The leisure that’s waiting for you in Madrid this week will turn your Flat Sweet Home experience into a midsummer night’s dream.
It’s always a good time to walk around the halls of Reina Sofía Museum, home of some of the most original art of the 20th century. After observing the artistic glories of last century’s avant-garde, like the fabulous Gernika or Dali’s works, you’ll enjoy a unique retrospective on leisure and man with the film series “Cinema and the leisure class,” organized by the museum. Through films like Dino Risi’s “Sorpasso,” a legend of the Italian cinema of Cinecittà, Goddard’s “Acid Week-end,” or the iconic “The Swimmer” by Frank Perry, the Reina Sofía examines the relationship and the need for leisure, and whether its existence is a curse or a blessing.
Hiroshi Sugimoto’s photography is a sample of Zen philosophy and an anthem to the sea in the middle of Madrid. His seascape photos are an oasis of peace among the haste of a city as lively as this. The calm in the works of this great Japanese artist, on display at Fundación Mapfre, will refresh your senses. After such a raw experience, there’s nothing like walking down Paseo de Recoletos or exploring the charming streets that make up the colorful neighborhood of Chueca.
Near Fundación Mapfre is the Museum of Romanticism, a place where you can lose yourself in an era now long gone. The museum celebrates the festival Caprichos del romanticismo (Whims of Romanticism) in June. It lasts until July 21st, but such an authentic museum is still worth a visit even if you can’t make it to the festival. Outside its 19th-century walls, visitors can quickly discover the futuristic Baceló market nearby. Here, you can shop and dine in style, all in the same space.
On the same day, several musical alternatives will make the night unforgettable. There’s a spectacular music series held at Jardín Botánico Alfonso XIII, and this week it’ll get you closer to the fabulous voice of Melody Gardot and her modern, sophisticated jazz. Her beauty competes with the lavish staging of Tindersticks’ pop sound, a band with an impossibly good, consistent sound. Their live show at La Riviera is a good excuse to stroll around Madrid Río, with the gaze turned to the Manzanares river. The next day, the Jardín Botánico Alfonso XIII hosts another unforgettable moment in the middle of this magical forest. Seal’s sensual music at this unique landscape will be the highlight of your night. After the show, you can relax at your Flat Sweet Home and dream about the Madrid you just visited.
FLAT SWEET HOME AGENDA – July 21-28
El cine y la clase ociosa (Cinema and the leisure class) – Museo Reina Sofía- calle Santa Isabel, 52 -Flat Sweet Home Recommended
Hiroshi Sugimoto – Fundación Mapfre- Paseo de Recoletos, 23 – Flat Sweet Home Recommended
Caprichos del Romanticismo (Whims of Romanticism) – Museo del Romanticismo – calle San Mateo, 13 -Flat Sweet Home Recommended
Noches del Botánico (Melody Gardot/Seal) – Jardín Botánico Alfonso XIII – Avenida Complutense s/n -Flat Sweet Home Recommended
Tindersticks – La Riviera – Paseo bajo de la virgen del puerto, s/n- Flat Sweet Home Recommended