This weekend (Feb. 10-12) Barcelona hosts the first annual LLUM BCN ’12. Over sixty nine of Barcelona’s most iconic buildings will be lit up in celebration of  the Santa Eulàlia festival.

This year the city has jumped on the digital bandwagon by offering a digital photo contest allowing visitors and locals to photograph buildings and artistic lighting shows using the picture sharing platform: INSTAGRAM.

The competion is simple- upload your pictures using Instagram, and tag your photo using the hashtag:  #llumbcn12

A jury will then select the top three images that embodies the spirit of the city. Prizes include: a Brompton Bicycle, A pair of Munich trainers or a dinner for two at the Moritz Factory.

For those of you participating this weekend here at Pulso we want to see what you guys are up to- follow us on instagram at PULSOBCN and share your pictures.

For More Information: www.bcn.cat/santaeulalia

Commuting in the 21st Century-

56 Meters deep into the arteries of Barcelona’s metro grid, the station at Iglesia Major is impressive in both its feat of engineering and futuristic aesthetic.

Comprised of four levels, glass elevators zip up and down the rails creating an effect which can be astonishing and terrorizing that the future is here.

*photo By David Naveira

If you like your girls like you like your jeans (cheap, skinny and trashy) head over to APOLO on Monday night (Feb 6th)  and raise your Budweiser to celebrate the 7th anniversary of NASTY MONDAY.

At this point Nasty Mondays has become a Barcelona institution for  glam rock, 80′s throwbacks, mixed with modern indie rock classics mixed by legendary God-like status DJ’s  MADMAX & SÖREN.

NASTY MONDAYS

Sala Apolo- Nou De La Rambla, 111 Barcelona

Now in its 15th edition DOCS BARCELONA contributes to an industry sector that is often left in the dark during  times of financial crisis.

On January 31st documentary film lovers can enjoy a week-long festival of documentaries showing at some of the city’s most iconic cultural locations. Thanks to a the generosity of these sponsors , Docs Barcelona continues to showcase the best documentary films  presented to a city whose never-ending thirst for culture is refreshing.

Unique in its format, Docs Barcelona acts as a springboard for lesser known international documentary directors as well as covering  a wealth of topics and points of views. From the periphery to the mainstream you can find all of this years selection here.

Docs Barcelona also serves as a platform for unfinished documentaries by helping unite independent film-makers with financial assistance in order to help these films receive regional and local distribution.  The festival has now become the third largest  financial forum in this aspect of the industry.  Each year the festival gathers more than 300 professionals from 36 countries and provides a forum which helps young directors sharpen their pitches and correctly market their film in order to help them gain the maximum exposure when promoting their work.

For more information  on venues & times:   DOCS BARCELONA.

Steps away from the bustling shopping boulevard of Passeig De Gracia,  elegantly situated on Calle Valencia sits  Cornelia and Co. A charming space in the Eixample, which bills itself as “The Daily Picnic Store”.

With a formula that makes it both a gem for locals and visitors alike, the success of  Cornelia & Co.  is its ability to evolve from uptown Lunch hotspot to a romantic desert haven without missing a beat.

An effortlessly chic eatery that is more NYC than BCN – this tastefully decorated cafe houses a great dessert counter, delicatessen shop,  gourmet cheese stand & fantastic lunch/dinner menus.

The staff while both friendly yet professional, reflect a off-the-cuff charm, that is usually hard to come by especially in Barcelona.  From the comfortable loft like open dinning space to the intimate sidewalk terrace; this is the place to stop by when craving a delicious cappuccino and homemade carrot cake.

CORNELIA and CO.

Barcelona Turns into Buenos Aires

The one thing about Barcelona that never ceases to amaze me is, its ability to hide the greatest treasures in plain sight. On a busy street, in the Raval, behind a tin door is the entrance to Barcelona’s most forward thinking design shop AMATO SOLE.

While most designers have felt the pinch and have not been able to produce their own pieces, AMATO SOLE is changing the way furniture is designed, produced and consumed with a back to basis approach which is both stylish and budget conscious.

While the thought of recycled design usually congers up images of Design School end-of-term projects.  However the design team  of Annamaria Amato (Archiect & Refurbisher) & Ramón Solé (Industrial Designer)  have taken over an entire warehouse and have converted the space into their Showroom/Home.

With an entire range of  flea-market finds, they put an emphasis on handmade designs which are both practical yet stylish. Their showroom covers all aspects of home designs from Ramon’s amazing designer lamps, to Anna’s recyled windows that get a second chance thanks to the AMATO SOLE touch.

At their recent monthly event which showcases up and coming artists, I got the load-down on their upcoming projects  from  vintage desks to original iron chairs exclusively designed in-house.

Their unique dining tables and benches are among the pieces which stand out. In times where home design is is limited to Swedish mass produced furniture, Amato Sole give buyers a chance to purchase their unique designs for a fraction of what most industrial designers charge for similar pieces.

Their love for materials textures and finishes comes through loud and clear with the amount of passion they put into every handmade piece.  Fall into the world of Amato Sole  and your home or office will never be the same.

Amato Sole - Furniture & Design
C/ Lleialtat, 6 local int
08001 Barcelona
info@amatosole.com
www.amatosole.com

One of the most amazing photo exhibits  I have seen this year has to be the exhibition at the CCCB  “Brangulí Barcelona 1909-1945” currently in its final week.  Make sure to stop by this weekend in order to witness the connection between Past and Present day Barcelona in an exhibit specifically designed for Barcelona lovers.

TIP: The CCCB is FREE on Sundays From 3PM- 8pm

The show which is devoted to the work of Barcelona-born Josep Brangulí, a  photojournalist whose keen eye was able to capture  some of the best images reflecting the major social, urban and industrial transformations to affect Barcelona between 1909 and 1945. The show is the first retrospective of Brangulí’s work which consists some 300 photographs and original printed material of the time.

The exhibition, curated by the photographers Valentín Vallhonrat and Rafael Levenfeld,  reflects the diversity and the thematic approach of the photographer’s work, centering on topics such as The Tragic Week, Life Before The Republic, The Royal Family at the 1929 Universal Exhibition,  The Fira de Barcelona Trade Fair & The  Post-War years. The one thing that is striking is the way history repeats itself; one can’t help to notice the similarities between the disgruntled workers back at the turn of the century to the modern-day “Indignados” which have Occupied Plaza Catalunya this year.

Josep Brangulí was the first in a line of photographers, in which he was joined by his sons, Joaquim and Xavier, the three of them working together under a single name. The archive was purchased from the Brangulí family by the Generalitat in 1992 and deposited in the Arxiu Nacional de Catalunya. The Archive contains almost a million negatives signed by the name Brangulí, of which approximately half a million can be attributed to Josep. It also contains miscellaneous publications and materials of the time.

If you are in Barcelona make sure not to miss this exhibit which contains a look into Barcelona’s turbulent pass and creates a better understanding of the city and its character.

CCCB – Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona – Montalegre, 5 – 08001 Barcelona – Tel. 93 306 41 00 – Fax 93 306 41 01 – global@cccb.org

This Thursday October 20th, The Barcelona Metro kicks off the short film film festival: SUBTRAVELLING. A unique collection of both animated and short films. The vestibule of the metro station turns into a small theater for one week and allows you to catch a glimpse of the most originals award winning shorts, as well as some of the newest talented filmmakers in this genre all for the price of a metro ticket (1.40). So if you are unemployed or have some time to kill between line changes, check out the complete program HERE

The Barcelona Design Festival is a major event that seeks to place Barcelona as an international design capital. This festival includes two epicentres of activity: the FADfest as the starting point, and the Barcelona Design Week as the closing event.

These two events will be linked together over time by a multitude of activities, exhibitions and tours to enjoy design in the city. Exhibitions, prizes, debates, congress, ideas and parties create a programme with more than 60 activities.
For More Information : BCN DESIGN FESTIVAL