Horseback & Mariachis
Mariachi Real Axixic celebrates their first anniversary with a horseback ride, a mass and a concert Friday, August 4.
The fun begins 5 p.m. at Los Carriles (the area where horses are rented in La Floresta), with entertainment by Banda Loma Santa. From there, a cabalgata (ride) will head into town, beginning 5:30 p.m., to the San Andres Parish Church, where a mass will be held at 7 p.m.
Mariachi Real Axixic’s free concert begins at 8:15 p.m. at the Centro Cultural Ajijic.
If you want to rent a horse and join in the ride, call 331-342-2457.
Sunrise Rotary Club
Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club is hosting a wine and cheese mixer for the public Friday, August 4, 5-7 p.m. at Rio Amazonas 17-B, Ranch del Oro.
Take this opportunity to chat with Rotarians about the club and the projects it supports, to meet some new people and to have fun. Live music by Victor and Ignacio.
From the Carretera, turn up Rio Chamela (opposite Hacienda Don Pedro’s restaurant), first house on the left (corner of Chamela and Rio Amazonas).
For more information, call Blair Ferguson at 333-142-3038 (cel) or Pam Davis at 331-430-9029 (cel).
British Society
The Lakeside British Society holds its monthly luncheon Saturday, August 5, 1 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57, Ajijic.
Reba Mayo will be the speaker at this meeting.
Menu choices begin with a small salad or minestrone soup, choice of fish fillet with cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and vegetables; brisket with mashed potatoes, gravy and vegetables; spinach lasagna or a large salad. Dessert is berries and ice cream. The cost is 150 pesos plus tip.
Contact Sue Morris at 766-0847 or Sue Sterlini at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to confirm your attendance and menu choice.
Foodies unite
Gringos Ajijic & Lakeside Foodies will gather at the Avocado Club, Saturday, August 5, 5-8 p.m. to rave about their favorite local hot spots. Share photos of local eateries, bars and street stands but, please, keep it lakeside.
Open Circle
Lou Raskin will present “Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda” at the next meeting of at Open Circle, held in the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Sala, Sunday, August 6, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Sound familiar? These words are deeply embedded in the vocabulary of many people living regrettable lives. The presentation provides insights into the usage, lingering effects, and ways to move beyond such disabling excuses.
Raskin has resided in Mexico for 12 years, the last two at lakeside. As a member of the Open Circle Steering Committee, he oversaw the development of the website, which he currently maintains. He earned degrees from Naropa University, Boulder, Colorado, in Transpersonal Psychology and in Ecology. The two were integrated into the study of Ecopsychology, the relationship of the human species with the natural world. His principal career was with the aerospace industry. Time away focused on public affairs as a U.S. Jaycees program manager and staff member of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, Washington, DC, whose function was to promote and assist in organizing, throughout the 50 states, the commemoration of the United States becoming a sovereign nation.
For more information go to opencircleajjic.org.
Club Salvajes
The Ajijic Salvajes Athletic Club will hold a taco sale and bazaar Sunday, August 6, 8 a.m. at the corner of Guadalaupe Victoria and Javier Mina as a fundraiser. This is the group that organizes the “For Savages Only” Chupinaya race. Go have a taco for breakfast and support them.
LCS seminar
Lake Chapala Society members are invited to attend a TED seminar, hosted by Susan Weeks, on “Nature Is Everywhere” by Emma Marris, Tuesday, August 8, noon to 1:15 p.m. in the LCS Sala.
How do you define “nature?” If we define it as that which is untouched by humans, then we won’t have any left, says environmental writer Marris. She urges us to consider a new definition of nature — one that includes not only pristine wilderness but also the untended patches of plants growing in urban spaces — and encourages us to bring our children out to touch and tinker with it, so that one day they might love and protect it.
Gardening classes
Lakeside gardening guru Francisco Nava is once again offering his Gardening at Lakeside courses to Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members through its Personal Enrichment Program.
Introduction and advanced classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, August 15-September 7, in the LCS Sala. Each class is limited to 20 people and the course cost is 500 pesos. Sign up at the LCS office.
The Introduction to Lakeside Gardening class runs from 9:30-10:30 p.m. and the Advanced Lakeside Gardening class is scheduled from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Lakeside Freethinkers
A discussion of the perimeters of knowledge and god of the gaps arguments will be the highlight of the next meeting of the Lakeside Freethinkers, Wednesday, August 16. The group meets at La Nueva Posada restaurant on the third Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. Dinner and additional discussion usually follow.
The Lakeside Freethinkers define a “freethinker” as a person who as an atheist, agnostic, secular humanist, or skeptic. They believe that individuals should not accept ideas proposed as truth without recourse to knowledge and reason. They reject belief in the supernatural and rely on science and reason to guide their lives. To attend or obtain additional information, 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..
Heart of Awareness
The Heart of Awareness Community offers meditation opportunities several times each week. Sunday, August 6, the meditation center is open from 9 a.m. to noon for three rounds of sitting and walking meditation. Participants are welcome to come for all or part of this extended practice period. There are two additional hour-long silent meditation opportunities each week on Mondays from 9 to 10 a.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon.
The Sangha’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. August 9, the meditation period will be followed the second in a series of video teaching by educator and Zen master Ruben L. F. Habito a Filipino former Jesuit priest turned Zen master. “We Are All Refugees: Seeking Our True Home” is the series title and this week’s talk is “Turning the Mind to the Buddha”. The gathering ends by 6 p.m.
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 more information, go to heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert, (331)043-4669.
Camera Obscura
Local photographers Luis Caballo and Xill Fesseden invite the public to explore the Camera Obscura they have installed on the Ajijic plaza. The tall black box is based on the Leonardo da Vinci invention that demonstrates principles of light and human sight. Step inside, close the door and see how a tiny hole drilled into one wall projects an upside-down image of the outdoor scene on the opposite wall. The project is part of this summer´s Cochera Cultural Dream Camp art and theater program for local kids.
LCS Bus Trip
The Lake Chapala Society hosts a bus trip to the crafts centers of Tonala and Tlaquepaque Wednesday, August 23. This is a great chance to browse and buy handicrafts at modest and upscale retailers.
The cost is 350 pesos for members and 450 pesos for non-members. The bus departs promptly at 9 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta. Sign-up is available at the LCS office during regular office hours, Monday through Saturday. Or, easy and quick on the LCS website.
LCS is located at 16 de Septiembre 16A, Ajijic. Telephone: (376) 766-1140; website: lakechapalasociety.com.
Summer grant program
The Foundation for Lake Chapala Charities invites Lakeside-area charities to apply for awards totaling 100,000 pesos.
Four to six registered A.C.s, or I.A.P. non-profits will share in the organization’s funding for proposed projects. The applications, available in English or Spanish, are due on or before August 31.
For more information, applications and instructions, contact Margy Kassier at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Susan Smith 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..
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.