Parks Guide

Don't let the size and structure of Buenos Aires fool you, it's a surprizingly green city. Known for being centrally planned and mostly man-made, the city bosts some of the most green spaces and recreational areas in the world for a city of its size. Whether you're here for a short vacation or an extended stay, here are a few parks which are sure to give you the outdoor fix you need to balance out your urban adventure.

Parque Rivedavia:

Though it's kind of off the beaten path from the towering hotels of Puerto Madero and the posh shopping and restaurants of Palermo Soho, this park is a hit with local residents. The park is gated and miraculously clean, partly because of a dog ban enforced by the city. While there are no athletic fields, it's a great place to catch some rays and lay out in the lush green grass. Fun Fact: The Electronics Feria. This is a daily outdoor market of bootleg movies, MP3 cds, video games, and various computer programs. If you have a moral obligation to copyright infringement, stay away. The average cost per disc is $5 pesos, no questions asked.

Address: Avenida Rivedavia 3800

Jardin Botanico Carlos Thays:

In the heart and hustle of Palermo, the Jardin Botanico truly exemplifies a quality man-made urban escape. Winding paths lead you through lush imported palms and local flora. The paths are quiet, yet safe, and once you've emersed yourself in the center of the park, it's quiet enough to forget you're in the city. It's a great place to bring kids as well. There's a well-maintained giant playground in the park's center. The botanical greenhouses themselves seem a bit inaccessable, however, the greenhouse structures themselves have a vintage, somewhat gothic appeal. Fun Fact: This park is considered one of the best make-out spots in all of Buenos Aires. It's not unusual to see up to 20-30 young Argentine couples locking lips along the secluded paths and shaded lawns. If you're not into PDA, stick to the playground.

Address: Avenida Santa Fe 3951

Bosques de Palermo:

This park has two sides to it, day and night. During the day its one of Buenos Aires largest and most active parks. There are many joggers, rollerbladers, bicyclists, and lounging sunbathers. There's a small lake in the center where people paddle lazily in rowboats and a bus Sunday morning Feria, or outdoor market. Fun Fact: This park is locally known for being the largest Transvestite prostitute meeting place in the city. As local legend has it, the residents of Palermo had a problem with street walkers cruising the streets in their residential neighborhood a few years ago. Rather than tirelessly arresting and patrolling for them, the police gave them sanctuary in the park after dusk.

Address: Avs. Del Libertador, Dorrego y Figueroa Alcorta.

Parque Centenario:

One of Buenos Aires' newly refurbished parks, Parque Centenario is graffitti free, dog free, and safe. It's located in Caballito, a quiet, yet wealthy area which is considered to be the geographical center of the city. Like most parks, there's a large Sunday Feria and ample green space for athletics. There's an amphitheater which holds free concerts in the summer, and a shallow lake with ducks, geese, and fish in the center. Fun Fact: the blocks surrounding the park are home to The National Science Museum of Argentina, The Leloir Institute for scientific research, and the Marie Curie Cancer Hospital.

Address: Aves. Diaz Velez, Patricias Argentinas, Campichuelo, and Angel Gallardo.

Jardin Zoologico:

This 45-acre zoo lies adjacent to the Jardin Botanico in Palermo near Plaza Italia. The zoo is a popular attraction for families and young portenos, and it's convenient location and cheap admission ($8 pesos, $2.60 USD) makes it an easy half-day trip. Aside from the usual animal suspects, this zoo boasts an albino tiger, a petting zoo, and a seal show, as well as other rare and endangered animals which make appearances from time to time. The monkeys seem to be a big hit with the kids, and there's plenty of space between pens so it's not overwhelming while walking around. Fun Fact: There are miniature horses to take pictures with outside of the zoo gate. They are typically decorated in elaborate costumes and wear sombreros.

Address: Avs. General Las Heras and Sarmiento.

Taco Tuesdays

Taco Tuesdays at the California Burrito Company (CBC) are a chaotic mix of funk, food, fun, and two-for-one Margarita specials, all in the heart of downtown Buenos Aires. Though often thought of as a cliche marketing ploy in the 'states, this aptly named night isn't just about discounted tacos. It's a hodgepodge of social networking, drinking, live music, and yes, fantastically authentic SoCal-style tacos.

The idea is to bring in new business with discounted prices and live music. However, it also serves as a multicultural meeting point for some cheap fun on a night where not much is usually going on. Even in a vibrant mega-city such as Buenos Aires, Tuesday is, well, Tuesday.

The space itself is on the smaller side, with a narrow, yet long, dining area and a service area and kitchen in the back. It's set up more like a cafeteria, rather than a traditional sit-down restaurant. There's ample seating space, and when the band plays on Tuesdays, they set up at the front of the restaurant near the street.

Though it's a relatively new business, The CBC on Lavalle draws a steady crowd daily. And it's not just for tourists and American ex-pats. According to co-owner Sam Nadler, the typical crowd at the burrito joint is mostly Argentine. "I'd say that it's usually about 80/20 Argentines to Americans," said Nadler, "tonight (Taco Tuesday) it's about 50/50."

So what's the draw? Well, for starters, it's unique. Mexican food is not particularly popular in Buenos Aires. The Argentine diet differs greatly from the spices, peppers, and tortillas which are the staples of Mexican cuisine. It's not even too far off to say that the CBC could be the only restaurant in Buenos Aires where you can get an authentic Burrito, and one of two places which sell nachos. In fact, a "tortilla" in Argentina is a kind of quiche-like souffle, and a "taco" is a shoe heel.

But much like Sushi when it was first introduced to the US, this Mexican snack food restaurant has a cult following, and it's spreading. There's a buzz in the expat community going on about the CBC which rivals some of the bigger bars such as the Alamo and The Shamrock, typically packed with English-speaking foreigners. The difference with the CBC is that it also has the rare ability to draw locals.

The CBC was founded by Jordan Metzner, Chris Burns, and Sam Nadler. Three guys in their mid-twenties who have been living and working in Buenos Aires since 2005. Metzner and Nadler met at Indiana University's Kelly School of Business, and met Burns after moving to Buenos Aires. They opened the CBC in April 2006, and business has been growing steadily ever since.

The CBC is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, but opens from 8am to 11pm Monday through Friday. And don't think Tuesday is the only day to go. The CBC serves its full drink and food menu all week.

The California Burrito Company is located at Lavalle 411 in downtown Buenos Aires. For more info, see www.californiaburritoco.com