HOROSCONCEPT

HOROSCONCEPT

Discover which type of holidaymaker you are according to your star sign!

ARIES: “Where’s the best place to go out?”

You need the beat to move your body, and you’re the party starter who drags your friends from one bar to another at the drop of a hat. You’ve got a road map with all the island’s unmissable parties, and you never miss a Rock Nights.

TAURUS: “Let’s get organised.”

You have everything under control, even on holiday. You drive your friends crazy with an endless list of things to do. You’re easily recognisable on the beach because you are surrounded by gadgets: shovels, cooler, umbrella…

GEMINI: “Swimwear off, we’re in Ibiza.”

Uninhibited is synonymous with summer for Geminis. Aguas Blancas is your home and nudism your religion. You’ve got plenty of energy to give and take, and your charm and lack of clothing instantly puts you on the guest list of any club.

CANCER: “I used to come here a lot with my ex.”

There is nothing more Cancer than constantly talking about your ex, especially if you’ve just broken up. You can be a bit of a party-pooper and you’ll find it hard not to cry at sunset at Cap des Falcó. Patience my friend, summer cures everything.

LEO: “Have you seen my sunglasses?”

You don’t go anywhere without your favourite accessory. You need to feel more important more than anyone else, and sunglasses are the perfect way to stand out without appearing that you desperately need attention.

VIRGO: “One Espresso Martini, please.”

You NEVER lose your cool. You’re able to be as drunk as a skunk without anyone noticing, hold your own while talking about politics at 4 a.m. in Pikes, and still look as fresh as a daisy while suffering the worst hangover of your life.

LIBRA: “This summer, I’m going to pull more than ever.”

Natural born seducers. Libras need to score, or the summer doesn’t exist for you. You usually drop by Dorado Live Shows with a badass outfit, cheeky winks à gogo and with Samantha Jones is your spirit animal.

SCORPIO: “Leave me alone, I’m hungover.”

Beware of pissing them off on their day off (or any other day of the year). They need space to relax, and their natural habitat is at Lay Back Disco in Paradiso, sipping a G&T. They are capable of swimming across to Formentera if you disappear without excuse.

SAGITTARIUS: “I’m getting up early tomorrow to go scuba diving.”

You’re the friend in the group that barely anyone notices because 70% of the time you go off on adventures alone. The Portinatx lighthouse is your secret spot, and you only signed up for the trip because it offered so many opportunities for solo missions!

CAPRICORN: “Are you good with margaritas? Give me 4!”

All or nothing. Capricorns go all in or go home, and that’s the way they like it. You’re a sucker for a mean margarita with salt on the rim. You like to be seen at Romeo’s pool, 24/7, sporting an unbeatable tan. Bon vivant? Moi?

AQUARIUS: “I’m going to let myself go and see where the summer takes me.”

You look forward to going on holiday, and you always meet random people who become your best friends (at least for a while). You start the day with a swim at Salinas and end it shaking your hips at Salsero in Cubanito.

PISCES: “Let’s go to the beach bar where the blond guy we met yesterday works.”

You’re very much into falling in love with someone different every day and using your free time on following them around. You’re more naive than you seem, and you’re unlucky in love, but better at gambling. You’ll find them shouting BINGO!!! at Romeo’s.

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The Real Ones- Alba Pau

THE REAL ONES: Alba Pau

By Laura Martínez

Can Pau: A farmhouse near Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera that is a temple of Mediterranean gastronomy, a woman with staring inquisitively from behind black-rimmed glasses and a conversation about the getting diners to keep coming back. Alba Pau is the soul behind Can Pau, one of Ibiza’s most emblematic restaurants. Its walls have witnessed as many anecdotes as the exquisite Ibicenco and Catalan dishes that are its hallmark. This family of restaurateurs from Girona moved to the island 50 years ago and are staunch defenders of both cuisines. If you like good food, be sure to book your table!

Can Pau has delighted demanding stomachs since 1973 with delicious cannelloni and butifarra sausages. How have you stayed on the crest of the wave for so long?

“There’s no secret other than years of dedication and hard work. We are three generations of a family committed to Mediterranean gastronomy and customer service, and it’s common to serve grandparents, parents and children from the same family. Sometimes, when the restaurant is full, I look around and realise that I know almost all of the diners. That’s the most gratifying thing about this job, the affection that people show.”

How has Ibiza changed since you arrived?

“Wow, a lot! It was delightful, architects, artists, princes and princesses from across Europe came to eat here… we’ve always been very clear about what sets us apart: great food and discretion. Everybody is welcome to enjoy our cuisine and feel at home with us. Naomi Campbell used to call and ask for a takeaway to be brought to Space, and I took it there for her. Nowadays, we have influencers, which is nice as well, but it’s something else.”

Ibiza has a deeply rooted gastronomy that is, however, unknown to the general public. Where does the problem lie?

“You’ve hit the nail on the head! Ibicenco cuisine and produce are marvellous, but the island’s tourist season lasts from May to October, meaning we don’t have much time to make a mark with our gastronomy, and there are few places that open 365. In my opinion, you have to be able to be open all year round to be able to show the client what you are all about.”

In Ibiza, you are well-known for your work with good causes and your commitment to various associations. Tell us about your humanitarian side.

“My family was very religious and closely linked to the old people’s home in my village, Banyoles. I would go to the home as a child and give treats, such as tobacco and sweets, to the elderly. The staff made me look after the chickens if they caught me! My parents took in a woman and told us she was our aunt until one day my mother came clean and said she didn’t want to tell us the truth because she wanted the woman to feel like a part of our family. When you grow up in a family where generosity is part of everyday life, it rubs off on you! I have been closely associated with APNEEF (Association of People with Special Needs in Ibiza & Formentera) for more than 20 years, offering everything from social skills workshops to pedagogical and psychological care. I am also the frontwoman for Plataforma Sociosanitaria, chaired by Antonia Ramón, and with whom we organised a telephone fundraiser at Pacha Ibiza in 2021, and Conciencia, chaired by Marisa Marí. Together we try to ensure that children with difficulties enjoy a happy childhood.”

What is the most popular dish on the menu?

“The cannelloni! It’s the only dish I can’t take off the menu because they would kill me! There was a time when even my car smelled of cannelloni! The cauliflower au gratin is unmissable as well.”

This is more of a reflection than a question. As Helena Bonham Carter said: ” I think everything in life is art, the way you walk, how you talk…” The art of Can Pou is winning people over through their stomach and their hearts.

“And by knowing how to listen! Going to a restaurant is very much like going to a confessional to ask forgiveness for your sins, it is important to listen to what people are saying without, of course, taking their problems home with you.”

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Did you know

Did you know?

Roger Waters & Ibiza

The name of Pink Floyd will always be linked with Formentera. The British group, standard-bearers of 70’s psychedelic rock, sought refuge on the small island that at the time was practically virgin. Syd Barrett and Roger Waters were the first to arrive in summer 1967.

In this isolate place, halfway between Europe and Africa, they found inspiration to compose various songs. Some years later, when Barrett left Pink Floyd due to mental health problems, Waters, the band’s new singer, and David Gilmour, the new guitarist, composed in Formenters the soundtrack for the film More. The Sant Ferran de Ses Roques windmill appears on the album’s cover.

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Levis & Back to Eco

Levis & Back to Eco

Levi’s® offers drop-off points for second hand denim for their clients, starting today, that they will donate to the association Back to Eco to be upcycled.

Sustainability isn’t a trend, it’s a requirement. Here at Levi’s® we not only want to contribute to change by giving a voice to the projects we support, but by being an active part of their efforts. That’s why we’ve joined forces with Back to Eco, a Spanish non-proffit specialized in used denim, a sustainable project that aims to create awareness about normalizing circular fashion and reduce environmental waste.

The collaboration between Levi’s® and the nonprofit Back to Eco isa ll about taking direct action this season, and involve consumers in this misión by becoming agents of positive climate change, by installing drop off points for used denim at Levi’s® stores in Spain.

This inniciative is carried out through DONATION WALLS available at Levi’s® Stores in Preciados, Madrid, and Passeig de Gracia, in Barcelona, followed by the stores in Valencia, Sevilla, Vizcaya, Málaga, Albacete, Alicante, Granada, Huelva and Elche.

Donate your used denim

When denim is good quality, it becomes one of the best fabrics to recycle and re-work. That’s why Back to Eco focuses on upcycling this type of fabric, extending its life-cycle and lowering its carbon footprint.

“We have to place a very high value on our garments in order to minimize the damage we cause to the environment” – Núria Nubiola and Montse Bayén, Founders of Back to Eco.

How does donating work?

Now is the time to take action. With this new project Levi’s® and the NGO Back to Eco invite us to recycle denim products that we no longer use, regardless of the brand or origin, donating them through a recycling station at select Levi’s® Stores. Back to Eco will be in charge of reusing and transforming these garments and fabrics to create new durable products.

Levi’s® also supports local production, as the items collected at Levi’s® Stores will then be upcycled at the Back to Eco workshops and facilities, enabling the brand to have better control over their production, and in turn, less CO2 associated to transport emissions.

Consumers who participate in the program by bringging their denim to be recycled, will be compensated through a points system on the Levi’s® app 247 (1 donated item = 501 coins), that will ad discounts to future purchases.

On top of that, the DONATION WALLS at the Preciados and Passeig de Gracia stores, offer the consumer an interactive menu through which they can enjoy an immersive experience into the upcyling sustainability universe, brought to you by Levi’s® and Back to Eco.

Back to Eco, is the non-profit organization with which Levi’s® launches their local sustainable platform, where they highlight and develop circular fashion projects and specializes in used denim. With the aim to move towards and contribute to a more waste-conscious economy, this organization has created a unique workshop in which they work with Fundació Arrels, where they give a second life to denim, designing new and practical products made with re-used and recycled fibers, that are more sustainable and long-lasting.

In 2018 Back to Eco launched Infinitdenim, a sustainable fashion Brand created using recycled industrial denim. The recycling system that Back to Eco has developed, enables the creation of a new denim thread, made from recycled fibers. Through different processes we obtain a new fabric with a composition of 30% used denim, 20-30% recycled cotton and 40-50% cellulose derived from sustainably cultivated forests. Products are made with this sustainable fabric through a re-manufacturing process or industrial recycling. In this way, we can combine recycled material with organically produced plant-based fibers, to preserve biodegredable attributes of the new garment.

ABOUT LEVI’S®

The Levi’s® Brand represents classic American style with a cool, fresh and current flair. From it’s invention by Levi Strauss & Co. in 1873, Levi’s® jeans have become the most recognizable garment in the world, capturing the imagination as well as the loyalty of people for generations. Today, Levi’s® continues to evolve through their unstoppable pioneer and innovative spirit, unprecedented in the textile world. Our ‘jeanswear’ and accessories ranges are available in more than 110 countries, helping individuals from around the world to express their own style. For more information about Levi’s®,our products and stores, visit www.levi.com

ABOUT LEVISTRAUSS&CO.

Levi Strauss & Co. Is one of the biggest fashion companies in the world and international leader in jeans, formal wear and accessories for men, women and children, under the brands Levi’s®, Dockers®, created by Levi Strauss & Co. TM and Denizen®. Their products are sold in 110 countries around the world, through a combination of small suppliers, big department stores, online retail and a global presence of around 3.000 small stores and corners. Its net profits reported by Levi Straus & Co. During the 2018 finantial year were of $ 5.6 millon. For more information, visit http://levistrauss.com

ABOUT BACK TO ECO

Back to Eco is a non-profit organization who’s aim is to advocate and develop sustainable fashion projects, specializing in used denim. With the objective to move towards and contribute to a more circular economy, we have created a unique upcycling workshop, where we cut and sew all types of products made from the re-use and recycling of used denim. In 2018 the Back to Eco label launched Infinit Denim, a collection made from recycled industrial denim. These fabrics are also used as raw material to produce the products made by Back To Eco. https://infinitdenim.com/back-to-eco

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Crazy about shirts

Crazy about shirts

by Laura Martínez

But not just any shirt: Only Hawaiian and Western shirts make up the collection of more than 400 pieces owned by Diego Calvo. His obsession with American style started around the year  2002 and is now part of his identity. You’ll be able to view 10 pieces hand-selected by him, at Adda Gallery  Ibiza (Paradiso Art Hotel) from the 8th of June.

Unbeknownst to Ellery Chun craftsman and creator of the Hawaiian shirt – of the absolute object of desire he’d dreamed up. Attributing its invention to a sole person is complicated, as in the 1930s, multiple factors were at play to bring this garment into existence.

This man of Chinese origin owned a small shop in Waikiki (Hawaii) and one day (probably out of boredom) decided to sew together fabric pieces from old kimonos together and sell them as souvenirs for tourists. And voilá, it resulted in the first Hawaiian shirt prototype, which continued to evolve until the result – with its numerous variations – that we know today.

We recall various stills of Hawaiian shirts in movies, as the main show stealers, that remain forever in our cinematographic memory: Leo DiCaprio in ‘Romeo & Juliet’, our beloved Brad Pitt in ‘Once upon a time in Hollywood, Al Pacino in ‘Scarface’ or the unforgettable shirt worn by Tom Selleck in ‘Magnum’ -which you will be able to view first hand, courtesy of Diego Calvo- Without a doubt, it’s one of those timeless classics, considered by many as a true relic, with a considerable amount of worldwide enthusiasts who collect this fashion item. 

Far from becoming a thing of the past, the Hawaiian shirt never left and never will, it will always be a statement piece of the warmer seasons and an absolute icon in fashion, as we see it interpreted by multiple fashion brands like Dolce & Gabbana or  Acne Studios.

The exhibit is a kickstarter to a series of installations at Adda Gallery Ibiza from the 8th of June, with SURF VIBES,  a strong art collection that merges surf culture with the art world, two elements that have always gone hand in hand. The sea, waves, music, sun, beach… Are the inspiration behind the interpretations that the selected artists gave to these art pieces. Using surfboards as their canvases, and world-known POSCA markers as the main tool to create their artwork.

*The Hawaiian shirts and their stories, brought to you by Diego Calvo can be viewed in Adda Gallery Ibiza from the 8th of June.

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Casinos in cinema

Casinos in cinema

by Laura Martínez

Gambling and money have always been attractive elements in so many movie blockbusters. From thrillers to unforgettable love stories, casinos, neon lights, gambling, and the adventures that come with them, are staple classics of the 7th art.

I’m sure you remember ‘Rain Man’ (Barry Levinson, 1988) where a young Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, two orphan brothers that have nothing but each other. Charlie and Raymond are complete opposites, and they constantly clash; Charlie has a hard time communicating with Raymond, who suffers from autism, but after a night of big winnings at a casino in Vegas, this drastically improves, thanks to Raymond’s ease at scoring at the game.

It was in ’95 when Scorsese’s ‘Casino’ really introduced the game to the big screen. Set in the fabulous 70s led by a stellar cast (Sharon Stone, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci) The movie follows Sam “Ace” Rothstein, a professional gambler and owner of one of the most important casinos in Las Vegas, – that surprise, surprise – is involved with the mafia. Sharon Stone was awarded a Golden Globe for best actress of the year, for her role as Ginger McKenna.
Clive Owen embodied an aspiring writer turned croupier in ‘Croupier’ (Mike Hodges, 1998) His dire economic situation provokes him to get entangled with a female colleague who leads him down the destructive side of gambling.

One of the most turbulent love stories set in a casino film, took place in ‘Indecent Proposal’ (1993) directed by Adrian Lyne, tells the story of a young couple, Diana y David (Demi Moore y Woody Harrelson) who are looking for a quick way to fix their money struggles. 

Their desperation takes them to a casino in Las Vegas where they start with a lucky streak, but they decide to keep playing… We all know that if you’re too greedy you end up with nothing.

However, they manage to get ‘lucky’? When an attractive millionaire (Robert Redford) offers them one million dollars if Diana accepts to spend the night with him. The rest is history and lots of tears.

We can’t forget the exhilarating ‘21 Black Jack’ (2008) where a university professor (Kevin Spacey) decides to make some extra cash with the help of his best math class students and teach them how to count cards to cheat at Black Jack, and get rich from it. The group of students in question, are Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth y Aaron Yo. Led by Spacey, they walk around every casino in Las Vegas, filling their pockets, taking on multiple roles and identities.

And to finish off, it couldn’t be any other way, we must mention the James Bond saga (as far as contemporary James Bond movies go, played by Daniel Craig) ‘Casino Royale’ (Martin Campbell, 2006) shows the British agent, this time on a mission to dismantle and detain a terrorist organization, he risks everything in a poker game against the head honcho, Le Chiffre.

Clearly, the plot twists in casino narratives are endless and haven’t been completely explored yet… at Concept, we dream of having our own casino and live new adventures in it. Who knows, maybe one day.

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Stories Magazine 2022

Stories Magazine

B.B King’s classic heralds the 4th edition of STORIES, packed with the building blocks of Concept Hotel Group’s DNA: art, design, film, fashion and music. These elements fire our collective imagination and enable us to create our lifestyle concept.

2022 is going to be a special year for many reasons, among them the fact that we are celebrating our anniversary. It’s been ten years since my friend Tallyn Planells and myself founded this unique and distinct hotel group, which now has seven hotels in Ibiza. With the same anticipation that we’ve had since day one, and the desire to continue growing, we’ve added another friend to the equation, Marc Rahola, with whom we share a very similar philosophy. Together, we are preparing more surprises for the island, and we are also working on making the leap to major European cities with our urban brand MITICO.

The opening of our 7th hotel, GRAND PARADISO, is another cause for celebration. It’s dedicated to audiovisual art and contains many groundbreaking elements that we hope you will enjoy as much as we did when we created them. Each corner is decked out in classic Art-Deco, making you feel like you are in a Baz Luhrmann movie. Even though digital magazines are ever more popular, we’ve decided to maintain STORIES as a printed magazine because we love everything that can be touched and smelt. It doesn’t contain advertisements and has nothing to do with the typical corporate magazine. It’s just dedicated to stuff that awakens our passion. I hope, and desire, that you enjoy it with a Margarita in hand.

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Expo Mats Bäcker

Expo Mats Bäcker

If we’re talking about a photographer that defined the rock scene of the 60s and 70s, we must mention Mats Bäcker (Hagfors, Sweden 1958) Icons of yesterday and today have been captured by his lens: Mick Jagger, Grace Jones, Bono, Marianne Faithfull, David Bowie, Joe Strummer, Iggy Pop and a long etcetera of immortalized artists in his signature black and white style.

At the end of the 70s and beginning of the 80s, the Punk wave surged through Europe and Scandinavians were the first ones to ride it. Bands traveled there before getting established, moved by those aggressive sounds and fashion. Mats Bäcker was there to capture all of it and became a house name in the Scandinavian scene. He was the first to photograph the band The Jam at their first gig outside of the United Kingdom.

His work, mainly influenced by journalism photography, looks for the sensuality and that casual coolness apparent in rockstars, in a timeless black and white, that exudes power and character. Every photograph has a story behind it, meaning that Bäcker is the omniscient narrator in each of them, telling us about the singular adventures that lead up to the meeting with the protagonists of the stills.

The photographs – and the stories – of this unprecedented artist, arrive on Wednesday 11 of May at our most Classic Rock hotel: Dorado. The Swedish photographer will host an exhibition together with Mondo Galería which will be on display until the 11th of June. Mark this date on your calendar, because you have a date with Mats Bäcker and rock history.

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SWING YO HIPS

Swing yo hips

The end of the roaring 20s was approaching and in the US, a new form of expression through movement was emerging. A new way of letting loose, to the sounds of modern variants of jazz music. The most notorious of these variants, and the closest to rock’n’roll at that time was Swing. It revolutionized dance floors, exploding into the decade of the 30s, with its devilish rythms and booming drums, piano, guitars and trumpets.

New Orleans, 1930. Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith led what was coined as ‘Jazz Swing’, the popular American music form that was blasted in Storyville, the place to be and be seen for all those looking for a mighty good time. It was a sort of sinners Club where everything that was regarded as inappropriate by society took place. Where whites and people of color defied cultural barriers, where ground breaking music forms were born for the enjoyment of the euphoric crowds.

Storyville was an oasis in the midst of a society completely divided by racial conflict, a place where you could forget about your problems with a swing of the hip.
Swing broke all the rules applied to multi-instrumental music and it became a dance with a great many variants. An updated version Charleston in the 20s, that started with Lindy Hop, a more informal and unfussed way of couple dancing, that emerged from the streets of Harlem.

 

The fast pace and agile movements – apart from having an innate rhythm – are basic requirements for dancers who take a brave shot at this discipline.

Becomming the most popular dance style until the 50s, that you’ll be able to learn in pure American style at our temple for Lovers & Sinners: Romeo’s Motel & Diner. Ladies, get out your full skirts and dresses out, and Gentlemen, roll up your sleeves because you’re going to boogie harder than Little Richard in a ‘Lucille’ performance. Swing is meant to be danced with a partner, so go find yourself one… Let’s shake those hips!

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Did you know

Did you know?

Eric Clapton & Ibiza

The summer of 1977 started the tradition of the biggest rock and roll artists coming to Ibiza to play live. It began with Eric Clapton, but his famous 1977 concert almost didn’t take place concert because almost ended up shipwrecked.

he former Cream guitarist was holidaying on the Costa Azul a couple of days before his Ibiza concert. He was accompanied by Patty Boyd, ex-wife of his ex-friend George Harrison, who Clapton would end up marrying in 1979, after making peace with the great ex-Beatle.

He was also accompanied by his musicians, their partners, and several friends. A storm surprised them when they set sail for Ibiza. It was the authentic journey from hell and afterwards Clapton decided that women would never travel again on his tours.

Did you know that we have an Eric Clapton room at Santos Ibiza?

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