Author: Marcia Blondin

After a long, leisurely brekkie on the beach with friends, I am going to pick up my passport! Fourteen days from dropping off the papers to it being in my hand! Good service, no? After that, shopping at La Comer and Costco because I will be close to that neighborhood, then home. Tons of work…

Is everybody happily exhausted from Pride? I haven’t read any numbers yet, but it certainly seemed that everyone had a gay old time. I joined dozens of friends and neighbors up the street at Jim and Sean’s house for drinks and always fabulous nibblies that Jim is famous for. Dessert was ice cream and a…

Congratulations to OPC (Oficina de Proyectos Culturales) on their 10th Anniversary. The Gallery was beautifully appointed – as it always is on an Opening Night. The raicilla flowed, commemorative artisanal bottles were on sale, and the rooftop garden was humming with dozens and dozens of artists and art lovers. A beautiful evening – brava, and…

She wanted to do something different, so curtains were hung over the windows making La Catrina Cantina pretty much pitch black in the early evening. The sold-out crowd whooped, hollered, whistled, clapped and shouted as Gloria Fiona’s Burlesque brought the house down in a thunderous standing ovation. Gloria is gutsy and fearless, and she credits…

Yesterday was my annual visit to the offices of IMSS to pay for my Mexican health insurance. When I began the process more than 15 years ago, it took the entire day. An hour or two in one line for one thing, and the process repeated until I was paid up and shakily on my…

I had a wonderful brunch yesterday with Chiara at Langostinos. Of course, I didn’t take photos of our food, but trust me – the vegetarian omelet (cheese and chile poblano) was superb, with fried potatoes and an abundant fresh fruit salad. FYI, it’s available until 1 pm only. Seeing Emilio back in the restaurant was…

Pride Week starts today – it’s going to be great! Pool parties, bar hopping, lectures, fashion shows, doggie walks, beach parties, and the best, most joyful parade ever. Selena Luna and I met at Coco’s Kitchen for lunch last week. We put on our “Waldorf and Statler” hats and discussed the good, the bad, and…

What a day I had with Humphrey Bogart! He was so justifiably upset when I picked him up at noon. His litter box, food, and toys went into the taxi’s trunk, and he, in his carrier, rode with me in the back seat. He stopped crying immediately; maybe the motion of the car calmed him.…

Scrabble and Bingo yesterday – some wins, some losses at both. The only thing I can concentrate on is my new kitty, Bogie, who I will pick up in three and a half hours. But who’s counting! I have one meeting this morning, then the rest of the day will be spent showing Humphrey Bogart…

It’s 7 am, and the day already looks spectacular. May and November are the best months in Vallarta – cool nights and mornings, hot days, and not a lot of humidity. Enjoy while you can! A million thanks to all of you who have extended condolences about the passing of my last kitty – Miri.…

Last night, a delightful evening was afforded all up the hill at Art Vallarta Theater. Singer Kevin Anthony showed off his comedic talents and put his voice to work as narrator with one solo and a duet with lovely Patriz. This “Unauthorized Christina Aguilera Story” was written and produced by Selena Luna who happens to…

It’s hard to write this morning. I spent Mother’s Day saying goodbye to my last kitty. Miri was 19 and failing and was ready – we were both ready, for her to join her two sisters, Diani, who lived less than a year, and Dulce, who was my darling for 17 years, and my irreplaceable…

I could hardly sleep from the overload of carbs I inhaled at John and Barb McKinney’s penthouse Vallarta Garden Club fiesta last night. The food was so lovely that I dug in instead of photographing it. Then, when Chiara came to tell me she was cutting the cakes (plural and from Pavlova!), I followed and…

I don’t know how gay communities are in other cities around the world, but ours in Vallarta is full to overflowing with creative, resourceful minds and a seemingly endless supply of love and affection for our city and one another. Yesterday was a perfect example of community – a thank-you party at Casita & Garden,…

Coapinole’s Tuesday Tianguis had Sandra Bradley and me there before 9 am, searching for treasures; we did well…especially Sandra. We left there with her two backpacks, full to overflowing. Our next stop was Shalom Nursery , across the street from La Comer. I had never been; no reason with my practically non-existent gardening space. However,…

I spent all yesterday afternoon exploring new and uncharted parts of Vallarta with good friends and colleagues. Canadian impresario Merv Buchanan and his brilliant technical sound guy, Julio Angeles, picked me up, and off we went to Paso Ancho. We met up with Kurt Sinner, (remember El Rio BBQ Bar?), switched vehicles, and continued our…

Get ready Vallarta: MY SISTER IS COMING Dates to be announced but it will be early June. Forty-eight hours after his explosive debut as Hedwig (and her) Angry Inch, Jordon Carnegie and I sat down for smoothies and a chat. Read that this week in Vallarta Mirror; it will be the first informal interview of…

A mariachi music fest awaits tonight at 7 pm in the auditorium at the end of the gorgeously reconstructed Isla Cuale featuring two of Vallarta’s finest musicians – singer Alberto Cuevas and pianist Salvatore Rodriguez. This is a fundraiser to give a three-year-old Mexican boy the gift of hearing; tickets are 500 pesos and available…

Happy Birthday to my baby brother Mark Kosman, who lives way the hell and gone in Sweden. He has lived in Europe a bit longer than I have been in Mexico, over thirty years and counting. Have a lovely day, Mark. I am sending you sunshine, sand, palm trees, and all my love. I had…

“Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit!” There, I said that out loud first thing this morning, and ensured great luck for this entire month. That advice comes from Deirdre Morgan, a new columnist for Vallarta Mirror. Watch for her column, Heart to Heart, coming soon. It’s May Day, a National holiday. Banks and schools are closed as Mexico…