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Lakeside Living
By Kay Davis

Phone: (376) 766-4774
or 765-3676 to leave messages
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

January 2011

PAST EVENTS:

 

TuxcuecaLT.com is a new website to watch. When I first received word there was a Cross Lake Luxury Passenger Ferry in the planning, it was to have a Thanksgiving Day opening. Unfortunately that was postponed. At present, the website urges us to keep an eye open for further information. How interesting. Catch the ferry, then the bus to Mazamitla and back that day or whenever, no long drive. Or just check out what the town of Tuxcueca has to offer.

In December Lakeside Friends of the Animals held “An Evening in Casablanca” at Restaurant Four in Ajijic. The restaurant was turned into Rick’s Americain Cafe from the movie, complete with decor and music from the 1940s.

Lakeside Friends of the Animals provides funding to individuals and some animal welfare organizations who help cats and dogs, special emphasis on assisting Mexicans of limited means.

 


Guests Hector Ladron, Heather Altmire, Geoffrey Kaye 

 

Photographers Jill Flyer and Luís Mancera celebrated the first anniversary of their salon, Quattro Gallery, #9 Colon. Among those in attendance was Janice Kimball of Azteca Galleries on the carretera west of Ajijic. All three of them displayed excellent work. May they celebrate many more.

 

Killing Time, a photo by Jill Flyer

 

In December about 20 – 30 Lakeside Carolers led residents of four local residential facilities in Christmas carols. Lakeside Carolers is a group that held no practices or rehearsals, except about 15 minutes before their first engagement. This was the third annual caroling event for the group coordinated by Tina Schenk and Kay Borkowski. Music was provided by local artist Belva McIrvin Velazquez pictured below during the sing-a-long at Abbeyfield. 

 

Belva McIrvin Velazquez at the keyboard

 

Dark Side of the Dream is a novel about the struggle endured by many Mexican immigrants when they moved to Texas in the ‘40s and ‘50s and how they adapted. Written by Alejandro  Grattan, editor of El Ojo del Lago, the story is both a war story – one son fights in WWII Italy – and a family saga that includes the fight for fair treatment of migrant workers. Dark Side of the Dream is well deserving of the attention it has recently earned through its inclusion in American Historical Fiction: An Annotated Guide to Novels for Adults and Young Adults by Lynda Adamson, a recently republished edition that is a reference volume for schools and libraries. Take a look on Amazon.com.

 


Book included in historical reference library

 

EVENTS TO COME:

 

January 22, 3 p.m., is the 5th Annual Equestrian Extravaganza. Gorgeous horses and women, mariachis and libations on a beautiful piece of property on Ocampo just west of the village. For only $600 pesos, you get to watch the fabulous show and chow down on Mexican fare. And this year Love in Action Children’s Shelter will be a primary beneficiary of the proceeds. Tickets are on sale at the security booth at Love in Action or call LiA and they will deliver. They can also reserve a table for 10 for $6,000 pesos. Join your friends, have fun, and support Love in Action. Contact: Weezie and Jim Burgess at 766 – 2830.

 

Love in Action kids

 

January 29 at 4 p.m. (sign up starts at 3:30), La Nueva Posada Hotel, Northern Lights Music Festival presents their 9th Patrons’ Appreciation Event and concert exclusively for current and forthcoming new patrons. Become a patron of the Scotiabank Northern Lights Music Festival by making a donation towards the development of Mexican classical musicians. Come and meet the musicians and enjoy a spectacular evening of gracious dining and music, arranged for this special occasion. For more information on the festival, call 766 – 5379 or go to www.scotiabanknorthernlightsmusicfestival.com. 

February 16 marks the opening of Have Hammers...Will Travel’s new trade school at 49A Ocampo, Ajijic, and the occasion will be celebrated by their 2nd Annual Fundraiser at the Riviera Alta Clubhouse. BBQ will be provided by Tony’s, apple pie by Mom’s and there will be entertainment for your listening and dancing pleasure. Proceeds help them continue to develop young Mexican men and women into working carpenters and tradesmen, and the student list grows significantly every year. Tickets are only $250 pesos, available at LCS and Diane Pearl’s or call Richard at 766 – 1303.

 

Multiple Events:

The American Legion post #7 schedule for January:

Sundays.......12 – 3 p.m. Legion grill burgers

Jan   1..........10 a.m. – Rose Bowl

Jan   3 & 7.....8 – 1 p.m. – Yard Sale         

Jan   5............9 – 9:45 a.m. – US Consulate (Note time change!)

Jan 15............3 p.m. – Maple Leaf Club (Canadian Day)

Jan 21............3 p.m. – Movie: Charlie St. Cloud

Jan 24............4 p.m. – International Pot Luck

Jan 27............3 p.m. – Lone Star Club (Country-Western music)

For information, call 765 – 2259 or www.americanlegionchapalapost7.org

 

 
Movie: Charlie St. Cloud

 

The Lake Chapala Society has displayed a message on their website:

“Thank you to all the members who took time to participate in the Annual General Meeting and the Extraordinary Meeting. Your support is greatly appreciated. Our new Constitution was passed by an overwhelming majority...more information in the January Newsletter.”

LCS Singles Mix & Match Activities are planned through March:

Jan   3...... 6 p.m. Social at La Vina, new bar/restaurant on Morelos

Jan 13...... 6 p.m. Social at Ole Ola, 16 de Septiembre

Jan 20.....12 noon Guided Day Tour around the lake; lunch Ocotlan

Feb   3..... 5 p.m. Mixer at Manix or La Tasca

Feb 10..... 5 p.m. Dinner at Viva Mexico, San Juan Cosalá

Mar  3..... 5 p.m. Mixer at Garden Restaurant on Colon

Mar 10.... 5 p.m. Dinner at La Vita Bella (Racquet Club)

Mar 24.... 9 a.m. Guadalajara / Tlaquepaque with lunch

Patricia Doran: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Special Events Director, LCS Singles

Bill Wolff: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Singles Group Committee

Lakeside Little Theatre news:

The fourth show of Season 46 of the Lakeside Little Theatre is Bernard Slade’s Tribute.  Roseann Wilshere directs this poignant story about a father and son’s estrangement and the turn of fate that forces them to face their past and an uncertain future. Performances run January 15 – 23, 2011.

Audition announcement for LLT’s final show of Season 46: The Foreigner, written by Larry Shue and directed by Larry King. Auditions for this comedy set in the South are scheduled for January 21 & 22, 2011. They’re looking for 2 women & 5 men.  Performances are April 2 – 10, 2011. For scripts and information, contact Larry at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Registration at 9:30 AM in the LLT lobby, auditions at 10 a.m. sharp.

If you would like to volunteer behind the scenes, the LLT is always looking for people to train in lighting, sound, wardrobe, props, make-up, stage managing and other positions. Contact Don Chaloner at 766 – 1975 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

MAS MUSICA (Music Appreciation Society) performances will be at the Auditorio de la Ribera in La Floresta. The scheduled season is:

Jan. 13 – Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra, Guadalajara’s world-class symphony with an “Enchanted Evening in Paris – 1910”

Feb. 15 – Bob Milne, Ragtime and Jazz piano virtuoso and  historian, is sure to hold us spellbound during this final exciting event of the concert season

MAS MUSICA is always happy to welcome new volunteers to help with ticket sales, hospitality and other concert related duties. Please contact Beverly at 765 – 6409, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Also, refer to web site MASajijic.com.

 

Bob Milne, Ragtime and Jazz pianist

On January 25, 2011, Niños Incapacitados will host a Robbie Burn’s night at the Chapala Country Club, drinks at 5:30 p.m., and at 6 p.m. the Scottish Country Dancers of Ajijic will perform. At 6:45 p.m. there will be a traditional meal of cock-a-leekie soup, a sample of haggis, turkey, mashed potatoes, carrots and a Scottish trifle. Mae Bishop, a professional singer from Scotland, will lead a community sing-along. Tickets are 250 pesos and demand for the 140 seats could be brisk, so reserve soon, available at the Chapala Country Club daily. To reserve a table, all guests must be paid for when booking. Tables can also be booked by emailing Bernard Downes at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Reserved tickets can also be paid for and collected in the central plaza at LCS on January 11 and January 13, from 10 – 12. A bus will leave Walmart at 5 p.m., returning at 9:30 p.m. If you are interested in using the bus, please advise when reserving tickets.

On January 27, 2011 Niños Incapacitados will hold two quiz events at the Hotel de Chapala, Salon Eucaliptos. Last year’s Trivia Quiz was so popular that people were turned away. In 2011 there will be two quizzes, one at 2 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m., different questions. The bar opens 30 minutes before each quiz. Tickets are $200 pesos per person. To reserve tickets and tables for teams of eight, please contact Kathy Dingwall at 766 – 5829, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Barb Corol at 766 – 5452, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Tickets must be paid for in advance although reserved tickets can be paid for and collected from the main gate at Riviera Alta January 10 (2 – 4 p.m.), January 12 (10 – 1) or January 14 (10 – 1). Bring munchies. For reservations and more information, contact either of the above and think of a team name. There will be large screens around the room.

All proceeds go to helping the children.

 

 

Open Circle meets at the back patio of the Lake Chapala Society each Sunday morning at 10:15 for mini-sandwiches and coffee followed by a speaker who talks on the topic of the day. No products are sold, and no religion is touted.

Jan. 5               Art Hochberg

Jan. 9               Barbara Schermer             

Jan. 16            Todd Stong

Jan. 23            Otto Rand

Feb. 6              Ann Lewis

Rotary Club of Ajijic offers Ramrod Walking Staffs with attached personal alarms that can be heard from great distance. They are made by the boys of Hope House, Ixtlahuacan, in their fully equipped workshop. At present the staffs are undecorated, available at Upscale Resale in Riberas or by contacting Stew Morris at 766 – 2483. Beginning January 29, walking staffs will be decorated by one of Lakeside’s many artists. Rotary is sponsoring a staff decorating contest and has supplied raw lightweight staffs to some 40 local artists. Judging will be held on January 29 at 1:00 p.m. at the American Legion, 114 Morelos, Chapala, and the winner of the competition will receive $1,000 pesos. Judges will be Diane Pearl, Sandra Loridans and Javier Zaragoza. After judging, decorated staffs will be available for purchase, proceeds benefiting Rotary’s local projects. For more information about the staff decorating contest, contact Donna Mansfield at 765 – 2703.

 

Chuck Giles with decorated and undecorated staffs

 

Rotary Club of Ajijic holds weekly luncheon meetings at 1:00 p.m. at Hotel Real de Chapala, Paseo del Prado #20, La Floresta, Ajijic. Guests are welcome. The January programs are as follows:

Jan  4               Efren Gonzalez – Art for Children

Jan 11             Rotary Classification Speeches – Anita Hocker, Hal Brown

Jan 18             Georgia Nucci – Mexico Driving Laws

Jan 25             Club Business Meeting

February 13, 12:30 – 3 p.m. at LCS, Souper Sunday will be a fundraiser by the Rotary Club of Ajijic. Soup will be served for $100 pesos, and you keep your bowl.

Rotary Club of Ajijic is one of the few English-speaking Rotary clubs in Mexico, serving since 2002. Its members are business and professional people, many retired, who dedicate their time, expertise, and talents to helping others locally and internationally. For more information, visit the Club’s web site at www.rotaryajijic.com or visit the Rotary table at LCS on Mondays, 10 – 12.

VIVA! LA MUSICA Bus trips to the ‘Live from the Met’ Opera series at Teatro Diana:

Jan    8 – La Fanciulla del West (Puccini) at noon, bus at 10:30 a.m.

Feb  26 – Iphigene en Tauride (Gluck) at noon, bus at 10:30 a.m.

Mar 19 – Lucio di Lammermoor (Donizetti) at 11 a.m., bus at 9:30

Apr   9 – Le Comte Orcy (Rossini) at noon, bus leaves at 10:30 a.m.

Apr  23 – Capriccio (R. Strauss) at noon, bus leaves at 10:30 a.m.

Apr  30 – Il Trovatore (Verdi) at noon, bus leaves at 10:30 a.m.

May 14 – Die Walkure (Wagner) at 11 a.m., bus leaves at 9:30 a.m.

Contact Marshall Krantz at 766 – 2834. Tickets cost $300 pesos for members, $350 pesos for non-members. For the January 8 opera, arrange tickets ASAP.

 

La Fanciulla del West by Puccini

 

Viva Members 2011 Season Kick-off Party also invites non-members for January 16, 2011, 4 – 6 p.m. Roseann Wilshere has graciously opened her home for the party. Make new friends – renew old acquaintances! Renew your membership or bring your 2011 membership card. Friends and non-members welcome for $200 pesos. Enjoy a short concert featuring Ivan Morales Flores, a gifted Viva scholarship recipient and star student of Professor Joel Juan Qui.

Auditorium improvements are scheduled for next summer – volunteers are needed to assist in the planning of the fund-raising drive. For further details, contact Rosemary Keeling at 766 – 1801.

January 28 - 29 at the Auditorio in La Floresta, ZAIKOCIRCO will present a show based on original music, fantastic costumes, makeup, puppetry, stilt walkers and acrobats that surround the audience in an atmosphere of excitement. Part of the profits go to Spay ‘N Neuter. Tickets are available at LCS, Handy Mail & Animal Care for 200 & 250 pesos.

 

Past Lakeside Living