Open Circle
David Bryen presents “Intolerance, Polarization and the Longing for Community” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, February 6, 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. " />Most disturbing of the many troublesome issues passing through our world today is our intolerance for ambiguity as well as hostile polarization among the different “tribes” that all claim to have the “truth.” Why do differing beliefs among “truth-bearing tribes” create more fear? Forces lying beneath the threshold of consciousness steer us to the sources we feed on to validate our beliefs. Conflict escalates when each side lobs its “expert’s’” opinions across the wall to convince the other side of its lies and fatal errors. Whenever the need to conform to a community of like-minded thinkers overrides curiosity, objectivity, or rationality, any opposition to my “facts” will be perceived as a personal attack on me.
Bryen spent his professional life as a psychotherapist helping people understand how culture, education, family, religion, social media and trauma organize what we think, how we feel, and why we polarize.
This talk will offer suggestions on how to cross the continental divides of “truth” and reconnect ourselves to the central humanness common to us all. This will be Bryen’s 15th presentation at Open Circle.
Mezcal tasting
Elite (former home of Casa Domenech) will host a mezcal tasting of various brands, Sunday, February 6, 6 p.m. Enjoy live music and art by Ginny Thomson and Grace Keller. Zaragoza 109, West Ajijic. Cover: 350 pesos.
Mosaic art class
“We become not a melting pot, but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”
– Jimmy Carter
President Carter could have been talking about our Lakeside lifestyle and how incredibly special it is. Ajijic and the surrounding villages are a true mosaic of culture, art and people. And what better way to celebrate this artistic community than to craft a piece of mosaic yourself?
Kathie Karancz is hosting two days of mosaic workshops next week. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the participants will use shards of stained glass to create small mosaic hearts. She will guide the workshop attendees through the creative process and at the end of the day, they will have a colorful piece they can take home with them.
Karancz has been working with glass as a creative outlet for over 40 years. Her passion has shifted between crafting stained glass windows, fusing glass and now, mosaics. Her classes are sought after by local creatives and is sure to sell out.
The classes will be held on Wednesday, February 9, and Thursday, February 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register with La Bella Vida, 376-766-5131 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.. Classes will be held in their garden courtyard at Calle Constitucion 6, in Ajijic. The cost is 800 pesos.
Superbowl Sunday
American Legion Post 7 Chapala will host a Superbowl fiesta, Sunday, February 13, 5 p.m. Game time is 5:30 p.m. and the post will stay open to the end of the game. Plenty of happy hour food will be on hand to purchase, and they will have peel and eat shrimp for sale as well. Sign up for one of three football pool boards in the bar: 100 pesos per square, 50 pesos per square and 20 pesos per square. Each board has 100 squares. Lots of ways to win your money back. Stop by the Legion and check out the contest rules on the bar window, or ask Bob Allen for more information.
Golf
New to the area and want to find some knowledgable folks to golf with or get tips from? Join facebook/Lake Chapala Mexico Golfers.
Valentines Day dining
• Casa del Sol Inn will have a special Valentine’s Sunday brunch, February 13, with menu additions of crab Benedict and crab omelettes and a new Chateau Camou Grenache Rose. Reservations: 333-964-5320.
• American Legion Post 7 offers a menu of chicken breast casserole, mashed potato, broccoli salad, bread and dessert on February 14. Cocktails are at 2 p.m. and dinner at 3 p.m. Music will be by Flashback. The Post will be open until 5 p.m. The usual 50/50 draw, liquor basket and raffle prizes will be available. Tickets are 300 pesos at the post.
• Armando’s will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a garden salad, BBQ ribs, flan and a glass of red wine for 250 pesos. Reservations: 333-485-8077.
• Manix offers a Cesar salad, and three dinner options February 14: linguine with seafood, filet mignon, and Manix cordon blue, served with corn soufflé, stuffed potato, veggie stack and a mango mouse dessert for 450 pesos. Ricardo and Blanca will entertain from 6 to 9 p.m. Reservations: 376-766-0061.
Mardi gras fiesta
The Rotary Club of Chapala Sunrise holds a Mardi gras party/SAFE fundraiser, March 1 5-8:30 p.m. at La Paceña Restaurant in San Antonio Tlayacapan, including a Cajun dinner, music, a silent auction and party games. Doors open 5 p.m.; party begins 5:30 p.m.; Covid protocols observed. Tickets, 750 pesos. Information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Whatsapp 331-007-8432.