The Carnival season begins! This Holidayis celebrated worldwide between February and March. The most representative start from the 2nd, 7th, 8th and 9^th of February, the Carnivals ofCadiz (Spain), Tenerife (Canary Islands,Spain),Venice(Italy) andRio de Janeiro (Brazil).

In Spain one of the most important celebrations is the Carnival of Cadiz, both for its artistic and creative value. One of the most representative acts of this party inCadizare the “chirigotas”: songs full of irony, criticism, humor and claim on current issues.Cadizlives a one-week continuous party, full of freedom of expression, feeling and costumes.

The Carnival of Tenerife is the second most popular and worldwide recognized carnival, afterRio de Janeiro, in fact these two cities are twinned for this reason. Hundreds of people take the streets of Santa Cruz de Tenerife during the week of carnival,  participating in groups with dazzling costumes, street bands, troupes, orchestras … All of this accompanied by the best weather and the best laughs.

On the 2^nd of February was the starting signal for the Carnival of Venice, the most glamorous of all. People dress up taking inspiration from seventeenth-century Venice, and take the streets to show off their clothes, whether in organized or private events. It’s one of the carnivals with more soul and elegance. If you go, don’t forget your mask …

On the streets of Rio de Janeiro the world’s most famous carnival is celebrated during  three days to the rhythm of samba, feathers, colors and brightness … The acclaimed Sambadrome, which can accommodate 50,000 people, year after year is filled with Brazilians and tourists that  don’t want to miss this great event.

Wait no longer. Prepare your most original costume and join one of these carnivals, fun is guaranteed.

From DHC we would like to recommend you a new store which is coming up in citis like New York, Milan or London and where it has had an incredible success. We are talking about the pop up stores. As the name suggests, these ephemeral shops, with relatively short expiration date, “jump” to the streets as the pop up windows on the Internet.

In these stores, in addition to the usual products, the brands take the advantage to unveil new products, provide different and unique components and to approach to customers with authentic performances.

The idea was born after the trip of a communications agency in Japan, where they saw a commercial space that opened only once a year. At the end of the campaign everything was sold out. Why? For the exclusivity and originality that this action brought not only to products but also to the sale and the clients themselves.

The pop up can come out anywhere, from art spaces, to popular places and even in hotels. They are in themselves a real show and where you can do something special and extravagant that could not be done in a conventional setting, as stated Panambí Martinez, the coordinator of the company Pop Up Store Spain.

Now you know, if you want to give something original and still enjoy the last minute Christmas shopping, you can take advantage and go to the Pop up stores which are currently being held in Barcelona, such as the Gori de Palma, and in Madrid, such as Madrid in Love or the Apartment.

The quintessential Japanese drink comes at a time when the Spanish culture is more open than ever to change and innovation as says Paco Patón, director of catering at the Urban Hotel, as well as the hotel team and the Glass Bar barman Jose Manuel and Oscar.

Sake, a drink that Japanese people take on the rocks, has found their perfect implementation on the Western world in cocktails. As there is a very wide range of different types of sake, says Paton, it is assembled with countless  of bartending products.

However, there are many people who still do not dare to embark on this new trend. Paton argues hat it is just a beer without added hops so a sake combined cocktail supposes a much lower alcohol consumption than the traditional ones.

Sake combines with both Western and Oriental dishes, even with the most difficult as asparagus artichokes and endive.

Different food professionals are already aware of this growing trend and they say that is a perfect pairing with oysters, a totally new proposal in Spain. A combination that, like sake, is perfect for the appetizer.

Paton attributes the success of Japanese cuisine to the fact that enjoying the food and drink from a millennial people as Japanese helps you to know the character, the spirit of education and their personality.

To conclude, they told us all about the coming trends from the Japanese world, such as the Japanese whisky which has already a consecrated reputation in Spain.

Do not miss the chance to taste this delicious drink at the Glass Bar at the Urban Hotel. Our special recommendation: try it with our delicious oysters, you’ll love it!

However, the artist Ingrid Pérez and the hairdresser Salva García did think of them and together they have created what is now known as:  The Secret Room, a room that does not fulfill the features of a traditional hairdresser’s.

Their main motivation: for the consumer to make themselves at home. The result: neon lights, a very sixties pastel colours poppy room, an aged parquet floor, leopard patterns, colour contrasts on the walls, vintage leather couches, thick curtains, decorative vinyls… A mixture of intentions which configure a perfect scenario for both the shooting of an Almodóvar’s film and an organisation of an event in a cool and arty space.

Located in the heart of Barcelona (Paseo de Gracia, 26 ), in The Secret Room apart from having your hair cut or a new look, you can also enjoy of all the advantages of a beauty saloon such as having your nails done or even a shiatsu massage…

Every Thursday this exclusive new space devoted to welfare and beauty turns into a meeting point for the lovers of cocktails and wine. But that is  not it, The Secret Room makes it possible for you to buy pieces of art, to lie in the couch and even to read a book.

Since its inauguration last September 27th, some famous bands such as Sidonie, an Spanish Alternative Rock band, have already been there to shoot their promotional video of their last gig.

From DHC we want you to forget of what you first thought when we mentioned the word “hairdresser’s” and to be ready to live a unique experience that surely you will want to do again.

Their home is like an X-ray of the trends that make the world go round, thanks to the careful selection of the international brands that are hung on their clothes stands. One of their goals is to tell what we should wear with every piece of clothing they have in the store.

Claudia Sáiz, ELLE magazine contributor, shells for Santa Eulalia the trends that will be filling the feminine wardrobe this season. “The success comes to us from eight hits: Isabel Marant holsters, Michael Kors oversize sweaters, Proenza Schouler Oriental patterns, Balenciaga galactic drawings, Kenzo retro dresses, Marc Jacobs elaborate embroidery, Bottega Veneta sensual dresses and Charlotte Olympia 5.71 in high shoes”.

Aurora Segura, from ‘La Vanguardia’ Magazine, told us all about male trends: “A winter that bets on what’s authentic and on well-done things is coming. Fashion has stopped being something that changes completely in just a few months and has turned into something that cares about style and the elaboration quality an about materials. This is the philosophy that guides the brands’ selection and the Santa Eulalia designers, because, at the end of the day, the people who can perform what is classic in a modernity clef are the ones that are in the forefront of fashion”.

All this and much more is what you will find at Santa Eulalia, the international trends temple that dresses you know how you are and what you want.

It’s a project that was created with the aim of discovering  the best corners of the city to Barcelona visitors, offering original experiences and telling stories that enrich their journey. Formed by a group of travelers, tourism and economy experts, scientists, and even an Ironman, but mostly adventurers who act as hosts in Barcelona.

Among its services, We Barcelona proposes walks, electric bikes  and electric cars tours around town. Besides it also provides with private tours in selected tourist attractions such as the FC Barcelona facilities, Gaudi  monument tours or routes to learn about the essentials of the old town … It also organizes exclusive experiences like cooking with Chef Jean Luc Figueras, driving luxury cars like a Ferrari, Porsche or McLaren, enjoying an iberian ham-pairing tasting with one of the best professionals, Manuel López, playing golf, flying planes or dancing flamenco along to Rafael Amargo.

A new way to discover the city in a more autonomous and personal approach, without missing the best attractions, tourist visit the city from other perspectives, more interesting according to locals. The Barcelona displayed by local people for an audience that values ​​the experiences.

Bernat has worked with top fashion photographers, but confesses he would love to work with Bruce Weber for his personal style and because he can strongly identify himself with his aesthetics. When asked to choose a celebrity for her style and personality, he declares it’s impossible for him to pick just one. He highlights Paris as a city where fashion is really alive, and describes his job as like being a chef, but instead of using ingredients the stylist uses style elements to create a specific look.

For this upcoming fall he gives us the keys to create a successful look: a great deal of black leather  and contrast between a baroque and a more minimalist style.

If you visit the city of Paris, do not miss to follow the tips he recommends: Merci shop, an authentic temple of design, the vintage boutique Didier Ludot, where you are able to find genuine masterpieces of Lacroix, Chanel or Vuitton, and for a nice mail visit the Argentinian restaurant Anahi.

Bernat continues to be impressed each year with the amount of people that brings together the Paris Fashion Week,  the concentrated energy, and the magic that is created in just a few minutes. A unique show!

This work is homage to classic art states Eladio de Mora, known as Demo, when asked about the installation. He adds It’s a tribute to a master of classicism such as Michelangelo as well as a tribute to a universal icon of ideal beauty with a contemporary icon of fashion such as Missoni.

As a result of Demo’s creativity  and the invaluable assistance of Luca Missoni, this statue of more than 5 meters high, (like the original),  made ​​of fiberglass, steel and polyester resins, is born on the occasion of the Vogue Fashion Night Out held in Madrid and is named “Classic Movement”.

In conformity with the work’s spirit, this reinterpretation of David will be displayed in the Meatpacking district of Manhattan, an industrial and avant-garde neighborhood, which combines art and fashion in the city.

Demo is one of the most internationally renowned Spanish artists thanks to his artwork and his sculptures of bears, cats, or paintings of fried eggs. He uses different languages such as figurative art, pop art and expressionism to reinterpret everyday elements. We enjoy him in Spain and now in New York as well.

We declare ourselves absolute Demo fans and in favor of his message: “people, whichever planet they’re coming from, will always respond in a positive way to art”.

For those who are looking forward for more will be pleased to know that in Paris, the Banke Hotel hosts some of his works and in Madrid his  giant gummy bears are exhibited at the Hotel Urban’s Glass Bar.

Each season we look for a clear protagonist to be added to the usual range of cocktails such as gin and tonic or a selection of the best rums and whiskeys. This year the main character of our summer nights is Sake. On the terrace of the Urban Hotel you will find a menu based on this fermented beverage which receives the same processing as wine and towards which we felt strangely attracted. One of the most refreshing and cosmopolitan combinations is undoubtedly the Sake Tonic: A tonic based mix and sake with hints, notes and different flavors such as lime peel, ginger, apple, yuzo, soy … The result is a pleasant and attractive drink  with an oriental and contemporary tone. With an alcohol content of no more than 7º, you can enjoy a drink with structure, volume, generous and low alcohol content.

Climb to the terrace of the Urban Hotel, make yourself comfortable and prepare to travel to your easternmost point. Before savoring the cocktail, make sure to dedicate an arigatou to the waiter,  after a bow, the occasion calls for it!