Get Out!: French flavors, vintage subway rides and Paco & Ca7riel

Buenos Aires is leaning fully into autumn this week with a packed lineup of food fairs, cocktail celebrations, concerts, and offbeat cultural events. There’s a French gastronomic festival at the Rosedal, late-night rides aboard the historic “Las Brujas” subway cars, and Europe Day celebrations taking over Avenida de Mayo.  Foodies can bounce between Food Fest at La Rural, cocktail pop-ups in Villa Crespo and Belgrano, or World Cocktail Day festivities across the city, while music fans have everything from tango fusion to electronic megashows to the so-hot-right now duo Paco & Ca7riel. No weekend plans yet? As always, the Herald’s got you covered.  French Fair in Palermo May 16 & 17. 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.Rosedal de Palermo (Av. Iraola and Av. Sarmiento)Free Argentina’s French Gastronomic Association celebrates its 15th anniversary with a new edition of its open-air fair in Palermo’s Rosedal. Expect a wide spread of French specialties, from boulangerie and pastries to cheeses and traditional dishes, alongside gourmet products and sweet treats.  The event also features live music and family-friendly activities, set against one of the city’s most scenic parks. On Saturday at 1 p.m., chef Sébastien Fouillade will host a cooking class on bondiola blanquette, while on Sunday, at 1 p.m., Mathieu Benoit will present Le Flan pâtissier alongside special guest Bruno Gillot from L’Epi.  Agathe Cipres will perform on Saturday, and Fanny Rose y los Manush on Sunday, with shows scheduled at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. each day. Ride the historic “Las Brujas” subway cars May 16, after midnight.Line A subway,Free admission with prior registration (opens May 13 at noon on the Instagram account of BA Subte).Limited capacity. To celebrate Argentina’s May Revolution week, the City of Buenos Aires is bringing back the iconic wooden “La Brugeoise” subway cars — better known as “Las Brujas”, as in “The Witches” — for a special late-night ride along Line A.  After midnight, passengers will be able to travel through the oldest subway line in Latin America aboard the restored century-old trains — just like our own Pope Francis did every day back when he was the City’s Archbishop. Nerd culture takes over Matienzo May 17, 2 to 7 p.m.CC Matienzo (Av. Juan B. Justo 2959)Free admission Nerdo!, one of Buenos Aires’ biggest pop culture fairs, returns to CC Matienzo with an afternoon dedicated to all things geeky. The event will feature cosplay, collectible merchandise, comics, gaming items, and food stands, alongside independent vendors and fan communities.  Organizers promise plenty of activities for anime, sci-fi, fantasy, and comic book fans. The fair is pet-friendly and will take place rain or shine. Welsh Patagonia at the National Library Inauguration May 15, 7 p.m.Exhibition: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 7 p.m.Mariano Moreno National Library, 3rd floor Hall (Aguero 2502)Free admission The Mariano Moreno National Library is opening Y Wladfa. Welsh community in Argentina, an exhibition exploring the history of Welsh settlement in the country during the 19th century. Y Wladfa” — Welsh for “The Colony — was the name settlers used for their migration and establishment in Patagonia, part of a broader Welsh diaspora that began in the mid-1800s. The exhibition brings together chronicles, memoirs, newspapers, photographs, and archival materials documenting the Welsh community’s relationship with Argentina and its notable coexistence with Indigenous Pampas and Tehuelche communities.  Also a great chance to get inside one of the finest buildings in the Buenos Aires architecture landscape, a brutalist masterpiece by Clorindo Testa.  Europe takes over Avenida de Mayo May 17, noon to 6 p.m.Avenida de Mayo and BolívarFree admission The annual Buenos Aires Celebra festival returns this weekend with a special edition dedicated to Europe Day, transforming Avenida de Mayo into a showcase of European culture, food, and music.  More than 60 stands representing 30 European communities and regional associations will line the avenue, offering traditional dishes, crafts, and cultural displays from countries including Germany, Greece, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and Ukraine, as well as regions of Spain and Italy. Visitors can also take part in interactive workshops and cultural talks throughout the afternoon. A main stage at Avenida de Mayo and Bolívar will host live music and dance performances between noon and 6 p.m. Drag Bingo goes full fashion fantasy at ORNO May 14, 10 p.m.ORNO Cantina, Palermo ORNO Cantina is bringing back its popular Drag Bingo night with a special edition inspired by The Devil Wears Prada 2, the fashion-world sequel starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. Hosted by the fabulous Socorro, the event combines bingo, drag performances, music, and audience interaction in a theatrical, camp-filled atmosphere. The evening promises movie references, over-the-top glamour, and plenty of humor, channeling the spirit of the film through performances and themed surprises. Guests who follow the red dress code will receive a complimentary classic cocktail at the door. FOOD & DRINKS Food Fest returns to La Rural May 16-17, noon to 8 p.m.La Rural, entrance through Plaza Italia (Av. Santa Fe and Thames).Free admission Food Fest is back at La Rural for two days dedicated to street food, live-fire cooking, craft drinks, and international cuisine. The fair gathers some of Buenos Aires’ best-known food vendors, with everything from shawarma and Korean dishes to smoked meats, gourmet empanadas, pasta, raclette sandwiches, and Patagonian-style lamb burgers. Among the participants are Ligre with focaccias, Savage with tacos and burritos, Austin Smoke House and Todo Brasas for smoked barbecue, Mandu’s Korean cuisine, and El Hornero’s traditional locro and empanadas. Dessert options include ice cream from Cremolatti, cookies from Monster Cookies, and churros and waffles from Two Churros. Craft beer, vermouth, gin, cider, wine, and specialty coffee will also be available throughout the weekend. The event is pet-friendly, with paid parking on site and free bicycle parking. Buenos Aires celebrates World Cocktail Day May 15, 7 p.m. to midnightBars across Buenos Aires and Parque de la Innovación (Av. Guillermo Udaondo 1003-1133)Admission allowed until 9 p.m.Tickets AR$20,000 available online More than 40 bars across Buenos Aires are joining World Cocktail Day celebrations this week starting on May 13, with discounted drinks and special events dedicated to the city’s thriving cocktail scene. The festivities will peak on Friday with a large-scale party organized by the Cámara Argentina de Bares de Coctelería at Parque de la Innovación. The centerpiece of the evening will be the Cocktail Museum, an immersive exhibition tracing the history of Argentine and international mixology through memorabilia, storytelling, and guided experiences led by cocktail expert Diego Mato. The exhibit highlights milestones including the 1864 launch of Hesperidina, the country’s first patented spirit, and the arrival of luxury hotel cocktail culture in the early 20th century. Eight guest bars and live DJs will round out the event. Vinyls at Sunset in Colegiales May 17, 5 p.m. until closing.Verdín Café (Zapiola 1375) Verdín Café is hosting the fifth edition of Vinilos al Atardecer, an autumn-themed evening built around vinyl records, coffee, and a laid-back atmosphere. Starting at 5 p.m., the café will feature a vinyl DJ set by Besistica Soulmate Duo Project and a small record fair organized by DuMonde Records. The event also marks the beginning of May Revolution week celebrations with special pastries, hot chocolate, and plenty of coffee served throughout the evening. An invitation to slow down, gather with friends, and enjoy music while the sun sets over the city. POP UPS!Middle Eastern flavors take over 878 May 14, from 8 p.m.878 (Thames 878)Reservations recommended 878 is launching Contrabando Gastro, a new pop-up dinner series pairing guest chefs with specially designed cocktails. The first edition welcomes chef Malcom Lancioni from Farid, who will serve a Middle Eastern-inspired menu for one night only. The à la carte offerings include falafel with hummus, halloumi wrapped in phyllo dough with fermented ginger honey, and lamb araye. The cocktails created for the event lean into the same spice-driven flavors, including the Middle Eastern Negroni with saffron, cardamom, turmeric, and anise, plus the Farid Bubbles made with sparkling wine, tonka bean, criolla grape, and lacto-fermented dates. A nonalcoholic Sumac Tonic will also be available.  Reservations can be made through the venue’s social media channels or WhatsApp. Florería Atlántico at Mixtape May 13Mixtape (Franklin D. Roosevelt 1806)  To celebrate World Cocktail Day, Mixtape will host a one-night pop-up with the acclaimed Florería Atlántico, combining cocktails and vinyl culture in the city’s first Japanese-style kissa bar. Organized by head bartender Brenda Asís and bar manager Pablo Pignatta, the event will feature a special cocktail menu created by the Florería Atlántico team while DJs spin vinyl throughout the night. MUSIC Electronic Piazzolla May 14, 8 p.m.Niceto Club (Niceto Vega 5510)Admission AR$ 25,000 Film composer Nico Sorín relives tango giant Astor Piazzolla’s electronic period with the  impressive rock energy of a powerful band with talented jazz musicians. Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso May 14-15, 9 p.m.Movistar Arena (Humboldt 450)Admission AR$ 65,000 Fresh from releasing a new album, the hip-hop, pop and rock duo kick off their Free Spirits Tour that will continue throughout Latin America, North America and the U.K. Ale Kurz May 16, 9 p.m.The Roxy Live (Niceto Vega 5542)Admission AR$ 30,000 Former frontman of popular rock band El Bordo will premiere the new songs of his second solo album, including recent singles Estocolmo, La otra mitad and Para alguien más. Martin Garrix May 16, 9 p.m.Movistar Arena (Humboldt 450)Admission AR$ 50,000 The celebrated multiplatinum Dutch producer and DJ is playing in Buenos Aires with his successful Garrix Americas Tour, which began this month in Texas and will continue throughout 16 cities around the world.