October Book Exchange

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Join Us at the BAIN Book Exchange

Date: Monday, October 15, 11:00am

Place: Palermo Viejo *contact Danielle Gold at dgold@counselingba.com for address upon RSVP

You may be aware that in August the book exchange moved to its new location
in Palermo Viejo, and made some format changes aimed at improving the
quality of reading material and fostering interesting conversations about our
books and more.

Please join us by bringing 1 or 2 really interesting books to lend or give away in
exchange for someone else’s great book. You don’t necessarily have to part
with your book, you can loan it to another BAIN member who will be held
accountable to return it. We want our book exchange to offer participants an
opportunity to access high quality reading material in English, which can be hard
to find and expensive to buy in BA. Please don’t bring books you would like to
get rid of. Instead, bring the book you would like your best friend to read.

Light refreshments & good conversation will be served

New Reciprocity Fee For US Visitors

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This information was provided to BAIN from the US Embassy website. Please read on for new regulations requiring the reciprocity fee for entering Argentina from the USA:

Effective October 31, 2012 (Aeroparque) and December 28, 2012 (Ezeiza)
The National Immigration Agency (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones) has
added a new form of payment of the reciprocity rate (visitor visa – rate for
Americans of USD$160), through the Provincia Payment System. Until now, this
fee was paid upon arrival at the airport (either Aeroparque or Ezeiza). Effective
October 31, 2012 for arrivals to Aeroparque and effective December 28, 2012 for
arrivals to Ezeiza International airport, all U.S. tourist or business visitors must pay
the reciprocity rates (USD$160 for Americans) with their credit card through the
on-line system. After these dates, cash payments will NOT be accepted at the
airports.
How to pay the reciprocity fee on-line:

  1. Enter the web site http://www.migraciones.gov.ar or http://www.provinciapagos.com.ar of Provincia Pagos and register to start the process.
  2. Complete the form with the corresponding personal and credit card information.
  3. Print the payment receipt.
  4. On arrival in Argentina, this printed receipt must be presented at Immigration Control. The receipt will be scanned by the Immigration officials, the information will be checked, and the traveler’s entry to the country registered.

November Book Club

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To all fellow readers,

Many thanks to a truly insightful discussion at the last Book Club get together where we discussed the work of Andre Brink, a South African author.

For those of you who have never attended the monthly bookclub, please feel free to join our next get together:

Title: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong child, her American doctors, and the collision of 2 cultures. (available on Amazon Kindle)

Author: Anne Fadiman
Date: Thursday 8 November 2012
Time: 14h00 –  16h00
Location: Recoleta

Here is the Amazon review of the book:
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down explores the clash between a small county hospital in California and a refugee family from Laos over the care of Lia Lee, a Hmong child diagnosed with severe epilepsy. Lia’s parents and her doctors both wanted what was best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them led to tragedy. Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Current Interest, and the Salon Book Award, Anne Fadiman’s compassionate account of this cultural impasse is literary journalism at its finest. The current edition, published for the book’s fifteenth anniversary, includes a new afterword by the author that provides updates on the major characters along with reflections on how they have changed Fadiman’s life and attitudes.
Please RSVP to Lydsmiller@gmail.com to confirm your attendance and to
receive the directions.

Hope to see many of you there.

Regards,
The Bookclub Organizers

Spring Baby Gear Sale

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Feliz Dia de Primavera!

To celebrate the arrival of spring, a few of our members will be holding a “Spring Cleaning” garage sale on Saturday, September 29 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm in Recoleta.
Most of the items for sale are baby related; clothes, toys, gear – and a few random items thrown in to keep things interesting.  Most items are from overseas, and in good condition.
More specifically, the majority of the clothes are for girls between 0 – 24 months and boys between 2 – 3 years.
If you are interested in coming to see what’s available and possibly making a purchase, please RSVP to Dawn Gill dawn.e.gill@gmail.com or Milena Newhook milenanewhook@gmail.com for exact address information.
Hope to see you then!

Tonny Towers Jazz Band Performance

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Wednesday, September 26 at 7:30pm

At the UCEMA Auditorium

Reconquista 775, CABA

All are invited! No entry fee!

Diversos ritmos del jazz latino y sus raíces se fusionan tomando como punto de partida el jazz afrocubano.
Arreglos muy elaborados, destreza interpretativa y un marcado carácter festivo en un género no muy común en nuestro país.

Integrantes:

Daniel Juárez (trompeta).
Miguel Hornes (trompeta)
Juan Canosa (trombón)
Javier Zacharías (saxo alto)
Pablo Fortuna (saxo tenor)
Francisco Huici (saxo baritono)
Bruno Delucchi (piano)
Fernando Cardero (bajo)
Tomás Babjackzuk (drums)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogb_4ESIdrg&feature=related

Web de UCEMA: http://www.ucema.edu.ar/arte-y-cultura/tonny-towers

Museo Roca: Maria Garcia Rey Exhibition

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The artist is María Cristina García Rey and she is exhibiting works that have participated in exhibitions in Paris and New York. The exhibition inauguration Wednesday, September 19, 7:00pm to 9:00pm is open to the public and free of charge.

There is no need for an RSVP, just join us and enjoy the art!

The Museo Roca is located at Vicente Lopez 2220, between Pueyrredon and Azcuenaga.  

September’s Monthly Lunch

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Il Vero Arturito

San Luis 2999, Abasto , CABA

Tel: 4961-4280

The good news is that the owner of one of my favorite restaurants has agreed to let us dine at her restaurant this Thursday September 27th. This is no small concession as the venue is packed to overflowing every day and she does not want to disappoint her regular customers by not having a table available.

The bad news is that we will be limited to two tables of 10 each – so act quickly if you want to attend.

Il Vero Arturito’s  is “… in the pantheon of great restaurants in town, one of those endangered places that we like …”.  “Arturito …  has no competition and things are simple … nothing new-wave… here you eat well and traditional!” The dining is “family” style with platters of food being delivered to share. Although the guides list the restaurant as Italian the specialty of the house is Kid (baby goat) and this is the dish that will be featured for our September luncheon – the Chivito Provenzal with papas espanol.

However, the pasta (all homemade) is not to be overlooked and, in fact, I can say without hesitation that their Vermichellis Carbonara is the best that I have ever had – and you know that I am pretty picky! – this dish will also be on our table. The third dish on the table will be a red sauce pasta – the Fusilli Fileto.

This traditional neighborhood restaurant is a slice of history, linen napkins and tablecloths, a staff of professional  attentive waiters and a great menu.

The following quote sums up my feelings:  “Excellent, I go quite often and love it. The service is perfect and the food is plentiful and tasty. “

The full menu for our luncheon is:

A welcoming empanada, chivito and pasta dishes to share, water, wine and a champagne toast to finish off.

The cost including tip is 100 pesos.

RSVP is mandatory to: mweldon213@yahoo.com

The restaurant is on the corner of San Luis and Jean Juares. If you are taking the bus it is a 3 block walk from Puerrrydon and San Luis or a 1 block walk from Cordoba and Jean Juares.

ADEA – World of Chocolate Annual Benefit

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Calling all chocolate lovers!

Combine your love of chocolate with a great night out!

Starting at 7:30pm on Thursday 27th September, ADEA (Association of Diplomatic Spouses in Argentina) will hold their annual charity dinner dance at the Sheraton Hotel and Convention Center (San Martin 1225) in the Salon Retiro.

This evening promises to be a unique event bringing together several recognized chefs and chocolatiers both from within Argentina and also from around the world.

Tickets are $450 pesos per person, the ticket price includes dinner, wine and dancing.  Contact info@adeaargentina.com.ar for more information or to purchase tickets.  Payment is available in cash or via bank transfer.

Kick off the weekend early!

To see our video on youtube, click here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV3_LNYHulY.

This Week with BAIN Downtown

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There are so many exciting events this week with BAIN Downtown, it’s hard to choose which ones to attend!  Luckily, you don’t have to choose – you can attend them all!  Become a member today and your calendar will fill up quickly with lots of diverse and interesting events that are sure to catch your fancy.  Start the process by filling out our New Membership Sign-Up Form and one of our Board Members will contact you within the day!

You can always see an updated list of events on our Calendar, but here is a quick view of this week’s events:

Wednesday, September 19

  •  10:00am – 12:00pm: Baby/Toddler Group Play Date – bring your little one and join our play date in Recoleta.  This week there will be an extra treat, a sampling of baked goods from the new bakery Lucho’s Homemade Treats.  Contact Niccole de Campos niccoledecampos@mac.com to RSVP.

 

  • 8:45pm: Monthly Dinner at Parilla Donca – Join in our dinner group this month as guest host Jim Isaacs organizes this tasty event.  The restaurant is located at Charcas 4799 (on the corner of Godoy Cruz, in Palermo) and for a price of 125 pesos per person you get a three course meal, a glass of wine, one gaseosa or water, service/table charge and tip – not too shabby!  For a full menu, visit our Newsreel.  Contact Jim Isaacs jisaacs61@hotmail.com to RSVP.

Thursday, September 20

  • 11:00am – 1:00pm: Book Club – This month’s title is Rumors of Rain by Andre Brink, a story of corruption and redemption in South Africa.  We will meet at a member’s home in Recoleta, email Sheridan Pidcock sheridanpidcock@gmail.com to RSVP.  This group always involves a great discussion and insight into reflections of the book, whether it’s your first time or you are a seasoned reader – come and see what the book club has to offer!

 

  • 6:00pm – 9:00pm: Ladies Night Happy Hour – Keep your fingers crossed for nice weather as Ann and Margaret have organized this month’s Happy Hour at Primafila in the Recoleta Design Center terraces.  If the weather is bad we’ll be inside, but with a nice evening, this location has a great outdoor seating area! Leave the fellas at home and join in this fun, social event.  RSVP to Ann Sager: annsager@me.com or Margaret Sauvé: msauve3@yahoo.com.

 

And last but certainly not least, if you haven’t RSVPed for this month’s Spring at the Sivori event, do so now!  Email bain.downtown@gmail.com or leave a comment on the event post.  BAIN Downtown members are free and guests are $60 (unless you RSVP and join at the event, you can start your membership benefits immediately!).  Join us for sweet treats and a champagne toast to welcome the arrival of spring!

 

 

 

Restaurant Review: Dada Bistrot

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Dada (San Martin 941: 4314-4787, Retiro) is old school in more ways than one. This little “bistro” has only a dozen tables, a handful of bar stools, no host and instead of reservations they give you a window of time – which they may or may not adhere to. Despite, or rather because of this, the super-casual atmosphere was exactly what we were looking for when we visited for dinner a few weeks ago. Once again, Time Out was instrumental in guiding us to this restaurant, because even though Dada has been recommended to us by multiple people, we never seem to remember it when we’re thinking of a new place to go. We certainly weren’t the only ones that relied on the magazine for a Dada recommendation, here the bartender is actually posing with a copy of Time Out for another patron’s photo.

This is one of the first real bars we’ve been to since moving here. The bartenders are quick, ready to refill your drink and actually interact with the people sitting at their bar. Our “reservation” was at 11:00pm, and though we waited for awhile after that time came and went, we were well tended to and were even asked if we wanted to order at the bar instead of waiting for a table. This is second nature to most places in the US, but rarely, if ever happens at restaurants in BsAs. I ordered a caipiroska (which was delicious) and Jon had a beer, which was served to him in a wine glass – we are still missing out on draft beer. The only draft they offered was Quilmes, which is like asking for an agua con gas.

Since we had some time to get hungry while we waited, it was nice that menu features and specials were written out on chalkboards around the restaurant. The bar features Ruca Malen wines, which is a great quality choice, though somehow not what I was expecting for this more rustic-style place. Dada continued to surprise me with the best hummus and pita chips appetizer I’ve had in Argentina (I should note that I’ve only had this dish a handful of times, not a popular offering in local restaurants) – such a strange collection of items, but somehow it works.

I ordered a steak salad as my main dish, while my husband had the lomo. Both dishes were delicious, and we had devoured them before I had a chance to take any photos. The food was far more elegant than you would originally expect when looking at the bar, but it’s one of the many surprises we had at Dada.

I will say that as the night went on, service got more and more scarce. We asked for our check two or three times before finally receiving it at 1:30am (!!). Considering the food, wine, drinks and bar service were all great, something had to give.

All in all, a great spot that we will return to for future casual nights out.

***This restaurant review was written by BAIN Downtown member and blogger, Dawn Gill.  For this and other reviews on expat life, visit her blog: http://www.dawnandjon.blogspot.com.ar/.  To contribute a review or highlight your blog, contact bain.downtown@gmail.com.