Barcelona Metropolitan Issue 159 by Barcelona Metropolitan

APRIL 2010 | Nยบ 159 | Free

Out with the old A new look for Spanish television

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Publisher Creative Media Group, S.L. Managing Director Esther Jones Senior Editor Hannah Pennell Founding Editor Richard Schweid Assistant Editor Katy MacGregor Art Director David Robinson Graphic Designer Aisling Callinan Financial Manager Cecilia Ölmedal Sales Director Rainer Hobrack

Account Executives Heather Anderson, Janna Nordstrom Marketing Director Hazel Walker Marketing Assistant Jade Anglesea Sales Assistants Alexandra Longstaff, Malini Sampat Editorial Assistants Sara Blaylock, Nadia El-Yousseph Design Assistant Heike Schuricht Financial Assistant Anna Fletcher Morris Contributors Jonathan Bennett, Lucy Brzoska, Roger de Flower, Chris Evans, Nadia Feddo, Pete Jenson, Nick Lloyd, Christian Overgaard, Nicola Thornton Photographers Lucy Brzoska, Patricia Esteve, Tracy Gilbert, Adriana Trif, Ranald Ward, Lee Woolcock Illustrator Ben Rowdon Editorial Office Enric Granados 48, entlo. 2ª 08008 Barcelona Tel. 93 451 4486, Fax. 93 451 6537 editorial@barcelona-metropolitan.com ads@barcelona-metropolitan.com info@barcelona-metropolitan.com www.barcelona-metropolitan.com

Contents

26 No. 159

From the Editor:

Cover story New age of Spanish television

Features Interview City La vida Street life

Kobie du Plessis

Barcelona’s film industry 18 Catalan books in English 22 Major de Sarrià

Food and drink Reviews and more

Regulars You the reader

Printer Litografia Rosés

What’s on the web Columns

Depósito Legal B35159-96

The views expressed in Barcelona Metropolitan are not necessarily those of the publisher. Reproduction, or use, of advertising or editorial content herein, without express permission, is prohibited.

Back page

Advertising Food & Drink Directory

Marketplace

At the time of writing, just before going to press, it seems like winter is finally on the way out, and all those cold mornings, rainy days and surprise snowstorms with it. Just in time too, because this month is Sant Jordi and the key to celebrating Catalunya’s patron saint and day of love on April 23rd, apart from roses and books of course, is sun and clear blue skies. We have various Sant Jordi-related features in this issue: the vox pop, an article about the few Catalan-language books that are translated into English and a photo page in our culture section, while Roger de Flower forecasts the untimely demise of the Sant Jordi celebrations. Our cover story this month explores changes in Spanish television—by the time you read this, analogue broadcasts will have ended here. But, with the weather getting warmer, you probably hardly noticed.

Hannah Pennell

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30m2 attic with wonderful 70m2 terrace – Eixample

80m2 penthouse with 70m2 terrace – Pedralbes

Fantastic 140m2 apartment with panoramic views – Tibidabo

200m2 attic with 90m2 terrace – Passeig San Joan

85m2 apartment, literally on the beach – Barceloneta

Beautiful 500m2 apartment, close to Rambla Catalunya

Eixample, near Paseo de Gracia

New development in Pedralbes

Turo Park

110m2 beautiful flat in listed building. Well distributed with two living room areas with balconies, full equipped kitchen, master bedroom with dressing area and bathroom and two more bedrooms sharing bathroom. Price: 2630.000 Ref. 983BA

A selection of brand new flats of 3 and 4 bedrooms. Community garden and swimming-pool. Near international schools. Large penthouse with private pool also available. Opportunity. Ref 837BA

Charming 93m2 loft with high ceiling. 35m2 terrace. Recently renovated. Open kitchen. Dining living room. 1 bedrooms. 2 bathrooms. Office space (can also be second bedroom). Only 1 neighbour. Price: 2650.000 Ref. 359BA

Charming 30m2 attic comprising of living/dining room, kitchen and bedroom. bathroom. Enjoys a wonderful 70m2 private terrace. Furnished. Price: 21.000 Ref. 934

Comprising of large living/dining room, kitchen, master bedroom (en-suite), 2 double bedrooms, bathroom and office. Main private terrace of 90m2 with very nice views. Parking. Unfurnished. Price: 23.200 Ref. 997

JT Apr 2010.indd 1

Offering uninterrupted views of Barcelona. Private swimming pool. 2 parking spaces. 1 storage room. 24h security with community garden and swimming pool. In perfect condition, Pedralbes residential area. Unfurnished. Price: 22.500 Ref. 896BA

Comprising of reception room opening onto small terrace with amazing sea views, kitchen, double bedroom, single bedroom and bathroom. Furnished. Cleaning service included. Price: 21.600 Ref. 306

Exclusive property of 140m2 with 20m2 terrace comprising reception room onto terrace, kitchen, 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Communal garden & pool. Parking. Furnished. Price: 21.900 Ref. 555

Comprising of very large room with gallery overlooking the street, guest WC, two storage rooms, library, large living/dining room, kitchen and two en-suite bedrooms. Exceptional property. Unfurnished. Price: 26.500 Ref. 1137

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| M | You the reader

Dear Metropolitan, End to smoking?

www.meetup.com/Barcelona-Metropolitan-

Thanks for your article on

Readers: join up to find out about all our events.

smoking and for clarifying a few things [‘Smoke free’, March 2010]. I’ve lived here for 10 years and things are certainly better than they were for non-smokers, but it’s still very annoying when restaurants that should have a specific smoking zone just flout the law completely. Your article doesn’t say what the consequences are for establishments that don’t make the necessary changes. Since the law doesn’t seem to have been enforced very well so far, you do wonder if tougher laws will make much of a difference.

Mrs P. Cawood Become a Facebook fan of ‘Barcelona Metropolitan’. Our page on Facebook features information about what’s going on in Barcelona, and offers users the chance to share ideas, tips and advice about being a foreign resident here.

Metropolitan events We’ve got three special activities coming up this month 1. Understanding Catalan nationalism Are you struggling to understand the ins and outs of Catalan nationalism? Who’s in favour, who’s against? What is the Estatut? Join our open forum for a unique opportunity to gain insight into the issues at the heart of modern-day Catalunya. Thursday, April 8th, 7.30pm at the Ateneu Barcelonés (C/Canuda 6); free entry. Four guest speakers will present their views, followed by questions from the audience. Our guests include two native English speakers and long-time Barcelona residents, Charles Ablett and Erik Jeffery, who will be joined by Nito Foncuberta of the Ciutadans per Catalunya political party and Marta Rovira of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya. Only 100 places are available, so to guarantee a seat please send an email to hazel@barcelona-metropolitan.com. All non-reserved seats will be allocated on a

You can also follow us on Twitter— ’bcnmetropolitan’ posts regular tweets about what’s happening in the city and we’d like to hear about Barcelona from you too.

first come, first served basis on the evening.

2. Sunday stroll and vermut in Gràcia Enjoy a Sunday stroll though Gràcia’s past and present with our native English guide. Discover how Gràcia evolved from its agricultural origins into the bohemian

barri that it is today. Find out the whys and wherefores of its emblematic squares and streets, the stories of its most famous sons and daughters and its many tales of tension and struggle. Round it all off with a vermut at one of its classic bars. It is Sunday after all. The walk takes place on April 18th at 11am, starting at Cine Casablanca-Kaplan (Passeig de Gràcia 115) and costs €15. To book your place, pay by transfer to Creative Media Group, La Caixa 2100 0419 94 0200412524, making sure you include your name on the payment. Once the transfer is done, please send a confirmation email to hazel@barcelona-metropolitan.com. To pay by credit card, call us Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm on 93 451 4486.

3. Charity social night at Hard Rock Cafe Join us on April 22nd from 7pm till midnight for an evening of live entertainment, fun and a charity prize draw at the Hard Rock Cafe (Plaça Catalunya). Entrance is with a €5 donation. Tickets are available in advance or can be bought on the night. Email hazel@barcelona-metropolitan.com to reserve your ticket.

THE BEST OF BARCELONA DELIVERED TO YOU Sign up for your free newsletter Find out what’s coming up in Barcelona with our e-newsletter. Just go to the homepage of our website and sign up for your weekly mail.

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| M | On the web

What’s happening on Exclusive web reviews Lauren Mannion was once again out on the town last month for Metropolitan and

The Informer Society... Pro and anti-bullfighting groups

reported exclusively from the sold-out concert of ﬂame-haired chanteuse Florence

clashed in the Catalan parliament as the com-

Welch and her Machine. The intimate

mission charged with considering the future of

gig took place at Sala Bikini in mid-

bullfighting in the autonomous region began.

March and Lauren had this to say

Those speaking against bullfighting included

about the experience: “Hit ‘Drumming

scientists and philosophers who questioned the

Song’ went down a storm, but it was

treatment of the animals used in bullfights; the

the opening of ‘Dog Days Are Over’

scientist Jorge Wagensberg showed a typical

which really stood out. The crowd

sword used by bullfighters to kill the animal

immediately launched into song, but

and asked “Doesn’t this hurt?” In contrast, those

with one graceful sweep of her arms,

who favour the continuation of bullfighting

Florence brought the room back to

tended more towards political arguments, as

an awed hush. Starting oﬀ softly and

well as citing the passion of those involved and

delicately, she gradually built in intensity until she had whipped the room into a frenzy.

personal experiences. There was also criticism

At the song’s quietest point, she persuaded us all to crouch down on the ﬂoor, ready

of Catalan institutions by the representative

to leap up at her cue. There was a delicious moment’s pause before she screamed

of matador José Tomás, who said they had

“GO!”, the second verse slammed in and everyone went wild—without doubt a mo-

tried for 20 years to isolate and annihilate local

ment that will stay with me for a long time.”

bullfights.

www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/ﬂorence

Having your say... Comments can be submitted about any and all of the articles, blogs and reviews on our website, and each month we feature here a selection of what people are talking about. Our recent article ‘Smoke free’ looked at the upcoming ban that will outlaw smoking in all Spanish restaurants, bars and cafés. However, with the date for implementing the law changing from “the first half of 2010” to “by the end of the year”, there is confusion as to when the legislation will come in. Ed Wolffe commented, “I cannot tell from your article what date the restaurant no-smoking policy will come into effect. We will be in Barcelona Sept 26-30th and look forward to enjoying our food without smoke.” As yet, there is still no exact date set, but the Spanish Health Ministry continues to say it will be sometime this year. Food topics were also popular among web visitors recently. First, in response to our ‘Market watch’ feature for March from food writers Nadia Feddo, Kirsten Foster and Tara Stevens. These monthly pieces focus on seasonal food items as they come into the markets, along with suggestions on how to cook them. March was a good time for mussels and Tara recommended a recipe from a local restaurant, leading Tina to write, “That recipe sounds really good. I’ve always been a little scared to cook seafood, but that sounds simple, I’m definitely going to give it a go!” Elsewhere, our Eat Your Veggies article, first published in February 2009, prompted Laura N to offer some advice to fellow vegetarians: “Although Veritas [the organic supermarket] can be good, in a pinch it will drain your pocketbook in a hurry. Those vegetarians in the know buy their tofu for a third of the price at Asian markets, for example the one near the Universitat metro. I also highly recommend scouring ethnic stores in the Raval. Indian and other veggie foods can be found there for fantastic prices.”

Visit WWW.BARCELONA-METROPOLITAN.COM to have your say

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Health... The lack of doctors in Spain is getting worse owing to the large numbers that are leaving to work abroad. It is estimated that there are currently more than 8,000 Spanish doctors practising in other countries and while in 2008 the doctor deficit here was 3,300, this figure is likely to reach 25,000 by 2025. The solution, according to Maravillas Izquierdo, one of the authors of a report on the subject, is to oﬀer better working conditions such as higher salaries, more research opportunities and better working hours.

Employment... In Catalunya, the number of unemployed rose last month to just below 600,000. Almost 13,500 lost their jobs in the autonomous community and the total now claiming unemployment benefit here is 597,287. This represents a rise of 3.2 percent compared to January. In February 2009, almost 23,000 people lost their jobs in Catalunya, but despite this overall year-on-year fall, the Catalan employment minister, Mar Serna, said the numbers were “diﬃcult and worrying.”

Really... Catalunya-based British author Tom Sharpe compared conditions following March’s snowstorm to England in World War Two, in a letter he sent to La Vanguardia newspaper. The 81-year-old-writer, who has lived in Llafranc for 20 years, was one of thousands left without electricity after the dramatic snowfall.

For more details on these and other local stories, check our news blog, The Informer, for daily updates. barcelona-metropolitan.com/informer

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On the web

|M| 9

Most popular What people have been looking at on www.barcelona-metropolitan.com

9. 6.

Most-read articles 1. Calçots—’Know your onions’ 2. Mullet hairstyles—’Party in the back’ 3. Essential Barcelona 4. Bin-diving—‘Free food’ 5. International schools 6. Top 10 essentials to finding work in Barcelona 7. The freelance life 8. Running in Barcelona 9. Carnival—’All dressed up’ 10. Market watch—February

Most-read blog entries 1. Barcelona take-out (Food and Drink) 2. Barcelona’s best burger (Food and Drink) 3. Chock-a-block (Food and Drink) 4. Tea for two (Food and Drink) 5. Bread winners (Food and Drink)

Most-read reviews 1. Non Solo Pizza 2. Vitali Pizza 3. Casa Blava 4. Thai Thai 5. Petit Bangkok

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There’s nothing distant about our distance learning …with inspiring course materials delivered direct to you, wherever you are, unrivalled tutor support and access to a thriving student community. Our courses are designed to work around you, helping you balance your studies with work and other commitments – so you can study in English, here in Spain, at a time that suits you. Choose from short courses, certiﬁcates, diplomas, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, in a range of subject areas.

Inspired? Get a prospectus…

www.open.ac.uk/europe 91 577 7701 email: spain@open.ac.uk Quote: ESLAAB when you call us or go online

INSPIRING LEARNING

Gràcia walking tour 11am, Sunday 18th April

Gràcia: Values, vindications and vermut

Price €15. To book your place, pay by transfer to Creative Media Group, La Caixa 2100 0419 94 0200412524, making sure you include your name on the payment. Once the transfer is done, please send a conﬁrmation email to hazel@barcelonametropolitan.com. To pay by credit card, call us Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm on 93 451 4486.

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Pg. Gràcia

Jardins Salvador Espriu

Join us for a Sunday stroll through the different elements of Gràcia’s past and present. Our native English guide will take you on a journey from the agricultural origins of this unique area, through its urban development, industrial growth, periods of rebellion and cultural avant-gardism to the bohemian ‘barri’ that we know and love today. Find out the whys and wherefores of its emblematic squares and streets, the stories of its most famous sons and daughters and the tales of tension and struggle that have led to Gràcia maintaining its ‘vila’ atmosphere within an enveloping Barcelona. Avi n Round it all off with a vermut at one of its classic bars. C/ Còrsega guda Di ago nal It is Sunday after all.

Meeting place: 11am, in front Cine CasablancaKaplan, Passeig de Gràcia 115

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| M | 11

Columns

Sport shorts

Wild Barcelona By Nick Lloyd and Lucy Brzoska

By Pete Jenson In the lead-up to Barcelona’s hosting of the European Athletics Championships in July,

Easter flowers

each month we take a look at what’s making the headlines in the local sports pages.

y April, Collserola is blooming

looking the valley of Sant Just turns

all over. Rock roses fill the wood

into a magic carpet of sweet alys-

clearings, thriving in the thin dry

sum and field marigolds, with scarlet

ome time during the second week of April, two Imoca Open 60 class

soils. They fire off flowers at a dizzy rate,

poppies woven in. Clumps of lavender

though the fragile, fleeting petals soon

sprout petals like twists of purple crepe

Barcelona with the intention of establishing a

drift to the ground. That’s if they don’t get

paper. There’s a zest of fresh fennel as

navigation record between the two cities.

eaten first, as rock roses are often jewelled

new sprigs appear among the brittle

with hungry beetles, peppering petals with

twigs of last year’s crop. Painted lady

Navigation (FNOB) has organised the record

holes. The insects return the favour by

butterflies spread their wings, as flat as

attempt with the New York City sports com-

getting coated in pollen.

mortar boards.

mission, and it will be led by two mixed Span-

yachts will leave New York bound for

The Barcelona Foundation for Ocean

Photos by Lucy Brzoska

ish and American crews. The Estrella Damm Crimson pea

sailing team, led by Alex Pella, Pepe Ribes and Stan Schreyer, and the W Hotels team of Pachi Rivero, Antonio Piris and Peter Becker should arrive in the Catalan capital between the 20th and 30th of this month after around 20 days on the high seas. The idea for the 3,900 nautical miles (7,000 kilometres) trip was backed by Enrique Puig, the former president of the Salón Náutico of Barcelona. Puig died in 2008 but his dream will become a reality later this month when two great cities are linked by one transoceanic sailing record. No one has ever recorded a time for crossing from an Atlantic-Ocean city to a Mediterranean one. The World Sailing Speed Record Council will record the time for future projects to attempt to better. Former America’s Cup sailor and now famous yachting race commentator Gary Jobson has backed the two crews to complete the journey in just over two weeks. “These

Then there are solitary surprises.

Tassle hyacinth

Jobson said. “And it’s a great idea to have the

a bush of broom, diminutive wine-red

two teams sailing at the same time. Driving

flowers nestling among soft grey leaves.

these boats hard could be dangerous but hav-

Or a tassle hyacinth putting in a timely

ing another boat close by is good for safety.

appearance: in Castilian it’s known as the

They should be able to get from New York to

nazareno, named after the cone-headed

Barcelona in 15 days.”

penitents that march in Easter processions, often in sombre purple gowns. Down shady paths, among the ferns

The open sunny slopes are flecked

boats are incredibly fast and well-balanced,”

Some hound’s tongue sheltering behind

Sailing the good ship FC Barcelona has been Joan Laporta’s privilege for the last seven years but on June 30th, he will hand over to a new

and ivy, periwinkles star the ground,

president. Barça’s 163,000 members will know

with crimson peas, whose stems merge

covering every available space. Emerg-

the identity of their candidates this month

invisibly with the grass. Like all members

ing from the damp shadows are purple

before voting on June 13th. Meanwhile, over

of the pea family, these vibrant, apparently

gromwell and tiny wood forget-me-

in Madrid, the Titanic team hit another iceberg

disembodied flowers have an intricate five-

nots, which change colour like litmus

in the form of Lyon last month, provoking cel-

petalled structure. The prominent purple

paper. As they grow, their cell sap turns

ebratory fireworks in Barcelona. The European

banner presides over two lilac wings that

alkaline, and the flowers turn from red

exit left Real Madrid with only the Spanish

fold over the two-petalled keel, where the

to blue.

league to fight for and that battle will largely

stamens and pistil are stowed. Crim-

be decided on April 11th when Barça go to the

son peas are often visited by Cleopatra

Santiago Bernabeu for this year’s clásico. The

butterflies, deflecting sunlight with their

Nick Lloyd and Lucy Brzoska write

last time Pep Guardiola’s side played Real in

luminous wings.

for www.iberianature.com and run

Madrid, they won 6-2. Having spent €250 mil-

nature tours in Barcelona.

lion last summer, Madrid fans will hope history

Every spring, a small stony field over-

is not about to repeat itself.

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Interview

| M | 13

Kobie du Plessis Harpist, South Africa I came to Barcelona in 2003 because of my husband’s work. What I love most about the city are the trees, the different walkways, and Gaudí’s imaginative buildings. Also the feeling of space like I had in South Africa. I started playing the harp when I was 12. A friend of the family—a professional musician—arrived at our house with a Celtic harp in the boot of his Mercedes, on the understanding I would learn to play. Once I had my first lesson, I was hooked. I had to leave home at 15 and go to a strange school just to continue with harp lessons and music. That was almost my undoing, but it taught me independence and to fight for my right to perform music, something that came in very handy later in life! I was a bit of a freak as a child. I won lots of prizes on the piano, my first instrument, and I had super-cultural parents who liked Shakespeare and classical music, which was a bit weird in those days! First and foremost, I am a performer. I just love to play in public, and would love to play more in Barcelona and its surroundings. I have also started to write original music for the harp, which is exciting and a new field for me. Playing the harp feels like an extension of myself. I am in love with its sound and it brings beautiful images to my mind, as it has such a silvery, kind of fairylike sound. I taught both my children to be musical. Learning an instrument broadens a child’s perspective, makes them concentrate better, and gives them good life skills. We live in Castelldefels halfway up the mountain with the sea beneath us, and our house in South Africa is also halfway up the mountain with the sea in the distance. Performing at the Liceu was great, but tense at the same time. I received the piece for harp and chorus five days before, and had to study in record time, only to find the day before the performance I had been given the wrong partitura [score]. I practised right through the night to be able to give a peak performance. Having breast cancer taught me that nothing is so important anymore. To have my family and my husband, to have my health back and to be able to play harp again is enough for me. I have become more spiritual and thankful that God has saved my life, and I also learned to respect the Spanish doctors here in Barcelona, as they were, and are, wonderful! Interview by Nicola Thornton. Photo by Lee Woolcock.

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| M | Spanish television

On the box This month, the changeover to digital television will be complete in Spain— it’s just part of the changing landscape of tv here. By Chris Evans.

he television industry in Spain is going through a period of significant changes: this month sees the switching off of all analogue broadcasting, the major private broadcasters are discussing various mergers and take-overs, and adverts have been removed from the national public channels. But what does all this mean for the viewer? For starters, there’s the change to televisión digital terrestre (digital terrestrial television) or TDT, which will be completed on April 3rd, by when Spain’s analogue signal will be completely switched off leaving only digital channels broadcasting (in Catalunya, the switch-off date is March 30th). The impact for viewers of this move can be summed up as: an increase in the number of digital channels available on free-to-air digital terrestrial television; a better quality image, supposedly; and, perhaps of most interest to many foreign residents, a greater availability of programming in English.

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Most residents here are aware of the conversion (see below) and have taken steps to prepare for the digital age, but for anyone not sure of how it works, there are two necessary steps to be able to view TDT: the first is the conversion of your existing antenna to digital, and the second is to get a receiver system; this can either be a box or other mechanism that attaches to your existing set or you can treat yourself to a new TDT-enabled television, with the receiver built in. At the time of going to press, already more than 80 percent of Spanish households had converted to TDT, with Catalunya being one of the areas with highest penetration at 86 percent, but it has been harder to reach more remote parts of the country. In early March, La Vanguardia newspaper reported difficulties for residents in the Costa Brava towns of Begur and Cadaqués in receiving a good digital signal following the switch-off of the local analogue signal.

“We have experienced technical problems in places like Galicia where it is a lot harder to get a perfect reception, but overall the transition to digital has gone very smoothly and we are confident that the deadline of March 30th for the switch-over will be met,” said Estefania Palacios, a press officer at the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce, which is responsible for overseeing the transformation. Going forward, the Ministry will be keeping a close eye on digital developments at the national broadcasters, making sure that everything runs smoothly, remains above board and that the broadcasting companies stick to their promises. Those national companies are divided between public (Televisión Española) and private (Telecinco, Antena 3, Cuatro and La Sexta) broadcasters, while there are also regional organisations such as the Catalan TV3, and Barcelona’s city channel, BTV. Televisión Española (TVE) started broadcasting

19/3/10 12:14:33

Spanish television

in 1959, while the first private TV station here was Antena 3, which began transmissions in January 1990, closely followed by Telecinco in March of the same year; TV3 began in January 1984. The conversion to digital sees TVE able to transmit up to eight channels on two multiplexes (the amount of bandwidth), while each free-to-air private broadcaster can offer four channels on one multiplex, as opposed to the current three. This change has seen many of Spain’s broadcasters take the opportunity to increase their channels. For instance, the Telecinco Group offers in TDT its main channel, Telecinco, renowned for its reality shows, along with La Siete, which mostly broadcasts series, and Factoria de Ficcion, which shows series and films. “We are currently contemplating what content to put on the new [fourth] channel,” Ghislain Barrois, head of acquisitions at Telecinco, told Metropolitan.

14-16.digital TV-PDF.indd 3

Meanwhile, Cuatro offers on TDT its main channel, which includes a lot of talent and quiz shows, music channel 40 Latino and rolling news channel CNN+. However, Telecinco recently reached an agreement with the owner of Cuatro, PRISA, in which Telecinco will take over Cuatro and the potential digital output of the fused group will increase to eight. But while the two companies have already agreed to the deal, they must wait until the EU’s Competition Authority approves the take-over, which is likely to be in June. “As far as the content is concerned, we’ll acquire Cuatro’s library and add it to ours and see what fits best,” said Ghislain Barrois. Once the deal is confirmed though, Telecinco plans to eliminate 40 Latino, keep CNN+ for a short period of time and then decide what channels they would like to add. At the same time, Telecinco’s main rival Antena 3 is hoping to merge with La Sexta,

| M | 15

which is hot on sports, such as the Formula One racing and Spanish league football. The deal is expected to be sealed and approved in the coming months, but for now it is being kept officially under wraps. Antena 3 has already been active in the digital arena for the past three years on their main channel, and will be looking to push the popularity of their additional channels, Neox and Nova, with the new digital drive. “We will be launching the Golden Globe winning US series Glee on Neox [on March 22nd] as a way to show that we want to make it the official eighth channel in the current Spanish TV landscape,” said Mercedes Gamero, head of acquisitions at Antena 3. “We will also be showing another US series, Lie To Me, and we will have a future film slot on Saturdays for all types of movies.” Gamero also confirmed that their intention going forward is to have their content available in both English and Castilian on all their



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| M | Spanish television



channels. Ghislain Barrois, at Telecinco, also insisted there will be more English-language content, especially from the US. It’s not all good news though. More channels means the need for more content to be available. One solution from the private commercial companies could be to filter some of the premium content from their main channels through to their smaller channels. It is also possible that they will turn some of their free-to-air channels into pay channels because they are too expensive to maintain for the small audience they draw. Antena 3 will probably do this for premium content like football, but maybe also for some of their popular series. Meanwhile, Spanish public broadcaster TVE is using several of its additional channels for specialist content. “We’ll have Teledeportes for sport, Clan TVE for children’s programmes, TVE news [24h], Cultural.es for content suited to a more sophisticated audience and much more,” said Gustavo Ferrada, a senior TVE executive. In a twist to proceedings at TVE, the Spanish government ruled at the end of last year that the public broadcaster had to remove all advertising from its national channels, a requirement that came into effect at the start of 2010. In its first weekend of adfree broadcasting in January, TVE won the largest audience share for its Saturday night film, suggesting viewers welcome the opportunity of watching programmes without the extended ad breaks so common here.

However, the move to take advertising, and its revenue, away from TVE came about due to less altruistic reasons. The private broadcasters argued that with 40 channels in each city, due to the output of the different national, regional and city television companies, there wasn’t enough advertising to maintain them all and that TVE had an unfair advantage through its support from the state. With this reduction in the number of channels showing ads, the idea was that the advertisers would split the money they previously spent appearing on TVE between the private broadcasters. But the reality could be somewhat different. Ghislain Barrois at Telecinco is concerned that they won’t see a huge increase in advertising revenue. “If you look at France, where the public advertising collapsed, private broadcaster TF1 was convinced it would get a bigger share of the revenue, but that didn’t happen, the money just disappeared,” he said. In a further potential knock to Telecinco and Antena 3, as a result of the no advertising policy on TVE, the government has decided that free-to-air private broadcasters should invest three percent of their annual income in the public broadcaster, while pay-TV companies will invest 1.5 percent and telecommunication outfits 0.9 percent. It will take time for all these changes to settle in, and in the meantime, viewers will have no choice but to settle back and see what’s on the box.

THE DIGITAL WORLD USA - in 2009 was first nonEU country to convert to digital

Colombia - won’t switch over until 2020

Greenland - currently has no plans or timetable to change to digital

Luxembourg - the first country to switch off its analogue broadcasts in 2006

Is digital better than analogue? Yes:  Digital reception tends to be better overall, particularly with a good signal.  Many more channels can fit on the digital transmission.

No:  Increased electricity consumption by the digital receiving equipment.  Analogue requires a lower signal strength to get a viewable picture.

TELEVISION CHANNELS IN SPAIN AND CATALUNYA Public - National broadcaster Televisión Española (TVE) is backed by government funds and now also supported by investment from private TV broadcasters and telecommunications outfits. TVE’s two main channels are La 1, which offers more mainstream content, and La 2, whose output is more cultural. Also offers several specialist channels, such as the sports-focused Teledeporte, 24h with non-stop news and Clan for children. - Each Spanish region has at least one public channel, such as TV3 in Catalunya—each station is paid for by the relevant regional government. - Barcelona TV is a public channel that broadcasts within the city, focusing on programmes featuring residents and local news; many Catalan towns have such a channel.

Private (Free-to-air) - Antena 3 was the first private TV station to broadcast in Spain back in 1990, and is most noted for its series, such as El Internado, Los Hombres de Paco and Los Simpsons. Hopes to take over rival broadcaster La Sexta, which specialises in sport. - Cuatro is currently owned by major media group Prisa, but could be taken over by Telecinco into a new entity. As well as its main channel, Cuatro also owns music channel 40 Latino and rolling-news broadcaster CNN+. - Sony Entertainment Television, owned by Sony, plays mostly US series. - Disney Channel, owned by the Walt Disney Corporation, shows mostly kids’ programmes. - In Catalunya, 8tv, part of the Grupo Godó that also owns La Vanguardia newspaper, is the biggest private channel.

Private (Pay TV) New Zealand - will announce a date for the change when digital television uptake reaches 75 percent or by 2012, whichever happens first

14-16.digital TV-PDF.indd 4

- Canal Plus Spain offers its Digital + channels on digital terrestrial television.

Programmes shown on pages 14-15: Top—CSI Miami (© Telecinco), Gran Hermano (© Telecinco), El Hormiguero (© Pedro Menéndez, Cuatro), Glee (© Antena 3), CSI New York (© Telecinco); Middle—Castle (© Cuatro), The Mentalist (© La Sexta), Buenafuente (© Roberto Garver, La Sexta), Glee (© Antena 3), The Simpsons (© Antena 3); Bottom—American Dad (© Antena 3), CSI Las Vegas (© Telecinco), Operación Triunfo (© Telecinco), Generación Ni-Ni (© La Sexta), Castle (© Cuatro), House (© Cuatro)

19/3/10 12:14:49

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Calle AragĂłn 182, 08011 Barcelona info@iuse.edu.es | +34 93 452 2230 15/3/10 10:33:51

| M | Barcelona film industry

Oscar winners for Pan’s Labyrinth, Montse Ribé and David Martí of DDT

The celluloid city Barcelona has been the backdrop for some big international films; now a proposed new law may require that more such movies be available here dubbed in Catalan. By Chris Evans. Photos by Tracy Gilbert.

atalunya can rightfully boast to being southern Europe’s largest regional film force. In 2009, the Catalan government invested an impressive $21 million in film production and not just on local small-budget projects. In the last week of February this year, Antonio Banderas was in Barcelona to film scenes from the new film Knockout, a

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thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh, and also featuring Ewan McGregor and Michael Douglas. Other recent high-profile films shot here include Woody Allen’s romantic drama Vicky Cristina Barcelona, for which Spanish actress Penélope Cruz picked up an Oscar, as well as two other big 2009 features: Jim Jarmusch’s crime drama The Limits Of Control, starring Bill Murray and Gael García

Bernal, and Alejandro González Iñárritu’s thriller Biutiful, starring Javier Bardem as a criminal confronted by an old friend who has become a cop. “We had a terrific experience shooting in Catalunya,” Jon Kilik, the US producer of Biutiful and The Limits Of Control, told Metropolitan. “The Catalan crew were very professional for both films and the local film commission was extreme-

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Barcelona film industry

Film editor at Rodar y Rodar, Joan Manel Vilaseca

ly helpful with providing permits to film in the busy streets.” Woody Allen was also taken by Barcelona, and enjoyed the experience of working with Vicky Cristina Barcelona’s Catalan producers MediaPro so much that he decided to sign a three-picture deal with them. “Vicky Cristina Barcelona was a dream come true,” MediaPro’s Jaume Roures told Metropolitan. “We are very proud to be working with one of the world’s best filmmakers.” “We have a very strong film industry here in Catalunya,” said a spokesperson for the Barcelona Film Commission, who asked not to be named. “There are hundreds of productions that shoot here every year, which we help by providing facilities and shooting permits through our network of 120 members, including city councils, spread throughout the region.” Film producers who shoot in Catalunya can potentially access up to $400,000 per

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project from the Catalan government, depending on the film’s Catalan cultural content (local director, crew, cast, story, setting, etc.) and its commercial success through box office and internet film downloads. Furthermore, in an interesting twist, the Catalan government has also set up a�$2

“Barcelona is where the horror genre kicked oﬀ in Spain...” million per project funding incentive, with backing from local television broadcaster TV3, to support Catalan-language projects with international market appeal and bigger budgets. Recent films taking advantage of this fund include Daniel Benmayor’s 2009

| M | 19

Joaquín Padró, Rodar y Rodar President/Producer and Producer/Director Mar Targarona

historical drama Bruc, starring Juan José Ballesta as a Catalan drummer who takes on Napoleon’s army single-handedly, and Kike Maíllo’s sci-fi film Eva, starring Daniel Brühl as a shy genius who designs robot software, which will screen this year. Both films are budgeted at $5 million, which is a lot of money for a Catalan project. “We want to create a brand of Catalan cinema that maintains a sense of our culture, but which can succeed all over the world,” said Xavier Parache, director of the government-backed Catalan Institute of Culture Industries (ICIC), which is charged with funding and supporting local projects. This ‘thinking bigger approach’ coincides with a new breed of young, talented Catalan directors, producers and writers who are bursting onto the scene, making marketable films. Most of them are alumnae from the famous local film school, Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya

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| M | Barcelona film industry The new Filmoteca Catalunya’s film archive organisation Filmoteca is finally close to moving into two new premises, one in the Raval, and the other at the Park Audiovisual film studios in Terrassa, just outside Barcelona. The building in the Raval is expected to open its doors by the end of the year. There will be two screening rooms, one with about 350 seats and the other with 200 seats, both situated underground. In addition, there will be a bookshop and cafeteria on the ground floor, and on the next three levels will be archive services, such as private screenings on monitors, exhibition rooms, a huge library of film books and finally the Filmoteca offices. The Terrassa site will contain all the films from the Catalan archive, which totals more than 150,000 reels from two-minute shorts to major feature-length films.

The workshop at DDT



(ESCAC), including Juan Antonio Bayona, director of The Orphanage, and Guillem Morales, who is currently hard at work editing his new horror/thriller Julia’s Eyes, starring Belén Rueda. The film is backed by Guillermo del Toro (director of the upcoming film of The Hobbit), US studio Universal, as well as local production outfit Rodar y Rodar and broadcaster TV3 among others. “Barcelona is where the horror genre kicked off in Spain, and now there are many gifted young film-makers here in Catalunya who aren’t afraid to take risks with the genre, such as Morales with Julia’s Eyes, which we are proud to be producing,” said Joaquín Padró, president of Rodar y Rodar. Also involved in horror is the Barcelonabased special effects outfit DDT, which has provided make-up and animatronics for some of the biggest Spanish films of the last 20 years, including Alejandro Amenábar’s The Sea Inside and Àgora, Pedro Almodóvar’s Talk To Her and Guillermo del Toro’s Spanish-Mexican co-production Pan’s Labyrinth. “We are busier than ever on film productions, especially here in Barcelona,” said

DESIGN FASHION VISUAL ARTS COMMUNICATION

Barcelona

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this, both in terms of time and money,” responded Miguel Morales, head of acquisitions at local distributor Wanda Films. “It can cost up to 50,000 per film to dub and subtitle. For the majors and big US studios like Fox or Sony, to dub into Catalan is maybe one percent of their income, but for us it is 30 percent. Furthermore, when local audiences are given the option of watching a film in Catalan or Spanish, they prefer to see it in Spanish anyway.” The Catalan government actually tried to pass a similar law just over 10 years ago, but had to back down due to pressure from the US studios. This time they seem determined that the new law will be enforced. Theatre owners have released figures showing that the number of people attending cinemas between 2003 and 2008 fell by seven million, due to piracy, the internet, digital television, etc., and claim that the new law would be the final nail in their coffins. The Generalitat maintains there is a wide audience who will choose to see films dubbed into Catalan, if the choice exists. It appears we’ll know soon.

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David Martí, co-founder of DDT and an Oscar winner for his work on Pan’s Labyrinth, including creating the character of Pan using internal motors and a lot of prosthetic makeup. “We used to work more on commercials, but they demand things to be done quickly and cheaply, so we prefer to focus on film.” Martí is hard at work on the new Juan Antonio Bayona project to be called The Impossible, having recently finished doing effects for Joann Sfar’s biopic Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque), a mixture of fantasy and reality, and starring Eric Elmosnino as French icon Serge Gainsbourg. However, all is not perfectly rosy in the Catalan film world. The Catalan parliament is due to pass a law, already approved by the Catalan government, requiring that at least 50 percent of films be dubbed or subtitled in Catalan. “In Catalunya we have only two percent of cinemas showing films in Catalan, which is crazy when you consider that 50 to 60 percent of Catalans have Catalan as their first language,” said Xavier Parache of ICIC. The proposed law has outraged distributors. “This is crazy. We cannot afford to do

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Creative Passion 18/3/10 16:14:46

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16/3/10 17:57:09

| M | Catalan literature

The written word Photo by Lee Woolcock

For those who want to celebrate Sant Jordi Day by reading some Catalan literature in English, here’s a look at what’s available and why there’s not more. By Christian Overgaard.

he shelves of Hibernian Books, a second-hand English bookshop in Gràcia, are full of the names of the usual literary suspects such as Dickens, Joyce and Dostoevsky. However, few translated works by Catalan authors grace the shelves—and if one is unable to find an English translation of a Catalan masterpiece here in Barcelona, then where? The difficulty in finding Catalan texts in English is due to various reasons, but perhaps the most important is simply competition. Not only are Catalan books competing against one another for translation and publication into English, they are also competing against scores of books in other tongues. “There’s tremendous competition to be translated into English as a gateway language to the rest of the world,” Richard Davies, publishing director at Parthian Books, an independent Welsh publisher, told Metropolitan. Not all that much gets chosen. Only three percent of what is published annually in English is in translation. Publishers perceive the English public as reluctant to read foreign authors. “US and UK publishers have an entrenched view that works in transla-

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tion don’t sell,” said Haarlson Phillipps, an author and translator living in Barcelona. Publishing executives seem to confirm this. “English readers are notoriously closedminded to foreign literature,” said Michael O’Connell, sales and marketing manager at Peter Owen Publishers. “For instance, in Germany you could have 40 percent of books of foreign-language origin available in bookshops, and in the UK it would be a fraction of that, with books from a literary elite making up that fraction of published literature.” The Institut Ramon Llull is an organisation run in part by the Catalan government, which offers grant money to aid in translations as part of its efforts to promote Catalan culture abroad. Of the 102 Catalan texts their grants helped to translate in 2009, only eight were in English. By comparison, 13 were published in French and 12 in German. Then there are the two ever-present constraints of the business world—money

It costs an average of €10,000 to translate, produce and market a foreign text. and time. It costs an average of m10,000 to translate, produce and market a foreign text. “Why pay for translation when there are many hundreds of native English writers who will supply content for a pittance?” asked Haarlson Phillipps. Richard Davies, whose Parthian Books has published two Catalan-to-English translations since 2007 and is set to publish a third next month (Look Me in the Eye by Silvia Soler), estimated that with a novel it takes about two years to go from green-lighting a translation to the bookshelves. Two years and m10,000— that’s a significant bet for a publisher to place on a book that may garner little attention from readers. So how exactly does a Catalan author get

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| M | 23

Photo by Lee Woolcock

Catalan literature

Translator Peter Bush hard at work.

his or her text translated to English? As the old adage goes, it’s not what you know—it’s who you know. Parthian’s foray into Catalan literature began with Under the Dust, a novel by Jordi Coca, and it started with a dinner invitation rather than a literary agent’s phone call. One of Parthian’s previously published Welsh authors was living in the little village of Rabós in Alt Empordà, as was Coca, and was invited to dine with the Catalan author one evening. Two years later, Under the Dust made its English debut with Parthian. Of the publisher’s small stable of Catalan translations, all have found their way into English via personal recommendation: Black Beach & Other Plays (another Coca-penned text) was suggested by the chairman of a Welsh theatre company, while Silvia Soler’s Look Me in the Eye was recommended by the translator of Under the Dust. As Richard Davies explained, “Our editorial policy is to work with people, ideas and suggestions on translations”— so oftentimes a serendipitous suggestion is preferable to a submission found in an inbox.

Michael O’Connell, of Peter Owen, prefers developing projects through interaction with institutes, and the cultural departments attached to foreign embassies. The company’s translation of Quim Monzó’s The Enormity of Tragedy was recommended to them by the Institut Ramon Llull and gained momentum internally when a member of the Peter Owen staff who had read the novel backed the proposal. Peter Bush, the translator of such books as Teresa Solana’s A Not So Perfect Crime, and Empar Moliner’s I Love You When I’m Drunk, has developed substantial credibility, to the point that publishers rely on his recommendations when navigating the unexplored oceans of Catalan literature. “I suggest works to publishers that sometimes leads to a translation. This is the case with The Last Patriarch by Najat El-Hachmi. I proposed it to the publisher at Serpent’s Tail and he asked for a report, and my translation will be published in May.” Once a book has emerged from the fray of selection, the march toward English is a fairly straightforward one. After a translator is contracted—Parthian has worked



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| M | Catalan literature 

with the same translator, Richard Thompson, on their three Catalan-to-English projects, while Peter Owen takes recommendations for each book—they’re generally left alone. “As translators are usually on a very tight schedule, we give them a deadline and leave them to the work. Constant queries and updates in either direction can be counter-productive,” said Michael O’Connell. What follows is marketing. “We did an au-

thor interview and tour with Jordi Coca [Under the Dust] but with Look Me in the Eye we’ll probably just release to the trade with basic advance information and hope for a good reception to the book,” said Davies. “What is sorely needed is a prize for the translation of Catalan literature into English. Prizes give visibility,” said translator Peter Bush. That would certainly shine a spotlight on the work of Catalunya’s authors,

Jordi Coca (L) with his English translator, Richard Thompson

as well as their translators, and hopefully this is something the Institut Ramon Llull is working toward. In the meantime, if you enjoy a book by a Catalan author, why not drop an e-mail to the publisher? If the Parthians and Peter Owens of the world know readers are out there enjoying these authors, that might give them the impetus to keep Catalunya in their publishing sights.

Books mentioned in this article are available directly from the Parthian and Peter Owen websites: www.parthianbooks. com and www.peterowen.com. For titles on the Top 10 lists below, compiled by two scholars with expertise in Catalan literature, refer to amazon.co.uk or abebooks.com. Books in bold type appear on both lists.

Photo courtesy of Parthian books

Stewart King, Professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies—Monash University The Time of the Doves by Mercè Rodoreda The Enormity of the Tragedy by Quim Monzó Cold Skin by Albert Sánchez The White Knight, Tirant lo Blanc by Joanot Martorell and Martí Joan de Galba The Towpath by Jesús Moncada The Virgin of the Railway and Other Stories by Pere Calders A Not so Perfect Crime by Teresa Solana The Doll’s Room by Llorenç Villalonga I Love You When I Am Drunk by Empar Moliner Verse Translations of 30 Poems by Ausiàs March IN THE WORDS OF THE AUTHOR Jordi Coca told Metropolitan what he thinks about the signficance of translating work into English: How important is it to have work translated into English? To be translated into English is important. It improves the distribution of the books, although the truth is that now with the big [local] publishers, you already reach Catalan and Castilian readers. What did you think when Under the Dust was translated? Well, when I got the offer to produce Bajo el polvo in English, I thought that I had reached one more stage in my career. I don’t usually worry about the distribution of my books, but this news was very pleasing to me.

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Emily Bergmann, Professor at the Department of Spanish and Portuguese—University of California, Berkley The Time of the Doves by Mercè Rodoreda The Towpath by Jesús Moncada O’Clock by Quim Monzó The Last Patriarch by Najat El-Hachmi The White Knight, Tirant lo Blanc by Joanot Martorell and Martí Joan de Galba The Virgin of the Railway and Other Stories by Pere Calders Solitude by Victor Català Natural History by Joan Perucho Selected Poems by Salvador Espriu When I Sleep, Then I See Clearly by J.V. Foix

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| M | Street life Bar Tomàs, nº. 49

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La Pimpinel·la de Sarrià, nº. 16

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Casa Joana, nº. 59

Major de Sarrià ajo

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eople often forget that Sarrià is part of Barcelona. Geographically removed from much of the city, you’re unlikely to simply find yourself in the neighbourhood. However, take the FGC to Sarrià station and you’ll be within a stone’s throw of Major de Sarrià, the central street of the barri, ripe with bakeries, boutiques and some 1,000 years of history. Sarrià is described by its inhabitants as more an autonomous Catalan village than a Barcelona neighbourhood, and Major de Sarrià reflects that—and not just in the dominance of Catalan over Castilian. Two of the longest running restaurants on the street are Antigua Casa Rafael (nº. 77) and Casa Joana (nº. 59), each opened by different branches of the Jornet family. Thought to be the oldest restaurant in Sarrià, the Antigua Casa Rafael opened around 130 years ago and is still run by the Jornet family. It serves generous portions of traditional Catalan menjar casolà (homecooked food). Casa Joana opened 43 years ago, and the original Joana is the mother of current owner, Rosa. Rosa’s daughter Ángeles said: “Over the years, the area surrounding the historic centre has modernised and changed a lot, but the centre has stayed very much the same. It has retained its charm.”

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Text by Sara Blaylock

Major de Sarrià boasts many unique local businesses, with shopkeepers as nice as they come, a lovely byproduct of the village vibe. Step into the Punt Fresc fruiteria (nº. 30) with a question and you may walk away with a few recipes. The same goes for the butcher’s Escofet Oliver (nº. 89) and Foix de Sarrià, a 124-year-old confectionery and pastry shop at number 57. Foix (pronounced foishe) was established in 1886 by Josep Foix i Ribera and has been a staple in the neighbourhood—and his family—ever since. Locals and members of the Spanish royal family alike delight in Foix’s dulcet delicacies and additive-free daily breads. If you prefer savoury to sweet, head for the salty and fried temptations at Bar Tomàs (nº. 49), best known for its patatas bravas, a simple plate of fried potato wedges drenched in alioli snapping with garlic. When asked to explain what makes his bravas the best in town, proprietor Antonio Betorz struggled to explain: “They’re well done and that seems to make a difference.” Perhaps it’s simply down to longevity: Bar Tomàs opened its doors 90 years ago, and Betorz has run it since 1986. He continues to feed his original regulars, and their kids, and now their kids’ kids and keeps his prices low because he wants to attract people from all walks of life.

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Street life

La Suissa, nº. 1

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Foix de Sarrià, nº. 57

Església Sant Vicenç de Sarrià

View from the street

Jordi and Oriol Madern

Gema Platz and Ramón Regada

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The current proprietor of Foix de Sarrià, Jordi Madern i Mas, took over the historic shop after the death in 1987 of his cousin, renowned Surrealist poet and journalist Josep Vivenç (J.V.) Foix. Madern said of his cousin, he was “a great and influential person, a patriot and a family man.” When Foix took over the shop from his father in 1923, he was deeply invested in the Surrealist movement that then thronged Catalunya. He was an intimate friend of Joan Miró (Madern’s family still have a portrait the famous painter made of Foix), Salvador Dalí and Federico García Lorca, and is considered one of the most important Surrealist poets. Madern explained that during the time of Franco, Foix continued to write in Catalan despite its prohibition and hosted political and artistic debates in the two Foix locations (the second is just above Major de Sarrià at Plaça de Sarrià 12-13). In 1985, Spain awarded him its highest literary honour: the National Prize for Literature. When asked whether Foix invested any surrealist inspirations into his confectionaries, Madern ex-

plained, “No, he always separated his business from his pleasure.” That said, Foix de Sarrià maintains the motto of ‘tradition and innovation’, and Madern prides himself on incorporating artistry and contemporary inspiration into his products. On a tour of the Foix workshop, a three-floored, many-roomed house above the storefront, he pointed out both Hello Kitty chocolates (“very popular among our British, American and German clients”) and the “surrealist-inspired” egg forms his brother Oriol was working on to decorate the elegant shop for the Easter season (see photo). Madern insists on using local fruits and ingredients, which are purchased from “country farmers who collect them from the local fields and woodlands”, but also insists on avoiding clichés and will throw in an exotic element or foreign speciality as he sees fit.

Gema Platz and Ramón Regada, owners and founders of La Pimpinel·la de Sarrià (nº. 16), opened their costume and tuxedo studio-shop in 1986. They’ve seen the street change as a result of its pedestrianisation and closure to vehicles in 2000 (cars can now access it for a small fee). For them, the problem is one of customer convenience: “If you can’t park your car outside the shop, you can’t take home two, three costumes or tuxedos at once.” Despite this difficulty, Pimpinel·la enjoys steady business from local clients, theatre groups and weddings, as well as the rich and famous. Their walls are lined with career highlights. Among the famous peo-

ple they’ve dressed are US actor Don Johnson, Catalan tennis player Sergi Bruguera, and international footballers Michael Laudrup and Ronald Koeman. Platz, a self-trained seamstress, designs and manufactures all the shop’s costumes in-house and enlists the help of local tailors for tuxedos and morning jackets. The couple live outside Sarrià, but love the neighbourhood for its hometown feeling. It represents a part of old-world Catalunya in the 21st century. Nowhere else in the city, Platz claims, are there so many original homes and buildings: “This neighbourhood is more than 1,000 years old, and this is, more or less, what it looked like then.”

Find out more: turn to page 22 for an article about Catalan literature that includes details of a J.V. Foix book available in English translation.

18/3/10 16:54:25

Catalunya is NOT Spain Catalan nationalism - what’s it all about? Get to grips with one of Spain’s most hotly debated topics, Catalan nationalism and the Estatut. A progressive political initiative or the beginning of the end of Spain as we know it? Make up your own mind by joining our evening of discussion and questions. Our free forum in English provides a unique opportunity to gain real insight into the debate at the heart of Catalunya today. Both sides of the issue will be presented, followed by questions from the audience. Two native English speakers and long-time Barcelona residents, Charles Ablett and Erik Jeffery will present their points

of view. They’ll be joined by Nito Foncuberta of the political party Ciutadans per Catalunya, which is opposed to Catalan nationalism, and Marta Rovira from the nationalist party, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, both of whom will explain their party’s positions – all in English. Join us at 7.30pm on Thursday April 8th at the Ateneu Barcelonès, C/ Canuda 6. Only 100 places are available, so to guarantee a seat please send an email to hazel@barcelona-metropolitan.com. All non reserved seats will be allocated on a first come, first served basis on the evening.

Barcelona Be part of it

April 2010 1/2.indd 1

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Charity social event

BARCELONA BE PART OF IT

DJ, live acts, cava & charity prize draw This month Metropolitan has arranged a special readers’ social night with a prize draw from which all proceeds will go to the Red Cross.

April 22nd

from 7pm-12am

Hard Rock Cafe

Plaça Catalunya

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Clinic: Castellnou 47, 08017 BCN Tel: 932 051 903 / 696 664 430 / 636 312 522 Email: tingsvall_ mccarthy@hotmail.com www.tingsvall-mccarthy.com Transport: Station Les Tres Torres (L6) & Bus 16, 30, 66, 70, 72, 74.

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On BOB MILLS P. 31 SONIC YOUTH P. 30 SANT JORDI P. 32 FILM FESTIVALS P. 36

Italian film-maker Federico Fellini is the focus of a retrospective running now at CaixaForum. See page 35 for our review of the show, which seeks to put Felliniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work in the context of his time.

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Live

Going out this weekend? DISCOVER WHAT gigs ARE on: WWW.barcelona-metropolitan.com

The many faces of youth SONIC YOUTH’s multi-layered SOUND has seen them through three decades of alternative rock stardom. BY SARA BLAYLOCK features, because he can really tear it up on guitar, vocals, whathave-you. In point of fact, Moore first brought his group some well-deserved attention after he smashed the band’s equipment to smithereens on a London stage in 1984. Sonic Youth have certainly tamed down a bit in the last 30 years. Gordon and Moore now have a daughter and live in a small New England town where they play benefit concerts for local schools. They even made a cameo on the Gilmore Girls once. But, again, don’t be deceived. Clearly, the couple are as responsible as parents as they are creative as musicians. Which is to say, expect some gut-wrenching rock, alternative tunings and guitar feedback in-between a good melody or catchy bridge when they play at Razzmatazz on April 18th. This show will, no doubt, bring joy to Americans homesick for their homeland’s ‘edge’. The rest of Barcelona, steel yourself for something wild. Photo courtesy Matador Records

hen GenXers in the States were still learning how to identify guitar sounds, Sonic Youth was breaking them. This solidly cool group started defining do-it-yourself music making in the early Eighties, finding ways to combine garage rock with dissonant noise pop. Not exactly followers of any particular sound, Sonic Youth instead delights through innovation. Their 16 discs resonate with followers of punk, fierce grrrl rock, grunge and indie, combining Patti Smith influences with John Cage and Joni Mitchell ones, heavy pop rock with the far out. And actually, probably anybody could feel something tingly from their breakthrough single ‘Teen Age Riot’ (from the 1988 album Daydream Nation). Be ready for something hard and angsty, but totally work-out-able. There’s no threat to Sonic Youth’s place at the table of American alternativerock royalty and co-founders Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore have unconquerable, deep-seated rock power. Gordon’s ferocious, even confrontational, raspy wails and guitar and bass thrashings inspire a fearful joy: submit or be destroyed. Moore seems somehow gentler, but maybe it’s just his potato-y

Sonic Youth Razzmatazz April 18th, €39

Ticket giveaway Win tickets to see the brian jonestown massacre play at apolo We have a double pass to give away for The Brian Jonestown Massacre gig at Apolo on Sant Jordi’s Day—if you’re a fan, what better way could there be to celebrate the Catalan festival of romance than by taking your loved one to see the US rockers? To have a chance at winning the double pass, tell us the name of the only band member who’s been with the group since it started. Send your answer to: info@barcelona-metropolitan.com to arrive before 2pm on April 16th. The Brian Jonestown Massacre Apolo April 23rd €22.50

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Live

| M | 31

Win, lose or guffaw 27th

Who’s on

A selection of this month’s Concerts Eric McFadden April 2nd, 10pm Sala Monasterio Tokio Hotel April 5th, 8pm Palau Sant Jordi

5th

Maceo Parker April 9th, 9pm Palau de la Música Catalana Tiefschwarz April 9th Razzmatazz Blood Red Shoes April 9th, 1am Razzmatazz Jon Allen April 15th Apolo [2]

9th

Bear in Heaven April 15th, 9.30pm Razzmatazz 3 Client April 16th, 9pm Bikini Mika April 18th Palau Sant Jordi

15th

She and Him April 25th, 9.30pm Apolo Port O’Brien April 27th Razzmatazz 3 Audiofly April 28th, 10pm Moog (please note, where a time is shown above, it indicates when the artist(s) is due on stage)

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FOR MORE DETAILS:

www.barcelona-metropolitan.com

Daytime television watchers of a certain age will require no introduction to this month’s Guinness Laughter Lounge comedian. Bob Mills became a household name hosting hit ITV game show Win, Lose or Draw in the Nineties. He went on to present the cult late-night show In Bed with MeDinner and then moved off-screen to try his hand at writing, most notably with the screenplay for the 2006 film Pierrepoint, about the life of Britain’s last hangman. A lifelong fan of League One football team Leyton Orient, he regularly appears on Radio Five Live as a sports pundit. Ahead of his spot at the comedy gig this month, Mills took the time to answer some questions from Metropolitan. What is your favourite memory of your time at Win, Lose or Draw? Working with so many different people: Jo Brand, Johnny Vegas, The Krankies!! Which game show would you like to be a contestant on? Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, but not the ‘celebrity’ version for charity! Would you rather that Leyton Orient won the FA Cup, were promoted to the Premier League for one season only or that you were given a million pounds cash? I’d take the money, invest it wisely, then use the profits to get Orient into the Championship. That would do us fine. You’ve done presenting, writing and radio punditry, which of those do you prefer? Stand-up. Always has been. Writing, presenting, radio, backgammon, they are just things I do. Stand-up comedy, that’s what I am. Which of the current comedians do you rate? I respect all comedians, I wander into little clubs and see unknown open spots and just love what they do. The best comic currently working is Stewart Lee. If you could never watch football again, which sport would you replace it with? That’s not going to happen. Even if they outlawed it, somewhere in the barrios and ghettos, we would still have matches! Do you have any writing projects on the go at the moment? Yes, I’m writing a biopic of a Seventies’ politician who faked his own death à la Reggie Perrin. Do you do many gigs abroad and if so, do you notice a difference in the audiences? Yes, the audiences are very different, nicer, more appreciative. Some British crowds, especially London, can be a bit blasé. Bob Mills April 24th, 9pm, €12. Note: tickets only available on the door La Riereta Teatre, C. Reina Amalia 3 www.gloungebcn.com

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| M | Live

Love springs anew it’s time once more for the colourful and literary celebrations of catalunya’s patron saint. photos by andrea moreno.

pril 23rd is a unique day in Catalunya. Everyone’s happy. Everyone feels loved. Everyone is out on the streets. Or so it seems. The celebration of Catalunya’s patron saint, Sant Jordi (Saint George in English) is often cited by locals as their favourite day of the year, and it’s not hard to understand why (provided that it’s sunny; a rainy Sant Jordi is no fun for anybody). The original combination of romance and heroism, what with Jordi killing the dragon to save the princess and all that, has been successfully translated into a day of love and affection far more classy than anything that Saint Valentine could hope to arrange (although, the underlying commercialism of extortionate roses and the busiest day of the year for Catalunya’s booksellers can’t be completely ignored). If this is your first Sant Jordi, the order of the day is best summed up as man buys lover a rose, woman buys lover a book. But what a choice of blooms, in every shape, size and colour (and price) while the bookshops go all out to entice shoppers to their stalls, which fill the main city streets, with special discounts and (celebrity) author signings. Whether this is your first, fifth or 50th Sant Jordi, your agenda for the day will be the same: get out, browse the books, receive any roses you’re given gracefully and be grateful you live in a place that makes day like this.

Sant Jordi at the Sant Jordi If books and roses and strolling the sunny streets arm-in-arm with your lover aren’t your idea of a good time, perhaps you’d prefer to enjoy a brand-new music festival this April 23rd? This year sees the inauguration of EscenaBCN, a festival that focuses on some of the big ‘Made in Catalunya’ bands. Taking place, appropriately enough, at the Palau Sant Jordi and neighbouring Sant Jordi Club, the evening includes performances from The Unfinished Sympathy, fresh from a showing at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, DJ Guille Milkyway, recent winner of a Goya for his song for the film Yo También, and Mürfila, one of the few female voices apparently making headway in the local music scene (the rest of the bill is notable for its male dominance—but perhaps that’s intentional, considering the derring-do reputation of the day’s patron saint). EscenaBCN Palau Sant Jordi and Sant Jordi Club April 23rd, starts 6.30pm (Palau) and 7pm (Club) €38 in advance, €45 on the door www.escenabcn.cat

For more live events, visit our website www.barcelona-metropolitan.com

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19/3/10 11:58:02

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main pages - Apr 10.indd 10

17/3/10 12:12:58

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Arts

FIND FULL DETAILS OF CURRENT EXHIBITIONS ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.BARCELONA-METROPOLITAN.COM

Quick pic(k)s Art shows on now

2 3

1. Frederic Ballell. La Rambla 19071908 Arxiu Fotogràfic de Barcelona Until May 22nd www.bcn.cat/arxiu/fotografic 2. Domèstic Espai Cultural Caja Madrid April 28th to June 27th www.obrasocialcajamadrid.es 3. Andrew Bush. Vector portraits 3 Punts Galería Until April 30th www.3punts.com 4. Murals Fundació Joan Miró Until June 6th www.fundaciomiro-bcn.org

Figura sobre fusta creamda (1947) Antoni Tàpies. © VEGAP/Fundació Antoni Tàpies

Open up

AFTER MANY MONTHS OF RENOVATION WORKS, THE FUNDACIÓ ANTONI TÀPIES HAS REOPENED—WHAT’S CHANGED? BY HUGO STECKELMACHER

he issue of creating a suitable space for the Fundació Tàpies is vital because Antoni Tàpies is an artist who is overarchingly preoccupied with the intersection of space and matter, and the way in which spaces themselves modify objects; it is no coincidence to see the Fundació reopened last month under the banner exhibition ‘Tàpies and art places’. The building that has housed the Fundació Tàpies since 1990 is an early Rationalist masterpiece by Modernista architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and is celebrated for its use of unpolished brick on the façade. The renovation works were carried out by Ábalos + Sentkiewicz Arquitectos, and the architects’ proposals are on show in a temporary exhibition on the second floor. Their first aim, improving fire safety and disabled access, hardly sets the pulse racing, while the most notable superficial change is a paint job: the re-coating in white of the trellis-style mezzanine and various pillars and walls, which were previously a deep brown that sometimes seemed to overshadow the art itself. A major victory of the renovation is the liberation of the whole of Domènech i Montaner’s building for exhibitionary purposes, including an impressive new auditorium, achieved by reforming the hidden back of the site. The highlight, however, and the one with the longest queue, is a sock. The Fundació’s key objective was to clear up the back part of the building’s rooftop space, formerly a makeshift dump and a blot on the visual landscape when contemplated from Carrer València. As Tàpies’s crowning ‘Núvol i silla’ (‘Cloud and chair’) responded to the need to shore up an unattractive vertical drop between the Fundació and the buildings around it, so the new terrace plays host to the artist’s most controversial piece: the mock-up for the giant ‘Mitjó’ (sock in Catalan) he was commissioned to make in 1991 to be the centrepiece within the MNAC’s oval atrium; the project was abandoned, but not before polarising Catalunya’s artistic and political community, perhaps part of the sock’s draw today. Fundació Antoni Tàpies, Aragón 255; www.fundaciotapies.org

FOR MORE EXHIBITION REVIEWS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.BARCELONA-METROPOLITAN.COM

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19/3/10 13:26:05

IH BCN Metropolitan Advert Febrero 2010.pdf

12/2/10

14:08:11

Myriad illusions Federico Fellini i la trampa, 1955. Col·lecció Christoph Schifferli, Zuric

THE COMPLEX LIFE OF ITALIAN FILM-MAKER FEDERICO FELLINI IS EXPLORED AT A CAIXAFORUM RETROSPECTIVE. BY SARA BLAYLOCK

WHERE LANGUAGES COME ALIVE WHERE LANGUAGES COME ALIVE

LANGUAGE LEARNING & TEACHER TRAINING

ederico Fellini, one of Italy’s most influential 20th-century film-makers, understood the power of the cinematic image. His icons spilled off screen, assaulting the audience with imagery too exaggerated, too sexy and too familiar to ignore. Self-referential, Fellini’s signature films reacted to the ‘here and now’ of his epoch, combining a dogmatic critique with a submissive reverence for popular culture. Fellini also sought self-realisation via film-making, obsessing over themes of religion, female sexuality and cultural subversion that permeated, even plagued, his subconscious. His combination C of public and private resulted in films simultaneously voyeuristic and realistic. CaixaForum’s spectacular Fellini retrospective ‘El circ de les il·lusions’ (TheM circus of illusions) pays primary attention to the relationship between Fellini’sY public image and the internal-external world in which he lived. It portrays a FelCM lini chronology, illustrating the evolution of his prolific work in film with objects MY from his oeuvre and influences, and provides a backdrop to the depths of Fellini. An exhaustive exhibition, it is also well-crafted, providing enough breaks CY with short film excerpts, newspaper clippings and beautiful photographs to CMY keep both the Fellini expert thrilled and the Fellini novice engaged. In particular, the show stresses a symbiotic link between Fellini and massK media. Sam Stourdzé, exhibition curator, points to the importance of the time at which Fellini emerged, when mass media and cinema simultaneously became distributors of image. Fellini created film stars whose fame lived on screen, well aware that paparazzi madness took over off screen. He responded to a public glamour fever, appropriating scenes already tabloid famous. Imagine Anita Ekberg writhing shoeless with Marcello Mastroianni in Rome’s Trevi Fountain. The celebrated scene from the wicked and indulgent La Dolce Vita (1960) is in fact a romantic adaptation of a fashion shoot featuring Ekberg from 1958. Fellini’s scene became unforgettable, an icon of romance that infiltrated the subconscious of the Sixties. Indeed, the exhibit highlights the relationship Fellini had with many popular culture outlets that emerged in his lifetime, including television and rock’n’roll. But, it is perhaps Fellini’s personal preoccupations with women, sex and the Catholic church that make his vision most uncompromising, and most gawkworthy. The closing portion of the CaixaForum exhibition underscores his extraordinary world with a selection of drawings Fellini culled from his dreams. Not surprisingly, buxom, domineering women and religious iconography abound. The drawings read like film sketches. Which is to say, the man lived as he created, shading the borders between his lived reality, his dreamt one and the one he invented.

Sara gave this show ﬁve stars out of ﬁve. Federico Fellini. El circ de les il·lusions CaixaForum Until June 13th www.fundacio.lacaixa.es

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Something else Mini movies MECAL IS A VERY BIG FILM FESTIVAL SHOWING VERY SHORT FILMS. BY SARA BLAYLOCK The rest of the films have been divided into 15 categories, including works from a guest country (‘Bélgica’), a featured director (‘Éric Rohmer’) and last year’s awarded films (‘Palmarés’). Aliens, Dracula and the living dead get special focus in the ‘OVNI’, ‘Vampiro’ and ‘Zombi’ series, respectively. Find works from the ‘feminine universe’ in the ‘Womart’ series, computer based-works in ‘OK Computer’ and local wares in ‘Catalunya’. Music videos and advertising shorts have been programmed, as well. Don’t confuse ‘Green’ with ‘Green Porno’—the first is eco-friendly, the second obsesses over animal sexuality in a series of Sundance Festival-produced short docs hosted by Isabella Rossellini. And, finally, in the difficult-to-define category, pay special attention to ‘Back to the Future’, a series that focuses on “the future from the point of view of past short

Eastern promise

hanks to Park Chan-wook’s film Oldboy winning the Gran Prix at Cannes in 2004, Asian films both opening and closing the illustrious Berlin Film Festival this year and critics hailing Korea as the place to discover innovative and creative films, the 12th Festival de Cine Asiático de Barcelona, which kicks off at the tail-end of the month, has never seemed more relevant. In fitting with this rising profile, the number of films to be screened this year hits 76, with cinema from South-East Asia being particularly strongly represented. The festival allows audiences to discover new and emerging talents alongside veteran film-makers who are already well established in their directorial careers, while also aiming to move Asian cinema out of the ‘experts only’ category and into the mainstream. Of the 13 films to make the grade and be included in the Sección Oficial, ones to watch out for include the works of Adolfo Alix who is perhaps already a familiar name to many in-the-know cinema-goers. This year he’s represented twice with Aurora and the ambitious, double-billed project Manila, co-directed with fellow Filipino Raya Martin and already shown at Cannes. Another name to look out for is Malaysian Ho Yuhang, whose fourth and highly-stylised film At the End of Daybreak is on the programme.

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films.” Curiouser and curiouser… With films from more than 25 countries, Mecal 2010 will be a multi-lingual experience. Programming includes a smattering of Englishlanguage shorts and word-free films. Among those in English, we suggest you try and see Out of Our Minds (directed by Tony Stone, USA, 2009), a mini-epic that combines Vikings with car crashes; After Tomorrow (directed by Emma Sullivan, UK, 2009), a psychodrama that thrills in under 16 minutes; and Souvenirs (directed by Andy Pearson, UK, 2009), about a love triangle gone awry. For a deeper look, check out Mecal’s online programme, which includes clips and synopses of all films in competition. Mecal 2010—International Short Film Festival of Barcelona April 9th to 18th Various venues www.mecalbcn.org

Utopia (Spain, 2009)

One goal (Spain, 2008)

THIS YEAR’S ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL COULD BE THE ONE THAT SEES THE GENRE BREAK DOWN BARRIERS. Korean film-maker Park Chan-ok is represented by her latest film Paju, which was premiered at the opening of the 39th Rotterdam Film Festival in January. Rotterdam is known for its intrepid film choices and this complex character drama set against the backdrop of a tough suburb near Seoul (from which the film takes its name) isn’t going to be popular with everyone but should earn appreciation for its portrayal of the complications of certain familiar relationships. From amongst the newer talent, work by video-director-turned-filmdirector Sherman Ong is being screened, alongside that of the prodigious Ishii Yuya who, in his fledging career, has made six films in as many years. Perhaps with a programme this strong, this year could be the one that allows Asian cinema to break through the ‘only-for-aficionados’ barrier and get the average cinema-goer to embrace what is arguably some of the best cinema being made at the moment.

Films pictured, left to right: Café noir, Visage, Paju, Mother

or those fond of film. For those fond of shorter YouTube amusements. For those fond of both. Mecal, Barcelona’s international short film festival, brings you 10 days of little commitments. In its 12th year, Mecal’s programme of 400-some films features high art, low art, commercial art, music art, zombie art, eco art, animal art, children art—the list goes on. Mecal’s got a bit of something for everyone. This year’s festival maintains tried and true film fest habits, but evolves its format with a smattering of inventive, even peculiar, programming. As per usual, a selection of films will be up for awards. A professional jury will select winners in the categories ‘Internacional’ (fiction and animation shorts from across the globe) and ‘Obliqua’ (shorts chosen for being innovative and creative); the public will be in charge of the ‘Documental’ winners.

BAFF—Festival de Cine Asiático de Barcelona April 30th to May 9th CCCB, Cine Rex and Aribau Club www.baff-bcn.org

18/3/10 17:13:29

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15/12/09 17:13:46

| M | Food & drink

Sail of the century Taking the measure of Bravo24 at the W. By Nadia Feddo. Photo by Patricia Esteve. such modish establishments as Comerç24 and Tapas24, Abellan has come up with something quite different here: a grill. I was expecting some sort of avant-garde jiggery-pokery, but the website blurb talks instead of a meat-hanging room and the different woodchips used to bring certain aromas to each steak, which would be lovely except that it’s a brazen copy of—sorry, ‘homage to’—Basque grill king, Victor Arguinzoniz. Wood is also foremost in the decor: hanging blond wood slats section off the dining room and what looks like hundreds of small IKEA bookshelves are stapled to the ceiling. If the pared-down style and bold lines look familiar that’s because they are: Sandra Tarruella is the interior designer for the many restaurants in the Grupo Tragaluz stable. It’s all low-key and serves mainly as nondecor, directing the gaze out to the magnificent terrace and the sea beyond. Unusually for a hotel restaurant, the wine list is not too exclusive and has a large selection of bottles at m18 (all the way up to a m1,900 magnum of 2007 Pingús, should you feel like showing off). The menu is a much shorter read: for starters we plumped for meltingly soft grilled **** Bravo24, Hotel W, Plaça de la Rosa del Vents 1. Tel. 93 295 2636; aubergine with garlic shoots, quivering bonito shavings www.w-barcelona.com. Open: 1.30pm-4pm, 8.30pm-11pm daily. and an earthy miso sauce. The other starter was an equalThree courses with modest wines comes to around €70-€80 a head. ly accomplished plate of lightly grilled sweetbreads (some of the best I’ve ever tasted) served with asparagus and ntil we had one foisted on us, who knew that we needed a sailchunks of baby squid. shaped luxury seafront hotel, offering the W-brand ‘contemFor mains there are all kinds of grilled creatures, including 10 variporary lifestyle experience’? The blue-chip-chasing Ajuntaeties of cow, from Australian Wagyu (at m130 a pop) to young fighting ment, that’s who. They okayed the project years ago, but wrangles over bull from Andalucía. I chose Parda mountain beef from Valle del Esla, the building’s height delayed the opening until late 2009: apparently which arrived sliced up on a warmed slate and was indescribably ten160 metres high was obstructive, but 88 metres was not. So we have a der, but oddly flavoured—if a water chestnut could be a slice of beef, squat, stubby sail in the middle of the horizon instead of a tall, elegant this is how it would taste. My companion had some juicy and flavourone. Really, if you’re going to allow a bombastic monument to capitalful Merino lamb chops, also from the pastures of Extremadura, and ism to dominate a public beach then at least allow it to be a graceful although both meats were good, they were outshone by the starters piece of statement architecture—what we have now is not even origiand even some of the accompanying side dishes such as a first-class nal. It is the Oompa-Loompa version of Dubai’s Burj Al Arab. stew of spring onions, wild mushrooms and pancetta. When the spring So that’s the outside. But there are no half measures on the inside. onions are upstaging the steaks, it’s a sign that maybe Abellan should Hotels are the royal palaces of the 21st century, but instead of chandestick to what he does best and leave the woodchips to Arguinzoniz. liers and oil paintings, the vast lobby of ‘La Vela’ flaunts an LED-studWe were far too full for desserts, but the Little Lord Fauntleroy at ded disco wall, another wall shimmering with thousands of sequins, a the next table, who was swiftly putting away a pricey wodge of cherry fireside infinity pool, a terrace the size of my hometown and a low Ibiza tart with rosemary ice cream, would surely attest to their brilliance. underbeat that keeps the rich and the beautiful pleasantly twitchy. Then it was time for my friend to repair to her luxury suite to gaze out Naturally, the W has various bars and restaurants, but the star is to sea from the comfort of her double bathtub, and for me to descend Carles Abellan’s Bravo24. A protégé of Ferran Adrià and the owner of to the viewless reality of the non-sail-shaped world below.

Market Watch Heavy on the flora

pain is a carnivorous nation, and a main course often revolves around a hunk of pork or a stack of clams, with the only green thing on the plate being a sprinkling of parsley. But, times are changing and some top chefs are reworking traditional presentations by using meat or seafood as a garnish for vegetables rather than the other way around— think of a plate of blanched artichokes and crunchy green beans with the ham relegated to an ingredient in the sauce. Vegetables may not be the new meat quite yet, but shoppers are

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slowly demanding greater variety and quality. As you browse the April markets, go light on the fauna and heavy on the flora, particularly the tender spring asparagus, baby spinach and young kale now in season. The hardcore gastro nerds can keep an eye out for newly resurrected heirloom varieties in the Boqueria. Now highly coveted, Montserrat and Raf tomatoes, Copo de Nieve potatoes or sweet and tangy Cristal peppers were all near extinction a couple of decades ago. The pool of available varieties has shrunk

so dramatically with mechanical reproduction that various local collectives are recuperating ancient seed varieties and putting them in germ plasm banks for posterity. Spain’s most progressive chefs have gone beyond simply sourcing organic boutique spuds: now it’s about combining homegrown harvests with high-tech techniques. For instance, Andoni Luis Aduriz, at Mugaritz near San Sebastián, experiments with edible grasses, and produces oddities such as bubbles made with pink beetroot juice.

19/3/10 13:23:35

Reviewed eateries are rated using stars with five being the best.

Food & drink

| M | 39

What’s for lunch

****Basmati, París 163. Tel. 93 363 0651; www.restaurantbasmati.com. Lunch menú: €11.50. Open: Mon-Sat 1.30pm-3.30pm; Mon & Tues 9pm10.30pm, Wed & Thur 9pm-11pm, Fri & Sat 9pm-11.30pm.

espite its name, Basmati is not an Indian restaurant but instead specialises in original rice dishes invented by chef and owner Alex Rodríguez Ferrer. The ‘transcultural’ dishes encompass influences from the Mediterranean to SouthEast Asia, and a saffron and mushroom risotto of carnaroli rice bound with goat’s cheese rubs shoulders with a basmati dish of quail, king scallops and Tête de Moine cheese. Non-rice dishes are equally imaginative, such as ox fillet with grilled foie or candied hake with coconut milk. In terms of decor, they have made the best of a dark, narrow, semi-subterranean space, but in spite of the bright silks and spotlit Oriental knick-knacks, the grey cement walls give it a rather bunkerish feel. Basmati recently dropped the price of its set lunch menú from m18 to m11.50, and although this has done the trick in terms of bums on seats, it has also meant a little corner cutting. The first courses of the set lunch were a tempura of rather soggy cod (it needed to be cut into much finer strips) and some nicely crisp courgette presented with the usual Eixample tics of chive snippings and plenty of squeezy bottle sauce work. There was also a salad that was impeccably dressed but a bit Wonderbra, by which I mean a haystack of lettuce leaves serving to lift, pad and volumise the rather scant portions of crab and asparagus. Mains were a forgettable beef stroganoff and a real cracker of a rice dish: crisp and chewy grains of vialone nano bursting with flavour and richly studded with clams and king prawns. This was probably the best rice dish I have ever had in Barcelona, and the fact that it was part of a set lunch menú is nothing short of amazing. I would love to see Ferrer’s take on a paella marinera, and am pretty certain that it would put anything on offer down on the seafront on a Sunday to shame. Someone get this man a terrace.

Read the food and drink blog on our website for the latest gourmet news and reviews: www.barcelona-metropolitan.com

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19/3/10 13:23:45

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Barcelona Be part of it

Want your sofa back?

Our centrally located apartments are available from one night to several weeks, with prices and sizes to suit all budgets.

Metropolitan Accommodation can provide the right apartment for your nearest and dearest, leaving you to really enjoy their stay. Tap into the 15 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience we have of living in Barcelona and feel confident Metropolitan can offer you peace of mind when it comes to finding accommodation for your visitors. To check availability visit www.metropolitan.barcelonasuite.com or click through from our website. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to call us on +34 93 451 4486 or email metropolitan@barcelonasuite.com if you have any questions.

April 2010 V2.indd 1

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Food&Drink

Bar - Live Music

4advertisers’ directory

NEW

IN F&D Under 20 / 20-30 / 30-40 / Over 40 / RV Reservation Advised /4new restaurant in food & drink

Bar

7 Sins Bar and Lounge4EIXAMPLE e New food menu with an even bigger selection of American style burgers, including chicken fillet and vegetarian options. Tasty tapas accompanied by one of our 7 beers on draught or 7 deadly cocktails for the ladies…? Entertainment every weekend in the basement club bar where you will find local & international DJ’s as well as live music acts. A great pre-club venue to get your weekend started. Big screen sports events over 2 floors. All Champions league games. Join us on Facebook “7 Sins Barcelona” to receive info on weekly events.

C/Muntaner 7 | Universitat | Tel. 93 453 6445 | www.7sinsbar.com Mon-Fri 11am-3am, Sat-Sun 6pm-3am | RV

NEFW &D IN

Barraval 4Raval Located in the heart of the Raval quarter, Barraval offers great Mediterranean and Catalan cuisine alongside a trendy atmosphere and great cocktails. Taste our new ‘Tapas and Platillos’ menu. You can also stop at the bar for a great cocktail and listen to soul, jazz, Latin and R&B music played by resident DJ Fred Guzzo. Private rooms are available for groups, parties and special events. Every Wednesday we have ‘After Office’ - enjoy a special complimentary chef’s dish when ordering a drink. Weekend Lunch Special: Paella Menu for 15.

C/Hospital, 104 (Rambla del Raval) | Liceu / Sant Antoni | Tel. 93 329 82 77 / 609 221 400 Wed-Sat 7.30pm-2.30am, Sat-Sun open at 1pm for lunch | RV

smoking dog4Eixample e Smoking Dog is a place where both foreigners and locals get the chance to meet, hang out and chill. It’s conveniently located next to the famous Opium Cinema. They have a wide selection of local and imported beers including Guinness, Heineken and Murphys on tap. Come here to meet new friends or just grab a beer and watch a game on Sky Sports or enjoy the great international music. C/Paris 191 | Diagonal/Provença | Tel. 625 115 245 www.smokingdog.webs.com | Every day 7pm-3am

Food&Drink

Margarita Blue 4BARRI GÓTIC Located in the heart of old Barcelona, Margarita Blue has become a classic in the city’s bar scene. This bar/restaurant is full of life and energy and gives its guests a world of options. Delight in the dishes from the “Mexiterranean” kitchen, such as a variety of tacos, amazing guacamole, fresh carpaccio and tomates verdes fritos or take pleasure in a drink or cocktail whilst appreciating new music and spectacular shows that alternate between theatre and performance art. The kitchen is open until 2.30am. Reservations essential for groups. Join them on Facebook “Margarita Blue” to receive info on events.

to advertise in this section, please call 93 4514486 or email ads@barcelona-metropolitan.com

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C/Josep Anselm Clave 6 | Drassanes | Tel. 93 412 5489 | www.margaritablue.com Mon-Fri 1.30pm-4pm, 8pm-2.30am, Sat-Sun 6pm-2.30am | RV

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Food & Drink Bakery

Indian - Modern Fabulous Baking Co. 4Sant Gervasi

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BEMBi4Eixample D Bembi offers an authentic Indian experience unlike any other in Barcelona. Traditional Indian recipes are passionately prepared and presented in a modern, stylish way by their India- and UK-trained master chef. Experience Bembi in trendy surroundings, and try their lunch menu for 14 (choice of four starters, main courses and desserts). Highly recommended is the menú de degustación for 26.50, you can try the chef’s selection and Hyderabadi lamb biriyani (succulent lamb and basmati rice cooked with a natural dough seal).

Come by and enjoy Fabulous Baking Co. Old-fashioned bakery Bakeware store Baking ingredients Tea room Join them on Facebook “Fabulous Baking Co” for updates on their new baking and cooking classes.

C/Consell de Cent 377 | Girona/Passeig de Gràcia Tel. 93 502 4952 | www.bembi-barcelona.com Mon-Sat 1.15pm-3.45pm, 8.30pm-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 11.45pm Sun 1.15pm-4.30pm | Closed Sun dinner

C/Bisbe Sivilla 48 | FCC Puxet | Tel. 93 418 6616 www.fabulousbakingco.com Mon-Fri 9.30am-8.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-2.30pm

Cake - Designer Ki-Cake Personally Designed Cakes 



Surprise your partner, friend or children with a very special gift. Infinite number of decoration and flavour possibilities. Made to order for any special occasion including birthdays and weddings.

Become a fan of Ki-cake on Facebook.

Tel. 647 282 414 | info@ki-cake.com | www.ki-cake.com

Indian - Hindu Moti Mahal4RAVAL Conveniently located between the Rambla de Raval and Paral-lel, Moti Mahal offers an extensive menu of Indian cuisine, including madras and tika dishes, sheek kebabs, traditional soups breads and biryanis.  A large variety of vegetarian dishes are also available.  House specialities are the clay oven-cooked tandoori dishes and the tofu paneer pakora. Menu of the day is on offer Monday - Friday for 9.25 and an evening and weekend tasting menu for 14.95.  All items can be prepared mild, spicy, super spicy or suicide. Take-away is available. C/Sant Pau 103 | Paral.lel | Tel. 93 329 3252 www.motimahalbcn.com Every day 12pm-4pm, 8pm-12am Closed Tues Lunch | RV

Govinda (VEGETARIAN) 4BARRI GÒTIC A restaurant veteran for 23 years, Govinda specialises in vegetarian Indian cuisine. The international menu features talis, a salad bar, natural juices, lassis, paninis, pizzas and crêpes. It offers a vegan-friendly, non-alcoholic and authentically decorated environment with lunch and weekend menus.

Pl. Villa de Madrid 4-5 | Catalunya | Tel. 93 318 7729 www.amalteaygovinda. com Tue-Sat 1pm-4pm, 8.30pm-12am, Sun-Mon 1pm-4pm

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SHANTI4LES CORTS Shanti (which means peace in Sanskrit) have selected a rich and varied menu comprised of traditional dishes that offer an authentic Indian experience to even the most discerning palettes. Using classic recipes their dishes respect tradition but come with modern presentation. Try their tasting menu for only 24.90 (+IVA). Come to Shanti and enjoy authentic Indian cuisine with inner peace and a 10% discount with this advertisement for the month of April.

C/Agustina Saragossa 3-5 (in front of CC L’Illa) | Maria Cristina - Tram 1,2,3 L’Illa | Tel. 93 252 3115 www.restaurantshanti.com | Mon-Sat 1pm-4pm, 8pm-11.45pm Closed Sun | RV

Indonesian - Thai BATIK4SAGRADA FAMILIA Close to the Sagrada Familia you will find a small and very special restaurant with authentic Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai and Singaporean cuisine. Enjoy one of the house recommendations “Satay”, “Nasi Goreng”, “Sambal Udang”, “Tom Yam Soup” or the tasting menu for 15 per person. Menu del dia runs MondayFriday for 9.50 and 11.50. Reservations are strongly recommended Friday and Saturday nights.

C/Valencia 454 I Sagrada Familia Tel. 93 231 6015 and 677 594 533 www.restaurantbatik.com I Mon-Sat 1pm -3.45pm Tues-Sat 8.30pm-11.30pm Closed Sun and Mon Evening

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M Food & Drink International

Hard Rock CafE4CIUTAT VELLA Hard Rock Cafe Barcelona offers an inspired, creative ambience with incredible rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia on display. Come and taste authentic American food. Their berbecue entrees slow cooked in the cafe’s hardwood smokers are delicious. Visit the bar to try a premium cocktail and check out the live music and special events on offer. Don’t forget to stop at the Rock Shop for fine, classic, cotton T-shirts or a collectable Hard Rock pin. Metropolitan Charity Social Night Join the Metropolitan team and meet new people on Thursday April 22nd from 7pm until midnight for an evening of live entertainment and fun at the Hard Rock Cafe. Including DJs, comedians, and great prizes to be won in a charity raffle; all proceeds go to the Red Cross. For more details, visit www.meetup.com/Barcelona-Metropolitan-Readers Plaça Catalunya 21 |

Catalunya | Tel. 93 270 2305 | www.hardrock.com/barcelona | Restaurant: Sun-Thurs 11am-2am, Fri, Sat and hol eves 11am-3am | Rock Shop: Sun-Thurs 10am-1.30am, Fri, Sat and hol eves 10am-2am

Jamaican

Mediteranean Creative

Stush & Teng4Eixample E

Mulet4Eixample d

Stush & Teng is Barcelona’s first Jamaican restaurant. Enjoy the reggae vibe and Jamaicanbased cuisine in a beautifully sensuous and stylish setting. The lunch and dinner menu include traditional Jerk chicken, salted fish and ackee (a delicious Jamaican fruit with a milky taste). New menu of the day for 9.50 on offer. At midnight, Stush & Teng converts into a laid-back lounge bar with excellent music and a good selection of classic fresh fruit Caribbean cocktails that are a must!

Mulet’s ambience is minimalist where the pleasure of savouring delicious food comes first. The dishes designed by Rodrigo Mulet are flavourful, healthy and creatively cooked using the best quality ingredients. Exotic meats such as buffalo and African gazelle, as well as tantalising fish dishes are just some of the options available. Take advantage of Mulet’s set menu deal; choose any appetiser, main dish and dessert for only 23 (IVA included) available Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday and Sunday lunch time. Every Friday and Saturday night enjoy fabulous cocktails and drinks at the bar. Visit their regularly updated website (www.restaurantmulet.com) to check out events and new menus. Sneak preview: wine tasting events are the last Thursday of every month.

C/Rossellò 209 | FFCC - Provença Diagonal | Tel. 93 368 9393 | www.stushandteng.com Mon-Fri 1pm-4pm, 8pm-11.30pm, Sat 8pm-2am

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C/Valencia 350 | Verdaguer/Girona | Tel. 93 459 1723 | www.restaurantmulet.com Mon-Thurs 8am-4pm, 9pm-11pm, Fri 8am-4pm, 9pm-3am, Sat 1.30pm-4pm, 9pm-3am, Sun 1.30pm-4pm | RV

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Food & Drink nepalese

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annaPurna4EixamplE E The name of a series of peaks in the Himalayas, Annapurna is a great place to enjoy Nepalese culinary delights. it serves tasty and aromatic dishes such as grilled meats cooked in a Nepalese tandoor oven as well as a variety of top quality vegetarian dishes.Try Nepal’s most famous dish, Dal-bhat or drop in for their midday fixed lunch menu during the week for only 9,75.

C/Paris 161 I Hospital Clinic Tel. 934 102 947 I www.annapurna-restaurant.com Mon–Sat 12–4pm and 8pm-12am, Closed Sun I RV

namaskar nePal4GRÀCia Recently opened Nepalese restaurant that brings you traditional cuisine that will carry your taste buds to Nepal. Enjoy thali food in a tranquil, friendly environment. The chef has years of experience and is keen to prepare food that meets the diners expectations. A take-away service is available and the menu del día is only 8,70. We are waiting for you with a warm Namaskar welcome.

C/Hipòlit làzaro 34, Local 1 ( Pi i Margall 38-40) Joanic | Tel. 93 213 1220 | Tues-Sun 1pm-4pm, 8pm-11.30pm, Closed Mon www.restaurantnamaskar.com

take-away

thai graCia 4GRaCia A new Thai restaurant has just opened on the edge of Gracia! Expect authentic ingredients all imported from Thailand and cooked by experienced Thai chefs. The pad thai, green and yellow curries have excellent subtle flavours. Simply delicious! The special tasting menu for 19.80 is a huge hit and allows you to try all the exotic dishes Thai Gracia has to offer. An affordable 10.90 menu del dia is available during the week. The warm hospitality and attention to detail to every dish at Thai Gracia will keep you coming back for more.

C/ Córcega 381 | Metro Verdaguer / Girona Tel. 93 459 3591 | www.restaurante-thai-gracia.com Every day 1pm -4pm 8pm-12am | RV

vegetarian Pim Pam Burger4BORn

amaltea4EixamplE E

Quality is of utmost importance making it the best burger and frankfurter take-away in town. Special hamburgers, chicken burgers, bratwurst, frankfurters, home made chips and stroganoff are also available and are all prepared on the premises.

Visit Amaltea vegetarian restaurant, where tasty and healthy meals are served in a welcoming environment. Dishes include cereals, pulses and vegetables, with homemade puddings. The cuisine is creatively international with care taken to ensure all ingredients are fresh and dishes are well balanced. Menu of the day 10, night and weekend menu 14.50.

C/Sabateret 4 I Jaume I Tel. 93 315 2093 burger@pimpamplats.com I www.pimpamplats.com Every day 1pm-12am

C/Diputació 164 | Urgell | Tel. 93 454 8613 www.amalteaygovinda.com Mon-Sat 1pm-4pm, Mon-Sat 8.30pm-11.30pm, Closed Sun

thai thai thai4EixamplE E Thai Thai restaurant invites you to taste and enjoy traditional Thai food with tropical ingredients from Thailand prepared by Thai chefs. They specialise in all kinds of Thai curries. Thai Thai has created a delicious tasting menu for only 24 and a fresh menu of the day is on offer for 9.50 during the week. Enjoy Thai Thai’s authentic cuisine at their new location near Plaza España.

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veg World (hindu) 4GRÀCia Discover a world of sensations in a relaxed and homely atmosphere. Try vegetarian delicacies from all over the world such as delicious bread homemade in a Tandoori oven and south Indian dishes like MASALA DOSA and IDLY. Daily continental and Indian menus, 9.50 including free soup and salad buffet.

C/Bruniquer 26 | Plaça Joanic Tel. 93 210 7056 Tues-Sun 1pm-4pm, Tues-Sat 8pm-11.30pm

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| M | Beauty | Health | Wellbeing

Marketplace 4 Services directory To advertise in this section, call: 93 451 44 86 or email: ads@barcelona-metropolitan.com

beauty health & wellbeing

home services

education

services

business employment

Hairdressers

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Hairdressers Massage Beauty / Spa Dress Designer Dentists Doctors Chiropractors Pharmacy Veterinarian Psychologists / Psychotherapists Pilates / Wellness Personal Coaching Hypnobirthing Martial Arts Dog Care Painting & Carpentry Interior Design Architecture & Construction Building Security Plumbing Real Estate & Accommodation Transport / Storage Travel Services Relocation Language Schools Nursery / School Translation Course Computers Design Electrician Television Services Drinks distributor Financial Services Legal Practices Insurance Job Opportunities

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Massage

Beauty / Spa

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Beauty | Health | Wellbeing Beauty / Spa

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Iradier, 30 years at your service. The perfect present for your loved ones... health, beauty and well-being.

www.iradier.com 93 254 17 25

Gift cards available for facial or body treatments, a session at the thermal spa, a day of relaxing...

Dress Designer

Dentists

English Dentist Dr. Nicholas Jones BDSLDSRCS Col. No 4090

FREE CHECK-UPS

General & Cosmetic dentistry Orthodontics Implants & Tooth whitening Smile makeovers Diagonal 281 (Sagrada familia L5/Monumental L2) Tel. 93 265 80 70 / Mob. 607 332 335 Open Monday to Saturday

nickteeth@hotmail.com www.nickteeth.com

American Dentist

Associate Member of American Dental Association

...open monday to saturday

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Dr. Joseph de Vilallonga

We Fix Smiles 100% Ceramic Crowns First review at no cost

General Dentistry Implants

Emergency Line

659 443 583

www.clinicavilallonga.com English, Japanese and Spanish spoken

American Dental Association

Calvet, 15 pral. 1ÂŞ - 08021 Barcelona â&#x20AC;˘ Tel. 93 209 61 21

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| M | Beauty | Health | Wellbeing Doctors Leila Catherine Onbargi, M.D.

OBSTETRICS and GYNECOLOGY

Centro Medico Teknon American Board Certified C/Vilana, 12 • consulta 161 Barcelona • Tel: 93 393 3161 Email: dr.onbargi@gmail.com www.teknon.es/consultorio/onbargi Fellow, American College OB/GYN Diplomate American Board of OB/GYN

ENGLISH • SPANISH • FRENCH

English Doctor Dr. Steven Joseph

Col nº 38291

BSc, MBBS, DRCOG, MRCGP, MRCPsych (London) Member of the Royal College of General Practioners U.K Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists U.K

General Practice · Mental Health Extensive range of primary care services Access to all medical specialists/investigations

GOOG

medical centre

Tel 93 330 2412 • Mobile 627 669 524 Email: googol@hotmail.es www.googolmedicalcentre.com

Gran Via Carles III nº-37-39 08028 Barcelona Les Corts

Chiropractors

ULTRAMED Our Doctors can help you improve your health through various natural methods:

Chiropractic Acupuncture Homeopathy Chiro Massage

Please contact us for a free consultation:

www.ultramed.es - info@ultramed.es C/ Bruc 76 - 93 487 9648

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Beauty | Health | Wellbeing Chiropractors

Veterinarian

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Pharmacy

Psychologists / Psychotherapists

English Speaking and Trained Counsellor and Psychotherapist Help and Support with; • Lack of Energy or Low Self-Esteem • Improving Family and Personal Relationships • Feelings of Anger, Loneliness and Isolation, or Anxiety • Expat Issues and Adapting to, or Preparing for, Change • Achieving a Particular Goal or Finding a New Direction • Changing Unhelpful or Destructive Habits or Patterns of Behaviour

Free Initial 20 minute Introductory Meeting

Jonathan Lane Hooker

Psychotherapist, Counsellor, Coach and Guide Tel: 93 590 7654 • Mob: 639 579 646 • jonathan.hooker@yahoo.com

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| M | Beauty | Health | Wellbeing

Psychologists / Psychotherapists

Martial Arts

Personal Coaching

HypnoBirthing

Wing Chun is a concept-based system of self defence from southern China, renowned for itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simple, direct techniques. Improve both your body and mind. Find out more at:

www.wongshunleungspain.org Contact David on 617 357 184 or david_615734@yahoo.co.uk Classes every Tuesday & Thursday 7pm - 8.30pm

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21/1/10 C/ Enric 16:48:01 Granados 48, 08008, Barcelona

Pilates

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Beauty | Health | Wellbeing Dog Care

Interior Design

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GRAHAM COLLINS PROPERTY CONSULTANCY INTER IOR DESIGN & DECOR ATION Puzzled by the property market ? Need a renovator that speaks your language ? Want that designed look on an Ikea budget ? C / CONSULAT DEL MAR 35, 3er BARCELONA t: 0034 678 75 75 11 e: grahamcollins@talk21.com

Architecture & Construction

Painting & Carpentry

Building

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Plumbing

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| M | Home Services Security

Real Estate & Accommodation

Locksmith Specialists in security Lost your keys? CanÂ´t get in? Unlocking locks Changing locks Metal shutters Automatic Safety doors Security systems Fences & balconies Access control

Give me a call:

607 88 66 22

24 hours | Reasonable rates | English spokenn info@mastercerrajeros.com

Relocation

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Home Services

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Transport / Storage

Travel Services

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Language Schools

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Education

Language Schools

SPANISH COURSES

ACELE

Catalan Association of Spanish Language Schools

Your guarantee of high quality service (*) abcCollege www.abccollege.es

Centro Humboldt www.centrohumboldt.com

Enforex www.enforex.com

BCN Languages www.bcnlanguages.com

Don Quijote www.donquijote.org

IH Barcelona www.ihes.com/bcn

(*) All ACELE schools have been accredited by the Cervantes Institute and/or CEELE.

“I really enjoyed the Spanish classes and learned a lot.” “My Spanish improved rapidly.” Lene Sandvik Norway

Josephine Tustin Canada

“Small classes!”

Fleur Van de Wijgert Holland

“A warm and friendly environment with great teachers.” Carol Mallinson Australia

“I’ve learned more Spanish at Speakeasy in 3 weeks than I’ve learned in the US in 3 years.” Tom Carey USA

“Rewarding and intense.” Carina Mikka Olsen Denmark

“I’ve learned a lot!” Anna Tomaszewska Poland

“Very friendly staff, excellent teachers and great location.” “I’m really speaking Spanish!”

Dionne Jacomello Greece

Merel Fernandes Holland

Spanish lessons from 4€ www.speakeasybcn.com

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Tel: (+34) 933 427 197

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Education

Nursery / School

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Translation Course

Day Care and Kindergarten

Summer school Saturday workshop for children After-school activities Family space and workshops for parents Children’s bookshop “El Jardinet” Excellent quality of care with only 7 children per teacher Appropriate installations and warm environment with a garden, animals and vegetable garden Flexible time-table to suit your family (from 8.30 to 18.30) Groups divided by language with native speaking teachers: CATALAN, ENGLISH, GERMAN AND SPANISH

In Poblenou:

Llatzeret, 9 (Metro Poblenou)

Tel.

663 021 457

secretariakinder@gmail.com www.kinderbarcelona.org

Personalised education for overall development - children from 0 to 8 years

Computers

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Services

Computers

Design

graphic design

& photography for all your projects

corporate identity logo design web design advertising

brochures & magazines signage call 659 526 639 or send us an e-mail info@happy2design4u.com

www. happy2design4u.com

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Services Electrician

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Television Services

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| M | Services | Business Television Services

Drink distributor

Financial Services

www.spectrum-ifa.com

Financial Advice on all aspects of living in Spain from our experienced, regulated and qualified team. For your free guide to independent financial advice email barcelona@spectrum-ifa.com or phone 93 665 8596

Independent Financial Advisers

British qualiied accountants with local solutions

Traditional accounting and taxation covering both territories Outsourcing Solutions for all sizes of enterprises Cost reduction appraisal Assistance to doing business in either UK or Spain Business development and Strategy Bespoke Services

Regulated in Spain. Offices also in France, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Switzerland The Spectrum IFA Group en España – Baskerville Advisers S.L. CIF B-63/137.020 – Correduría de Seguros; Nº de registro RDGS J2306 Paseo de Gracia 63, Principal 2a, 08008, Barcelona - Seguro responsabilidad civil AIG Europe Nº 0131900503.1330 Registro Mercantil de Barcelona, Tomo 35489, Folio 170, Sección 8, Hoja B-269534

Legal Practices

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Business

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Legal Practices

Insurance

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| M | Business | Employment Insurance

Job Opportunities

Agents/Distributors wanted: MEGACALL Fast expanding Telecoms business specialising in the S.M.E (PYMES) market are now recruiting sales agents. Monthly recurring income. Full training given and full office back up. Send your CV to admin@megacall.es or call 952667511 for more details

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Business

| Employment | M | 61

Job Opportunities

Ambitious, money hungry sales people wanted. For an english speaking telesales role.

Earn 10,000â&#x201A;Ź per month, no experience necessary Send cv to: eurosalesrec@live.co.uk

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| M | Employment Job Opportunities

ELON ENJOY BARC

WITH A STABLE JOB

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main pages - Apr 10.indd 16

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A selection of the latest Classified ads you can see on our website now Accommodation search Professional couple seeking ﬂat in Sitges, the area Centre/San Sebastian. Preferences: 2-3 bedrooms, bathtub & terrace with a view, 800€ a month. Please answer to morganerkhagen@yahoo.se We are 2 couples - English & French/ Spanish - working professionals, looking for a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment for long term rental in Barcelona. We are clean, tidy & responsible. If you have anything suitable please send an email to claire.designer@googlemail.com Single room with own bath (if possible) from Nov.1, 2010 to Nov 30, 2010. Would like Old Town/Las Ramblas area - utilities and cleaning included. Write me at: rexgomezll@ aol.com We are a Swedish couple who are moving to Barcelona on the 16th of May. We are hoping to ﬁnd a little cabin or small house outside of Barcelona to stay in at least for 6 months. We have a small dog and we really want to have nature just outside our front door. Send us an email: Bibbzter@gmail.com

Long term apartment rentals Centrally located 2/3 bedroom ﬂat in c/Sant Pere mes Baix (Born), large living room, furnished, 70m2 plus 30m2 mezzanine plus good-sized private terrace. Available 1st April (minimum 3 months, prefer 1 year or more). 990€ Contact Ramon on 634 530 933

and lift. 900€, community fees included. 675 611 675 or 615 897 474 from 18.30 h.

good sense of humour. Solo la gente profesional y responsable. 651 328 270 (before 3pm if posble)

Long term room rentals

Property for sale

Double room with double bed, window, two wardrobes and desk. Large cosy family home. Well located next to fresh market/library/community centre, two blocks from metro (purple and blue lines). 300€ pm (bills/WIFI included). 150€ deposit on entry. Available now, women only please. Tel. 678 252 134.

Valldoreix-La Floresta. Small house, 3 bedrooms, some renovation needed. Lovely big garden, 325m. 5 mins by car to FCG. 225.000€. 677738676.

Sunny room in a classy building, location-Plaza Espanya, on the side of magic fountain. Micro-oven, washing machine, fridge, cable TV, internet, Wifi. This flat is located with all the facilities. Neat responsible person. Tel: 619203400 or send email direct to JENPEARL99@gmail.com To share big flat (90m2) with only one more person. Ideal for someone who is looking for some calmness in the heart of Barcelona with an easy-going atmosphere. The flat has phone/internet, tv/dvd, washing machine etc. The room is big (15m2) and is furnished and has heating. Metro Jaume 1 (yellow line) and Metro Liceo (green line) are just a few minutes away.The building has a communal roof terrace. Free from 23rd March (if necessary possible before). 1 month deposit required. I am looking for a clean, responsible but also easy-going person. For more information send me an email with some info about you to: crispini40@ gmail.com

Sunny ﬂat with patio in Eixample Aribau. 70m2. 3 bedrooms (1 double) 2 fully equipped bathrooms. Sunny living room with kitchen. Quiet exterior patio which comfortably ﬁts a table and chairs. 900€ per month. Available furnished or unfurnished. Call 696 623 786

Gay guy looking for a roommate to share my ﬂat in Barcelona. It is amazing and huge (120 m2, high ceilings, and with two balconies), light and next to Paseo de Gracia (Eixample derecho) the room is about 20 m2 and a nice balcony to the diagonal. The price is 600€, just the half-price of the ﬂat. It’s really worth it. Call me at 687 47 60 78 (ask for Ricard).

3 mins walking from Parallel metro (2 and 3 lines). 2 rooms, living room with balcony, ofﬁce, totally equipped kitchen (refrigerator, oven, washing machine) and bathroom with shower. Parquet, heating, air conditioning

A beautiful double bedroom with a little balcony in a big,cosy ﬂat next to Parc Ciutadella.Two sitting rooms,two bathrooms, crazy cat running around.450 euros monthly rent plus bills. No smokers and pls have a

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Attic apartment located in the original part of Estartit near the port 60 meters + 40 meters private terrace 2 double bedrooms, 1 complete bath, 1 water closet living area with 4 doors leading to the terrace Lots of light walk to everything in Estartit 5km beach 3rd ﬂoor - no elevator for more information and photos: karajc@hotmail.com

Vehicles for sale UK plate, right hand drive Rover 1.4s spirit (2002) only 39,000 miles on the clock. Part service history. Taxed UK 6 months. MOT 5 months. Cheap insurance. Dent in back bumper, otherwise sparkling and well maintained. Very reliable, runs like new. Nice sound system, front electric windows, mirrors. very comfortable with great fuel economy. Wanted price only 2,300€. call Mark on 661 064 191 BMW R1200GS motorcycle for sale year 2008. 728 Km on Odometer. As new condition. Optional Extras on board: Traction Control, Security Alarm System, Heated Hand Grips, ABS Breaking System, Two Tone Grey colour - €12,000. Contact tel: 636796168 or mail: smackay26@hotmail.com

Wanted Bunk beds in good condition. Preferably beds which can fold up against the wall. Tel 678 237 110

Seeking We are an English family and have a 15 year old, in the Spanish state education system and we would like her to do an English Language GCSE so that if she decides to go to England she won’t be disadvantaged in the job market and also just to im-

prove her written English. Would be much more fun if we could make a small group of teenagers. Anybody else interested? contact Annabel micanna2003@yahoo.co.uk or Mick 619908642 Hi, i am currently 4.5 months pregnant with my ﬁrst child and am living permanently in Barcelona. Was wondering if there are any other moms to be that would be interested in meeting up for a coffee to share experiences? So far i am unable to ﬁnd any meetings like this for moms to be in Barcelona. Let me know if you are interested. All nationalities welcome! bluepixies22@hotmail.com

Groups and clubs International Gospel Choir in Barcelona. Love singing? Join our international gospel choir. We are a diverse group, in our nationalities, occupations, ages, etc. and share our love for gospel music. Mondays 8-9:30 pm, Esplugues de Llobregat. mirandagospelsingers@gmail.com 5-a-side football. We meet twice a week to play footy! Mainly 30-40year olds. Interested? Get in touch and we’ll try to get you a game. alan.moore@ono.com Anyone for tennis? British male 37 seeks tennis players..fun or serious. mikedclarke@yahoo.co.uk

Language exchange Language exchange and dinners in English. Zeppelin group. Every Friday 10pm. Meet interesting, funny, amusing people (& afterwards dancing). Visit our web... http://sites. google.com/site/zepdinners Tel. 670 646 656.

Business for sale Modern dry cleaners for sale in Diagonalmar,75 sq.m., all machinery less than 5 yrs, good solid client base(2000 +) also contracts with six hotels in the area-excellent opportunity. Asking price 70,000€, for more information call Colin on 654 453 292

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| M | Back page

Here be dragons

or one day a year—Sant Jordi—Barcelona

which is why men have it easy with the rose

likely, would up the romance stakes, though it’s

must surely be the most romantic city in

thing. If tasked with book-buying, they would be

not very agreeable to bookstalls or rose-sellers.

Europe. Possibly even the world. Where

more likely to buy something wildly inappropri-

The climatic threat, though, is not just about

else do lovers of all ages wander around clutch-

ate or which they themselves want to read. Few

the weather on the day. Getting a city-full of

ing a physical token of affection from their be-

wives or girlfriends would see How To Satisfy

roses to flower in April is hardly what nature

loved, be it a three-week fling or a 30-year folie

Him In Bed or An Illustrated History of Goal-

intended, and neither is trucking them in by the

à deux? Where else does it become obligatory for

Keeping as a romantic gesture, and might greet

thousand. Sooner or later, the environmental

everyone to carry a rose, either one that you have

it with a gesture of their own, which will ensure

impact of Sant Jordi is going to become an issue.

just been given, or one that you are about to

romance remains absent, even impossible, for a

First the roses will become a badge of shame.

give? Indeed, there are no excuses for not carry-

while to come.

Then they’ll be banned.

ing one, whether you are in a relationship or not.

Anyway, it’s relatively easy to avoid book-

It’s bad news on the book front too, unfor-

If you’re not, and feel squeamish about buying

sellers, even when they lay their stalls out on the

tunately, though here the fault is commercial

yourself a rose, either grit your teeth, swallow

street. Unlike the rose-sellers, they don’t bran-

pressure, masquerading as cultural change. If

the shame and remember that no-one will ever

dish their wares in a way that threatens to take

you’re literate, a book is always a welcome gift

be the wiser, or stroll around the market, your

out your eye—and hence the need to counter-

(titles such as How To Satisfy Him In Bed not-

local bank or wherever is giving them away free,

brandish, even if Sant Jordi roses tend to be a

withstanding). It’s the physicality as much as the

and just look pathetic and unloved.

soppy, sentimental species, bred without thorns.

anticipated pleasure. If electronic books take off

No one wants to be pricked unexpectedly on

the way manufacturers of electronic books hope

Sant Jordi. At least, most people don’t.

they will, that physicality will be lost. Part of

If you are in a relationship, there are no excuses for not buying one, even on discompassionate grounds. Not only does it require zero

All of it, though, could be under threat. Tradi-

the fun is in the browsing—even at street stalls

effort to purchase one from the many freelance

tionally it takes place on a beautiful spring day,

mobbed by discount-hungry crowds. Browsing a

florists who spring up overnight like weeds, it

as if Sant Jordi is good with weather, as well

list of e-titles on-line isn’t the same. Nor is giving

requires an impressive degree of resilience not

as dragons. But should current meteorological

an e-book (the content, not the chunk of plastic

to. So best to get it out of the way early. Then

trends continue, all bets will be off. Wandering

and electronics). “Darling, I’ve bought you some

you too can spend the rest of the day clutching

around a city of books and roses in warm sun-

bytes,” is certainly nowhere near as romantic as

the forlorn flower. Or wave it at the many subse-

shine, hand in hand with your beloved, is indis-

handing someone a gift-wrapped book.

quent flower-touts who will besiege you as you

putably romantic. Wandering around in heavy

go about your business.

rain is likely to dampen more than just your sog-

Books require a little more effort to get right,

So make the most of Sant Jordi while you can. It might go the way of the dragons.

gy bud. Conversely, unseasonal snow, while un-

-- Roger de Flower

HOROSCOPE

by Nuria Picola

Aries

Congratulations! This is the time of year when your personal powers are at their peak. If you’re not in a relationship, it’s a good time to search for a love that works.

Taurus

If you have children, one of them may assume too much responsibility; you need to exercise patience. It’s a good time to get in shape. A family member may come to stay with you.

Gemini Although you need to pay a lot of attention to your job, you’ll also need to attend to family responsibilities. This could be a renovation of your home. You may make a business trip.

Cancer It seems as if everything

Leo Although your health is fine,

Virgo You need to examine certain things in your job and see them clearly. It’s a good idea to clean your house, figuratively and literally, with the goal of creating more order.

Libra A problem that has tormented you for years could resolve itself this month in a matter of minutes. If you’re looking, a lasting and serious love could appear at your work.

Scorpio

Sagittarius You need to pay at-

Capricorn Your energy is better, but a periodic neck massage is a good idea—that’s where you accumulate stress. Try to avoid making changes in your health and your diet.

Aquarius It seems that progress

Pisces If you’re looking for work, success may come from another country or a foreign business. You may feel a little low in energy, but force yourself and you’ll do more with less effort.

it’s a good idea to take it easy and relax more. Fortify your body by paying attention to what you eat. Your relationship with your partner will be more romantic.

tention to your health, which lots of Sagittarians neglect to do. Give special attention to throat, neck and teeth. You may need to establish a balance at home.

www.nuriapicola.com

is slower, but this is the moment to learn patience. Put your profession on the back burner and focus on home and family. You may do some redecorating.

is speeding up and that which was stuck is making rapid progress. If you’re looking for work, some professional projects may get going. Watch what you eat. This month, there’s lots of work and lots of fun. Your main expenses will be family-related. If you’re looking for work, it’s a decisive month. Achieve your objectives by taking action.

scoop

By Ben Rowdon

66 Back page-PDF.indd 90

18/3/10 15:18:10

Finest Real Estate Maresme & Sitges

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