Vallarta Tribune - Issue 1165 August 1 - 7, 2019

NEWS

PEOPLE

ENTERTAINMENT

Travel+Leisure Unveils Best Awards

Dan Rodriguez on Bartending

Aretha Franklin’s Lost Documentary

Page 5

Page 9

Page 19 August 1 - 7, 2019 Year 22 Free Issue 1165

FR EE

GU ID E

ALL-INCLUSIVE NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE FOR PUERTO VALLARTA AND RIVIERA NAYARIT

Mixology

MAP OF BANDERAS BAY

PAGE 12-13

VALLARTA SHOPPING PAGES 14-15

ENTERTAINMENT PAGES 18-21

CROSSWORD PAGE 22

WWW.VALLARTATRIBUNE.COM | FB/VTATRIBUNE | TWITTER @VALLARTATRIBUNE | INSTAGRAM @VALLARTATRIBUNE

editorial

03

Editor’s

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Page 8

Note

Page 7

editor@vallartatribune.com

W

hat is happening in Banderas Bay? What is happening throughout Mexico? Every time I bump into local anglophones I know (and by local I mean full-time or seasonal) and ask them about content they’d like to see in the pages and website of Vallarta Tribune, these two questions keep coming back to me more than any others. So, every day, I start my morning perusing headlines from important regional and national news publications such as Excelsior, Heraldo de Mexico, Informador, Mural de Guadalajara, Proceso and several others in search of relevant news items you might find interesting. This is possible through RSS, or Rich Site Summary, a type of web feed that allows anyone to track many different websites’ regularly changing content—you should try it sometime!

One headline caught my attention: according to Inegi, Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography, only 57.8 percent of adult (18 or older) Mexican nationals living in urban areas attended a cultural event in the last 12 months despite the fact that many are offered for free, and this number has been on a slow, steady decline (64 percent in 2016,

Page 10

Page 18

for example). The very detailed report breaks down attendance into categories such as movies, exhibitions, dance, theater or live music events.

I’m not one to argue with Inegi.

But to me, this begs the questions: are cultural event producers creating events based on what they know and love, or are they actually reaching out to their potential audiences to learn more about their likes, dislikes and expectations?

Are these producers creating truly compelling descriptions of their events (using text, photography, promotional materials, video, etc.) to entice audiences to attend or

have they become complacent?

What about the important exercise of cultivating new audiences?

Food for thought.

Here’s another headline, one closer to home: Kelly Trainor, US Consular Agent in Puerto Vallarta since 1998, stated in a recent interview that there are approximately 35,000 US residents living in Puerto Vallarta and that local US population is on the rise—see pg. 6. (We don’t have specific numbers for the Canadian population at hand, but one can easily assume an equally considerable number.) Meanwhile here we are in the middle of

the Summer—the so-called low season—and many businesses, activity providers and cultural event producers frequently remark about the lack of anglophones in town and the ensuing decrease in attendance.

This begs even more questions: isn’t it possible that we’ve spent too much time, historically, catering to the wants and needs of anglophone tourists and not enough learning about the wants and needs of our increasing population of anglophone locals? Why should we expect anglophone locals to have the same wants and needs as those of our tourists? Think about it. Whatever city we live in, us

locals, regardless of our nationality, usually don’t do the “touristy stuff” until/unless we have visitors in town. So, is it fair to expect that the local anglophone population will want to do the “touristy stuff” all the time simply because they speak English? Shouldn’t we be reaching out to them more mindfully to better understand their wants, needs and expectations? If we did, maybe the so-called low season wouldn’t be as low for some.

More food for thought.

Enjoy, Paco Ojeda Interim Editor paco.ojeda@gmail.com

Read the first edition of the Best of Banderas Bay and Riviera Nayarit guide online www.vallartatribune.com dsadasd

64

pages of information designed to make your stay in the area the best! From the best beaches to the best activities and more, you can download and view online at www.vallartatribune.com and watch for copies at your favourite VallartaTribune distribution points.

welcome

Welcome to Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit

A

t the Vallarta Tribune we want you to have the best experience possible while you explore Puerto Vallarta, the Bay of Banderas and Riviera Nayarit. Here are some helpful tips for traveling.

TIME ZONE: The entire state of Jalisco and the southern part Nayarit are on Central time – if you’re heading further north than Lo de Marcos, Nayarit, remember the time change so you don’t miss your flight.

BUSES: A system of urban buses can bring you from El Tuito in the south to San Pancho in the north and all the spots in between.

Fares vary according to distances travelled, but the base fare is 10 pesos. If you’re going further than San Pancho, head to the main bus terminal to catch a ‘Pacifico’ bus.

TAXIS: There are set fares within defined zones of town. Do not enter a taxi without agreeing on the price with the driver. Make a note of the taxi number in case you leave something behind.

Drivers typically do not carry change.

UBER: New in 2017 to Puerto Vallarta, Uber is still experiencing some growing pains particularly in the state of Nayarit. Uber is cheaper than a taxi usually.

GETTING AROUND: In many places such as Centro Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta there are paths for bikes and pedestrians. Please be respectful of these designations.

MONEY EXCHANGE: The most hassle-free way to exchange money is to use your debit card in the ATM to withdraw pesos.

Exchange houses offer higher rates and banks are remiss to change dollars to pesos if you don’t hold an account with them. Best to use ATM’s that are affiliated with a reputable bank located in well lit secure areas.

TIPPING: In general you should tip 10-20% in restaurants and bars. Taxi or Uber drivers – 10-20 pesos. The person who bags your groceries or helps load your car – 10-20 pesos. Don’t forget to tip

your maid, bell boy, masseuse, the band, the entertainment on your tour. And by all means, tip more if you want, wages are extremely low in Mexico.

DRINKING WATER: While Puerto Vallarta’s water has been awarded a certification of purity for the past two decades, the quality of the water tested at the source varies greatly from what comes out of the tap at the other end. Don’t wreck your holiday – buy bottle water.

EXPORTING PETS: Falling in love with the street dog outside your hotel is easy to do and it’s also easy to bring them home with you. The process is inexpensive and only takes a day or two.

You only need a certificate of health from a local vet and check with your airline for additional requirements.

COMMON SENSE: Just as you wouldn’t walk around your hometown drunk and belligerent, it is not acceptable to do that here.

While Mexico is a tolerant culture, politeness is paramount. Don’t pee in the streets. Don’t flash your money or expensive gadgets. Pay attention to your surroundings.

Know where you are going. Pay your bills (and don’t forget to tip).

And have fun!

DRINKING AND DRIVING: First off – just don’t. The consequences are not worth it. Taxis or Ubers are cheap and plentiful. Fines are very expensive. You can go to jail and your vehicle impounded. There are many checkstops on the weekends, and you will be asked to take a breathalizer test if they suspect you have been drinking.

LEGAL SYSTEM: Not knowing the law is not a valid excuse in Mexico, or anywhere. If you find yourself caught in a legal situation, be aware that often guilt is presumed until your innocence can be proven. This is a very difficult lesson to learn if you are visiting from the United States or Canada. Immediately contact your consulate for assistance.

Director Noemi Zamora noemi.zamora@cps.media Editor Lic. Madeline Milne mmilne@Vallartatribune.com Sales Team editor@vallartatribune.com Designer Cynthia Estela Andrade Gutiérrez cysandra@gmail.com Web Manager Ana Espinosa

CALLING IN MEXICO (Updated August, 2019)

Effective August 3, 2019, Mexico’s Federal Telecommunications Institute implemented new telephone dialing procedures in Mexico, as follows:

LOCAL CALLS WITHIN MEXICO All calls within Mexico can now be dialed using the 10-digit telephone number (usually a two- or threedigit area code plus an eight- or seven-digit number) from a landline or cell phone, eliminating the need for prefixes, such as 01, 044 or 045. In Mexico, most cities use a three-digit area code, notable exceptions being CDMX, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

LONG DISTANCE CALLS WITHIN MEXICO Same procedure as above applies.

LONG DISTANCE CALLS TO MEXICO FROM ABROAD If you are making a long-distance call to Mexico from abroad, simply add the country code (52) to the 10-digit number as described above.

INTERNATIONAL LONG-DISTANCE CALLS FROM MEXICO No changes.

US & Canada: Dial 001 + Country Code + Area Code + Number Elsewhere: Dial 00 + Country Code + Area Code + Number EMERGENCY CALLS No changes (see emergency numbers, below).

CALLING TOLL-FREE NUMBERS (The following procedure predates the August 2019 update. We are waiting for specific information regarding toll-free calls within Mexico and to numbers elsewhere.)

Some toll-free numbers work from Mexico to the US and Canada, but many do not. Those that do work are often not toll-free. You need to dial a different prefix. To call the following toll free prefixes, dial as follows: 800 numbers Dial 001-880-then the number 866 numbers Dial 001-883-then the number 877 numbers Dial 001-882-then the number 888 numbers Dial 001-881-then the number

Ahoy Cruisers!

In port this month

In the month of August and September Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit welcomes 30,174 passengers! Bienvenido!

NAME

CARNIVAL CARNIVAL CARNIVAL CARNIVAL CARNIVAL CARNIVAL CARNIVAL CARNIVAL PRINCESS CRUISES PRINCESS CRUISES

PASS

DATE

3,200 07.08.2019 3,200 14.08.2019 3,200 21.08.2019 3,200 28.08.2019 3,200 04.09.2019 3,200 11.09.2019 3,200 18.09.2019 3,200 25.09.2019 1,974 25.09.2019 2,600 27.09.2019

Vallarta Tribune is an activity and entertainment guide and publishes information as it is provided by the advertiser or event host. We do not assume responsibility in errors or omissions other than to correct them as they are made known to us regarding event schedules, locations and/or prices. In addition, we do not assume any responsibility for erroneous inclusion or exclusion of information except to take reasonable care to ensure accuracy, that permission has been obtained to use it, and to remove it as soon as is practical upon receiving your notification of error. We recommend you always confirm prior to attending or visiting an event or establishment. Weekly publication edited, printed and distributed by Ediciones y Publicaciones Siete Junio, SA de CV Grupo Editorial Tribuna Calle 21 de Marzo # 1174 Col. Lomas del Coapinole Del. El Pitillal, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco México CP 48290 Tel. 226-0800 * www.vallartatribune.com * https://www.facebook.com/VtaTribune/

Cut out and put near your phone for handy reference

04

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

05

news briefs

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Travel+Leisure Unveils Best Awards 2019

T

he prestigious publication Travel+Leisure has once again unveiled their annual Best Awards featuring the world’s greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports and more, as voted by its readers. To gather their results, a survey is developed by the editors of the publication in association with re search firm M&RR, charged with keeping the survey website secure and protecting the integrity of the data.

As in years past, Mexico confirmed its popularity as an international destination not only receiving accolades in several categories but also featuring specific categories for our country: Top Five Cities in Mexico, Top 15 Resort Hotels in Mexico, and Top 5 City Hotels in Mexico. Here is how we fared.

Seven Mexican hotels were featured in The Top 100 Hotels in the World category, including one in Banderas Bay: 18 Hotel Matilda, San Miguel de Allende 19 The Resort at Pedregal, Cabo San Lucas 27 Rosewood Mayakoba, Playa del Carmen 35 Las Ventanas al Paraiso, San Jose del Cabo 55 Tie between Viceroy Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile 95 Montage Los Cabos, Cabo San Lucas

Lobby Grand Vidanta Convention Center. Courtesy of Riviera Nayarit.

97 Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta Of The Top 15 Resort Hotels in Mexico, Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta and St. Regis Punta Mita Resort received the sixth and twelfth place, respectively.

The top accolade went to The Resort at

Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas.

The Top 5 City Hotels in Mexico category included two hotels in Mexico City and one in San Miguel de Allende, with the top award going to Hotel Matilda in San Miguel de Allende. Also, The Top Five Cities in Mexico,

according to the Travel+Leisure World’s Best Awards 2019 are, from first to last: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Merida and Guadalajara. To read the entire list of categories and awards, please visit travelandleisure.com/worlds-best. • PO

Mexico’s President Moves to Palacio Nacional

W

hile it is traditional for the president of Mexico to live in Los Pinos, the official resident (Mexico’s White House equivalent), President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) has chosen to move his family into the Palacio Nacional, Mexico’s most important public building that for seven centuries has been the seat of the federal executive. While it is not the first time a president chooses to live in the building, the decision is uncommon and adds to the number of choices that AMLO has made to go against the so-called “imperialistic presidencies” that preceded him.

The Palacio Nacional is used and classified as a historic government building since the demise of the Aztec Empire and

Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, the last Aztec ruler, called it home. It was also used as a residence by Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes. The last Mexican president to live at the Palacio Nacional was Porfirio Diaz in 1884.

Since the beginning of his campaign, AMLO announced that he would not be moving to Los Pinos with its luxe appointments. “There can’t be a rich government when you have poor people,” was one of his most common phrases during the campaign trail. A three-bedroom apartment within the Palacio Nacional was remodeled to meet his needs. The apartment was created during Felipe Calderon’s presidency (2006-2012). • PO

Las Gaviotas Protects Itself Against Vertical Development

G

iven the disorderly increase of condominium buildings developed in Colonia Emiliano Zapata and other Puerto Vallarta neighborhoods, including 5 de Diciembre, Diaz Ordaz and now Versalles, residents of colonia Fraccionamiento Gaviotas have decided to take matters into their own hands to prevent this from happening to their neighborhood.

Created during the early 70s, Fraccionamiento Gaviotas is the second residential neighborhood created in Puerto Vallarta— Conchas Chinas was the first. At the time, it was located in the city outskirts, surrounded by an unspoiled landscape, and could only be reached via a narrow, cobble-stoned road, that eventually came to be known as Francisco Villa Ave. Almost 50 years later, the neighborhood is now completely surrounded

by urban development and increasingly concerned by problems such as low water pressure and saturation of the city’s plumbing system.

Since its inception, the low-density colonia has been governed by bylaws created at the time, clearly establishing that only single-family homes can be built within.

Regardless, neighborhood organization officials met with city councilors to make sure that said bylaws are ratified and recognized by the local government when it’s time to grant construction permits to developers potentially interested in the area. In addition, the neighborhood association has installed signs at key locations around the neighborhood reminding prospective buyers that they are investing in a low-density residential neighborhood. • Tribuna de la Bahia

news briefs

06

Local Policemen Rescue Stray Crocodile

T

wo recent incidents have been reported in which crocodiles found themselves away from their habitats and wandering into our streets. One such creature was killed crossing Francisco Medina Ascencio Ave. just a couple of weeks ago. Earlier this week, a second crocodile found its way to the median strip along the same avenue, near Marina Vallarta. This time around, members of the municipal police mobilized their units as soon as they received the report.

While members of the green patrol attempted to entrap the 150-centimeter long animal, policemen stopped vehicular traffic to prevent another casualty. The crocodile had not been tagged, so it was promptly taken to the appropriate authorities prior to being returned to its natural habitat.

It is important to remember that crocodiles are common around Marina Vallarta and the El Salado Estuary and that they tend to go beyond their usual boundaries during the rain season. They are extremely dangerous and can be surprisingly fast, so maintaining a safe distance is of paramount importance.

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Water Lilies Invade Sayulita Beach

W

hen rains increase, it is common for water lilies to be dragged by river currents onto the ocean, where they dissolve. What was unexpected was the unusual amount of water lilies that last week found their way from the estuary in San Pancho, all the way to the beach in Sayulita (some 2 km. away), north of Puerto Vallarta.

Local authorities, in conjunction with activity providers and many volunteers, immediately began cleanup campaigns that temporarily affected beach access and related activities, but ultimately resulting in a better beach for tourists. The plants themselves pose no threat and ocean currents usually direct them to the ocean or other beaches in the vicinity that are not as popular among tourists. Halfway through the cleanup process, close to 10 tons of water lilies had been removed with just as many eliminated by the time you read this. • Tribuna de la Bahia

Should you spot one, emergency numbers are posted on pg. 4 of this publication. • Tribuna de la Bahia

Local US Population On The Rise

I

US Consular Agent, Kelly Trainor de Oceguera

n a recent interview with our sister publication, Tribuna de la Bahia, US Consul Kelly Trainor de Oceguera indicated that there are approximately 35,000 US residents living in Puerto Vallarta, and the number is on the rise. Some of their considerations include the appeal of our destination, weather, available infrastructure and medical services. Many of them, particularly retirees, move to Mexico looking for a better quality of life given their pension funds and the increasingly complicated economy that prevails north of the border. Puerto Vallarta is not longer only attractive to retirees, however. “There are many young US citizens that have chosen to move to Puerto Vallarta to be with their parents and young US families that are looking for a better life in Mexico and starting their families here.

In fact, there are approximately 100 babies from American parents that have been born in Puerto Vallarta.” • Tribuna de la Bahia

Global Climate Strike Announced for September

I

f all goes according to plans, this September millions of people around the world will walk out of workplaces and homes to join young climate strikers on the streets and demand an end to the age of fossil fuels. As we deal with devastating climate breakdown and hurtle towards dangerous tipping points, young people are calling on millions of us across the planet to disrupt business as usual by joining the global climate strikes on September 20, just ahead of a UN emergency climate summit, and again on September 27.

Already people in 150 countries are organising for the global climate strikes this September.

Some will spend the day in protest against new pipelines and mines, or the banks that fund them; some will highlight the oil companies fuelling this crisis and the politicians that enable them. Others will spend the day in action raising awareness in their communities and pushing for solutions to the climate crisis.

We are not aware of Puerto Vallarta-specific manifestations at this time but will keep our readers aware of further developments. For more information and ways to get involved, please visit globalclimatestrike.net.

07

local voices Vanishing World/ Medical Vanishing Home Matters

Pam Thompson

John Warren

Pamela Thompson operates HealthCare Resources Puerto Vallarta, a multi-faceted, independent, resource network that addresses all things related to your health and well-being. They offer assistance to help find a physician, hospital and diagnostic service for any healthcare needs.

John Warren is in charge of publicity for the International Friendship Club in Puerto Vallarta (IFC). During the summer, he writes about traveling while also raising environmental awareness.

pamela@healthcareresourcespv.com

A Bucketful of Stuff!

H

eavenly rain! They have finally arrived! Gully washers as Bob Price of the Botanical Gardens says. This week I share a mishmash of items. As I have mentioned in the past, we have a group of licensed mental health professionals who meet monthly to share information and discuss many items.

They have put together a “Mental Health Resources Guide,” a great resource for the area, available for anyone who just sends me an email.

It is in both English and Spanish.

It is mosquito time with the rains. This brings mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue, to our attention. It is every single one of our responsibilities to do what we can to prevent these diseases, so be sure to empty out any standing water on your patios and terraces. Cover drains whenever possible.

We have a complete and thorough Men’s and Women’s Checkup and for the next two months, it is being offered at a 10% discount. This also includes a follow up consult with a great, bilingual GP. By appointment only. For details, send me an email.

Our August clinics are filling quickly.

If you did not receive the newsletter, just request via email. All of our clinics are screening clinics, from your ears to your feet.

Insurance. Always the hot topic on Facebook. Something that I have learned, especially the past couple of years, is that an insurance policy is only as good as the agent one has. Make sure to select a reputable and experienced agent.

If you have an admission, need assistance with the insurance, you want to be sure the agent steps up

john3984@me.com

to the plate and goes to bat for you.

We do not sell insurance but we do work with reputable agents. I have put together an email with loads of information as to how insurance works here and other information, available upon request.

The past few weeks, we have

had a lot of people with a plethora of symptoms and it turns out to be dehydration. Do you think you are drinking enough water? Think again and drink some more! Symptoms such as brain fog, tiredness, headache all the way to seizures can be due to dehydration. Another thing bringing people in for medical assistance is food poisoning— salmonella. Choose carefully where you eat in these hot and sultry summer months. Always wash your hands.

It still baffles me when I see someone post their symptoms on Facebook asking for assistance. Ok. I get the basic idea but the answers are sometimes bizarre. Forget Dr. Google and welcome Dr. Facebook!

I would like to give a giant shout out to Peggy Utter and her super fantastic cakes (above). They are works of art! Look her up on Facebook as thesugarqueenpv. Her items are not just gorgeous but they are delicious as well! I am desperate for topics! Please send them to me.

Wide open. Here’s to a gleaming week!

Our House Is On Fire

W

e knew about the danger to Mother Earth fifty-one years ago, and nobody has lifted a finger to stop it. Now it may be too late! In 1968 the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) produced a report for the American Petroleum Institute that told them of the danger of continuing to burn fossil fuels. It was posted on the Internet in 2016 by the Center for Environmental Law https://www.smokeandfumes.org/ documents/16.

It noted that CO2 emissions from fossil fuels were outstripping the natural CO2 removal processes that keep the atmosphere in equilibrium.

Elmer Robinson, one of the authors, noted that the speed of CO2 accumulation would depend on fossil fuel consumption.

He projected that atmospheric CO2 could reach 400ppm by 2000 and that exploiting all thenrecoverable fossil fuel would lead to concentrations of 830ppm.

The report warned that rising CO2 would result in increases in temperature at the earth’s surface and that a significant temperature increase could lead to melting ice caps, rising seas, and potentially severe environmental damage worldwide.

Importantly, SRI acknowledged that of the various sources proposed for the increase in atmospheric CO2, “none seems to fit the presently observed situation as well as the fossil fuel emanation theory.” Noting uncertainties about whether particulate pollution would offset some of this warming, SRI warned “… there seems to be no doubt that the potential damage to our environment could be severe…”

The industry’s own consulting scientists then confirmed that the most urgent research need was into technologies that could bring CO2 emissions under control. Instead, all they did was to increase the millions of dollars spent on lobbying for the status quo!

Those chickens are coming home to roost with a vengeance!

The month of July saw minimal rainfall on the plain around Puerto Vallarta. In Chennai, a city in India of 4.6 million people, they were close to running out of water. And, in Europe, new records were set for the hottest temperatures ever recorded. In Paris, the temperature hit 42.6º C (109º F), and Lingen, in northern Germany, was 41.5º C (107º F).

Fires, droughts, floods, hurricanes, rising seas are all becoming worse and more frequent because of our demand for our present lifestyles. Addressing climate change requires dramatic changes to how we power our homes and factories and build our cities, and how we feed our families and move around. Yet countries, businesses, states, and cities have yet to make the profound structural economic and societal shifts that are required. We can’t make those shifts as individuals, but we can effect change if we unite and act together.

For generations, especially ours, we have had our heads firmly stuck in the sand and ignored the threat to the only planet we have.

Now, the teenagers and twenty-somethings understand. They know that we have, maybe, ten years to take actions that might—

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

just might—avert the destruction of life as we know it.

Millions will take part in global climate strikes on the 20th + 27th September, and the “Week for Future” in between. Organizers say that it is on course to be the largest global mobilization against climate breakdown, with over 6000 people in 150 countries pledging to organize events. The weeklong movement will surround the U.N. Climate Summit being held on 23rd September in New York. It aims to meet the climate challenge by accelerating actions to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

What difference will the climate strikes make? They won’t solve the climate crisis alone. What this moment will do is to show that we are no longer willing to continue with business as usual.

The urgency of the climate crisis requires a new approach and a just response centered on human rights, equity, and justice.

The lone protest of Greta Thunberg, the Swedish fifteen-year-old schoolgirl, caught the world’s attention last year. Her enthusiasm and dedication have spread to millions of school children and university students who are sounding the alarm. Now it’s everyone’s turn to stand with young people and show world leaders that people are demanding climate justice. September’s climate strikes will kickstart a huge wave of action and renewed ambition all over the world.

Our house is on fire! Let’s act like it! Next month let’s make up for those fifty-one years of callous inaction and demand action.

P.S. Please check this video out and then send it to your kids/ grandkids and friends. https://www.facebook.com/350. org/videos/427395381195077/

Image by Pete Linforth.

living

08

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Images by Maria Godfrida and Ulrike Leone.

A Quick Primer on Solar Panels

By Paco Ojeda

T

here was a time not too long ago when the sight of solar panels in local homes or businesses was rare, and often dismissed as an expensive commodity. Nowadays, it is difficult to drive more than a few minutes anywhere around Banderas Bay without spotting them in roofs or fields.

As a source of clean, renewable energy solar panels are now more affordable than ever, and given the increasing concern of the impact that fossil fuel-generated energy has on our planet, they are quickly becoming a necessity.

How do they work? In a nutshell, photovoltaic solar panels have the ability to absorb sunlight and convert it into energy. Research related to this ability can be traced back to the 19th century. Needless to say, however, the technology involved in photovoltaic research has improved tremendously through time, resulting in panels that are incredibly efficient and increasingly affordable.

Solar panels produce what is known as direct current electricity (DC), the type found in common batteries. Since most homes and businesses run on alternating current electricity (AC), the energy produced by solar panels must

pass through a special device (called inverter) to transform it into usable energy. Once transformed, the energy is either used to power your home or is sent back to the city’s electrical grid. Depending on the number of panels you install and your personal lifestyle, you can end up with a dramatically reduced electrical bill, or practically no bill at all if your panels produce less energy than you consume.

The installation of solar panels in your home will not only reduce your electrical bill. There are many environmental benefits associated with the technology, the most important being a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that

contribute to climate change. In many cases, not only will you save money on your electricity bills; you will also protect yourself against increasing energy rates in the future.

Of course, the savings will largely depend on your location and the utility rates in your area. But here in Banderas Bay, we are guaranteed direct sunlight more often than not, and our location in relation to the equator means that the intensity of the sun translates into more efficient energy production than, say, if you were living in Calgary.

Another plus: homes with solar panel installations have a higher resell value than those without them, particularly if you own, rather

than lease the panels. Are you thinking of redoing your kitchen prior to selling your home? Install electrical panels instead. More than likely you’ll get more bang from your buck in your property sale.

Case Study When Katharine Rochelle purchased her Aralias home back in 2016, she knew she wanted to invest in solar panels, but other priorities prevented her from moving forward with the installation until earlier this year. “I knew the cost of electricity here was high and I wanted to be comfortable and not worry about the bills,” she commented. An early adopter friend of hers living in an air-conditioned home with a small

pool in Fluvial and a close-to-zero bill also made the proposition seem very attractive at the time.

Katharine was finally able to save enough money to invest in solar panels earlier this year. By then, there were several companies providing the sale and installation of solar panels, so she chose one that was recommended to her, “a very wise idea,” she added. These companies not only sell and install the solar panels; they generate the work order for Mexico’s electricity provider (Comision Federal de Electricidad, or CFE) to install a new electricity meter in your home.

Why is a new meter important?

Most meters are unidiriectional.

That is, they measure the amount of electricity going into your house.

When you begin producing your own electricity, a bidirectional meter is necessary to measure the surplus energy you produce.

It took less than a month for Katharine’s installation to take place, from the day in which the panels were installed and tested (early April), to the CFE installation of a bidirectional meter. The latest electrical bill for her air-conditioned home was $73 MXN. She volunteered a few words of advice: Get more panels than you’ll need in case you are planning to remodel or enhance your home later on.

Inventers are paired with panels according to the amount of energy your panels will produce. Katharine suggests getting a bigger inverter than you’ll need in case you decide to add more panels later on.

Getting CFE to switch meters was the most time-consuming part given the increasing number of work orders the company is handling. Since there is no way to know where you are in the queue, it helps to resort to one’s family and friends network, i.e. someone who may know someone in CFE that can expedite your work order.

Now, she generates electricity during daylight hours that gets sent back into the grid, so she gets credit. At night time, the grid sends electricity into her home as needed.

If her consumption exceeds her credit, she has to pay. If not, she continues to get credit.

Again, look for recommendations for a reputable, local solar panel company on Facebook or among your friends. You will not only be saving money. You will be saving our planet.

people

09

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Dan Rodriguez

his own personal style. What does it take to excel?

“A mixologist must be able to command many different ingredients, from spirits to wine, to coffee and many more,” he explains. “And many people can mix ingredients at home to create or recreate a beverage. But not everyone gets to become a great bartender.”

Five years ago, he began working at Di Vino Dante on Basilio Badillo St., where he was quickly put in charge of the bar, training colleagues on how to do the work, fix cocktails, and keep a pristine and finely tuned house. Owner Gena Guarniere has been instrumental in furthering his professional development from day one. “Her support has always been unconditional, allowing me to grow limitlessly. One can never be thankful enough.”

For those looking for the ultimate cocktailing experience, Dan recommends three places: Alquimista Cocktail Room in Nuevo Vallarta, for a constantly trendsetting experience; Bar La Playa in Emiliano Zapata, for down-to-earth, no-frills cocktails; and, of course, Di Vino Dante. “It’s my own home! How could I possibly not recommend it?”

Grandma’s Rules

On Bartending and Mixology Text and images by Paco Ojeda

Persistence and dedication pay off for a 28 year-old, award-winning bartender whose first cocktails were so lousy they kept being sent back for better ones.

O

ne of my biggest challenges in life is not knowing how or when to say ‘no,’” remarks bartender Dan Rodriguez about a personal trait that has helped him both overcome adversities and become one of Puerto Vallarta’s most creative professionals in his field. Like many Puerto Vallarta teenagers, he had to combine study—gastronomy, in his case— with work out of necessity. “I started at La Piazzetta on Olas Altas as a steward around 2005,” he recalls. “I was barely 14 years old.” Despite being soft-spoken, he quickly realized he had a knack of interacting with the restaurant’s guests.

Owner Mimmo Lorusso took notice and quickly promoted him as a busboy. “I remember I didn’t speak any English at the time, and must confess that my command of the language could be better, even today!”

Dan continued polishing his people skills as a waiter, his only bartending-related concern being the cocktails he rushed from bar to tables. In fact, his introduction to bartending was both accidental and ill-fated. “I was working as a waiter at Las Palomas, the now-defunct restaurant on the Malecon,” he explains. “It was 2007 and they had hired this gal to oversee the bar, prepare cocktails and handle bottle inventory. But she was too short to reach for bottles in high shelves!” A tall guy, he was often called upon to reach for bottles when it was time to fix drinks or handle inventory at the end of the day.

While his initial awareness of the bar may have been amusing, his actual takeoff as a bartender when his immediate supervisor had to take a week-long leave of absence was far from it. In fact, it was

disastrous. Since he was the closest assistant working at the bar, he had no choice but to take her place.

“I started fixing drinks and every single cocktail I prepared was sent back,” he recalls. “There was not a single drink that any of the clients found satisfactory. Not a single one!” This unfortunate watershed was pivotal for him, as it provided the necessary impetus to begin learning how to properly fix even the most basic of cocktails. “I didn’t

know I would end up becoming a bartender. What I knew is that I didn’t want my drinks sent back because they were not satisfactory.”

Practice makes perfect. Soon enough, no drinks were returned.

When asked about how and when he realized he would eventually become a full-time bartender, he recalls the specific moment, which took place some two years later: “I was working at a brewery and was drinking a beer after a shift. As I

read the ingredients on the label, I realized I didn’t even know what they were or how they affected the beer flavor.” It was then that he heard the calling from within.

He began formal bartending studies on his personal time. By 2013 he had become an active member of Mexico’s Bartender Association and eventually also a member of the Mexican Mixology Academy, where he finally had access to all the necessary resources to develop

What would grandma recommend if you were ill? A tea!

This innovative cocktail created by Dan Rodriguez is both a ritual and a celebration of grandmothers around the world and their ritual of curing everything with tea. So it’s not to be taken lightly. It features rum infused with fresh eucalyptus with ginger syrup, an infusion of camomille and peppermint, and a bit of lime juice. A small side of the camomille/ peppermint infusion is presented and enjoyed first to cleanse your palate and prepare your taste buds to receive your ‘treatment.’

As you savor your cocktail, an eyedropper containing bitter lavender concentrate allows you to playfully interact with it, modifying its sweet flavor to personal taste at will!

10

Famous Mosaics Saint Louis Cathedral

By Emily Murray This summer the Tile Park is taking the show on the road! We’re paying a virtual visit to the most famous mosaics of the world... from China to Spain to the US... tile parks, record-breaking installations, ancient murals, points of interest and so much more. Join us!

T

his summer the Tile Park is taking the show on the road!

We’re paying a virtual visit to the most famous mosaics of the world... from China to Spain to the US... tile parks, record-breaking installations, ancient murals, points of interest and so much more. Join us!

When we think of churches, our minds often go to big stained glass windows. But the Saint Louis Cathedral, located in the Central West End of St. Louis, is adorned with something altogether different: famous mosaics!Completed in 1914, this cathedral took over seven years to complete, and is named for—you guessed it, amigo—Saint Louis. It was officially designated a basilica

by Pope John Paul II in 1997.

The church is known for its large mosaic installation (one of the largest in the Western Hemisphere), burial crypts, and the addition of an outdoor sculpture to promote racial harmony.

Installation of the mosaics began in 1912, but would not be completed until 1988. Incredibly, these mosaics are made up of 41.5 million glass

tiles in over 7,000 colors. Covering 83,000 square feet (7,700 m2), it is the largest mosaic collection in the world outside of Russia. Some of the mosaics in the side chapels and sanctuary walls were designed and installed by Tiffany Studios, while the mosaics in the main cathedral areas were designed by August Oetken.

Dozens of artisans had their hands in the installation of the mosaics, and one special father/ son team, Paul and Arno Heuduck, spent nearly their entire working lives on just this project. If you’ve been watching the Tile Park come together, you know how time-consuming some parts can be! It’s certainly within the realm of possibility for an artist to work on just one project in their lives. What a legacy to leave!

If you find yourself in St. Louis Missouri, this landmark church is worth visiting! If you do, be sure to check out the museum in the basement. It is a dedication to the mosaics and the other important artifacts found in the church, and is not to be missed!

local voices

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Would you like a Bank that adapts to your needs

?

Discover all the options that INTERCAM offers you: Trust | Insurance | Personal Loans | Mutual Funds Foreign Exchange | ATM network | Private Banking and much more...

Contact our offices: Marina Office: +52 (322) 209 0696 | Downtown Office: +52 (322) 223 3080 Mega Flamingos Office: +52 (329) 29 661 63 | Sayulita Office: +52 (329) 29 88 921 Find terms and conditions at intercam.com.mx

9

8

PITILLAL

1

az Ord Díaz tavo port Gus l Air Lic. nationa r Inte

6

7

5 3

RIO AMECA

STATE OF NAYARIT

VIE

TOM

NU

EV

OV AL

LA

RTA

S ATE

26

R

A VALL

CA

DE

GRAND MAYAN PARADISE VILLAGE MEZCALES OCCIDENTAL NUEVO VALLARTA 5 HARD ROCK HOTEL GRAND VELAS RIVIERA NAYARIT DREAMS VILLAMAGNA HOTEL MARIVAL 6 RIU JALISCO 4 ACQUA FLAMINGOS RUI PALACE PACIFICO FLAMINGOS VILLA DEL PALMAR FLAMINGOS 4 VILLA LA ESTANCIA 25 4 ROYAL DECAMERON 24 BUCERIAS 23 PUNTA ESMERALDA B NAYAR 29 1 VILLA AMORE DEL MAR 5

7

INA MAR

BAY

6

CA

2

1

BO

VIDANTA

7

27

R B CLU ESTIN CE A W L O TA THE AN PA SALAD LLAR A Y MA A EL TO V IOTT R Y R PLA PUE AR LIA GNA M ME A ND SAM GRA W

8

1



TO SAYULITA 

Christ Church by the Sea The Rev. Canon Robert Webster, Rector Welcoming ALL to worship with us.

W PUNTA MITA

HOTEL LA QUINTA DEL SOL

in the ANGLICAN ~ EPISCOPALIAN TRADITION

 



123

2nd Annual Reader’s Choice Awards  1000’s of votes for the 

‘best of everything’

Plaza Genovesa ~ Center Courtyard Palapa Av. Francisco Medina Ascencio 2015

in Puertowww.christchurchbythesea.org Vallarta, Banderas mypvchurch@gmail.com Bay and Riviera Nayarit Best

Restaurants

Best Hotels

Best Salon

Best

Dentist

Best

Happy Hour

All the results are now online at: www.vallartatribune.com/best-of-banderas-bay-2019/

Agustin Flores Contreras Municipal Stadium

GRAND PALLADIUM VALLARTA

ENGLISH SERVICE & COMMUNION enEnglisngli  10 AM SUNDAYS

22

PLAYA LA MANZANILLA

Iglesia Cristo del Mar

P

2

MESON DE MITA PUNTA MITA FOUR SEASONS

FRANCISC

O VILLA

PARA

ST. REGIS PUNTA MITA

SHERATON BUGAMBILLIAS

3

ISLAS MARIETAS

TOWNS & COLONIAS BEACHES

RESORTS MALECON SHOPPING/ARTWALK

BY SEA

LAND & AIR

1. MARINA RIVIERA NAYARIT 2. NUEVO RIVIERA NAYARIT 3. MARINA VALLARTA MARINA 4. CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL 5. LOS MUERTOS PIER/ WATER TAXIS

1. CENTRAL BUS STATION 2. VERSALLES BUS STATION 3. OLD TOWN BUS STATION 4. BUCERIAS BUS STATION 5. INT’L AIRPORT - PVR

SHO

2

1. GA 2. WA 3. CO 4. LA 5. PLA 6. ME 7. WA

BUENOS AIRES

8 9

FLUVIAL

3

PUERTO VALLARTA

5 DE DICIEMBRE

2

VERSALLES

28

CENTRO

12 13

EL R O

SITA

11

GRINGO GULTCH CASA KIMBERLY HACIENDA SAN ANGEL AMAPAS

14

15

CASA CUPOLA RESORTS BY PINNACLE

EL NOGALITO

CONCHAS CHINAS

ES PA AR &S S M INA RT TRE B REG RESO

PLA YA L O SAN S ARC VILL P A M LAYA EMP MAR OS ERC LO ERA INO EDE S M DOR U TRO S PETI ERTO A PI T H S VALALMAR CAN H OTEL PLA LAR RE OTE YA C HYA TT Z ONC LI TA SH SORT L IVA HA NDO OR GRA CO PUERT CASA S CHIN MAR ES ND STA O VA KAR AS F S GAR PLAY IESTA UR RE LLARTMA ZA B A PU AME SOR A LA NTA RIC T HOT NCA R NEGR AN EL M ESO A OUS RT AII

RTA

HOTEL ZONE

NES MARO GRAND A CA PLAY VENTURA E A S BUEN PREMIER AMBILLIA VILLA ATON BUG SHER S ET SECR AMBER N OW S OL O DEL CANT ZA A E T P L C A N OS I SUNS A PEL PLAZ LES U RTA LOS T LY VALLA D FRIEN CAPE AR SUNS DEL PALM NA R IC A VILLA A A ME FIEST HOLI AL RA A PLAY N KRYSTNAVENTU RESORT HILTOENDA BUE E GOLDEN A D IS HACI N PAR E CLUB CROW PARADIS N C R OW

4

4

5 DE DECIMBRE

5

HOT

2

STATE OF JALISCO

BUENAS ARIES

10

MISMALOYA

30

TO EL TUITO

BARCELO

LOS ARCOS

COLOMITOS LA TROVA CASITAS MARAIKA HOTELITO MIO

PUERTO VALLARTA 20

LAS ANIMAS 17

XINALANI RETREAT

QUIMIXTO

MAJAHUITAS MAJAHUITAS RESORT

3

21

BOCA DE TO

HOTEL LAGUNITA

16 11

12

AGUAY

PALAPA MARACUY 19 15

5 DE DICIEMBRE

18

13

5 DE DECIMBRE

CENTRO

OPPING

GOLFING

POINTS OF INTEREST

ALERIAS VALLARTA ALMART/SAMS CLUB OSTCO ISLA AZA CARACOL EGA/ LA COMER BUCERIAS ALMART NUEVO VALLARTA

1. PACIFICO GOLF COURSE 2. BAHIA GOLF COURSE 3. LITIBU GOLF COURSE 4. FLAMINGOS GOLF COURSE 5. EL TIGRE GOLF COURSE 6. & 7 VIDANTA 8. MARINA VALLARTA 9. VISTA VALLARTA

1. TURTLE RESCUE CAMP 2. WHALE OF A TALE HOLE 3. PLAYA ESCONDIDO 4. KISSING BRIDGE 5. EL CORA CROCODILE SANCTUARY 6. PUERTO VALLARTA SIGN 7. ESTERO EL SALADO 8. PITILLAL PLAZA

‘OLD TOWN’

9. 5 DE DEC. CEMETARY 10. MIRADOR CERRO DE LA CRUZ 11. MALECON 12. VIRGIN DE LA GUADALUPE CHURCH 13. LOS ARCOS AMPITHEATRE 14. ISLA CUALE 15. LAZARO CARDENAS PARK 15. OLAS ALTAS FARMERS MARKET

16. HIDALGO PARK 17. THREE HENS MARKET 18. MARSOL MARKET 19. MUNICIPAL MARKET 20. EMILIANO ZAPATA MARKET 21. CUALE CULTRAL CENTER 22. 5 DE DEC MARKET 23. HUANACAXLE MERCADO

5

24. FOREVER SPRING MARKET 25. BUCERIAS ARTWALK 26. RIVIERA FARMERS MARKET 27. MARINA ARTISAN MARKET 28. MOVIE + PICNIC 29. RED CROSS 30. LOS ARCOS NATIONAL PARK

www.vallartatribune.com

BANDERAS BAY SHOPPING AND SERVICES Thinking about selling your property?

Virtual tour Market analysis of your property Adverrsing on mullple plaaorms Alfredo Herrera

Call: 322 142 6296 Email: alfredoh@tropicasa.com

Find us at: Show Room @ SUCESOS BOUTIQUE Tuesday Market @ Nuevo Vallarta Thursday Market @ La Marina Vallarta Sunday Market @ La Cruz de Huanacaxtle

www.palmaleone.com

www.vallartatribune.com MURPHY’S IRISH PUB Located on the Historic Malecon across from the lighthouse statue (El Faro) - beautiful sunset views every night!

Delicious traditional pub menu.

Live Rock Music - Thurs - Sat @10:30pm Watch all sports w 2 satellites.

Pool Table. Happy Hour Daily 3 to 6 pm.

2 x 1 Corona or Pacifico. 50 pesos Well Drinks.

Tel. (322) 222 2675, (322) 222 5402, w Celular: 322 175 0412 mundodeazulejos@hotmail.com www.talavera-tile.com

484 Morelos - 2nd floor - Centro Vallarta Open daily 11 am

Murphys Puerto Vallarta

Welcome Home Sheryl Novak

sa.novak@solutionsmexico.com

Sheryl Novak is an expat Canadian who has owned a home in Mexico for over ten years. She is the owner of SOLutions Mexico and The Furniture Store by SOLutions Mexico. She is an expert on sourcing all styles of furniture for all sizes of budgets, in Mexico.

Get More For Your Money With Multi-Use Furniture

M

ulti-use furniture is growing in popularity not just in Puerto Vallarta but throughout North America.

Multi-functional furniture saves on space and budget. Two prime examples of this type of furniture are Murphy beds and recliners.

Murphy beds allow you to maximize your space and your monthly maintenance fees if you live in a condo property. When we first purchased our condo, we dedicated our second bedroom for the use of our family and friends. We bought a queen headboard, queen mattress and box spring, two nightstands, and a dresser. Today, an average cost for these items (minus the box spring)

would be about $40,000 to $45,000 MXN plus tax in a good quality design. For not much more, I should have upgraded to either a Murphy bed or sofa bed, which would have been a better use of space. Unfortunately, it took a few years to figure that out.

I only wish we had done it much sooner.

For those who pay monthly condo fees based on square meters, it makes even more sense to convert to multi-use furniture. Most second bedrooms are about 9.5 to 10 square meters.

That means you are paying for space every month you are probably not using to the fullest. Another piece of convertible furniture that most people are already aware of is the recliner.

Recliners used to be big and bulky, taking up a large footprint of space. With new sleek designs, you can purchase one that minimizes

T the use of space. When you want to stretch out for a comfy siesta, it can expand to fit your needs. There are even recliners called wall-huggers. These are designed to fit the smaller spaces of apartments yet still expand for comfort.

A sofa bed is another item that is considered multi-use.

Unlike sofa beds from twenty or thirty years ago, today’s sofa beds are available in memory foam. There are no more mornings with a backache from the hard bar in the middle of the thin mattress! My favorite brand has a memory foam that has a gel-cooling feature.

With the humidity in the summer season, this feature helps you get a good night’s rest because it keeps your body temperature lower.

The cost of a sofa bed with a memory foam mattress and a gel-cooling feature is not much more than a headboard, bed base and mattress. When it comes to

spending money wisely, a sofa bed is hands down the better option for optimal use of space.

Regardless of which multi-use furniture item you consider, it is critical to make sure its mechanisms are well-made and have an outstanding warranty. These parts must be engineered to the highest levels of safety, product design, optimal performance, and durability.

They should comply with the Consumer Products Safety Commission Standards. If not, they will rust and not work correctly. If purchased from a reputable manufacturer and retailer, you will get many years of smooth and consistent operation.

Are you looking for multi-use furniture for your home in Vallarta? Contact me at furniture@solutionsmexico.com for the name of manufacturers in Mexico that are safe and well-made.

CASA DULCE 3 bed, 3 bath, 2,216 sq.ft. $195,000 USD

his home with authentic Mexican charm is now available for a limited time! And for those looking for that Mexican feel, this may be the place for you. The entire house has high ceilings with excellent ventilation and natural light. Casa Dulce is nestled in a quiet area within walking distance to the beach via a shady river pathway. Local markets, shopping centers, hospitals and the main boulevard are minutes away. Step into this airy home where you will appreciate the Mexican style in every brick wall, archway and doorway. Both the dinning room and kitchen have lots of large beautiful wood framed windows. The comfortable living room has a water feature and looks out to the two open air courtyards. The master is a haven of rest and relaxation with a full size bath.

Contact information: BOARDWALK REALTY OF: 322 224 0014/ 322 223 0001 rocio@boardwalkrealtypv.com https://bit.ly/2KoYhUG

local voices

16

Life in the Slow Lane

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

A Table in the Corner

Kelly Wilson

mybucerias404@gmail.com

Bronwen White

Upon retiring in Ontario, Kelly and her husband finally arrived in Puerto Vallarta—via a one-way ticket during the summer of 2017—where they now call Bucerias home. As avid adventurers, they enjoy exploring the entire Banderas Bay area. Kelly owns an online career coaching business and spends time volunteering for various local organizations.

About, Turn!

I

envy those who came from abroad years ago. Oh, how I long to have been here for a larger portion of my life, although I couldn’t have done it while still working. Paradise is too sweet to set a 6 am alarm. So, while being grateful for the many unique and varied Mexican establishments (and I frequent them!), I am equally happy for the business owners who have come “from away,” chasing dreams and working hard to successfully set up shop here.

In Bucerias, I spoke with three gentlemen who own and operate their own businesses and found some interesting common threads.

None had ever planned to end up here. What a kick!

Guillaume Demay was born in Paris, France. After learning the art of pastry making, he worked at the world-famous Laduree and taught at the prestigious private school, Le Cordon Bleu. In 2003 he arrived in Mexico for a vacation and chose not to go back. He met his wife at Rocky Point in the town of Puerto Peñasco, in northern Mexico. After marrying, they packed the car with all of their belongings and moved to Bucerias.

Guillaume worked as the pastry chef at Grand Velas as well as consulted for Cafe de Artistes and the Festival of Pastries. In 2008 he opened his own bakery, Delices de France, and has been satisfying customers with scrumptious goodies ever since.

Open year-round from 7:30 am to 9 pm, visit the bakery at Narcozari 150. Kelly’s pick: ham and cheese croissant Francesco Narracci was born in Monopoli, Italy. His mother

didn’t want her children “playing in the street,” so at six years of age Francesco started working in a bakery and has since been in the food business. His family also made their own wine, olive oil and canned tomato sauce. After receiving his diploma in hotel/restaurant management he worked throughout Europe and travelled the Caribbean with a cruise line. He and a friend had a bet going and Francesco won, the prize being a trip to Puerto Vallarta. He has lived here now for more than seventeen years and opened his Italian restaurant, La Quinta di Francesco, eleven years ago. Summer hours are 3 - 11pm, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Find him on Facebook or at Retorno Las Palmas 1. Kelly’s pick: lasagna.

For the co-owner of Lateral Cafe & Bistro, “It all started with a beautiful girl.” Born in British Columbia, he was a drywaller who met his future wife while she was vacationing from Mexico. He followed her back here, giving up a planned trip to Australia with friends. They’ve been married now for more than twenty-four years. Initially selling timeshare, he always had a desire to own a restaurant. He is now into his third season of catering to clientele, offering delicious breakfast and lunch options at Narcozari 126, Monday to Saturday, 8 am - 3 pm.

Kelly’s pick: breakfast sandwich . As these stories describe, sometimes life throws a curveball, including unknown destinations. If you’re planning to spend a week here sometime, you should consider packing an extra bag. You never know, you might just stay.

walesbw@gmail.com

Originally from London, Bronwen White has moved to Puerto Vallarta from the US, where she lived in many of its great cities. She is presently embarking on her journey of discovering the local culinary scene delights.

La Vaca Argentina

L

a Vaca Argentina’s logo reads Asador and there’s a drawing of a cow, which sums it up perfectly. An asador is a barbeque, but more properly a spit—the South American method of perfecting their wonderful meats. Speaking as a card-carrying carnivore, an asado is a joy forever.

We rode on horseback through the foothills of the Andes a few years ago, which sounds delightful but was actually quite harrowing, the only saving grace being the asado and lashings of red wine at the finca at the end of the trail.

A classic asado features myriad cuts of beef, sometimes pork and chicken is thrown in, always liberal amounts of offal, such as achuras (intestines), rinones (kidneys), mollejas (sweetbreads) and of course morcilla, the iconic blood pudding. All countries have their own variations—in Mexico it’s moronga made with fresh jalapeno peppers and England has its black pudding made with oats or barley.

Morcilla in South America is prepared in an endless variety of inventive ways. Once in Montevideo at their magnificent Mercado de Puerto, I had a morcilla sampler, two of which I remember, the popular morcilla dulce, with raisins, dates, nuts— Uruguayans like their morcilla sweet, they even put chocolate in it!—another with little bite-size pieces of soft cheese which gave it a lovely creamy consistency.

Appetizers at La Vaca Argentina feature the requisite organ meats (sweetbreads, tongue, etc.) and sizzling platters of their signature meat make dramatic entrances into the dining room. The meat, grass-fed Angus beef, actually comes from the US. It is not the cut-with-a-fork meat beloved of American steakhouses (and American cardiologists) but neither has it the hefty price tags (Old Homestead in New York has a $350 wagyu steak!). Handily they put the weights along with the cuts

as it is very easy to over-order and overeat here. A 500 gram of steak used to be child’s play to me but now, especially in the hot summer days, I can happily eat half of that, especially as the steaks are accompanied by a very generous portion of their house salad.

All your favorite cuts are covered: porterhouse, bottom sirloin, New York, flank, and they even feature a colossal ojo de bife (ribeye). There are lots of ribs, short ribs in the asado de tira, boneless

beef ribs in the churrasco. I can attest to the delicious rack of lamb too.

Post dinner you’ll definitely feel the red corpuscles coursing through your veins! Liberal sides include creamed spinach—how I love it and it’s great here. There are also pizzas and pastas along with super pasta sauces. A house specialty is their lechon, a whole suckling pig, one of life’s most delicious pleasures (order it 24 hours in advance). Did you know that Mexico comes in second in the world for eating pork, number 1 being China?

There are more than 35 Argentinean wines listed by the bottle. Of course, tons of malbec, tempranillo and bonanda. Wines by the glass are more than adequate too. If you need a cocktail, they are all doubles so watch out!

The room is glamorous, the patrons well dressed and well heeled and all having a heck of a good time. It’s definitely not just for gauchos anymore… giddy up!

local voices

17

Movement as Medicine

By Via Anderson

yogawithvia@gmail.com

Via Anderson, E-RYT, is a Yoga and movement coach and teaches the Intelligent Movement Forever system of healthy movement in a weekly online class, in private sessions, and at Yoga Vallarta during the high season. She is the author of How to Move Without Pain: A Compendium of Intelligent Movement, to be released in 2019.

Human Biomechanics for Beginners: the Big Toe Joint

Summing up, the big toe is important for walking, running, balance, and gait. Poor posture and ill-fitting shoes can stifle the strength and mobility of the big toe and throw the MTP joint out of alignment. two joints. Each of the other toes has three phalanges and two interphalangeal (IP) joints. The two big toe bones are phalanges (singular: phalanx), one distal (far) and one proximal (near).

The two joints are the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP), and the interphalangeal joint (IP).

2nd Annual Reader’s Choice Awards

1000’s of votes for the

‘best of everything’ in Puerto Vallarta, Banderas Bay and Riviera Nayarit Best

Restaurants

Best Hotels

Capsules and ligaments cover and cross both joints to provide static stability.

Wide toe-boxes, going barefoot, and targeted exercise support dynamic stability.

High pressure and force from poor posture or poor-fitting shoes can move the MTP joint out of alignment.

Restoring the big toe alignment and mobility can treat a wide variety of foot problems. For example * Encourages natural arch support * Prevents excessive pronation and ankle sprains

* Improves blood flow to the plantar fascia * Restores proper sesamoid bone orientation * Improves balance and reduces the likelihood of falling * Boosts intrinsic foot muscle strength. * Reverses and prevents bunions.

There are many movements that can help increase flexion/ extension and realign the big toe. I described two in previous articles on 11/8/18 and 5/15/19. Here are two more.

Big Toe Lift Start standing or seated in a chair with bare feet pointing straight ahead.

Lift your right big toe without taking any of the other toes with it.

Or hold the other toes down with your hand.

Repeat 3, 6, 9 times.

Repeat on the other side.

Big Toe Abductor Start standing or seated in a chair with bare feet pointing straight ahead.

Use one hand to stabilize the MTP joint.

Use the other hand to pull the big toe away from the other toes.

Repeat 3, 6, 9 times.

Repeat on the other side.

T

his article is part of a series that will describe how various parts of your body move.

Knowing these basics will help you become aware of your movements and move better.

The topic today is your big toe joint (hallux), one of five digits at the front of the foot. The big toe is the innermost toe of all tetrapods (animals that have four limbs). It is digit number one. The big toe provides leverage and stability while walking, running, or pedaling. It also works with the little toe to help maintain your balance. The muscles in your big toe support the ligaments and bones that make up your arches.

Weak big-toe flexors affect the strength and effectiveness of your gluteus maximus.

Each big toe has two bones and

The MTP joint links the big toe to the long bone (metatarsal) in the main part of your foot. It forms the mound at the base of the sole of the big toe.

The MTP joint allows your toes to bend away from your foot, which is important for walking, balance, and gait. It allows flexion, extension, a small amount of abduction and adduction, and rotation. The IP joint is the toe-knuckle joint between the distal and proximal phalanges. The only movement available at this joint is flexion and extension.

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Best Salon

Best

Dentist

Best

Happy Hour

All the results are now online at: www.vallartatribune.com/best-of-banderas-bay-2019/

Simple exercises can help.

Medical disclaimer: The information presented here is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for a doctor’s opinion.

entertainment

18

From Here marciavallarta@gmail.com

Aside from contributing regularly to the Tribune for several years, Marcia is a skilled artisan, specialized in repurposing recycled jewelry and selling her creations at the Marsol Friday

H

Who Was Shoebox Cheryl?

By Marcia Blondin

T

Marcia Blondin

ey! We are halfway through summer already! That means we are mere weeks from snow falling up north and our tourist season beginning once again. One of the (few) benefits of growing old; time really does seem to fly faster.

Still lots of music going on, new businesses opening and here we go…

Thursday, August 1, the day you can actually hold this latest issue in your hand: 6 to 9 pm, the Grand Re-Opening of Ropero de Jovany, in Centro at the corner of Guerrero and Hidalgo. New owner Cris will have bubbly and excellent snacks and door prizes. Lovely Lilia will also be on hand, I am sure, to answer all your questions on all things vintage.

At eight pm, Thursday, Act II’s Main Stage theatre will be packed for the Led Zeppelin Tribute, performed

by Tequila Rush. Honestly, when I went to the LZ Tribute at theRoxy in March, it was with great trepidation. To my complete astonishment, Tequila Rush pulled off the impossible and delivered the finest tribute show Vallarta has ever had and we have had some spectacular ones.

This performance will be at least two and a half hours long without an intermission. Get tickets fast! I will see you in Act II’s art deco bar, Encore, beforehand for cocktails.

For fans of Spanish-language theatre, get over to the Red Room for a very funny reprise of the comedy “Las Anecdotas del Miembro” to celebrate Grupo de Teatro Dionisio’s seventh anniversary! Their opening night is Saturday, August 3 at 9:30 pm. I will get to see three of my favorite character actors NOT be in drag! It was funny when I saw it years ago, even with my wretched Spanish. Just know this: if you liked Naked Boys Singing, you will love Anecdotas! It gets to the heart of all things masculine… ahem.

Sunday, August 4, all day at Babelbar, be prepared to party with live music, good bar food, and crazy team games as we again celebrate the legacy of Cheryl Schrean. Find a short read elsewhere in this issue on why we are filling shoeboxes.

Last week, over smoothies at the Vallarta Cigar Factory with Lady

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Zen, we decided to meet up that very night to see the newest bar on Lazaro Cardenas where Lady Z. will perform early next week. The bar, Ella, is upstairs over Kooky Karaoke, formerly Kinky (no, I don’t know why the name has changed).

Ella is a shout-out to all things female. The décor is simple, stylish, and welcoming, lush with plantings, animal prints scattered sparingly, a retractable roof, everything served on silver trays to nooks and niches and banquettes strategically spaced.

The waiters are attentive and buff— we could stop right there! The menu looks delicious, well-presented, and prepared by a chef born here in Jalisco.

Lady Zen takes the stage, Tuesday, August 6 at 8:30 pm to sing songs of her idol,the late Aretha Franklin. If you have not had the pleasure of hearing Lady Zen, do yourself a favor: Get a bunch of gal pals together and take a much needed night out to celebrate our collective SOUL. While there is not a bad seat in the house, go early to get a great one! I hope Lady Z’s Opening Night will be the start of something great at Ella. I will have a review and updates on the calendar of events in two weeks.

Update on the Artist’s Cooperative. Our proposal has been verbally “liked,” but a few things have to be ironed out. Stay tuned and do email me if you make something with your hands and would like to share with other artists in our co-op.

I had a terrific lunch at Co-exist with my colleague and dear friend Ricardo Mazcal, our herbalist from the Marsol Friday Market by the Pier. He is off to various parts of Mexico and Cuba on vacation. I do have a supply of his herbal tinctures and creams if you need some.

Come by Marsol Market on Friday and find me.

Our jungles are rejoicing with the rainfall, and Puerto Vallarta is clean and shiny. Guard our water with your lives—we depend on it. Get out and share the music this week and next.

Smile at everyone you pass in the street; within two blocks, strangers will be approaching you with smiles first. Try it, From Here.

he Fourth Annual “Cheryl’s Shoebox” fundraiser kicks off this coming Sunday from 2 to 8 pm. Babelbar will again host the crazy games on the lawns bordering the Rio Cuale, serve the ice-cold beer and prep the great food. The locale has proven to be the best so far in the continuing quest to provide kids what they need for school— starting with their shoes.

In 2011, Cheryl Schrean gave a homeless man named Don a pair of size 11 shoes. That was the first!

Since then, well over 7,500 pairs of shoes have been gifted by her or in her name. In 2014 Vicki Steauteville took over running “The Shoebox” that picked up where Cheryl left off at her passing. Her dearest friends— Michael, Jaime, Freda among them, would be encouraged to help her distribute shoes for Children at the Dump and any time the word got out that some colonia or village was having trouble getting school kid’s shoes. Cheryl took to carrying pairs around with her in case she would run into someone in need. One time she was given hundreds of pairs of Crocs. With her entourage, she went to Boca de Tomatlan and told

the villagers that for every bag of garbage picked up from the streets a pair of shoes would be given.

Michael Hammond, says everyone in the village was wearing Crocs— all different colors—and the streets of Boca had never been so clean.

While Cheryl’s Shoebox still collects and buys shoes for kids, their focus has shifted to school supplies as well as footwear.

You can purchase school supply packages put together by volunteers that contain pretty much everything a school kid in Mexico has to have.

So this Sunday, don’t forget to put

some extra pesos in your pocket to purchase one or two of these great bags. They will be distributed to those that need them. Cheryl’s gift of giving has brightened the lives of hundreds of people, most of them disadvantaged children. Many kids received their very first pair of shoes in their lives from Cheryl herself or from one of her friends, such as you.

Join the fun this Sunday at Babelbar on the Isla Rio Cuale from 2 to 8 pm. Rain or shine the games must go on!

Thanks to Vicki Steuteville for help in preparing this article.

SPCA Adorable Dog in the Spotlight: Joey

T

his cute pup is Joey! Don´t let the Shepherd look fool you, he only weighs 10 pounds and fits perfectly on every lap! When Joey was found he had a severe injury on his left eye and the eye couldn´t be saved, so now

Joey is a little pirate! Joey is about 2 years old, he loves playing with stuffed toys and with other dogs.

He is very social and enjoys the company of his humans and getting cuddled.

Joey has been neutered,

dewormed and vaccinated. We are now accepting applications for his adoption.

If you think this cute little guy would be a great addition to your family, contact us at spcapv@ gmail.com for an application.

entertainment

19

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Aretha Franklin’s Amazing Grace

process.

Then there were health issues. A connection with Pollack was indispensable, but by the mid-2000s, the director became gravely ill with cancer, losing his battle against the disease in 2008. Franklin had her own health problems as well, which kept worsening until her death, August 16, 2018.

Aretha Franklin left behind an irreplaceable legacy of music and art around the world. At her 2015 Kennedy Center Honors, President Obama commented, “American history wells up when Aretha sings,” after her iconic rendition of Carole King’s song, A Natural Woman.

“Nobody embodies more fully the connection between the African-American spiritual, the blues, R&B, rock and roll—the way that hardship and sorrow were transformed into something full of beauty and vitality and hope.”

After her passing, family members had no second thoughts about approving the film’s theatrical release. It is now available for purchase on Blu-ray. If you’d like to celebrate The Queen of Soul’s repertoire, consider attending local performer Lady Zen’s tribute on Tuesday, August 6. Please turn to pg. 10 for more information.

By Paco Ojeda

I

n 1972, the late American singer, songwriter, pianist and civil rights activist Aretha Louise Franklin recorded a live gospel album. Titled Amazing Grace, the production featured the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, with Reverend James Cleveland, and the Southern California Community Choir. Released by Atlantic Records, the double album was both a critical and commercial success, earning a double platinum certification and the 1973 Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance.

To date, it is the top-grossing live gospel music album of all time, not to mention her biggest selling disc in a recording career that spanned fifty-plus years and a discography of over 80 albums.

Much lesser known is the fact that Academy Award-winning director Sydney Pollack filmed the entire live concert for an intended release on the same year, Mick Jagger cameos included.

However, due to all sorts of adversities, the footage remained uncompleted and unreleased for 38 years. Of all the adversities, a simple, yet fundamentally important stands out: Pollack had not used a clapperboard.

You’ve seen them used in countless films portraying filmmaking. Clapperboards are devices used in filmmaking to assist in synchronizing of picture and sound, which are recorded separately. They consist of a chalkboard surface where the specific scene or take number are written down for future reference,

and a ‘clapstick’ that creates a click sound when the operator claps it shut. When captured both on film and audio recording, the clapboard provides a visual and auditive cue that is used to align both elements in post-production.

Little is known as to why Pollack neglected to use a clapstick during the 20 or-so hours he captured of the performance over the course of several evenings. The studio

had originally intended to use a different director, but Pollack’s latest film, They Shoot Horses Don’t They, had just earned him an Oscar nomination for best director, so the studio went for the bigger name instead.

Needless to say, not taking such a rudimentary step prevented the film from meeting its expected release date.

As time went by, several attempts were made to complete

the project but there were all sorts of legal issues between Franklin and the production team that plagued the production over the course of almost four decades.

And let’s not mention that nobody could find the actual signed contract from her to approve the film’s release. With time, and as her career continued to soar, personal interests to get the film completed began increasing to the point of interfering with the

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta News

A

re you in town, with time on your hands, and looking to do something meaningful and rewarding with it? The SPCA of Puerto Vallarta is always looking for volunteers to help socialize our dogs at the sanctuary, but if dog cuddling is not your thing, we also need volunteers to help out at our Olas Altas Farmers Market booth starting again in November.

The market takes place every Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm.

We sell SPCA T-shirts and other items, collect donations and provide information. It´s easy! It just takes up a Saturday of your

time. You don´t have to commit for every Saturday, but maybe once a month? Wouldn´t that be something you can help us with? We are currently signing up volunteers. There will be 2 helpers every Saturday, so if you are available for a few Saturdays between November and April, please contact us at spcapv@ gmail.com.

If you are interested in visiting any of our rescues at our state of the art sanctuary outside of town, contact us to schedule a tour. Tours leave from the Costco parking lot on Wednesdays during the

Summer months and reservations per email are required.

We appreciate any donations you can bring for our rescues and if going to the sanctuary, please feel free to bring treats for the staff as they truly appreciate it. Items we always need include: collars, harnesses and leashes; toys and more toys (both stuffed and hard plastic, but no soft plastic as they can chew off pieces and swallow), large towels, blankets, sweaters and coats, and post-surgical cones (both the cone-shaped and soft or inflatable donut ones). Our rescues are now fed a totally raw

diet so please refrain from bringing any dog food or treats.

The mission of SPCA de PV is to help fund and promote sterilization, adoption and healthcare efforts for companion animals in the Puerto Vallarta area, with the goal of eliminating the euthanasia of healthy and adoptable animals.

To make donations via PayPal, select the “Donate” option on our Facebook page www.facebook. com/spcapv or on our website at spcapv.com/donate.

Get involved…rescue, adopt, foster, volunteer, donate or educate.

entertainment

20

Act II’s Twist & Shout Show Bids Farewell

A

fter a highly successful run at Act II for the past year, Twist & Shout will perform its final show on Saturday, August 3 at 7:30 pm. This musical comedy, written by singer/actor Pedro Islas, is an original story of the final two contestants in a musical competition. Pedro is joined on the stage by Faride Talamas and actor, John Trapper, who plays the announcer.

Twist & Shout is performed in English and features dancing, as well as jukebox hits from the 50s and 60s, including songs such as I Wanna Be Loved By You, Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, Be My Baby, Lollipop, I Only Want to Be With You, Twist and Shout. Everyone agrees that it is definitely a “feel-good” type of show, and is perfect entertainment for anyone who loves rock and roll music!

Bob and Eleanor from Mississagua, Canada reported that they “had just a great time at the Twist and Shout show! Great music, talented singers and funny all at the same time! Would go again and would certainly recommend it. Loved the intimate atmosphere as well.And did I mention there is popcorn?!”

Act II’s Summer Concert Series continues in August and features: Lollipop Featuring pop songs from 1990 forward, with a vintage style Thursday, August 8 – 8:30 pm (one night only) Lollipop is an exciting new band formed recently in Puerto Vallarta.

Taking modern pop songs from the year 1990 forward, they turn them into a vintage style, like swing, jungle swing, soul, rock and roll, etc.

With a sound very much like the unforgettable Amy Winehouse, they will play your favorite pop hits like Say Something (A Big World & Xtina Aguilera), I’m Not the Only One (Sam Smith), and many more.

Lollipop is just starting out.

However, musicians Andrés Piedra, Losanna Dias, Gary Flores, Irving Flores and Luis Rascón have a lot of experience in the world of music.

Most recently, they performed with Diana Villamonte in the Red Room, and recently made an appearance on TV Mar, the local, Internet-based TV station (facebook.com/TVMarPuertoVallarta). A musical show with current music in old styles will be an evening to remember!

Final Two Bands in Summer Concert Series: Sal de Mar – August 15 Us Two and the Band – August 22.

Act II also features several other programs this week. On Tuesday night, Bob’s Karaoke Party begins at 8 pm (with happy hour, 6 - 8 pm). On Wednesday night, the one-and-only UsTwo presents their Best of ABBA & Elton John show, beginning at 7:30 pm. On Friday at 8 pm, El Ornitorrinco (The Platypus) is a stage comedy about relationships in postmodern social networks. (Adults only & Spanish). And, on Saturday, “Las Anecdotas del Miembro” opens at 9:30 pm. It is a comedy of short monologues in which the protagonist is the penis! (Adults only & Spanish) Are you an aspiring Singer?

Dancer? Actor?

Auditions for all of next season’s shows are available right now. Act II is specifically looking for two men for one of its musicals right now. If you would like more information, or are interested in auditioning, contact marsha@act2pv.com. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.act2pv.com. Act II Entertainment is located at Basilio Badillo at Insurgentes, Colonia Emiliano Zapata.

It was voted Best Entertainment Venue by the Vallarta Tribune “Best of Vallarta” Readers’ Poll.

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Summer Music Christie Seeley

vezelay@mac.com

Christie is a steadfast promoter of local music and musicians. Learn more about her explorations at www.vallartasounds.com.

I Travel for Music!

M

any of us travel to sample the rich cuisine of an area or a celebrated chef. We travel for art we admire. We travel for adventure. Lately, I travel for music! The wonderful array of accomplished musicians in the Puerto Vallarta area has created an addiction to hearing live performances that I just can’t shake.

Last week I heard that one of my favorite groups out of Leon, Guanajuato, the jazz manouche ensemble Gato Negro, would be playing at a renowned venue in Mexico City. One of the most classic jazz clubs in the city, the New Orleans Jazz Club located in the fashionable San Angel district is known as the Cathedral of Jazz and dates back to 1972. I could not resist the experience.

I was pleased to learn that Gato Negro’s performance that evening would feature two impressive projects: the poetic, musically breathtaking production Ciudad de Arcilla, subject of the group’s most recent and entirely original CD, featuring the poetry of Deniss Guerra; and their new, equally impressive D’Jango Post Mortem in which they beautifully execute the music of one of the biggest influences on jazz and guitar music the world has known, Django Reinhardt. The program was a full two hours of spectacular performances. Osmar Esquivel shared his skills on violin, accordion, guitar and piano and as a special treat, clarinet. Alfonso Jiménez on banjo and guitar, Jac Hechem on guitar and Victor Quijas on double bass brought together all the elements of the fabulous repertoire of Django and the Quintette du Hot Club de France of the 30s and 40s.

Since the program would take place in San Angel, I chose to stay in nearby Coyoacán, a beautiful neighborhood that maintains the feeling of the small town where famous painter Frida Kahlo grew up and lived with her husband Diego Rivera until her early passing in

1954. My sweet boutique hotel was just blocks from the main plaza, the colorful market, and a busy little triangle where Cafe Jarocho offers the best of coffees from Veracruz.

I was told that Coyoacán, bohemian in spirit, is a great place to hear music, favoring both troubadour and jarocho, the music from Veracruz. I was pleased to happen to sit next to a group of musicians one evening as they enjoyed their friends and shared their music at a local cafe in the plaza. They played and sang and were joined by others on guitar and flute. I understand this is not an uncommon experience as locals gather on the plaza to socialize most evenings.

From Mexico City I caught a comfortable bus to San Miguel de Allende to join my friends of the super popular Gypsy Rumba group Media Luna (below).

They have been summering in the capital and also playing frequently in San Miguel. Saturday night’s performance at Centanni, a popular Italian restaurant near San Miguel’s main plaza was great.

An enthusiastic group of fans danced to Caleb, Jaír and Gibran’s fabulous guitars and at times sang

along with bassist and vocalist, Luis Badillo and the rest of the group as they shared such upbeat pieces as Colombian favorite, Que Bonita es Esta Vida.

Sunday’s program was held at Paprika Restaurant where the young men presented their complete show with the full band including percussionist Andres Perales of San Miguel and special guest, accomplished violinist David Mendoza. The lovely voice of a friend, Gaby, who joined them at the last minute to sing marvelous renditions of La Llorona and Besame Mucho was a real hit, and David on violin added a whole new element to the music that was enjoyed by all, including the other musicians. Luckily we had a sunny day for the event and everyone was extremely satisfied.

Saturday night, while walking back from Media Luna’s performance, I was lured into a courtyard where they were holding a blues festival. The vocalist from Mexico City was belting out some of the best blues I have heard, as was the fellow playing a super hot harmonica! Sunday morning in the plaza, an elegantly dressed mariachi group played as selected young performers from the community joined them on vocals.

Music abounds in San Miguel!

While it is always a pleasure to visit new places to hear music, we look forward to the Fall when Media Luna returns to Puerto Vallarta with the product of their creative and inspirational summer and hope for some visits from Gato Negro as well. From what I hear, we are in for some real treats!

21

entertainment Live Music Calendar

This list features bars and restaurants that may have live music and ongoing acts. We do not take responsibility for misinformation. Listings are published free of charge but are subject to space availability.

Email editor@vallartatribune.com to update or add your listings.

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Upcoming Events Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (August 3 • 7 pm and 9:30 pm) A jukebox musical based on the eponymous 1994 film. Teatro Vallarta • facebook.com/teatrovallarta Dinner for Pilitas Stairs (August 3 • 7 pm) Attend a fundraising dinner to support the restoration of the Pilitas staircase at Pilitas and Pino Suarez Sts., in Amapas. This area was destroyed several years ago during the construction of the Bella Loma condominiums and was never restored (as originally promised) with a new staircase and green area. Dinner will take place at Eclecticos Restaurante & Bar. Details at pilitasstairsvallarta.com.

VALLARTA Act II Entertainment (Insurgentes 330) Sat: Twist & Shout 7:30 pm Tue: Bob’s Karaoke Party 8 pm Wed: Best of ABBA/Elton John 7:30 pm Thur: An Evening of Rock Music 8 pm Babel Bar (Aquiles Serdán 437, Isla del Cuale) Fri: Faralae 7 - 9 pm Sat: Nacho and Diego 1 - 3 pm Sat: Oscar & Raul 7 - 9 pm Sun: Esau & Lobo 1 - 3 pm Captain Don’s (Honduras 126) Fri: Tequila Rush 8 - 11 pm Sat: Da Crew 8 - 11 pm Cuates y Cuetes (Francisca Rodriquez 101) Tues: Moruno at 8:30 - 10pm Wed: Tatewari 6 - 8 pm Sun: Moruno at 8:30 - 10 pm Daquiri Dick’s (Malecon and Lazaro Cardenas) Sun: Esaú Galvan 7:30 - 9:30 pm El Oasis de Holi (River mouth by La Isla Mall) Sat: Dr. Groove 6 pm El Rio BBQ, (Paso Ancho) Sun: The Cheko Ruiz Band at 3 pm Incanto (Insurgentes 109) Dennis Crow, Piano Sing-along - Most evenings 9:30 pm Sun: Joby & Tongo 5 pm Sun: Benji Gutierrez, Piano 7:30 pm Tues: Lady Zen 7:30 pm Wed: The Renteria Brothers 7:30 pm Thur: Open Mic 7:30 pm Fri: Joan Houston 5 pm Fri: Zoe & Leon Trio 7:30 pm Sat: Benji Gutierrez & Aaron Hernandez 7:30 pm Kelly’s Pour Favor Saloon and Cookhouse (Lazaro Cardenas 245) Mon: Hoochie Coochie Men 8 - 11 pm Wed: Tequila Rush 8 - 11 pm Thur: 3Tones 8 - 11 pm Fri: Dr. Groove 8 - 11 pm Sat: Soul Trip 8 - 11 pm

Murphy’s Irish Pub (484 Morelos, Malecon) Thur: Adriana and the Freaks 10 pm Fri: Adriana and the Freaks 10 pm Sat: Adriana and the Freaks 10 pm Nacho Daddy (287 Basilio Badillo) Tue: Cat Daddy’s 8:30 pm Wed: Joker Band 8:30 pm Fri: Texas Embassy Blues Band 8:30 pm Que/Pasa (625 Aquiles Serdan) Tues: The Change at 7-10 pm Sun: Sylvie&The Zippers 7 - 10 pm Roxy Rockhouse (Ignacio L Vallarta 275) Nightly music after 11 pm with the house band Aloha Bar (Plaza Parabien #16) Thur: Dr. Groove 10 pm Chasers Sports Bar (Avenida Mexico 570A) Fri: Gecko Band 8 - 11 pm

NUEVO VALLARTA Eddies (Boulevard Nayarit 70) Weekly - Live music 6:30 - 9:30 pm

BUCERIAS Drunken Duck(Avenida Mexico, Centro | Bucerias) Wed: The Gecko Band 9 pm Sun: The Gecko Band 5pm

LA CRUZ Ana Bananas (Tiburón #42 | La Cruz) Sun: Live Music 7 pm OSO’s Oyster Bar ( La Cruz Marina) Sat: The Remedy 7 pm Britannia (Coral, La Cruz) Tues: Open mic with The Turn 7pm

SAYULITA & SAN PANCHO Don Pato (Marlin 12, Sayulita) Live music nightly

View these listings and more online at www.vallartatribune.com/eventos/live-music-calendar/

Health & Wellness Puerto Vallarta (August 4 • 8 am - 6 pm) The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa provides the setting for this day-long health fair in which you can learn about, and participate in a series of holistic activities, such as yoga and meditation. • facebook.com/ HealthWellnessPV Democrats Abroad Costa Banderas Chapter Special Summer Social (August 4 • 10 am) Enjoy a private tour of the gardens by founder, Bob Price. Then, enjoy an a la carte brunch at their restaurant. Admission for non-members is $200 MXN per person. Transportation not included. Vallarta Botanical Garden Cheryl’s Shoebox 4th Annual Summer Bash (August 4 • 2 - 8 pm) This fundraiser will feature live music and picnic-style games where your favorite restaurants, bars and shops compete for the title of Cheryl’s Shoebox Summer Beach Bash Champions!

Babel Bar, Isla Rio Cuale Mexican Ceramics Adventure-Lecture & Demonstration (August 10 • 11 am - 1 pm) This two-hour class will take you on a journey through all aspects of ceramics, from seeing live demos of wheel-thrown pottery, to hand building with slabs and coils of clay, we will explore examples of everything our studio has to offer. As clay takes several steps to complete, we encourage you to sign up for our on-going classes to complete your own ceramics.

Details at facebook.com/artvallarta Artwalk at the Q (August 13 • 6 - 8:30 pm) Sip a bit of free sangria and stroll the many art studio galleries at dotting the courtyard restaurant at Qulture every second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Sip, Stroll, and Dine! Details at facebook.com/qulturepv

28/7/2019

LA Times, Sun, Jul 28, 2019 - "End Game"

Sunday July 28, 2019 games

22 1

2

3

4

18 22

By Gary Larson / Ed. Rich Norris © 2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

5

1 "Welcome" site 4 Word clarified by the minute hand 8 Rainbows, e.g.

12 __-Trinity National Forest, California's largest 18 Bullring bravo 19 In __: as found 20 Haul contents 21 Seafood sauce 22 Card game for students?

24 Card game for the lovelorn?

27 Waffling 28 Donnybrook 29 Easy __ 30 Roll call calls 31 Hungers (for) 34 __ Gherardini, memorable portrait subject 36 Cub with dingers 37 Abbr. on old maps 38 Quad minus two?

40 Hang (around) as friends 41 Medical implants 43 Board game for spies?

46 Paid military group, briefly 48 Herr Schindler 49 Stable serving 50 Cpl.'s superior 53 Spock's father 54 ... with __ organized crime 57 Catch 59 "For every child" rights group 61 Ly rival 63 Place for a dip 65 Morlock victims 66 Card game for plumbers?

68 Playground game for bellhops?

70 Hideous folklore figure 71 Bull, say 72 Youngsters

1 McDonald's drink orders 2 ﬔey may be blind 3 Movie preview 4 Subtle "Check this out!"

5 Former Sony brand 6 Comic book legend 7 John of "Quiz Show" 8 Apiece, in scores

https://cdn1.amuselabs.com/wapo/crossword-pdf

7

8

23

31 38

32

46

61

75

79

80

104

110

42 43 44 45 46

51

52

95

96

97

58 65

73 78

82

83

84

88

85 89

93 99

50

69

77

87

42

57

68

81

94

100

101

105

102

106

111

1 07 112

108

109

113

114

115

116

117

118

119

120

121

Shares a place (with) Holiday garland item First-rate Eye sores "I told you so!"

Specialty Nine-time presidential contender Harold Atlantic game fish Con __ Bro's counterpart Bizet opera priestess High or heavy bodies Jazz club units Had a break between 32-Down Most populous continent Certain wrench component Boob tubes German : Vater :: French : __ Santa's sackful French for "mangers" Strong "pocket" holding in Hold 'em Flip-flop Le Carré's "ﬔe Night __"

47 50 51 52 53 55 56 58 60 61 62 64 67 68 69 72 75 77 81 83 84

17

36

64

72

92

98

56

63

76

86

103

41

55

62

71

74

91

35

49

67

70

16

45

54

66

39 40

34

48

60

15

26

40

47

14

29

44

59

38

13

25

39

53

35

12 21

33

43

16 17 23 25 26 32 33

11

28

37

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

10

24

27

90

9

20

30

73 Literature Nobelist Gordimer 74 Big name at ﬔe Hershey Company 76 Shade tree 78 Flax fabric 79 Supporter of arms, for short 80 Hispanic leader in a beret 82 Sandwiches for dessert 85 Meted (out) 86 Card game for office temps?

90 Taylor's on-again, offagain romance 93 Unseld of the NBA 94 Make bubbly 95 Fairy queen 98 Manual reader 99 Excited about, with "on" 101 Year's record 102 Taiwanese tea drink 103 Skin flick 105 Caribbean cruise stop 107 Man of letters?

110 Card game for auto mechanics?

113 Board game for tightrope walkers?

114 Boyd who was married to Clapton 115 Nullify 116 "Of course" 117 Driver's helper 118 Gets some shuteye 119 Lentil, e.g.

120 Pinochle combo 121 Eight-time Norris Trophy winner

6

19

August 1 - 7, 2019 www.vallartatribune.com

Land on the Red Sea Soup cracker Reacted to corn, maybe Model Chrissy Induce, as perjury Tater Clothing In an impoverished way Big fairy tale character word Wrinkly fruit "Très __" Patrick with a simulcast sports show Farm machine Center, for one In copious amounts Golden State Warriors coach Steve Amazon speaker brand Female antelopes Word before "if you like" on some stickers Eclipse, maybe Sistine Chapel ceiling figures

85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 95 96 97 100 101 102 104 106 108 109 111 112

Period, e.g.

Groove Pipsqueak Lacking a sound basis Pre-head cold feeling Keg stopper Takes by force Start the hand over Cuban rum drink Bully, oen Either original "PTL Club" co-host Relieves "Storage Wars" network Setting for many a joke One of four direcciones Paleontologist's discovery Neutrogena shampoo brand Shake off Pup's cry Early Great Plains building material

1/1

Anglican Church Puerto Vallarta

Iglesia Anglicana Puerto Vallarta

Worldwide Anglican Communion Anglican Church in North America

Puerto Vallarta (322)-308-0022

Read the first edition of the Best of Banderas Bay and Riviera Nayarit guide online www.vallartatribune.com

64

pages of information designed to make your stay in the area the best! From the best beaches to the best activities and more, you can download and view online at www.vallartatribune.com and watch for copies at your favourite Vallar taTribune distribution points.