BCN WEEK issue 46

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INSIDE SUPERLÓPEZ / SLICED WRISTS + CHICKEN / LIBRA'S A SLUT

Week BCN

dBTOWN

RAQUEL DOES PRIMAVERA SOUND

page 10

ALFREDO LAHOZ

B A R C E L O N A ’ S F R E E C U L T U R A L N E W S W E E K LY | W W W . B C N W E E K . C O M | M A Y 3 1 – J U N E 1 3 , 2 0 0 7 | F R E E

BACK ON THE BEAT

¿CIVISME? ¡CIVICIIIIISSIMO! From holding it in to letting it all hang out, we bridge the gap between lifestyle and lawlessness. It's our civic doody. page 4

IN NEED OF A PLACE TO CRASH FOR THE NIGHT?

VOL 1, NO 46

OBRA SOCIAL WILL KEEP A LIGHT ON FOR YA.



VOL 1, NO 46

Week BCN

M AY 3 1 - J U N E 1 3 , 2 0 0 7 W W W. B C N W E E K . C O M

EDITOR’S LETTER

S AY F O R M AT G E !

GRAFFITI-LANDIA, PERDIDA. BCN once was a paradise for street artists. They travelled from as far as São Paulo to bust their aerosol moves on our city's walls. We got free exhibitions in every street. People would come to the city like trainspotters to snap their favourite artists' pieces and share them on the web (check www.bcnweek.com/feature43.html for more pictures and comments on the topic). But this is over now. “Defacing” the city has not only become muy caro when you’re caught but the special BCNeta anti-Grafitti squads make sure that the “urban eye-sores” disappear from public view within days. Is this the way Barcelona wants to go? PHOTOS BY

For those of you who don’t know us, allow me to introduce ourselves: we’re BCN WEEK, Barcelona’s only alternative source of opinion and commentary in English. Last year we told you that we’re not journalists. We told you that we are boat sanders, help desk operators, English teachers, translators, consulting firm slackers, dog walkers, artists, and world travelers. We told you that we have been brought together by a common language and a desire to create a publication that doesn’t suck. All the above remains true and we’re oh so glad to find ourselves back between your grimy dedos. After a winter hiatus, we’re printing every two weeks until October. Check us out at www.bcnweek.com because new content will be posted weekly and some content can only be found online. If you like what you’re reading, or think you can do better, please send me a hello because I’d love to meet you. BCN WEEK is a community effort managed by a stressed-out and generally nuts few, and we are convinced that there are enough English speakers to support and appreciate what we’re trying to do. If you want to add to the magic then I want to meet you. In March 2006, we published our pilot issue, and the feature article was titled The Mano de Hierro of Clos. That’s right, civismo was still a baby then, but now that over a year and a half has passed since the civismo ordinances became law we can take another look focusing on what changes, if any, can be found on the street, and how it is that we - yes you and me can make a difference. Ahh, isn’t that nice. Never fear because with BCN WEEK as your guide not so much can go wrong... I think.

Ana María Rodriguez GET MORE AT BCNWEEK.COM www.bcnweek.com/ feature43.html

David Tressel DAV I D @ B C N W E E K . C O M

STAFF Marcus Villaça FOUNDER / CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jenn Cross CO-FOUNDER Núria Ferrer PUBLISHER David Tressel EDITOR Lena Wiget ARTS + CULTURE EDITOR Claire Gunter SALES DIRECTOR Joe Littenberg EVENTS Sara Custer COPY EDITOR Megan Ellis PROOFREADER Alfredo Lahoz PHOTO EDITOR

Alida Zapata SALES Harmony Barry SALES Noelle Julian SALES

CONTRIBUTORS Mark Borland, Tiffany Carter, VJ Dattoli, Prada García, Raquel Gariani, Michael Jones, Jordae, Adela Lawson, Nomadik, Lady Ondina Osborne, Stephan Ortiz, Ana María Rodriguez, Nick Scammel, Regina WB, Lena Wiget

Week BCN

Pelayo 52, 1-2 08001 Barcelona, Spain info@bcnweek.com | www.bcnweek.com D.L. L-741-06 © 2007 all rights reserved

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Guiri Trivia! JUST UNDER A YEAR AFTER THE CIVISMO ORDINANCES WENT INTO EFFECT, ONLY 3,184 OF THE 53,410 CITATIONS HAD BEEN PAID. THAT’S 6%. ON AVERAGE, OVER 157 FINES WERE WRITTEN DAILY. ASSUMPTA ESCARP, VICE-PRESIDENT MUNICIPAL COUNCIL COMMISSION

QUICK GUIDE TO CIVISMO

GUIRI GOLDEN PLEASURES GETTING OFF ON BEING GOOD BY

Mark Borland

PHOTOS BY

Alfredo Lahoz

A year and a half after instituting the civismo laws, and buried under un montón of uncollected fines, are Barcelonins sweeter or just bitter?

GET MORE AT BCNWEEK.COM www.bcnweek.com/ feature46.html

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BCN WEEK


Last year, we began our print run with an article about the “iron fist” of then-mayor, Joan Clos. Back then, no one was really sure how the new regulations — called civismo, and dictating civic behavior — would fall into place. The city drew up a list of twelve types of infractions and threw them all in a sack for the cops to fill in the details: severity of infraction and subsequent fine. While we all expected a mild shakeup, maybe we weren’t expecting this strange shift in the feel of the city, even as the behavior has stayed the same. There are many problems with civismo, including its administration, cost, application and budget, but the most important thing to pay attention to is its conceptual philosophy. The Ajuntament maintains that the civismo ordinances aren’t anything that we don't already know: nothing beyond what mama should have taught us. That’s a big statement to make, and its implications are enormous. But the most disturbing problem with the civismo ordinances is that the Ajuntament is safeguarding the rights of some over the rights of others. Trying to establish an authentic civic-minded culture requires that all members of the culture are represented and protected equally. What hasn’t been deemed uncivil are things like mass tourism or speculation, with its consequent real estate mobbing. It may be uncivil to have a beer on a bench or to sleep on that bench, but it’s okay to continually cut off someone’s water or electricity with the hope that they’ll move out of their home in frustration, therefore allowing their building to be turned into a hotel which provides more beds for tourists. Anyone else smell the rotting remains of a dictator? I don’t suggest that the city intends to govern dictatorially, but the reality is very similar. The idea that one has to be told how to behave is absolutely ridiculous. While the Catalan language and culture suffered an evident oppression under Franco, it now seems that the suited-up Catalans who govern this city are taking on some of the same privileges. So, what has changed during the year and a half that the ordinances have been in place? Nothing, really, apart from the feeling that we’re being watched. People continue to piss in the streets, and there are still street drinkers and dwellers, skateboarders and putas, but everyone’s a little more nervous. We haven’t stopped botellón-ing or putiando, we just do so cautiously. With the new laws, suddenly the city is filled with uncivil behavior worthy of fines of up to 3,000¤. BCN isn’t any cleaner or safer, though. A civic attitude cannot be scripted. The city cannot teach us what our mama didn’t. The city cannot fine its way into our hearts and heads to make us behave better. Is it fair that we can’t drink on the street in a town where educated professionals often earn wages under 1,000¤ per month? Maybe we’re drinking Xibeca on a bench because our weekly budget won’t allow us to go to a bar. In a city where the speculator has more rights than the granny who is living in the same flat she was born in, is it morally correct to fine the homeless? But these are all old questions and issues; what BCN WEEK wants to do is add something new to the conversation. We’re all for Barcelona being nicer and cleaner, but instead of fines, let’s talk community. Civic behavior is something that grows organically from within, right? So here are a few ways that we, as individuals, could set the civic-minded ball rolling.

PISS BAGS Street piss is a problem that we agree needs a solution. We can all identify with the feeling of a full bladder that won’t be ignored, but none of us wants to smell that smell. Because the city hasn’t come up with a functional solution to pissy corners, I’m offering one myself: piss bags. Easy to store and dispose of, these simple plastic bags allow you to curb your own waste. After the piss is pissed, simply toss it in the rubbish, or, if you’re a real green-thinker, dump that baby in the nearest fountain and wash it out for another use. Go on: bag it.

BEACH BLANKET BOTELLÓN Why do we have to be off the beach at twelve, again? Isn’t that the magic of living in a beach town - being able to go down to the water whenever you like, especially at night? Be it with friends or lovers, the combination of blanket and bottle, surf and stars, is incomparable. I’d rather get together on the beach than the bar down the street any night of the week. Besides being nicer and generally healthier, it must be quieter for the neighbors. Who are we going to wake up at the playa: the fishes? The argument from City Hall is la limpieza. They gotta clean that nasty stretch of dust-sand, and they have to do so at twelve o’clock sharp, apparently. Porque? We all know that the faithful - and usually patient - BCNeta employees are well-accustomed to working rotating shifts. Would it be so difficult to

WANNA BE A GOOD SAMARITAN? ANOINT THEIR FEET WITH OIL, AT LEAST.

CHUMP CHANGE Just in case you didn’t think you could get any poorer, we thought we’d give you a quick run-down of some ways to lose money via the Civismo Laws. Take that drugged baby back to where you got her from. Begging with her is gonna cost ya. B Y Adela Lawson

ATTACKS ON HUMAN DIGNITY If what’s coming out of your Tourette’saffected mouth is xenophobic, racist, sexist or homophobic, just keep your trap shut. The fine: 750-1,500¤. If you decide to insult old people, minors, or the disabled, you’re talking 1,500-3,000¤. After this, you won’t even be able to buy yourself a bar of soap to wash your mouth out.

GRAFFITI Minor infractions (read: normal walls): up to 750 euros. Have a yen to write your name in bubbly letters on an L5 train? 750-1,500¤. Have a yen to paint a huge purple schlong on the façade of Casa Milà? Officially, 1,5003,000¤. I’m guessing more like 3,000¤.

STICKERS + POSTERS + BANNERS Sure, they may seem innocent, but smacking a Hello Kitty sticker on a wall will cost you between 120¤ and 750¤. Smacking a Hello Kitty sticker on a trash can or a bench? 7501,500¤. Smacking a Hello Kitty sticker on the statue of Columbus? Between 1,500¤ and 3,000¤. And they’ll take the rest of your stickers away. Bad kitty. Oh, and if you want to hang your Hello Kitty banner off your balcony on Hospital, you have to ask for permission.

PICK UP FUTBOL + SKATEBOARDING You’re meant to get a warning first, but if you can’t keep your balls under control or your wheels in alignment: up to 750¤. If you’re threatening physical harm to others: 7501,500¤. And if you’re trying to out-trick someone on a bike or skateboard, you can only do it in designated areas.

PHYSIOLOGICAL NECESSITIES If you did badly in eighth-grade vocab, “physiological necessities” means shitting, pissing, and spitting in public spaces, and it’ll cost you up to 300¤. If you do it in an area

with a lot of passers-by or minors, or on monuments or protected buildings, answering your calls of nature is gonna cost you between 750¤ and 1,500¤.

DRINKING! In public spaces when it bothers neighbors or other people using the space, or if your alcoholic beverages are in glass containers or cans: between 30¤ and 100¤. Inciting a massive group of rabid Liverpudlians to drink in a plaza, creating unhygienic conditions, or drinking around kids: 750-1,500¤. And if you toss your empties willy-nilly, it’s up to 500¤.

EXPENSIVE SAMOSAS Unauthorized street vending of food, beverages, massages, and tattoos (who gets a tattoo on the streets?), or collaborating with these miscreants: up to 500¤. But wait for it: BUYING a delicious pastry while drunk, or getting a foot rub from a Thai woman on the beach will ALSO cost up to 500¤.

FUN BITS AND PIECES Using benches and public seating for other than their designated uses: up to 500¤. Washing or bathing yourself or your clothes in fountains and pools: up to 500¤. Vandalizing the big brass cat/squirrel on Rambla del Raval: between 750¤ and 1,500¤. Using soap in the beach showers: up to 500¤. Going into the sea when the flag is red: between 750¤ and 1,500¤. Parking your vehicle in the street in order to sell/lease/advertise something: up to 450.75¤. I know we don’t drive, but I thought the bizarre price made it worth including. Lastly, be nice to the Mossos trying to give you a ticket. Non-compliance with their requests for your information can cost you between 1,500¤ and 3,000¤. I think it goes into the kitty for their paella party at the end of the year.

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way for us, as representatives of the city, to change the opinion that travelers will take with them: “Yes, my wallet was nicked, but those BCN kids are so lovely!” Knowing that you are helping out this sector of the anti-population, (that is more important to the Ajuntament than you, as a guiri, will ever be), you will sleep peacefully with the knowledge that you’re making BCN a better place for tourists. This act of good faith and will isn’t necessarily restricted to foot massages and SPF 45 either; if you see a group lost in the street with a map spread wide and everyone looking confused, don’t get angry because they’re blocking the path... get in there and help them find their way instead.

WTF? ck The Fu t a h W

NO NIPS, PLEASE Did you know that interpretation of the civismo laws allows for someone to be fined for going about topless? Looking beyond one of the fundamental faults of civismo, (open interpretation and undefined application by the police), we want to get those tops back on. I know, you’re confused. Isn’t Barcelona wellknown amongst naturists for its acceptance of nudity on the street? Well, never you mind. Instead of getting lost in contradictions that will drive you mad, let’s just get a cool cotton shirt over those tits and call it a day. Even a simple undershirt will do, apparently. That’s great then: tops on, bottoms off. Nudists can behave civilly and still get the junk out.

WHERE’S JORDI? Judging from Hereu’s campaign image that has been plastered all over town he ain't en el center, and he sure as hell ain't in Plaça Catalunya where this picture was taken.

NO PLACE TO CALL HOME?

SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE “New Mayor, New Ideas” Yeah, like the always new idea that world is filled with pink people, except for one little black girl who didn’t even make it on this particular poster. I guess she only fits on billboards. “Where’s Jordi?” was one of his quirky-dork campaign slogans—what about Mohammad? Because he’s not anywhere to be found on this Stepford collage. Is

this the citizen profile that our new mayor thinks represents BCN? Vaya, and he’s a socialist! Probably one of the most disturbing things about this campaign image is that what’s lacking paints a blaringly offensive portrait of “us” and “them,” you, sweet guiri, falling into the “them” category whether you’re pink or not. Of course there is no real

clean up at five in the morning, for example? By giving us a specific hour to vacate the beach, they’re shifting the priority from what is more important, (taking with you what you brought, hasta cigarette culos), to the ridiculous, and ultimately irrelevant, difference a minute makes. However, by working from a positive point of departure, and looking for solutions rather than making accusations and inventing tonterías, I’ve got two suggestions. Number one is a top-manta en la playa. We’ve all seen how the - also uncivil counterfeit bag and DVD sellers have evolved their manta. When the cops come around, they just give a quick yank to the two strings, gathering everything together in a nice little bundle that they can throw over their shoulder for a quick getaway, right? Apply the same idea to your beach party and you have a quick-fix to your mess. Once bundled up, it’s all very easy to take home or dispose of, be it in the nearest bin or the sea.

reason to address a multi-national electorate because that just simply isn’t the reality in BCN, but come on! He’s supposed to be in touch with the city, and this city is teeming with a lot of different skin colors other than pink. So, where’s Jordi now? In the Ajuntament, that’s where.

My second idea follows the first and is actually much easier, though a bit wetter. What if you take your party into the Mediterranean herself? That’s right: if your beach party is getting in the way of the BCNeta workers, get your ass in that sea. Ridiculous, you scoff? With the right floatable devices and a civic-minded imagination, you can rock your way civilly out of BCNeta’s path, into guilt-free drunkenness. Toss that basura right into the blue oblivion you’ll be floating in, because the most important thing is that you’re not in the way.

TOURIST PIT STOP

Here we have to tip our hats to the several banks around town that have started setting the civismo trend way before us. There are many incentives put forth under the umbrella of Obra Social, their various social work programs, but the kindest act, by far, is allowing the homeless to sleep inside their cash points. This is philanthropy itself, and really sets a great example of how we can all do our bit to make the city a more pleasant place. Of course, the cash points are the best option for los sin techos because, as we remember, sleeping on a bench is an improper use of public property. One can only sit erectly on a bench, because that’s civic. Let’s give a big hip-hip hooray to those sweet banker people, because attitudes like theirs will make this city into a better place.

Moving forward from here, perhaps it would be easier to get this town in ship-shape if we look beyond a monetarily-defined notion of behavior modification. A whore ain’t gonna stop being a whore if you give her an 800¤ fine. What city leaders need to realize, before anything else, is that BCN is exactly what they wanted it to be, so why the chagrin? They’ve created this fantastic Frankenstein we call home, and I predict (hope) that it’s going to be impossible to make her wear the horribly boring brand of nice that city bosses have designed for us. The arrogance of which ordinances such as civismo reek is doing nothing for the quality of life that we all share in the city. Clos moved to Madrid months ago and his temporary replacement, Hereu, has just won official office. Let’s hope that in his flurry of promises and optimism there is a little common sense budding.

Realizing that the civismo ordinances were written for the benefit of tourists with the hopes of changing BCN’s mala fama, let’s get right to the point. You and some friends can easily set up a welcoming pit stop for the (always more important) tourist. Massaging feet and applying sun cream to pink cheeks is a great

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WHY STAY HOME AND LISTEN TO WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD WHEN YOU CAN MAKE OTHER PEOPLE LISTEN TO WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD? NOBODY LIKES MONDAYS, BUT THEY’RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT SWEETER. BCN WEEK AND CONEXION ARE HOSTING ‘OFF NITES’ AT BENIDORM, ONE OF THE COOLEST BARS IN RAVAL. THE ATMOSPHERE IS CASUAL, AND THE MUSIC IS UP TO YOU. BRING YOUR IPOD OR LAPTOP, AND YOU CAN TAKE REVENGE ON YOUR BOSS BY DOING WHAT YOU LIKE FOR A CHANGE. SIGN UP FOR A DJ SLOT ONLINE AHEAD OF TIME OR TAKE A CHANCE AND SHOW UP ON MONDAY NIGHTS FROM 22:00 TO 1:00AM. IF THERE’S SPACE OPEN ON THE BILL, IT’S YOURS. MONDAYS: THEY’RE THE NEW SUNDAYS.

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BCN WEEK


BCNUNHINGED OV E R H E A R D BY

VJ Dattoli

GET UNHINGED AT

BCNWEEK.COM

‘PERO ME GUSTA MUCHO’ Itchy Feet: Have you ever been to China? Jaded Traveller: Yeah 2000 years ago… well, Vietnam... does that count?

Top Stylist: You look like you are from the seventies with that beard, all kind of Charles Manson-ish.

Film Critic: Did you see that film Shortbus? Naïve-judge-things-by-thename-critic: No, but I heard it was like Little Miss Sunshine. Film Critic: Well hmm… I sup-

www.bcnweek.com/ unhinged46.html

Eager bean: Do you want to play ping-pong in the park with me? Unsure: uhhhh… well… Eager bean: Do you know how to play? Unsure: Yeh…. I can play. I mean, I’m not Chinese or anything, but I can play.

Australian mate: So, what I thought I saw was a metrelong inflatable penis.

British child in the bathroom stall at the BCN airport: Mummy, I caaaan’t.

‘SO, WHAT I THOUGHT I SAW WAS A METRE-LONG INFLATABLE PENIS.’ pose it could be if you think Little Miss Sunshine was like a sex orgy in a New York loft.

Contemplative: With all this technology and stuff do you ever feel like we are living in the future? Disappointed: Yeah but I thought it would be cooler than this.

Teen A from Iowa: At our school dance the rules are that we aren’t allowed to put our hands on the floor and we can’t bend beneath a 90 degree angle. Teen B from Iowa: Yeah and no dancing whilst lying on the floor either. Confused from Barcelona: What kind of dance is that? Sounds like a sex dance to me.

Mummy at sink teasing her hair: But you have to. Child: No I don’t! Mummy: If you don’t poo, I am leaving you in Barcelona. Child: No, mummy! Nooooooooo!!!!

Hobo1: ¡Que no tomes más metadona! Hobo2: Pero me gusta mucho. Hobo1: Pues, jodido. Hobo2: (to college-aged foreigner): ¡Eh! Tienes un cigarro? Co-ed: No. Hobo1: ¿Metadona? Hobo2: ¡Coño!

Heard something that left your jaw hanging? Submit your entries at bcnweek.com/unhinged_sub.html

BCN WEEK

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LAVERONICA052707.qxd

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PIZZA & SALADS / MIDDAY MENÚ DEL DÍA TUES-FRI 13:00-16:00 & 20:00-1:00/ SAT & SUN 12:30-1:30 KITCHEN OPEN NON STOP

La Cuina Guarra BY

Tiffany Carter

‘AUTHENTIC’

GET GUARRA AT

SHAWARMA CASERO

BCNWEEK.COM www.bcnweek.com/ cuina46.html

INGREDIENTS

WE’VE MOVED TO: RAMBLA DEL RAVAL 2-4 Tel: 933 293 303 / www.laveronica.es

MARINADE

— — — —

— — — — — —

2-3/4 Cups Flour 5 Tablespoons Lard 3/4 Teaspoon Salt 3/4 Cup Very Warm Tap Water

FOR THE INNARDS — 3 Chicken Breasts — A Bag of Salad — Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Onions, etc. — Pepperoncini — Can of Pineapple Chunks — Tabasco

1 Cup Plain Yogurt 1/4 Cup Vinegar 2 Cloves Garlic, Crushed 1 Teaspoon Pepper 1/2 Teaspoon Salt Juice from 1 Lemon

SAUCE — 1 Cup Tahini — 2 Cloves Garlic, crushed — 1/4 Cup Lemon Juice — 2 Tablespoons Yogurt

L

L THE

FOR THE MEXICAN-STYLE DÜRÜM

BLACK HORSE

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS 1 Cut up the chicken breasts into big chunks and mix up all of the marinade ingredients. 2 Put the chicken in the marinade,

bottom surface beginning to blister and brown lightly, then flip and cook for another minute. Wrap them in a clean dish towel when you are done to keep them warm. It’s chicken time.

cover, and let it soak in the refrigerator overnight.

11 Preheat your oven to very hot and put the rack very close to the heat.

3 Wake the next morning and go

WE’RE A DIFFERENT KIND OF PUB OUTDOOR SEATING ON TERRACE MORE THAN FOOTBALL INDIE ALTERNATIVE ROCK

tortillas, since you are not a multitasker.

12 Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and thread the pieces onto skewers with a tomato and a slice of onion at the top. Put them on a piece of aluminum foil on the rack and cook them for about 5 minutes on each side.

5 Put the flour in a large bowl and rub

13 Now, hold each skewer from the

in the lard eagerly; then dissolve the salt in the water and mix it into the flour a little at a time until you have a stiff dough.

top vertically over a big plate and using your friendly straight razor begin to shave down the meat, being careful to avoid your wrists.

6 Pour flour freely onto your countertop and knead the dough for 10 to 15 minutes. Pull it apart to make 12 more or less evenly-sized balls, wrap them in plastic wrap and leave them alone for half an hour.

14 If you do find the blade nearing your wrists, remember: it’s down the road and not across the street. And a nice warm bath might be pleasant.

about your day as usual, as if this weren’t a very special day. You get to cook with lard! Among other things.

4 When it is time, begin with the

7 Mix all the sauce ingredients together and slice up the vegetables to keep busy.

PRINCESA

PICASSO MUSEUM

8

BCN WEEK

high the chicken shavings. Add the salad ingredients, dribble on some tabasco and sauce, and wrap the whole thing up like a burrito.

8 Roll out each ball thinly. Try to make them round, and stop when you feel is appropriate.

16 Serve wrapped in aluminum foil and napkins in a plastic bag.

9 Preheat a dry skillet over medium

If you have extras, try selling them at the beach or to the SPAR at the business end of C/Nou de la Rambla. For added authenticity, see if you can find yourself a new mobile phone or backpack.

heat.

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15 Put a tortilla on a plate and pile

10 Place tortillas one by one in the pan and cook them for 45 seconds to a minute until you imagine the


a s o p i r a M l E BY

Jordae

T H E N E W S BY

THE THUMB ON THE PULSO DE LA CALLE A Q&A WITH STREET ARTIST ‘WK INTERACT’ artist wk interact has been making a name for himself as an urban artist for many years. right now he’s got a show running in barcelona ‘til mid july (Maxalot, San Just 9). we stopped in for a chat.

YOU’RE FROM FRANCE. WHICH PART? i was born in normandy but i lived in the south for 17 years in a small village. i lived in paris for 5 years. i traveled a lot. when i was a kid i did the whole of europe. especially looking for the squats, parties, see who was doing what. the city where i grew up was small, but it was very rich. lots of famous actors/filmmakers. there was always this strong energy but they never allowed anything for young developers. they weighed you down.

IS THAT YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE TOO? ARE YOU MOVING? ARE YOU ON THE MOVE? i do escape. the fact that we all have a short life. people think i create to be famous or make a lot of money. it’s the opposite. i make some money and give something back to the city. every time i go to another country it gives me new life. it’s like speaking 20 different languages. running from my own shadow is somehow making my life longer. i think i’m still young but i’m not. i push the limits and it all comes out in my work. it’s about power, force, motion. pulling weight. i use details, numbers, barcodes. our names are fading. we are slowly becoming numbers. everything happens so fast for us. so the motion, energy and numbers are important.

WHAT DOES THE WK STAND FOR? i wanted letters that could look like a weapon. if you look at the letters “w” and “k” they’re both sharp, but it doesn’t mean anything. at my first show, an interior design, i came up with “interact” to combine “interior” and “action.” to interact with space, and brands. like bmw, adidas, etc. it’s not a charming name. very german, actually.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOUR ART OR THE WAY YOU INTERACT IN A CITY CHANGED FROM CITY TO CITY?

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAXALOT

before i had gone to ny i had started to work with motion. taking photos, blurring them. speed motion, like a motorcycle. i stayed in ny for 3 months. when i returned home i decided to change all of my work…throw away everything, rejecting it all. ny made me want to do things more intensely, bigger. so i moved to ny. i had to adapt. the people in the u.s. really respond to violence. in france i’d probably do something more sexual. that’s what the people in france respond to. now i use more detail in general, blurring just the faces gives a different feeling than my old styles. i’m not so much stretching the images like before. more blurred. like a digital image. it creates a better sense of motion.

Señor Motion himself, WK INTERACT.

DO YOU SEE PEOPLE INTERPRETING YOUR ART IN A POLITICAL WAY, OR ARE YOU TRYING TO GET A POLITICAL MESSAGE ACROSS? my art is too early for the times. if you look at what’s going on in the street now, like with banksy, or computers, it’s become firstly political, then artistic. not purely an image anymore. it went from tag to sketch to posters to a political-sticker-tag. people go to art school, using a computer to create 3-D motion. the new generation isn’t better, just a little smarter. they use the street politically, for marketing themselves. when i started it was pure motion. to give something to the public, anonymously. as i grew older i realized that you affect a lot of people with images in the street. when you arrive at the point where people recognize your style, not your name, you can help a good cause or make a bad cause, depending on what you represent. i am very aware of what i put in the street. i’m creating motion. i don’t use political imagery to get famous. i’m not trying to shock people. i don’t like that galleries are only for people with money. i like that everyone can own a part of the street. i want to reach all people, not just groups.

Stephan Ortiz

BOOMTOWN

COGS EXTRA! EXTRA! METRO COPS PICK ON CHILDREN. XENOPHOBES HARASS GYPSIES. WOODY VISITS. The Mossos are beating the shit out of people. There are videos on YouTube where you can see some kick-ass interrogation methods. Numbers sing their soulless song: in 2006, 129 complaints were filed, which is double the amount from last year. The Mossos are saying that “it’s not that there have been more incidents, but it’s the citizens who are complaining more”. That makes sense, doesn’t it? The new cable-car installation on Montjuïc that takes you mid-Mont to the castle is incredibly expensive, costing ¤7.50. It’s one of those things that, after getting off, you feel a little used. One tourist was quoted as saying that every year BCN is more expensive than the previous and is losing its cheap-city attractiveness. Yeah. The Ajuntament has spent ¤60,000 guiding the missteps of tourists. New blue signs give directions to popular locations such as plaças, museums, markets and police stations, among others. Shop attendants are said to be relieved that they don’t have to give directions anymore. Tourists are said to be relieved that they can follow established routes avoiding random walking or thinking. The Spanish Minister of the

There was a lot of predictable and generally tiring hubbub hoo-ha between Madrid and the Ajuntament earlier in the year over the castle on Montjuïc. Hereu was demanding that the military installation be turned over to the city so that it could be turned into a “center for peace” as had been promised during the PSOE’s campaign. The switch in management and function has been made, and the castle’s first civic operation was announced last week: a Bread and Butter runway for Custo. Yes, that’s right, in BCN peace and civic duty = skinny models, cocaine and an elitist air. In sensational human interest reporting, we learned earlier in the week of 18 Romanian Gypsy families living on a plot of land owned by the city in Sants. Complaints are that the “families smell badly.” They also pay in pennies so that while the store clerk counts the change accomplices “steal pizzas and beer.” Other xenophobes were quoted as saying that they refuse to use the grocery carts at the market because “they” use them to collect scrap metal. The Mossos have the area under constant surveillance, truncheons ready. Disney’s cruise boat Magic disembarked from Barcelona’s port

THE MOSSOS ARE BEATING THE SHIT OUT OF PEOPLE. THEY CLAIM THAT “IT’S NOT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MORE INCIDENTS, BUT IT’S THE CITIZENS WHO ARE COMPLAINING MORE.” THAT MAKES SENSE, DOESN’T IT? Environment will spend over 32 million euros on submerged dykes to stabilize BCN’s beaches. The thing is that BCN’s beaches aren’t natural and that stubborn bitch Mother Nature is constantly taking her sand back. Although an agreement has been made between surfers and planners, the surfers are really pissed off because the dykes are going to ruin already miserable breaks. The metro is crawling with Mossos. There is an operation underway that is clearing out pickpockets. After scouring hours of video footage, the agents are packing images of the guilty alongside their ready truncheons. Petty thieves are said to be scared that they will be beaten senseless while wallet theft victims are clamoring for some good floggings.

for the first time last week to a fanfare celebration of fireworks and happy joy. The floating fantasyland that calls BCN a port of call will carry an additional 1,750 classless and uncultured travelers to various European cities. The metro cops are picking on children. A twelve year-old boy on his way to school jumped the turnstile because his card didn’t work and no one was working in the metro booth. The tough guys circled the wee one and almost gave him a ticket. Crowds of people were reportedly outraged and began to heckle the Mosso wannabes. Woody Allen will be moving to BCN in June because his new film will be shot here, so keep your little girls safely tucked away. His daughter-wife is probably looking a little old to him.

BCN WEEK

9


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LISTINGS MAY 31 - JUNE 13

S E L E C T E D BY

THURSDAY 31

dBTOWN

BY

Raquel Gariani

PRIMAVERA SWEATIN’ A LA RAQUEL I have to confess. I’ve spent hours working on a big Excel spread sheet to keep straight what will happen and when this year at Primavera Sound. It’s color coded and in time blocks. I want to help you because just looking at the Primavera calendar can make your head start to hurt. Each year it’s growing, but not getting bigger only better. If you don’t know a band, trust your instincts and chances are you will always find a very good one. Here are some fast tips to refer to while your friends are going to buy a cubata or you’re in the queue for a piss. You can start with the showcases in Apolo. On the first day, it’s the B-core showcase: Nueva Vulcano, well respected guys from Barcelona with an elegant punk rock, the crazy Valencians Estrategia lo Capto! and Lavodrama from Zaragoza. The next day you can give your ears a rest with The Sadies, Canadians who have just recorded an album with Steve Albini, which sounds like folk-country-rock. With them, we have Centro-Matic from Texas. On Wednesday, it’s the GreenUfos’ showcase, with the solo projects of the Montgolfier Brothers: Gnac and At Swim Two Birds and Oslo Telescopic. Thursday is the surveillance day. You should wear your best clothes tonight. We couldn’t start better than with Comets on Fire performing their most well-known album: Blue Cathedral. Then, Parenthetical Girls — a pop kind of electronic group. At the same time the CD Drome stage will be populated with cool local bands that you can always see around here. Talk to people, look at the cd’s and t-shirts while you decide between seeing Slint performing Spiderland (post-rock history), or some experimentalism with Alexander Tucker, guitarist of Jackie OMotherfucker and Sunn O)))). The big act of the night will be the Smashing Pumpkins concert, but you should also watch Mike Patton freaking out at the Fennesz concert. The White Stripes are next. They’ve got a new album out although everybody will want to hear the classics. To finish the happy night, don’t miss the french-electro from Justice; I’ve heard good things about them. If you forget your sunblock, go directly to see Mus in the Auditory on Friday. Nice air-conditioning there. Then, Portastatic will make you float. Everybody will be fighting to be in front of the stage to see Billy Bragg. After that I’ll be running to see the best band for me in the whole festival: Blonde Redhead. I loved their album 23. They are great, beautiful, everything. Relaxed and in love, I’ll go check out The Fall. The most fun band of the festival, Chromeo, is playing in the Vice space. These electronic nerds make me laugh and dance when I’m listening at home; live I’m sure they will be unforgettable! You can take a breather during Maximo Park because they are always here. Get a beer or just sit down and talk to a handsome guy while they’re playing. But take his phone number and don’t lose it when you go to Girls Against Boys. After them, the historical Spanish indie rock band, Los Planetas. Don’t give up yet because Built to Spill will keep you up and you will find yourself dancing to Diplo with that handsome guy. Yes, Fridays are magic. With your hangover, start off Saturday with Kimya Dawnson, the girl from Moldy Peaches, in the Auditori. Following the freshness of fruits, don’t miss The Apples in Stereo. It will be amazing with the sea view. Skip Jonathan Richman as he is always here and instead check out The Long Blondes. The Durutti Column will make you remember that life is short so make it as fun as possible. If you’re tired, stay awake because you can’t miss Robyn Hitckcock and the Venus 3. If you’re still standing go see Architecture in Helsinki. I’m not a great fan of hers, but if you are, go see Patti Smith. After her my legs will be ready for Damon Albarn and his newest project: The Good, The Bad & The Queen. Prepare to hear Sonic Youth playing Daydream Nation. Then, one of my top five favorite bands, Manchester guys The Buzzcocks. Their concert will be really great. The punks fall in love, amazing. I know that all my friends will be anxious to see Wilco. The Klaxons are next- hype electro. To finish it off why not dance until dawn with Erol Alkan? It’s better exercise than the cold machines in a gym club. Just remember Primavera Sound is not a marathon. To prepare, just sleep a lot and wear good shoes. Brings lots of money for beer because every year it gets more expensive. Let’s dance, meet people, scream, and don’t forget to carry your BCNweek. Last summer I used my BCNWEEK to sit on the grass. Really useful.

10

BCN WEEK

Art

ROJO® OPENS NEW ART VENUE The Spanish revista ROJO® – rollo hip, artsy and glossy — that features up and coming artists/illustrators inaugurates a 175m2 exhibition space on calle Girona tonight. The honor of “first artist on show” goes to young, Japanese Aya Kato. The 20 year-old who illustrated an Edgar Allan Poe novel for German publisher Gestalten and contributed to Tori Amos’s last video, exhibits dreamy landscapes peopled with big-eyed beauties, heroes and warriors printed on large-format textile. Time: 19:30h-22:30h // Runs until June 27th Place: Girona, 61 Admission: Free ------------------------------------------------------

FRIDAY 1 Theater

24TH MARATÓ DE L’ESPECTACLE The annual performing arts marathon has no fewer than 200 artists on the line-up this year. They come from around the world and perform 10-minute extracts of their shows all night long, from nine in the evening until the hours of the early morning. The performances in the Mercat de les Flors and Teatre Lliure cost 6¤ for a night but whatever happens on the stage outdoors on Plaça Margarida Xirgu is free. Sure to be a crowd pleaser are the concerts of La Sucursal S.A at 21:00h on Friday and the Always Drinking Marching Band at 21:00h on Saturday. Time: 21:00h until dawn / June 1st and 2nd Place: Mercat de les Flors @ Lleida, 59 // Teatre Lliure, Plaça Margarida Xirgu s/n Admission: 6¤ for one day // 10¤ for two days More info/contact: www.marato.com

Art

ADEU KBB After nearly four years of organizing exhibitions and cultural events, the Kültur Büro Barcelona - KBB for short — closes down due to lack of dinero. It’s not the first venue to shut its exhibition space: AlterCultura, situated in the same old, industrial building closed at the beginning of the year — but it’s nonetheless sad news. Today is the last chance to check out the exhibition by the French artist Claude Lévèque, an installation entitled “La Guerre du Chocolat” that smells of chocolate and reminds one of long forgotten childhood dreams. You need to call the KBB team to arrange a viewing time. The farewell party for members and invitados starts at 23:00h. Time: On appointment. Call 93 442 06 95. Place: Joaquin Costa, 24-4º Admission: Free // Donations welcome. More info/contact: www.kbb.org.es // info@kbb.org.es

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Lena Wiget

Teatre Grec in Barcelona, or for free in Sta. Coloma de Gramanet just outside of Barcelona on the 31st of August. Time: 21:30h Place: CD Drome, Primavera Sound @ Parc Del Forum, s/n Admission: 65¤ for the entire night More info/contact: www.primaverasound.com (Regina WB)

Music

SOULNATIONFM Naumon, the boat of the famous Catalan theater company La Fura dels Baus, that anchors at Port Vell in front of the IMAX, has turned into a proper party venue over the last months. Casi every weekend a fiesta of some sort happens there. Tonight it’s the radio station SoulnationFM that’s in charge of the music. As the name suggests, the sound is set to soul, jazz, house roots and hip hop. Of course, this is not an alternative to what’s happening tonight at the Forum but at 3¤ the entrance is seriously barato and there are worse things than chilling on deck to music with a nice beat. Time: 23:00h to 3:00h Place: Naumon @ Port Vell, s/n (in front of the IMAX cinema) Admission: 3¤ More info/contact: www.soulnationfm.com ------------------------------------------------------

SUNDAY 3 Art

LOOP ’07: LAST DAY Every year there are more venues that participate in the video art festival LOOP, which means that the chances of you stumbling across some cool video art while out bar hopping or shopping are increasing. But it also means that it is nearly impossible to see it all. If you rely on serendipity alone, you’ll miss out on some really good stuff, especially since today is the last LOOP day. All of the venues with opening times and artists on show are available online at www.loop-barcelona.com. If you happen to be in Raval, don’t forget to check out the gallery DistritoQuinto (17:00h to 21:00h) and the video club Void Zelig (16:00h to 22:30) on carrer Ferlandina, as well as the gallery Miscelänea (16:00h to 23:00h) on carrer Guardiã 10 and the Erotic Art Museum (10:00h to 21:00h) on La Rambla, 96. Pakistani video art plus yummy Pakistani curry can be found at the restaurant Shalimar on carrer Carme, 71. Time: From 11:00h to 23:00h / May 23rd to June 3rd Place: All over town Admission: Free More info/contact: www.loop-barcelona.com ------------------------------------------------------

MONDAY 4

-----------------------------------------------------Music

SATURDAY 2 Music

STANDSTILL: ALTERNATIVE CAT ROCK AT PRIMAVERA SOUND With all the international estrellas on stage at Primavera it’ll be easy to overlook Standstill, an excellent Barcelona based alternative rock band. They’ve recorded several albums, the latest being VivalaGuerra with tranquil tunes like “123Sol,” that make me want to take a long drive in the country or immediately go on a road trip (oh, wait, no car…shit). If Primavera Sound isn’t your thang, you can catch Standstill later this summer on July 17th at

OFF NIGHTS Monday nights are usually sad and boring even in a city as lovely and lively as Barcelona. As an attack against the Monday blues, BCN Week and Conexion organize weekly Off Nights at Benidorm, one of our favorite bars in Raval. It’s really low key, nada fancy - just a chat with friends over a beer and a chance to meet new people. As a little extra, those who have ganas to dj can bring their laptop or iPod and play their songs if they’ve signed up at www.bcnweek.com/offnite_sub.html. Time: 22:00h Place: Benidorm @ Joaquin Costa, 39 Admission: Free More info/contact: www.bcnweek.com


S E L E C T E D BY

Prada García

P H O T O S BY

Alfredo Lahoz

THE SHORT LIST

BARS, RESTAURANTS AND HANGOUTS QUE MOLAN BIG TIME M E T I C U L O U S LY S E L E C T E D ( B U R P ! ) /// R E P E AT E D LY J U E R G A -T E S T E D /// N E V E R E V E R PA I D F O R

CAVA BAR

LA XAMPANYERIA REINA CRISTINA 13 TEL. 93 310 05 26

“I can’t go in there without wanting to kill someone.” That was a recent review of la Xampanyeria, courtesy of a friend of mine who is obviously a total pussy. This place is always so packed with people that if you faint, you won’t actually fall, and that might be a bit agobiante, but it is certainly no reason to not go. Especially when you consider the camaraderie that comes from physical closeness, general drunkenness and the fact that no one, thanks to their sandwiches, champagne bottles and glasses, has any free hands to start a fight. I can’t speak for the quality of the champagne except that it has started and ended many a Barcelona night, but the sandwiches are top notch and you can order almost anything. In fact, there is an everything sandwich that has de todo un poco. It is delicious, but much more so after the second bottle.

BAR

BODEGA DE LA GINESTA JOVELANOS, 3 TEL. 933 17 40 44

SHRINE

LA CONCHA

GUÁRDIA, 14

PRAY TO THE SPANISH ELIZABETH TAYLOR Best hookahs or best hookas? Both. Gay bar? Definitely. Straight bar? That too. La Concha is as schizo as Barcelona and on any given day/ night, it is a microcosm of what this city has to offer: vice after vice, time after time. Most people find it well into the night, but kicking off your late afternoon there is easy. They have a small but useful library

with advice on Morocco and how to get it on, and they turn out a mean Moroccan mint tea, ideal to sip while perched on their red velvet couches, surrounded by the seductive, staring eyes of la Sarísima. That gaze will follow you into the night when the bartenders tap into La Concha’s eclectic music selection. Singing along is not only accepted but expected, so get your drink on, get your smoke on, and get on the floor and find someone to poke on. Yeah!

PIZZERIA

LA GAVINA ROS DE OLANO 17 TEL. 934 15 74 50

Though there are many pizzerias in Barcelona, few can really satisfy, which is what makes la Gavina just divina. It is all about the pizzas, which are gravid with toppings and far too big for any one person to finish. In fact, in the two hours I was there, I saw not one empty tray make its way back to the kitchen. That’s good eatin’.

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Thanks to BCN WEEK’s new headquarters just around the corner, we have daytime access to la Ginesta and all of the parroquianos within. That also means that we get to eat one of the best lunchtime deals in town: one hearty bocadillo del día and either coffee/beer/water/wine for 3.50¤. I mean, damn! The food is good and though it is a man’s world, women (especially las guapas) are welcome and sometimes undercharged. There is a whole Jekyll and Hyde thing going on here, though, and when night comes on, the Ginesta brings it. Though the food is the same, the waiters are younger and faster and everything is louder. On game nights, even soccer haters become passionate about what’s on the big screen, and if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, the octopus will. It has eight arms to hold you. So, eat, drink and be merry, but watch your step going out. I have seen many a drunk stumble over them before falling face down. That’s the Ginesta, really, toe up and loving it.

GELLATERIA

CAFFETERIA ITALIANA PLAÇA DE LA REVOLUCIÓ 2

TEL. 932 10 23 39

Gina and Marina, the mother-daughter team behind the best gelato in town, don’t take no shit, so don’t be an ass. They know that the line is long and that you really really want that ice cream, but cool your jets. Devise a system. Either get there early for no line, or grab your number, then a Xibeca and set up camp in the padded kiddy playground in the plaça. Roll a joint. Hell, roll two! It won’t make the ice cream taste better, as that would be impossible, but it will allow you to consume more of it, and you should always aim to maximize the visit. They recently installed a bit of outdoors entertainment: Gina and Marina making their ice cream in a continuous loop. So, you can see just where all those flavors come from. As for choice… everyone will tell you to try the chocolate (think frozen xocolata desfeta and you get the idea), but any and all the flavors will get you off. Also, mamma is making her own foray into traditional Italian cooking via DVD that, when stoned and plied with ice cream, is a great buy. When the high wears off, you might just end up with a pot of gnocchi. Or just more pot.

BCN WEEK

11


LISTINGS

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CONTINUED

TUESDAY 5

FRIDAY 8

SUNDAY 10

Time-killer

Film

Chill Out

MY SPANISH SPACE

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL: ROSIE THE RIVETER

HAMAKA

Wow-ho, big news: Myspace has arrived to Spain. Community tiempo! Super diversión! Making amigos! Now: Todo en Spanish! What a great way to kill a sunny day in front of the computer practicing your Spanish. A nice wifi spot where they serve delicious fresh peppermint tea is café Clandestina in Gotico. Venga, nos vemos en www.myspace.com. (By the way, the domain www.miespacio.es is still available. Maybe someone with a better idea than MySpace founders Chris and Tom will do something fun with it.) Time: 10:00h to 22:00h Place: Clandestina @ Baixada de Viladecols 2 Admission: Free More info/contact: www.myspace.es -----------------------------------------------------------------

The International Women’s Film Festival opens today with an open air screening of The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter (1980, USA) by Connie Field. The film is set in the early 1940s when the U.S. entry into World War II created an unprecedented demand for new workers. Notions of what was proper work for women changed overnight. Thousands of posters appeared calling on women to “do the job he left behind.” The International Women’s Film Festival takes place for the most part at the Filmoteca until June 17th and exhibits various documentaries and short films as well as a retrospective of Vera Neubauer’s work. Time: 22:30h Place: Palau Virreina @ La Rambla, 99 Admission: Free More info/contact: mostra.dracmagic.cat

Hamaka stands for totally chilling, for hanging out in hammocks and listening to bongo beats, for drinking beer to world music rhythms and eating lentil salad, for letting things go, for making the world stop turning for an afternoon. Time: At your own time Place: Parc del Guinardò @ Av Mare de Deu de Montserrat with Garriga and Roca Admission: Free More info/contact: www.hamaka.org / relax@hamaka.org -----------------------------------------------------------------

MONDAY 11 Film

WEDNESDAY 6 Art

BORDERS It’s getting rather aburrido and repetitive, all this talk about a global village, about networks and being connected. And it’s got this nasty way of obscuring the real, pertinent issues people battle with every day, i.e.: Borders. There are so many of them, some visible and mighty — demonstrations of power and fear others invisible yet as invincible as their concrete counterparts. The current exhibition at the CCCB, curated by Michel Foucher and Henri Dorion from the Musée des Confluences, tackles this controversial topic, starting with European borders, (and the global challenges of migration), and moves on to borders that remain closed like the Korean one or those that are about to be closed like the US-Mexican one. Time: 11:00h to 20:00 // Tuesday to Sunday // until September 3rd Place: CCCB @ Montalegre, 5 Admission: 4.40¤ More info/contact: www.cccb.org -----------------------------------------------------------------

THURSDAY 7 Music

MOSTRA SONORA I VISUAL Here we’ve got another festival, this time tipo audiovisual. It takes place at Sant Agustí, the centre civico with arguably the nicest courtyard of all civic centers in town (only the Ateneu can do better but they have this members only thing going on). Every evening until Sunday, June 10th, audio-visual performances are hosted in this nice little hideout. Tonight the show starts at 20:00h with a concert by Agento Tango Fusion followed by video art and audio-visuals at 21:00h. Time: 20:00h Place: Centre Cívic Convent Sant Agustí @ Comerç, 36 Admission: Free More info/contact: www.conventagusti.com // conventagusti@transit.es

Music

SHORT ESCAPE

MAIKA MAKOVSKI & THE HILDEGARDS

Short Escape is a monthly changing program of short films from independent producers from around the world. Every week the show travels to another venue. This week, the six cortos from Spain, India, France and Canada are screened at the L’Antic Teatre in the barrio La Rivera, a chulo venue with a great terrace perfect for a drink before or after the show. Time: 21:00h Place: L’Antic Teatre @ Verdaguer and Callís, 12 Admission: Free More info/contact: www.shortescape.com

It’s a cliche to say but it’s true: Girl power has a name and it’s Maika Makovski. The Makovskian folk-punkrock mix however is everything but girly – neither pretty nor nice nor pink. It’s full-on and ballsy and fun. Her first album called Kradiaw (2005) was quite a success and celebrated by the critics. Her second one is scheduled for a June release date, which means more Maika gigs during the summer. Awesome! Time: 21:30h (doors open at 21:00h) Place: Sala Apolo @ Nou de la Rambla, 113 Admission: 12¤ More info/contact: tktktktktktk -----------------------------------------------------------------

SATURDAY 9

CINEAMBIGÙ: LEONARD COHEN GUILLAMINO + PEDRALS: EN/DOLL Description: You may remember him from Sonar, where Guillamino played his soulful electronic beats. Then again, due to the nature of Sonar, you may not. Let me refresh your memory: Originally from l’Empordà, he has released three albums, the latest in 2006 called Atzavara. Guillamino is funky and innovative, with songs in Catalan (“La Nit”), and English (“I See Love”). For ¤12.00 you can treat yourself to what is sure to be an entertaining and surprising concert, especially since the show En/doll is a collaboration with the poet Josep Pedrals. Together, they will play with heterodox hip hop rhythms. Time: 22:00h Place: Auditori @ Lepanto, 150 Admission: 12¤ More info/contact: www.guillamino.com (Regina WB)

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Music

ANDRÉ CABAÇO: AFRO MUSIC FROM MOZAMBIQUE

FREE MOVIE ! S T E K C I T

ek.com bcnwe @ s t e k SDAY freetic THUR Y R E EV

It’s festival peak time right now. Every event is immediately a festival. There’s hardly a concert happening that’s not part of a larger festival program. So here we’ve got festival number 2789, the Festival de música creativa i Jazz de Cuitat Vella that’s mainly taking place at the Harlem Jazz Club in Gotico (but also at Local.Bar and Jazzsí). André Cabaço from Mozambique has the honor tonight. He plays swinging Afro music with João Balão and Tchica at 23:00h. Time: 23:00h (part 1) / 00:30h (part 2) Place: Harlem Jazz Club @ Comtessa de Sobradiel, 8 Admission: 8¤ including drink

JUNE 7TH

CACHÉ (MICHAEL HANEKE, 2005)

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE

INSTITUT FRANÇAIS

(STANLEY KUBRICK, 1971) / UPF, ESTACIÓ DE FRANÇA

BCN WEEK

Cineambigù has changed location from Casablanca to Maldà, the newly renovated, historic picture house in the heart of barrio Gotico. Every Tuesday they’ll be putting on some interesting productions that even Papaya Verde might not stock. Tonight it’s Leonard Cohen, I’m Your Man (2006, USA) by Lian Lunson, a film about the seminal musician, poet and revolutionary in his own right that documents the famous “Come So Far For Beauty” homage concert in Sydney in 2005, as well as interviews and concerts of Nick Cave, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Beth Orthon, Linda Thompson and Jarvis Cocker. Time: 20:00h and 22:00h Place: Cine Maldà @ Pi, 5 Admission: 6¤

WEDNESDAY 13

EVERY THURSDAY BCN WEEK HAS 20 FREE SETS OF TICKETS TO GIVE AWAY TO YOU, DEAR READERS, FOR THE TOTS ELS DIJOUS DEL MÓN ORIGINAL VERSION (READ: NOT DUBBED!) CINEMA CYCLE. JUST SEND AN EMAIL TO FREETICKETS@BCNWEEK.COM WITH YOUR FULL NAME AND THAT OF YOUR GUEST, AND YOU’LL BE ON YOUR MERRY WAY. UPCOMING SHOWS, BOTH AT 20:00:

12

TUESDAY 12 Film

Music

CINEMA CYCLE

MAY 31ST

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BCN Week would like to remind you that if you are in desperate need of art the MACBA opens until 24:00h every Thursday and Friday until the end of September. Admission after 20:00h is reduced to 3¤. MACBA @ Plaça Àngles, 1.


REVIEWS

WK INTERACT BY

Jordae

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CD

Looking for some intelligent urban art? Something to make you think about what you’re looking at? Well, for the next month you can take a gander at what contemporary urban artist WK Interact has to offer up. Best said by the artist, the background is as crucial as (if not more important than) the idea, so it’s no surprise that this exhibition takes place right in the heart of Gotico. No expensive marketing or over-the-top showcasing here; this show is all street, baby. Set amongst a background of graffiti, wheat pastes, stickers and scribbles, you can find this selection of black n’ white installations nestled into the comfortably small atmosphere of the Maxalot Gallery. Not one to take to the norms of contemporary art, WK Interact has made a name for himself by combining motion, heavy-focus imagery and the streets, in most cases utilizing the poster paste-up medium. Consisting of random “confidential” information, machine specs, bar codes, screen printing, typographies, pasted photos and varying tweaked inkings, this cozy little exhibition is well worth the trip, and may even keep you thinking “What the hell is going on?” as you mosey off down an alley. So, take a walk, keep an eye out for random presence, and don’t forget to leave a mark in the designated “free tag” zones.

MAXALOT GALLERY, PALMA DE SANT JUST 9 21 May – 22 June, 2007 http://www.wkinteract.com/

PRIMARY COLOUR POP HAPPY BAND OF JAPAN BY

Nick Scammell between bands like My Bloody Valentine, Toto and The Byrds that they can call their own. Melodies and shape-shifting rhythms tangle and dance about this record while tunes slow down, speed up, change direction and generally appear to have lives of their own. Scott and his partners in crime (wife and keyboardist, Trish, allied to a multinational rhythm section and local guitarist) compress all of these dynamics into three minute rushes of beautifully twisted music. Listening to the Happy Band brings adjectives like “exotic,” “heartfelt,” “dropdead beautiful” and “perfect pop” to mind. Que piensas, Dan? “It’s English psych pop, not chest-beating rock. So it’s quite melodic, but it’s also got vulnerability and a bit of humour. It’s like three minute strange pop songs.”

H A P PY B A N D O F JA PA N P H OTO BY LO U I SA H A R G E T T

Dan Scott grins as he remembers: “We played on an articulated lorry [truck] trailer being pulled by strongmen down a tiny country lane - that was the coolest gig we ever did.” Having abandoned the cold and gloom of London (they’ve actually never been to Japan) for the warmth and life of El Barça, the singer and guitar-playing brains behind the Happy Band Of Japan is muy tranquilo. “In Barcelona … people don’t mind if somebody spray paints a picture of a cat having sex with an alien,” he marvels. “But I do miss England: the miserablism [sic] and the dry humour.” Stimulated by these changes, the Happy Band recorded a clutch of new songs collected on their recent, selfreleased album, Primary Colour Pop. “It’s big but not in a bombastic way,” says Dan. With pocket psych-pop symphonies like “It’s Not Love” and “Shout It Out” balanced by the sleepy, starlit sway of “Sycamore Tree” and the vamping, mutating anthem “Your Head Lets In The Rain,” the Happy Band looks to have found some distinctly odd territory in

Listen to the Happy Band Of Japan at http://www.myspace.com/happybandofja pan where you can order Primary Colour Pop. Get their 2004-2007 compilation Sunshine To The Brain from iTunes.

BOOK

THE RUM DIARY

A FIRST NOVEL BY HUNTER S. THOMPSON

BY

Michael Jones

It’s a story of love, jealousy, treachery and violent alcoholic lust based in the sweltering Caribbean boomtown that was San Juan, Puerto Rico in the late 1950’s. It’s a country on the verge of bursting, full of speculators, pretentious hustlers, bag masters, and a capitalist government bending to the potential economic bliss of a tourist paradise. In the midst of it all we find a floundering English newspaper, which subsequently brings our hero Paul Kemp (Hunter S. Thompson) to the boom. Kemp is a self-proclaimed Homer on the tail end of a ten-year odyssey, the man before the legend and the drugs, “a new face in the snake pit, a pervert yet to be classified… no longer young but not quite over the hump-a man on the brink, as it were.” He passes himself off as a Yale graduate yet still clearly the righteous outlaw, and only slightly frazzled from the drink. The question stands: will he finally land softly yet firmly into materialistic wealth, and stardom, or spiral into the abyss of endless

wanderings and self-destruction, or something else? The Rum Diary is languid, energetic and a remarkably executed book, combined with a lucidity and maturity that reveals a young Hunter S. Thompson brimming with talent. This primary work was first written in1959 yet remained unpublished until 1998. Hunter S. (Stockton) Thompson was a life long author and journalist and is credited as the creator of Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting in which the reporters involve themselves in the action to such a degree that they become the central figure to the story itself. He was born in Louisville Kentucky in 1937 and took his own life in 2005 by what many think was a well planned out suicide to end the plague of pain and medication he had been coping with the last part of his life. Other notable works include Hell’s Angels, Screwjack, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and Better than Sex.

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Nomadik

“Are you on MySpace? Friendster or Tribe?” is the new question. “You’ve been Tagged by...’ Juanita’” and “Your friend ‘Randy’ wants you to join Ringo, the largest...” are the subjects of the not-quite-spam mail we don’t know what to do with. So we cave, join the Web 2.0 fun, fill in the blanks and create a profile, put up pictures, start adding friends. Now there’s a small group of creators, based in Barcelona, who have come up with the next step. It’s called Splice and is a social network where you can make sounds, beats and songs online, and best of all, share them. The idea came from Wendell Davis III, from Chicago. He and two Finland crazies, Anti and Mikko, knew each other from demo competitions in the nineties and came together in Barcelona about 2 years ago. They’re on their first version, which Anti calls “more of a toy.” You can remix 12

tracks, change tempo, fades, put up your sounds and record from an external mic. I’d say it’s the perfect time killing toy. By mid June they’ll be releasing version 2 (***drum rolllllll***). Think the regular desktop sound mixing and editing software but online: an unlimited number of tracks and clips, all your main effects, better processing, a digital synthesizer, more recording space and, a little later, the ability to save your songs. To add to the fun of a social network there are weekly contests where you could win iPods and sound equipment. They’re also starting to work with bands to make remixes of their songs for upcoming albums. All you need is a good internet connection and a computer- oh yeah, and a mind filled with sounds aching to come out. So there you have it. Sit for a bit and have yourself a Splice… and make it sound funky!

Montseny 17 Metro: Fontana L-3 hibernianbooks@yahoo.com + 34 93 27 47 96 Mon 16:00 -20:30 Tue to Sat 10:30 - 20:30

ASTROLONA ARIES “Brackish” is a word used to describe a mixture of salt and fresh water. A river’s delta, for example, is often brackish. But it’s also used to describe briny tastes or simply unpleasant characteristics. It’s not nice. Brackish is my word for you this week because you’ve been nothing more than a toopissy-to-be-refreshing, salty lipped, childish twat demanding that your glitter be celebrated as gold. It’s really getting boring and we’ve all had enough. In fact, the stars are turning against you. You might soon find yourself with a hard to remove foot up your ass. TAURUS When I’ve got an itch to be over indulgent in whatever, I call a bull like you. There is no one better to be a glutton with. Your insatiable greed is fun when there is an excess of time and money and all I want to do is stuff my holes. But I always eventually tire of your hunger because I don’t have your stamina. Someone near to you is also becoming quickly exhausted of your want for another. Bring it down a notch and focus on being that patient, warmhearted beast that you also do so well. GEMINI Keep an eye out for a jackass popping up from between your legs. That’s right, you’re going to be rolling in the hay with a very sexy Johnny Knoxville. Aren’t into the cock? Well keep your eyes peeled for a dangerous Daisy to pluck. But please be careful because as you already know, jackassness can be as painful as it is exciting. And just let me reassure you that your current trend of non-commitment won’t be threatened; the jackass in your bed will be as tiring as the one on screen and as easy to get rid of. Enjoy the romp, and when you’ve had enough, say so. CANCER Cigarettes are your enemy. You hate them, you love them. You wish they’d just disappear. You wish they’d reappear where you know you’d like to find them, secretly. Cigarettes are too easy, you say? Not even an interest? Well look deeper into your linty pockets because there’s a reappearing vice of which you have a tasty memory. I’ve told you this before, just do it! I think it’s really helpful for your soul’s earthly experience to wring out your weakness

14

BCN WEEK

with as many twists as possible. When you get tired you’ll stop. That’s all. LEO I’ve had two Leos in my house these past few weeks. One is my best friend who is visiting from a grey jungle, and the other is my lover. I’ve loved watching these two sexy beasts circle one another with prideful steps. I’ve loved watching my lover getting a little of his own medicine, because grey jungle Leo is much more aggressive than my Mediterranean one. Point? The stars will continue drawing you Leos together and it’ll probably be a bit shocking to experience your loud, bossy reflection. Of course you deserve it, but I want you to learn from it as well. VIRGO Your flat mate secretly hates you. While it may not be apparent and he or she may not verbally make their disgust known, your subconscious is in tune to it all. That’s the anxiety that has been tying knots in your gut. Don’t confront your housemate, rather learn from the vibes and ride them through to a solution. Your stars have you inline for some super amicable negotiating powers and I suggest you take full advantage of the moment while it lasts. LIBRA You’re like the easy girl in high school, every one calling you to “hang out.” The phone doesn’t stop ringing. You love it. You feel über popular and desired. Ten cuidado because just like a teenage slut you’re giving out too much without knowing the value of your company. The fact is the majority of people bidding for your attention don’t really give a shit about the good stuff you got. Look beyond the dancing Darwins and remember that hearty and durable dandelions grow from cracks in the concrete, faithfully. SCORPIO Jeremy Christensen, he’s your man. Who, you ask? A beautiful boy living the struggle of being a musician in NYC who has a voice like a springtime memory of lounging under a shady tree with a cold bottle of crisp white wine, that’s who. His gentle crooning will surely polish your jaded attitude and remind you that sometimes all you need is some sweet, sweet music to soothe your weary soul. If it’s not Jeremy then

BY

Lady Ondina Osborne

find someone to reduce your crags. Summer is upon us and there’s no time for pointless aggression. SAGITTARIUS You’re feeling unstable. As I refuse to think in those terms, I ask you what is stable and what isn’t? My mental state, for example, is something many people have described as unstable. I, however, insist that my manera de ser is simply an evolved version of what is so boringly normal. Don’t shy away from this shaky feeling, go out to the teetering edge and balance on one fat toe. From there you will either fall to new heights, or pirouette with spinning brilliance. Stability is for the dull, and dull is dull. CAPRICORN Oh you have an itchy heart! Craving to be in the amorous auras of those you love. Don’t get yourself mixed up with quick carnal fixes as you’re so prone to do. This itch needs pure affection and cariño. The problem might be, however, that your true blues are too far away to hug and get drunk with. If this is the case please also know that you’re in a great place to make grand sacrifices to get what you need. Maybe it’s a flight home? You’ll know better than me. AQUARIUS Ears? Teeth? Feet? Something hard to get to or incredibly sensitive will be releasing a dull froggy croak that is as persistent as a drip and as painful as hemorrhoids. Yes, my sweet one, you will probably cry, but as grandma used to say, this too shall pass. Knowledge is power, consider yourself informed. PISCES You’ve been patient for a long time and that patience is paying off. I don’t know if you’re waiting for your papers to come through or for your partner to leave you, but something important and life changing will be coming through in the next month, surely. Are you ready for it? As is often the case with fishy beings like you, once you finally get what you’ve been sideways swimming towards, you instantly reject it. I really don’t care, but I think you should first look at the coming accomplishment with pride, because you’ve certainly worked hard for it.

CONCERT

VIOLADORES DEL VERSO ESPACIO MOVISTAR BY

Dave Corkle

The Violadores del Verso played to a sold out crowd Friday, a crowd who had eagerly awaited the arrival of Spain's most popular rap group. While the Espacio Movistar's cavernous acoustics are bad enough to make one want to switch to Vodafone forever, the quartet had no problem getting 2.000 heads moving as they moved through a two hour set. The best thing about VdV is definately their swagger; while lesser MCs would quiver in front of a crowd, all three of the Violadores have a stage presence all their own. Maybe it´s the ten years of playing together, or maybe record sales have made them confident enough in front of an adoring public, but they just ooze professionalism. Lírico's confident strut, Kase-O's smooth movement, and Hate's shrieking make them quite interesting to watch. The crowd of mostly Spanish men agreed- clad in a healthy mix of Dolce and Gabbana, Iverson jerseys, and band t-shirts, they sang along with the choruses and waved devil horns in the air. Because despite being a rap group, VdV can't ignore the fact that

loud rock music is more exciting to a Spanish audience than anything. It influences them, as well- while they played their homage to George Clinton, "Filosofía y Letras", there was also enough sampled guitar riffs to go around. In fact, MC Hate had to be dragged off the stage at the end of the show lest he spend the night trading screams with the audience. Regardless of public taste, and aside from whatever hip hop can or should be, the fact is that VdV has nurtured Spanish hip hop into adolescence and it shows. The fact that MC Xhellaz, the talented lyricist who opened for VdV, cannot understand why rappers kill each other (“there’s so few of us MCs, and we’re all going to die anyway”) is another good example of how far Spanish hip hop is from, say, Queens. But that doesn’t make it any less worthy of attention than the latest shooting between feuding American rappers, especially considering the talent that VdV has. They’re not free from hip hop’s excesses, but at least they don’t have to contend with an excessive hip hop culture.


. Sp.aPn.iC sh s

lt pop cu awson BY

Adela L

A 69¢ ESPAÑ

EVERYMAN WHAT SUPERLÓPEZ TAUGHT ME ABOUT LIFE, LOVE AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS IN ESPAÑA The year was 1973. With an international oil crisis looming, 25 years of Franco’s rule under their belts, and the founding of the Wax Museum, Barcelonins may not have had the rosiest outlook on life. True, it wasn’t all bad: they got Cruyff and the L4 connection at Passeig de Gràcia, but what they really needed was some inspiration. Enter Juan López, courageously wielding his pen to lift human hopes with a new hero. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s…a mustachioed office drone with a huge honker and a beer belly? ¡SCREECH! Eh? Blue unitard, belted underwear over the pants, kicky red cape; I’ve almost seen this comic before. But I remember the original Man of Steel being a little more buff and a little more competent when it came to crime fighting. Superlópez, loved as the Spanish Superman by thirteen-year-old boys fifteen years ago, currently takes up residence in the bathrooms of those nowgrown men. Though kitsch may be a defining element of any good toilet read, I think Superlópez, though conceived as a parody, offers up some choice cultural insights for the foreigner. In America, the Superman myth is part of the philosophical fiber: the American Dream of immigrants, the bloody fight for justice and traditional values, the wholesome small-towners versus the evil born in the city. There’s the belief that by following the moral obligation to do good, goodness can be imposed on the community. That the girl always falls for the superhero. That duty and dedication will reap rewards. The myth persists because Americans, in a wacked-out way, continue to believe optimistically in this stuff, despite evidence to the contrary. Enter the realists. Superlópez impose his values on the city? What values? And when? Like all Barcelona residents in the early ‘70s, he’s tied to his office desk, day in and day out, at the mercy of his boss’s whims and paper jams. He suffers through a city in a constant state of construction. His office love, Luisa Lanas, thinks that Superlópez is an idiot, and the facts don’t really prove her wrong. Would Superman have ever gotten beat up five times by a giant robot made of bubble gum? In the Spanish incarnation, it’s Superlópez, rather than the regular López, that is the alter ego, and both have their feet firmly planted in the mierda and minor disasters of real life. Instead of admiring with awe, fellow citizens watch Superlópez fight crime from the sidelines, and take bets on how soon he’ll be creamed. There’s no gratitude for his attempted heroics. The city remains as disorganized as ever. In short, Superlópez is a comic about the inaccessibility of American values in ‘70s Spain. How much can hard work matter when you don’t live in a merit-based society? Or maybe it’s a comic about the inaccessibility of American values anywhere, even in the United States. The Superman myth continues to fly high, but we’re not getting any closer to being a super society. At least in the world of Superlópez, there’s nowhere to go but up.

Personals I SAW YOUS + CONFESSIONS

I SAW YOU I keep seeing you in the Parc Citudella these last three weeks on Tuesday evenings from around 8 to 9pm.You’re jogging in long pants and seem to be a guiri like me, but I’m not sure from where. I’ve been in the park these same times playing baseball with 1 to3 others, and will be in the park at these times for the next couple of weeks. I would love to talk to you and maybe we can go for a run together another day. So come up and say hello, next or any Tuesday. My name’s Chris....thanks. -------------------------------------------Me: age 26 female wearing a black Tony Hawk helmet riding my bike in the Diagonal bike lane between Balmes and Enric Granados. You: wearing a casual striped shirt and factory-ripped jeans, walking next to someone I assume is your girlfriend. -------------------------------------------You and your girlfriend decided to break into a run to make the light, unaware (?) of the busy bike lane headed your way. I braked and you punched me in the arm and muttered some bullshit. I turned around and asked " Did you just hit a girl?!" I missed you this time, but this weekend I am going to affix a spear to my bike and will happily impale you. Motherfucking pedestrians. -------------------------------------------Do you remember me? I remember

you! You were wearing a retro collared shirt and low jeans and you spoke crazy good English for a Spaniard. We talked outside of Madame Jasmine and then shared a shawarma and some street beer. I would love to do that again. And this time we should make out. If you want to see me (Eva, as you called me, though really, it's Eve), e-mail me: edomnav@gmail.com -------------------------------------------To the dude who tried to make out with me at la Concha on Friday, May 25: I know that I pushed you into that hookah and made a huge mess and that you are probably angry, but take heart!Come on a little less strong and I am all over you. I am there every Friday, so catch me there and apologize with a nice, strong mojito.We can consider it a second date. -------------------------------------------Gracia last Friday night: You were wearing a sexy fluorescent jumpsuit and shaking your big hose. I reeked of booze and asked for a photo. You smashed my camera to the ground. Buy me a new one, BCNeta man! -------------------------------------------22 May, Tuesday night.I saw you near the organic shop on Pintor Fortuny. You were smallish, shaggy brown hair, big eyes, and dressed in black. I was carrying some grocery bags with another girl wearing a green top and jean skirt. Want to

meet up? house_on_s@yahoo.com -------------------------------------------Bar in El Borne. Thursday night. You: Behind the bar. Tall, thin, dark hair, yellow and black striped t-shirt. Talking with your friend, avoiding my eye contact. Me: Long, brown hair, hopeful face, thirsty stare, money in hand. I eventually just left because I didn’t think you saw me or cared to talk. Maybe I’ll come in again. Can I get a beer next time? -------------------------------------------Redline heading toward Fondo, 16 May 22.00h. You had long hair pulled back in a pony tail, a blue t-shirt and brown slacks. About 6’ 2’’ and glasses. I was wearing a red skirt and a white t shirt. Curly brown hair. I was sitting across from you with my friend and we were laughing. You were laughing with us. Do you speak English? Care to share a laugh together again? a.m.retherferd@gmail.com -------------------------------------------I saw you playing the accordion in the tunnel between the yellow line and the blue line at Verdaguer. I dropped a Euro in your case and said I liked that song. You said you liked my eyes. I walked away but should have stayed and danced. Do you give private concerts? I walk by every Monday and Wednesday around 6:45. See you there?

CONFESSIONS Like the dirty papi on the other side of the Catholic stained screen playing with his ostia, we want to hear your sins. We provided our staff and contributors with an email address they could all sign into so that we could get their real and true tawdry tales, anonymously. And now we want yours. Submit your BCN related confession online at www.bcnweek.com and free your spirit of that cumbersome and unnecessary guilt. Don’t ask for or expect forgiveness, however, we’re just trying to not feel so guilty ourselves. I let the drummer in a South American rock band cum on my tits one night in their van after a gig. Later on, I took home the guitarist, but I never washed off my chest. -------------------------------------------I keep a map of the world on my wall. When I shag someone from a new country, I put a star on it. If a girl asks, I tell her it’s a map of everywhere I've visited, not everyone I've conquered. If a boy asks I ask him what country he’s from… -------------------------------------------I might have killed someone with my bike lock the other day. I parked my bike on the balcony ("mezzazine floor" if you will) of the Glories shopping centre. While I was casually unlocking it with a sandwich in my hand the heavy part of the D lock came loose and slipped over the edge. I didn’t look over. Instead I moved away from the edge really quickly. When I got downstairs people were crowded around someone laid out on the ground. High on the afterglow, I tossed my freshly filled condom out of my window that faces c/ Hospital midafternoon. I heard a scream and

vehement cursing seconds later. -------------------------------------------I work for a financial chop shop as a receptionist. It’s my job to notify “traders” when stock reports come in that will allow them to rip off clients, massively. I often throw them out. -------------------------------------------The life that I tell everyone here that I had back home is a complete lie. I’m disturbingly obsessed with my flat mate. I go into her room when she isn’t at home and lie on her bed and smell her pillow. I look at her photos and imagine myself being the one taking the picture. -------------------------------------------Sometimes when I’m having coffee on a terrace and they are taking too long to bring me the check I just get up and leave. -------------------------------------------I go into bulk candy stores and eat out of the bins then leave without buying anything. -------------------------------------------I live across the street from a building full of short-term rental apartments that are often rented by groups of friends. One half of the group often comes home late

SUBMIT AT BCNWEEK.COM www.bcnweek.com/ confessions_sub.html

and drunk, and the other half is already in bed asleep. The drunks downstairs repeatedly ring the bell, which is EXTREMELY loud, trying to wake up the sleeping lot. If this carries on too long I start throwing eggs. -------------------------------------------When tourists ask me for directions I tell them the wrong way. -------------------------------------------Last week I sold my last bit of stock that was the last of the last of the retirement planning/savings that I had. I am now officially, completely broke. But I just can’t leave. -------------------------------------------I work as an escort by placing ads on Loquo. I’ve never considered doing this before, but I love it. My parents think I teach English, and so do all of my friends here. -------------------------------------------No one has ever come to visit me, and I’m glad. -------------------------------------------I’m hot for my portera. She’s old and cranky and reminds me of my mom.

BCN WEEK

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