Lakeside Living – December 2014

 

LAKESIDE LIVING

 

Sandy Olson
Phone: 331-283-8529
Email: sandyzihua@hotmail.com

 

December 2014

 

PAST EVENTS

 

ONE MORE BIRTHDAY

Members of the Ajijic Writers Group were pleased to honor Ojo del Lago Editor-in-Chief Alejandro Grattan on his recent birthday. Many happy returns, Alex, and thanks for your leadership in our writing community.

 

 

The celebration/roast was held at the writers’ regular Friday morning meeting at La Nueva Posada. The cake was courtesy of Michael Eager.

 

COMING EVENTS

SUCH A DEAL—JAZZ WITH NO COVER CHARGE

Juan Castañòn, jazz guitarist, is presenting concerts in local venues this month.

 

 

December 5  Contemporary jazz trio, Casa de la Cultura de Jocotepec, 7 pm

December 6  Blue Velvet Jazz Quartet, Café Lago, Ajijic, 8 pm

December 7  Sarodya. Classical music from India. Jasmine Restaurant, Ajijic, 2 pm

December 13 Blue Velvet, Café Lago, 8 pm

December 19 Blue Velvet plays Funk, La Sangrita Bar, Ajijic, 9 pm

December 20 Blue Velvet, Café Lago, 8 pm

AN ADULT MUSICAL COMEDY?

Lakeside Little Theatre is presenting Sinderella, billed as “an adult musical comedy” (I can hardly wait to see it) this month. The dates are December 5-16.

Lakeside Little Theatre The next presentation in LLT’s 50th Jubilee season is a fun-filled, frivolous and colorful adult musical comedy Sinderella. The script has been created by Dave McIntosh, based–with some license–on Grimm’s original fairy tale. Sinderella is directed by Paul Kloegman with musical direction by Ann Swiston and choreography by Heather Hunter.

 


The Cast. Back Row: Catherine Gonzales, Peter Luciano, Garry Peerless, Catherine Huff, Paul Kloegman, Jutta McAdam, Patricia Guy, Judy McKinnon, Graham Miller, Margaret Presutti, Allyson de Jong, Fred Koesling
Front Row: Greg Clarke, Ann Loebach, Amy Friend, Abril Iniguez, Gabriel Casillas (with baby Luna), Kathleen Morris, Wendy Petersen. Missing: Amaranta Santos, Heather Hunter, Angel Gonzalez, Connie Davis, Dana Douin

 

The show opens on Friday, December 5 and runs through December 16. Tickets are 250 pesos, and can be obtained by calling the Box Office at 376-766-0954, or by E-mailing tickets@lakesidelittletheatre.com. The Box Office will be open from 10 am to noon on December 3 and 4, and at the same time each day except Sundays during the run of the show.

LAKESIDE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The Los Cantantes del Lago holiday concert “Lakeside for the Holidays” will be presented at the Auditorio de la Ribera on Tuesday, December 9 at 7 pm and Wednesday, December 10 at 4 pm. 

 


Director Timothy G. Ruff Welch

 

The concert will feature a wide variety of holiday music, including a selection of classic carols arranged by Hermann Schroeder, Hanukkah songs and two arrangements by Mark Hayes – “Gloria” and “Variations on Jingle Bells.”  Accompaniment will be piano, oboe, cello and violin. 

Tickets reservations can now be made on their new website, www.loscantantesdellago.com or you can purchase them directly from Diane Pearl Colecciones, Mia’s Boutique or any Cantantes member. The ticket price is 250 pesos.

MUSIC HATH CHARMS

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

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.

This concert 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.

Viva will also be running a bus trip to the December concert of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra.  The bus leaves at 4:30 pm.

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 

Another bus trip will take opera goers to the Teatro Diana for “Live at the Met” Opera in HD

Saturday December 13: Die Meistersinger, by Wagner, bus leaves at 9.30 am.

Symphony and Met bus tickets are $300 pesos, $400 for non-members, available at the LCS Thursday and Friday,  10 to noon, or phone Marshall Krantz at 766-2834 or Ingrid Goodridge,  cel. 331.443.6837,  to make other arrangements. 

JANICE KIMBALL’S JOY OF ART

Local weaver Janice Kimball has published The Joy of Art–An Introduction to Fine Art. The book is launching on Tuesday December 16 at noon with a wine reception at her home and studio, Aztec Art and Weaving Studios, 232 Carretera Jocotepec-Ajijic, west of Rio Bravo. Janice will have a book signing at Yves Restaurant at 1:00 (call Yves for lunch reservations). 

Her book is written for every artist, seasoned and new, and for those who want to learn more about art and the world of artists. Janice will also discuss the book at Open Circle on December 28.

DECK THOSE HALLS, JINGLE THOSE BELLS

Six or eight years ago  a group of friends were discussing their pre-Ajijic lives and each agreed that caroling at Christmas time had been significant events, both for them and for the homes where they caroled. 

 

 

Thus, Lakeside Carolers were born.  The group decided to carol at some of the Lakeside convalescent/independent living homes and has continued to do so one day each December.  Each year a few more people have joined in as people spread the word.  The La Ola Orphanage girls’ bell choir also plays several numbers under the direction of Belva Velazquez.

Lakeside Carolers have no rehearsals, no membership fees and no auditions, and a flexible caroling schedule.  The 2014 caroling date is December 18. If you are interested in joining in, please contact Kay Borkowski at kaybork@yahoo.com.

LOVE THAT ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM

The dynamic and exciting work of local artist Julie Elizabeth Mignard will be on display in a one-woman show at the Cultural Center in Ajijic Plaza from December 20 to January 3.  Julie will be showing her own unique version of Abstract Expressionist mixed media paintings, large and small, from her 2014 works.

 

 

LET’S GET WARM AND FUNNY

The Naked Stage show for December is Ethan Claymore by Norm Foster. It’s directed by Don Chaloner.  The dates are December 26-28.  Here is a quote from reviews: “This is a warm and funny play, and a delightful way to celebrate the Christmas season.”  Since this is Naked Stage’s Christmas show they celebrate by offering the audience a glass of wine or a soft drink with nibbles after each performance.

PATSY CLINE ALERT!

My, My, How Nice! Productions will be reprising Always! Patsy Cline in January.  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 1-4 and 8-11.  Shows are at 7:30 Thursday through Saturday and at 3 pm on Sundays.  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 mymytickets @gmail.com

 

 

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.

 


Mac Morison

 

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 Auditorium

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

Thursday March 19 Three Sopranos. Berenice Barragan, Patricia Hernandez and Viviana Baez, with piano accompanist Gaby Zepeda singing a selection of operatic areas and classic Mexican songs. Back by popular demand. Auditorium,  7:00 p.m.

 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 Barto, 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.

Saturday March 14, The Lady of the Lake by Rossini with superstars Joyce DiDonato as the “lady of the lake” and Juan Diego Flórez as the king who relentlessly pursues her.  Bus departs at 9:30.

Saturday April 25, Double Bill: Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni and Pagliacci by Leoncavallo.

Tenor Marcelo Álvarez rises to the challenge of playing the leading roles in opera’s most enduring tragic double bill. Bus departs at 10:00.

PAELLA ON THE TERRACE

Cruz Roja will host a Mediterranean dinner on January 17, at the Hotel Montecarlo, from 6 to 9 pm. Dr. Tony Pinto, well known chef, will serve his classic paella on the hotel’s beautiful terrace.  This will be an evening to remember and supports the activities of Cruz Roja. Tickets are 300 pesos, and are available from Charlie Klestadt or at the Cruz Roja table at LCS.

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.

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 victoriaAschmidt@gmail.com.

 THE FERIA WAS HER DREAM

Marianne Carlson has had a love affair with Mexico for forty years. After she moved here full time in 1998, she began to travel all over the country. Inspiration for the Feria Maestros de Arte occurred in 2001, when she bought a folk art book, Great Masters of Mexico, and decided to take a trip to meet the artists. When she did, and asked where they sold their goods, she found they didn’t really have any outlets. 

 


Marianne Carlson

 

Marianne had experience in the US putting on events, so decided to hold the first Feria, in the Hotel Real de Chapala, in 2002. There were 13 artists participating that first year. In the fourth year an organization and board of directors were created. Marianne still spends 75% of her time, year round, on the Feria.

She is concerned that art in Mexico is disappearing, particularly textile art, and does what she can to support the arts.  Her effort is supported by volunteers, over 150 this year. In 2014 there were 80 artists participating. The Feria has gained worldwide attention; 17 visitors came from Australia this year for the show. 

 

ONGOING EVENTS

GROW YOUR OWN ….

…..vegetables, that is. The Ajijic Organic Vegetable Growers was started six months ago and has now grown to sixty members. The club meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 10. The new meeting place is the gazebo on the grounds of Tabarka Restaurant,  Rio Zula #7 (turn left at the next street west of Azul Frida restaurant).

The next meeting will be on December 10. New members are welcome. They can contact John at mcwilliamsmx@gmail.com  or by phone at 376-766-0620.

COME AND SEE THE FUNNY DOG

The Funny Dog Art Studio in Ajijic is holding open houses on Saturdays through December, from 12-2.  It’s located in the “comedic sculptured gardens” of San Juan de Las Colinas #38, three blocks up the hill on Calle Revolucion. It’s a studio for music, art and theater. Tel. 766-4442.

ART SHOWS ON THE PLAZA

There is an art show every third Sunday of the month on the Ajijic Plaza, hosted by Ajijic Society of the Arts. The next show will be on December 21.

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. The next reading will be on December 3. There will be no readings in January.  They will resume in February.

Readers in November were Harriet Hart, Bob Drynan, Margie Keane,
Larry Kolczak, Judy Dykstra-Brown, Rachel McMillen
(reading for Patricia Hemingway) and Mel Goldberg.

 


For more information about Lake Chapala visit: www.chapala.com


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