God Bless

Tomorrow all eyes will be turned on the States and, by the looks of it, the only thing the Republicans will have to celebrate is Laura Bush's 62nd birthday.

Good thing you might say, yet I have somewhat mixed feelings about it. It's been fun poking at Bush, but political correctness kind of limits what's permissible to say about a black man. Now, imagine what we could do with the old man and the moose shooter.

Still, I'd be up for joining the Democrats' election night party at Luz de Gas, but as it's open to Yanks only (think: loud), that's no option. For an American fix, you'll instead have to head to American Modern at Fundació Joan Miró, with a selection from the Corcoran in Washington, including works from Sargent, Rothko and Edward Hopper among others.

It's a fine fix - as you'd expect from one of America's oldest and most respected galleries, with its mission of "encouraging the American genius." And after the past eight years, we do need a little reminding that such genius still exists.

American Modern: Works from the Corcoran - Until January 29
Fundació Joan Miró, Parc de Montjuïc - EUR 8

By AAl