Mariachi band to be featured at Saturday's International Night

Explore the sights, sounds and flavors of other cultures during McHenry County College's fourth annual International Night from 3:30 to 9:15 a.m. Saturday.

Sponsored by the Modern Languages Department at MCC, this year's event will feature an Italian dinner buffet catered by Alfredo's, language workshops, salsa and bachata dance classes, and spectacular music performances.

Doors open at 3:30 p.m., with workshops starting at 4 p.m. and dinner will be served in two separate seatings, 5 and 6 p.m. Dinner will be accompanied by musical entertainment by MCC's own Jazz Ensemble.

This year's event will feature several foreign language workshops in French, German, Spanish, Polish, Chinese and Arabic.

Harper College instructor Antonio Iacopino will give two presentations of racial history of Argentina vs. the U.S. from 4 to 4:45 p.m. and 6 to 6:45 p.m., and, for those interested in something a little more interactive, there also will be two one-hour dance classes featuring salsa and bachata, a romantic and sensual style of dance that originated in the Dominican Republic.

The dinner menu will include both Greek and traditional garden salads. Main course choices include pasta with vegetable marinara or Alfredo sauce and Italian beef or sausage sandwiches with peppers, with tiramisu or cheesecake for dessert.

After dinner, guests are invited to enjoy more top-notch entertainment from 7 to 9:15 p.m. in the MCC Conference Center.

First on the program is the Deep Chicago Rhythm Owls, performing music that is an eclectic mix of traditional New Orleans jazz, Western swing, bluegrass, Irish and washboard/jug band music. Featured on WPR public radio, the band has labeled their style as "the American Gypsy Music."

At 8:15 p.m., the band Mariachi Águilas de Mexico takes the stage to perform some of the most requested songs in their repertoire. With their recent CD release, as well as regional and national popularity, Mariachi Águilas de Mexico is fast becoming one of Chicago's premier mariachi bands.

Admission is $15 for the general public, $7 for MCC students and $5 for kids 12 and younger. For tickets, call (815) 455-8588 (Press 0). For more information, contact Gabriel Decio (815) 455-8557 or gdecio@mchenry.edu.