Bingo!
Have Hammer will Travel is starting “Bingolago,” a bingo game to be held every Tuesday, beginning May 24, from 1 to 4 p.m. at restaurant Maria Isabel on the lakeshore. Grand prizes include a week in a condo with Super Blackout Bingo.
The cards are for sale beginning 1 p.m. and the game is on at 1:30 p.m. Paper cards and bingo daubers will be supplied. The average price of a game is 20 pesos and a bingo package can be had for a donation of 200 pesos.
This event is to help the Have Hammers school/workshop in Riberas del Pilar teach more youngsters life skills through carpentry and wood working. For more information, contact 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..
Open Circle
Stories from “30 Years of Sex Ed and Medical Services to Marginalized Lakeside Women” will be presented by Silvia Flores at the Sunday, May 21 meeting of Open Circle, 10:30 a.m. in the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) garden.
Flores will share stories about her efforts to help women and families of the most marginalized Lakeside communities. In the 1980s she created a team of leaders who worked to empower these communities. She will tell us how her institution addresses the most important problems such as breast and cervical cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancy and domestic violence.
Flores is a registered nurse and midwife, founder of Centro de Desarrollo Jocotepec A.C. (www.cedejo.org), a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for Lake Chapala families with limited resources through promoting the health and well-being of the family.
Since 1984 Flores has presented lectures and conferences in the United States, Egypt, Cuba, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Guatemala, as well as throughout Mexico.
For more information, see opencircleajijic.org.
Villa Infantil
Five of lakeside’s most outstanding expat cooks showed off their culinary talents at the May 11 fund-raising dinner for the Villa Infantil children’s home. Hosted by Beth Cathcart, the event was purchased by Maureen and Wayne Renz at the silent auction held during the recent Climb Every Mountain benefit for Villa Infantil. The sumptuous six-course menu opened with cheesy party poppers and shrimp cocktails, followed by oysters Rockefellar, lemon granita, Chateaubriand, a luscious New York cheesecake topped with blazing sparklers.
¡Qué RRRico! Fish
Culinary master and TV personality Aquiles Chávez appeared as guest of honor at the grand opening of the three-day ¡Qué RRRico! Fish festival held May 12 through 14 at the Chapala Malecón.. After cruising along the waterfront and sampling local craft ice cream, he gave a free demo on preparing fish and seafood recipes. Chapala was selected to kick off venue for the federal government’s itinerant Ruta de Pescados y Mariscos Mexicanos program designed to promote the consumption of products from the nation’s oceans, lakes and fish farms. Chavez is widely recognized for his role as a sharp-tongued member of the judges panel on the televised Top Chef Mexico contest.
Birders
Chapala Birders will meet Friday, May 27, 8 a.m. in Riberas del Pilar to follow the shoreline observing marsh, lake and scrub birds. At about 10 a.m. they will head to Mom’s restaurant for breakfast.
To get there take the Carretera to Riberas. Half way along, turn down to the lake at the 7-11 store and park close to the lake.
If you have reports of interesting bird sightings near Lake Chapala, or need information about birding at the lake, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 376-766-1801.
LCS fashion show
Designs by Alma Gutierrez will be on display at a fashion show to be held at LCS on Saturday, May 28, 12:30 p.m. Lunch will be catered by Roberto´s Restaurant with a cash bar. Surprise raffles and the exhibition and sale of pieces by the LCS Children’s Art Program are also planned. Tickets at LCS and Diane Pearl are 200 pesos.
Memorial Day pig roast
American Legion Post Seven in Chapala will host a Memorial Day dinner Monday, May 30 with a social hour beginning at 1 p.m. and dinner at 2 p.m. The menu features pit roasted pig, corn on the cob, homemade baked beans and bananas Foster. Noe and the Men in Black will provide the music. Tickets are 160 pesos, available at the Legion. Email Vince Britton for more 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..
Spanish classes
The Lake Chapala Society has announced its next round of Introduction to Spanish language classes for its members. This is a casual class offered for the beginner that covers the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary and phrases to use about town for shopping, and other useful information about the area and Mexican culture.
Classes are held each month starting the first Tuesday of the month and continue for three weeks. June classes start on Tuesday, June 7, and will be held at the LCS campus from noon until 1:30 p.m. Learning materials are provided, and the tuition for the classes is 175 pesos. Sign up is available at the LCS office during regular office hours, Monday through Saturday. Or signup is easy and quick at www.lakechapalasociety.com.
The LCS is located at 16-A, 16 de Septiembre in Ajijic. Call (376) 766-1140.
LCS history matters
The Lake Chapala Society is looking for vintage photographs to enhance its historic archive collection which is now being reviewed and catalogued. There is special interest in images dating back to the 1970’s when LCS was headquartered in Chapala, as well as early photos of Neill James. If you have snapshots of significant LCS events that happened prior to 2010, and know the names of the people in the pictures, those too would be excellent additions to the project. Interested parties are asked to contact 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..
Casa
Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (Casa) members enjoyed some light fare at their meeting Monday, May 16. Members competed in two categories: pates, terrines or spreads and yeast breads, buns or crackers (sweet or savory).
In the first category, club President Monica Malloy took first place, presentation award and her 11th Bing Award for a veal country pate with white truffle oil and pistachios and apple and tomato chutney. Second place was won by Rick Feldmann for sun dried tomatoes, basil pesto and goat cheese spread and Jose Fernandez took third place for his Tuscan pate. Mary Ann
Waite won the people’s choice for her sun-dried tomato and pesto terrine/torta.
Michele Lococo won first place and people’s choice in the second category for her sticky buns. Carol Westbrook took second place and presentation award for Gorgonzola, spinach and herb scones. Third place was won by Judith Greenberg with a chocolate babka.
The next Casa meeting is June 20, 3:30 p.m. at La Mision Restaurant and categories are fusion main dish and fusion desserts. For more information, contact 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..