Wallowing in Death’s Brightly Lit Dark Side
Welcome back to the land of the Living after three straight days and nights wallowing in Death’s brightly lit dark side.
What a party on the Isla Cuale last Friday afternoon and evening. Non-stop music from 4 pm on began with La Bohemia Quartet, whose Gipsy Kings-type music drew dozens of people walking around the gaily decorated restored green space. Altars, bars, food stands, and candle-lit walkways covered the Island in the third annual Festival Isla de los Muertos, chaired this year by Suzanne Fontaine. Proceeds collected will benefit the Vallarta Garden Club and Vallarta Cares that continue to serve the community in more ways than feeding the hungry at the Food Bank. Both organizations are worthy across the board and depend on donations to survive. Please give them money to continue making Vallarta more beautiful and keep citizens fed and protected.
The ever-delightful Kevin Anthony emceed flawlessly and joined Effie Passero for a duet late in the evening. Sound and light – Colectivo Hueco skillfully managed a daunting task outside for eight straight hours. You know them from their dazzling work at The Palm Cabaret and Bar.
Duo Xochiquetzal with Jacob on guitar and vocals by Isa(bel) continued with traditional Mexican songs with their own interpretations to a delighted crowd.
The Pleasant Uprising added some color and funk to the mix in two languages. Steven Retchless, as his alter ego Stevie Hart, continued in Spanish with La Llorona and orchestrated a conga line from the stage.
Sargento and Maestro Bing Young on piano started with a singalong of Oklahoma, which has become Sargento’s signature song (and will remain embedded in your brain for days).
Gloria Fiona has invited Adele to come to town to see her Tribute show in January at Teatro Vallarta. Stranger things have happened, and wouldn’t that be something?
Best friends in life and onstage, Effie Passero (Francesca Bavaro) and Alison Lo, sang duets and solos and had the crowd on their feet dancing, applauding, and singing along.
I heard Luis Villanueva’s wonderful voice from across the Island and unfortunately could not stay for Bobbi Goddard and Diego Guerrero.
What a great way to celebrate ancestors and our beloved Mexico; be it for a week or a lifetime. Bravos and kudos go to Sunny Rossi, President of the Vallarta Garden Club, all volunteers, performers, and the 1200 attendees. And the best, for last, is the sponsor of the third annual Isla de los Muertos Festival, Georgia Darehshori, chief entertainment officer of Casa Karma Private Villa & Event Space.
Patrice Wolf and I, Sandra Bradley, and Georgia Darehshori joined a host of people at the Arte Vallarta Museo’s First Saturday of the Month fiesta. It was lovely to see and visit with a bunch of newly returned snowbirds. You have no idea how much your energy is missed when you all head north for the summer. So, welcome back with open arms and great big hugs.
Join me tomorrow morning for reviews of Effie Passero’s birthday party at La Catrina Cantina and Renee Armand’s concert at Act2PV.