Cinco de Mayo
Celebrate a fundraiser for The Ranch dogs, Friday, May 5, 5-7 p.m. at La Bodega de Ajijic Restaurant. This Cinco de Mayo celebration includes a Mexican buffet and music.
The cost is 300 pesos. For reservations, call 766-1002.
Market
Monday Market vendor Tina Jones generally sells out her southern and Louisiana-style to-go dishes before everyone who wants to can get a taste. The market is held each Monday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Sunrise Restaurant in Riberas del Pilar. Don’t be late!
Dia del Niño
Sunday, April 30, Chapala pulled out the stops for the kids on their special day starting with a parade down the main drag before later offering up clowns, brincolines, water slides, magicians, acrobats, painted faces and mechanical rides on the new malecon at the Cristiania Park.
Mother’s Days dining
Lakeside will celebrate Mexican Mother’s Day, Wednesday, May 10, and north-of-the-border Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14. Many area restaurants are offering special menus on one or both of those days. Those we know of include: Manix on May 14 (766-0061); Los Telares on May 10 (766-0428); Hacienda Don Pedro on both days (766-4906); Tio Domingo on May 14 (766-2453); St. Remy on May 10 (766-0607); and Roberto’s on both days (766-1616).
Kentucky Derby party
The Avocado Club is hosting a Kentucky Derby event, Saturday, May 6, 3-6 p.m. as a fundraiser for Companions and Compassion Spay and Neuter Clinic in Jocotepec and The Ranch Shelter in Chapala.
Wear your best attire and a derby hat. Prizes, games and a contest will be enhanced by botanas. Tickets are available at Gossips, the Avocado Club and Diane Pearl. Dee Mistrik has more information at (387) 761-0041 or 331-447-9273 (cel).
British Society
The Lakeside British Society holds its monthly luncheon Saturday, May 6, 1 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57, Ajijic. Howard Rodgers will give some advice on how to prevent injuries in the home.
Menu choices begin with a small salad or chicken noodle soup, choice of pork chop, apple sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, fish Florentine, vegetarian lasagna or a large salad. Dessert is crepes with ice cream. The cost is 150 pesos plus tip.
Call Arleen at 766-1742 or contact Sue Sterlini at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to confirm your attendance and choice of menu.
Open Circle
Sunday, May 7, U.S. Peace Corps Response Volunteer Cara Pratt will talk on “Local Government’s Efforts to Protect and Sustain Lake Chapala” at the Open Circle in the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Sala, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Have you ever wondered what local Mexican government entities are doing to protect our natural environment in the Lake Chapala region? Learn about aquatic weed management, environmental education, efforts to combat and adapt to climate change, and the creation of natural protected areas surrounding Lake Chapala,
Pratt grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. After graduating with degrees in Environmental Policy and International Relations from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, she joined the U.S. Peace Corps in rural Paraguay working in grass roots environmental conservation. Pratt spent four years promoting reforestation in Paraguay, and is now working in natural resources management with Aipromades (Intermunicipal Association for the Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development of Lake Chapala) in Chapala.
For more information, see opencircleajijic.org.
Lakeside Progressives
Alberto Costales will present information on a movement that is taking place here at Lakeside at the next meeting of the Lakeside Progressives, Tuesday, May 9, 4 p.m. It is called “The Revolution of Conscience.” Costales, a Cuban-American and MBA holder, is a passionate advocate of this “revolution” to restore American democracy to its progressive ideals. This is an action-oriented movement that you may find inspiring.
The Lakeside Progressives is a group of like-minded people looking for progressive solutions to political problems. They meet at 4 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Peacock Garden Restaurant on Colon in Ajijic. The group’s Facebook page is Lakeside Progressives.
If you have joined the Ajijic Progressives Yahoo Group, you can post your comments on 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.. You can also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions. Join in and bring a progressive friend!
Roaring ‘20s
American Legion Post 7 in Chapala will hold a Roaring ‘20s dinner Wednesday, May 10. Prizes will be given for the best-dressed flapper and gangster (or bootlegger). A social hour begins at 4 p.m., with music by D.J. Howard. Dinner is served at 5 p.m. The menu is rotisserie chicken, potatoes, broccoli salad and bread pudding for 180 pesos.
Tickets are available at the Legion, Morelos 114, Chapala, (376) 765-2259.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Sangha offers several opportunities for meditation practice each week. On Wednesdays, the center opens at 3:30 p.m. with a formal meditation period beginning at 4 p.m. and ends by 6 p.m. The one hour sitting and walking meditation is followed by a talk (live or recorded) and an opportunity for discussion. The sangha is open for silent sitting and walking meditation on Sundays and Mondays 9-10 a.m. and Thursdays, 11 a.m.-noon.
As May 7 is the first Sunday, there will be a three-hour meditation opportunity.
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, (331) 043-4669.
LCS film aficionados
Thursday, May 11, 2 p.m., the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) will show “The Founder” (2017, United States), the story of Ray Kroc, a salesman who turned two brothers’ innovative fast food eatery McDonalds into one of the largest restaurant businesses in the world. It features a terrific performance by Michael Keaton.
Open to LCS members only. Bring your card. No food, no pets.
LCS Spanish classes
LCS Spanish-language term classes begin Monday, May 8, and meet two days a week for 90 minutes through June 23. This program uses the Warren Hardy Spanish Language course, designed for adult students. Several levels of instruction are available. Tuition is 750 pesos and instructional materials are 670 pesos.
Sign-up is available at the LCS office during regular office hours, Monday through Saturday, or at lakechapalasociety.com. LCS is located at 16 de Septiembre 16-A, Ajijic. Call (376) 766-1140 for more information.
LCS Bus Trip
Wednesday, May 24, the Lake Chapala Society hosts a bus trip to Guadalajara’s Galerias Mall, with its adjacent Costco, Sam’s and Super Walmart stores. Major retailers at Galerias include Best Buy, Sears and H&M, while restaurant choices include Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang and Applebee’s.
The trip costs 350 pesos for members and 450 pesos for non-members. The bus departs at 9:30 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta.