As every year, the shopping malls of Buenos Aires will celebrate the Holidays and New Year's with a show of fireworks and music, this Sunday, December 20th, at 9:30 PM. This free of charge event will take place simultaneously at 6 points in the city:

On Saturday, December 19th 2009, at 8.30 pm, in Plaza República del Uruguay (Figueroa Alcorta and Tagle) the Pulic Television and Radio Nacional invite to a free entrance open air Lyric and Fireworks Festival, with the participation of soprano Paula Almerares, tenor Dario Volonté, and violin player Xavier Inchausti, accompanied by "Orquesta de la Radio Televisión Pública Argentina", conducted by Marcelo Zurlo.

The conciert will include works by Mendelssohn, Puccini, Bartók, Paganini and Bizet, and will be closed by a spectacular fireworks show.

Paula Almerares is a renowned Argentinian soprano. Xavier Inchausti is one of the most prestigious violin players in the world, active student of the Salzburg's Mozarteum. Darío Volonté is an Argentine tenor with an international career. Orquesta de la Radio Televisión Pública Argentina is made up of 50 prestigious Argentine musicians.

"Por la Calle" is an urban self-guided tour, to discover the keys for the identity of design in Argentina. Por la Calle invites visitors to stroll around those shops where textile and clothing design is present, enjoying the talent and creations of Argentine designers in their own spaces.

Throughout the month of December 2009, the Buenos Aires Symphonic Band, conducted by Lito Vitale and Jose Luis Cladera, will offer a series of open air concerts, all of them free of charge.

Program:

Friday 4, 6:30 pm: Florida & Santa Fe

Saturday 5, 6:00 pm: Planetarium Galileo Galilei, Av. Sarmiento and Av. Figueroa Alcorta.

Sunday 6, 11:00 am: Planetarium Galileo Galilei, Av. Sarmiento and Av. Figueroa Alcorta.

Friday 11, 7:00 pm: Florida & Santa Fe (Celebrating National Tango Day)

Sunday 13, 11:00 am: Planetarium Galileo Galilei, Av. Sarmiento and Av. Figueroa Alcorta.

Friday 18, 6:30 pm: Florida & Santa Fe

Sunday 20, 11:00 am: Planetarium Galileo Galilei, Av. Sarmiento and Av. Figueroa Alcorta.

Tuesday 22, 8:00 pm: Amphitheater Parque Centenario, Leopoldo Marechal & Lillo

"Tribuna Real", the biggest International Polo Fair will take place at Tribuna II of the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, just opposite the Campo Argentino de Polo, from the 1st to the 4th of December 2009. There will be conferences and debates concerning horses and rules of the game, clinics and talks by distinguished people related to this activity.

Bars, restaurants, and wooden horses to practice your swing and get some advice from instructors will also be available.

Women will have an important place in the fair. Female Polo matches, luxury brands, and fashion shows are just some of the choices of this amazing event.

Visitors will be able to watch tango shows and enjoy a delicious cocktails or taste a glass of wine from the most important Argentine wineries; all while being surrounded with the most prestigious and luxurious brands and the works of Polo Artists.

Every night there will be a distinguished party to end an amazing day of Polo at the fair.

Location: Hipódromo de Palermo Tribuna II. Av. Libertador 4401

Opening hours: 5 pm to 11 pm

More information: Tribuna Real official website

At the International Artisan Fair ("Feria Internacional de Artesanias") over 600 artisans from Argentina and the world will show their talent, creativity and skills, with live demonstrations of their work.

A unique opportunity for visitors to purchase exclusive handicraft pieces at the best prices, while learning about cultural and artistic expressions from Argentina and Latin America.

Dates: December 4 to 13, 2009.
Location: La Rural Exhibition Center. Av. Sarmiento 2704
Opening hours: 3 PM to 10 PM
More information: Feria Internacional de Artesanias official website.

"La Gran Milonga Nacional", an open air event with live orchestras and street tango dancing on Avenida de Mayo, will take place this year on Saturday, December 5th. The celebration, which every year occupies that traditional Avenue from Plaza de Mayo to 9 de Julio is organized by the National Tango Academy and the Association of Promoters of Tourism, Hotel Business and Gastronomy (APTHGRA).

La Gran Milonga Nacional will start at 8 pm, with three central stages in the corners of Avenida de Mayo and Bernardo de Irigoyen, Piedras and Perú, and other smaller ones along the avenue, and the audience will be able to dance on the street to the music of live orchestras.

Two of the most important Golf tournaments in Argentina will take place during the month of December 2009. From December 3rd to December 6th, the Torneo de Maestros – the Argentina Masters –, one of the most important events in the TLA schedule since 2001, will be hosted by the world class Olivos Golf Club, north of Buenos Aires.

Immediately after Olivos, from December 10th to December 13th, the best from the TLA and the TPG will be welcomed at Nordelta Golf Club for the 104th Abierto de la República. This course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, makes its official debut as an Argentina Open venue. This prestigious championship is organized by the Argentina Golf Association (AAG).

Between December 3 and December 8, BUENOS AIRES JAZZ.09 presents a program with more tan 150 musicians in concert, invited artists that visit Argentina for the first time, and national and international artists that will offer the best of jazz in all its forms. The program of BAJ.09 will be divided into different sections:

International Concerts: artists from Ecuador, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, France, Spain and North America. The opening night at Teatro Presidente Alvear, on Thursday, December 3, at 8.30 pm, will feature Fred Hersch, who will also offer concerts on Saturday 5, 1 pm at Sala Casacuberta of Teatro General San Martín , and Friday 4, 9 pm, at Teatro 25 de mayo.
France will be also pesent at the Closing of the Festival, on Tuesday, December 8, 9 pm at Teatro Coliseo, with France's National Jazz Ochestra (ONJ), with a program dedicated to Billie Holliday. And on Sunday 6, 9 pm at Teatro 25 de Mayo, the best manouche tradition with Angelo Debarre and Ludovic Beier.
From Spain, Carme Canela, with the Argentine artist Guillermo Klein on the piano and Ben Monder from USA as a special guest. Also from USA Steve Cardenas and the sax of Jorge Pardo with swing and flamenco.

"Cruces": Meetings between local and international artists at Cafe Vinilo and Club Lounge.

Commissions: for works to be presented at the Festival.

Open Air concerts at the terrace of Centro Cultural Recoleta: Sofía Rei Koutsovitis, Jorge Navarro Trío, Guillermo Vadalá, Pepi Taveira Quinteto with Luis Agudo, Mariano Otero Noneto presentaing “Desarreglos”, CD tribute to Walter Malosetti, Guillermo Klein Grupo. Homage to Cuchi Leguizamón, Trío Mora / Etchenique / Ibarburu (Uruguay), Oscar Feldman Cuarteto, Mariano Loiácono Quinteto, Girotto / Sinesi / Bruhn and Sexteto Vocal Cabernet.

Jazzologia, honoring the traditional jazz, with concerts by: Creole Jazz Band, Fats Fernández and Pablo Raposo, Machline & Herrera with Luis Cerávolo, Small Jazz Band (Córdoba), Arturo Schneider Orchestra, Sergio Poli Cuarteto, López Ruiz / Fraga / Boco Trío.

Jazz & Cine: screenings of movies and documentaries.

Jazz Tango Club, in co-production with the Tango Festival.

Jazz at the Zoo, with a varied program at Teatro Sarmiento: Jue’ mandinga!, Delfina Oliver Cuarteto, Demogli / Motta / Giunta Trío, Patricio Carpossi Quinteto, Barbie Martínez Cuarteto / Carlos Lastra and Ángel Sucheras, Brote, Arturo Puertas Cuarteto, Isabel de Sebastián & Bob Telson + Franco Luciani and Rodrigo Domínguez Cuarteto.

"El Aula" (The Classrroom): open classes, clinics and workshops.

Musicians by Musicians, meetings conducted by Fernando Tarrés, from Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8, at 5 pm, at the Living of Centro Cultural Recoleta.

The Jam Sessions, every night in La Trastienda with Gillespi as a host.

Venues:
Teatro Presidente Alvear: Av. Corrientes 1659
Teatro Coliseo: Marcelo T. de Alvear 1125
Teatro General San Martín, Sala Casacuberta: Av. Corrientes 1530
Teatro 25 de Mayo: Av. Triunvirato 4444
La Trastienda Club: Balcarce 460
Centro Cultural Recoleta: Junín 1930
Teatro Sarmiento: Av. Sarmiento, 2715
Jazz Club Lounge: Reconquista 974
Café Vinilo: Gorriti 3780.

Tickets will be on sale from November 25th at Casa de la Cultura, Av. De Mayo 575, and and at Teatro 25 de Mayo, Triunvirato 4444, Monday to Saturday 11 am to 7 pm.

International Concerts range from $ 10 to $ 40 Pesos. Tickets for the Meetings are $ 15 Pesos. Paid clinics are $ 40 Pesos.
The rest of the activities and concerts are free until reaching the maximum capacity of the venues and don't require advanced tickets

More information and daily schedules: Buenos Aires Jazz 09 official website.

Saturday, November 14, 2009, will mark the start of the most important polo tournament in the world, the 116th Argentine Open Polo Championship (Abierto Argentino de Polo, or just "El Abierto"), that will take place until December 5, 2009. This tournament, held every year at the Campo Argentino de Polo in Palermo (Av. del Libertador & Dorrego), brings together the best polo players in the world, and it is one of the oldest and most prestigious events in the international polo calendar. It is also one of the main social events in Buenos Aires.

"Abonos" (full set of tickets for the 7 dates) for the 116th Argentine Polo Open are on sale through Ticketek Argentina until November 13th, 2009. Tickets for the individual matches will continue, subject to availability after the sale of the "abonos", from November 14th to December 5th, 2009. Tickets for the main matches and the best seats can get sold out in just a few hours, specially for the final match on December 5th.

Participating teams:

Zone A:
Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra: Facundo Pieres 10, Gonzalo Pieres (Jr) 10, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Juan Martín Nero 10. Total: 40.
Pilará Piaget: Agustín Merlos 10 , Santiago Chavanne 8, Sebastián Merlos 9, Marcos Heguy 10. Total: 37.
Indios Chapaleufú II: Alberto Heguy (Jr) 8, Ignacio Heguy 9, David Stirling (Jr) 8, Eduardo Heguy 9. Total: 34.
Alegría: Frederick Mannix (Jr) 6, Francisco Bensadón 8, Juan I. Merlos 9, Luke Tomlinson 8. Total: 31.

Zone B:
La Dolfina Peugeot: Adolfo Cambiaso (Jr) 10, Lucas Monteverde (Jr) 10, Mariano Aguerre 10, Bartolomé Castagnola 10. Total: 40.
La Aguada Tupungato Winelands: Javier Novillo Astrada 9, Eduardo Novillo Astrada (Jr) 9, Miguel Novillo Astrada 10, Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9. Total: 37.
Chapa Uno Hope Funds: Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 8, Hilario Ulloa 8, Bautista Heguy 9, Francisco de Narváez (h) 9. Total: 34.
El Paraíso: Guillermo Caset (Jr) 8, Ignacio Toccalino 8, Mariano González 8, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 7. Total: 31.

Fixture:

Date 1
Saturday, November 14 (Zone A):
2:00 PM: Ellerstina vs Alegria (1)
4.00 PM: Pilará vs Indios Chapaleufú II (2)
Results:
Ellerstina 20 - Alegria 15
Pilará 16 - Indios Chapaleufú II 15

Date 2
Sunday, November 15 (Zone B):
2:00 PM: La Dolfina vs El Paraiso (3)
4:00 PM: La Aguada vs Chapa Uno (4)
Results:
La Dolfina 21 - El Paraiso 8
La Aguada 13 -Chapa Uno 9

Date 3
Saturday, November 21: SUSPENDED DUE TO RAIN
Date 4
Sunday, November 22: SUSPENDED DUE TO RAIN 
Date 3
Friday, November 27: SUSPENDED DUE TO RAIN 

New dates:
Date 4
Saturday, November 28 (Zone B)
2:00 PM: La Aguada vs El Paraiso
4:00 PM: La Dolfina vs Chapa Uno
La Dolfina 15 - Chapa Uno 14 

Date 3
Wednesday, December 2 (Zone A)
2:00 PM: Pilará vs Alegria
4:00 PM: Ellerstina vs Indios Chapaleufu II
For organization reasons, the 6th date will be played before the 5th date:

Date 6
Saturday, December 5 (Zone B)
2:00 PM: El Paraiso vs Chapa Uno
Result: El Paraiso 13 - Chapa Uno 12
4:00 PM: La Dolfina vs La Aguada SUSPENDED DUE TO RAIN 

Date 5
Sunday, December 6 (Zone A):
2:00 PM: Alegria vs Indios Chapaleufu II
4:00 PM: Ellerstina vs Pilará

The match suspended on December 5 will be played on:
Monday, December 7
5:00 PM: La Dolfina vs La Aguada

For the first time in its 116 years of history, two 40-goal teams will meet at the final of the Argentine Open. 

Final: Saturday, December 12
5:00 PM: ELLERSTINA vs LA DOLFINA

LA DOLFINA champion of the 116th Argentine Open.
With a golden goal by Mariano Aguerre in the supplementary chukker, La Dolfina defeated Ellerstina in the first 80-goal final in this historic tournament. 

The exhibition Carlos Thays, un jardinero francés en Buenos Aires (Charles Thays, a French Gardener in Buenos Aires), organized by the Buenos Aires government, the French Embassy, the City of Paris, will be held at Centro Cultural Recoleta until December 6, 2009, with free entrance, featuring photographs, models, plans, urban furniture, personal objects and other documents.

Charles Thays was one of the main promoters of the embellishment of urban spaces for the centenary in 1910, and one of the key figures for the protection of the natural patrimony, the production of yerba mate, and the botanical sciences.

Charles Thays was born in Paris in 1849, and died in Buenos Aires in 1934. He was known as the Greatest Gardener of Buenos Aires. He developed his work in Argentina from 1889, adopting it as his own country, studying its natural and cultural heritage.

As Director of Parks of the city of Buenos Aires, Thays designed and remodeled most of its green spaces: the Botanical Garden, the Parks 3 de Febrero, Los Andes, Ameghino, Colón, de los Patricios, Chacabuco, Pereyra, del Centenario, Lezama, Avellaneda and Intendente Alvear, as well as the squares of Congreso, de Mayo, Rodríguez Peña, Solís, Castelli, Brown, Balcarce, among others. He also built gardens in hospitals and other public buildings, and planted over 150,000 trees in the streets of Buenos Aires.

• One life, two continents: explains the private and public life of Thays in two countries: France and Argentina.
• The art of the garden: shows his main public and private designs (squares, parks, and gardens; urbanizations; estancias and residences).
• Science and technics: focused in his activities related to botanics, environment and horticulture.
• Children's corner: specially design for kids, introducing them in the parks of the past.
• Virtual walks, a video installation that takes visitors to the parks of Paris and Buenos Aires
• Exterior garden: a Welcome garden

Location: Centro Cultural Recoleta, Junin 1930

Dates: November 5 - December 6, 2009

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday, 2 pm to 9 pm

Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, 10 am to 9 pm

Free entrance

The program is sponsored by Fundacion YPF, which contributed to the care and restoration of the Rose Garden, planting 5000 new rose bushes, restoring the irrigation systems, the electrical installations, the fountains, pergolas and paths.

Program:

October 4: Juan Falú and Ramiro Gallo. Guitar and violin duo. A mix between folklore and tango.

October 11: String quartet and oboe. Classsical musc concert. Works by Luigi Boccherini, Joan Strauss, Astor Piazzolla, Ennio Morricone, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Pachelbel.

October 18: Django Trío Jazz Concert. Will play own themes and songs by Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Django Reinhardt and Birelli Lagrene, among others.

October 25: Classical music concert. Wind Trío. Ludwig van Beethoven, José Carli, Wolfang Amadeus Mozart, Eugene Bozza and Eric Satie.

November 1: Diego Schissi Quinteto Jazz Concert. Presenting “Tongo”, a jazz and tango project by Diego Schissi.

November 8: Quinteto Ventarron. Tango concert.

November 15: Wind quinted. Classical Music Concert.

November 22: Mario Parmisano Trio. Jazz

November 29: Classical Music concert (to be confirmed)

December 6: Gabriela Herrera Jazz Quartet

December 13: Guillo Espel Quartet. Folklore

December 20: Duo Gotico. Classical Music Concert.

The Argentina Tennis Cup, sponsored by Peugeot (Copa Argentina de Tenis Peugeot 2009), will be  played this year from December 17th to December 20th, 2009. The matches will take place on the central court of Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, the traditional venue for Argentine Tennis.
This seventh edition of the Peugeot Argentina Tennis Cup will have the presence of some of the best national and international tennis players:

David Nalandian (Argentina)
Juan Mónaco (Argentina)
Marat Safin (Russia)
Carlos Moyá (Spain)
Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus)
Fernando González (Chile)

The Super Six format will be implemented for the first time in this tournament:

• Six participants
• Two zones of 3
• Double elimination

Schedule:
Thursday and Friday: 2 matches, starting 7.00 pm
Saturday (Semifinals): 2 matches, starting 7.00
Sunday (Final): 6.00 pm

Dates: December 17-20, 2009
Location: Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, Av. Olleros 1510, Palermo.
Tickets: On sale through Ticketek Argentina www.ticketek.com.ar

Need help getting tickets? Contact me!

The fourth edition of BAFIM, Buenos Aires International Music Fair (Feria Internacional de la Música), will offer musicians, singers, professionals, entrepreneurs, suppliers, trading companies, press, staff from the industry and visitors in general, a space where they can find stands, attend conferences, workshops, clinics, meetings, and debates, related to the national and international music industry.

BAFIM will be organized into three areas:

Activities for music industry professionals: Music Net is an international business area aimed at specialized visitors. It comprises an “international business space” with a very comfortable working area aimed at all professionals looking forward to arrange business meetings. This sector provides amenities like lounges, PCs with internet access, bars, material watching and listening equipment. Also, those accredited to Music Net will be able to attend previously arranged meetings with some of the most relevant music industry people from around the globe, such as managers, festival organizers, promoters and producers. In addition, in this room there will be talks, conferences, workshops and clinics exclusively targeted to the industry professionals.

Shows: live shows by over 80 Argentine and foreign artists in 3 different stages; rock, pop, reggaeton, reggae, folk, hip hop, meldic, electro and cumbia, are some of the music styles that will be represented, with Hollerado (Canada), Famasloop (Venezuela), Andreia Dias, Zé da Guiomar and Dona Zefinha (Brazil), Annie B. Sweet, Nena Daconte, Pereza, Pony Bravo, Revólver, Xoel López and Manel (Spain), Ana Prada (Uruguay), Peppe Voltarelli (Italy), Pedro Piedra (Chile), Puerto Candelaria (Colombia) and RoCola Bacalao (Ecuador)among the international artists, and Los Cafres, Fidel, La Bomba de Tiempo, Riddim, Mil Astillas, Hijos del Oeste, La Chilinga, Pablo Sbaraglia and Walter Domínguez, from Argentina.

Fair: exhibitions; a shopping promenade offering products related to music at promotional prices; conferences covering a wide range of topics related to music in Buenos Aires and worldwide; exclusive events, interviews, book presentations, record launchings, and other activities.

Dates: November 19th to 22nd, 2009
Location: Centro de Exposiciones Costa Salguero. Av. Costanera R. Obligado y J. Salguero
Buenos Aires Feria Internacional de la Música official website.