Recap: Good Morning, From Here, December 14 – 20
Monday
Last Friday, Le Bistro on the Isla Cuale took center stage once again for the annual Membership Drive and Welcome Back Party for the Vallarta Garden Club. The event sold out with so many snowbirds and semi-permanent residents here to escape the winter in more northerly climes. Heartfelt hugs were shared in every corner of the restored-to-former-glory Jazz Cafe in the middle of the Isla that bears more than a passing glance of the work done by Vallarta Garden Club. This entire half of the Island was nearly buried under sand and debris after two back-to-back hurricanes. If there was ever a Phoenix rising from the ashes story, it lives on the Isla Cuale and was duly celebrated Friday night. I was so happy to see many new members, uber-influential people who will bring an enormous amount of good to this organization I hold near and dear to my heart. Our next big get-together will be on January 23 for our annual Gala this year called Blooming Together.
It will be at Oscar’s on the ocean-end of the Isla, with dinner first, then dancing to Monaco, that great band headed by Daniel Celis of Palm Cabaret fame. This event always sells out and will be a feast for all the senses. You don’t have to be a member to come to the Gala, but if you are looking for an opportunity to volunteer your time and energy in retirement, I can’t imagine a better bunch of lovely people to hang out with, all working with a single purpose – to make Vallarta more beautiful than she already is.
My sister Patrice and I slipped out a bit early and made our way down to Coco Cabaret for the George Michael Reborn Tribute show starring Robert Bartko, a dead-ringer for the British singer-songwriter who passed in 2016. Bartko, who was at The Palm a year ago and caused a huge sensation – that I missed because of other commitments, is back for a few more shows at Coco. If you are a fan, don’t miss this energetic and loving tribute to one of the most influential singers of the 80s and 90s.
Veggitalia is one of our favorite restaurants in Vallarta, with fresh vegetarian and vegan/gluten-free options only on their menu. Welcoming hugs from owner Marco are cherished every visit, and Patrice wanted to say goodbye. She heads back to Canada tomorrow.
A surprise meet-up over lunch at Veggitalia with Allyna Vineberg’s son Mike and his family sitting next to us. I had just published a photo that morning in Vallarta Mirror of Allyna passing as a butterfly, and my heart was in my throat saying hello to her son. She makes her energy known often, and I am grateful for that and her.
Today is the 16th and marks six months since my new kitty, Humphrey Bogart, aka Bogie, came into my life. He and I grow closer daily, learning each other’s peculiarities and living in near-perfect harmony. He greets me at the front door with chirps – he’s a Maine Coon and is not given to common ‘meows.’ Nothing is ‘common’ about this luxurious feline that I love to pieces From Here.
Tuesday
Casa Yvonneka was resplendent with over a hundred people gathered on its multi-levels of luxury to raise money for Vallarta’s street dogs. Yvonne Kalman, dueña of the casa, in black sequins and Frida Kahlo-like hair accessory, held court, smiling and welcoming her guests to the 9th annual Frida Fiesta overlooking the city. Cocktails began the evening while people mingled and nibbled on giant shrimp. Everyone dressed beautifully, posing for photos, catching up with old friends, and easily acquiring new-found ones.
The silent auction items were well-organized and laid out in their own space, and plenty of help was available to explain the many items of value and beauty. The donations of live auction items included stays at some of Banderas Bays’ most luxurious and expensive resorts, like St Regis and Four Seasons Hotels on the other coast and Sierra del Mar, a little closer to home
The dining room spilled out around the outdoor swimming pool and was dripping with bowls of fresh, fragrant roses, crisp white linens, and copper chargers at every place setting with name cards.
Tall, fabulous Stevie Hart entertained, hot off her continuing run at Coco Cabaret in her ‘Woman in Me’ tribute to Britany Spears. Brent Lane and Jessy Ruiz from CPS Media kept the evening moving along, energetically pitching the live auction items enthusiastically while we enjoyed dinner. Vichyssoise was followed by filet mignon or chicken and ended with delicious vanilla ice cream (that tasted homemade) with chocolate truffles. It was an elegant evening from start to finish; bravas to Yvonne, her dedicated staff, and the phalanx of volunteers.
Did you know there was a cult in Vallarta? One made up of four guys (three gay, one straight) who, every now and again, don skirts, very high heels, wigs, extremely long fingernails and become four despondent Disney princesses who get together 15 years after marrying their respective princes to bitch and complain about still – after all these years – being princesses and not queens, (well…).
Every show is well-written and scripted and ends up going sideways as things occur onstage that send the ‘girls’ into laughing jags that feed the audience’s laughter, and everyone leaves the theater exhausted from having so much fun!
This year, an unexpected present arrived to celebrate Princesas Desesperadas’ 10th anniversary. A short film capturing snippets of various performances by the troupe over the past decade was made by sound and light wizard Janathan Rios, who was with the company at their inception at a now-defunct event space. The Princesas have played The Palm, Nacho Daddy, Incanto, Act2PV, Teatro Vallarta and are now at Plataforma 322 in Colonia Los Sauces. They have won State contests, individually and as an ensemble. PD is still directed by Ramiro Daniel and produced by Alain Perreault of PerroBravo Productions. The characters (and are they ever!) are Cesar Bravo as Snow White, Cesar Trujillo as Sleeping Beauty, Juan Carlos Ramirez as Cinderella, and Juan Pablo Hernandez as Bella.
Another thing this cult project has done is sell-out every single performance in the last decade. The show is in Spanish, and after seeing them more than a dozen times, I STILL can understand only about every fifth word. Will I go back? Yes! Every performance is different and wildly wonderful, and, after love, laughter is all we need From Here.
Wednesday
My house is so quiet, not that she ever made a lot of noise, not at all, but my sister is gone. Patrice is back in Canada, and I am home alone with Bogie, who is also missing her presence in our lives. It’ll take a day or more to get used to walking everywhere by myself, training alone at the gym, and going to see Liberace singing Christmas carols tonight, at Act2PV, without her. It’s all okay; her cats will be overjoyed to have her home and her with them, but I am just putting this out there: If you have any extra hugs on you, I could use a couple, okay?
After the airport run, I met up with my dear friend Kurt Sinner at El Granero for drinks as he was meeting friends from Portland there for dinner. Kurt – of El Rio BBQ fame- will be hosting his unforgettable Tribute Tuesdays about a kilometer down the same road as the old El Rio at an outdoor event space called Rancho Santiago, in Paso Ancho. Those famous barbequed ribs served up by Chef Hollis will also make a comeback with appropriate sides and cocktails. It was very exciting, and I will have much more information going forward as we get closer to next month’s opening date. And, yes, the 04 bus goes right by the door of Rancho Santiago. So, stay tuned.
Out & About Puerto Vallarta magazine hosted another Gay Mixer last night at Los Otros Blondies on Basilio Badillo. I stopped in – nope, I couldn’t GET in, it was so crowded! Jerry Jones, editor, and I stood on the overflowing-with-people sidewalk and caught up with each other somewhat while greeting the Gay Glitterati like Tom Nussbaum, Jet de la Isla, and the fabulous Ms Gouda Gabor in red sequins and large hair, festive for the season and on her way to Nacho Daddy to host Open Mic.
I had totally blanked on Open Mic, so I begged off and scooted home and tucked into bed early (really early!), slept well, and am on my way to the gym this morning, Scrabble at 12:30 at Qulture, Bingo at 4, a fundraiser for Colina Spay and Neuter Clinic at Nacho Daddy, then Christmas with Liberace starring David Maiocco at 7 pm at Act2PV—a full report on all those happenings tomorrow.
Enjoy this last week of shopping before Christmas, and please don’t forget those hugs, From Here.
Thursday
I was a few minutes late to Qulture for Scrabble, and one of our new members, Ronnie Lee, and I played for the first time. Look for Ronnie’s affectionate look at the final day of the Guadalupe processions, which will be published in Vallarta Mirror soon. Two more games ensued with nemesis Sharon Gerber, fresh from hosting an uber-successful toy drive for a pair of local orphanages, but she did not prevail this week.
So, with three wins and feeling happily smug, I walked down to Nacho Daddy and a packed house for Doggie Bingo and came so close in half a dozen games but did not prevail. My tablemate, Scrabbler Sandy Lopez, however, won a raffle prize and took home one of my donated candles and a gift certificate to Langostinos.
A couple of readers remembered my request for hugs, so it was lovely to walk into the Ovations Piano Bar at Act2PV last night into a passel of open arms, including those of Cindy Du Chateau Ramirez, Georgia Darehshori, Heather Thomson, Jan Dorland and Rob Burton. They – we – were all waiting for the Liberace Christmas show to start in the Casa Karma Red Room. It was a sold-out performance with special libations and guest stars who sang, danced, and played with maestro David Maiocco, dressed to the proverbial nines, as Liberace. This show, more than anything else, left all of us holding the true spirit of Christmas when we left the theater. More on this delectable concert in a day or two.
My sister arrived home safely. She is cold but safe. Six more sleeps until Santa comes; I wonder if he’d like Cate Valcic’s eggnog this year, From Here.
Friday
Happy Friday, everybody! Enjoy today – the last day of Fall and Winter starts tomorrow. It is another thing to celebrate here in Mexico in December and I am going to a private gathering to do just that.
In Vallarta, we have the first 12 days of the month devoted to the Patron Saint of Mexico, the Virgin of Guadalupe, with processions and frequent canon explosions that make my teeth ring with each one – I live only a couple of blocks from the main church in town. Traffic is a holy mess, with buses to the center of town stopping before Leys Supermarket, but that is what we do. Every year.
Then we take a four-day break of sorts. The Christmas Posadas begin, closing streets where neighbors sing to one another, recreating what happened in Bethlehem a couple of thousand years ago when Joseph and Mary were looking for shelter so they could have their baby.
I have spent 35 Christmases in Vallarta, and for the first time, baby Jesus is on the Malecon already. This has always worked in Canada when we pulled out our Nativity scene from storage and set it up, but here in Mexico, the manger always boasts an empty cradle that is filled with a baby Jesus sometime during the night of the 24th. Perhaps the city will remember to pull baby Jesus for another four days and remember to put him back in good time. Or, maybe it’s a bow to the rest of North America who are used to having baby Jesus the whole time.
Do you see what happens to me when I am home alone?
My only meeting yesterday was canceled, so I spent the day at my computer editing my overflowing inbox with articles from Vallarta Mirror contributors who suddenly have a great deal to say. Write, rather. That’s not a complaint; just sayin’.
You’d think I would have thrown some laundry in while I was just sitting here at my desk, but no. That’s my weekend plan.
Over the next week or so, Vallarta Mirror will have some interesting articles on Real Estate purchasing in town in light of the recent election in the US, some fascinating information on stem cell research, what the last day of Guadalupe processions was like, a Christmas party with Liberace and some musings from Renee Armand who is down on her farm in Tennessee.
Enjoy those and the last weekend before Christmas and Hanukah. Be sure to share your smiles with everyone you meet on the street From Here.
