Celebrating the International Day of Francophonie, on Tuesday March 20th, 2012, the First Popular Festival of the Francophonie will take place in Buenos Aires, at Plaza San Martin (Av. Santa Fe & Maipu) from 12pm to 8pm.

The Festival will include exhibitions, music, traditional dances, shows, typical food, tourist information, to illustrate the diversity of the nations involved.

An open air "village" will be set up at Plaza San Martin, with gazebos representing some of the Francophone Countries participating in this event, like: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Egipt, United Arab Emirates, Slovakia, Slovenia, France, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Lebanon, Lithuania, Morocco, Poland, Czech Republic, Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Rumania, Serbia, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine and Vietnam.

At 5:00pm, the Canadian singer Paule-Andrée Cassidy will present her new show Ombres et Lumières.

All activities are open to the public with free entrance.

This traditional championship, one of the most important in the Argentine Polo Association yearly calendar, will kick off on Saturday March 17th, 2012 at the Cathedral of Polo, the Palermo Polo Field (Av. Libertador & Dorrego), and the Argentine Polo Association's magnificent polo fields in Pilar. The tournament's schedule includes some more matches and the finals at 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 classified teams, proceeding from the different regions in the country and between 14 to 26 goals of handicap, are:

ZONE A

Don Alejandro (Center-North): Mariano Uranga 6, Ignatius Du Plessis  7, Jorge Monsegou 5, Jaime García Huidobro 8. Total 26.

El Rincón Talandraca (East): Eduard Carmignac 0, Milo Fernández Araujo 8, Christofer Mckenzie 5, Lucas Monteverde (Jr) 9. Total 22.

Estancia Grande Río Uruguay (Cuyo): Iván Lariguet 5, Nicolás Corti Maderna (Jr) 5, Miguel Amieva Saravia 4, Andrés Lariguet 5. Total 19.

Club Hípico Santa Catalina ERSA (Litoral North): Tulio Acquarone 2, Martín Inchauspe 5, Rafael Silva 6, Gabriel O. Batistuta 1. Total 14.

ZONE B

Indios Chapalefú ll El Remanso (Center-West): Charlie  Hanbury 5, George Hanbury 4, Guillermo Terrera (Jr) 7, Eduardo Heguy 8. Total 24.

La Irenita (Center-South): Claudio Palomeque 5, Felipe Llorente 2, Guillermo Willington 7, Matías Mac Donough 8. Tota 22.

Hípico Gualeguaychú (Litoral South): Agustín von Wernick 5, Facundo Castagnola 6, Federico Von Potobsky 6, Salvador Veronesi 2. Total 19.

La Alexandra (Porteño): Lucas Díaz Alberdi 2, Miguel Bourdieu 4, Alejandro Díaz Alberdi 8, Bautista Bayugar 3. Total 17.

ZONE C

La Esquina Río Uruguay Seguros (Porteño): Pascual Sáinz de Vicuña 5, Rodrigo Rueda (Jr) 6, Diego Cavanagh 7, Alejandro Agote 8. Total: 26.

Coronel Suárez El Malón (South-West): Eulogio Olariaga 3, Nicolás Garrós 5, Ramiro Garrós 5, Diego Araya 7. Total 20.

Las Rosas (North-West): Tomás Ruíz Guiñazú 6, Franco Gai (Jr) 5, Juan Ruíz Guiñazú (Jr) 6, Federico Scopsi Wulf 3. Total 20.

La Natividad (Cañuelas): Gastón Giovanelli 0, Ignacio Kennedy 2, Marcelo Frayssinet 7, Bartolomé Castagnola 9. Total 18.

FIXTURE

SATURDAY 17 MARCH

Zone A - PALERMO

2.00 PM: El Rincón vs. Estancia Grande

4.00 PM: Don Alejandro vs. Club Hípico Sta Catalina

Zone B - Pilar

2.00 PM: La Irenita vs. Hípico Gualeguaychú

4.00 PM: Indios Chapaleufú II vs. La Alexandra

Zone C - Pilar

2.00 PM: Las Rosas vs. Coronel Suárez

4.00 PM: La Esquina vs. La Natividad

MONDAY 19 MARCH

Zone A - Pilar

4.00 PM: Winner Match 1 VS. Loser Match 2

2.00 PM: Winner Match 2 VS. Loser Match 1

Zone B - PALERMO

4.00 - Winner Match 1 VS. Loser Match 2

2.00 - Winner Match 2 VS. Loser Match 1

Zone C - Pilar

4.00 - Winner Match 1 VS. Loser Match 2

2.00 - Winner Match 2 VS. Loser Match 1

WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH

Zone A - Pilar

2.00 PM: Winner Match 1 VS. Winner Match 2

4.00 PM: Loser Match 2 VS. Loser Match 1

Zone B - Pilar

2.00 PM: Winner Match 1 VS. Winner Match 2

4.00 PM: Loser Match 2 VS. Loser Match 1

ZONE  C - PALERMO

2.00 - Winner Match 1 VS. Winner Match 2

4.00 - Loser Match 2 VS. Loser Match 1

SEMIFINALS – FRIDAY 23 MARCH

DIARIO LA  NACION CUP - Pilar

11.00 AM

12.00 PM

SEMIFINALS REPUBLICA ARGENTINA CUP - PALERMO

2.00 PM

4.00 PM

FINALS – SUNDAY 25 MARCH - PALERMO

2.00 PM: FINAL LA NACION CUP

4:00 PM: FINAL REPUBLICA ARGENTINA CUP

All matches are open to the public with Free entrance. 

The schedule is subject to change depending on weather conditions, so keep checking for updates. 

As every March 17th, the most important day in its calendar, Ireland celebrates its patron saint, Saint Patrick. In Buenos Aires this special date will be celebrated, as in other world capitals, with the 4th "St. Patrick's Parade". 

This event is organized by the Irish - Argentine Association "William Brown", the Government of Buenos Aires, and sponsored by the Embassy of Ireland. 

The parade will start at Arroyo and Suipacha at 6:30pm to finish at Plaza San Martin with a show with Irish music and dance. The groups Celtic Argentina and Emeraldance, and the band MacManus, will present their traditional dances and music. The parade will include a costume contest for "leprechauns" (gnomes) and "fairies" for adults and children. 

In case of rain the parade won’t be canceled but the show will. 

The Irish community in Argentina is one of the largest in the world (calculated in 400,000 people). In recent years the celebration of St Patrick’s day has been extended to most of the pubs in Buenos Aires, specially on Reconquista Street in Retiro, where people of different nationalities and ages gather to party all night long around the pubs in the area.

The 5th International Record Collectors' Fair of Buenos Aires (5ta Feria Internacional de Coleccionismo Discografico) will take place on March 10 and 11, 2012, at Centro Cultural Borges. 

Collectors, big or small, will have the opportunity to buy, sell, or exchange recorded material that is virtually impossible to find on the market, including vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, posters, photographs, autographs, manuscripts, concert programs, slides, magazines, trading cards, videos, cinema guides, books, concert tickets, t-shirts, and all kinds of music merchandising and memorabilia.

Some of the best pieces and records displayed at the fair will be sold at a large auction. The Fair invites all the attendants to include their own items in the auction. These have to be registered in advance at the Fair's website.

Location: Centro Cultural Borges. Viamonte 525
Opening Hours:
Saturday: 11am to 10pm
Sunday: 11am to 8pm
Tickets: $ 25 Pesos

The Gran Premio Asociación Latinoamericana de Jockey Clubes e Hipódromos, simply known as "Gran Premio Latinoamericano", a horse-race for thoroughbreds from the South American hippodromes, will be held on Saturday, March 10th, 2012 for the first time since its creation in 1981 at the Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo (Av. del Libertador & Dorrego)

This annual race for 3 years old or more (GI), normally run on a distance of 2000 meters, will be raced on 2100 meters in 2012. 

The best horses in South America will participate in this event, one of the most important in the annual racing calendar. These are the officially nominated horses, with Star Runner as the great candidate for this year’s prize:

From Argentina: Cafrune, Aristocity, Expressive Halo, Bogeyman, Iberman and Star Runner. From Brazil:  Mr. Nedawi; Uruguay: Nansouk and Alcázar; from Chile: Quick Casablanca, Matter of Time, Galantuomo, and from Peru Almudena, Inolvidable and Al Qasr.

The Gran Premio Latinoamericano, the 10th race of the day at 6:00 pm,  will be the center of a spectacular journey, starting at 1.00 pm.

Free entrance

 

Horacio Salgán, considered one the greatest pianists in the history of tango, will be honored on Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 at the Teatro Colon of Buenos Aires by the orchestra he once conducted, now in charge of his son Cesar, reinforced with notable instrumentalists of the genre. 

Horacio Salgán, aged 95, is one of the most influential performers and composers in Tango history. 

The tribute will be held Saturday at 8.30pm and will include the ensemble of the historic bandoneon players that used to accompany Salgán: Julio Pane, Juan Jose Mosalini, Nestor Marconi and Ernesto Baffa.

The repertoire, totally arranged and supervised by the maestro himself, will include “Canaro en París”, “Gallo Ciego”, “Recuerdo”, “Ojos negros”, “El choclo”, “Tierra querida”, “El Entrerriano”, “A dos mujeres”, “Responso” “Al gran Maestro”, “Mano Brava”, “La llamo silbando”, “A fuego lento” and his verssion of “La pulpera de Santa Lucía” that has never been recorded. 

This special production was presented for the first time at the last World Tango Festival, becoming one the most outstanding moments of the event. 

Tickets will range from $ 10 to $ 60 Argentine Pesos, and will go be sale at the theater’s box office (Tucuman 1171) on the same Saturday 3rd, from 10am to 5pm.

Argentina Polo Tour, the fall tournament created six years ago by Adolfo Cambiaso and Gonzalo Pieres, presents the first stage of the year 2012, with matches that will be held at the Argentine Polo Association's fields in Pilar (AAP), and Campo Argentino de Polo in Palermo (Av. Libertador and Dorrego), starting March 1st, 2012, with the participation of  eight teams up to 16 goals handicap. 

Teams: 

Zone A
La Mimosa: Stefania Annunzziata 0, Matías Coria 0, Guillermo Terrera 7, Bartolomé Castagnola 9.
Puro La Manada: Giampaolo Guarnieri 0, Marcos Araya 6, Ollie Cudmore 4, Federico Von Potobsky 6.
La Ginevra: Luca d Orazio 0, Juan Zubiaurre 3 Tito Ruiz Guiñazu 7, Santiago Solari 6.
Sainte Mesme: Robert Strom 3, Christian Nordheimer 5, Gonzalo Von Wernick 7, Birger Strom 1.

Zone B
Murus Sanctus: Corinne Ricard 0, Pablo Llorente 5, Facundo Sola 7, Ramiro García Dagna 4.
Black Storm: Jean Marc Tyberg 0, Clemente Zavaleta 6, Francisco Bensadon 9, Mateo Vallejos 1.
El Remanso: Felipe Velcherino 2, Felipe Llorente 2, George Hanbury 4, Jaime García Huidobro 8.
Equus - Los Machitos: Peter Silling 0, Naco Taverna 6, Guillermo Willington 7, Tomás Garbarini.

Puma Urban Art 2012 will be the meeting point for the best national and international urban artists. An original event, dedicated to contemporary art and the new trends on street art around the world, that will take place on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 of March, 2012, at Centro Cultural Recoleta.

This fifth edition of the Festival will feature the presence of international artists, like Jeremy Fish and Ron English, and national artists Nico Sarsotti, Ruidismo, Valentino Tettamanti, and Kustom Brothers.

One of the features this year will be the projection of films and documentaries related to the Urban Art movement, including "Neckface x Isaiah Seret – Born Under A Bad Sign", and "Vigilante Vigilante".

Exhibitions of national and international works; graffiti 3D; panel talks; national and international bands, live painting; conferences, are some of the activities programmed for the event.

Location: Centro Cultural Recole. Junin 1930.
Dates and Hours: March 3 and 4, 2011 - 1 pm till midnight.
Free entrance. Limited capacity

More information: Puma Urban Art website

The second edition of the Festival Shakespeare Buenos Aires, organized by the Ministry of Culture of Buenos Aires, will take place from Saturday 11 to Sunday 19 of February, 2012. During those nine days the public will be able to enjoy various performances and free activities which honor the great William Shakespeare. 

Programming includes shows (theater, music, dance, puppetry, opera), workshops taught by international and local guests, and participative activities such as the Medieval Village. In addition, figures from the local scene and international artists and groups such as Filarmonica Clowns from Italy, Daniel Kelly, Penny Cherns and Stanley Gontarski wiill exchange experiences, knowledge and present their shows and works with the aim of disseminating the author's classics and expand the cultural and tourist offer in the city of Buenos Aires . 

The Festival is free, but for some shows, because of the capacity of the venue, tickets must be picked up in advance at the Casa de la Cultura, Avenida de Mayo 575, starting Wednesday, November 8. The master class by experts Penny Cherns, Stanley Gontarski, Laura Silva, Sergio Amigo and Carlos Rivas, to be held on Tuesday 14th at 7pm in the Auditorium The Aleph at Recoleta Cultural Center and the rest of the activities don’t require tickets. In each case, entrance is subject to the capacity of each room, in order of arrival.

At The Medieval Village, that will be set at Buenos Aires Polo Circo, the public can time travel into the past and participate in activities typical of the era, such as: calligraphy workshops, fashion design, bow and arrow shooting, fencing, cooking, music and dance renaissance. 

Coinciding with Valentine's Day, a special screening of the film Shakespeare in Love will be presented on Tuesday 14 at the amphitheater of Parque Centenario. 

Venues: 

Amphitheater Parque Centenario: Av Angel Gallardo and Leopoldo Marechal, entry on Lillo (Caballito)

Buenos Aires Polo Circo: Avenue Juan de Garay and Combate de los Pozos (Parque Patricios)

Centro Cultural Recoleta: Junín 1930 (Recoleta) 

Hispanic-American Art Museum Isaac Fernández Blanco: Suipacha 1422 (Retiro) 

Direccion General de Museos (Ex Munich) Av de los Italianos 851 (Puerto Madero) 

IMPA. La Fabrica Cultural Center: Querandíes 4290, between Pringles and Palestina (Almagro)

Culture Club Belisario: Av Corrientes 1624 (San Nicolas) 

Cafe Rivas: Estados Unidos 302, corner Balcarce (San Telmo) 

For more information, visit Festival Shakespeare Buenos Aires official website

The most important event for the Argentine fashion industry, BAFWeek, brings together the most established brands in the fashion world and the independent designers, for the launching of their Fall/Winter 2012 collections.

For this edition top designers and renowned brands as: Tramando, Muaa by Mariano Toledo, Evangelina Bomparola, 12-na, Chocolate, Mapa Diseno, Desiderata, Prüne, Amores Trash Couture, Rapsodia, Juana de Arco, Uma, Vicki Otero, Cora Groppo, Garza Lobos, Hermanos Estebecorena, Como quieres que te quiera, Wanama, Grupo 134, MVZ, Fabian Zitta, among many others, have confirmed their presence.

BAFWeek 2012 will feature an average of 8 daily fashion shows, and around 25 showrooms where designers will showcase their creations in an exclusive space, including accessories, shoes, bags, jewels, underwear, and men's and women's clothes. 

BAFWeek supports University of Buenos Aires (UBA) students through the Seed Plot contest, so they can show their first collection together with the famous designers.

Dates: February 28, 29. March 1, 2 of 2012

Location: La Rural Exhibition Center, Pabellón Amarillo. Av. Sarmiento 2704

Opening times: from 2 pm to 10 pm

Entry fee: $ 30 Pesos. Tickets on sale at the venue 2 pm to 8 pm. Having a ticket does not guarantee the access to the runway rooms, as this is subject to capacity.

BAFWeek official website.

Every weekend of February, from Saturday 4th until February 26th, and including Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st (Carnival Holidays), the “Carnaval Porteño 2012” (Buenos Aires Carnival) will take place at different neighborhoods, with the participation of 17 thousand artists, 119 "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 and Carnival Holidays (February 20 and 21).

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 are 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:

All the events are free of charge.

The Ministry of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires and the Academy of Fine Arts of Venice present the show "El Mundo de la Luna" (Il Mondo della Luna - The World in the Moon), an introduction to the Opera for children and adults alike, through a unique show with Venetian puppets and Argentine artists, inspired in the Drama Giocoso by Carlo Goldoni, with music by Baldassarre Galuppi.

The Academy of Fine Arts of Venice - symbol of the Italian artistic education since 1750 -  has lent a Venetian "teatrino" with 22 large-size baroque puppets, to mount this show in Buenos Aires.

The show will be offered every Sunday until February 19, 2012, at 6:00pm, with free entrance, at the Botanical Garden (Av. Santa Fe 3951).

Organized by The Worldwide Photography Gala Awards, this International Biennial of Artistic and Documental Photography will be held at Centro Cultural Borges between January 19 and February 27, 2012.

This exhibition, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of Argentina and the Embassies of Austria, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Peru, Finland Germany and Belgium, in benefit of Save the Children and FLENI foundations, will be one of the most important photographich events in Latin America.

The main focus of the biennial is on works by women from 40 different countries, the selected images awarded in the1st and 2nd edition of the Julia Margaret Cameron Award, Jacob Riis Award, 1st and 2nd edition of the Pollux Award, and other competitions organized by WPGA during 2010 and 2011.

In total the exhibition will consist of  310 works from 210 artists.

The works, that have been donated by the artists, will be auctioned at the MALBA (Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires) on February 14th, 7pm, benefiting: Save the Children and the Foundation for the Comprehensive Treatment of Children Neurological Diseases (FLENI).

On January 20, 21 and 22, at 7pm there will be talks by artists awarded at the Biennial, on the development of their work and their experience as photographers, with projection of their works.

On Tuesday 24, at 7pm, singer León Gieco will perform in benefit of the Biennial, among other activities.

Centro Cultural Borges. Viamonte 525

Opening hours: Mondays through Saturdays, from 10:00am to 9:00pm; Sundays, from 12:00pm to 9:00pm

MALBA: Av. Figueroa Alcorta 3415

More information: www.thegalaawards.net

The fixture of football (soccer) matches in Buenos Aires for the first half of the year 2012 has been announced. It comprises the matches in the National Tournament, "Torneo Clausura 2012", the international tournament "Copa Libertadores", and the Qualifying matches for Brazil Wold Cup 2014 .

Don't miss the opportunity of attending one of these games the easiest and safest way, with a service that includes tickets, transfers, and bilingual host, provided by the leading company in football tours. Contact me and make your reservation.

From January 6 until February 29, 2012, 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 sand 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. 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 (near the Law School, Recoleta); Plaza Roque Sáenz Peña, Parque Rivadavia, Plaza Boedo, Plaza Almagro, and Plaza Monte Castro.