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Giggling Guiri
This May, come and see a comedian from across the pond. Californian Arj Baker, whose impressive credentials include a recurring role on US TV in HBO’s Flight of the Conchords, The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS), Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC) and in 2004 Barker completed a six month Off Broadway season of The Marijuana-Logues, a show he wrote with friends. His trips to Melbourne and Adelaide festivals have made him one of the most popular international comics down under and his current show has being critically hailed as a triumph there once again. Arj Barker, Sala Clamores, c/Albuquerque, 14, tel: 93 423 76 68 (Metro: Bilbao). Tickets: from €17. Visit www.comedyinspain.com or get tickets at Fat Tony’s, c/de la Cruz, 11 (Metro: Sol). 10pm, 23 May.

May Festivals
Thank God it’s May again. It seems as if every workweek is cut short by some festival or other, and the weather and the terrazas remind us all why we chose to live here. The month starts off with the Fiestas del 2 de Mayo, a festival of the Community of Madrid commemorating Madrid’s rebellion against French occupation in 1808. This year marks the 200th anniversary, and celebrations include concerts, open-air dancing and, if last year is any indication, rioting in Malasaña. (You might want to stay away from the partying barrio; last year’s street scuffles injured 20 people.)
Then, on 15 May, the Fiestas de San Isidro brings the city to a halt to honour its patron saint. You are supposed to make a pilgrimage to the saint’s meadow to drink miraculous water from the fountain of the hermitage, but you could just party like the rest of the city and enjoy the nice weather with a box of sangria and some fried street food. This also marks the beginning of the Feria Taurina, or the start of bullfighting season. Óle!

Biking
Just a few months before the Summer Olympics in China, the best bikers in the world, both men and women, will come to Casa de Campo for the Copa del Mundo de Mountain Bike. The start and finish lines will be near Metro Lago, which provides a great spot for spectators. Among the favourites who will be going for gold in Beijing are Julien Absalon, the French current world and Copa del Mundo champion and Irina Kalentyeva, the Russian women’s world champion and Copa del Mundo champion along with Spaniards José Antonio Hermida and Iñaki Lejarreta. It’s the third of nine competitions, which started on 20 April in Belgium. La Copa del Mundo de Mountain Bike, Casa de Campo (Metro: Lago). 10am, 4 May.

La Taberna de la Elisa
Madrid’s original Celtic bar is under fresh management and has had a face-lift. Its cosy decor plays host to the country’s longest running Celtic jam-session every Monday night. On Thursday’s there is a midnight Queimada, when they boil up a cauldron of alcohol, set it on fire and then spoon the flaming liquid from a height while reciting an ancient Galician spell. Afterwards, the Galician bagpipes are played and — the best part — free alcohol for everybody! There is also a roll-down cinema screen for the big matches. On 23 May there’s a free concert by American bluegrass legend Tom Corbett and his band. La Taberna de la Elisa, c/Santa Maria, 42, tel: 91 429 54 15 (Metro: Sol).

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