Women’s Week continues
As part of the celebration of International Women’s Week, six awards will be presented to distinguished Lakeside women, Friday, March 11, 4:30 p.m. at the Central Cultural Antigua Presidencia in Chapala. The categories are Medical/Health Care, Education, Arts and Culture, Business, Volunteer/Community Service and Lakeside Woman of the Year. There is no cost to attend this event.
An escaramuza presentation and competition will be held Saturday, March 12, 4 p.m. at the Ajijic Charro Ring in Lower La Floresta, Ajijic. Four teams will compete in women’s horseback riding and dressage. Entertainment includes banda music and appearances by singer Lupita Jimenez and The Ballet Folklorico Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos.
Tickets are just 20 pesos and can be purchased at the event. Food and drink vendors will be on site.
Capirotada Festival
Foodies will gravitate to the Ajijic plaza Sunday, March 13 for the second annual Feria de la Capirotada, a festive cooking contest revolving around Mexican style bread pudding, a traditional culinary treat prepared during the Lenten sent. The event is scheduled to run from 3 to 8 p.m., with tasting, judging and People’s Choice voting of different interpretations of the combination of toasted bread, fruits, nuts, crude sugar syrup and other ingredients. The program closes with awards for the best entries and live music for dancing.
The Dog House
The bar at the new Naked Stage facility in Riberas del Pilar is now called The Dog House. Volunteers from a combination of three dog organizations: Lucky Dog, The Ranch and Operation Compassion serve up cold drinks and raise money for their needy hounds. It opened last Sunday to rave reviews about the idea, but also the tasty margaritas.
Lakeside Singers
The Lakeside Singers had a ball with the residents of Casa Nostra nursing home in Riberas del Pilar February 25. The next Sing-along is March 18, 4:30 p.m. at Alicia’s (La Paloma), Juan Alvarez 56, Ajijic, followed by dinner at La Mision Restaurante, Rio Bravo 7, Ajijic, from about 6 p.m.
CASA
A quail dish served at Honneur Bistrot Frances in Guadalajara as part of the Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (CASA) Saveur de France Tour on March 8. The group’s first stop was Oh La La Panaderia Frances, then a shopping trip to chef supply store Cristaleria la Unica, before Honneur where 46 CASA members enjoyed a four-course French luncheon.
Open Circle
Yann Kostic, MBA, and Tom Zachystal, CFA, CFP will present “The Psychology of Investing – Making Better Financial Decisions by Understanding the Way We Think,” at the Sunday, March 13 meeting of Open Circle held in the Lake Chapala Society Garden, 10:30 a.m.
A great deal of research has been done over the last few years on the topic of behavioral finance and how people make decisions with respect to their financial affairs. Understanding the biases that drive our decision-making can help us make better financial and life decisions and take the stress out of financial planning for our future.
Go to opencircleajijic.org for more information.
LCS lecture
Dr. Richard Rhoda presents “Mexico: The Good, Bad and Ugly” at the next Lake Chapala Society lecture, Monday, March 14, 2 p.m. in the LCS sala.
Many here are enamored with Mexico and have nothing but good things to say about the country. Others are constantly complaining about all the bad aspects of this “third world” country. Everyone accepts that there are some really ugly things in Mexico, including drug wars, murder and other crimes, corruption, the justice system and violence against women.
Dr. Rhoda’s lecture points out the many good and bad aspects of Mexico, as well as briefly updating the status of the ugly, which tend to be covered extensively in the media. His 2010 book, “Geo-Mexico: The Geography and Dynamics of Modern Mexico,” and the two dozen lectures he has delivered mostly point to positive aspects of Mexico. In this lecture he presents a more balanced picture. Rhoda has lived for over 30 years in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, including 16 years in Ajijic.
LCS learning seminar
LCS members are invited to attend the Tuesday, March 15 learning seminar from noon to 1:15 p.m. featuring a Ted Talk by microbial researcher Rob Knight on “How our microbes make us who we are.” Fred Harland is the moderator.
Knight explores the unseen microbial world that exists literally right under our noses – and everywhere else on (and in) our bodies. “What motivates me, from a pragmatic standpoint, is how understanding the microbial world might help us improve human and environmental health,” he says.
Freethinkers
At its Wednesday, March 16 meeting, the Lakeside Freethinkers will discuss topics of interest proposed by the members in attendance. Also on the agenda will be the upcoming change of leadership of their organization. The terms of chair and vice-chair will soon expire and new officers will be needed. Volunteers and nominations for these positions will be discussed.
The Lakeside Freethinkers meet at the La Nueva Posada restaurant on the third Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. Dinner and additional discussion usually follow the meeting.
The Lakeside Freethinkers define a “freethinker” as a person who identifies himself or herself as an atheist, agnostic, secular humanist, or skeptic. They believe that individuals should not accept ideas proposed as truth without recourse to knowledge and reason. They reject belief in the supernatural and rely on science and reason to guide their lives.
If you would like to attend, or just obtain additional 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..
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Community meets on Wednesdays. Noble Silence begins at 4 p.m., followed by a formal meditation, dharma teachings and discussion at 4:30. This week, on March 16, there will be the third of five audio presentations: “Waking Up – What Does It Really Mean?”
Drop-in meditation is on every Sunday (except first Sundays) and every Monday from 9 to 10 a.m., and every Thursday from 11 a.m. to noon. A Drop In Practice/Study group meets every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. All are welcome.
The sangha’s location is at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Suites A&B, in Ajijic. The Heart of Awareness is a non-sectarian community grounded in the teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. Prior experience or affiliation is not required. For further information on the community and scheduled activities, visit heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert at (376) 766-6069.
Pet Food Drive
The monthly cat and dog food drive will be held Thursday, March 17, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Friends of the Animals food store. If you are unable to come to the pet food drive on this particular Thursday, you can make a pet food donation anytime to your designated animal shelter. At the time of purchase inform the store clerk that the cat/dog food is being donated to your favorite animal rescue organization and the store will hold your donated purchase for pickup. After you have made your purchase, contact your designated rescue group to inform them that your paid food donation purchase is waiting for them to pick up. At each of the monthly cat/dog pet food drives there are volunteers from Anita’s Animals who can assist you or answer questions you might have.
LCS meeting
The Lake Chapala Society’s Annual General Members Meeting will be held on its campus on Thursday, March 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All LCS members are invited. All other LCS activities will be suspended during this time.
Sound of Music
Enjoy a gourmet luncheon/fashion show with entertainment by Judy Hendrick and Mac Morison at the Villa Infantil Orphanage fundraiser Saturday, March 19, to be held at Las Caballerizas in the Raquet Club.
Lois Cugini’s fashions will be presented, a silent auction will be open before and during the luncheon and children from Villa Infantil will be singing songs from the “Sound of Music.” A cash bar will be available.
All those attending are asked to bring a non-perishable food item as a donation to Villa Infantil.
Tickets at 300 pesos are available at Cugini’s Boutique, Yoly’s and Mia’s. Tables of ten can be reserved by emailing Beth Cathcart at 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..
Flock-off
Lakeside area birders (snowbirds, that is) will join in their annual gathering before flying back north. Patrick Holden is organizing this year’s Great Northern Snowbird Flock-off at Maria Isabel Restaurant on Saturday, March 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come say goodbye to your snowbird friends and enjoy a buffet for 99 pesos. For more information contact Holden at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2016 StreetSmart
The fourth edition of StreetSmart Lake Chapala, containing detailed area street maps, a street index and useful articles, will be updated and printed in the coming months. For information, 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..