Muji
It's a bit of a shock for those who haven't yet bitten the minimalist bug but Muji is certainly a shopping experience. Don't expect to be hit by a splurge of colour here as everything is understated, from office supplies, through kitchen utensils to clothes. Stick with it though, the prices are right and almost everything on offer is stylish. Muji has been big in Japan for 20 years but they only arrived in Brussels a few weeks ago. You'll also find beds, bed linen and cosmetics.
Astrud + Mina + Alpinestars
It's Euro-night at the Nitsa Club, with live dance pop from three points of the continental compass. Manchester duo Alpinestars arrive with the swirly synth-pop that has won them a lot of dancefloor friends. Germany's Mina comes with her fusion of hardcore and disco, and Barcelona's eclectic double act Astrud perform live. After this triple pop explosion, are Barcelona-based Bungalow Records turntable artists Le Hammond Inferno.
Art Unchained
Engaged art lives in the installation 'Pole-Self' by Thomas Hirschhorn, winner of the first 200,000F Prix Marcel Duchamp which is intended to become the French equivalent of the Turner Prize, awarded 200,000F and a solo show at the Centre Pompidou. 'I don't make political art, I make art politically,' says Hirschhorn whose spectacular installation, composed as ever largely of tin foil, clingfilm and parcel tape, along with found items and videos, takes on such issues as culture, power and capitalism.
Blue Skies
New commissions in new media by artists based in Scotland including Colin Andrews, Catriona Grant, artists collective e@t and Beverly Hood.
Unseen Treasures
Part of the increasing public-use trend in our bucolic US army base-turned National Park, the Presidio of San Francisco is home the only west coast presentation of the travelling exhibition 'Unseen Treasures: Imperial Russia and the New World'. Celebrating the spirit of adventure and exploration, the show revisits an era when two Empires - Russia and Spain - met along the Pacific coast in Northern California. On view are more than 300 art objects and artefacts from the Russian State Historical Museum and the famed and previously enshrouded State Archive of the Russian Federation. This event marks the opening show in the newly renovated Presidio Officers Club Exhibition Hall.
Yola en Familia
Calle Cuba, entre Brasil (Teniente Rey) y Muralla (no phone)
Open 4-7pm 3rd Sat of month only. Admission free.
For the past seven years this wonderful street event has brought together amateur and professional musicians from all over Havana as well as other parts of Cuba. It was set up by Yolanda Torres, an ex-Navy woman who now dedicates all of her time to cultural work in the local community. Torres believes strongly in the power of music and other art forms, and her pe–as aim to unite and inspire people, especially in these economic hard times. Her vision and enthusiasm have made this one of the most popular events in town. Don't miss it.
Open 4-7pm 3rd Sat of month only. Admission free.
For the past seven years this wonderful street event has brought together amateur and professional musicians from all over Havana as well as other parts of Cuba. It was set up by Yolanda Torres, an ex-Navy woman who now dedicates all of her time to cultural work in the local community. Torres believes strongly in the power of music and other art forms, and her pe–as aim to unite and inspire people, especially in these economic hard times. Her vision and enthusiasm have made this one of the most popular events in town. Don't miss it.
