PAST EVENTS

A cheerful crowd attended a story-telling event at LCS to benefit Jim Collum’s Education Fund, and listened to an afternoon of readings from Jim’s works by well-known community actors and writers Jim Tipton, Liz White, Fred Koesling and Mel Goldberg.

Larry Reeves, Nancy Martinez and Mel Goldberg, event coordinators, reported a generous take when the hat was passed for donations. Proceeds go to an education fund through the auspices of the LCS to help needy Mexican children pay their school expenses. The next event is scheduled for October 11.

Mel Goldberg, Nancy Martinez, Larry Reeves

Pro Auditorio presented The Big Lip-Sync Show September 9 - 11 at the Club Exotica. Directed by Michael McLaughlin, the show was a big success, playing to full houses and raising 94,000 pesos for the Auditorio Upgrade Project. Twenty four acts included Kathleen Morris playing Lady Gaga in ‘Bad Romance,’ and Collete Clavadetscher as Christina Aguilera in ‘Nasty Naughty Boy.’ Choreographers were Val Jones and Barbara Clippinger; props and costumes were loaned by the Lakeside Little Theater. Club Exotica proved to be a super location - there is even talk of repeating the show in January.

Lake Chapala Society Indepencia Celebration was a grand success. Hundreds of people ate, danced and celebrated with entertainment provided by the wonderful mariachi band – Chuy of Ajijic.

Chuy Mariachi Band

The Belgian Chocolate Employment Agency is officially open. Rony’s office, La casita del Empleo, at the corner of Morelos and Zaragoza in Chapala, is open Monday – Friday 11:30 to 3 pm. If you need an employee, from office workers to gardeners to nurses and housekeepers, Rony can probably help with his free service. He pays his office expenses with the sale of Belgian Artisanal Chocolates available for sale in his office. If you have never tried his chocolate, it can be described in two words “absolutely delicious.”

Rony

FUTURE EVENTS

Saturday October 8 from 2 to 4 pm Lake Chapala Society celebrates Oktoberfest. A delicious and festive German meal will be served and apfelstrudel desserts will be sold by Cruz Roja. Come and enjoy German polkas, drinking songs and Yodeling. Purchase tickets at LCS Cruz Roja 10-12 or LCS office from 12-2, or Diane Pearl.

October 8 – Art Gallery Opening and Reception in Chapala: The new art gallery “Galeria Origen y Vision,” features paintings, sculpture, and limited-edition original prints by numerous internationally-known artists. The gallery is located at Hidalgo 229, Chapala and open 11 -7 pm, Thurs- Mon, or by appointment. In the future, the gallery will host other activities such as art classes, performance art, action painting, music, dance, literature and poetry readings and other happenings.

The opening reception is Saturday evening, October 8 from 5 - 9 pm. All are welcome to join the party and enjoy the artwork. For additional information call  331-148-8306.

Sunday, October 9 starting at 1 pm –Come visit Lakeside Spay and Neuter Centre. As part of festivities to mark World Animal Day, you are invited to attend an open day at the Ranch – currently home to about 65 dogs looking for permanent homes. Hotdogs and hamburgers will be served. Donation boxes will be available; the donations received are used to help feed and take care of the dogs. Helping hands at the Ranch are also needed, and information will be available if you are considering volunteering.

Directions: The Ranch is off the Guadalajara to Chapala highway. As you come into Chapala, just before the Libramiento (to Wal-Mart), turn right onto a dirt road which leads past a gravel quarry on the left. Go over a stream and around a tree in the middle of the road. Follow the signs right, through another stream to a gate on your right. Drive in - the sound of barking will let you know you have arrived and there will be a few friendly dogs (and people) outside to welcome you.

For more information call 766-3813, 765-7681 or 766-0807 or go to www.lakesidespayandneutercenter.com

Through October 10, visit the Ajijic Cultural Center to see Luz Preciado‘s exhibition, Without Taboos. With the vast range of bright colors, the strong and sure brush strokes, the talented Ajijic artist, Luz Preciado, gives us her interpretation of “Pop Art.” Included in the exhibition are sensuous clay pieces created by the multi talented José Meléndrez. The Ajijic Cultural Center is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm, Saturdays 10am to 2pm.

Without Taboos

Through October 9, the Lakeside Little Theatre (LLT) presents “Kitchen Witches” directed by Roger Tredway. This hilarious comedy puts two rival cooking TV hosts with a rocky past together on one TV show and watch out! Purchase tickets at the Theatre from 10 to 12 noon. The performances start at 7:30 pm, and bar opens at 6:30 pm.

October 15-16 Auditions for Lakeside Little Theatre’s musical, “A Taste of Broadway” Registration at 12:30 pm and auditions at 1pm on the main stage. For audition packets or information, contact Patteye at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

October 26 – Fund Raising Dinner at Jaltepec Centro Educativo, a school dedicated to education and vocational training for women in hospitality services, has a fund raising dinner for the benefit of the students. The evening begins at 6:30 pm with a No Host Bar and beautiful botana’s prepared by the students, and Timothy Welch providing his magic, complimentary Cocktail Music. Dinner including dessert is served by the students at 7.30 pm. A tour of the facilities will be given to those interested in learning more about the institute. A donation of 350 pesos is requested. For reservations or more information, contact Linda Buckthorpe at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 766-1631.

Thursday, November 3 - Annual Cruz Roja Golf Classic will be held at the Chapala Country Club. Golfers get your 4-player team together for Texas Scramble! The entry fee of $1,400 pesos per player (with a 200 peso discount if paid before October 14), includes cart rental, continental breakfast, gift bags, BBQ Dinner, and a chance to win a car or hot tub with a hole in one. There will also be a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction. Non golfers are welcome to come enjoy the BBQ dinner for $250 pesos; tickets at LCS M-F at the Cruz Roja table from 10-2 or Chapala County Club. Golf teams must register at the Chapala Country Club Pro Shop by November 1. Proceeds benefit Cruz Roja operations and fund its lifesaving and prenatal classes.

November 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12: “Senior Class,” a new My, My, How Nice! musical, is at Plaza Ribera (the old Sol Y Luna).  Conceived by Peggy Lord Chilton, this musical ran successfully for 8 years in Phoenix AZ. It is unusual in that it is all music with no dialog. The cast sings show tunes and standards that reflect the journey - good or bad - that has gotten us all to our “senior years” without too many dents and with our sense of humor and optimism fully intact. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Auditorio renovation project and the programs of the Baptist Church.

Showtime is at 7:30 pm Thursdays and Fridays, and 3 pm on Saturdays. Tickets can be purchased for 175 pesos by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Mia’s Boutique and Diane Pearl Coleciones

November 10: Celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving at the American Legion in Chapala. Tickets can be purchased at the American Legion in Chapala.

November 18 – 20:   The Feria Maestros del Arte Show will be held at the Chapala Yacht Club.  This wonderful event is not to be missed!

Local Viva Musica concerts at the Auditorio at 7:30 pm. Ticket prices are 250 pesos for members, 300 pesos for non-members.

October 27, Piano “Four Hands”, Guillermo Salvador and Rosalinda Preciado

December 1, Dolores Moreno, Soprano with the Chris Wilshere Chamber Orchestra

For Live from the Met operas, Viva will take a bus to Guadalajara for the following operas. Ticket prices 320 pesos for members, 400 for non-members, and 1800 for member season tickets.

October 15      Anna Bolena, Donizetti

October 29      Don Giovanni, Mozart

November 5   Siegfried, Wagner 

November 19 Satyagraha, Glass

December 3   Rodelina, Handel

December 10 Faust, Gounod

Purchase tickets Friday mornings 10-12 at the LCS Ticket Booth.

Pro Auditorio Events, to benefit the upgrade of the auditorium:

October 12 at 7.30 pm Paco Rentería, well-known Mexican guitarist will play with his band “Free Play” in the Auditorio de la Ribera in Ajijic. Rentería is an outstanding internationally-praised guitarist who performs around the world. Tickets are 150-250 pesos.

October 31 at 4.00 pm Halloween Dance Cruise, a four-hour boat cruise with a DJ and dancing, departs from the east end of the Chapala malecón. Halloween costumes are optional but there will be a prize for the best costume. Tickets 300 pesos, includes one drink.

November 3 at 3 pm: Colores de Mexico, youth orchestra playing Mexican classical music with classical ballet dancers, performs in the Auditorio, Ajijic. Tickets 200 pesos.

November 6 at 3 pm: Piano and Harpsichord Concert by the highly talented Michael Tsalka, followed by a Gala Reception with champagne will be held in a private home. Tickets are 300 pesos for the concert, or 500 pesos including the Champagne Reception.

November 16 at 4 pm, Nov 17 and 18 at 7.30 pm: Comedy Capers – Music Makers, a series of comedy skits, songs, and dance routines directed by Patteye Simpson and David McIntosh, will be at the Auditorio. Tickets 150-200 pesos.

Tickets to all Pro Auditorio fundraising events are available at LCS 10 to 12, Diane Pearl’s, Charter Club and the Auditorio.

Paco Rentería

Music Appreciation Society (MAS) Concert Season begins in November:

November 15, Blas Galindo Orchestra Featuring the Concierto Andaluz

December 8, Children’s Choir of Morelia

January 19, Orquesta Filarmonica de San Luis Potosi

 February 14, Classical FX Quartet of Kennedy Center Opera Company

 March 13, Compañia de Danza Clasica y Neoclasica de Jalisco 

Season tickets are available October 17 – 28 from 10 to 12 M–F at LCS for 1700, 1400, and 1100 pesos. Individual tickets are available two weeks before each concert.

February 10, 11, and 12, 2012 is the date for the 35^th annual Mexican National Chili Cook-Off, lakeside’s largest charity fund raising event. More than 5,000 paid admittances were recorded last year, the largest to date, with more than 200 volunteers on hand to assure a great, safe time.

New to this year’s event is the People’s Choice Margarita Tasting contest on Friday, February 10^th.

For each competition, entries are limited to 10 participants so early sign-up is important. For the margarita competition, please contact Bobby Lancaster at 766-5635. Entries are also being accepted for the Best Salsa competition on Friday, the 10^th, Home Cook Chili competition on the 11^th, and Restaurant Chef Chili competition on Sunday the 12^th.. Contact Don Howse 766-5784 for additional information.

The Lakeside Spay and Neuter Center needs volunteers for the upcoming November spay and-neuter-campaign, to be held in Chapala, the exact location and date is to be determined. Volunteers are needed to transport animals to and from the clinic; bilingual help is need for hands-on help during the clinic; and cat-boxes and dog-cages (to be returned after the event) old blankets and towels, newspapers are needed for the event. For more information, call 765-7681.

December 9 at noon is the deadline for interested directors to submit plays for Lakeside Little Theatre (LLT) 2012 – 2013 Season. If you are interested, you need to complete a submission form together with a copy of up to three scripts: one comedy, one drama and a third genre of your choice. Submissions will be reviewed by the LLT’s Play Reading Committee and approved by the LLT Board of Directors. For a submission form, please contact Emma Bergh-Apton at 766-1545 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

February 16-19 2012 The Creative Crossroads of the Americas – a writers conference and literary festival is in San Miguel. The largest of its kind in Latin America, the conference draws both faculty and participants from Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, for a rich cultural mix. The conference is simultaneously translated, and smaller workshops are offered in both Spanish and English. In addition to nine keynote addresses by distinguished writers, the conference includes 42 workshops for writers on a wide variety of topics from fiction and non-fiction to poetry to publishing options; one-on-one pitch sessions with agents; open mike opportunities; and individual consultations with experts. For details, go to www.sanmiguelwritersconference.org

Ajijic Wednesday Market Day change: Due to some Pan-American Olympic events here locally, the Wednesday Ajijic October 12^th market   will not happen on this day. The  new day that week only, for the Ajijic market will be changed  to: Tuesday October 11th.