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: