The emblematic lighthouse located at the top of the tower of Palacio Barolo, chosen as one of the symbols for the commemoration of the 200 years of May 1810 Revolution, will be put to work again on October 3, 2009, as part of the program "On the Doors of the Bicentenary" by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires.

After its restoration and value enhancement project, the Bicentennial's Beacon  (El Faro del Bicentenario) will be switched on at 8.00 pm, during a colorful show.

The young and talented Argentinian pianist Horacio Lavandera will interpret three Beethoven's sonatas (Moonlight Sonata, Pathetic, and Aurora), to revive three moments of Dante's "The Divine Comedy", in which architect Mario Palanti was inspired to design this extraordinary building: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.

Palacio Barolo will be the support for the images related to Dante's world that will accompany the musician along the night.

After being turned on for this first time, the beam of light will cross the skies of Buenos Aires the 25th day of each month, with a light show that will be seen from different parts of the city.

Organized by the Ministry of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires, the International Buenos Aires Festival (Festival Internacional de Buenos Aires -FIBA), will take place between October 5th and 18th, 2009. This year the festival features a program that combines theatrical plays and shows from Argentina and other from cities around the world, such as: Ajaccio (France), Asunción del Paraguay (Paraguay), Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Cochabamba/La Paz (Bolivia), Córdoba (Argentina), Gante (Belgium) Helsinki (Finland), Hong Kong (China), Maputo (Mozambique), México DF (México), Montevideo (Uruguay), Palermo (Italy), París (France), Poznan (Poland), Prague (Czech Republic), Rosario (Argentina), San Miguel de Tucumán (Argentina), Santiago de Chile (Chile), Seoul (Korea) and Wroclaw (Poland).

FIBA takes place every two years, featuring diverse artistic expressions through theater, dance and musical theater. This year the international program will be composed of 22 shows, and the national program will include 28 plays. The festival is complemented with a series of cultural activities:

Cámara Hamlet. A movie series, between thursday 8 and Sunday 18 at Harrods. Films that will be projected: Hamlet (1920), Germany; Hamlet (1948), Great Britain; Gamlet (1964), USSR; Hamlet (1964), USA; Quella sporca storia nell west (1968), Italy; Hamlet (1969), Great Britain; A herança (1970), Brazi; Intikam Melegi - Kadin Hamlet (1977), Turkey; Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (1980), Great Britain; Hamlet (1990), USA; Hamlet, ciganki princ (2007), Serbia; Hamlet (2007), Great Britain.

Babel, la biblioteca (Babel, the libray). This series presents the spectator with a direct experience with different languages, and an opportunity of integration and exchange with the different communities that live in the city. The following works will be read in their original language: Anoite vai coma un río, by Álvaro Cunqueiro (Galician); Az ember tregédiája, by Imre Madách (Hungarian); Badago ala ez dago?, by Yolanda Arrieta Malaxetxebarria (Vasque); Den Starkare, by August Strindberg (Swedish); Dvaja, by Július Barč-Ivan (Slovakian), Enrico IV, by Luigi Pirandello (Italian); Frumoasa călătorie a urşilor panda povestită de un saxofonist care avea o iubită la Frankfurt, by Matei Visniec (Romanian); Gengangere, by Henrik Ibsen (Norwegain); Güzel Gören Güzel DüŞünür, by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (Turquish); Jasidiana, (Hebrew), Keiler Schtub, by Itzjoc Leibush Peretz (Yidisch); Land ohne Worte, by Dea Loher (German); Martin Krpan, by Joža Vombergar (Slovakian); Masref al Taslif, by Mohamad Yamel (Arabic); Pierwszy raz, by Michal Walczak (Polish); Vampiros, by Darko Lukic (Croatian); Vestido de Noiva, by Nelson Rodrigues (Portuguese); Volem ana al Tibidabo, by Cristina Clemente (Catalonian); Zahradní slavnost, by Václav Havel (Czech); ΝΟΣΤΑΛΓΟΣ, by Alexandros Papadiamantis (Greek).

Coloquios. Talks and round tables focused on "The public theaters".

Meeting points at Harrods. Every afternoon between 5 pm and 7 pm, free entrance meetings , or Happy Hours, with artists. Translators will be available for the exchange with the public. It will also feature a permanent exhibit about the history of Argentine theater in the XXth century.

Pequeña Música Nocturna, a space to close every journey with music related to theater, dance and movies, with artists like Samy Abadi, Ulises Conti, Diego Vainer, Bárbara Togander, Federico Marrale, Pablo Bronzini, Cheny Wa Gune, Sebastián Schachtel, Sergio Vainicoff, Pablo Agri, Jorge Haro, Gustavo García Mendy and Alejandro González Novoa.

Workshops. 19 workshops hosted by artists from the companies participating in FIBA.

Tickets for the shows will be on sale from September 14, 2009 at Casa de la Cultura, Av. de Mayo 575, Monday to Saturday, 11 am to 7 pm.
The price of tickets for the national plays is $ 3 Argentine Pesos and for the International shows $ 40 Pesos. The rest of the activities are free of charge.

For more information on locations, and day by day program, visit FIBA 2009 official website (in Spanish only)

NOTICE: The match had to be suspended for the second time due to bad weather conditions. Check for updates on new date.

On Sunday, October 11th, 2009, and for the third time in the history of Polo in Argentina, the perfect 80-goal match will be played, this time at the Jockey Club in San Isidro. The two participating teams ("Patricios" and "Granaderos"), with 40 goals of handicap each, will bring together some of the best polo players in the world. The tams will form as follows:

Patricios: Facundo Pieres, Lucas Monteverde, Mariano Aguerre and Marcos Heguy.

Granaderos: Agustín Merlos, Juan Martín Nero, Miguel Novillo Astrada and Bartolomé Castagnola.

The previous 80-goal match in Argentina took place on April 2008, at Centauros Polo Club.

The money raised by the sale of the entrance tickets will be donated to charity organizations. A unique opportunity to attend one of the most outstanding polo events worldwide.

Date: Sunday, October 11th, 2009

Location: Jockey Club San Isidro. Av. Marquez 2302.

Entry tickets: AR$ 30 and AR$ 50. On sale through: www.tuentrada.com

Don´t miss the opportunity of attending this world class event. Contact me if you want to  arrange for transportation.

The Salón Nacional de Artes Visuales, which takes place every year at Palais de Glace, is the most important contest in Argentina in the field of fine arts, covering painting, sculpture, engraving, drawing, photography, ceramics, textile art, and new supports and installations.

This competition started in 1911 as an annual painting and sculpture exhibition hall sponsored by the Fine Arts National Commission. Since 1932, Palais de Glace is the permanent venue for the Salon Nacional de Artes Visuales.

From September 24, 2009 to October 18, 2009, the awarded works from all the disciplines and all the selected works for the "Painting" category will be exhibited to the public.

Location: Palais de Glace. Posadas 1725.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, 12 noon to 8 PM. Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM to 8 PM.

Free entrance.

Personal Fest, one of the most important international music festivals in Argentina, presents its 6th edition at Club Ciudad de Buenos Aires (Av. Libertador & Crisologo Larralde), on September 25th and October 16th and 17th, 2009.
Personal Fest 09 will feature a two-day top level program with international bands and national artists. The main invited bands this year are Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25: Opening of the Festival
MYSTERY JETS at La Trastienda Club. Balcarce 450 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16:
PET SHOP BOYS
The greatest pop duo, composed of Neil Francis Tennant and Christopher Sean, present this show in Buenos Aires as part of its Pandemonium Tour.

Line up: Nile Rodgers & Chic, Cuentos Borgeanos, Leo Garcia, Zero 7, Tahiti 80 (France), Plastilina Mosh (Mexico) David Lebon, Super Ratones, Hana, Pat Coria, Los Susceptibles, Paid (Warp - UK), Prefuse 73 (Warp - USA), Tim Exile (Warp - UK), Victoria Mil, Alfi Martins, Wapaq, Ximena Sariñana (Mexico), Nicolas Ibarburu (Uruguay), Loli Molina, Ambulancia, Walter Dominguez, Zolvein Vixen, Datura, Venome.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17:
DEPECHE MODE
The British band will offer their second show in Argentina, presenting their album "Sounds of the Universe".

Line up: Justin Robertson (warm up DJ set), Banda de Turistas, Bicicletas, Volador G, Café Tacuba, Spanish Bombs (honoring The Clash), La Portuatia, Estelares, No Lo Soporto, Panico Ramirez, Tony 70, Hercoles $ Love Affair (DJ set), Poncho (with Justin Robertson), Adicta, Indica, Rock Hudson (Chile), Gusz, Tom Ze (Brazil), Rosal, DDC, Fantasmagoria, Kausal, Genitales Argentinos, Indignos, LAyFe.

Tickets are on sale through Ticketek Argentina: www.ticketek.com.ar

Need help getting tickets? Contact me!

The traditional Tortugas Country Club Open Polo Championship will kick off on Tuesday, September 22, 2009, when the best six teams in the world, with an average of 37 goals, will be disputing the Emilio de Anchorena Cup and the Audi Grand Prize.
This tournament is the first of the three great Polo Open Championships in the Official Spring Season of the Argentine Polo Association, marking the start of the honorable "Triple Crown" of Argentine Polo, along with the 116th Hurlingham Club Open and the 116th Argentine Open in Palermo.

Fixture:

Tuesday 9/22 - Zone A
4.00 pm La Aguada vs. Chapa Uno
4.00 pm Pilará vs. Indios Chapaleufú II
4:00 pm Ellerstina vs.La Aguada
Result: Ellerstina 10 - La Aguada 9 

Sunday 9/27 - Zone B
2:30 pm La Dolfina vs. Indios Chapaleufu II
Suspended due to rain. Rescheduled for Tuesday 29, 4.00 pm
Result: Indios Chapaleufu 16 - La Dolfina 13 

Saturday 10/03 - Zone A
4:00 pm Ellerstina vs. Chapa I
Result: Ellerstina 16 - Chapa I 12

Sunday 10/04 - Zone B
4:00 pm La Dolfina vs. Pilara

Saturday 10/10 - FINAL
4:00 pm Winner Zone A vs Winner Zone B
ELLERSTINA vs PILARA
Result: ELLERSTINA 14 - PILARA 11


Ellerstina champion of Turtugas Open for the third year in a row.


Teams:

Zone A
Ellerstina: Facundo Pieres 10, Gonzalo Pieres (Jr) 10, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Juan Martín Nero 10. Total 40.
La Aguada: Javier Novillo Astrada 9, Eduardo Novillo Astrada (Jr) 9, Miguel Novillo Astrada 10, Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9. Total 37.
Chapa Uno: Hilário Ulloa 8, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 8, Bautista Heguy 9, Francisco de Narváez (Jr) 9. Total 34.

Zone B La Dolfina: Adolfo Cambiaso (Jr) 10, Lucas Monteverde (Jr) 10, Mariano Aguerre 10, Bartolomé Castagnola 10. Total 40.
Pilará: Agustín Merlos 10, Santiago Chavanne 8, Sebastián Merlos 9, Marcos Heguy 10. Total 37.
Indios Chapaleufú II: Alberto Heguy (Jr) 8, David Stirling (Jr) 8, Ignacio Heguy 9, Eduardo Heguy 9. Total 34.

San Ignacio de Loyola, the oldest church in Buenos Aires, located in the historic Manzana de las Luces, presents the IV Ancient Music Festival, a program of eight concerts destined to raising funds for the restoration of the temple, built 300 years ago by the Jesuits.
The program will consist of Ancient Music and Latin American Baroque concerts, performed by four outstanding groups:

The concerts will take place during the month of September 2009 at the same church of San Ignacio de Loyola (Bolivar 255), at the at the Parrish of Universidad del Salvador (Callao 580), and at the San Antonio de Padua Parrish, in the town of San Antonio de Areco, province of Buenos Aires. Entrance is free, and a contributions for the restoration will be accepted.

Schedule, dates and locations:

Tuesday 8, 7 pm: "Capilla del Sol", at San Ignacio de Loyola
Tuesday 15, 7 pm: "Hombres Nuevos", Bolivia, at San Ignacio de Loyola
Thursday 17, 7 pm: "Hombres Nuevos", Bolivia, at Universidad del Salvador
Sunday 20, 11 am: "Hombres Nuevos", Bolivia, at San Antonio de Areco
Tuesday 22, 7 pm: Choir and Orchestra San Ignacio de Moxos, Bolivia, at San Ignacio de Loyola
Thursday 24, 7 pm: Choir and Orchestra San Ignacio de Moxos, Bolivia, at Universidad del Salvador
Sunday 27, 11 am: Choir and Orchestra San Ignacio de Moxos, Bolivia, at San Antonio de Areco
Tuesday 29, 7 pm: La Barroca del Suquía, Argentina, at San Ignacio de Loyola

Centro Cultural Recoleta hosts the photographic exhibition "Aldo Sessa, Pasion por la imagen" (Aldo Sessa, A passion for image), celebrating the 50 years of work of one of the most talented Argentinian photographers.
The exhibit is composed of 160 of Aldo Sessa's most representative artistic photographs, experimental works, Argentine landscapes, portraits of its people, the city of Buenos Aires, the tango, the gauchos, and his still-life series. It also features some paintings from his artistic beginnings.

Location: Centro Cultural Recoleta, Junin 1930
Dates: September 2 to October 4, 2009
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 2 pm to 9 pm. Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 9 pm
Free entrance

Every year following the World Press Photo Contest, the winning images go on show around 80 cities worldwide, starting in Amsterdam as part of the prize-giving ceremony in April, until March the following year. This year's exhibition comprises 196 images selected by an international, independent jury from a total of 96,268 that entered the contest. During September 2009 they will be presented in Buenos Aires, at Centro Cultural Borges, sponsored by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Argentina.
The exhibition comprises 196 photographs, including the prize winner and the ones awarded in every one of the 10 categories.
Since 1995, the Dutch organization World Press Photo offers international support to new photo journalists. The World Press Photo Exhibition is the best known of World Press Photo's activities.
The annual World Press Photo contest offers an overview of the way press photographers approach their work, bringing together pictures from all parts of the globe to reflect trends and developments in photojournalism.

Dates: September 7 through October 4, 2009
Location: Centro Cultural Borges, Viamonte & San Martín, Buenos Aires
Opening hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 10 AM to 9 PM. Sundays 12 noon to 9 PM.

The center for the Interpretation of Restoration Works of Teatro Colón (Centro de Interpretación Vivencial) is now open to the public. In this space visitors can learn about the progress of the restoration works inside the theater through an audiovisual and multimedia exhibition.

The Center includes photographic exhibits, costumes, and scale models of various of the theater's historical stagings. It also features the screening of a documentary with detailed information about the program of restoration works in execution.

According to the Theater's authorities the restoration works, that were originally planned to be finished by May 2008, will be ready by the end of December 2009, and the re inauguration for the public is planned to take place on May 25, 2010.

The Interpretation Center is located on Viamonte 1180, and can be visited free of charge Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays, 2 pm to 6 pm.

The National Museum of Decorative Arts presents this exhibition organized by Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Le Corbusier Foundation in Paris, and Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid.
Le Corbusier starts to write an art book by mid 1947, and publishes it in a limited edition in 1955 as "The Poem of the Right Angle".
Considered to the most lucid synthesis of Le Corbusier's personal maxims, The Poem of the Right Angle (Le Poeme de l'Angle Droit) is a series of metaphysical poems, accompanied by collages, paintings and drwaings.
Le Corbusier expressed his desire that the Poem reached the widest range of public possible. Fulfilling his will, Le Corbusier Foundation launched in 1989 a facsimile edition of the book. The Castillan edition (2007) made for the exhibition at the Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid, thoroughly respected the one made by the Foundation.
This will be the first time that this work is exhibited out of Europe. The exhibition is complemented with the projection of the Electronic Poem, an audiovisual work Le Corbusier composed in collaboration with musician Edgar Varése for the Philips Pavilion at the Brussels Universal Exhibition in 1958, as well as the world premiere of the Choreographic Meditation, specially composed by Oscar Araiz and inspired in the Poem of the Right Angle.

Location: Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo. Av. del Libertador 1902
Dates: September 2 to October 10, 2009
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 2 pm to 7 pm
Entry fee: AR$ 5
Tuesdays: Free

Casa FOA, the most important yearly exhibition where decorators, architects, designers, and landscapers selected for their talent and prestige, showcase the local and international trends in architecture, interior design, and landscaping, will take place this year at Tribuna Plaza, at Hipodromo de Palermo in Buenos Aires.
Casa FOA was born in 1985 as an initiative of Mercedes Malbrán de Campos and a group of ladies with the purpose of raising funds for the Argentine Ophthalmology Foundation "Jorge Malbrán" (FOA). With a growing success, Casa FOA has become one the most important events in the country´s cultural agenda.
The strategic selection of the venues and the careful and profound restoration of the chosen buildings give every edition of Casa FOA an indisputable value for the community, making it possible to associate its name not only to Argentine design but also to the preservation of buildings of great historic and cultural value, like: Casa de la Moneda (1995), Hotel de Inmigrantes (2000), Monasterio de Santa Catalina (2001), Casa del Patio de la Reconquista (2003), Hotel Avenida de Mayo (1991), Puerto Madero Dock 5 (1993), Palacio Alcorta (1994), Tattersal de Palermo (1998) Apostadero Naval (2000), Terrazas de Buenos Aires (2002), Tribuna II Palermo (2004), Puerto de Frutos de Tigre (2008), among others.

Dates: September 4 to October 18, 2009.
Opening hours: 12 noon to 8 PM
Location: Tribuna Plaza, Av. Libertador 4401
Entry fee: AR$ 30
Casa FOA official website.

The Patrouille de France, the French Air Force acrobatic squad, also known as ‘The Cavaliers of The Sky" and considered as one of the greatest aerobatic teams in the world, will arrive in Argentina for the first time to fly over the cities of Buenos Aires and Cordoba.

The French pilots will fly over Buenos Aires on Tuesday, September 13th, 2009. Eight aircrafts will depart from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, flying over Tigre and the Costanera. They will then turn over Avenida de Mayo, flying over Casa Rosada and ending at Av. 9 de Julio at 1 pm, after passing over the French Embassy, drawing the French and Argentinian flags.

The French Alphajet planes will be accompanied by 3 Pampa aircrafts from the Argentinian Air Force.

The Patrouille de France will also visit the city of Cordoba on September 17.

According to the French Embassy, the visit of the acrobatic patrol is the result of the good relations existent between the two countries, and will be an occasion for France to contribute to the celebrations of the bicentenary of May Revolution.

The best adventure film festival in the world, Banff Mountain Film Festival, arrives in Buenos Aires for the ninth time as part of its World Tour, with spectacular films about mountaineering, nature, and extreme sports, from countries like Norway, Germany, United States, and Canada, among others.

As a new feature this year, a series of conferences will be held before the movie screenings. Great Argentine adventurers and mountain men, like Sebastián Cura, Guillermo Glass and Christian Vitry (Expedición Dhaulagiri 2008), Alfredo Barragán (Expedición Atlantis, El desafío a los imposibles), and Humberto Vázquez, with Martin Iglesias, from Expedición Bicentenario 2010, will share their experiences, adventures and projects. On September 21, 22, andl 23, at 6.00 pm, with free entrance.

The program combines 13 films, featuring great stories of daring sporstmen, surrounded by breathtaking natural landscapes. The last date, called "3ra Noche" is the National Festival of Adventure and Nature Cinema, presenting the best films in the field by Argentine directors.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival was created in 1976, in the Canadian town of Banff, when 450 people gathered to watch 10 movies. From then on the festival grew every year to screen the best pictures that capture the spirit of mountain and adventure culture. The Festival´s World Tour began 15 years ago, and it was presented for the first time in Argentina in 2001.

Dates: September 21, 22, and 23, 2009
Location: Hoyts Cinemas Dot Baires Shopping. Vedia 3632 (Saavedra)
Tickets on sale at the venue. $ 25 Pesos for 1 night, $ 65 Pesos for the 3 nights.

For more information and complete program, visit the Banff Mountain Film Festival's website.

Vinos y Bodegas, Cosecha 2009 (Wines and Wineries, 2009 Edition), will take place from September 8th to 10th, 2009, at La Rural Exhibition Center. The most important Fair for the Wine Industry in Latin America will offer visitors the opportunity to enjoy the most renowned wine labels from traditional and boutique wineries in Argentina. The wines awarded abroad will be presented at the Fair, as well as the new trends in wine consume.

For the past years Argentina has been positioned in the international wine market among the five main wine producers worldwide. United States is at present the main destination for the Argentine wine exports, followed by United Kingdom, Canada, and Brazil. With this in mind, Vinos y Bodegas will offer this year the 5th International Wine Buyers' Business Round, with special opening hours exclusive for trade.

Dates: September 8th to 10th, 2009
Opening hours:
Tuesday, September 8th:
3 pm to 6 pm: Trade/Professionals with invitation only.
6 pm to 11 pm: General Public
Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th: 6 pm to 11 pm: General Public
Location: La Rural Exhibition Center. Pabellon Frers. Av. Santa Fe 4201, Palermo
Entry fee: AR$ 60. Includes 1 tasting cup.
More information: Vinos y Bodegas Cosecha 2009 official website (in Spanish only).