Calendar party
Enrique and Belva Velazquez invite the public to the 26th opening of their annual “Our Beloved Mexico” calendar Friday and Saturday, October 5 and 6, 4-8 p.m., at their gallery at 16 de Septiembre 7 in Ajijic.
The original paintings used in the calendar will be on display and for sale and calendars will be signed by the artists.
Jazz Fest
La Cochera Cultural sponsors an International Improvisational Jazz Festival Friday to Sunday, October 5-7 at various venues.
Three bands will play Friday, October 5, at La Cochera Cultural, Javier Mina 49 in Ajijic. Ameneyro from Chiapas begins its set at 6:30 p.m., with Trialogo from Ajijic at 7:40 p.m. and The Watershed from France at 9 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. to enjoy food by Alex Pasta Bar and Casa Domenech, beer by Corazon de Malta and cocktails by Katapulta.
Saturday, October 6, the Joe Farnsworth Trio plays at the Auditorio de la Ribera, 6:30 p.m. The Joe Farnsworth Trio will play at the Auditorio de la Ribera, Saturday, October 6, 6:30 p.m. as part of the Festival Internacional de Jazz Ajijic 2018. The group is comprised of Farnsworth (United States) on drums, Alex Terrier (France) on saxophone and Israel Cupich (Mexico) on double bass. Doors open at 5 p.m., beer by Corazon de Malta and cocktails by Katapulta.
Sunday, October 7, Cienfuegos (Guadalajara) plays the Explanada at the Centro Cultural Ajijic, 7 p.m.
Tickets for these shows are 300 pesos in advance (550 pesos for two concerts) and 350 pesos at the door and are available at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique, Jose Melendrez, Auditorio de la Ribera, Centro Cultural Ajijic, La Cochera Cultural and Casa Domenech.
Spotlight Club
The Ol’ Country Boys break out the steel guitar Friday, October 6, 8 p.m., The cover is 80 pesos.
Afternoon at the Movies
The Lake Chapala Society will be airing “classic” movies at 1 p.m. in the LCS sala on the first and third Saturdays of October and November. The theme for October movies is horror. October 6, LCS will screen the classic “The House on Haunted Hill” (1959).
A small snack bar will be open prior to the movie. LCS members only. Show your LCS membership card for admittance to receive a movie ticket.
Fall Viva bus trips
Viva sponsors trips to performances by the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO), the Ballet de Jalisco and a live opera presentation.
Sunday, October 7: Piazolla’s “Four Seasons” (JPO); October 14: Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 (JPO); October 25: Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (JPO); November 4: Mahler’s Symphony No. 7 (JPO); November 27: Live opera, “Turandot” by Puccini, featuring Oksana Kramereva, Riccardo Massi and the Zapopan Municipal Choir and JPO; December 9: JPO puts on a Baroque Fest with music by Vivaldi, Geminiani, Gabrieli, Bach and Lully; December 13: Ballet de Jalisco performs the “Nutcracker.”
Information on times and ticket prices available at the LCS ticket area, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to noon, or by calling Rosemary Keeling, (376) 766-1801.
Viva also plans three “Live at the Met” bus trips to see opera on the big screen at the Teatro Diana Saturdays in Guadalajara.
October 13: “Aida” by Verdi; November 3: “Samson and Delilah” by Saint Saens; and December 15: “La Traviata” (The Fallen Woman) by Verdi.
Tickets, 450 pesos for members, 550 pesos non-members, are available at the LCS ticket area, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to noon or by calling (376) 766-1801.
Film Aficionados
Lake Chapala Society members can take advantage of Film Aficionados screenings each Thursday, 2 p.m. On October 11, “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society” (2018, U.K.) will be screened. A writer forms an unexpected bond with the residents of the Isle of Guernsey in the aftermath of World War II when she decides to write a book about their wartime experiences under Nazi occupation. Adapted from a popular novel of the same name. (120 minutes.)
Theater
Potter Productions presents “Spoon River Anthology” at the Spotlight Club, Friday to Sunday, October 12-14, 4 p.m. The play was written in 1915 by Edgar Lee Masters and adapted and arranged as a theater production in 1963 by Charles Aidman.
Via musical interludes, the audience is introduced to the ghosts of those who were inhabitants of the fictional town of Spoon River, Illinois, whose secrets have gone with them to the grave. There are 37 characterizations and vignettes in this constantly interesting entertainment, which offers an amazingly varied array of roles and impersonations, from young lovers and preachers and teachers to the poignant chronicle of the attorney, who, ostracized by his wife, ends up buried next to his dog. Both the somber and humorous sides of life are portrayed, with fetching ballads and the free verse form of Edgar Lee Masters.
“Spoon River” is directed by Rosann Balbontin with musical direction by Don Beaudreault. The cast includes Terry Gibbard, Cindy Paul, Sharon Lowry and Michael Warren.
Tickets are 100 pesos at the door. Seating is limited; reserve 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..
Viva concert
The first fall concert for Viva la Musica will be played by the Janus Quartet, a rising young group of local musicians including Areli Medeles on cello, Diana Laguna and Francisco Rivera on violin and Luis Carlo Rincon on viola. The quartet has played at Palcco in Guadalajara, the Northern Lights Festival,and Owen Sound in Canada. Both Medeles and Laguna have been Viva scholarship recipients. Rivera hails from Tapalpa and Rincon from Mexico City. The members of the quartet all play with the Zapopan Youth Orchestra and work and study in Guadalajara and Puebla.
Janus Quartet will perform Mozart’s Divertimento No. 1, a delightful piece written for small orchestra when Mozart was only 16 years old. This will be followed by String Quartet No.1, Suite Graciosa, by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Brazil’s best-known composer who wrote the piece in 1915. It is a suite of folkloric pieces, alternately lyrical and dance-like, nostalgic and happy, melding Portuguese and African melodies and rhythms.
The concert will conclude with music by six 19th and 20th century Mexican composers, including “Alejandra” by Enrique Mora, “Las Perlitas” and “Viva mi desgracia” by Francisco Cardenas, among others.
The concert will take place in St. Andrew’s Anglican church, Riberas del Pilar, Thursday, October 18, 7 p.m. A no-host bar will be in the garden. Tickets, 300 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique, Auditorio de la Ribera, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, and the Lake Chapala Society, Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon.
Classical concert
Guitarist Eddie Lara and pianist Daniel Flores present a recital at the Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo in Chapala, Friday, October 19, 7 p.m. Tickets, 120 pesos at the door.
LLT
Lakeside Little Theatre will present “Proof” by David Auburn and directed by Randy Warren, October 19-28. The cast features Tony Wilshere, Devin Van Domelin, Wayne Waterman and Collette Clavadetscher.
The first Saturday and both Sundays are matinees, 4 p.m. and the evening shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, 250 pesos, are available at LLT’s box office, 10 a.m. to noon, every Wednesday and Thursday and one hour before curtain. E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (376) 766-0954.
Showstoppers
Los Cantantes del Lago presents Showstoppers 17, Sunday, October 21, 4 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Riberas del Pilar. This concert features solos, duets and trios by many favorite local performers including Ricardo Lavín – a professional baritone from Guadalajara, ukelele by Tim Tillman, trumpet by the fabulous Jimmy Barto and piano by the inimitable Timothy G. Ruff Welch. A local treasure, this popular concert fills quickly, so get your tickets, 250 pesos, from any Los Cantantes member, or at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique or via loscantantesdellago.com. The bar opens at 3 p.m.
Prueba Mexico
Lake Chapala Society members can take advantage of three new classes promoting traditional Mexican crafts as part of LCS’s Prueba Mexico seminars.
Genaro Reyes Gallardo teaches two crafts: making corn husk dolls and corn husk flowers, Friday and Saturday, October 26 and 27. The doll class is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the flowers class from 2 to 5 p.m. Instruction includes colors, molds, painting and intricate decorations.
Alfredo Perez teaches a class on the Day of the Dead, entitled “Mock Death you Say!” This class is Thursday, November 1, from 2 to 5 p.m.
Sign up at the LCS office.
Sinatra/Elvis tribute
Frankie Dino and his Tribute Show Band will perform a dinner show at Roberto’s Restaurant, Saturday, October 27. Dinner is at 6 p.m.; the show begins at 7 p.m. and dancing goes from 9 p.m. until closing. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes (optional). Tickets, 350 pesos, are available at Roberto’s. Call 766-1616.
Music and Moussaka
Linda Buckthorp, community facilitator for Centro Educativo Jaltepec, will once again turn her home into an intimate concert setting, when Bill Dingwall presents another spectacular Sinatra and Jobim melodic musical event, Sunday October 28, 12:30 p.m.
Timothy G. Ruff Welch will provide cocktail music, hors d’ouevres will be prepared and served by the students, and a three-course Greek luncheon will feature Buckthorp’s famous moussaka along with bottomless glasses of wine. Proceeds of this Repeat Performance Special Event go into the General Scholarship Fund at Centro Educativo Jaltepec to benefit those students in need.
Don’t miss this event – the last occasion sold out quickly. Tickets are 1,000 pesos. Reservations or information: (376) 766-1631 or e-mail 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..
Maestros del Arte
The Feria Maestros del Arte will be held November 9-11 this year at the Chapala Yacht Club, Paseo Ramon Corona and the lake in Chapala.
Dozens of Mexico’s top folk art craftsmen will be displaying and selling their finished pieces. Many of the artisans also work on new pieces at the fair.
The Feria is always looking for hosts to accommodate the artist families who come long distances from Chiapas, Oaxaca, Michoacan and Guerrero. For information on hosting, contact Brenda Byrom at (376) 765-2408 or 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 Feria supports local charities including the LCS Children’s Art program, Operation Feed, and the Women’s Prison Doll Project.