Award for Book Fair president
In the presence of U.S. Consul General Tayna Anderson, the Instituto Cultural Mexico Norteamericano (ICMN) presented their Educational and culture Merit Medal to Raul Padilla, the long-serving president of Guadalajara’s International Book Fair and International Film Festival. “(Padilla’s) work has allowed the Universidad de Guadalajara to assume a leadership role, not only in Mexico but internationally.” A former rector of the university, Padilla still wields significant influence in other areas of the public university, the second largest in Mexico. Receiving the award, he said he was “proud” to have contribute toward “shared values, diversity, disposition for change, mutual understanding and artistic creativity.”
Bluegrass in Guadalajara?
Los Pajaretes, formed last year and who bill themselves as “100 percent made on the ranch,” is a probably the first Tapatio bluegrass band. They play a combination of country and hillbilly music with roots in the British Isles, with some influences from jazz and blues. Instruments include guitar, contrabass, harmonica, percussion, banjo and dobro. See them Friday, March 4, 9 p.m. at the Central Cultural Breton at Juan Manuel 175 in El Centro (about three blocks from Teatro Degollado) Cover is 40 pesos and food and cocktails are available. The martinis are especially good, reliable sources say. Call 3345-2194 for more information in Spanish or see facebook/centroculturalbreton.
Tequila Festival draws near
Coming up Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13 is the third Festival del Tequila, organized by the National Tequila Industry Chamber. Around 200 different brands will be on display in the Plaza del Bicentenario of the Universidad de Guadalajara over the two days. There will tastings, talks, music, exhibits, storytelling for kids, and more. See http://tequileros.org/festivaltequila for more details.
Expo Guadalajara this weekend
Expo Guadalajara, Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6 Expo 15 offers everything you might need for a girl’s 15th “coming out” birthday party, while Expo Audio Car shows off the latest in sounds for your automobile.
May Festival shows announced
This year’s Festival Cultural de Mayo in Guadalajara will not feature a guest country. Instead, organizers are inviting high quality performers from seven nations: Mexico, Germany, Spain, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Hungary. They include French mime Cocorico, pianists Gergely Bogányi from Hungary and Lilya Zilberstein from Germany, British jazz/soul singer Zara McFarlane, Mexican baritone Alfredo Daza and, from Quebec, the Quebec Cas Public Dance Company and Les 7 Doigts de la Main circus theater arts company. For the full program, see www.festivaldemayo.org.