Lakeside Living – November 2025

To submit to Lakeside Living: Please send information for local cultural, civic, community, or charitable events to victoriaAschmidt@gmail.com by the first day of the preceding month. For example, NOVEMBER 1 is the deadline for the December issue. Thank you.

LAKESIDE LITTLE THEATRE

Celebrating Our 61st Season

Lakeside Little Theatre will present the second production of its stunning 61st season, The Tin Woman, Directed by Collette Clavadetscher, November 7 – 16th; matinees (Saturdays, Sundays, and Tuesdays) at 4 pm, evening shows at 7 pm.  A heart transplant recipient decides to contact the donor’s family. Intimate and poignant, this comedic drama explores the power of human connection, a roller coaster of tears, laughter and healing.

La Boheme, a projection of New York’s Metropolitan Opera’s production filmed live–better than front-row seats at a fraction of the cost; 4 pm on Sunday, November 23rd and Monday, November 24th. With Puccini’s enchanting setting and spellbinding score, the world’s most popular opera is as timeless as it is heartbreaking. 

Reserve tickets–$400 pesos for The Tin Woman and $350 for La Boheme–at www.lakesidelittletheatre.com/tickets or at the box office before the performances. Patrons with a Mexican INE will receive a $100 peso discount at the box office or by making a reservation via tickets@lakesidelittletheatre.com. 

Theater location: Allen W. Lloyd Drive, San Antonio Tlayacapan. Secure parking is provided in LLT’s lot with overflow parking, courtesy of Telmex, in their lot on the east side of Allen W. Lloyd Dr.

BARE STAGE THEATRE 

Fri. Nov. 28th Sat., Nov. 29th & Sun. Nov. 30th, 2025. All shows at 4 pm  

Durang and Deranged

Get ready for an afternoon of nonstop laughter! Durang and Deranged features outrageous short plays by Christopher Durang and David Ives, including the iconic Beyond Therapy, Sure Thing, and Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread. With zany car rides, chaotic supermarket scenes, and razor-sharp dialogue, this comedy showcase is a must for theatre lovers. Don’t miss the fun!  A wild, witty celebration of brilliant theatrical comedy! Directed by Roseann Wilshere, assisted by Pam Pettus.

LAKE CHAPALA FINE ARTISTS GUILD

The Lake Chapala Fine Artists Guild is happy to announce that we will be holding a group exhibition at La Estación Restaurant (Hidalgo #75 in Riberas – above Pancho’s East) from Friday, Nov 7 through Saturday, Nov 29, 2025.

Our opening reception will be on Friday, Nov 7 from 3pm to 6pm – wine and Agua fresca will be served, and there will be music. Drop by, meet our artists, socialize, and see some amazing art! The Guild supports the Efrén González Children’s Art Program – the young students’ art cards and original art will be for sale at our reception.

Our exhibitions are different from many “market” shows. They feature only fine art by professional artists, and nothing else – just art! If you see a style you like, all of our artists take commissions – have your dream artwork custom created.

The Guild is an art collective of established, vetted artists, and has been around for over 14 years. At our exhibitions you only see the finest quality art – in a variety not possible with a single-artist show.

Admission is free.

You can also visit the Guild’s website at FineArtChapala.com or their Facebook page @FineArtChapala. Don’t miss out on this unique exhibition! `

DEMOCRATS ABROAD

11/2 – Sunday – Dia de Muertos Remembrance | 2–10 pm | Ajijic Plaza Principal, Ajijic

11/3 – Monday – Coffee and Conversation | 10 am | Pranzo Bistro, Boulevard Ajijic 105, Floresta, 45900 Ajijic

11/13 – Thursday – Live Sidewalk Rally | 10 am | “Airplane Sculpture,” La Floresta, Ajijic | Bring your signs!

11/17 – Monday – Monthly Member Meeting | 4 pm | La Bodega Restaurant, 16 de Septiembre 124 Centro, 45920 Ajijic | Food and beverage available for purchase.

LAKE CHAPALA ORCHESTRA

November 1, 2025

For immediate release

From Russia to the Rhine

The Lake Chapala Orchestra’s final concert of their 2025 season takes place on Saturday November 29.

The ever-dynamic orchestra will present three of the most popular works in the orchestra repertoire. Starting with the scintillating Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture by Russian composer Mikhail Glinka the journey to the River Rhine will bring Mozart’s Oboe Concerto and finally Robert Schumann’s 4^th Symphony.

Joining the orchestra will be Ely Molletones who is the principal oboe for the Jalisco Philharmonic and is considered one of Mexico’s finest oboists.

“I can think of no better way to finish our 2025 season than with a concert that contains three life-affirming works that will undoubtedly bring a smile to the entire audience,” says Michael Reason, the orchestra’s Artistic Director.

Now considered a jewel in the cultural life of Lakeside the orchestra now performs at the ROBERT KLEFFEL AUDITORIUM, Instituto Tecnológico de Chapala, Libramiento Chapala – Ajijic #200. The venue provides excellent acoustics and can seat an audience of 350. The concert is on Saturday November 29 at 2 pm.

There is ample parking right next to the college auditorium and the audience will also enjoy the multi-media presentation that is such an integral part of the orchestra’s concerts. As always with the LCO concerts, they sell out very quickly, so early booking is recommended. Tickets for the concert are $400 each and can be reserved by email at LCCOtickets@gmail.com.

More information about the orchestra can be found at www.lakechapalaorch.com.

LAS VOCES DEL LAGO PRESENTS: RING THE BELLS!

This holiday season, let the air be filled with joy, sparkle, and song! Ring the Bells is a dazzling celebration of choral music that captures the spirit of Christmas—from radiant carols that shimmer with tradition to fresh, spirited works that set hearts aglow. With voices that chime like bells, Las Voces del Lago will take you on a musical journey that rings in the season with warmth, wonder, and festive cheer.

Directed by Ken Turner

Assistant Director Ismael Peña

Accompanist Robert Thieme

Concert dates are Wednesday, December 10 and Thursday, December 11 at 3:00 pm at Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Chapala, located on the Libramiento. Ticket price is $400 pesos.

We invite you to follow Las Voces del Lago on Facebook at facebook.com/lasvoceschorale. News and updates will be available on our website: lasvocesdellago.org.

Reserve your tickets at: LasVocesTickets@gmail.com.  You won’t want to miss this celebration of holiday cheer!

FERIA MAESTROS DEL ARTE IS AROUND THE CORNER

Please join us for a best-in-class, unparalleled 3-day event featuring Mexico’s finest and most amazing folk art. 

The Feria will take place at the Hotel Real de Chapala Nov. 7, 8 and 9. Calle Paseo del Prado 20, Fraccionamiento La Floresta, Ajijic, MX 45920.

Doors open at 9:30. Donation is $100 MX admission.  Come to see over 85 artisans from all over Mexico bring the finest works for sale to dealers, collectors and the public. Come see the wonderful ceramics, textiles, laquer, paper, wood alebrijes, catrinas, metal, rugs, jewelry and more! 

A heart show, not just another art show.

Support the Feria mission:

To preserve and promote Mexican folk art. We help preserve these art forms and the culture that produces them by providing the artists a venue to sell their work to galleries, collectors, museums and the public. We promote regional and international awareness to the value of these endangered arts. 

Enjoy the food and entertainment!

Musician Paco Padilla returns to sing Saturday Nov 8 at 1 PM.

The Feria Maestros del Arte is proud to present a special lecture series this year. Lectures are included in admission.

FRIDAY, NOV. 7TH, 1 PM

Carlos Punzo Chávez 

Forged through Generations: Tradition and Transformation in Copper

Carlos Punzo Chávez, master coppersmith from Santa Clara del Cobre, carries forward generations of knowledge in metalwork while confronting the challenges artisans face today.

Nestled in the highlands of Michoacán, the town of Santa Clara del Cobre vibrates with a sound that has echoed for centuries: hammer against copper, fire breathing life into the metal.

Here, at the very heart of Mexico’s copper-making tradition, Carlos Punzo Chávez and his brother Abdón Punzo Chávez have become two of the region’s most celebrated artists: artisans who not only fashion extraordinary vessels from fire and force, but also shape the future of their community through teaching and mentorship.

SATURDAY MORNING, NOV. 8TH, 11:00

Christine Eber

Solidarity in times of Struggle and Hope: Weaving for Justice and Tsobol Antsetik (Women United)

Weaving for Justice and Tsobol Antsetik began to work together in the late 1980s when anthropologist Christine Eber, coordinator of Weaving for Justice, was completing her Ph.D. fieldwork in Chenalhó, Chiapas.

The women were forming their collective at that time and Christine asked how she could help. They asked her to sell their weavings in the United States at fair prices. Since then, many people in the places where Christine has lived have helped in this endeavor.

Weaving for Justice, a non-profit, all-volunteer organization, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, evolved from these efforts. It is devoted to creating markets not only for Tsobol Antsetik, but for ten other weaving and embroidery collectives in Chiapas. It also raises funds for scholarships for Maya youth through selling textiles donated to them from supporters throughout the U.S. and educates the public about current conditions of life for Tsotsil and Tseltal families in Chiapas. For more information, please go to:  www.weaving-for-justice.org.

SUN NOV. 9TH 12 NOON

Betzy Ived Castillo Espinal  

“Scent of Olinalá : An Evolving Family Recipe”

Betzy Ived Castillo Espinal lives in Olinala, Guerrero, a place known for its lacquerware.  Betzy started in the elaboration of handicrafts since she was very young, since she remembers her parents were already dedicated to this art and little by little she became more involved. Crafts became a part of her life because she enjoys making art, and expressing her ideas and feelings in each of her pieces.

Laca / Maque is a cultural tradition of her family and her people. Betzy is the fifth generation making crafts in her family, and it is a great satisfaction to her to be able to continue the tradition of her family.

Approximately 5 families work together, some cut stone and bake it; two other families are carpenters, making the wooden boxes; and others sand the wood. Betzy is in charge of dyeing the earth, painting the wood and decorating it, expressing her emotions in each of her pieces.