After the city was quiet, even deserted, last weekend, it will now retaliate with a series of events that will force Bucharest residents to spend more time outside, rain or shine, especially after dark.

Before you finish wandering the streets, during the outdoor events on the weekend of April 22-23, we are going to send you to drink your signature coffee in some special cafes, you choose the one that suits you best.

Erbario (Nicolae Haralambi 30) a year of its existence has passed, and during this time it has become a favorite place for those who like the idea of ​​drinking coffee in a small botanical garden.

Erbario opened in the spring of 2022 in an old building from the 1930s, tastefully renovated with an emphasis on houseplants. In addition to specialty coffee, Erbario also has a brunch menu, which is developed by chef Stefan Burlakou according to the season.

Herbarium. PHOTO: Personal archive

BOB George Coffee Bar (Lipscani 20) probably the coolest branded cafe in the Old Town. BOB is best known for its location near Herăstrău Park, but this year they also opened Lipscani because it’s “working all day, Lipscani is invaded every day by tourists and officials doing their jobs in the area, from morning to night.” When they are not making coffee, they make cocktails, which are also very good.

Harvest (Calea Floreasca 102) it is not only a specialty cafe but also a place where you can have a delicious breakfast, they also have a nice terrace and a good selection of wines. So, a perfect combination, especially when you’re undecided about what you want to go for.

The terrace was reopened at the beginning of the month Random Space (Popa Petre 21), which now also houses the Nuaj food truck. You come here for “daily slices of life”, whether it’s a craft beer, a dinner meeting or an event where you’ll be shown what’s new in contemporary art, music, cinema, gastronomy.

Or, if you prefer, you can work in the backyard as if you were at home. On the menu you will find craft beers (BrewDog, Hop Hooligans), less common Romanian wines and rum-based drinks.

Random space. PHOTO: Personal archive

by Friddy (Vasyl Oleksandri 4) It’s always a good idea to stop by when you’re craving ice cream, but this weekend you’ll have to because they’ve announced a new, limited-edition flavor: Kiwi. This is not just any kiwi, but a locally grown kiwi grown in the orchards of the Faculty of Horticulture in Bucharest, which arrived at Friddi’s lab in light of a recently launched partnership.

Lovers of street food will have reason to rejoice, because from April 22 to 23 on Kiselyova Boulevard Bucharest Street Food Festival.

Admission is free, and dozens of food trucks will be serving non-stop delicacies inspired from all over the world, from classic hamburgers and hot dogs, seafood, pulled pork or wraps to pizza, arrosticini, burgers, tacos and other international delicacies.

There will also be dessert options: pancakes, waffles, cannoli, churros, ice cream, etc.

It’s also happening this weekend Vespa scooter parade, at which “Bucharest Vespers” is expected. It will take place on Saturday, April 22 at 2:00 p.m. He will go with a police escort along the route: Anglican Church – Arthur Verona – Magheru – Romana – Victoria – Aviatoriore – Charles du Gaulle (back) – Aviatoriore – Calle Victoria – National Union – Fifth Constitution (end point).

In 2022, more than 70 scooters participated in this parade, but Bucharest will have more than 300 Vespa scooters, both classic and modern. After the parade, members of the Vespa Club will go to reward themselves with pizza at Premiata, on Splaiul Unirii.

Spotlight Festival 2019. PHOTO: HotNews.ro

But this weekend’s main event is clearSpotlight Festival. In its seventh edition, the open-air visual art festival Spotlight has prepared for the weekend of 21-23 April 2023 a new series of multimedia experiences at the famous and premiere locations on Calea Victoriei and at ARCUB – Hanul Gabroveni.

More than 100,000 participants are expected, as has been the case for most editions. The theme of the 2023 edition is “Geometry of the City”, which aims to transform the geometry of the city through three days of light, color and sound shows.

Thus, from April 21 to 23, the famous buildings of Bucharest come to life thanks to video mapping, religious places are filled with multimedia installations, and the city’s statues come to life with light art projections.

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For the first time on Spotlight, the InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest hotel is included in the festival program with a very large light projection, bearing the signature of one of the most important contemporary artists of Romania, Roman Tolici.

In addition, the Spotlight map is expanding, this year, with an installation in the historic center, on the facade of the Gabroveni Inn, the headquarters of the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Bucharest – ARCUB.

In addition, for the first time, the Spotlight program includes the works of famous names in contemporary art from Romania, together with Romanian street artists, illustrators and sculptors who are transforming Bucharest’s iconic places, together with new media pioneers from France, Hungary and Austria.

Another first is choral music included in this edition’s program as an element of inspiration for the video mapping show. The music of the Madrigal – Marin Constantin National Chamber Choir will accompany the video mapping session on the facade of the Odeon Theater by Mindscape Studio.

This year’s Spotlight route starts from the intersection of Calea Victoriei with Piaţa Amzei Street and continues through it to Cercul Militar, with a final stop in the Old Center, at ARCUB – Hanul Gabroveni.

The Spotlight program starts at 20:00 and ends at 23:00 on each day of the festival. Details on the program and installations participating in Spotlight 2023 can be found HERE.

If you plan to go to Spotlight, it’s good to know that it’s on Calea Victoriei, at The Law on Theateron Saturday and Sunday, Girls and Boys, which tells the story of a girl and a boy who meet at the airport and end up in an intense, passionate and crazy relationship.

Then He and She move in together, buy a house, give birth to two children. But then their world begins to crumble, and events take an alarming turn. Monoshow with actress Raluka Aprodu. The ticket costs 65 lei.

In terms of concerts, the most significant musical event this weekend is Goran Bregović’s “The Best Of” concert on Saturday at Palatului Hall.

The show is a “best of” in the artist’s career and will include all the songs that made him famous. Kobzarul Simion Bohdan and Lautariy de Matase are special guests with a 45-minute solo concert. So it would be two concerts in one. Ticket price from 115 lei.

Expired (Kostyantyn Istrati 1) Cozy Poetry Night will be a live poetry performance on Sunday evening. This will be the last event in this series, and it will be supported by five of the most famous poets (Razvan Tsupa, Lena Chilari, Silvia Gradinaru, Octavian Gheorghe, Lorena Enake). The soundtrack will be provided and animated by Sherban Blebea. Entrance costs 25-30 lei.

It also takes place from April 21 to 24 Festival of American independent cinema. It has reached its seventh edition and this year it will be held at Elvire Popesco and Cinemateca Eforie.

As every year, the AIFF presents to the Romanian public a selection of the best independent American films, as well as discussions on social and public issues or debates on topics of interest to those who are passionate about the film industry. You can watch the entire program HERE , but if you need recommendations, be sure to check out The Whale, Spy/Master, Fear Bo, and The Thousand and One.

Two new movies hit theaters this weekend: Renfield and The Evil Dead: Uprising. The first is a modern and terrifying story about Dracula’s loyal servant Renfield.

Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road, the X-Men franchise) stars as Renfield, the tortured assistant to the most narcissistic boss in history, Dracula (played by Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage).

Renfield is forced to hunt his master’s booty and obey all his orders, no matter how humiliating they may be. But now, after centuries of slavery, Renfield is ready to see if there is life beyond the Dark Prince’s shadow.

Instead, Evil Dead Rise is full-blown horror. The film is the fifth installment in the Evil Dead film series and takes the action from the forest back to the city.

Evil Dead Rise tells the twisted story of two estranged sisters, played by Alyssa Sutherland and Lily Sullivan, whose reunion is interrupted by the arrival of demons that have taken over the humans, pushing them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most terrifying version of the possible seven eat