Yesterday marked the 24th anniversary of Hurricane Kenna, and it's my personal, unofficial benchmark for the end of the rainy season. We are done! Put away the umbrellas, dust off your sweaters, open the tourist gates, and let's goooooooo!
Gay+ Mixer number 4 was held last Tuesday at Ita, a gorgeous eatery in Versalles. Over 170 people, mostly guys, mixed and mingled, caught up with old friends on the latest news, and networked. I Love these weekly soirees, brought to you by Out & About Puerto Vallarta magazine. Join us at La Cruda on Basilio Badillo tomorrow from 6 to 8 pm.
Last Wednesday was busy: we started with the gym early in the morning, then went to Scrabble at Qulture, Bingo at Nacho Daddy, and straight to a quick dinner at Il Pesce (fabulous, of course!). Gillian Parrillo and Pierre Cutler saved us seats at La Catrina Cantina for Luis Villanueva and Angeloo's 6:30 concert, then we stayed for a set of Dimash covers at 8. Angeloo is branching out more into rock and roll; I put a bug in his ear to try some Robert Plant.
My Naturopath, Dr. Irving Ramirez, finally could give me a full dose of Ozone Therapy last week, and the difference was tremendous! He started the treatment with some short-lived neural shots that deadened the pain of the ozone (somewhat!). It still made me cry, but two hours later, on the bus, I actually turned my head to look at something. Mobility increased and stayed good for a full 24 hours, and the pain was cut in half. So, we are still on the right path.
Mohnish Malhotra, of Rico Indian fame on Isla Cuale, has opened his new restaurant, Purpose PV, on Roma in Versalles. Patrice and I were honored to be invited to a preview, along with Michael Boufford; Gerwin Rutten, and Zach de la Cerda from Out & About Puerto Vallarta magazine; Dino and Leslie Regehr; Sandi McDonald from Teatro sin Borders; Stan Wagner, jefe at Neurofeedback; chef Sage Amdahl; et al. The deep green interior walls inspire calm and balance some of the fiery dishes from Mohnish's kitchen. We ate so much that we couldn't finish the dessert. The chickpea dish was outstanding, and I could eat the sauce on the samosas with every meal. Nothing was too spicy, and each taste was remarkable. Thank you, Mohnish, and much luck with your latest endeavor.
Stan Wagner wired Patrice and me up in stereo Neurofeedback last Friday morning. If you have not yet enjoyed this marvel of technology, do it! Stan has two clinics - one on Lazaro Cardenas and the other in Fluvial. And while you are at the close-to-downtown local, check out the Pebbles for Pugs doorstops. They'll save your floors, and all profits go to Pug 911 Rescue, and yes, you can get a Us tax receipt from the registered nonprofit.
Pyramid Live debuted last Friday afternoon at La Catrina Cantina with Christian Manly's Game on. Winners John and Pamala Sheppard won by three points, and my sister picked up the 2,200-peso raffle! Family Feud will be next toward the end of November.
The Living Room Bookstore and Cafe in 5 de diciembre was busy Saturday morning with Jessy Ruiz and Bruce Franklin from Asphalt Radio 98.3 Fm broadcasting live from Madeline Milne's cute-as-can-be bookstore/coffee shop. Jessy and Bruce interviewed half of the 12 authors of Expats: Living the Dream, including Cassandra Shaw, Valerie Branch, and me.
Sunday afternoon's Gala at Oscar's launched publisher Teena Clipston's book, Expats: Living the Dream. Many of Teena's authors flew in to speak at the Gala. They were all eloquent and interesting. It was a perfect setting - late afternoon, with the river emptying into the sea on both sides and the waves making pushback. Duncan Shadrack's band set up, with tables full of food, flowers, and glasses of wine.
The book, Expats: Living the Dream, with photos, sold out at the Gala and is available on Amazon's Best Seller List! I have the last chapter in it. Thanks to Jessy Ruiz and Corie du Chateau for asking me to autograph their copies! That was an honor. Thanks also to those who stopped by to give congratulatory hugs, including Deborah Cole, Pierre Cutler, Gillian Parrillo, Sandra Bradley, and Sharon Gerber Scherer, who had barely unpacked after a month in Europe.
I am looking forward to reading the book! My heartfelt thanks to Teena Clipston for including me and my story. Her editing skills and comments after the first draft were amazing, in-depth, and encouraging. It was a pleasure to work with such a professional who is also inordinately kind! Many thanks again.
I bumped into Sacha Cantor and his husband, Aaron Salas, at Ita's Gay+ Mixer; they own Hyden Custom Furniture. Sacha told me he gets people in weekly to collect scrap hardwood that would otherwise go to the landfill. Please let me know what you are doing with the wood! Better yet, send me a photo, or both!
My amazing herbalist, Ricardo Mazcal, who has kept me thriving for many years, has flu and cold tonics at 20% off this week. His local on Isla Cuale is open daily from 4 to 6 pm and on Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm for his year-round Market.
Coming up this week: The Palm and Coco Cabarets both reopen. The Palm on Wednesday at 5 pm with Rewind, starring Daniel Celis and his fab band Monaco. At 7, Sargento Dan debuts his new Broadway Singalong. Coco opens at 8 pm Thursday with Chris Lopez's Halloween. Tamale Ringwald's art exhibition precedes the season-three opener in the brand-new Coco Lounge.
Saturday is Halloween night. Patrice and I are going to Mojoneras with Deborah Cole to hand out treats to the kids. Then we will head to Arte Vallarta for shenanigans high up on Pilitas Hill.
November 01, stars Ale Matus, Dabit Azofeifa, and others in the second-season premiere of Fado at Nacho Daddy at 5 pm. This show is one of the most hauntingly beautiful productions ever.
See you here, there, everywhere, and be kind, From Here.
