The Guadalajara Reporter

APRIL 9: Sunset concert in San Juan

A concert to benefit the Orquesta Filarmónica Infantil de la Ribera de Chapala (Lake Chapala Youth Philharmonic Orchestra-LYPO) is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9, 5:30 p.m., at La Paz 17 in San Juan Cosalá.

The sunset event will be set in a lovely lakefront garden where the audience will be invited to sip wine while enjoying the debut performance of the LYPO choir and classical music by Ensemble Axixic.  Voluntary contributions will be collected at the door.

APRIL 4: Train station birthday bash

The Centro Cultural González Gallo (CCGG) is commemorating the 94th birthday of Chapala’s ill-fated railway line with a week-long series of special events.

The program opens Friday, April 4, 7 p.m., with a recital by the Clemente Orozco Cedart Chamber Orchestra. 

Latin American sounds will be featured Sunday, April 6, 12:30 p.m., at the joint appearance of the Ensamble Latino musical troupe and Son y Alma chorus.

The Orquesta Típica de Chapala will offer a repertoire of traditional Mexican compositions on Tuesday, April 8, 7 p.m.

Students from CCGG and Ixtlahuacan’s Casa de Cultura will appear together for an evening of song on Thursday, April 10, 7 p.m. 

A screening of the Mexican film “Como Agua Para Chocolate” (Like Water for Chocolate) is booked for Friday, April 11, 6:30 p.m.

The calendar closes Saturday, April 12, 5 p.m., with a folk dance and music show featuring the Ballet de Ixtlahuacan and Grupo Mi México. 

Admission to see the movie is set at 20 pesos. All other events are open to the public free of charge.

The inaugural run of the Chapala-Guadalajara railroad line took place on April 8, 1920, with a full load of passengers pulling out from the state capital at 9 a.m. and arriving at the station set on Lake Chapala’s shoreline at 12:45 p.m. The railway company founded by Norweign entrepreneur Christian Schejtnan went belly-up just six years later.  The stately railroad station designed by Guillermo de Alba was left in abandon, gradually falling into disrepair. The building was donated to the people of the state in 1992. Following years of on and off restoration work, it was finally reopened in 2006 to headquarter the CCGG.

APRIL 10: Niños Incapacitados

The general annual meeting of Niños Incapacitados del Lago is slated for Thursday, April 10, 10:30 a.m., in conjunction with the regular meeting at the Hotel Real de Chapala in La Floresta. Coffee and cookies will be served at 10 a.m.

One of the children in the Niños Incapacitados program will be introduced to the group followed by brief reports from members of the board, the presentation of the organization’s budget for 2014, a vote to approve minor changes to by-laws and the election of officers. 

Everyone is welcome to attend. Those interested will find additional information about this all-volunteer group at www.programaninos.org. Niños Incapacitados helps low-income Mexican families pay for ongoing and/or major medical expenses for children with disabling or life-threatening illnesses.

MARCH 30: Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra

Guest conductor Christoph Poppen from Germany is joined by invited pianist Abdiel Vázquez. Mozart’s “Symphony No. 35 in D major (Haffner),” Rachmaninov’s “Piano Concerto No. 4” and Brahms’ “Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98.”  Please note that the scheduled  performance on Friday, March 28 has been cancelled.

Teatro Degollado, Sunday, March 30, 12:30 p.m. 110-200 pesos.

APRIL 12, 13: Con Comics Expo

Eagerly awaited by youthful fans, the Con Comics Expo returns to Expo Guadalajara on April 12 and 13.  A smaller version of San Diego’s famous Comic-Con convention, it covers the same range of pop culture elements, such as horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels.

Many of those attending get into the spirit of things by dressing up as their favorite fantasy characters.

Expo Guadalajara is at Av. Mariano Otero 1499, corner of Las Rosas.

APRIL 4: Free concert at Centro Cultural González Gallo

The Centro Cultural González Gallo, housed at Chapala’s former railway station, will be the venue for two free concerts coming up in early April.

The Chamber Orchestra from Guadalajara’s José Clemente Orozco Artistic Education Center is scheduled to appear on Friday, April 4, 7 p.m.

APRIL 9: Technovation at American School

The American School Foundation of Guadalajara presents its first Technovation Program on Wednesday, April 9, from 6-9 p.m.

Each participant will be given four minutes to get up on stage and explain a mobile application that they have created in a team under the guidance of a professional “mentor.” All the presentations will be in English.

The winners will receive Google Nexus 7 tablets supplied by Oracle MDC. The top ten teams will later travel to San Francisco, California to participate and compete for prizes in a “Pitch Night.”

The school says the program is designed to encourage female students to study computer science degrees after they leave high school.  For more information call 3648-2405.

MARCH 29: Local flamenco dance co. Las Cabales

Local flamenco dance company Las Cabales celebrates its 60th birthday with special invited professionals from Spain.

Teatro Degollado, Saturday, March 29, 8 p.m. 180-300 pesos.

MARCH 31: Genealogy forum

Local family history buffs will meet Monday, March 31, 2 p.m. in the Neill James Sala of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) for a discussion of using applications and products not specifically designed for genealogy.

The term given this process is “Hack Genealogy” but the group doesn’t intend to disclose ways to hack into subscription sites or computers. The genealogy group is also talking about the exciting new features available for old favorite software like FamilySearch and Google Earth. 

With several new forum members, all attending this meeting will be asked to present a one-minute introduction about their general areas of research, latest discoveries, or current family history problems. Those attending often discover that another member is working on the same puzzle or is especially knowledgeable about a region or topic. Occasionally members find distant relatives within the group.

All levels of family historians are invited to attend the meeting. Attendees do not need to be LCS members. For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

MARCH 27: Viva la Musica

Viva la Musica presents an exciting concert featuring the Catarsis Piano Trio on Thursday, March 27,  7 p.m. in the Auditorio de la Ribera in La Floresta. This performance will include Beethoven´s “Sonata No. 8 for violin and piano,” Schumann´s “Fantasy for cello and piano” and Piazzola’s “Four Seasons for violin, cello and piano.”

The trio is comprised of pianist Azelea Beltran, violinist Diego Rojas Miramontes and cellist Yalissa Cruz.  Both Cruz and Rojas Miramontes are members of the Jalisco Philharmonic, while Beltran, who entered the University of Guadalajara (UdG) Music School at age 12, has played with the orchestra as a soloist.

Tickets cost 200 pesos and are on sale at Diane Pearl Colecciones, the auditorium in La Floresta and at LCS, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to noon.

MARCH 30: Carmen

Famous ballet/opera Carmen with live music and choir, featuring dance companies Cibar Flamenco, Olé and Pascual Martínez.

Foro de Arte y Cultura (Av. Prolongación Alcalde 1451), Sunday, March 30, 6 p.m. 180 pesos.

MARCH 25: Nature's Music

Los Cantantes del Lago’s Spring Concert, titled “Nature’s Music,” features music from Renaissance to folk and gospel; the poets from William Blake to Sara Teasdale; the composers from Orlando Gibbons to Eric Whitacre and Cole Porter sung a cappella, with piano and accompanied by cello and flute.

The concerts are on Tuesday March 25, 7 p.m. and Wednesday, March 26, 4 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera.  Tickets are 250 pesos and available at Mia’s Boutique, Diane Pearl Colecciones or by emailing  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

APRIL 9: LCS bus trips

The next Lake Chapala Society shopping trip to Galerias Mall in Guadalajara is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9 (moved from the originally announced April 10 due to a bus conflict). Galerias Mall and the adjoining areas include a variety of shopping outlets, including Liverpool, Sears, Best Buy, Zara, Sephora, Costco, Sams, Mega and more.

The bus leaves from the La Floresta sculpture at 9:30 a.m. and returns at 4 p.m. Shoppers can sign up for the trip at the LCS from Monday to Friday, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The cost is 250 pesos per person.

Avid area shoppers in need of a major shopping fix should mark their calendars now to reserve space for the upcoming May trip to McAllen, Texas. The group will leave lakeside on Sunday, May 4 and return on the morning of Thursday, May 8.

The price of the trip includes round trip on the deluxe bus, three nights at the Hampton Inn, breakfast on three mornings, bus transportation to all McAllen shopping areas and tips for the long distance drivers. Due to new taxes, the price is 7,000 pesos per person for a double room or 8,700 pesos for a single room. There is a non-refundable 1,000-peso deposit. Those interested should sign up at the LCS soon so that bus and hotel reservations can be made. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

MARCH 25: Free show at Teatro Degollado

Iranian-American classical guitarist Lily Afshar plays pieces by Bach, Brouwer and Castelnouovo-Tedesco, as well as her own compositions. Afshar won the 2000 Orville H. Gibson Award for Best Female Classical Guitarist and was was among 12 guitarists selected to play for Andrés Segovia in his master classes held at the University of Southern California.

Degollado Theater, Tuesday, March 25, 8:30 p.m. Free. No tickets sold, just turn up.

TODAY-APRIL 6: Lakeside Little Theatre's "Social Security"

Tickets are available for the final play of the season at the Lakeside Little Theatre, “Social Security,” which runs from March 28 through Sunday, April 6.

Directed by Phil Shepherd, it’s a sophisticated comedy by U.S. screenwriter Andrew Bergman.  The Broadway production opened in 1986 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, where it ran for 388 performances. Cast members include Phyllis Silverman, Pierre Blackburn, Georgette Richmond, Zane Pumiglia, Candace Luciano and Roger Larson.     

Tickets for the show are 200 pesos. The box office will be open from 10 a.m. to noon from Wednesday, March 26 through the run of the show (except for the Sunday matinees), and one hour before curtain time for each performance.

MARCH 27: Catarsis piano trio

The talented Catarsis piano trio presents works by Beethoven, Schumann and Piazzola in the next Viva la Musica concert on Thursday, March 27, 7 p.m. at the Auditorio  in La Floresta. 

Formed of pianist Azelea Beltran, violinist Diego Rojas Miramontes and cellist Yalissa Cruz, Catarsis is gaining wide recognition for their sensitive interpretations of great works of music.

Both Cruz and Rojas Miramontes are members of the Jalisco Philharmonic, while Beltran, who entered the University of Guadalajara (UdG) Music School at age 12, has played with the orchestra as a soloist.

The March 27 concert program will include Beethoven’s “Sonata No. 8 for violin and piano,” Schumann’s “Fantasy for cello and piano” and “The Four Seasons” by Piazzola.

Tickets cost 200 pesos and are on sale at Diane Pearl Colecciones, the auditorium in La Floresta and at LCS, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m.. to noon.

APRIL 6: Indigenous arts and crafts fair at Casa Huichol

Sunday, April 6 sees the second “kermesse” held at the Casa Huichol, a refuge for members of the Wixarika indigenous people who are obliged to travel to Guadalajara for medical treatment.

This year’s fair will raise funds for the most economically-challenged communities in the isolated Huichol sierra of northern Jalisco and Nayarit.

The fair begins at 12:45 p.m. with a traditional Huichol fire ceremony. There will an exhibit of Wixarika art, and indigenous crafts will be on sale at discount prices. As well as music and plenty of food and refreshments, documentary films on the Wixarika culture will be screened.

The cost of entry is 30 pesos or with a donation of a dispensa (food package containing staples such as beans, rice, lentils, coffee, chocolate, tobacco, candles, etcetera).

The Casa Huichol is at Beatriz Hernandez 1354, Colonia Zoquipan, Zapopan. This is a good opportunity to visit this important charitable institution and see the work they do.

MARCH 29: Rock n' Blues Gala Dinner

Volunteers of lakeside’s Niños de Chapala and Ajijic (NCA) are hosting a Rock n’ Blues Gala Dinner on Saturday, March 29, to ensure they have the funds needed to keep nearly 250 young Mexicans in school. These primary through university students need the financial assistance of the group, they do their part by maintaining at least an 80 percent grade point.

Mike and the Suspects, who play to sold-out Friday crowds at Adelita’s in San Antonio Tlayacapan, will provide the rock ‘n’ blues music for the elegant afternoon and evening of gourmet food and dancing  at the recently refurbished Hotel Montecarlo in Chapala.

How can you go wrong with an event featuring great music, lovely location, a menu that includes chicken, vegetarian lasagna and a Surf ‘n Turf (filet mignon stuffed with shrimp), ample well-lit parking, a 50/50 raffle, a 4 p.m. start time, and that rare commodity -- wheelchair access.

Tickets are 350 pesos each, and available at Los Niños,Bazar in Riberas, across from the 7/11 or from Doug (33) 1069-0084, Nancy (376) 766-0848, Shannon (387) 763-5145 or Amy (376) 765-5454.

APRIL 5, 6: Spring bazaar

Guadalajara city hall is hosting an open-air “Springtime Bazaar” to showcase “100-percent Mexican-made” products on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6 at the Jardin Juan Manuel (Av. Hidalgo, between Tucidides and Fidias).

MARCH 21: "Retrospect" art show reception

A reception for Nancy Gray’s new show, “Retrospect,” will be held Friday, March 21, from 2-5 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

The reception will be in the beautiful garden at La Bella Vida, Constitution 6, Ajijic.  The paintings will on exhibit over the entire weekend.