Music and laughter around the island

Lawrie and me at Rosa Sirena's Bar with friends

The great thing about living on Isla Mujeres is that we can choose between dozens of venues to listen to a variety of fabulous music. Back in mid-September 2016, Lawrie and I wrote about the various artists who were performing on the island, but now we have even more choices.

Ken Wanovich - FB profile pic

After visiting the island regularly since the 1980’s Ken Wanovich and his wife Debbie have recently joined the group of gringo-residents on the island. They tossed aside their life in the USA and arrived in Mexico with a few possessions to start their new pared-down island lifestyle. We and a group of friends went to North Garden Restaurant on Wednesday to listen to Ken’s eclectic mix of classic rock, oldies, country, and tropical ‘ass-in-the-sand’ Zach Brown or Jimmy Buffett tunes. We all knew the words and helped Ken with his singing. It was a fun toe-tapping afternoon that exploded into full-on dancing in the tiny restaurant. Ken plays at a variety of other locations on the island, including Caribbean Brisas on Thursday evenings. Friend him on Facebook for more information.

Henry Esquivel and Jeff at Jax's 

Then there is our good friend Jeff Current, who, along with his five siblings, has been immersed in music all of his life. Jeff plays a wide variety of music that baby boomers like me love. The money he raises on his “Tips for Testicles Tour” goes to Isla Animals for spaying and neutering cats and dogs. The music will get you on your feet, and you will have a bit of fun for a good cause. He plays at Jax’s Bar & Grill on Wednesdays, and at Barlito’s @ Marina Paraiso on Fridays. Wednesdays have become a real dilemma for us with both Jeff and Ken playing at different venues. 
Jeff is also on Facebook if you want to check his locations and times.

Rhett Thurman McGahee and Ckokoj Kiik 

And, very recently, another good friend, Rhett Thurman McGahee, a lead vocalist for a number of bands in the USA, has started performing again. She sings at the brand new, gorgeous Rosa Sirena’s Restaurant and Rooftop Palapa Bar. Rhett performs from 7 to 9 on Thursday evenings. Her stunningly beautiful voice is accompanied by Chokoj Kiik on piano. Rhett and her handsome husband, Jeff McGahee, are co-owners of the popular Isla Brewing Company located on Jesus Martinez Ross Avenue, across from the Comex paint store.   

Chef Willy Chacon in white, singing chef!

Located just south of the Mango Café, in a neighbourhood that is developing into a foodie’s paradise, the Rosa Sirena’s Restaurant and Rooftop Palapa Bar has an extensive lineup of musical talent, including chef-musician Willy Chacon. 

(I wonder if he sings in the kitchen while he is creating his delicious meals.) Like their Facebook page to stay connected.

We love this time of year. Fabulous music, great vocals, and of course yummy food to savour while you enjoy the entertainment. 
Get out there and join in the fun!

Hasta Luego

Lynda, Lawrie, Sparky, & Max

Get your Isla 'fix' with the exciting Isla Mujeres Mystery series!

There's Trouble on Isla, Big Trouble!
  

Book #2 in the Isla Mujeres Mystery Series

5.0 out of 5 stars

Fast and furious

By CA reviews on September 26, 2017

Yasmin and Jessica are back, and the gold they found in Treasure Isla is still haunting them, especially when Carlos, their boss at the Loco Lobo, and Yasmin’s new lover, is kidnapped. No spoilers here, but his captivity and the girls’ efforts to free him, with the help of Carlos’s pals—including local Isla Mujeres fishermen and a Mexico City cop—are the crux of this fast-paced story. Lock has created not only a compelling and authentic setting but a well-developed ensemble cast. The next Isla mystery can’t come fast enough.

 Treasure Isla - where it all began!

5.0 out of 5 stars

Captivating and authentic

By CA reviews on September 26, 2017

This was a truly fun in-the-sun kind of mystery, with an authenticity that was simply captivating. Set on the island called Isla Mujeres, not far from the better-known Mexican resort of Cancun, it follows the misadventures of two girlfriends, who on a drunken binge manage to wander onto the grounds of a cemetery and find a treasure map stuck in a crevice of an old pirate tomb. Jessica, from Canada, and local pal Yasmin both work at a tourist bar/restaurant called the Loco Lobo. Soon, their boss Carlos and a handsome attorney named Luis are involved in the girls’ illegal hunt for pirate gold. Toss in a bad dude running from a string of crimes in Key West, and it’s the start of an addictive new mystery series.

Una cerveza más, por favor

Isla Brewing

Real beer - on Isla?  Huh!

Yeah, I know I have had a few hundred gallons of beer here on the island, but that was, you know, just a cold drink for a hot day.  Now we have a real microbrewery on Isla featuring naturally fermented beer brewed to the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516.  What the hell is the Bavarian Purity Law, you say?  It’s really simple.  Only four ingredients are allowed: barley, water, hops and yeast, and oh yeah, lots of love and effort.

Jeff McGahee - closer to realizing his dream

Let me tell you about Isla Brewing, the brainchild and passion of Jeff McGahee.  Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Jeff and his family are now well-known islanders.  

Jeff has been working on his dream for the past two plus years, and the results are worth the wait.  I was offered a sample of the pale ale the other day.  Very yummy!  Do not confuse this ale with Budweiser or Corona.  These ales are not a mixture of fermented rice and corn syrup used by the commercial breweries to make what they call beer.  This is ale - made with taste, lots of taste. 

Fermentation

Brewed in very small batches of around 360 litres, these ales have body, a hoppy taste, and subtle carbonation.  Initially, Jeff plans to make a Pale Ale, a Blonde, a Mica Ale, and a Porter.  I can hardly wait to try the other flavours.  Now I will be able to enjoy a local beer that doesn’t get beaten up by the spiciness of our traditional Mexican food. Lynda is anxiously waiting for her favourite, a hoppy IPA, India Pale Ale.

As for building a brewery on an island in paradise, it has not been easy.  Jeff has had to create much of the equipment here in a true DIY fashion.  If you get a chance to visit the brewery, check out the grain grinder – it’s powered by a ¼ inch drill.  Amazing.  Most of his brewing ingredients, except the water, have to be imported – sacks of barley, hops and special yeast.  Hell, I even brought down some live yeast from our friends’ brewery in Penticton, BC, Canada - The Cannery Brewing Company.  Sure, I declared it.

Jeff's creative dad built the control panel

Microbreweries are the hottest trend in the liquor business, and the huge demand for better products is prompting the Big Guys to want to play in the game.  It takes more than just a funny name and a jazzy label to make a great beer.  The beer has to be made according to the rules.  Too bad for you, Big Guys, but good for us; we now have Isla Brewing to satisfy our craving for great-tasting ales.

To find out when and where the ales will be available, give his Facebook page a [Like].  He’ll keep you posted on the latest developments.   

https://www.facebook.com/islabrewing

Soon, your visit to paradise can include great-tasting ales from Isla Brewing.

Hasta luego, Lawrie, Lynda, Sparky, and Thomas

A little while ago when the equipment arrived

Grab your copy today!

Isla Mujeres Mystery Series

Or

Death in the Vineyards Mysteries

The Adventures of Thomas and Sparky