Trivia Quizzes
Wealth of Knowledge (see photo page 17) was just one of the teams with creative costumes, inventive table arrangements and delicious food treats and, of course, challenging questions, which produced another festive, fun-filled afternoon and evening at this year’s Trivia Quizzes organized through Niños Incapacitados.
Thirty-four, eight-member teams competed in the Ninth Annual Trivia Quizzes event held at the Hotel Real de Chapala February 7. At the afternoon session, where 11 teams competed, the Alternative Facts team triumphed in first place. Las Reinas del Norte finished second and in third place were Los Magnifico Ocho.
In the sold-out evening session Card Sharks prevailed over 23 teams. In the runner-up position was La Cristina Gang, while in third place was Ajijic Super Heroes.
Photographs and more details about the event can be found at programaninos.com, along with details about Niños Incapacitados’ final fund-raising event of the season – a dinner/dance – with the theme of Walk on the Wild Side to be held March 16 at the Hotel Real de Chapala.
Open Circle
This Sunday, February 19, Phil Rylett will present a power point lecture in the LCS Sala at 10:30 a.m. on the topic of “The Illusion of Free Will.”
Rylett will probe the thought processes behind the way we make decisions—like, for example, how you decided to attend his lecture.
Born in England, Rylett earned a degree in pharmacology from the University of Leeds. After working for the pharmaceutical industry, he returned to school and earned a nursing degree. He moved to California, and after a stint working for the US healthcare system, he returned to school and came out a computer programmer. Rylett finished his working career developing a breast and cervical cancer screening program for uninsured women in California. He now lives in Ajijic full time.
For more information, see opencircleajijic.org.
Neill James Lecture
Robert Croog, speaking on “Big Lies and Tiny.” This talk held Tuesday, February 21, 2-3 p.m., will examine the habitual use of social media and punditry as a replacement for truth-seeking and the influence of fake news on public opinion during the last U.S. election. There are many historical examples of the problems posed when objectivity and subjectivity collide, but the 2016 presidential election is a watershed event in the continuing erosion of belief in the importance of truth. In short, this talk will cover the history of attacks on objective truth, the erosion of authoritative sources of knowledge, the challenges of living in a post-fact world and some suggestions of how to meet these challenges.
Croog is a graduate of Harvard and Columbia Law School living in Washington, D.C., where he teaches communication and writing at Trinity University.
LCS seminar
LCS members are invited to attend the TED seminar entitled “Zombie roaches and other parasite tales” by science writer Ed Yong. The seminar is hosted by Fred Harland, Tuesday, February 21, noon. Yong blogs with a mission: to ignite excitement for science in everyone, regardless of their education or background.
In this fascinating, hilarious and ever-so-slightly creepy talk, Yong tells the story of his favorite parasites — animals and organisms that live on the bodies (and in the brains!) of other organisms, causing them to do their bidding. Do humans have them too? Maybe ...
LCS Bus Trips
Wednesday, February 22, the Lake Chapala bus heads to the crafts suburb of Tlaquepaque, where you’ll find upscale retailers and fine dining in an architecturally significant, pedestrian-only zone. Cost is 350 pesos for members and 450 pesos for non-members. The bus will leave promptly at 10 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta. Sign up for both trips at the LCS office.
Lakeside Singles
Lakeside Singles hosts a cocktail mixer at Club Exotica, upstairs from El Jardin Restaurant on the north side of the Ajijic Plaza on Thursday, February 23, 5-7 p.m. For more information, see ajijicsingles.org. To reserve a table and provide a list of the guests, 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 Health Day
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) is offering another Health Day Thursday, February 23, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Immunizations offered include: pneumonia for life (Prevnar 13) with a cost of 1,600 pesos, five-year pneumonia (Pneumovax) for 650 pesos, flu for 450 pesos, and shingles (Zostavax) for 2,300 pesos. The shingles shot is the only one that requires sign-up in the LCS office.
In addition to shots, free services include blood pressure and diabetes screenings. For the diabetes screening, one should eat a high carbohydrate meal two hours before testing, i.e. pancakes, oatmeal, granola, fruit, juice or honey.
All the medical services are open to the public.
Community pet care
Companions and Compassion is a group dedicated to the spay and neutering of dogs and cats in Jocotepec. Each clinic spays and neuters approximately 100 animals, including street dogs, cats and pets of the disadvantaged villagers that need the most help.
The group’s annual Spay-ghetti No Balls dinner is held Saturday, February 25, 5-10 p.m. at the Raquet Club terraza. An all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner (vegetarian or Bolognese), salad, garlic bread and dessert is offered for 300 pesos, all of which goes to the cost of the clinics. Dana Douin will give a performance as Neil Diamond.
For tickets call Gail, (331) 325-6227, Dee, (387) 761-0041 or go to Diane Pearl or the Raquet Club office.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Sangha offers meditation opportunities several times each week.
The Sangha’s regular meditation and teaching session is on Wednesday from 3:30 pm, and the formal program goes from 4 to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, February 22, meditation will be followed by a recorded talk by Joseph Goldstein. There will be a brief discussion period after the talk.
Hour-long silent meditation periods are offered Sundays and Mondays from 9 to 10 a.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon. The hour includes sitting and walking meditation.
Monday, February 20, the Dharma Movie Matinee, “Tashi’s Turbine,” begins 3 p.m. This 57-minute documentary, which tells the story of efforts to bring electricity to a remote Nepalese village by way of a makeshift wind turbine, is free and open to all.
The Heart of Awareness is grounded in the teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. Prior experience or affiliation is not required. The sangha’s location is at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. For more information, visit heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert at (331)043-4669.
Legion Fat Tuesday
Tuesday, February 28, American Legion Post Seven in Chapala hosts a Mardi Gas celebration. A social hour with DJ Howard begins 3 p.m. and dinner is served at 4 p.m. The menu is jambalaya with candied carrots, tomatoes vinaigrette, corn bread and ice cream. Tickets are 175 pesos.
Dine with the Shrine
Roberto’s Restaurant in West Ajijic will hold the next Dine with the Shrine fundraiser, Thursday, March 2, noon to 8 p.m. The total cost of the 150-peso specials offered (not including, tip, salads, desserts or drinks) will go toward the activities of the Lake Chapala Shrine Club, which helps families of burns victims with transportation and lodging costs so they can receive treatment at the Shriner’s Burns Center hospital in Mexico City. For reservations call 766-1616.
Flower Children
A fundraiser for the Villa Infantil orphanage will be held at La Huerta Eventos, Saturday March 4, 12:30 p.m. The event includes lunch, music, dance and a fashion show. Tickets are 350 pesos, and a VIP table with a special lunch goes for 1,500 pesos. They are available at Diane Pearl, Yoli’s and Mia’s Boutique. Bring a non-perishable item for the orphanage pantry.
Doggy fundraiser
The Dog Ranch is holding a fundraiser Tuesday, March 7 at Food Lake Container, a group of five restaurants in one location at Hidalgo 456 (on the Carretera) in Riberas del Pilar. The restaurants are open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Shriner’s Ribfest
The 11th annual Shriner’s Ribfest will be held Wednesday, March 15, 1 to 5 p.m. at Cumbres Jardin Eventos, located at the top of Chula Vista Norte boasting one of the best views of the lake anywhere.
There is ample parking at the event. For those who don’t wish to drive, shuttle buses will take patrons to and from Black Coffee on the corner of the Libramiento. Adelita’s will serve their famous BBQ ribs along with chicken and all the trimmings, served by about 20 of their trained staff. Two cash bars will be running and the Ajijic Jamm Band will keep the party rocking. Tickets, 400 pesos, are available from Diane Pearl, O&A Investments or by calling David Eccles, 331-017-1724, or 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..
CASA
The Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (CASA) was well represented at last weekend’s Chili Cook-Off.
Michele Lococo and Roberta Kalan were resplendent in their chef’s hats and shades while riding on the float of the Culinary Institute in the opening parade. CASA multiple award winner Marina Benz took the People’s Choice in the Chili contest on Saturday, while Meredith Miller placed second and won People’s Choice on Sunday.
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..