The Weekend Buzz: Game On!

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Thanks to Alvez for This Photo

Thanks to Alvez for This Photo

This weekend marks the 180th game between top Argentine soccer clubs Boca Juniors and River Plate in the Superclasico. The game, held Sunday, is considered the most famous on the continent, and some say it’s the best rivalry in the world. No matter how you look at it, it’s a big deal, and the city of Buenos Aires will be abuzz with fanfare, fanaticism, and fun.

There’s also some playoff basketball to check out, a martial arts exhibition in the Japanese Botanical Gardens, and a free outdoor concert in San Telmo. That’s right, FREE. How could you say no to that? So strap in sports fans, it’s time to get your Buzz on.

Ole!!! It’s time for Boca v. River at the Bombonera. Even if you’re not a big soccer fan, you’ve most likely heard of Boca and River. If not, you’ve most certainly seen the gold and blue (Boca), or red, black, and white (River) t-shirts adorned on both locals and tourists all over the capital. If you don’t have tickets already it may be difficult to get them at anything close to a reasonable price. However, if you’re dying to see this great rivalry, rumor is that you can go down to the stadium and shell out $300 pesos for some damn good scalped seats. Not exactly legal, but in Buenos Aires, what is? Just make sure the tickets look real. The stadium, affectionately known as the Bombonera is in the La Boca section of the city, about a five-minute walk from Caminito. And if you can’t get in, there isn’t a TV in the city that won’t be tuned to the match, so grab a pint or a bite to eat at your favorite cafe and enjoy.

Slow it down with the Bob Marley Day Festival. Feel like the Fernet-infused energy of a city full of soccer hooligans is a bit to intense? Then wind down and stir it up with Argentina’s biggest reggae festival, Bob Marley Festival Day. The festival begins this Friday night at 8:30 at Luna Park downtown. The festival will feature performances by former members of both the Wailers and Peter Tosh’s band. Tickets are $110 pesos for premium seats, and $66 for field level seats. You can purchase tickets online or buy them at the ticket window. Luna Park is located at Bouchard 465 near Puerto Madero.

Check out the acoustic percussive beats of Tubambores in San Telmo. This funky, up-beat percussion group is holding a free show this Friday night at the Centro Cultural Plaza Defensa in San Telmo. This is one of Argentina’s best-known percussion groups, and they play everything from cumbia beats to improvised jungle jam sessions. The Centro Cultural Plaza Defensa is located at Defensa 535 in the heart of San Telmo. The show starts at 9pm, and like I said earlier, admission is free, so you have no excuse for not showing up.

Watch the mastery of Martial Arts in the Japanese Botanical Gardens in Palermo. There will be an Aikido exhibition in the park beginning at 4pm on Saturday, led by Argentine Sensei Roberto Sanchez. Aikido is an ancient Japanese martial art centered around calculated defensive moves and paralyzing holds. Admission, of course, is free, and all ages are welcome to the exhibition. The Japanese Botanical Gardens are located at Santa Fe and Las Heras in Palermo, near Plaza Italia.

Lastly, although it’s on Tuesday, go check out national slam dunk champion and avid Argentina’s Travel Guide reader Chris Jeffries and his team Obras Sanitarias de Nunez take on Quimsa in game three of the national semis. It’s a must win for Jeffries and his squad as Quimsa is up 2-0 in the best-of-five series. The winner of the series goes on to play in the Argentine Division 1 National Championship. The game will be televised locally on TyC, or you can go to the stadium on Avenida del Libertador 7395 in Nunez. Tickets cost $10 pesos for general admission, and $20 pesos for premium seating. The game starts at 9pm.

So stretch those muscles, get out your favorite team colors, and get ready for a weekend of sporting and musical delights. Remember to stay safe, have fun, and enjoy your weekend…That’s what they’re for. As always, let me know if you know of something I don’t. I always love a good suggestion.

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