You’ve had a whole week to recover from Halloween 2016, so rub off the last of the eyelash glue and de-glitter your clothes because it’s time to look forward. We are straight-up in November, which means guaranteed warmth and the beginnings of holiday decorations creeping up in every corner. The rain and subte fare increase may have put a damper on your week, but your favorite three-day stretch is back to bring you pure comfort and joy. You deserve it.
Friday, November 4th
PIC-A-NIC BASKET
If you’re fortunate enough not to be chained to a desk on Friday afternoon, take advantage of the Bosques de Palermo in all of their springtime glory with the BAIS crew. They’ve planned an entire afternoon of wholesome happenings at the park with their usual international twist, and you’re invited. Picnic y Bisiscafos is your prime opportunity to meet new people, eat outdoors, and get in on the pedal boat action with built-in company. The event is free, but don’t forget to bring a dish to share from whatever country you’re from (or just stop by the panadería for a pile of sándwiches de miga). Pedal boats are AR $220 for four, and you can sign up for an afternoon in the park with BAIS here.
Bosques de Palermo | Av. Int. Bullrich and Av. Libertador | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
CASA FOA
Last weekend marked the anticipated opening of this year’s Casa FOA, and the Palermo palace’s facelift is finally ready for the world to see. If you’re unfamiliar with the premise, the revamping of Palacio Cabrera is one in a series of yearly design competitions aimed at highlighting Argentina’s best architects, designers, and old buildings in one fell swoop. You can read more about this year’s competition here before heading over to Palermo to see the final product. Pro-tip: Fridays at Casa Foa also means the coolest after-office in town hosted by La Barra. Get there between 7:30 and 10:00 PM for two-for-one drinks, sushi and a rad DJ. Tickets are AR $170 and can be purchased at the door.
Palacio Cabrera | Jose Antonio Cabrera 5653 | 1:00 PM – 11:00 PM
MEDITATION
With all of the madness going on around here lately, meditation may be the only effective method to stay reasonably sane. That’s where Guru Gurudev Nityananda comes in. In Buenos Aires for the third time, the spiritual teacher is teaming up with Maha Yoga for a free workshop on the art of meditation and yoga. A native of Mumbai, Gurudev heads up three different ashrams and spends the rest of his time with international teaching engagements. If your curiosity is peaked, you can read up about his background and current projects here. There’s no need to sign up for your evening of bliss, but do make sure you arrive early because space is limited (and bring a yoga mat if you’ve got one).
Maha Yoga | Carlos Calvo 3121 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
ASIA
The relatively vaguely named Asia festival has taken up shop at the Biblioteca del Congreso de la Nación for this month’s Asian artists expo. The year-long event focuses on the art of dance, and each month the organizers pick a list of influential Asian and North African groups to focus on. Your schooling in legitimate hip gyration is free and you can check the list of participating dancers here. There’s no need to register beforehand, but make sure you show up early because space is limited to only 120 attendees.
Biblioteca del Congreso de la Nación | Adolfo Alsina 1835 | 6:30 – 8:30 PM
HAPPY HOUR
One might argue that the innate Argentine ability to enjoy life owes some thanks to the prevalent Italian influence around here. Who better then, than the Italians to host an after office to wash away the weekday blues? After Tano is posting up at the Círculo Italiano de Buenos Aires to fulfill all of your work wind down needs starting at 7:00 PM. AR $100 gets you your first drink and free pizza (while supplies last), and there will be live Italian music and language practice groups to make you feel like you just landed in Il Bel Paese.
Círculo Italiano de Buenos Aires | Libertad 1264 | 7:00 PM – 11:30 PM
RITUAL
If everything has been feeling a little too run of the mill lately, we’ve got just the event for you. Dig through your closet and pull out your darkest darks, because the Son Sakré Tribal Ritual has a dress code and you best abide. Your AR $160 ticket will get you a front row seat to the ancient practice aimed at the generation of positive energy. We can’t tell you exactly what your adventure at Casa Azul will entail, but we can pretty much guarantee that you’ll end up with cooler weekend anecdotes than the rest of your friends.
Casa Azul | Venezuela 938 |10:00 PM – 2:00 AM
BAR
Since the weather is finally cooperating, head on over to the Congo Bar for the opening night of Free Congo. They’ve got one of the sweetest outdoor spots in town where you can enjoy their signature cocktails and gourmet food. Their opening party wouldn’t be a party without their on-point DJ game, and graphic designers/lighting artists to make sure the visual element to your libations is unlike any you’ve ever experienced. Your elevated drinking experience comes with no entrance fee as long as you mention to the doorman that you’re an invitee of Free Congo.
Congo Bar | Honduras 5329 | 11:59 PM – 5:00 AM
PARTY
Paraketoda is the Instagram queen of wacky videos and gifs. If their sense of humor translates into party hosting talent at all, then Ketoda La Fiesta will be the place to be on Friday night. Head on over to Room for a night full of drinking, dancing, and the kind of frivolity only Ketoda can offer. AR $150 will get you in at the door, but if you’re committed, you can get your tickets for AR $100 in advance from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM that afternoon at Av Santa fe 3918.
Room | Av. Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz 1648 | 11:59 PM – 7:00 AM
Saturday, November 5th
FOOD
The Pulpería Quilapán has got the whole tradition thing down pat, so you can bet that their Taller de Comida Ancestral will be as authentic as it gets. Sacha Sawila is in charge of the workshop, and will be bringing her ancestral Andean expertise to the table. Sawila has made appearances on plenty of food-centric tv shows, and you can check out one of her on-air demos here. Your AR $450 registration will get you an introduction to traditional Andean cuisine, recipes, ingredients, and a surprise gift at the end. Put on your chef’s hat and call 43076288 to reserve your spot.
Pulpería Quilapán | Defensa 1344 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
COOKIE
In case you didn’t quite get enough sugar last weekend, Expo Cookie Show is bringing the disaccharide front and center at this all-day cookie extravaganza. Your AR $50 ticket will get you access to a wonderland of sweet treats featuring new cookie trends, Christmas cookies, and Argentina’s top cookie decorators. Pick yours up at the door for and afternoon of workshops and contests, and of course, plenty of cookies for purchase to get you fueled for whatever the rest of your Saturday brings.
Regente Palace Hotel | Suipacha 964 | 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM
ART
One of the coolest things about this city is the prevalence of legitimate street art in every nook and cranny. urBANA 2016 brought together some of the best urban artists in town, and is ready to show off their finished murals with a block party. Head on over to Belgrano to check out the painted walls, get your food truck fix, and listen to some live music. There’s no charge to get in on the action, and you’ll likely leave with some enviable options for your next Instagram post.
Belgrano | La Pampa, Monroe, Av. Alcorta, and Av. del Libertador | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
ART
HILO Gallery wants you to spend a little while exploring the creativity of Sol Pochat this Saturday. They’re hosting her latest opening at the gallery, featuring works that embody a cross between reason and emotion. MEDIO essentially embodies her interpretation of this essential intersection of being human. A native of Buenos Aires, the artist is a graduate of the NYC School of Visual Arts and you can check out her website here. Not quite convinced? Don’t worry, the opening is free and Grolsch will be there to enhance your gallery going experience.
HILO Gallery | Av. Raul Scalabrini Ortiz 1396 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
SANTA
Here’s one that will surely remedy any lingering pessimism from the rainy week: Santa is in town! Like every other year, Santa Claus will be showing up at the Aldea Mágica to start prepping for the holidays with his best elves. Be one of the first to greet him (and his crew), and stay to watch a cloyingly Christmas-y music and lights show. The event is free, but you’re kindly asked to channel your inner Bob Crachit and bring a toy to donate to children in need.
Alparamis Olivos | Av. del Libertador 2229 |7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
MUSIC
Hopefully you’re a music lover, because Saturday night is overflowing with options. The first of three is to hang out with Eruca Sativa for their last Buenos Aires performance of the year. They’re taking over Museum Live to promote the upcoming release of their fourth studio album. Named after the scientific name for arugula, the Córdoban trio will be laying out new versions of their popular fusion rock stylings. You can see them up close and in person starting at AR $250, and you can get your tickets right here.
Museum Live | Perú 535 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
MUSIC
Guns N’Roses are back in the city! Looks like enough people complained that they were only getting as close as Rosario, so they’ve added two shows in Capital Federal to fulfill all of your rock dreams. The legendary band’s massive success has spanned three decades, which we think bodes well for their ability to put on a killer show. If they’re a little before your time, we forgive you, but educate yourself: here’s why they’re the masters of their genre. You can score tickets starting at AR $800. Get them here.
River Plate Stadium | Av. Pres. Figueroa Alcorta 7597 | 9:00 PM
MUSIC
Keep your fandom a little more local with another legend. Fito Páez wants to remind you what a colossal hit his Giros album was, so he’s getting onstage at the Teatro Colonial to celebrate its 30th birthday. The internationally acclaimed compilation showed his mastery in everything from Tango to Baguala style, with a Páez-esque twist. Relive the glory starting at AR $350, but make sure you get your tickets beforehand here.
Teatro Colonial | Av. Mitre 141 |9:30 PM – 12:00 AM
PARTY
Halloween fans can kiss their post-party depression goodbye because the Palacio Alsina is extending the festivities well into Sunday morning. Magic Fest: Horror Show is the costume party to end all costume parties, and is coming at you with body painting, spooky cocktails, live horror-themed shows, and the trendiest music around. Take your costume out for a final spin for AR $150. You can get your tickets in advance at locations listed here, or pick them up right at the door.
Palacio Alsina | Adolfo Alsina 940 | 11:59 PM – 6:05 AM
Sunday, November 6th
MEAT
Since you so healthily danced off too many calories between your Friday and Saturday nights, the Carne! | Festival Gastronómico is here to help you to replenish what you’ve lost. Taking over the Hipódromo de Palermo, the festival dedicated to this country’s favorite source of nutrition, meat, will include over 70 stands and food trucks for all of your carnivore needs. Follow the smell of parrilla to favorites like Don Julio, La Cabrera, Le Grill, and La Dorita, or try something completely new. There will be ice cream trucks to round out that perfect meal (now can someone please set up some napping stations in the sun? Just sayin…), and there’s no charge to get in!
Hipódromo de Palermo | Av. Libertador and Av. Dorrego | 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM
VEGGIES
Don’t worry vegans, we didn’t forget about you. Get yourself to La Casona De Humahuaca’s Feria Vegana to fill your belly and your freezer with the best vegan treats the city has to offer. Apart from your go-to vegan items, there will be workshops and raffles for your chance to save your cash, and win some of the products you were gonna buy anyway. The festival is free but only lasts a couple of hours, so don’t remain in your Sunday morning pj vegetative state for too long, or you’ll risk missing this fake cheese extravaganza.
La Casona De Humahuaca | Humahauca 3508 | 13:30 – 15:30 PM
MOVIE
The Asterisco International LGBT film festival is wrapping up on Sunday with Woods and Yerxa’s documentary Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things. Organized by filmmaking guru Albertina Carri, Asterisco marks the official start to pride month here in the city, so get excited. The final movie on deck will give you a chance to gain a little insight about the LGBT experience among the Inuit people. You can watch the trailer and learn a little more about the film here, or just show up at Cine Cosmos and let the film reel do all the work. Tickets are AR $30 and you can get yours at the door.
Cine Cosmos | Corrientes 2046 | 2:00 PM
MOVIE
If you ever studied Surrealism in school, you may or may not have recurring nightmares about famous razor-eye scene the silent 1929 Dali/Buñuel film Un Chien Andalou. If not (or you don’t mind waking up in a cold sweat), get yourself to Brandon for a seriously cool afternoon of old school Surrealist film. The silent movies will be projected on a big screen and there will be live music to accompany each and every bizarre frame. If you want to study up, the movies in the lineup are Un Chien Andalou, Destino, and The Seashell and the Clergyman. Tickets are AR $60 and you can get them at the door.
Brandon | Luis Maria Drago 236 | 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM
RAP
So maybe we haven’t been the most supportive of the national rap scene around here, but these guys might change our minds. El As and Fili-Wey are combining forces onstage at La Trastienda to bring you pure, unadulterated Argentine rap. Their message is surprisingly hopeful, and you can get a little taste of their flow here. Tickets to a hip-hop end to your weekend will run you AR $350 and you can get yours here.
La Trastienda | Balcarce 460 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Happy weekend y’all!