Recap: Good Morning, From Here, May 24 – 30
Monday
It fits that the end of the season should be as crazy as this past season was. So busy in fact, it will take this coming week to cover just the weekend, from the fabulous house party at the Millers to Miss Conception’s first Vallarta Pride performance in her 25 years in the biz. From the second annual Art Auction – greatly expanded, I might add, to Kevin Anthony’s monthly concert at Nacho Daddy with a big surprise for Georgia Darehshori in the middle of it to the ultimate Sam Smith Tribute at Coco Cabaret.
So, beginning at the end, with Chris Lopez’s stunning final performance as Sam Smith last night. I was at the premiere of this blockbuster show and couldn’t wait for my sister Patrice to see it about mid-way through its run, and last night was the culmination of everyone’s hard work that equaled a flawless (except for one small thing in a sec) performance.
Chris’s voice was in top form, diving into deep bass to soaring falsetto in runs that gave me chills with their precision. Background vocals by Nacho Granados, Eva Jimenez, and Armando Chakham – each one a brilliant solo artist – together became the choir that backed their friend, Chris Lopez.
Everything about this tribute show is just a bit better than everything else in the city – the dancers – again, each one a soloist – melded into a tightly -choreographed team of movement. Costumes? Ay, ay, ay! Sequins to hoop skirts; business suit to faux fur, a captain’s hat to Norse god horns and those were just Chris’s changes!
Sound and light could not have been tighter, nor the audience more rapt. Likely half the audience were repeat Sam Smith/Chris Lopez fans; my seatmate Matt Karimi’s third time, mine, too.
About halfway through the show, Chris began singing “Lay Me Down” a cappella. You could have heard a pin drop and the dancers’ voices babbling backstage. Chris parted the curtains and, with a big smile towards us, uttered a stern “SHHHT” and a few words pleading for quiet. It worked, and Chris carried on, perfectly on cue, in tune, and finished one of Sam Smith’s most beautiful ballads.
At the start and end of every song, I would think, Ohhhh, that one’s my favorite—every song. The funny thing is I had never heard of Sam Smith until Mark Rome, Entertainment Director of the Palm and Coco Cabarets, mentioned a couple of years ago, that Chris was going to do a tribute show. That gorgeous production has morphed and expanded into Las Vegas quality, super-headliner territory. I recognize a Sam Smith song almost instantly now, thanks to Chris’s outstanding delivery and phrasing. He has Smith’s vocal power and fragility in the lyrics. Standing defiantly for one minute and with the flick of an eyelash, he is as vulnerable as they come. The acting is as superb as the singing.
As a vocalist, actor, filmmaker, dancer, producer, and director, Chris Lopez from Argentina has put his gold standard on Vallarta’s art scene and has elevated it to levels unforeseen until now. If a show has “Chris Lopez Productions” somewhere on the billing – go. You will be thrilled From Here.
Tuesday
There are people who throw parties that have the space, the energy, the theme for an evening, and the staff to help mop up afterward, and then there’s Miller Time!
Rick and Monica Miller put a capital P into Party, take Pop-up/Pot-luck to a whole new level, and then, throw in live entertainment to boot. Everyone invited is asked to bring food, drink, and money to tip the musicians. This takes a massive burden off the host’s shoulders and adds a variety of food items that you cannot imagine!
The Miller Time space is an enormous terrace, high over Vallarta, overlooking the bay and the city. Every time I am there, I am dazed and confused by the expansiveness and the glitter that is Vallarta at night. The penthouse terrace is not crowded, even with 75 people enjoying one another’s company.
Last weekend, the entertainers were Tromba Vetusta – Ale Matus, her partner Dabit Azofeifa, and Kath Sparo, a cellist and singer, to round out the trio. Ale’s father, an accomplished jazz guitarist visiting from Costa Rica, was an unexpected and lovely addition.
And, it was Monica’s birthday! The photographer for the evening was none other than my Scrabble nemesis – Sharon Gerber Scherer, who, besides being the Air Fryer Queen of Vallarta, a fabulous watercolor painter, singer, actor, dancer, and emcee on occasion, is also a fine photographer; she just can’t play Scrabble very well.
I love Kevin Anthony, and I love his monthly shows at Nacho Daddy; he keeps his hand in show business, and I get my sweet fix from being in the same room with him and his special, enriching energy. His work with the exceptional Roxsand band is legendary in the Bay of Banderas, and it is always a pleasure to listen to their latest breaking, new song that they always ace, and that Kevin is always sure will fall flat. After 50 years in show business, he still hasn’t learned how fabulously good he is! It keeps him on his tippies, maybe?
I hope he will have one more concert in June before Nacho Daddy closes for their two-month summer vacation. Stay tuned here for confirmation, but it should be the last Sunday, June 29.
Kevin took a break about halfway through his show last week, and I had to leave early, so I was at the top of the stairs leading down to the main floor at Nacho Daddy when I heard Kevin say he had had to miss a dear friend’s birthday and made up for it by handing Georgia Darehshori a shopping bag-size present and a birthday cake alive with sparklers. Georgia was Kevin’s first real estate client, but they have been friends prior to and will be long after they both retire.
Come back tomorrow morning for the full rundown on the Art Auction and Miss Conception’s last show in Vallarta for this season. Have a gorgeously warm day, with love, From Here.
Wednesday
I was so excited when Hector Belloc invited me to see this year’s Art Auction in a new locale inside Vallarta’s newly designated “Art District.” Hector, the Executive Manager of the event and Art Director of Tierra Fisica, the company in charge of logistics and curating the artwork, teamed up with the Vallarta Pride committee to present “Futuramar.”
Two streets were closed to traffic, the red carpet spread out beautifully, and gallery owners dusted and tidied their storefronts. The food and beverage providers outdid themselves with gorgeous presentations. Adjacent, tables laden with “swag bags” awaited.
I had the pleasure of sitting with Mexican/Canadian artist Miriam Aroeste, sculptor Francisco Sanmiguel, whom I have known for nearly 35 years, and painter Sergio “Checo” Diaz Lopez Babun. We enjoyed the icy cold beer and tasty tequila cocktails.
Sofa groupings and about 200 chairs were in front of the stage and down a side street to comfortably accommodate the anticipated crowd. Two enormous screens were strategically placed so everyone could easily see the cataloged auction items clearly.
In other words, the stage was set, the players were ready, but the audience was less than expected, with only a hundred people showing up, and only half of them in the market to buy pieces from the richly curated collection.
Hector Belloc told me that only 12 out of 50 pieces of fine art were sold. A lack of marketing and community energy undermined what should have been a spectacular art celebration to close Pride Week and the end of our busy tourist season.
Hector hopes the Third Annual Vallarta Pride Art Auction in 2026 will be extraordinary, saying he was not overly worried about this year’s poor attendance numbers. We all must encourage the community to participate more in these kinds of events, not only for the luxury and party but with a passion for Art. Our city’s history is woven with artistic distinction, and our corporations need to care more about future cultural events like the Art Auction, which enriches the image of Vallarta and creates a prosperous future for all of us. Thank you, Hector Belloc, for a job well done; the location was terrific and beautiful, and it was a pleasure for me to meet your lovely mother!
Scrabble at Qulture, a mango smoothies meet-up, then dinner at Veggitalia with a dear friend this evening. May you all have an equally perfect day From Here.
Thursday
Kevin Levesque, born in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, has been a drag queen for 25 years and celebrated that silver anniversary in 2025. For years, he was the opening act for the Palm Cabaret after their summer hiatus. This season, however, for the first time ever, Miss Conception, Kevin’s drag creation, stayed in town to celebrate Gay Pride.
She donned a single costume for the Gay Parade and rode with PVRPV, real estate and vacation rental pros, that have been her sponsors for years. Isel Celis, Miss Conception’s dresser, rode beside and helped dispense Pride goodies. I have a couple of heart-shaped rainbow balls that don’t roll worth a damn, but my cat Bogie loves and chases them anyway!
The show was jammed to the rafters by people who cannot get enough of Kevin’s fun, irreverent, and never-negative energy. The show, Loud and Proud, was a mash-up of bits and pieces of Kevin’s favorite productions from the past.
If you have been to a Miss Conception performance, you know a table on stage will be buried under wigs and accessories. Part of Kevin’s magic is that he does all his costume changes – this year 25 of them! to celebrate his anniversary – before your eyes. What that requires is a master clothing designer who can build these costumes to fit one atop another, allow for movement, and not fly apart at the seams when Miss Conception opts to do a cartwheel mid-song! That giant of a man, Jose Luis Casillas, was in the audience next to Manolo Becker, who created extraordinary accessories like Miss Conception’s glittery dance shoes and so much more. My favorite costume is that of Jessica Rabbit, whose voluptuous-ness front and back contains a bale of foam rubber barely encased in sequins. It is a triumph.
Throughout his scripted show, Kevin greets his friends in the audience, mentions their businesses, and thanks individuals and companies that have had a bearing on his career. Kevin’s memory for names is formidable and underlies his success. He is always honest even when he is disguised onstage. His kindness is as boundless and caring as his talent grows and morphs every year.
Kevin married the love of his life, Kieran Thomas, here in Vallarta in March. In 2050, they can celebrate their silver wedding anniversary, and my guess is a cartwheel or two from Kevin celebrating 50 years as Canada’s Sweetheart, Miss Conception.
At the end of Loud and Proud at The Palm Cabaret, Kevin removed his wig, scrubbed the makeup off his face, changed his clothes onstage for the last time this season, and said his goodnights to a standing ovation of adoring fans. See you in the Fall!
Today, Vallarta Mirror welcomes Tommy Clarkson from Manzanillo who resumes his popular gardening column that ran in the pages of the PV Mirror for more than a decade. Enjoy Tommy’s knowledgeable and humorous writings From Here.
Friday
It is trying to rain. A few spits yesterday and today, but nothing is actually wet. Our first named storm is passing by, creating overcast skies and teasing us with blistering hot afternoons but no rain. Not so much fun for our tourists who want to go to the beach.
A couple of days ago, I met over a mango smoothie with Sunny Rossi, a lovely friend and President of the Vallarta Garden Club. We talked about the annual Gala, which isn’t until January, but she is amassing decorations that will turn Oscar’s Restaurant into a fantasy by Lewis Carroll. I can hear White Rabbit by the Jefferson Airplane on a constant loop!
Another dear friend, Vallarta Mirror columnist Sandra Bradley, and I had dinner at Veggitalia for hours over wine, an exquisite mushroom dish, and spaghetti Putanesca that we shared. We had never had the mushrooms before but will again, and we ALWAYS have Putanesca because it’s exactly what we need to stop the craving for pasta. It is one of our favorite places to eat, full of calm energy and delicious carbs! Thanks to owner Marco, who took splendid care of us.
Still with food here! I finally got to eat at Fredy’s Tucan in Fluvial.The restaurant is enormous and so beautiful! I had no idea what a great place to take a large party.
The reason I was in Fluvial and did not include a Costo/La Comer run, was to see the facilities of the only Cat Hotel in Puerto Vallarta! It is darling! I got to meet Quesadilla, one of two cats boarding there while their mom, Francesca Bavaro, aka Effie Passero, is in Europe touring with Postmodern Jukebox.
Volunteer David Smith was my amazing tour guide of Dog&Cat, which was founded six years ago by Michelle Olivera. In memory of her dog, Michelle offers kind, personalized service and peace of mind to all her clients – both two- and four-legged ones.
Dog and cat owners can board their animals for the day at Doggie Daycare, or the animals can sleep over for a night, a week, or any length of time that is necessary. The dogs are supervised at all times; the cats are visited often, as needed; anyone who is owned by a cat will understand the difference.
There are lots of cat trees to climb, spaces to run and jump, and places to hide completely (and safely) out of sight. Each cat has their own compartment with their toys, blankies and place to sleep. And I loved the cat-sized beach chairs!
Studs bar owner Mike Owens has been taking his dog to Michelle at Fluvial for grooming for years and saw a need for a similar facility in the Zona Romantica and, with Mike’s encouragement, a second Dog&Cat opened right where the bus stop is for Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlan on Manuel M. Dieguez.
Lovingly owned and operated by Santiago Flores, there is a veterinarian on staff and food and accessories can be purchased. There is a daycare facility, grooming salon, and the coolest thing of all – an outdoor, weather-protected, artificially-turfed adoption center, “Santi’s Place” right there on the street.
You are encouraged to go in, sit, and pat a dog or two if you need a pet fix on your vacation. You may also get permission to walk one of the dogs; a great way to familarize yourself with Vallarta’s streets, and ask where to take the dog while you lunch and receive a discount while you are at it!
Dog&Cat brings a few of the City pound, Bienestar’s, homeless animals to the forefront of a busy tourist area of Vallarta. They are picked up in the morning, and those not adopted go back to the shelter overnight. It is a very hands-on, innovative way to deal with our over-population of street animals.
Stop by Dog&Cat in the Zona Romantica and look at the array of dogs outside for adoption. Sit with them. Take one for a walk. Maybe find that priceless furry companion you didn’t know you were looking for From Here.
