The Buenos Aires Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross), organized by the Association of Friends of Avenida de Mayo will be held on Good Friday (April 10) in celebration of the Holy Week of 2009.
The procession will cover the traditional Avenida de Mayo, starting at 8.30 PM at Plaza Lorea (Av de Mayo & Luis Sáenz Peña), and ending 10 PM at the altar set up in Plaza de Mayo, where the choir "Pace in Terris" will offer a performance.
The procession will be led by the "Good Love Christ", a 1.8 m wood carving made in Lebanese cedar by Spanish artist Luis Álvarez Duarte - also known as the "Christ of Football Players" - followed by the "Genoese Crucifix" (totally covered in silver), the "Penitential Cross" (14 meters), and a float with the image of Virgen Dolorosa (made by aborigines in 1780).
Throughout the procession actors will represent the 14 Stations of the Cross.
The event will not be suspended for rain.

For more activities for the Easter and Pesaj celebrations of 2009, visit the Agenda of religious and cultural activities organized by the City of Buenos Aires.

"United Buddy Bears" promote living together in peace and harmony on their global tour. Around 140 Buddy Bears (each 2 m tall), represent as many countries recognized by the United Nations.
Since the first exhibition in Berlin in 2002, more than 20 million visitors world-wide have been able to admire the United Buddy Bears, standing hand in hand in a peaceful circle, promoting tolerance and understanding among different nations, cultures and religions.
From the 5th March till 19th April of 2009 the circle of the United Buddy Bears will be presented in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on the San Martin Square. Each Buddy Bear has been designed by an artist on behalf of his or her native country.
The Argentinean bear was created and designed by a member o the group of artists named Fileteados de Buenos Aires, Maria Cristina Iglesias, and it's going to be auctioned for the benefit of children in need.
This exhibition also commemorates the 15th anniversary of the agreement between Berlin and Buenos Aires as sister cities.
Buddy Bears has raised over USD 2,225,000 (as of January 2009) through donations and auctions in aid of UNICEF and local child relief organizations.

Teatro Argentino de La Plata starts its 2009 season with a new production of the classical ballet "The Swan Lake", with music by Piotr I. Tchaikovsky and choreography by Mario Galizzi, revived by Sabrina Streiff.

The Ballet will be directed by Rodolfo Lastra, and the Orchestra by Javier Logioia Orbe. The guest first dancers on March 20 and 21 will be Natalia Lazebnikova and Jan Vana, members of Ukraine's National Opera, while on the rest of the performances the main characters will be interpreted by Julieta Paul and Bautista Parada (March 22), and Genoveva Surur and Jan Vana (March 29, April 4 and 5). Other main characters will be played by Víctor Filimonov, Martín Quintana, Leandro Ferreira Morais, Esteban Schenone, Paula Elizondo, Stefanía Vallone, Elizabeth Antúnez, Larisa Hominal and Nahuel Prozzi.

Stage design: Augusto González Ara; wardrobe: Eduardo Caldirola; lighting: Gabriel Lorenti.

Performances

March
Friday 20 - 8.30 PM
Saturday 21 - 8.30 PM
Sunday 22 - 8.30 PM
Sunday 29 - 6.30 PM

April
Saturday 4 - 8.30 PM
Sunday 5 - 6.30 PM

Location: Teatro Argentino de La Plata. La Plata, Province of Buenos Aires.
Tickets: Ticketek Argentina.
For visitors in Buenos Aires, there will be a bus service departing from Casa de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Callao 237, two and a half hours previous to the time of the performance. The cost of the round bus ticket is $ 25 pesos per person, and they must be purchased by Ticketek Argentina website.

The eleventh edition of Buenos Aires Independent Film Festival (BAFICI) organized by the Ministry of Culture of the city of Buenos Aires, and directed by Sergio Wolf, will take place between March 25th and April 5th, 2009, with screenings at various venues around the city, featuring a total of 350 movies and short films.
Some of the titles that make up this year's program are: 35 shots of rhum, by renowned French director Claire Denis (Chocolat, Nénette et Boni, Beau travail); Filmefobia (Brazil, 2008) a movie about fears by filmmaker Kiko Goifman, who last year presented Handerson e as horas; Examined Life (Canada, 2008) by Astra Taylor, about present existence on a tour along the 5th Avenue; Shirin (Iran, 2008) by Abbas Kiarostami (Through the Olive Trees, A Taste of Cherry, Y The Wind Will Carry Us) presented at the 65th Venice Film Festival, a homage to Iranian women; the second film by Chilean director Sebastián Silva, La nana (Chile-Mexico, 2009) winner as best International Drama Film at the Sundance Festival; Une autre homme (2008) by Swiss director Lionel Baier , about the relation between a famous film critic and a novice in the medium; Milestones (United States, 1975) the documentary by Robert Kramer (Guns, À toute allure, Notre nazi) about writer Grace Paley and her particular vision on Vietnam war; Awaydays (United Kingdom, 2008) by Pat Holden based on the novel by Sampson's; Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (Japan, 2008) by animation master Hayao Miyazaki (Sen and the Mysterious Disappearance of Chihiro, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle); and 16 memorias (Colombia, 2008) by Camilo Botero Jaramillo, a movie about the family films of the Posada Saldarriagas in Medellín, among many other titles. Some of these filmmakers will be present at Festival.

Venues:
Aliance Francaise: Av. Cordoba 946
Arteplex Duplex Caballito: Av. Rivadavia 5050
Atlas Santa Fe: Av. Santa Fe 2015
Open Air Screenings: Pasaje Carlos Gardel 3100 / Plaza San Martín de Tours (Schiaffino & Posadas)
Espacio BAFICI: Guardia Vieja 3332
Hoyts Abasto: Av. Corrientes 3247
Malba Cine: Av. Figueroa Alcorta 3415
Teatro 25 de Mayo: Av. Triunvirato 4444
Teatro Gral. San Martín: Av. Corrientes 1530 Piso 10º - Sala Leopoldo Lugones.

Tickets: AR $8.
From March 18th to March 25th, 10 AM to 10 PM:
Online at www.bafici.gov.ar
Casa de La Cultura: Av. De Mayo 575
Hoyts Abasto: Av. Corrientes 3247
Hard Rock Café: Pueyrredón 2501
During the festival: Online at www.bafici.gov.ar, or at all the venues of the festival.
There will be some special activities with free entrance at Hoyts Abasto and free concerts at Teatro 25 de Mayo. Free tickets must be picked up on the day of the performances.
For more information, schedules and programs, visit BAFICi 2009 official website.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, "the world's most haunting love story", arrives in Buenos Aires. The great musical play, acclaimed by more than 80 million people for the past 20 years, will be presented with the same staging, the same wardrobe and the same scenography that have made it famous around the world, with adaptation and translation into Spanish by Eduardo Galan.

The Argentine cast will be lead by the following artists:
Carlos Vittori (Phantom of the Opera): Tenor formed at the Teatro Colon's Superior Art Institute, has interpreted the main roles in operas like: Rigoletto, La Boheme, La traviata, among others, the character of Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables”, in Buenos Aires and Mexico. He received numerous awards for his work.
Juan Pablo Skrt (phantom of the Opera): Tenor with an extensive national and international career. He is a singer at the Teatro Argentino in La Plata.
Claudia Cota (Christine Daee): Mexican actress and opera singer. In 1998 played the role of Christine on the Mexican version of "The Phantom of the Opera". In 2002 played Cosette on “Les Miserables”. In 2007, participates in "Beauty and the Beast" as ensamble and cover Belle.

Additional cast:
Nicolás Martinelli (Raoul Vizconde de Chagny)
Mirta Arrua Lichi (Carlotta Giudicelli)
Santiago Sirur (Piangi)
Lucila Gandolfo (Madame Giry)
Ricardo Bangueses (Monsieur Firmin)
Romina Corpucci (Meg Giry)

The Phantom of the Opera opens March 19, 2009, at Teatro Opera, Corrientes 860.
Tickets on sale at the theater, Monday to Sunday 10 am - 8 pm, or through Ticketek Argentina.
Last performance: November 29, 2009.

The fourth stage of Argentina Polo Tour 2009, the fall tournament created four years ago by Adolfo Cambiaso and Gonzalo Pieres, will be played between Sunday, March 15 and Sunday, March 29, at Centauros Polo Club and La Picaza Polo Club.
In this stage twelve teams will be participating. There will be a 22 goal tournament for the Mastercard and Fernet Branca Cups, and a 16 goal tournament for the cups Powerade and Nikkon, with the presence of Argentine and international players, including Adolfo Cambiaso himself.

22 Goal Teams:
El Remanso: George Hanbury, Jaime Garcia Huidobro, Manuel F. Llorente, Joaquin Pittaluga.
Enigma: Jerome Wirth, James Robert Beim, Matias Mac Donough, Malcolm Borwick.
Santa Teresa II: Federico de Narvaez, Pablo Llorente, Hilario Ulloa, Ignacio Taberna.
Loro Piana: Nick Johnson, Alejandro Muzzio, Alberto Heguy, Lucas James.
Pilar Chico: Craig McKinney, Tomas Pieres, Pablo Pieres, Martin Garrahan.
Apes Hill - Barbados: TBA, Juan Gil Zavaleta, Mark Tomlinson, Luke Tomlinson.

Calendar of matches 22 Goal Tournament:

1st Date:
Sunday 15:
2.00 PM: El Remanso Vs. Enigma (Centauros)
4.00 PM: Loro Piana Vs. Apes Hill - Barbados (Centauros)
Monday 16:
2.00 PM: Santa Teresa Vs. Pilar Chico (La Picaza)

2nd Date:
Thursday 19:
2.00 PM: Santa Teresa Vs. Enigma (Centauros)
4.00 PM: El Remanso Vs. Apes Hill - Barbados (La Picaza)
4.00 PM: Loro Piana Vs. Pilar Chico (La Picaza)

3rd Date:
Saturday 21:
2.00 PM: Santa Teresa Vs. Apes Hill - Barbados (Centauros)
4.00 PM: El Remanso Vs. Pilar Chico (Centauros)
Sunday 22:
2.00 PM: Loro Piana Vs. Enigma (La Picaza)

4th Date:
Wednesday 25 (Semi Finals):
4.00 PM: Enigma vs Loro Piana (Centauros)
5.00 PM: Santa Teresa vs El Remanso (Centauros)

5th Date: (Final)
Friday 27:
5.00 PM: Enigma Vs. El Remanso (Centauros) - Mastercard Cup
Sunday 29:
3.00 PM: Loro Piana Vs. Santa Teresa (Centauros) - Fernet Branca Cup

16 Goal Teams:

Polo Do: Matias Bullrich, Diego Cavanagh, Pablo Dorignac, Maximiliano Menini.
Chapelco: Juan Cruz Adrogue, Facundo Sola, Silvestre Grant, Francisco De Narváez.
Hotel Le Tour: Norman Edward Bellone, Miguel Novillo Astrada, Juan Carlos Harriet, Manuel Harriet.
Los Cocos: Teodoro Zubillaga, Javier Novillo Astrada, Santiago Trotz, Martin Joaquin.
Loro Piana: Celine Charloux, Andres James, Adolfo Cambiaso, Gustavo Usandizaga Jr.
La Picaza: Carlos Solari, Santiago Solari, Juan Jose Storni, Kevin Korst.

Calendar of matches 16 Goal Tournament:

1st Date:
Sunday 15:
2.00 PM: Los Cocos Vs. La Picaza
Monday 16:
4.00 PM: Chapelco Vs. Polo Do (La Picaza)
4.00 PM: Hotel Le Tour Vs. Loro Piana (La Picaza)

2nd Date:
Thursday 19:
2.00 PM: Hotel Le Tour Vs. Polo Do (Centauros)
2.00 PM: Los Cocos Vs. Loro Piana (Centauros)
4.00 PM: Chapelco Vs. La Picaza (Centauros)

3rd Date:
Saturday 21:
4.30 PM: Chapelco Vs. Loro Piana (Centauros)
Sunday 22:
11.00 AM: Los Cocos Vs. Polo Do (La Picaza)
4.00 PM: Hotel Le Tour Vs. La Picaza (La Picaza)

4th Date (Semi Final):
Wednesday 25:
2.00 PM: Loro Piana vs La Picaza (Centauros)
2.30 PM: Chapelco vs Hotel Le Tour (Centauros)

5th Date (Final):
Friday 27:
5.00 PM: Chapelco Vs. La Picaza (Centauros) - Nikon Cup
Sunday 29:
5.00 PM: Hotel Le Tour Vs. Loro Piana (Centauros) - Powerade Cup

Dates depend on weather conditions, check regularly for updates.
For more information and results, visit Argentina Polo Tour official website.

This traditional championship, one of the most important in the Argentine Polo Association yearly calendar, will kick off on Wednesday March 18th at the Association's magnificent polo fields in Pilar. The tournament's schedule also includes some matches and the finals in the Cathedral of Polo, the Palermo Polo Field.
This unique championship, with no handicap limits (0 to 40 goals), was created in 1929 by Don Francisco Ceballos, president of the Argentine Polo Association. In 1938 it was named "Copa Republica Argentina".
This year the 10 classified teams, proceeding from the different regions in the country and with 10 to 27 goals of handicap, are:

Zone A:

EAST CIRCUIT: El Remanso: George Hanbury 2, Guillermo Terrera (Jr) 7, Bartolomé Castagnola 10, Jaime García Huidobro 8 , Total: 27.

SOUTHWEST CIRCUIT: Coronel Suárez El Amanecer: Benjamín Araya (Jr) 6, Enrique Zorrilla 5, Zenón Zorrilla 6, Erasmo Goti (Jr) 6 Total: 23.

CENTER-WEST CIRCUIT: Namuncurá: Bautista Ortiz de Urbina 4, Francisco Fucci 5, Pablo Jauretche 8, Gonzalo Fucci 5. Total: 22.

CENTER-NORTH CIRCUIT: Venado Tuerto: Guillermo Cavanagh 4 (Jr), Juan Ruiz Guiñazú (Jr) 6, Martín Vidou 6, Juan Ruiz Guiñazú 5, Total 21

LITORAL-SOUTH CIRCUIT: Donovan Río Uruguay Seguros: Bautista Garaycochea 2, Santiago Loza 2 , Tomás Gándara 5, Felipe Sordeli 1. Total: 9.

Zone B:

PORTEÑO CIRCUIT: La Picaza: Carlos Reyes Terrabusi 1, Ignacio Heguy 9, Guillermo Wilington 7, Eduardo Heguy 9. Total 26

SOUTH EAST CIRCUIT: Miramar: Juan José Brané 7, Milo Fernández Araujo 8, Diego Araya 8, Alejandro Quentín 2. Total: 25.

CAÑUELAS CIRCUIT: La Dolfina: Gustavo Usandizaga 2, Alfio Marchini 4, Adolfo Cambiaso (Jr) 10, Lucas James 7. Total: 23.

LITORAL NORTH CIRCUIT: Aguará Guazú: Guido Julián 4 , Facundo Goti 6 , Andrea Vianini 6, Exequiel Kraft 5. Total: 21.

NORTHWEST CIRCUIT: La Estela: Juan José Storni 3, Gregorio Gelosi 3, Tomás Ruiz Guiñazú 5, Juan Marambio 4. Total: 15.

The tournament will continue with the classifying rounds on Friday 20 in Pilar and Palermo (2 PM and 4 PM); Sunday 22, in Pilar and Palermo; Tuesday 24 (11 AM and 4 PM in Pilar, 2 PM and 4 PM in Palermo) and Thursday 26 (11 AM and 4 PM in Pilar, 2 PM and 4 PM in Palermo); the finals for the Cups “República Argentina” and “Diario La Nación”, on Saturday 28, (2.00 PM and 4.00 PM), will be played at the Campo Argentino de Polo in Palermo.

Free entrance.

The Goethe Institute in Buenos Aires presents the exhibition Günter Grass - El Rodaballo (Der Butt, or The Flounder), a series of etchings by the author, referring to his own work, at the Bar and Notable Bookstore Clasica y Moderna, Av. Callao 892, from March 2nd through March 28th, 2009.

The exhibit is made of 25 etchings, that have already been exhibited around Europe and is currently touring around South America.

The author, who in 1958 abandoned sculpture to devote himself to writing, returned in the 1970s to his original profession. He starts with prints and etchings, continuing with lithographs, making up a coherent series of works that illustrate or accompany his literary production. He starts with "From the Diary of a Snail" (1972), which Grass illustrates with engravings depicting the snails in the book, and continues in 1974 with graphic works previous to "The Flounder". In the 80s and 90s he produces more works that combine the different artistic expressions: image and text, poetry and prose, watercolors and drawings.

Free entrance.

Les Avant-Premières, a French film series that will feature the best French movies to be premiered during 2009, will take place between Thursday, March 19th and Wednesday, March 25th, at the movie theaters in Patio Bullrich Shoping Mall.

Program:

Entre les murs, 2008.
Direction: Laurent Cantet.
Cast: François Bégaudeau, Nassim Amrabt, Laura Baquela, Juliette Demaille.
Thursday 19, 10 PM | Friday 20, 10.20 PM | Saturday 21, 10.20 PM

Actrices, 2007.
Direction: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi.
Cast: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Noémie Lvovsky, Louis Garrel, Mathieu Amalric.
Thursday 19, 5.15 PM | Friday 20, 2.30 PM and 6.30 PM

Rumba, 2008.
Direction: Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon, and Bruno Romy.
Cast: Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon, Philippe Martz.
Saturday 21, 12.30 PM and 6.40 PM | Wednesday 25, 9 PM

Les témoins, 2007.
Direction: André Téchiné.
Cast: Michel Blanc, Emmanuelle Béart, Sami Bouajila, Julie Depardieu.
Saturday 21, 4.30 PM and 8.15 PM | Sunday 22, 12.30 PM | Tuesday 24, 9.30 PM

Le silence de Lorna, 2008.
Direction: Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne.
Cast: Arta Dobroshi, Jérémie Renier, Fabrizio Rongione, Alban Ukaj.
Saturday 21, 2.30 PM | Sunday 22, 4.30 PM | Wednesday 25, 10.30 PM

Enfin veuve, 2007.
Direction: Isabelle Mergault.
Cast: Michèle Laroque, Jacques Gamblin, Wladimir Yordanoff, Tom Morton.
Friday 20, 12.30 PM, 4.30 PM and 8.30 PM

Faubourg 36, 2008.
Direction: Christophe Barratier.
Cast: Gérard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac, Kad Merad, Nora Arnezeder.
Thursday 19, 12.30 PM and 7.30 PM

Belle Toujours, 2006.
Direction: Manoel de Oliveira.
Cast: Michel Piccoli, Bulle Ogier.
Monday 23, 4.30 PM and 9.00 PM | Tuesday 24, 12.30 PM and 8.30 PM

Jardins en automne, 2006.
Direction: Otar Iosseliani.
Cast: Séverin Blanchet, Michel Piccoli, Muriel Motte, Pascal Vincent.
Monday 23, 6.30 PM and 10.30 PM | Wednesday 25, 12.30 PM

La faute à Fidel!, 2006.
Direction: Julie Gavras.
Cast: Nina Kervel, Julie Depardieu, Stefano Accorsi.
Sunday 22, 2.40 PM, 8.30 PM and 10.30 PM | Tuesday 24, 2.30 PM

Le héros de la famille, 2006.
Direction: Thierry Klifa.
Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Emmanuelle Béart, Gérard Lanvin, Miou-Miou.
Thursday 19, 3.00 PM | Sunday 22, 6.30 PM | Monday 23, 12.30 PM
Tuesday 24, 6.30 PM | Wednesday 25, 5 PM

L’invite, 2007.
Direction: Laurent Bouhnik.
Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Valérie Lemercier, Thierry Lhermitte, Hippolyte Girardot.
Monday 23, 2.30 PM | Tuesday 24, 4.30 PM | Wednesday 25, 3 PM and 7 PM

Tickets: AR$ 10, on sale at Patio Bullrich Movie Theaters. Posadas 1245.

Feria PuroDiseño is a space where design is the main protagonist. The goal of Feria PuroDiseño is to accompany and to promote this sector of the Argentine industry, as well as each and every one of its designers, as a platform for the promotion of local and international design and the stimulation to regional creativity.

This new edition of Feria PuroDiseño, from March 23rd to 29th , 2009, at the Pabellón Azul in La Rural, will exhibit the avant-garde works of over 250 designers in the fields of clothing, accessories, contemporary jewelry, equipment, objects, digital design, graphic design, contemporary craftsmanship, textile development, and lighting.

This year the fair will also include the spaces and thematics inaugurated last year:

Dates: March 23 - 29, 2009
Location: La Rural, Pabellon Azul. Av.Sarmiento 2704
Feria PuroDiseño website

The history of the Botanical Garden of Buenos Aires dates back to 1898, when the then Director of Public Parks of Buenos Aires, the French landscaper Charles Thays, proposed the creation of a Botanical Garden in the terrains it occupies today, bounded by Santa Fe Ave., Las Heras Ave. and Republica Arabe Siria St., for educational and conservation purposes.

The red brick English style building that already existed in those terrains was occupied by Charles Thays and his family. Today this building, that was declared National Monument, is the main building of the complex and serves as an art gallery and exhibition hall. There is also a Gardening School, a Library, and several greenhouses. The main greenhouse in Art Nouveau style, received a prize in the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1889.

There are more than five thousand species of plants and trees from all over the world, from Asia to Africa to America. There are small examples of three different styles of gardens: a French Garden, a Roman Garden, and a Japanese Garden.

As you walk the trails of the garden, you will find some beautiful marble sculptures, such as “Spring”, “Mercury”, “Venus”, and the group representing the movements of the VI Symphony of Beethoven, called “La Pastoral”. There is also a monument entitled “Weather Indicator”, designed by José Markovich, and presented by the Austro-Hungarian Empire community.

This garden is so peaceful that once you cross the gates and get inside, you instantly forget that you are in the middle of the city and surrounded by two of the noisiest streets in Buenos Aires.

Address: Santa Fe and Las Heras Ave., Plaza Italia. Subte station: Plaza Italia, Line D.

Opening Times: 

Summer (September 22nd to April 21st): Tuesday to Friday, 8 am to 6:30 pm - Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays: 9.30 am to 6:30 pm.

Winter (April 22nd to September 21st): Tuesday to Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm - Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays: 9.30 a m to 5:30 pm.

MONDAYS CLOSED

On days of extremely bad weather (intense winds, persistent rain) the garden will remain closed for safety reasons.

FREE ENTRANCE

For more pictures of the Botanical Garden, visit my Botanical Garden Photo Gallery on Facebook.

The third stage of Argentina Polo Tour 2009 will be played between Saturday, February 28 and Saturday, March 7, at Tortugas Country Club and at the Campo Argentino de Polo, in Palermo.
Ten teams with 16 goals handicap will be disputing the cups Nespresso and Stella Artois, with the debut of the great former soccer player Gabriel Batistuta, who will be playing for Loro Piana together with Adolfo Cambiaso.
Other outstanding players will also take part in the tournament, including Nachi Heguy, Paco De Narváez and Jaime García Huidobro.


Teams:

Zone A:Tom Tailor: Uwe Schroeder, 0. Eduardo Anca, 6. Ignacio Badiola, 5. Santos Anca, 5. Total: 16.
La Picaza: Carlos Solari, 6. Santiago Solari, 6. Juan Jose Storni, 3. Kevin Korst, 1. Total: 16.
Les Lions: Jean David Du Plessis, 3. Joe Gottschalk, 0. Ignacio Heguy, 9. Francisco Elizalde, 4. Total: 16.
El Remanso: George Hanbury, 2. Matilda Woods, 0. Jaime Garcia Huidobro, 8. Manuel F. Llorente, 6. Total: 16.

Zone B:
Traun Polo Team: Ben Traun, 0. Juan Manuel Echeverz, 7. Martin Orozco, 4. Pablo Bagnardi, 5. Total: 16.
Chapelco: Juan Cruz Adrogue, 1. Facundo Sola, 6. Silvestre Grant, 0. Francisco De Narváez, 9. Total: 16.
La Virgencita: Celine Charloux, 0. Lucas James, 7. Matias Logioco, 3. Gaston Urturi, 6. Total: 16.

Zone C:
La Ginevra: Luca D´Orazio, 0. Juan Ruiz Guiñazu(Jr), 5. Juan Jose Brané, 7. Manuel Caranza, 4. Total: 16.
Franken: Gregorio Gelosi, 3. Matias Maiquez, 6. Juan Ruiz Guiñazu, 6. Hannes Hühnlein, 1. Total: 16.
Loro Piana: Gabriel Batistuta, 0. Gustavo Usandizaga, 2. Adolfo Cambiaso, 10. Alfio Marchini, 4. Total: 16.

Schedule of matches:

Saturday 28
11.00 AM: Traun Polo Team Vs. Franken -Tortugas
4.30 PM: Tom Tailor Vs. La Picaza - Palermo (1)
6.00 PM: La Virgencita Vs. La Ginevra - Palermo

Sunday 1
4.30 PM: Chapelco Vs. Loro Piana - Palermo
6.00 PM: Les Lions Vs. El Remanso - Palermo (2)
UPDATE: ABOVE MATCHES RE-PROGRAMMED FOR RAIN FOR MONDAY 2 AND TUESDAY 3.

Monday 25 PM: Les Lions vs El Remanso - La Dolfina
6 PM: Loro Piana vs La Virgencita - La Dolfina

Tuesday 3
2.30 PM: Traun Polo Team vs La Ginevra - Palermo
4.30 PM: Les Lions vs La Picaza - Palermo
6.00 PM: El Remanso vs Tom Tailor - Tortugas
6.30 PM: Loro Piana vs Chapelco - Palermo

Friday 6
6.00 PM: Franken Polo Team vs La Virgencita - Ellerstina Polo Club

Saturday 7
3.00 PM: Tom Tailor vs Les Lions - Centauros
5.00 PM: Chapelco Vs. La Ginevra - Centauros
5.00 PM: La Virgencita Vs. Franken - Palermo
5.00 PM: Traun Polo Team Vs. Loro Piana - Ellerstina

Sunday 8
FINALS IN PALERMO - NESPRESSO CUP - STELLA ARTOIS CUP
Nespresso Cup
12.00: Les Lions Vs. La Ginevra
Stella Artois Cup
4.00 PM: Loro Piana vs Tom Tailor

For more information and results, visit Argentina Polo Tour official website.

The great tennis players Gabriela Sabatini, the best all time Argentine female tennis player, and Martina Navratilova, former world Number 1, will offer an exhibition match at Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club (Olleros 1510, Palermo), in benefit of the Miastenia Gravis Foundation, on Saturday, March 14th, 2009.
The event will start at 12.30 PM. Sabatini and Navratilova will hit the courts at 2 PM with a singles exhibition set, and then a doubles set along with Paola Suarez and Patricia Taravini, bronze medal winners in the 2004 Athens Olympic games.
Other great present and former Argentine tennis players will be participating in this event to collaborate with the Miastenia Gravis Foundation, inlcuding: José Luis Clerc, Martín Jaite, Ricardo Cano, Christian Miniussi, Emilse Raponi de Longo, Mercedes Paz, Bettina Fulco, Mariana Díaz Oliva, María Emilia Salerni, Mariana Pérez Roldán, Raquel Giscafré, Norma Baylon, Claudia Casabianca, Gustavo Luza, Ivanna Madruga, Beatriz Araujo, Adriana Villagrán, Inés Gorrochategui, Mariano Hood, Fernando Dalla Fontana, Alberto Mancini and Florencia Labat, among others.

Tickets range from $ 15 to $ 50 Argentine Pesos, and can be purchased at:
Halcry Tenis: Lavalle 553
Halcry Tenis: Av. Del Libertador 8196
Hard Rock Café Buenos Aires: Buenos Aires Design Center. Av. Pueyrredon & Libertador
Lee Chi: Av. Santa Fe 1670, local 42
Or through TuEntrada.com

Matches will be held on March 2nd, 4th, 6th and 7th, 2009 at La Aguada Polo Club (in Open Door, province of Buenos Aires), one of the best Polo clubs in the world, with the participation of 8 -10 teams with 10 to 12 goals of handicap, playing 4 games of 5 chukkers each.

In this edition of the Autumn Cup, the Novillo Astrada brothers will act as hosts of the tournament. Following the family tradition, the events will end with an exhibition of ladies polo, and a great prize-giving.

Every weekend from Saturday, February 7 and until Sunday, March 1st, the “Carnaval Porteño 09” (Buenos Aires Carnival) will take place at different neighborhoods, with the participation of 17 thousand artists, 105 "murgas" (carnival bands), and over one thousand drums and percussion instruments.

The parades will be held from 7 PM to 2 AM on Saturdays, and from 7 PM to 12 AM on Sundays.

Murgas and carnival are the artistic expressions of the marginal neighborhoods, their songs and urban folk customs. The lyrics of these songs are called "criticas", and combine the social denunciation with humor and dancing. What identifies the "murga porteña" from others is their costumes (frock coat, gloves, top hat, and stick), the drums with cymbals, and the various traditional rhythms used to differentiate every neighborhood.

Where to watch the parades:

• Abasto: Av. Córdoba between Agüero and Sanchez de Bustamante.
• Almagro: Av. Corrientes between Medrano and Bulnes.
• Bajo Núñez: Ramallo between Vuelta de Obligado and Arcos.
• Balvanera: Av. Independencia between Matheu and Rincón.
• Núñez: Av. Congreso between Cabildo and Moldes.
• Boedo 1: Av. Boedo between San Juan and Independencia.
• Boedo 2: Av. Belgrano between Columbres and Maza.
• Caballito 1: Av. Avellaneda between N. Oroño and F. Sarmiento.
• Caballito 2: Av. Gaona between Trelles and Boyacá.
• Colegiales: Av. Federico Lacroze between R. Freire and Martínez.
• Liniers: Tuyutí between Carhué and Cosquín.
• Lugano 1: Av. Riestra between Leguizamón and Murguiondo.
• Lugano 2: Av. Cruz between Murguiondo and Lisandro De la Torre.
• Mataderos: Av. Alberdi between Araujo and Av. Escalada.
• Monte Castro: Av. Juan B. Justo and Lope de Vega.
• Parque Avellaneda: Av. Directorio between Av. Olivera and Lacarra.
• Parque Centenario: Lambaré between Sarmiento and Corrientes.
• Paternal 1: Av. Nazca between Lascano and Baigorria.
• Paternal 3: Av. San Martín between Juan B. Justo and Seguí.
• Piedrabuena: 2 de abril between Av. General Paz and Montiel.
• Pompeya 1: Av. Cruz between Las Palmas and Av. La Plata.
• Pompeya 2: Av. Perito Moreno between Ochoa and Taborda.
• Saavedra 1: Av. Balbín between Plaza and Machain.
• Saavedra 3: Av. Balbín between Pico and Arias.
• San Telmo: Av. San Juan between Bolívar and Balcarce.
• Villa Crespo: Av. Scalabrini Ortiz between Av. Corrientes and Padilla.
• Villa Pueyrredón: Moscón between Terrada and Bolivia.
• Villa Urquiza: Av. Triunvirato between Roosevelt and Rivera.
• Versalles: Jonte between Juan B. Justo and Barragán.