Agenda Madrid: Picks for March
by Katie Goldstein
In like a lion and out like a lamb? We’ll see about that. Here are our tips to help you get the most out of March:
1. Flowering trees across the city are in bloom. Perhaps the best place to see them is the 25-hectare park called Quinta de los Molinos, where the almendro is the star. This little-known park is metro accessible (line 5, Suanzes) and truly spectacular at this time of year.
2. Until 11 March you’ll find an exhibit called Así es Madrid… en el cine in the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo in the Centro Cultural Conde Duque. The exhibit reconstructs the city during the 20th century through 200 photographs from films by directors including Carlos Saura, Pedro Almodóvar, Álex de la Iglesia, and Alejandro Amenábar.
3. CaixaForum has just joined the art and culture scene in a big way thanks to the obra social part of the Catalan bank, la Caixa. Housed in a former power station on the art-heavy Paseo del Prado, this impressive building and exhibition space is poised to become a favorite of locals and tourists alike. Go see what the hubbub is all about.
4. In Madrid’s Casa Asia, it’s worth it to see an exhibition of large-format photos of India from 1964 to 2007 taken by the Indian photographer Raghu Rai.
5. It’s never been a better time to get to know the terrace at La Casa Encendida. With its garden, seats, and views it’s one of the nicest places to be on a sunny day. And don’t leave the building until you check out the exhibit Generación 2008, the work of 30 young Spanish artists in a variety of disciplines.
See map below for all places mentioned above:
Comments
Comment from Catherine
Date: March 4, 2008, 3:43 pm
What are the queues like for the Picasso exhibition at the Museo Nacional Centro Arte Reina Sofía ?
Comment from Katie
Date: March 5, 2008, 11:25 am
As far as I know there are no queues! I’ve hardly ever waited to enter the Reina Sofía, and if I have it hasn’t been long.
Comment from Nina
Date: March 13, 2008, 9:06 am
The que was relatively long for the Picasso exhibit when I went on a Saturday a few weeks back (then again, entrance was free). It made for very claustrophobic viewing and as a friend put it, Picasso’s mother musta saved every refrigerator picture he ever made.
I also checked out the Caixa Forum almost a month ago and thought it was a big commercial for the bank. Nothing redeemable about the experience, though I got one of those cheap backpacks for free.
The Cinema in Madrid exhibition was also rather tame in comparison to the Josep Renau temporary display on the bottom floor at th Conde Duque. DEF check it out if you can!
Comment from Katie Goldstein
Date: March 13, 2008, 10:46 am
Thanks for the comment, Nina. Yes, sometimes the “obra social” from these banks can also be a little self-serving. CaixaForum is something to see at any rate. Glad to hear the Renau was good–Conde Duque tends to house interesting exhibits.
Comment from Katie
Date: March 3, 2008, 9:42 am
And for the record, the Modigliani at the Fundación Caja Madrid (from last month’s picks) is excellent.