Food for love
The American Society of Jalisco (AmSoc) is turning its weekly Thursday luncheon on February 16 into a Valentine’s Day feast. On the menu is lasagna, garlic bread and dessert. Cost: 100 pesos for members, 120 visitors.
AmSoc is located at Avenida San Francisco 3332 in Colonia Chapalita. Call 3121-2395 for more information.
Oscar Parties
AmSoc will host an Oscar Nominee Preview Festival in anticipation of the film industry’s most famous awards show. They will show “The Descendents” on February 12 and “The Iron Lady” on February 19. Cost will be 20 pesos with popcorn and post-film discussion. The doors will also open at 4 p.m. on February 26 for the big Oscar party. Pizza, popcorn and candy will be provided. Guests should also bring botanas or dessert. Entrance is 60 pesos for members and 70 for non-members.
Mammoth celebration
The Guadalajara Regional Museum will mark the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the remains of its mammoth (Mamut de Catrina) with lectures and other events. The mammoth – the museum’s premier exhibit – could date back as far as 25,000 BC, says archaeologist Luis Larios Ocampo, who will give an informative lecture on Saturday, February 11, 12:40 p.m. After the talk, the ribbon will be cut on an exhibit of photographs taken during the mammoth’s excavation in 1962.
On Thursday, February 23, 8 p.m., acclaimed archaeologist Otto Shondube will give a talk on the recent work of anthropologists in western Mexico.
Paintings done in the colonial period that have been languishing in the museum’s warehouse for several decades will go on display on Thursday, February 16, in a show titled “Retrato Popular” (Popular Portraiture).
Museo Regional de Guadalajara, Liceo 60, Centro Historico. tel: (33) 3613-2703. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (46 pesos, adults). Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (free entrance).
Theater tours
Interested in a free personal tour of the city’s famed Degollado Theater? You can now call ahead and reserve a tour, say theater staff. And, if you’re lucky, you might even get an English speaker.
Guided tours are offered from Tuesdays to Fridays, between 12:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Sundays, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., but only when the theater is not in use.The 25-minute tour explains the different stages of the theater’s construction and highlights in its history.
It is essential to book tours in advance (preferably at least a week) at (33) 3030-9771 and specify that you require an English speaker.
Equine festival
Zapopan’s first International Equine Festival (Festival Internacional del Caballo) will take place from February 15 to 19 at the Estadio Telmex de Atletismo. Jalisco fits the country’s new premier equestrian event because of its image as a center of charrería (rodeo) and mariachi culture. General admission is 50 pesos. The festival will feature around 1,000 horses in competitions for Andalusian, Azteca and American Quarter horse breeds as well as lasso and escaramuza competitions and a procession on February 18. Website: www.ficmexico.com.mx.
Tandem biking
The Ride for the Visually Impaired (Paseo a Ciegas) Association has brought their successful Mexico City program to Guadalajara. The program hopes to provide tandem bicycles and volunteers to visually impaired people who want to experience the Sunday Via Recreactiva. During this weekly event, they will set up shop at Parque Jose Clemente Orozco on Avenida Vallarta between the Arcos de Vallarta and La Minerva. They will be happy to take volunteers or donations. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Cinema Club
The Casa Museo Lopez Portillo is starting a five-month series of films called “The directors we like the most.” Each month will showcase films from a different critically lauded director, exhibiting one film every Saturday at 5 p.m. from February until the end of June. February is English filmmaker Danny Boyle’s month, with “Trainspotting,” “28 Days Later” and “Sunshine” scheduled for the remaining Saturdays. Other directors to be featured are Jim Jarmusch (March), Paul Thomas Anderson (April), David Fincher (May) and Alejandro Amenabar (June). Casa Museo Lopes Portillo is located at Licero 177, near the corner of San Felipe one block east of Alcalde, downtown. Entrance is free.
Sommelier course
Oenophiles who are ready to step their game up a notch will be glad to know that ITESO is offering a wine certification course from the National Organization of Sommeliers starting February 25. The course will be in Spanish. For more information contact Jannet Ochoa at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 3811-8632.