Ol’ Blue Eyes
A crowd of 170 enjoyed a blast from the past at the Sinatra 101 party held December 12 at El BarCo.
The celebration marking what would have been Frank Sinatra’s 101st birthday was wrapped around 16 musical arrangements by Nelson Riddle, who recorded with Ol’ Blue Eyes from 1953 to 1966. The popular tunes were complemented by the appearance of the Ajijic Jazz Dancers. Event organizers Carlos Pantoja and Bill Dingwall are grateful to everyone those who attended the fund-raiser in support of Nińos Incapacitados and the School for Special Children.
Holiday music
Pianist Galen performs his final “Music for The Holidays” concert Tuesday, December 27. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served before the 90-minute show that also features some of the best musicians lakeside has to offer. Tickets, 400 pesos, must be purchased in advance. For more information and tickets, contact Wendy Hamblin, 766-4835, or see www.concertsbycandlelight.com.
Color is Visible Soul
The opening of “Color is Visible Soul,” an exhibition of watermedia paintings by Lois Schroff, will be held Friday, December 30, 5 to 7 p.m. at the new Cafe-Gallery La 133 located on the west side of the San Antonio Tlayacapan plaza. Botanas and sangria will be served.
The Naked Stage
“Lunch with Mrs. Baskin,” directed by Don Chaloner and featuring Russell Mack, Clay McAdam, MaryAnn Waite, Florette Schnelle, Phyllis Silverman and Dick Yanko, runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 30, 31 and January 1, at the Naked Stage Readers Theatre.
Although she has no intention of buying anything, Mrs. Eva Baskin, a 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 successfully sells solar panels and has just learned that her fiancé is cheating on her – accidentally meet in Mrs. Baskin’s apartment. Although neither have the slightest intention of getting involved in a relationship, Mrs. Baskin thinks otherwise.
The Naked Stage Theatre is at Hidalgo 261 in Riberas del Pilar. Box office opens 3:15 p.m., show begins 4 p.m. A cash bar with proceeds benefiting local animal shelters opens at 3 p.m.
Also, The Naked Stage will hold auditions Wednesday, January 4 for “Clever Little Lies.” For more information, contact 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..
Workshop
Efren Gonzalez offers a three-day oil painting workshop with the goal of completing one painting each day from Monday, January 2 to Wednesday, January 4. The cost of US$225 includes all materials. Call (331) 703-3942 for more information.
Painting Guild
Lake Chapala Painting Guild members invite everyone to their group show reception on the first floor of the Cultural Center Ajijic on Saturday, January 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. Refreshments are available. The show remains in place until January 20.
Over the top
Christine Deaver — singer, dancer, actress and natural comedienne — will entertain at the Auditorio de la Ribera, Friday, January 6, 6 p.m. Deaver is best known as a lead actress for Seattle’s Teatro ZinZanni dinner theatre, where she has performed over 15 original daring, sensual and funny characters for 13 years. Make reservations 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..
Viva opera trips
Viva la Musica offers seven bus trips to the Teatro Diana next year to see Live from the Met Opera presentations.
The first opera is “Nabucco” by Verdi, featuring Placido Domingo, Saturday, January 7. Other presentations (all on Saturdays) are: “Romeo and Juliet” by Gounod, January 21; “Rusalka” by Dvorak, February 25; “La Traviata” by Verdi, March 11; “Idomeneo” by Mozart, March 25; “Eugene Onegin” by Tchaikovsky, April 22 and “Der Rosencavalier” by R. Strauss, May 13.
Bus tickets, 400 pesos (500 for non-Viva members), are available at LCS on Thursdays and Fridays, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Jazz Greats
Guido Basso, Canada’s acclaimed trumpet and flugelhorn artist, returns to lakeside next month for an exciting follow-up to the Jazz Greats concerts that wowed local audiences back in 2014.
Performances scheduled for Saturday, January 14, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, January 15, 2:30 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera will also feature vocalist Heather Bambrick and a back-up band of talented musicians. Different programs have been arranged for each date.
Admission is set at 450 pesos for center seats, 350 pesos for side seating. For ticket purchase information contact Dawn McGinnis, at 766-2030, 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..
Proceeds from both events will go to the Niños Incapacitados, a non-profit, all volunteer organization that helps low-income Mexican families pay for ongoing and/or major medical expenses for their children with disabling or life-threatening illnesses. Go to programaninos.org for more information.
Bravo! Theatre
Have you ever had a vacation where everything that could go wrong did and everything you expected to happen didn’t?
On January 15, Bravo! Theatre presents “Mr. & Miss Adventure,” a hilarious comedy about a vacation gone awry. Written and performed by Canadian guest artist and seasoned actor Catherine Clarkson, this true story/one-act standup show will have you laughing from beginning to end and leave you wondering how such a series of unfortunate events could possibly occur in just one week.
One performance only: Sunday, January 15, 4 p.m. Tickets, 100 pesos, can be reserved 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..
Lake Chapala Chorale
Lake Chapala Chorale Director Cindy Paul says there still time to hear the choir on Friday, December 23, 7:30 p.m. when it presents a special Christmas concert at La Bodega Restaurant in Ajijic.
Viva party
Viva la Musica will hold a membership renewal party Sunday, January 15 at the home of Tony and Roseann Wilshere in Ajijic. Viva’s annual general meeting is at 3 p.m., the party begins at 4 p.m. and a concert by Juan Pablo Medeles on violin and Rodrigo Leal on piano will take place at 4:30 p.m.
Champagne and finger food are free with 2017 Viva membership. All Viva members are welcome. The cost for guests is 100 pesos.
‘Mr. Green’ reprise
In January, The Bravo! Theatre will reprise “Visiting Mr. Green,” directed by Jayme Littlejohn and starring Roger Larson and Ken Yakiwchuk. This is an endearing play about the unlikely friendship between an old Jewish man and a young Jewish man – each with a secret.
Show dates are January 21, 27 and 28, at 7:30 p.m., and Jan 22, 29 and 30, at 4 p.m. Tickets, 250 pesos, available at Diane Pearl Colecciones, Mia’s Boutique or 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..