Recap: Good Morning, From Here, June 22 – 28
Monday
How’s everybody on this gray and soggy day? Feet webbing yet? I checked VallartaCalendar.com first thing this morning to see what I could do tonight, entertainment-wise. Guess what? Nothing! That’s correct. There is nothing to do on a Monday night in Vallarta. Seems impossible and seemingly not great planning going on out there. That will be my excuse for having nothing to discuss in the morning!
Last Saturday, however, Act2PV inaugurated Bingo! It was held in the newly renovated Ovations Piano Bar and presided over by Liberace himself! David Maiocco was resplendent in about 50 pounds of black and white sequins, rings on every finger, and hair spray. The popcorn was lovely and the air was filled with the aroma of brand new freshly-roasted coffee beans we used as markers.
I sat with Jan Dorland and Sharon Gerber Scherer, who won the raffle and gave the money back. The elevator for Act2PV got another bump closer to reality. New General Manager David Sabella sang, as did Cate Valcic, with Lee on the keys being perfect.
I am off to the gym. Have a superb day, and I will catch you again tomorrow From Here.
Tuesday
It has been raining for hours, steadily, with no pyrotechnics. It should stop when the sun comes up; I see the Church clock is broken again and wonder how long it will be 9:08?
Yesterday was auspicious for the Florida Panthers and their first Stanley Cup. I was hoping Edmonton would win, but hockey is another thing I left behind decades ago when I moved to Mexico.
June 24 was also a great day for my sister Patrice – she sold her hotel. The deed is done, money went one way, keys in exchange. She is over the moon happy and planned to sleep in until noon today just because she can.
Almost 20 years, she and her partner owned the small boutique hotel, and while it certainly gave them a good life, nobody at our age needs to punch a clock anymore. So she is done. Yay! That also means she will be able to come and visit her favorite sister in Vallarta more often and stay longer!
Casa Karma kicks off their “Summertime and the Listening is Easy” tonight, starting with Nauhuales at 7. It will be enchanting, I am sure. Next one is a reprise from Act2PV with Duo Vallarta – Jean-Guy Comeau and Aquiles Morales on pianos, June 29. The latter is likely sold out.
See you on the labyrinth this evening From Here.
Wednesday
What a night at Casa Karma, sitting on the labyrinth under a cloudy but dry sky, nibbling some lovely canapes, and watching Nahuales unfold at the edge of the sea. The dancers/acrobats are all strong, lithe and completely without bones, wrapping themselves around one another in complicated choreography with a few strength moves that were jaw-dropping and over before I could even grasp what I just saw. This show has to be seen numerous times to get great photos. The pace is fast and furious with lots of fire and beautifully crafted bodies- this company has a great future. Casa Karma was a perfect backdrop; I hope Nahuales has a repeat show this summer. It was a Mystical Night.
Scrabble at Qulture today at 1, bingo for Colina Spay & Neuter Clinic at 4 pm at Nacho Daddy, and 6:30 for Freddy and Sarah singing arias at La Catrina Cantina. And, I think the sun’ll be out today From Here!
Thursday
The sun came out yesterday and made me so happy. My patio and comfy chair beckoned – even my kitty Bogie requested some sun time. But there was Scrabble to lose to my excellent opponent, Sharon, who has decided to create the best sourdough bread in Vallarta. In exchange for being her willing guinea pig, I offered to let her win at Scrabble, and she did. The sourdough is dense, chewy, delightfully, slightly sour. ‘Mouthwatering’ covers it, but I may need another loaf or two to be 100% sure; losing never tasted so good.
A quick walk home to change and leave the five-pound loaf of bread with Bogie then on to Nacho Daddy for the last Colina bingo of the season. ND will be closed all of July and August. They have had an extremely busy season, and everyone is ready to rest. Some great, final shows this week, however. I continued to lose at bingo – rare for me but, hey, I was on a roll!
Straight from Nacho Daddy to La Catrina Cantina and caught Freddy Otello mid-sound check. His countertenor voice filled the empty bar and gave me goosebumps. I waited for my date to arrive, when Freddy’s counterpart, Sarah Joy, arrived, husband in tow, for her sound check. I have never been so happy waiting for a concert to begin, getting all these ‘extras.’ Sandra Bradley arrived, and the two of us enjoyed the sweet sounds of two sensational voices. In duet, these two are formidable – ‘The Drinking Song’ from La Traviata, “a toast to the pleasures of life,” was rousing and a delightful end to what may be the start of a monthly Bella Notte d’Opera summer series at La CC. I will keep you posted.
Straight from La Catrina Cantina, I sprinted around the corner to Act2PV’s Casa Karma Red Room to catch the last hour of the Greatest Show, held every Wednesday.
Of course, all I heard was that I had missed the GREATEST Greatest Show ever. Ugh! Choices! This week was ably hosted by Bobbi Goddard, a fellow Calgarian (Sarah Joy as well!), and produced by Cate Valcic. I caught tunes by Enoch and Bing, Alfredo Mendoza and Ale Matus, Tonny Kenneth, Andy Sands is back, full of hugs and gratitude to be home after four months in Texas, and singer/pianist Alexis Macias who continued to entertain in Mary Ann’s Ovations Bar, after the Greatest Show wrapped.
General Manager David Sabella showed me through the new Terrace Bar overlooking Basilio Badillo, with music piped in from Ovations Piano Bar. Bright tablecloths will soon hold plates of food prepared onsite in the tiny kitchen; the menu is being built as we speak.
Walking into Act2 these days is like entering the grounds of the Calgary Stampede on opening day or any year-long anticipated county fair – the excitement in the very air is palpable From Here.
Friday
The most important thing about today is that it’s my sister’s birthday; there aren’t many people who remember the day she was born. At four, I was so excited to get to have a baby sister; she was a delight then and now. Happy Birthday, Patrice!
Yesterday I walked through town and up that damn hill to get to the Press Conference held on the rooftop at Pinnacle. The Second Annual Rainbow Run Carrerarainbow.com, celebrating LGBT+, will take place on November 10. An enormous amount of planning has already been done, and the organizers are hoping to triple the number of participants this year over last. I had the pleasure of formally meeting Luis Villaseñor, the General Director of the Fideicomiso of Tourism of Vallarta. He and his team have been tirelessly promoting our city from Vancouver, Canada, to the Czech Republic and all places in between.
At the press conference, I was so happy to see my friend and colleague, Jerry Jones, from Out & About magazine. He is such an inspiration and great help to me. Jerry’s super photographer, Oscar, was live-streaming the event.
Sandra Bradley and I met up again in the evening at La Catrina Cantina for a quick drink and a little Marco Camacho, then we walked to Francie Nguyen’s new resto, The Bonito Lounge, on Basilio Badillo, intending to just have a look, but the space was so inviting that we sat over sake, sushi and French fries in truffle oil and parmesan. Lovely to see Alison Lo and Exton Wilson hard at work in this delightful and airy new space of Francie’s.
After our short visit to the Bonito Lounge, I returned to La CC to catch the last set of Tre Tenori starring Pedro Islas, Juan Inés, and Gerardo Frías. A power trio, to be sure, I hope they’ll be back next week.
It is the weekend again; enjoy Gloria Fiona’s last show at Nacho Daddy, tomorrow night at 6:30, From Here.
