Holiday cheer!
Light up my life! Seriously, lights, fireworks, and all things sparkly make me giddy.
The upcoming Christmas boat light/decoration contest at Marina La Cruz simply fills me with glee! Look out to the bay for the Five Nights of Lights Holiday Contest! Sponsored by local restaurants in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, there will be tasty prizes for the top two boats that light up for the week of December 19 to 24 at Marina Riviera Nayarit.
If you don’t have holiday decorations or lights, no worries. Feel free to bribe the folks/judges, offer them a snack or drink and you can still win by judging other boats. Just walk the docks or marina malecon and write down your favorite boat – boat name or slip #, or describe the boat and location in the marina. They can easily get the name of the boat based on the location. Prizes will be given out on Friday, December 24, for the top two boats with the most votes. Turn all votes into the marina office before December 24.
• The Marina Riviera Nayarit is also having a fun Christmas Eve dock party on Dock #4. Appetizers and cocktails, including a white elephant gift exchange. From 6 to 10 p.m. BYOB.
• After shopping the Sunday Market in La Cruz, wander over to the Marina Bar and Grill (formerly Oso’s) for live music with RocOn. Jojo, Miguel and Kristian will set your dancing shoes on fire! Sundays at 1 p.m.
• For a unique shopping experience in a garden oasis, visit Los Arroyos Verdes on December 22. The market consists of 35 local artists selling one-of-a-kind furniture, sculpture, art, flowers and so much more. Many of the vendors sell unique items you don’t see at other local markets. This will be their last market of the year in perfect time for Christmas shopping, and includes the Grupo Proyecto band playing with a Cuban singer.
• Once your shopping is done, join Santa at 4 p.m. at Britannia Pub to give presents to the children of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.
After enjoying the children’s joy, stay for a three-course turkey dinner served from 4 to 8 p.m. Cost is 420 pesos per person.
• In my column two weeks ago, I spoke of the gift that keeps on giving: tickets to a concert. The CD release party for “Doorways” is a “must see” experience under the stars at Los Arroyos Verde.
I have enjoyed all the Luna Rumba Productions Moonlight Concert Series CD Release Parties, and I promise you they are magnificent! “Doorways” has been a long time in the making (nearly two years). Geo has returned with a new collection of music – songs inspired by travels to Turkey, and the past three years sailing in various parts of the world. The music keeps flowing!
Geo calls his latest music a gift from the other side. He combined inspiration while sharing life’s journeys and special moments. Perhaps it has come to help get all of us through these challenging times? Each song is a doorway to a certain feeling and emotional landscape. Music creates a unique expression, recalling feelings, always there to fill up the empty space. It is so deeply rooted in Geo’s life, he’s confident he would not be the same person without it.
“Music has always saved me in some way,” he says.
Tickets, 400 pesos, are available at lunarumba.com.
Food and music offerings
• Encore, our favorite dinner and jazz club in Bucerias, is now open for breakfast at 9 a.m. It’s also open Tuesday for dinner, and don’t miss their 2x1 pasta on Mondays.
• Sandra and the team at Sandrina’s wishes a Feliz Navidad to everyone arriving for the first time, or those who have finally been able to return after the last two years. Sandrina’s is eager to serve them dinner or welcome them for cooking and art classes in the New Year.
• Karen’s beachfront restaurant in Bucerias welcomes you to watch the sunset while enjoying great food and fabulous live music. Monday, enjoy a saxophonist. Wednesday, Alejandro Chavez serenades you with Latin American vibes. Friday is delightful, listening to the classical guitar of Rigoberto. Saturday, enjoy Mexican ballads, and Sunday feel the true spirit of Mexico with mariachi music.
• Falconi’s Friday Nite live music with Ricardo in La Cruz is a wonderful way to spend an evening. Their pizza is great but my fave dish is the chicken parmigiana.
Restaurant Masala Bar and Grill in La Cruz has created a divine Christmas Eve dinner allowing you to enjoy two nights of feasting if you plan it right!
December concerts at the Tree House Bar and Grill bring life to La Cruz; get your dancing shoes on.
Live music on Saturday, December 18, with The Bay Roots.
December 19, Amy Armstrong and Duo Dorado will have you not only dancing but giggling, as Amy brings her unique comedic vibe to the stage.
Us Too presents an inspiring concert December 20.
Crowd favorite Media Luna performs two more times before the end of the year: December 22 and 29.
December 27 brings the Dancing Band Orchestra.
Live Rock and Roll Music with Sweet and Spicy on December 23 and 30.
For a very special New Years Eve, music and dining extravaganza Diego Mondragón & Son Mondragón.
Merry Christmas to all and may 2022 bring you peace and love.