Amsoc Thanksgiving
Join with the metro-area’s U.S. community and their friends for a big family-style T-day feast at the American Society (Amsoc) on Thursday, November 27. Enjoy turkey, stuffing, mashed and sweet potatoes, salad, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. The doors (and bar) open at noon and dinner is served at 1:30 p.m.
If diners request it, U.S. football games will be shown on the large screen TV after the meal is served.
The meal is limited to 110 people. The cost is 200 pesos for members, 220 for non-members and 100 pesos for children under 12. Call 3121-2395 for reservations. Reservations must be paid by Monday, November 24. Amsoc is located at Av. San Francisco 3332, Colonia Chapalita.
Zombie March
Photographers might care to head over to Guadalajara’s sixth Marcha del Día del Zombie (Zombie March), scheduled Saturday, November 15, starting 6 p.m. at the Rambla Catalunia (Juarez and Escorza), next to the Universidad de Guadalajara rectory. In previous years, participants have dressed up in the most ghoulish attire and costumes, many of them terrifyingly life-like.
Suetertón
DIF Jalisco’s annual Suetertón aims to collect 20,000 items of warm clothing before December 10.
The donated items will be distributed to Huichol indigenous communities in the cold, northern region of the state, people living on the street, winter shelters and disadvantaged families.
New or second-hand items in good condition sought include sweaters, scarves, jackets, woolen hats, gloves, waistcoats and blankets.
Items may be left in special containers set up at the Tren Ligero (subway) stations of Juárez, San Juan de Dios, Tetlán, Periférico Norte and Periférico Sur, and the San Juan de Dios and Fray Angélico Macrobus stations, as well as the DIF Jalisco office at La Normal Traffic Circle.
DIF Jalisco says last year’s haul exceeded 15,000 items.
Free bullfight
The fall bullfighting season continues at the Plaza de Toros Nuevo Progreso on Sunday, November 16, 4:30 p.m. with a bill of six “novelleros tapatios” (up-and-coming matadors from Guadalajara). There’s free entry to this end-of-season spectacle, so the novices can expect a good-size audience to show off their abilities.
Bullfighting is not for everyone and a steady movement to outlaw the practice is growing in Mexico. Nonetheless, the activity has a long tradition here and is enjoyed by large numbers of people.
The Plaza de Toros Nuevo Progreso is on Calle Pirineos 1930 in Colonia Monumental (one block from Calzada Independencia, across from the Estadio Jalisco). Call (33) 3637-9982 for information.
Oaxacan Fair
The Centro Cultural El Refugio in Tlaquepaque is hosting the Feria Artesanal y Cultural Oaxaca until Sunday, November 23.
The gastronomic, crafts and artistic fair showcases much that is to admire about the southern Mexican state.
Visitors can taste typical Oaxacan foods such as chapulines (crickets), chocolate, mole negro, horchata almendrada (an almond-flavored rice drink), tamales, candies and “mamones,” says fair coordinator Diana Velasco.
A major feature of the fair will be the regular presentations of Oaxcacan dance, especially choreography from the annual Guelaguetza festival that takes place each July. A special show on Sunday, November 16 will feature eight of the 67 traditional dances used in the Guelaguetza spectacle.
The Centro Cultural El Refugio is at Donato Guerra 160, three blocks from Tlaquepaque centro. The fair is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Hare Krishna
Guadalajara’s Hare Krishna community celebrates its annual Ratha Yatra festival with a procession featuring giant, colorful carriages on Saturday, November 15, starting noon from the Agua Azul Park, and heading to the Plaza Universidad, at Juarez and Colon.
The festival will continue throughout the day and feature devotion, music, dance, costumes, theater and free vegetarian food.
The celebration carries on in the Plaza Universidad on Sunday, November 15, from 11 a.m.
This is the 38th year the Hare Krishna community in Guadalajara has celebrated Ratha Yatra on the streets of the city center. Adherents of the religious organization say city folk have always been very welcoming to them.