‘You Like to Sing’
La Bodega Restaurant’s “You Like to Sing” competition to benefit local charities ended with a grand finale and packed house on Thursday, October 8.
The nine contestants’ scores were divided with 80 percent of each score determined by the five judges on the quality of each singers’ voice and stage presence. Singers’ supporters purchased tickets to vote for their favorites to make up the other 20 percent of each score.
La Bodega owners Javier and Martha Gonzalez not only served customers but organized the talent and tallied the votes. They also donated the cash prizes for the contestants and 20 percent of the restaurant orders to four charities: School for Special Children, San Juan Cosala Operation Feed, Chapala Bomberos (firefighters) and the Cruz Roja. La Bodega regulars Ricardo and Blanca stepped up to allow the busy restaurant staff attend to the house full of customers.
Taking third place was Hector Flores Arias. A tie for second place gave honors to both Emeli Campoverde Dueños and Alma Estefania del Mar. Amelia Joy Romey Barcus was the grand finale winner of the event.
Thrill the World Ajijic
More zombies than ever have been working and rehearsing for weeks to be ready for the “Ajijic Thrill the World” presentation on the Ajijic plaza on Saturday, October 24, 5 p.m. Many of the zombies are being sponsored with those donations going to boost the Cruz Roja Chapala coffers.
This unusual event has become one of Ajijic’s “new traditions.”
Then, on Saturday, October 31, head to Cinemas del Lago and spend Halloween evening watching the third annual showing of “Thriller in Ajijic,” a video documenting the amazing productions of the “Thriller” dance in their earliest years. This event is another Cruz Roja fundraiser.
The movie is directed by John O’Hagan Ward. See thrillerinajijic.com for more information. Tickets to view the film are 75 pesos and available at the theater or at the Cruz Roja table at the Lake Chapala Society.
Zombie Buffet
Join the Dancing Zombies at the Zombie Prom after Thriller and the parade. Restaurant Manix is setting up a full buffet and there’ll be live dance music and drinks, all on the plaza, Ask a Zombie for tickets or buy them for 200 pesos at Manix, the Cruz Roja table at LCS or Diane Pearl Colecciones. It all adds up to more funds for Cruz Roja and entertainment for participants and onlookers.
Fun and Games
Bunco Week starts Wednesday October 21, 2 p.m. at American Legion 7. There is a 120-peso buy in for the popular game played with nine dice and a whole lot of luck.
Those wishing details or to sign up can contact Sharon at (376) 765-4085. She also has more information about this new event at the Legion, located at Morelos 114 in Chapala.
Lakeside Freethinkers
The Lakeside Freethinkers next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 21 when a discussion of the horrific events in Paris and how religion played a role in these murders will dominate the meeting. Is Islam a dangerous religion? How much is the “average” Muslim responsible for the actions of a few?
If time permits, a book report of “Nailed” by David Fitzgerald will be presented. A lively discussion is certain to follow. Members also may bring up other matters for discussion.
Most members found the video broadcast by Richard Dawkins on Militant Atheism entertaining during last month’s First Annual Freethinkers Xmas party. Lakeside Freethinkers define a “freethinker” as a person who identifies himself or herself as an atheist, agnostic, secular humanist or skeptic. They reject belief in the supernatural and rely on science and reason to guide their lives. Those who wish additional information can 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..
LCS Singles
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Singles group meets for dinner at La Bodega on Thursday, October 22, from 5-7 p.m.
DJ Jack Fallon of Doo Wops fame will provide music for dancing and listening from 7-9:30pm. Margaritas and some menu items will be specially priced just for the LCS Singles group.
Those attending must RSVP by Tuesday, October 20 to 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..
Masons Cancel Dinner
The spaghetti dinner fundraiser sponsored by Axixic Masonic Lodge No. 31 set for Saturday, October 24 has been cancelled due to the closing of the Trattoria Ajijic Restorante Italiano.
Tickets for the event will be honored when the dinner is rescheduled, or ticket holders can contact their sellers for a refund.
Musical Merriment
The fun-loving ukulele folks’ fall singalong set for Monday, October 26, 5 p.m. is titled “Fifty Years of Fabulous Fun Songs.” These are the songs you know and love from the 1920s through the 1960s. You know these favorites from those old Saturday Movie Matinees, old movies on AMC and TCM. These are the dreamy songs you loved for slow dances and some to which you rocked, twisted and marched for peace.
If you’ve forgotten a few of the words, there will be song books available so you don’t miss any of the words as you sing along. For an extra layer of fun, some folks have decided to start celebrating Halloween a few days early and come in costumes reflecting their favorite genre, era or diva. Not the costume type? No problem – costumes are absolutely optional. Remember that the Club Ukulele del Lago (CUL) has gone to no great expense to provide prizes for the audience members in the best costumes.
There is no entrance fee for this event at Restaurant Maria Isabel; the hat will be passed for donations to help support the Academia de Ukuleles de la Ribera which was founded by CUL in January. There are now 38 young people learning ukulele. CUL provides all the instruments and pays for the professional instructor.
Open Circle
Michael Cook and Anna Berlin will explore the fundamentals of how we connect and disconnect emotionally with the world during the Sunday, October 18, 10 a.m. meeting of Open Circle.
Emotional Connection,” Cook’s metaphor and prose presentation, draws from creative inspiration that has yielded a vast amount of poetry, short stories and books during the 12 years he’s lived at lakeside. Berlin’s presentation supports Cook’s with research findings that complement his talk, illustrating what makes us tick and how we can learn to do and feel better.
Cook retired after 25 years as a clinical psychologist at De-La-Pole General Hospital in Hull, England. His forthcoming book, “45 Seconds,” is an example of his literary expression ... pure, honest, often raw and surreal.
Berlin was certified as a professional life coach by Fowler International Academy of Professional Coaching in 2013. She is a full-time researcher and writer of human dynamics. Her forthcoming book, “Get What You Need,” presents her findings from a wide spectrum of research literature and includes experience of life management skills.