Don’t forget to change the time!

Do not forget to change your clock forward one hour!

This weekend some might complain because we have one hour less to sleep… but lets’ see the good side: summer will arrive one hour sooner!

The time change was first introduced during the First World War, but it did not begin to generalize until 1974, when the first oil crisis forced some countries to move their clocks to make better use of sunlight and thus, consume less electricity for lighting. At present, the time change applied follows the 1996 regulation, agreed at EU-wide: clock forward one hour the last Sunday of March, and back the last Sunday of October.

For this reason, this weekend, on the night of Saturday 30th to Sunday 31st, when the clock strikes 2 am, must be advanced to 3 o’clock.

The Barcelona Mid Beach Season

From 23 March the beaches of Barcelona enter what is known as the mid-season period, which continues until 1 June.

The cleaning operations involve brigades carrying out morning, afternoon and evening shifts, and the number of litter bins installed on all the beaches has increased five-fold. To ensure the waters are clean, the Barcelona City Council will also be activating the sea water cleaning service, with two boats that will remove waste from the surface of the water.

To ensure safety and mobility on the beaches, the Guàrdia Urbana will be stepping up its seafront patrols. Officers from the Ciutat Vella and Sant Martí district units will carry out uniformed and plain clothes patrols, prioritising the fight against theft & robbery and will work to minimise practices such as illegal beach vending and other activities.

For people who wish to sunbathe whilst connected to the internet, the Council has set up fifteen Wi-Fi points on the Sant Sebastià, Barceloneta, Somorrostro, Nova Icària, Bogatell, Mar Bella and Llevant beaches.

Beaches of Barcelona

Catalonian Cuisine

Catalonian cuisine is one of the most highly esteemed of all Spanish regional cuisines, and today enjoys all the respect it undoubtedly deserves.

Much of this fame is due to the upsurge in popularity of the healthy Mediterranean diet, based mainly on products in season.

The high quality of the ingredients used in Catalonian cooking -vegetables of all kinds, olive oil, fish and fresh shellfish, meat, and pulses- and the successful combining of these ingredients, make for a complete, healthy, and natural cuisine.

In Catalonia, pa amb tomàquet (bread with tomato) is eaten at any time of day, but especially as a quick supper or for breakfast, especially on weekends.

Succulent examples of the extensive and varied cuisine of the region could include fish soup, spinach Catalonian style, escudella i carn d’olla (a sort of stew made of stock, vegetables, pork, veal and chicken), escalivada (roast peppers, onions and aubergines) and the arròs negre (black rice).

There are other dishes which originated in Barcelona, with some Italian and French influence. Thus, among starters, we find rossejats (baked dishes), empedrat (salad of kidney beans, cod and tomato) or esqueixada (salad of steeped salt cod with onion and peppers).

Pasta is represented by canelloni, which, stuffed with veal and chicken livers, are very popular. The fideus a la cassola (noodles in a casserole) are also justly famous.

Among vegetable dishes, the trinxat with freid bread, beans Catalonia style or spinach with raisins and pinenuts, are a very good choice.

Fish and seafood are widely used: cloïsses a la marinera (clams), barbequed fish, anchovies and fresh anchovies, or the ever-present bacallà a la llauna (salt cod)

Amons meat dishes can be found ànec amb naps i peres (duck with turnips and pears), fricandó, butifarra amb mongetes (Catalonian sausage with beans), conill (rabbit) amb samfaina (sauce made with onion, pepper, tomato, garlic and aubergine), perdius amb cols (partridge with brussels sprouts).

On the other hand, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Barcelona has a restuarant offer on a par with the most important cities in Europe.

Restaurant H1898

The Street Market by Coreixample

The next Friday 8 and Saturday 9 March, the Coreixample traders go out with the 1st edition of Market Street. It is a fair ‘urban and cosmopolitan‘.

The Street Market is located in the heart of Gran Via, between Passeig de Gràcia and Pau Claris street, taking over from the street market that has also been organised in the area for years and which is now being presented through a totally new concept, in the style of the iconic street markets of London, Paris and Amsterdam.

Over thirty shops from every sector will be taking part, with offers and discounts: fashion, accessories, homewear, gift items, food, travel, services and healthcare.

As a supplement to this broad range of shopping offers, there will be a selection of wines and tapas, you can not miss! To purchase tickets at 5€, you can make up to 4 tastings. And if you want to learn the intricacies of Japanese cuisine and chocolate workshops also enjoy complimentary sushi and chocolate!

Friday, 08 March & Saturday, 09 March from 10:00 am to 20:00 pm.

Coreixample Street Market

The Secret Pedrera (Night Visit)

“The Secret Pedrera” invites you to discover this iconic building from a new and fresh perspective. This night-time guided tour will show visitors how this Gaudí building is brought to life at dusk through the lives, habits and quaint stories of the residents who once inhabited this unique Modernista structure.

The calm and magic of the night will guide you through the nooks and crannies of La Pedrera on what is a highly intimate, different and sensual tour.

La Pedrera is a journey Secret intimate and very different senses to explore every corner of this landmark building in a different way, accompanied by the calm and magic of the night.

You can discover the secrets hidden quarry at dusk. I become privileged witnesses of the lives, customs and personal stories of residents of this unique home 100 years ago. An intimate and exclusive tour that covers the main areas of this modernist gem.

Fundació Catalunya – La Pedrera | Provença, 261 – Eixample
Price: Adults 30€ | Children 7 to 12 years: 15€ | Children 0 to 6 years: Free
Languages: Catalan, Spanish, English, French, Italian and German. Other languages ​​on request.

59th Maria Canals Barcelona International Music Competition

A total of 91 pianists from 26 different countries will be taking part in the 59th Maria Canals Barcelona International Music Competition, which is being held from 7 to 22 March at the Palau de la Música and a number of other symbolic locations in the city.

The elimination rounds of the competition will be held from 10 to 17 March at the Petit Palau. The three finalists will compete in the final round on 20 March at the Palau de la Música, in an event that will feature the Vallès Symphony Orchestra. The competition gives away more than 80.000 euros in the form of top prizes, special prizes and professional concerts in Catalonia, Spain and in the international arena.

For the second time, the opening concert on 8 March will be given by pianist Alexey Lebedev, winner of the second prize and the Public Prize in 2011.

Furthermore, as part of the competition, there will be the OFF Maria Canals, a programme of activities that includes initiatives such as installing pianos at more than thirty locations around the city for members of the public to play. In fact, this year there will be more than 130 free performances and 500 hours of grand piano music.

The pianos will be situated on Passeig de Gràcia, in around fifteen cultural centres, on the metro (Diagonal Interchange), in Plaça Reial (where a pianothon will take place), in Plaça de Pastrana, in Sants Station and in Pedralbes Centre.

Silent Strength exhibition by Liu Xia in Barcelona

The exhibition features 26 snapshots taken by the photographer, painter and poet, one of the best-known artists in China today, whose works have ironically been banned from being exhibited in her own country. Liu Xia cries out in silence, pleading for freedom of expression, the main thrust of her works, which are now on display at Montjuïc Castle.

This travelling exhibition is of special importance given that, before it was launched in France in October 2011, its photographs could only be seen in private or on the internet.

And that is because the photographer, the wife of the activist Liu Xiaobo, has been under house arrest since 2010, the year in which her husband (a prisoner since 2009 and for eleven years, for having publicised a manifesto in favour of democratic transition in China) received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Xia’s work, in black and white, is clearly influenced by calligraphy. The exhibition features photos taken between 1996 and 1999 which show both national rebirth and repression in today’s China.

Gaping dolls that say nothing. These are the subjects of the photos making up the exhibition.

From 14/02/2013 to 24/03/2013
Castell de Montjuïc -> Ctra Montjuïc, 66 | Sants-Montjuïc

Liu Xia: Silent Strength

Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2013

From 25 to 28 February, Barcelona will once again take centre stage in the mobile world. This edition of the Mobile World Congress, will be taking place in a new venue: on Fira Gran Via.

During the congress government representatives from 140 countries will also be visiting Barcelona to discuss the distribution of the spectrum to disseminate data and to respond to the growing demand for broadband which it entails.

As well as moving to Gran Via, the MWC will have new areas dedicated to networking which will be situated in the spaces between the pavilions and outdoors. The 70.000 expected visitors will have 300 Wi-Fi connection points and facilities on public transport for getting around, as well as a special security device.

The MWC will occupy all eight of the available pavilions, covering 94.000 square metres. This move from Montjuïc to Fira Gran Via means there is an additional 30% of exhibition space.

This year, there will also be demonstrations with NFC technology, which enables transactions to be carried out via mobile phones, both at the fair and at different points in the city. There will be screens using this technology distributed around the city, which will enable visitors to pay for different services using their mobile phone or to register to access the fair.

There will also be a demonstration of the “Connected City“, where visitors will be able to see the impact that mobile technology has on the urban environment.

Mobile World Congress – MWC

Barcelona Indie Music Minifestival

The Barcelona Indie Music Minifestival is one of the highlights of the events and activities for having a good time this weekend in the city.

The festival was created in 1994 to promote alternative projects lacking venues. Throughout its long history, it has succeeded in bringing together both new and classic indie acts, Spanish and international alike. And this year it is doing just that once again, you can see.

Now in its 18th edition, the Indie Music Minifestival is bringing The Primitives, Cofee&Wine, Amor de Días, Pleasant Dreams, Xiu Xiu Plàstic, Partido and Les Atxes at Les Basses Youth Centre.

Program Indie Music Minifestival 2013 (Saturday 23rd of February)

• The Primitives (London)
• Love of days (London)
• Pleasant Dreams (Castellón)
• Coffee & Wine (Madrid)
• Party (Barcelona)
• The torches (Barcelona)
• Xiu Xiu Plastic (Barcelona)

Les Basses Youth Centre have several outstanding bands this Saturday that find it difficult fitting into the usual circuits.

Tickets: 13€  | Advance: 10€

Mobile World Center (MWC) in Barcelona

Barcelona is taking another step forward in its role as world capital with the opening of the Mobile World Centre, the world’s first permanent exhibition and interaction space on mobile technology. It will enable visitors to discover and experiment with the latest novelties in the field and once again make Barcelona a world benchmark in the sector.

The centre has been created to foster the use of new mobile technologies, to experiment with them and show their potential, while promoting opportunities for businesses in the sector, according to Anne Bouverot-Reymond, the CEO of GSMA, who pointed out that “businesses and organisations from around the world will be able to come here and show where mobile technologies have got to and what their roles will be in the future“.

Located in the heart of Barcelona, in Plaça de Catalunya, the Mobile World Centre boasts 1.800 square metres of floorspace on three floors. The first floor has a permanent exhibition space which is open to the public, with free admission, where they will be able to discover the latest novelties in mobile technologies.

Called mWorld, it contains four sections: mHistory, which features the history of mobiles; mWolrd Speed, offering dynamic screens that give data on mobile telephones; mWolrd Definition, which explores the capacity of technologies to transform our lives, and mWorld Experience, with interactive and enhanced reality screens.

The building’s second floor has a multipurpose area earmarked for temporary exhibitions and talks, while the ground floor plays host to the Espacio Movistar, an avant-garde shopping area that displays the latest services available from the company.

[Mobile World Center]

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