1 July “The Magic of Vivaldi”

A concert of of Vivaldi’s classic favorites. 7:30pm at Angela Peralta Theater, Centro Historico. Cost: $100/$120 pesos Info, tickets: 982-4447 or at the theater box office.

4 July Danza 2009

Graduating students of the Mazatlán Professional School of Dance present a program of the stars, with performances choreographed by Peter John Sabbaghá (South Africa), Michael Foley (USA), Claudia Lavista (Mexico) and Victor Manuel Ruiz (Mexico). 8 pm at the Angela Peralta Theater, Centro Historico. Cost: $120. Half-price for students with ID. Info, tickets: 982-4447 or at the theater box office.

5 Election Day y “Ley Seca”

Only citizens can vote, but this may affect you in another way: no alcohol can be sold or served from the night before until the voting is done. So, stock up early for your Fourth of July weekend celebrations, folks.

Ongoing till 19

Each year this group of artisans from Oaxaca comes to town, setting up in Zaragoza Park for a few weeks. You’ll find embroidered and woven cotton clothes and bags, handmade wooden toys and games, straw hats, a bit of jewelry, and traditional Mexican candies. Fans of the fabulous rich Oaxacan ice cream will be happy to find it here, too, cranked out by hand the old-fashioned way, using all-natural ingredients to make flavors that include rose petal, “Beso de Angel,” mango and leche quemada. Open from 9am till about 11pm daily. Free. Zaragoza Park, between Cinco de Mayo and Guillermo Nelso, Centro Historico.

Daily Labyrinth on the malecon

Feeling like maybe you need some positive vibrations? Want to relax and center your energy? Head to the labyrinth painted on the spacious glorieta in front of the cliff diver’s platform in Olas Altas. Modeled after 12th century labyrinth of Chartres Cathedral in France, this vortex of good energy consists of a path through an 11-circuit circular design leading to one center point, with quadrants representing the four arms of the cross. Participants quietly walk through as a private meditation symbolic of a spiritual journey. Free, of course. Glorieta Rodolfo Sanchez Taboada, Paseo Claussen, Olas Altas.

22 Total Solar Eclipse

Well, we won’t really be able to see it, as the eclipse occurs after nightfall here, but nevertheless, this total solar eclipse is one of the most spectacular celestial events of the century. The moon’s umbral shadow will be seen in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China, and then the penumbral path curves southeast through Asia, Indonesia and the Pacific. At its height, six minutes of totality will occur. Apparently the next eclipse we’ll be able to see won’t be until 2017, when a total eclipse will blanket the USA and Mazatlán will see a small partial one. Mark your calendars now, eh?

Daily Air-Conditioned Comfort

Never have the lines in the bank, Telmex or Megacable been so welcome as at this time of year, when temperatures soar and cool, cold air conditioning is the password of the day – or night. The charm of outdoor seating is a thing of the past and lingering over breakfast inside somewhere or a long afternoon at the movies never looked better. Come to think of it, isn’t there something you need find at WalMart, Home Depot, Mega or Soriana? Gran Plaza, anyone?