Recap: Good Morning, From Here, August 10 – 16
Monday
This morning, a gorgeous pale blue sky after some inches of rain fell last night. The day and week seem full of promise; let’s see what happens.
Mango smoothies are always the right choice these days, in the peak of season, and made more enjoyable with dear friends like Sandra Bradley.
Our mutual friend, Georgia Darehshori, threw open the doors of her expansive villa, Casa Karma, for Labyrinthe last week, a 14-person a cappella ensemble.
If there are angels in heaven, I know exactly how they sound after hearing these voices, some returning to Casa Karma from last year. These singers and choir masters met in Italy over a decade ago, and once a year, they meet for a week, exchange ideas, and sing! One of them told me they live for the moments they are reunited. The thought of their reunion in Vallarta being one day closer sustains them throughout the year.
The audience heard madrigals, ballads, hymns, and more sung in a dozen languages. Just as the sun was about to set, we all went outside to watch and listen to the choir put the sun to sleep for the night. Led by lively Aquiles Morales, conductor of Vallarta’s Symphony Orchestra and a piano virtuoso, introduced each block of three songs performed throughout the evening. Lovely hors d’ouevres were passed, the wine flowed, and we left buoyed by the beautiful voices. I rode back to town with Act2PV owner Alfonso Lopez and his right-hand publicity maven, Marsha Ward Ross. Choral singing is what brought Alfonso from Texas to Vallarta in the first place over a decade ago. Alfonso began his career here as director of the Vallarta Gay Men’s Chorus – the first of its kind in Latin America and founded by our own Bob Bruneau. A lot of changes…
David Sabella continues to teach his Voice Workshops every Saturday from 11 to 2, at Mary Ann’s Ovations Piano Bar, at Act2. I continue to go to be amazed and enthralled by the changes made by Sabella’s students. His passion for the work is extraordinary, and he insists it keeps him going in the day-to-day running of a theater that mere months before was on the edge of collapse.
The students have formed a tremendous bond with one another. They sit quietly and watch Sabella reduce a singer to tears by stripping away protective layers bit by bit until they can answer the question, “Who are you singing to?” They have all had their turn having a “private moment publicly” in class. If one is struggling to reach a note, they ALL experience the same frustration, and I watch them doing the same exercises or breathing or whatever it is until there is a breakthrough and then, applause! Applause! I LOVE this class!
Bingo, in the same room a couple of hours later, was full of players. I think the city heard Sharon Gerber Scherer, current Scrabble Queen, bakes goodies and brings cookies, brownies, etc., to the games. I thoroughly enjoyed dunking my Snickerdoodle air fryer cookie into Sharon’s chocolate martini. Yummy!
Tomorrow, my two biggest pet peeves about living here in Paradise, From Here.
Tuesday
Are you a singer, dancer, acrobat, guitar player, clown, drummer, magician, comedian who performs in Puerto Vallarta? If yes, then send an email to vallartacalendar@gmail.com with your bio, a few great photos, and links to all your social media accounts. As your shows are added to VallartaCalendar.com, your Artist Spotlight page will include all your performances.
Check out the 11 profiles currently featured at VallartaCalendar.com in the “Artist Spotlight” section to understand what we need regarding information. It is our hope and dream that, besides being the Calendar for all Vallarta’s events, we will have a dynamic and up-to-date list of performers that will grow and serve our community.
Last night, Sharon Gerber Scherer and I met for dinner at Canto. I had not been back since their first week of operation, but Sharon assured me of their menu’s increased vegetarian and vegan options. We shared spring rolls, green beans in garlic, and chow mein, all perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. The service is superb, the ambiance is convivial and charming, and the place was packed when we left. Owner Jeremy Reigel made sure all was right in our world.
I left Sharon waiting for her Uber and started walking down Lazaro Cardenas towards Insurgentes when my name was shouted loud and long from Reina’s Bar. I backtracked a few steps to the door to be greeted by and enormously joyfully hugged by my old friend Rudy Salazar, who I had not seen in years! Rudy has been living in Montreal, promoting films all over the world, but now he is home; he is Vallarta’s most beautiful pata salada. Our mutual friend Octavio Becerra had joined Rudy in his welcome home celebration. What a great night!
Pet Peeve #1 – We live in Puerto Vallarta. Or, Vallarta, if you are in a hurry. We do not live in PV. Our airport designation is PVR, and the R got dropped and became the name of our city. Stop it! We are not LA(X)! No Pata Salada worth a salty paw would refer to the city of their birth as PV. Never! Say the full name and stop sounding like a newbie. Thanks for listening and on to…
Pet Peeve #2 – The current season we are in is called Summer. Say it with me! The insidious words slow, low, or off are nowhere in that one word. It’s just summer, people. Hot, humid, and quieter. Well, thank god for the last one. We would all be dead of exhaustion if we kept winter-month-pace all year round. There are things you can do that are better than bemoaning the fact that “all the tourists are gone.” If that’s true, why are the hotels at 75% occupancy in mid-August? I can hear it now! “The Nationals don’t spend money like the foreign tourists do.” Well, dah! But spend they do. Ask yourself why they aren’t coming into your business. Because you don’t expect them to, that’s why!
Change your mindset, change your life! People walk by restaurants and casually look inside; if it’s empty, they carry on. Why? It’s clearly not a good place to eat or drink if it’s empty. So, how can you change that perception? Stand outside (you are anyway), greet every person who walks by, and invite them to come in out of the heat for a complimentary glass of water. NOT A PLASTIC BOTTLE! Have them sit, then take your time getting water with lots of ice; maybe have menus on the table so they have something to do while they’re waiting. Have no expectations except to slake their thirst and go a long, long way in promoting kindness and, oh, yeah, your business.
Let’s try an experiment: No more PV or disparaging words about summer. We live in one of the most vibrant (Read: High vibrational!) cities in the world, and we should make money in the summer. We will IF we try! We have shuffled through summers past just bloody barely; we can change it. Remember, “What you resist persists” From Here.
Wednesday
Boleros are thoughtful pieces of music, and the first in a series to celebrate them unfolded last night at Casa Karma. Kimberly G. greeted the guests and presented me with my ticket, which was worthy of a photo and a program! Another thoughtful piece of the Bolero puzzle. Musical Director Bing Young told me he wanted attendees to have the ability to research this Cuban genre further if they heard something particularly moving; hence, the program notes. Preceding each song, both Bing and Enoch told us, in two languages, the backstory and included composer names, dates and interesting historical tidbits that made the evening informative as well as lovely. The passed hors d’oeuvres were particularly tasty last night. I loved the spinach ‘wafers,’ and, of course, I didn’t take a picture!
Fernanda Hernandez sang a couple of solos, then joined Enoch in “No Me Quedas Más.”
Coming up at Casa Karma, countertenor Freddy Otello, this Friday, August 16, at 6:30, showtime, 7 pm. Look for long, tall Andy Sands on Sunday. Be there twice, From Here.
Thursday
Act2PV is closed tonight but will reopen on Friday. Davids Maiocco and Sabella’s Classical Connections is rescheduled for 7 pm, Friday, August 23.
This week’s Greatest Show was hosted by Broadway veteran Brent Barrett, in fine form, and will be back in season to sing with some other serious NYC stars.
David Duvall had everyone pre-warmed in Mary Ann’s Ovations Bar before the show and played somewhat more vigorously again on the Cassandra Shaw Stage in the Casa Karma Red Room.
Andy Sands and Luis Villanueva showcased their upcoming performances at Casa Karma – Andy on the 18th and Luis on the 25th; both are not to be missed.
Lovely seeing Julie Guerrero and Tom Bernes in the audience as well as Henry and Jeremy, owners of Canto on Lazaro Cardenas, on a rare night off!
Remember David Sabella’s fabulous Voice Workshop this Saturday, 11 am at Act2. You will know where to find me From Here.
Friday
Another weekend on the horizon, enjoying voices at opposite ends of the vocal scale. Tonight, Freddy Otelo, a Mexican countertenor, and Sunday, Andrew Sands, an American baritone/bass. Both are in the comfy living room at Casa Karma, accompanied by maestro Bing Young on piano. A full report on Monday!
Yesterday morning was spent on the beach at Langostinos, enjoying an excellent vegetarian omelet and catching up with my old friend Felix Zarate. Felix has opened Harmony Home, an assisted living community for seniors in Mezcales, Nayarit. I asked all the questions that popped into my (elderly) head, realizing, with a bit of a shock, I have one foot in that door. Notice: ONE foot. However, the great thing is, Felix ticked off all the boxes I needed – yes, I could have my darling kitty, yes, Harmony Home is affiliated with a sports complex, golf course and is close to the beach and live music venues. As a Mexican lawyer and real estate broker, Felix can facilitate immigration problemitas, help sell your condo, help with estate planning, the works! I am excited to see this retirement haven. Stay tuned and check their Facebook page.
Today marks three months that Humphrey Bogart, aka Bogie, and I have been living together. He was quite insistent this morning, and with purring and chattering in my ear, we got an early start on the day. Cats tell time well, and I am sure he was keenly aware of how easily wrapped I am around his giant paws. No matter. After feeding him, I went to pour coffee and noticed the time – 4:45. Ugh! A nap before Casa Karma is inevitable. But first, I need to walk and go to the gym.
Have a loving and fun-filled day. See all of you at Casa Karma at 6:30 From Here.
