Z SCENE

January 2005

By Judy Brown

VILLAGE PEOPLE
It takes a village, and don't we just have the coolest village around? Actually, it's more like an extended family…are we lucky, or what ? Our latest Fave Rave, the Blue Mamou Blues Club was the site of Z-first Guitar Fest 2005 (April 3-10) Fund Raising Event. Local businesses donated goods and services for the silent auction, and sponsorships for the upcoming visiting musicians were offered. It promises to be a fabi-ZZZooka Guitar Fest with twice as many artists than last year. J.L.STILES and EMILIANO JUAREZ who played at Guitar Fest 2004 and just came off of their European tour, stopped in Z on their way to Brazil to help raise funds for the event. Among those on hand were Rene Zellweger look-alike TERRY FLYNN from the Bay Area, LINDA FOX, KIRSTEN MILKOVICH who teaches English at the Euro School, RICK and HEIKE of Rick's Bar, DAVID and NANCY LEWIS of Tribes, FRANK SHEPPARD from Nova Scotia, DOUG BEACH and DENISE DiPIETRO from "somewhere near Prescott, Az.", ELISABETH ASHE of Glass Act and author of "The Jade Pendant" (romance novel set in Z), STEPHANIE SHEPPARD and ERNIE GAMMAGE from Austin, Tx., CAROL JUK and JOHN MURPHY, Capt. TONY PIAZZA of the Vltava, Z-Chef APOLLO and a whole lot more. AND Z ANGELS SING: A two day event was held at the Villa del Sol and Dorado Pacifico Hotel which benefited S.O.S. Bahia, A.C.and EcoIxtapa. Some of the participating venues included La Fuente, El Nopal, Galeria Le Tulip, Joyeria Cielito Lindo, Galart, Galeria Tendencias, Café Zihuatanejo, Casa Marina, Pancho's Silver, Intermar Ixtapa Viajes, and El Rincon Artesanal De Las Flores. The silent auction included Club Intrawest Resort, Restaurante Japones, Casa Morelos, Bandidos, La Casa Café, Boutique Cactus, Catalina Beach Resort, Tata's, Heaven Sent, and Viva Zapatos. A special shout out to GLORIA and RICHARD BELLACK, WIBKE LANGHORST, LINDA FOX, CAROL LOWE, CHERYL JAMESON, ANITA HAHNER, CARMEN HURAS and Sr. JOSE MANTILLA of Hotel Villa Del Sol, Sr. JESUS GARCIA of Hotel Dorado Pacifico, and SRA. SUSAN GOMEZ of Club Intrawest.

LA VIDA LOCA
Commander JUDITH WHITEHEAD of Paradise Properties and I attended the 12th Annual Posada (Christmas party) in Ixtapa benefiting the village of La Perica. It was held at the former residence of Enrique Zozaya and Enrique Mueller whose combined properties are a dazzling compound. The organizers included TONIO LOPEZ of Lopez Impresores, NORMA and PABLO MENDIZABAL, and ENRIQUE ZOZAYA and his brother ROBERTO. We arrived in full Mexican dress from Lupita's Boutique, and were graciously greeted by Sr. Zozaya. The guest list was a "who's who" including ALEJANDRO and GRISALDA MADRIGEL of El Galeon, DULCE DODDOLA of Intercam, LEONORE LaVALLE of CASA QUE CANTA, RAOUL and ANNA MANZANARES of Royal Holiday, LORENA NEGRETTI, JAVIER ALUNE president of the Rotary Club and general manager of Hotel Presidente Intercontinental and wife SONIA, ROCIO MADRAZO of Galart, and ALICIA and CHRISTOPHER PAYNE general manager of the Radisson Hotel. The program included a "roast" reminiscent of the ones that used to be held at the Friar's Club in Beverly Hills, Ca. Since dinner was not served until after the program which went on until 1:30 a.m., one can only imagine how frisky the guests were! Viva la Vida!!

RESTAURANT RAMBLINGS
The opening of Jaracho (formerly Gondwana) restaurant in El Centro was a joyous affair. Jaracho is a word that expresses the fusion of Spanish, African and Mexican cultures in the state of Veracruz. Hosting the event was the Eskauriatza family that included matriarch CONCHITA owners JAIME and LAURA, and Jaime's daughter, Z-Spirited JENNY. Among those enjoying the tasty cuisine were Z-Royal architect ENRIQUE ZOZAYA and wife VERONICA, PABLO and NORMA MENDIZABAL, MARCEL ARAMBURU, PAOLO BOBADILLA of Dorado Pacifica, ANA LORENA CASTANEDA of Pacifica, CYNTHIA who is the concierge at the Barcelo, JAZMIN GAYTAN and ALEJANDRO, and GRACIELA SAUZA. Other first-nighters included ANDY the tennis pro at the Hotel Villa Del Sol, FERNANDO HERNANDEZ owner of Fave Rave restaurant IL Mare, JULIAN BENLOULOU of El Mediterraneo restaurant, PATY MONTUFAR of Paty's Mar y Mar, MUNDI and DIDI of El Manglar, FRANK SHEPPARD, SHIRLEY BETHUNE, CINDY LOWE, GRACE RELFE and DAVID BROWN. Z-Always Charming Man About Town Capt. BILL UNDERWOOD took his lively brood visiting from California to new dinery Chez Arnoldo's on Las Gatas (once the playground of Aztec royalty). Owner HIRAM VERBOONEN picked up the group from the Municipal Pier for the boat ride over to the beach. What couldn't be wonderful what with candlelight, music, feet in the sand and fab food! DEBORAH of Mama Norma's in Ixtapa hosted a yummy feast for KIMBERLY of Fave Rave beauty spa Lavender and Roses and hubby GONZALO, ROBIN and VICTOR, Star massage therapist LYNN and her JORGE, and RODNEY and JACKIE. Deborah's outrageous chocolate cake and lime pie rock! Awesome Artist JAMES CRESPINEL and YourZZZ Truly had a very special evening at ZZZ-licious restaurant KauKan. Joining us were Sir RICHARD and JUDY KELLY from Olympia, Wa. It's not easy getting the Kelly's to leave their "castle" in Ixtapa! Coconuts, another of our Fave Rave restaurants, was Z -Scene of a birthday celebration for ALEJANDRA LLAMAS. Among the birthday-goers were LOIS BROWN, ELOISA RODRIGUEZ and ANTHONY, DEBBIE MIONE, ANA DELLA, and owners JOE and PATSY LOGIUDICE. By the by, new Coconuts hostess, Gina, is ZZZ-lightful.

ROMANCE DEPT.
High above La Playa De La Ropa, DANA BALDWIN and RANDY COX from Los Angeles were married at the magical boutique hotel Amuleto. The well-wishers included photographer and daughter of the groom ERIN COX, her brother PAUL COX from Omaha, Ne. SHAUN SMITH from New Zealand, BETSY HALL and popular guitarist CRAIG COPELAND (who blew everyone away with his music), and RON HERNANDEZ from L.A., and LOUISE PARKER and STEWART McMULDROCH from Boulder. "Commander" WHITEHEAD attended with BILL UNDERWOOD who was wearing long pants for the occasion…a first! Judge ALBERTO GONZALES VAZQUEZ performed the ceremony in Spanish while guitarist Craig translated it into English for the guests, and RICARDO of Kau Kan did a brilliant job with the cuisine. MORE AMOR: JAN GELMAN who writes for New York Magazine and WILL SMITH both from Seattle, said their "I do's" on the beach in front of La Perla restaurant during a ZZZensational sunset. Friend and artist CRAIG HOWARD who performed the ceremony flew in from Seattle, as did KATE PAWLICKI and CHRIS PARADISO. Best Wishes to all.

A FISH STORY
AJ GIBSON from Palm Springs, CA. and Las Gatas won first prize in the Yamaha International Fishing tournament in Puerto Escondido. AJ and his team LOGAN EISLE and CAPT. AMADO BUSTO caught a record breaking sailfish which was then sent to Japan to be mounted and displayed in Yamaha headquarters. Congrats !!!

BORN TO BE WILD
Could it be true that Jetsales Magnates SANDY and JAY MESINGER, aka Z-Best Friends, were Scene partying in "Hollyweird" at Le Chateau Marmont with film director McG and posse????

Happy New Year
Email: JBBVIVA@aol.com

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