Birthday bash
At the grand old age of 473, Guadalajara could be forgiven for celebrating its birthday in sedate fashion.
That’s not going to happen. A plethora of events will envelop the city center this weekend, culminating in a tropical dance festival Saturday evening in the Liberacion Plaza.
Saturday, February 14 kicks off with a traditional rendition of the birthday song, “Las Mañanitas” at 10 a.m. in the Plaza Guadalajara, facing city hall. Then, some 5,000 picones (a kind of sweet bread) and 3,000 liters of chocolate will be distributed free of charge to all eager denizens filling the plaza. At noon, an entourage of dignitaries will head over to the statue of Beatriz Hernandez, the fiery housewife whose strength of character was key in the decision to locate Guadalajara in its current location (four earlier attempts had all met with disaster). A waiter’s race takes place at 2 p.m. and the Guadalajara City Medal will be presented to an unknown, as yet, recipient in the Plaza Fundadores at 6 p.m., after which various groups will perform on stage in the Plaza de la Liberacion facing the Teatro Degollado, when everyone will be encouraged to dance the night away.
Regional cooking
Visitors to the center should also head over to Plaza Tapatia to sample regional cooking from around Western Mexico between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Thursday, February 12 through Sunday, February 15.
The third Encuentro Regional de Comida Tradicional y Popular Jalisco 2015 will feature dishes from Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Nayarit, Zacatecas, Michoacán, Colima, Hidalgo and, of course, Jalisco.
Each state will showcase six of their leading chefs, who will each rustle up three traditional dishes. Organizers say 1,500 dishes will be prepared daily over the four days.
Entrance to the food fair is free.
Indoor motorbike racing
Guadalajara will host the fourth round of the exciting and increasingly popular off-road Maxxis FIM SuperEnduro World Championship on Saturday, February 21, from 2-9 p.m. at the Arena VFG on the Guadalajara-Chapala highway.
SuperEnduro is a physically demanding motorcycle sport that takes place on a challenging, indoor track and demands high levels of bravery, skill, determination and athleticism from riders who must compete in several races to determine the overall winner in each class at the end of the event.
Among top riders expected in Guadalajara looking to score points for the world title race will be world number one Taddy Blazusiak from Poland and the current world champion, Great Britain’s David Knight.
Tickets are priced at 280-940 pesos and may be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com.mx or (33) 3818-3800.
Exchange of goods
For the second time, the Museo de Arte de Zapopan (MAZ) is opening its doors for a “community barter event,” otherwise known as a “truque comunitario,” on Saturday, February 14, from noon. Residents are invited to bring along any unwanted items to exchange with like-minded others. Items may include tools, furniture, decorations, books, electrical goods, plants, etcetera. No money is allowed to change hands at a truque.
Participants must pre-register at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 3818-2575.
Via record set
Last Sunday’s Via RecreActiva set a new participation record: 215,446 people turned out to cycle, walk, jog, skateboard along the 28.2 kilometers of streets that are blissfully closed to snarling traffic for six consecutive hours. Exactly how the officials at Guadalajara’s Municipal Sports Department calculated the figure down to the exact number is hard to fathom, but we will take them at their word.
Last Sunday’s Via RecreActiva also saw the inauguration of the Pabelleon Compañero Fiel, an exclusive space for canines and their owners. Staffed by trained veterinarians, the service will be open Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the central divider on Chapultepec, corner of Mexicaltzingo, and provide free consultations regarding nutrition, parasites, inoculations, sterilizations and other matters.
Valentine’s Day
A Valentine’s Day (Dia del Amor y la Amistad) Kermesse (a kind of fete) scheduled in the garden of the Ex Convento del Carmen on Saturday, February 14 will include, according to the publicity material (left), “the longest ever gay kiss.” The event will run from 2-8 p.m., although it seems unlikely the kiss will last that long. The Ex Convento is at Av. Juarez 635, one block from Federalismo in the city center.