The Guadalajara Reporter

City Living - November 30, 2013

The fall edition of Bazart takes place at the Larva Cultural Center in downtown Guadalajara on Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1.  

The bazaar features some of the best examples of independent design in Mexico, focusing on fashion (clothes and accessories), as well as graphic works.  There will be live music and Larva’s street front cafe is a great place to hang out.  The ViaRecreativa passes by Sunday from 8 a.m. until, 2 p.m.

Larva occupies a former imposing movie theater in the heart of Guadalajara, at Avenida Juarez 451, corner of Ocampo.

Bazart is open on both days from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Xmas experience

For the second year running, the huge garden, stables and house of the “Clover Lawn Mansion” on Avenida de La Paz have been decked out with  an Expo Navideño.

For 50 pesos per adult, 25 per child (or donating one Christmas toy for charity), visitors can hear Christmas music and see a breathtaking display of Christmas lights and the well-appointed interior of this home constructed by a turn-of-the-century Irish railroad builder.

Its current owners use the home, located two blocks east of Avenida Chapultepec, for events such as weddings, Halloween parties and video shoots.

As well as food, clothes and crafts on sale in the garden, there are guided tours every day, and Santa visits and photos are offered to groups for 100 pesos per five people. At 7 p.m., visitors are treated to a traditional Mexican pastorela.

Clover Lawn Mansion and Christmas Expo, Avenida de la La Paz 1811, east of Avenida Chapultepec and near the U.S. Consulate. (33) 3825-7027. Open daily 5-10 p.m. through December 23.

Eco Bazar

A popular park in Guadalajara’s Colonia Providencia plays host to an Eco Bazaar with a seasonal flavor over the next two weekends. Called the Exposition Familiar Temporada Navideña 2013, the fair in the compact Parque Ruben Dario will provide plenty of gift ideas, including fashion and health and beauty products.  There are yoga classes each day at 10 a.m., dancing at 11 a.m., kids’ storytellers at 1 p.m. and a conference titled “Dogs and cats, what you should know” at 4 p.m.

The bazar is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1.  It will open again on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8 at the same times.

Christmas markets

Looking to get a heads start on the yuletide season and other holiday matters?  Make a beeline for the Jardin de San Jose  Christmas market, which takes up a whole downtown block at the corner of Avenida Alcalde and Reforma.

The market burned down (faulty wiring was to blame) in 2011 but vendors quickly regrouped and were back selling within a few days. Safety considerations, one hopes, have improved since then.

Here you will find all the usual nacimiento (nativity scene) characters, as well as some Mexico-specific ones, such as the diablo (the devil) or maguey plants.

Artificial and natural Christmas trees, decorations and lights abound at this market, so you won’t be stuck for choice. The market contains Around 200 commercial stands and runs until December 24.

Other popular Christmas markets in the city center are located in the Parque Morelos, on Calzada Independencia and in the Jardin de San Francisco, at the intersection of Corona and Revolucion.

Jewish films

The Universidad de Guadalajara’s Cine Foro is hosting a cycle of contemporary Israeli/Israeli-themed films throughout the FIL (see story page 1), from November 30 to December 8.  General admission is 45 pesos; Wednesdays, 30 pesos.  The Cine Foro is located at Av. Juárez, corner of Enrique Díaz de León, on the first floor of the UdG administrative building. Call 3826-7297; visit www.cineforo.udg.mx for more information.

Here is a synopsis of some of the films in the series, followed by screening times. Most are in Hebrew with Spanish or English subtitles.  A few will feature English.

Aviva, My Love (Aviva Ahuvati) The big dream of Aviva, a poor hotel chef, is about to come true. Through her sister, Anita, she meets Oded, a known writer, who promises he will also make her a talented writer.

Waltz with Bashir An Israeli film director interviews fellow veterans of the 1982 invasion of Lebanon to reconstruct his own memories of his term of service in that conflict.

Someone to Run With (Mishehu Larutz Eito) On the streets of Jerusalem two teenagers’ stories unite to tell the summer adventure of their lives. The film is based on the novel by David Grossman about growing up and finding the strength to overcome your fears and the meaning of true friendship.

Jellyfish (Meduzot) The film tells the story of three very different women living in Tel Aviv whose intersecting stories weave an unlikely portrait of modern Israeli life.

Wristcutters: A Love Story A film set in the United States about a strange afterlife way station that has been reserved for people who have committed suicide.

The Human Resources Manager (Shlichuto Shel Hamemune Al Mashabei Enosh) A tragi-comedy centered on the HR manager of Israel’s largest industrial bakery, who sets out to save the reputation of his business and prevent the publication of a defamatory article.

Saturday, November 30

Aviva Ahuvati (Aviva, My Love) (2006) Dir. Shemi Zarhin, 4 & 6 p.m.

Ba’Derech El Ha’hatulim (Mrs. Moscowitz and the Cats) (2009) Dir. Jorge Gurvich, 6 p.m.

Sunday, December 1

Mishehu Larutz Eito (Someone to Run With) (2005) Dir. Oded Davidoff, 4 & 8 p.m.

Meduzot (Jellyfish) (2007) Dir. Shira Geffen/Etgar Keret, 6 p.m.

Monday, December 2

Waltz with Bashir (2008) Dir. Ari Folman 4 & 8 p.m.

15 shorts, presented by Rony Oren and his students 6 p.m.

Tuesday, December 3

Aviva Ahuvati (see above), 4 p.m.

Yehudim Achshav (2010) Dir. Galia Oz, 6 p.m.

Mishehu Larutz Eito, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, December 4

Ba’Derech El Ha’hatulim, 4 p.m.

America Ladina 1 Dir. Yaron Avitov, 6 & 8 p.m.

Thursday, December 5

Liebesleben (2006) Dir. Maria Schrader, 3:50 & 6:05 p.m.

Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006) Dir. Goran Dukic, 8:15 p.m.

Friday, December 6

Meduzot (Jellyfish), 4 & 8 p.m.

Wristcutters: A Love Story, 6 p.m.

Saturday, December 7

Ja Kayitz Shel Aviya (1988) Dir. Eli Cohen, 4 & 8 p.m.

Øen i Fuglegaden (The Island on Bird Street) Dir. Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, 6 p.m.

Sunday, December 8

Shlichuto Shel Hamemune Al Mashabei Enosh (The Human Resources Manager) (2010) Dir. Eran Riklis, 4 & 8 p.m.

Øen i Fuglegaden, 6 p.m.