Zingara Opens Its Doors
Jennifer Velarde had a dream and nothing, not even Hurricane Patricia was going to prevent her from realizing it. On November 6, barely two weeks after the disaster, Velarde opened the doors to Zingara, La Manzanilla’s newest boutique.
With a background well established in fashion and art both in Canada and England, Velarde has an eye for the intriguing and stylish. The sources for her one-of-a-kind, trendy garments include Guatemala, Thailand, Canada and the United States. She is constantly exploring more options. One of the objectives of Zingara is to have an ever changing assortment of apparel for the customers. Variations of inventory is a high priority for Zingara’s owner. Seeing the clothes you are wearing walking towards you can really put a damper on your mood. However, covering the body in chic clothing is not all that Zingara offers.
Tucked in the back of the store is a full service salon. From manicures to pedicures, organic facials to a full body massage, it is your choice. You can relax or rejuvenate in the pampering hands of Isa, Zingara’s competent beautician and masseuse. Appointments can be made between the hours of 9 a.m. to noon for these services.
A wide assortment of essential oils are also available. If what you are looking for isn’t in stock, it can be ordered in. Velarde is an ardent believer in the therapeutic values of these oils to heal and protect both body and mind. She uses them daily, not only herself, but also on her family members and their pets. In the coming weeks, she will be offering free half-hour wellness demonstrations to inform her customers on the numerous methods of use and benefits of these oils. Samples will be available during these demonstrations for participants to enjoy at home.
With a smile and a wink, this entrepreneur, busy wife, and mother of two young boys, ensures me there is more to come as the season progresses. Admiring her energetic personage, I think I’ll be attending those wellness demonstrations.
Zingara’s is open Wednesday to Sunday, and is located across from the delegado’s office on Calle Tamarindo. 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..
A Baseball Story
Four years ago, on a sunny Saturday afternoon, four children and one gringa walked out on the sports field to enjoy a game of baseball. There was one bat, one ball and three gloves. They used bricks for bases. The children spoke no English, and the gringa spoke no Spanish. But baseball has a language all its own and at the end of two hours, a team had started. The following Saturday, five more children came out to play and then there were 12. Baseball fever was spreading rapidly through the town. A message was posted on the Internet asking winter residents to please stuff a glove or two in their suitcases. The response was overwhelming. Gloves, bats, balls and more arrived by the bags full. By the end of that season, there were four teams playing in what has become the La Manzanilla Beisbol League. The main aim of this league is for the children to have fun, while learning about teamwork and good sportsmanship. All children between the ages of 8 and 17 are welcome to play. There is no registration fee, nor equipment to buy. Through the hard work of a marvelous group of volunteers, no child will ever sit on the sidelines, unable to play because of a financial burden to their family.
Season 5 Opening Day
The late, great Yogi Berra once said that baseball was a nervous breakdown, divided into nine innings. Well he obviously never coached 24 eight to eleven year olds, on a soccer field, with the occasional dog or goat running among them. Nervous breakdown in under five!
All kidding aside, Friday evening’s season opener was filled with ups, downs, hits, misses, groans and cheers! The Lobos were first at bat. Leadoff batter, Vicente steps up to the plate, flashes a cocky grin at the pitcher, then hoists his bat. The first pitch of the season whizzes past him. “Strike One” is called. He merely shrugs and waits. The second pitch comes in: “Ball One.” Again, the cocky grin appears. He waits, ready for the ball that he will call his own. Another incoming pitch … the one Vicente was waiting for. With a powerful swing (for a ten-year-old) he sent it sailing over the 3rd baseman’s head. Home run! What a great start for the Lobos. But the next three batters were retired in rapid succession, due to some very impressive fielding by the Tigres. Their bats however, were silent in the first inning. The score was held at Lobos 1, Tigres 0, through the next four innings.
In the 6th inning both teams broke out in a batting rally. Stand up doubles and home runs were the name of the game, until the score tied at 8 runs apiece. With daylight swiftly fading, the coaches decided to end to this week’s competition on that high note. The players voiced their protests raucously! These young competitors would play by candlelight if given the chance. The mutiny was rapidly ended by three little words, not often used in baseball, but very powerful: “Cupcakes for everyone.”
Just a Reminder
The Meet the Artist Reception, featuring Ajijic-based artist Efren Gonzalez, will be held at Galeria La Manzanilla (Calle Perula 83) on Friday, December 4, from 4 to 7 p.m. Always an enjoyable experience!