Guadalajara Reporter

BBCC events

Anyone interested in learning how to play Mahjong should contact the Bucerias Bilingual Community Center (BBCC). If there is enough interest, a class will be established.

Spanish and English classes continue, but the BBCC is also planning arts and crafts for adults and children, a story hour, a conservation/nature class, line dancing, international cooking classes and more.

If you want a specific class or to teach a class, contact Mago or Denise at 298-3527.

Don’t miss the Christmas Posada on Sunday, December 20, from 7 p.m. Jalisco time. The BBCC is located on 16 de Septiembre near the corner of Matamoros.

Manos de Amor open house

The long-awaited grand opening of the Manos de Amor children’s shelter will be held on Monday, December 21, from 4-6 p.m.

The public is invited to come see the beautiful building and to meet the children and staff.  

Refreshments will be served. If you would like to bring something to help, it would be appreciated.

Manos de Amor was founded in April 2004 with the goal of constructing an orphanage/shelter in Bucerias.

Ground was broken on January 24, 2008 and after a few bumps in the road, construction was completed in the spring of this year.

The orphanage is located at the corner of Rio Balsas and Rio Compostela in Colonia Tules Dorado.   

For more information call 329-298-3680.

Great Discussion

Anyone out there interested in forming a “Great Discussion” group?  Joan Adrian is coming down at the end of December and will be bringing books. You can log onto the website at www.fpa.org to see the topics for 2009 and find out what Great Discussions is all about.

Adrian suggests going to the bookstore and searching “Mexico” for some ideas. She says she will order from Amazon and bring down books, if a group gets together.

Contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Philo’s Christmas

Philo’s Restaurant in La Cruz is again sponsoring a Christmas toy drive to help the children of the town have a happy holidays.

Philo is also hosting a Christmas Day potluck which is open to the public.

If you’re looking for a fun family-style low-cost alternative for dinner on December 25, Philo’s will supply the delicious cooked turkeys. There is a 50-peso cover charge per person and party-goers should bring a “pot luck” dish for 8-10 people.

There will be live entertainment and the bar will be open for drink purchases.

Dinner begins at 5 p.m., with Santa passing out the gifts to the kids immediately after dinner.

Restaurant customers are asked to contribute some small unwrapped gifts in advance for boys and girls. Some ideas for gifts are little stuffed animals, toy cars and trucks, crayons, hairbands and small purses for the girls, kites and play-dough, for example.

Last year, over 350 toys were distributed to the delight of the local children.

Get there early for a good seat.

Christmas for Bucerias kids

Ron and Arlene Tackett are finishing up preparations for their 16th annual Christmas for Bucerias Children project.

The couple are having a gift-wrapping day on Monday, December 21 at their home, starting at 10 a.m. and are looking for volunteers to help them.

The toy distribution day will be December 24. Volunteers should be at the Tacketts’ home by 3 p.m. Last year, the Tacketts (Mr. and Mrs. Santa) gave out over 1,200 toys and bags of candy.

“We get so much joy out of the Santa program every year. The kids love it and so do the volunteers,” says Arlene.

If you’d like to participate, call the Tacketts at 298-1729, for more information and directions.

PEACE news

PEACE has several volunteers coming down over the next couple of months and is trying hard to find housing for all of them.

Please email Monica at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you  have space for volunteers and are willing to take them in or know of a place where they may stay for free or at a low cost.

Amigos de Bucerias

Amigos de Bucerias is seeking nominations for 2010 officers.  Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to nominate yourself or another member for president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.  If you are nominating someone, be sure to ask their permission. Elections take place at the January 9 meeting.

Christmas Story

In Mega the other day I asked two tourists about the baby booties in their cart. They said they were a gift for a young local couple who just had a premature baby girl. They met the parents working in a shop near the hotel, and made a special trip to Mega to get a baby gift. They said they planned to put some money in the booties to help with diapers, and had purchased a bottle of sparkling grape juice for the parents to celebrate.

They said they hoped it would brighten the Christmas season for the new family. It certainly brightened my day to hear the story!

Cooking classes

A Hand in the Kitchen Catering is now offering cooking classes.  Sandi Barkwell (owner/operator of Casa Cielito Lindo Bed & Breakfast) is offering the following classes: A Taste of Oaxaca, (Mondays), 600 pesos;  Summer Fresh Thai, (Wednesdays) 650 pesos; Classic Indian Butter Chicken (Thursdays) 650 pesos.

Classes are held at Casa Cielito Lindo, Calle Fibba 12 Bucerias, from 2-5 p.m. and include welcome beverage, full meal with wine or beer and recipe handouts.

There is a three-person minimum and six-person maximum.  To reserve your place email Sandi@ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 329 298 2440.

Barkwell also has Indian spices available for purchase.  Drop by Casabor Gallery during the Art Walks to sample some of Sandi’s exquisite tastes.

Chalk Walk, Taste of Bucerias

Plans are underway for the first annual Bucerias Chalk Walk and Taste of Bucerias.

The Bucerias Chalk Walk will be held January 20-22 on Lazaro Cardenas between Galeana & Benito Juarez.  Internationally-renowned chalk artists, including Lori Escalera (www.thestreetpainter.com), will be creating works of art on the street and give workshops for local children and artists in the craft of 3-D chalk art. Donations will help sponsor the workshops and a part of the proceeds will also go to the P.E.A.C.E. organization.

The Taste of Bucerias will coincide with the Chalk Walk on January 20 and 21. Come and taste the culinary dishes of the many local restaurants and locals serving up traditional and popular dishes from Bucerias.  All tastings will be 30 pesos or less.

Join the fun as local musicians, clowns and other activities will entertain, in what will be a new yearly tradition in Bucerias.  Have fun and help the local community at the same time. For more information, contact Christy Ann Beguesse at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

101 things to do

John and Christie Forget of buceriasnews.com need your help to create a “101 must do things for the area.”

John wants people to send him the favorite things they have done ... or want to do. Maybe it is enjoying a book and cup of coffee at a special cafe, watching the sunset from your favorite oceanfront restaurant, taking a picture of a statue, visiting a certain landmark or enjoying a concert at Los Arcos.

If you can, please include a street location as the Forgets are making a map too. They would like to cover the whole area, so include anything from Cabo Corrientes to Chacala.

Post your favorite things at www.buceriasnews.com (you have to register at the site if you haven’t yet) or email Christie directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .