Sharks. They’ve been around for a while. Like, at least 420 million years “a while.” Like, older than Mount Everest, dinosaurs, trees, and people “a while.” But now, due to overfishing (aka, capitalism), our weird-looking, historically misunderstood finned ancestral brothers and sisters of the deep blue might not be around for much longer. Which is why we here at Atlas want to wish you a very happy 11th annual Fintastic Friday — a worldwide holiday bringing awareness to and encouraging the protection of elasmobranchii (i.e., sharks and stuff) near and far. If you, however, don’t really care about stuff like that and just want to have a good time, then we’d like to wish you a very happy World Cocktail Day, as today also marks 216 years since the publication of the very first definition of a cocktail, i.e. “a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters.” Oh, and for those of you suffering from friggatriskaidekaphobia — remember to just breathe, it will all be over soon, but maybe stay out of the water today. Oh yeah, and keep an eye out for Nossa Senhora de Fátima just in case too.
Anyhoo, and now, without further ado, here’s some stimulating cultural goodness for you to sink your aesthetic teeth into this weekend and onwards:
May 13
FOLK-PUNK AND OTHER CONCERT:
Tonight, local Ska, Greek Rebetiko, Colombian Cumbia, Balcan-Klezmer, World-Folk, Folk-Punk, and regular Punk connoisseurs Ramblers Parade come to BUS – Paragem Cultural to help you boogie down to “a high energy danceable sound with a message of solidarity with social struggles.” Entry is 3-5€.
TRIBUTE CONCERT (AND PIZZA):
And speaking of social struggles, three locals pay musical tribute to legend José Zeca Afonso at La Sharada tonight by going through his most unknown repertoire. They add that “the meaning of his music is still present, as a symbol of freedom and anti-fascism, as important in his days as today.”
Entry is 4€.
May 14
HEALTHIER THAN PIZZA FOOD MARKET:
This Saturday morning, O Mercado de Produtores da Comida Independente once again hits Cais do Sodré with its freshly and ethically sourced edibles that are “both good for your stomach and your wallet.” Samples are free.
PUNK ROCK EP RELEASE CIRCUS EXTRAVAGANZA:
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: local demigods who may or may not be in Atlas’ pocket in any way, shape, or form The Tourorists are presenting their second official EP at a f.cking circus tomorrow night, and there are only like five 8€ tickets to be part of history left.
Now through May 15
DOCUMENTARY FILM ABOUT NICK CAVE:
Andrew Dominik’s year-old documentary This Much I know To be True at Cinema Nimas is about love-him-or-hate-him Nick Cave and his Bad Seeds bandmate Warren Ellis. It follows the first performances of their latest two studio albums, shows, and, in the words of the organizers, “the duo’s state of mind as they go through a new and optimistic phase,” and even has a brief cameo by Marianne Faithful. You can see it all weekend long for 10€.
Now through May 30
VIDEO EXHIBIT INSIDE A SHIPPING CONTAINER:
All summer long, a shipping container in the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s garden hosts three cycles of video exhibitions, the first of which is CAM em Movimento #1: corpo corpo corpo — two video works exploring “tensions between a ghostly mute female body and a male body on its back, both solid and ethereal, struggling to leave something behind.” Entry is free (we think).
Now through Jan 1
POSTHUMOUS ART EXHIBIT:
Meanwhile, Portuguese artist Julião Sarmento’s Abstracto, Branco, Tóxico e Volátil is a large-scale show in which Julião, who died one year ago, “feels very present.” Its organizers add that “his works present no conclusions, theses, or hypotheses, do not ask questions nor give answers; rather, they propose that we enter into their game between concealment and revelation, and that we construct our own stories.” You can construct your own story, based on Julião’s, for 5€.
And, finally, just a heads-up — you now have less than ten days to check out Stanley Kubrick’s photographs in Cascais, a humble but impressive drawing/photography exhibit by some lesser-known names in Chiado, or both.
For more cultural stuff Atlas deems worthy of your attention around town this summer, browse our What’s On section. Stay hydrated, stay safe, stay sane, and have a fintastic weekend, y’all.