Scene What's new and happening this month

Madrid Orgullo 2009
MADO’09, Madrid’s gay pride festival, celebrates its tenth anniversary with the theme of Por La Convivencia, Respetemos La Diferencia—‘To live together, respect the difference.’ As always the centre of the celebrations will be Plaza de Chueca, but there will also be another five areas where cultural discussions, art exhibitions and parties will be taking place. The Plaza del Rey location will be the main area for cultural events, which will be based on the theme of 40 years of Gay Pride around the world, 1969-2009. Normally the Saturday is when things really heat up on the streets, so if you’re looking to party you know where to go. MADO ’09, at six locations: Plaza de Chueca, Plaza Vázquez de Mella, c/Pelayo, Plaza de San Ildefonso, c/Libertad and Plaza del Rey (Metro: Chueca). 1-5 July. www.madoweb.com.

Heineken Extra Cold Ice Bar
Nothing is better than a cold, crisp beer when the weather is baking—except maybe an even colder one. This July brings the Heineken Extra Cold Ice Bar to town from the 9 to 15 July. The bar will be moving from venue to venue but the main event is on 13 July at El Matadero, complete with a special party and some secret DJs. The Ice Bar has light, sound and decoration designed to create the coolest experience possible while the heat throbs outside. There’ll even be an igloo at the event inside which you’ll be able to experience below-zero temperatures! Heineken Extra Cold Bar, El Matadero, Paseo de la Chopera, 14, tel: 91 517 73 09 (Metro: Legazpi). 13 July. www.mataderomadrid.com, www.heineken.es/musica

Free Wi-Fi in every library
A little late in the year for students, but good news nonetheless is the announcement that all 18 of the Comunidad de Madrid’s public libraries will now offer free Wi-Fi and access to the internet. So, now you can bring your laptop along to help with research, studying or just to download something completely unrelated—and all for free! http://gestiona.madrid.org/bpcm

Spanish Newspod
Current affairs junkies will be happy to know they have a new fortnightly English-language Spanish news round-up at their fingertips—or should that be earbuds? The Spanish Newspod is a podcast hosted by former InMadrid editor Simon Hunter and featuring current InMadrid news man Marty Delfín and El País’s English Edition editor Guy Hedgecoe. As you’d expect from such a fine line-up, the group’s comments on the latest hot Spanish news topics, cultural happenings and sports events are always enthusiastic and well-informed. Why not give it a listen? http://spanishnewspod.libsyn.com

El Subterráneo
As we hit summer, Madrid’s Costello Club launches its first independent record label festival—El Subterráneo. Started as much as a platform for the labels as for management, promoters and agencies, El Subterráneo aims to celebrate the scene’s established groups, as well as its more experimental side. Eight labels from across Spain are taking part—four in July and four in August. Each has a week at the venue to offer live performances from its artists, discounted record fairs, small exhibitions and more, including some special surprises. The Limbo Starr label kicks things off on 6 July. Half-English, half-Spanish artist and producer Brian Hunt is the first performer on 8 July and is described as a cross between Ryan Adams and Iron & Wine. He is also a member of three bands—Kidsgofree, Half Foot Outside and Templeton. A multi-tasking miracle? Check him out live to see for yourself. El Subterráneo: I Edición Festival de Sellos Independientes, Costello Club, c/Caballero de Gracia, 10 (Metro: Gran Vía). www.costelloclub.com, www.myspace.com/clubcostello.

British Embassy and Consulate on the move
The British Embassy and Consulate General offices are on the move in July. Both are relocating to one combined site and what a site it is! The new address will be in Torre Espacio, one of the four skyscapers that now mark the skyline to the north of Madrid. The Consulate anticipates some disruption to the passport and visa issuing services because of the move, so if you are thinking of travelling over the summer and need these, they strongly advise you to apply now. The Embassy will be closed from 10 to 14 July, and re-opens on 15 July in the new premises. The Consulate will move there a week later and will be closed from 17 to 21 July, reopening on 22 July, and won’t be able to process passports during that time. New address for The British Embassy and Consulate General offices, Torre Espacio, Paseo de la Castellana, 259D, tel: Embassy 91 714 63 00; Consulate 91 714 64 00 (Metro: Begoña). Open for passport and consular customers 8.30am-1.30pm. www.ukinspain.com.

Red Bull X-Fighters
Returning with renewed vigour for its tenth anniversary in Madrid, the Red Bull X-Fighters spectactular hits Las Ventas bullring this month. For those not familiar with the show, it consists of two events: the Best Trick and Freestyle. The former consists of riders trying to perform the most adventurous or seemingly impossible stunts. The favourite, Australian Cameron Sinclair, is the only one capable of doing a double backflip mid-air with his bike, while American Kyle Loza is renowned for the Vault—a jump during which he gyrates forward and backward over his bike. The Freestyle session boasts the participation of record-breaking Robbie Maddison, famous for the distance and height of his jumps, as well as 17-year-old New Zealander Levi Sherwood, the current leader of the competition following a surprise win in Mexico. Each will be keen to win and to earn the chance to be carried out the main gate on the shoulders of the crowd—just like the bullfighters. Red Bull X-Fighters, Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, c/Alcalá, 237 (Metro: Ventas). 16 July (Best Trick) and 17 July (Freestyle). Tickets (www.redbullxfighters.com or El Corte Inglés) from €30. www.redbullxfighters.com.

InMadrid Yelmo Photo Compo

Every month InMadrid is giving away Free passes for two people to the Ideal Cinema in Plaza Benavente, Madrid’s premier VO cinema where you can see all the latest flicks in English. To claim yours simply send us a photo of somebody reading InMadrid in an unusual place. Happy snapping! Send entries to competitions@in-madrid.com. Here are some of this month’s winning entries:

Óscar Sarmiento knows that there’s nothing better to beat the heat than a nice cool shower whilst reading a copy of your favourite free magazine. We are working on a water-proofed version.

Margarita Andrés and a rather pretty Parisian Metro entrance. The girl in the leather jacket is wondering what the hell is going on.

Zsuzsa Virág sent us this pic of InMadrid in front of the Moulin Rouge... hey, but how do we know that’s really Zsuzsa Virág behind the mag?

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