Smoothies with Jamie Brickhouse

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 Gerber 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.