Beachside Cheers For One Of Vallarta’s Brightest Stars
The weekend flew by on top of expectations of rain and storms, and nothing happened. Lots of people are champing at the bit for Season to hurry up. We are impatiently tapping our toes and planning outdoor renovations that won’t be altered by a massive storm or, god forbid, a hurricane. It’s early to assume the rains are done with October 15th, still 10 days away, that is usually the marker of the last storm. Let’s not forget Hurricane Kenna that smashed Vallarta in 2002, on October 25.
Vallarta Mirror existential columnist Sandra Bradley and I met on our corner and walked through a sprinkle of rain along the river to the Arte Vallarta Museo for their last indoor Salon of the summer. A small crowd enjoyed wine and seeing one another, reviewing the paintings, and ogling Armando Mafud’s coffee table book.
One of Mexico’s finest clothing designers, Mafud will present an altar at the Museum on the next First Saturday, November 1. That will be a highlight, I am sure.
Doctor Mitch Kushner posed for a photo with a painting that was likely done in the house he now owns in Gringo Gulch, just up the hill from me.
Sandra and I walked from the Museo through downtown and along the Malecon, past Casa Ley, until we hit Paraguay and joined the big party at El Solar, already in progress. We just missed the band (the videos were awesome), Tirso was still knocking down the equipment as we carefully made our way down the wooden steps to the sand.
The occasion was the 39th birthday of Chris Lopez, who welcomed us with open arms and drinks materialized in an instant.
Chris is one of the most brilliant stars in Vallarta’s entertainment industry. Whether singing or dancing in a solo show (Tribute to Sam Smith) or producing, directing (or both) another performer, and he creates videos that are stunning. His video editing skills are superb and all self-taught!
Originally from Buenos Airies, Chris has been in Vallarta at The Palm for five years and now also at the sister venue, Coco Cabaret. He has set a very high bar, indeed, and every year the bar inches up a little higher. His nimble fingers are in a variety of pies.
\The Corp players of the Palm/Coco Cabarets were together on the beach celebrating Chris. Sandra and I first chatted with Roy Cruz, his beautiful wife Karla, and their two equally beautiful children. Roy stars as Freddie Mercury at The Palm and opens his fifth season, ”The Man, The Voice, The Legend,” on October 17. Roy channels Freddie and has taken his sold-out tribute to the Queen frontman to London, England, and all over the US. I see Roy’s shows at least twice a season. He is forever tweaking, adding, and altering so that no two performances are identical, but all are mesmerizing.
Tomorrow, more conversations and surprises with Chris’s stellar guests. Happy Birthday, Superstar.