Open Circle
Michael Hogan is the guest speaker at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, December 19, 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
The historian and author returns to present his latest book, “Women of the Irish Rising: A People’s History.” In Hogan’s fifth appearance at Open Circle, he will share portions of this exciting narrative drawn from the women’s journals and Irish and British field reports of the women who fought for Irish freedom and whose exploits have not been published in book form. Among them are a woman warrior who was shot three times by British soldiers and survived, a female doctor who treated the wounded on both sides, and a female yacht captain who brought arms to the rebels despite a British destroyer blockade. One Irish reviewer called the book “an invaluable new source of inspiration for young women and for lovers of freedom around the world.”
Hogan is the author of 26 books, including “The Irish Soldiers of Mexico,” “Abraham Lincoln and Mexico” and “Guns, Grit and Glory: How the U.S. and Mexico Came Together to Defeat the Last Empire in the Americas.”
“The Irish Soldiers of Mexico” was the inspiration for two major documentaries and a feature film starring Tom Berenger.
Hogan is a former professor of International Relations at the Autonomous University of Guadalajara, Emeritus Humanities Chair of the American School Foundation of Guadalajara, and Latin American consultant to the U.S. State Department’s Office of Overseas Schools. He lives in Guadalajara with the textile artist, Lucinda Mayo, and their Dutch Shepherd, Lola.
8th annual Toy Run
Get your motor running for the 8th annual Lake Chapala Toy Run Saturday, December 25, 8:30 a.m. leaving from the Chapala Malecon.
This event, sponsored by Los Gueros Motorcycle Club and American Legion Post 7 Chapala, benefits needy children in the pueblos of San Nicolas de Ibarra and Santa Cruz de la Soledad. All bikes and cars are welcome.
Donations of unwrapped toys (value between 100-150 pesos) may be made at the Legion, Mama’s Pool and Music Bars, the Chapala Country Club and the Iron Horse Saloon.
Lakeside Freethinkers
In-lieu of a December meeting, the Lakeside Freethinkers will hold a Winter Solstice Party. This two-hour outdoor event will be on Tuesday, December 21, and the first face-to-face get together in almost two years. The occasion will feature food, drink and reconnecting with fully vaccinated members.
For information about the party or the Lakeside Freethinkers, 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..
The Lakeside Freethinkers define a “freethinker” as a person who identifies himself or herself as an atheist, agnostic, secular humanist, or skeptic. They reject belief in the supernatural and rely on science and reason to guide their lives.
Christmas dining options
• Armando’s offers a Christmas Day dinner of Waldorf salad, turkey and trimmings, cake, a glass of wine and a kaluha or brandy for 400 pesos. Reservations: 376-766-2229.
• La Bodega is offering to cook your Christmas dinner, for you to pick up Thursday, December 23 or Friday, December 24. The menu is sold by the kilo and includes baked turkey, stuffing, sliced pork in mushroom sauce and ham and fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp. Side dishes include mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, Christmas salad, spinach salad and pickled shrimp. La Bodega also offers individual dinners of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and a green salad for 250 pesos. Orders close December 21. Call 376-766-1002.
• Casa d’ Romeo & Julieta in Chapala is offering Christmas Day lunch and dinner with a bruschetta caprese, Waldorf salad, ravioli filled with salon in a special Parisian sauce, gelato di mascarpone accompanied by a glass of Fragolino Rosso. Seatings at 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Reservations: 331-255-3226.
• Concinart offers a special menu for the 24th and 25th: Turkey with mashed potatoes, green beans and stuffing or beef brisket or lamb T-bone, or Vizcaina mahi-mahi fish or shrimp and crab with rice. Reservations: 331-395-3810.
•Go Bistro is serving a traditional Christmas Day feast, but is totally booked for that day.
• La Nueva Posada puts on the Ritz with two seatings on Christmas Day: 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. Start off with a three-cheese log, tomato bisque Pernod, turkey and all the fixings, and finish with old English plum pudding with rum sauce. 460 pesos. Reservations: 376-766-1414.
• Manix presents a turkey and roast suckling pig feast with all the trimmings, a dessert bar and coffee for 480 pesos. Seatings are at 2 and 6 p.m. Reservations: 376-766-0061.
• Mexa Fonda has an interesting four-main course menu for Christmas. Begin with a holiday salad and then choose turkey, roast pork leg, a combo or both or a Coca-cola brisket. Traditional trimmings and either apple or pumpkin pie round out the menu. 350 pesos. Reservations: 376-766-2309.
Ukulele classes
The Ukulele School of Ajijic is forming a beginners class in ukulele. They say you can start from zero and play songs from the first lesson.
The first class (of seven one-hour weekly sessions each Friday) begins Friday, January 7, 1 p.m. Ukulele rentals are available. Only fully vaccinated folks may apply. Information: 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..