Round-up of business, charity, cultural and other general items of interest from the Costa del Sol, Gibraltar… and further afield
Palmyra Restaurant
Elegant Welcome for Platino Awards Guests
Stars of Latin American cinema were invited to a welcome cocktail party in the lead up to the Premio Platinos gala awards night at the Starlite Festival. Guests from 23 countries enjoyed traditional Costa del Sol dishes in an elegant cosmopolitan ambience at one of Marbella’s hottest new venues. Inaugurated earlier this year, Palmyra is a multi-purpose restaurant, cocktail bar and entertainment establishment close to the sea on the western end of Marbella’s town centre, offering a wide and varied range of options from morning to late at night in a sophisticated and cosy ambience.
Centro Plaza
Festive Celebration of Commercial Milestone
Three hundred guests were invited to a private party to commemorate the 25th anniversary of one of Marbella’s iconic commercial centres for business and leisure. Centro Plaza, in Nueva Andalucía, opened in 1990 and has grown in tune with modern requirements, offering – in addition to 124 shops and offices covering more than 20 commercial sectors and businesses – online services (for both the stores and customers) that include a blogging website, social networks and internal newsletters. From its inauguration, one of the centre’s main objectives has been to play “a fundamental role in the interweaving of businesses on the Costa del Sol”.
The Farm restaurant in marbella old town
Live Music and Theme Nights
Guests at The Farm restaurant can enjoy live flamenco performances every weekend as well as special theme nights, including Cuban Night on 10 September featuring the Havana Vieja group. The restaurant’s “secret garden” is a magical place to relax and listen to excellent music – right in the heart of Marbella’s Old Town. The Farm are also specialists in organising such events as prewedding celebrations, birthdays, business meetings… Having recently changed their name from El Pozo Viejo, The Farm now offer Kilometre 0 organic ingredients – “slow food… from the farm to the table”. Room is limited so best to book a table.
The Farm, Plaza Altamirano 3.
Tel. (+34) 952 822 557/ www.thefarm-marbella.com
Dry River
New Fishing Book by Costa-based Author
Not far from the developed coastal fringe of the Costa del Sol there are a number of inland waterways that remain relatively unexplored and act as havens for wildlife. These hidden jewels are among the subjects described in a new book by local author Paul Hogan. A passionate fly fisherman, blogger (www.fishydreams.com) and keen painter, Hogan has been fishing on his local river, the Guadalhorce, for several years and his fly fishing on this river has been featured on national Spanish television. He notes that he is particularly passionate about a species of freshwater fish called the Gypsy barbel, which is endemic to the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. Most weekends he will “sneak off” to the riverbank to see if he can tempt them to the simple flies he ties himself. Dry River brings the Guadalhorce to life and explores the natural history of this and other inland waterways, most notably La Concepción reservoir, a short distance inland from Marbella and Puerto Banús. The book is illustrated with watercolour paintings by the author as well as paintings from renowned American angler and artist James Prosek. A signed, limited-edition copy can be purchased directly from the publisher:
World Vision Gala
Generous Support for Children’s Charity from Puente Romano Resort
Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa was the venue for a third consecutive charity gala in aid of the World Vision organisation, which raises funds to help vulnerable children around the world through the #Buildingabetterworldforchildren cause. The 2015 event was held at the Sea Grill restaurant, with live entertainment and a menu designed exclusively for this occasion in the resort’s exclusive environment. Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa’s commitment to the foundation is ongoing throughout the year. They make available to customers a special room rate, and for each extra euro donated by the client the hotel provides the same amount to World Vision.
www.puenteromano.com / www.worldvision.org
Arboretum Marbella
A Fascinating Insight into Permaculture Design
A team of professionals and international educators will be presenting a permaculture design course from 9 to 22 October at the award-winning Arboretum Marbella project. During this comprehensive 112-hour course, certified by the British Permaculture Association, they will be teaching what permaculture is and how it can be applied personally and professionally. The course is focused on “environmental activism, social economy, community projects, urban permaculture, food sovereignty, developing resilience on a local level, Transition Towns and strategies for forming positive alliances”.
Decorative and Fine Arts Society
Launch of New Lecture Season
Costa del Sol DFAS members begin their new season with two lectures given by Juliet Heslewood, titled “Gaugin’s Women” and “Matisse: Mad about Colour”. To be held at Salon Varietes in Fuengirola on Monday 12 October (4.30pm, €10 at the door), the first lecture “looks at the motivation behind Gauguin’s fine portraits of his adventurous mother, his conventional wife and his lovely daughter, as well as his poor Parisian mistress and the exotic women of Tahiti”. The second lecture – which reflects on how Matisse “used colour with unbridled dynamism” – is at the Danish Club (on the Fuengirola-Mijas road) on Tuesday 13 October (10.30 am, guests €10 and members €8).
Costa Women
Significant Milestone for Pacesetting Group
This summer Costa Women celebrated an important stage in the group’s growth, welcoming the 4,000th member. Launched in 2010, Costa Women describes itself as “probably the largest free community for women living in, or considering relocating to, Spain”. The group has a busy website where woman share information about their lives in Spain, and this online activity creates offline activities across Spain – with 12 regular gatherings providing opportunities for women to learn about local charities, hobbies, interests, cultures and inspiring communities. The website is in English but there are groups in different languages supported by women from 57 different countries. In addition to its social aspect, Costa Women also provides a resource for women in business, and to that end it has organised three International Women’s Day events as well as regular business breakfasts and workshops. According to group founder Ali Meehan, the premise behind the website and the Costa Women community is “for women to connect, inspire, enable and support each other in their journeys’ to and around Spain”.
www.costawomen.com / facebook/costawomen / Twitter: @costawomen Pictured: Costa Women at their 2015 charity summer party in Marbella (photo by Eloy Munoz Photography)
Ambrosia Market
Savouring Gourmet Delicacies in Marbella
A new food and leisure concept was launched in Marbella this summer with a well-attended opening party in the Puerto Banús urbanisation La Alzambra. The aim of the Ambrosía Gourmet Market Marbella is to offer gourmet cuisine from breakfast to dinner, with clients able to buy packaged products to take home or enjoy a set menu in the restaurant. www.ambrosiamercadogourmet.es
José Valdeón
Stunning Landscape and Garden Projects
A landscape architect and garden designer with a long career in both the public and private sectors, José Valdeón is a member of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), which includes the European branch (IFLA-EU). He is also involved with the board of directors of the Spanish Association of Landscape Architects (AEP), and is a territorial delegate for Andalucía. In 2004 he founded his own atelier, Landscape and Garden Projects SL, and since then he has been developing and participating in numerous projects as well as public and private works – both solo and in partnership with various architects. He began his career in northern Spain (specifically the Principality of Asturias, his birthplace) but he also worked in Galicia and Cantabria as well as in Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Malaga. An expert in historical garden restorations, he has lived for the past two years on the Costa del Sol, where he now works almost exclusively.
jv.gardendesigner@gmail.com
Stone Gallery
Presentation of New Wellness Products
Luxury home industry professionals were among the guests who enjoyed a cocktail party and demonstration by models of a range of new Starpool Wellness products available exclusively at The Stone Gallery in collaboration with Technogym. One of the highlights was a presentation of the SweetCollection, which “allows you the luxury of a hotel spa in your own home”.
Barrika Arrocería
Exquisite Rice Specialities in Marbella
When Carlos Sola and Karmele Torres moved to the Costa del Sol earlier this year, they had clear ideas about the kind of culinary experience they wanted to offer diners. A cosy and friendly ambience in the heart of Marbella, with a menu highlighted by rice dishes (including traditional-style paellas) but also including other Spanish-Basque classics, Mediterranean fideuas, and a pintxos and tapas bar – all with a personal twist. Granada-born chef Carlos brings to the Coast wide and varied gastronomic experience in kitchens around Spain; while Karmele, who is originally from Bilbao, provides a front-of-house welcome par excellence. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee/drinks: Monday-Friday 8am- 11pm, Saturday 9am-11pm, Sunday 9am-5pm.
Plaza González Badia Torre 10, Miraflores (Marbella) / Tel. 952 862 647
barrikaarroceria@gmail.com / facebook.com/barrikaarroceria
