Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

raijanalle

Apr 24, 2003, 8:24 AM

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entertainment

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I don't see anybody asking about nightly entertainment! Are there any dancing places/nightclubs? real Mexican type of music?or what does people do on Fri/Sat nights?

Uncle Donnie

Apr 24, 2003, 7:12 PM

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Re: [raijanalle] entertainment

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This is a pretty quiet place but a number of restaurants have regularly scheduled bands or other musical performers.

Jon Esquivel is a composer and keyboard virtuoso who plays several venues, Cozumel Restaurant has a three piece Mexican group, Melanie's offers live music on Friday singles nights, Club Hidalgo has karaoke on Fridays and a D.J. for dancing on Saturdays, Ever's Disco--Bar--Cafe offers live music on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and there's a Mariachi place on the highway to Guad that offers live music and dancing. The South of the Border Gang plays C&W in a number of places, including the Flor de Cordoba.

BTW, Ever's advertises a free bottle of tequila and free beer on Wed. and Thurs. to groups of six women or more. I'll call that and raise a bag of chips. Phone for more details.

On the Ajijic Plaza is a place called La Caja Musical (The Music Box) that seems to be pretty popular with both locals and visitors.

In addition Bananas Night Club occasionally has something going on. There's Little Theatre, a number of visiting shows (a Bolshoi road company recently), belly dancers occasionally at Pimienta Negra, several comedy shows such as "Comedy Classics" at the Old Posada, and occasional performances by talented Lakesiders with professional credentials.

Que Taco has a very classy selection of recorded music and is very popular with late-night visitors from Guad. Piano music in the lounge of the Nueva Posada.

Down here dancing is not only permitted, but encouraged almost everywhere. Drop pesos in a jukebox, tip a strolling guitar player, or bring your own boombox, climb up on an unused table, and get it on.

The younger set has a few places they hang out but from the conversations I've had with some of them it's like our high school days---six packs on the lakeshore with music brought from home. There have been several discos in the past but none lasted too long. And a lot of them hang out at El Bar Co.

And during fiestas and various other celebratory breaks there's always more music than you can appreciate. Much more.

Over in Chapala there's usually some sort of band concert on the week-ends. The words "band" and "concerts" are subject to individual interpretation, but it's all entertaining. The intensely inebriated are known to perform solo interpretive dance pieces on occasion.

And Mexican show bands perform all over the area; the open air place on the highway in Ajijic, the rodeo arena in Chapala, on the beach, the rodeo grounds on the Guad highway. That's where you get to see dancin' horses and drinkin' cowboys. The pre-musical entertainment is the local vaqueros showing off their talented steeds and stirring up enough dust, noise, and excitement to pass for a Bedoin death charge on camelback.

Peggy, what have I left out here?

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http://www.headformexico.com

PeggyS

Apr 24, 2003, 11:05 PM

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Re: [Uncle Donnie] entertainment

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Hi Darlin' Donnie,
Sad to say, Jon Esquivel is playing his last performance at La Bodega Sunday evening with the jazz group, I'm sure everyone will be on the dance floor, it's very interesting to watch those who can dance, those who dance really well, and those who can't find the beat if their lives depended on it. Our Jon is off to the Mayo Clinic, then will be moving back to San Antonio TX. It hurts to say this because we all love Jon, plus we appreciate the innumerable hours he has given to the community in so many ways. However, I've seen Douglas Livingston on the keyboard the last few weeks while Jon played the xylaphone and violin, so perhaps all is not lost. Chuck Grierson is great on drums and vocal, and Ron Baker has been sitting in on guitar with "Taco Bill" on the bass guitar. We miss Gene and his sax and maybe he will be back if the rest of the group stays together. You won't find better listening and dancing music anywhere. Meanwhile our love and hearts and prayers go with Jon to the Mayo Clinic.

raijanalle

Apr 25, 2003, 5:34 AM

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Re: [Uncle Donnie] entertainment

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Thank you for info. We feel better now. I was afraid that Chapala is only for Golfing. We are very outgoing people,not drinkers though, but love to have fun,meet people, listen to the music,specially Gitar paying and Mriachi music. Thank you, we are looking forward to good times. Is there any special celebrations going on in September? I know I can check this out, but easier to ask? Does it rain a lot there, when its a raining season?

jennifer rose

Apr 25, 2003, 7:23 AM

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Re: [Uncle Donnie] entertainment

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Gee, Uncle Donnie, doesn't anyone in Ajijic/Lake Chapala ever stay at home on a Friday or Saturday night in front of a raging fire (or the ceiling fan, depending upon the season), with a good book, a dinner party at home, or a movie?

Uncle Donnie

Apr 25, 2003, 2:50 PM

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Re: [jennifer rose] entertainment

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Since the local gringo society has refused me membership twice, the only saloons I have enough nerve left to go into after dark have barred me for life, and I'm too poor to dine out more than once a month I certainly do tend to stay close to the house.

I gave up on roaring fires after that incident with the antique drapes and a very fine native rug. The dogs and the neighbors seemed to enjoy the entertainment; the landlady did not.

Unless I can steal a book or find a discarded magazine I usually just watch free local TV. One station shows bullfight highlights, the other B&W American made B movies alternating with B&W Mexican made musicals.

Shameless self-promotion:
http://www.headformexico.com

Uncle Donnie

Apr 25, 2003, 3:39 PM

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To avoid problems...

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with the owner/publisher/exalted poobah of the website I need to mention one of his favorite places. The one that HE set on fire on his wife's birthday.

La Bodega de Ajijic offers live music most nights. Blues, jazz, C&W, Mexican, pop; they're so all encompassing and accepting that I may try to get a gig in there. Good spoon playin' scat singers are hard to come by.

Anyway, 16 de Septiembre #124 in Ajijic. There's room to dance, birds to be fed, and a swimming pool. I was escorted out before I could get stripped down enough for a decent swim but you may all look better in the buff than I do. Ask before disrobing.

Shameless self-promotion:
http://www.headformexico.com