The Guadalajara Reporter

October Fiestas offer quality cultural fare

Never mind the kid’s games, themed pavilions, skating rink, vendors’ booths and food stands, Guadalajara’s annual Fiestas de Octubre fairground (open daily October 7 to November 7) also provides plenty of Mexican-style entertainment  with free nightly shows in the main auditorium (around 7 p.m.) featuring pop stars, bandas and even some mature artists (Enrique Guzman, Paquita la del Barrio, for example), as well as late-night performances by ranchero singers following the rather gruesome cockfights.

The merchandising of national pride

The Universidad de Guadalajara, in conjunction with Mexico City’s Museo de Estanquillo, has brought part of a private collection belonging to the late writer and intellectual Carlos Monsivais to Guadalajara’s Casa Vallarta Cultural Center.

Rave reviews for antique exhibit at Guadalajara’s Galeria Q

Tom Thompson is bringing his well received antiques presentation “The Estate of May de Polignac — A privileged life” to his Guadalajara venue, Galeria Q, October 17-22.

Beauty queen saga inspires movie

At the recent Toronto Film Festival, Mexican director Gerardo Naranjo presented “Miss Bala,” which tells the story of an aspiring beauty queen who gets caught up in the seedy world of organized crime.

Tequila train adds more rides

The Tequila Express tourist train will add extra days to its regular schedule during the Pan American Games to cater to the large number of visitors expected for the event, the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce has announced.

Independence revelers stay at home

Tight security greeted celebrants arriving in Guadalajara’s city center to mark the 201st anniversary of Miguel Hidalgo’s historic call for Mexicans to take up arms against their Spanish rulers.

Ale set to flow at 4th Beer Festival

It may not have the fame of Munich’s adrenalized Octoberfest but Guadalajara’s annual Beer Festival (Festival de Cerveza) is beginning to make a name for itself, albeit locally.

Fantasy world of Fernando Garrido

Painter Fernando Garrido believes many “pseudo artists” hide their technical deficiencies behind labels such as “new artistic language” but in truth rely on improvisation.

A million souls await La Virgen’s homecoming

While the rest of the country celebrates Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day) on Wednesday, October 12, in Guadalajara the Italian sailor who stumbled across a continent and its people 519 years ago gets trumped by a diminutive miracle worker.

Pan Am Games to bring cultural jamboree

Preliminary details have been released regarding the massive cultural program planned in conjunction with the October 14-30 Pan American Games in Guadalajara.

Guadalajara's mammoth Book Fair to celebrate 25th year

Heavyweight authors and the most promising literary talents from all over Latin America will appear before 600,000 reading enthusiasts at Guadalajara’s 25th International Book Fair (FIL) in late November.

Opera returns to Degollado stage Sept. 23 & 25

Opera addicts can get their first fix of the year when Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” is staged at Guadalajara’s Teatro Degollado next weekend.

42 new roses blooming in ‘City of Roses’

The rose sculpture representing Mexico in Rosefest Guadalajara 2011 – beautifully decorated by 12 Huichol artisans from Zitacua, Nayarit – has been installed at the junction between Hidalgo and Chapultepec ahead of the Pan American Games.

Guadalajara breaks world record for folk dance

As part of the International Mariachi Festival 2011, dancers in Guadalajara set the Guinness record for the or the largest folk dance performance in the world last week.

Guadalajara artist gives a glimpse of what we’d rather not see

Of all the eyebrow-raising niches an artist can carve out for themselves, Guadalajara native Martha Pacheco, without touching on sex or religion, has chosen one of the most unusual and taboo.

Georgian dancers come out for free

Fresh from their vibrant appearance at the Teatro Diana this week, the Georgian National Ballet will give a free show at the Plaza del Bicentenario (Periferico y Parres Arias) on Sunday, September 11, 6 p.m.

The performance is being sponsored by Zapopan city hall.

Make sure to check the skies before you leave. Last weekend’s concert by the Vienna Boy’s Choir was affected by rain – and malfunctioning equipment – although the crowd of some 800 gave the young singers a standing ovation.

Mayan exhibits open at city’s newest museum

The Western Mexican Museum of Archaeology opened this week in a downtown edifice that once housed revolutionary troops.

Spectacular Fandango show launches in Guadalajara

Following a successful season in Puerto Vallarta and a one-off performance at the city’s Teatro Diana, the popular Fandango theater show has arrived for good in the Guadalajara suburb of Santa Anita.

Legendary Ajijic musician to be honored at Degollado Theater

The Jalisco Culture Secretariat will pay tribute to a late Lakeside musical giant in a unique concert at the Teatro Degollado on October 7.

‘Live from the Met’ returns in October

The New York Metropolitan Opera’s 2011-12 season of live Saturday midday transmissions starts October 15 at Guadalajara’s Teatro Diana. The sixth season features 11 live HD broadcasts. Tickets run from 80 to 275 pesos. You can buy a season ticket for all 11 shows (including five in 2012) and pay for ten. For purchasing information see the box to the left.

Here is a list of the six operas scheduled in 2011.