Trending weekend in Bucharest, November 22-23: Divertis, whiskey festival, punk documentary and Cătălin Botezatu on the big screen
Low temperatures, rain and a little sun – that's how we can describe the weather this weekend. Winter is approaching, and Bucharest seems to settle between several rhythms and tastes that are not necessarily related to each other, but which define the way this city lives on weekends.
We drink specialty coffee in Dorobanti, at Biutco (Constantin Aricescu 22) to see if Oana Titică is right when she says that here “matcha also has a teaspoon of coquetry”. “Biutco, a concept cafe dedicated to beauty and relaxation, opened this fall on a bright ground floor in Dorobanti, with large windows.
Where does “Biutco” come from? Biutco, the new coffee & matcha destination in the city, was established in September at 22 Constantin Aricescu Street, and its name is a playful cross between “beauty” and “coffee”, i.e. Biut + Co.
Decorated in pastel and feminine shades, like a beauty parlor where you can also drink a good espresso, the cafe is divided into two areas, like its name and like the concept of the place. We have the Coffee bar area, where we find the specialty coffee menu (from the Nomonym bakery), aromatic cocktails and drinks like the classic matcha, for example, but which contain a little surprise inside – an addition of collagen”, writes Oana in the review on b365.ro.
sunday night Paulownia House hosts a culinary experience spanning three acts under the title “Sobremesa”. The event brings Spanish slow dining to Bucharest, starting with Hora del Vermouth – a warm-up with vermouth, tapas and stories – continuing with Wine & Dine, a dinner with Iberian and South American inspirations accompanied by carefully selected wines, and ending with Slow Party & Cocktails, where guests socialize with a themed or digestive cocktail in hand. The cost of participation is 240 lei and includes access to all three moments of the evening, from aperitifs and wines to the final cocktail.
If you are looking for a new bistro, which will take you on a culinary tour through Asia, France and America, then go to Dragoș Mihăilă, who discovered the recently opened JASU (Hope 6).
“JASU operates in the place where Burger Van Home used to be. It's a mini family restaurant, without plates, but with tastes that hit the taste buds. The menu is the work of chef Vlad, the man who, three years ago, won the BurgerFest with a culinary monster: beef with marrow and soy, kimchi with honey and sesame, sous vide pork breast, cheddar, avocado mayonnaise with lime and cilantro. That burger, named JIM KON, took 10 on the line, from me, chef Toader and Radu Dumitrescu. The taste of JIM KON (I know how it sounds) was well imprinted on my skin. Nothing like this has been done since then,” writes Dragoș Mihăilă in the review on b365.ro.
event
The Romanian Lottery Cross, now in its 25th edition, gathers runners of all ages on Saturday morning on Kiseleff Road, between Victoriei Square and the Arc de Triomphe. The start is at 12:00, the route varies between 3,200 m and 6,400 m, and the total prizes amount to 140,000 lei – with substantial amounts for the IV places, both individually and in teams. Participation is free, but with a competition number and timing chip.
Elsewhere, Club Guesthouse marks 15 years of non-stop electronic music. On Saturday, from 15:00, CAP, DESYN, Mihnea Rog, Praslea and Rhadoo kick off a night of clubbing that will last over 24 hours. Advance tickets are 55 lei, and at the entrance 70 lei. It's a music-focused atmosphere, with no photos and selection at the entrance, so as not to disturb the flow of the evening.
Also on Saturday, at Quantic, Romanian rock meets nostalgia in the Kempes – Regăsire anniversary concert. Ovidiu Ioncu “Kempes” celebrates 10 years since the release of his album and revives songs that marked generations. The concert starts at 19:00, with LEGEND and Andrei Sora opening. Tickets vary between 75 and 100 lei, depending on the time of purchase.
Also at Quantic, but on Sunday, the crème de la crème of the trap and hip-hop scene gathers for Azteca's album launch – “iNGER & D3MON”. His presence is doubled by guests such as Amuly, MGL, Misha Miller, RAVA, 4226, Sarba, Ray, Șatra BENZ and TJ Miles, in a LIVE BAND show. Tickets cost 133 lei and include access to new songs, as well as hits from his career.
For those who prefer a more classic weekend, classical music and guitar intersect at the 12th edition of the “Guitar Evenings” International Festival. On Saturday and Sunday, Dragoș Ilie and Pablo Marquez take the stage of the “George Enescu” Concert Hall at UNMB, with programs ranging from Matiegka and Enescu to Debussy and Falla. Access to concerts is free.
If you're in the mood for a documentary about Eastern European punk music, on Sunday at Trei Bețivi Bar you can see “East Punk Memories”, a collage about Budapest in the 80s, with interviews and archive footage. Admission is free, but the message is clear: it's about freedom and wall-breaking music, not sweet nostalgia.
On Saturday, Horia Brenciu fills the Palatului Hall with “Christmas starts with me”, marking 110 years since the birth of Frank Sinatra and Gică Petrescu. The concert starts at 19:00, tickets start at 140 lei, and the repertoire goes from My Way to Romanian party songs.
Also at Sala Palatului, but on Sunday, Divertis brings to the stage the humor that often seems impossible to direct: public figures and personalities caught in comical poses, launching the National Program of Rehabilitation through Laughter.
Among all this, Whiskey Fest Romania continues on Saturday with tastings and masterclasses at the Caro Hotel. Tickets start at 100 lei, and those who cross the threshold of the event have the opportunity to discover Romanian and international distillates, from single malt to blends and rare specialties.
On Sunday evening, at Expirat, “Flowers, Girls or Boys” takes place, a concert that brings together four emerging bands – Ginia, Claro Que No, Diana Căldăraru and Gramofone – each with a special guest, for unique interpretations: Mark Stam, Doru Trăscău, Cireșan and Tedi (meow.wav). It's an event about unexpected meetings and how musical friendships are formed between generations, an evening that is not limited to the title, but invites the audience to decide what they are after – flowers, girls, boys or the music that brings them all together. Tickets are available on iabilet, 60 lei for general access and 40 lei for students and pupils, upon presentation of ID.
On the sports side, on Saturday, Circul Metropolitan becomes the stage of the Bucharest Gym For All Festival, with over 600 participants from Romania and abroad. The competition combines the national competition at 11:30 with the international competition at 15:30, and clubs and delegations from the country and abroad compete in artistic gymnastics and aerobics. The event can be watched live on the Facebook and YouTube pages of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, offering spectators both the show and the chance to watch the sports performance up close.
Theater & film
On Saturday, at the Replika Educational Theater Center, “The Price of Gold”, a testimonial show that explores the path of a dreamy child who reached the world of sports dance, is being played. On the Strada Lânăriei stage, Eugen Jebeleanu returns to the dance hall of his childhood to relive moments of discipline, rigor and courage, transforming the memories into reflections on the pressure of success, exacerbated competition and the need for validation. With a mix of text, choreography and video design, the 90-minute non-intermission show foregrounds the vulnerability and strength that comes from a passion for dance, recommended for viewers over 14 years old.
In the exclusive interview for HotNews.ro, the director Eugen Jebeleanu also talked about how this show will become his next film project.
Also on Saturday evening, at the Bulandra Theater, Sala Toma Caragiu, the spectators are invited to watch “Băieții de zinc”, a stage adaptation of the novel “Soldații de zinc” by Svetlana Aleksievici. Dramatized by Yuri Kordonsky, the play brings testimonies of war to the fore, exploring both the battlefront and the home front, and highlighting the devastating impact of conflict on people's lives and consciences. With a cast that includes names like Mariana Mihuț, Dana Dogaru and Ana Ioana Macaria, the show offers a strong reflection on war, peace and the need for the spiritual evolution of humanity, with tickets starting at 40 lei.
On the big screen, we have several movie premieres worth considering. “Now You See Me: Now You Don't” is a new chapter of the franchise full of spectacular illusionism and astonishing twists. Together with a new generation of magicians, they plan a heist of priceless diamonds, promising viewers an exciting combination of magic, surprises and unprecedented action.
We also have two Romanian films, of which “Planurile iubirii” is a comedy in which Cătălin Botezatu also plays. A conservative American architect discovers his love and cultural adventures after he marries a passionate young woman from Romania. Moving to the country and meeting eccentric neighbors trigger comical situations and moments of introspection, and in the end he learns to appreciate Romania's traditions and beauty.
The second Romanian film is “Tati Full-Time”. Iustin, a former lawyer and full-time father with unforeseen obligations, faces the absolute chaos of his baby's christening: domineering in-laws, chaotic colleagues, jealous daughter and wife's ex-boyfriend complicate every moment. The comedy reveals the struggles of the inexperienced parent in an avalanche of hilarious and touching situations.
It's also the weekend that “Wicked: For Good,” the latest chapter of the hit musical hits the big screen, following the breakup and infighting of the witches Elphaba and Glinda. Against the backdrop of conflict and intrigue in Oz, their friendship and empathy become the key to saving the kingdom, while the magic, music and defining emotion of the musical transform the film into an epic and emotional cinematic experience.
