LAKESIDE LIVING

 

Sandy Olson
Phone: 331-283-8529
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

August 2014

 

PAST EVENTS

THE NAKED STAGE

The most recent production of Naked Stage was Mass Appeal, directed by Graham Miller. The cast members were Allen McGill and John Jones.

IBPA AWARD

Alejandro Grattan has won a Benjamin Franklin Digital Book Silver Award from the Independent Book Publishers Association.  The awards are presented yearly and the winners are given a big publicity push. His book, The Dark Side of the Dream, is available in Kindle and quality softback.

 

 

The award is much the same that former Lakeside resident, the late Roberto Moulun, won last year for his superb collection of short stories, The Iguana Speaks My Name. Both books were published by Mikel Miller of Egret Books.

FIRST ANNUAL KAYAK  PADDLE PARTY

It was a big day for Lakeside paddlers on July 27, when the Lake Chapala Kayak Club had an eventful day for kayakers and their friends.

They set off in the morning, paddled across the lake and back and arrived back at noon, when friends watched them come in from Maria Isabel Restaurant. Owner Leonardo Cornejo hosted the day-long event. Visitors were invited to see recent photos in the new club room, which is part of the sports bar.

 


Leonardo Cornejo and Wayne Renz

 

Another activity that day was a kids’ paddle in the afternoon, organized by Commodore Wayne Renz. Club members assisted local children in the fundamentals of paddling. They learned fast and had a great time.

 

COMING EVENTS

IT ISN’T TOO LATE FOR ROMANCE

The Lakeside Little Theatre will tell us all about it in their first offering of the fall season, The Last Romance, to be directed by Ann Swiston. This romantic comedy asks:  Is it too late for love and romance for an aging widower?  Can it be made to bloom?  It opens on Friday, August 29 and runs through Sunday, September 7.

This play will be a fundraiser to help pay for solar installation and the many recent improvements and renovations to the theatre. Tickets are available for all seats at a special price of 225 pesos.

 


Cast members from left: Peggy Lord Chilton, Ken Bridges and Candace Luciano.

 

Season ticket holders, please note that this is an extra, seventh special fund raising show in the season and is NOT included as part of your season ticket.

Tickets for The Last Romance will be available at the Box Office from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, August 26 and Wednesday, August 27, and daily thereafter (except Sundays) for the run of the play at the Box Office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and one hour before show times.  Directions are available at www.lakesidelittletheatre.com.

Performances will be at 7.30 pm for the six evening shows, and at 3 pm for the three matinees on Saturday, August 30 and the two Sunday shows.

A GREAT NEW SEASON

Season tickets for the upcoming 50th Anniversary Season of the Lakeside Little Theatre will go on sale at the box office from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, August 26 and Wednesday, August 27. 

The 2014/2015 season includes six productions:  God of Carnage, directed by Roseann Wilshere, Betrayal, directed by Neal Checkoway, Sinderella, directed by Paul Kloegman, Wrong Turn At Lungfish, directed by Peggy Lord Chilton, The Night of the Iguana, directed by Dave McIntosh, and The Dixie Swim Club, directed by Barbara Clippinger. 

 

 

The price of 1100 pesos is an amazing value for six shows in your chosen seats, and also includes LLT membership, a “Kick Off Party” on Saturday, September 13 and other special offers.  Six shows for the price of five! 

Learn more about Lakeside Little Theatre at www.lakesidelittletheatre.com.

CONTROVERSY ON STAGE

The August production of Naked Stage will be The Twilight of the Golds. It is directed by Allen McGill in his directorial debut at Naked Stage. Cast members are Damyn Young, Clay McAdam, Shirley Appelbaum, Helena Feldstein, and John Jones. The performance dates are August 22, 23 and 24.

 


Front Row: Clay McAdam, Shirley Appelbaum
Back Row: Director Allen McGill, Damyn Young, John Jones Missing: Helena Feldstein

 

This controversial seriocomedy tackles the fictional issue of genetic testing that determines the sexual orientation of an unborn child. When Suzanne Gold-Stein discovers her son is destined to be gay, she considers aborting the fetus, much to the dismay of her gay brother David, whose sexual orientation has never been fully accepted by his conservative family. 

The Naked Stage is located at #10A Rio Bravo. Directions: west on the carretera from Ajijic, south on Rio Bravo, about two blocks down behind Daniel’s Restaurant on the east side. Daniel’s is open for lunch and dinner with a no host bar available at 3:00 p.m. The box office opens at 3:15 and the show starts at 4:00 p.m.

The e-mail address for reservations: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Reservations guarantee a seat until 3:50, after which seats will be sold to those waiting without reservations.

MUSIC HATH CHARMS

We heard from John Keeling, Viva Musica President, about exciting musical offerings from now to the end of the year.

Sunday August 31 Guitar recital by Duo Medina-Gracian, a virtuoso guitar duo from Guadalajara playing music by Albeniz, Bizet, Piazzolla and Ernesto Nazareth arranged for two guitars.

 


Sergio Medina and Hugo Ernesto Gracian

 

Thursday, October 16, at 7.00 p.m.  Violin and piano recital featuring Robert Markus, violin, and Rosa Maria Valdez, piano, playing works by Brahms, Moncayo, Carrasco, de Falla and Bartok.

Thursday, November 13, at 7.00 p.m. The Revueltas String Quartet with Diego Rojas and Cesar Huizar, violins, Manuel  Olivares, viola, and Yalissa Cruz, cello. Program includes Rudo by Domingo Lobato, Five Novelettes by Glazunov and American Quartet by Dvorak.

Thursday, December 18, at 7.00 p.m.  Christmas Concert with the Hermosillo family singers and their friends Hector Lopez and Paty Hernandez , back by popular demand.

These concerts will be in the Auditorium at 4.00 p.m. Tickets are 200 pesos and will be on sale at the Auditorium, Diane Pearl Colecciones, and LCS ticket booth Thursdays & Fridays 10-12.

MUSIC AS A MUSE

The Ajijic Society of the Arts (ASA) is bringing talented musicians 
and sketch artists together to demonstrate how music can influence and
and inspire an artist’s work.  Three musicians from Orquesta Axixic will play while artist Randy Tumblin completes a portrait.

This half hour demonstration will take place at La Bodega restaurant on Monday, September 1, following coffee at 9:30, and the ASA business meeting at 10. 

 

ONGOING EVENTS

DONUTS AND DOING THE TRAIL

Lakeside hikers meet on Tuesdays and Fridays at 9 am at Dona’s Donuts on the carretera. All levels of walkers are welcome. It’s a loosely knit, friendly bunch that welcomes new members. Just a few of the hikers are pictured below.

Nobody knows how long the group has been going, but Gerry Green, the original hiker and author of (out of print) Walks and Trails Around Ajijic, copyrighted in 2005, had by then been exploring and mapping the area with his GPS for seven years, and leading hiking groups in the area.

 


Front: Lynne Leatherdale, Jim Boles, Levi, and Larry Laframboise
Back: Gary Silverberg, Karl Dyer and Doug Burnside

 

Some of the local well known trails are the Saddle, the Ceremonial Grounds, the Three Crosses, the Grotto and Chupinaya.

If people want to know more, they can call Coordinator Jim Bowles at 376-766-5127 or get on the email list: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  Hikes are at different skill levels, so it would be a good idea to check with Jim before going out the first time.  The hikes range from two hours to all day.

SIXTY GREEN THUMBS ….

…show up at John McWilliams’ veggie club every month.     The Ajijic Organic Vegetable Growers was started six months ago and has now grown to sixty members. They are like minded people who are interested in growing food the organic way.  They meet once a month to share their expertise on growing vegetables and herbs here in the Lake Chapala area.

 


John McWilliams and His Rooftop Garden

 

The July meeting featured guest speaker Margarita Alvarez, who is an expert on urban agriculture and now represents Earthbox of Mexico.

The club meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 10 at Azul Frida Restaurant, Carretera #61 in West Ajijic. The next meeting will be on August 13. New members are welcome. They can contact John at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or by phone at 376-766-0620.

SQUEAKY WHEEL READINGS

La Rueda (the wheel), a coffee/gallery in San Juan Cosala, stages monthly readings in English. They are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 3:30.  

Readers in July were Zofia Barisas, Paris Drebes,  Gloria Palazzo, Mel Goldberg and Judy Dykstra-Brown.   The next meeting will be on August 6. Featured are Margie Keane, David Bryen, Sandy Olson, Mario Puglisi and Jesus Lopez Vega. Patricia Hemingway and Larry Reeves.

 


Mario Puglisi

 

Judy says that “Although the reading begins at 3:30, please arrive at 3:00 to order your coffee, beer, desserts or wine, as they will not be served during the readings.” 

Directions to La Rueda: at the only stop light in San Juan Cosala, turn towards the lake.  Go one block and turn right at the plaza (on Porfirio Diaz.)  Drive two blocks or so, past Viva Mexico restaurant on your right.  

 Writers who want to read, or those needing further information, can contact Judy at 387-761-0281 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

WHAT AN ENERGETIC BUNCH Over the last months the newly appointed Board for The School for Special Children (formerly The School for the Deaf) has been working overtime to launch a new mission and fund-raising year. 

Members of the new Board include Mary-Dale Wilson, President; Maritza Freyslinger, Vice President for School Operations; Mary-Ellen McCann, Recording Secretary; Sonia Ulloa, Treasurer; Karen Richardson and Robin Lawrason, Public Relations, and Jim Lloyd, Member at Large. 

 


Seated from left: Mary-Dale Wilson, Maritza Freyslinger, Standing from left: Mary Ellen McCann, Jim Lloyd, Sonia Ullia, Karen Richardson and Robin Lawrason,

 

The new Board’s first priority is to make improvements at the school, projects that include cleaning and repairing the aljibe, installation of hot water for the kitchen and bathrooms, adding night lighting to the administrative area for after-hours work by teachers and staff, building an entry ramp for wheelchair bound students. A generous donation by long-time supporter Norine Rose helped fund many of the repairs needed at the School.

They also intend to find funds for a driver and expenses for the new van given by DIF to bus students to the school. 

SIXTY YEARS AND GOING STRONG

This is the sixtieth year that the Neill James Children’s Art Program has been alive, every Saturday from 10 to 12, all that time…and lively is a good word to describe the fun that children are having on these mornings.

Children between the ages of 5 and 18 (younger ones do slip in sometimes!) come to the back area of the Lake Chapala Society and experience a wide array of art projects under the guidance of  such talented teachers as Jesus Lopez Vega, Javier Zaragoza and Antonio Lopez Vega. They are all early graduates of the program who are giving back to the community by volunteering as instructors.

 


From left: Krishna Estrada, Jessica Garcia, Xitlali Hernandez, Xochitl Hernandez, Diana Estrada,, Brad Mowers, Maestro, and Francisco Nava, Assistant.

 

The regular and special art projects include paper making, oil painting, general drawing, watercolor painting, photography, flower making, and hand  puppets.

Other dedicated volunteers are Suzanna Baillergeau, Joe Smith, Jennifer Stanley, Roberta Hillerman, Danielle Page and Candis Flesher-Dodds.

AND SPEAKING OF THE CHILDREN’S ART PROGRAM….

Roy Nolan, a local filmmaker, is just about to begin a very interesting video project: Her Legacy lives on ....The Neill James Children’s Art Program. He documents what Neill James did to help the children of Ajijic live their dreams through art, from inception of the program to the current LCS Children’s Art Program. Fourteen accomplished graduates of the program will be featured in the video.

To find out more and see how you can help fund this video, go to  https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/her-legacy-lives-on-the-neill-james-children-s-art-program-in-ajijic-mexico

AMERICAN LEGION IN CHAPALA

Saturdays:      3:30 - 6:30 p.m. Fish Fry

Sundays:         Burgers & Dogs 12 - 3 p.m.

 

 

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