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HR/VP JOSEP BORRELL: HOW HIS MIND WORKS
May 20, 2022
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MEET THE NEW TOURIST ATTRACTION AT PLAZA ESPAÑA
May 16, 2022
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KAULAK EXHIBITION IN THE NATIONAL LIBRARY
May 4, 2022
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BACK TO THE MIDDLE AGES, FOLKS!
April 28, 2022
ON THE TOWN
Restaurants and bars, movies, theater, dance, sports arenas, even the home… Keep abreast of what’s going on where, and how you can have the greatest fun.
WE’RE SMACK BANG IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIESTAS OF SAN ISIDRO, MADRID’S PATRON SAINT!
If you happen to be in Madrid these days (up to 16 May), PLEASE join the festivities celebrating the feast of Madrid's patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. They're the stuff good old Madrid is made of! You won't want to miss those, will you?
KAULAK EXHIBITION IN THE NATIONAL LIBRARY
A highly versatile intellectual who developed an intense cultural activity in a variety of areas, Antonio Cánovas del Castillo Vallejo, a.k.a. Dalton Kâulak, was passionate about photography. More than 160 of his works are on exhibit at the Biblioteca Nacional till 28 August 2022. The exhibition is a must-see!
BACK TO THE MIDDLE AGES, FOLKS!
Buffoons, hunchbacks, rogues, squires in their fineries, alchemists with their magic formulas, quack doctors, ogres, blacksmiths, innkeepers who once peopled medieval towns will come back to El Alamo to haunt the visitors. It's all part of the witching game! Concerts, culinary, arts, and crafts stands, and general fun and games in the Middle Ages will be all over town.
UNIQUE ART IN ACTION, ROCKLAND ARTS FESTIVAL, West Nyack, NY
Exciting and unique art event, 30 April 2022
A GUIDEPOST REPRINT: “MEATBALLS”, 30 SEPTEMBER 1980
Since few of us have the experience and skill of the professional chef and his equipment, I think variety in the preparation of simpler and less demanding foods is often of more value to the home cook. Soooooo, we will dispense with recipes for broiled lobster and concentrate on performing small miracles with humbler classes of foods. The carne picada, for one such.
SPANISH POLITICAL LEADERS CRUCIAL TO EU DIPLOMACY, TWO-PART SERIES: (2) Josep Borrell
As the crisis advances, the risk is clear: encouraged by the Russian propaganda apparatus, many could be tempted to blame Europeans and the West for the catastrophic situation rather than the war of aggression led by Vladimir Putin. This is wrong. . . We should avoid false solutions, help stimulate local production in emerging and developing countries, instead, rather than dumping in-kind donations of food with adverse developmental effects.
GUIDEPOST REPRINT: NEWS BRIEFS–Mules, Bus Conductors, Antenas & Road Accidents, 18 February 1966
What's news in February 1966: Spanish mules moving to France. Bus drivers struggling against ill-mannered passengers. New antenna tracks satellites. Educational programs thought to reduce road accidents.
FIESTA TIME! YOUR FABULOUS FLAMENCO OUTFIT FOR AS LOW AS €20!
For as low as €20 and higher than €2000! That's the way the traje flamenca goes, pricewise. Meaning, you've got a really exciting range of choices!
SPANISH POLITICAL LEADERS CRUCIAL TO EU DIPLOMACY, TWO-PART SERIES: (1) JAVIER SOLANA
Spanish political leaders have been playing a very significant part in bringing EU diplomacy to the world stage from the very beginning. The first permanent High Representative of EU's Foreign and Security Policy was the Spanish physicist-politician Javier Solana. He launched the difficult negotiation for Ukraine's membership in the European Union which angered Russia.
FACE MASKS ARE A THING OF THE PAST–IN MOST CASES
In February this year, the wearing of face mask outdoors in Spain has ceased to be obligatory. Later, on the 20th of April 2022, face mask indoors met the same fate. But not everyone would love to see the mask go.
SEVILLE’S FABULOUS APRIL FAIR IS BACK — BUT IN MAY!
The April Fair is one of the most internationally popular festivals in Spain. It started out as a livestock fair but over the years it became more of a festive event which gained extraordinary fame worldwide due to its unique color, splendor, pageantry, equestrian displays, horse-drawn carriages and flamenco dancing at all hours. Hundreds of casetas (colorfully decorated tents) are set up in the fairgrounds. There is music, dancing, delicious food and drink practically round the clock. And then of course there are the bullfight festejos of top matadors at the La Maestranza.
WHEN IN SPAIN, CELEBRATE THE HOLY WEEK (11-17 APRIL 2022)!
This week is Holy Week (Semana Santa), the week of the Passion of Christ in Catholic Spain. People are enthused now that restrictions are no longer as prohibitive as they were during the pandemic. (It's over now, isn't it? Is it?) Natives and visitors can join the famous religious processions without masks although it still is advisable to wear them because these processions are packed with devotees and keeping social distance is next to impossible. Also, attendance at the liturgies requires protective face coverings when held inside churches.
JUST TO REMIND YOU: DST IN THE EUROPEAN UNION IS ON
By law, Daylight Saving Time in the European Union starts on the last Sunday of March and ends on the last Sunday of October. Hence, on the 27th of March 2022, DST will kick in – EU clocks will leap forward one hour at 01:00 UTC. In Spain, the change will occur at 2:00 AM, by which time it's 3:00 AM already due to its time zone.
CANTE & GUITARRA BY DEGREES: Spotlight on Two Up-and-Coming Flamenco Artists
The lives of López and Gonzalez converged in 2016 when they met at a gig to see artists they knew. Talk led to talk to exchanging phone numbers, to becoming a couple. A year later, they entered the Conservatorio Superior de Música Rafael Orozco de Cordóba, the first city in Spain to offer a degree in flamenco. López, 26, is the only person from Guadalajara and Castille-La Mancha with a Grado en Cante Flamenco degree. González is probably the only one or one of the few American passport holders with a degree in flamenco guitar.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN ANNOUNCES CRIPPLING MEASURES AGAINST RUSSIA
The European Union and its partners are working to cripple Putin's ability to finance his war machine. Von der Leyen will now be proposing to EU leaders that (1) the Union ensure a certain number of Russian banks are removed from SWIFT; (2) the EU stop Putin from using his war chest by paralysing the assets of Russia's central bank; and (3) the EU prevent Russian oligarchs from using their financial assets on our markets.
THE REAL MADRID
Any and everything about the fascinating capital city of Spain — and the Autonomous Community of Madrid — from its rich history through its vibrant present to what the future holds, recounted from every angle imaginable.
This category, however, goes beyond Madrid; it embraces stories of what occurred, are occurring, and will probably occur in the Spanish nation whose capital is Madrid.
MEET THE NEW TOURIST ATTRACTION AT PLAZA ESPAÑA
Since opening last 8 April, the Zara megastore at Plaza España has been converted, perhaps inadvertently – or is it? – into a tourist attraction! This Zara, and its sister-store Stradivarius on the west wing of Edificio España, were the first Inditex stores to be opened immediately after heiress Marta Ortega assumed her post as Chairperson of Inditex, the world's largest apparel retailer. The inauguration of this Zara marks Marta Ortega’s debut in the stratosphere of Inditex’s hierarchy.
THE REMARKABLE DOS DE MAYO HEROISM AND THE UGLY PANDEMIC DEBRIS
Finally, the Madrileños can once again celebrate Dos de Mayo. Join them in commemorating how they liberated Madrid from the French imperial forces. These days when it’s coming out that undesirable elements of Madrid society have enriched themselves during the pandemic, it’s good to remember that the great majority of the Madrileños are noble-spirited and quite capable of heroism in the face of adversity.
COME RAIN. . .OR COME SHINE!
THE rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain… but if a few stray showers should sprinkle Madrid´s streets, Casa de Diego will happily see to it that all men, women and children are appropriately armed to fight the torrents. Founded in 1858 at Puerta del Sol, customers pack the premises… even with sunny skies overhead.
YOUNG AND IN NEED OF FREE ACCESS TO CULTURE? JOBO WILL OBLIGE!
To be culture maven you've got to start early. Free tickets to temples of culture help. In Madrid, that's JOBO, for you.
AMERICAN CLUB OF MADRID JANUARY 2022 NEWSLETTER
With their JANUARY NEWSLETTER, the American Club of Madrid wishes everybody A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
AMERICAN CLUB OF MADRID NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2021
ACM NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2021: "Happy Hour" <> "Special Dates in December" <> "What Taxpayers Should Know. . ." <> "Important Dates in December" <> "Christmas Cookies" <> etc. etc. etc.
LUXURY TOURISM: MOVE OVER SECOND-RATE DESTINATIONS, MADRID’S COMING
Madrid is vying for the honor and privilege of becoming Europe’s New Capital of Luxury Travel. The capital city's proposition is audacious. Let’s see what happens.
MADRID CELEBRATES THE FEAST OF THE VIRGIN OF ALMUDENA ON A LOVELY AUTUMN DAY
On 9 November the Madrileños celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of the Almudena, their patron saint. It was a lovely day, cool, crisp, and sunny. Typical of Madrid in the early Fall. The air was fittingly festive. The weather couldn’t be better; you’d think the Mother of Jesus Christ had asked it of her Son. There were the traditional procession, the High Mass, people joining in the festivities. They feasted on the "Crown of Almudena".
