Drink Wine
• Friday, April 19, 5 p.m., the Lake Chapala Society is holding a wine paring experience of six premium wines from Guanajuato and a four-course meal at the Casa Linda in the Garden café. Tickets, 1,400 pesos, are limited to 40 people and available at LCS.
• VinArt Ajijic is hosting more than a dozen wineries and purveyors of wine from Baja California, Spain, France and even from communities around Lake Chapala on Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and 28 at Paseo de la Huerta 57 in La Floresta. Wine tastings, good food and music are on the menu. Restaurants include Lechon Doroteo from Guadalajara, The Original Tony’s, Koko, Letra CH, and PZA. For a full list of events (in Spanish) and tickets see vinartajijic.com.mx/boletos.
Georgia day voter assistance
Need help requesting—and returning—your ballots for 2024 U.S. elections? Come to the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Monday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Vote From Abroad team can help. Next Monday is Georgia Ballot Day (although we can still help every state’s voters).
Strongly recommended: Get your GA ballot request in by April 22, since Georgia’s May elections are coming right up—and you must mail back your ballot.
Questions? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Fun Fundraisers
Niños Incapacitados fundraisers are fun happenings. Don’t miss them.
• “Love Me Tender,” a presentation by the Ajijic Cabaret Troupe, Tuesday, April 23, 7 p.m. at El BarCo. Tickets at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• Kentucky Derby Party, May 4, 3:30 p.m. in a luxurious garden setting with multiple big screen TVs, Kentucky-style refreshments, fried chicken with all the fixings, pie and ice cream. Tickets, 1,500 pesos, are at a link on programaninos.com.
Nepal and Butan slide show
You are invited to attend a slide show and video presentation of Mark Helsel’s and Shelley Pierce’s month-long pilgrimage and retreat to Nepal and Bhutan on Friday, April 26, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Heart of Awareness.
The trip was mostly Buddhist inspired, as Nepal has many sites related to Shakyamuni Buddha and both countries are famous for Guru Rinpoche’s presence (known by some as the second Buddha) who paved the ground for Vajrayana Buddhism to flourish.
The highlight of Nepal was doing a two-week retreat in the Dallu Valley (part of the Kathmandu area), then entering Bhutan, where the King has championed using “Gross National Happiness” as the country’s focus. Their two guides in Bhutan were Lame G and his wife Jill, who were previously friends in Seattle, and are now operating Cypress Himalayan Tours in Bhutan. They led them on powerful daily treks showing their rich Buddhist culture. Now that Mark and Shelley are enlightened, you might like to join them on Friday!
Chapala Birders
Monday, April 29, the Lake Chapala Birders will meet at 8 a.m. at the traffic light in La Floresta, departing immediately for Villa Corona on Lake Atotonilco (a 60-minute drive). Expect to see various shore birds such as white-faced ibis and roseate spoonbill. Bring your own mid-morning refreshments. There will be a break for snacking at 11 a.m. The group will be back in Ajijic by about 1:30 p.m. You must reserve by emailing John Keeling at least two days ahead of time at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., saying if you can bring a vehicle and can take passengers, or you would like to be a passenger. (There are not always have enough cars.)
Bird-walks are open to all interested in birds, beginners and experienced birders. Just bring binoculars. There are always knowledgeable birders on hand to identify the species.
American Legion
A 1950s and 60s music Sock Hop will be held at American Legion Post 7 Chapala Saturday, April 20, 7 p.m. 50 pesos cover.
Tango
Beginners and intermediate Tango dancers can take classes with Jerry, Fridays, 2 to 3 p.m. and Sundays, noon to 1 p.m. at the Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo.
Kid’s Day stuff
The Civil Protection and Firefighters of Chapala are collecting toys for Dia del Niño. To help, bring toys for kids for ages 1 to 16 to the Lake Chapala Society, through Sunday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 28, an insect costume workshop for children will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Centro para la Cultura y las Artes de la Ribera. At 2 p.m., a brief theatrical work by the group Opera Portatil will be on from 1 to 2 p.m. Tickets (free) at voyalteatro.com or at the box office.