Paella fest
The third annual Festival de la Paella—a benefit for Poco A Poco San Pedro Itzican—will be held Saturday, March 25, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Fracc. Constanza Residential Club in San Juan Cosala (above the Raquet Club).
The 500-peso ticket price includes a welcome glass of beer or sangria, appetizers, more than ten types of paellas, music by the Lakeside Jazz Trio, and a flamenco dance presentation by Danza Española and Pilar Villasante. A no-host bar with distilled spirits and beers will be available. No pets are allowed at this event.
Reservations are required and can be made with the event’s organizer, Francisco Romero, 333-139-4028, 333-106-8596.
Easter cuisine fest
Mexican foodies and adventurous foreigners will enjoy tickling their taste buds at the Feria de la Capirotada, Saturday, April 1. The unique food fest will be held on the grounds of CETAC school (between the football field and the Auditorio de La Ribera) from 2 to 7 p.m.
Although this year there is no competition, many local cooks will be selling their favorite version of this toothsome south-of-the-border version of bread pudding that is a classic dessert prepared exclusively during the seven weeks of Lent.
Essentially it’s a concoction composed by layering toasted slices of bread that are bathed in home brewed syrup and enhanced with spices, fruits and nuts. But like nearly all “traditional” recipes, ingredients and cooking techniques vary radically according to family customs and personal tastes.
Like so many creative culinary endeavors related to holidays in this country, capirotada has a symbolic side, linked in this case to the Easter season. The bread is said to represent the body of Christ and the sweet syrup his holy blood. Cinnamon sticks symbolize the wooden cross of crucifixion, while the raisins are reminders of its nails. The cheese covering is an interpretation of the Holy Shroud.
Ajijic’s Capirotada Fair is the brainchild of Lee Hopper, an American citizen who grew up here and started the pudding fest to promote the preservation of the traditional Lental fare enjoyed in his youth.
Rotary Gala Sunday
The Rotary Club of Ajijic is holding its Spring Art Auction and Gala Sunday, March 26 from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Mexia Ranch on the Chapala-Ajijic Libramiento. The proceeds from this event will go directly to help a 35-year-old single mother who has failing kidneys. A young man from the village has agreed to be her donor. The surgery normally costs about 2.5 to 3 million pesos, but the surgeons are donating their fee. She must come up with 70,000 pesos for the hospital costs.
Your 500 pesos ticket includes a taquiza buffet, agua fresca and a cash bar. Tickets are available via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 332-968-9752.
Open Circle
Loretta Downs presents “Old Age Ain’t No Place for Sissies” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, March 26, 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Chapala Society.
The older I get the more I see how right Bette Davis was when she said that. Living in a community of elder and aged individuals, like me, we are constantly faced with the conditions that normal aging creates for ourselves and all the friends we make in Lakeside.
How do we prepare ourselves for the changes we can expect and those we can’t? Can we change our minds from fear and denial to acceptance, preparation, and even celebration? What are the skills we can master to adapt to the changes? How do we develop the capacity to be present for those we love as they experience aging and changing and dying before us?
Loretta Downs is a gerontologist who has been working with aging and dying for over 35 years.
Registration is strongly encouraged. Reserve at opencircleajijic.org.
Chapala Birders
Wednesday, March 29, the Lake Chapala Birders will meet at 8 a.m. at the sculpture on the highway in La Floresta, departing immediately for the Rosa Amarilla Loop (a 60-minute drive). Expect to see a variety of grassland birds and possibly a white-tailed hawk. Bring refreshments for the morning and sandwiches for the 12:30 lunch stop. The group returns to Ajijic about 3 p.m. Reserve by emailing John Keeling at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at least two days ahead of time.