Spanish Life
Marbella’s Big Clean Up
It may be a celebration of purity and new beginnings, but the day after San Juan has become synonymous with the rubbish left by revellers This year Marbella Town Hall reported that they removed 11 tons of rubbish from the beaches yesterday, left by the thousands that flocked to the events organised…
Troll Hunting…
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about keyboard warriors - the kind of person who is quite happy start an argument or fling an insult at you for something you write or post on Social Media. They also tend to use language and attitudes that they would never dare use if they were in the same room as the person they are attacking. It’s called Trolling. Having worked in Media in one form or another…
Barack Breezes In
Former U.S. President Barack Obama paid Marbella a fleeting visit on Friday. Obama addressed a private conference of German tech giant SAP that was held at the Hotel Puente Romano. After landing at Malaga airport at 4pm with wife Michelle and his daughters, who waited in a nearby hotel, Obama was whisked to Marbella in a private convoy supported by vehicles of the National Police and Civil…
Marbella – Spain’s Food Capital in 2020?
Marbella Town Hall has underlined the city’s growing reputation as a gourmet destination with the announcement that aims to be crowned Spanish Capital of Gastronomy in 2020. The award, which is decided by the Spanish Federation of Tourism Journalists and Writers, is currently held by Almeria and aims to promote gastronomic tourism as well as local produce and wines. Marbella, which is currently…
Monday Motivation – Dietary Evangelism
Ali Silver has had enough of holier-than-thou attitudes... I’m pretty sure I’m going to get some enemies on the back of this post but sometimes the truth hurts, and I have a feeling this will hit a bit too close to home for some. For those of you who define themselves by their diets and or exercise, look away now and google ‘what does a Victoria’s secret model eat?’ instead. “No, no. I cannot eat…
Burlesque Business
The eldest Goddaughter was back in town earlier this month. Yes, that’s right. I am the moral and spiritual guardian of three young ladies. You can stop laughing now, Anyway, back to the eldest Godchild. Ziggy – fabulous name, fabulous kid – is a brilliant modern circus and burlesque performer, with hoops, flames and a variety of tassels and outfits that would make a parson blush. I think that…
Lives on the limit
Chilean photographer Magdalena Correa's latest exhibition Vidas en el límite, is currently on display at the Isolina Arbulu gallery. Magdalena travels in search of the extreme corners, of lives on the edge of the world. The exhibition is a personal investigation that starts with cohabitation for long periods of time with unknown and surprising indigenous people and cultures, capturing everyday…
Monday Motivation – The Sugar Rush
"Is sugar an addiction?" asks Ali Silver If you feel out of control around food and fearful of having a certain foods in the house because you can’t stop at one, you are not alone. Many clients come to me as self proclaimed food or sugar addicts, saying they’re obsessed with crisps/ice cream, they fear having just one bite as they know it will end up being much more, and generally feeling…
It’s time to Frol!k!
Grab your masks, dig out your lace and head to Cat's Kitchen, ArgoJardin, Estepona, for a one off Burlesque performance from UK based artist Zaffire Phoenix this Saturday, May 11 The show is part of Frol!k's Mask & Burlesque banquet, a hedonistic night that promises to be unforgettable. The party continues after the show with DJ's making you dance until the early hours. Dress up…
Polo on the Playa!
The action and excitement of polo came to the Kempinski Hotel Bahía this weekend, when the II Edition of the Costa del Sol Beach Polo Cup attracted the crème de la crème of Costa del Sol society, as well as over 1,000 spectators. International players including Patrons Niclas Johansson, Andrew Nolte, and Carlos Piñal the high level professionals Jamie Le Hardy, Douglas Thompson and Hernan Pieres…
Beach Polo comes to the Kempinski
Sun, sand, sea and polo will delight the crowds on May 4 and 5 at Kempinski Hotel Bahia as the hotel will host “Sport of Kings” for the second time. During two days glamour and excitement will be at high as four international polo teams will compete for the second edition of the ‘Costa del Sol Beach Polo Cup 2019’ - a sought-after event that promises glamour and gourmet cuisine by the sea. The…
Keyboard Warriors
Is it just me, or are people getting ruder? Perhaps it’s just a sign of my approaching decrepitude that we seem to be a more brusque, less polite society than 20 years ago. I may be developing a pair of rose tinted spectacles, in the same way that youngsters respected their elders, politicians knew what they were doing (insert your own Brexit comment here) and that pop music was good. Although as…
La Catarina to Close!
One of Marbella's best live music venues, La Catarina, is set to close. In a post on the bar's Facebook page, La Catarina's management stated "We feel it is now the right time to announce that La Catarina will close at the end of May. All good things come to an end and we feel that this is the time for our beloved venue to complete its cycle. It's been 5 tough but beautiful years fighting for…
‘Meh’ bella Arena
The announcement that Marbella Arena – the former Bull Ring in Nueva Andalucia – was being reformed as an “international concert venue” had concert goers buzzing. So to say we were not impressed with the management is putting it mildly. First was the lack of invitations to the English media for the Press Conference when the line up of acts was unveiled. And then there was the line up itself.…
The Cat’s Whiskers!
Hot new eatery Cat's Kitchen is set to officially open on Saturday. Located in the Agrojardin centre just past Cancelada, the laid back vibe and great food has already ensured a devoted group of regulars. Saturday promises to be a day full of great entertainment with lots of fantastic live music including Colm Fitpatrick, legendary DJ Larry Jazz, live band The Cops and DJ Fadakata If that wasn't…
Free Draw! Win a skydive simulator experience!
Fly4Real is bringing Spain’s first outdoor skydiving simulator to the Costa del Sol next month and have launched a competition to win the first 10 flights. All you have to do to enter is send them an email, or fill out the contact form on their website www.fly-4-real.com before April 26. A skydiving simulator allows visitors to fly on a column of air, without a parachute. It simulates the…
Monday Motivation – Dieting and Teeth
In her latest column, Ali Silver discusses Dieting and Oral Health By now, you know that diets don’t work and they that seriously disrupt your relationship with food and your body. In the quest for weight loss, we often overlook our teeth and gums. However if you have ever had to have work done to your teeth, you’ll know it can be a painful and lengthy process! So how can dieting affect the…
Something for the Weekend? Book Review Izzy + Tristan by Shannon Dunlap
Alicia Duggan of The Bookshop reviews the latest releases. This debut young adult novel by Shannon Dunlap is a modern take on the legend of Tristan and Iseult. As it says in the prologue, “This is not a novel. It’s a romance.” Izzy is a sixteen-year-old, bright and practical aspiring doctor who has grown up in comfortable affluence on the Lower East Side. When her hippy parents decide to move the…
Top Tarta!
Marbella picked up another gastronomy award last month when Kava restaurant was declared the winner National Championship of Cheese Cakes. (No we didn’t know there was such as thing either. But we love the idea!). Fernando Alcala’s tarta de queso boasts a crisp, toasted outside and creamy centre. “The secret of our cheesecake” Alcala said as he picked up the award at the inaugural edition of the…
Marbella councillor stresses need for English and computer programming skills
Cristóbal Garre, Councillor for the Department of Economic Development and SMEs and Employment for Marbella Town Hall stressed the the need for more learning opportunities as he opened the annual Helen Doron Franchise Conference at the Hotel Barcelo He welcomed the 200 Master Franchisors from 34 countries to Marbella and thanked them for choosing the city, while emphasising the need for…
Marbella water safe to drink, insists Junta
After the Junta de Andalucia's decision to ban swimming, boating and all recreational activites on the La Concepción reservoir - after the discovery of the Phormidium cyanobacterium - they have been quick to assure the public that tap water is safe to drink. La Concepción reservoir provides drinking water for Marbella, and although the deaths of at least six dogs at the public access to the lake…