the Faith HAIL HAIL Don’t forget our New Year’s Eve Party doors open 1am

THIS MONTH: BIG PROMO ON BOTTLED BEERS!

pain’s economic woes are well documented. At the last fearful glance in April 2010, the 20 percent unemployment rate hovered like a guillotine over the economy and the dole queue is now competing with the locales as the most frequented haunt to commiserate and be commiserated. The fun, amigos, has most definitely left the building. Although it might be hard to believe, there exists yet another level of misery and hardship below the curse of unemployment. Those who have papers but not jobs are at least caught by the net of benefits and government help, but what happens to people when the blanket of Social Security is yanked out from under their feet and they walk barefoot over shards of broken dreams? It’s a situation faced by many of Madrid’s immigrant population.

Ways and means You need only open your eyes in the city to see the ways that those without work permits try to survive: grown men modelling flashing reindeer antlers, the opportunistic scramble to sell umbrellas just as the heavens open and, of course, the supposed branded goods that are spread seductively over the pavement whilst the hawkers’ eyes dart furtively up and down the street. There are also “the guys who stand outside the supermarket” as one friend recognized the vendors of La Farola, a newspaper which claims to “give bread and shelter” to the largely African immigrant population who sell it. Active in Spain since 1994, the publication draws parallels with The Big Issue, a highly-regarded paper sold in the UK which affords the socially marginalized the opportunity of a small earning and the possibility of a foothold in society. It provides a reason to get up, and a reason to smile at a world that offers little encouragement to do so. The Big Issue has an enviable track record with helping the homeless Big Issue seller in Bath Photo(CC) flickr:: daz_smith and destitute.

No paper trail The theory is the same for La Farola, but the practice doesn’t always correspond. In reality, the publication has been marked by secrecy and scandal since it began on the streets of Barcelona. In 1998, French founder George Mathis was investigated by police for “irregularities” surrounding the newspaper’s income and was widely suspected to be lining his pockets rather than, as he claimed, carving out a unique tool for social integration. An attempt to contact the newspaper to comment on these rumours leads you to a hotmail address that doesn’t work. Looking at a recent copy, the editor is listed as P H Fernandez with no other journalists accredited anywhere on the texts. The content itself is 20-odd pages which rant self righteously on everything from oil spills to the benefits of marriage in economic crisis, all underscored by a tone that is decidedly religious and evangelical. It seems that La Farola raises more questions than it answers and while its nameless writers or founder aren’t going to be giving insights on the matter anytime soon, the group of people who might shed a light on things are the T H E E N G L I S H - L A N G U A G E M O N T H LY

sellers whose very survival can hinge on this elusive and mysterious publication.

A face of La Farola Mark is a 33-year-old Nigerian whose experiences illustrate the harsh realities and contrasts when someone’s life straddles two nations: in Spain he lives in poverty, has no work permit and sells La Farola to make an average of 10-15 euros per week. In his native Nigeria he is degree-educated and is a public administrator—ironically one of the most coveted and stable jobs in the country where he is currently struggling. “I came to Madrid for greener pastures,” he says sadly, “I wanted to do something for myself and my family. My plan was to export things back home, clothes, shoes, that kind of thing.”

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“

it exposes me to people who are mostly sympathetic and generous, we do make some money and one of my friends even got married to a woman who bought the paper from him

It’s a common story. Other La Farola sellers fit his profile almost to the last detail and they are overwhelmingly young, Nigerian men who had lives, an education and business plans before heading to Spain. When they arrive, their plans clash with those of prioritized EU nationals and the bureaucratic nightmare of trying to secure work or residency permits. The fallback, of course, is La Farola.

On the margin For Mark, it started off as word of mouth: he had a friend who sold the newspaper and he soon went with him to a distribution point in Principe Pío, where he was given an ID card and a place in a lengthy queue to buy the publication at one euro per copy. The selling price to the public is two euros, which means men like Mark have to sell 50 percent of their copies before making anything at all. That can be quite a demanding target. So where is the benefit? And more importantly, where is the initial outlay of one euro going? “I don’t know,” Mark shrugs, “I don’t know anything about who makes the magazine or who writes it, I don’t even read the thing. I only do it because I don’t want to feel like a beggar and it gets me out of the house.” After failing to get any closer to the real essence of La Farola and learning that the sellers have to buy it, and if unable to sell sufficient copies, will actually lose money, there seems a lot of questions about the credibility of the scheme. But, surprisingly, Mark doesn’t agree with these sceptical conclusions. “You have to understand that this keeps me away from crime, it exposes me to people who are mostly sympathetic and generous, we do make some money and one of my friends even got married to a woman who bought the paper from him in the street—so it’s not all bad.” As we wrap up the interview on a café terrace, a beggar, with hand curled open, approaches Mark. It’s poetic, ironic and heartbreaking—and he knows it. “I guess there’s always someone else in a worse position than you,” he smiles at me. It’s hard to disagree and, as hard as times are, we would all do well to remember that. W W W. I N M A D R I D . C O M

New Year’s Party

With Live Music from the

Dec 31st 24:00 Free Entry

Neon Cats

Limited Numbers

Tue-Thu 21:00-3:00 Fri-Sat 21:00-3:30

Pool Tables

LA TABERNA CHICA VINOS, TAPAS, COCKTAILS & LOUNGE MUSIC FABULOUS CAIPIRINHAS

c/Costanilla de San Pedro, 7 (Metro: La Latina) DECEMBER 2010

Not just another pair of socks From Mexican skeleton figures to a nice little Ferrari, InMadrid team shopaholics Elise Carter and Alexandra Light set themselves the task of finding the quirkiest Christmas presents in the city Busby Brush

Shark’s Fin Ice Cubes

Where? Natura, C/Hortaleza, 10 How much? 7.10 A guardsman scrub brush? It’s great isn’t it?! Isn’t it? While you scrub tirelessly away at the postChristmas dinner dishes, what more could you want than to be reminded of the only family in Britain who have probably never washed a damn dish in their lives.

Where ? Curiosite, C/Corredera Alta de San Pablo, 28 How much? 9.99 Just when you thought it was safe to take a sip of your drink! Don’t let your guard down this Christmas, you never know what might be floating in your Baileys. Da da, da da…

Toy Cars

E-Z Chopsticks Where? Curiosite, C/Corredera Alta de San Pablo, 28 How much? 12.85 At last, an end to embarrassing first dates in Chinese restaurants! No need to worry if your chopsticks skills aren’t up to scratch, just whip out these elongated pegs and peg away. Or, on second thoughts, maybe just head to the local Italian.

Where? Macchinine, C/Barquillo, 7 How much? From 15.00

Japanese Decor Where? Diseño Japones, C/Barquillo, 18 How much? From 5.50 A shop full of unusual Japanese gifts, including pretty puffer fish hanging paper decorations and fun puffer fish (spot the theme?) pillows on which to rest your head after a gruelling day of present opening.

Film and Advertising Plaques

Juggling Clubs

Where? Nostalgic Shop, C/Goya, 43 and C/Atocha, 60 How much? From 10-20 Specialising in modern metal reproductions of classic film, advertising and travel posters, this little basement in Calle Goya is a treasure trove. Everything from Audrey Hepburn to Norton Motorbikes in one store. www.nostalgicshop.es

Where? Circo, C/Infantas, 3 How much? 15.00 From a shop that boasts an interesting selection of circus paraphernalia, these juggling clubs are great and come in an array of glitzy colours and patterns. Ideal for any irritating “clowns” in the family. Might make them shut up for a bit, at least.

Giant Piano Floor Mat Where? Curiosite, C/Corredera Alta de San Pablo, 28 How much? 58.95 Not a cheap option, and not that enormous, but the only one that will enable you to re-enact the famous scene in the movie Big when Tom Hanks plays a huge keyboard with his feet. For the less musically talented, simply skid on your knees from one end to the other like the rock star you were always meant to be.

Mexican Skeleton Figures Where? 100%Mexico, C/Castello, 22 How much? From 5 Not just skeleton figures, but all things Mexican in this wonderful store just off C/Velazquez. The handmade figures are the most enticing gifts though, if only to see if the broad skeleton smile is reciprocated by the recipient. www.100porcienmexico.es

Macchine offers a handsome supply of Christmas gifts for male members of the family. From the British Mini to the Ferrari, you are bound to find something to satisfy those pipe dreams, and give someone the pleasure of saying they got a sports car for Christmas. No MOT, insurance or parking ticket worries. Perfect!

Wooden Puzzles Where? Lobo Feliz, C/San Mateo, 28 How much? From 29.50 There are a number of different shapes and sizes in this range. They’re simple to construct and look pretty impressive once completed. Great for toddlers (or those who have expended their last brain cell playing Trivial Pursuit).

YooDooDoll Where? Curiosite, C/Corredera Alta de San Pablo, 28 How much? 14.95 The perfect gift for anybody who has recently been dumped. Simply stick a photo of your ex’s face on it and once you’re completely sozzled on sherry, attack with cocktail sticks. Bah Humbug!

Five great places to buy... chocolates to die for

■ CAMINO MARTÍNEZ

Whether you believe “chocolate is always perfect as a gift” or just “chocolate is always perfect”, the best chocolate shops in Madrid are stocked to satisfy your needs this Christmas. Or, indeed, anytime

Cacao Sampaka. This establishment is divided into two different areas—the first is a shop, where customers can buy an enormous range of chocolate bars, as well as chocolates containing fruit, wines and liquors, nuts, spices, infusions and herbs. There are also spreads, jams and other cocoa products to provide for fondues and chocolate recipes. The second is a bar and café, which serves breakfasts and snacks, and of course wonderful hot chocolate. C/Orellana, 4. Tel: 91 319 58 40. (Metro: Alonso Martínez). www.cacaosampaka.com. Shop: Mon-Sun, 10am9.30pm. Bar: Mon-Sat, 10am-9.30pm.

Moulin Chocolat. Near Puerta de Alcalá, all of Moulin Chocolat’s select products are natural and handmade. It has its own oven located downstairs, where the chocolates, cakes, desserts and biscuits are made using the finest ingredients. At Christmas time, the shop produces delights such as chocolate fir trees, Spanish polvorones, and special varieties of turrón (mango and strawberry, caramel with macadamia nuts, cocoa and coffee, etc.) C/Alcalá, 77. Tel: 91 431 81 45. (Metro: Retiro). www.moulinchocolat.com. TueSat, 10am-9pm; Sun, 11am-6pm.

Oriol Balaguer. The patissier Oriol Balaguer, one of the best in Spain if not the world, has his shop in the area known as Madrid’s Milla de Oro (Golden Mile). In this designer space, Balaguer (who worked in the famous El Bulli restaurant with the renowned chef Ferrán Adriá) has revolutionised the art of cake baking, by creating chocolate masterpieces which are as good to look at as they are to eat. Sweet—and very deluxe—gastronomy. C/José Ortega y Gasset, 44. Tel: 91 401 64 63. (Metro: Lista). www.oriolbalaguer.com. Mon-Sat, 9am-9pm; Sun, 9am-2.30pm.

Valor. Founded in 1881, this is one of the best and most famous Spanish chocolate brands. Its shop has a great range of chocolates, including some filled with wine or liquors. It also sells bars of chocolate, cocoa, ingredients for pastry making, truffles, biscuits and even low-sugar options. For Christmas, the company produces an excellent limited edition chocolate and praline turrón. Valor also has four chocolaterías in Madrid (famous for madrileño hot chocolate with churros). C/Conde de Peñalver, 43. Tel: 91 401 84 37. (Metro: Lista). www.valor.es. Mon-Sat, 10am-2pm, 5-8.30pm; Sun, 10am-2pm.

Le Petit Plaisir. This Spanish brand makes delicious Belgian-style chocolates in more than 70 different shapes and flavours. Its shops, located in Madrid and Barcelona, have an atmosphere which is as elegant as the packaging used to gift-wrap its chocolate boxes. 2010 marks the company’s 20th anniversary, and it’s introducing special Christmas lines by way of celebration. Paseo de la Habana, 50. Tel: 91 563 08 23. (Metro: Santiago Bernabéu). www.petitplaisir.com. Mon-Fri, 10.15am-2pm, 4.308.30pm; Sat, 10.15am-2pm. Moulin Chocolat

Le Petit Plaisir

DECEMBER 2010

W W W. I N M A D R I D . C O M

T H E E N G L I S H - L A N G U A G E M O N T H LY

Just the ticket All singing, and all dancing if you win, Kedzie Teller looks at the curious ritual of the Spanish Christmas lottery

f you’ve ever walked the streets of Madrid during December, you’ve probably heard frantic chatter about El Gordo. The basic translation—“the Fat One”—may evoke fond memories of a jolly plump man decked in red, but this gordo has nothing to do with bellows of deep laughter, a sleigh or reindeer. El Gordo actually refers to the Spanish Christmas lottery, or La Lotería de Navidad—an awe-inspiring national tradition which dates back to 1812. It’s estimated that 98 percent of the Spanish population has an interest in the lottery in one way or another, resulting in huge jackpots and crazed excitement. Whetted your appetite yet? If not, consider too that the lottery payout is 70 percent of the accumulated money (an incredible chunk when compared to the 40 or 50 percent distributed by most others) and the prizes are tax free, meaning you keep everything that you win. If you’d like to take the plunge this winter and invest in a lottery ticket, then you’ll need to know exactly how it works. After all, El Gordo is a big deal. However, it seems that when establishing the rules, the one word that didn’t receive too much attention was “simplicity”.

Divided we stand Firstly, exercise a little caution before asking for full tickets, or billetes. In the UK lottery an individual selection of six numbers represents a ticket, and costs one pound. One full ticket for the Spanish lottery costs 200. Purchase one or two of those and your Christmas dinner table might not extend to much more than a cheese sand-

prizes and an estimated one in three tickets wins something. The great chance of winning, combined with the massive jackpot, is what creates such lottery mania.

When’s the big day? If you’re looking to hit the jackpot, tune into the draw which is broadcast live on television and radio on the morning of 22 December. And what would El Gordo be if it weren’t for the extravagance of its draw? Two large sphere-like cages are placed on a stage, each of which contains numbered wooden balls—in one cage they each carry a complete billete number, in the other they carry the prize amounts. One ball is drawn from each cage, but when selected, the number and the prize are not just read by some bland host. They are sung by children–an honour that many young Spaniards only dream of.

A big task for little people The children come from Madrid’s San Ildefonso school, a tradition that was established almost 200 years ago. It’s open to question whether the process of drawing and singing repeats enchantingly or repeats like a plate of brussel sprouts, but each chant is carried out with exactly the same rhythm. Since 1000 is the most popular prize, the mesmeric effect of the singing means the words “mil euros” can ring in your ears until January. The chanting continues until all prizes have been distributed, releasing Spaniards from El Gordo’s spell. Since nothing boosts the economy like a bit of blind gluttony, perhaps the draw takes place a few days before Christmas so winners can squander their newfound cash on presents.

It’s worldwide

wich. Not surprisingly, the billetes are broken down and usually sold in decimos, or tenths. Of course, in buying a decimo you only win one tenth of the prize. However, even a decimo costs 20, and so these can be divided further, into participaciónes. This final division is unofficial, and it’s not unusual for families, friends, offices or even whole villages to share in a decimo, or several of them. Each decimo has a five digit number, as well as a series number. Imagine you buy a decimo with number 12345. It won’t be unique. Firstly, there will be nine other decimos making up the billete, and in addition the same number will exist in other series. There were 195 series last year, but don’t worry, the series number is just for administration. If 12345 is a winning number, everyone with that number wins the prize—or one tenth of it, if you bought a decimo.

Working it out A worked example is probably the best way to illustrate the system. Last year the lucky El Gordo number was 78294. There were 180 tickets (billetes, not decimos) with that number. Each ticket won 3,000,000. If you held a decimo, you would have won 300,000. If your decimo was split between 10 friends, each would have won 30,000. Naturally, the more decimos (or, if you’re incredibly rich, billetes) you have, the more likely you are to win. Operational criteria aside, the most important information about El Gordo is that there are thousands of T H E E N G L I S H - L A N G U A G E M O N T H LY

Thanks to the wonderful world of online gambling, El Gordo is no longer a Spain-only phenomenon. You can purchase lottery tickets online and collect your winnings (assuming, of course, you have any) later. Plus, reading through the list of winning numbers via your favourite website may be a little less discomforting than listening to children singing for four hours. What makes the El Gordo so alluring is that it is considered the largest lottery in the world. Last year’s prize pool topped three billion euros with a jackpot prize total of 540 million. With so much money on the line, more people are attracted to the lottery, meaning a larger prize pool and bigger jackpots, which generate more interest and more ticket purchases. Seemingly, it’s a never-ending merry-go-round of ticket buying and prize increase, but with so much to gain, who wouldn’t want to jump on board?

Lot o’ Trivia There were 13 five-digit lucky numbers last year, including El Gordo 78294. That makes 65 digits in all. Just in case you look to numbers for luck: ● 0 was the most popular digit overall, occurring nine times ● 6 and 8 were the least popular, occurring four times each ● 5 was the most popular first digit, occurring on three

tickets ● 2 was the most popular final digit, also occurring on

three tickets ● The words “mil euros” were sung on 1787 different

occasions ● the only digit to appear more than twice in a winning

ticket was 7 (three times in ticket number 77607) ● 6 and 7 were the only digits to appear consecutively, in

ticket numbers 77607 and 06679

W W W. I N M A D R I D . C O M

DECEMBER 2010

sport

More than a jog in the park Worried about the wait before Christmas or the weight after it? Kedzie Teller checks out a new fitness programme behind the gates of the Retiro

FIXTURE FIX ■ Compiled by Keith Miles

Football Champions League 7 Dec 8.45pm–Barcelona v Rubin Kazan 7 Dec 8.45pm–Benfica v Schalke 04 7 Dec 8.45pm–Bursaspor v Rangers 7 Dec 8.45pm–FC Copenhagen v Panathinaikos 7 Dec 8.45pm–FC Twente v Tottenham 7 Dec 8.45pm–Lyon v Hapoel Tel–Aviv 7 Dec 8.45pm–Man Utd v Valencia 7 Dec 8.45pm–Werder Bremen v Inter Milan 8 Dec 8.45pm–AC Milan v Ajax 8 Dec 8.45pm–Arsenal v Partizan Belgrade 8 Dec 8.45pm–Bayern Munich v Basle 8 Dec 8.45pm–CFR Cluj v Roma 8 Dec 8.45pm–MSK Zilina v Spartak Moscow 8 Dec 8.45pm–Marseille v Chelsea 8 Dec 8.45pm–Real Madrid v Auxerre 8 Dec 8.45pm–Shakhtar Donetsk v Braga Europa League 1 Dec 7pm–Odense BK v Getafe 1 Dec 7pm–Sampdoria v PSV Eindhoven 1 Dec 9.05pm–Atlético Madrid v Aris Salonika 1 Dec 9.05pm–Lech Poznan v Juventus 1 Dec 9.05pm–Man City v Red Bull Salzburg 1 Dec 9.05pm–Sporting v Lille 2 Dec 7pm–FC Utrecht v Napoli 2 Dec 7pm–Paris SG v Sevilla 2 Dec 7pm–Rapid Vienna v FC Porto 2 Dec 7pm–Steaua Bucharest v Liverpool 2 Dec 9.05pm–Palermo v Sparta Prague 2 Dec 9.05pm–Villarreal v Dinamo Zagreb 15 Dec 7pm–Club Bruges v Villarreal 15 Dec 7pm–Lausanne Sports v Palermo 15 Dec 9.05pm–FC Porto v CSKA Sofia 15 Dec 9.05pm–Liverpool v FC Utrecht 15 Dec 9.05pm–Napoli v Steaua Bucharest 15 Dec 9.05pm–Sevilla v Borussia Dortmund 16 Dec 7pm–Bayer Leverkusen v Atlético Madrid 16 Dec 7pm–Juventus v Man City 16 Dec 7pm–Levski Sofia v Sporting 16 Dec 9.05pm–Debrecen v Sampdoria 16 Dec 9.05pm–Getafe v Young Boys La Liga 5 Dec Real Madrid v Valencia 5 Dec Osasuna v Barcelona 5 Dec Levante v Atlético Madrid 5 Dec Getafe v Mallorca 12 Dec Real Zaragoza v Real Madrid 12 Dec Barcelona v Real Sociedad 12 Dec Atlético Madrid v Deportivo La Coruña 12 Dec Getafe v Villarreal 19 Dec Real Madrid v Sevilla 19 Dec Espanyol v Barcelona 19 Dec Málaga v Atlético Madrid 19 Dec Almería v Getafe Premier League 4 Dec 4pm–Chelsea v Everton 6 Dec 9pm–Liverpool v Aston Villa 11 Dec 6.30pm–Newcastle v Liverpool 12 Dec 5pm–Tottenham v Chelsea 13 Dec 9pm–Man Utd v Arsenal 19 Dec 5pm–Chelsea v Man Utd 20 Dec 9pm–Man City v Everton 26 Dec 4pm–Newcastle v Man City 26 Dec 6.30pm–Aston Villa v Tottenham 27 Dec 9pm–Arsenal v Chelsea 28 Dec 4pm–Man City v Aston Villa 28 Dec 4pm–Tottenham v Newcastle

t’s that time of year again: the season of joy, celebration and packing on the pounds. It often seems that cooler temperatures inspire us to indulge a little more than we should, but the arrival of winter doesn’t mean that every possibility of shrinking the waistline disappears. Of course, there are always two big issues with getting in shape: money and motivation. Gym memberships can sometimes break the bank and during the holiday season many people can’t afford to take on another expense. Yet keeping fit is such a rewarding treat that any opportunity to get involved should be welcomed. The good news for Madrid residents is that at last you can put down the galleta and step away from the flan, as a new fitness regime has hustled its way into madrileño life, taking monotonous workout routines and transforming them into heart-pumping, sweat-inducing fun. It’s time to lace up those running shoes and prepare yourself for Boot Camp España.

it.” Soon, however, the workouts began gaining attention and boot camp started to flourish.

Variety is the spice The boot camp workout originates from the basics of military preparation, through which men and women worldwide have been trained into high-power athletes in a matter of weeks. Without lifting a single weight, the ever-changing and nonstop cardio blasts of boot camp style workouts burn fat, build muscle and improve conditioning unlike any gym programme. Complex machines and tools fall by the wayside, and in a sense, simplicity reigns. The flaw in other workout routines is a lack of variation. The human body becomes extremely efficient during exercise, adapting itself to frequent use of a certain motion like running or swimming, and begins burning fewer calories. Due to this acclimatisation, many people often reach a plateau in their fitness level. This problem is nonexistent with the boot camp programme since each session is designed so that people are in constant motion, changing positions and activity at a rapid pace. No two sessions are ever the same, making boot camp fun, exciting and often unpredictable.

The way ahead With eight months under their belts, Price and Broughton have acquired a substantial group of regulars at both their morning and evening sessions. Whether it’s the fun atmosphere, or the fact that a month’s membership costs 39 for unlimited attendance to weekly sessions, Boot Camp España has figured out how to keep their clients happy. Though they are continuously looking to expand, both men are pleased with the amount they have accomplished so far. “Working with fitness groups you get to see people’s progress,” notes Broughton, “and it’s a lovely feeling. Each session you see them get knackered during the workouts, but then they keep going and do more than they thought was possible. It’s amazing, really. We would really like to start programmes in other parks in Madrid, and one day, who knows, we might live up to our name and have boot camp sessions in other parts of Spain.”

Best foot forward Popular in the United States and England, boot camp workouts are earning recognition in Madrid thanks to two men: Simon Price and Adam Broughton. With a dream and a business plan, the pair of British sports enthusiasts began the first public boot camp programme in the Retiro last April. Price and Broughton met in Brighton about six years prior to their Spanish endeavour, building a friendship based around fitness and exercise. It was Price who first stumbled upon the boot camp workout design. “I constantly need new challenges,” he explains, “and I fell in love with boot camp. There are no limits. You can always push yourself.” With a quick phone call to Broughton, who had moved to Madrid, the pair quickly began organizing a business plan, and Price was soon off to Spain to join his friend in what they thought could be an exercise revolution. “Everyone in Madrid loves fitness and being outdoors, and with the climate we just thought it would be perfect timing to bring boot camp to Spain,” says Price. It took six months to sort out the paperwork with the Comunidad de Madrid, but soon the Boot Camp España website was fully functional and plans for the initial workout sessions were ready. “It was the first time we had been managing our own programme,” Price admits, “so we got friends to come along for the first couple of weeks just to get comfortable with Liga Tercera de Aficionados, Grupo 7 Table Teams

Goals

Pts

FC Británico Recent Results:

Atlético Cero

CLUB RIVER VALLECAS

Santana

A.D. COSMOS HURACAN

FC Copenbadly

24 Oct

F C BRITANICO DE MADRID

Madrid Villains

SPARTAK MADRID C.F.

Atlético Retiro

Sport. Valdebernardo 3 FC Británico 0

C.D. NUEVAS PALOMERAS

Finbars 67

C.D. RACING DE MORATALAZ

A.D. VILLAVERDE BAJO

Madrid Reds

SPORTING VALDEBERNARDO-EL BRILLANTE

Finbars Celtic

Athletics 31 Dec 5.30pm–San Silvestre Vallecana, 10km run

ESC. FUT. A.V. LA CHIMENEA "B"

O’Neills United

Dirty Sanchez

7 Nov

Barones de la Birra

Tennis 30 Nov-5 Dec ATP Champions Tour Final, London 22 Dec 6.30pm–Rafa Nadal v Roger Federer, Caja Mágica, Madrid

Autolavado Deluxe 1 FC Británico 1

DECEMBER 2010

Played

✄

1st division

E.M.F. AGUILAS MORATALAZ "B"

Cricket 25 Nov-7 Jan The Ashes, Australia

For more information visit www.bootcamp-espana.com.

World Cup 2 Dec 4pm–Decision of hosts for 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups

For the moment, Boot Camp España runs sessions in English in the morning and in Spanish at night, but they’re looking to host workouts more frequently throughout the week and at different times of day. “The next thing is to open up a session earlier in the evening for Spanish people who want to learn English,” says Price enthusiastically. “People here are really interested in learning languages, and that’s something else we could offer.” The pair are delivering an incredible workout for anyone up to the challenge. The exercises, including abdominal crunches, arm-aching boxing drills, sprints and much more, are designed for people of all fitness levels. The main theme of the sessions is fun, but be prepared to wake up sore the next morning. As we all know, there’s no gain without a little pain.

EFL League Table

Matches Points

Speak out

CLUB JUVENTUD ELIPA

AA.VV. LOS ROSALES

A.J.D.C. LA MANCHA "B"

Triskels Tavern

C.D. AUTOLAVADO DELUXE

Los Lobos

C.D. PALESTRA ATENEA

Moores Tribunal

ABSOLUT SPORT "A"

FC Británico

A.D. ESC. BALONMANO VILLAVERDE

Studio Banana

C.D. SAN CRISTOBAL ANGELES "B"

(to 21 Nov)

W W W. I N M A D R I D . C O M

31 Oct FC Británico 1 Absolut Sport A 1

14 Nov FC Británico 3 Nuevas Palomeras 2

T H E E N G L I S H - L A N G U A G E M O N T H LY

The eye of the beholder The cameras, the culture and the craft—Leah Rodrigues looks at the art of lomography and exposes a photography phenomenon that’s starting to grip the streets of Madrid

Leah Rodrigues

emember the days when you would think carefully before taking a photo in the knowledge that a bad shot could be a soul-destroying disaster? Remember waiting in anticipation for your film to be developed? Or sometimes paying extra to have it processed in one hour? Times have certainly changed. Nowadays it’s about instant gratification at the press of a button. If a photo is unsatisfactory, we just take another until we get it right. Digital photography is truly wonderful. But am I the only one who feels nostalgic about the excitement of going to pick up photos, grasping the prints in my hands, and then analysing and scrutinising every tiny detail? Even though a case could be made for a similar feeling when reviewing digital photos after a wild night out with friends, immediate images invariably tend to be accompanied by a lack of creative satisfaction and an artistic void. Lomography, a photographic art form that

Every shot is a surprise waiting to be developed, embracing a strong experimental aspect, from which small details can take on unexpected importance, or blurs and shadows can add a touch of charm, surrealism, or astonishment. Lomographic plastic analogue cameras produce a wide range of photographic effects. The first camera was produced in St. Petersburg, Russia by LOMO PLC, from which the name of the genre originated. Although the model was introduced in the 1980s, the product line has expanded and diversified, and each model or lens is designed for a specific photographic effect. There’s the wild and wonderful Fisheye, with a wide angle lens that takes hemispherical images, or the aptly-named Spinner 360°, which can capture everything around you in one photo. These and others like them have given a wealth of new creative possibilities. Jon Vang

“

Lomography’s basic philosophy is 'Don’t think, just shoot.' —Your everyday location holds artistic value and lomography encourages you to explore it.

Oh Diana

Luis Solis Navarro

incorporates colourful, crazy cameras, celluloid stock, and unlimited freedom, is looking to fill the space.

Starting to click Lomography’s basic philosophy is “Don’t think, just shoot.” It encourages spontaneous photos that capture everyday life, meaning you don’t need to be in a formal studio or a stunning natural setting—your everyday location holds artistic value and lomography encourages you to explore it. The images produced by any lomographic camera can be in or out of focus, saturated with colour, blended, crossprocessed or framed in an odd way. You could almost say there’s no such thing as a bad photo, as each picture is unique and the composition wholly depends on the photographer, his or her perspective and a single moment in time.

The good news about lomographic cameras is that they are relatively inexpensive compared to digital ones and it’s fair to say any model would make a great gift for Christmas. Be careful to study the specification, because the best choice will largely depend on your objectives. For beginners, a Diana F+, Diana Mini or a Lomo LC-A+ are recommended. The Diana Mini, for example, shoots in 35mm (some models take 110mm), can be purchased with or without a flash and has the ability to shoot 36 square or 72 rectangular half-frame photos. In other words, each print can show one or two pictures. The Lomo LC-A+ is cherished for its accessories, the most notable being the Krab, a case that allows you to capture underwater images up to 65 feet below the surface. Selecting your camera is similar to selecting an artist’s brush, as each provides a different style or aspect for your picture.

Leah Rodrigues

Pushing the limits Some cameras can even go beyond the capacity of a digital option, and it’s worth mentioning the Colorsplash or Multilens models as examples. The Colorsplash contains eight different coloured flash options to bathe your image. The Lomographic Society International has devised six techniques to show how the light can be manipulated, and how the flash can be used to achieve remarkable images. (For further details, see http://microsites.lomography.com/colorsplashcamera/). The Multi-lens camera, depending on the number of lenses, takes up to nine sequential shots on one photo. A “Pop 9” Multi-lens model takes the full nine and, as the name suggests, the outcome will satisfy pop-art aficionados, or anyone who aspires to be David Bailey and Andy Warhol with just one piece of work. It’s a growing art, with lomography stores popping up in countries such as the UK, the USA, China, Brazil and Korea. Spain too seems to be following the trend—Madrid currently has two shops to cater for it, one in C/Echegaray, 5 (Metro: Sevilla) and the other in C/Argensola, 1 (Metro: Chueca/Alonso Martinez). It’s easy to communicate with other lomographers around the world via www.lomography.com, a site for sharing tips and stories as well as unique moments captured on film. Explore the social network, pick up a camera and relish what develops.

Luis Solis Navarro

Just do it The Lomographic Society International, formed to promote and further the interests of the art and its followers, has created 10 golden rules that a “lomographer” should aim to adhere to: 1. Take your camera everywhere you go. 2. Use it any time—day and night. 3. Lomography is not an interference in your life, but part of it. 4. Try the shot from the hip. 5. Approach the objects of your lomographic desire as closely as possible. 6. Don’t think—trust your instincts. 7. Be fast. 8. You don’t have to know what you’re going to capture on film before the shot.. 9. ... or what you’ve captured after it. 10.Forget about any rules and discover your own lomographic style.

Luis Solis Navarro

T H E E N G L I S H - L A N G U A G E M O N T H LY

W W W. I N M A D R I D . C O M

DECEMBER 2010

food&drink

¡good grifo !

A perfect match

Tapping into Madrid’s finest watering holes

Marit Harm tries a new menu at Restaurante Amayra, which looks to pair food and wine exquisitely

Happy couples We began the almost two-hour lunch with an appetising treat—a miniature glass filled with melon cube and prawn, and butter and herb sauce complimented with a balsamic reduction. A selection of fresh breads was also offered throughout the meal, but I recommend saving room for the not-so-ordinary dishes that are to come. The waiter then slowly poured a 2009 Llaume Llopart DO Cava to be paired with the next two courses. As the menu described the first as “ravioli”, my lunch date and I were both expecting some sort of pasta dish, but instead were each brought a plate with two delicious tempura croquettes filled with marrow, foie gras and a drizzle of a mango sauce and balsamic vinegar. The glass of Cava

complimented the dish perfectly. The next course brought a hint of traditional Spanish culture to the table with a gourmet twist on the favourite ham, egg and potatoes combination. We were each served a martini glass layered with a potato puree, an egg cooked ever so slightly to encapsulate the yolk, caramelized onions and a glistening slither of quality jamón. The texture of the smooth potatoes, while maybe lacking a little salt, and runny egg yolk mixed with the sweet onions and tasty jámon confused the palate, but in a new and exciting way.

Where? C/General Álvarez de Castro, 20 (Metro: IglesiaCanal). Tel: 91 594 1422. When? Open every day of the week: Sun-Wed, 12am-midnight; Thur, Fri, 12am-1am; Sat, 12am-2.30am.

t is often said that good food merits good wine, and also that Spain is host to some of the best wines in the world. The recently introduced Cata de Vinos (wine pairing) menu at Restaurante Amayra supports both statements. The menu features five wines chosen by wine expert Miguel Ángel Flores expertly paired with five inventive dishes created by head Chef Juan Pedro Lorero. The combinations compliment each other excellently. The ambience of the restaurant is clean and sharp with subtle hints of stylish décor thrown in. White linen tablecloths, lighted glass cases displaying wines and desserts, embellished pillows lining the benched seats create a glamorous experience. The suitclad staff function like clockwork: one to clear the table, one to re-set it, and most helpfully one to present the next pairing while matter-of-factly describing it.

Terra Nova

What? Terra Nova is one of those places that you may not have heard about, but once you´ve been there you´ll be planning many a return visit. It’s a German-themed cervecería, with over 40 types of beers (bottled and on tap), and warm and friendly atmosphere with a lot of cariño coming

To follow, a white wine, an Alargo 2009 DO Rías Baixas, was served with a carpaccio of red tuna under a cool sauce of diced tomatoes and onions. The dish was light and refreshing, reminding me more of summertime than the middle of November, but the chilled tuna taken with the crisp wine was spot on with regards to flavours. A dish that was a heavier and more reflective of the current season was the next to be savoured. Artistically placed in the middle of the gleaming white plate was a melt-inyour-mouth, juicy steak of pork (in fact cebón, a specially fattened pig) set atop a tomato and potato puree. However, the real star of the show was the slice of fried torta de la serena, a creamy Extremeduran cheese, that brought the whole dish together. A small bite of each element followed by a sip of the accompanying red wine, a full bodied Carril Cruzado 2005 DO Tierra de Castilla, really makes one appreciate the care it takes to create such a menu by understanding how different tastes work together to please the palate.

Sweet sensation Up to this point, I had tried to eat slowly and savour each bite while enjoying this rare and luxurious experience. The portions had been the perfect size, not overwhelming, which meant plenty of anticipation for the final dish. The dessert wine alone (Teatinos 2007 DO Ribera del Júcar) would have been a satisfying and sweet end to the meal, but matched with a generous scoop of thick and creamy dark chocolate mousse surrounded by a tangy and syrupy strawberry puree, it happily ended with a warm, sugar and alcohol-fired glow. We emerged from the restaurant onto the hustle and bustle of Calle Alcalá. After wining and dining in the pleasant and peaceful Amayra and being waited on by observant and accommodating staff, returning to the real world was somewhat of a shock. The meal was truly memorable, and shows what can be achieved when extra care is taken to combine the best ingredients into creative and original fare. And, of course, when wine and good food are chosen by experts, it’s so much easier to appreciate the subtleties, flavours and distinctions. The set cost was 39, which for the quality and extent of the menu proved a very competitive price. If you’re looking for a special occasion or treat this season, it comes highly recommended.

from the owners, Carlos and Christopher. It’s one of those easy-going places that´s perfect for meeting friends for a drink and a bite to eat, and is also popular for its bigscreen sports schedule, which includes football, rugby, basketball to name but a few. People? The crowd that you can expect to find at Terra Nova depends on the time and day that you visit. Weekday lunchtimes see local workers and office types coming in for the 11 menu del día. Late afternoon it’s a chilled affair with a few locals and passers-by and then from about 8pm the lights dim, the music rises and the bar fills up with a younger crowd who come to start their night. Food and drinks? As mentioned, there’s a huge range of beers including lagers, ales and wheat beers on offer, along with a “beer of the month” (cañas 2,20, bottles from 3,70). And the range just keeps growing as they are constantly trialling new regional and international varieties. If beer isn’t your preference then there is also a full stock of spirits and even a separate gin and rum menu ( 6-12 for copas and premium spirits). For food, Terra Nova boasts a triple cuisine menu: Spanish, German and Mexican. At first glance it seems a strange mix but over the last 13 years it’s become extremely popular. Highlights include the minihamburger (a work of art in itself), a range of German sausages (including a 400g marvel) and the delicious nachos (perfect with a beer or two). Anything else? One of the popular beers on tap is San Miguel 1516, whose name originates from the year in which Germany first introduced its “beer purity law”, permitting only four ingredients to be used in making the beverage: water, hops, barley, and yeast. Germans claimed that the law protected public health from harmful additives.

■ TOM BURGESS

Restaurante Amayra, C/Alcalá, 19 (via Hotel Regina). (Metro: Sevilla/Sol). Tel: 91 523 46 57. Sat-Mon, 1.304pm, 8.30-11.30pm; Sun, 8.30-11.30pm. www.restauranteamayra.com. (Yes, this ad is upside down on purpose!M)

Oriental tea house Arabic cuisine and cakes –Delicious Couscous– Tues-Sat, evenings: belly dancing Classes: belly dancing Arabic percussion Poetry circle– –P c/Martín de los Heros, 28. Tel: 91 559 57 85

DECEMBER 2010

W W W. I N M A D R I D . C O M

T H E E N G L I S H - L A N G U A G E M O N T H LY

Brighton shocks Best-selling author and film producer Peter James talks to Elizabeth Ellis about movies, crime, the supernatural and his latest novel, Dead Like You

t’s the dream every young film-maker has—to meet one of the world’s most acclaimed directors and gain an invaluable insight into the world of movie-making. Sadly, when a young Peter James found the chance staring him in the face, it didn’t quite work out that way. At that time, he was a film student who needed to make a few extra pounds and he’d spotted an ad for a cleaner: “Apply Mrs Welles”. “So,” Peter explains, “I went and met this pleasant lady and she said ‘Well, I was expecting a female, but I’ll give you a couple of weeks trial.’” He started by cleaning the kitchen and made a good enough job of it for the woman to ask him to do the skirting boards the following day. “I was down on my hands and knees when all of a sudden the post dropped through the letter box with letters addressed to Orson Welles. Now I was working for Mrs Welles, but I’m not always the sharpest tack in the box so I didn’t really connect the two. I just thought that it was really weird—‘Why is the post for Orson Welles coming here?’ And then the front door opened and Orson Welles walked in. He looked down at me, and I’m Mr Mop on my hands and knees, and he said ‘Good Morning’. I had ten million things I wanted to ask him, but all I could do was say ‘Gdd-duu-duv-de-dah-dah’ and then he was gone. The next day he flew to Morocco and that was it.”

Hits and misses Thankfully, that missed opportunity didn’t stop Brighton-born Peter from becoming a very successful film-maker, going on to produce, amongst others, the hit 2005 version of The Merchant of Venice, starring Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons and Joseph Fiennes, which he recalls as “the highlight of my career”, as well as 2003’s A Different Loyalty, starring Sharon Stone, a woman he describes as “just massive fun”. But it is an earlier film that brings a chuckle to his voice. “I got asked to make a saucy comedy with Leslie Phillips and Terry-Thomas so I wrote a script for a film which became called Spanish Fly.” Released in 1975 and shot on location in the Balearics, the film revolves around a British fashion designer who heads out to Spain for a photoshoot and meets up with an old school rival who has become a confidence trickster. “It was a slight disaster,” recalls Peter. “Barry Norman called it the worst British film since the Second World War.” Nevertheless, Peter still has kind words to say about his leading man, the legendary British actor Terry-Thomas. “A lot of actors are massively narcissistic with massive egos,” he says, “but the three that I’ve worked with that I most like are Al Pacino, Terry-Thomas and Sharon Stone.”

South coast secrets Now happily established as a worldwide best-selling author living between his homes in Brighton and London, one might think life must be a lot simpler for the 62-year-old. Not a chance. One day a week, Peter spends time with the Sussex Police, going out on the beat, visiting crime scenes and joining them in car chases or drugs busts. It is all part of the research he undertakes to make his stories as authentic as possible. Peter’s award-winning novels are based in Brighton—a nice, respectable British seaside resort. On the surface, it may seem that the most the police would have to worry about is keeping the panda cars clean from overhead seagulls, but Peter’s protagonist Detective Superintendent Roy Grace—based on real life copper Dave Gaylor, who is now a good pal of Peter’s—tackles the town’s dark and seedy underbelly, with cases involving snuff movies, body parts trafficking and, in his most recent work, Dead Like You, rape. T H E E N G L I S H - L A N G U A G E M O N T H LY

Peter James

Serious business The novel is a chilling read, based on the true story of a respectable businessman called James Lloyd who, between 1983 and 1986, attacked several women late at night in the northern England town of Rotherham, taking with him their stiletto shoes afterwards. He became known as the Rotherham Shoe Rapist. Lloyd was eventually tracked down in 2006, thanks to breakthroughs in DNA testing, and police discovered an incredible 126 shoes hidden under a trapdoor in his office, each individually wrapped in cellophane. “I thought that was such a chilling image,” says Peter. “In my writing, I try to deal with serious issues and rape is the least understood and, in many ways, possibly the most damaging of all crime. The clear-up rate for murder throughout Europe is about 90 percent. For rape, it’s about two percent. In Sussex, where there’s a massive initiative, it’s gone up to about six percent. But that’s just from what’s been reported, and there’s a lot that goes unreported.” He is also acutely aware of the destruction that’s wreaked on the victim. “I talked to some rape victims and one of them described it as like having her soul murdered,” he continues, “another said that if you’re raped by someone you know—and most people are raped by someone they know—you’ll never be able to trust anyone again.” In the novel, not only does Peter show the damage done to the victims, he also reveals the human side of the police investigating the crime. “In murder inquiries or a major crime like rape, you do tend to get senior police officers taking it very personally. They establish a rapport with the victim or the victim’s family, and I show that side as well.”

Ghost writing Another element of Peter’s writing is also an area in which he has first-hand experience: the supernatural. Once known as Britain’s Stephen King for his work pre-Roy Grace, the author has a fascination for the unknown, and claims that over the years he has shared his homes with various spirits. “My house had originally been a Roman villa, then a monastery and then a manor house,” he says, “and when we moved in, the owner said ‘We’ve got four ghosts here’.” As Peter was writing his supernatural books at the time, he assumed the owner was just joking. But then, on the very first day in the house, Peter saw something: “a slip of a shadow, like a bird.” It wasn’t just him. His mother-in-law, who was there at the time, saw it too. “The next day, I went down to the atrium, which had originally been the monastery chapel,” he continues. “As I entered, I saw these four pin-pricks of light. This happened the next day. And repeatedly every time I went into the room.” Two days later, a chance conversation with a villager sent a chill down Peter’s spine. “I was walking my dog,” he explains, “when this man came up to me and said ‘You’ve just bought the manor. How are you getting on with the grey lady?’ He said he used to house-sit and he was sitting in the atrium, where I’d been seeing these lights, when this woman in a grey silk crinoline walked out of the wall, brushed his face with the crinoline and disappeared. He’d never stepped foot in the place again.” His next home, in Lewes, didn’t fare any better—it was haunted by a whole gang of soldiers from a battle that had taken place in 1264. They’ve subsequently been given the heave-ho. But there is one place where the dead will continue to live: in Peter’s work. He’s just finished his next novel, Dead Man’s Grip, which will be published in May, and with a Roy Grace TV series being talked about, he has a character that is going to be with us for a long time to come. W W W. I N M A D R I D . C O M

DECEMBER 2010

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DECEMBER 2010

Rave on and on Jack Coory catches up with Danish duo The Raveonettes during their flying visit to Madrid to talk about their creative process, greatest hits and future plans he year is 2002 and The Strokes have blasted onto our airwaves with Last Nite, propelling the indie scene into the limelight. Barely a week goes by without some guy with greasy hair and a guitar being labelled a genius or the second-coming of Kurt Cobain. Behind the hype, however, another band is registering on our radar. In August of that year, Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo, the Danish duo who are The Raveonettes, released an eight track EP titled Whip it On, led by the immense single “Attack of the Ghost Riders”. “Lipstick on my face, thunder in the sky”—the opening lyrics to a song that owed as much to old-school horror flicks as it did to the Jesus & Mary Chain. A contagious track with an instant hook, it mastered the neat trick of being both nostalgic and modern at the same time. More than anything, it was sexy. There was something lustful about these mysterious Ghost Riders. Whip it On was quickly followed by the insanely underrated Chain Gang of Love in 2003, and took the themes of “Ghost Riders” further, making them more nuanced and richer. Eight years and three LPs later, I meet up with Wagner and Foo to discuss their career so far.

our favourite.” It is hard to argue with them on that matter. Whereas Chain Gang of Love, Pretty in Black (2005) and Lust, Lust, Lust (2007) succeeded in presenting a wonderful array of ideas in a consuming and original way, In & Out of Control appears scattered and, at times, plodding. This is not to say that it lacks some killer tracks—album opener “Bang!” is one of the most infectious and anthemic tracks that The Raveonettes have recorded, but it does fall flat on occasions.

Sister act

I was keen to probe them about their feelings on their back catalogue. Hearing me speak in glowing reverence to Chain Gang of Love, they quietly nod in accordance, with Wagner admitting “it is a great album.” It seems, however, that a personal highlight for both Wagner and Foo is 2005’s Pretty in Black. “It was a really nice album to record. We had a lovely studio in an old converted church up in the Catskill Mountains in New York State. We drunk a lot of wine and recorded lots of mellow and acoustic stuff, just overlooking these mountains as the thunder clouds approached in the distance.” The opening track, “The Heavens”, is a direct result of those sessions Testing and truth and sounds like nothing The The sound of The Raveonettes is Raveonettes have done before or unmistakable. Often centred on since. American 1950s cinematic themes, An intriguing footnote in The their music is classically and hopeRaveonettes’ career came two years lessly raunchy. Lyrics like “my girl ago during Sharin Foo’s pregnancy, is a little animal she always wants when her sister replaced her in the to fuck” and “I’m a jailbird baby group for a host of summer shows. …I’m just a prisoner of love” are “It got a little sad for me.” admits self-evident. Behind these themes Wagner, “because we played a lot of however, there is effortlessness shows that summer. In the beginand a desire to experiment that ning it was fun because of the novhas yielded a contrasting yet no elty aspect but in the end it got a less enjoyable back catalogue. little nostalgic.” Foo especially Songwriter Wagner confirms that lamented that she missed the these qualities are also coupled headlining performance at with a casual attitude to what Denmark’s legendary Roskilde fesPhoto (CC) flickr: musicisentropy tival. “As a Dane it is the biggest they release. “We like to experiment but we are also not the type of band who needs thing you can achieve [in music]—to perform at to perfect everything before we introduce it. We Roskilde on Friday night at 10pm. After the release of Lust, Lust, Lust we felt like we were performing a lot embrace an idea and then put it on display. Sometimes of great shows and everything was coming together so we may look back on it and be like..” he shrugs, as if it was a shame we had to stop that momentum.” the result isn’t always a completely satisfying one, A fifth full length album is pencilled in for March before adding “it’s a moment in time and then you 2011, and they tell me that they are due to start change.” recording in New York very shortly. “The plan is to Candid about their work, they reveal that their make a pretty back-to-basics kind of record and to most recent offering, 2009’s In & Out of Control, isn’t particularly great, something which goes against the make the album in four days. I want to start releasing grain of what most bands tend to proclaim (I’m looking an album every year now,” confesses Wagner. If he has at you Noel and Liam Gallagher). Wagner bluntly puts his way, Foo will be topping the Roskilde bill with The it “if we’re being honest, the latest album we did is not Raveonettes sooner than she thinks. W W W. I N M A D R I D . C O M

T H E E N G L I S H - L A N G U A G E M O N T H LY

Month Ahead art

Pi CK

■ BY ELENA RODEMANN

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza Po del Prado, 8 (Metro: Banco de España). Tel: 91 369 01 51. TueSun, 10am-7pm. General admission €8, students €5,50. Jardines impresionistas. It’s said that the garden symbolizes the meeting point of urban and rural life, and this theme is explored in the Thyssen’s current exhibition. Hosting some of the most important paintings of the 19th and 20th century, the works show how the introduction of hundreds of species of plants and exotic flowers from America, Asia and Africa sparked the impressionist movement. Monet,Caillebotte, Pissarro and Daubigny are featured. Until 13 Feb.

Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

o’ the month

essays. Together with Constelaciones, the Atlas Walter Benjamin will also be exhibited, in which you can browse a wide selection of the philosopher’s texts. The exhibition concludes with radio scripts that Benjamin wrote in the 30s for the German Southwest Radio in Frankfurt. Until 6 Feb.

Other galleries on&on. Fourteen artists from different generations and nationalities explore the changing aspects of art and compare it to the impermanence of life. La Casa Encendida, C/Ronda de Valencia, 2 (Metro: Embajadores). Tel: 902 430 322. Mon-Sun, 10am-10pm. Free. Until 16 Jan.

C/Santa Isabel, 52 (Metro: Atocha). Tel: 91 774 10 00. Mon-Sat, 10am-9pm; Tue, closed; Sun, 10am-2.30pm. General admission €6, temporary exhibition €3. Free: Mon; Wed-Fri, 7-9pm; Sat, 2.309pm; Sun, 10am-2.30pm. Palacio de Cristal y Palacio de Velázquez (Parque de El Retiro) Wed-Mon, 10am-6pm; Tues, closed. Jean-Luc Mylayne. Trazos del cielo en manos del tiempo. This French photographer chooses to narrate paradoxical stories of the physical world through beautiful portraits of the sky and its inhabitants. This exhibition takes place at the Palacio de Velázquez in the Retiro. Until 4 Apr.

Museo del Prado Po del Prado, s/n (Metro: Atocha). Tel: 91 330 28 00. Tue-Sun, 9am-8pm. General admission €8, students under 25 €4, permanent exhibition free. Tue-Sat, 6-8pm; Sun, 5-8pm. The relationship between Spain and South America has been lengthy and messy. The first official viceroyship in South America was established in 1535 shortly after the Aztec city-state of Tenochtitlan’s vicious defeat by one of Spain’s most ruthless conquistadors, Hernan Cortés. Years of violence and oppression followed, and South America experienced an Juan Martín Cabezalero almost complete eradication of its indigenous traditions and culture at the hands of European settlers. Some say, however, that times of great suffering bring about times of magnificent art. The Prado’s Pintura de los reinos. Identidades compartidas en el mundo hispánico (Painting from the Viceroyalties. Shared Identities in the Hispanic World) exhibits paintings from the 16th and 17th century to demonstrate how the Spanish monarchy helped trigger the epoch’s artistic and intellectual development. Until 30 Jan.

dent disorder. Blanca Berlín Galería, C/Limón, 28 (Metro: Ventura Rodriguez). Tel: 91 542 93 13. Mon-Sat, 10.30am-2.30pm, 7-9pm. Until 8 Jan.

Círculo de Bellas Artes C/Alcalá, 42 (Metro: Sevilla/Banco de España). Tel: 91 360 54 00. Mon closed. Tue-Sat 11am-2pm, 5-9pm. Sun 11am-2pm. €1. Walter Benjamin. Constelaciones. Benjamin is regarded as one of the most influential philosophers of contemporary thought, and here the central concepts of his work are demonstrated in an audiovisual piece. This consists of a set of visual quotes, scenes from films, photographs, paintings, sound recordings, animations and historical documents with fragments of texts from his most famous

Pintura de los reinos. Identidades compartidas en el mundo hispánico.

Boarding House

Roger Ballen

Roger Ballen. This South African artist challenges the limits of photography in order to combine the social and psychological sides of humanity. In 2002, Ballen won the prize for Photographer of the Year and since then has been exhibited in more than 50 galleries all over the world. Galería Max Estrella, C/Santo Tomé, 6 (Metro: Chueca/Colón). Tel: 91 319 55 17. Mon-Fri, 10am-2pm, 4.308.30pm; Sat, 11am2pm, 5-8.30pm. Until 29 Jan.

Eva Armisén. Una cabeza sembrada. Armisén is known for using a variety of techniques in her paintings and even writes on the canvasses. Her current work centralizes around the potential of our imagination, and the importance of stimulating and nourishing it. Arana Poveda, C/Lope de Vega, 22 (Metro: Antón Martin/Banco de España). Tel: 91 389 60 73. Mon-Fri, 11am2.00pm, 5-8.30pm; Sat, 11am-2pm. Until 15 Dec.

John Gutmann

El espíritu encerrado. Badri Lomsianidze. Combining photography, newspaper, paint and other materials to capture energetic and unique still life, this Georgian ar tist looks to prove that there can be Badri Lomsianidze harmony amidst deca-

theatre

John Gutmann (1905–1998). Having fled Nazi Germany, Gutmann moved to the United States and became a photojournalist who focused on American urban and street life. His photos offer a glimpse of what life was like during and after World War Two. Fundación Cultural Mapfre, Po Recoletos, 23 (Metro: Colon/Banco de España). Tel: 91 581 61 00. Mon, 2-8pm; Tue-Sat, 10am-8pm; Sun, 12-8pm. Free. Until 16 Jan.

■ BY RAVEN KELLER

dance

Blancanieves Boulevard The Roaring Twenties were an exciting time of social, artistic and cultural change in the United States and the major cities of Europe. After World War One, jazz music gained popularity, new inventions like the automobile, moving pictures and the radio became available and modern womanhood was redefined. Set in this time of breaking from tradition, Blancanieves Boulevard (Snow White Boulevard) tells the story of a top actress, Barbara Milton, who will do anything to keep her place as queen of the stage. Unlike anything you’ve seen before, the energetic and attractive cast of 25 actors play over 120 characters in this two-hour production. The show won Best Musical at the National Music Theatre Awards this year, and features spectacular stunts, eight scene changes, special effects and 17 original songs which you may find yourself singing through the rest of the winter. Jana Productions and Director Javier Muñoz bring the energy of the Big Band era, complete with flapper dresses, suspenders and “fat cats”. Teatro de Madrid, Avda. de la Ilustración, s/n La Vaguada (Metro: Herrera Oria/Barrio del Pilar.) Tel: 91 730 17 50. Tickets (entradas.com or teatromadrid.com) €12-28, 16 Dec-9 Jan.

Metropolis Metropolis is a stage adaptation of the famous 1926 Fritz Lang sci-fi film of the same name. Seventeen actors and dancers accompanied by live music tell the story of an urban dystopia after social crisis under capitalism. With futuristic lighting special effects, the cast reinvents the German expressionist original into a memorable, multi-disciplinary performance. Teatro del Canal, C/Cea Bermúdez, 1 (Metro: Canal). Tel: 91 308 99 50. Tickets (entradas.com) €15. F ri-Sun 8.30pm, 10-12 Dec. T H E E N G L I S H - L A N G U A G E M O N T H LY

Eva Armisen

■ BY RAVEN KELLER

La Niña que Riega la Albahaca y el Príncipe Pregutón

Blancanieves Boulevard

Un Rico, Tres Pobres Un Rico, Tres Pobres is a tragicomedy based on a 1986 novel by Louis Calaferte. The play is a succession of short scenes which are connected by the social relationships of the characters. These relationships express the way that humans are either bound to, or disengaged from, one another throughout their lives. The one-night only performance features clowns and puppets who mock politics, religion and other contentious areas of society, and looks to shake individuals from their daily routine. Teatro Liberarte, C/Francisco Conde, 6 (Metro: Ventilla). Tel: 91 733 00 29. Tickets (entradas.com, atrapalo.com) €7. 9pm, 16 Dec.

Momentos de Jamming The theatre company “Jamming” has spent years developing its brand of improvisational theatre. In Momentos, actors and improvisers generate a collagelike show in response to suggestions from the audience. Sala TIS, C/Primavera, 11 (Metro: Lavapiés). Tel: 91 528 13 59. Tickets (entradas.com) €12-15. Sun 8.30pm, 5, 12, 19, 26 Dec.

W W W. I N M A D R I D . C O M

December is a great month to take the family to see dance and musical theatre. With a wild, humorous title, La Niña que Riega la Albahaca y el Príncipe Pregutón (A Girl Who Waters the Basil and Prince Pregitón), this show promises lots of laughter for both parents and children. The music, poetry, dance and humour is based on an old Andalusian tale of a fine prince, a magician and a young girl who create a sweet, simple yet energetic story. Teatro Pradillo, C/Pradillo, 12 (Metro: Concha Espina) Tel: 91 416 90 11. Tickets (entradas.com) €8-12. Sat, 5pm, 11, 18 Dec; Sun, 12.30pm, 12, 19 Dec; Wed, 5pm, 7pm, 29 Dec; Thur, 12pm, 30 Dec.

La Mar de Formas This is the Madrid premiere of La Mar de Formas (Sea of Forms), and a great opportunity to introduce young children to dance. Recommended for kids over the age of three, this performance is propelled by all of the shapes, angles and waves that make the world work. The dance of spontaneous forms begins with beach-goers constructing a seaside. The set moves into the ocean and encounters helical objects, waves and a series of mythological characters including a mermaid and a terrible king. The performance runs for just two days, and is sure to become a family favourite.

Teatro Pradillo, C/Pradillo, 12 (Metro: Concha Espina) Tel: 91 416 90 11. Tickets (entradas.com) €8-12. Sat, 5pm, 4 Dec; Sun, 12.30pm, 5 Dec.

CSD María de Avila For its tenth anniversary, DT Espacio Escénico welcomes audiences to contemporary dance performances that are “a genuine commitment to the future”. Choreographed by the DT students and their professors, this is the school’s second consecutive year of opening its doors to the public so that the spectacular quality of their work can be seen. DT Espacio Escenico, C/de la Reina, 9 (Metro: Gran Vía ) Tel: 91 521 71 55. Tickets (entradas.com, dtespacioescenico) €10. Thur-Sat, 9pm. 2-18 Dec.

DECEMBER 2010

■ BY OLIVIA WATERS

Mon 6 Dec La Riviera, P° Bajo de La Virgen, s/n (Metro: Puerta del Ángel/Príncipe Pio). Tel: 91 365 24 15. www.salariviera.com 28 from www.ticketmaster.es Named as one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world, and one of Esquire’s 75 most influential people of the 21st century (which is not bad considering we are only one decade in), Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam—M.I.A to most—is something of a revelation. Born and raised in London to parents of Sri Lankan Tamil descent, M.I.A’s music encompasses everything from hip hop to blues, reggae and soul, with a bit of alternative rock, grime and electro thrown in for good measure. Big on the underground scene for years, commercial success came with her contribution to the soundtrack of hit movie Slumdog Millionaire. Her performances are energetic, chaotic and highly individual; a reflection of both herself and her music. In a world full of so many “so-so” artists, this woman is a bright, shining star, and should not be missed under any circumstances.

Memphis Industries

Having an unusual name affects people in different ways. For musician Ryan Graveface, it seems his musical projects need names as equally eye-catching as his own. So, taking a break from his regular electronic outfit Black Moth Super Rainbow, Ryan, under the artistic pseudonym Dreamend, has released the solo album So I Ate Myself Bite by Bite. But does the album have bite? Well, certainly if you’re a modern Americana lover with a penchant for The Animal Collective’s homespun noise-scapes you might think so. Better get ready for some banjo though—it’s what rules the roost, with Graveface showing both its folk-sweet side and the instrument’s darker qualities. It’s an enigma that serves the record well. Opener “Pink Cloud in the Woods” starts off as elfin and pastoral as the title suggests, awash with glockenspiel, before half-heard murmurs and a tick-tock percussion descend and we enter a more sinister environment. While elsewhere the record delivers untinkered sweetness—“Where Do You Belong?” contains a whistling solo—it’s this dark heart that impresses, and no more so than on the record’s ten-minute finale, “An Admission”.

Cee Lo Green The Lady Killer Elektra This was the year when Cee Lo Green’s late summer chart-topper, “Fuck You”, showed how much everyone likes a good soul pastiche—and swearing. Annoying and ubiquitous, the song did a good job in highlighting the increased irrelevance of “old media” censorship (and was even covered by William Shatner). But its success means expectations have rocketed for The Lady Killer, Green’s third solo album, which includes both the original (“Forget You”) and censored version of his four-letter-word single. Ironically, it’s this song that sits uncomfortably with the rest. Throughout proceedings, the larger than life Cee Lo casts himself as a kind of James Bond figure, with the album playing out his fantasies of lust, rejection and seduction. Starting with a spoken-word introduction, Cee Lo introduces himself as someone whose “name is not important”, to a cheesy lounge piano backing. It continues with the crisply arranged “Wildflower” and “I Want You”, two slow, slushy numbers which showcase Green’s expansive voice. The sauntering pace is picked up with “Bright Lights, Bigger City”, which samples “Billie Jean”, though by that point it becomes hard to escape the impression that however slickly and expensively produced The Lady Killer is, there’s precious little going on between the ears to maintain your attention for long.

Rihanna Loud Def Jam When my young students came to class one day singing about the rain and umbrellas, I assumed it was something they’d just learnt at school. But no, it was pop diva Rihanna I had to thank for their sudden English fluency and, years after “Umbrella” graced MTV, the Barbadian returns with her fifth album in as many years. Loud is meant to mark a return to the slick pop for which she’s best known, following the darker introspection of “Rated R”. But while the vigorous vocal performance of “Only Girl (In the World)” and the bracing catchiness of “What’s my Name?” show she hasn’t lost her mojo, a brazen sexuality and bluntness seems to have taken hold which, considering her well-documented troubles, you might consider regressive. Album opener “S&M” includes the line “Sticks and stones may break my bones/But chains and whips excite me”, and elsewhere we learn that she likes rough sex. The prime cuts of the album feel less like attempts to recalibrate her image, with the swaggering Barbados-tinged murder ballad “Man Down” and the volatile menace of the Eminem collaboration “Love the Way You Lie (Part 2)” being particular high points. It’s a patchy collection of songs that gives us little clue as to what step her music will take next.

DECEMBER 2010

Sun 12 Dec Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid, C/Jorge Juan, 99 (Metro: Goya/O Donnell). Tel. 91 401 91 04. www.palaciodedeportes.com . 65 from www.ticketmaster.es Lady Gaga—bigger than Jesus, maybe even bigger than the Beatles (although that has yet to be confirmed), and coming to a stadium near you. With being so busy shocking the world by donning dresses made entirely out of raw meat, mysterious fainting episodes and spreading rumours about the possibility of some male “equipment” lurking underneath those teeny-tiny pants of hers, it’s a wonder that Gaga actually has any time to make any music. But make it she does, and with each new hit, each eagerlyanticipated video, she delights her army of little monsters everywhere. Whether you think she’s a genius in bubble-wrap disguise, or just a bit of a plonker, there is no denying that this woman knows how to put on a show. Expect your jaw to hit the floor on the 12th.

30 Seconds To Mars Fri 17 Dec Palacio de Vistalegre, C/de Utebo, 1 Tel: 91 563 94 93. (Metro: Vistalegre) www.palaciovistalegre.com. 32 from www.ticketmaster.es High-volume American rock band, 30 Seconds To Mars, will be shaking things up this month, making their second appearance in Madrid since autumn. Headlining vocalist, Jared Leto, and the rest of the grungy but oh-sopopular band members, performed earlier this season at the MTV European Music Awards in Puerta de Alcalá, satisfying a sea of music-hungry madrileños with heavy beats and dark lyrics. Since their formation in 1998, 30 Seconds To Mars have received a variety of honours, including the 2007 Kerrang! award for “best single” with “The Kill” and the Photo (CC) flickr: Cassandrax “best rock band” award at the aforementioned MTV EMAs. After the success of their third studio album, This is War, last December, there is a guaranteed adrenaline rush, and as their name suggests, the concert should be out of this world. Kedzie Teller

MGMT

Photo (CC) flickr: aurelien

Dreamend So I Ate Myself Bite by Bite

Lady Gaga

Fri 17 Dec La Riviera, P° Bajo de La Virgen, s/n (Metro: Puerta del Ángel/Príncipe Pio). Tel: 91 365 24 15. www.salariviera.com . 25 from www.ticketmaster.es The psychedelic rockers from Brooklyn stormed into music history with their debut album Oracular Spectacular in 2008, an ecstatic record of fuzzy, bubbly, acid-induced genius which soon became a staple in the record collections of indie kids everywhere. Their second offering, Congratulations, is a glaringly obvious move away from their singles-friendly debut, with its exclusive tone, half-finished songs and baffling lyrics. The lads got booed in London recently for refusing to play their chart-topper “Kids” during their set, so if you are heading to La Riviera on the 17th don’t go expecting a crowd-pleaser; instead, leave your expectations and pre-conceptions at home and you will be rewarded with a spot of mind-altering, rule-breaking, “concept” rock and roll.

Kings of Leon

Photo (CC) flickr: alterna

The Concretes WYWH Friendly Fire

Photo (CC) flickr: louis_beche

M.I.A

Russell Parton gets out his olives and tells us what we should, or shouldn’t, be listening to Keeping the band name after the original singer Victoria Bergsman left the group was probably a useful expedient for The Concretes, but, listening to the group’s latest release WYWH, it does draw attention to the fact that her distinctive vocals were one of the Swedish outfit’s best selling-points. Though most of the members remain the same, WYWH could have been made by an entirely different band. Touted as a disco album, it’s not quite that—though its sound is certainly tighter than previous albums. Pains have clearly been taken to provide dance floor ready bass lines, though the success of this is a moot point. The pulsating bass of “Good Evening” and “All Day” show promise but both tracks lose their direction mid-way through. Fortunately, the album has some great melodies to fall back on. “Oh My Love” exudes a minimalist beauty, its chorus simply the song title accompanied by a glockenspiel, while singer Lisa Milberg closes the album with a detached theatricality that’s difficult not to admire, as she declares “you and I, we’re just a postcard, wish you were here, with love, best regards”.

See the Christmas circus at Teatro Circo Price from 3 Dec to 9 Jan. A host of international acts will take part. See www.teatrocircoprice.es

Photo (CC) flickr: domain_barnyard

for the record

concerts

Wed 1 Dec Palacio de Vistalegre, C/de Utebo, 1 Tel: 91 563 94 93. (Metro: Vistalegre). www.palaciovistalegre.com. 46 from www.ticketmaster.es As a die-hard Kings of Leon fan, this writer is somewhat reluctant to admit that the Followill brothers (despite their many charms) seem to have forgotten the one requirement for true rock stars these days—don’t, under any circumstances “sell out”. Following the mega success of their last album, Only By The Night, which sold over eight million copies, it would seem that the former moustache-rocking, plaid-shirt wearing Tennessee boys have done the unthinkable and begun to believe their own hype. Their fifth offering, Come Around Sundown, is a guaranteed hit as the massive success of last year’s single “Sex on Fire” brought with it an army of adoring new fans who will no doubt spend their hard earned pocket money on the latest slice of KoL ear candy. To their credit, it does appear that the boys are aware that they’ve lost their southern-fried rock rawness, and are thus attempting to claw it back with new tracks that speak longingly of home and simpler times. Come Around Sundown’s one true gem, “Back Down South” is an absolute treat, simple to the end and almost enough to redeem the otherwise lacklustre efforts. The 1 December is your chance to see if Kings of Leon can be hailed Kings of Madrid.

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booking ahead Feeder Thur 27 Jan, Sala Caracol, C/Sebastián Elcano, 18 (Metro: Embajadores). Tel: 91 527 35 94 www.salacaracol.com. 22 from www.ticketmaster.es Thin Lizzy Fri 28 Jan, Joy Eslava, C/Arenal, 8 (Metro: Sol). Tel: 91 366 54 39. www.joyeslava.com. 34 from www.ticketmaster.es Skunk Anansie Wed 9 Feb, La Riviera, P° Bajo de La Virgen, s/n (Metro: Puerta del Ángel/Príncipe Pio). Tel: 91 365 24 15. www.salariviera.com. 27 from www.ticketmaster.es The Script Sun 13 Feb, La Riviera, P° Bajo de La Virgen, s/n (Metro: Puerta del Ángel/Príncipe Pio). Tel: 91 365 24 15. www.salariviera.com. 23 from www.ticketmaster.es The Wombats Mon 28 Feb, Joy Eslava, C/Arenal, 8 (Metro: Sol). Tel: 91 366 54 39. www.joy-eslava.com. 20 from www.ticketmaster.es Roger Waters Fri 25 Mar, Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid, C/Jorge Juan, 99 (Metro: Goya/O’Donnell). Tel: 91 401 91 04. www.palaciodedeportes.com. 50 from www.ticketmaster.es Deerhunter Thur 14 Apr, La Riviera, P° Bajo de La Virgen, s/n (Metro: Puerta del Ángel/Príncipe Pio). Tel: 91 365 24 15. www.salariviera.com. 25 from www.ticketmaster.es

T H E E N G L I S H - L A N G U A G E M O N T H LY

live listings Rock/pop

BOITE c/Tetuán, 27 (Metro: Sol). Tel: 91 522 96 20 www.boitemadrid.com 1 Dec: Evergreen Terrace + Casey Jones + Read My Lips 3 Dec: Trad Montana y Lil Ghalin 7 Dec: El Mundo de Wayne + Por Placer 8 Dec: Michel Cloup 9 Dec: Zoomao 10 Dec: Com.Pulsion + Intercliner 16 Dec: Backbone + Overdown 17 Dec: El Sr Rojo + DJ Grasshopper + Elio Toffana

SALA CLAMORES c/Albuquerque, 14 (Metro: Bilbao). Tel: 91 445 79 38. www.salaclamores.com 1 Dec: The Soul & Blues Bank 2 Dec: Josh Rouse 3Dec: Higher State 4 Dec: Jayme Marques Trío 5 Dec: Jhosemaría + The Sonrisa de Julia 6 Dec: Liqui2 + Abdon Alcaraz 7 Dec: Sputnik Mon Amour + La Ultima Apuesta 8 Dec: Quartetto Mínimo + Jerry Gonzalez Band 9 Dec: Agasoul 10 Dec: Inverso 2010 11 Dec: Los Petersellers + Batusiera 12 Dec: Diego Guerrero y El Solar de Artistas 13 Dec: Ara Malikian—Fernando Egozcue Quintet 14 Dec: Ara Malikian—Fernando Egozcue Quintet 15 Dec: Ajo y Javier Colis 16 Dec: Capaullo de Jerez 17 Dec: Ea! 18 Dec: un Pingüino En Mi Ascensor 19 Dec: Christmas a Capella 20 Dec: El Perro del Bar 21 Dec: Andrés Suarez 22 Dec: Abe Rábade Trío 23 Dec: Alex Aldama 25 Dec: Lou Marini & Red House 26 Dec: The Rockies + Lou Marini & Red House 27 Dec: Lou Marini & Red House 28 Dec: Pedro Iturralde Quartet 29 Dec: Pedro Iturralde Quartet 30 Dec: Pedro Iturralde Quartet

COSTELLO CLUB c/Caballero de Gracia, 10 (Metro: Gran Vía) Tel: 91 522 18 15. www.costelloclub.com 2 Dec: DJ Mayorala & DJ Man 3 Dec: GATA 4 Dec: You Don’t Know Me + The Bankers 7 Dec: GPS y Costello Club presentan Napolean Solo 9 Dec: Volador Ecuacion Planck 10 Dec: Dudde 11 Dec: GPS y Costello Club presentan: Master Hyde 16 Dec: Movistar 17 Dec: John Tirado & The Dark Sparks 18 Dec: Vittula 23 Dec: Locos de Atar + Supernadie 25 Dec: Matt (Reach Out & Fuck Somebody)

SALA GALILEO GALILEI c/ de Galileo, 100 (Metro: Islas Filipinas/Canal). Tel: 91 534 75 57/58. www.salagalileogalilei.com 1 Dec: 3 Pescados 3 2 Dec: Esmerelda Grao 3 Dec: Prímital 4 Dec: El Hombre Linterna 5 Dec: Scaena 6 Dec: Javier Bergia 7 Dec: Biodramina Mood 8 Dec: Tajabone

9 Dec: Maui y Los Sirénidos 10 Dec: Los Limones 11 Dec: La Ley de Murphi + Profecía de Casandra 12 Dec: Claudia Cenci 13 Dec: Los Ilustres Ignorantes de CANAL+ 14 Dec: Noche de Jazz Producciones Psicotrónicas 15 Dec: Javier Ruibal 16 Dec: Noche Sabinera 17 Dec: Noche Sabinera 18 Dec: Luis Ramiro 19 Dec: Metrópolis ce 20 Dec: Una Calle para Hilario Camacho 21 Dec: Osvaldo Ciccioli 22 Dec: Al-Andalus 23 Dec: Cabalgata de Reyes de Hortaleza con Agustín Jiminéz 25 Dec: Ochentaycuatro 26 Dec: Barahunda 27 Dec: Tókalo 29 Dec: Black Light Gospel Choir 30 Dec: Marwan

GRUTA 77 c/Cuclillo, 6 (Metro: Oporto). Tel: 91 471 23 70. www.gruta77.com 1 Dec: Miguel Blanco + Yeril et les Pompettes en Follie + Skejby 2 Dec: Noho + Adrift 3 Dec: Color Humano + Hijos de King Kong 4 Dec: Burning + Yazukas 5 Dec: La Broma Negra + Carta Baladí + Resaca de Baco 6 Dec: The Toasters + Sally Brown 7 Dec: Angel’s Storm + Kontragolpe + El Ultimo Cuplé 8 Dec: The Last Killers + Hermosos Vencidos 9 Dec: Youth Brigade 10 Dec: Kike Jambalaya + The Jackpots 11 Dec: El Vicio del Duende + Tremendos 12 Dec_ Zitelus + Still Retro 14 Dec: Headless Horsemen + Insaciables 15 Dec: Dr Muerte + Laura Bruja + Nohmada 16 Dec: Dusty Trip + Reducers 17 Dec: Howlin’ Rain + Bubble Bones 18 Dec: Los Sexys 19 Dec: Engendro + Dixlesia 21 Dec: Jackmen 22 Dec: Downtown Alligators + The Ramblin Blues 23 Dec: Mamá Ladilla + Tripolar 25 Dec: Suann + Blow Up 26 Dec: Los Macabros + Distortion 50 28 Dec: Gin & The Tonics + Indecentes + Bajo Instinto 29 Dec: Falsa Monea + Los Granitos de Arena 30 Dec: DDT + PD Indio 31 Dec: El Chivi + Los Babas + Sesión Pinchadiscos

JOY ESLAVA c/Arenal, 8 (Metro: Sol). Tel: 91 366 54 39. www.joy-eslava.com 2 Dec: The Divine Comedy 10 Dec: Maika Makovski 22 Dec: M-Clan

SALA JUGLAR c/Lavapiés, 37 (Metro: Lavapiés). Tel: 91 528 43 81. www.salajuglar.com 1 Dec: Julian Elsie 2 Dec: The Rebels 3 Dec: Ping Pong City 4 Dec: La Noche de la Iguana 6 Dec: Muyayo Rif 7 Dec: DD/MM/YYY 8 Dec: Bien Por Will + Million 10 Dec: Aerostato 11 Dec: Bittersheets 13 Dec: Elf Power 15 Dec: Nico Deliso 16 Dec: Walden Dos 18 Dec: Musgho + Madame Club

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COMPILED BY OLIVIA WATERS 19 Dec: Sacromonte 21 Dec: La Espartera 22 Dec: The Borzas 23 Dec: Ojos de Gamba 25 Dec. L.A.B 26 Dec: Mancarro 30 Dec: Muffin Reloaded

PALACIO DE DEPORTES DE LA COMUNIDAD DE MADRID c/Jorge Juan 99 (Metro: Goya/O’ Donnell). Tel. 914 019 104. www.palaciodedeportes.com 1 Dec: Bunbury 10 Dec: Premios 40 Principales 12 Dec: Lady Gaga 18 Dec: Pereza 30 Dec: Fito & Fitipaldis

CAFÉ LA PALMA, c/Palma, 62 (Metro: Noviciado). Tel: 91 522 50 31. www.cafelapalma.com 2 Dec: Disphonic 3 Dec: The Loop 4 Dec: Mr Blacky + JESU + Títeres 5 Dec: Eladio y los Seres Queridos

LA RIVIERA P° Bajo de La Virgen, s/n (Metro: Puerta del Ángel/Príncipe Pio). Tel: 91 365 24 15. www.salariviera.com 1 Dec: Gentleman 2 Dec: The Bloody Beetroots 3 Dec: Picnic Estraterrestre en La Riviera 6 Dec: M.I.A 8 Dec: Deftones 10 Dec: Barricada 11 Dec: Lori Meyers 14 Dec: Airbourne 17 Dec: MGMT 18 Dec: Muchachito Bombo Infierno 19 Dec: Motorhead

SALA SIROCO c/San Dimas, 3 (Metro: Noviciado). Tel: 606 421 750. www.siroco.es 2 Dec: Beat Down 2 Dec: Los Claveles + Tigres Leones + Gran viernes 4 Dec: Patricio B + Marazu 9 Dec: Rebe + The Akaros 10 Dec: Supertrópica + Misterio Sonara 11 Dec: Raul Querido + Hazte Lapón + Rusos Blancos 16 Dec: Entre Papeles 17 Dec: Polock 18 Dec: Lecciones de vuelo 21 Dec: Dr Explosion + Las Mártires de Uganda 22 Dec: Paco Clavel 23 Dec: Gregtown 25 Dec: New Demolators 28 Dec: Guadalupe Plata 29 Dec: Los Nastys 30 Dec: Pure Vibes con Bratt

Flamenco LAS TABLAS Plaza de España, 9 (Metro: Plaza de España). Tel: 91 542 05 20. www.lastablasmadrid.com CARDAMOMO C/Echegaray, 15 (Metro: Sol). Tel: 91 369 07 57. www.cardamomo.es CASA PATAS C/ Cañizares, 10 (Metro: Antón Martín). Tel: 91 369 04 96. www.casapatas.com

Celtic/folk Finbars. Tel: 91 548 37 93 The Irish Rover. Tel: 91 597 48 11 Taberna Elisa. Tel: 91 369 74 263

nightlife

We do our best to keep these listings up to date but clubs come and go so if you see anything incorrect in here, please let us know by sending an email to editor@inmadrid.com. You’ll automatically be entered in a draw to win a free pair of cinema tickets

■ COMPILED BY EMMA PARNWELL

: Cheap,

: A bit more pricey,

: Damn! That’s expensive!

dance & mixed CLUB COLORS, Laydown, Plaza de los Mostenses, 9 (Plaza de España). First & third Fri of the month, 12.30am-3am. www.myspace.com/clubcolors Dance, sit, or even lie down while listening to the beats inspired by different electronic and dance genres at this “sexy groove session”. COPOLACLUB, c/San Hermenegildo, 7 (San Bernardo/Noviciado). Wed-Sun 11pm-3.30am. www.copolaclub.com Funky disco-bar with jazz, soul, pop and chilled house upstairs and electronica and techno downstairs. Test out your DJ skills on weeknights. € FOROCIO.COM FIESTA DE INTERCAMBIO, Sala Torero, c/Cruz, 26 (Sevilla). Wed. www.forocio.com. Meet people from all over the world at this awesome international party. € JOY ESLAVA, c/Arenal, 11 (Sol). Daily 11.30pm-6am. www.joy-eslava.com. Hosting lots of guest bands and DJs, Joy attracts a mixed crowd who get all dolled up to dance to an eclectic mix of music. €€ KAPITAL, c/Atocha, 125 (Atocha). Thur-Sat midnight6am. Over-the-top seven-floor macro-club playing everything from house to hip hop to Spanish pop. €€€ NEU!CLUB, Sala Galileo Galilei, c/Galileo, 100 (Islas Filipinas). Sat 9.30pm-5.30am. myspace.com/neuclub. Electronica, bluegrass, Motown, 60s, rock and pop during the musical, cultural and audiovisual nights, plus live music and DJ sessions. €€ OCHO Y MEDIO, c/Mesonero Romanos, 13, corner of Gran Vía, 34 (Callao). Fri 1-6am. myspace.com/ochoymedio. Popular night featuring electro-disco, bastard-pop, punk-rock, new wave and postpunk. €€ OUI MADRID, c/Jorge Juan, 99 (Goya). Thur-Sat midnight-3am. www.ouimad.com. Start the night off right at this chic restaurant which turns into a nightclub around midnight. Take the elevator to the top floor and dive into the crush of people. Don’t forget to dress to the nines! €€€ PACHA, c/Barcelo, 11 (Tribunal). Thur-Sat midnight-6am. www.pacha-madrid.com. Ultra-classy Pacha, a major force in Madrid since the 80s, now plays house, hip hop and commercial music on three floors. Worth a try, but leave those Converse at home! €€€ REINA BRUJA, c/Jacometrezo, 6 (Callao/Santo Domingo). Fri-Sat 11pm-5.30am. www.reinabruja.com. Well-mixed, popular hip hop and R&B for the fashionable youth of Madrid. €€ YA’STA, c/Valverde, 10 (Gran Vía). Thur-Sat midnight6am. www.yastaclub.net. Thursdays are jazz, funk and soul, Fridays are dirty rock and electro, and Saturdays are techno and psychedelic trance. Talk about a complete weekend! €€

indie pop & rock ESPIRAL POP, c/San Andrés, 23 (Tribunal/Bilbao). Wed-Sun 11pm-3am. myspace.com/espiralpop. Pop and electro pop at this funky café with featured DJs. € INDEPENDANCE CLUB, c/Santa Engracia, 26 (Alonso Martínez). Thur-Fri-Sat midnight-6am. www.independanceclub.com. Enjoy popular, danceable indie-pop and rock at this excellent indie club. Email info@independanceclub.com with your full name, number of people and day attending for free entry! € SALA TABOO, c/San Vicente Ferrer, 23 (Tribunal). Thur-Sat 11pm-5.30am. www.taboo-madrid.com. Hosting both concerts and DJs, this Malasaña venue has it all, from funky electronica to punk-rock to trip-hop by upcoming artists. Watch out for its indie night, Dots Club, on Thursdays. €€ TRANSMISSION CLUB, Sala Star Studio 54, Plaza del Carmen, 3, lower floor (Sol). Fri 11pm-3am. myspace.com/transmission_club. Here’s a bar with a heavy musical focus, even mixing up the styles—postpunk, gothic, 80s and more—depending on the night. € TUPPERWARE, c/Corredera Alto de San Pablo, 26 (Tribunal). Wed-Sun 10pm-3am. myspace.com/tupperwarebar. Super-kitsch design and an indie-pop vibe that gets everyone dancing. € WILD THING BAR, c/Martín Machio, 2 (corner Padre Claret) (Alfonso XIII). Sun-Thur 9pm-close, Fri-Sat 10pm-close. www.wildthing.es. DJs rock this artsy bar with 90s and indie greats every night of the week. Make sure you take advantage of its happy hour on Thursdays from 9pm to 1am, when beers are only €2! €

electro, house, techno & drum’n’bass CAPOTE, c/Santa Teresa, 3 (Alonso Martínez). TuesSat 10pm-5am. This little gem of a bar puts on a good show with resident DJs Timo and Roberto Jean. Enjoy some tasty house music to whet your appetite. €€ CASSETTE CLUB, Sala Boite, c/Tetuan, 27 (Sol). Sun midnight-6am. myspace.com/clubcassette. Electro to

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Foreign Beggars @ Sala Heineken

Nightlife Spotlight

C/Princesa, 1 (Metro: Plaza de España), Thurs 2 Dec, www.salaheineken.com The critically acclaimed London quintet hit Madrid as part of their European tour injecting the city with a healthy dose of UK hip hop, grime and dubstep. Having been together for well over a decade, these guys have spanned the genres of the UK dance and urban music scene and their lyrically complex rhymes are performed by some of the best MCs around. Playing an exhausting amount of live gigs every year, Foreign Beggars are known for their energy-fuelled live performances that never fail to deliver. 17 help ease you into the working week with a smile on your face. A cool night for a cool crowd. €€ DARK HOLE, Sala Flamingo, c/Mesonero Romanos, 13 (Callao/Gran Vía). Sat 1-6am. myspace.com/darkholegothicclub. Madrid’s unofficial gothic headquarters. Listen to dark ambient, electro and goth music until dawn. €€ DOMINION CLUB, Sala Jala Jala, c/la Puebla, 6 (Callao/Gran Vía). Fri 10.30pm-3am. www.myspace.com/dominionclubmadrid DJs Fran Raven and guests spin a dark mix of EBM, dark electro, synth pop, industrial electro and future pop. FREE DU:OM, Sala Heineken, c/Princesa, 1 (Plaza de España). Fri-Sat midnight-6am. www.duomclub.com. Dress to impress and dance the night away to house and progressive house provided by some truly talented DJs: Hugo Serra, Iván Pica and Pombo. €€€ ELIXIR, Changó, c/Luchana (corner of Covarrubias) (Iglesia/Bilbao). Sat midnight-6am. A classy venue with good-looking people, hot go-gos, decadent design and dance music till dawn. €€€ LOW CLUB, Sala Pirandello 1, c/Princesa, 3 (Plaza de España). Fri-Sat midnight-6am. www.intromusica.com. Spend your weekends dancing away to resident and international DJs spinning the latest electro and techno beats. €€€ MOMA 56, c/José Abascal, 56 (Gregorio Marañon). Wed-Sat midnight-6am. www.moma56.com. Dance to resident DJ Koke’s tunes at this disco bar. €€ MONDO, Sala Stella, c/Arlabán, 7 (Sevilla). Thur-Sat 0.306am. www.web-mondo.com. Funk and electronica feature in this fantastic venue located smack dab in the centre of town. Fridays lean more towards house, techno and electro under the night’s pseudonym, The Room. This is a place you night-owls won’t want to miss! €€ OHM, Plaza Callao, 4 (Callao). Fri-Sat midnight-6am. myspace.com/ohmclub. Great house DJs, great people and a great vibe. And don’t miss Weekend on Sundays, which features funky house. €€ 69 PÉTALOS, Avda Alberto de Alcocer, 32 (Cuzco/Colombia). Fri 11pm-6am. www.grupo69petalos.com With a shake-up of funk, RnB and popular house, plus cabaret, ludicrous outfits and general debauchery, the totally fabulous 69 Pétalos will leave you begging for more. €€ SUPERKLUB, Sala COOL, Isabel la Católica, 6 (Santo Domingo). Sun midnight-6am. Sunday evenings just got better than ever, with Superklub spilling non-stop house music into your Monday morning as if the weekend was never going to end. €€€ TWIST CLUB, Sala Wind, c/Montera, 25 (entrance in Plaza del Carmen) (Gran Vía). Thur midnight-6am. myspace.com/twistmadrid. By far the best drum ‘n’ bass night around. Head over and get hooked on music from Xol and you’re sure to have your Thursday nights booked. €€ VOODOO CLUB, Sala Moon, c/Aduana, 21 (Sol). Fri midnight-6am. Voodoo is a Friday club session that caters for all the urban tribes, an offbeat night with a wide music policy covering the whole broken beats spectrum (from hip hop, dubstep and breaks to dirty electro and drum&bass). Whether it’s on the main dancefloor with its booming sound system and amazing light show, in the intimate backroom or at the chill-out bar, you’ll just love the venue and the cosmopolitan crowd it attracts.

reggae, funk, jazz & world music BERLÍN CABARET, c/Costanilla de San Pedro, 11. Mon, Tue, Wed: shows 1.30am; Thur: shows 1.30am & 3.30am; Fri, Sat: shows 1.30am, 2.30am & 3.30am.

www.berlincabaret.com Located in La Latina, Berlín Cabaret attracts a diverse audience spilling out from the many bars in the area. It offers a lively, funky atmosphere with eclectic music ranging from the Jackson 5 to “La Lambada” and live cabaret shows, such as Psicosis Gonsales and In Drag. €€ LA BOCA DEL LOBO, c/Echegaray, 11 (Sevilla). WedSat 10.30pm-3.30am. www.labocadellobo.com Rock, funk, electronic jazz and rare groove served up four nights a week, plus live music. €€ COSTELLO, c/Caballero de Gracia, 10 (Gran Vía). Daily 6pm-3am. www.costelloclub.com. Everything from funk and electronic jazz to pop, rare groove and rock music. €€ EL JUGLAR, c/Lavapiés, 37 (Lavapiés). Daily midnight-3am. www.salajuglar.com. Get your daily dose of funk, house, reggae and breaks at this neighbourhood hotspot. € EL JUNCO, Plaza Santa Bárbara, 10 (Alonso Martínez). Daily 11pm-6am. www.eljunco.com. Late-night funk and electronic jazz. €€ MARULA CAFÉ, c/Caños Viejos, 3 (La Latina). Daily 10.30pm-6am. www.marulacafe.com. Come and get your funk on at the palace of funk, also known as Marula Café. € SWEET FUNK CLUB, c/Doctor Cortezo, 1 (Sol/Tirso de Molina). Thur-Sat midnight-6am. sweetfunkclub.com. Feel free to get a little dirty at this hip-hop club near Sol. €

special nights Day One @ Palacio de Vistalegre, C/de Utebo, 1 (Metro: Vista Alegre), Sat 1 Jan, from midday. www.dayonemadrid.com So this might be a tricky one to get to with a blinding New Year’s Day hangover, but if you fancy carrying on the party there’s no better place to do it. Those who manage to push through will be rewarded with an awesome line up of DJs from all over the world promising an eclectic mix of the very best dance music around. Day One features a staggeringly long list of talent including Richie Hawtin, Loco Dice, Felix Krocher and Dave Clarke to mention but a few. €60 Goa 16th Anniversary @ Fabrik, Av de la Industria, 82, (Shuttle bus from Plaza de España), Sun 5 Dec, www.myspace.com/goaelectronicparties The daddy of electronic music nights in Madrid has got to be the Goa Sunday sessions at Fabrik. From the bus that picks up party-goers from the centre of town taking them out to a mysterious destination far away, to the sheer size and scale of venue once they arrive, this is a night that anyone serious about clubbing in Madrid has got to experience at least once. And when better to do so than on it’s birthday? Showcasing mixing icons such as DJ Hell, Anthony Rother and Claude Van Stroke, this is going to be one seriously sweet sixteenth. €30+copa Pop and Dance Club @ Sala Yasta, C/Valverde, 10 (Metro: Gran Vía), Fri 31 Dec, www.popandance.com What are you doing on New Year’s Eve? This is the time of the year when people start to panic about that question but the Pop and Dance Club could be the answer to your dilemma. The promoters have billed this night as a return to the old school way of clubbing, an unpretentious and inexpensive occasion where people just come to listen to good music, drink some copas and dance until the early hours. No big name DJs, just the local staples you may have seen at Low Club or Sal 1 jueves al mes such as Homeboy and Graham Thunder playing their usual mix of “indie chic” and electro (think MGMT meets Hot Chip). As it’s New Year’s Eve there will be a few surprises and maybe even gifts for willing clubbers. Plus it’s right in town, so perfect if you want to see in the New Year at Sol. Free with guest list.

DECEMBER 2010

moviereviews

Jessica Cogan previews the big-screen releases heading to Madrid this month

Megamind (Oobermind)

Unstoppable (Imparable) An unmanned runaway train loaded with toxic chemicals is hurtling towards a city and veteran train mechanic Denzel Washington and young conductor Chris Pine (Kirk in last year’s Star Trek reboot) are the men who have to stop it causing a mess that even Don Limpio wouldn’t be able to mop up. Tony Scott (The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3) directs, reuniting with Denzel for the fifth time. Out now Tamara Drewe Gemma Arterton is the young journalist who causes havoc when she returns to her home village in rural Dorset in this funny, if occasionally uneven Biutiful comedy based on Posy Simmonds’ graphic novel and directed by Stephen Frears (High Fidelity). Sporting a reshaped nose, she ignites the passions of old flame Andy (Luke Evans), rock star Ben (Dominic Cooper) and philandering novelist Nicholas (Roger Allam), who runs a local writers retreat with put-upon wife Beth (Tamsin Greig). Out now Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Uncle Boonmee Recuerda sus Vidas Pasadas) The title may be only slightly more catchy than the director’s name—Apichatpong Weerasethakul (friends call him “Joe”)—but this year’s Thai-made Cannes Palmes d’Or, about a dying man looking back over his past existences accompanied by the spirit of his dead wife and his longlost son, is a mystical treat. Just surrender to the dreamy structure and don’t expect much in the way of explanation. Warning: contains scenes of catfish sex. Out now

In the Electric Mist (En el centro de la Tormenta) It’s probably a bad sign when you’re watching a movie and say to yourself, “Hmm. I should’ve read the book.” In this case I’m not sure if the book, with the even stranger title In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead, would’ve been better, but the movie’s sprinkling of stylish lines and glimmers of interesting characters give me hope. And what else could’ve lured big guns like Tommy Lee Jones and Peter Sarsgaard into such a mess? In the Electric Mist is set in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans and centres on southern lawman Dave Robicheaux (Jones), a recovering hard drinker with a temper and a finely tuned sense of justice. Robicheaux begins investigating the grisly murders of some local young women and the trail leads him here, there and everywhere. He checks in with lecherous local mobster Baby Feet (John Goodman), sniffs around sleazy bars, becomes friendly with an alcoholic actor in town on a shoot (Sarsgaard), and he’s directed to some old bones out in the woods belonging to a man shot years before. Oh, and he’s slipped a druglaced drink and imagines a Confederate soldier is giving him life advice. Confused yet? With so many disparate stories and so little cohesion, the film has no real focus, and despite its efforts to weave the threads together, all we’re left with is a knotty mess. Sarsgaard and Goodman are compelling characters and one senses that, perhaps in the book, they have richer stories. If so, that hasn’t translated onto the screen. Out 10 Dec

When You’re Strange If you like The Doors, this is a pretty interesting documentary. In fact, if you love all things tie-dyed and long for the psychedelic 60s, you will love, love, love it, man. Tom DiCillo’s film relies on extensive and revealing footage from concerts, rehearsals and other intimate moments from The Doors heyday. Predictably, it focuses most of its energy on front man Jim Morrison. We see him starting out rather awkward and shy, metamorphosing into the spotlight-ready lizard king and finally, into a self-destructive alcoholic and addict. While the film doesn’t actively seek sympathy for Morrison, it’s not hard to feel for the young man whose every movement was scrutinised and who, in private moments, feared that everyone was listening to him and he had nothing to say. Johnny Depp provides voiceover to hold the footage together, and DiCillo should have stopped there. Instead, there is a superfluous and distracting bearded hitchhiker who not only starts and ends the film but is peppered throughout as a sort of Morrison look-a-like and representative of 60s youth. The character doesn’t add anything to the film and probably should’ve ended up on the cutting room floor. Out 10 Dec

bookbuzz A Week in December Sebastian Faulks Vintage Sebastian Faulks’ trilogy—The Girl at the Lion d’Or, Birdsong and Charlotte Gray—cemented him as one of the best contemporary British novelists. His latest novel, A Week In December, is now out in paperback. Set in 2007, during the seven days before Christmas, the story brings together seven diverse characters who, at first, seem to have little in common. There is a ruthless hedge fund manager trying to bring off the biggest trade of his career, his alienated teenage son, a young Islamic militant, a brutal book critic, a young barrister with little work, a Polish footballer and a Tube driver. What this eclectic collection of characters share is the pursuit of projects that are symbolic of the 21st-century, which range from obsession with a housesharing TV game-show to learning bomb-making through the local mosque. At times, the details of the hedge fund manager’s deal can be tedious, and some of the characters, like the Islamic militant, are not completely convincing. In fact, one flaw is that none of the characters are particularly likeable, yet as the shared storylines cleverly interweave, it’s impossible to turn away from discovering the outcome of their affairs. Laura van de Velde

The Adventures of Unemployed Man Erich Origen & Gan Golan Little Brown & Co In The Adventures of Unemployed Man, comic artists Erich

DECEMBER 2010

Also out

■ BY NICK FUNNELL

Form over function is the order of the day here. Is great Dreamworks’ plot, storyline and character animation in full effect? A little. Megamind (voiced by Will Ferrell) was sent to earth from a dying planet as a child and grew up in a tough prison into a bad guy—a really nasty, mastermind-type of bad guy. And, as you might imagine, he has a nemesis. His arch rival is Metro Man (voiced by Brad Pitt), a blondehaired, blue-eyed city favourite who always gets the better of him. Well, almost always. One day, Megamind defeats and dispenses with Metro Man but then finds himself without a rival. And you know what? That’s boring. So he creates a new superhero in Hal (Jonah Hill) a chubby, unkempt cameraman who works alongside Roxanne (Tina Fey), a plucky reporter generally in the middle of Megamind and Metro Man’s hijinks. As the role of a superhero is pretty hard work, Hal turns out to be a flop and turns villainous. There are also love interest complications when Hal and Megamind both fall for Roxanne. Could the love of a good woman change everything? Could it turn Megamind from supervillian to superhero? Or does growing up in prison mark you for life? Megamind is a sweet, mild film that’s really attractive to look at. It’s not hysterically funny and it doesn’t cover new ground, but that won’t prevent you from having a good time. Out 3 Dec

Invite a penguin to have Christmas dinner with you.

Biutiful Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu finally abandons the interweaving narratives that electrified his debut film Amores Perros but wrecked the more recent Babel to tell this spiritual story of a Barcelona father (Javier Bardem) toiling to earn a crust to support his two kids. Spelling the title like that, Alejandro might want to abandon his English teacher, too. 3 Dec The Next Three Days (Los Próximos Tres Días) Written and directed by Paul Haggis (Crash), this remake of 2007 French thriller Pour Elle features Russell Crowe as a teacher who plots to bust his wife out of prison after she’s banged up for a crime she says she didn’t commit. And one thing’s for sure: he won’t be baking any file-flavoured cakes. 3 Dec The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Las Crónicas de Narnia: La Travesía del Viajero del Alba) CS Lewis’s third published Narnia book (though in fact the fifth in terms of story chronology) becomes the third Chronicles of Narnia movie—and the first in 3D. Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Lucy (Georgie Henley) and their cousin Eustace (Will Poulter) join King Caspian (Ben Barnes) on a journey aboard the

Origen and Gan Golan of The New York Times tell the tale of a down-on-his-luck superhero and his band of economically marginalised friends in their struggle against the villain “The Invisible Hand” (and the others in “The Hall Of Just Us”). Cleverly illustrated as a pastiche of 1950s comic books, this graphic novella lands a few well-deserved comic punches on the American free market society, such as a trio of villains known as the Free Marketeers. While the story is nothing short of hilarious, those not from the United States might be lost by a few of the jokes—for example, a villain named “Blowhard” who resembles conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh, as well as references to the TARP Act and President Johnson’s Great Society. At some points the comedy is interrupted by some shocking but true facts about the American economy, framed as advertisements for novelty products. In spite of the American political jokes, this is a title that anyone could identify with, especially if struggling to maintain or find work, or losing it, in the ever shrinking job market. The ultimate hero of the book is a character known as Everyman and the working class is refreshingly portrayed as equally heroic. I would have been laughing at the end had I not been crying for want of work; it’s just all too true. Chris Moore

The Prince of Mist Carlos Ruiz Zafron Phoenix “Max would never forget that faraway summer when, almost by chance, he discovered magic.” So begins The Prince of Mist, the book that launched the career of best-selling Spanish novelist Carlos Ruiz Zafron. It starts off as a fairly straightforward tale—the story of Max Carver, a young boy forced to locate to the coast with his

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good ship Dawn Treader to find the seven good lords and save Narnia. 3 Dec Balada Triste de Trompeta One of Spain’s most celebrated filmmakers, Álex de la Iglesia (El Día de la Bestia) was awarded the best director prize by Quentin Tarantino at the Venice Film Festival for this grotesque Franco-era parable about psychopathic circus performers. Set in 1973 at the tail end of the Franco dictatorship, Sad Clown Javier (Carlos Areces) and Happy Clown Sergio (Antonio de la Torre) fight for the love of beautiful acrobat Natalia (Carolina Bang). Expect makeup, machine guns and mayhem. It’s set to be known as The Last Circus in the US. 17 Dec Burlesque Singer Christina Aguilera makes her movie debut, while Cher makes her movie comeback in this story of a small-town girl with a big voice who follows her dream to LA and gets a job in an ailing cabaret club. The plot could not be more hackneyed, but with lots of sparkly costumes and Aguilera’s braying vocals all over the soundtrack, it’s what those inclined to do so would describe as “fabulous”. 17 Dec Tron: Legacy Twenty-eight years after cult videogame adventure Tron comes this 3D sequel, which sees the son (Garrett Hedlund) of missing game developer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) track his father down to a digital world of light cycles, cool weapons and amazing landscapes that has trapped him for the last 20 years. 17 Dec Little Fockers This third instalment of the series that began with Meet the Parents and continued with Meet the Fockers sees male nurse Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) and wife Pam (Teri Polo) now proud parents of twins and Greg finally “in” with his testy father-in-law Jack (Robert De Niro). That is until Jack’s suspicions come roaring back after Greg is forced to take a second job at a pharmaceutical company to make ends meet. Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand and Owen Wilson return, accompanied by Laura Dern, Jessica Alba and Harvey Keitel. If they make a next one, they should call it Four Fockers and a Funeral. 22 Dec

family during World War Two. But as soon as the family is set up in their new abode things take a chilling turn. Max soon finds the house is holding secrets, and after discovering an overgrown garden full of statues, a dark mystery begins to unravel. This debut novel has taken almost 20 years to cross the language barrier, and has been translated into English by Lucia Graves. Aimed at the young adult market—but appealing to all ages—it’s a fairly light read, but incredibly compelling. If you have the time, expect to devour it all in one sitting. Anyone looking for something on equal footing to Shadow of the Wind or The Angel’s Game will be disappointed, but don’t forget, this is the book which paved the way for those fine pieces of work, and for that it should be cherished. Katherine Robinson

Small Memories José Saramago Harvill Secker Perhaps we can say there are two different types of memories. Big memories—the world-altering, life-changing ones, and small memories—the little details from our everyday life, seemingly insignificant at first glance but enduring and staying with us as we grow old and reflect on our place in the universe. If that’s the case then it’s definitely the second type that José Saramago’s wonderfully-written memoir deals with. From his grandparents bringing weak piglets into their bed to keep them warm, to his terrifying encounter with his neighbours’ Alsatian which led to his irrational fear of dogs, it’s a colourful portrait of the young Saramago growing up in Portugal circa 1922. Also, of course, there are his first encounters with literature, listening entranced to a friend’s mother reading out weekly instalments of Maria, the Fairy of the Forest. All the magic of childhood is here, as well as the trials and tribulations of the tricky business of growing up. All in all, a fascinating look at the finer details of life that helped shape one of Portugal’s greatest literary exports. Katherine Robinson T H E E N G L I S H - L A N G U A G E M O N T H LY

Eating & Drinking great ideas for eating out in Madrid

Thai Restaurant The authentic taste of Thailand in Madrid c/San Bernardino, 6. Metro: Plaza de España. Tel: 91 559 83 15

Bangkok Excellent Thai Cuisine c/Arenal, 15 (esquina Bordadores, 13) Tel: 915 591 696. Metros Sol or Ópera.

VEGAVIANA Vegetarian restaurant in the heart of Madrid Daily Menu 9,70

c/Pelayo, 35 (Metro: Chueca) Tel: 91 308 03 81. Open Tues-Sun 1:30-4pm. Tues-Sat 9-midnight. Closed Sunday & Monday

Anuncia tu restaurante ó bar en esta sección y llegarás a nuestros 66.000 lectores. Llamar 91 523 30 91 para informarte de las opciones y ofertas disponibles service guide service guide service guide service guide computer services

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counselling

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For an appointment or consultation,

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US Trained & Licensed

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care for the elderly

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Help in relationships, emotional distress, problem solving. Brief or longer-term therapy for individuals and couples. Sliding Scale Free Consultation Tel: 91 594 22 08 or 626 16 00 24 Argüelles area

therapy

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DECEMBER 2010

obstetrics & gynecology

ENGLISH SPEAKING GYNECOLOGIST Dr. Anne Suárez OFFERS YOU A FULL WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE SERVICE Family Planning, Menopause, Pre-natal care Centro Clínico Betanzos Avda Betanzos, 60 91 730 42 02 or 91 730 26 84 www.centroclinicobetanzos60.es

language services

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language services

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work offered

Spanish for foreigners 1 Small groups 1 All levels (D.E.L.E. Official Exam) c/Fuencarral, 13-2º, 28004 Madrid Tel: 91 522 31 22. Fax: 91 532 85 09. e-mail: info@carpemadrid.com www.carpemadrid.com

work offered

Teacher (QTS) and an NVQ3 Required native English female to work with 1 to 6 year old children in a British Nursery School in Pozuelo. School Holidays paid. Possibility of full day job (9.00h a 17.30h) or half day job (9.00h a 14.30h).The Nursery is very well communicated with Madrid centre by train or bus or metro ligero.

Please send your CV to britishnursery@britishnursery.com. www.britishnursery.com

DECEMBER 2010

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DECEMBER 2010

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web sites

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work experience

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Want to contribute to InMadrid? Or how about being an intern? If you’re interested in collaborating, send your CV, samples of journalistic writing and ideas for articles to editor@in-madrid.com

accommodation accommodation-offered The InMadrid classifieds section is the perfect way to reach the English-speaking international community. To place an ad, visit inmadrid.com and click on classifieds. Obtain the best response from your ad in the shortest time by choosing one of our economical, combined print&online packages,

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DECEMBER 2010

30M2 BRIGHT FURNISHED/ UNFURN-ISHED STUDIO: Chamberi 30m2 bright furnished or unfurnished studio flat with balcony overlooking an enormous patio. Kitchenette with glass hob, modern fridge and washing machine. Flat with air conditioning and central heating. Five minutes walk from Alonso Cano and Rios Rosas metro stations. Ten minutes walk from the Canal Isabel II s/pool, running track, tennis & golf. €660 Tel 670681435 Email: rentals@innovate.es COZY AND CENTRAL STUDIO FLAT IN SOL FOR SHORT LETS 670 Euros, minimum one month let , very central studio flat , five minutes walk from Plaza Mayor, separate kitchen, all furnished. Ideal for international students or workers. Email: rentals@innovate.es Call 670681435 or 622737470

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TWO BEDROOM FLAT SHORT/LONG TERM NEXT TO RETIRO PK Two bedroom 43m2 furnished flat available for short or long term lets, 5 minutes walk from the spectacular Retiro park and 10 minutes from the excellent hub of Atocha metro and train station. Double room and small single room. Ideal for one couple. Living room and separate dining area. Tel: 670681435 Email: rentals@innovate.es ROOM IN A FOUR ROOMS FLAT IN ALONSO MARTINEZ 495 Euros, nice room in an international share flat, comfortable living room wit TV, internet, two bathrooms, all the rooms have a balcony, ideal for international students who are outgoing but responsible and organized. Call 670681435 or 622737470. Email: rentals@innovate.es TWO BEDROOMS VERY SPECIAL AND MODERN FLAT Two bedrooms flat in La Latina Metro Station, all furnishedand refurbished, very modern and artistic decoration. Big and cozy living room, two full bathrooms, ideal to share.

Close to all ammenities of central madrid. Call 670681435 or 622507836. Email: rentals@innovate.es BRIGHT AND SPACIOUS STUDIO FLAT IN CHAMBERI 680 Euros, super bright studio with a balcony in Chamberi area, furnished or unfurnished, all appliances available, close to the metro, ideal for IE students, or internships. Email: rentals@innovate.es, 622507836 or 670681435 ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT IN LA LATINA Apartment on the top floor of Calle Almendro, interior facing with a lot of light and very quiet. 50m2, furnished. Available from December 2011. One month deposit. mruizoch@hotmail.com. Rest of this section on-line at inmadrid.com

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books BOOKS IN FRENCH Bibliothèque française pour tous. venez nous voir ! Tous les dimanches de 11h à 13h 8.000 livres : nouveautés, romans, 500 livres pour enfants ( Martine, Caroline, Jojo, Bibliothèque Rose, J ‘ Aime Lire... ) , Bd, Histoire et Littérature ... Métro Nuñez de Balboa ou Serrano Adresse 9 Padilla (porte piétonne) entre Serrano & Lagasca Madrid Espagne Contact Catherine 917599453 Email beatricesohm@gmail.com Téléphone 600555576.

business BUSINESS OPORTUNITY Looking for a business opportunity with no investment, no risk, inmune to the world crisis, high monthly income? Here is your chance, for more info: 649-63-59-99 arog3@yahoo.com.

classes art-classes ART STUDIO MADRID Painting and drawing. Come and discover different techniques in abstract and figurative painting. All levels are welcome. Enjoy and enrich your creativity! Classes in English, Spanish and French. Classes are held also on Saturday mornings. Calle Don Ramón de la Cruz 26, Metro Velázquez. Contact Genoveva at genojuan@gmail.com 669-29-47-58.

music-classes GUITAR LESSONS - JAZZ, BLUES, BOSSANOVA, FOLK... Classes given by guitarist with Título Superior from the Madrid Conservatory and lots of professional experience playing jazz, blues, bossa-nova, folk, fingerpicking styles as well as all levels of classical guitar. I have lots of teaching experience. Retiro area. Email at: cywilliams@telefonica.net. QUALIFIED MUSIC TEACHER FOR PIANO KEYBOARD LESSONS I am an English music teacher, living in Madrid with 20 years experience of teaching the piano, keyboard and violin to Associated Board Grade levels. I have qualified teacher status and am currently also working at an International English school here. I teach children from 5 years old to adults, who have skills ranging from beginners to Grade 8 ABRSM standard. The focus of my lessons is fun and enjoyment coupled with the gradual learning and building of skills. If you would like to begin lessons or find out more information about my lessons please call Martin on 620171364 or 685509861. SPANISH GUITAR LESSONS Teacher, graduated (high degree), gives lessons of Spanish guitar (every musical stile). Students of any age. Classes in English or Spanish. Lessons are 1 hour each, costing 25 euros. Metro: Iglesia (línea 1) Canal (líneas 2 y 7) Telephone: 650672356 Email: astur_kirichian@yahoo.es.

language-classes spanish SPANISH CLASSES IN CENTRAL MADRID Learn Spanish easily with experienced teacher, graduated by International House. One to one or groups. Materials provided. Grammar and conversation for all levels. DELE exam. From 15 euros negotiable. Contact Javier: 661 871 239. Email: javiersanjoseespeso@hotmail.com. Web: http://javiersanjoseespeso.jimdo.com. SPANISH CLASSES Qualified native teacher with experience. One to one or groups. Grammar, conversation. DELE.Revision text. Zone: Moncloa or in your place. From 15 euros negotiable. Cristina 656 634 343. Email: cristina_dom@hotmail.com. SPANISH CLASSES Private Spanish teacher, 25 years experience, role-play, conversation, grammar, business courses. DELE examination. One-to-one or small groups. Easy learning, low fees. Maria English and French spoken. Tel: 91 573 64 71 or 699 33 15 05. SPANISH ONE-TO-ONE Would you like to know the difference between SER and ESTAR, POR and PARA? Experienced and qualified bilingual teacher offer private lessons only at his place located in Huertas zone. All levels and reasonable rates. Please call anytime or leave a message at (91) 4201049, or email me for further information: gmarcano60@hotmail.com. NATIVE SPANISH TEACHER IN MADRID One to one: 20 euros per hour Group (minimum 3): 12 euros per hour. D.E.L.E. exam. Grammar and conversation skills. Official books and own material. Begginers, intermediate or advanced. Teaching Interactive Method. Spanish cultural time out activities organization. Own company in touch with the best and cheap restaurants, tapas bar, theatres and museums. 2 years teaching Spanish in London (St. Pauls and Canary Wharf)and private tuitions with Bluetutors company. Drama degree, Comparate Literature reseacher, professional business coach. Tel.: 679 48 62 30 e-mail: marcos.gaba@gmail.com. LEARN SPANISH EASILY! Make learning funny with experienced teachers. References available. All levels and purposes: survival, business, etc. We go to your place and provide

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the material. 60-minute class 30€/90-minue class 40€ Small groups (up to 4) at the same price. So, invite your friends to join! mgil2000@hotmail.com 686808091/ 646806402. english NATIVE ENGLISH TEACHER-EXAM PREP, BUSINESS COLLOQ The first class is only €5 which is about 30 minutes. This introductory class gives me an idea of the level and need of the student. Below is the price schedule; MY HOME (or café near Tribunal Metro) €15 for 1 hour or €25 for 2 hours (1 class) YOUR HOME (or café if in central Madrid near the Metro) €25 for 1 hour or €35 for 2 hours (1 class) · Native English speaker, · TEFL certified · 3 years experience teaching · Classes will be personalized to your needs. Business, conversation, etc Look forward to hearing from you Rich 678318783 crutchee@yahoo.com. INGLÉS CON LIBROS, ARTE... / PREP ENTREVISTAS ** Looking for interesting English classes? Read and talk about books, art, philosophy, etc... ** Improve your fluency with experienced, professional teachers. ** Intensive courses available ** Prepare for job interviews Group - 10€, individual - 25€ per hour www.illuminateEnglish.com Email info@illuminateEnglish.com Tel - 627 619 563.ot

other COMPUTER CLASSES IN ENGLISH AT ITENGLISH Computer classes in English. ITEnglish is offering user-level classes in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Powerpoint), Windows, and Internet navigation from January 2011. Already know Office but unfamiliar with the new format (2007, 2010)? Take a Fast-track seminar in “The Ribbon”. Native professor with 15+ years experience teaching IT at university level. Update your computer skills in a fun and friendly environment. Small classes, individual attention. Handicapped accesible. 12€ per hour. PHONE 91 506 0764 or EMAIL info@it-english.es WEB: www.it-english.es.

sailing BOATING LICENSES NOW A LEGAL REQUIREMENT IN SPAIN Serenity Sailing RYA Training Centre, Competent Crew to Yachtmaster,Powerboat Level Two, VHF & ICC. Own-boat tuition on sail and power. If you have a yacht or powerboat get qualified and certified. Contact Richard 0034 638056224 / enquiries@serenitysailing.com / www.serenitysailing.com.

clubs clubs-art WRITERS’ GROUP Writers with work in progress and a view to publication welcome. Call Charlie on 91 816 2419, or e-mail madridwriters@patchword.com. GOT THE ACTING BUG? THE MADRID PLAYERS NEEDS YOU! The Madrid Players puts on productions throughout the year. Pantomime, Shakespeare, drama, comedy, cabaret 3-act plays. So if you think you’d like to be involved then we’d love to hear from you! We are always looking for new members, either to work on stage or in production, there are so many areas for you to get involved in. So email us at madridplayers@gmail.com to find out how to get involved!.ubs-gay GAY INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF MADRID GAY Social group meets Thursdays at 9pm in Chueca. Everyone welcome for more info. contact Antonio on email: madrid.frenz@yahoo.es.

clubs-general-social PARENT AND CHILD GROUP Parent and Child Group in Madrid. If you are new in town or a single parent looking to meet other parents with kids or simply want to expand your child’s network of friends then join us for walks and outings with the kids. All nationalities welcome. Write to roseantrobus@yahoo.es or call 626 065 482. Thanks!. PARENT AND CHILD GROUP Parent and Child Group in Madrid. If you are new in town or a single parent looking to meet other parents with kids or simply want to expand your child’s network of friends then join us for walks and outings with the kids. All nationalities welcome. Write to roseantrobus@yahoo.es or call 626 065 482. Thanks!.

clubs-sports FIELD HOCKEY - MIXED SOCIAL TEAM Los Naranjas is a mixed social club with all level of players on the team, from complete beginners to seasoned veterans. We play every weekend between September and June. If interested please contact los.naranjas.hockey@gmail.com.

counselling COUNSELLING MADRID Counselling Madrid is devoted to the international community in Madrid. We provide confidential counselling services to students, expats and spouses. Visit our website for more details: www.counsellingmadrid.org. QUALIFIED SEXUAL AND RELATIONSHIP THERAPIST Qualified Sexual and Relationship Therapist. Trained according to the British

Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy’s standards. Nine years of experience. Is the right time to start tackling your issues? Fantastic! Contact me: Pablo Díez 653132932, pablodiez17@gmail.com Thank you. GIVE YOUR REAL BEING A CHANCE TO SHAPE YOUR LIFE Psychotherapist, specialized in Gestalt and Polarity Therapy. Individual sessiones, couples welcome. Area: Goya Mob: 658465645. PSYCHOLOGY/PSYCHIATRY/SPEECH& OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Counselling, Psychology, Psychiatry, Speech and Occupational therapy services in English and Spanish (some services also available in other languages) for all ages. Our staff of professionals has vast clinical experience helping adults and children in the Englishspeaking community in Madrid with depression, anxiety, cultural adaptation, couples/relationship problems, sensory impairments, language disorders and more. www.sinews.es. PSYCHOLOGIST Us trained Nicole Sarkiss (English/Spanish) gestalt and social therapy. I offer the appropriate help that is needed to each individual circumstance. call 679 626 754 Madrid centre; First consultation FREE.

desperately-seeking ENGLISH CONVERSATION I am looking for a native english boy to practice conversation with my son of 15 years old. we live near plaza de colon and we need to make it at fridays between 22h and 24h, around diner time. it is well paid. contact sonsoles ssanchezr@telefonica.net, and 629084003.

for-sale HEMNES IKEA SINGLE BED Hemnes single bed 90X200, included foam viscolastic mattress and bed base. Very little use excellent condition. FINE ART PRINTS - AVAILABLE IN MADRID Available from my online shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/JulienDenoyer, you can either order online or email me julien.denoyer.photography@gmail.com with the print(s)that interest you and we can work on a special price. I live in Madrid so can meet up anywhere with your prints. These are printed by a professional photo lab on Semi-Gloss (Satin Finish) Fujicolor professional paper. FURNITURE, KITCHEN TOOLS, CDS, BOOKS...AND MORE. Furniture like mattress, chairs, mirrors...kitchen tools, CDs, music, books in English and for teaching English, clothes for male and plenty of other things. Email: ljtsaa@gmail.com. ENGLISH BOOKS, CDS, MATERIAL FOR TEACHING OR LEARN Books, CDs, DVDs. Materials for teaching or learning english. Resources for english teachers. Text books, “oposiciones” materials and “temarios” and more. 91 530 8787. 10 euros. ljtsaa@gmail.com. TV CABINET Birch veneer TV cabinet with movable glass door, measurements H: 66cm L:130cm D:60cm. If you have any questions or are interested in buying it please contact me via email: scillero@yahoo.es. Thank you Email: scillero@yahoo.es. SONY PLAYSTATION 2 WITH 32 GAMES Play Station 2 with 32 games (some Spanish most UK) ALL leads, 3 hand sets and 8md memory card (sony) north Madrid. buyer to collect. SPANISH GUITAR Hi, I’m selling my Spanish guitar. I bought this at 250 euros, but I’m selling at 99 euros. I just used about 10 times when I had guitar lessons. If you are interested, send me an e-mail to marisol7@dreamwiz.com. Inside the guitar it is written like this. Compass tm Nod. Estudio - p Plaza de oriente no 7 madrid-espana compass@compass. ERGONOMIC KNEELING CHAIR Completely new, never used. Ergonomic kneeling chair with three positions. Beech wood The intended purpose of a kneeling chair is to reduce lower back strain by promoting proper spinal alignment. Provides Firm Support. Adjustable height 45 a 55 cm Seat length: 34 cm. Seat width: 42 cm. Knee cushion: 46 x 23 cm. PHILIPS WIDESCREEN TELEVISION PHILIPS 28PW8806 100hz, 19:9 CRT Very good condition and working order, little use. Zoom, 4:3, cinema mode. Works well with freeview/TDT (decoder not included) 4 inputs including SCART and RCA 60 watt Nicam digital/ Dolby digital sound. Remote control and instruction manual included. Email: reverend_rogers@yahoo.com. AIWA STEREO SYSTEM AIWA stereo, 3 cd carousel, double cassette, radio tuner and auxiliary input for connection of mp3/ipod/laptop etc. 2 speakers. Price 45 euros, email reverend_rogers@yahoo.com. VARIOUS PC MATERIALS -laptop Packard Bell Easy one (RAM, PSU and cd missing) -4x CD rewriters -2x DVD ROMs -zip drive -HDD caddy -box containing 8 ADSL microfilters, RAM, cables, fans etc. -router monopuerto telefonica -2x old hard drives 2.4 gig. -various other bits and pieces price : 25 euros the lot. email: reverend_rogers@yahoo.com. GUITAR FOR SALE I´m selling my Norman Folk B20 electro acoustic guitar. I´ve used it for some gigs, but it´s almost new (i bought it 2 years ago). If interested call Belén at 609848204 thanks!. IKEA SOFA BED & COFFEE TABLE I´m

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selling a 2 person sofa bed & a coffee table in pristine condition Vendo un sofa cama y una mesa de centro en perfecto estado Call 610042224 (lunch time) / email me p.t1219@yahoo.com Llamar al 610042224 a la hora de comer ó enviar 1 mail al p.t1219@yahoo.com. 14 INCH TV AND DTT BOX 14” CRT TV, silver, good working order. comes with basic DTT receiver. Price 45€. email: reverend_rogers@yahoo.com.

health-and-fitness THE RESCUE ZONE -STRESS? AYURVEDA MASSAGE MADRID Massage in Madrid. Stress, muscular tension, anxiety, pain? Come and enjoy an ancient and well proven method of relaxation and wellness. Only Bio-eco oils used. Massage therapist, California. www.ayurvedamadridspa.com Call Paz: +34 622525502 ASHTANGA YOGA AND THAI MASSAGE My name is Amorn from Thailand. I live in Madrid almost two years now. I am Ashtanga Yoga teacher and also offer Thai Massage (certified from Wat Pho Traditional Medical School in Bangkok Thailand) and Thai cooking classes at home and outside. My place is located in the center of Madrid, metro Goya and Principe de Vergara. For more information about me and price for Yoga, Thai massage and cooking class, please kindly check at my website: www.BAAN-AMORN.COM or write me at: BRIESELANG70@YAHOO.DE. ESCUELA DHARMA DE YOGA INTEGRAL Hatha Yoga Dinámico, método orgánico. Respiración, fortalecimiento, flexibilidad y relajación. Atención personalizada. Precios asequibles y descuentos. Clases colectivas e individuales. Horarios de mañana, mediodía y tarde. Todos los niveles. Grupo de Meditación. Seminarios de fin de semana. Pregunta por nuestros masajes. Website: www.yogaorganico.es Adress: Asociación Shiva-Shakti de Yoga Integral. c/Pelayo 80 1ºdcha (subway stations: Alonso martinez, Chueca). More information: 91 310 51 81 and info@yogaorganico.es.

heart-to-heart hetero CHICO INGLES DE 30 AÑOS BUSCA CHICA chico ingles, guapo, de 30 años busca enamorarse de chica simpatica. vivo permanentemente en Madrid, y tengo mi piso en el centro. ver foto online. sebcp5@hotmail.com 91 115 1095.

friendship PIANISTA QUIERE CONOCER GENTE Me llamo jose, soy pianista profesional(clásico). 35 años. Me encanta el arte, cine, música clásica, lecturas, espiritualidad, conversaciones profundas. Quiero conocer personas similares para amistad(no grupos), preferible encontrarnos fines de semana por la tarde. Llamadas al tlf 647733924.

intercambios This section is on-line at inmadrid.com

groups MADRIDBABEL: INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN MADRID!!! Meet people from all over the world, practise languages absolutely FREE & make new friends through our wide range of international activities: EVERY WEDNESDAY > International Evening from 21:00 at The Quiet Man (Valverde 44 - metro Tribunal or Gran Vía). EVERY SUNDAY > International Afternoon from 19:00 at The Quiet Man (Valverde 44 - metro Tribunal or Gran Vía). EVERY WEEK-END > Films in o.v., international dinners, tapas evenings, excursions, sports, wine tastings, cultural visits, parties & many other activities!! For more info contact Fran (madridbabel@yahoo.es) or visit www.madridbabel.es. “HELLO LOLA!” GREAT LANGUAGE EXCHANGE We at “Out Loud English” would like to help all our Anglo friends to improve their Spanish and meet new people. We present “HELLO LOLA!” the newest language exchange and meet-up event in Madrid. Every Tuesday night, in Ole Lola c/ San Mateo 28, from 20:00 to 23:00 , “HELLO LOLA!” brings Native Spaniards and English speakers together for an evening of conversation. “Out Loud English” and “Ole Lola” bring you this exciting opportunity to improve your Spanish and have fun. “HELLO LOLA!” DON’T MISS IT! www.facebook.com/hellolola hellololaintercambios@gmail.com.

jobs jobs-offered WANTED: SELF STARTER FOR ADVERTISING TEAM WANTED SELFSTARTER to become a member of our advertising team in 50 year old dean of english language publications. We are updating and expanding. Call Violetta on 91 548 01 07.

PR COFFE-BAR PR coffe-bar / Relaciones publicas para café bar Zona Alonso Martínez jimbo 670 88 68 77 kensisan@yahoo.es. SALES DIRECTOR SEEKS PERSONAL ASSISTANT; to work in our busy central Madrid office; making telephone calls and chasing new contacts. Full time position, but would consider part time / job share. You must be highly motivated, have a happy disposition, and be a fluent English speaker. Salary with bonus scheme available to the right candidate. Possibilities for promotion, which may suit graduate entrants. Please reply with a copy of your CV (in English) to: hr@amaliawealth.com. SPONSORED TEFL COURSE WITH WORK OPPORTUNITIES Oxbridge has two centres in Barcelona and one in Madrid and we teach English to more than 800 students and 150 clients such as corporations, small and large firms, and private students. We provide high quality English classes to all kinds of business people, young learners and adults. We offer one month intensive TEFL courses in English teaching in Madrid. The course is subsidised and costs 400€. There is a short interview for the course. We are also always looking for new, dedicated employees. For further info please send us your CV and a covering letter to tefl@oxbridge.es.

jobs-wanted This section is on-line at inmadrid.com

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services MAN WITH VAN FOR HIRE Man With Van for Hire Large van with driver available for hire for house & office moves, deliveries and collections (IKEA etc) free help with lifting and carrying included in charges. Hourly and daily rates in Madrid and the rest of Spain. Monthly trips back to the UK and other European destinations. Very good service. English. Call Ian 693 923 051 or guywithvan@hotmail.com. LIVELY CELTIC MUSIC Talented Irish musicians available for concerts, functions, weddings and parties. Tel: 654 225 305. LIVE MUSIC Duet of classical guitar + flute / jazz guitar + saxophone will give a touch of class to receptions, parties, weddings, etc. We’re serious musicians with an ample repertoire and lots of professional experience in the jazz and classical fields. There is the option of solo guitar (jazz + classical), duet, trio with double-bass, quartet with double-bass and drums, and formations with singers, trumpet players, etc. Please email: cywilliams@telefonica.net. COMPUTERS / NETWORKS / WEBSITES System administrator offers professional service. Computer / laptop repair, data recovery, password recovery, IT infrastructure planning, software installation and maintenance, network administration, resolving email problems, IT security, backup solutions, web pages. Windows, Linux/UNIX supported. I speak English and German. email: info@jjaeger.fastmail.fm or Tel.: +34 91 559 31 58 Mobile: +34 65 335 11 36. ENGLISH MOBILE HAIR DRESSER Top London stylist available for home visits for all the family in Madrid and surrounding areas. Cut and colour work all in th confort of your home or office. call Sally: 651481916 or check out prices + info at: http://englishhairdressermadrid.squarespace.com.

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translations SWORN TRANSLATOR TRADUCTOR JURADO. LEGAL, SWORN and general translations. Your documents translated in 72 hrs. from 45€ Centrally located. Messenger service available. Phone: 667 776 396 Email: juanmartinpinilla@yahoo.com.

Hundreds more ads online in many different categories at inmadrid.com

DECEMBER 2010