Vallarta Mirror, Puerto Vallarta (2025)

04/03/2025

Good Morning, From Here, March 04, Tuesday
I had mango smoothies yesterday afternoon at the Vallarta Factory with my new friend Jamie Brickhouse. His recent appearance at the theater at Art Vallarta has caused quite a stir in our community, with fingers reaching out to various powers that be to find space for him later this season to come back and tell us more.
The only thing Vallarta is missing is a place for people to speak. Storytelling is ancient and the only way we used to learn about absolutely everything, and yet it has never been fully embraced in Vallarta. That time may be now; just putting it out there for a special place for Keenan, Elke, Jordan, Artem’s, Amy, and Jamie.
Jamie heads home today to winter, work, and his architect husband Michael. My fingers are crossed that our paths will do the same, and soon, thanks for the delicious company!
Gouda Gabor celebrated her 71st birthday last night at Nacho Daddy with a stellar lineup of singers: Enrique de Allende, Amy Armstrong, Seth Sikes, and a pop-up by Francesca Bavaro, aka Effie Passero just home from touring Australia and New Zealand with Postmodern Jukebox.
Musical Director David Maiocco on the keys, worked his fingers off with the most challenging piece left until the very end of the birthday celebrations - Nessun Dorma from Turandot. Enrique unleashed that difficult aria and sent chills up everybody's spine. It has become his signature piece. Preceding Nessun Dorma, Effie sang Never Enough from The Greatest Showman, which should become her signature piece.
Nacho Daddy enjoyed a full house and we will all be back tonight for Open Mic at 7:30.
But first, Sharon Ge**er Scherer and I are off to the tianguis in Coapinole to see what we can find, then La Comer and Costco, home, eat, sleep, and then I head up the Cuale River to Paso Guayabo.
The third-to-last Tribute Tuesday at Rancho Santiago at 5:30, stars award-winning Tribute Artist Matt Cage as Elvis Presley. I have seen Matt every time he has come to Mexico, and he blows my (bobby) socks off once a year! I am not so much an Elvis fan as I am a fan of Matt Cage! He looks, sounds, and moves like Elvis at his rawest, gutsiest beginnings. Heady stuff!
There are still tickets to see What a Drag this Sunday, March 09, at 8 pm at Teatro Vallarta. This critical fundraiser is for Casa Esperanza, the only Women's Shelter in Vallarta. While the premise is hilarious- straight men in drag walking, dancing in high heels, and entertaining- the reasons behind the hilarity are not. It's for a great cause, and your ticket includes an open bar.
That's all I have for you today, gotta save some energy for the tianguis. A full report in the morning From Here.
Marcia Blondin Editor VallartaMirror.com

03/03/2025

Good Morning, From Here, March 03, Monday
One of my favorite days every month is the First Saturday Fiesta at Arte Vallarta Museo. The enormous courtyard was full of people eating, drinking wine, listening to the live jazz trio, and catching up with like-minded people they hadn't seen anywhere else for a month. The fantastic David Jones exhibition, Line and Color, continues in the upstairs gallery until early summer.
Last Saturday was particularly special as Museum Director - and Chef - Nathalie Herling cooked gumbo, one with shrimp and one vegetarian with okra. Served piping hot with rice and beans - wonderful!
Outstanding Vallarta Mirror columnist Sandra Bradley and I chatted with Colette Zarry, owner of Langostinos Restaurant on Los Mu***os beach and co-creator of the free Colina Spay and Neuter Clinic, whose house in Gr**go Gulch is always full of rescue dogs in various stages of rehab. They bring her such joy. Remember that 10% of all sales at her beachside restaurant are donated to Colina, as if the food and view were not enough incentives!
Sandra and I slowly walked toward home, digesting the generous serving of gumbo; I left her at the bridge separating Coloso from Emiliano Zapata colonias and made my way through the crowds of people wandering the streets, stopping for churros near the 'other' Catholic Church and hitting the bars with passion. I stopped briefly at Reinas to hug Gabe Arciniega and plunged onto Insurgentes and more foot traffic on my way to Galeria Zenit for Qvetzal's solo exhibition.
I have known Qvetzal for five years and have watched his style and subject matter grow and change, and I was so happy to see his beautiful portraits of sensuous men and women engulfed in fanciful flowers and wildlife return.
The tiny gallery on Calle Libertad was packed with art lovers drinking wine, sampling splendid bruschetta, and enjoying Q's paintings and the artworks in the other half of the well-curated gallery.
A couple of our best Scrabble players, Randy Thomas (our Club founder!) and Jonathan Lander, were introducing their friends to other aficionados. I also had the pleasure of meeting Paige Newman, who wrote about Qvetzal and this exhibition on February 26 in Vallarta Mirror.

Qvetzal plans to be painting at Zenit daily. This is a golden opportunity if you have never seen a maestro at work. I will have times you can stop by and watch a miracle of expression unfolding on canvas in a couple of days.

Meeting Zenit owner and stained glass artist Miguel Orozco was a pleasure. You can see his work almost next door to Zenit at El 7 de Cristal, Glass Gallery and studio. New, remarkable glass mosaic works by uber-versatile artist Vicky Thorne-Ohly can be viewed at Zenit; she does commissioned pieces as well.

It is March, and the frantic month of February is behind us, and Easter blooms a mere 40 or so days from this week's kick-off on Ash Wednesday. I can feel myself relaxing as we move gently into Spring, new growth, warmer weather, and to the host of new people moving into our midst; welcome, From Here.
Marcia Blondin Editor VallartaMirror.com

28/02/2025

Good Morning, From Here, February 28, Friday
On this day, in 1991, 34 years ago, I got on a plane in Vancouver, two suitcases containing my life stored onboard, and flew to Puerto Vallarta to be reunited with the soul that I left here in 1986 after my first bewitching visit. That block of five years was the longest of my life.
I had a standing order with my travel agent to get me down to Vallarta at any time there was a seat sale for a week or 10 days; I didn't care. The only thing I required was 24-hour notice to get off Vancouver Island, either to Seattle or Vancouver, and down here, where I could breathe salt air and be warm again.
Five years in the making, and the ONLY thing that kept me going day by day was that every morning I got out of bed, went to work, and did whatever was required of me, is that I was one day closer to moving to Mexico forever.
It is 34 years later; it is hard for me to believe my luck that I am still here, growing old in my adopted city that I adore and never want to leave. My gratitude for the abundance in which I live - beautifully warm weather daily, gorgeous beaches, green mountains, the freshest food grown just outside the city limits, and the populace of kind Mexicans and our vibrant and also kind ex-pat community, knows no bounds. I am beyond blessed, and - these words fail miserably, but thank you, Vallarta, for everything you have so freely and easily given me every day of these 34 years - nearly half of my life; I love you.
I was lined up outside Industry before 6 pm last night, eagerly awaiting the start of the Second Annual Vallarta Gay Best of 2024 Awards. I only had an hour as I was seeing Ann Talman at Act2 at 7 pm.
The crowded sidewalk held fascinating conversations with Mikel Joseph Alvarez, owner of Thrive Spas, and Tamale Ringwald, who penned Burlesque, the extravaganza currently blowing everybody away at Coco Cabaret every Tuesday. I explained to Tamale I had not seen the show because of Tuesday commitments until mid-March and was assured they would be performing until April. As I told her, nobody likes Burlesque; the raves have been unanimous that the show is LOVED and one of the best in Vallarta E V E R!
Finally, we were allowed in, and access to the bar, but the door into the nightclub remained firmly closed. Host Alison Lo, currently taking a medical leave from singing, wandered through the crowds greeting friends and fans. The gorgeous Chris Lopez, costumed as Sam Smith, was scheduled to perform, as were The Palm and Coco Cabaret-mates, Maru Prado Conti as Lady Gaga, and Eva Jimenez as Pink.
Time ticked down, and I had to fly up the street to Act2 to see a truly remarkable show starring Ann Talman and I missed everything at Industry! I will have to rely on sponsors Jerry Jones and Jet De La Isla for the list of winners. See you for that on Monday!
What a Drag is coming on March 09, and don't forget Gouda Gabor's Birthday Party at Nacho Daddy with Enrique de Allende, Amy Armstrong, and David Maiocco - woo-hoo, on Monday, March 03 at 7:30 pm.
Have a terrific weekend, everyone - let's share some hugs From Here.
Marcia Blondin Editor VallartaMirror.com

27/02/2025

Good Morning, From Here, February 27, Thursday
Open Mic at Nacho Daddy this week held a few surprises, including having Nick Dorado filling Gouda Gabor's enormous shoes as host for the evening. His lovely voice has been missed in Vallarta, and it was terrific to have him back home from Chicago at last. Another beautiful surprise was seeing and hearing Patsy Meyer sing again. I have not seen this Emmy Award nominee perform since Incanto, and her absence from Mexico, which involved dealing with the death of her brilliant husband, American composer John Henry Kreitler, a couple of years ago, has been keenly felt. Welcome back, dear Patsy. What a delight to see your smiling, exuberant face and sit in your expansive energy again.
Elke Zilla had another revelatory Spoken Word; I hope she sends me the text so I can publish it for those who weren't there. It is no mean feat that she can write then remember these long poems and recite them without missing a beat.
Up-and-coming comedian Jordan Parker does not have to leave his house to find material; the fact that he has a Mexican girlfriend is sufficient fodder and hilarious.
Vallarta entertainment beloveds - Gloria Fiona, Steven Retchless and Mark Hartman do what they do with perfection and ease. Andrea, flautist played beautifully with Patsy and Mark Hartman, and Delilah paired with Mark for some smooth jazz.
The Vallarta Garden Club needs new board members; the most important criterion is to love Vallarta and how she presents herself to the world. Perhaps you are a recent retiree looking to spend some of your newly available time on a worthwhile project? Please email or message me, and we'll go from there. It does not take a huge amount of time.
Industry tonight at 6 for the Best of Everything Gay Awards. All the nominees are worthy. Another contest I am glad I don't have to choose!
See you around town From Here.
Marcia Blondin Editor VallartaMirror.com

26/02/2025

Good Morning, From Here, February 26, Wednesday
A lot of people journeyed up the Cuale River yesterday afternoon to Rancho Santiago to feast on Hollis's barbequed ribs and the music of Fleetwood Mac.
It was a warm, sunny day, and I arrived early, thanks to Hollis picking me up while I was waiting at a bus stop on Lazaro Cardenas. I caught the last set of Kurt Sinner's band, Perros del Rio; they are much tighter and quite delightful to listen to on a lazy February afternoon.
Megan Schroder was so happy to be in Mexico and out of Canada's nasty winter cold. It was her third visit as Stevie Nicks/Christine McVie to El Rio BBQ Bar/Rancho Santiago and bandmate Ian Hebert's first.
In the crowd were Wanda Grift and her boyfriend, Doug, newlyweds Shirley and recovering-from-surgery-Karl dancing - I saw your feet move, Karl! And Nick and Cherry DeLorenzo made it to the party from their home in Boca de Tomatlan.
Megan and Ian covered Fleetwood Mac's greatest hits beautifully with Landslide, Don't Stop, Go Your Own Way, Rhiannon, and The Chain, especially standing out. Megahits to sing along with and to dance to.
Tribute Tuesdays are winding down after a successful seasonal run. Matt Cage, one of the world's finest Elvis tribute artists, is next week, March 04. The BeeGees follow, then Neil Diamond wraps up the series on March 18.
My sister Patrice Wolf arrives March 26 (a month today!) for a few week's vacay. It will be exhausting and exhilarating as it always is when she is here!
Tomorrow, we will dissect Open Mic from Nacho Daddy and go to the Opening Night, "The Shadow of Her Smile," of Ann Talman at Act2PV Theater From Here.
Marcia Blondin Editor VallartaMirror.com

25/02/2025

Good Morning, From Here, February 25, Tuesday
Teatro Vallarta's lobby was all abuzz last Sunday evening, before the start of the RISE Grand Finale, with head paparazzi Josef Kandoll Wepplo snapping away, making all of us look better than we really do. Folks crowded the bar and the conversation levels were excited and loud. Towering over us all was the coach for contestant Natalia Juliet, Steven Retchless, dressed as Britney Spears in enormous heels, putting him between six and a half and seven feet tall.
The 4th Annual So, You Think You Can Rise talent competition was hosted by Nacho Granados and Jessy Ruiz, who kept the show moving quickly in two languages. This year, the esteemed judges - Eva Jimenez, Chris Lopez, and Al Carswell - did not comment after each performer, which lopped a good 45 minutes off the running time of the show. Their choices were F91, an all-girl dance troupe coached by New York City choreographer Kimberly LaRue and Vizente Cañas, coached by Lady Gaga herself, Maru Prado Conti, in the vocal category. Crunch time came after they each performed again, and the audience's applause decided that F91 would take home first prize and 20,000 pesos.
Lisa Manoogian, who started this talent competition with her husband Billy Pilawski, reminded us that the reason we were gathered together was to raise money for the RISE Children's Shelter. The number of kids currently living at RISE has nearly tripled this past year, from 14 to 38, and includes more than half a dozen newborns. They are severely underfunded and rely 100% on private donations, so if you can find it in your heart to help, the best way is to pledge a specific amount of money per month so the Shelter can plan accordingly. Billy and Lisa have made it very easy; check it out https://donorbox.org/2025-sytycr-sponsor-donor
The annual budget at RISE has doubled to over 2 million pesos, and as they do not receive any government funding, it is up to us to support these cast-off kids who, through no fault of their own, have been removed from their homes by DIF (social services).
Volunteers are also needed, so if you have recently retired and are looking for something to do, get in touch with Lisa on Facebook. Kudos to her and Billy for another spectacular evening. The same goes for the coaches who did an amazing job of helping to create the performers we witnessed Sunday night. And the volunteers who helped with seating, gathering donations, and applying makeup backstage; we are the village From Here.
Marcia Blondin Editor VallartaMirror.com

24/02/2025

Good Morning, From Here, February 24, Monday
ART VallARTa on Pilitas was again the center of attention as Jamie Brickhouse presented his one-man show "Dangerous When Wet - Booze, S*x, and My Mother" to a sold-out rapt audience.
Jamie's monologue, nearly 90 minutes of a one-sided conversation, is based on his book by the same name. It was published after his mother's passing (of Lewy Body Dementia) as per her strict instructions, and like a good gay boy, Jamie complied.
Every person in the audience could identify with some part of Jamie's story. Please don't think this is just another "gay coming out" tale; far, far from that.
Jamie is an exhuberant storyteller with a rich, modulated voice. I wonder if he sings? And he has amazing, beautifully muscular legs accentuated by his black patent heels. He clearly takes good care of himself now, but his coming-of-age stories and how he got to here from there are hilarious with an undertone of Holy S**T! as he recovers from one adventure and plunges avidly into another. It is a breathtaking and brave walk through his colorful life.
After spending time quietly listening to his Texas drawl tell all, I want to read everything he has written; I need more Jamie Brickhouse. Just over an hour is insufficient time to be in this once-struggling human being's company who has leaned on humor hard and a great deal of love to heal himself. Mama Jean may have made him, but the fleshed-out parts that still stand on those wickedly strong legs are his very own.
Dangerous When Wet has only two more shows - this coming Thursday and Friday at 7 pm. I fully expect them both to sell out as the theater at ART VallARTa is tiny and when word hits the streets about the caliber of this brilliant monologue, Teatro Vallarta may not be big enough.
Glee's last performance is tonight at 7:30 at Nacho Daddy, starring Gouda Gabor and Sargento. If you loved the TV series, don't miss this show. For news about the Grand Finale for the So, You Think You Can RISE talent contest, meet me back here tomorrow morning for all the glorious details From Here.
Marcia Blondin Editor VallartaMirror.com

21/02/2025

Good Morning, From Here, February 21, Friday
The Grand Finale for the "So, You Think You Can RISE" talent competition is this Sunday at Teatro Vallarta at 7 pm. It has become, in four years, one of the most important events of the season. Not just to raise money for the RISE Children's Shelter but also to galvanize our entertainment community.
I finally got to see the upstairs part of Studs Bear Bar last night at the O & A Gay Mixer. The low ceilings, black walls and red lighting, oh, and the cages and a long divan up at the back overlooking godknowswhat. When Mike Owens moved to Vallarta and opened Therapy, it quickly became one of my favorite bars in town. Studs, Vallarta's first leather bar, was upstairs and was exclusively for guys. Within a year, the demand for more space, outed Therapy, and the whole place became Studs. Hey, when something works, right?
The Mixer last night was the busiest one all season. The publisher of Out & About Puerto Vallarta magazine, Jerry Jones, will have the numbers later; it will be in the high hundreds. The fabulous Jet De La Isla, co-producer of these prodigious events with Jerry, held court just inside the front door and introduced me to a couple of harnessed go-go dancers.
The new hotdog place up Basilio Badillo - Salchidogo - provided snacks throughout the night; two waiters were kept busy running back and forth with enormous trays, trying to keep up with demand.
Another extremely successful event, well-done everybody. I had to leave early to get to Act2PV for a 7 pm show, but I had a second with owner Mike Owens and asked him, "So, Mike, tell me what really goes on upstairs in the middle of the night." He looked at me and, with a face full of sincerity, said, "We have bible studies. Lots of bible studies."
I swear my laughter carried me the entire block to Act2, From Here.
Marcia Blondin Editor VallartaMirror.com

20/02/2025

Good Morning, From Here, February 20, Thursday
We had a good crowd at Qulture yesterday for our weekly Scrabble games. Everyone is welcome to come and play, and we would appreciate any turntable game boards you are no longer using. No worries if tiles are missing; we have a bag full of replacement letters. Thanks in advance!
I went last night to listen to Yoalli Guerrero at Casita & Garden. Very close to a full house enjoying dinner - tourists for the most part, as I only recognized Eddie from the American English Tree language school and his lovely wife.
Yoalli has recently teamed up with Jorge, singer, and guitarist, so they are testing the waters to find the right genres and picking songs that will suit their audiences. A request for Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee" went exceptionally well; Yoalli is a rocker at heart.
You can hear her at The Palm Cabaret and Bar every Sunday night as Yitzhak opposite Jordon Carnegie's Hedwig (and the Angry Inch). She is letter-perfect for the role.
She can also do slow and easy but has far too much energy to stay there for a sustained period. That just means she is always a delight to watch and listen to.
I am heading to Studs Bear Bar on Basilio Badillo tonight at 6, to catch up with Jerry Jones, the publisher of Out & About Puerto Vallarta magazine that sponsors these great Gay Mixers. They are an excellent opportunity for establishments to become more well-known in town, and eye candy is everywhere. If the crowds at every single one of these events are any indication, they have been the smash hit of the season. Maybe I will see you tonight.
Then, to Act2PV to see and hear NYC's multiple-award-winning cabaret star Dawn Derow at 7 pm.
Tomorrow, up at the top of Pilitas Street, at Art Vallarta's little theater, is the Opening Night of "Dangerous When Wet - Booze, S*x and My Mother." Sounds promising, no? A full report on those upcomings as they unravel, From Here.
Marcia Blondin Editor VallartaMirror.com

19/02/2025

Good Morning, From Here, February 19, Wednesday
The Beach Boys Tribute Tuesday out at Rancho Santiago last evening filled everyone with nostalgia for the old days when the most important thing in a young guy's life was his hot car and the women wistfully recalling bikini days on hot summer weekends by some body of water. I got there early enough to hear a bit of Kurt Sinner's band, Perros del Rio, and I was shocked by how many Beach Boy lyrics I remembered. The dancing horses visited to show off again and gave the crowd more photo ops. City bus #04 was full heading back into town, and amazingly, I made it to Nacho Daddy for Open Mic with about 5 minutes to spare.
Richard Lucas hosted, leaving Gouda Gabor and her big hair at home for a change, and kicked off the night with Sargento Dan singing a song from their show Glee. One more of them only, it's a blast - I was at their Opening Night - this coming Monday, the 24th, at Nacho Daddy.
The night progressed with lots of new people, many testing the entertainment waters for possible gigs post-vacation. It was a great mix with Mark Hartman on piano, who is evidently immune to jet lag and was boots on the ground in NYC yesterday at 6 am.
Guitarist Aldo Parra Jaime was busy accompanying Gabe Arciniega, among others. We had a poet who grabbed our attention with the title of his first poem, "Eating Eyelashes." Never let it be said that Open Mic is boring!
Gloria Fiona is still playing to full houses with her Adele Tribute at various venues around town. Stephanie Wright Watts sang with David Maiocco as did Cate Elizabeth Valcic, all of them promoting their shows at Act2PV.
Funnyman, standup comic Jordan Parker got his name in early enough this week to make us laugh.
Open Mic is a brand new show every week, unpredictable and always entertaining; see you at Nacho Daddy next Tuesday at 7:30. Oh, which reminds me, next week at Rancho Santiago is one of the best tribute shows ever to be heard in Vallarta: Megan Schroeder and Ian Hebert team up to reprise an unforgettable Fleetwood Mac extravaganza. This show will sell out, so get your tickets and more information at VallartaCalendar.com
This coming Sunday is the RISE Finale at Teatro Vallarta. In its fourth edition, the biggest fundraiser for the RISE Children's Shelter is essential to support these kids day to day and to introduce up and coming new talent to Vallarta. Again, see VC for more info. And, I will see you at Teatro Vallarta on Sunday, From Here.
Marcia Blondin Editor VallartaMirror.com

18/02/2025

Good Morning, From Here, February 18, Tuesday
Levi Kreis's exuberant return to Vallarta and The Palm Cabaret and Bar necessitated adding chairs to accommodate the number of people clamoring to see him as quickly as possible on Opening Night (he does have a few more shows). To exclaim that he is such a great entertainer, I would have to become more evangelical than him.
He was truly among friends - old and new, his eyes constantly searching the audience for people he knew and acknowledging them with a pointed finger and that dazzling smile.
Jason Antone, Levi's husband, joined him onstage for a couple of songs; I imagine their days together must ring with harmonies - two gorgeous voices.
Levi dug deep and found a couple of new hilarious family stories of growing up in rural Tennessee that he shared with us; he could have retold his old tales, line by line, and we would not have minded anything to keep him onstage working that Southern drawl or singing.
A year ago, again at The Palm, Levi told us, the audience, that he was in the process of writing a book that he wanted to put to music and present in New York City. "Already Perfect" is making the required rounds, gathering up directors, cast, musicians, and more. Levi hopes to open this year.
In 2010, this six-foot-tall, child piano-playing prodigy won his first Tony award for creating Jerry Lee Lewis in The Million Dollar Quartet on Broadway; could Already Perfect lead to more awards in way more than one category?
This charismatic musician and actor will be 45 years old this November. It certainly appears his future will be superabundant, as will ours if he continues to visit and keeps on spreading the love. Check out VallartaCalendar.com for Levi Kreis's showtimes. See him; you can thank me later.
Gabe Arciniega threw an Open House in his charming downtown Vallarta casita. He said he was tired of seeing various groups of his friends in different parts of town and wanted them all under one roof for a couple of hours. And so we converged for conversation, cake, cocktails, and to share with Gabe our love for him. He pulled out all the stops and hired caterers and a couple of bartenders. Evidently, ALL of Gabe's friends are a thirsty lot! A little after 6, Kiko Santiago-Taruc, Cassandra, her two doggies, and I rode together to Biblioteca Los Mangos Centro Cultural for the balance of the Vallarta Girls School fundraiser.
The lawns under the towering mango trees teemed with families on blankets, singles, and couples scattered about in chairs, eating, drinking adult beverages, and enjoying the music.
Two bandstands meant no lulls in the live music for seven hours. We caught Slyvie and the Zippers, The Roxsand band, and last, but not least, Diego Guerrero and The Dirties, who I deliberately stayed for even though it was late. They have only played a handful of times in Vallarta and I think I have been to every concert and will continue to do so. I had a few minutes with Diego, and we threw ideas back and forth on various combinations of old, great rock bands for possible upcoming tribute shows starring Diego and a few other notable singers in town. If any of these ideas come to fruition, you'll be the first to know!
Some notables in the crowd: The Lymans, Madeline Celeste and her lovely Jose, Andrea Jackson, Francie Nguyen, Sarah Joy Heckbert and daughters, Ana Letuka Adame and loads more.
Heading upriver this aft for the Beach Boys at Rancho Santiago and later, Open Mic at Nacho Daddy. See you somewhere From Here.
Marcia Blondin Editor ValartaMirror.com

17/02/2025

Good Morning, From Here, February 17, Monday
In the past ten years, I have been to some epic parties with off-the-chart shenanigans like recreating scenes in a pop-up of Night of the Iguana, complete with a bus, or a dinosaur-sized alebrije jostling dancers for space during a street party, or the time 700 people showed up over three hours to see what new artworks were hanging on the walls at Art Vallarta, while sampling free cakes off a round banquet table laden with choice pasteles of every description.
All of the above (and many more) were created by Nathalie Herling, the Director of ART VallARTa up on Pilitas, and the ART VallARTa Museo. If she wasn't already wearing more hats than humanly possible, she'd be a shoo-in as Best Party Planner of the Year!
Her latest, a fundraiser for her Museum, turned her art school into a warren of inviting themed spaces. One - a workshop full of kilns and porcelain and clay turned into a space eerily quiet, subtly lit, and devoted to silent auction items. Another space, usually full of Nathalie's pots from all over Mexico, had a tequila cocktail bar and a seafood sampler station. A dark and mysteriously lit living room had overstuffed armchairs and a plethora of old books and antiques; many people started and ended the night in that room - it had its own staffed bar and waiters. Why climb stairs?
An upstairs windowed salon was full of light bouncing off trays of vegetarian offerings, fresh fruit tarts, and chocolate-drizzled wafers; food tables were in every corner and were kept replenished with fresh all night long.
White-shirted/black-bowtied wait staff served 'wedges' of corn on the cob on one floor of Art Vallarta. Messy but delish.
I saw singer Yoalli Guerrero Ortiz (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), microphone in hand, on her way, pushing through the crowds, heading somewhere in the cavernous building to entertain. I never did find out where she sang. I was distracted from looking for her while I was chatting with friends when one of Mexico's finest tenors, Jorge Echeagaray, from Mazatlan, burst into O Sole Mio, then followed that attention-grabber with the brilliant, difficult aria Nessun Dorma from Turandot that left people sobbing in his wake as he slowly walked through the room. Seeing him again for hugs and listening to his magnificent voice was extraordinary.
So, that's how it's done, people. Next time you see an event happening at either ART VallARTa or the Arte Vallarta Museo (like the First Saturday of every Month Fiesta) - go! I can guarantee that there will be something pleasantly non-conformist and unusual going on. Add wine, good food, and live entertainment, and you have the makings for a splendid evening.
Come back in the morning for a full report on Opening Night of Tony Award winner Levi Kreis at The Palm Cabaret and Bar, dear friend Gabe's Open House and Francie's Vallarta Girls School fundraiser at Los Mangos Library From Here.
Marcia Blondin Editor VallartaMirror.com

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