The government of the City of Buenos Aires presents "Aires Buenos Aires - Cultura para respirar" (Culture to Breathe), a program of cultural activities that starts next Friday, January 7th, 2011 consisting on over 100 free events, including: musical shows, drive-in movies, theater plays, activities for children, circus, performances open air "milongas", and numerous musical events, every day during January and February, 2011.
Los Cafres, Fidel, Ratones Paranoicos, Miranda, Attaque 77 and Nonpalidece, are some of the artists that will entertain the audiences with their musical shows.
There are many options for kids every day of the week. On Mondays, they can learn to dance Tango at Milonguitas opposite Caminito, with lessons by professors from the dance school of Mora Godoy.  On Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Pasaje Lanín, the small artists can develop their talents at "A Pintar en la Ciudad". On Thursdays, activities in the museums with  La Noche de Las Linternas (the Night of the Flashlights), with Mariana Cincunegui. On Fridays and Saturdays, open air movie projections at the Amphitheater of Parque Centenario, with animation movies from independent directors. And the circus show Ludus at Polo Circo, based on the pleasure of playing, for the astonishment of kids and adults alike.
The drive-in movie theater for adults will be set up at the Rose Garden, on Av Libertador & Sarmiento, every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 PM. There will also be stalls for spectators without a car. The first  showing will be "Carancho", with Ricardo Darin, directed by Pablo Trapero, on Saturday 8th.
On weekends, open air milongas at Vuelta de Rocha (La Boca), with artists like Amelita Baltar, Adriana Varela and Luis Salinas, and tango lessons and exhibitions. At the Amphitheater of Parque Centenario  every Wednesday the company of Brenda Angiel presents "8cho", a different show with live music and aerial dance.
In February, Música Urbana at Costanera Sur presents the new albums of Pedro Aznar and Bahiano and the shows by Javier Malosetti with Les Amaturs. At the same stage there will be Folklore shows, with Opus 4, Jaime Torres and Dúo Coplanacu.
The Grand Closing of the event will  be at the Obelisk on February 19, with the presentation of the emblematic show that took Tango all over the world: TANGO ARGENTINO.


To see complete schedule of activities visit Aires Buenos Aires website (in Spanish only).

From January 6 until February 28, 2011, the Government of the City of Buenos Aires presents "Buenos Aires Playa" (Buenos Aires Beach), an oasis for those residents and visitors who have to spend the summer in the city, in the style of the artificial beaches installed in Paris, Rome, Tokio, Berlín, Bruselles, Ámsterdam, Viena, and Prague.

There are two beaches, one in the North of the city, in Parque de los Niños, and one in the South, in Parque Roca where, from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 8 pm, visitors will enjoy an integral program of entertainment for the whole family: artificial sand beaches with sunshades and beach chairs; cultural activities like musical shows and book readings; water fountains and showers to cool down from the heat; sport activities and inflatable playgrounds for kids; magic and puppet shows; food courts; among many other activities and services.

Each park will have sports coordinators in aerobics, beach volley, football-tennis and other popular sports. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, there will be dance lessons, including hip hop and salsa; and every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the public will enjoy a varied program of musical shows. All the activities are free of charge.

Infants have to be permanently accompanied by adults. Entering the parks with alcoholic drinks and/or pets is not allowed. Free entrance. Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 8 pm.

How to get there:

Parque de los Niños (North):
Nuñez (on the shore of Río de la Plata where Avenue General Paz ends).
Bus 28, or by car through avenida Cantilo.

Parque Roca (South):
Escalada and 27 de Febrero.
Buses 91 and 115.

As a complement to this program, several parks in Buenos Aires will be transformed into solariums with free sun chairs and sunshades, including Parque Las Heras (Palermo); Plaza Naciones Unidas (Recoleta); Parque Rivadavia (Caballito).

On Sunday, February 6th, 2011, the Chinese New Year 2011,  the Year of the Rabbit, will be celebrated in the streets of the Chinese Quarter in Belgrano, on Arribeños Street, from Blanco Encalada to Juramento. 

The activities will take place between 10 am and 10 pm. At 12 noon, the ambassador or the Popular Chinese Republic in Argentina will officially open the ceremony, giving start to the traditional Dragon Dance.

Schedule of activities:

10:00 am: Start of the Gastronomic and Cultural Fair. Stands on Arribeños, Mendoza and Montañeses. Streets
12:00 pm: Official Inauguration. Dance of the Dragon.
2:00 pm: Start of the Cultural Shows
2:30 pm: Martial Arts Demonstration. Teacher CHEN MIN, WuShu Argentine Club. Children and adults.
3:20 pm: Japanese Drumbs Taiko. Kiseiko Mineidanchi, Mede Taiko. (
3:40 pm: Arrival of Dragon and Lions. School Choy Lee Fut.
3:50 pm: Demonstration of Chinese Martial Arts. School of Master LIU MING. AAMCHI.
4:00 pm: Traditional Chinese Dances. Prof. ANA WU.
4:15 pm: Games with the public
4:25 pm: Traditional Chinese Dances (2nd part)
4:35 pm: Taiko Japanese Drumbs on Arribeños and Mendoza.
4:40 pm: Martial Arts Demonstration. Teacher CHEN MIN WuShu Argentine Club. Children and adults.
5:00 pm: TANGO of Integration. Orchestra and couples composed by Argentines and Asians
5:40 pm: Traditional Chinese Dances. Prof. ANA WU.
6:00 pm: Dance of the Lion. School Choy Lee Fut.
6:15 pm: Yoga Demontration. Prof. Martín Trevisan,
6:30 pm:  Taiko Japanese Drumbs.
6:40 pm: TANGO of Integration. Orchestra and couples composed by Argentines and Asians
7:00 pm: Argentine Folklore Zambas and Chacareras.
7:20 pm: Demonstration of Chinese Martial Arts. School of Master LIU MING. AAMCHI.
7:40 pm: Shaolin Marcial Arts. Temple Shaolin Argentina. Master Jorge Gabriel Buzzi.
8:00 pm: Yoga Demonstration. Prof. Martín Trevisan,
8:20 pm: Games with the public, who will call the the Dragon for the closing of the Celebration of the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit
8:30 pm: Closing with Dane of the Dragon and the Lion on the stage. School of Choy Lee Fut Germán Bermúdez.
9:00 pm: Closing of the Festival.

As every year, the shopping malls of Buenos Aires will celebrate the Holidays with a show of fireworks and music, this time on Sunday, December 19th, at 10:00 PM. This free of charge event will take place simultaneously at different points in the city:

As a way of protest for the cancellation of Teatro Colon Ballet season, the members of the Teatro Colon Ballet Company will offer a performance on Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010, 9:00 PM, at Teatro Nacional Cervantes, which has offered its main concert hall for the realization of this performance.

The principal dancers, soloists, and members of  Teatro Colon ballet company will participate in the event: Karina Olmedo (First Dancer), Silvina Perillo (Soloist, substitute of the First Dancer), Gabriela Alberti, Vagram Ambartsoumian, Edgardo Trabalón, Leonardo Reale, Analía Sosa Guerrero, Marta Desperes, Nestor Asaff, Julián Galván, Dario Estanga, Verónica Lemarchand, Sergio Hochbaum, Roberto Zarza,Mariana Crespo, Federico Fernandez, Paula Cassano, Matias Santos, Rosana Perez, Gerardo Wyss, Luciana Barrirero, Natalia Pelayo, Maria Laura Domingo, Amalia Perez Alzueta. 

The program includes choreographs by Raul Candal, Michel Fokine, Ruben Gallardo, Alexander Gorsky, Asaf Messerer, Gustavo Mollajoli, Marius Petipa, Alexander Plissetsky, Laura Roatta and Jose Zartmann: Pas de Deux from Carmen, Spartacus, Spring Waters, The Corsair, Don Quixote; solos Death of a Swan and on baroque music by Astor Piazzolla, and a grand finale of Ravel's Bolero, with the participation of Choir Armonía Vocal.

Tickets: $ 40 Pesos, on sale at the Teatro Nacional Cervantes Box office,  Libertad 815, 10 am to 9 pm. Tel. 4816-4224.

The Orquesta del Bicentenario (Orchestra of the Bicentennial) will close their Classical Argentine Music Series 2010 with an outdoor concert in front of the Legislature of Buenos Aires. This Orchestra, under the direction of Alfredo Corral, was specially created by the Law School to pay tribute to the 200th anniversary of the May Revolution.

The free concert will be held on Friday, December 17th, 2010, at 7:00 pm on the pedestrian street Peru 100, and in case of rain it will be moved to the Golden Hall of the Legislative Palace, entrance on Peru 160.

The concert, named "200 artists to our 200 years", includes the Cantata of the May Revolution, from Juan Carlos Figueiras, with texts by Nelly Vargas Machuca, the Mass-Tango by Martin Palmeri, and Yupanquiana Suite by Carlos Carmona, which includes unpublished texts by Atahualpa Yupanqui.

On Saturday, December 18th, 2010, the City of Buenos Aires presents a new edition of The Bookstore Night, with over 70 free activities in 50 bookstores that will remain open during until 2:00 am. This traditional event represents the publishing industry and pays tribute to bookstores and booksellers in the City, recognizing the important role of the sector. In addition, this edition involves bookstores in different neighborhoods of Buenos Aires with activities in their premises since Friday 17th, concluding with the traditional festival on Avenida Corrientes.

UNESCO has named Buenos Aires as "Book Capital of the World 2011" in recognition of the quality of its programs to promote the dissemination of books, encouraging reading and expanding the publishing industry.

At 8:00 pm, on the main stage in Avenida Corrientes and Talcahuano, artists Kevin Johansen + The Nada + Liniers will star in an illustrated concert. The cartoonist Liniers will illustrate the songs live, and the images will be projected on a large screen located on stage.

At midnight and as closing of the event, Pedro Aznar will present a show of "Poetry and music" created especially for the Bookstore Night.

During the Bookstore Night, the vehicular traffic will be closed on Avenida Corrientes from Talcahuano up to Callao, where multiple cultural activities will take place simultaneously in bookstores, bars, theaters and on the streets. 

San Telmo will take part in the Bookstore Night with activities from 4:00 pm: Guided tours and storytelling, readings and performances by established and emerging authors.

In Palermo the Bookstore Night starts on Friday 17, at 5:00 pm, with a guided tour about "The Palermo of Borges and Cortazar." Meeting point: Borges y Guatemala (suspended in case of rain). There will also be activities for children, storytelling and talks for adults.

Activities for children: The Bookstore Night offers activities and games aiming to developing the link between children and books: treasure hunt around bookstores, a cartoon workshop and storytelling events are some of the activities planned for them.

The event is totally free of charge and it's not suspended for rain. Click here for the complete program (in Spanish only).

Next Saturday, December, 18th 2010, at 8:00pm, children and families are invited to participate in the official inauguration of the giant Nativity Scene that will be placed at Plaza Mariano Moreno (Avenida de Mayo and Luis Saenz Peña). It will be a nice opportunity to have their Christmas pictures taken. The Nativity will be exhibited from December 13th, 2010 to January 6th, 2011.

Designed and built by renowned sculptor Fernando Pugliese, the Manger is made up of fifty impressive life-size figures, which recreate the spirit of Christmas in a striking work. 

After the Nativity Scene is inaugurated and blessed, a traditional Christmas concert will be presented by the Symphony Orchestra of the Federal Police and Chorus Onak Lagun, with over a hundred artists on stage, who will offer a Christmas repertoire and songs of the "Misa Criolla" . In this event, which aims to promote values such as unity and respect, distinctions will be given to different families representative of the country.

On Thursday January 6th, 2011, at 6:00 pm, the traditional caravan of the Magi will take place, finalizing at the Nativity Scene on Avenida de Mayo and Luis Saenz Peña. Throughout their journey, the Magi will give away toys and treats to all children present. Children and families are also invited to make their own Magi cards. The materials needed to assemble the cards will be provided, such as paper, markers, pencils, so each family can create their own.

The city of Buenos Aires celebrates the National Tango Day on Saturday, December 11th, 2010, with an open air free concert at the Obelisco, at 7:00 PM.

The Tango, declared by UNESCO as World's Cultural Heritage, celebrates its days in commemoration of the birth of Carlos Gardel and Julio De Caro. The stage will be mounted on Avenida 9 de Julio looking towards the south, there will be 8000 seats available to the public, and two large screens will be installed for easy viewing of the show.

The "Orquesta de Tango de Buenos Aires", conducted by maestros Raúl Garello, Néstor Marconi and Juan Carlos Cuacci, with violin player Pablo Agri as invited soloist, will celebrate its 30 years of existence on the stage. The Orchestra will open the show presenting its new album that compiles the most important themes in their records.

Following this presentation, maestro Mariano Mores and his sextet will join the Orchestra to offer a special concert presenting the greatest hits of his vast career, inlcuding: "La Cumparsita", "Cafetín de Buenos Aires", "Cuartito azul", and "Adiós Pampa mía", among others.

The closing of the show will be with singer Susana Rinaldi, who will present her latest album based on the  works of Cátulo Castillo, accompanied by the Orquesta de Tango de Buenos Aires. This great Argentine singer was awarded last November with the Latin Grammy to Musical Excellence.

At the same time, the Gran Milonga Nacional will be taking place on Avenida de Mayo.

During the last thirty years, the race has forged itself a legendary reputation on the African territory that helped it grow and become one of the major events of the international calendar. A first choice sporting competition that mixes great champions and amateurs, the event has become extremely international throughout the years, uniting up to 52 different nationalities.

Veterans and novices are now ready for the adventure with 430 vehicles expected to line-up at the start of the 32nd edition of the Dakar, which is a near 20% increase from 2010. Technical and administrative verifications of the participating vehicles will be conducted in Buenos Aires on December 30th and 31st.

For this third episode in South America, the riders, drivers and crews will be returning to some places that have already written themselves into the rally’s legend, such as the white dunes of Fiambala, the vast Atacama Desert or the dizzying descent to Iquique. More particularly, they will have the opportunity to discover five new Argentinean provinces, come close to Bolivia and encounter the very northern tip of Chile in Arica, at the gateway to Peru.

Schedule of events: 

December 30th and 31st 2010: "Dakar Village": Administrative & technical scrutineering in Buenos Aires, at La Rural Exhibition Center. Av. Santa Fe & Av. Sarmiento.

January 1st, 2011: Briefing and start podium. The Podium will be located at the South of the Obelisk, Avenue of 9 de Julio

January 2nd to 15th, 2011: Dakar Rally in Argentina and Chile

January 8th, 2011: Rest day in Atacama

January 16th 2011: Podium, finishing ceremony in Buenos Aires

For more information, route maps and news, visit Dakar 2011 Rally official website.

"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.

"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 11th, the National Tango Day.
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 8:00 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 and singers.

The Argentina Tennis Cup, sponsored by Peugeot (Copa Argentina de Tenis Peugeot 2010), will be  played this year from December 16th to December 19th, 2010. The matches will take place on the central court of Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, the traditional venue for Argentine Tennis.

This eight 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)

Gael Monfils (France)

Richard Gasquet (France)

On the last day of the tournament, Carlos Moya will play a farewell match against Gaston Gaudio.

The Super Six format will be implemented again in this tournament:

Dates: December 16-19, 2010

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!

At the International Artisans Fair ("Feria Internacional de Artesanias de Buenos Aires") over 500 craftsmen from Argentina and Latin America 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 7 through December 12, 2010.
Location: La Rural Exhibition Center. Av. Sarmiento 2704
Opening hours: 3 PM to 10 PM
Entry Fee: $ 15 Pesos. Children under 8, free
More information: Feria Internacional de Artesanias official website.

Saturday, November 20, 2010, will mark the start of the most important polo tournament in the world, the 117th Argentine Open Polo Championship (Abierto Argentino de Polo, or simply "El Abierto"), that will take place until December 11, 2010. 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 117h Argentine Polo Open are on sale through Ticketek Argentina until November 19th, 2010. Tickets for the individual matches will continue, subject to availability after the sale of the "abonos", from November 20h to December 11th, 2010. 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 11th.

Participating teams:

Zone A:
La Dolfina Peugeot: Adolfo Cambiaso (Jr) 10, Lucas Monteverde (Jr) 10, David Stirling 9, Bartolomé Castagnola 10. Total: 39.
Pilará Piaget: Agustín Merlos 9, Santiago Chavanne 8, Sebastián Merlos 9, Marcos Heguy 10. Total: 36.

Chapa Uno Hope Funds: Bautista Heguy 9, Hilario Ulloa 9, Juan Ignacio Merlos 9, Matías Mac Donough 8. Total: 35.
Sao José: Pablo Pieres (Jr) 7, Nicolás Pieres 7, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 8, Jaime García Huidobro 8. Total: 30. 

Zone B:
Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra: Facundo Pieres 10, Gonzalo Pieres (Jr) 10, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Juan Martín Nero 10. Total: 40.

Indios Chapaleufú II: Alberto Heguy (Jr) 8, Ignacio Heguy 9, Matias Magrini 8, Eduardo Heguy 9. Total: 34.
Alegría Air France: Frederick Mannix (Jr) 6, Francisco Bensadón 8,  Mariano Aguerre 10, Francisco de Narvaez (Jr) 9 Total: 34.
La Aguada BMW: Javier Novillo Astrada 9, Eduardo Novillo Astrada (Jr) 9, Miguel Novillo Astrada 10, Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9. Total: 37.

Fixture:

Date 1
Saturday, November 20 (Zone A):
2:00 PM: La Dolfina 18 vs Sao Jose 12
4.30 PM: Pilará 19 vs Chapa Uno 9

Date 2
Sunday, November 21 (Zone B):
2:00 PM: Ellerstina 15 vs Alegria 6
4:30 PM: La Aguada 20 vs Indios Chapaleufu II 10 

Date 3
Saturday, November 27:
2:00 PM: San Jose 12 vs Pilara 18
4:30 PM: La Dolfina 16 vs Chapa Uno 13

Date 4
Sunday, November 28
2:00 PM: Alegria 12 vs La Aguada 15
4:30 PM: Ellerstina 19 vs Indios Chapaleufu II 9

Date 5
Saturday, December 4 
2:00 PM: San Jose 12 vs Chapa Uno 16
4:30 PM: La Dolfina 17 vs Pilara 11

Date 6
Sunday, December 5
2:00 PM: Alegria 16 vs Indios Chapaleufu II 19
4:30 PM: Ellerstina 14 vs La Aguada 11

Final: 
Saturday, December 11
4:30 PM: LA DOLFINA 13 vs ELLERSTINA 14
FINAL RESULT: ELLERSTINA CHAMPION OF THE 117th ARGENTINE OPEN

and TRIPLE CROWN WINNER (TORTUGAS - HURLINGHAM - PALERMO) 
MVP: Juan Martin Nero
Highest Goal Scorer in the tournament: Adolfo Cambiaso (43)
Best mounted player in the Final: Gonzalo Pieres Jr