Tromba Vetusta at Casita & Garden

I hope everybody had a weekend like mine! With not one but two Mother’s Days back to back to celebrate being the mom of my kitty Bogie, I did only what I wanted for 2 days straight. I futzed in my garden a little, caught a few rays, didn’t nap because I didn’t have to leave the house for over 72 hours. So, no makeup, no shoes, just tending to whatever caught my eye, like remaking a dress I bought with my sister Patrice at the tianguis in Coapinole a few weeks back. I was hesitant to buy it because it was an extra small, and I am not that anymore, but it turned out to be salvageable and bonus – it’s pure silk!!! A bargain for 10 or 20 pesos only. It was a tricky fix, but my brain unscrambled long enough to remedy the situation, and I may wear it tonight to Casa Karma. Pictures later!

On Friday, the last human face I saw was Sandra Bradley’s. She and I met at Casita & Garden to watch and listen to Tromba Vetusta, the couple of lovebirds from Costa Rica who deliver delicious mini-concerts around Vallarta every few weeks. Sandra and I nibbled on assorted olives and edamame. We listened to Dabit Azofeifa play accordion and violin as Ale(jandra) Matus sang in multiple languages to each one of us in the audience. To observe these two perform onstage is akin to watching their hearts beat in a single rhythm. They rarely tear their eyes off one another, remembering somewhere in their subconsciousness not to forget those who came to see them.

I think the two would be perfectly suited on a desert island – as long as they had music to make together, they would be blissfully unaware of anything else. And so when Ale or Dabit find your eyes in a crowd, you are welcomed in like family.

I don’t know how Dabit makes accordion-playing sexy, but he does.

Vocalist and cellist Kath Sparo lent some interesting undertones to Tromba Vetusta. The trio will introduce a new collaboration next month; I will let you know when and where.

Tonight, a fundraiser at Casa Karma for the Gay+ Community Center. The amazingly funny and poignant – at the same time – storyteller Jamie Brickhouse returns to Vallarta with his outstanding production “Dangerous When Wet.” I will have a full report in the morning.

This week before Pride kicks off is loaded with cool things to see and do, starting with a(nother) Gay Mixer, brought to you by Out & About Puerto Vallarta magazine at Coco Cabaret on Tuesday. Then, the Gay Art Walk on Wednesday. Thursday has the first ever Gloria Fiona and Kim Archer collab at Nacho Daddy, a Reception for Cuban artist Joaquin at Arte Vallarta on Friday, Luis Villanueva’s new show at La Catrina Cantina on Saturday afternoon, and Sargento’s last Mentiras at Nacho Daddy on Sunday.

See you at all of the above.