The Guadalajara Reporter

City Living - November 23, 2013

Juguetren

Here’s a chance to donate toys so children living in the desolate Huichol region of northern Jalisco can enjoy a happy Christmas.

Toys can be dropped of at any of municipal or state office of the Family Development Agency (DIF), the Casa Jalisco (governor’s mansion on Manuel Acuña and Lopez Mateos), or one of seven Tren Ligero stations, including Plaza Universidad in downtown Guadalajara.  Toys collected in the annual “Juguetren” campaign will be distributed to around 3,000 children.

Perreton

Hundreds of dogs and their owners will descend on the Parque Metropolitano on Sunday, November 24, for Perreton, the annual “canine race in the park.”

There are three main categories: 5-, 3-, 1.5-kilometers.  There is also a 1.5-kilometer race for dogs and owners with different capabilities and a 1.5-kilometer “Caminata Familiar” (Family Stroll).

Awards will be given to the winners, courtesy of race organizers, Dog Chow.

The races get underway from 7 a.m. in the Titanes zone of the park. 

Registration may be made online at www.perroton-dogchow.com.mx. Race numbers may be picked up on Saturday, November 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park.

The races are limited to 5,000 participants.

The Parque Metropolitano is located at Av. Beethoven 5800, Colonia La Estancia, Zapopan.  For more information call (33) 3673-9489.

Zoo

In a special offer, children enter the Guadalajara Zoo for just one peso this weekend. The regular cost for 3 to 11 year-olds is 37 pesos.

For ages age 12 and up, the entry fee is 63 pesos. The zoo’s address is  Paseo del Zoológico 600 Colonia Huentitán el Alto, off Calzada Independencia Norte, one block north of Guadalajara’s northern Periferico (beltway).

Organ festival

A month-long organ festival is being held at Guadalajara’s Templo de Santa Teresita (Morelos 525, between Ocampo and Donato Guerra), one of the downtown area’s oldest churches.

Recitals are scheduled each Wednesday evening through December 18. Admission is free.

Wednesday, November 27, 8 p.m. - Gustavo Delgado Parra

Wednesday, December 4, 8 p.m. - Victor Contreras

Wednesday, December 11, 8 p.m. - Francisco Alvarez

Wednesday, December 18, 8 p.m. - Ernesto Garcia Preciado

Danzon

If you’re a fan of the Cuban dance genre danzon, and are keen to learn the steps, then you might want to head out to the huge Plaza de las Americas in Zapopan on Sunday evenings. Free danzon classes for all ages are being offered each Sunday at 6 p.m.

Book Fair

The city will be transformed into the literary capital of the continent for nine days when Expo Guadalajara hosts the International Book Fair (FIL) between November 30 and December 8.

More than 700,00 visitors are expected to attend the fair, which will feature the stands of more than 1,000 publishers, mostly from Spanish-speaking nations, although large numbers of English-language books will also be on sale.

But be warned: you can easily spend an entire day simply browsing the booksellers in the massive hall. (Grandparents looking for gifts for their grandchildren will find plenty of good bilingual books for sale.)

FIL is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on November 30 and December 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. On Monday, December 2; Tuesday, December 3 and Wednesday, December 4 the hours for the general public are from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Accredited book professionals may attend during all the above times, as well as December 2, 3 and 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Entrance is 20 pesos (15 pesos for children) and allows visitors to attend the exhibit hall, book presentations and literary and cultural forums. Additional registration is required to attend most of the academic events.

Check the FIL web site, which includes a section in English, at www.fil.com.mx for a full schedule of events, book presentations and further information.