HOMAGE TO CATALONIA - ORSON WELLES (1938)

Homage to Catalonia is an account of the time George Orwell spent fighting with the militia during the Spanish civil war. Not only is it a vivid description from the view of an ordinary soldier of one of the most significant political events of the century (among other things the only time a significant area has been under the control of an anarchist organisation), it is also one of the most realistic portrayals ever of what war is actually like at the front line.

The appendices deal in some depth with the political machinations on the Republican side: how the Communist Party allied itself with right wing socialists and liberals to crush the POUM, with the standard "communist" accusation that anyone to the left of them were Trotskyists and therefore fascist traitors.

(http://dannyreviews.com)

TINTORERIA DONTELL

www.tintoreriadontell.com

Like something out of a spy movie, “Tintoreria Dontell” is (for want of less clichéd term) one of the best kept secrets in town. Run by restaurant group, Urban Secrets, the restaurant is cloaked behind an old drycleaners, whose shopfront does nothing to betray the hip restaurant out back. Only those in the know will be ushered through a cachéd entrance (with finger print authorization an occasional, cheeky requirement). Working under a general theme of Mediterranean fusion cuisine, the chefs remain ever true to their elusive mantra, changing the menu every two months (though quality is one feature that unsurprisingly remains consistent). At night, the eatery morphs into a bar and club. This restaurant group has more hidden restaurants dotted throughout the city, though your first port of call lies here. At the end of your meal, you can join the chain of whispers as to where to find more secret spots before collecting your freshly pressed clothes on the way out.

C/ Aribau, 55
L3 at Passeig de Gràcia; L6 L8 at Provenca

MANUEL BOLAÑO

www.manuelbolano.com

Born in Barcelona but brought up in Galicia, he moves back to Barcelona in 2002, where he studies Fashion Design at the School of Fashion Design Felicidad Duce. After a brief working period as part of Mango’s design team, Manuel Bolaño decides to start working on his own collection.

In 2007 he is awarded with the Barcelona Bread & Butter prize for the best collection of his own graduation class; he takes part in Murcia’s Open Catwalk and is again awarded with several prizes at Madrid’s Young Creators Contest; at the Festival Noovo of Santiago de Compostela and is singled out to take part in the Projecte Bressol, a fashion project launched by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Autonomous Government of Catalonia).

MAU MAU BAR

www.maumaunderground.com

Mau Mau is situated nearby Sala Apolo, Barcelona’s principal music venue. As such, it commonly serves as a pre-club or post-gig drinking destination. A converted warehouse space, a sophisticated feel now enlivens its interior with striking graphics and myriad projections decorating the walls.

Seating is comfortable, which is fortuitous, seeing as how regular film screenings draw crowds to sink into the cushions and sip on spirits while enjoying the show. On other nights, expect to hear funky jazz and house music from resident mixer, DJ Wakanda.

Yearly membership providing free entry at all times costs €6, and includes reduced tickets for Thursday 'Powder Room' Sessions at the Apolo.

C/ d'en Fontrodona, 33

L2 L3 at Parallel

ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER (TODO SOBRE MI MADRE) - PEDRO ALMODÓVAR (1999)

A single mother in Madrid sees her only son die on his 17th birthday as he runs to seek an actress's autograph. She goes to Barcelona to find the lad's father, a transvestite named Lola who does not know he has a child. With echoes of Lorca, All About Eve, and Streetcar Named Desire, the mothers (and fathers and actors) live out grief, love, and friendship.

APOLO

www.sala-apolo.com

Apolo is arguably Barcelona’s premier music venue. Incorporating two concert, club and cinema spaces, it hosts a wealth of visiting talent and has amassed a dedicated following for its regular club nights.

Live acts have included performances by Silver Apples, Cinematic Orchestra, MV & EE and Les Aus, variously reflecting a flare for past greats, experimental music and cutting edge local or international artists.

Club nights are revered by Barcelona’s rhythm hungry night owls, such as Wednesday night’s “Mundo Canibal” (tunes by reggae greats past and present, drum n bass and mestizo), Thursday night’s “Powder Room” (funk, soul and R&B) and Friday and Saturday’s “Nitsa” session (electronica). Apolo offers something for every breed of music enthusiast.

It also gets really crowded on Mondays (Rock, Pop, indie, Garage, 80’s and Electro Rock) and Tuesdays and Thursdays (indie and Electro Pop).

C/ Nou de la Rambla, 113

L2 L3 at Parallel

KRIZIA ROBUSTELLA

www.kriziarobustella.com

Defining its products as “Sport Deluxe”, Krizia Robustella takes inspiration from the sports clothes of recent decades to create its own universe combining comfort with luxury, using shapes and fabrics that were until now reserved for formal clothing.

Krizia Robustella is the perfect brand for eccentric and non-conformist people who like to take risks and enjoy both day and nightlife; people who feel the need to be different and be noticed during the day, without losing the elegance and glamour that characterise big-city nightlife; people willing to express their individuality through their clothes, fearlessly mixing styles and following fashion in their own way.

Carrer Montsió, 6
Metro L1 L2, Catalunya

SIDECAR CLUB

Sidecar can be found on Plaza Real, one of Barcelona’s most hectic locations. How surprising, then, that it also yields a music venue with such a distinguished record for eclecticism.

There’s a sleek ground-floor bar with a permanent screen showing artful projections as well as an adjacent small terrace. Both make for an ideal breather from Sidecar’s real jewel, the downstairs club and live music venue. Dimly lit, with low ceilings and bare brick walls, this simple space forges a real intimacy between the act and audience. Its stellar reputation stems from its electronica and reggae club nights, and great live bands like local experimental rock set, Les Aus. Try the hilarious ‘Anti-Karaoke’ night on Monday evenings, where punters try their hand at an unlikely set of sing-alongs.

Plaça Reial, 7

L3 at Liceu

BLONDIE

As if the floral-against-black prints and loads of tuxedo jackets weren’t indication enough, the ‘80s are back in full force. Right in frame, Blondie is one of the newest spots in Barcelona’s nightlife and is run by tour de force DJ Tres Manos, known for having graced nearly every single club and bar in town with his house skills.

Retro neon-lights with checkered black-and-white walls nail the point home that this place is all about being a material girl, while the cozy atmosphere is only threatened on Friday nights when the iPod Battle takes place.

C/ Roca, 14

L3 at Liceu

TRASH BAR

This newish lounge bar provides casual ambiance in a compact, designer-kitsch environment, offering DJ sessions every night from Latin freestyle grooves and funk to house and R’n’B. Enveloped by gay bars and discoteques in the area, Trash stands out as the only straight bar in this quarter of the eixample.

It’s also a ducky spot during the day, when neighborhood lemmings pass by for breakfast, lunch and light snacks, not to mention the daily happy hour from 3-7pm with signature cocktails like a Bloody Mary whipped up with freshly ground horseradish.

C/ Consell de Cent, 223

Metro L1 at Urgell

MUNICH FLAGSHIP STORE

Established by the Berneda family in 1939, Barcelona’s own sports shoe house Munich continues to stay on top of things. In the 1970s, Munich made tracks with the Made in Barcelona footwear line and the X logo.The Munich flagship store was designed by Ignasi Llauradó and Eric Dufourd of dear design, a design and architectural firm the two established in Barcelona in 2005.
Dark-glass surfaces, mirrors, metal trees and cage-like boxes hanging from the ceiling (from which the shoes have “escaped”), all carry a carefree, experimental and impermanent air. The angular and clunky space with its hard edges and seemingly moving parts is clearly an attempt to say that the septuagenarian brand is nowhere near slowing down.

C/ Antic de Sant Joan, 4-6
Metro L4, Jaume 1

http://www.munich.es

Lurdes Bergada Flagship Store - Barcelona

The clothing brand is all about simple, clean lines and technical ability, and the industrial feel of the store interior echoes this beautifully. Lurdes Bergada and her son, Syngman Cucala, are known for the practicality and high quality of their fashionable clothing for both men and women, sold in their five stores (including two in Madrid) of which the first opened in 1978. For Deardesign, this flagship is an impressive addition to their already impressive retail client list that includes LVMH Group, Burberry, Nike and Sephora. Ignasi Llauradó is an industrial designer educated in Barcelona and Eric Dufourd is a Paris-trained interior designer. They established Deardesign in 2005

Rambla de Catalunya, 112

Opening hours: M0-Sa 10:30-20:30

El Corte Ingles

El Corte Inglés is Spain's largest department store chain.
El Corte Inglés is seen by the Spanish as a symbol of their Culture. Many products and services in various local stores cater to the country's diverse regions.
It offers from the last fashion tendencies to all kind of home products, clothing, perfumery, a supermarket, a library, a gourmet store, tickets selling and a travel agency.
You cannot miss this enormous building in plaza Catalunya. El Corte Inglés is "the" department store of Barcelona. To see!

Address : Plaça de Catalunya, 14

Opening hours : 10am to 10pm (working days) - 10am to 10pm (holidays)

http://www.elcorteingles.es/

Lomography Gallery Store

Leave your digital tendencies at the door and delve into the craft of analog photography with an exhaustive selection of cameras, equipment, accessories, books and film. Not merely just a camera shop, this stalwart of the El Borne district is a drawcard for local creative types with its small exhibition space, photographic workshops and the occasional street bash.

Carrer Mirallers, 2
08003 Barcelona,

Spain

Opening Hours: Tue-Sat: 11:00am–2:00pm;and 5:00pm–9:00pm

http://www.lomography.com/

Number

Located in El Born, Number focuses heavily on shoes (say goodbye to espadrilles and flip flops), including their primary London-based brand, Swear. Additionally, the shop offers up pairs by Eley Kishimoto and Bernhard Willhelm, not to mention pieces by Henrik Vibskov, Opening Ceremony and Peter Jensen.
Shoppers can count on Number for a fresh, rotating selection of cutting edge, international labels—stop by and grab a pair of their newest designs, because you know, one is the loneliest number…

Carrer Des Ases, 1

08003 Barcelona

Spain

http://www.numberbcn.com/

HOLALA! PLAZA

Located in the heart of el Raval just behind the MACBA, Holala! Plaza offers a wealth of vintage clothing, furniture and bric-a-brac objects, as well as rotating exhibitions in its adjunct art gallery space.
The winning combination of boutique/gallery attracts throngs of Barcelona’s hip culture hunters. Browse the collection of 1960s-present apparel and accessories, and see what’s up on the walls. No matter where you look, you’re certain to find something of fascination. Also of note is Holala!’s plans to soon include a small cafeteria, book and magazine-store as well.

HOLALA! PLAZA + HOLALA! GALLERY
Plaça de Castella 2
08001 BARCELONA
Tel. +34 93 302 05 93

VINTAGE STORE
Riera Baixa 11
08001 BARCELONA
Tel. +34 93 441 99 94

HYPE OUTLET
Tallers 73
08001 BARCELONATel.
+34 93 412 23 07

http://holala-ibiza.com/blog/

Palau de la Música Catalana

Built between 1905 and 1908 by the architect, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, as a headquarters for the Orfeó Català and funded by popular donations, it constitutes a symbolic and sentimental heritage of an entire city that identifies with its history. In addition, the Concert Hall - one of the most unique ones in the world - has been the privileged stage for the national and international concert life of the city of Barcelona for one hundred years.

http://wwww.palaumusica.org/seccion=245&idioma=en_GB.do

PALAU DE LA MÚSICA CATALANA
C/ Sant Pere Més Alt, s/n
Entrada Recepció: C/ Palau de la Música, 4-6
08003 BARCELONA

Metro: Línies 1 en 4 Estació Urquinaona

Doshaburi

DOSHABURI -　means torrential rain that purifies the soul. That is the concept of our shop. Just as over time, land and people are effected or sculpted by water, so too our jeans. The jean fabric that has a "worn look" in Japanese also means DOSHABURI.

The shop is part of a restored 14th century palace in the Gothic area (medieval town). This is the area renound in Barcelona for its richness of culture and european atomosphere. Situated near the Mediterranean sea you find yourself in an intriguing labｙrinth of cafes, museums and shops. Around the next corner is always a surprize, like the corridores of a castle, so different from the hustle and bustle of the outside city. It is down one of those little streets you will find our shop, a sanctuary away from the chaos of modern life, although well connected by modern transport.

They have an eye for selection of clothing that have an accent on individualism, mixed with well known, and up and coming brands. We are cosmopolitan Japanese that have lived in the United States and Europe. Our "cross pollination" of tastes and experiences gives a unique touch to our shop.

Calle Lledó 4-6 Local,

3 08002 Barcelona

SPAIN

http://www.doshaburi.com/jp/jp1.html

Casa Batlló/ Manzana de la Discordia

Casa Batlló is a building restored by Antoni Gaudí and Josep Maria Jujol, built in the year 1877 and remodelled in the years 1904–1906; located at 43, Passeig de Gràcia (passeig is Catalan for promenade or avenue), part of the Illa de la Discòrdia in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Spain.

You may buy your tickets directly at Casa Batlló ticket office or on-line throught Barcelona Turisme and Telentrada.

http://www.casabatllo.es/

Opening hours: Every day from 9.00 am to 8.00 pm.

Casa Batlló
3A Passeig de Gracia

Metro: Passeig de Gracia L2, L3 and L4.

On Land

This hip shop has a deep line-up of Barcelona's leading urban casual labels. Girls look for Josep Font, Montse Ibáñez, BoBa, Zauzo, Art Point, Altru, Beatriz Furez, and Cecilia Sörensen. Men can expect cool Euro brands like Divinas Palabras, Hergenhahn, Gorni Kramer, i.k.k.s., Fresh From the Lab, and Josep Abril. Plenty of stuff you can't find stateside.

Adres:
valencia 273 08009 barcelona +34 932 155 625
princesa 25 08003 barcelona +34 933 100 211

http://www.on-land.com/index.html

MARTIN LAMOTHE

martinlamothe.blogspot.com

The firm known as Martin Lamothe was established by Miss Elena Martin in 2006 and was an immediate success in parades such as Barcelona B&B, Berlin B&B, Madrid Fashion Week and Rendez-Vous Paris Femme. From then onwards it has enjoyed a continuous National and European expansion.

Their fall and winter 07/08 Rubriks Collection was shown in parade in 2007 at the same time as they created their line known as ‘Martin Lamothe goes Unisex’, which led to their worldwide expansion. In the year 2008 they launched their fall and winter 08/09 Sandokan Collection and their spring and summer 09 Home Sweet Home Collection, whilst also working together with artists such as Daniel Sannwald or Ramiro E; or producing several video projections. They even launched their first Sunglasses Fashion Line.

In 2009, their fall and winter 09/10 Paris Texas Collection was shown in parade. This event marked the brand’s new expansion towards the Middle East market.

(www.080barcelonafashion.com)

Iguapop Shop & Gallery

This U-shaped whitebox space combines an up-to-the-minute urban art gallery on one side, and a streetwear shop on the other. Alongside better-known indie tags like Boxfresh and Zoo York, you'll find items from Spanish brands 65 Uptight, Skunkfunk, Theremind, and Vertico's Puppets, as well as Basque label Loreak Mendian. Graphic heels from T40 are especially tight. The gallery is one of the focal points of BCN's bursting street-art scene; dig on the exhibition catalog—it would turn Deitch green.

C/ Comerç, 1508003 BarcelonaT.Gallery:
+34 / 933 100 735T.Shop:
+34 / 933 196 813gallery
http://www.iguapop.netshop/
http://www.iguapop.net/

WE'RE OPEN:
Mon: 17 h. - 21 h.Tue - Sat: 11 h. - 14:30 h. /// 17 h. - 21 h.
FREE ACCESS
GET THERE:Metro: Arc de Triomf (L1), Jaume I (L4)Bus: 17, 19, 39, 51, B24, etc.+ info:

VINCON

A spot not to be missed if you wish to refresh your home or to find stylish gifts for your friends. Vincon is located at Passeig de Gràcia, in a building of 1899, an architectural landmark of the city. Spread over two floors, it is worth a visit at least for its scope and undeniable design adventure, awaiting there. Vincon is a genuine temple of household design, offering anything you only can imagine, starting from industrial design up to extravagant lamps, toys and kitchen utensils. A second floor open-air terrace features garden furniture and accessories.

Shopping hours
From Monday to Saturday:10:00 to 20:30 hours(without interruptions)

Passeig de Gràcia, 96.Provença, 273. Pau Claris, 175.
Metro L2 L3, Passeig de Gràcia

http://www.blogger.com/www.vincon.com

CARDONA BONACHE

Santa Ágata, 27 Pral. 2a,
08012 Barcelona, Spain


www.cardonabonache.com

Spanish ready-to-wear women’s brand founded in 2008 in Barcelona by the two designers Victor Cardona Marqués and Israel Frutos Bonache. From their background, it is worth noting their time in Antwerp and their work in R&D textile laboratories.The Cardona Bonache style is known for being classic, with minimalist touches in its collections, which convey elegant sobriety and a specific creativity. The work always focuses on a concept which gives each collection a transversal structure. From its reference points, Cardona Bonache has inherited a precise savoir-faire: special attention to detail and rigour in the technique, a reflection of the passion for dressmaking and tailoring trade. As a brand, Cardona Bonache respect Spanish roots and traditions which it combines with irony and surrealism.

(www.080barcelonafashion.com)

CROMMORC

Tel. +34 677 741 726 Rosa

www.crommorc.com

Crommorc is a joint venture between Carolina Caralt and Rosa Tharrats, winners of the “Premi Catalunya de Dissenyadors Emergents, Project Bressol” on July 2007 and of the “Bread and Butter Tour Design” award on March 2008. Commorc started its activities in Barcelona on 2007 emerging as a new life concept brought out from today’s world modern society. As a multidisciplinary brand, it presents fashion as part of our leisure and as an alternative to the actual clichés established around male and female design. Emotion, fusion, ambiguity, nomadism and transformation: staring from a sole garment others can be created playing with its design. Artistic and brand differentiation issues are always present in each and every one of their collections. Thanks to a deep thorough research on matters as patterns, fabric combination, product finishing and specific details, they achieve substantial identifiable elements for each collection.

(www.080barcelonafashion.com)

RAS

An experimental bookstore and an art gallery, merged in one. It features newest design books and unusual style magazines. It's a right place for those who are hooked on architecture, photography, design and modern art. An industrial interior provides an ideal background for its contents.

Park Guell

Park Guell was commissioned by Eusebi Güell who wanted to create a stylish park for Barcelona aristocracy.
The park contains amazing stone structures (see below), stunning tiling and fascinating buildings. You can see from this picture the Gaudi dragon fountain that is at the entrance to Guell park. This dragon is adorned in beautiful coloured tiling and there is something rather hypnotic and magical about it.
Here you can see a walkway supported by twisting rock pillars that seem to be growing out of the ground like tree trunks. Although these are rather irregular in shape they do feel strangely natural too.
Gaudi was strongly influenced by natural shapes and used them in his work.
At the top of Guell park is a terraced area where you get a wonderful view of the park and of Barcelona City. Here you will find multi-coloured tiled mosaic seats as shown in this picture. The vibrant colours of the tiles are truly breath taking.
Park Guell also has a small house in the park which Gaudi lived in at one stage. The house has now been converted into a museum and contains interesting furniture also designed by Gaudi.

Source: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/gaudi/park-guell.html
Opening hours: from 10.00 until 18.00.

Park Guell
Olot 7
Metro: Lesseps, Green Line, L3. On leaving the metro follow the street signposts for the park.

Casa Milà/ la Pedrera

Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera (Catalan for 'The Quarry'), is a building designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and built during the years 1906–1910, being considered officially completed in 1912. It is located at 92, Passeig de Gràcia (passeig is Catalan for promenade) in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Free exhibitions often are held on the first floor, which also provides some opportunity to see the interior design. There is a charge for entrance to the apartment on the second floor and the roof. The other floors (3-5) are not open to visitors.

Opening hours: Every day, from Monday to Sunday 09:00 to 14.00

Casa Milà
Pg Gràcia, 43

L'Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment) - Cédric Klapisch (2002)

A straight-laced French student moves into an apartment in Barcelona with a cast of six other characters from all over Europe. Together, they speak the international language of love and friendship.

Movie Restaurant

www.movierestaurant.com

Movie offers a three part series of dining, drinking and partying between its restaurant and night club. The club’s comfortable sofas, low tables and snacks should help you feel like your relaxing in your own living room—a pretty plush one at that—as a large silver screen shows old movie clips, concerts and videos booming with the surround sound system.

The restaurant offers an equally pleasant and laid back experience with its menu of comfort foods from focaccias to salads, pastas and risottos. Then again, you can also order dishes like the pork steak roll with figs coated in breadcrumbs and sweet potato, or “sweet cinema” cocktails like the ‘blade runner’, made with vodka, sprite and blue curaçao, which should help feel like you’re being waited on rather than fixing up some jiffy pop at home. Naturally, Movie serves popcorn as well, either in its original splendor, or in sweet or spicy varieties.

From Tuesday to Saturday, 19:00 to 21:00, Movie offers a prime space for early-evening drinks and snacks in its club. From 21:00 to 1:00, guests are tempted to book a table and enjoy dinner, movies and music. (Every Wednesday night the restaurant plays vintage films during dinner.) From 1:00 to 3:00, it’s back to the club with its creative cocktail menu and mix of video clips. The VJ/DJ David D’Odo plays down-tempo, pop and rarities, and compliments the music with video footage.

Tuesay-Thursday 18 euro special!!!

C/ Roger de Llúria, 50

L4 at Girona, L2 at Tetuan