Tastes of Ajijic
See and savor the classic flavors of Ajijic at Raices Gastronomicas, the culinary fair set for Sunday, February 4, 2 p.m., taking place at the town plaza outside the Rosario chapel.
The exhibit will include more than 100 different homemade dishes based on recipes handed down through the generations.
Visitors may reserve any of the platters shown in the display carry out after 4 p.m. They may also sit down for a full comida service, starting around 2:30 p.m., with main dish choices of Birria de Carpa (carp stew) Pepián de Pollo (chicken in pepián sauce) for 60 pesos, or Chicharrón en Salsa Verde (pork rind in green sauce) for 50 pesos, all accompanied by sides of rice, beans and tortillas.
The event is organized by the Pasión de Cristo committee as a benefit for the town’s annual Easter Passion Play. Admission is free of charge. Proceeds from food sales go towards this year’s production costs such as costumes, scenery and technical requirements.
The all-volunteer cast and crew work throughout Lent to prepare for the program to be staged in episodes running through the week of March 25 to 31 at various locations.
Bass fishing tourney
Lake Chapala’s second annual National Bass Fishing Tournament is scheduled Friday and Saturday, February 2 and 3, headquartered again at the Nimue Marina Residence & Sport Club (formerly Club Náutico) in La Floresta. This year, the tournament has openings in two categories, one for professional sports fishermen and another for amateur anglers. The contest runs under a “catch and release” mode, with up to four team members allowed aboard each boat.
Pro competitors will split a purse of 250,000 pesos in prize money and amateurs will split 50,000 pesos.
For information, call 331-401-2847, 331-415-6251 or 331-845-9183.
Tequila tasting
The Lake Chapala Society will explore your passion for tequila at a cata, Saturday, February 3, 3 p.m. in the sala. Learn all about tequila: where it comes from, how it’s produced, and how to enjoy its flavors by sampling six 100-percent agave tequilas from both the Tequila Valley and the Jalisco Highlands, highlighting the diversity of the category and aroma/flavor differences based on terroir and production methods. This event is for LCS members only and limited to 25 participants. The cost is 200 pesos per person.
British Society
The Lakeside British Society holds its monthly luncheon Saturday, February 3, 1 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic. Rod Pye will present “A lunchtime Safari” – a virtual safari through many of Tanzania’s game reserves illustrated by photographs taken during eight years of living there.
Menu choices begin with a small salad or ginger soup; choice of fish a la veracruzana with rice or pork chops, sauce with rice or a chef’s salad. Dessert is chocolate cake. The cost is 150 pesos plus tip.
Contact Sue Morris at (376) 766-0847 or e-mail 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.
Open Circle
Andrew Paxman will present “Gringophobia: Mexican Anti-Americanism Past and Present” at the next gathering of Open Circle, Sunday, February 4, 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Chapala Society. Attitudes towards The U.S. are largely shaped by the occupant of the White House, and since January 2017, feelings have turned majority-negative. But it’s not just a matter of recent bombast. Long-held prejudices have been resurrected. By surveying the history of “gringophobia” since the Mexican Revolution – especially through the life and times of expat businessman William Jenkins, once the richest man in the country – we can see how anti-Americanism has often been used by Mexican politicians for political gain. This in turn helps explain some of the rhetoric in Mexico’s current campaign season.
Andrew Paxman is author of “Jenkins of Mexico: How a Southern Farm Boy Became a Mexican Magnate” (Oxford, 2017) and coauthor of “El Tigre: Emilio Azcárraga y su imperio Televisa” (Grijalbo, 2000/2013). He teaches history and journalism at the CIDE in Aguascalientes and Mexico City. Dr. Paxman would like to invite those in the audience interested in continuing the discussion to join him for lunch after the lecture at the Peacock Garden, where he will also have a few of his books for sale.
Don Aitken, who was scheduled to speak this week, canceled his talk due to ill health.
For more information on Open Circle, see opencircleajijic.org.
Jewish Film Fest
The Ajijic Jewish Film Festival celebrates its ninth year at Cine del Lago. Presented by the Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation and shown each Sunday at 1:30 p.m., the festival donates a portion of its 80-peso ticket price to a lakeside charity. On February 4 “Oy Vey My Son Is Gay” will be shown. This is a romantic, heartwarming and inspirational mainstream family “comedy of errors” featuring a Jewish family who struggles coming to terms with their son’s non-Jewish and gay boyfriend.
Beginners Spanish
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) offers a casual class of Spanish to members that covers the alphabet, simple vocabulary and phrases to use about town for shopping, and other useful information about Lakeside and Mexican culture.
Classes are held each month starting the first Tuesday of the month and continue for three weeks. February classes will start February 6, noon-1:30 p.m., and 2-3 p.m.
Sign up is available at the LCS office during regular office hours, Monday through Saturday. Or via www.lakechapalasociety.com. Telephone: (376) 766-1140.
New Medical Service
Glucose screenings are offered the first Tuesday of the month, beginning February 6, 10 a.m. to noon in the Talking Books Library at the Lake Chapala Society. Fasting is preferred; diabetics should stay with their usual routine. This service is open to the public.
LCS TED Talk
Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members are invited to attend a learning seminar by doctor and epidemiologist Ben Goldacre titled “Battling Bad Science,” Tuesday, February 6, noon to 1:15 p.m. in the LCS Sala. Phil Rylett facilitates this TED talk
Every day, there are news reports of new health advice, but how can you know if they’re right? Dr. Goldacre shows us, at high speed, the ways evidence can be distorted, from the blindingly obvious nutrition claims to the very subtle tricks of the pharmaceutical industry.
Neill James Lecture
Phil Rylett will speak about “What is illness and how do we cure it?” at the next Neill James Lecture, Tuesday, February 6, 2-3:30 p.m. at the LCS Sala.
We all will suffer some illness in our lives, but what exactly is it? How do we know when we are ill? Only when we feel it? Is there a line we cross? Rylett will take a look at illness, its perception throughout history and how it is viewed today. He will also look at the many options to deal with illness and how successful they are.
Rylett received his degree in Pharmacology, followed by a 10-year stint as a nurse. He ended up in public health in a nationwide cancer detection program.
LCS bus trip
The Lake Chapala Society will go to the Guadalajara Zoo, Thursday, February 8. Tickets, 440 pesos for members and 540 pesos for non-members, are on sale at the LCS service desk and include the bus transportation, a train ride, safari and aquatic show.
Democrats Abroad
The Lake Chapala Chapter of Democrats Abroad will meet Monday, February 12, 4 p.m. at Salvador’s Restaurant in Plaza Bugambilias. A social gathering will begin at 3:30 p.m. with botanas and drinks. A presentation on “Election Outlook 2018” will be given by Paul Crist, from Puerto Vallarta, who will review some of the Democratic Party races with favorable chances to win in the November midterm elections. Crist was a Legislative Aide in the 1990s, where he worked on energy, environment, agriculture and healthcare, and has served on numerous boards for small business, HIV/AIDS, and progressive political organizations. The new Lake Chapala Chapter board members leading the meeting will also introduce the “Get Out The Vote” campaign for the midterm elections. Voter registration training for those needing internet support will also begin at LCS on Tuesday, February 13, from 10 a.m. to noon and weekly thereafter.
For more information on Chapala Chapter activities, 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..">.
Meet the children
Niños Incapacitados is holding a “meet the children” event, Thursday, February 15, 10 a.m. at the Eucalyptus Room of the Hotel Real de Chapala. The non-profit, all-volunteer charity has worked to help lakeside children with disabilities or life threatening illnesses since 1974. Their next fundraiser is the popular Trivia Quiz, Tuesday, February 6, at the Hotel Real. See programaninos.com for more information.
Chili Cookoff countdown
The 40th Mexican National Chili Cookoff, February 23-25 at Tobolandia waterpark, opens with a fun parade through Ajijic. This three-day extravaganza provides non-stop entertainment and lots of food and handicrafts as a sideline to the margarita, salsa and chili contests, while raising hundreds of thousands of pesos for local charities.
To participate in the opening day parade, call Hector, 331-065-0725. To enter any of the competitions, call Carol, (376) 766-3167. To volunteer, call Sandy, 765-6329.
Rib Fest
Just finished with their successful first annual Paella Fest fundraiser, the Shriners are preparing for their 12th annual Rib Fest event Wednesday, March 7. The Ajijic Jam Band will entertain while you enjoy Adelita’s famous ribs and chicken at the Cumbres Events Garden on the top of Chula Vista Norte with fantatic views of the lake. Get your tickets, 500 pesos, now from any Shriner, Diane Pearl, O&A Investments or call David, 331-017-1724 or Perry, 763-5126.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community offers four opportunities each week for silent mediation. Sunday, February 4, the 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 just a portion of this extended practice period. Additional meditation periods are offered Monday at 9 a.m., Wednesday at 4 p.m. and Thursday at 11 a.m.
During February, the Wednesday practice period will be followed by brief video presentations from a series titled “Moving beyond the Mirage: Practicing with Buddhism’s Five Aggregates.” Do you have a difficult relationship with your thoughts? Your body? The feelings that visit you time and time again? Welcome to the club. In this dharma talk series, Pascal Auclair, a cofounder of True North Insight in Ontario, Canada, presents methods that can help you find congruence among body, heart, and mind.
The meditation center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. For more information, see heartofawareness.org.
Super sunrise over lake
Photographer Bernhard Peter Sawatzki captured this stunning sun-up image this week. A sign of warmer weather to come, maybe?