mi querido diversión

Just because the weather forecast for the weekend is all wind, rain, and almost-freezing temperatures doesn’t mean that you can’t go out. soy so lindo’s got our top picks for the weekend, all taking place in the warm indoors.

Saturday, August 4: Mel Mann + Kirlian + the Baseball Furies

Nevermind the recent buzz Mel Mann has been getting in the indie rock scene, if there’s a reason to go to this show, it’s because it’s at the Hotel Bauen, our favorite venue in the entire city. Think spiral staircase with black and white piano keys adorning the wall, leather banquettes, and disco lighting.

Auditorio Hotel Bauen, Av. Callao 360, 21 hs, $8

Sunday, August 5: Maratón Alejandro Jodorowsky:

An entire day of Jodorowsky films equals a whole lot of trippiness. All Movie Guide describes his films as, what might have resulted if Luis Bunuel, Michelangelo Antonioni, and George Romero had all dropped acid and made a movie together.” Sounds about right. Films start at 2:30, 5, 7:30, and 10 p.m.

Sala Lugones, Teatro San Martin, Corrientes 1530

For more events, check out soy so lindo’s calendar.

riding the new wave

 

 Anyone who has sat through Film Theory 101 knows Eric Rohmer. While Godard and Truffaut have become near-brand names of French new wave, Rohmer was an equally integral member to the movement. From 1958 to 1962, Rohmer was editor of the film theory/criticism bible Cahiers de Cinema, writing some of the very texts that today epitomize new wave film. It was soon after that Rohmer put his theories to the test, making gems like Ma nuit chez Maud and La Marquise de O… throughout the 60s and70s.

C.C. Borges gives Rohmer the attention he deserves with a month-long film ciclo showcasing nine of his films, starting tomorrow. To see the full screening schedule and learna bout other events in Buenos Aires this month, check out soy so lindo’s event calendar (click the button below).–REBECCA

unicenter blues

The hour-long trek to Villa Adelina didn’t stop soy so lindo (or Buenos Aires hipsters) from making it to the Los Alamos/Boreales show on Saturday night. And thank heavens, because we would have missed seeing Club GBA, a community center-like music club nestled among quiet streets and one-family houses. And missed washing veggie burgers down with Fernet. And missed hearing Boreales celebrate the release of their new album, and Los Alamos playing songs off of their upcoming album (they just finished recording last week).

 

The biggest surprise of the night? The new Los Alamos songs. It had been over a year since I last saw them play live, and the older songs sounded less lush (due in part to losing a guitarist to the bass). But sophomore slump this ain’t; the new songs managed to achieve that difficult balance between maintaining the band’s original sound while simultaneously moving into new territory. Bluesy, yes, but it worked. Consider this sophomore album the most anticipated release of the year.

For more photos, check out soy so lindo’s flickr page.–REBECCA

el campo te llama

 

The distinct smell of animal s**t in Palermo means only one thing– it’s Buenos Aires’ annual Exposicion Rural!

Entering its 121st year, the Exposicion Rural is the agriculture show not just of Latin America but, arguably, of the world. Besides livestock, there are fruits, vegetables, and even the cultivators of said products on display. Last year the New York Times showered the exhibition with praise, saying,

There are livestock fairs all over the world from Fort Worth to Paris, but nothing quite compares to the pageantry, historical magnitude and pure fun of La Rural, which attracts more than a million spectators — Argentines and foreigners — many of whom crowd the viewing stands to watch the judging of the champions.

 

The show, opening today and continuing through August 7, demands a $10 peso entrance fee. But imagine all of the bovines, birds, and broccoli you could see! Judging won’t begin until later in the week, so if you want to see some ribbons handed out, you best be checking the schedule. Otherwise, plan to go on any day but Saturday or Sunday, since it will be a total zoo (haha) on the weekend and these types of shows bring out pushiest people.

And in case you’re still on the fence about going to the Exposicion Rural, this quote from the New York Times article should convince you:

Señor Sol’s father, Satán, a past grand champion, commands a $35,000 price tag, and will earn more money than that from frequent sales of his sperm. When Satán was declared the best-in-show in 2004, his gaucho attendant, Fernando Pondovila, burst into tears. “After all those months spent with the animal and to have him recognized as the greatest of his breed — well, I was so happy that I just couldn’t contain my emotions,” Mr. Pondovila said.

Let’s hope for a repeat performance this year.–REBECCA

mi querido diversión

Still hungover from last night’s Dia del Amigo festivities? soy so lindo’s got the cure: more parties!

Saturday, July 21: Lugar Sonado

Our favorite indie gallery, Belleza y Felicidad, is throwing a party this evening. Think pretty art on the walls, sweet sounds courtesy of DJs Pareja, Aldo Benitez, and Ismael Pinkler, and (unlimited?) drinks to help wash it all down. Belleza y Felicidad, Acuna de Figueroa y Guardia Vieja, 19hs puntual, $5.

Sunday, July 22: Sombras Chinas

No more lazy Sundays, now that Villa Diamante’s throwing a new Sunday evening party. Straight from the horse’s mouth: “Conversar, bailotear, con una copa en la mano. Tomar un impulso, antes de empezar la semana.” Right on. El Nacional, EEUU308, San Telmo, 19-23 hs, entrada libre.

uruguayan invasion

 

Like the Brits crossing the Atlantic, Montevideo’s Astroboy came over to Buenos Aires to play at Unione e Benevolenza’s ciclo Music is My Girlfriend. The band has developed since their previous album “Automatica,” going from Brit-mod to Brit-pop. Which is fine by us, because who doesn’t live a Pulp or a Suede inspired band? For more photos, check out soy so lindo’s flickr page.

this is a show

British invasion indeed.

The Magic Numbers, yet another band from the mother country, will be playing a free show in Buenos Aires on July 27 at The Roxy. The rub? Bacardi is throwing these indie folk-pop darlings the party, and not everyone is invited.

Tickets are ostensibly available from Bacardi’s website once you give away all of your personal information and answer a couple of inane questions (like “De que material son los barriles donde reposa y gana su inconfundible sabor el ron Bacardi?”). But for three days I’ve been trying to get tickets, all for naught.

Anyone who actually wins tickets will get an extra set to bring a friend so…dear soy so lindo readers: invite me if you get tickets, okay?–REBECCA

down with dia del amigo

Call me scrooge, but I’m not buying into Dia del Amigo.

The basic premise of the holiday is decent enough: a day to re-connect with old friends and express to new friends how much they mean to you. Like an anti-Valentine’s day, Dia del Amigo attempts to position the role of the friend as equal, if not paramount, to the role of lover.

The day was created by Enrique Febbraro, who felt that July 20th befitted celebrating friendships because it was the day of the first landing on the moon. It’s hard to follow this logic, I know, but according to Febbraro the entire world became friends with these three astronauts.

But like most holidays (Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Mothers/Fathers Day, etc.), Dia del Amigo has become one of consumption. Stores remind you to buy your friend a gift, restaurants remind you to make a reservation for an overpriced meal, bars remind you to buy your buddy a couple of drinks.

And then it becomes a day of hurt feelings and broken friendships. You ask a “good” friend to dinner, just to find out that he/she already made plans with someone else; you receive a gift from a friend, but don’t have anything to give them; you party all night with your friends just to make your wife mad (or so complains a student of mine). Why all the added stress? If you’re friends with someone, you don’t need a special day to take them out to lunch or buy them a drink. It should be natural.

And unlike in some other countries, portenos take their Dia del Amigo very seriously. Cell phone networks momentarily shut down on Dia del Amigo in 2005 because they were  overrun with calls and text messages, and most restaurants are totally booked at least a week before the holiday.

So rather than drive myself crazy over Dia del Amigo, I’m taking it easy and celebrating the accomplishments of friends, rather than the friendships themselves. Specifically, the store Arriba, located in Galeria 5ta Avenida, is celebrating its 2nd Anniversary this evening with wine and discounts. With Arriba’s handmade purses and t-shirts, it would be the perfect place to pick up a Dia del Amigo gift. But you didn’t hear it from me.–REBECCA

diferencias y repeticiones

 

Gallery shows may be a bit of a mixed bag here in Buenos Aires, but if Juan Dolhare’s paintings don’t impress you, at least the space will.

The bright colors and political tones of Dolhare’s paintings (nearly a dozen) underscore the desolate warehouse in which they’re shown– think lights illuminating old wooden barrels, paintings mounted on crates, and a dirty porcelaine bathtub adding to the ambiance.

Similarly, the works themselves revolve around the the corruption of capitalism and the perverse beauty that comes out of it. Faceless men in suits stand below a shimmering red silhouette of Cuba; a pair of legs lean against a warm cloudless shade of blue. Yes, it’s all a bit eerie and disheartening, but like a Lynch film, you just can’t turn away.

 The soy so lindo team was lucky enough to be invited to a special viewing of the show yesterday, where we spent the evening exploring the building and clinking wine glasses with the artist. What follows here (and on our flickr page) is an abreviated account of the show.

If you haven’t yet seen “Diferencias y Repeticiones” (or have, but are into art parties), there will be a closing reception this Thursday, July 19 at 8 p.m.

Juan Dolare: “Diferencias y Repeticiones”

Bolivar 1670, Barracas.

free to be

 

Proof that hipsterism knows no boundaries: Alfonso el Pintor.

In this 80s-esque pop band, thrift store sweatshirts, Ray Ban sunglasses, and asymetrical hair play more than just a supporting role. Not surprisingly, the beautiful people were out in full force this past Friday to see the band, best described as the spawn of Lucas Marti and Victoria Mil, play at Niceto. For more photos, check out soy so lindo’s flickr page.