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A very special surprise for a very special person was held on January 1, 2026, when the community came together at Coco Cabaret to honor Jamie Alexander with a surprise Christmas show, hosted by Miss Conception. It was an evening of Christmas music, connection, and celebrating Jamie Alexander and his love for Christmas.
Jamie, who is a contributor to OAPV, has penned a letter to the community for his appreciation, and has given us permission to publisher it here:
Happy New Year, with Love
An Open Letter from Jamie Alexander.
When my 6 a.m. alarm rang on New Year’s Day and my feet touched the floor, I paused. These early morning walks have become more than exercise—they are my time for gratitude, reflection, and a reminder of just how precious life truly is. And in that quiet moment, lying between my two partners, I realized the greatest gift wasn’t the walk waiting for me outside, but the love already surrounding me. I chose to stay still just a little longer and just lay there in that moment of gratitude.
By 8 a.m., I was out the door, knowing the day ahead would be full. Like so many mornings, I met my friend Manuel along the Malecón. His gentle spirit has taught me many things over the past few months—key among them, the importance of slowing down and smelling the roses but in this case, that morning, stopping to enjoy the view of the ocean and listen as the waves hit the shore. We just simply stopped, sat, and looked at the ocean. It was a perfect way to start the new year.
Back at the casa, preparations were already underway for our now-annual New Year’s Day onesie brunch. Tom and Don—our fearless leaders and inspiration of the event—had the potluck rolling. One of life’s simplest and greatest joys for me is cooking for others, and I spent the morning in the kitchen preparing our dishes, putting the final touches on both brunch and dinner. Slowly, one by one, our house guests woke up and joined in, turning the kitchen into a place of laughter and shared purpose.
This year, our home was fuller than usual. Along with friends, we were blessed to have Mom and Dad (Josh’s parents) and our dear friends Don and Sandra, who traveled all the way from Canada to surprise us for Christmas. New Year’s Eve with them—surrounded by family and our chosen family here in Vallarta—was unforgettable. New Year’s Day promised even more: brunch, dinner, and time together that felt sacred.
Then came a surprise I could never have imagined.
A few days earlier, Lisa and Billy, formerly from RISE Children’s Shelter reached out with a last-minute invitation to a New Year’s Day fundraiser at Coco Cabaret called “Old Christmas”. It was an intimate event supporting the babies at the shelter—diapers, necessities, love. We rushed to finish preparations at home and made our way to the theater.
As soon as we arrived, I realized the room was filled with the very heart of Vallarta—artists, friends, and pillars of the community. You know, the ones that turn out for every special event, charity event, and in support of our local entertainment community, no matter the time of year. Nearly every table held someone I knew and cherished, including fellow team members of my PVRPV family and so many familiar faces who give so much to this town.
Then the show began.
Miss Conception opened with one of my favorite Christmas songs. When the music ended, she mentioned a special message for me and asked me to look at the screen. What followed took my breath away—a video filmed in our home, in front of our Christmas tree, from my partners Josh and Mau (AKA Tasting Life As Three). With laughter, bloopers, and so much love, they revealed that the entire show was dedicated to me and to my love for Christmas.
For the next hour, nearly 50 out of the 60 minutes, tears never left my eyes.
Every performer who took the stage was people I consider very dear to me—Effie Passero, Eva Jimenez, Mau Jimenez, the incredible ladies of DIVA, and the legendary Kim Kuzma. Alison Lo fell sick and couldn’t be there, but she was there in spirit. I realized then that this wasn’t coincidence; it was community. They had all given their time, their talent, and their hearts to create something extraordinary.
For a moment, I wondered if I was dreaming, perhaps a Christmas dream.
I was overwhelmed with gratitude—not just for the show, but for the friendships, the love, and the generosity that made it possible. Thank to each and every one of the performers.
When Christmas comes around each year, the first thing that comes to my mind is togetherness. That night wasn’t about honoring me; it was about all of us sharing one space, one moment, one feeling. Truly, these are the special times, times we’ll remember. Throughout history, in times of hardship and uncertainty, Christmas has remained a reminder of love, hope, and connection. That truth felt more powerful now, more than ever.
This memory will live in my heart forever.
Thank You for your kindness Vallarta
Later that evening, back at the villa for our first dinner of the year, a longtime resident—someone who has been part of the Villa long before it was Villa Sorpresa—said to me, “It’s amazing how much you’ve impacted this community in just six short years.” I sat with that for a moment and realized something important: it’s not about how I’ve impacted Vallarta, but how deeply Vallarta has impacted me.
To this extraordinary community—thank you for celebrating the spirit of Christmas, not just with me, but with one another. Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, your art, your talent, and your love.
Who knows, maybe this collective may gather once more and “Old Christmas” may just have to become an annual event.
Happy New Year, with Love, Jamie
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