A Dawn-to-Dusk Whirl in Vallarta
It’s just past 5 am, and I am on my second cup of coffee. Why so early after a relatively late night? I have an appointment at 8 this morning for a couple of X-rays and maybe get to touch base with my IMSS doctor, who is in Aurora and close to one of my fave restos – Abbraccio. No telling if that will take 15 minutes or the rest of the morning.
Then Scrabble at Qulture at 12:30, followed immediately by Bingo for Colina Spay and Neuter Clinic at 4. After bingo ends at 6 pm, Patrice and I have 15 minutes to walk from Nacho Daddy to Casita & Garden to meet fab black-and-white photographer Deborah Cole for cocktails and dinner with Chef Roman Ventura. If I can keep my face from falling asleep into the soup, it’ll be a grand evening!
As was last night at Casa Karma at the Welcome Back party and membership drive for the Vallarta Garden Club. Casa Karma is one of those jaw-dropping, eye-popping houses you see a couple of times in your life, perfectly placed geographically, and the furnishings, paintings, and staff blend into an Architectural Digest feast for the senses.
Music was provided by La Bohemia quartet, and Gloria Fiona sang a couple of Adele songs. The band was perched at the edge of the labyrinth, jutting into the rocky coastline of Conchas Chinas. It’s always interesting to talk to people, such as Kay Nash, a case in point, who are seeing Casa Karma for the first time.
A couple of white love seats bookended the band and provided seating for Rick and Monica Miller and their entourage. Robert Rossi, husband of Sunny, who is the president of the Garden Club, manned the membership table.
Gorgeous hors d’oeuvres – a Casa Karma specialty – were passed and enjoyed. It was the first time this season I have seen Charlene Rehfeldt Baily Crowe, and her Beau, Bob. And, fresh from a successful fundraiser for the Gay+ Community Center, were singer Robert Ryan and husband Martin Methot. Robert’s new show will preview at Casa Karma next month on January 10, and half the tickets have already been sold! See VallartaCalendar.com for how to get yours!
A night of firsts and surprises! Lars Sundberg joined Patrice and me; I had not seen Lars since the summertime. He had suggested then that Patrice and I should visit the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen while we were there in August, and we did! Lars leaves Sunday for Denmark and his first Christmas with his family in Europe in 20 years!
With drinks firmly in hand, Patrice and I carefully made our way down the stairs onto the labyrinth where the bulk of the party was taking place, when she turned, glanced back up the stairs, then stopped in her tracks, her eyes getting bigger and bigger and her smile broader and wider. I turned to see who on earth could be responsible for such a reaction. It was our dear and darling friend Brian Bott who had schemed to surprise us with his presence; we had not expected to see him until next year. Welcome Back, indeed, From Here.
