My Evening With Kurt
It’s like a cool fall day outside this morning; the weather carried forward from last night, when I enjoyed a short walkabout in the Zona Romantica with my friend, colleague, and owner of the iconic, now closed El Rio BBQ Bar, in Paso Ancho, Kurt Sinner.
We started out at Jardin Cafe Lounge on Lazaro Cardenas to listen to Duncan Shadrack sing and play guitar. A number of birthdays were being celebrated in the balloon-festooned, crowded bar, including Duncan’s wife, Sarah, and the Lymans, who were toasting Mike.
Duncan retains a Kentucky twang that suits his chosen song list of soft country, easy listening, and a few self-penned Jimmy Buffett-inspired tunes.
Kurt and I had lots to talk about – our recent vacations, his last season of hosting Merv Buchanan’s Tribute shows at Rancho Santiago, and frequently, in our hours-long conversation over pizza, cherished El Rio memories popped up.
We ended up at El Granero, fitting as it was there we last saw each other in the Spring. We had a big, roomy booth to ourselves with the ambient music covering our voices perfectly.
We have known one another for about a dozen years, and here we are looking at the back half of our lives. One American, one Canadian living and growing old in Vallarta. We spent some time talking about our early visits to Vallarta – his memories from the 70s; mine from the 80s, and what finally pushed us to pack a few things and leave our respective native countries permanently.
It was a lovely evening. Thanks, Kurt.
We have a Scrabble Battle today at Qulture at 12:30. If you’d like to join in, feel free to bring pom-poms and cheer on your favorite player. It’s Happy Hour all day Wednesday, just in case you aren’t sure you can sit through possibly three games of Scrabble without alcohol. A friend once told me that observing people play Scrabble is as much fun as watching paint dry. Regular play will also be available, albeit slightly apart and quietly, from the contestants.
I will go directly from Qulture to Nacho Daddy for the 2025-26 season opener of Bingo to benefit the Colina Spay and Neuter Clinic. It will be wonderful to hug everybody involved at Nacho Daddy, including co-owner Tammy Carruthers Prust, Colina Founder Colette Zarry, ball caller Lydia Damato, Andrea Jackson, who spiffs up the prize tables, and Bonnie Cretzman, faithful volunteer and Bogie’s cat sitter.
Colina spays and neuters 20 animals every Saturday for free. In their 13th year, they will accomplish more than a thousand surgeries. The number of dogs and cats NOT born to these animals runs into the millions. Like all of Vallarta’s charities, Colina needs constant financial help to pay its veterinarians and cover supplies. There are many ways to provide support. Playing bingo is one, donating prizes if you are in business is another. Nacho Daddy has a special food and drink menu available, so let the games begin.