Recap: Good Morning, From Here, March 15 – 21
Monday
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all the Irish and Wannabees today; wear something green and, “May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.” And that’s mercifully it for my Gaelic!
It was a busy weekend in Vallarta, starting with Rick and Monica Miller’s fabulous pop-up, kinda pot-luck party, their first of the year. Their penthouse boasts an enormous terrace big enough for a hundred people to stroll around on, gasping at the views of the mountainside and Banderas Bay. The food table was laden with everything from a bag of potato chips to elaborately stuffed dates, banana bread, parmesan-artichoke dip with luscious fresh bread, and loads of fresh fruit and finger sandwiches.
Stolie was at the mike with her guitar, keeping us entertained with an eclectic mix of tunes. She invited guests to come up and sing, and the evening quickly morphed into an Open Mic, giving Stolie a minute or two for a bite to eat and a cocktail.
Old friends clumped in corners, and we actually huddled together for warmth in the chilly night air. It was lovely to see KC back in town briefly after a long absence, and we missed the Pattersons, who are already up north.
Thanks again for sharing Miller Time, Rick, and Monica; it was a delightful soiree.
Only two Non-Impact Aerobics classes left at the International Friendship Club on March 23 and 30, led by Deborah Darr, who will fly away to Chicago for the summer on April 1. My classmates and I will miss her sweet energy and the Sunday noon workout. It’s hard when our dear friends leave.
Last night, Villa Tita hosted the Second Annual fundraiser for Vallarta School for Girls, founded by Cecil Kerfont and Francie Nguyen. The first graduating class was resplendent in black and will undoubtedly go into the world with a firm, learned footing. Good luck, young ladies! My tablemate Ken remarked on how supportive the young women were of one another and how his respect for Francie grew annually with how much she constantly gives to the community.
Lovely appetizers and cheese plates balanced rivers of wine and martinis that kept three bartenders busy all night long. Dancing ensued in front of the band, with emcee Kevin Anthony keeping his friends and fellow performers busy with solos and duets from Diego Guerrero, Effie Passero, and Alison Lo. And, Kevin too, of course!
Winners of the silent auctions should be announced in the next day or so; all of these donated items will ensure the girls’ continuing education.
Tonight at Nacho Daddy, “Match That Snatch,” starring Gouda Gabor and friends who will create a live game show emceed by Canadian funny gal in drag, Diana Frances. The show will recur next Monday as well, with a different cast of characters. Warning: audience members could be included and stand to win great prizes! Look for luminaries like Liberace (David Maiocco) and Pink (Eva Jimenez) to add a touch of color. See you tonight at 7:30 From Here.
Tuesday
Weird. I woke up this morning, and my face was aching, cheeks to be exact. It took me a minute to remember laughing my a~~ off for 90 minutes last night at Nacho Daddy.
The event was called “Match That Snatch,” a wicked blending of two TV game shows, The Match Game, which surfaced in 1962 and continues to this day, and Snatch Game, which debuted last month on RuPaul’s Season 17 Drag Race.
It took the first two contestants, Paco Ojeda and Sharon Gerber Scherer, a round or two to figure out that the racier the answers were, the better chance for a match with one of the visiting celebs Zsa Zsa Gabor (played by Gouda Gabor, aka Richard Lucas), Frank Sinatra (Sol Rose of Cafe Bohemio) and singer George Strait (not by a long shot but played to the max by Spencer; find him at La Catrina Cantina on Tuesdays).
A hilarious part of the show was the mention in the questions (and even some of the songs) of local expats, like Lix Ice Cream, Cassandra Shaw, Georgia Darehshori, and Tricia Lyman. Examples? You had to be there!
Both Paco and Sharon were nervous beforehand – neither of them had a clue what was coming, but both were good sports, with Sharon prevailing (as she is wont to do) by manifesting the win.
After a brief intermission, an audience member’s name was pulled out of a bowl, called to the stage, and Duncan went head to head with Air Fryer Quine Sharon Gerber Scherer. After the first question, he was three points ahead! With the pressure building, Sharon zeroed in on her magic powers and pulled her game out of the toilet for the win! Or, rather, put it IN the toilet for the win. You had to be there.
Emceeing the show was Canadian Diana Frances as Drag King Gene Gayburn, who was fast on their feet and kept so many names firmly in their head. (I am trying out pronouns.) Diana is teaching an intensive Improv Workshop this weekend, culminating in a Student Showcase on Sunday, March 23, at 7 pm at the Theater at Art Vallarta, up Olas Altas on Pilitas. Given the size of that teeny theater, get tickets fast; there is no room for an SRO crowd.
Next Monday, Match That Snatch Game returns to Nacho Daddy at 7:30, with one of the Gabor sisters, Liberace and Pink, as celebrities. This is your only chance to see this show this season. It may come back next year, depending on your support for screaming laughter!
I am going up the Rio Cuale this afternoon to Paso Guayabo to see Neil Diamond at Rancho Santiago. Will Chalmers has been paying tribute to Diamond for over 20 years and perfectly channels his voice and mannerisms. Following that is Open Mic at Nacho Daddy at 7:30. See you somewhere soon From Here.
Wednesday
I have spent the past 11 Tuesdays at Rancho Santiago up the Cuale River in Paso Guayabo. It was there Tribute Tuesdays were reinstated by El Rio BBQ Bar owner Kurt Sinner. Chef Hollis Harris smoked loads of ribs and made batches of wonderful non-mayonnaise-laced potato salad, stocked the bar well, and they were off and running.
Rancho Santiago also provided a stage for the rock band Perros del Rio, that sprang up during the last couple of years at El Rio’s old location in Paso Ancho (currently La Huerta). A mix of expats and Mexican musicians, Perros, headed by lead singer Kurt Sinner, garnered quite a following over the years. They have one more show at 3 pm next Tuesday. More on that in a bit.
Canadian impresario Merv Buchanan not only imported the tribute talent from Canada and the US but also personally ran the lights and sound for all the tribute shows this season at Rancho Santiago, which started with Jimmy Buffet in the first week of January.
Yesterday, we had the pleasure of listening to most of the major hits sung by Neil Diamond. Will Chalmers has portrayed Diamond for 20 years and has perfected that sweet raspiness that sets his voice apart from all others. Will meandered through the crowd, singing to the ladies and making each one of them feel special. That energy feeds Will, his black sequined shirt reflecting purple spotlights onstage.
I remember that about 8 years ago, Will had gone to change clothes minutes before he began his second or third show ever at El Rio. Every chair was taken as hundreds of people were just finishing up dinner in anticipation of another blockbuster Neil Diamond tribute show. A truck hauling something tall dragged down the power lines right at the entrance to El Rio, and that was the end of that. I remember writing that there was nothing sadder in the world than seeing that black sequined shirt hanging alone on a hook in the dressing room, unworn and illuminated solely by candlelight. Kurt went to Home Depot the next day for a portable generator, and Will made up that show for all those ticket holders who returned to help sing “Sweet Caroline” later in the week.
There will be one more show at Rancho Santiago this season and it will be unforgettable! I saw Mario Osama and his huge band at The Palm in early February and was so impressed with his guitar skills. Mario will be presenting his Santana tribute with a few bandmates shaved off due to the smaller stage at Rancho Santiago. Osama came out yesterday and played a few songs with Perros del Rio. There are very few Santana tributes – I am sure you have noticed! – because of the degree of difficulty Carlos Santana presents in his music. Mario Osama is that precise. Go and see this master at work, eat some ribs, go splash in the river, dance, and celebrate the last show of the 2025 season.
I will be seeing “Burlesque” at Coco Cabaret that Tuesday. Many thanks go to Merv Buchanan, Kurt Sinner, Hollis Harris, and staff for a fun and memorable tribute season outdoors on the banks of the Rio Cuale in Paso Guayabo.
I will bring you a full report on last night’s Open Mic shenanigans tomorrow morning. Bring extra coffee From Here.
Thursday
Happy Spring, everybody! And, because I live in paradise, I can no longer say things like, “It’s been a long, long, lonely winter,” having it be light at 7 in the morning is fantastic. For the first few days, remembering gardening in Canada, I want to sink my hands into still-chilly dirt and plant something edible. Then I just breathe and give thanks I no longer have space for a veggie garden and have not had that pleasure for decades. I recall saying out loud years ago whatthehell can I do with all the monster zucchinis threatening to overrun the earth itself, and give thanks to the local farmers of Jalisco and Nayarit for feeding me lovely vegetables and doing all that work.
Back to last Tuesday’s Open Mic at Nacho Daddy. The stage was overrun with fabulous voices visiting as tourists or touting upcoming shows. Two of the latter, David Sabella and Marieann Meringolo, have shows at Act2PV. David will sing songs written by Peter Allen, the first husband of Liza Minnelli, accompanied by Mark Hartman and Marieann, I will see tonight in the Casa Karma Red Room at 7 pm.
I joined Marieann, her girlfriend Nancy, and New York City choreographer Kimberly LaRue for Open Mic and their dinner. Nancy and Marieann had just flown in hours before and were already in love with Vallarta. What’s not to love, right?
We were treated to a wild adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood by a gentleman named Larry Hohm. His delivery was slyly spoken and cleverly delivered like he had tricks up his sleeve. And he did. I would dearly love to hear more of his stories!
We had a new comedienne who is relatively new to Vallarta; we should be seeing and hearing more from her.
As well as getting to Nacho Daddy early in the evening to sign up with Lydia Damato, who handles the scheduling for the evening, you will also need to give Janathan Rios, the sound and light tech, your track or let him know whatever needs to be done in advance of your name being called. The other thing to remember is the four-minute time limit. There is often the opportunity to take the stage twice in one night and double everybody’s pleasure!
The next Open Mic at Nacho Daddy is Tuesday, March 25th, at 7:30. I will have to miss it as I am going to see Burlesque at Coco Cabaret finally!!!
Whatever you have planned today to celebrate the first day of Spring, do it with kindness. It is a time of new beginnings and tiny growing things – like ideas – that need to be protected from battering winds and rain and gently watered with love until they can stand on their own and thrive. Here’s to moving forward, people. Remember to smile at everyone you see on the street – it’s Springtime, pass it on! From Here.
Friday
Marieann Meringolo had her opening night at Act2PV’s Casa Karma Red Room. She brought all of her music with her from New York, handed the charts to pianist Mark Hartman, took a rehearsal and launched into their first collaboration. Marieann doesn’t like to perform without her musical director of 25 years, however, Mark and Marieann could be a shoo-in anywhere in the world.
Mark is one of those gifted musicians that doesn’t have to “know” his vocalist. He creates concert-worthy piano playing every time he sits in front of a keyboard. His senses are innate, his fingers work with the voice, and his face shows when a particular passage goes flawlessly well. Hartman makes the piano disappear except for a couple of dazzling virtuoso passes that Marieann introduced with a soundless sweep of her arm, and audience attention falls on him for a few moments. It occured to me last night, listening to the two of them, that it must be difficult to be so good at what you do that nobody pays attention – it’s all about the voice unless it’s a piano recital. I will talk to Mark one day if he is willing.
And then there is the reason we gathered – to hear Marieann Meringolo sing.
She does not have an ounce of sibilance in her voice. She is as clear as a perfectly constructed bell. Her breath is never heard in the microphone, neither in nor out. She does not talk about herself: I learned she was born in 1964 and grew up in Long Island, and that’s about it. No huge Broadway shows to discuss, no great big breaks, but I felt that each song was balanced with her beliefs with a lovely leaning toward kindness, love and caring for herself and everyone in the world. Her life is told through song choices, nothing particularly happy or sad, a gentle mix. Her ballads tinged with heartbreak but never with anger. Hope seems to be at her core, and one song she did about plastic surgery was downright hilarious. Even Mark Hartman laughed out loud at the absurdity without missing a note.
When I first heard Marieann at Open Mic, she sang “Fifty Percent” from the musical Ballroom. I leaned over to David Sabella and told him her voice reminded me of Barbra Streisand. That thought popped back into my head during the show, when she reprised the song on her Opening Night with a caveat that this woman, Marieann, is not a movie star or a million-copies-sold recording artist, she is a quintessential cabaret singer sharing her heart with yours, From Here.
