Whiskey Kitchen and Dancing!
I popped in to see Gina Hendrix’s new digs at the foot of the new (opened April 2022) Insurgentes bridge. It is fitting she has returned to the ‘hood and is now right across the street from the old Incanto, where we all fell in love with her mac and cheese. She has built-in hotel guests, so she serves three meals a day and offers very reasonable drink prices around 80 pesos. She has also paired with Cacao Magico, so sweet things are afoot, served with loads of Southern charm and hospitality.
I had mango smoothies with the illustrious and industrious Jet de la Isla at the Vallarta Factory last week. He has major plans underway to upgrade his current businesses and expand his reach and brand. Stay tuned for luscious details.
Jet and I hit the Out & About Puerto Vallarta magazine’s Gay Mixer on the street in front of Los Otros Blondies, where we parted ways. Lots of familiar faces like Sacha Cantor – don’t forget his fabulous free giveaway of scrap hardwood at his Hyden Furniture factory and showroom, tomorrow, Tuesday, from noon to 4 pm only. Hundreds of happy gays met and mingled, networked, reached out, and some hooked up. It was another resounding success. I meet the most interesting people at these weekly affairs. Next Tuesday is at the Bistro Gallery at Casa Cupula. Find me and say hi!
Tonny Kenneth is from Panama, and Luis Villanueva is from Chiapas, Mexico. The singers met here in Vallarta less than a decade ago, became fast friends and coworkers, wrote songs together, and built their respective careers as solo artists. Their rare collaborations are great fun, and La Catrina Cantina was packed to the rafters with fans last Wednesday. They thoroughly love singing together; their joy was contagious. Almost everyone stayed to listen to Vallarta’s rising star Angeloo. Please help this 13-year-old wunderkind get to auditions for America’s Got Talent in Los Angeles. Angel’s show is every Wednesday at 8 pm at La Catrina Cantina. He is a marvel.
My gorgeous and talented friend Chiara Montante launched her fourth book, entitled Adrift, at Casita & Garden. Ale Matus and Dabit Azofeifa, as Tromba Vetusta, entertained as we sipped icy sangria and ate C & G’s exquisite pizzas. Chiara’s husband, Tom, proudly spoke of her dedication and determination to complete the novel and, with great emotion, invited her to the stage to read a couple of chapters. Adrift will be in bookstores soon!
I stopped in to see the end of Christian Manly’s Jeopardy Live game show at La Catrina Cantina. My good friends, Pamala and John Sheppard, and their team won and shared the grand prize of over 50,000 pesos with the second- and third-place teams. Christian’s second-in-command, the always lovely Mitchell (Riva Rave) Rivadeneyra, kept perfect scores. They will be back soon with Wheel of Fortune.
From La Catrina, I walked down Lazaro Cardenas to the park to watch the Xiutla dancers perform their last show of the season. Thirty years ago, Maestro Enrique Barrios founded this folkloric dance troupe, which performs for free every Friday evening during the winter at the Tile Park. To make this evening even more memorable, sculptor Jim Demetro unveiled a bust and plaque he created with his daughter, Christina. Maestro Barrios was happily surprised. I was with Jim and Eva Demetro for Xiutla’s first performance at the Tile Park decades ago. It was such a pleasure to shake the maestro’s hand once again.
The New Voice of Vallarta’s semi-final unfolded last evening at Coco Cabaret. Only four performers are left – Ninett, Joby, Michelle, and Mel. Join me next Monday to find out who wins!
From Coco Cabaret, I walked around the corner to La Catrina Cantina and joined Andrea Jackson and Lydia Damato of Colina Spay & Neuter Bingo fame (coming up this Wednesday at Nacho Daddy at 4 pm), to watch Spencer Daily and Todd Brock perform their Eclectic Music show that had us singing along and um, dancing the Texas Two-Step, or in my case, a facsimile thereof! I wonder what Spencer and Todd will come up with next week?
My herbalist, Ricardo Mazcal, is continuing his discounted pricing this week, featuring Milk Thistle at 20% off to help reset your renal system. Find Ricardo on the Isla Cuale during the week in the evenings and Saturday from 10 to 2 pm. He is unbelievably knowledgeable and kind. I swear his Maz-Mix has kept me alive and thriving for years and years.
Have a great week! My baby sister Patrice arrives two weeks today, From Here!