eventos

Crisia Regalado sings opera rock

Patrick O’Heffernan(Ajijic).- The wildly popular Mexican-American singer Crisia Regalado will perform  two concerts in Ajijic this weekend. Trained in opera, jazz, mariachi, and synthesizer, she blends them together in operatic jazz, synth pop and rock, and traditional Mexican music. 

Regalado is on tour in México and agreed to take a detour from Guadalajara to Ajijic.  She will perform Friday night at Dharma’s Bistro on the Ajijic Malecón in her operatic synth-pop electronic persona, Sin Color, and Saturday night at Casa Domenech in LCS as CRISIA! Delivering operatic jazz, rock and traditional Mexican songs.

Crisia as Sin Color ready for takeoff

In a telephone interview with Laguna, Crisia  said “I am so excited and grateful for the opportunity to perform for the Magic Pueblo, Ajijic. Thank you México for receiving me with open arms!” adding that she is looking forward to touring the sights of Lakeside.

Regalado has 1 million streams on Spotify and over 13,000 followers, half  in México.   Performing since she was child, she has performed in operas, jazz and rock clubs, with mariachis and her electronic pop band.  She has released two albums. This tour marks her first live shows in México.

From left to right: Ricardo González, Alejandro González, director of COMUDE and Aurelio Márquez. Photo: Sofía Medeles

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Two of Ajijic’s own, Aurelio Márquez Rodríguez «Nano» and Ricardo González González «Chicles,» will compete in the international race Ultra Machu Picchu, in Peru, on April 10, 2022.  

For Ricardo, 63 years old and with 25 years of running experience, this race is one of many he has run abroad. For Aurelio however, who is 27 years old and has been running for three years, this is the first one he will participate in outside of Mexico. Both will run 30 kilometers; Aurelio «Nano» in the free category and Ricardo «Chicles» in the 60 to 64 years old category.

To support Aurelio with travel expenses, the Corredores Unidos (Runners United) group organized a race last Sunday, March 6, which attracted more than 90 people in the streets of Ajijic. There was also a fair to help raise funds.

For his part, Ricardo González said that he makes a point of putting money aside, so that every two years he can participate in an international race, the last one being in Argentina in 2019. 

«On many occasions I have invited different runners to accompany me to international races but Nano (Aurelio) is the first one who showed interest. I invited him because he is one of the best that the town currently has and I like the runners to meet, go out together, meet other good people and make friends,» said Ricardo.

This being his first race abroad, Aurelio admitted he is nervous, but said he will do his best to give a good performance. He also believes that part of growing as a runner is meeting and competing with people better than he is, who motivate him to improve. 

Ninety athletes participated in the race held on March 6 to raise funds for the trip. Photo: Alejandro González

Alejandro Gonzalez Gonzalez, the head of the Municipal Sports Council (COMUDE) Ajijic, said he was willing to support local athletes who show promise, regardless of the sport they practice.

In particular, he noted that the construction of the track at the Unidad Deportiva, located in La Floresta, is continuing so that runners will soon have a safe space to practice.

Ricardo requested that family members of athletes make an effort to support and motivate them in their careers. To the public in general, he reminded them that practicing sports develops good habits in people, such as discipline, saving, healthy eating, etc. 

Aurelio invited young people to take up running, and to surround themselves with people who have the same interests in order to feel supported and motivated.

For those who wish to support the runners, donations can be made at the Ajijic delegation.

Translated by Rebecca Zittle

The march for women’s rights in Chapala advanced with the cry «The oppressor state is a male rapist.» Even children participated in the march.

Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).– More than 200 women who demonstrated on Tuesday, March 8, International Women’s Day, used the facade of the Chapala City Hall as a forum to expose the children of former public officials, teachers, among other aggressors of women in the municipality.

The march began after 8:00 p.m. and proceeded along Francisco I. Madero Avenue. Protesters closed the road at the intersection with Morelos Street and Hidalgo Avenue for a little more than ten minutes, and then went to the front of the City Hall.  Posters with feminist messages had been pasted on its façade starting two days earlier.

The government was publicly accused of covering up cases of abuse in the municipality: «I am here for those that my municipality wants to erase and silence. No more impunity!» said the protester.

There, different women, especially young women, spoke of cases of harassment, rape and violence committed by the children of former public officials, current public officials, teachers and private individuals, in order to publicize the names and thus avoid further harm to women.

«As long as there is no justice for the people there will be no peace for the government,» declared one of the signs of the young women protesters who on more than one occasion accused the government of protecting the aggressors. They also claimed they were ignored by the authorities when they filed complaints with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Children also expressed the desire for a better future, «I don’t want to grow up with fear» and «I will be the woman I want to be,» they said during the demonstration.

«I am here for those that my municipality wants to erase and silence. No more impunity!» and «What does a country that sows bodies reap?» read among some of the signs carried by the protesters.

«We are the cry of those who have no voice» said another poster, referring to the 13 women who have disappeared in our municipality.  An altar for these women was placed in a door to the building with the message «Sorry for the inconvenience, they are killing us.”

Tears accompanied the confessions; some told their stories for the first time.

Amid tears and shouts of encouragement such as «you are not alone» and «I believe you,» the women who dared to speak out told the tragic stories of the abuses they have suffered. Those who did not speak publicly shared their stories anonymously on the Instagram group @Isonomia.chapala.

The most important issues besides the accusations were the freedom to dress as they please and the insecurity to which women are exposed. «The length of my skirt does not define the respect I deserve,» wrote a protester. Signs read «Quiet mom today I’m not going home alone» and «I can’t die yet.» 

Peace and life were the main demands of the demonstration to the government: «What does a country reap when it sows bodies?”

Women were not alone in demanding their rights. Some were accompanied by men carrying with signs that read: «I like women and I don’t harass them.» 

The case of Chuyito was also presented.  This young boy suffered rape by his stepfather and physical and psychological violence until the day of his death. All women expressed their solidarity with this situation, demanding that the guilty be found and that the case not go unpunished.

Though the march was peaceful, a patrol of the Municipal Police and three state police were present at all times. Traffic police helped drivers who were not part of the demonstration to find an alternate route.

The women expressed their solidarity with Chuyito, a child who died from sexual, physical and psychological abuse. No one has been charged in the crime. 

Altar dedicated to the 13 women who disappeared in the municipality of Chapala, titled: «Sorry for the inconvenience, they are killing us.»

Translated by Elisabeth Shields

La última edición de la Feria de la Capirotada se realizó en el año 2019 en el malecón de Ajijic. Foto: La tradición de Ajijic.

Sofía Medeles.- La sexta edición de la Feria de la Capirotada de Ajijic se aplaza un año más para evitar contagios de Covid-19. 

El organizador del festival gastronómico dedicado a uno de los platillos tradicionales de la Cuaresma, Lee A. Hopper, expresó no sentirse conforme con la situación de la pandemia ya que no le gustaría que realizar la competencia contribuyera a aumentar el número de casos. 

Aunque la Feria de la Capirotada había sido anunciada para el próximo 2 de abril mediante su página de Facebook, a través de un comunicado en la misma plataforma, se notificó la suspensión. 

Esta muestra gastronómica se ha realizado desde el 2015, no obstante, fue en el 2019 la última edición. La sexta edición estaba programada para marzo 28 del 2020, pero pocas semanas antes, se habría declarado el inicio de la pandemia en México.

En contraste, la Secretaría de Salud del Gobierno de México en su última actualización del mapa del semáforo epidemiológico, colocó a Jalisco en verde desde el 7 de marzo y hasta el 20 de este mes.

 Hundreds of Ajijic residents and visitors celebrated Shrove Tuesday 2022. Photo: Arturo Ortega.

Armando Esquivel (Ajijic).-  Hundreds of people attended the Ajijic Shrove Tuesday or “Fat Tuesday” parade and many ended up bathed in flour, including the municipal president of Chapala, Alejandro Aguirre, who accompanied the parade in a Can-Am van.  

The Ajijic Delegation float led the parade decorated with Chinese paper, fabrics and colorful balloons, with clowns onboard throwing candy and confetti.  Following were three golf carts with members of the Expat  community on board, who threw candy to the attendees. However, the Expats did not finish the parade because their electric cart batteries died.

Traditional masked Sayaca dances were performed from start to finish. Photo: Arturo Ortega.

The San Sebastian neighborhood, together with the Martinez family, participated with a cart filled with costumed people throwing flour and candy. Young girls dressed in carnival costumes followed in another cart.  The rhythm of two drum brigades and a band added flavor to the atmosphere.  The fitness community presented a float with gymnastic Sayacas, traditional masked characters usually dressed as women.  Another float had playboy «bunnies» throwing flour into the crowd. 

One of the most anticipated floats was the flour “cushion”, renamed the «covicolchón.” Characters wearing wrestling masks would carry the «victims» to the cushion to be covered with flour.  A cart with a papier-mâché bull and its rider, a mill with aides and another cart with revolutionary sayacos, carrying air rifles and a cannon that threw flour,  completed the colorful  – and flour-drenched –  parade, which ended with a score of charro riders mounted on horses. 

The president of Chapala, Alejandro Aguirre, was not spared from the flour. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

The mayor’s team set up a speaker at the last minute so his vehicle would have some music. He had popsicles to throw to the public. Many approached the mayor to greet him, make requests or even have their picture taken, although there was one who gave a whistle or two at him.

After an hour and 40 minutes, the contingent arrived at the main square, where a cloud of flour greeted the floats and the sayacos.  The large crowd cheered what many consider the best carnival of Lakeside.   

Sayacos dancing the «caballito» or little horse. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

There were minor incidents such as the separation and distancing of the contingent, the departure of the golf carts in the middle of the parade due to the low batteries, two vehicles that were not removed from the parade route and the report of a senior citizen who fell  in front of the horses at the end of the parade, which was not included in the Chapala authorities’ news report.

After the conclusion of the parade the streets of the Pueblo Mágico looked empty, with walls and cobblestones bleached by the flour and  and covered with colorful confetti which echoed the joy and desire of the inhabitants and visitors to relive the tradition.

The bull could not be missing in this edition of the parade. Photo: Arturo Ortega.

Detailed mask of a sayaco from Ajijic. Photo: Arturo Ortega. 

Even the pets enjoyed the carnival parade. Photo: Arturo Ortega. 

The flour cushion was one of the most awaited by the attendees.

Translated by Nita Rudy

The veteran team of Sports Club Redes Chapala with recognition in hand, minutes before the start of their last friendly match against El Chapala. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- A team with history. Club Deportivo Redes celebrated its 62nd anniversary in style and with a dedication to Othón Rayo, an outstanding sports promoter in Chapala. 

Former and veteran players were recognized by the Government of Chapala. 

With the mariachi Águila and three friendly matches, Juan José Rayo Castro, Othón’s son and current manager of the club, praised those present on February 28, as he does every year, with the aim of not letting the tradition die that his grandfather Juan Rayo Suárez started in 1960 and later inherited from his father, Othón Rayo.

Municipal President Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel also joined in the celebration and presented awards to the most representative players in the club’s 62-year history, such as Mario Sánchez, Rafael Rayo, Nano Sánchez, Luis Ayala, Manuel Huerta, Kiko Camarena, Salvador ‘El Chato’ Chavoya, and goalkeeper Humberto ‘The Spider’ Reyes, among others who were present.

After the presentation of awards, Alejandro Aguirre kicked off the first match, in which the veterans of the ‘El Chapala’ team faced each other. It is worth mentioning that many of the members lived in Los Angeles, California, where they founded a second club under the name of Redes Chapala.

Arturo Rivera Alcantar received his recognition from municipal president Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

In the second match, the B division of Club Redes played against the champions of Chapala, Niños Santos. To give way to the stellar match against the Chapala pre-selection for the Jalisco Cup 2022, who demonstrated their level with a 4-0 win. «They are twice our age,» commented Juanito, a Redes director, who explained that in addition to being ten years older than the other players, the club only plays in the local area.

Compared to before, in 1974 they won against Chivas de Guadalajara 2-0, recalls Mario Sanchez, who scored both goals when he was only 17 years old at the time. Or the tour of the United States in 1991, when Reyes Oliveros was the president of the California Soccer League.

Around the 1970s, they counted on the presence of Evelio Ortiza, Brazilian, and Antonio Olivera, Costa Rican, foreign coaches of first and second division who pushed the team to the professional reserves.

«Many said that Redes was for snobs, but I am proof that this is not so. It was for those of us who wanted to grow up,» denied Antonio Mendoza, proud bearer of the number 13 during the first decades of the club’s trajectory.

Over the years and thanks to the initiative of Jesús Cabrera Jiménez, during his 2010-2012 administration, the current third division club Charales de Chapala was founded, supported by the best former players of Club Deportivo Redes as coaching staff.

Translated by Elizabeth Shields

Carnival Confetti, Magic & Fun on its way down Porfirio Díaz street. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- The first edition of the carnival «Confetti, Magic and Fun» was celebrated in San Juan Cosalá, in the municipality of Jocotepec.

In spite of some technical failures, floats that could not be presented and more than half an hour of delay, the parade in which more than 200 people participated, among them around 150 children, started at around 5:00 in the afternoon from Cardenal Sur Street. 

The main float of the parade ornamented as a peacock, from which confetti was flying. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

The contingent went through the main streets of the town to culminate in the main square on Porfirio Diaz. The parade offered about half an hour of laughter, colors and music, but, above all, a sense of calm.

According to its organizers, this new version of the Shrove Tuesday parade was created with the intention of allowing people to have a good time with their families, without the fear of being covered with flour, as there are always disagreements among the inhabitants about this custom.

One of the parade floats

«I thought this was a very good idea, the truth is that I didn’t like to attend the carnival because everyone gets covered with flour, but I think this one with confetti is a very good idea», commented Carmen López, who together with her small children enjoyed the confetti, the laughter and the traditional masked sacaya characters.

However, there were those who attended the event, who argued that the fun of the carnival is to get covered with flour, «that’s what’s cool, that’s why you come to throw flour,» said Ramón.

One of the soccer-themed contingents. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

At almost the same time as the confetti parade, there was another flour parade, which registered the participation of approximately 400 people.

With a non-family atmosphere at the other parade, the fierce flour battle painted almost everyone white, including pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists traveling through the delegation.

«They floured everyone, I was just passing by in my truck and they threw all the flour at me, look how they left me,» said a passerby who was trying to get to the municipal seat, but did not count that he would arrive «looking like Gasparin (Casper the Ghost)».  

A man in costume, sitting in the cab of the pickup truck that closed the parade caravan. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

At the end of the confetti event, its organizers said that despite the short time they had to carry out the event, it was a success; and they hope that next year it will be held again, this time with more preparation and more participants.

Translated by Kerry Watson

María Alcalá Ortiz, Queen of Chapala Carnival 2022, during her coronation at the Lienzo Charro J. Jesús González Gallo.

Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- Different but still  fun, this year Covid-19 was buried and the celebration roared back. After a year’s absence, the Chapala Carnival 2022 returned with lots of tequila, dances and charro (traditional Mexican rodeo) events, in addition to crowning the new beauty queen.

Chapala 2022 Carnival Queen, María Alcalá Ortiz, during her coronation on Friday, February 25. Accompanied by princesses Anahí Mora and Esmeralda de la Torre.

The festivities began on February 25 with the first reception in Chapala’s main plaza. While the attendees waited impatiently for a funeral box so they could begin with the burial of bad humor, the Palapa del Guayabo handed out complimentary vampiritos to set the mood for the public. 

María Alcalá Ortiz, Queen of Chapala Carnival 2022, and Omar Alejandro Esparza Urzúa, the Ugly King of Chapala 2022.

After 3:00 in the afternoon, the organizers managed to make a last-minute coffin, in which Felipe Ortega, King of Joy, lay down with a sign that read «Goodbye Covid», with the wish to bury the current coronavirus pandemic. 

The people of Chapala danced around the wooden box to the rhythm of the local band until beginning the tour led by the Ugly King, Omar Alejandro Esparza Urzúa and King David, Alejandro Selis López that concluded with the burning of the bad humor at the Chacaltita beach in front of the fishermen’s fountain on Chapala’s boardwalk with almost 200 attendees.

The “bad humor” was burned on February 25 at Chacaltita beach in the presence of almost 200 people.  

The King of Joy, Felipe Ortega lay down inside the coffin with a cardboard sign that read ‘Goodbye Covid’ symbolizing its ritual burial. 

Felipe Ortega, King of Joy 2022, who has been the Ugly King in previous years, during the closing reception in Chapala’s main square. 

Alejandro Selis Lopez as King David 2022 during the closing of the carnival in Chapala’s main square. The name represents the giants he has defeated during his life trajectory.

Stephen W. Heffernan. New York 8023 Subway, part of the show at Emma’s Deli.

Patrick O’Heffernan (Ajijic).-Ajijic resident Stephen W. Heffernan (no relation) opened a show of his Street Life in New York City in the 1970’s at Emma’s Deli,  a series if fine black and white photographic prints showing not only the quirks and personalities of the streets of the US’s largest city, but the almost infinite greyscale graduations of his Ansel-Adams-influenced exposure, developing  and printing process, now forgotten in the digital photo age.

 Heffernan has traveled the world, especially Latin America and Cuba, taking photographs of street life in the style of the legendary Edward Weston. His photos have been displayed in galleries and museums, including the Fototeca de Cuba in Havana. His many series include street life and scenes from Europe, México, Namibia, Nicaaragua, South Africa , the USA, and Cuba.

 “During the 1970’s I learned to make fine prints, guided by the classic books of Ansel Adams  and delving into the history of photography,”  says Heffernan, noting that  “ Edward Weston was my first inspiration but, aesthetically my eye was drawn to the renowned European photojournalists and ‘street’ photographers. This show reflects that influence.”

The photographs displayed  at Emma’s Deli have been curated from the earliest period of his 50-year career. The show will be up for three months Emma’s Deli is at Ramon Colon #5, Ajijic.

Cover of the book Entre El Oso y El Dragón (Between the Bear and the Dragon) 

‘Emigrantes del Lago’ Exhibition

Day: Friday, March 4, 2022

Description: Inauguration of photography, painting and sculpture exhibit.

Place: Cultural Center of Ajijic (CCA) at the plaza

Schedule: 4:00 p.m. 

Cost: Free of charge 

Bamboo Yurt Workshop

Days: Saturday March 5 and Sunday March 6, 2022

Description: Practical workshop suitable for children from 8 years old to build Yurts. 

Day 1: Children will learn how to build models, budget, design and weaving of walls and roof. Day 2: Construction of a yurt.

Place: Costa Alegre

Cost: $2,500 pesos p.p. Includes material. Information and registration: 341-170-1538

Conversation with Enrique Martínez M., author of the novel Entre El Oso y El Dragón.  

Day: Saturday, March 5, 2022

Description: A novel that intertwines true stories with shades of fiction, where a Mexican student in the former Soviet Union becomes involved in intricate stories of espionage during the Cold War years.

Venue: PabLola Gallery and Contemporary Art Studios, 16 de Septiembre #1

Time: 4:00 p.m. 

Cost: Free admission

Kyoto Classical Ballet

Presentation of Kyoto Classical Ballet

Date: Saturday, March 5, 2022 

Description: Kyoto Classical Ballet

Place: Ajijic Plaza, Guadalupe Victoria #4, Ajijic

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Cost: Free admission

5th Race for a Cause  

Date: Sunday, March 6, 2022 

Description: 5K sports race

Place: Ajijic Malecon

Cost: $100 pesos per person. Information: 331-070-1178

Performance by the Duo Stredel – Quiroz

Date: Sunday, March 6, 2022 

Description: Violin and piano concert

Venue: González Gallo Cultural Center (CCGG) “Old Train Station” in Chapala 

Time: 12:30 p.m.

Cost: Free admission

March 8th is International Women’s Day

Health care for International Women’s Day

Date: Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Description: Integrated approach to your health 

Place: Centro de Salud, Ocampo #102, Ajijic 

Cost: For information 376-766-4862

Sin Color

Day:  Friday March 11, 2022

Schedule:  6 pm  performance;  

Description: Popular  LA-based Mexican American synth-pop singer on tour in Mexico   performs her operatic synth-rock music

Place: Dharma Bistro, Malecón de, Del Paseo 18, 45920 Ajijic

Cost: free admission

Invitation to join soccer leagues «Forming Values,» in Jocotepec 

Day: Friday, March 11, 2022

Description: The Directorate of Sports and the Jocotepec City Hall invite children and young people to join soccer leagues. 

Place: Dirección de Deportes Ayuntamiento de Jocotepec. Registration closes March 11, 2022 

Cost: Information at 331-186-7415

CRISIA!  

Description: Internationally popular LA-based operatic jazz-pop-traditional Mexican music on tour in Mexico  performs jazz, opera and traditional Mexican music

Place:  Casa Domenech at Lake Cha[ala Society

Schedule:  6pm performance;  doors open  5pm

Cost: $350 pesos.  contact  33 3150 6940 for reservations

Rehearsals for the Carnival parade

Days: Every Thursday

Description: Come to the rehearsals of the Carnival parade that will be held on Thursdays in January and February. If you don’t have a drum you can borrow one.

Place: Amphitheater at Ajijic Malecon

Schedule: Starting at 7:00 p.m. 

Cost: Free activity

Puppets

Let’s make puppets

Days: Every Friday

Description: Puppet making workshop by teacher Rosita Copa

Place: Registration at Casa de Formación de San Juan Cosalá

Schedule: From 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Cost: Free activity. For ages 10 and older.

Spring Equinox Tata-Heyoka

Day: Saturday, March 19, 2022

Description: Pre-Hispanic dance, drum ceremony, music and ancestral medicine

Venue: Tlalocan Thermal Spa

Cost: Hotel guests $300 pesos. Visitors $400 pesos. Information and reservations 387-761-0302 Bathing suit required. Adults only.

Venaditos (“Little Deer”) Team Races

Date: Sunday, March 27, 2022

Description: 5K Race

Schedule: 8:00 a.m.

Place: Ajijic Malecon

Cost: $80 pesos. Registration: 331-528-0151