03192015Thu
Last updateFri, 13 Mar 2015 5pm

City Living - February 21, 2015

American School musical 

A troupe of 90 young performers are bringing the English musical “Honk!” to the stage of the American School of Guadalajara, highlighted by budding lyric soprano Maria Contreras and 13-year-old baritone Tim Willing — and by ASFG theater teacher Stacy Ohrt-Billingslea, who, though offstage, will have her directorial talents on display.

Upcoming showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, February 20 and 21 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday next week (February 26, 27 and 28). 

The play is an adaptation by Anthony Drewe and George Stiles of the Hans Christian Anderson story “The Ugly Duckling,” with its timeless message of tolerance and self confidence that some call more relevant than ever today. “Honk!” won the Olivier Award in 2000 for Best New Musical and was given high praise by the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph.

Young singers Contreras and Willing have been studying voice with mezzosoprano Kimball Wheeler, who says she has seen their abilities and confidence soar. Contreras recently won a full musical scholarship to New York University.

Tickets are 80 pesos for adults, 60 for students. American School, Colomos 2100 two blocks west of Americas, (33) 3648-0299. See honkasfg.weebly.com

Oscar Fun

The American Society in Guadalajara (Amsoc) will host their 4th Annual Oscar Party on Sunday, February 22.  The ceremony will be shown on a big-screen TV in English, beginning with the red carpet coverage at 5:30 p.m. The awards show starts at 7:30 p.m.  

Chicken corn dogs, popcorn and bite-sized brownies will be served.  There will also be an appetizer contest, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes will be given to those who bring the best appetizers. A prize will be also given to the person who correctly guesses the most Oscar winners.  Donation is 60 pesos. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.  A cash bar will be open.

Amsoc is located in Colonia Chapalita at Av. San Francisco 3332, tel. (33) 3121-2395.

Expo Café & Gourmet

Next week’s Expo Café & Gourmet, running at Expo Guadalajara from Wednesday, February 26 to  Friday, February 28, isn’t just for the coffee professional and those involved in the retail and hospitality sectors, say organizers.  Amateur java aficionados and those with high-level interest in knowing about gourmet products will also find the trade show worth a visit.

While exhibitors will show off a wealth of coffees and professional coffee-related equipment, a major part of the expo will be devoted to specialized gourmet foods.

Expect to find exotic teas, pastries, jams, cheeses, seafood, meats, wines, artesian breads, sauces, oils and much more.  There will be plenty of items available for tasting and purchase.

The coffee pros and fans will be able to peruse the latest in roasters and  grinders and vending machines, as well as meet with representatives of packing suppliers, franchise promoters and furnishers of coffee shops and restaurants, among others.

Organizers say professionals who would be interested in attending the expo include representatives of specialized stores, gourmet stores, departmental stores, supermarkets, restaurants and bistros, banqueters and chefs, gastronomy schools, product distributors and wholesalers gourmet products, importers and exporters, gift shops owners.

In addition to the stands, the expo will feature conferences and workshops.  

The expo is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets cost 80 pesos a day, or 120 pesos for all three days. For more information go to www.tradex.mx/CyGGuadalajara.

Zoo deal

Children will be able to enter the Guadalajara Zoo for just one peso on Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22. The deal includes entrance to the main zoo areas, as well as the reptile area, tropical jungle and Monkeyland, as well as a 3 p.m. clown show on both days in the auditorium.

Doggie rally

The Parque Metropolitano’s first Animal Fest rally on Sunday, February 22 features teams of owners/dogs competing against each other in a range of skill events.  Taking place in the park’s recently opened exclusive dog zone, the rally is being sponsored by more than two dozen pet-related companies.  The competition will be divided into beginners and advanced categories. The cost of inscription (dog/owner) is 200 pesos and includes a T-shirt, commemorative bracelet and dog bandana. The rally runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The dog park is located on the far side of the park, at Avenida Bach, behind the back entrance to Plaza Galerias. 

Enart 2015

Twice a year, in mid-February and mid-August, Tlaquepaque hosts the Exposición Nacional de Artículos de Regalo y Decoración Artesanal Mexicana (ENART), a major trade show of decorative art, with more than 200 exhibitors from most of Mexico’s 31 states. 

This year’s fair takes place Tuesday, February 17 through Saturday, February 21 at the Centro Cultural El Refugio, Donato Guerra 160 (between Contreras Medellín and Prisciliano Sánchez), three blocks from the downtown Tlaquepaque core. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Among the media on display are wood, glass, papier-mâché, jewelry, ceramics, textile and fiber, and leather, as well as metalwork in iron, tin, and pewter.  Although geared primarily to wholesale sales, individuals may also attend the exposition and buy items.  

Visit www.enart.com.mx for more details.

Cactuses

The Museo de Paleontologia is hosting an exhibition and sale of cactuses as part of Festi Cactus, from Friday, February 20 through Sunday, February 22.  The festival includes a series of conferences and workshops dedicated to the subject of cactuses, their cultivation and care. The museum is located at Dr. R. Michel 520, corner of Gonzalez Gallo, next to the Parque Agua Azul.  Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Half marathon

Thousands of runners will participate in Guadalajara’s annual half marathon (Medio Maraton) on Sunday, February 22.  The 21.5-kilometer race starts at 7 a.m. at the Niños Heroes monument on Chapultepec and Niños Heroes and follows a route on Mariano Otero, Patria, Naciones Unidos, Montevideo, Terranova and Mexico, finishing in the same place as the start. Roads will be closed to traffic between 7 and 11 a.m.

An ancillary Expo Deportivo, featuring booths related to sporting endeavors and services will be set up in the Plaza Liberacion in the city center on Friday, February 20 and Saturday, February 21, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Chinese celebration

The Chinese New Year (Year of the Goat) will be marked with a five-hour fiesta in the Plaza Universidad (at Juarez and Colon) in the city center on Saturday, February 21, from 5 to 10 p.m.  Expect to find colorful traditional lion and dragon dances, traditional Chinese food, martial arts demonstrations, souvenir sales and contemporary dance recitals.   There is no charge for the presentations.