On Saturday, November 26th, 2011, the City of Buenos Aires presents a new edition of The Bookstore Night, with free activities in over 50 bookstores. 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, and 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 on Avenida Corrientes and Talcahuano, the event will start with a concert for kids by "Caracachumba". At 9:00 pm, singers Sandra Mihanovich and Julia Zenko will offer a show in honor to songwriter Maria Elena Walsh. And at 11:00 pm, singer Antonio Birabent will be in charge of the closing show.

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 3:00 pm: Guided tours and storytelling, readings and performances by established and emerging authors.

In Palermo the Bookstore Night starts at 3:30 pm, with activities for children, storytelling and talks for adults.

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

Manzana de las Luces is the name of the historic block of buildings comprised by the streets Alsina, Moreno, Bolivar and Peru, in the neighborhood of San Telmo. It has historically been, and still is, home to major historical, cultural, educational and religious institutions. 

One of its most outstanding features is the presence of a mysterious and enigmatic network of tunnels built between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. They formed a network linking through the underground, five meters deep, churches, public buildings and the Fort.

All the Manzana de las Luces has been protected as a National Historic Monument for the number of foundational events that occurred there, for the relevance of its architectural heritage, and for hosting numerous institutions that were born within its walls through nearly four centuries of history. 

To celebrate the 350th anniversary of this important landmark, a number of activities have been programmed for Saturday, November 19th, 2011 (main entrance on Peru 272). 

PROGRAM: 

a) Patio de la Procuraduría

6:00 pm: Regimiento de Patricios marching band 

6:30 pm: Lyrical concert - “Lirica Lado B” 

7:00 pm Suiteof Gluck’s Opera Alceste, Chamber Orchestra of San Telmo 

7: 40 pm: “Achaiva da Ponte”, Celtic Music 

8.30 pm: Live music and cinema 

9:00 pm: Toba Rock 

10.30 pm: Latin salsa “Ojala” 

11.30 pm: Melodic rock “Chinelas Persas” 

In the intervals, theatrical representations of facts in the Argentine history 

b) House of Representatives 

7.00 pm and 

8:30 pm: “A JOURNEY IN TIME”, theatrical staging of our history 

10:30 pm: “Ars Continua” 

11:30 pm: Theatrical play 

In other spaces: Exhibition of works from the “Manzana de las Luces contest”, tango lessons, permanent art collection, theater.

The 13th International Show Jumping Competition CSIOW Haras El Capricho will take place on November 23- 27, 2011, in the town of Capilla del Señor, 80 km North of  Buenos Aires. This is one of the most important Show Jumping competitions in Latin America, sponsored by the Argentine Equestrian Federation and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

The contest will take place in 2 of the 4 international level courses of El Capricho, with fences brought specially from the Olympic games.

Friday, November 25: Nations Cup

Saturday, November 26: Speed Derby

Sunday, November 27: World Cup Competition/Grand Prize

As every year, there will be live music shows at the stage located next to the main jumping course. On Saturday, November 26, Teen Angels, and on Sunday, November 27, at 12 noon, Los Tekis will be presenting a show with free entrance.

Haras El Capricho has top level infrastructure and services to enjoy a nice day in the countryside for the whole family:

All the activities are free of charge, and are not suspended for rain.

For more information, online results, general rules and courses of the competition, access map, and schedules, visit Haras El Capricho official website.
Don´t miss the opportunity of attending this world class event. Contact me if you want to  arrange for  private transportation.

As every in November, springtime in Buenos Aires, the city is full of lavender clouds of jacaranda trees in bloom. They are all over the city, making this time of the year a special one to admire these beautiful trees.

The first specimen of jacarandá, a tree original from the North-west of Argentina, was planted in Buenos Aires in 1875 with the inauguration of the 3 de Febrero Park, and it was then spread all over the city for its ornamental value in the different plantation programs. Some of the most beautiful specimens can be admired in Plaza San Martin, the Botanical Garden, along Avenida Figueroa Alcorta and Avenida Libertador, Plaza Italia, Plaza Alemania, Recoleta.

Those who visit Buenos Aires in November will be lucky to witness this beautiful natural spectacle, and for those who can´t visit during this month, here are some of my recent pictures:

The Brithsh Community Council in Argentina (ABCC) presents the 2011 "Christmas Fair", that will be held on Saturday, November 12th, 2011, in the Gardens of the British Ambassador's Residence in Buenos Aires, located in Gelly y Obes 2333, Recoleta, from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.

This charity event is a great opportunity to purchase Christmas presents at the Artisans' Fair, while spending a nice day with the whole family, enjoying the visit of Santa Claus, Carol Singing, inflatable castle, raffles, surprises, and much more. Food and beverages will be available. 

ID must be presented at the door for entrance. Donation: $ 10 Pesos. Children under 10: Free. 

In case of rain it will be postponed to Saturday 19th.

For more information, visit ABCC website.

Saturday, November 19, 2011, will mark the start of the most important polo tournament in the world, the 118th Argentine Open Polo Championship (Abierto Argentino de Polo, or simply "El Abierto"), that will take place until December 9th, 2011. 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 118h Argentine Polo Open are on sale through Ticketek Argentina until November 18th, 2011. Tickets for the individual matches will continue, subject to availability after the sale of the "abonos", from November 19h to December 9th, 2011, and on the same day of each match at the stadium's box office. 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 9th.

Participating teams:

Zone A:
La Dolfina Dubai: Adolfo Cambiaso (Jr) 10, David Stirling (h) 9, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Juan Martín Nero 10. Total 39. 
Pilará Piaget: Hilario Ulloa 9, Cristian Laprida (Jr) 8, Bautista Heguy 8, Luke Tomlinson 8. Total 33. 
Chapa Uno Hope Funds: Pablo Pieres 8, Guillermo Caset (Jr) 8, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 8, Jaime García Huidobro 8. Total 32. 
La Aguada BMW: Javier Novillo Astrada 9, Eduardo Novillo Astrada (Jr) 9, Miguel Novillo Astrada 9, Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9. Total 36.

Zone B:
Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra: Facundo Pieres 10, Nicolás Pieres 8, Gonzalo Pieres (Jr) 10, Ignacio Heguy 9. Total 37. 
Indios Chapaleufú II Cardon: Alberto Heguy (Jr) 8, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 8, Julio Arellano 9, Eduardo Heguy 8. Total 33. 
Alegría Crown Plaza: Frederick Mannix (Jr) 7, Francisco Bensadón 8, Mariano Aguerre 9, Francisco de Narváez (Jr) 8. Total 32. 
Estancia Grande Sancor Seguros: Agustín Merlos 9, Lucas Monteverde (Jr) 9, Sebastián Merlos 9, Bartolomé Castagnola 9. Total 36.

Fixture:

Date 1
Saturday, November 19 (Zone A):
1:45 PM: La Dolfina 23 vs Chapa Uno 10
4.45 PM: La Aguada 11 vs Pilará 10 

Date 2
Sunday, November 20 (Zone B):
1:45 PM: Ellerstina 20 vs Alegria 17
4:45 PM: Estancia Grande 18 vs Indios Chapaleufu II 13

Date 3
Saturday, November 26: (Zone A):
1:45 PM: La Aguada 7 vs Chapa Uno 9
4:45 PM: La Dolfina 20 vs Pilará 7

Date 4
Sunday, November 27 (Zone B):
1:45 PM: Estancia Grande 19 vs Alegria 17
4:45 PM: Ellerstina 21 vs Indios Chapaleufu II 14

Date 5
Saturday, December 3 (Zone A):
1:45 PM: Chapa Uno 13 vs Pilará 16
4:45 PM: La Dolfina 15 vs La Aguada 7

Date 6
Sunday, December 4 (Zone B):
1:45 PM: Alegria vs Indios Chapaleufu II
4:45 PM: Ellerstina 18 vs Estancia Grande 14

Final: 
Friday, December 9

On Saturday, November 12th, 2011, the final of the Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 Polo Cup will be held in La Ensenada, a 120 hectare ecological reserve in Lujan, province of Buenos Aires, in total benefit of the Association “Sueños y Esperanzas”. 

The day will include an exhibition game between Boca Juniors Polo Team against Rest of the World. Boca Polo Team is made up by Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina’s soccer idol and team captain; Adolfo Cambiaso (Jr) current best polo player in the world; Fernando Pignia; and Ernesto Gutiérrez, President of AA2000. For the third consecutive year Boca Polo Team will offer this exhibition game, which since its debut in 2009, remains unbeaten even to its super classic rival River Plate Polo Team. 

Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 Cup was created by Ernesto Gutierrez combining three concepts that define it: family, sport and solidarity. All proceeds will benefit the Association “Sueños y Esperanzas”, institution dedicated since 2001 to assisting victims of family violence. 

The closing of the tournament will be crowned with a cocktail and a great party for the players, journalists, guests and all participants in this great day of polo and solidarity. 

Schedule of the event: 

2:00 pm: Arrival of guests 

3:00 pm: AA2000 Cup final 

4:45 pm: Boca Team press conference 

5:15 pm: Boca vs. Rest of the World 

6:45 pm: Award ceremony 

7:15 pm: Cocktails and show 

8:15 pm: Fireworks 

8:30 pm: Party

The Ministry of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires presents the 8th Edition of La Noche de los Museos - Museum Night 2011, that will take place on November 12, 2011, from 8 PM until 3 AM.
Since 2004 one Saturday night the museums of Buenos Aires stay open all night offering different cultural activities, all of them free of charge, in the same way as in other 130 cities around the world.
During this special night visitors will be able to enjoy free guided visits, special exhibitions, as well as conferences, shows, theater performances, dance, screenings, video, multimedia, and diverse concerts of classical music, jazz, tango, folk, and rock.

In this new edition, the Museum Nights celebrates the designation of Buenos Aires bu UNESCO as World Capital of the Book 2011.

Some of the main events are: 

In this edition, over 170 museums and art spaces will be participating.

For more information and complete program, visit La Noche de los Museos official website (site in Spanish only).

Organized by the Argentine Antiquarian Bookstores Association (ALADA), the VII Antiquarian Book Fair will take place from November 2 to November 6, 2011, at the Ministry of Education, with free entrance. 

This annual event emphasizes the highly valuable cultural heritage of antique books, manuscripts, documents, engravings, maps and photographs available in the antiquarian bookstores of Buenos Aires, placing the city in an outstanding position among other cities where similar fairs are held, like Paris, Madrid, New York, or Milan.

The Fair will showcase a varied selection of antique books, historical documents, maps and photographs, primitive Argentine prints, first editions, and a great amount of diverse, carefully selected printed material.

Dates: November 2 - 6, 2011

Opening hours: 2 PM to 8 PM

The 8th edition of the All Star Polo Match (Partido de las Estrellas - Copa Banco BBVA Frances) will be played on Sunday, November 6th, 2011, at 4:00 PM, at the main course of San Isidro Jockey Club.
As every year, the purpose of this charity match is to raise funds for the children´s home Nuestra Señora del Pilar.

This year's match will have a significant importance, since it will revive the super-classic of the 80's. The two teams, Indios Chapaleufú and La Espadaña, will be made up by most of the original players:

La Espadaña Jaeger-LeCoultre: Gonzalo and Alfonso Pieres, Ernesto Trotz, Carlos Gracida, Juan M. Zavaleta
Indios Chapaleufú Anaflex: Marcos Heguy, Horacio Heguy Jr, Bautista Heguy, Alex Garrahan

Location: San Isidro Jockey Club. Av. Marquez and Isabel la Católica, San Isidro, Province of Buenos Aires.

Tickets: AR$ 30 on sale at the venue.

The seventh edition of Buenos Aires Photo will take place at Palais de Glace in Recoleta from October 27th through October 30th, 2011. This is the only art fair specialized in Photography in Latin America.

This exhibition brings together 500 photographs by 150 artists from more than 30 art galleries from different countries like: Argentina, Perú, United States, Uruguay, Bolivia, Guatemala, Cuba, and Spain.

The works by the finalists of the Petrobras Buenos Aires Photo Award 2011 will be presented. There will be conferences and book presentations every day during the fair.

The works by Luis Gonzalez Palma will be exhibited simultaneously with Buenos Aires Photo at Palacio de las Artes in Palacio Duhau, Av. Alvear 1661.

For more information on participating galleries and schedule of lectures, visit Buenos Aires Photo 2011 official website.

Dates: October 27 - 30, 2011

Location: Palais de Glace. Posadas 1725

Opening hours: 1 PM to 9 PM

Entry Fee: 

General: AR$ 30

Students and pensioners: AR$ 15  

2x1 with American Express

Fundación Proa presents the exhibition "Gods, rites and crafts from the prehispanic México", organized by the Embassy of Mexico in Argentina and sponsored by Tenaris/Organizacion Techint, that will be held until February 21st, 2012.
The exhibit features for the first time in Argentina more than 150 archaeological pieces from different cultures that inhabited the Gulf of Mexico, their gods, their various shapes and representations, the many rituals developed on behalf of them, and crafts exercised by the inhabitants of the area before the Spanish conquest.
According to its curator, David Morales Gómez, the exhibition is "a fine selection of pieces that show the huge variety of ideas, social structure and complexity of an ideology."
From a special selection, with recently recovered pieces never exhibited before, the works impress with their symbolic force and beauty. They belong to the patrimony of 13 museums, two Houses of Culture, an archaeological site and the National Institute Anthropology and History Mexico (INAH).
The exhibition also features the production of those who worked with indispensable sea materials like conch and snail shells to make bracelets, rings and armbands. It includes fragments of mural paintings, which are crucial to grasping the vital, sacred and profane orders of these cultures.

Fundación PROA
Av. Pedro de Mendoza 1929, La Boca
Tuesdays to Sundays, 11am to 7pm
Mondays closed.

The 118th Hurlingham Club Open Championship, the oldest Polo tournament in the world, will kick off this Tuesday, October 18, 2011, with the participation of the eight best world wide Polo teams and the top ranked polo players.

The Hurlingham Club Open is the second of the championships in the Argentine Polo season that make up the "Triple Crown", following the Tortugas Open Championship and preceding the Argentine Open Championship.

Don´t miss the opportunity of attending this world class event. You can experience Polo the Argentine way. Contact me so I can arrange transportation for you (at least 48 hours in advance).

Participating teams:

Zone A: 
La Dolfina Dubai: Adolfo Cambiaso (Jr) 10, David Stirling (Jr) 9, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Juan Martín Nero 10. Total: 39.
Pilará Piaget: Bautista Heguy 8, Tomás García del Río 8, Hilario Ulloa 9, Cristian Laprida (Jr) 8. Total: 33.
Estancia Grande Sancor Seguros: Agustín Merlos 9, Lucas Monteverde (Jr) 9,
Sebastián Merlos 9, Bartolomé Castagnola 9. Total: 36.
Chapa Uno Hope Funds: Pablo Pieres 8, Guillermo Caset (Jr) 8, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 8, Jaime García Huidobro 8. Total: 32.


Zone B:

Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra: Facundo Pieres 10, Gonzalo Pieres (Jr) 10, Nicolás Pieres 8, Ignacio Heguy 9. Total: 37.
La Aguada BMW: Javier Novillo Astrada 9, Eduardo Novillo Astrada (Jr) 9,
Miguel Novillo Astrada 9, Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9. Total: 36.
Indios Chapaleufú II Cardón: Alberto Heguy (Jr) 8, Julio Arellano 9, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 8, Eduardo Heguy 8. Total: 33.
Alegría Crowne Plaza: Frederick Mannix (Jr) 7, Francisco Bensadón 8, Mariano Aguerre 9, Francisco de Narváez (Jr) 8. Total: 32

Fixture:

Tuesday, October 18

2:00 pm: La Dolfina Dubai Vs. Chapa Uno Hope Founds
4:30 pm: Estancia Grande Sancor Seguros Vs. Pilará Piaget

Wednesday, October 19

2:00 pm: Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra Vs. Alegría Crowne Plaza

4:30 pm: La Aguada BMW Vs. Indios Chapaleufú Cardón

Saturday, October 22
2:00 pm: Chapa Uno Hope Founds vs Pilará Piaget
4:00 pm: La Dolfina Dubai vs Estancia Grande Sancor Seguros

Monday, October 24
12:00 pm: La Aguada BMW vs Alegría Crowne Plaza
3:00 pm: Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra vs Indios Chapaleufú Cardón

Saturday, October 29 - SEMI FINAL I
2:00 pm: Estancia Grande Sancor Seguros vs Chapa Uno Hope Founds
4:00 pm: La Dolfina Dubai vs Pilará Piaget

Sunday, October 30 - SEMI FINAL II
2:00 pm: Alegría Crowne Plaza vs Indios Chapaleufú Cardón
4:00 pm: Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra vs La Aguada BMW

Saturday, November 5 - FINAL

4:30 pm: LA DOLFINA vs ELLERSTINA

Tickets on sale at the club on arrival.

The schedule of matches is subject to modifications depending on weather conditions. Check for updates in case of rain.

Opera lovers in Buenos Aires will now be able to enjoy the best productions, with the greatest singers and reggisseurs of the moment, of the 2011-12 opera season, live from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, presented by Fundacion Beethoven de Argentina.

The live high-definition performances are transmitted to movie theaters around the world. The sixth season of The Met Live in HD features 11 transmissions. More than 40 countries around the world are participating in The Met: Live in HD this season.

The series starts on October 15th, 2011, and all performances will be transmitted at: Teatro El Nacional, Av. Corrientes 960 & Carlos Pellegrini, Buenos Aires. 

Tickets: $ 45 to $ 100 Pesos, on sale at the theater. Special discounts for pensioners.

 

2011 - 2012 Schedule:

 

Many events of interest will take place during the first Week of Buenos Aires Gastronomy ("Semana de la Gastronomía Porteña") organized by the Association of Hotels, Bars and Cafes and the Tourism Entity of the City of Buenos Aires. Multiple activities related to the Buenos Aires food scene will take place in various parts of the city from October 10th to October 16th, 2011.

The program of activities of the week include:

Cooking for all: Free cooking demonstrations and classes in different parts of the city of Buenos Aires:

• Monday 10, 5:00 pm: Chef Patissier Osvaldo Gross at Plaza de Mayo
• Tuesday 11, 6.00 pm:  Chef Patissier Nestor Reggiani at Parque Lezama
• Wednesday 12, 6:00 pm: Chef Soledad Nardelli at Liberator and Agüero
• Thursday 13, 6.00 pm: Chef Martin Molteni at Parque Centenario
• Friday 14, 6:00 pm: Chef Patissier Osvaldo Gross at Plaza General Manuel Belgrano (Juramento and Cuba)

Presentation of books dedicated to the activity:

• Tuesday 11, 6:30 pm: Presentation of the book "Chocolate" by Chef Patissier Osvaldo Gross. Clasica y Moderna (Callao 892)
• Wednesday 12, 7:00 pm: Presentation of the book "Cocina Española" (Spanish Cuisine) by Chef Ramiro Rodriguez Pardo. El Ateneo (Florida 629)
• Thursday 13, 12:00 pm: Presentation book "Crónica de la Gastronomía Porteña" (Chronicle of our city's gastronomy), by anthropologist Marcelo Álvarez. AHRCC (Tucumán 1610)
• Thursday 13, 7:00 pm: Presentation of the book "Tragos - Guía Básica de Coctelería" (Drinks - Basic Guide to Cocktails) by bartender Agnes de los Santos. Cúspide Libros Galerías Pacífico (San Martín 760)
• Friday 14, 7:00 pm: Presentation of the book "Restaurantes de Buenos Aires" by Fernando Vidal Buzzi. Crack Up Libros Café (Costa Rica 4767)
• Saturday 15, 4:00 pm: Presentation of the book "Ni idea en la cocina" (No idea in the kitchen) by Silvia Smid. Clasica y Moderna (Callao 892)

Bars, cafes, dining establishments and hotels, identified with posters referring to the event will offer special promotions and discounts throughout the week. The complete list can be found by accessing the website: www.probabuenosaires.com.ar