Open Circle
Sunday, March 19, Yann Kostic and Tom Zachystal will give a talk on the “International populist movement and how it impacts investment markets” at the Open Circle in the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Sala, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Arrive at 10 a.m. for complimentary beverages and social time. The Open Circle Steering Committee asks that attendees leave family pets at home.
From London to Washington to Paris, the “Populist Revolution” is creating profound shifts in governing philosophies. But what does this mean for investment markets?
In the old days, when the people revolted against the government there was often bloodshed. Today it is more likely to mean a surprising change in leadership, leading to radical changes in policies and direction. The recent U.S. presidential election, Brexit in the United Kingdom, the popularity of Marine Le Pen in France are completely reshaping the beginning of this 21st century and the world map. Where are we headed? What are the short term and long-term consequences for investment markets and your portfolio?
Tom Zachystal, CFP, CFA, is president of Individual Asset Management and also president of the San Francisco Financial Planner Association. Yann Kostic, MBA, is president of Atlantis Wealth Management (both are Registered Investment Advisors).
For more information, see opencircleajijic.org.
LCS seminar
Host Bill Frayer introduces Jonathan Haidt’s TED Talk “Can a Divided America Heal?” on Tuesday, March 21, noon to 1:15 p.m. in the LCS Sala.
How can the United States recover after the negative, partisan presidential election of 2016? Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt studies the morals that form the basis of our political choices. In conversation with TED Curator Chris Anderson, he describes the patterns of thinking and historical causes that have led to such sharp divisions in the United States – and provides a vision for how the country might move forward. (LCS members only, bring your card.)
Jaltepec Centro Educativo
Last Friday, Linda Buckthorp gave a presentation on the history and academic program of the Jaltepec Centro Educativo to 55 members of the Mexico Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier — an international philanthropic organization of women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality — and 15 of their spouses. The chapter subsequently donated a check for 33,000 pesos to the lakeside hospitality school. Les Dames’ founder, 96-year-old Carole Broke, shown here with the kitchen staff at Jaltepec after the group enjoyed appetizers and exotic beverages, will take a Jaltepec chef’s jacket back to New York City to display in a museum dedicated to women’s empowerment.
Neill James Lecture
Karl Homann will give a presentation entitled “History of the Classical European Theatre” at the next Neill James Lecture, Tuesday, March 21, 2 p.m. in the LCS Sala.
Explore the development of European theatre from its beginnings in ancient Greece and through Rome, its re-emergence, after a 1,000-year hiatus, as an adjunct to medieval religious festivals, evolving into the renaissance of Elizabethan theatre, followed by the Commedia dell’Arte in Italy, Neo-classical French theatre of Corneille and Racine, and the German Sturm und Drung period of Goethe and Schiller.
Homann, a retired Canadian professor, has a Ph.D. in English and has been a resident of Mexico since 2006. (LCS members only, bring your card.)
Poetry/Happy Hour
The Not Yet Dead Poets Society announces the publication of some of their best work in a collection called “Romancing The Muse.” A special reading will be held Wednesday, March 22, 3-5 p.m. at Maria Isabel Restaurant/Bar by the Ajijic pier at the south end of Colon/Morelos.
Drinks will be 2x1 while the Muse will be romanced, and signed copies of the new book will be available for purchase at a special discount. Poets include Bill Frayer, Mel Goldberg, Kenneth Salzmann, Jim Tipton, Margaret Van Every and Michael Warren. Judy Dykstra-Brown, though Not Yet Dead, will unfortunately be away for the reading.
Fun-raiser
Once again, the Tepehua Community Center is holding its hilarious annual Fools Wanted “Fun-raiser” Saturday, April 1, 2-5 p.m. at the Sunrise Restaurant in San Antonio Tlayacapan. Show up in costume and get a free drink. A riddle contest and music by a DJ will keep the party rolling. A lunch choice of either Mexican or Western food costs 250 pesos with all the proceeds going to fund the community center, which is situated in one of Chapala’s poorest neighborhoods. Last year, the staff of Sunrise dressed in full jester garb. A lot of snowbirds bought tables for an afternoon lunch and used the opportunity to say a season’s farewell to many friends. Tickets are available at Sunrise Restaurant, Tepehua Treasures and Diane Pearl, or contact Harvey Bernier, 765-7027, 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..
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Sangha offers meditation opportunities several times each week.
The Sangha’s regular meditation and teaching session is on Wednesday from 3:30 p.m., and the formal program goes from 4-6 p.m.
Hour-long silent meditation periods, including sitting and walking meditation, are offered Sundays and Mondays from 9-10 a.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m.-noon. Includes sitting and walking meditation. The Free Dharma Movie Matinee is on Monday, March 20, 3 p.m.
The Heart of Awareness is grounded in the teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. Prior experience or affiliation is not required. The sangha’s location is at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. For more information, visit heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert, (331) 043-4669.
Red Cross Solidarity Race
Cruz Roja Chapala invites everyone who enjoys exercising on foot for health and pleasure to join the Solidarity Race scheduled for Sunday, March 26, from 8 a.m.
The two-pronged sporting event includes a three-kilometer recreational component for participants who choose to walk, jog or run, plus the five-kilometer running race with competitive divisions for men and women. Both will start just outside the Red Cross Clinic on Avenida González Gallo, to head west on Paseo Ramón Corona and double back along the waterfront welcome.
Registrations are open until March 24 at the Cruz Roja office, Chapala’s Comude Sport Commission at the gym on Avenida Madero next to the municipal soccer field and Family Fitness Center, Plaza Bugambilias, Ajijic. All proceeds from the 50-peso sign-up fee go into the Cruz Roja kitty.
LCS Bus Trip
The Lake Chapala Society hosts a bus trip to Guadalajara’s Costco/Mega and The Home Depot, Wednesday, March 29. Cost is 350 pesos for members and 450 pesos for non-members. Meet at the sculpture in La Floresta. The bus departs promptly at 9 a.m.
Operación Amor fundraiser
A “Good News” benefit for the Operación Amor spay and neuter program will be held Wednesday, March 29, 4 to 6 p.m., hosted at Rio Yaqui 4 in Villa Nova. The event celebrates the group’s accomplishment of sponsoring nearly 2,500 free pet sterilization procedures over the past five years. With a donation of 200 pesos, representing the cost of surgery for one cat or dog, each guest will get in the door and receive a commemorative tee-shirt. There will be complementary botanas and a cash bar.
LCS Wine Tasting
The Lake Chapala Society invites you to the second annual unlimited wine tasting event, Saturday April 1, 3 to 6 p.m. Tickets: general admission 150 pesos, and 100 pesos for LCS members, are available at LCS office only. No discounts on the day of the event.
Spring Raffle
The Foundation for Lake Chapala Charities Spring Raffle took place Saturday, March 4 in the Ajijic Plaza gazebo. Maria Gricelda from El Jardin Restaurant drew the three winning tickets. First prize of 12,000 pesos was won by the holder of Ticket 0543; second prize of 5,000 pesos went to Ticket 0336; and third prize of 3,000 pesos to Ticket 0419.
The winners received their prizes the next day. The Foundation raised 161,300 pesos for its program to benefit the local Mexican non-profits that apply for grants during the second quarter of 2017.
The directors of the Lake Chapala Charities group thank the participants who purchased 1,000 raffle tickets between November 2016 and January 2017.
Mexican National Model Railway
The Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo (former Chapala train station) hosts the Mexican National Model Railway exhibition March 25 through May 25. See model trains traveling on the tracks in the garden railway and static displays of model locomotives, box cars, passenger cars, reefers, flat cars and cabooses. While there, you can also tour the permanent displays located in the historic train station museum. Admission is free.
CASA
This month’s competition at the Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (CASA) had a new twist. All of the ingredients were picked out of a hat by the members — as were partners to cook with — and a kicker ingredient was added in each category.
Ingredients in the main dish category had to contain beef, spinach and banana.
Garth Bogart and Monica Molloy won first place and presentation for their beef, spinach, banana rolls with tomatillo chutney. Michele Lococo and Kenee Campo came in second for their Twisted Shepherd’s Pie, while Catherine Suter and Jose Fernandez placed third and won the people’s choice award for their beef ragout avec brandy et moutard.
The ingredients in the dessert category had to contain raspberries and/or strawberries, chocolate and radish.
Marina Benz and George Cheatham took first place for their berry, radish and agave pie; Janet Torch and Julie Miller were second and won people’s choice for their Chambord cloud; and Carol Westbrook and Tracy Rueter garnered third place for a chocolate cake with strawberries.
CASA’s next meeting is Monday, April 10 with a East Asian main dish category and a dessert category of cakes, tortes and cheesecakes. For more information, contact 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..
LCS Wine Tasting
The Lake Chapala Society invites everyone to its second annual wine tasting event, Saturday April 1, 3-6 p.m. Tickets: general admission 150 pesos, and 100 pesos for LCS members, are available at LCS office only. No discounts on the day of the event.
This year, the tastings are unlimited, featuring wineries from Italy, Chile, Argentina, Spain, Mexic, and the United States, with over 30 varieties of wines on display. Wines will be available for purchase by the bottle or specially discounted cases. Cheeses and appetizers will be available free of charge, accompanied by the soft sounds of Victor Garcia from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.