LAKESIDE LIVING

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

October 2014

PAST EVENTS

 NAKED STAGE

The September Naked Stage show was a comedy, The Supporting Cast, directed by Collette Clavadetscher .

From left to right:  Peter Luciano, Barbara Pruitt, Sharon Lowry, Joan Lowy Warren, Michael Warren.  (Not pictured:  Judy Long).

SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES….

The Lake Chapala Kayak Club met in September at the grand opening of Maria Isabel Restaurant. Owner Leonardo Cornejo generously supports the club and even has plans to buy his own kayak.

The club’s first meeting was on July 18, 2011. There were 17 people in attendance. Today there are 32 members. They started with two recreational kayaks and two blow-up kayaks. Now the club has 31 kayaks and more are coming.

Pictured are some of the founding members. Paula Haarvei was the first woman to paddle across Lake Chapala.

From left: Commodore Wayne Renz, Maureen Renz, Lamont Fournier, Paula Haarvei, Dave Clark and Quinton Cobb.

Anyone interested in kayaking can come to lunch at Maria Isabel at noon on Thursdays to meet the members.  The restaurant (formerly the Old Posada) is at the foot of Colon in Ajijic near the pier.

GOIN’ TO THE CHAPEL…

and gonna get married….and that’s just what they did. Denny Allison and his lady Leticia Villaseñor had a beautiful ceremony at Capilla El Rosario on the Ajijic Plaza. 

It was a double celebration; Denny celebrated his 80th birthday two days before.  Over a hundred guests attended a reception later at Villas Ajijic.  Denny’s son Wade Allison rode his motorcycle 4500 miles round trip from Minnesota  to attend the wedding.

RED CARPET REVELS

The first ever Red Carpet Gala Premiere on August 24 of the first ever full length film produced and shot in the Ajijic area went off without a hitch. “Thriller in Ajijic” was a smashing success. At least 350 people attended, which allowed produce-screenwriter-director John Ward to hand 16,000 pesos to the Mexican Cruz Roja of Chapala,

Local theatre actors and regular folk filled in the roles with aplomb. The simple and amusing story centers on the organization, auditioning and rehearsing of the annual “Thrill the World” flash dance, which is held in Ajijic and around the world at the same exact time. There’ll be another showing around the end of November.

WHAT A BUMMER

Two recent robberies have seriously impacted operation of The Jocotopec School for Special Children: one at the Nuevo Bazaar in Riberas and the other at the school in Jocotopec the day after parents’ enrollment fees were collected.

In addition to these losses, existing funds are further stretched, as the school’s enrollment dramatically increased by 30 per cent this term. If you can offer any help, please contact Mary-Dale Wilson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Shirley Kollin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

COMING EVENTS

THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

At the last minute, Lakeside Little Theatre was unable to secure the right to produce Gods of Carnage. With incredible speed, they moved into action and are instead showing Bedtime Stories, a comedy directed by Roseann Wilshere and starring Chet Beeswanger, Collette Clavadetscher, James Leonard, Tina Leonard, Judy Long, Kathleen Morris, Douglas Pinkerton, Ed Tasca, Michael Warren and Ken Yakiwchuk. Bravo, LLT!

The show runs the same dates as those scheduled for Gods of Carnage. Some tickets may still be available. The play runs through October 12. The box office is open for one hour before curtain time. There is no performance on Monday, October 6. Tickets are 225 pesos, or you can still buy a season ticket for 1100 pesos for the entire six-play season.

OASIS CLOUD CAFE

OasisCloud Café hosts “Meet the Writers Luncheons” and other special events at their café in Riberas del Pilar at Calle San Luis #330.

On October 15 Judy Dykstra-Brown will read from her new rhymed book, Sock Talk (A Christmas Story)—a humorous portrayal of a young girl’s attempts to reeducate an eccentric aunt whose habit it is to give socks as Christmas presents.  The book is illustrated by Isidro Xilonzóchitl.

Paul Scanlon will present his historical novel Memoirs of the German Princess on October 29.  The subject is Maria Von Wolway and memorable events of her career, including the horrors of the plague and Great Fire, the colorful world of the London theatre, the slave markets of the Caribbean, and Captain Morgan’s bloody exploits on the Spanish Main.

The social hour starts at 11:30, the readings at 12. Lunch follows. For reservations call 765-765-3516 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

MUSIC HATH CHARMS

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

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.

AND FURTHERMORE…..

 Viva will also be running a bus trip to each concert in the fall season of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra, alternately on Fridays (departure 4:30 p.m. with a stop at a nice restaurant), and on Sundays (departure 10:30 am).

Friday, October 10, Pictures at an Exhibition,  Joshua Dos Santos,  Guest Conductor;  Mozart, Serenata Notturna; Tchaikovsky,  Suite No.4 in G major; Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition (orchestrated by Ravel)

Sunday, October 26, Bruckner Titanic, Marco Parisotto, Conductor; Bruckner, Symphony No.8 in C minor.

Friday, November 14, Opera: Carmen

Sunday, November 30, Opera: L’Elisir d’Amore

Note: prices may be higher for the two operas.

Friday, December 12, Homage to Richard Strauss, Marco Parisotto, Conductor; Strauss: Salome op.54: Dance of the Seven Veils; Concerto for Horn No.2 in E-flat Major (Horn: Stefan Dohr of the Berlín Philharmonic); Ein Heldenleben, op.40 

Tickets are $300 pesos for Viva members, and $400 pesos non-members, obtainable at the LCS Thursday and Friday, 10 to noon. For information phone Marshall Krantz 766-2834.

A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION COMEDY

The October production of Naked Stage is November, by David Mamet. It’s directed by Barbara Clippinger. It runs October 24, 25 and 26.

Director Barbara Clippinger

The play is a contemporary comedy about a president named Charles Smith and is set a few days before the election, in which he is running as an incumbent.  The action unfolds over one day and involves “civil marriage, gambling casinos, lesbians, American Indians, presidential libraries, questionable pardons and campaign contributions.”

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 email 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.  The donation is 80 pesos.

DON’T MISS THE FASHION SHOW

Niños Incapacitados is hosting a fashion show, with the sponsorship by Cugini’s Opus Boutique. The event showcases local fashionistas:   textile artist Lynn Gilbank, with pieces from her award winning Dunes Relaxed Fashion Line; and jewelry and accessories by Barbara Milagros, Flo Rhodes and Esthela Velasquez.

And here are some of the models

The event will take place on October 29 at 3 (the gates are open at 2:30), at Aldama #31 in Ajijic.

Tickets are 150 pesos per person, for sale Cugini’s Opus Boutique or by calling 766-3940 or 106-1281, or email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PRACTICE THOSE PUTTS

It’s time to dust off the clubs and start practicing your putting! The XIth Annual Cruz Roja Challenge on October 30 at 9 am will be here before you know it, with the opportunity to sink a hole in one for a car or a golf cart. Join your friends at the Golf and Country Club de Chapala, Vista de Lago for fun, food and comradeship!

Putting Along with Instructor Sergio Flores: Maggie Pye, Sue Biesendorfer, Fran Smartt and Rebecca Cummins

The raffle offers a golf holiday at Las Hadas or a week in a luxury condo in Puerto Vallarta. if you haven’t registered yet call the pro shop at the Country Club de Chapala at 763-5136. Players and comida tickets can be purchased at the course.

Player tickets are available through the Pro Shop at the club (1200 pesos includes meals, game, and cart). Barbecue dinner only tickets at 250 pesos are available at the club and at the LCS Red Cross table. 

For more information on how you can participate as a player, diner or support the event as a sponsor, call 766-4990 or 766-4443.

JOCOTEPEC ISN’T THAT FAR

You’ll miss a treat if you don’t go to the opening reception of the Lake Chapala Painting Guild’s “Rhythms of Life” exhibition in Jocotepec at the Cultural Center (southwest corner of the main plaza) on Friday, October 31 at 6:00 pm.

“After the Rain” by Steve Achs

The show continues through November 20. Participating artists are Betty Petersen,  Carol Ann Owers, Geraldine Classen, Lois Schroff, Steve Achs, Varn, Winnie Hunt, Cynthia du Bois, Ina Gieysztor, Nancy Gray, Anita Lee, Efren Gonzalez, Marian Decker, Mariann Linhart, and Helen Krustev.

SHOWSTOPPERS 9, Los Cantantes del Lago’s bi-annual fundraising concert, is coming up on Sunday, November 2 at 4:00  ​at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, in Riberas del Pilar, Chapala.  ​This concert is always a fun opportunity to see individual performances from some of the Los Cantantes members.  Timothy G. Ruff Welch is the music director.

It usually sells out quickly so get your tickets early.  Tickets are 200 pesos and are available at Diane Pearl Colecciones, Mia’s Boutique, or from any Cantantes member, also from their new website:  www.loscantantesdellago.com.  You can check them out also on Facebook and YouTube.

This year the Feria Mastros del Arte theme is “Celebrating the Alebrije.” It will take place November 14-16. The hours are Friday & Saturday 10 to 5 and Sunday 10 to 4, at the Club de Yates de Chapala.

ONGOING EVENTS

GROW YOUR OWN….

…vegetables, that is. The Ajijic Organic Vegetable Growers meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 10 at Azul Frida Restaurant, Carretera #61 in West Ajijic. The next meeting will be on October 8. 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, 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 this month were Bonnie Phillips, Jeremy Monroe, Margie Keane and Kenneth Salzman.

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 the 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..  

NEWBIES DOING IT RIGHT

A few years ago it was a common story—the couple comes down for a look-see at our little corner of paradise and buys a house in two days.  We have no idea how this turned out for most people but there had to be a lot of opportunity for buyers’ remorse.

Left to right: Eric Bailey and Frank Jett

Two Orlando, Florida residents recently joined the scene at Lakeside and, sensibly, are taking their time before buying or even signing a long term lease.

Eric and Frank are cheerful about their experiences. Vultures in the trees over their patio, the 15 gallon water heater for the four person bathtub,  problems with both the phone and telephone lines, water backup on the property: none of  these issues have dampened their spirits.