Mazatlan Calendar of Events: November 2019

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Friday November 8: The 14th Annual ArtWalk returns! Every year people look forward to meeting and greeting artists and being invited inside their art studios. As always, it’s in Centro, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and you can easily walk from gallery to gallery. Or split it up and have a drink in your favourite bar. The artists are thrilled to meet you,[ as many as 40 artists, 28 galleries] but there is never any pressure to buy. You’ll see all types of media – oil, acrylic, water colours, photography, sculptures, jewellery, local crafts – it’s all about the art and an easy walk – and meeting friends along the way and getting to know our resident artists. [maps with all the galleries and addresses are around Centro and at all the participating galleries and sponsors or please read online.]

Saturday November 9: Damas trabajando por Mazatlan annual Christmas Bazar Breakfast: from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Los Tapices room in Hotel El Cid. Tickets cost $350 and are available at the Club House in El Cit, at the Pacific Pearl offices, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Av. Camarón Sábalo # 2601. The ladies and tables [ over 30]are loaded down with Christmas gifts, food and all sort of things for you to buy – almost always sold out.

Saturday November 9: Tony Meléndez in Concert – celebrating Sharp Hospital’s 25 years. This special event will take place in Parque Ciudades Hermanas [at Zaragoza and the Malecon] and entrance is free, the concert starts at 7 p.m. If you are not familiar with this musical artist here are a few words from his website.

“It was an unforgettable moment when, on September 15, 1987, he played his guitar for Pope John Paul II in Los Angeles. Born without arms, he performed a touching song entitled Never Be The Same. When the Pope approached him from the stage to kiss him in appreciation, it seemed to reflect the sentiments of the entire country. Never Be the Same was an appropriate song, for those few moments changed Tony Melendez’ life and brought his unrestrained abilities as a guitarist into national attention. It seems to be a fitting place for a man who has spent his life putting personal confidence above his handicap….he was brought to the Los Angeles area from Nicaragua to be fitted with artificial arms. He wore them until he was ten, when he disposed of them. “I didn’t feel comfortable,” he explains, “I could use my feet so much more…. he considered becoming a priest but couldn’t, because priests were required to have an index finger and thumb. The news disappointed him but he persevered in his church activities, using his talents as a guitarist and composer for masses and church related events… Tony has traveled across the United States and forty foreign countries, making countless television appearances…currently, Tony resides in Branson, Missouri…music has opened the door to my dreams and I will keep singing, continue to share my life, and keep making’ music for all who will listen.”

Saturday November 9: Oscar Gómez in Concert, Gala Lirica Mexicana: special guest soloists[ soprano Wendy Bertoldi and baritone Juan Fernando Martinez] have been invited, as well as the Coro Angel Peralta and pianists Antonio Gonzalez, and Sergio Castellano. $100 – $220, 8 p.m.

Sunday November 10: José Manuel Lopez Velarde’s musical Mentiras, 6 p.m. and again at 9 p.m., $250 – $800. Musical, in Spanish, featuring music from 80s – four women who were in love with the same man try to discover who the murderer is.

Sunday November 10: the 27th Annual Rotary Club Gastronomy event: always fun, lots of different kind of food under the tents – paella, tostadas, pozole, hamburgers, desserts and cakes – [please bring small change for the volunteers when you pay for your food] plus there are games for the kids and many other activities. It’s always an enjoyable event where Mexicans and the expats mix and mingle and taste and sip. Plaza Zaragoza, noon. Small entry fee.

Tuesday November 12 to Friday November 15– it’s Buen Fin time, deep discount sales – in most stores to kick-start the Christmas season spending. Not just clothes and shoes, but the discounts often apply to furniture, appliances – just look for the red Buen Fin signs:) [and many stores are offering the discount all month long.]

Wednesday November 13: La Catrina Food and Craft Market – season opener, 9 a.m. to noon, at La Catrina, Camarón Sábalo #2024, 669 916 0116.

Friday November 15: Season Opener for La Beth’s Bazaar & Bohemian Boutique, in Centro on the Corner of Constitución and Benito Juarez [kitty-corner to Topolo Restaurant.]. The hours: Tuesday – Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fridays – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friday November 15: Devotional’ tribute to The Depeche MODE, Life en Español GZ, – tickets available at the Gran Plaza box office in front of Cinepolis or www.tickestar.com.mx

Sunday November 17: Gala Internacional de Ballet, This extraordinary evening of ballet is to generate much needed funds for the worthwhile non-for-profit organizations of DIF [who deliver items to the less fortunate], Rancho de los Niños [ also known as Back2Back, caring for children with special needs from ages of 2 – 24] and Una gota en el Océano [ “a drop in ocean”, a shelter for older adults in need]. Zoila Fernández [artistic director of Cultura] and Carolina Rios [Carolina Rios Ballet, Mazatlan] have created an unforgettable evening of dance. Dancers from Monterrey, Veracruz and Mazatlan will perform many pieces; a sample –  from Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, Don Qujote’s famous pas de deux, a piece from of Swan Lake and Planimetria del Movimiento. They will be joined by opera singer Daniela Rico. Gala Internacional promises “icons from the world of ballet”. Enjoy an evening of superior ballet while donating to these worthy causes. $350 – $500, pesos only, one show only at 6 p.m.

Saturday November 23Al Son de Mariachi, Director Javier Arcadia has brought together two popular groups to provide  you with an exciting evening of Mexican culture and music: Ballet Folclórico del Instituto de Cultura and Mariachi Continental.  8 p.m., $100 – $200

Friday November 29 and Sunday December 1: El Barbero de Sevilla, Barber of Seville opera or “The Useless Precaution is an opera buffa [Italian comic opera] in two acts by Gioachino Rossini with an Italian libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was based on Pierre Beaumarchais’s French comedy Le Barbier de Séville.The story follows the escapades of a barber, Figaro, as he assists Count Almaviva in prising the beautiful Rosina away from her lecherous guardian, Dr Bartolo.”  Maestro Enrique Patrón de Rueda conducts the Camerata Mazatlan.  8 p.m. $100-$200