Counting Down to Season: Shows, Surprises & Sister Time

My sister, Patrice, arrives for her winter vacay exactly four weeks from today. And here we are still dripping wet from summer heat and torrential rains. Temperatures in Southern Alberta are already in single digits, although it felt that cool to me at the end of July!

Yesterday, I sat down with my daytimer and opened VallartaCalendar.com to plot what shows I should see before she arrives, what I should wait and see with her for the first time, and shows that are so fabulous that we will both need to see them again before she heads north for the rest of the winter in December. And that’s just at The Palm and Coco Cabarets.

And, there are the venues off the beaten track, smaller in some cases, out of town in others, that are certainly worth travelling to. They are in the process of putting their events together and will be posting on VallartaCalendar very soon. I passed by Bar Frida 4.0 last night, and owner Tom Finley dropped a name in my ear that will cause a major stampede in Season, but my lips are sealed.

Diana Frances returns and is bringing an improv workshop to Arte Vallarta. The game show “Match That Snatch” also returns to Nacho Daddy for two hilarious presentations only, and a Christmas show starring herself and her partner from Second City, Karen Parker. These two Canadians are seriously funny and so fast on their feet.

Here’s a surprising thing – I won a game of bingo last night at Awaysis Rio. The place was packed, and it won’t be long until the games will have to move back to the other side of the restaurant/bar, turn off the air conditioners, and deal with the transition. Puerto Vallarta Fun & Games, which hosts the Bingo at Awaysis, has added Bar Frida and, down on the pier street at Chachalaca (where the daubers contain glitter! Of course, they do!). All places are ramping up, according to ball caller Robert Henry.

Tonight is the last concert in the second annual Summer Series, conceived by Georgia Darehshori and produced this year by Will Walker, who will also be a guest tonight at Kim Archer’s show. Bing Young will accompany on piano, and of course, Kim will play guitar.

Construction is still ongoing at Casa Karma, so tonight’s show will be held at Avida, 505, Georgia’s home and now a preeminent concert hall! Her chef and staff from Casa Karma will be on hand, creating their signature hors d’oeuvres. There will also be a cash bar.

Doors open at 6:30, show at 7. Please pay at the door – 500 pesos, cash only, please and thank you.

To my sister in Canada: I left you on August 23 in Calgary, exactly five weeks ago today, and will see you here, in Vallarta, exactly four weeks from today. So, like, start packing!