Palapa Joe's in La Manzanilla set to host 'open mic' night Saturday

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - Palapa Joe's restaurant in La Manzanilla will be having an open mic night Saturday (Dec. 4) beginning at 7:30 p.m. - mas o menos.


According to La Manzanilla's Lois Lane, this is the fifth year that the restaurant/bar will be hosting musicians, jokesters, poetry readings - and just about anything else for anyone willing to stand up and perform.

The Saturday event will be taking place in the remodeled restaurant, which added outside seating - and lots of seating at the new bar.

Here is a link to a blog about one of the open mic nights last year: Captain's Blog - Grab your ukuleles

The series has been growing in popularity year to year, with Palapa Joe's owner, Willie Mason, frequently contributing his music along with the group, the La Manzanilla Lounge Lizards.

Above is La Manzanilla resident Bernardo, crooning a tune last year.

Below are some additional photos from last year's open mic night in January.

The Celtic trio got the crowd tapping its feet

Gabriela de la Vega
reads her poetry -
in Spanish and English

No shortage of Thanksgiving dinners in La Manzanilla

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - A few years ago, getting a reasonable approximation of a traditional American Thanksgiving turkey dinner was a real challenge in La Manzanilla.

Not anymore, apparently.

At least three restaurants in La Manzanilla, including Palapa Joe's and Lora Loka's will be having the real deal.

Also, the La Manzanilla message board lists Kenny's as having a Thanksgiving Day dinner, too.

Everyone suggests that people get reservations, however - a very un-Mexican notion, but required in this case.

For more details, check the La Manzanilla Message board: Turkey dinner ahead!

In 2008, this blog was posted about having a nice Thanksgiving dinner in La Manzanilla: Dinner at Lora Loka's

Driving through Tepic? Consulate warns to be extra careful

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - Today's message board in La Manzanilla had a posting of a notice from the U.S Consulate General in Guadalajara, warning U.S. citizens to be extra vigilant when traveling in certain areas of western Mexico.

Here is a link to the full posting: Warning on message board

Site of shooting in October

The part of the warning that seemed the most relevant was for the city of Tepic, the site of a drug-related shooting in late October at a car wash.

The warning says to "avoid all unnecessary travel to the city of Tepic, Nayarit. Exercise extreme caution on the non-toll portion of the Route 15 bypass around Tepic."

Tepic is north of Puerto Vallarta. Here is a link to a story about what happened Oct. 27: Tepic shooting

 Given that this is the month when many people are heading south along the highway from the U.S. border to La Manzanilla - passing right through Tepic or around it on the highway bypass - the warning couldn't be much more timely.

National Public Radio had a story earlier this week about how the guns being used by the drug cartels are believed to be coming into Mexico from the U.S.: NPR story on guns in Mexico

Going over the menu for first night La Manzanilla

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - Time is growing short, and already I am thinking about the first evening when Adm. Fox and I will arrive back in La Manzanilla, in December.

There will, of course, be the requisite walk along the beach to see sunset over the ocean, preceded by a sojourn about town with stops to see various amigos and check to see what is new - and what's gone.

And, of course, the most likely destination for dinner will be Palapa Joes restaurant.

LINK: Palapa Joes

Palapa Joes patrons watching the Obama inauguration last year

That first night back in town should also be a reunion with our amiga Laura from Canada (who will be teaching English in Arroyo Seco this spring) and friends from Hector, New York, Tina and Eric Hazlitt.

Laura arrives the same day as we do - Eric and Tina will be arrive a few days earlier and will likely have already discovered all the great places to eat, drink, and play.

What would be the ideal menu for me at Palapa Joes?

No need to ask.


Meatloaf supreme

Getting ready for another season of fiestas and rodeos

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - As the countdown continues until we head back to Mexico, the calendar also is getting filled up with various dates of the fiestas, rodeos, religious holidays, state holidays and a whole series of other days that seem geared toward, well, fun.

Last year, living in La Manzanilla, it seemed like there was something going on all the time. Sometimes 24 hours a day.

And if the fiesta in La Manzanilla that weekend (or entire week) wasn't enough fun, well, all you had to do was drive a half-hour to nearby Rebalsito or Melaque or Barra de Navidad or Cihuatlan or ? and a party was happening.

The photos below are from the rodeo in La Manzanilla last winter.

What a happening that was.


Admiral takes pix of the rodeo parade


Horses in the parade


Making parade music

When in La Manzanilla, check out the Cafe Risa

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - Amiga Tia Richardson is getting rave reviews for the recently reopened Cafe Risa, formerly El Girasol.

Tia bought the restaurant earlier this year, did some interesting renovations during the monsoon season and is open for business again.

On the La Manzanilla message board, she's getting lots of positive feedback.

Message board comments about Cafe Risa

When she bought the restaurant last year, I was concerned about the menu and staff. Would the menu be the same? Would the staff stay?

Apparently the answer to those questions is yes and yes, though I haven't talked directly to Tia since she reopened. She's too busy!

When I am on the ground in La Manzanilla in November, the TBB will publish a full review of the restaurant (with the menu) so readers can peruse what they might like long before they make it to town.

I'm hungry already.

A handful of La Manzanilla photo updates

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - As I posted today that the TBB will be updating later this fall on a regular basis, I realized that I should post some of the photos that have come in during the months since I updated this site last.

Here's a handful:


Even small dogs love Willie's magaritas


Not the smartest move to make


Rusty sets the fish free


Admiral Fox, a horse and a cowboy


Water breaches the land by the Jardin