Celebration of Corn, a program aimed at promoting public awareness for the conservation of Mexico’s heirloom native corn species, will be held Sunday, June 30, starting 10 a.m. at the Ajijic Malecon amphitheater.
Organizers say their goal is to “help our Mexican friends create awareness regarding the dangers of GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms).“
A presentation (in Spanish) will kick off the celebration at 10 a.m. sharp.
A parade from the amphitheater through the village to the main plaza will start at 10:45 a.m.
Banda music will be provided but participants are encouraged to bring noisemakers and signs.
Organizers encourage expat residents to invite their Mexican friends and neighbors.
Film screenings
Leading up to Viva el Maiz will be two screenings of the award-winning documentary “Food Inc.” (in English with Spanish subtitles) on Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29 at Ajijic’s Cinemas del Lago, Plaza Bugambilias, Ajijic.
The screenings start at 7:30 p.m. and admission is 20 pesos.
A bilingual panel will field questions following each screening. Questions could be related to genetically modified foods, organic farming practices, solid waste disposal and related ecological topics.
Visitor
On Saturday, June 29, 10 a.m., U.S. Peace Corps volunteer Alicia Crain will visit the Children’s Art Program at Lake Chapala Society. As well as meeting with the kids, Crain will suggest imaginative and artistic things to do with garbage.
For more information on any of the three above mentioned items, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Canada Day
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch One will celebrate Canada’s 146th birthday at Villa Encantada (Hidalgo 312, Chapala).
The event on Monday, July 1 begins at 2 p.m., with music provided by Noe, Roy and Paco. There will be a special Canada Day ceremony, as well as a drawing for a beach trip (see below), door prizes and a tequila tasting by Don Vito.
Dinner, served at 4 p.m., will be catered by Manix and feature BBQ pork on a bun, baked beans, potato salad and accoutrements. Dessert will be a birthday cake. Tickets are 180 pesos.
The drawing prize is an all-inclusive trip for two (including tips) to the Hotel Riu in Nueva Vallarta on the weekend of November 25-29, including a luxury bus ride leaving from Lakeside. Only 100 tickets will be sold at 200 pesos each.
The trip is valued at 8,000 pesos and is transferable. A portion of funds raised will go toward support of Casa Corazon.
For tickets for the picnic or the raffle call 765-3264, 765-2602 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Jam Band
The Jam Band will be playing from 1-4 p.m. on the Lake Chapala Society’s back stage at the Tuesday, July 2 Can-Am celebration.
Jay, Paul, Sergio and Chelo play weekly at El Barco and the Red Piano. Their show will include some blues pieces, as well as rock ‘n roll and many Lakeside favorites. Space will be set aside for dancing.
Trio Ajijic and Recuerdos de mi Mexico play traditional Mexican romantic music between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The party features hotdogs and hamburgers courtesy of Tony’s Restaurant, while Tom’s Bar will provide their award-winning chili. The LCS bar will have beer, wines and mixed drinks; the LCS Cafe will keep non-alcoholic beverages including water available at two locations.
Twenty-four non-profit organizations have registered and reserved their spaces to sell merchandise, distribute brochures and/or sell tickets to their events.
In addition, the LCS Childrens Art Program is preparing an exhibit of recent works by their students.
The cost of entry for the day’s activities is only 60 pesos. Tickets may be purchased ahead of time at LCS, Diane Pearl’s or Lois Cuigini’s Opus Boutique in Ajijic.
Democrats’ Fourth of July
The Lakeside chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico is holding a “Red, White and Pool” celebration on Thursday, July 4, from 3-7 p.m.. The event will be at El Pueblito Ote 38, next to Actinver’s office in Ajijic. The 150-peso entrance fee includes an all-American BBQ and one free drink.
Hector España of Manix Restaurant is preparing a menu featuring pork ribs, all beef hotdogs, coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad and apple pie a la mode. A 50/50 raffle will be held and a cash bar will be available. Payment is accepted at the door, but you must RSVP by Tuesday, June 25 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 766-4842.
Shriner’s July 4 Fiesta
The Lake Chapala Shrine Club Locomotive Unit will host a U.S. Independence Day Fiesta at the Gonzalez Gallo Cultural Center (old Chapala train station) on Thursday, July 4, from 1-5 p.m.
The event will feature “all-you-can-eat” Costco beef hot dogs with all the trimmings for only 100 pesos. A cash bar, music and dancing will also be available.
The fiesta will also feature an exhibition of working model trains that are part of the Garden Railway Project pioneered by the Shrine Club Locomotive Unit at the cultural center.
These “G” scale trains, built by the late David Netherton, include six locomotives and 72 cars to service scale model industries such as the Olde Meat Packing Plant, Tio Perry Brewing Company, Sawmill, Kryptonite Mine Co., Devil’s Spit Tequila distillery and La Cristiania passenger station. Proceeds from the fiesta will be used to complete the miniature landscaping along the track route and buildings. Tickets for the fiesta are available at O&A Investment (across from Wal-mart), 766-4481 or at 763-5126.
Legion’s Fourth
Post Seven will holds its annual Independence Day picnic on Thursday, July 4.
The picnic menu will include fried chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, coleslaw and ice cream with a choice of toppings. Tickets are 120 pesos. A DJ will keep the music flowing. Cocktails are served at noon. Dinner at 1 p.m.
Yarn tasting
Brad Mowers has been a fiber fanatic for most of his adult life. Now that he has moved to lakeside, he is more focused than ever on creating, teaching, sharing and producing organic yarns.
On Thursday, July 4, Mowers will host a “yarn tasting” at A String Thing – providing the chance to see a great range of hand-spun, hand-dyed, all-natural yarns.
Mowers will present his yarns in fine merino wool, in cashmere and alpaca. Some of his yarns are natural/undyed. Others are dyed organically, using plant and other natural dyes. In addition, he will have green, naturally dyed cotton, and indigo-dyed cotton to share.
Mowers will also demonstrate how raw wool is made into finished, plied wool yarn. He will demonstrate how he spins yarns into one or multiple plies, and how he spins fine yarns or even bulky yarns. He will bring samples of the dyes, like indigo (anil), cochineal and marigold.
Some of the yarns will be available for sale, in small pickups: two to three ounces each. Bigger orders can also be made.
The yarn tasting runs on Thursday, July 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Light refreshments will be available.
A String Thing is located at Javier Mina 60-8, Ajijic.
British Society
Local resident Al Felia will share his experiences on how he legalized his foreign-plated car for Mexico at the British Society meeting on Saturday, July 6, 1 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic.
The menu is a choice of pork ribs with all the fixings or sea bass “Wala” with grapes and vegetables. A large salad will be available for 80 pesos. Dessert is carrot cake.
Contact Alicia McNiff at 765-4786 or Ceri Dando at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you plan to attend and with your choice of menu. Visitors are always welcome.
Bus trips
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) has two bus trips planned for July. On Wednesday, July 10, the bus heads to Guadalajara’s large Galerias Mall, which boasts many fine stores, including Liverpool, Sears, Best Buy, Zara, the Home Store and Suburbia. There are plenty of restaurants and a food court, including Applebees, Outback, Krispy Kreme and more. Adjacent to the mall are Walmart, Sams, Costco and Mega. The bus leaves at 9 a.m. and returns from the Costco area at 3:30 p.m.
The crafts center of Tlaquepaque is the destination of the trip on Wednesday, July 24. The trip also includes a visit the Plaza Forum Mall (with Liverpool, Best Buy, Office Max, Zara) as well as the central plaza in Tlaquepaque, where a female mariachi group performs from 3-4 p.m. The bus leaves at 9:30 a.m. and returns from the plaza at 4 p.m.
Both trips leave from the sculpture in La Floresta. Sign up is at LCS on Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The price for each trip is 200 pesos.
Spanish-language classes
The Lake Chapala Society’s next term of Spanish-language classes begin on Monday, July 15 and will cover seven weeks of study ending on August 31.
The LCS Spanish program uses the Warren Hardy Spanish language course, which is designed for the adult student. Several levels of learning are available as students progress in the program.
Registration for these classes is currently underway at the LCS office on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sign-up for classes will also be held the week of July 8-12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the blue umbrella patio of the LCS campus.
Introduction to Spanish
This casual class is offered for beginners and covers the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary and phrases to use about town for shopping, and other useful information on our area and Mexican culture. Classes are held each month starting the first Tuesday of the month and go for three weeks. July classes start on July 9, and are held at the LCS campus from noon until 1:30 p.m. Learning materials are provided and the tuition cost is 150 pesos.
Sign up is currently available at the LCS office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. LCS is located at 16 de Septiembre 16-A, Ajijic.
Christ Church Anglican
This Sunday, Christ Church Anglican Fellowship will not hold their usual 9:30 a.m. service at the Little Chapel by the Lake, but instead will travel to La Sagrada Familia Mission in Mazamitla for a service at noon. The convoy leaves Farmacia Guadalajara at 9:15 a.m.
Center for Spiritual Living
The Reverend Tim Schubert will speak on “Freedom” on Friday, July 5, from 5-6 p.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living (Nicolas Bravo 17, Ajijic). It will be followed by a U.S. birthday celebration potluck. Check with the Center to see what you can bring.
The Reverend Maureen Jones continues her prosperity class with “Creating Our Good by Loving It” on Wednesday, July 3, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The next day’s class will conclude “The Experience of God” (also 10:30 a.m. to noon), which is preceded by an optional 20-minute meditation (10-10:20 a.m.).
For further information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 766-0920.
St. Andrew’s
One of the more annoying “improvements” of modern life was the introduction of “call waiting.” It gave everyone the ability to push to the front of the line, to interrupt trains of thought, and even to change behavior. But centuries before there was even a telephone, the “beep-beep” of call waiting was used by Jesus as a technique for deflecting attention and re-directing lives. Time after time, just as someone thought they had Him trapped or figured out, Jesus would insert a disruptive comment or question or story that brought His interrogators up short, and caused them to look at life a new way. He still does that, both in worship and fellowship at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church.
Sunday worship begins at 10 a.m. and concludes with a time of refreshment, welcome and fellowship in the Garden. The church is located at Calle San Lucas 19, just a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Little Chapel
The interdenominational Little Chapel by the Lake holds its regular worship service on Sunday, June 30, 11:15 a.m. The Reverend Gene Raymer’s sermon title is “What Did I Do Wrong?”
“We seem to think that if we’re good, good things will happen to us,” Raymer says. “But the Bible teaches us that following God’s will does not guarantee success in this life, only favor in God’s eyes.”
Following the service, the congregation will gather for a fellowship lunch at a nearby restaurant.
On Wednesday, July 3, 2 p.m. members of the congregation will gather for a study of the faith.
Presbyterians
The subject of Pastor Ross Arnold’s sermon at Lakeside Presbyterian Church on Sunday, June 30 is “Hometown Hero.” He will use Mark 6:1-6 as his text.
Says Arnold: “Jesus goes to Nazareth, his hometown, and on the Sabbath is preaching and healing in the synagogue. Many who saw and heard him were amazed, but some of his family and others took offense. Jesus then found himself a prophet without honor among his relatives and in his own hometown, and the miracles ceased. Which leads us to wonder, ‘Without faith, can there be miracles?’”
Lakeside Presbyterian Church is located on the mountain side of the Carretera, just west of S&S Auto and Bubba’s Restaurant. Sunday worship begins at 10 a.m., and following the service, there will be a time of fellowship and refreshments.
Unitarians
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Sta. Margarita 113 (southwest corner of Santa Clara and Sta. Margarita) in Riberas del Pilar. On Sunday, June 30, Donna Burroughs will give the talk “On Not Throwing Anything Away” and Marion Blackmer will lead the service. Following the service visitors are invited to join the fellowship at Los Cinco Potrillos in Ixtlahuacan. For more information call 766-1119 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..