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ONLY BE BARCELONIAN
Only-Be Barcelonian
Experience the Gracia Festivities Like a True Barcelonan
Some very special festivities await you in Barcelona from August 15th through 21st… If you thought floating plates and candles were something out of a Harry Potter scene, you may want to reconsider. For the people of Gracia, a neighborhood in the northeastern part of Barcelona, this type of decor is nothing out of the ordinary, and especially so in the summertime. Would you like to know more about this multitudinous event? Keep on reading! Battle of the Neighbors You might be wondering what sets these neighborhood festivities apart from the rest. Well, for one thing, they are visually attractive, as each street is decorated in its own unique theme: movies, animé, tropical jungles, dinosaurs, Asian landscapes…. The list is practically endless! Neighborhood associations start working on their masterpieces months in advance, knowing that they’ll be admired by thousands of locals and curious tourists. However, gaining the appraisal of passerbys is not their only motivation, as there is a price for the inhabitants of the winning street every year. The 2015 edition of the Gracia Festivities will showcase balconies decorated as gold mines, dragons, butterflies, laboratories, and even a ‘garden of earthly delights’. These and many others are some of the themes that have already been registered into the contest, along with their respective participants, who expectantly await the day of the great unveiling. A Full Program And if decorated streets are not enough incentive for you- worry not. The program for the 2015 Gracia Festivities (check it here LINK) includes all type of events for all ages. Little ones will have a great time watching the...
All About Menorca’s Jaleos
Surely many of you have visited or at the very least heard good things about Menorca, a slice of paradise in the Mediterranean Sea. And yet this post won’t be mentioning its crystalline waters, its golden beaches, its traditional drink pomada, its delicious cuisine, or its Talayotic megaliths… Today we’ll let you in on all the details of its most traditional festivities, the Jaleos. The Jaleo celebrations trace their start to the introduction of music in what was otherwise a religious ceremony, where horses were made to walk around a town or city three times. Over a century ago in Ciutadella de Menorca, a band started playing an Aragonese jota as the horses were passing by, and such was the musicians’ enthusiasm that the horses started jumping to the rhythm, getting the audience to follow suit. Nowadays, the horses march in a parade led by a donkey and its rider, who plays the flabiol and the drum. The animals then march into the town square, and one by one try to stand up on two legs, while people help hold them in position by supporting their muscles around their flanks. Besides music, there are two central aspects to these festivities: horses, which are always black and strong, and riders, divided into categories representing the different strata of society. Those known as ‘caixers’ are at the top of the rank: a ‘caixer senyor’ represents the nobility, a ‘caixer capellà’ represents the clergy, a number of ‘caixers pagesos’ represent the farmers, and the ‘caixers menestrals’ represent the artisans. The remaining riders are known as ‘caballers’. The audience also plays an important...
15 Years of Music at Primavera Sound in Barcelona
Primavera Sound is an unmissable rendezvous for any self-respecting festival goer, and more so this particular edition of the festival, which marks its 15th anniversary. A festival that started in 2001 with a mere 7,700 visitors, and which managed to bring together no less than 190,000 people last year. This level of success in such a short period of time makes the festival unique. But worry not because there’s still time- you have until May 30th to get your act together. What are you waiting for; get your Primavera Sound 2015 tickets already!
Poetry Week in Barcelona. Discover Barcelona’s Most Poetic Side
On the week of May 12th through 18th, Barcelona swells up with poetry and thousands of activities, promoting and spreading the magic of the written and recited verse. But Barcelona is poetry all year long. The truth is that, throughout history, the Catalan capital has been home to many poets who made it their muse, giving it a bohemian and evocative air thick with rhymes that resonate in our memory to this day. The relationship between Barcelona and poetry is such a well-established one that it’s no surprise that the last few years have borne witness to the birth of myriad initiatives around this art form. Today we want to show you Barcelona’s most poetic side. A stroll through rhyme, rhythm and rhetoric that will surely win you over. Expendeduría Poética. Take Away Poetry What would it be like to take part in a poet’s creative process, being able to walk out with your very own poem? At Expendeduría Poética, typewriter wielding Poetógrafas Performáticas (something along the lines of Perfomantic Poetographesses), enact a happening and performance of sorts, in which the visitor becomes the main protagonist in the birthing of an art work that he can later take home in exchange for a small donation. Instant poetry, they call it. The idea here is as follows: one walks in and finds a number of English words to choose from. After picking 3, he stamps then on an official document which he then hands to Poetographess number 1. She, in turn, starts creating a poem around the chosen words. Next, the document is passed on to Poetographess number 2, who...
Primavera Sound Festival Survival Guide
It’s coming. Not much longer now. The music event we were all waiting for is almost here. And we all know that besides music, Primavera Sound is most of all, about fashion and outfits. Check your favorite fashion blogger’s site for tips on what to wear, the Primavera Sound Festival is just around the corner. You’ve no doubt chosen your outfits for the event and imagined yourself singing and dancing like there’s no tomorrow. Well, we just wanted to let you in on a couple of details you might want to consider… And to that end, here is our Survival Guide to the Primavera Sound Festival. 1. A sweater, a trench coat, a cardigan… anything really, but be sure to take something warm to wear. It’s called Primavera (spring) Sound, we agree, but don’t take the weather for granted- it’s not particularly warm at 3am (or at 11pm for that matter). 2. Cash. Don’t just assume they’ll take plastic. You surely don’t want to wander around for miles to find those sneaky ATMs, do you? 3. Comfortable shoes. Pumps and wedges might be the height of fashion this season but what you really need are comfortable shoes that you can jump and dance in… and particularly when walk from one stage to another. Distances are much longer than you think, and the lineup this year is just too good to miss any gigs because of your poor, sorry feet. 4. Plan what shows you want to see (roughly). There are just too many bands, and you are not quite capable of teleportation yet (sorry). It’s best for you to...
The Best Sushi in Barcelona
Do you like sushi? An affirmative reply would be the first requisite to continue reading. And here comes the second- would you like to attend a true visual and culinary spectacle in Barcelona? It’s time to treat your taste buds at one of the Barcelonian venues we are about to recommend. Try Shibui’s show cooking, eat good value sushi at Sushimore, or enjoy Monster Sushi’s Japanese terrace. However, to fully appreciate everything we are about to let you in on, it’s essential that you like raw fish.
Biergarten- Beer Festival in Barcelona
Once again this year in Barcelona’s Poble Espanyol, the German beer festival Biergarten will be taking place. From 6pm on April 30 in Poble Espanyol, you will have the chance to go to the most anticipated festival of the year- the German Beer Festival Biergarten. Biergarten is going to be in town for 1 weekend only, so make sure you don’t miss out. It’s a family affair since there are activities for everyone from midday until 2am and the best of all, it’s free entry. Biergarten translates to The Beer Garden in English and it originates from Baviera, Munich. The tradition started in the 19th century. When it is nice weather outside, everyone heads off to the old cobbled streets, main plazas and parks in Baviera where they’ll casually drink a few beers and eat lots of local food with their friends and family. And on April 30 for the weekend, you’ll have the chance to do the same right here in Barcelona. There’s something for everyone in Poble Espanyol’s Biergarten to get you into the German spirit. For the kids, they will be able to decorate cookies. The teens can chill out with their friends and listen to the traditional German and international music. The adults meanwhile can go and learn how to pull a real beer. Biergarten is slightly different to a regular beer festival in the sense that you don’t just get to taste new beers. Another reason to attend is that you will be able to taste local German food. Like a true German, there will be lots of different food to pick at throughout...
Mobile World Congress in Barcelona
From March 2 to 5, Barcelona will once again become the capital of the latest generation of technology. Expositions, conferences, lectures, workshops and exhibitions will shape one of the most important events at the international level as far as innovation 2.0 is concerned. While it is true that by now it’s practically impossible to get a more or less affordable pass, the schedule of activities planned for this edition make it well worth the effort. The type of pass you have will determine which of the events and activities you will be able to attend. It is essential to carry a notepad and pen so you can take note of all the newest developments, as can be expected from the fast growing industry in the 21st century. And of course, you’ll want to have your business cards close at hand: networking is really the star of the party at events like this where the opportunity you are looking for can appear when least expected. Barcelona spruces itself up for the occasion and you’ll likely see some unexpected activities around the city throughout the week, especially glamorous parties organized by major mobile phone brands. One thing you can count on: forget trying to hail a taxi outside the Mobile Congress area (the Fira Gran Via or the Fira Montjuic) during this time, because the taxi services can’t keep up with the demand generated at the entrance and exit to the Congress. Some of the highlights for this year include: Innovation in Mobile: What’s New and Next for Marketing and Media presented by IAB in collaboration with Facebook and Nasdaq....
A Birthday in Barcelona
It’s your day and you’ve decided to celebrate in Barcelona, a city full of original ideas that will make it an unforgettable experience. You’ve got your apartment booked and hundreds of plans are waiting for you and yours in the capital of Catalonia. Check out these suggestions for celebrating a birthday in Barcelona in such way you’ll wish every day was your birthday: Adventure in the urban forest Looking for adrenaline? Can you imagine celebrating your birthday 6 feet up in the air? In Barcelona you can find the adventure you are looking for much closer than you think. Located in the Plaza del Forum, El Barcelona Bosc Urbà is a space designed exclusively for thrill seekers. Zip lines, rope swings, bungee jumping, log rolls, bridges … a journey that will leave you breathless and completely energized through a variety of circuits and attractions. The one thing we cannot guarantee is that you will still have enough strength to blow out the candles later! A sailboat / catamaran ride If you have chosen Barcelona as a destination to celebrate your birthday, you’ve probably thought about the sea, its beaches and the warm weather. There is only one way to combine it all into one activity to feel the best Barcelona directly on your skin: take a sailboat or catamaran ride and contemplate the city from a privileged perspective while enjoying a glass of cava (Spanish sparkling wine). Cheers! Anything can happen in Enigmatium The best plan is no plan. This is an option for those who love surprises and are great friends of the unexpected. In...
Pixar Exhibition – 25 Years of Animation
Remember when you went to movie theater to watch Toy Story? The first completely computer-animated film that left us all stunned and in love with the films host of characters, so cute and virtual. That was back in 1995, and it was a revolutionary step for the animation world. It was certainly the first step for opening the door to a new way to create and understand cartoons. Today, 25 years after they started, Pixar Animation Studios, the production company responsible for true masterpieces such as Finding Nemo, The Incredibles or WALL-E, is celebrating its anniversary with an exhibition that is guaranteed to amaze both young and old. It reviews all of their films and short films that have captivated audiences and critics around the world. Pixar knows how to do things right and now they’ll teach us how. From the sketches and storyboards to the modeling approaches and digital installations, this exhibition shows the evolution of great ideas and the creative process that gives them shape. Where? In the Caixa Forum, Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guardia, 6-8 08038 Barcelona When? From February 6 to May 3. Open daily from 10am to 8 pm. How much? € 4. Caixa partners have a 50% discount. More information: ...Promotions
