Aside from the great food and seamless organization, a highlight of the Lake Chapala Society’s January 31 Viva México Fiesta was the fabulous runway show put on by award-winning fashion designer María Rosario Mendoza and her team of glamorous models. 

Yes, it’s true! The popular Canadian singer, songwriter and pianist Jeffery Straker, whose style is often compared to that of Elton John, Neil Young and Billy Joel, is coming to Ajijic. He’ll perform two concerts in aid of Niños Incapacitados, on Thursday and Friday, February 12 and 13, at the Auditorio de la Ribeira del Lago, at 7 p.m.

Just in time for you to get serious about that New Year resolution to improve your Spanish, Ajijic writer Robert Bruce Drynan (Domain of the Scorpion; What Price Liberty) has published two bilingual books that offer fine stories and articles in both English and Spanish. Highly regarded Guadalajara teacher and writer Yolanda Ramìrez has provided all of the fine translations into Spanish.

Chapala will roll out the welcome mat for throngs of revelers as annual Carnaval festivities fire up on Friday, February, sparking high-spirited happenings that will keep the city jumping through Tuesday, February 17. 

With food truck dining now the latest rage with Tapatio diners, it’s no surprise that the January 24 Verbena Food Fest attracted a huge crowd of hungry customers flocking in from both local lairs and the nearby metro area. 

On January 22, the Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club, A.C., inducted their 42nd and 43rd  new members in a ceremony conducted by Membership Chair Sandra Loridans (left).   This makes the club the third largest in the District, following Guadalajara and Puerta Vallarta. 

President John Gonzales is pictured congratulating Dwayne Hartup, a former Police Chief in Michigan who is now associated with Love in Action children’s shelter, and Jacobo Lomelin (right), CEO of a charitable organization (seen here being pinned by sponsor Andres Rodriguez.)

The Chapala Sunrise Rotary club meets every Thursday at 10 am at the Hotel Montecarlo.  Persons interested in joining Rotary are welcome to attend.  More club information is available on the club website at www.chapalarotary.org.