Children’s Art Program
Come find the Lakeside Picasso at the Lake Chapala Society annual Kid’s Art Sale, Saturday, July 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the LCS Gazebo.
The art is produced at the free Summer Art Camp held the week before the sale, when more than 120 local children attend five days of art classes under the direction of ten teachers and 55 volunteers.
The workshops are in watercolor, acrylics, drawing, jewelry making, tabachin pod decorating and daily projects for young children.
The kids get a large portion of the proceeds and the remainder helps buy art supplies for the LCS Children’s Art Program, which has given a start to many accomplished artists in its 63-year history.
In praise of water
Madreagua, a civic group that promotes the relationship between water and the emotions, is sponsoring an International Love and Gratitude Day event at the Ajijic Malecon, Saturday, July 22, starting at 11 a.m.
Activities include the painting of a collective mural, a concert of music dedicated to water featuring Adriana Lozano Rojas, Raul Buelna and Juan Pablo Rosas (11:45 a.m.), a circle of drums (noon and 1:30 p.m.), dances for universal peace (12:30 p.m.), a concert of relaxing music (2 p.m.) and ecological and children’s workshops (all day).
A Shanti meditation is scheduled prior to the event from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Participants of the Ajijic organic tianguis will be offering their products.
In 2015, the Love Planet Foundation in co-ordination with the Emoto Peace Project officially declared July 22 International Love and Gratitude Day to honor the life and work of world renowned author and water researcher Dr. Masaru Emoto, who died at the age of 71 in October 2014.
For more information on the event, call 333-127-5394 (cel).
Book Club
This month members of the Ajijic Book Club (ABC) will read and discuss “Al Franken, Giant of the Senate.”
Franken tells his own story in his own humorous way, including his journey from a writer of satire for Saturday Night Live to senator from the State of Minnesota.
ABC will meet at Just Chillin, located at Constitution 32, on Tuesday, July 25, 4 p.m. For more information, contact John Stokdijk 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..
LCS seminar
Lake Chapala Society members are invited to attend a TED seminar, hosted by Susan Weeks, on “Tales of Passion” by Isabel Allende, Tuesday, July 25, noon to 1:15 p.m. in the LCS Sala. Author and activist Allende discusses women, creativity, the definition of feminism and, of course, passion.
LCS Bus Trip
The Lake Chapala Society hosts a bus trip to Guadalajara’s Galerias Mall, with its adjacent Costco, Sam’s and Super Walmart stores, Thursday, July 27. Major retailers include Best Buy, Sears and H&M, while restaurant choices include Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang and Applebee’s.
Cost is 350 pesos for members and 450 pesos for non-members. The bus departs promptly at 9:30 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta.
Open Circle
At Open Circle, Sunday, July 23, held in the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Sala, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Karl Homann will talk on “The State of the European Union: How a Union of 28 (soon minus 1) Independent States Without Borders Works.”
Homann will describe the troubled history among European neighbors and the first seemingly impossible dreams of visionaries who imagined a peaceful future for the continent. After a quick romp though the past 55 years, he will examine the challenges faced by a union of such culturally and temperamentally diverse nations.
Homann is not a political scientist. His point of view is based on personal experience and his talk is based on research – a recent trip to Europe with interviews of citizens of the EU, immersion in the news outlets and the views of opinion writers and serious analysts. He was born in war-torn Germany, raised in an ideologically divided Germany, and lived for two years with the infamous wall dividing Berlin. He left Germany at age 25, became a citizen of Canada, and retired in Mexico 11 years ago.
Heart of Awareness
The Heart of Awareness Community’s regular meditation and teaching session is on Wednesdays when the center opens at 3:30 p.m. and formal meditation begins at 4 p.m.
On Wednesday, July 26, the meditation period will be followed with the last two segments in a series teachings entitled “Life Hurts: Responding with RAIN,” by Zen teacher Teah Strozer. This week’s talks are entitled “How to Be Honest with Ourselves” and “No Self Identification, No Separation.” The Wednesday gathering ends by 6 p.m.
The Community offers silent meditation opportunities several times each week. The center is open on Sunday and Monday from 9-10 a.m. and Thursday from 11 a.m. to noon for hour-long silent meditation, consisting of sitting and walking.
On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, from 9-11 a.m., Latika Pierrette Claude offers a gentle and spiritual yoga practice at the Center, suitable for all levels of experience. A donation of 50 pesos is requested.
The Heart of Awareness is grounded in the teachings of the Buddha. Prior experience or affiliation is not required. The center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. For further information on the community and scheduled activities, visit the website, www.heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert at (331)043-4669.
Mr. and Miss Ribera
Zona Fitness Gym is bulking up for its annual Mr. and Miss Ribera de Chapala National Body Building Competition, Sunday, July 30, at the Auditorio de la Ribera.
The event, with various age categories and special exhibitions of sport clothes, features special food and drink and begins at 12:30 p.m. For more information on how to participate or just enjoy the show, 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..
Family Fitness demos
The Family Fitness Center at Ajijic’s Plaza Bugambilias will mark its first anniversary with a program of free demonstrations of various athletic and exercise disciplines set for Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30.
Saturday’s activities start a spinning class at 9 a.m. followed successively with exhibitions of taekwondo, boxing, ballet, and a Latin rhythms master class running until 1:30 p.m.
The Sunday line-up begins at 10 a.m. with a mixed martial arts demo, continuing with classes in cross fit and zumba training and a pole dance exhibition. Visitors will also find special deals on memberships and sports gear.
Culinary Arts
At the July 17 meeting of the Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (Casa), Master Chef Pedro Palmer of GO Bistro demonstrated how easy it is to make a paté. He also provided a comprehensive hand out listing all the many types of pates and terrine. Palmer then allowed members to sample a piece of his incredibly tasty paté.
The first place winner in the Patés, Terrines and Spreads Category was Laure Hilden with her Louisiana Hogshead Cheese; second place was tied between Monica Molloy (also Presentation Award) for her Veal & Ham en Croute Alsacienne with Cumberland Sauce, and Marina Benz with her Provençal Tepenade Spread; third was Rick Feldmann (also People’s Choice) for his Sundried Tomato, Basil & Goat Cheese Spread.
The Cookies & Bars Category was won by Mary Ann Waite and her Terrific Toffee Bars. Second was Judy Greenberg with her Lemon Brownie Bars and third place went to Sally Meyers (also Presentation and People’s Choice awards).
The judges were Amy Friend, Chef Alex Sgroi and Margo Eberly.
The next Casa meeting will be held on Monday, August 21 at La Mision Restaurant on Rio Bravo, Ajijic. The categories will be Mediterranean Main Course and Mediterranean Dessert.
For further information about Casa, 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..">.
Lakeside Assistance BBQ
Ranger BBQ will put on a fundraiser for the Lakeside Assistance Group, Saturday, August 26, 1 p.m. at the Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo. This group works with U.S. and Canadian firefighters and other groups to bring high quality used equipment to fire departments in north shore Lake Chapala towns. The cost to ship containers filled with this equipment is about US$4,000. Tickets for the BBQ are available from Vince Britton at American Legion Post 7.
Spanish classes
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) announces its next round of Introduction to Spanish language classes for its members. This is a casual class offered for the beginner that covers the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary and phrases to use about town for shopping, and other useful information about our area and Mexican culture.
Classes are held each month starting the first Tuesday of the month and continue for three weeks. Classes start on Tuesday, August 1 and will be held at the LCS campus from noon until 1:30 p.m. Learning materials are provided, and the tuition for the classes is 175 pesos.
Sign up is available at the LCS office during regular office hours, Monday through Saturday. Or signup is easy and quick on the LCS website.
LCS is located at 16 de Septiembre 16-A, Ajijic. Telephone: (376) 766-1140; website: lakechapalasociety.com.