LCS Wine Tasting
The Lake Chapala Society holds its third annual wine tasting, Saturday April 7, 2:30-5:30 p.m. Tickets, 150 pesos for members, 180 pesos non-members and 200 pesos on the day of the event, are available at the LCS office.
Featured will be wineries from Chile, Argentina, Spain, Mexico and the United States, with many varieties on display. Wines will be available for purchase and tastings are unlimited this year. Appetizers are included in the ticket price, accompanied by the sounds of Peter Moore.
British Society
The Lakeside British Society holds its monthly luncheon Saturday, April 7, 1 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic.
Geraint (Taffy) Wilkes will entertain the members and guests.
Menu choices begin with a small salad or chickpea soup; choice of brisket, tuna steak with salad or a large salad with protein. Dessert is lemon tart. The cost is 150 pesos plus tip.
Contact Sue Morris at (376) 766-0847 or e-mail Sue Sterlini, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to confirm your attendance and menu choice.
Open Circle
Pam Wolski will present “The Theory of Everything: Science and the ‘Mind of God’” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, April 8, 10:30 a.m. on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
Since the days of Einstein physicists have searched for a Theory of Everything, explaining all the physical aspects of the universe. Stephen Hawking once wrote that this could lead to knowing why we and the universe exist, which ¨would be the ultimate triumph of human reason – for then we would know the mind of God.¨ But what do physicists mean by ¨mind of God,¨ and how close have they come to their ¨holy grail¨? Wolski will explore this from various angles including gravity, string theory, the multiverse, and even faith.
Wolski studied physics in high school and college, and later explored quantum physics and the claims being made about it since the 1970s. She is also intrigued by such cosmological questions as, ¨What caused the universe? Is it purposeful, explainable?¨ These interests have led to much research and reflection, which she enjoys sharing with other ¨explorers.¨
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For more information on Open Circle, see opencircleajijic.org.
Democrats Abroad
The next meeting of the Democrats Abroad Lake Chapala Chapter will be on Monday, April 9, 4 p.m. at Fonda Doña Lola’s Restaurant (across from La Casa del Waffle in West Ajijic). A cash bar will be available.
The guest speaker will be Alex González, a Mexican entrepreneur who will present an overview of the Mexican government system. He will discuss the development and influence of its political parties, and how they will likely affect the general election on July 1. Residents and newcomers are encouraged to come and learn more about Mexican politics.
The next film in the chapter’s “Sunday Afternoon at the Movies” is “Normal is Over,” which will be shown on April 8 at 1:30 p.m. at Cinemas del Lago, Plaza Bugambilias. This award-winning documentary looks at the financial and economical paradigm underlying our planetary problems, and offers various solutions to reverse climate change, species extinction and resource depletion. Film proceeds are being used to support the chapter’s non-partisan voter registration assistance underway at the Lake Chapala Society every Tuesday morning from 10 a.m. to noon.
U.S. citizens who will not be in the States this year should register and request their absentee ballots as soon as possible through chapter volunteers or online at Votefromabroad.org or FVAP.GOV to be sure their vote will be counted in their primaries and the November mid-term election. For more information on 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..
Progressive Action Group
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.." class="caption" style="float: right;" width="301" height="331" />The Progressive Action Group will meet Tuesday, April 10, 4 p.m. at the Sunrise Restaurant in Chula Vista. The topic of the meeting will be global warming. Over the past 50 years, the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history. Of the 17 hottest years in NASA’s 135-year record, 16 have occurred since 2000. And 2017 was the second-hottest year, behind only 2016. Our resident expert, John de Waal, will bring us up to date on the current situation.
The Progressive Action Group is gathering of like-minded people looking for progressive solutions to political problems. The group’s Facebook page is Progressive Action Group. Questions: 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 TED talks
Host Ron Mullenaux features a lecture by Theo E.J. Wilson, speaking on “A Black man Goes Undercover in the Alt-Right,” Tuesday, April 10, noon to 1:15 p.m. at the LCS Sala.
In an unmissable talk about race and politics in America, Wilson tells the story of becoming Lucius25, white supremacist lurker, and the unexpected compassion and surprising perspective he found from engaging with people he disagrees with. He encourages us to let go of fear, embrace curiosity and have courageous conversations with people who think differently from us. “Conversations stop violence, conversations start countries and build bridges.”
Lakeside Singles
The Lakeside Singles will hold a cocktail mixer Wednesday, April 11, 4-6 p.m. at Hotel Victoria at Guadalupe Victoria 73. The hotel does not serve dinner but will provide guacamole dip and snacks. To reserve, 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..
New to Lakeside or Mexico?
Become a Lake Chapala Society member and sign up for their Introduction to Lakeside Seminar, Thursday, April 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn all the basics: banking, shopping, restaurants, medical, getting around, entertainment and recreation, all for only 250 pesos. Sign-up at the service desk, or at lakechapalasociety.com.
Legion language practice
American Legion Post 7 Chapala is expecting a visit by an English class from San Juan de los Lagos on Saturday, April 14.
Post Adjutant Vince Britton welcomes expats to show up and help these students practice speaking English. Call him at 331-358-8944 for more information.
Lakeside Freethinkers
A discussion on justified belief will be featured at the next meeting of the Lakeside Freethinkers Wednesday, April 18, 4-6 p.m. at La Nueva Posada.
We tend to think of ourselves as clear thinkers and those who disagree as misguided. What justifies such a belief? How certain can we be?
The Lakeside Freethinkers define a “freethinker” as a person who is an atheist, agnostic, secular humanist, or skeptic. Freethinkers reject supernatural and other unsupported claims, and rely instead on reason applied to evidence to guide their lives.
If you would like to attend, or obtain more 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..
LCS Bus Trip
The Lake Chapala Society hosts a bus trip to downtown Guadalajara for a self-guided walking tour, Wednesday, April 18. See the historical 17th-, 18th- and 19th-century architecture, stunning murals and artwork. The Instituto Cultural Cabañas is a must. A detailed map will be provided. The bus will leave promptly at 10 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta.
On Thursday, April 26, LCS heads to Costco and Galerias Mall, with the bus leaving at 9:30 a.m.
The cost for both trips is 370 pesos for members and 470 pesos for non-members. Sign up at the LCS office.
CASA
The Culinary Arts Society (CASA) meeting on March 19 featured members presenting vegetarian main courses and candy desserts. Taking first place in the main dish category and People’s Choice award was Sally Myers for a Moroccan vegetarian pie with Harissa yogurt sauce. Margaret Ancira took second place and the presentation award for her squash supreme, while Monica Molloy came third with root vegetables wrapped in puff pastry.
In the desserts category, Carol Westbrook took first place and the presentation award for her bacon maple fudge; Roberta Hilleman won second place and the People’s Choice award for her dark chocolate macadamia nut crunch; and Patti Taylor took third place for Louisiana pralines.
Michael and Anita McLaughlin spoke about how they converted to vegan and manage to stay on this lifestyle while traveling the world.
Judges were Barbara Gross, Liona Maria de Borhegyi and Susana Montserrat (one of CASA’s sponsored culinary students).
CASA’s next meeting is Monday, April 16, when the categories are “food truck meals cooking with a partner” main course and “food truck desserts cooking with a partner.”
CASA now holds its meetings at the Hotel Villa Montecarlo in Chapala in the Sala La Estancia. 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..
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community, located at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic, offers multiple opportunities each week for silent mediation: Sunday and Monday, 9 a.m., Wednesday, 4 p.m. and Thursday, 11 a.m. Sunday, Monday and Thursday practice periods consist of one hour for both sitting and walking meditation. Wednesday there is 45 minutes of sitting meditation. All sessions are open to the public regardless of experience or affiliation, and chairs and cushions are provided. There are brief written instructions on meditation for beginners.
During April, the Wednesday practice periods are followed by brief video presentations from a series titled “Real Happiness”. Sharon Salzberg brings the topic to life in this series of practical teachings. Meditation practice can play a large part in discovering a stable and open happiness that is not shaken by conditions. The practice of meditation is far simpler, more fun, less esoteric and much more relevant to the wide-ranging situations we encounter in everyday life than we might imagine. Meditation consists of practical tools to help deepen concentration, mindfulness and compassion. We rely on this depth when things change, when we feel out of control of events, and above all when we want a quality of happiness that is not so fragile, so dependent on shifting conditions.
Wednesdays, individuals are welcome to come for just the meditation period (4-4:45 p.m.), just the program and discussion period (4:50-5:50 p.m.), or both.
The meditation center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic. For more information, see heartofawareness.org.
Chapala meditation
Chapala Meditation Community offers silent mindfulness meditation in Chapala at Calle Cinco de Mayo 260 just north of Lopez Cotilla, (brown door in white building), Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 11 a.m. to noon. Wednesdays, 1-2:30 p.m. includes meditation and teachings from an audio presentation by Frank Ostaseski, author of “The Five Invitations.” All are welcome. For more information, see chapalameditation.com.