The Guadalajara Reporter

Ribera Arts Review - February 9, 2013

Open studios

Enter the world of local artists when the Ajijic Society of the Arts (ASA)  holds its second annual Open Studios Tour on Saturday and Sunday, February 9 and 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Participants can use the ticket/map to find the studios of 70 artists in 20 locations around town.

The tickets (50 pesos for two people) are available now at Diane Pearl Colecciones, the Lake Chapala Society Ticket, Etc. booth and from all ASA members.

Studio opening

“Conejo en la Luna” (Rabbit in the Moon), an exhibit of prints, opens at Taller Grafica (Ocampo 20, Ajijic, one-half block west of Colon) on Saturday, February 9, 3-6 p.m.

This new art space combines a working studio with a casual gallery and is the brainchild of owner Pat Apt, a long-time Lakeside artist. It aims to promote original limited edition hand-printed works of art by area artists and provide a place for people to learn about the intricacies of the print-making process. 

Featured artists for this first show are Juan Navarro, Gabriel Mariscal, Jesus Lopez Vega and Apt.  The exhibit will be up throughout February. Everyone is welcome to stop by the opening for refreshments and to meet the artists. 

Taller Grafica is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can also call 376-766-5544 for an appointment. Visit the website at http://patapt.artspan.com.

Groovin’

Simone and Mike Lamer are on their Mexico tour! They’ve been groovin’ the Melaque/ Barra de Navidad area for ten years and are now coming to a venue near you.

They will be at Cafe Adelita’s on Thursday, February 14, Restaurant Number 4 on Friday, February 15 and then back to Cafe Adelita’s for Saturday the 16th. Expect lots of jazz, R&B and Motown.

Dinner theater

“House,” a dark and hilariously funny one-man show written by Daniel Macivor, one of Canada’s most accomplished playwrights and film directors, and performed by award-winning Canadian actor Alan Jordan, will be presented on Wednesday, February 13 at Viva Mexico Restaurant in San Juan Cosala.

The work made its Mexican premier recently in San Miguel de Allende and will also tour in Guanajuato, Leon and Mexico City. The performance in San Juan Cosala will be served with a three-course gourmet meal beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the show at 7 p.m.

Tickets cost 300 pesos and include the performance and the gourmet dinner. Ten percent of the ticket proceeds will be donated to Operation Feed, a San Juan Cosala charity.

Seating is limited so reservations are a must. Tickets can be purchased at Viva Mexico Restaurant (Porfirio Diaz Pte. 92, San Juan Cosala) or by contacting Agustin Vazquez by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Naked stage

Naked Stage is famous for its minimalistic play readings for adult theatre goers. Next up will be “Beyond Therapy” by Christopher Durang and directed by Robin Lawrenson.

The cast includes Irma Henson, Ron Knight, Bob Jones, Marie-Paule Lacasse, Dick Yanko and Ann Lewis. They will take the stage Friday, February 22; Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24. Performances start at 4 p.m. The donation is 80 pesos. The bar opens at 3 p.m and box office at 3:15 p.m.

The Naked Stage is located in Plaza de la Ribera (formerly Sol y Luna). Drive west on the Carretera from Central Ajijic and turn south on Rio Bravo. The theater is located behind Daniel’s Restaurant (formerly Don Pedro) down two blocks on the left. Reservations are a MUST! Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Michelle Boudreau at 765-6408.

Auditions

Auditions for “The Normal Heart” will be held at the Naked Stage Theater on Wednesday, February 13, 11 a.m. The cast includes seven men and two women. For more information contact director Jim Lloyd at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 766-3070.

“The Normal Heart” is a largely autobiographical play by Larry Kramer. It focuses on the rise of the HIV/AIDS crisis in New York City between 1981 and 1984, as seen through the eyes of writer/activist Ned Weeks, the gay Jewish-American founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group.  The play won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Revival on Broadway.

The production dates are March 15, 16 and 17.

Showstoppers

The Los Cantantes del Lago “Showstoppers” concert hits the boards on Sunday February 10, 4 p.m. at St Andrew’s Anglican Church (bar opens at 3 p.m.). 

There are some new singers, extra musicians (sax and violin), the ever- popular Betty Lloyd Robinson as emcee, and Los Cantantes del Lago music director Timothy G. Ruff Welch accompanying AND singing!

The tickets are 200 pesos and available at Diane Pearl Colecciones, Mia’s Boutique, from any Cantantes member and by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

Storytellers

Storytellers presents “It’s All About Love,” featuring readings of original stories by Lakeside’s best writers, in the Lake Chapala Society Gazebo, Tuesday, February 12, 4 p.m.

Writers and readers are Judy Dykstra-Brown, Robert Kleffel, Libby Colterjohn, Margaret Van Every, Margie Keene, Larry Reeves, Barbara Pruitt, Jeritza McCarter and Liz White. Doing the honors as Emcee will be Arden Murphy.

The bar opens at 3:30 p.m. Admission is free but donations are happily accepted.

All proceeds benefit the Jim Collums Education Fund.

Bus trips

Over the next three months, VIVA la Musica is arranging several bus trips to operas streamed live from the New York Metropolitan Opera to the Teatro Diana in Guadalajara.

The operas are transmitted on Saturdays around midday. The schedule is as follows:

- February 16: Verdi’s “Rigoletto.”   

- March 2: Wagner’s “Parsifal.”     

- March 16: Zadonai’s “Francesca de Rimini” (early departure at 9 a.m.).            

- April 27: Handel’s “Julius Cesar.”

Tickets are 300 pesos for VIVA members and 400 pesos for non members. Purchase tickets at Auditorio de la Ribera del Lago or at Diane Pearl Colecciones.

Gonzalez Gallo

The Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo (old train station) in Chapala has announced a series of musical events for the entire family.

A guitar recital by Maestro Hugo Graciano kicks off the series on Thursday, February 14, 7 p.m.

Further recitals follow on February 21, 7 p.m.; February 24, 7 p.m.; February 26, 11 a.m. and February 27, 7 p.m.   The February 26 recital features the Orchestra of Axixic.

There is no admission charge for these fine presentations.

The Fantasticks

“The Fantasticks” is back with the same great cast, the same fabulous musicians and the same magical experience as last fall.

This is a repeat run of a musical that many Lakesiders said was one of the best shows ever staged in the area. 

Performances are scheduled for Friday, March 1, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 2, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 3, 3 p.m.; Monday, March 4, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Tuesday, March 5, 7:30 p.m.

The shows take place at Plaza de la Ribera (formerly Sol y Luna), Rio Bravo 10A in west Ajijic.

Tickets cost 250 pesos each and are on sale now at Diane Pearl Colecciones and Mia’s Boutique.

CASA

The Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (CASA) held its first monthly meeting and competition of 2013 on January 21. 

The categories were Comfort Food-Main Dish (A) and Traditional Desserts (B). 

The judges were chefs Fernando Gomez, Ian Greenwood and Amy Potter.  The guest speaker was Judy King, who spoke about the definitions of comfort food in many different parts of the world. 

Winners in Category A were: Pat Carroll in first place for his Sweet & Sour Chicken, Carole Wolff in second place for her Over the Top Lasagna and Monica Molloy in third place for her Uncle Joe’s Spicy Short Ribs. 

Winners in Category B were Maureen Martin in first place for her Sticky Toffee Pudding, Pam Ladd in second place for her Blueberry Lemon Strudel with Homemade Blueberry Ice Cream and Wayne Palfrey in third place for his Mom’s Apple Crisp.  People’s choice awards went to Monica Molloy and Pam Ladd.

The next meeting/competition for CASA will be at Min Wah Restaurant on Monday, February 18, 4 p.m. 

For additional information on CASA contact President Pat Carroll at 766-3144 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Also visit the CASA website at www.ajijiccasa.org.