Make a difference! World Refugee Day Benefit Raffle

Today we’re sharing a benefit raffle from our friends at Madrid For Refugees, a nonprofit organization that empowers refugees, asylum seekers and migrants through a range of community-run initiatives, such as job-oriented training courses, donation drives for essential items and fundraising events. There are many ways you can get involved. Participating in this raffle is one of them!

This month we celebrate World Refugee Day on 20 June, a key moment to communicate with the world about who refugees are and why they require protection. We celebrate refugees’ contributions and seek to build empathy and understanding for their plight and their resilience to build a bright future. This year we are highlighting the power of inclusion, reminding us that together we can do anything.

To celebrate World Refugee Day, we are honored to partner with Naked Madrid to feature 6 incredible initiatives that strive to improve the lives of those at risk of social exclusion or are led by refugees and migrants themselves. Each initiative is offering great raffle prizes which you could win by joining our World Refugee Day benefit raffle until 29 June 2021. This guide and raffle has been curated by Christina Samson, President of Madrid For Refugees.

To take part in the raffle, click here

1. Altramuz Editorial

MFR and Refusion members together with the Altramuz Editorial team at the book launch

Altramuz is a social publishing house that started in 2021 with the goal of showing a real vision of diversity. They unite culture and education, with the goal of transforming the idea that diverse people are a minority. Altramuz tells real stories of people who can finally see their reality  represented free of stereotypes through books that are narrated, written, illustrated, corrected or revised by people from diverse backgrounds.

Raffle prize:

Set of 2 books signed by the author (in Spanish) “Samir and the Meteor Shower” and “Sarah and the Meteor Shower” – new books that speak on the reality of the Syrian people, who must leave their home, their roots, because of the war and are often stigmatized and treated under the umbrella of intolerance in host countries.

2. El Huerto de Usman

El Huerto de Usman

Usman started his organic garden to return to his roots and work towards natural and sustainable agriculture as a way of life. Usman was born in Mauritania from a family who worked in agriculture and livestock in Hassi Chaggar, his hometown. Today Usman lives in the Lavapiés neighborhood and since 2014 he has dedicated himself to organic farming. The organic garden and farm is located on the banks of the Jarama River, in the “Soto del Grillo” natural area in the town of Rivas-Vaciamadrid (Madrid).

Huerto de Usman’s philosophy is to take care of the environment through the production of quality food, applying agro-ecological techniques that respect the environment and people, respect the natural growing cycle and cultivate seasonal organic vegetables respecting their natural cycles and growth so customers can enjoy more nutritious and tasty produce. El Huerto de Usman offers baskets of seasonal organic vegetables for home delivery or for pickup in Lavapiés.

Raffle prize:

5kg seasonal organic vegetable basket for delivery in Madrid

3. Ellas lo bordan

Ellas lo bordan is a social impact sewing workshop that offers job opportunities to women in vulnerable situations. Its production is sustainable, supports personal growth and contributes to local development. Their work has triple impact: economic, social and environmental. They are a socially transformative alternative for companies supporting responsible consumption and production.

Raffle prize:

Handmade wine bottle carrier and a set of placemats (wine not included)

4. Robingood

Robingood is the first food brand that offers artisan and local products, manufactured by people at risk of social exclusion. Its products are “Food with soul”, products that help change lives. Robingood gives people the opportunity to enjoy food products that generate a positive impact in society. They contribute to social inclusion and improve the professionalization of small producers, workers and social enterprises.

Raffle prize:

Pack of artisanal bread sticks: sunflower seeds, cheese, carrot, and vegetables+tomato mix. They are baked and made with natural ingredients, high in fiber, 100% vegetables, no palm oil, and no preservatives.

5. La Quinta Cocina

Garden café in the Quinta de los Molinos Park

In the corner of one of the most beautiful parks in Madrid, La Quinta de Los Molinos, you will find Madrid City Council’s only cultural center for children and young people called La Quinta Espacio Abierto. Upon entering the majestic building, you’ll find the garden café called La Quinta Cocina, one of the most unique training and gastronomic spaces in Madrid. This is a hospitality training project for young people at risk of social exclusion which consists of a course offered by the Madrid City Council and managed by the NGO CESAL.

In four months, forty young people learn from day one how to work in a professional kitchen and serve guests. La Quinta Cocina’s menu features homemade dishes with an international flair. Come to this beautiful place and take part in this gastronomic experience and, at the same time, support the most disadvantaged young people in our society.

Raffle prize:

25 euro gift voucher (see menu)

6. El Jardín Árabe

Traditional Moroccan cuisine in Madrid

Chef Imane is from Casablanca and grew up in a family well versed in the world of Moroccan gastronomy. She learned how to cook the best recipes with her mother. Cooking started as a hobby but eventually cooking became her vocation and profession. She feels that cooking is her world, which led her to open El Jardín Arabe in 2021.

Her goal is to offer her customers authentic Moroccan food with its special flavors and aromas with traditional recipes and top quality products. Here in Madrid, El Jardín Árabe is one of the few places with a wide variety of gourmet dishes, especially the famous Moroccan Pastela.

Raffle prize:

25 euros gift voucher for food orders in Madrid

Take part in our benefit raffle to support refugees!

In addition to directly supporting these incredible initiatives, with a €6 donation you can enter our benefit raffle for the chance to win an awesome prize and support Madrid For Refugees at the same time.

You may also like: 21 Madrid volunteer opportunities in 2021



Visiting Madrid’s museums in the age of corona

Your relationship with the art definitely changes. There’s less art and more space, so you’re able to take a few extra minutes in front of each painting.

Madrid’s museums are finally open and the city feels alive again! The Thyssen, Reina Sofía and Prado—known as the “Golden Triangle of Art”—closed mid-March and reopened on June 6th, with the caveat of accepting only 30% of their regular capacities.

New safety measures have been put in place. Guided tours, group visits and audio guides are unavailable and several exhibits remain closed. Due to the limited availability, finding tickets is also difficult, especially during the free hours. But despite the drawbacks, the experience is actually better in certain ways.

I recently visited the Reina Sofía museum, while my friend Covadonga Romero, who is the President of IE University’s Arts & Business Club, was able to visit the Prado. Here’s what our experiences were like. 

What it's like to visit Madrid's museums in the age of corona. Post-lockdown Madrid museum experience.

Climbing the stairs of the Lavapiés metro station and making my way down Calle Argumosa on a sunny summer evening, I notice Madrid’s resilience manifesting itself in the form of friends gathering and enjoying a caña on a terraza. The happiness and laughter emanating from the streets is contagious, and with every step I take towards Reina Sofía, I feel my anticipation rise. This is my first visit to a museum since the start of the lockdown, and I was beyond excited to take it all in again. 

What it's like to visit Madrid's museums in the age of corona. Post-lockdown Madrid museum experience.

I enter through the back entrance of the museum, encountering absolutely no one until I go through the customary security check and then am let in through to the exhibits. I was surprised to not undergo any more safety checks. Cova had reported that at the Prado, each visitor’s temperature was taken using a scanner before being allowed to enter the museum. “It gave me a greater sense of security, it kind of felt like going through an airport,” she tells me.

The lack of heightened checks at Reina Sofia may have concerned me had it not taken me passing by several rooms before encountering another visitor. I’m also reassured by signs indicating the safety precautions taken by the museum and the constant reminder to maintain two meters of distance from an apparently imaginary visitor who’s in proximity.

I pass through several rooms of a temporary Jorg Immendorf exhibit that was unfortunately ending the very same day. The silence and emptiness allow me to flow through the rooms in a more natural way, not having to worry about bumping into someone or taking too long in front of a painting. Cova has warned me of this but it still feels uniquely unfamiliar: “Your relationship with the art definitely changes. There’s less art and more space, so you’re able to take a few extra minutes in front of each painting.”

Visiting Madrid's museums in the age of Corona, post-lockdown.

I start to get used to viewing art in this setting, comparing it to the usual experience of zig-zagging my way through a guided tour group to get a better view of Picasso’s Guernica. In fact, the room where I encounter the most people is the one that exhibits the Guernica, but even that room has only around 20 people in it. 

As vast sections of the museums remain closed (only the first and second floor of Reina Sofía is open to the public, whereas only approximately a third of the Prado is open), many of the main pieces of the permanent exhibitions have been moved to be included in the smaller space. This has both positive and negative effects on the museum experience.

“You’re able to see most of the main showpieces of the Prado in a few hours and you don’t have to walk as much whereas normally you’d have to spend all day to see them,” says Cova. “But it also slightly takes away from the experience. The way the art works were positioned before had a logical, historical and artistic flow to it. Now it’s all kind of mixed up.”

As an example, Cova mentions how El Bosco’s The Garden of Earthly Delight, the Table of the Seven Deadly Sins and other works were previously all situated in one room. Now, the Table of the Seven Deadly Sins is placed in a hallway and The Garden of Earthly Delights is not even exhibited.

Cova gives another example: “Earlier, when you would see Goya’s paintings, you would first see the paintings depicting battle scenes, then you’d walk into a dark room where you would see the 14 Black Paintings that were taken from the walls of his house. Now, only three of those paintings are exhibited and are spread around in random rooms with paintings that have nothing to do with the theme. It takes away from the effect that walking into the darkened room has, and changes the atmosphere entirely.”

Visiting Madrid's museums in the age of Corona, post-lockdown.

I complete my visit to Reina Sofia at the exact time that the museum closes. Two hours is all it took to view all that’s displayed. As we are ushered out, I sit down on a step in Plaza de Juan Goytisolo in front of the museum, trying to take it all in. The pinkish blue sunset sky with its white wispy clouds remind me of a Magritte painting. It serves as the perfect backdrop to Madrid’s bubbling life; young children playing and cycling, abuelos having a drink at the terraza and a few young boys practicing parkour.

Madrid feels alive again. I’m extremely grateful for this experience, and would absolutely recommend visiting the museums, especially while Madrid’s treasures are solely for Madrid’s residents, before the city is overrun with tourists once again. 

By Rishabh Agrawal (IG: @rishabh.a)

Also read our article on Madrid’s museums: The obvious and not-so-obvious (and how to get in for free)



James’ ongoing guide to killing time at home in Madrid

Step zero. Chill. There’s nothing better than drinking a few beers or having some wine with your besties – your cats, maybe dogs, and occasionally, a few humans (inspired by Niki). Once you’ve got this down, you’re ready to start my personal ongoing guide to killing time in Madrid while supporting local business at the same time. Let’s go!

Treat yourself to good food and drinks

1. Get local beer delivered to your home

My go-to beer is from Madrid’s local brewery Cervezas La Virgen. It’s definitely more expensive than my also-beloved Mahou, but also a lot better. Check out their Jamonera beer and the classic Lager. Thanks for the inspiration, Helen.

2. Learn from the real food experts, Devour Tours

at-home activities and ways to support local Madrid businesses by Naked Madrid

Back in 2015, we went on one of Devour’s awesome tours (Huertas neighborhood food and market tour) and Lauren Aloise and James Blick’s team have been just killing it ever since then.

Today, they’re also offering tons of online food experiences where their local tour guides tell you how to make their city’s classic dishes over Zoom. And you get to cook with them in real time. I just took the “Cook Pasta Like a Roman with Abbie” where I learned how to make two Italian sauces. Here’s a glimpse of the end result – I was way too hungry to set up better pics but wow, they were good.

I also want to give a shout-out to my good friend Melissa who lives in Lisbon. She’s giving an online tour called Discover Portugal’s History Through 10 Dishes. I haven’t taken it yet but knowing her, I can only expect an absolutely kick-ass experience full of passion (inspired by Melissa, claro).

3. Make your own bread

Lots of my friends have taken up bread-making these past few months and sharing mouthwatering photos with me. So I started making my own recently, too. Although I’m far from becoming an expert on this, here’s an easy way to start:

  • Take two cups of flour: I mix strong bread flour – ask for harina de fuerza at Spanish supermarkets – and wheat flour.
  • Add two teaspoons of yeast (I guess it won’t be the end of the world if you can’t find it, but your bread won’t rise as much), olive oil (one spoon is fine!), sugar and salt (plus a little pepper if you’re like me).
  • Mix it with one cup of beer (I made it once with La Jamonera mentioned above, and it rocked my world). You can also mix it with water, which is… meh.
  • Let it rise for a couple hours in a bowl covered with dry cloth. Then deflate the air (check this technique out) and let it rise again.
  • Last step: put your dough in a pot (make sure you add some flour so the dough doesn’t stick to the bottom) and make a cut in the dough with a knife. Then cover it and put it in your oven at 225º C for 45 minutes. After that, take the cover off and keep it in the oven for 10 more minutes.

Perhaps “easy” wasn’t the right word. But trust me, it seems more difficult than it actually is (I made it after all!). Let it cool for a bit and you’re good to go (inspired by Carmen and Joss).

4. Add even more great carbs to your diet (why not??) by making your own pizza from scratch

at-home activities and ways to support local Madrid businesses by Naked Madrid

To make my own pizza dough, I followed Jaime Oliver’s 5-min recipe (I used beer instead of water, because beer simply makes everything better). I also added my family’s Bolognese sauce recipe – meat, onions, soy and “Worcestershire” sauce (or “salsa perrins” for my Spaniards out there who also find that to be the most frightening word to pronounce in English). Feel free to add whatever else works for you (arugula is also great, inspired by Jake).

Burn those extra kilos at home

Get moving with Stacy Quick (Mustard Fitness)‘s home workouts. I briefly met this guy a few years ago, and I can only say the dude is legit. Stacy contacted me a few days ago with his free home workouts and they’re bananas!

Put some art in your life

at-home activities and ways to support local Madrid businesses

1. Practice your (new?) favorite instrument

I’ve been having regular piano and violin classes online with my private teachers. But if you’re looking to start from scratch or learn a new instrument on your own, Fender is offering a free trial period. I normally use Ultimate Guitar to learn my favorite songs, yet the Fender app is useful when it comes to picking up a new instrument (inspired by Meag and Bea).

2. Join my local choir!

Singers in Madrid, join me and my choir buddies at the Coralavapies (Lavapiés Choir), a non-profit organization founded by Osvaldo Ciccioli in 2003. Me and my ridiculous friend Kyler found out about them a couple months ago. Ever since, we’ve been singing mostly Spanish folk songs, every Wednesday night. Followed by drinks, of course (inspired by Kyler).

3. Get interactive with the Mad Improv crew!

Mad Improv is a local English-speaking theater group that usually performs in theaters around the city and holds really fun workshops. Now they’re offering online classes. For more info contact Steve Loader (inspired by Daphne).

4. Get your dance groove on every day at 6pm

My friend Martín, who happens to be a professional DJ (and teaches people how to mix), has been broadcasting live DJ sessions daily at 6pm, Madrid time. Watch big Helen and small Helen get their groove on (you’ll understand when you join the party).

Thanks for reading. Can’t wait to hug you all again.



Fighting back for this amazing city – support Madrid’s local businesses and community

We’re gradually reclaiming the streets — but something’s missing. From the traditional taverns of Huertas to the high-end cocktail bars of Chueca, many of our favorite hangouts remain shuttered from sight. 

We can finally see some socially distanced light at the end of what has been an unprecedented tunnel, but the sad truth is that many small businesses just can’t keep their doors open much longer. Those alfresco cañas might (almost) be within touching distance, but strict capacity regulations mean our local haunts won’t be able to survive on in-house activity alone. 

So the question is, what can we do to stop our favorite tapas bars disappearing from the Madrid landscape? 

For starters (no pun intended!), ordering takeout a couple of nights a week is a great way to help keep the cash flowing. And with most places having hooked up with the likes of Deliveroo and UberEats, you won’t even need to run the face-masked gauntlet.

But if you think ordering in your usual Friday night ración of patatas bravas might be a little too much for your emotions to handle right now (cue memories of balmy nights on outdoor terraces with friends flooding back), then check out the Cuando Volvamos scheme. 

This ingenious, non-profit initiative is the brainchild of a group of experts from the business design company Igeneris. Here, you can purchase all manner of activities and products from small businesses across the city that can be used (or collected) once things get back to normal. 

And the good news is we’re not just talking food here (let’s be honest: lockdown hasn’t done our waistlines any favors). There’s everything from driving lessons to furniture restoration courses available. 

We reckon the platform also makes for a great source of original, altruistic birthday presents. After all, who’d say no to a massage once all this is over? You could say, they’re the very definition of gifts that keep on giving.

Of course, it’s not just small businesses that need our support, it’s our community too. The sad reality is that ordering takeout couldn’t be further from the minds of so many people in Madrid right now.

Dragones de Lavapiés is just one food bank that has sprung up since the pandemic took hold. What was once a local football club for migrant children, is now a precious lifeline for endless counts of vulnerable families in the neighborhood.

Support Madrid's local businesses and community, by Naked Madrid.
Image from Madrid No Frills’ story on Dragones de Lavapiés and its sister platform La CuBa

With demand showing no signs of waning and charities pushed to the limit, these places desperately need our help more than ever. Let’s be honest: if we can afford a chai latte to-go, then what’s a couple of bags of rice?

So, let’s dig deep. With Madrid’s official food bank having set up an online donations page, you don’t even have to risk an extra trip to the store. It’s time for us all to pull together.

By Helen Hadley (LinkedIn)

  • Contact Jorge (+34 695 973 652) from Dragones de Lavapiés to find out more about volunteering opportunities, or make a donation via bank transfer (ES9000730100510503058640).

Know of any other ways to support Madrid’s local businesses and community? Get in touch with daphne@veracontent.com



Lockdown diaries: Rosie, recently engaged and managing two international language schools in Madrid

If you’ve been brave enough to live abroad, learn a new language and launch a career in a new country, then you’re set to survive some bumps and changes along the way!

Rosie was planning her wedding, managing two international language schools, and enjoying sidra in San Sebastián with friends just before the lockdown hit. When she got back to work the next day in Madrid, everything changed…

Originally from Liverpool, Rosie Hegarty has lived in Madrid for seven years. She’s the Marketing Director for LAE Madrid and LAE Kids (the boutique Spanish Academy) and TtMadrid (TEFL school), and has spent many years working in international marketing in both the UK and Spain.

What was your life like just before the lockdown vs. today?

My fiance and I work full time and we were so independent and active. We had just got engaged in February and were preparing budgets and viewings for venues to get married in 2021. We spend a lot of time traveling and visiting family in Madrid, Liverpool and Zamora and had three trips booked for March, April and May that we’ve obviously had to cancel. 

When the lockdown happened it was such a shock and everything happened so fast. We spent the weekend before in San Sebastián at a cider house with friends. We were laughing and joking about having to use hand sanitiser whenever we took a drink and we took the scenic route back to Madrid, driving down the coast and dipping our feet in the sea when we stopped for fresh fish. When I went to work the next day, it hit me that things were really serious.

It’s been a bit of a bump into reality from that weekend of fresh air and eating out in the north of Spain. We live near Plaza Castilla in a little apartment – we’re lucky to have our space separated into different rooms (and with lots of light) but it’s definitely been a challenge now that we’re together and confined 24/7. 

Our days are split between work and trying to keep active: baking things that never look as good as the photo in the book, fitness videos of people who have more than 5m2 to work with, and taking our little dog just far enough that he’ll perform before coming back. Our wedding is probably going to be on hold (and a lot smaller than what we were planning!) and we had to cancel our engagement parties too.

How did the lockdown affect your work life?

I work at TtMadrid (a TEFL course provider) and LAE Madrid (a boutique Spanish school), managing the day-to-day of the school and international marketing, under the guidance of owner and founder, Natasha Mason. She started the company 15 years ago and we’ve been a necessary hub for our students ever since. We offer them somewhere to come to print, access materials, give them general help with legal paperwork, translate calls or emails in Spanish, etc. or just offer them somewhere to escape from their housemates.

When you work with students from all over the world, it sounds really corny I know, but you don’t just give them a language or training course, you help them adapt to their new life in Spain and support them through some really difficult and uncertain moments. 

With so much information coming from the government and so many changes on what seemed like an hourly basis, we were inundated with current and past students emailing, phoning and popping in to see if we could give them information. We spent the next couple of days helping students organise return travel plans and generally making lots of cups of tea – reassuring parents or students themselves that everything was going to be ok.

The whole thing was a massive shock for them AND us. We decided to take all of our classes online the day that public schools shut down. We weren’t legally obliged to close and knew it would be a huge financial hit for us but we just knew deep down that the safety of our students and staff was the most important thing, especially with rising anxiety about public transport and moving around the city. 

By the time the lockdown was announced on Friday, we had cleared everything out of the school, made sure staff had everything they needed to work from home and were set to start online classes the following Monday. I don’t know how we managed to get it all done but the adrenaline of the situation seemed to help us through and on Saturday morning my desk was set up at my dining table. 

Now, six weeks later, how are your language schools adapting to the new reality?

In the space of six weeks, we’ve gone from a small business that is ticking along well and employing around 30 local and international people, to seeing practically no income whatsoever. We offer Spanish immersion courses for kids and adults in Madrid and a TEFL course that’s super practical and a great way for people from all over the world to start their career as an English teacher here. But both rely on international travel, so neither will grow or flourish without tourism over the next 12 months. 

We’ve tried to keep as many staff on as possible and we’re working hard to make sure that our community stays together to continue to offer courses for many years to come. We’ve launched online Spanish courses – both group and individual classes – for anyone who wants to get working on their Spanish. We’ve also put the finishing touches to a project we’ve been working on for a while: a Virtual TEFL, to continue to train ESL teachers as it’s a solid market to work in during uncertain times and now anyone can take our course, wherever they are.

We’ve had to put on hold our wonderful Spanish Summer Camp for kids and we probably won’t be able to go ahead with it but we’re trying to offer online classes for kids to make sure they still have contact with Spanish. Needless to say, we’re latecomers to giving online classes and courses so it’s difficult to make a long-term plan right now and even harder to imagine how we’ll get back up and running until international travel is running fluidly again.

Have you noticed any acts of kindness or uplifting things recently?

Any kindness during these very difficult moments is something that we should be very grateful for. Managing a business and being a part of someone’s life’s work means that any setbacks are very difficult to overcome. The owner, Natasha, has spent 15 years working to build up this small business that brings together an international community of people that are passionate about travel, languages and teaching. This is devastating for anyone working with tourists or relying on international travel; and we’re no different. 

We’ve been very lucky to have built a special connection with thousands of students in the last 15 years and I’ve had messages from students and old co-workers from all over the world wishing us luck and offering words of support that came at just the right time. It’s been a gradual realisation for us and a lot of our community that the world we all took for granted is going to be very different, for a while at least, so we’d best make the most of what we have and be grateful for it.

Who are you in quarantine with? Any advice for people in your similar situation?

My fiance and I, along with our little dog. I made sure I had a solid schedule every day. We get up before 9am, shower (very, very important when cohabiting) and start work or do chores, have lunch and dinner around the same time and make sure we do an activity each day. We also go to bed at the pre-lockdown time mid-week, get a good night’s sleep and make sure weekends are different to weekdays so it breaks the week up.

There’ve been moments when we’ve been so bored. I mean, bored to the point of us both standing in the hallway trying to think of some way to kill the next couple of hours before dinner. I suppose we’ve managed to find new things to try and we’ve made an effort to be kind to each other and do as much as we can to make life easier for the other person. 

Have there been any comical moments in this unprecedented time?

One of my favourite moments of the day that always makes me laugh is when we go outside to clap at 8pm. There’s an elderly lady who lives across from our building who comes out everyday. As there are lots of us in our building all facing onto her terrace she’s the only person we can really see properly that’s close. When we started going out during the first couple of days, we all waved and asked how she was and we sort of just carried on doing it every day.

After doing this every day for the last six weeks she now gives us all a very regal wave individually. There must be like 20 of my neighbours saying hi to her so she’s the closest thing to a celebrity we’ve got from our window, and I imagine it’s just as much a highlight of her day as it is mine.

How are you coping?

I’m quite resilient in general and I think that if you’ve been brave enough to live abroad, learn a new language and launch a career in a new country then you’re set to survive some bumps and changes along the way!

I feel it’s important to remember how lucky I am and why we’re having to stay inside in the first place. People are grieving loved ones and having to cope with not being able to be with them in their final moments. My problems don’t seem so important when you think about everything that’s happening right now. 

What goals are you hoping to achieve as our time in lockdown continues?

Try and get through it as best as I can. I started out writing this huge list of things to do over the weeks in confinement but it’s a challenging and uncertain time for us all. I feel like the best I can hope for is to finish lockdown and get back to work, travel, see friends and family and get married. I’m not sure I need anything else right now.

What’s the first thing you’ll do once this lockdown is over?

If England is still in lockdown and I can’t buy a ticket and get on the first plane there, we’ll go to Zamora to see my fiance’s family. We’re both very family-centric so not being able to see either side of the family for so long has been really tough. 

Do you have any tips for how we can help those in need?

If you’re in a position to continue to support local and small businesses, then do. It may not seem like much but it will make a massive difference to the team of people behind it.

If you could tell the government one thing right now, what would it be?

Keep going and keep listening to experts. 

What’s going on in your hometown and would you like to send them a message?

The people from Liverpool in England are the kindest and most selfless people, so I know that everyone will be doing their bit to help their neighbours and friends to get through this.

Check out all Madrid lockdown stories



Lockdown diaries: Lauren, co-founder of Devour Tours, on leading her business forward while raising twins

My main goals are to keep my kids happy and healthy and then to lead my business forward in spite of having the odds stacked against us. 

Lauren Aloise, co-founder of Devour Tours and author of Spanish Sabores, was just getting back to work full-time after maternity leave and adjusting to being away from her twins for the first time. She was also in the midst of expanding her food tours to cities across Europe. Then the world shut down… Now she’s fighting the good fight, continuing to share her love for local gastronomy and culture, and advocating for small businesses, like her own, more than ever.

What was your life like just before the lockdown vs. today?

At the start of February I had just gone back to work after nearly six months of maternity leave. I was adjusting to the commute, figuring out how to pump at the office, and going through the emotions of being away from my newborn twins for the first time. I was also really excited to dive back into my job – I’d lived and breathed my work for over eight years before becoming a mom and maternity leave was quite lonely. My company, Devour Tours, was in the middle of expanding our food tours to London and Florence, so it was a very exciting time. I was just about to take my first work trip away from the babies to a conference in Berlin when the world started shutting down. The conference was postponed, and my business partner and I jumped into crisis mode.

Today my days blend together as they are extremely repetitive. In some ways I feel like I’m back on maternity leave, with the added pressure of work. I wake up around 6am when the babies do, and take care of them for the next couple of hours along with my husband. We take turns while the other cooks breakfast or takes a shower.

My mother-in-law is living with us through the lockdown which I am extremely grateful for. She had originally come to help out when I was supposed to go to the conference – little did she know! She gets up around 9am and my husband takes a work shift. A couple hours later it’s my turn. I work for three solid hours then take care of the babies again until their bedtime around 6pm. If we’re lucky they’re down by 7pm – but often they’ll be up and down fussing until nearly midnight. 

I try to take advantage of little moments of downtime throughout the day to keep working, and lately I’ve been in charge of cooking dinner at 8pm. Cooking allows me to disconnect for an hour and is truly therapeutic. 

I’ve found balancing work and childcare (even with three people) totally overwhelming. I really feel for all parents out there who are in this situation – it is not easy.

How has the lockdown impacted your industry?

The tours and activities industry has been impacted like never before. From one day to the next we went to zero revenue and thousands of refund requests. Like many operators, we’ve had to let go of a lot of staff, a heartbreaking process to go through. Many small businesses like ours will not be able to make it through this time, but we’re going to fight the good fight. And instead of focusing on survival alone, we’re looking at new ways to grow and thrive in this new environment. We’ve released an e-cookbook of our favorite recipes to keep bringing the food from our tours into peoples’ kitchens around the world, we’ve launched an online shop, and we’ve been offering daily cooking classes and food and wine seminars online. 

How are you coping?

There are ups and downs. I definitely have FOMO when I see my social media feeds filled with people who are bored – practicing their bread making skills, doing yoga, and reading books. I’m honestly very tired and often anxious about the future. But I’m also extremely grateful for my health at the moment, and I try to keep that gratitude front and center. 

I cope by making my days as routine based as possible – this isn’t easy but when we pull it off it really helps me feel more at peace. I make a healthy breakfast each morning (usually some sort of eggs and a good quality piece of toast). I enjoy a cup of tea and a snack mid-morning while working, it keeps my energy up and there’s something calming for me about a hot cup of tea. 

I have one hour to myself each night that I use to cook dinner (my personal therapy!). Every now and then I bake – last night my mother’s homemade apple crisp recipe did the trick! I also take “walks” with the babies on our terrace. I know not everyone has access to the outdoors but any time spent outside helps my mood enormously. 

Who are you in quarantine with? Any advice for people in your similar situation?

I’m with my seven-month-old babies, my husband, and my mother-in-law. My advice for other parents in lockdown is to remember that this will pass (soon I hope!) so when it gets rough just try to ground yourself with peaceful thoughts. 

What goals are you hoping to achieve as our time in lockdown continues?

My main goals are to keep my kids happy and healthy and then to lead my business forward in spite of having the odds stacked against us. 

Have you noticed any acts of kindness or uplifting things recently?

I love that people are taking the time to offer their services for free or at deep discounts to help others. Whether it’s an exercise class to help people stay fit in quarantine or some free printable resources for entertaining kids, these actions inspired us to also offer a schedule of free online events to keep people entertained and educated in the world of food and wine! 

Do you have any tips for how we can help those in need?

Shop small. It’s harder than it sounds with the convenience of Amazon and your local supermarket. But our support for small business is more important than ever right now and without it our post-lockdown world will be missing a lot of the special small businesses that made it so special. Let’s not let that happen!

If you are Madrid based, some places I have been supporting:

  • Moega (homemade Galician bread and empanadas)
  • Queseria Cultivo (artisanal cheeses — they shop throughout Spain!)
  • Mercado 47 (a website where you can order from the local Madrid markets)
  • Madrid & Darracott (Luke & team will advise you on all your quarantine wine needs)

What’s the first thing you’ll do once this lockdown is over?

Take a long walk with the babies! I love being outside and exercise and fresh air fuel my creativity and energy. Not being outside has been one of the most difficult things about confinement. 

If you could tell the government one thing right now, what would it be?

More help for small businesses please. We were unable to take advantage of any government aide which is really disappointing. For example, one of the requirements of the ERTE (temporary layoffs) was hiring people back on for at least six months. For a tourism business where revenue will be greatly affected for the next year or even longer, this is not a realistic requirement. 

Check out all Madrid lockdown stories



Lockdown diaries: Daphne, editor of Naked Madrid, on sharing people’s stories to stay grounded

Just days after Madrid went under lockdown, I launched a series of articles called “Lockdown Diaries” and began sharing people’s personal stories about what it’s like to be living here during these very strange times… And now, one month later, this series is still going and it’s keeping me grounded. Thank you everyone for following along and taking part.

Daphne Binioris is a native New Yorker who has been living in Madrid for over a decade. She’s the co-founder of multilingual content agency VeraContent and editor of online publications Naked Madrid and The Content Mix. She’s also a professional dancer.

What was your life like just before the lockdown vs. today?

I was busy getting ready for upcoming dance performances, rehearsing every day, and going to castings. I was really nervous about nailing the iconic Dirty Dancing lift, which I was going to perform for a 3,000-person audience at an event in April. I was also training with the theater group Mad Improv and had just landed an (amateur) acting gig.

Now, I’m home. All of my art-related jobs have been canceled and the dance studios I train at are of course closed. I’m trying to keep in shape at home and stretch outside on my little balcony when the sun’s out. I’m also extremely grateful to be able to work remotely, and I’ve been pouring my creative energy into VeraContent and Naked Madrid.

How are you coping? 

Sharing people’s stories has helped me stay grounded. When the lockdown first hit here (a full month ago!?), it was such a strange and unsettling time for all of us, and it was really difficult to describe how it felt to people outside Madrid. So I decided to launch a series called the “Lockdown Diaries” on Naked Madrid. I just asked a few of my contacts to fill out a simple Q&A. As soon as I published the first diary by Cat Powell on March 16, new submissions came flooding in, and the series took off!

Shortly after “Lockdown Diaries” launched, writer Daniel Catalan came on board and started helping me capture compelling stories from people of all walks of life, from local artists to small business owners. Dan even reached out to a doctor treating COVID patients and interviewed a guy named Travis who was quarantined with his ex! 

With all the ups and downs we’ve experienced this past month (Dan has been stranded alone in the Basque Country this whole time), working on this ongoing series has helped keep us sane. It gives us a sense of purpose, keeps us connected to people, and reminds us that we’re not alone in this.

I’m also coping by binge-watching Netflix series (I highly recommend Sex Education, Pose, and the mini-series Unorthodox), making large pots of ginger tea, dancing every day, and sharing a bottle of wine or La Virgen beer with my partner every night.

How has the lockdown impacted your industry?

The dance world has completely shut down, and it’s devastating. Most artists are in a tragic situation right now… That being said, it’s pretty incredible how dancers around the world are coming together to help each other through this, by live-streaming classes and performances for free. I hope we take this sense of comradery with us after this is all over. 

On the other hand, the content and marketing industry – where my company comes into play – is doing just fine. Our team works remotely year round and collaborates with freelancers all over the world, so it was just a matter of sending a WhatsApp message to let everyone know to stop coming to the office.

Have you noticed any acts of kindness or uplifting things recently?

Of course, tons. What journalist Leah Pattem is doing on her website Madrid No Frills is extraordinary. She’s advocating for people like migrants and the homeless who are in dire situations and receiving almost no help. Please check out her channels and support her if you can.

And so many people are trying to find ways to support small businesses by buying gift certificates, ordering online, and giving them shout-outs on the internet. This hits close to home for me because my family owns a coffee shop in New York City which, of course, is currently closed. Small businesses have been severely impacted and those love letters on social media and kind gestures do help. 

Who are you in quarantine with? Any advice for people in your similar situation?

I’m in quarantine with my two cats and my partner. My advice is to give each other a lot of space. And my best tip: take your phones off the table (and out of sight) when you’re having dinner or sharing a bottle of wine. Also, cats are the best quarantine companions. Now I know what their life is like year round!

Have there been any comical moments in this unprecedented time?

Watching my cats do ninja tricks around the house is pretty hilarious. And getting my whole family on Zoom has been quite entertaining, from the screen freezing constantly to everybody talking at the same time…

What goals are you hoping to achieve as our time in lockdown continues?

Life is funny sometimes. Just a month ago I was getting ready to dance on stage but right now I want to focus on my company and continue compiling stories and insights from people I respect. I’m even launching a new series on another online publication I manage, The Content Mix, which will focus on the takeaways that businesses can carry with them after the crisis has passed. We’ve all had to overcome major obstacles lately, and I think we should make the most of the lessons learned moving forward.

What’s the first thing you’ll do once this lockdown is over?

I’ll go straight to my dance studio, Escuela Mayor de Danza. Then I’ll get a plane ticket and go visit my family in NYC and have a coffee at my family’s cafe, The Hungarian Pastry Shop.

Do you have any tips for how you can help those in need?

If you can help others in any way, that’s wonderful. But my sister told me something recently that I totally agree with: “Just take care of yourself right now and be a voice of reason.” Staying safe and sound during this time is enough. You don’t have to be a hero. You can help later on if you’re not in a position to at the moment.

What’s going on in your hometown and would you like to send them a message?

Stay home, New York.

Check out all Madrid lockdown diaries

*This article was just picked up by The Local newspaper!

*Feature image by Raphael Hauser



Lockdown diaries: Jake, musician usually on tour & performing concerts across Europe

It’s these small acts of kindness that help me survive as an artist, since my income evaporated due to the breakdown of the gig economy.

Jake was on tour in Germany and had just finished up his second of 50 concerts lined up across Europe. Now that’s all been canceled and he can’t book any new shows, not even for the winter months, because venues don’t know if they’ll ever open up again. The music industry and artists in general are suffering greatly, but there are a few (little) things we can do to help.

Jake Shane is a professional singer-songwriter and guitarist who makes his living performing concerts in Europe. He’s been living in Madrid for most of the last 7 years. You can check out Jake’s music on Bandcamp, YouTube, Spotify, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram. Songs, videos and social media links here. 

What was your life like just before the lockdown vs. today?

Much of my daily life is occupied by four main activities: writing songs, rehearsing them, booking concerts, and touring. I was on tour in Germany when I received news that Spain was going to shut down, having just finished the second of 50 shows I had planned for the first half of this year.

My remaining concerts for that and several subsequent tours were canceled. On top of that, I’m now finding that venues simply are not booking new concerts even for the winter months at the moment, because they don’t know if their business will ever open again. Fortunately, in Madrid I can still rehearse (sorry neighbors!) and write, at least now that I’ve adopted measures to help me make the most of this time at home (more on that below). 

How has the lockdown impacted your industry?

The music industry is suffering greatly, and artists are struggling to figure out how to monetize their music during this time when all touring is prohibited and most people already prefer Spotify to purchasing albums. In addition to streaming concerts online and giving lessons, artists are asking people to purchase our music digitally and setting up Patreon pages. Especially now, social media is king, and sharing artists’ music with your friends is an easy and free way to help. 

Have you noticed any acts of kindness or uplifting things recently?

I’ve had friends reach out to me and ask if they can help in any way which has been amazing. I’ve also made my online concerts donation-based with a link to a virtual tip jar and people from different parts of the world have been kind enough to contribute.

It’s these small acts of kindness that help me survive as an artist, since my income evaporated due to the breakdown of the gig economy. I hope touring will be permitted at some point this year but I’m very grateful for the support I’ve received during this tough time.

How are you coping?

I started not using the internet until 4pm! This one change sharpens my focus on writing, composing and reading, as well as reduces my stress levels and improves my mood dramatically. Usually I abide by a version of this rule, but found myself faltering during the first week and a half of the lockdown. I was glued to the screen, constantly checking for updates.

Waiting for the U.S. to suffer the same fate was like watching a ship sailing straight for Shipwreck Island and refusing to alter its course. I couldn’t concentrate on my work at all. So I returned to my tested method of limiting internet usage. I turn my phone and computer on airplane mode at night, which helps avoid taking a peek at messages in the morning. 

What goals are you hoping to achieve as our time in lockdown continues?

I’m working on new songs, deepening my knowledge of music theory, and figuring out how to make money with music from home. I’ve started giving songwriting and guitar lessons on Skype, and am trying to complete a certain number of instrumental songs before the lockdown is over.

What’s the first thing you’ll do once this lockdown is over?

Go camping. 

Have a listen to Jake’s April Song

Check out all Madrid lockdown diaries



Lockdown diaries: David, owner of Oso Brew Co & La Osita craft beer bar in La Latina

Just take each day as it comes –  thinking about the days and weeks to come makes it a hundred times worse!

David spent most days either at his own bar, La Osita, or going to other people’s bars. Now he’s at home with his poodle and fiancé, cooking more than ever, and drinking beer out on his terrace. He’s compiled a list of ways we can help our favorite local spots survive and just set up his own initiative, Craft Contra Covid, in which 50% of sales of certain beers will be donated to a charity helping young people out of this crisis.

David Ross has been living in Madrid (this time!) for a year and a half or so. Together with his business partner Patrick, they’ve set up Oso Brew Co, a brewery focused on brewing refreshing craft beers, and La Osita, a pub in La Latina. You can read all about it in this Naked Madrid article.

What was your life like just before the lockdown vs. today?

Before lockdown I spent most days either working at our bar or out and about at other bars, brewing or in other beer-related activities… all of which is now basically off limits! So, this is by far the longest I’ve not been behind – or sitting at – a bar for a very long time, so it’s safe to say my life has completely and utterly changed.

How are you coping?

I spend a lot more time cooking than I used to. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed – and done a lot of – but there are some things, such as marinating overnight, making cakes and using more weird and wonderful ingredients that I usually can’t be bothered to do. Not a problem now! I’d recommend pushing your culinary boundaries, some recipe suggestions include Guinness Cake (substituting the black stuff for our Porter!), anything from Sabrina Ghayour, Dave Chang’s Bo Ssam, as well as just ordering pre-cooked stuff from the guys at Kitchen 154 to heat up at home!

Also, support local shops – butchers, bakers, greengrocers – they need you; the big supermarkets are going to come out the other side of this, many small shops won’t.

What goals are you hoping to achieve as our time in lockdown continues?

Given we’re now looking at another month in quarantine, setting some goals is becoming pretty crucial! Not something I’m usually good at, but I think I’ve got three key aims: firstly, to make sure the bar & brewery comes out of this stronger; secondly, to read all the books I can as I usually don’t get round to it; and thirdly, to learn a new skill that I would never usually have the time and inclination to do (skill TBC).

How has the lockdown impacted your industry?

Bars, cafes, restaurants and the wider world of food and drink is one of the industries most affected by the lockdown. The current crisis is going to have a huge impact both in the short and long term with hundreds of venues closing the shutters permanently, and many others stuck with very significant legacy financial issues.

If you want to help your favourite local spots survive, there are some great websites where you can buy now to enjoy later – for example Cuando Volvamos and Salvemos Nuestros Restaurantes. Takeaway and delivery are of course also a way in which you can keep some money flowing into the coffers of hard-stretched hostelería – as a shameless plug we’ve (literally) just launched a web shop for our beers and merchandise. We’re also trying to keep the pub atmosphere alive (virtually) and are running a pub quiz every Friday night via Instagram Live (@laositamadrid)!

What’s the first thing you’ll do once this lockdown is over?

As much as Madrid is a great city to live in, it’s pretty urban and lacking in greenery (particularly with the parks closed!) so the first thing I’ll be doing is getting out of Madrid into the mountains. Then I’ll be straight down to a/our bar to have a drink and see someone other than my fiancé and dog (no offence to them)…

Do you have any tips for how we can help those in need?

As much as we’re all going to find the coming weeks and months challenging, it’s going to have a much more significant impact on the most vulnerable in our society. People already living day-to-day or month-to-month will be struggling even more than usual to buy food and to scrape by. Websites such as Goteo and MiGranoDeArena offer great ways to help specific projects, and there are plenty of charities that you can support directly.

We’ve just started our own campaign – Craft Contra Covid – which means we’ll be donating 50% from the sales of certain beers to a charity that will help support young people to come out of the other side of this crisis – we’ve got bigger plans for the coming weeks as well with this campaign so watch this space.

Who are you in quarantine with? Any advice for people in your similar situation?

I’m quarantined with my fiancé Sarah and our 1-year old poodle puppy Freya, so I’m pretty lucky to have great company and non-stop puppy entertainment. My tip in general terms would be just to take each day as it comes – thinking about the days and weeks to come makes it a hundred times worse!

If you could tell the government one thing right now, what would it be?

Of course, the Government is rightly focused right now on giving every support possible to the health service to try and address the spread of this awful disease and the terrible impact it’s having on people all over the country. But I think they also need to act as quickly as possible to provide more direct support to combat the devastating economic impact of the crisis – for people and for businesses. Loans, delayed tax payments and complicated support schemes are window dressing that will just paper over the cracks – they will not save many individuals and businesses from ruin.

A temporary universal basic income and a direct grant to every PYME affected would be a good start and would protect livelihoods and support families in a very direct and impactful way. Tying everyone up in reams of bureaucracy is not going to help anyone but the gestores!

What’s going on in your hometown and would you like to send them a message?

London is pretty much is the same boat as Madrid, so just keep on keeping on.

Check out our article about La Osita when it had just opened:

La Osita, great craft beer (and big plans) in La Latina

Check out all Madrid lockdown stories



Lockdown diaries: Paula, Condé Nast Traveler editor, Vermutería Pop-up founder & new mom

People will want to travel more than ever once they’re able to safely leave their homes.

Although the travel industry is on hold right now, it looks like everything will bounce back once this is all over, says Paula Móvil, a journalist and food expert who’s originally from Guatemala and has been living in Madrid for the past 17 years. Paula is currently working as the lifestyle editor for Condé Nast Traveler Spain and is also the co-founder of La Vermutería Pop-up, a traveling bar that supports local vermouth brands by throwing aperitivo events around the city. Follow them because they’ve got big plans in store…

What was your life like just before the lockdown vs. today?

For me, things have gotten even more weird with the lockdown. I was about to finish my maternity leave after 5 months of staying home with my baby. So I was very excited about going back to work and getting my “normal life” back. Lockdown has made me stay home for an extra month, although now I’m teletrabajando. The good thing is that Lorca, my son, sees me 24/7, instead of the 3-4 hours he would have been awake with me once I got back from work.

How has the lockdown impacted your industry?

I work for the Condé Nast Traveler magazine. So with all of the hotels, airports and restaurants being closed, we’re rewiring all of our content to focus on ways to travel without actually traveling. Things are very much on hold now in our industry but it all points to the fact that, once this is all over, everything will get back on track and with very much strength. After all, people will want to travel (more than ever) once they’re able to safely leave their homes.

Also, our April issue is available for a free download in our webpage, something we had never done before. This is something Condé Nast Spain came up with to support the lockdown and bring the magazine directly to our readers’ homes. Kiosks will not be harmed by this, though. CN has offered to pay the same amount as in the sales of our March issue to show them our appreciation for the support they give the company month after month. 

Check out the whole April issue for free

Have you noticed any acts of kindness or uplifting things recently?

I’ve noticed that little by little we’re all worrying much more about others. We’re all much more aware of the people around us and thinking of ways we can help – be it supporting our favorite restaurants or stores by purchasing their products online, or even just buying bread from our local bakery instead of the supermarket. People whom I hardly hear of have also written to check on me and today I even got a surprise food delivery from a very dear friend.

What are your top 5 bars you can’t wait to go back to?

  • Casa Camacho: one of those Madrid staples that should not disappear. Having a vermouth with gin here is a must once this is all over. 
  • Viva Madrid: Punt e Mes vermouth with an olive skewer from Bombas, Cohetes y Lagartos de Vallecas. Couldn’t ask for anything more. 
  • Bodegas Rosell: haven’t been here in ages… and I miss it. 
  • Tipos Infames: not quite a vermouth bar, but they sell some great brands by the bottle (Casa Mariol). Plus, I have a list of books that I need to get my hands on once this is over. 
  • La Gloria: can’t wait to indulge in Sol’s flamenquines and a cold vermouth. 

What goals are you hoping to achieve as our time in lockdown continues?

Try to keep myself in a good mood and don’t stress about being overly “productive.” Just be able to do everything I need to one step at a time, one day at a time.

How are you coping?

The baby leaves me no time whatsoever to read, cook or watch TV shows, which is kind of tough, because I think all these things would help me take my mind off the whole situation. But I cope by thinking that lockdown does have an end date. I think of this as something that will end soon and that we just have to make the most out of each day by enjoying work, enjoying our kids and enjoying the fact that we are OK.

Have there been any comical moments in this unprecedented time?

I’ve had to come up with new and funnier ways of entertaining my son at home, so yes, sometimes I just find myself laughing and screaming or making weird faces/jokes at home so he gets to laugh and enjoy the day. Oh, and seeing myself in my sweatpants and with weird hairstyles is actually very comical!

Who are you in quarantine with? Any advice for people in your similar situation?

With my husband and 6-month-old son. In the case of children, try to think of new activities for them to do at home but don’t sweat it if they get bored at some point. Also, don’t try to make every activity educational, it’s fine and more than OK to just have fun. In the case of my husband and I, we try to avoid conversations about COVID. There is so much we can hear on the news about it that we allow ourselves to avoid overthinking about it or sharing “data” we’ve read about it that day. It helps a lot to keep us sane.

What’s the first thing you’ll do once this lockdown is over?

Go to my downstairs bar and drink a cold caña!

Do you have any tips for how we can help those in need?

Yes, post a note in your apartment building and let your neighbors (those with a higher risk of infection) know that you can gladly help them with their groceries or pharmacy shopping.

If you could tell the government one thing right now, what would it be?

Can we please go have a walk in the Retiro?

What’s going on in your hometown and would you like to send them a message?

Guatemala still has very few cases but everyone has, little by little, started to stay at home.

Stay tuned for La Vermutería Popup‘s upcoming events because they plan to make it BIG

Check out all Madrid lockdown stories