British luncheon
The Lakeside British and Commonwealth Society holds its monthly luncheon Saturday, February 2, 12:45 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic.
Speaker Andy Csiffray will talk about his presence at the national uprising in Hungary in 1956.
Menu choices begin with a small salad or pea soup; stuffed pork chop, vegetarian lasagna or a large salad with protein. Dessert is apple pie and ice cream.
The cost is 150 pesos plus tip.
Contact Sue at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Arleen Foster, 766-1742 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., to confirm your attendance and menu choice.
Legion Superbowl
American Legion Post 7 Chapala invites one and all to a Superbowl afternoon, Sunday, February 3. Hamburgers, hot dogs and bar snacks will be available.
Late night rides
Help promote bicycle culture in Chapala by joining Rodada Vespertina late night group bike rides each Tuesday, leaving from Black Coffee (in front of Walmart) at 6:45 p.m. heading to Parque de la Cristiania and returning about 9:15 p.m. to Ajijic.
Kite fest
The 3rd Annual Festival de Papalote (kite festival) will be held on the Ajijic malecon Friday to Sunday, February 1 to 3, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Enjoy workshops, live music, performance artists and an exposition of food, crafts and design.
Joco crafts
Expo Artesanos continues through Monday, February 11 at La Casa de Cultura, Hidalgo Sur 38 in Jocotepec. Find a great variety of products, including arts, crafts, beer, wine and liquors made in this lakeside municipality.
Open Circle
Dr. Morris Schwarzblat presents “The Future of Food Production” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, February 3, 10:30 a.m., on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that by 2050 the world will have nine billion inhabitants. Natural resources will not be enough to produce the amount of protein required, in addition to the high environmental damage that such production would produce. We will review the different alternatives available to feed our increasing population while maintaining a healthy environment.
Schwarzblat is a nuclear physicist with ample experience in academia, research and industry. He has worked in Mexico and Canada, where he lived for 16 years, and represented Canada as a member of the Co-ordinated Research Program on Artificial Intelligence at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. He recently finished his work at the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and is now an entrepreneur.
Information: opencircleajijic.org.
Trivia Quiz 11
The annual Trivia Quiz fundraiser for Niños Incapacitados celebrates its 11th year Tuesday, February 5 at the Hotel Real de Chapala. Many of the eight-person teams decorate their tables with a theme and dress up in costumes accordingly. There are two Trivia Quiz sessions, at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. For tickets, contact Linda at (376) 106-1281, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or order online at programaninos.com.
TED Talks
Bjorn Lomborg presents “Are there global priorities bigger than Climate Change?” at the next TED Talk, Tuesday, February 5, noon to 1:30 p.m. in the LCS Sala
Lomborg, who heads the Copenhagen Consensus group, says since we don’t have enough money to solve all the world’s problems, we need to prioritize. Which ones should we solve first? Will you agree with his conclusions?
Hosted by Gary Thompson. For LCS members only.
Report a crime at LCS
You can file a denuncia (formal criminal complaint) at the Lake Chapala Society with a bilingual lawyer from the Ministerio Publico (Jalisco Attorney General’s Office) Wednesdays, February 6 and February 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Talking Books Library.
MP officials will provide legal advice regarding your complaint. Show up early as they will leave if the waiting line becomes zero.
LCS Tech Support
A tech expert will be available to help LCS members with questions and issues with tech devices each Thursday, 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Sala.
Members are encouraged to bring their phones, tablets and laptops so that questions can be solved. Also on Thursdays, specific tech classes are given: February 7, keeping in touch with loved ones for free; February 21, tech in Lakeside; and February 28, an overview of all free Google apps. Bring your questions and we will try to solve them.
To register send an email with your LCS membership number to 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..
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LCS courses on Mexico
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) offers its members a variety of courses and seminars in February to learn about the history and flavors of Mexico. Sign up at the LCS office.
• Mexican hot cocktails, Friday, February 8, 3 to 5 p.m.
• Investment Issues for US Expats, Tuesday, February 12, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Introduction to Lakeside, February 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Mexican corn tortillas and other dishes with corn, Tuesday, February 19, 1 to 4 p.m.
• Discover Mexican manners, Wednesday, February 20, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Street Spanish, Thursday, February 28, 10 a.m. to noon.
Orphanage fundraiser
An Affair of the Heart, the fifth annual fund-raiser for Villa Infantil, a home for abused, abandoned and orphaned children, is Saturday, February 9, 12:30 p.m. at La Huerta Eventos.
The event includes music and dancing courtesy of the children, a lunch of fresh salads, a cash bar, a 50-50 raffle, and silent and live auctions. A concierge service and professional sound system are employed in this year’s event, which will incorporate a Valentine’s theme.
Villa Infantil is located on the southwest shore of Lake Chapala.
Tickets, 400 pesos (VIP tickets, 1,500 pesos), are available at Diane Pearl and Mia’s Boutique. Table reservations require a minimum of ten guests. Information: villainfantil.com.mx/news.html.
Tarahumara Project
Libby Townsend continues to collect donations for her Tarahumara Project’s annual yard sale to be held Saturday and Sunday, February 9 and 10, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations can be dropped off at the Guadalajara Reporter office at Plaza Bugambilias in Ajijic, or arrange to have items picked up at (376) 766-3338 or 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 trips
The Lake Chapala Society offers bus trips to various metro area locations throughout this month: Tlaquepaque and Tonala, Wednesday, February 13; Costco, Mega and Home Depot, Thursday, February 21; the Guadalajara Zoo, Thursday, February 28.
Check the LCS office or website to sign up and learn the departure times and cost of the trips for members and non-members. Registration and payment can now be made online.
Chili Cookoff
Three days of fun, good food, live music, dance and competition for the best chili and salsa and margaritas begin Friday, February 15 at the 41st Mexican National Chili Cookoff held at the Tobolandia Water Park in Ajijic, daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hourly drawings. will be held for 250 raffle prizes.
This event raises hundreds of thousands of pesos to help eight Lakeside Charities. Information: mexicannationalchilicookoff.com. Cooks are still needed for “The Best of Lakeside” margaritas, salsas and chili. Call Carol or Jacque, (376) 766-4350 to enter the competitions. To volunteer call Sandra, (376) 765-6329.
Jaltepec
The annual open house for locals who are interested in learning more about Centro Educativo Jaltepec (hospitality school) is Tuesday, February 19, 11 a.m. The school allows young women from all over Mexico to earn a degree in hoteleria. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served during a discussion of the history of the center, and its academic and scholarship programs. A tour of the facilities followed by a 1 p.m. luncheon will showcase the quality of education. Reservations: Linda Buckthorp, (376) 766-1631 or 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..
Jalisco driver’s license
The Lake Chapala Society offers members the opportunity to study for the driver’s exam Monday, February 25, and go to Guadalajara to obtain a new or renewed license on Tuesday, February 26, 7 a.m. Register and find out the fee for the course at the LCS office.
- Insight Meditation
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community offers multiple opportunities each week for silent meditation.
Sunday, February 3, the center is open from 9 a.m. to noon for three rounds of sitting and walking meditation. Additional meditation periods are Wednesday, 4 p.m. and Thursday, 11 a.m. All sessions are open to the public regardless of experience or affiliation. Chairs and cushions are provided and there are brief written instructions on meditation for beginners. There are no fees, but donations are always welcome. Thursday, the meditation period is 60 minutes and includes sitting and walking. Wednesday’s “sit” is 45 minutes.
Wednesday, February 6, the meditation period will be followed by a reading and discussion focused on “practice”. Selections will be from the writings of recognized teachers in the Vipassana (Insight) meditation tradition.
February 27 to March 3, DaeJa Napier, a senior Vipassana teacher, will be in residence and will provide teachings at The Heart of Awareness. Opportunities to hear the teachings and receive support in the practice will include a daylong retreat on Saturday, March 2. Advance registration is required; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details.
A yoga class suitable for beginners and advanced students, is offered Thursday, 9 to 10:45 a.m.
The center is at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic. Information: heartofawareness.org.