Lakeside Living – December 2016

LAKESIDE LIVING

 

December 2016

 

 

“AIN’T THAT GOOD NEWS,” INDEED

If you’re in the mood to get really Christmassy this December, attend any one of the concerts offered by Lakeside’s brand-new 18-singer vocal ensemble, the Lake Chapala Chorale.

Director Cindy Paul tells us that the one-hour program, called “Christmas: Ain’t That Good News!” is 100% Christmas music, with a bit of theatre thrown in for extra good cheer. 

 

 

“The first half of the concert is all early sacred music,” says Cindy, “where the second half is more modern and familiar.” Songs range from “O Come Emmanuel” to “O Holy Night” and the title piece, “Ain’t That Good News!” 

Entrance is free to all but unreserved, so arrive a little early to be sure you get a seat.  Dates are December 8 at 7 pm at the Chapala Train Station; December 10 at  4 pm at the Lakeside Presbyterian Church; December 13 at the Lake Chapala Baptist Church (a 20 minute special appearance at 5:30); and December 23 at 7:30 pm at La Bodega Restaurante. 

If you get lucky, you may catch the LCC8, an octet extracted from the larger group that will be flash-mob performing all around town during the holidays. 

Donations are not obligatory but are merrily accepted. Write LakeChapalaChorale@gmail.com for details about this very special yuletide offering.

JUST A FEW TICKETS LEFT, SO HURRY

Chapter Two, written by Neil Simon, is the current Lakeside Little Theatre presentation. It’s directed by Phil Shepherd. The cast members are  Zane Pumiglia, Collette Clavadetscher, Michele Lococo, Dennis McCary.

The characters have to deal with sudden love, grief, recovery from divorce and contemplation of an affair.  It’s called “an extraordinarily funny, heartfelt and witty comedy.” The play examines what it means to truly love someone else, and asks whether finding a soul mate can happen more than once in a lifetime.

 

 

Show dates are December 2-11. Curtain is 7:30 pm evenings, and at 3 pm for first Saturday and both Sunday matinees. Tickets are 200 pesos at the Box Office.

LLT Box Office hours are 10 am to noon every Wednesday and Thursday plus

10 to noon every day during the show, except for Sunday. For information on ticket sales, call 376.766.0954 (messages are okay), or email tickets@lakesidelittletheatre.com. Also, visit the website at www.lakesidelittletheatre.com for more information on ticket sales, upcoming productions and general information

THE LIFE WE SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN

…says the Lakeside Assistance Group, and they’re serious.  These dedicated volunteers are importing fire, rescue and medical equipment across two borders, to benefit citizens in the greater Jalisco area.

So far they have imported three containers of equipment, worth millions of dollars, from Canada. As a result, they’ve been able to supply equipment to 78 different firefighting, civil protection and medical teams throughout the state of Jalisco. The cost to import one container is around $4000 US. They have a goal of importing one container a year.

 

 

A good way to support this worthy—and lifesaving—effort is to show up at their semiannual pancake breakfast on Saturday, December 10 from 9 to 12 at Tobolandia Water Park. Besides doing some serious carbo loading, you can talk with bomberos and check out the new ambulance and fire truck. I’ll see you there.

OPEN CIRCLE

Sunday morning finds many Lakeside residents at the Lake Chapala Society and Open Circle, a forum on a variety of stimulating topics. A social hour with coffee and snacks at 10:00 a.m. is followed by an interesting lecture and discussion at 10:30.

December 11  Holiday Stories

Presented by Michael Warren

Michael will read two well-loved Christmas stories. First “Hoodoo McFiggins’ Christmas” by Stephen Leacock, a famous Canadian humorist who died in 1944. For many years this story was a staple of Canadian radio at Christmas time. Next he will read the Christmas classic “The Gift of The Magi” by O. Henry.

Michael Warren was part of the group that founded Open Circle in 2001, a spin-off from the New Dimensions Sunday Discussion Group. Michael is a poet and playwright and has published a collection of his poems under the title A Particular Blue. Michael has appeared onstage in eight plays at the Lakeside Little Theatre. For the last seven years, he has been writing the theater reviews for El Ojo del Lago in his column “Front Row Center.” 

December 18 Inspiring with Humor! Laugh Your Way to Motivation

Presented by David Pisarra

 

 

As humans we are hardwired to learn through story, so David will be using a mixture of jokes, stories and personal insights to inspire you to keep growing and changing.  His brand of authentic sharing lets you in to see his journeys and how he “finds the funny” to create a teachable moment.

He is a columnist with the Santa Monica Daily Press, author of six books, and a professional speaker who helps people find their story and voice. As he shares his journey he encourages others to share their story.

NOTE: from10 to 10:30 am everyone’s invited to an End of the Year Celebration.

December 25 No Open Circle. Celebrate the morning with family and friends.

January 1 No Open Circle on this day either. Sleep off the old year. Set goals for 2017 (only if you feel like it, of course).

CHILIS EN NOGADA AND MORE

CASA, the Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic is pleased to announce that an initial printing of 100 copies of its 30th anniversary cookbook is now available.

Confirm your copy now for holiday gift giving by emailing casalakeside@yahoo.com.

VIVA LA MUSICA! LOVES BIG BANDS

Viva’s annual Christmas Concert this year is a performance by the Rafael Terriquez Big Band, to be held on Thursday, December 15 at 6 pm at the Auditorio.

 

 

Rafael Terriquez is a home grown Mexican from Guadalajara, He formed the band, consisting of more than 15 musicians and two vocalists, in 2015. The concert will include popular composers such as Glen Miller, the Beatles and the romantic Juan Gabriel, as well as a few surprises.   

Tickets for the concert are now on sale at the LCS Box Office, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 to noon, Mia’s Boutique, Diane Pearl Colecciones, and at the Auditorio from 10 to 10:30. For further information and tickets, email joycenrg4@gmail.com or call 766.1804. The price is 300 pesos.

HO HO HO

Santa Claus is coming and this year he’s on a motorcycle. Los Güeros Motorcycle Club is gearing up for its third annual “Toys for Tots” run.  They have placed collection boxes for toys at Mama’s Bar, the Iron Horse Saloon, Adelita’s, Just Chillin’ and the American Legion. Please join them in giving the children of Mezcala a Merry Christmas.  Peso donations can be left at Legion headquarters.

 

 

The ride itself will take place on Saturday, December 17, and will start at the American Legion at 10 a.m. for breakfast. The ride to Mezcala to deliver the toys will leave at noon.  Both cars and motorcycles are welcome to join in the procession.

BUS TO THE BALLET WITH VIVA LA MUSICA

Sunday December 18 The Jalisco Ballet performs Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. This is always a Christmas sell-out. The bus leaves at 10:30 a.m. Bus trip tickets are 500 pesos and 600 pesos for non-members.

Bus trip tickets are available at the LCS ticket booth on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon.​

THEY’VE EVEN HEARD ABOUT HER IN INDIA

The Hindu is an Indian newspaper. Recently, in its Sunday Magazine, it reviews a work titled “Veils, Halos and Shackles: International Poetry on the Oppression and Empowerment of Women.”  It’s a collection of poems by over 180 contemporary poets all over the world. The review singles out our own Judy Dykstra-Brown and her poem “‘Zauditu.”   Judy is a prolific poet and, as well, has a blog called judydykstrabrown.com with over 3000 followers.  Check it out.

 

 

LOVE THOSE MASONS

Here’s how it works: volunteers from Masonic Lodge #31 show up at a school on a Tape a Bike Day, open the gates and wait….and wait. Eventually a couple of boys show up and ask what they are doing. They hear that the Masons are fixing bikes free of charge. The kids take off and within a very few minutes hordes of them show up, waiting very politely in line for their turn to have repairs to their bikes.

 

 

For several hours the men oil chains, repair flats, replace blown tubes, adjust seats and handlebars and accomplish as many repairs as they can. On one day they serviced 82 bicycles and made those 82 children very happy to be riding out on a safer bicycle. They will have another Tape a Bike Day next April with a trip to Jocotopec. 

PLAYING CUPID, WHAT FUN

The next Naked Stage production is Lunch with Mrs. Baskin. It’s directed by Don Chaloner

Here’s the plot: Although she has no intention of buying anything, Mrs. Eva Baskin, a sweet, retired widow, continuously sets up appointments with sales people solely to have lunch and conversation with them in her home.

Two young sales people, Terry, who not very successfully sells garage doors and Kira, who does successfully sell solar panels and has just learned that her fiancé is cheating on her, accidentally meet in Mrs. Baskin’s apartment. Although neither has the slightest intention of getting involved in a relationship, Mrs. Baskin thinks otherwise. The production runs December 30, 31 and January 1.  

The Naked Stage is in Riberas del Pilar, at Hidalgo #261, on the mountain side and directly across from the Catholic Church.

For more information and reservations, email nakedstagereservations@gmail.com. For those who use Facebook, look for The Naked Stage for breaking news and updates.

PAINTING WHILE YOU WATCH

Members of the Lake Chapala Painting Guild will be offering demos in various media at Sol Mexicano. The artists and their demonstration dates are as follows: Nancy Gray, January 5 and 6; Carol Ann Owers, January 19 and 20.

Each session will begin at 11 a.m. and continue until at least 1 p.m. There is no charge and reservations aren’t necessary. Everyone is invited.

 

Sol Mexicano is on Colon #13 in Ajijic, a half block south of the plaza.

THE MIRACLE OF WATER

Water’s interaction with earth, air, light and the human being are taken for granted. Come and find out more on January 6. Introducing us to the spiritual qualities in the movement of water, this weekend workshop entitled Water’s Own Voice will take place at Flora Exotica (corner of the carreterra and the libramiento) and will be led by Jennifer Greene, founder and 40-year director of  the Water Research Institute, Blue Hill, Maine.

 

 

On Friday, January 6 at 7 pm, there will be a slide lecture presenting the scientific research.  Saturday, January 7 at 10 am begins an all-day participatory demonstration of experiments revealing water’s natural tendency to move and change its environment. On Sunday at 2 pm revelations of water’s miracles will continue until 5 pm.  For entry fees and further information, please contact lois.schroff@gmail.com.

GET READY FOR AN EXPLOSIVE THRILLER

The next show in the Lakeside Little Theatre’s season is Death and the Maiden. It is directed by LB Hamilton, and will be on stage January 13 to 22.

Set in a post-revolution South American country that has only recently returned to democracy, this explosively provocative, award-winning psychological thriller stars Jacinta Stringer, Paul Kloegman and Jim Ryan.

Make sure you get your tickets early – this is an excellent way to kick off the New Year!  Tickets will be on sale at LLT’s box office during the usual hours. Check details at www.lakesidelittletheatre.com.

FOR YOU JAZZ LOVERS OUT THERE

Niños Incapacitados is announcing the return of jazz great Guido Basso, legendary trumpet and flugelhorn player, vocalist Heather Bambrick, and acclaimed jazz musicians.

 

 

They will perform in two concerts at the Auditorio, in different programs. There are two shows: Saturday, January 14 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, January 15 at 2:30 pm.  Ticket prices are 350 and 450 pesos, depending on the seating. For reservations, contact dawnmcginnis14@gmail.com or call her at 766-2030, Tickets are also available at the Auditorio on Thursdays and Fridays, 11-1 pm. 

 

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