Chapala tequila fest
The fourth annual Chapala Tequila, Mezcal and Craft Beer Fest is set for Friday to Sunday, November 15-17 at the Chapala malecon, 2 to 10 p.m. Music and tastings will be the order of the day. No charge.
Jocotepec at 490
Through November 20, Jocotepec celebrates 490 years since its founding with music, dance, games, books and a time capsule. Local artisans will show off their products at the main plaza Saturday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. At the Casa de Cultura, just a block off the plaza, a presentation of ancient and recent games takes place 6 p.m. Various orchestras and bands will perform concerts in the plaza for concerts daily at 8 p.m. A parade commemorating the Mexican Revolution, including local charros, will begin at the plaza Wednesday, 9 a.m.
LCS wine tasting
Fans of the vine won’t want to miss the Lake Chapala Society’s 4th annual Wine Tasting event Saturday, November 16, 2:30-5:30 pm. Wines from Chile, Argentina, Spain and Mexico will be featured with many varieties available for unlimited tasting and purchase. This year for the first time LCS is combining wine with the arts. Members of the Ajijic Society of the Arts (ASA) will be exhibiting their work during the wine tasting, giving visitors a chance to meet the local artists. Stroll the LCS gardens while viewing the art displayed as part of the ASA Autumn Show.
Tickets on the day of the event are 250 pesos. Appetizers and live music are included in the ticket price.
Garden Guild Floral Show
The Lakeside Garden Guild’s Annual Floral Show is Saturday, November 16, 3-6 p.m. at the original Hacienda del Lago on O’Campo and Privada de O’Campo in Ajijic. Some of the Guild’s beautiful arrangements will be for sale at the show.
The proceeds will help fund the Guild’s 2020 Community Project. Tickets, 300 pesos – including a complementary drink and hors d’oeuvres – are available via Barb at 376-766-5452 or Leslie at 376- 766-2274.
Cowboy hoedown
The Ranch dog shelter is hosting a Big Cowboy Hoedown, Sunday, November 17, 3-6 p.m. at a gorgeous upper Ajijic estate. The menu includes roast pig, BBQ chicken, vegetarian options and all the trimmings. Enjoy live music, dancing, a silly selfie area, caricature drawing, and prizes for best dressed cowboy/cowgirl. A valet shuttle bus will take folks to the event. Directions on the back of the ticket. Tickets, 550 pesos, are available at Chocolac Axixic, Lilifher Deli and the Scandinavian Bakery.
Open Circle
Sara Kelly Keenan will present “What is going on with sex and gender these days?” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, November 17, 10:30 a.m. to noon, on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
Terms like queer (as a good thing!), intersex, non-binary, cisgendered, gender binary and the pronouns they/them/their seem confusing to many. Are society’s traditional gender and sex “social constructs” under attack, as many Christian and conservative groups believe? Or is society expanding its awareness and becoming more accepting of non-heteronormative people? From the perspective of her/their own experience, Keenan will discuss these issues.
Keenan is intersex, with XY chromosomes but mostly female-associated anatomy. Sara learned at age 50 that doctors and parents had concocted a lie five decades earlier about Sara’s sex and gender, a discovery still not uncommon today. Sara became the first Californian to go to court and successfully challenge the Gender Binary, creating a third legal gender that is now available in all California identity documents. Sara also made international news in early 2017 as the first person in American history to have her/their birth certificate corrected to Intersex to reflect biological reality. Keenan has degrees in Communication Arts and Paralegal Studies and is retired as a paralegal from the California State Court system. She/they moved to Ajijic two years ago with husband of 30 years, Dave.
Information: opencircleajijic.org.
Lucky Dog open house
Lucky Dog rescue and adoption center is holding an open house, Sunday, November 17, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meet the center’s volunteers and canine residents, enjoy hamburgers and empanadas, try their special Lucky Dog margaritas and other drinks and enjoy some special entertainment.
The open house takes place at the center, located at Carretera Chapala-Mezcala 1100 (two kilometers east of the old train station).
Genealogy Forum
The Genealogy Forum meeting is Monday, November 18, 1 to 3 p.m. at the Church of the Latter-Day Saints in Riberas del Pilar. The presentation this month will be Land Records of the U.K., Ireland, Canada and the United States. These are frequently under-utilized, often contain significant genealogical information, and may exist where records of births, marriages and deaths have been destroyed. Many are becoming available online.
This will be of interest to all experience levels; open to all, no dues or registration required.
The Family History Centre (FHC) will be open during this time. The church is located diagonally across from Mom’s Restaurant in Riberas del Pilar. Information 376-766-2722.
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the FHC will be closed Tuesday, November 26, and Thursday, November 28.
TED Talks
Meteorologist J. Marshall Shepard will present “Three Kinds of Bias That Shape Your Worldview” at the next Ted Talk, Tuesday, November 19, noon to 1:15 p.m. in the Lake Chapala Society Sala. Open to LCS members only.
What shapes our perceptions (and misperceptions) about science? In an eye-opening talk, Shepherd explains how confirmation bias, the Dunning-Kruger effect and cognitive dissonance impact what we think we know – and shares ideas for how we can replace them with something much more powerful: knowledge.
Hosted by Pete Soderman.
Hot Science at LCS
Lake Chapala Society members can get the lowdown on new science, technology and medical news each Tuesday in the LCS Sala, 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. Topics for November 19: Scientists say “Human Extinction Is Extremely Likely”; A Chinese digital currency is the real threat, not Facebook’s Libra; The rise of microchipping: are we ready for technology to get under the skin?
Presented by Silicon Valley guy Richard Clarke.
Starlit Paella fundraiser
The Starlit Paella fundraiser for the Lakeside Charities Grant Program has been rescheduled due to a rainy first date last week. The multi-course dinner will be offered at Hotel Montecarlo on Tuesday, November 19, 6-9 p.m.
This program has funded more than 25 local community projects with some 600,000 pesos in the last few years. Tickets are available via 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.. No tickets will be sold at the door. If you can’t come, please send a refund request to the above email or call 376-766-4337 by November 19.
Lakeside Singles
The lakeside singles will meet for their end of the year fiesta Wednesday, November 20, 4-6 p.m. at the Brew House, Del Las Flores 25 (in front of Hacienda Don Pedro Restaurant), just off the Carretera in West Ajijic. RSVP 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..
Bridge lessons
Catherine Gonzales will hold supervised bridge lessons at the Lake Chapala Duplicate Bridge Club every Wednesday, 1:30 to 4 p.m. beginning November 13. For more information, email her 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..
Tech classes at LCS
Michael Goss teaches tech classes Thursdays, 10-11:30 a.m. for LCS members.
Sign up for classes by email 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..
• November 21: Creating photo books
• December 5: WhatsApp, Messenger, Skype and Texting
• Every Thursday, noon to 2 p.m., Technical Help Desk for phones, laptops, tablets, TV questions, cell phone operations, email and everything tech.
Legion Tech support
Mike Goss now also offers free tech support at American Legion Post 7, Morelos 114 in Chapala, Fridays, 1 to 3 p.m. Email him 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 courses
LCS members can take advantage of a variety of courses and seminars.
• Mexican Manners, Thursday, November 21, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Check the LCS office or website for costs and to sign up.
Lake Chapala Birders
Friday, November 22, 8 a.m., the Lake Chapala Birders will meet at Donas Donuts to car pool, leaving immediately for the Rosa Amarilla Loop on the plateau above the south side of the lake (60-minute drive). Expect to see wood storks, and possibly a white-tailed hawk. Bring refreshments for the morning and sandwiches for the 12:30 lunch stop. The group returns about 3 p.m. If you plan on going, email John Keeling at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at least 48 hours ahead of time to help in carpool planning.
Lake Chapala Birders is an informal group of bird observers led by John and Rosemary Keeling. Information: chapalabirders.org.
A laminated folder “Quick Guide to the Birds of Lake Chapala” illustrating 150 local species can be purchased for 150 pesos at Diane Pearl, Colon 1, in the center of Ajijic. This is especially useful to newcomers. It is produced by Defenders of Wildlife which works to protect imperiled species throughout North America.
LCS Holiday Fair
The Lake Chapala Society will be hosting Its annual Holiday Fair Friday and Saturday, November 22 and 23, noon to 5 p.m. on each day.
More than 70 vendors will feature handmade goods, jewelry, paintings, candles, photography, pottery and much more. Art, including Christmas cards, from children involved in the LCS Saturday art classes will also be on sale.
A food court will be on hand to satisfy hunger pains as well as a cash bar.
The fair is open to the public and admission is 30 pesos at the gate.
Jocotepec berry fest
Saturday and Sunday, November 23 and 24, the Feria Agroalimentaria de Berries will take place on the Jocotepec malecon from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Contests of meals and desserts, gourmet berry products and workshops and networking are on the schedule.
LCS bus trips
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) takes a bus trip to Galerias Mall and Costco Monday, November 25. The mall features anchor stores Liverpool, Best Buy and Sanborns and many specialty stores, including Gap, C&A, Tommy Hilfiger, The Body Shop, Radio Shack, Mac Store, H&M and more. Shoppers can visit nearby Costco, Sam’s Club and Super Mega. Restaurants include PF Chang, Cheesecake Factory and McCarthy’s Irish Pub.
LCS heads to Guadalajara’s yearly Christmas Market, Wednesday, November 27. The huge market of decorative items for the holidays is at Parque el Refugio on Avenida Federalismo in front of the Nuestra Señora del Refugio church. There are about 400 stands at the market.
Check the LCS office or website to sign up and learn the departure times and cost of the trips. Registration and payment can now be made online at lakechapalasociety.com.
Ajijic Cares
Ajijic Cares Foundation works with VIHAS de Vida in Guadalajara to provide educational support aimed at reducing the transmission of HIV and the reduction in the number of new cases of AIDS at Lakeside.
Ajijic Cares will give the presentation “Communities Make the Difference” on World AIDS Day, Sunday, December 1, 5 p.m. sharp at the Ajijic Malecon amphitheater. For information on how to support the group, see Facebook/Ajijic Cares 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..
Fashion show
The School for Special Children presents the fundraiser event, “Every Day is a Fashion Show and the World Is the Runway,” at Las Cabellerizas at the Coxala Raquet Club, Thursday, December 5. The store opens 10:30 a.m. and the show beings at noon, when lunch is served. To book a table, 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.. Tickets, 350 pesos in advance or 400 at the door, are on sale at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique and Casi Nuevo Bazaar.
Insight Meditation
The Heart of Awareness (HOA) meditation center offers meditation sessions Sunday at 9 a.m., Wednesday at 4 p.m. and Thursday at 11 a.m. All are open to the general public regardless of experience or affiliation. Chairs and cushions are provided and there are written instructions on meditation for beginners. There are no fees for practice opportunities, but donations are always welcome.
Wednesday, November 20, the meditation period will be followed by a reading from “Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom” by Joseph Goldstein, from the section “What is the path?” titled “The Role of a Teacher.”
A yoga class is offered on Thursdays from 9-10:45 am. Mats and blocks are provided. The class is suitable for students at all levels, from beginners to advanced.
The HOA center is at Guadalupe Victoria 101.
Personal enhancement
A personal Enhancement workshop, presented by Dr. Daniel Acuff, Ph.D., will be offered every Wednesday at LCS beginning January 29. Participants will explore a variety of issues germane to what it means to be alive and inquisitive, wanting even more insight, growth, health and happiness. Free to LCS members. For info and registration: 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..
Feria de Maestrosdraws record crowds
Hundreds of eager shoppers swarmed the grounds of Chapala’s Club de Yates last weekend where 85 of Mexico’s most outstanding artisans showcased a cornucopia of hand-made crafts and folk art at the 18th annual Feria Maestros del Arte. With record attendance over three days, visitors took in fashion shows, live entertainment and conferences while roaming the fair to scoop up great buys on a stunning array of top-notch merchandise.