June 2, 2009
Palma 3
In the ever-crucial Malasaña is this interesting spot, Palma 3, something halfway between a café and a bar. Six months old, Palma 3 has a surprising, pleasant aesthetic, with a lilac- and peach-coloured door and a glass front bearing an Aztec idol burned on with acid. Inside, colourful décor and ‘Almodóvar-esque’ details such as bar stools with fleecy, mock cow-skin upholstery and numerous sofas sit happily alongside more traditional café furniture and bookshelves. Not surprisingly, a twentysomething crowd throngs into the local, attracted by the acid-jazz and reasonable bar prices.
May 18, 2009
The 2000 DeCordova Annual Exhibition
The DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park continues on in its mission to discover and spotlight emerging artists from all over New England. The DeCordova Annual Exhibition features everything from photography and sculpture to mixed media works, paintings and ceramics. The 10 artists selected for the exhibitionare Ri Anderson, Theo Appel, Laura Baring-Gould, Doug Bosch, Ambreen Butt, Remo Campopiano, Frank Egloff, Nancy Hayes and Jill Slosburg-Ackerman.
April 27, 2009
Sanno Festival
One of Tokyo’s three biggest festivals, the Sanno festival is held in even-numbered years, alternating with the Kanda festival. Thousands of people dressed in Heian-period costume (794-1185) congregate in and around Hie Shrine, which moved to its current site from within the walls of old Edo Castle in 1659. As a result, participants in the parade on the first day of the festival are granted the rare privilege of entering the imperial palace, which stands on the site of Edo Castle.
April 24, 2009
Gabrielle
Gabrielle makes a return visit to Dublin on the foot of her third Brit award nomination. The singer lost out to Beth Orton for the title ‘Best British Female Artist’ at the ceremony last month. But her mantelpiece is full enough with her ‘Best British Newcomer’ award in 1994 and her trophy for ‘Best British Female’ in 1997. This time around, Dublin crowds will be treated to recent chart successes including her latest single ‘When a Women’ – which features an acoustic version of ‘Rise’- and the top ten hit ‘Sunshine’.
April 11, 2009
Bryan Adams
One of the finest lines in last year’s hit ‘South Park’ movie was ‘But Canada’s already apologised for Bryan Adams’. Sadly, neither the apology nor the film has made it to Tokyo and, so, a resolutely unapologetic Mr Adams will brave the appalling acoustics of the Budokan to belt out ‘Everything I Do’ and all the other unmentionable drivel for which he is so rightly globally reviled. Perhaps ‘South Park’ got it right. Maybe we should blame Canada after all.
