The Weekend Buzz: Farm Strike Edition

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Farmers Block Argentine Highways

Thanks to Amigonuevo for This Photo

Easter’s over, and the nightmare of strike-driven road blocks and meat shortages continues all over Argentina. What does that mean chicos y chicas? It’s time for your farm strike edition of the Weekend Buzz. That’s right, that pesky little protest which began two weeks ago has now evolved into a full-fledged national crisis, and it’s polarizing the nation. But that doesn’t have to stop you from going out and having a good time.

While I can’t offer a solution to the ongoing problem, I can suggest some fun things to do around town that won’t make you feel guilty about enjoying yourself while the countryside riots and the highways are covered with flaming tire blockades:

-Go to a Protest: If you sympathize with the plight of the farmers, or simply want to join in on the fun, head on down to…well…anywhere downtown where there’s a plaza, federal building, or park. Admission is free, and bring the kids. Plaza de Mayo seems to be the best spot for this. Don’t forget to bring your pots and pans to bang to show your solidarity. In general, protests in Argentina are nonviolent if you don’t count the damage done to your hearing by the pot banging.

-Go Green: No, not the green t-shirts people are wearing in a sign of solidarity with the strikers, I mean go vegetarian. No beef has entered the city in two weeks, so this weekend would be a great time to check out BA’s vegetarian restaurants and fruit and vegetable markets. Some great restaurants to try out are:

Artemesia (Cabrera 3877), Bio (Humbolt 2199), and Providencia (Cabrera 5995).

-Go See Kafka: The late Czech author and playwright was known for writing about “troubled individuals in a nightmarishly impersonal and bureaucratic world.” Hmmm, sounds familiar. So wash away those “I’ve lost faith in Cristina’s government” blues with Metamorfosis, playing at La Manufactura Papeleria (Bolivar 1582) this weekend. It’s a story about a man who is transformed into a bug, and then must endure the perils of being shun by both his family and society. Not quite a ray of sunshine, but well written nonetheless. Admission is $25 pesos.

-Go to the Fall Ball: The City of Buenos Aires is sponsoring an autumn outing of dancing, music, and merriment at the Museo de la Ciudad (corner of Defensa and Alsina) in San Telmo this Saturday night. Remember, it’s the federal government that raised farm tariffs, not the city. Your strikers’ solidarity will remain in tact. The theme is retro, and the ball is informal. No black tux and bow-tie needed. The event starts at 9pm. Admission is $1 peso.

-Grab a Pint Outdoors: There’s no beer strike in Argentina, so suds it up on a patio, porch, or rooftop terrace while you still can. The season is rapidly changing, and the days are getting shorter. That means you have only a little time left to wear that t-shirt or cute skirt and lounge out in the sun with a fabulous drink. Your best bet, go to Plaza Serrano in Palermo, where almost every bar has either a roof terrace, patio, or both.

That’s it for this week. Think green. Think fun. Eat your veggies. I’ll see you next week.

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