Open Circle
Lillie Henley will present “Did Improvisation Save America? Benjamin Franklin’s Mission to France” at the next meeting of Open Circle on Sunday, July 6, at 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Chapala Society.
In her 2006 book “A Great Improvisation,” author Stacy Schiff uses little-known sources to shed light on the least-explored part of Franklin’s life. When Franklin stepped onto French soil in December 1776, he was embarking on the greatest gamble of his career. Using his fame, charisma and ingenuity, Franklin outmaneuvered British spies, French informers and hostile colleagues. This eight-year mission stands as both his most vital service to the country and the most revealing chapter of his life.
Henley, a retired Unitarian minister with a passion for recent and revisionist biographies, will recount how Franklin emerged as a clever, determined, and fully engaged leader.
Chapala Birders
A birding outing will be held on Sunday, July 6, along the Allen Lloyd Trail. Meet up with trip leaders Kate and Carl Anderson at 8 a.m. Be prepared for a short hike and expect to see blue mockingbirds and happy wrens. Confirm your attendance at least two days in advance by emailing 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..
To get to the trailhead, drive up the Libramiento from the traffic light at Walmart, turn left, and continue uphill on the left side of the Ribera Medical Center. Drive another half mile and park on the street to your left.
Lucha Libre
A trip to Guadalajara for an exciting Mexican wrestling show will take place on Tuesday, July 8. The cost of 1,500 pesos includes transportation, entrance to the show, translation, and assistance. Meet at Black Coffee Gallery at 6:45 p.m. The group will return around midnight. Contact: @fansdestacados.
Tai Chi
A Tai Chi class will be held on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. at Avenida del Parque 121 in San Antonio, in a covered area.
The class begins with centering exercises, followed by basic joint mobility, Yang-style Tai Chi, and ends with a guided healing meditation, lasting approximately one hour. Beginners are welcome. For more information, email 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..
Improv Class
Jill Flyer will start an improvisation class at the Cultural Center of Ajijic (CCA) on the Ajijic Plaza. The first class will be held on Saturday, July 12, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Jill has spent years on stage and 2,500 hours on Zoom learning improvisation. She has developed simple, understandable ways to teach improv.
The class will not be a performance group but will focus on having fun, playing games, meeting new friends and building confidence in public speaking, while tapping into one’s innate creativity.
The cost is 75 pesos per class. Payment and registration can be made at the CCA next week or at the first class.
Summer Sizzle
Poco A Poco San Pedro will host a gourmet BBQ fundraiser on Saturday, July 26, from 4 to 7 p.m. to support school registration, uniforms and supplies for children in the small town of San Pedro Itzican. This includes 57 students helped last year and new enrollments for August. The event will include sides, drinks, appetizers and desserts. Tickets, at 1,000 pesos, are available at Fenix Realty and It’s Kinda Bazaar. For more information, call 333-820-4972.
Convention of the Americas
Peggy Shinn, a bilingual Religious Science practitioner, is one of the organizers of the upcoming international, bilingual Center for Spiritual Living (CSL) convention at the Hotel Montecarlo in Chapala, from July 22 to 26. The event is open to the public, with registration options that include meals. Day pass options are available for Lakeside residents. Contact Shinn at +1-575-650-7344.
Religious Science was founded by Ernest Holmes (1887-1960), an American New Thought writer, teacher and leader. Part of the greater New Thought movement, Science of Mind is its spiritual philosophy and the title of Holmes’ book, written in 1926.