Recap: Good Morning, From Here, December 20 to 31
Monday
This will be the last whole week of Vallarta Mirror. It doesn’t make me sad one bit. I made a note in my daytimer that the Rearview Mirror is two years old today. It will have two more publications – this Friday, the 26th, and next Wednesday, the 31st. I gave it a good shot.
Happy Winter if that’s not oxymoronic. I am sitting in Vallarta, 6 am, Monday morning, in a nightshirt, a dress, a sweater, and all my windows are still closed! Baby, it’s cold outside! The difference between summer and winter is amazing, even here, where most people think it’s summer all year round. Thank god, no! It is a delight not to sweat.
Winter was celebrated elegantly and lovingly at the solstice party at Tom and Chiara Montante’s house last night. The food was gorgeous, plentiful, and delicious, as it is every year.
The wine flowed and fueled the biggest love fest I have ever had the pleasure of being a part. The ancient ritual that Chiara has led for 35 years, in different parts of the world, last night unleashed a torrent of gratitude that must have flown over the city from the open terrace, and touched everything with love. So many voices trembling with emotion, putting into words the collective hope of a disparate group of people, many of whom were strangers going in, but not coming out. I am still humming from the good vibrations.
“She, He, Him” debuted at Nacho Daddy, Saturday night. Amy Armstrong’s new production with Sargento Dan lending his voice and antics to hers, with Musical Director Mark Hartman on piano and sharing his voice too, making some serious harmonies. This fun, musical variety show will happen every Saturday at 7:30 pm.
One week today will likely be one of the best concerts of the year, with Effie Passero joining Branden James and James Clark as CelloVoci takes over Teatro Vallarta.
Sutton Lee Seymour will host, with Mark Hartman as Musical Director. The first hour will be devoted to holiday faves, and the second to blending classical and contemporary music in their own extravagant ways, which led CelloVoci straight to Carnegie Hall a year ago! What a gift it would be to fill every one of the 900 seats in Vallarta’s largest entertainment venue! Do not miss this one-show only of “Night Divine,” Monday, December 29. Doors open at 7, with the show at 8 pm. See you all there! Don’t miss reading “The Anatomy of a Trio” in Vallarta Mirror after 11 am today. It is the story of CelloVoci.
Christmas shenanigans continue at Nacho Daddy tonight as Gouda Gabor teams up again with Mark Hartman and guests to celebrate the holidays in two languages. There might be a few tickets left; I hope to see you there for pre-Christmas hugs and laughs!
Hugs are good anytime, and if you have some extras, throw them my way. It will be my pleasure to hug you back, From Here.
Tuesday
Christmas is tomorrow if you are Mexican, and the day after tomorrow if you are Canadian or American. I will celebrate both because I can! Mistletoe was in full swing as “A Very Gouda Christmas” got underway last night at Nacho Daddy, starring Gouda Gabor. Of course. I wonder how tall Gouda is, counting her hair? Must be seven feet or close to it! Gouda is gently funny; her humor never ridiculing or nasty toward anyone.
Sargento Dan and Brenda Gaviño (who was absolutely stunning in a Mexican-red evening gown that shimmered like Shantung silk) sang in both languages with Mark Hartman at the piano, doing what virtuosos do, PLUS sang a funny ditty or two and provided harmonies throughout the night as needed. He shared a glass of champagne, well, prosecco with Gouda.
Amy Armstrong gets lost in her narrative, which is one other reason she is so engaging onstage.
She will take a simple ‘for instance’ and run with it (she is so funny), as she winds her way deeper and deeper into a conversation with herself, with small pauses to let the laughter roar in from the crowd. She is truly a great storyteller. Her voice, powerful and rock steady, is as colorful as her clothing and speech patterns. Don’t miss both of her weekly shows at Nacho Daddy.
Mark Hartman is working everywhere, including upcoming on the 29th at Teatro Vallarta for CelloVoci; I am sure he hasn’t even unpacked yet, but just hit the ground running from the airport. He has been away from Vallarta all summer, working as Musical Director in various parts of the US.
Sargento Dan sang a signature song from his one-man hit show based on Mexico’s longest-running (only?) jukebox musical, ‘Mentiras’ (‘Lies’ in English). That performance, which has been improved upon (I can’t imagine how Sargento could make it better, but he insists it is!), opens next month. And, you can catch Sargento twice a week at different times at Garbo’s Bar for his crazy-popular and busy Broadway sing-alongs.
Brenda Gaviño sang Oh, Holy Night and promoted her two very different shows at Nacho Daddy: a Linda Ronstadt Tribute and a nod to the women who sing the blues. As always, check VallartaCalendar.com for show details and times.
Gouda hosts Open Mic every Tuesday at 7:30 all season long at Nacho Daddy, and it is really one of the best shows in town, attracting all the major hitters from other venues to come and promote their shows. And, there’s no cover. And the food is yummy.
Last day to shop for presents. My darling Bogie and I have mutually decided not to exchange gifts this year, but we will sit together with full tummies and share a couple of purrs, a few naps out of the blue just because we can, and be grateful for one another, and raise a paw or two to 2026, which I already know is going to be a fantastic year, From Here.
Wednesday
Yesterday, at about 4:40, I left my house and started walking to El Coloso and my friend Sandra Bradley’s condo for a gathering. I took advantage of the light and chose the scenic route up Guerrero/Cuathemoc, which I don’t/won’t walk after dark. There is often construction trash dumped on the side of the road, and regular trash tossed from cars by people who should know better but clearly don’t.
It’s a quiet street, a few cars on the dusty road, and even less foot traffic, so I can make good time without bumping into someone that I know. I heard a feral cat cry and immediately prayed I would not come across a mama cat and her kittens. I didn’t, but what I nearly stumbled over took my breath away. I stood shocked as the dust kicked up from my feet settled, and there, in an oversized black garbage bag that had burst open or maybe was never closed – the weight would have been enormous – Thirty, 50, maybe more paperback books in English.
They were dusty, of course, but I couldn’t see mold or water damage and didn’t have the time or inclination to dig through to see if any were salvageable. The bag was not there the last time I walked the street, and I am still baffled this morning at the degradation. And the loss. And the waste. I thought about the authors of these books and how dismayed they would be to see their work trashed.
Used books can cost up to 200 pesos for a single paperback! I don’t know if there were any authors I covet in the broken bag, and that is not the point. There are so many ways to recycle things you no longer want; throwing them away on a lonely, barely used road like that is never the answer. And, who could have lifted that bag in the first place? Someone did. From the trunk of a car or in the back of a pickup truck. Saw fit to throw away perfectly good reading material. In English. Waste makes me crazy!
The sight of the books jarred a long-forgotten memory of being at the city dump in Calgary, maybe 50 years ago, dropping off some irreparable pieces of furniture when I saw a massive truck with Salvation Army logo all over it stop, open the rear doors of the truck, and dump what had to be a thousand pieces of clothing into the sloppy pre-separate-the-organic- waste mess that was already there. I have never set foot in another “Sally Ann” in my life.
In these days of so much plenty. So much food. So much stuff at Christmas. Please recycle. Share what you don’t want, can no longer use. Give things away, sell them. Trade them. Try to remember that books are sacred: dammit. From Here.
Thursday
Merry Christmas, everybody! When Bogie finally got me up this morning, it was a full-blown day.
And a gorgeous one, to boot! Nary a sign of snow, and the whole city is still sound asleep, having been up all night long singing and having a party until just a couple of hours ago. Santa had no problem finding Vallarta; his reindeer are unaffected by the sound of explosions, benign or not.
There are some relatively ‘old’ words coming back into vogue in the English language. A ‘gathering’ is a soft way to have a meeting of like-minded people. Sounds like there could be a bonfire on the beach attached to a gathering as opposed to a conclave, say. But they both mean the same thing. The term ‘Love-in’ was coined in 1967 and became permanently attached to the hippie movement, which, as we all know, was a counterculture centered on peace and love.
Why did that go away?
Did the drugs overtake the peace and love part? It doesn’t matter, but the hippy movement still lives in my heart.
In the Love and Peace part of my heart. The protesting part of the movement has been tossed out of my life because there is only Love left standing when all is said and done, so really, why bother? It takes so much energy to hold onto anger. Look at all the physical repercussions of being angry. Yipes. That stuff can kill you!
So, all this boils down to is what’s left to do? Love. That’s it, AND I have been to not one but two Love-ins this past week!
The first one was called The Blessing of Winter Solstice Ceremony, at Chiara Montante’s house; I wrote about it a few days ago. The air was so thick with loving words, warm hugs, and the most disparate group of people who were, for one night, not straight or gay, married, single, divorced, or widowed, male, female, or pick a gender. Not any of that mattered one bit. For one bright, shiny moment, we were unanimously LOVE.
The second Love-in was at Sandra Bradley’s house a couple of nights ago. Half of us present had been a part of the first Lightworkers Gathering in Vallarta, four years ago this coming February, at Casa Karma, but the balance of the small group were strangers. In less than four hours, we were family, standing afterward in Sandra’s kitchen waiting for coffee to brew, laughing at the baby in our midst, mulling over the life stories we heard with compassion and tears. Spontaneously hugging one another, because why wouldn’t you?
Two extraordinary evenings, chock full of love, and that exponentially has to affect the environment and everybody in it. We can live like that every single day, and it’s easy. Just choose love and let that love you back. Everything else will fall into place. Of that I am certain.
Merry Christmas, once again, to everyone reading. I love you. Pass that on, From Here.
Friday
Happy Boxing Day to my fellow Canadians. Lots of places in town will be serving great sandwiches with leftover turkey today, including Fridas and Langostinos on the beach.
Bogie and I had a great Christmas, grazing through whatever was in the fridge, working a bit on some editing, and enjoying the quiet after a rambunctious Christmas Eve in the neighborhood.
Tonight at Coco Cabaret is a Bruno Mars Tribute starring Victor do Espirito, at 7 pm. I have seen Victor channel Bruno Mars before on various stages in town, but Chris Lopez produces this show, which is a guarantee of fabulous!
Saturday at Act2PV reunites three friends who have appeared together in many countries overseas and will debut “Double Standards” celebrating contemporary musical theater. With Michael Ferreri on piano, baritone Tony Oakley, and John Carden, tenor, the evening promises fast-paced harmonies and storytelling in true cabaret fashion.
CelloVoci on Monday night will be a triumph at Teatro Vallarta. It will be like having Carnegie Hall delivered to Vallarta with some holiday music thrown into the mix because it is the season. It will be wonderful to hear Effie Passero with Branden & James together again, on such a grand scale. The new Gay+Community Center will benefit from ticket sales to “Night Divine,” if you needed just one more reason to go!’
A couple of days ago, I wrote about how Effie and Branden & James met. I wrote that B & J and I all heard Effie for the first time at a concert with her and Spencer Day. To set the record straight: “Effie first appeared in Puerto Vallarta with David Hernandez at the “Palm” before the pandemic or Covid in March of 2020.” I received that notice on Facebook this morning, so thanks to Rudy for the clarification!
We start a new year next week, and it looks like 2026 really will be different. Nearly everyone I have spoken to is determined to start taking better care of themselves.
Imagine a population taking care of itself first! Even the language used is different. Starting something rather than stopping something else and going forward in positivity rather than setting oneself up for failure. A curious mind shift.
So, 2026 will be The Year of Me. And, feel free to change the ‘Me’ in that sentence to You! To only do what gives me joy, and so many things do just that. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as joy is there during the process and at the end.
During the past couple of quiet days, I have altered a couple of dresses and made a couple of fabric necklaces to go with. I am clumsy with my sewing machine, but that will improve with use. I also want to improve my skills. To make new things with more care, and not to rush the end product as I am wont to do. I believe I just made a Resolution!
Have a fantastic weekend and try to rest a bit for Wednesday night. See you back here Monday morning, From Here.
Monday
I woke up dreaming of my mom making grilled cheese sandwiches. With every bite, butter would dribble down my face, over my hands. Clearly, I am missing fat in my life and feel some baked spaghetti coming on!
Chris Lopez has done it again. He took a tribute show and boosted it to fantasy standards with his signature terrific videos, superb lighting work with Lucero, and costumes that are right on the mark. The Bruno Mars Tribute, at Coco Cabaret, stars Victor do Espirito, who has never danced onstage until now, and did a splendid job of keeping up with the Starboys. Impressive moves, and I think he has been fooling us all these years because he was so perfectly comfortable covering the stage!
Victor shares a great deal with Bruno Mars, the voice aside, which is exactly right on. They both have wide open smiles and eyes that flash with the joy of singing, with a hint of rascality.
All of Bruno Mars’ hits are included in this fast-paced, stellar production, including ”The Lazy Song” (which I am adopting as my personal anthem in roughly 72 hours; I just need a couple of apes!), the syncopated ”That’s What I Like”, and the great, retro hit, ”Uptown Funk”, which is impossible to hear and not dance to. A splashy, loud, rhythmic show that fairly bursts with talent and energy. I can’t wait to see it again.
On the opposite side of the spectrum and equally as worthy is Double Standards at the Casa Karma Red Room at Act2PV. In a city awash in tribute shows, it was a refreshing change to sit and hear songs I had never heard before, sung by two seasoned professionals who clearly love what they do and have spent their lives honing their craft and harmonies to perfection. With Michael Ferreri as their Musical Director, his easy touch on the piano created an hour+ of musical theater songs woven with snippets of family life, tackling a few hard topics, but the underlying joy was unmistakable.
Baritone Tony Oakley was delightful to watch onstage. He bears some serious resemblance to Sean Connery, with an extremely happy exterior that can only mean he is doing what he loves, and he does it well. His partner onstage and friend since college, tenor John Carden, proved to be an honorable counterpoint that spilled over into a number of their songs, particularly those from ”The Bridges of Madison County.” Lovely.
There is only one more chance to see this intimate cabaret unfold on Saturday, January 03, at 7 pm, at the Casa Karma Red Room.
I am sure half the city will be at Teatro Vallarta tonight to see the debut of CelloVoci in that venue. A full report in the morning!
Don’t forget the Gay Mixer tomorrow at Cheeky Pool Club at 6 pm. After that, find me at Nacho Daddy for Open Mic. That starts at 7:30 pm, From Here.
Tuesday
”Night Divine” was superbly named. Last evening’s love fest of a concert at Teatro Vallarta went off without a hitch, with hundreds and hundreds of Effie Passero and Branden & James’ fan base very nearly filling that massive 900-seat concert hall. Shouts of “We love you, Effie!” drifted down from the audience and made Effie smile; she is truly home again. Her travels the past few years with Postmodern Jukebox have taken her to Australia and Egypt, all over Europe and the UK, and with her compatriots, Branden James and James Clark, across the US and Canada.
Branden and James were married here on the beach in Vallarta, and the three of them met at The Palm Cabaret. The rest, as they say, is history. CelloVoci’s Carnegie Hall debut earlier this year cemented their commitment to one another, and I can’t wait to sit down with Effie and get her take on the two theaters and how they compare in size and sound.
The stage was awash in musicians with Mark Hartman, Musical Director, on piano and behind him Jared Garcia on bass guitar, and ‘Mimi’ Ramirez, acoustic guitar, a percussionist, and a string quartet comprised of three violins and another cello. If all music came from a cello, I could be perfectly happy, and a couple of brief moments onstage when there were only the two cellos creating those ethereal, nearly liquid tones, took my breath away.
Not breathing happened often during the performance. CelloVoci’s harmonies and the rich tones of James’ cello made me weep with sounds only angels could voice.
The first half was, as promised, dedicated to Christmas/holiday/sacred music. As they explored holiday classics and heartfelt ballads, the trio showcased not only their exceptional vocal talents but also their remarkable chemistry. During the second half, host Sutton Lee Seymour, in a different, sparkly frock, got to sing along with the trio in a hilarious redo of ”Suddenly Seymour” from Little Shop of Horrors.
A crowd favorite was the mashup of ”Besame Mucho” and ”Hotel California.” We were invited to sing along, and we did. As the night drew to a close, the audience erupted into thunderous applause and a spontaneous standing ovation, signaling a collective wish for more. Otra! Otra! The encore left everyone yearning for the next chance to experience this enchanting trio live again.
Branden and James will have a new show at Coco Cabaret in February and Effie will be ringing in the New Year at Casita & Garden.
”Night Divine” was inspired. An enormous undertaking with so many musicians and such a massive venue to try and fill with so much going on the city. From what I heard as we waited near the bar for the stars to join us, across the board, people were absolutely delighted. I was so happy to hug Branden, then James, then finally, my birthday sister, Effie. Each one a star and collectively a trio of angelic proportions. Thank you, CelloVoci for bringing heaven to earth for one night, From Here.
Wednesday
Today is the last publication of Vallarta Mirror. I am grateful to the many contributors who have written on various topics from raising spiritual awareness, to where to go to catch roosterfish. From raising kids in paradise to Crayola colors, brilliant poetry to strolling back streets in a local barrio; growing exotic plants, real estate developments, and herbal concoctions to keep you healthy. Almost a thousand articles written over the past two years with writers gleaned from the first large English newspaper, the Vallarta Tribune, the PV Mirror, and now the Vallarta Mirror, will join those two defunct sister publications.
There has been some interest shown in continuing to produce a similar, community-based collection. We will see what happens in the new year. Personally, I will continue to write about life in this city, particularly our expansive entertainment scene. My column From Here, will continue to be published at VallartaCalendar.com under the ‘Around Town’ heading, and on my Facebook page. So, you are not getting rid of me just yet!
A little over two years ago, I walked in Qulture to play Scrabble and announced that I would be taking over the PV Mirror. One of our players congratulated me and said, ”If you ever need any help with a website or whatever, let me know.”
My reply to Kevin Feltner, ”Can you be at my house tomorrow morning at 10?” He could, and he did, unleashing likely the biggest challenge in patience he has ever had to deal with. Kevin created the Vallarta Mirror website, and when that was up and running, he created the Rearview Mirror to be a weekly compilation of all the articles submitted. When THAT was up and running, he began the arduous task of teaching me the intricacies of WordPress. Slowly but surely, I began to do everything myself, with him standing by constantly available to fix my screw-ups. There have been many.
During one of our countless meetings early on of what to take away from Vallarta Mirror and what to add, we realized a comprehensive calendar of events was critical and after a few iterations, VallartaCalendar.com, as you know it today, came to be and is so vital that Google uses the information in VC, word for word, if you ask about what’s going on in Puerto Vallarta. I am so happy to be joining Vallarta Calendar with purpose to make it the single most important website in Vallarta.
Take a minute and have a look at this for even more background: https://vallartacalendar.com/marcia-blondin-four-decades…/ To Kevin Feltner and Rob Dornan at Vallarta Calendar, my heartfelt thanks; my love and devotion are infinite.
For Jerry Jones, publisher at Out & About Puerto Vallarta, who first printed From Here online with photographs and proved to me, before Vallarta Mirror was even a concept, that not publishing a hard copy, spending close to 100k a week for a throwaway, and killing at least 15 trees to do it, was okay. More than ‘okay’! I am so grateful.
Gratitude fills me up. To every writer, every reader, every tourist and expat resident, and everyone who had to listen to me moan about the learning curve of publishing Vallarta Mirror, thank you. To Puerto Vallarta, who inspires me daily, we will both keep growing and expanding in love until we are no more, From Here.
