Marco Torres Pop Life exhibition @ El Hotel: 27/02/09

Knowing that it was the last weekend of winter gave Miss W the urge to batten down the hatches, hire some DVDs and snuggle up on the couch with her cats while she still had a seasonal excuse, however Ibiza’s glorious weather combined with the Pop Life exhibition opening party tonight had me reaching for my nearest tie-dyed mini-dress and hotfooting it down to Pacha’s El Hotel.

Screen print artist Marco Torres – one of the crew responsible for the mega successful Rock Nights parties – was tonight adding a splash of vibrant colour to the otherwise all-white El Bar, in the form of an exhibition of Pop Art work, a series of 60s inspired imagery in the well-known style along with some retro visuals and a feast of musical sounds courtesy of Lost Angeles.

OK, so it wasn’t exactly The Factory and the installation wasn’t quite Andy Warhol, but with the pop art on the walls, the groovy soundtrack and the uber-cool arty types draped across couches for art’s sake, it was enough of a Sienna-Miller-as-Edie-Sedgewick fashion moment for me!

Vibrant colours and plenty of teensy little dots made up the bulls-eyes, bullets, Twiggy and Audrey Hepburn inspired heroines and foxy afro prints adorning the walls – some images seemed familiar while others (my favourite being a long-haired girl driving a car) were fresh to the eye and left me asking the question, where can I get myself one of these?

The music had a fun, nostalgic vibe and had plenty of punters bopping about (many of them from the comfort of the big comfy white couches, like choreographed dancers in a film clip) and was inspiring a few singalongs to the lyrics – or perhaps that had more to do with the free-flowing champagne doing the rounds?

I have to say, not being a card-carrying member of the artsy squad in Ibiza – I’m more of a drop-in member myself – I wasn’t aware that the general dress code was all black, meaning my colourful sixties attire really stood out from the generic monochrome uniforms of everyone else.

But Miss W has always loved being in the spotlight, so who’s complaining?

THE LOWDOWN

THE GOOD: Art openings are always good for spotting geek-chic potential boyfriends and tonight was no exception. Think thick square glasses, skinny jeans, stripey t-shirts and floppy hair and you’ll know the type I mean!

THE BAD: The quality of sound in El Hotel was a tad too echo-y and tinny for Miss W’s ears – I felt like I almost had to shriek just to hold a conversation with my friends.

THE GOSSIP: Miss W knows of a few well-known Ibiza social types who didn’t make it to the opening, despite rsvp-ing in the affirmative. Luckily for them, the exhibition continues until March 11th so perhaps they could purchase a piece of art to make up for missing the fabulous fiesta?

Calçotada @ Ca n’Escandell: 21/02/09

Contrary to popular belief, Miss W is not averse to getting her hands dirty. As much as I enjoy a manicure and a lavish dollop of hand cream whenever possible, there are occasions where I’m happy to muck in there and get amongst it. ‘Get amongst what?’ I can hear you thinking. Is it pottery? Gardening? Finger-painting perhaps?

No, this is something, had you explained it to me a week ago, I may have shied away from, however you live and learn, you shouldn’t knock it until you try it and I’m here to tell the tale.

I’ll just get on with it then, shall I?

On a gloriously sunny Saturday afternoon, Miss W and the White-ettes, with Little Miss Mini-White in tow headed to the rustic surrounds of San Juan Agroturismo Ca n’Escandell to sample a much-loved Catalan gastronomic tradition – the Calçotada.

Translating literally to Onion Feast, the calçotada is an homage to the succulent, lush and sweet green onions known as calçots, a cross between a leek and a spring onion, sporting long pale stems and ripe for the picking at the very end of winter.

Judging by the mouth-watering smell in the air, one could literally follow their nose to find where the action was taking place. Just past the pool was a l-o-n-g makeshift BBQ, where sizzling away on top were hundreds of bunches of calçots.

Once blackened to a crisp, each bunch was individually wrapped in newspaper, fish and chip style and taking their place on the grill was an assortment of meat and sausages. The combination of the delicious smell wafting through the air and the sun shining on her face left Miss W feeling like summer had already arrived.

Once we were seated, the friendly and informal style of dining meant grabbing your own parcel of calçots – and this is where getting messy begins – and digging in. After a quick demonstration, it was all systems go for the White-ettes, pinching the root of the charred onion to pull out the soft centre, dipping it in Romesco sauce (a tasty blend of roasted tomatoes, hot peppers, almonds, hazelnuts, vinegar, garlic, paprika and a lot of love according to Cristina Escandell) then tipping our heads back, taking aim and praying to the gods of fashion that it doesn’t end up all over your Miu Miu sweater! De-lish!

THE LOWDOWN

THE GOOD: If you are spending the weekend at Ca n’Escandell, the Calçotada is included as part of your stay. Thankfully for the rest of the Ibiza population, the public is invited to join in the fun every Saturday from now until the onions run out in April.

THE BAD: On one charcoal encrusted hand, getting dirty is all part of the process. On the other, it wouldn’t hurt to have some bowls of lemon water on the table to help clean up afterwards and avoid accidental black smears all over your clothing and face!

THE GOSSIP: Miss W was afraid of having onion breath, however the sweetness of calçots means you don’t even need a tic-tac. However, vegetarians beware! While the onion part of this tradition is very veg-friendly, the following main course is purely carnivore based. Our advice? Skip straight to the dessert and the accompanying Cava and Café Caleta.

Valentine's Day in Ibiza: 14/02/09

I’d like to start by saying it is totally not my fault I am unlucky in love. It’s not my fault that I have what can only be explained as extremely high standards for the guys that I meet to live up to or that so far, no one has managed to meet them. And it’s definitely not my fault that I believe in love at first sight, a love that lifts us up where we belong and that all we need is love.

Like most single girls around the world, Miss W blames all of the above entirely on her mother – who in turn has every right to pass the blame over to Walt Disney, seeing as I was brought up on a resounding chorus of ‘Some day my prince will come’ along with the firm fairytale belief that every girl grows up to get her very own happily ever after.

I should be so lucky!

So anyway here we are again, another loveless Valentine’s Day in Ibiza, where the postman is not beating a path to my door nor are the native blooms in danger of becoming extinct due to my extreme popularity. Hmmmm…

Thankfully for Miss W and her un-betrothed co-horts, it seems there is plenty of love to go around on V.Day in Ibiza. It may not be a candlelit table for two, however party-hopping by the light of a disco ball is every bit as desirable, especially when you know everyone at these parties will be single! From Grial’s Does Ya Mama Know… It’s Bloody Valentine’s Day, complete with gruesome black cats and charred roses and Be My Baby at Girlz Skool to a pre-club soiree at Pacha’s El Hotel, the Ibiza lonely hearts club were anything but this weekend.

However (for Miss W anyway) there was a distinct lack of potential boyfriend material in attendance at any of these events – only serving to remind me even more of my New Year’s Resolution (why oh why do I declare these things in such a public forum?) and the fact I am no closer to achieving it than I was on New Year’s Day! Lucky I have my friends, my social life and my island (oh, and of course my cats!) to keep me busy in the meantime…

I mean honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to make time for a Valentine’s date in my busy schedule anyway! Though between you and me, at this late stage any lost-in-the-post cards, gifts and marriage proposals may still be accepted…

THE LOWDOWN

THE GOOD: Despite the fact that there were no love interests on the horizon, Miss W still got a surprise visit from the Valentine Fairy in the form of a tailor-made card… Awwwww, friends are just the best, aren’t they?

THE BAD: Is it bad to feel pangs of envy when your friends are being showered with Agent Provocateur, weekend spa escapes at Aguas De Ibiza and even romantic proposals in sunny Mexico? I guess this is one time Miss W will have to settle for living vicariously through others…

THE GOSSIP: Is that the pitter-patter of tiny feet we can hear? At least, that’s what we suspect may be on the horizon for one of the island’s newly engaged couples, judging by the swift proposal and hasty wedding preparations…

07/02/09: Japanese Cultural Week wrap-up

I’m turning Japanese, I think I’m turning Japanese, I really think so…

That’s the tune that’s been on high rotation in Miss W’s head this week, the second annual Japanese Cultural Week in Ibiza. The seven-day program dotted with kitsch events and quirky workshops was enough to make me dig out my finest kimono (well, kimono-inspired outfit anyway) and get involved.

Starting with a contemporary dance performance – Butoh is the official name and I guess the best way to describe it is as a Japanese modern ballet interpretation. It was certainly something we don’t see on the podiums at Pacha in the summer!

Next up, a Manga flick (I love the amazing animation, even if I can’t always follow the storyline) followed by master classes in sushi making at Ibiza hotspot, sushipoint. After two days of lessons, I think Miss W can safely say that she’d prefer to leave this particular art to the professionals.

Sadly, Friday night’s dance spectacular in the Dalt Vila Cathedral was rained out, which meant early doors at Grial for Does Ya Mama Know (‘We’ve got Japanese Friends!’ their gorgeous Geisha girl emblazoned flyer declared).

With beautiful oversized folding fans, paper lanterns and sprigs of almond blossom hanging from the roof, a dash (or four) of sake plus the rain-sodden performers (who at one point decided the actual bar was the perfect space to dance, instruments and all) Grial became Ibiza’s very own little Tokyo for the night.

The grand finale? The closing party at Pacha’s El Hotel, presented by HOVI VJ Club. A room that can sometimes appear a little clinical white space became a buzzing hive of full of TV screens and techie-looking equipment, churning out a fusion of music and super cool visuals, inspired by Japanese culture. By midnight, the bar was overflowing and Miss W thought it was the perfect time slip away unnanounced….

I mean, you wouldn’t want me to turn into an origami pumpkin would you?

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The chance to become completely immersed in another culture for a week, without even having to leave the island.
THE BAD: The crazy kooky weather the world has been experiencing this week has even affected ibiza, as we were hit with a week of unpredictable high winds and flash storms, which didn’t bear well for the outdoor events planned.
THE GOSSIP: The promotional flyer for the closing party spoke of inspiring Japanese fashion, however Miss W isn’t quite sure you could call the choice of matching head-to-toe red ensembles of audio visual producers FR4M3 particularly inspired. Even though the duo have recently returned form a trip to the place in question, we're pretty sure this is NOT a direct nod to the streets of Harajuku…

24/01/09: Rock Nights @ Somni

When news of a Comic Book Heroes party in Ibiza broke tonight, Miss W was the first on the scene – disguised as a mild mannered reporter for a major metropolitan well, website – to bring you the scoop, in the name of truth, justice and the Ibiza way!

Rock Nights was the party and Ibiza’s all-new whiz-bang club Somni was the place to be and judging by the amount of super heroes milling around the Figueretes promenade, this was going to be a fancy-dress event to rival Bambuddha Grove’s Halloween extravaganza (and this time, Miss W arrived early enough to actually gain entrance).

A couple of super-sexy Wonder Women, some masked Avengers, a green-haired Joker, the obligatory Batman and (even better!) his sidekick Robin, a Zorro here and a Lara Croft there – and that was before we’d even stepped through the doorway!

Once inside Miss W was absolutely blown away, not only by the many plastic-gun toting villains in attendance, but also by the incredible décor adorning every inch the club. Somni had been morphed into a geek’s wildest dream - amazing oversized comic strips plastered the walls, a life-sized Batman silhouette dominated the DJ booth, iconic characters covered every wall, pillar and post and of course, cartoon graphics were on constant loop on the plasma television screens.

I tell you, if I hadn’t have known about the party, I would have been petrified I’d stumbled into a comic book convention by accident!

The dance floor was as full as a hot summer’s night, with a temperature to match – and let me just say, when there is that much spandex in one room, air conditioning is essential! At one point it resembled a rock concert, complete with moshing, jumping and singalongs to all your old favourites - think Depeche Mode and The Clash and you’ll get the animated picture.

For Miss W though, it was all about the amazing costumes – and discovering who was beneath the masks. A real live Mrs Emma Peel, Kill Bill’s Bride in all her yellow Lycra glory, Clark Kent with just a hint of the ‘S’ popping out of his shirt, an Incredible Hulk and enough slinky Catwomen to get the male population purring…

Don’t ask me who they were though - I can never reveal my sources…

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Soooo much effort went into making this a truly unforgettable event –the costumes sported by guests and the spectacular themed décor - and it’s clear to see why this party is fast becoming the most anticipated monthly night this winter.
THE BAD: The biggest villains on the night had to be the bar staff – or lack therof. With a full-to-the-rafters club, just reaching the bar seemed like a challenge, however once you arrived, the challenge to actually get served had only just begun.
THE GOSSIP: Whispers on the day of the party centred around DJ Colin Peters, flying in from London for the occasion. Was his flight really delayed due to hurricane warnings in Palma? Were all ferry services suspended? Was this just another hoax? Was Super-Colin going to appear behind the decks to save the day? Sadly… the rumour mill proved to be true and Colin was nowhere to be seen. Guess Superman was too busy on the dance floor to come to his rescue!

16/01/09: Fish & Chip Friday @ Ocho

Miss W loves a good tradition, however given the oft-unpredictable fast-paced-meets-laidback nature of Ibiza life, it can seem a little hard to come by – or to stick to. But now we’re in the thick of winter (in all its sunny glory) the opportunity to start a new tradition has presented itself and Miss W plans to be the first to embrace it.

The event in question? A time-honoured tradition all over the world and one the island residents are already quite adept at – that is, the long, lazy (and dare we say occasionally boozy) Friday afternoon lunch.

Today, the colourful and cosy surrounds of Ocho beckon, kick starting the weekend with a very special menu item that has stomachs growling and mouths watering at sunrise. Ladies and gentleman, welcome to… Fish and chip Friday!

From the minute I walked through the door – escorted by the ever so charming (and equally good looking!) Pacha posse – it felt like turning up to lunch at a friend’s villa. After a warm welcome from the gorgeous lady of the manor (or finca!) Leah Tilbury and Ocho’s adorable waiter Marco (who pulls off quirky-chic to perfection), we circled the three intimate rooms like a social soiree, saying hola to practically everyone we’d ever met. Looks like good news travels fast…

Now let’s get down to the matter of the food. Melt-in-your-mouth creamy battered fish, fresh buttery peas and quite possibly THE perfect potato chips accompanied by a creamy dill-rich tartare sauce courtesy of chefs de jour Miguel and Damien were being whizzed out to every table at a rapid rate - though Leah assures us this is due to demand and regular menu items are still on offer, should you feel the need to variate from the special. Though with fish and chips this good, I can’t imagine why anyone would?

After lunch it seemed a grown-up game of musical chairs was in session, as we proceeded to take places at other tables, chat over a glass of vino, occasionally switching tables or widening our circles to include newcomers – oh, and if you worried this all sounds a tad too local-centric, let me assure you, everyone is welcome and Miss W doesn’t bite! Particularly if you’re tall, dark, handsome and errr, single…

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Friday. Fish. Chips. Need I say more? Oh wait – peas. See you next Friday!
THE BAD: The much hyped apple crumble was so popular it ran out before Miss W could give her verdict! Though my waistline would probably argue that skipping dessert is a good thing…
THE GOSSIP: The lovely Leah is heading off to London this weekend but it doesn’t mean we won’t still get the same warm reception next week – Miss W hears whispers that Leah’s vibrant mum (and well-known island personality) Patsy will be taking over the front-of-house reigns while she’s away…

07/01/09: Miss W’s 2009 New Year’s Resolutions

In the spirit of starting the New Year on the right foot – though if you ask me when you are wearing the gorgeous new IBZcode boots I got for Christmas BOTH left and right feet are the right ones, if you know what I mean – Miss W has decided to publicly declare her New Year’s Resolutions. I figure, if I put them out there, I feel more of a responsibility to make them happen…

1. Detox. I do believe winter is the perfect time to detox, to purify, to get in shape and to really focus on your own personal holistic wellbeing. Does it sound like Miss W has come over all Gwyneth Paltrow-esque? You may laugh at my celebrity inspiration, but I’ll have you know that just because I don’t meditate on a daily basis doesn’t mean I’m not down with the teachings of the Dalai Lama! In 2009 I plan on practicing daily (well…. perhaps every second day!) yoga at the Ibiza Gran Open Spa, decked out in Stella McCartney’s über-luxe Adidas range of course, and indulging in a little Ayurvedic massage and a Panchakarma retreat (inspired by White’s very zen-like Wellbeing editor Larah Davis of Ibiza Retreats) and finally, changing my diet to include only organic produce. Breakfast, lunch or dinner at Parawdiso anyone?

2. Broaden my horizons. It has come to my attention lately that over the past few months Miss W has garnered a bit of a reputation for being a party girl, a term she finds slightly offensive. Social butterfly yes, party girl no. While I am not arguing that I do indeed spend a lot of time at fabulous events, I would like it known from hereon in that I have a brain AND a heart to go with my fantastic wardrobe. It’s easy to live life as though you are in a bubble in Ibiza, which is why I have made it my mission, Angelina-style, to volunteer for charity work (and yes, walking homeless dogs counts) and brush up on my knowledge of current world affairs whilst also mastering the Spanish language. Should make me a fascinating and highly sought-after guest next time the likes of Deliciously Sorted or The Shop are sending out invites to their ultra-excusive VIP events. Just don’t expect me to adopt any niños a lá
Ange – now that is a look that totally does not go with any of my outfits!

3. Take a holiday. You may or may not have noticed that Miss W has been on duty, reporting round-the-clock for the last 11 months or so – not an easy feat when everyone around you is on holiday! But then… I don’t want to abandon my post you see, plus wherever in the world would I go to? As the New Year dawned it finally occurred to me – very Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz style – that I needn’t look any further than my own backyard. Here in Ibiza we have absolutely anything and everything I would possibly want from a ‘mini-break’ – great shopping, amazing beaches, beautiful countryside, sensational restaurants and of course, amazing nightlife. So it is my solemn vow and promise, to start taking weekends away, ON the island, in 2009 – and checking out all the fabulous home-away-from-home style luxury getaways the island has on offer. Starting with Can Lluc, when the almond blossoms begin to bloom in the next few weeks and closely followed by a decadent spa weekend at the new five-star Aguas de Ibiza. I can hardly wait. I just need to find someone to share it all with, which leads me to…

4. Fall in love. There, I’ve said it. I’ve had enough of Potential Boyfriends, I’m tired of falling for – and having my heart broken by - Super Rats time and at long last I’m not even remotely interested in being a DJ groupie (with the exception of Luciano that is!). Miss W has decided she has spent enough time playing the field – realistically, it’s been the dance floor but you get my point – and thinks it’s high time she acquired an accessory of the more permanent variety, to display proudly on her arm at this summer’s soirees. And no, I’m not talking about the latest Miu Miu masterpiece from Mayurka (even though I do quite fancy that as well!) I am talking about taking the plunge and actually entering into the world of ‘serious relationships’. Though if that idea doesn’t work out for me I’ve always got my cats and my island to fall back on. Serious applicants, please apply asap in writing…

5. Find the perfect pad. Miss W already lives in a pretty cool place up in the ancient walls of Dalt Vila, however my contract ends October, which means I have the next nine months to get to know the property market inside out, discover locations that will truly suit me and my lifestyle and most importantly, find somewhere with a big enough closet to house my ever-expanding wardrobe. In my mind, I can already picture myself spending many a lazy Saturday afternoon shopping for interiors at KsaR, Sluiz and La Maison de L’Elephant – think zillions of candles, Moroccan lamops, exotic décor, a little bit of sparkle and eclectic furnishings. It’s Chateau Marmont meets Pikes Hotel with a little splash of the Gaansevoort for good measure. Can’t you just see me, lazing by my pool (in a Missoni bikini of course) beneath a huge white umbrella sipping mojitos? Now there’s just the little matter of stopping being frivolous and starting to save my euros that I need to consider… Should be a snap!

Ohhhh, choosing my top five resolutions for two thousand and wine, dine and mine was so difficult – it’s like asking a mother to pick a favourite child! So I can’t help but quickly whiz the runners up by you – in no particular order:

* Wear a completely different outfit each and every single day this summer.
* Radiate peace, love and happiness at all times.
* Always have fun and live like there’s no tomorrow.
* If I can’t say anything nice, I wont say anything at all…
* Become best friends with Kate Moss. Oh come on - girl’s gotta have at least one friend willing to lead her astray…