The Feast of Saint Valentine’s Day is originally about an Italian priest martyred on February 14, 269 AD. Legend says that he was executed for performing weddings for soldiers and their maidens, an action forbidden in those days. His farewell message to his jailer’s daughter, who Valentine apparently healed, was signed “Your Valentine.” The word “feast” then does not mean “a large celebratory meal,” but instead “a religious celebration dedicated to a particular saint.”

For the romantic at heart, the “feast” continues right through February with the following musical and culinary gifts!
Bonnie and Marco have been a musical fixture in Barra for over 15 years. This season, becoming known as the band Tequila Taxi, vocalist Bonnie Gibson is singing with a conga and two guitarists, enriching their sound as they play jazz, vintage rock, pop, R&B and a little country. Saturday, February 14 a romantic musical medley is planned. Dancing is encouraged. You will need a reservation!  From 7:30-11:30 p.m, no cover at Sea Masters, Barra Malecon.
On Friday, February 20, same location, 8-10 p.m., Tequila Taxi feature an “Un-romantic Evening” for your amusement. You are invited to dress in a politically incorrect fashion! On Saturday, February 21 the group is donating their talent for a fundraiser called Together Dancing for Barra. See more below about that!    

Antonio Cabrero

Last month, January 31, I attended a live concert by Antonio Cabrero, solo pianist and director of the International Orchestra of San Miguel de Allende, playing jazz standards. Next month, March 14, he returns to Grand Isla Navidad Resort with another solo piano concert playing from Gershwin, Ravel, through Debussy, to name a few. It will be music played especially to welcome spring while simultaneously saying hasta luego and gracias to the generous expats and tourists who frequent this area. Buy your Valentine a ticket in advance. Time: 6:30 p.m., includ

es cocktail/reception/canape. Cost: 350 pesos. Call 01-314-331-0500, ext. 4672, 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..

Rotary Dinner

The Costalegre Rotary 5th Annual Foundation Dinner is a fundraiser, as all Rotary events are. This year it is being held on Wednesday, February 25, 6-7 p.m., including a no-host bar, dinner at 7 p.m, with your choice of pork, prawns, or chicken. A silent auction is also planned. Location is Los Caracoles, Alvaro Obregon 4, San Patricio. Cost: 355 pesos. Reserve and pay by Wednesday February 18. Guests welcome. Call Carrie Sacco at 315-355-6205 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..

Three Years and Counting 

The association United for Barra has been active for about three years and started when downtown businesses needed to prevent losing their livelihoods after Hurricane Jova in 2011.  Businessman Antonio Moran, a former Cihuatlan mayor, is currently the president of United for Barra. ​Understandably, when Cihuatlan Police Chief Alejandro Bravo asked for help raising funds for bicycles and uniforms on behalf of tourist police, United for Barra took on the cause.               
Their “Together Dancing for Barra” event takes place Saturday, February 21, 6 p.m. in the vacant parking lot near Sea Master, Nachos and Pancho restaurants. Cost is 60 pesos.  Enough funds need to be raised to help make this tourist police force a permanent presence in the Barra community. On the growing list of participating live music players are Elvis, Bonnie and Marco (Tequila Taxi), Lagunas Mentales.

Labours of Love

Also give a great Valentine’s Day gift to your beloved Barra de Navidad! A minimum of 1,000 pesos will buy you 1) access to the new beach 2) Happy residents and visitors and 3) Your name/organization’s name on a permanent plaque, attached to a cement post, and placed at the entrance to the new beach access, when the renovation work ends. Contact Linda at 315-355-8405 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..

Tastes and Sounds

United for Barra is also hosting the first annual Tastes and Sounds of Barra Festival on Saturday, February 28 in the downtown “Jardin.” The event commences at 2 p.m., with a dance presentation by Cihuatlan’s Centro de Iniciacion Artistica. The “Taste” competition is from 3-6 p.m. Food categories are Salsa, Chicken Mole and Fish (including shrimp). Folkloric dancers will entertain at 3:30 p.m., with live music all day ending in a three-hour public dance at 7 p.m. Proceeds will go to remodel Barra’s beach access off of Calle Michoacan, adding new infrastructure and handicap access.  There will be a silent auction. 

Cost: 10 pesos buys you tastes, 20 pesos drinks, 30 pesos margaritas. The dance at the end of the day is free and open to the public. Vendors will be on hand at 6:30 p.m. to sell tacos, tamales.

Pro Animal                                      

Pro Animal Melaque’s 9th annual fundraiser, Cribbage Tournament/Silent Auction, is on Friday, February 20, 1 p.m. sharp. Limited number of 80 tickets are available. Cost: 120 pesos. The auction is free to everyone. A 50/50 raffle, food and drink are all available in Esmeralda’s new restaurant on Gomez Farias in Melaque.
Pro Animal’s mission is to care for at-risk animals in the local community. Their efforts include the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured and very young animals; the promotion of sterilization and vaccination campaigns; placement of rescued animals in new homes; promotion of responsible pet ownership; and denunciation of mistreatment and abandonment of pets.

Writing classes

Author Kathrin Lake is holding classes on writing and structuring fiction and non-fiction books February 16-20 in Barra.
The Monday, Tuesday and Friday classes are from 9-11 a.m., Wednesday’s and Thursday’s are from 5-7 p.m. The classes include snacks and drinks.
Lake is founder of the Vancouver School of Writing, which supports independent authors. She has written “The A to Zen of Writing” workbook series, “Writing with Cold Feet” and her latest powerful workbook, “Your Plan for Writing a Book.” 
She is an award winning playwright, screenwriter and journalist, and has published many non-fiction books.   She is currently working on her first novel series, “Cargo Street.” As a coach, she primarily helps new writers with her many tools and successful systems.
Lake lives in Vancouver, Canada but winters in Mexico. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information and reservations.