By Khaki Scott
Topic: Events
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This Week… starting December 8 , 2008

Announcement: En el Corazón de Mérida: Now All Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
Since “In the Heart of Merida” is one of the most popular and financially productive events of the week, it is being permanently expanded to include all Thursdays and Fridays, as well as Saturdays. Calle 60, from 61 to 53 will be closed at 8:30 so that stores, restaurants, and vendors can get ready for this 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM weekly 3-night party. Remember, there are special tax and price considerations for this event, so this is the place to shop. There will be plenty of outdoor entertainment as well. We would like to thank the Comité de Programas Permanentes del Centro Histórico for all that they do to make Merida one of the finest Cultural Capitals in the world.
Location: Centro, Calle 60, from 61 to 53
Time: 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM  All Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
Admission: Free

Please RSVP Now: Merida Gathering (Change is Coming)
Gathering of expats who want change and support President elect Obama’s call for ideas. As expats we have unique perspective on many issues of importance to our
country.  Let’s see how we can effect change and suggest ideas.  Join us!
RSVP at: Ellen [dot] fields [at] gmail [dot] com
Date and Time: Saturday, Dec. 13, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Municipal Fiestas This Week

Two municipal fiestas started last week, three begin this week (Tekax, Kaua, and Teabo), 4 next week, and 2 the week after. If you’re behind on your fiesta-ing, you had better hurry and catch up! There will be one week of quiet after Christmas and then it will be time to start the fiestas all over again, beginning with Three Kings and the Festival of the City, which is as big as the State Fair and lasts a whole month! – and then it will be time for Carnival – and you’ll still be behind on your regular 106 (x 2 or 3 each per year) municipal fiestas. All those folks back home just have no idea how stressful trying to keep up with life in the State of Yucatan can be, do they?  

Tekax Fiesta  8 Day Event
Dec. 8 through Dec. 15
This fiesta is in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Tekax is the relatively large municipality that occupies the southern point of the State of Yucatan. If you are looking for the work of local artisans, in Tekax, they make leather goods and jewelry, and in Pencuyut, they make hamacas (hammocks). These folks have some of the best groceries and sweets in all of Yucatan, so grazing your way through this festival is a “must do.”

Kaua Fiesta  5 Day Event
Dec. 8 through Dec. 12
This fiesta is in honor of the Virgen de la Concepción. There will be vaquerías, bull fights, and popular dances. These are the kinds of places where the description doesn’t tell the whole story because the farther into the interior you go, the better the food gets and the prettier the “typical clothing.” …and they just so happen to hand embroider that “typical clothing” right there. Kaua is a tiny municipality just a little southeast of the center of the state.

Teabo Fiesta  5 Day Event
Dec. 8 through Dec. 12
This fiesta is in honor of Virgen de Guadalupe. If you are going to shop, this is where you will find leatherwork, embroidery by machine or by hand, and those wonderful cotton hammocks. Teabo is located south of Merida, just south of Mayapan, just north of Tekax, and just west of Mani and Akil. Teabo is easy to get to and is one of the most active municipalities in the state. This should be a great fiesta!

Tuesday (Martes) December 09, 2008

Museum of the City: Presentation of the Piece of the Month
Birth Anniversary: Augusto Guty Cardenas Pinelo
Location: Museum of the City of Merida, Calle 65 x 56.
Time: 9:00 AM Tuesday
Admission: Free

Classic Christmas Movies: White Christmas
(U.S., 1954). Starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. If you aren’t in the mood for Christmas, this will get you there! It doesn’t get more classic than this.
Location: Centro Cultural Jose Marti / Parque de las Americas. Av. Colon x Calle 20
Time: 8:00 PM Tuesday
Admission: Free

Tuesday of Trova: Felipe Garcia
Tonight’s performance, under the direction of Felipe Garcia, is a tribute to the trovador and composer Guty Cardenas Pinelo on the 103rd anniversary of his birth. If you love trova, this is a must attend event.
Location: Auditorium of the Olimpo, Calle 62 x 61
Time: 8:30 PM Tuesday
Admission: Free

Wednesday (Miércoles) December 10, 2008

Air Supply in Concert
This is the long awaited concert by our old friends Air Supply, in their return engagement. The location is just perfect!
Location: La Quinta Montes Molina, Paseo de Montejo x 39
Time: 10:00 PM Wednesday
Admission: Tickets at: www.moremusic.com.mx

Wednesday in Concert: Sonoramas e Intermitencias (Sounds and Intermittences)
Intimate rock in the Olimpo with Sensorial Uv, under the direction of Tomas Martin. We notice that this group has loads of good reviews online, so the evening should be a success.
Location: Auditorium of the Olimpo, Calle 62 x 61
Time: 9:00 PM Wednesday
Admission: Free

Next Run of the Merida Mayan Mayhem Hash House Harriers
Don’t know what a Hash run is? We thought not… neither did we. It’s a worldwide society of people that like to get together and have a good time. They call themselves "drinkers with a running problem". If you’re intrigued, and you know you are, check out the internetional Hash House Harriers website here. For more information, you can also email Julie at quotablejulie [at] hotmail [dot] com.

THINGS TO NOTE:
– This will be the last Hash before next year!!!
– Mexico City’s Hash is coming to run with/inaugurate the New Merida Hash in January (Wed 21 Jan)!!! They will carry on to Cozumel to Hash with the Miami Hash that is arriving by boat; Merida Hashers are invited to go to Cozumel as well. More details as they come to us.
Location: Calle 60 x 89 y 89A No. 706D
Time: Meet at 4:00 PM for a 4:30 PM start (note: earlier time due to darkness falling earlier)

Admission: $50 pesos per person

Presentation of the Book: Calakmul in Sight
Kai Delvendahl is an award winning archaeologist and writer on the topic of Classic Maya Palace Complexes. He also happens to run the local English bookstore, Amate. His latest book is “Calakmul in Sight”, which he will present tonight. Not only is Calakmul destined to become one of the most important of all the known Mayan sites, but this particular scientist and author’s life is forever linked to the knowledge we now have of the Mayan way of life. This will be an excellent presentation and one everyone will surely want to attend.
Location: The Olimpo, Calle 62 x 61
Time: 7:00 PM Wednesday
Admission: Free

Theater: Monologue: Cantos del Laberinto, Songs of the Labyrinth
This performance is by Eduardo Gongora Rosado, under the direction of the author, Francisco Marin. It will be in Spanish.
Location: Teatro Merida (Dec. 10th and 17th), Calle 62 x 61
Time: 9:00 PM Wednesday
Admission: Tickets available at the ticket office

Thursday (Jueves) December 11, 2008

Internacional Chess Tournament: Carlos Torre Repetto in Memoriam
This international chess tournament is played annually in Merida, in honor of one of Mexico’s only Grand Chess Masters, who came from the Yucatan: Carlos Torre Repetto. If you are a chess buff (and haven’t made it to the corner of Science and Intelligence yet) this is the event for you! This year, the dates are Dec. 11 through Dec. 23. No match times have been listed as yet.
Location: At the Olimpo, Calle 62 x 61
Time: TBA
Admission: Free

Music: Christmas Violins
This will be a performance by the students of Centro Cultural Wallis. We can guarantee a superb performance because everything that comes out of that school is spectacular! Please see this performance and support the future stars of the musical world.
Location: Centro Cultural Jose Marti / Parque de las Americas, Av. Colon x Calle 20, García Gineres
Time: 7:00 PM Thursday
Admission: Free

Documentary: Memoirs of an Orchestra
This documentary shows eight directors invited to perform and direct the Yucatan Symphonic Orchestra. Each episode shows us the relation among director, orchestra and music.
Location: Casa de Cultura Elena Poniatowska: La 68, Calle 68 # 470a x 55
Time: 9:00 PM Thursday
Admission: Free

The Yucatones Are Packing Them In!!!
Come on down Thursday night and help the always politically incorrect LEGENDARY Yucatones either celebrate the Obama victory, or cry with them in your beers if they’ve stolen another election. If nothing else, we can toast the end of the Bush administration, the only guy who was ever so bad at the job, he made it tough for an old white guy to get elected President. Dan and Gary have plenty of new material and will be playing all your old favorites as well. So come down for some great music, a few drinks and David’s delicious Enchiladas.
Location: Jazzin’ Merida, Calle 56 # 465 x 53 y 55
Time: 8:30 PM Thursday
Admission: $30 MXP
For more information: Call: 924-5628

A Gala Evening at Museo de Arte Popular de Yucatan
Tonight, experience the inauguration of Sala 8 (Miniaturas) and of the exposition Nacimientos Mexicanos, with a special performance by none other than the Chamber Choir of Yucatan, under the direction of Jonathan Renteria.
Location: Museum of Arte Popular de Yucatan, Calle 50 x 57
Time: 8:00 PM Thursday
Admission: Free

The National Ballet of Russia: The Nutcracker
These performers are particular favorites of Yucatan and the feelings are strong in both directions. We are happy to welcome the National Ballet of Russia to their second home in Merida.
Location: Teatro Merida, Calle 62 x 61
Time: 8:30 PM Thursday
Admission: Tickets available at the ticket office. We suggest that you hurry.

En el Corazón de Mérida: Now All Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
The Serenata Yucateca will still be held in Santa Lucia. In Parque Hidalgo, see Trio Los Duendes del Mayab (Trio of the Mayan Dwarfs) at 9:00 PM and Solista Ranchero “Reyna Adriana” at 9:40 PM, and in Parque de la Madre, there will be Musica Ambiental and a showing of paintings. Throughout the evening, there will be a parade of living statues in the area.
Location: Centro, Calle 60, from 61 to 53
Time: 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM  All Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
Admission: Free

Friday (Viernes) December 12, 2008

Pastorela Navidena
This is a performance by the Grupo Infantil in their second year at Centro Estatal de Bellas Artes (State Center of the Fine Arts). Tonight, these extraordinarily talented children will perform the story of the night that Christ was born and the battle between good and evil that took place there. Under the direction of Mtra. Mabel Vazquez, this is a “must see” and “must support” performance.
Location: Centro Cultural Jose Marti / Parque de las Americas, Av. Colon x Calle 20, Garcia Gineres
Time: 8:00 PM Friday
Admission: Free

Friday Night at Café Peña K’aay T’aan
Tonight: Felipe de la Cruz, Afitrion, Coral Juvenil Yucatanense (Young Yucatan Choirs), Grupo de Danzas Tradicionales de la Casa de la Cultura del Mayab (Traditional Dance Group from the Mayan Cultural House), and Muestra del Taller de la Cancion Yucateca (Workshop Demonstration of Yucatecan Song).
Location: Casa de la Cultura del Mayab, Calle 65 x 64
Time: 8:30 PM Friday
Admission: Free

Live Jazz at Jazzin’ Merida
Tonite’s music is a surprise. Come and be surprised!
Location: Calle 56 # 465 x 53 y 55
Time: Friday, Opens 8 PM, Live performances at 9 and 10:50 PM Friday
Phone: 924-5628

Dance: A Night of Legends and Epochs
This is a spectacular performance that depicts Polovetsianas dances, Prince Igor, Prelude to the Siesta of a Fauno and Night of Walpurgis. The performers are students who are working on their degrees in Dance at the Escuela Superior de Artes de Yucatan. This too is a “must see” event.

Location: Teatro Merida, Calle 62 x 61
Time: 8:00 PM Friday
Admission: Tickets available at the ticket office

Documentary: Ma Camera et Moi (My Camera and Me)
Christopher Loizillon’s Ma Camera et Moi (My Camera and Me) is the story of Max, a young man obsessed with videotaping life. Adopted and later ignored by parents who eventually conceived a biological child of their own, Max becomes preoccupied with videotaping everything after being given his first camera by an uncle. A hose fire only strengthens this need. Now in his mid-twenties, Max has fallen in love with Lucie, a blind woman who needs to feel life as much as Max needs to look at it. As Max negotiates this new relationship, he attempts to keep up his business of producing videotapes for other people. French with Spanish subtitles.
Location:Casa de Cultura Elena Poniatowska: La 68, Calle 68 # 470a x 55
Time: 9:00 PM Friday
Admission: Free

En el Corazón de Mérida: Now All Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
Tonight, in Santa Lucia, see Magia de la Navidad, performed by the Coro y Camerata Academica de Merida, under the direction of Conductor Antonio Marin. In Parque Hidalgo, see the romantic soloist Rubi at 9:00 PM and Trio Los Nobles at 9:40 PM. In Parque de la Madre, there will be Musica Ambiental and a showing of paintings. Throughout the evening, there will be a parade of living statues in the area.
Location: Centro, Calle 60, from 61 to 53
Time: 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM  All Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
Admission: Free

Saturday (Sabado) December 13, 2008

Art Benefit
One of the newer galleries in town, Galeria Maya, will be opening a show to benefit the Amor y Vida Orphanage here in Merida. The show will feature paintings by the orphanage children, which will be for sale, and all proceeds will benefit the orphanage.
Location: Calle 72 # 464 x 51 y 53
Time: 7:00 PM Saturday
Admission: Free

 En el Corazón de Mérida: Now All Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
Performers for tonight have not been listed, but – given the attention to expanding this event, we know this evening will be well worth attending.
Location: Centro, Calle 60, from 61 to 53
Time: 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM  All Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
Admission: Free

Documentary: Mi Primer Contacto (My First Contact)
A film under the direction of Mari Correa and Kumare Tixicao. It is part of Video in the Villages’ project which has promoted over 14 years, the encounter of the Indians with their images. The project’s proposal is to turn the video into a tool that will enable the expression of their identity, reflecting their vision about themselves and about the world. Portuguese with Spanish subtitles
Location: Casa de Cultura Elena Poniatowska: La 68, Calle 68 # 470a x 55
Time: 9:00 PM Saturday
Admission: $20 pesos

Sunday (Domingo) December 14, 2008

Documentary: Walking With Dinosaurs: Giant of the Sky
Click on name Ornithocheirus to get a photo
The Omithocheirus is the largest pterosaur in the world. Measuring 12 metres from wingtip to wingtip, this eerie-looking creature is a true giant of the air.
Location: Museum of Natural History, Calle 59, just past Avenida Itzaes
Time: 12:00 PM Sunday
Admission: Free

Dance: A Night of Legends and Epochs
This is a spectacular performance that depicts Polovetsianas dances, Prince Igor, Prelude to the Siesta of a Fauno and Night of Walpurgis. The performers are students who are working on their degrees in Dance at the Escuela Superior de Artes de Yucatan. This too is a “must see” event.

Location: Teatro Merida, Calle 62 x 61
Time: 8:00 PM Saturday
Admission: Tickets available at the ticket office

The Winter Book Fair
Every year, there is a huge book fair in Merida. This year, it is on the lower floor of the Municipal Palace. This fair is organized by the Asociación de Editores y Libreros de Yucatán “Raúl Maldonado Coello”, A.C. Most books will be in Spanish, but there might be something perfect there for the kid next door or a Spanish lesson.
Location: Lower floor of the Municipal Palace, Calle 62 x 61
Time: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Admission: Free.

Coming Up Soon

A Special Invitation from Villa Maria
You are cordially invited to a pre-Christmas dinner concert by Yucateca pianist Marieli Sosa. Marieli will play Latin American piano music from the XIX and XX Centuries. After the concert, dinner will be served. The menu will include: a welcoming Copa de Cava (champagne) The entrada will be Crema fria de pepino (cold cucumber soup) or Ensalada Caprese (Caprese salad). For the plato fuerte, you will have your choice between Hungarian Goulash or Chicken Breast. You may also choose from red or white wine.
Location: Villa Maria, Calle 59 x 68 # 553
Time: 8:00 PM, Friday 19.
Admission: $360 MXN
Reservations: 923-3357 and 923-7620; e-mail hotelesvillamaria[at]yahoo[dot]com.mx

British Boxing Day Party: Dec. 26
Hotel Zamna would like to invite you to a British Boxing Day Party. MUSIC, LAUGHTER, COCKTAILS and GOOD FOOD. And not forgetting great company. To start the evening a welcome cocktail. A great Dinner Buffet. Some great fun games and infamous Zamna Quiz with a great prize. Then we will have some great Live Music were you can have a dance or two. Tickets are on sale from Reception at the Hotel and must be collected and paid for by the 20th of December. Space is limited to 50 guests.
Location: Hotel Zamna, Calle 53.No 547 x 70 and 72
Date and Time: 8:00 PM

Admission: $80 pesos

Tiësto Comes to Merida!
The most famous DJ in the world, Holland born Tijs Verwest, known professionally as Tiësto, is coming to Merida. This will be a stellar performance, held in a "lounge" atmosphere on the grounds of one of Merida’s oldest and finest haciendas, Hacienda San Diego Tixcacal. There is also going to be a competition for the best regional DJ, which should keep the dancing going far into the evening. Live musicians and big-name stars will also be part of this production. Space is limited to about 6,000, which is a small crowd to a DJ who can draw crowds of up to 30,000… so get your tickets early!
Location: Hacienda San Diego Tixcacal
Time: TBA
Admission: VIP: $750 MXP, General: $350 MXP
Advanced Ticket Sales: Beginning at the end of October from the offices of the Envy Discotheque (Av. Colón). Reservations can be made by phone: 920-0001 or 920-0002. Credit Cards accepted.

For ongoing events and classes in Merida,
please click here for our Ongoing Events Calendar

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