Barcelona Nightlife - Gambling The Night Away

Barcelona isn't Las Vegas or Monte Carlo which doesn't mean you can't test you luck and play games that might not make you rich, but could pay for a couple of drinks. Many bars and restaurants have slot machines, and in addition to that there is the famous Barcelona Casino near Port Olimpic. Unlike it's counter parts on the Vegas strip, there is no internet casino, which is probably for the best as the location offers visitors sea views, a discotheque, and a choice of restaurants: either a traditional casino buffet or Mediterranean cuisine.

But of course, you don't go to a casino for the nightlife and unlike the slots you'll find in the restaurants throughout Barcelona, the casino offers games such as black jack, roulette (French & American style), plus poker to test your luck and win some serious cash. To play any of these games, you'll need an ID (preferably a passport) and to dress appropriately (no bathing suits, flip-flops etc).

Original Version Cinemas

To follow up on my last post, for those of you who prefer to watch movies in original version or V.O here, there are quite a few cinemas located throughout Barcelona. Now keep in mind, version original means whatever language the film is shot in plus Spanish or at times Catalan subtitles.

Yelmo Icaria near Port Olimpic probably has the most screens and specializes in blockbusters and the more popular movies out right now.

Cines Renoirs on the other hand tends to show more art house movies from not just the US and the UK but also from other European countries. It has two locations. Carrer Floridablanca near Sant Antoni and Les Corts in the Marina Cristina district.

Cines Verdi located in the neighborhood of Gracia near the Fontana metro station is similar to Renoirs choosing to show more independent movies rather than blockbusters.

Microcine Zelig near the Raval is not a typical cinema but more like a place to gather and watch cult movies or classics. The start time is always at 21.00 and the cost is three euros. They also do requests.

There are also some others but I can't recall them right now.

A Few March Events

For anyone interested in modern art, the big news this month is the reopening of the Fundació Antoni Tàpies which closed its doors two years ago for renovations. On the 5th, 6th and 7th of March, the museum will be free with special activities and guided tours.

Meanwhile, for music lovers, Julián Candón will be bringing his unique brand of pop-rock española to Sala Begood, which is quickly becoming one of the more popular venues in the city.

For those with an affinity for Flamenco, this is the month to visit with De Cajón Festival de Flamenco. This year they have a fantastic line-up that mixes famous artists in this genre with some of the finest up and coming talents. The concerts are being held at a number of venues across the city, from the world renowned Palau de la Música and El Gran Teatre del Liceu, to the more cozy and intimate surroundings of Luz de Gas and Teatre Joventut. Ticket prices vary depending on the concert and venue, but full details are available at The Project website.

Some of the highlights include performances by María Toledo, Alba Guerrero, Alba Carmona, La Shica, José el Francés, and Augustí Espin, who all take to the stage in Luz de Gas. Jorge Mesa performs his piece “El Pirata” in Apolo [2], while Tomasito play in the larger Sala Apolo. Los Planetas will be bringing their exciting brand of flamenco/rock fusion to the Palau de la Música, which will also host a concert by Antonio Canales and Amador Rojas. The legendary José Mercé plays in El Gran Teatre del Liceu, and Camerón take to the stage in Teatre Joventut.

As always for a short term Barcelona apartment, visit At Home rentals.

New Year, New Events

The New Year starts with a bang in Barcelona, with some top artists coming to play at a wide selection of venues across the city. The list includes DMC of Run DMC, The New York Ska Jazz Ensemble, Arizona Baby, Eli Paperboy and the True Loves, HIM, Stryper, Stratovarius, Elliot Murphy, The Leisure Society, Dominique A, Vargas Blues Band, The Dropkick Murphys, Europe, Giant Sand, Billy Talent and No Way Out, Mayumana, the Crank County Daredevils, Melendi, and Band of Skulls.

For those who prefer their music a little more refined, el Gran Teatre del Liceu offers the chance to enjoy Richard Wagner’s operatic epic Tristan und Isolde, as well as a special concert entitled La gran noche de la música española. There are also performances of La Petita Flauta Màgica, Mozart’s Magic Flute adapted for children, and a recital by Joyce DiDonato.

At La Palau de la Música you can still catch the Strauss Festival Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic, as well as concerts by Estrella Morente, Nacho Vegas, Michael Bolton, Manuel Carrasco, Mónica Naranjo, and Love of Lesbian.

At L’Auditori there are performances by the Choir, Ballet, & Orchestra of the Russian Army of St. Petersburg, a show entitled Motown – The Show, recitals by Frank Peter Zimmerman playing works by Bartók, The Love Waltzes of Brahms, and a recital by Diana Navarro.

Thanks again Tony for the post. Interested in short-term apartment rentals, At Home Barcelona has a great selection.

La Reina del Pueblo

The woman you see above is Belén Esteban, otherwise known as the Queen of the Street and a common fixture on day time television here. Famous for being taped telling her young daughter, Andreita, cómete el pollo, coño! (Andrea, eat the chicken, cunt), she's also known to suffer from every seeming disorder from cocaine addiction to anorexia to diabetes.

She first rose to fame as the girlfriend of a bullfighter who became the father of her daughter before rumors of infidelity and tensions with his family saw the end of their relationship. In her response to the accusations, she took to the daytime airwaves where she bore her soul, her raw honesty, humor and Latin flare punctuated with colorful language winning her numerous supporters. Today, I'd ranked her just behind La Duquesa del Alba as the second most discussed celebrity on Spanish television.  The big news this week is her umpteenth operation changing her into the woman on the left from the woman on the right. When interviewed about this new look, she informed the television personality that she spends the whole time admiring it in the mirror but not so much she hasn't found the time to make love with her new boyfriend.

You can check out her official website here. The best way I can describe it is as Cutre Hollywood.

Spanish Rock and Other Musica Española

When people think of music and Spain, the first word that comes to mind is probably flamenco. And while it's the most well-known of the traditional music from here, it's my least favorite. I'd rather listen to the more up-beat Sevillana, Rumba or Chirigota.  But beyond these centuries old musical styles, Spain has also produced some fine modern music that's well-worth a listen and some groups that are a good addition to your CD collection this holiday season.

Los Planetas are the Godfathers of the Spanish independent music scene, with big sweeping, guitar driven songs and heartfelt sung choruses, showing rainy Manchester can influence sunny Spain.

Ojos de Brujo hail from Barcelona and bring an updated, groovy mix to traditional sounds of Iberia, making it perfect for a party when there's a lull in the conversation.

Chambao from sunny Andalucia follow the fusion formula but with a breezy feel that evokes a warn summer day at the chiringuito in January.

Manu Chao is a Spaniard whose parents fled to France after the Civil War. He now calls Barcelona home where he continues to make great music, mixing forms and languages to infectious beats.

Estopa are two local kids from the suburbs of Barcelona who make feet tapping Rumba Catalan that's sure to get the locals singing along when it comes on in a bar.

My favorite Spanish song ever is Queco's el Borracho that follows the exploits of a man who has had one too many as he searches for the ingredients for a smoke (tobacco, paper and a lighter) and ends up meeting St. Peter and asking where's the bar.



There are, I'm sure more, so if any one has any recommendations, leave a comment.

Concerts in December

As is usually the case at this time of the year, music lovers have an abundance of choices for live music in the city, with some big names and some less well-known bands all arriving to spread their Xmas cheer.

In something like chronological order, the main bands to play are Mando Diao, Patrick Watson, Enter Shikari, Ismael Serrano, Marilyn Manson, The Prodigy, UFO, Chymera, Shaunna Hall, Franz Ferdinand, Arch Enemy, The Editors + The Maccabees + Wintersleep, Cass McCombs, Deertick, Devandra Banhart,  A Place to Bury Strangers, Health, The Pastels, Scout Niblett, Marillion, Paradise Lost, and Living Colour. Of the groups, I'd recommend A Place to Bury Strangers which is a combination of sludge and shoe gaze with a pop sensibility. For complete listings pop over to BarcelonaRocks.



Classical music lovers are also well catered for, with full programmes at the Palau de la Música, L’Auditori and the Gran Teatre del Liceu.

At the Palau de la Música, the visiting Belarus Philharmonic Society will be performing Mozart’s “Requiem” and “Symphony Number 40″ on the 5th of December, Handel’s “Messiah” on the 6th, Karl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” and Beethoven’s “9th Symphony” on the 7th, and a concert version of Verdi’s “La Traviata” on the 8th. On the 9th the Ensemble Aurora will entertain with an evening of music by J.S. Bach. The Strauss Festival Orchestra will perform on the 19th, 20th, 24th, and 31st. There are also 4 performances by choirs, the Alabama Gospel Choir on the 5th and 27th of December, the Soweto Gospel Choir on the 17th, and the Choir Uganda Natumayini on the 27th. Finally, a mention should be given to Russian Red who play the Palau on the 11th of the month, and the Matthew Herbert Big Band, who will entertain on the 12th. For the complete programme, please visit the Palau de la Música site.

Over at the L’Auditori, there are so many concerts that it would take a day to go through them all. The highlights we’ve selected begin with choral performances: the Angel’s in Harlem Gospel Choir play on the 9th, the Alabama Gospel Choir on the 12th, and the Bridget Bazile Singers on the 23rd. On the 26th and the 29th the Szeged Philharmonic of Hungary present their Gran Gala Strauss, performing a selection of the best waltzes composed by the Strauss family. Keeping the Strauss theme going, the Strauss Festival Orchestra perform their New Year Concert on the 28th of December, and on the 1st of January 2010. For details on these, and many, many more concerts visit the L’Auditori site.

Finally, opera lovers can catch Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” which runs from the 2nd of December until the 30th at El Gran Teatre del Liceu. There will be performances on December 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 27, 29, and 30. You can book your tickets in advance at Liceu Barcelona.

For anyone looking for short term rentals, At-Home-Barcelona has a good selection of places for couples and groups alike and the same post thanks to Tony!

Barcelona in November

The temperatures have really dropped over the last few days which means no more flip-flops, shorts or t-shirts until May. On the positive side, winter here normally sees a steady flow of concerts, exhibitions, and festivals to keep busy until beach season returns and of course, La Liga is in full swing.  Some of the highlights include.

The 41st Annual Festival of International Jazz. It runs until the 6th of December and is taking place in numerous venues throughout the city. Some of the acts are: Belá Fleck & The Flecktones, Chano Domínguez Quiteto Flamenco, and the Omar Sosa Sextet at L’Auditori, the Brad Mehldau Trio, Cassandra Wilson, Chucho Valdés & Concho Buika, Jimmy Cobb’s So What Band, Marcus Miller, Kings of Convenience, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and Tortoise at La Palau de la Música, Sole Giménez at Teatre Joventut, and Imelda May at Luz de Gas. If you only have one night and aren't drawn to any group, I'd recommend seeing a show at La Palau de Musica - a modernist masterpiece with brilliant acoustics (pictured). For more information, visit the official page (in Catalan).

For those of you with other musical taste, November seems to be eighties month with such groups as  New Model Army, Marillion, Spandau Ballet, Simple Minds, and Depeche Mode playing here. If you're looking for something a bit heavier, Germany's Rammstein return, plus Rise Against, Hardcore Superstar, and LA's own Isis. Also coming is Finntroll who are a mix of death metal, black metal, folk metal, and polka. Or at least the Finnish polka called “humppa”. (Thanks Tony for the plug and the info.)  In addition to these groups, Do Make Say Think, Sizzla Kalonji & The Firehouse Crew, Camera Obscura, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Horrors, Juliette Lewis, and Muse with The Horrors being my personal favorite. See www.barcelonarocks.com for tickets and availability.

Finally, La Liga is particularly close this year with Barça leading Madrid by a sole point. For you football fans out there, there are four opportunities to catch Barça at the Camp Nou (not including el classico) between now and Christmas. .

Batman in Barcelona

June saw the release of a one-off Batman special where the Dark Knight comes to Barcelona and battles the Croc.  Basically it's a play on San Jordi with Batman the valiant knight and croc the dragon. Personally I found the cover the best part with the story and artwork lacking given the potential.  But then again, I'm a comic book geek from the golden age of the 1980's when people like Frank Miller and Alan Moore ruled.  Still, it's a nice collectible for anyone who likes comics and Barcelona.

La Tele en Español - Updated

Watching television in Barcelona is an experience in and of itself.  First, there's the question of scheduling.  Many times, what appears in the T.V. guide doesn't match what's actually on the  television, or programs will start ten minutes before or after their official start times.  This of course makes planning when to sit down and veg out a little problematic and requires a certain amount of flexibility about shows you're willing to watch, so be warned.

Speaking of shows, the most popular ones tend to be U.S. series like CSI, Lost, and Desperate Housewives on Spanish T.V.; while on the Catalan channels, there seems to be an affinity for eighties English comedy like Black Adder, Alo, Alo and the Young Ones. They are all dubbed, meaning you'll have to speak Spanish or Catalan to understand.  And, sometimes they'll change a character's history like Manuel from Fawlty Towers, who is from Mexico and not from Barcelona as in the original version, which sheds some insight on the Catalan personality and their sense of humor.

As for actual Spanish series?   Most dramas are basically popular US shows (like ER) set in Spain (Hospital Central), while the comedies all seem to center around a bar.  That said: there are two with a paranormal twist Hay Alguien Ahi and El Internado that seem to combine a little of the Ring with Medium, but are still fun to watch, and better than Buffy.

Daytime TV, meanwhile, usually consists of shows with an attractive female host and a panel of Spanish celebrity watchers.  For at least two hours, they will discuss the latest of both the world-famous like Brangelina and the less so, such as Julían Muñoz and Isabel Pantoja who are the ex-mayor of Marbella and a convicted convict and his Flamenco signer girlfriend, or is it his ex now?  It's difficult to keep up with all the twists and turns that include suitcases full of money and pet tigers.  Also, sure to be mentioned is the ugliest woman I have ever seen: La Duquesa de Alba (pictured).  Why she is so famous?  Because her family owns more land than the king of Spain, proving you don't have to be a Hilton or pretty to buy celebrity - just super rich.

Both public and private channels have commercials which can last from thirty seconds to twenty-minutes with the time growing longer as the show progresses.  Why so long?  I think they figure it will give people time to do things like cook dinner or hang the laundry.  Of course, then people won't see the ads playing which might explain why they're so much louder than the actual shows. 

Movies, like I imagine in most places, are popular with most coming from good ol' Hollywood.  Be sure to tune in five minutes before to hear a person explain what the movie is about, why it's worth watching and a general overview of the plot.  This is also true at cinemas where all the information is provided on a pamphlet prior to viewing.  The desire to know things beforehand isn't exclusive to movies, however.  A big game-show fan?  You'll know before the program if there's a big winner as it'll be announced on the evening news.  All of this makes me wonder if there's a Spanish word for spoiler?

Finally, the influence of the states can't only be seen in the popularity of its shows and movies, even the nightly news is not exempt.  The fastest rising star is a sports caster with a pretty face named Sara Carbonero (pictured) and the use of flashy graphics in lieu of substance is becoming the norm.

Then again, if you're living in the third happiest city in the world, why sit at home and watch T.V.?

Summer Festivals

May has brought with it sunny days and growing buzz about this year's line-ups for the summer music festival season in Barcelona. For more information on ticket purchases, check out www.barcelonarocks.com. In the meantime, here's a quick rundown on the upcoming events.

The end of this month sees Primavera Sound´s return. Starting Saturday, the 23rd, and ending the following Sunday, the 31st, this year offers a great mix of groups and genres with the likes of Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, My Bloody Valentine, Neil Young and Ghost Face Killah among many, many others. Personally, I'm excited to check out my favorite groups of the past year, Deerhunter and the New Year on Saturday, and Duchess Says on the closing Sunday. You can buy either a three-day ticket for 155-euros or a one-day pass for seventy, depending on your budget. And, once again it takes place at the Forum with the Apollo night club serving as the opening nights' venue.

On June 18th Barcelona welcomes the start of Sonar - the world famous electronic and multimedia festival. Bringing with it an international crowd, you don't have to be an electronic music lover to enjoy the sites and sounds of a truly unique event. In addition to such Sonar staples as Jeff Mills and Richie Hawtinn (a late edition), you get a chance to experience the sonic experimentation of the Animal Collective, plus the return of Orbital and the one-and-only Grace Jones. A three-day, all-access pass costs 140-euros, while a single night-time ticket runs forty-eight. For thirty, you can buy a day-pass and explore the tents in one of the city's better venues. Tickets are limited and quick to go, so you better get 'em early.

Finally, Benicassim arrives on July 16th. Located outside Barcelona and closer to Valencia, it's three days of camping, drinking and other things, while listening to a line-up that includes the likes of TV on the Radio, Paul Weller, the Walkmen, and Nacho Vegas. You need to spend 170 on a four-day pass to get a camping space, and there's a limited number, so act quickly. Otherwise, there's the four-day, no camping pass for 120-euros or a day-ticket for seventy.  Just keep in mind it's about three hours from Barcelona.

And, for all those lovers of the softer-side of indy music, I'm sorry to report that Summercase has been canceled this year due to the economic conditions.