Z SCENE

March 2005

By Judy Brown

PAPPARAZZI'S IN PARADISE
Z was the Scene of a weeklong international photographers seminar, which culminated in an exhibition at Coconuts to benefit the music and Indian schools. GLORIA BELLACK invited photographer friend ALEXANDRA COLLINS who organized the group, which included LIZBETH GUERRINA from N.Y. and GRAY HAWN among others. The group held a workshop at DAVID and LOIS BROWN'S Casa Acacia and Lois and her sons were models as were DEBBIE MIONE and her children, GINA from Coconuts, and Gloria herself. Coconuts was kickin' for the exhibition. LA SRA.ELIZABETH, wife of our town's PRESIDENT AMADOR CAMPOS and her "Damas Voluntarias", SONIA RIVERA, U.S. Consulate ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, newspaper reporter DAVID OBSCURA, local social columnist VERONICA ARANDA, LISA MARTIN, and just about everyone else in town were in attendance. The event was a huge success. Kudos to all! HAPPY HAPPY-ZZZ: After the exhibition, owners JOE and PATSY LOGIUDICE were all smiles as Coconuts got rockin' with RICHARD BELLACK'S birthday bash. MORE HAPPY-ZZZ: JANELLE of Bandido's, KIMBERLY of Lavender and Roses, GRACE, ISABEL.

ONE ENCHANTED EVENING
Lively Flamenco music in a classical, elegant garden setting hosted by de-ZZZigner Par Excellence JORGE ESPINOSA DE LOS MONTEROS was an evening to remember. After cocktails, guitar players RODRIGO and GABRIELA ELLOS who were so happy to be back in Z after living in Dublin, Ireland, played a unique and lively concerto for the spellbound guests. Concert-goers included MARCELLA SIERRA , JOSE VARGAS, LILLIA VALLE of Casa Que Canta, LETICIA ESPEJO Director of the Lizardi School, JOEL LIDOUREN of La Fuente in Ixtapa, and LEONORE LA VALLE. Also attending were CATHERINE and GERHARD DOLCH from Canada, and RANDY and MERILEE BROWN from North Dakota among others. Renowned chef and owner of Kau Kan restaurant RICARDO RODRIGUEZ created the after-concert buffet. JORGE'S fabulous new apartment was the perfect setting for the evening.

IT AIN'T ZZZ, BABE!
Patzcuaro in Michoacan is always a ZZZ-lightful adventure. One is certain to find something new and unexpected. The exclusive five-room hotel Casa de la Real Aduana owned by renaissance couple DIDIER DORVAL and GEMMA MACOUZET is also home to LaFolia ,a cultural art center. This month they presented "Sonatas de Beethoven" featuring Russian cellist TANYA ANISIMOVE and pianist LYDIA FRUMKIN, and a grand retrospect of the life's work of renowned artist JUDITH DEIM. Bravo Didier and Gemma! Just up the hill near the Basilica lies the tranquil Meson de San Antonio. Proprietors ALFREDO DEL RIO and GUADALUPE BAUTISTA were beaming as students of the Rhode Island School of Design took over the Meson for two weeks. Professor Winifred Lambrecht and the RISD students had a pottery workshop and collaborated with the artisans of the region, which culminated in a student exhibit at the Meson. Congratulations to one and all! Onward to San Miguel de Allende: JOE STIFLER, founder of Votivo (check out Madonna's favorite Red Currant candles), Your-ZZZTruly, and SANTIAGO dined with actor/singer JOHN DAVIDSON and REBECCA CAMELHAR while listening to the gypsy jazz guitar of GIL GUTIERREZ at restaurant La Bella Italia. John tells us that he and his family have decided to make San Miguel their new home.

GROOVIN'
Z Best Friends, JAY and SANDY MESINGER hosted a party to introduce "amigos" JANE and CARL VERTUCA from Boulder, Colo. to some of ZZZ-Villagers. The evening was rocked along by the tunes emanating from Jay's pulsating Ipod while HELMUT LEINS, owner of Hotel Villa Del Sol, shared old times with Z-Original Women GRACE and MARGO. Dynamic Duo DAN and CINDEE LEO, RICARDO TEITLEROIT of Amuletto, TONY and CLAIRE PIAZZA of the Vltava were getting to know soon-to-be neighbors JULIE and JOEL ZAHLER from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Meanwhile, Real Estate Maven and all around Woman Extraordinaire JUDITH WHITEHEAD of Paradise Properties was chatting up Helmut's vivacious wife ERICA, and apprentice alchemists SALVADOR and LUCIA SCIARRA from San Menejo, Italy, were enjoying their "aqua" puro. As guests were leaving one could overhear the recurring mantra, "I don't know about you, but I came here to groove."

Z 'Ya at Guitar Fest in April
JBBBIVA@aol.com

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