Now in it’s 8th year, VEO — València Escena Oberta — is taking to the streets once again, from February 10th to 21st. It’s become a fairly popular event on the calendar, as various locations around the city are used as the stage for modern, and often bizarre, theater pieces.

No Man’s Land
House of Monsters

One interesting highlight looks to be No Man’s Land, by Dutch artist Dries Verhoeven, which is set in Valencia’s main train station. “Spectators” receive an audio guide which details the travails of an immigrant and leads them around. Another is Obludarium by the Czech Forman Brothers. That translates as “House of Monsters”, and it sounds like it’ll be a crazy blend of fantasy and cabaret, inside a tent in a corner of the Viveros Gardens.

Tickets to nearly all the shows are €11, which I’m pretty sure is a price hike compared to previous years, perhaps due to the crisis. And we enjoyed a couple neat free outdoor performances the last couple years, but I don’t see anything similar in this edition.

Anything you’re especially looking forward to?

VEO’s Official Website

- Visit Valencia’s Oceanografic

Valencia is truly the place to be this weekend, with one of the year’s most anticipated events kicking off. Of course, I’m talking about:

That’s right, from the 5th to the 7th, you’ll be able to check out products and costumes that are approximate replicates of products and costumes from Medieval times! You’ll find it next to the Mercado de Ruzafa.

(There’s some other event kicking off, too, featuring spoiled, petulant rich people and their toy boats. But they didn’t deem us worthy for press access, so screw ‘em. The Medieval market is where it’s at, anyway.)

-Neat Ruzafa Youth Hostel

We recently discovered the Cinestudio D’Or on Almirante Cardoso 31 (location). A well-known Valencian institution, the cinema is fabulous… in a messy, anarchic sort of way.

Every week, two second-run films are shown at the highly reduced price of €3 weekdays, €4 weekends. Tuesday is always reduced, at €2,50. But the trick is that one ticket will let you see both shows.

It makes for a long evening, but that’s why everyone brings bags full of food and drink. At Cinestudio D’Or, they just don’t care. There are no concessions at the studio, so go ahead and pack up greasy bocadillos and liter beers! Everyone else will have done it, and you’ll feel like a chump if you show up with nothing to eat.

The hall is extremely long and oddly shaped — the floor tilts slightly upward from about row 30 onward, which is a weirdly pleasant way to watch movies. We’ve gone a few times and enjoy it. The cinema is popular, especially on Tuesday night, and while the noise of people eating can be distracting, it somehow adds to the charm.

Check out their website for the films of the week. Everything is in Spanish, without subtitles.

Cinestudio D’Or
C/ Almirante Cadarso 31
46005 Valencia
963 955 433

cinestudiodor.es
Location on our Valencia Map

- Criticker: For Movie Recommendations

That’s right. Four circuses in the city at the same time.

I feel sorry for the PETA animal-rights protesters. Man, you guys have your work cut out for you… better make some coffee, and snuggle up warmly in your cozy fur coats hemp jackets. It’s going to be a long December.

Name? Wonderland
Where? Plaza de Toros (location)
When? from December 3rd to January 17th
Why? You’re interested to see how they’re going to reenact Madagascar in a live setting, and you don’t think your kids will notice that it’s not exactly High School Musical. Oh, Gran Circo Wonderland, have you no shame? (Of course you don’t!)

http://www.grancircowonderland.com/

Name? Americano
Where? the Feria de Navidad near the Port
When? from December 4th to … ???
Why? Difficult to find info on this one, but from the poster it looks like a Genie is going to unleash a pack of tigers upon the cuddly creatures from Ice Age. Awesome.

http://www.circoamericano.com/

Name? Mundial
Where? La Alameda, next to the Puente de Flores (location)
When? from December 6th to January 10th
Why? They’re not lying about being a “World” circus… troupes from China & Russia, Norwegian horses, Bengal tigers and Asian elephants. In all honesty, this looks like the most interesting.

http://www.grancircomundial.com/

Name? Gran Fele
Where? CAC, across from the Reina Sofia (location)
When? from December 10th to January 10th
Why? He Tarzan! She Jane! You is having FUN! They Amazing! Clap Clap HOWL.

http://www.circogranfele.com/

- Street Mascletàs: Be Warned

October 9th, the Day of the Valencian Community, got off to a bang as soon as the clock struck midnight. On Thursday night, we grabbed a spot on Paseo Alameda for the international fireworks festival.

I’m going to make a claim which I can neither prove nor provide statistical data for, but which I believe to be true nonetheless. Valencia is the best place in the world for fireworks. If you are a fan, Valencia is your Mecca. Once in your life, you must make a pilgrimage here.

My God. An entire hour of fireworks, with one brief 5-minute intermission. Who needs an hour of fireworks? Who even wants that?! And it wasn’t boring for even a minute. Highlight after explosive highlight left our ears bloody and bruised, yet still unprepared for the ridiculous finale. It’s hard to be surprised by fireworks or to see something truly “new”, but a spinning fireworks wheel on a gigantic crane? That was new.

You know how when you see a kid who can yo-yo really well? You kind of feel awed by him… his yo-yo’ing is sweet, it requires a lot of skill, and it’s something you don’t see every day. Still, you can’t shake the feeling that the kid is a freak. A weirdo. It’s simultaneous appreciation and alienation. That’s how I feel about Valencia and its obsession with fireworks.

More Firework Videos: Nit de Foc 2009 / Nit de Foc 2008 / Color Mascletà