The Guadalajara Reporter

City Living - October 18, 2013

The premier bullfighting season of the year gets underway on Sunday, October 20 at the Nuevo Progreso bullring in Guadalajara.

While this activity is not for everyone and engenders considerable opposition among animal welfare groups, it cannot be overlooked that bullfighting has a long history in Mexico and is part of the nation’s cultural patrimony.

Those interested in seeing some of the world’s top matadors in action have five opportunities on consecutive Sunday afternoons in October and November.

The opening corrida is on Sunday, October 20, 4:30 p.m. and features Octavio Garcia El Payo, Juan Pablo Sanchez and Arturo Salvidar, plus six bulls from the Begonia ranch.

Bullfights are also scheduled on Sundays, October 27, November 3, 10 and 17, at the same time.
Ticket prices can vary slightly depending on the program. For the October 20 bullfight they range from 210 pesos to 1,020 pesos.

The Plaza de Toros Nuevo Progreso is found at Pirineos 1930, just off the Calzada Independencia, across from the Estadio Jalisco. It is easily reached from any Macrobus station in downtown Guadalajara.
More information at www.plazanuevoprogreso.com.mx.

Stone masons

Watch skilled  stone masons at work as they fashion  amazing creations from stone slabs.  The artisans will be in the Plaza de la Liberacion all month, vying for cash prizes in the nation’s top masonry competition.

Beer festival

The sixth edition of the annual Festival de Cerveza runs from Friday, October 18 through Sunday, October 20 at the Estadio Omnilife (Av. Vallarta and Periferico).

Open daily from noon, the festival features many craft beers from Mexico and abroad. It will have plenty of  live music and a games area for children.

Admission to the festival is 100 pesos; children aged three to 12 enter for free.  Parking is free.

Meet the author

Lakeside writer and film director Alejandro Grattan will be the guest of honor at the Meet the Author event at the American Society (Amsoc) on Thursday, October 24, 10:30 a.m. to noon.  

Grattan penned the acclaimed novel “The Dark Side of the Dream,” a fictional account of a Mexican immigrant family’s experience in Texas.

On Thursday, October 31, Amsoc will host a Halloween and Day of the Dead luncheon.  The menu includes lasagna, salad, garlic bread and apple bread with ice cream for dessert. There will also be a costume competition. Cost: 110 pesos for members, 120 pesos guests.

Food Fair

Four groups have come together to organize the first Feria Internacional Gastronómica y Cultural (International Food and Culutre Fair) in Zapopan on Saturday, October 26.

Typical foods and culture from more than 20 countries will be served up at the festival, organized by DIF Zapopan, the Guadalajara Consular Association, the Jalisco Sister Cities Committee and the Economic Promotion Center.

Proceeds from the fair will go to the Centro de Rehabilitación Integral (CRI), operated by DIF Zapopan.

Food fairs put on by the Consular Association have also supported DIF Guadalajara projects during many years.

Visitors should expect to see cuisine from many countries,, including Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, China, Ecuador, Spain, France, Greece, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, the Dominican Republic, Russia  and Switzerland, among others.

Several well-known restaurants will also be participating, including La Vaca Argentina and Santo Coyote.   

The fair tales place Saturday, October 26, from noon to 7 p.m. in the Parque Titanes, located to one side of the entrance to the Parque Metropolitano (Av. Beethoven 5800) in Zapopan.  Entry costs 20 pesos; free for children under three.

Korean festival

A broad swath of Korean culture will be on display  at a Festival of Korean Music and Dance to be held at the Teatro Guadalajara del IMSS (Av. 16 de septiembre 868) on Sunday, November 3, 6 p.m.

The program will include traditional Korean dances ( Buchaechum, Sarang Geunom and Sarang in Hanoi), contemporary dance, musical interpretations and a Korean pop gala.

Tickets cost 80 pesos and can be purchased in advance from www.superboletos.com and at Mr. CD and Innovasport stores, as well as Palacio de Hierro in Plaza Andares.