Author: Marcia Blondin

The staff – more like the family that comprises La Catrina Cantina – gathered their friends and customers together to their collective heart to say goodbye to their bartender, Manuel Betancourt. Last Friday, La Catrina Cantina was filled to overflowing with tearful guests and friends who wanted to pay their respects to a young man…

Trovasi again for breakfast? And why not! Delicious food, an interesting location, excellent wait staff, a charming owner, and new friends with expansive ideas and fresh outlooks; a lovely way to start the day. New residents like Berl and Caleb can spot missing pieces because most of us who live smack in the middle of…

One of my favorite shows of all time returns today at 5 pm at Coco Cabaret. I have seen the real-life brothers Dahl from Ontario perform their international tribute to the Blues Brothers whenever they have been in Vallarta, and I am so looking forward to seeing it again. One time, when they were performing…

Besides a goodly bump of an earthquake this morning in Centro around 7:15, how’s everybody doing? I felt the oddest change of air pressure like someone was squeezing me too tight, then the few bells I have around me rang like crazy for a second or two, then the earth let me go, and all…

It’s a new year, and Nicolas King is starting anew with fresh energy, positively looking forward to whatever is coming, and practicing resilience every day. His first concert of the year at The Palm Cabaret in Vallarta had an interesting twist: he and his Musical Director, Mark Hartman, with whom he rarely works because of…

Season in Vallarta holds great gifts: returning friends and colleagues who come back annually, get in touch, and for a couple of hours, memories and conversation slide between past, present, and future like mercury set free to roam. Brian De Lorenzo, John Amodeo, and I met at Trovasi in Los Mercados for a light breakfast…

There was not a seat to be had at Bar Frida last night as we waited to hear Geo Uhrich play the violin for us again. And the guitar and sing. He and his longtime partner Fernanda looked precisely the same, although about five years had passed since we last met, and none of us…

With an hour left to go, Sanctuary PV, was pushing that magic 300-head count. That’s a lot of cocktails to serve in two hours. I had never been to the space before that keeps on going up and up to two more outdoor terraces. I am looking forward to making the Monday evening Comedy show.…

Dozens of places in Vallarta offer live entertainment. I have put these in alphabetical order, and believe me, this is a short list. Every bar and every other sidewalk offers live entertainment during our busy winter season, but the ones listed below have my personal stamp of approval and are venues I love and visit…

There are lots of people who love Christmas, and then there’s Jamie Alexander. We could call it an obsession; I don’t think Jamie would mind. He decorates any place that will let him loose and gives him free rein(deer). Couldn’t help it. So, Jamie’s husband Josh contacted me and invited me to a surprise party…

Welcome back! To my uncluttered, fabulous life and Happy New Year. It seems to have been a long ‘holiday season’; I am relieved to start saying hello or whatever without prefacing it with Happy or Merry, okay? But this one is lovely – GOOD Morning! The last Gay+Mixer of 2025 was held at the new…

Today is the last publication of Vallarta Mirror. I am grateful to the many contributors who have written on various topics from raising spiritual awareness, to where to go to catch roosterfish. From raising kids in paradise to Crayola colors, brilliant poetry to strolling back streets in a local barrio; growing exotic plants, real estate…

”Night Divine’‘ was superbly named. Last evening’s love fest of a concert at Teatro Vallarta went off without a hitch, with hundreds and hundreds of Effie Passero and Branden & James’ fan base very nearly filling that massive 900-seat concert hall. Shouts of “We love you, Effie!” drifted down from the audience and made Effie…

I woke up dreaming of my mom making grilled cheese sandwiches. With every bite, butter would dribble down my face, over my hands. Clearly, I am missing fat in my life and feel some baked spaghetti coming on! Chris Lopez has done it again. He took a tribute show and boosted it to fantasy standards…

Happy Boxing Day to my fellow Canadians. Lots of places in town will be serving great sandwiches with leftover turkey today, including Fridas and Langostinos on the beach. Bogie and I had a great Christmas, grazing through whatever was in the fridge, working a bit on some editing, and enjoying the quiet after a rambunctious…

Merry Christmas, everybody! When Bogie finally got me up this morning, it was a full-blown day. And a gorgeous one, to boot! Nary a sign of snow, and the whole city is still sound asleep, having been up all night long singing and having a party until just a couple of hours ago. Santa had…

Yesterday, at about 4:40, I left my house and started walking to El Coloso and my friend Sandra Bradley’s condo for a gathering. I took advantage of the light and chose the scenic route up Guerrero/Cuathemoc, which I don’t/won’t walk after dark. There is often construction trash dumped on the side of the road, and…

Christmas is tomorrow if you are Mexican, and the day after tomorrow if you are Canadian or American. I will celebrate both because I can! Mistletoe was in full swing as ”A Very Gouda Christmas” got underway last night at Nacho Daddy, starring Gouda Gabor. Of course. I wonder how tall Gouda is, counting her…

This will be the last whole week of Vallarta Mirror. It doesn’t make me sad one bit. I made a note in my daytimer that the Rearview Mirror is two years old today. It will have two more publications – this Friday, the 26th, and next Wednesday, the 31st. I gave it a good shot.…

Enrique de Allende has a pile of talented friends! Pass it on! Happy Birthday, Enrique; your party at Coco Cabaret sure made a lot of people happy. I don’t think there was an empty chair in the house at 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Gouda Gabor hosted the festivities, and Derek Carkner provided gorgeous accompaniment on…