LAKESIDE LIVING

 

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

 

January 2015

 

PAST EVENTS

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT…..

….Well, actually it wasn’t stormy, but it was certainly dark. The Jaltepec Centro Educativo big annual fundraising dinner last month had quite a time of it when the electrical power went off at 4 pm and the 96 attendees had an unexpected romantic candlelight dinner, not to mention there was a full moon that night too.

 


Jaltepec Students Prepare Dinner by Candlelight

 

The students and staff managed to pull off a great event and the participants—good sports all—had a fine time.  We’re told the bar did a brisk business that night.

 

COMING EVENTS

PATSY CLINE ALERT!

My, My, How Nice! Productions is reprising Always! Patsy Cline.  This was the inaugural show of My, My, How Nice! four years ago and was a huge hit.  The original cast will perform--Patteye Simpson as Patsy Cline, Jayme Littlejohn as Louise and Timothy G. Ruff Welch as Tim Bob (he is also the musical director).  

The dates are January 8-11.  Shows are at 7:30 Thursday through Saturday and at 3 pm on Sunday.  Performances are at the old Sol y Luna, Rio Bravo #10 in west Ajijic.Tickets are 250 pesos and can be purchased through Diane Pearl Colecciones, Mia’s Boutique or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NICE AND EASY

Our Mac Morison’s next show is scheduled to kick off the New Year on January 7 at 7 pm and January 8 at 3 pm at the Club Exotica on the Ajijic Plaza.

 

 

 

It’s an evening of music, romance, dance and laughter. Mac will be singing a new set of jazz standards and romantic songs. Featured is the fabulous vocalist Judy Hendrick and, new this year, the multi-talented Patrick Dumouchel. Also, straight from Los Angeles, a favorite on cruise ships and USO tours, is special guest comedienne Laura Hayden who will open for Mac. The “Makettes” (Alexis Hoff, Heather Hunter, Allyson Dejong and Val Jones) will entertain
with some engaging dance numbers. This will be a great show to start off the year. The event will benefit the Lakeside Little Theatre.

VIVA MUSICA SPRING SEASON 

Viva plans a full line up of 14 events – three concerts, five buses to the Met Live, and six buses to the symphony in the spring season.

 Viva Concerts in the Auditorio

Thursday January 15 Baroque Flute Trio.  Eduardo Arambula, flute; Areli Medeles, cello; Hans Peter Aull, clavichord playing music by Bach, Telemann, Fischer and Marcello.  Auditorio, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday February 5 Piano Trio “Catarsis.” Pianist Julieta Azalea Beltran, violinist Diego Rojas and cellist Yalissa Cruz playing Schubert Piano Trio No. 1, Rachmaninoff  Piano Trio ‘Elegaic’, and Ilan Rechtman jazz pieces. Auditorio, 7:00 p.m

 


Left to right: Julieta Azalea Beltran, Diego Rojas and Yalissa Cruz

 

Thursday March 19 Three Sopranos. Back by popular demand! The fabulous sopranos Berenice Barragan, Patricia Hernandez and Viviana Baez will sing a selection of operatic arias and classical Mexican songs. They are accompanied by pianist Gaby Zepeda.

 


Soprano Viviana Baez

 

Performances at the Auditorio are at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are 200 pesos and are available from Diane Pearl Colecciones, at LCS on Thursdays and Fridays from 10.00 - 12.00 p.m. and at the Auditorio door.

Bus trips to the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD

 Saturday January 17 The Merry Widow by Lehar, featuring the great soprano Renée Fleming as the femme fatale who captivates Paris. Bus departs at 10:30.

Saturday February 7 The Tales of Hoffmann  by Offenbach, with the magnetic tenor Vittorio Grigolo as the tortured poet in the title role of Offenbach’s operatic masterpiece. Bus departs at 10:30.

Saturday February 14 Double Bill: Iolanta by  Tchaikovsky and Bluebeard’s Castle by Bartok, featuring breathtaking  soprano Anna Netrebko as the beautiful blind girl who experiences love for the first time;  followed by Nadja Michael as the unwitting victim of the diabolical Duke Bluebeard. Bus departs at 10:00.

MEET THE OUTDOOR PAINTERS

Plein Air Painters of Jalisco launches its first exhibition at Ajijic’s Galeria Sol Mexicano on Friday, January 16, at Colon #13 in Ajijic. The reception begins at 3 pm with music, refreshments, and a showing of paintings done en plein air (that’s French for “in the open air”).

 


By Bev Kephart

 

It’s a newly formed diverse group of painters who meet at different locations several times a month to paint outdoors.  They can be spotted along the lakeshore, in the plazas, or on a cobblestoned street in the village. The PAPJ organizer is Sunny Sorensen. Other members include Steve Achs, Bev Kephart, Inak Gieysztor and Shunwah.

A FOLK MUSIC TREAT

 Renowned Jalisco folk singer Paco Padilla delighted students, teachers and parents at the School for Special Children in Jocotopec recently. 

 


Folk Singer Paco Padilla

 

He promised to return to give a concert to benefit the School.  La Bodega has agreed to host Paco’s benefit concert at their restaurant on Calle 16 de Septiembre.  The date is January 24. Tickets for the dinner show are 350 pesos. Concert goers have a choice of dinner either before (6:30) or after (9:30) the 8:00 concert. Reservations may be made at the restaurant at 766-1002. 

YES, THERE IS A FREE LUNCH

And what a lunch it will be—prepared and served by the students of the Jaltepec Centro Educativo.  Here’s how it works: the morning starts off with a presentation of the history of Jaltepec and the academics and scholarship program, followed by a tour of the facilities. The event is on Wednesday, January 28 at 11 am.  Says Linda Buckthorp, Community Facilitator, “This is a good way to truly understand the quality of education these girls get at Jaltepec Centro Educativo.”

Reservations are a MUST as the students need to know how many to prepare lunch for. Email Linda Buckthorp at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call at 766-1631 for further information, or to make a reservation. 

NIŇOS INCAPACITADOS A GO GO

Their annual Trivia Night was sold out before this issue of Ojo del Lago.

There’s still time to get tickets for the Jeffery Straker concerts. Jeffery is a Canadian pop singer-songwriter. His piano-based pop musical style has drawn comparisons to Elton John, Neil Young, and Rufus Wainwright.

 


Jeffery Straker

 

The dates are Thursday and Friday, February 12 and 13, 7 pm at the Auditorio.

Thursday will feature the launch of Jeffery’s new CD. Friday is “Niňos Para Niňos.” Jeffery will be accompanied by the CREM Children’s Orchestra and Choir.

TO GO GO ON SOME MORE

Save these dates: the annual Chili Cook-Off is from Friday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1, at Tobolandia in Ajijic

And next but not least: Niňos presents Viva Las Vegas, their gala dinner dance. The event is on Thursday, March 12 at 5:30, at Hotel Real de Chapala.

Visit Niňos Incapacitados’ website for more details on each event: programaninos.com.

WRITERS—SAVE THESE DATES

The 11th Annual Lake Chapala Writers’ Conference is scheduled for March 11-13. The venue will be Danza del Sol in West Ajijic.

 


Committee members, left to right: Carol Bowman, Harriet Hart, Victoria Schmidt, Herbert Piekow, and Sandy Olson.

 

Six speakers/workshop presenters have been invited.  Topics range from “Writing Basics” to “Publishing Demystified.”  Early registration, before February 28, is 1300 pesos. From March 1 on the cost is 1500 pesos.  Two lunches and beverages during breaks are included.

For further information, check on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-Chapala-Writers-Conference/, or email Victoria Schmidt at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

WRONG TURNS CAN BE FUN

The Lakeside Little Theatre’s next production in its 50th Jubilee season is a dark comedy called Wrong Turn At Lungfish by Garry Marshall, of TV situation comedy fame, and Lowell Ganz. It features a dying, blind, well-educated elderly man, a nurse with an attitude, a dingbat volunteer reader, and her gangster boyfriend. The show is directed by Peggy Lord Chilton, and the cast includes Kenneth Bridges, Beryl Dorscht, Tina Dawn Leonard, and Ken Yakiwchuk.

 


The Cast: Tina Leonard, Ken Yakiwchuk, Kenneth Bridges, Beryel Dorscht

 

Wrong Turn At Lungfish opens on Friday, January 16 and runs through Sunday, January 25.  Tickets are 225 pesos, and can be obtained by calling the Box Office at 376-766-0954, or by E-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  The Box Office will be open from 10am to noon on January 14 and 1, and at the same time each day during the run of the show except Sundays.        

PAELLA ON LA TERRAZA

Cruz Roja sponsors Paella on the Terraza, January 17, from 6-9  pm.  Dr. Tony Pinto, well known chef, will serve his classic paella in a multi-course dinner on the beautiful terraces of the Hotel Montecarlo.  Tickets for an international, fabulous evening are 300 pesos, available from Charlie Klestadt or at the Cruz Roja Table at LCS.

 


Chef Tony Pinto and His Paella Pan

 

Keep on supporting our Cruz Roja, says President Margie Kassier, “It’s support from Lakesiders and our Cruz Roja Community Partners that keeps medical and ambulance services going 24/7, 365 days a year.  We all thank you.”

Visit the Cruz Roja table at LCS or their website:   www.cruzrojalakeside.com.

Interested in supporting Cruz Roja International Volunteers Chapala?  Contact Margy Kassier at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or phone 766-4337.

MEET THE WRITER

Oasis Cloud Café hosts “Meet the Writers Luncheons” at their café in Riberas del Pilar at Calle San Luis #330. The social starts at 11:30, the readings at 12. Lunch follows. For reservations call 376-765-3516 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

On January 21 Sheryl Malin will read from her book My Journey of Completion. She will discuss in part a new approach to treating cancer. Her book tells the story of how she beat cancer without surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. The book is available at the website http://outskirtspress.com/myjourneyofcompletion/  and also at Amazon.com, through Barnes & Noble, and by E-book or Kindle.

SEE THE HOMES AND OPEN THE DOOR—

—for a brighter future for kids at the School for Special Children in Jocotopec. The annual Lakeside Behind the Walls Tours are scheduled for January 22, February 26 and March 26. Registered guests will meet at the Ajijic pier at 10:15 for transport.

The tours leave at 10:30. Tickets are 200 pesos and are available at Diane Pearl Colecciones and at Charter Club Tours at Plaza Montaña on the Carreterra.  For more information, call Jessie Wynant at 766-1438 or Dale Wilson at 766-5283.

HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO TRY SOME HAGGIS

Niňos Incapacitados promises a delicious dinner at their annual and very popular Burns Supper at the Hotel Real de Chapala on January 25.

 


Poet Robert Burns

 

Robert Burns, Scotland’s greatest poet, was born on January 25, and on that day, around the world, people celebrate with pipes, kilts, haggis and dancing.  Ajijic is no exception.

The festivities start with bagpipes and Scottish country dancing, which you can enjoy with our very own Ajijic Scottish Country Dancers.  The delicious dinner includes haggis, among other things, and a wee dram to go with the toasts. 

Tickets are 375 pesos a person. To book tickets, reserve a table for 10, or seats at an open table, please contact Linda Hendy at 106-1281 (answering machine available), or  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..   You can also go to Ninos’ website:www.programaninos.com and place an order online.

NAKED STAGE

The Naked Stage next production is The Amish Project. It’s directed by Lynn Phelan. Reading dates are January 30, 31 and February 1. It’s a fictional exploration of the Nickel Mines schoolhouse shooting in an Amish community and the love and compassion shown by its people.  Says Diana Rowland, “All the reviews from all the productions of it have been raves…and I am so happy to be in it!”

 


Back: Jayme Littlejohn, Liz White, Debra Bowers
Front: Graham Miller, Allen McGill, Roseann Wilshere, Greg Clarke and Diana Rowland

 

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.

 

ONGOING EVENTS

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUTTERFLIES

The Monarch Project is a brainchild of Nancy Segall, Secretary of the Lakeside Garden Club.  She says, “I started the Monarch Project about two years ago, by designing and building my own butterfly house so I could watch the entire cycle of the life of the monarch butterflies.”  Butterfly watchers know that there are fewer monarchs every year.

This soon became a project for the Garden Club, as well as Have Hammer, Will Travel, which took on the task of building the houses.

The butterfly houses are available at the organic market on Tuesday mornings, for 600 pesos. Milkweed starters can be found at EarthBOX, Hidalgo 212, Riberas del Pilar. Contact Nancy Segall at 766-3261, email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or check the website: http://lakechapalagardenclub.org/monarchs.html

GROW YOUR OWN….

…vegetables, that is.  The Ajijic Organic Vegetable Growers has now grown to sixty members. The club meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 10 at the gazebo at Tabarka Restaurant, Rio Zula #7.The next meeting will be on January 14. 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.

There will be no reading in January; they will resume on Wednesday, February 5.

Readers in December were Jeremy Monroe, Bob Drynan, Michael Warren, Bonnie Phillips, Kelly Hayes-Raitt, Gloria Palazzo and Joan Warren.

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

 

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