Issue 980, Jan 14 - 20, 2016

Catch us online @ vallartatribune.com

Entertainment

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Loretta lynn tribute

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January 14 - 20, 2016 Free Issue 980

Art & Culture artwalk

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Riviera Nayarit SAYULITA FESTIVAL

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The Colors of Coltrane by Wosene Kosrof. Courtesy of The Loft Galeria

Property of the Week

pg. 20

welcome

02

Welcome to Puerto Vallarta

and Riviera Nayarit Here is some advice to make your trip a little easier and more enjoyable.

TIME ZONE: The entire state of Jalisco is on Central Time, as is the southern part of the State of Nayarit starting from Guayabitos in the north.

BUSES: A system of urban buses with different routes can bring you from one end of the bay to the other and all the spots in between.

Current fare is $7.50 pesos per ticket and passengers must purchase a new ticket every time they board another bus. There are no “transfers”.

TAXIS: There are set rates within defined zones of town. Do not enter a taxi without agreeing on the price with the driver first. Price is per trip not person.

MONEY EXCHANGE: Although you may have to wait in line for a few minutes, banks will give you a higher rate of exchange than the exchange booths (caja de cambio). You will need your passport. Better yet, use your bank card to withdraw funds from any ATM machine. Note that ATM’s in the banks are the safest to use and generally charge lower fees.

DRINKING WATER: For the 18th year in a row, Puerto Vallarta’s water has been awarded a certification of purity for human consumption.

The quality of the water tested at the purification plant varies greatly from what comes out of the tap at the other end. So do be careful. If you want to be doubly sure, you can pick up bottled water just about anywhere.

EXPORTING PETS: Falling love with the street dog outside your hotel or a puppy on the Malecon doesn’t mean they can’t come home with you.

The process is fairly inexpensive and only takes a day or two. You need a certificate of health from a local vet among other things. The time of year that pets can travel in the cargo section of the plane may be your biggest challenge. For the most up-to-date information contact the Puerto Vallarta SPCA at spcapv@gmail.com.

COMMON SENSE: Just as you wouldn’t walk around your hometown drunk and beligerent, it is not acceptable to do that here. While Mexicans are a forgiving bunch, basic politeness is appreciated.

For the guys, peeing in public is a major faux pas and if you are caught, can get you tossed in jail or an expensive fine. Pay attention to your surroundings. Pay your bills. Be courteous. And have fun!

DRINKING AND DRIVING: First off – just don’t. The consequences are not worth it. Taxis are cheap and plentiful. Fines are as much as 10,000 pesos. You can be taken to jail and your vehicle impounded. There are many checkstops on the weekends and you will be asked to blow if they suspect you have been drinking.

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Calling in Mexico Calling phones in Mexico can be tricky as it is different than in the US or Canada. There are different codes you need to use depending if you are calling landlines or cellular phones and if they are local or long distance.

Long-distance calls from within Mexico For national long-distance calls (within Mexico) the code is 01 plus the area code and phone number. For international long-distance calls, first dial 00, then the country code (for the U.S. and Canada the country code is 1, so you would dial 00 + 1 + area code + 7 digit number).

Calling Cell Phones (from a land line) If you are calling from a landline within the area code of the Mexican cell phone number dial 044, then the 10 digit number including area code. Outside of the area code (but still within Mexico) dial 045 and then the 10 digit phone number. Cell phone to cell phone only requires the 10 digit number.

Phone Cards Phone cards (“tarjetas telefonicas”) for use in pay phones can be bought at newstands and in pharmacies in denominations of 30, 50 and 100 pesos. Pay phones do not accept coins. When buying a phone card for pay phone use, specify that you would like a “tarjeta LADA,” because pre-paid cell phone cards are also sold in the same establishments.

Calling Toll-Free Numbers Some toll free numbers work from Mexico to the US and Canada, but many do not.

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

Emergencies: 060 Red Cross: 065 Non-Emergency Police 322.290.0507 Fire Department: 322.223.9476

Ahoy Cruisers!

Day 15-Jan 19-Jan 21-Jan 27-Jan 28-Jan

Ambulance: 322.222.1533 Consulates American Consulate Nuevo Vallarta: 322.222.0069 24 hrs Guadalajara: 333.268.2145 Canadian Consulate 322.293.2894 24 hrs: 1.800.706.2900

Immigration: 322.224.7719 Consumer Protection: 01.800.468.8722 Tourism Offices Jalisco: 322.221.2676 Nayarit: 322.297.1006

In port this month

Ship Passengers Crown Princess 3,120 Crystal Serenity 1,080 Norwegian Jewel 2,376 Ruby Princess 3,080 Norwegian Jewel 2,376

LEGAL SYSTEM: Not knowing the law is not an valid excuse in Mexico or anywhere. If you find yourself caught in a legal situation be aware that 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 in particular. Immediately contact your consulate for assistance.

Director Noemi Zamora noemizamorareynoso@gmail.com Editor Lic. Madeline Milne mmilne@Vallartatribune.com Sales Team Rebeca Castellón rebeca.castellonn@gmail.com Information office ventastribuna7@yahoo.com Designer Cynthia E. Andrade G. cysandra@gmail.com cisandra@vallartatribune.com

Vallarta Tribune is an activity and entertainment guide and merely 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 soon 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 editor@vallartatribune.com * www.vallartatribune.com * www.facebook.com/vallarta.tribune

editorial

03

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Editor’s

Note

editor@vallartatribune.com

I

f you’ve been following along with my weekly notes then you probably know the horrors I’ve suffered with mechanics and my car in general. Well, this week when the mechanic called to say that my car was about at 80% but he wouldn’t recommend me going up any hills… I finally said, “Screw it!” and bought a new one. Truth be told, I said something much more unprintable.

Now I’m zipping across town in my little car and it’s almost like the last two years of carless torment didn’t exist. For every one who invited me somewhere to something (particularly my friends in the north side of the bay) and I declined, know now that my main excuse is in the wind. In fact, I may even come pick you up so we can hang out. And by zipping, I meant stuck in traffic. That new carratera can’t come soon enough!

Many people come here and wonder if a car is a necessity and for most of the time, it’s not. Cabs are relatively affordable and the bus is cheap and easy once you know what you’re doing and if you don’t it’s a great ‘off the beaten path’ way to see some of the colonias. But the bus is slow and HOT in the summer. And taxi’s add up, especially when you’ve sprained your ankle walking on the not-solevel sidewalk.

Having a car means I can visit out of the way places, stop at a dozen small shops around town, gathering everything I need for an organic cleanse. It means I can hit up the La Cruz Sunday Market and go to Sayulita for an afternoon. It means I can wear white and not be worried about getting dirty on the bus. Ahhhh! It means I can wear heels since I won’t be navigating treacherous sidewalks.

I will be a new woman!

“And the other car?” you ask.

The mechanic thinks it might be a sensor behind the transmission so he’s just going to take the engine apart, again.

While he’s doing that, I think you should be out there, with me, checking out all the great live shows we have around the bay. Go to the Farmer’s Markets; if you haven’t been to the Tuesday market in Nuevo Vallarta, it’s excellent. I

crossed by the new city-run market in Hidalgo Park in Vallarta’s Centro last week, which is open Wednesdays and Sundays, and saw some of my favourite vendors but no crowds. It’s meant to be a market for Mexican artisans and I hope it succeeds, as there are some excellent people and products to support.

And back in the fold, the Vallarta Tribune is thrilled to have the support of the Vallarta ArtWalk again. If you don’t know, every Wednesday evening from 6-10pm a selection of excellent galleries in the Centro neighbourhood open their doors to the general public.

Each gallery is unique in its own right and what you will see and experience each week will be different but often you’ll be plied with food and drink and have the chance to meet some of Vallarta’s most renowned and up-and-coming-artists. The ArtWalk is a great way to introduce yourself to the charming side streets that run up from the Malecon while showcasing some truly beautiful and world-class artworks. From the novice art buff to the expert collectors, there is something for everyone. Check out page 21 for more information on the ArtWalk associated galleries.

And everything is within walking distance so you don’t need to worry about your car.

I hope you have a great week.

There is so much going on around town and across the bay. Perhaps we’ll bump into each other!

Safe travels, Madeline

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Av. Los Tules 160 int.9 Col. Díaz Ordaz, Pto Vallarta.

Letter to Editor Dear Madeline: I was given 3 months off from my role as a trial lawyer and professor at California Western School of Law, in San Diego, CA. I also take cases at the CA Innocence Project to exonerate those wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit. I decided to come here. Wanting to do some community service here, I did not know where to turn. I found your wonderful Tribune with its terrific and informative articles. Then I turned to page 22- Non-Profit and Charitable Organizations. Wow! I have never

editor@vallartatribune.com

seen these organizations so prominently featured in any publication anywhere. You are providing an invaluable service to this community and to those who need these services so desperately. Thank you so much.

Mario Conte Dear Madeline: One should buy local when living in Vallarta. Gringos continually searching for things they are familiar with “back home” miss some fabulous opportunities.

Sausages are a case in point.

Sure the big box stores will carry some brands that one knows about but there are people out there making fabulous alternate product – such as Alex Duarte. I discovered his stand at the Wednesday/Saturday market, Three Hens and a Rooster. He hands out a photocopied flyer listing lamb, beef, pork, poultry, mixed and even vegan products.

Make sure you pick one up because HE WILL DELIVER – as small a quantity as a bag of four!

He is a good representative of the hundreds of small entrepreneurs who make staying in Puerto Vallarta an experience to look forward to year after year. Please support the individuals.

Bill Holmes

Old Town Farmers Marke

By Erin Staley

Wearable Art Wows Market G W

ith farm-to-table produce, artisan decor, organic coffee, hand-rolled cigars, fashions and accessories, live music, international fare, yoga, and on-site massage and chiropractic sessions – there's so much to enjoy at Vallarta's favourite weekend attraction!

Join us this Saturday for over 90 stalls of “make it, bake it, grow it” goodies.

While here, be sure to check out the one-of-a-kind pieces of wearable art offered by Karen Mical Designs.

Cell. 322 134 4162 MEXICO, (952) 583 0329 USA & CANADA info@muchococo.com www.muchococo.com

Meet Karen Mical Design

Made from polymer clay, Karen Mical Design's beads are turned into stunning necklaces, earrings, bracelets, barrettes and rings.

Owners, Karen and David Mical, were artists for many years, working in watercolors, stained glass, and leather work.

They found a passion in polymer clay, enjoying the various techniques with which to play and experiment. Now that they're retired, living their dream in beautiful Vallarta for the past three years, the Mical's enjoy the relaxing lifestyle of “sitting on our terrace, making beads.”

"We take the raw clay, mix our colors for each series, then make canes and sheets of clay with different techniques to make the beads," explains Karen Mical.

"The finished beads are baked at low temperatures, and then polished on a buffing wheel. The beads are assembled

into jewelry, and once baked, they are very durable and lightweight."

In their third season at the market, the Mical's believe they are very fortunate to be doing what they love.

They create new pieces every week, wowing customers who love the color combinations, design variety, and comfortable fit of every original piece.

“We have so much fun meeting

You’re Invited!

We’re open 9:30-2 every Saturday, from November 7 to April 30, 2016. We’re located at Lazaro Cárdenas Park in Vallarta’s Emiliano Zapata neighbourhood. For only 14 pesos an hour, you can park in the garage directly beneath park. Public buses and taxis also come this way with a Pino Suarez Street drop off.

new people from all over the world," says Mical. "Our friends always stop by to say 'hello,' and now you can too!

Stop by to visit us this Saturday and pick out your favorite one-of-a-kind piece!”

You can also connect with Karen Mical Designs at +1 (603) 898-5488 US, +52 (322)113-2192 Mexico, karenmical(at)yahoo.com or on

et - Tianguis Cultural

Find us at Parque Lázaro Cárdenas Romantic Zone Saturdays 9:30 - 2:00 pm

Goers at the OTFM-TC Facebook (/karenmical/).

Love Yoga?

While at the market, join us for yoga classes (9:30-10:30 am) taught by instructors from Yoga Colective. We meet in the kiosk every Saturday through April 30.

Participation is by donation.

Meet the Market The OTFM-TC is a North American style market that celebrates the tradition and culture of Mexico’s outdoor tianguis markets.

It is also a registered non-profit/ association civil organization that focuses on nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit of Puerto Vallartans.

All OTFM-TC products are either locally grown or handmade within 75 kilometres of the city.

Artisan Bakery

Luna Rumba a Huge Success at the Market!

…where bread is an art.

Na tu rally leave ne d sou rd ou g h s pe cialt y b r ead s ba ke d in ou r ow n ma so nry ov e n.

Over 1,000 market goers packed the stands for the special performance by Luna Rumba at last Saturday’s market.

The crowd applauded as they shared selections from their new CD, Luna Rumba LIVE! It is a collection of original and cover songs, as well as the most requested songs from last season’s live performances.

Luna Rumba’s CD release party will be on Jan. 22 at The Palm Cabaret and Bar. Visit lunarumba.com to learn more.

Due to the overwhelming success the market is hoping to hold similar performances throughout the season. Watch for upcoming dates.

Get Involved!

Interested in becoming a new vendor? Stop by the information booth for an application. For the latest in market news (both in English and Spanish), visit www. oldtownfm.com and “like” us on Facebook (Old.Town.

Farmers.Market.PV).

Swimwear and beachwear made ​​to order!

Teresa Moreno Fb: TYBikinisYMas

Tel. 322-137-04-77 ty-bikinis-y-mas@hotmail.com Federalismo #1383 Colonia Lomas del Coapinole Pitillal, Jal

Tel. 224-6670 Cel: 322-116-9908

Authentic contemporary jewelry

Heriberto Saucedo Pérez Artista Diseñador Cel. 322.190 56 32 Fb: Heriko Joyeria herikojoyeria@hotmail.com Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

local

06

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

2015: A banner year in Vallarta

By Meagan Drillinger

I Puerto Vallarta readies for 22nd Gala Vallarta

By Meagan Drillinger he Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board and the Riviera Nayarit Convention & Visitors Bureau will host the 22nd edition of Gala Vallarta (www.galavallarta-nayarit.com) from Jan. 27 to 29.

The gala is designed to provide local hotels and destination management companies the opportunity to do business with international buyers.

More than 200 local providers will participate in this year’s event,

T

with almost 130 international buyers representing 60 companies.

Puerto Vallarta is reporting a banner year in 2015, with an average of 70% hotel occupancy and new flights from Houston and Denver with Southwest Airlines and from California’s Orange County with Alaska Airlines.

Ten properties have opened in the past 18 months, including the Grand Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta, the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta and the Hotel Mousai.

Original: Travel Weekly

n 2014, there was a total of 11,718 rooms available in Puerto Vallarta, with nearly 4.3 million room nights booked in the same year. Passenger arrivals totaled 1.5 million, which was a 17.6% growth when compared with 2013. Last year was just as successful, as the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board touted a 90% occupancy rate for December. From Dec. 19 to Jan. 6, the destination anticipates a 20% increase from last year, and all hotels in the marina and hotel zones reported 100% occupancy from the holiday season. For the year, 2015 looks like it will be the destination’s best since 2008, as it recorded an average occupancy rate of 65% from January through November. There was close to

1.8 million international visitors during the same period, a 19% increase from 2014. Miguel Andres Hernandez, director of the Puerto Vallarta Office of Conventions and Visitors said that visitors have generated almost $30 million to the destination’s hotels and more than $30 million going to local businesses. This is a whopping 350% increase from 2014.

The coastal city exploded with new hotels in 2015. The Grand Fiesta Americana, Hotel Mousai, Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta, Suns-

cape Puerto Vallarta, Casa Kimberly and Garlands del Rio all opened their doors last year.

The addition of these major and boutique hotels shows the growing interest and growing diversity of Puerto Vallarta and its ability to cater to travelers seeking different vibes.

Still to come this year will be the W Punta de Mita, which will open on the Riviera Nayarit just 15 miles from Puerto Vallarta, as well as Estudio 6, which will open in March.

Original: Travel Weekly

OTFM-TC Makes a $30,000 Donation

Pope re Mexico visit: will there be tequila?

M

exican visitor to the Vatican tells Francis that Mexico is waiting for him Pope Francis has been promised “lots of tequila” when he pays an official visit to Mexico February 12-17.

While crossing St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican and greeting pilgrims New Year’s Day, the pope was greeted by a Mexican visitor who extended a welcome in advance of the papal visit.

“Papa, we are waiting for you in Mexico,” the visitor shouted as the pope walked by.

Francis’ response was quick.

“With or without tequila?” he asked with a smile.

“With lots of tequila,” assured the Mexican pilgrim, drawing laughs from the crowd.

The video has reportedly gone viral on social media.

The pope’s visit will include official and religious activities in Mexico City and the states of México, Chiapas, Michoacán and

By Erin Staley

N Chihuahua.

He will meet with President Enrique Peña Nieto and other officials, celebrate Mass in the Basilica of Guadalupe and another with indigenous communities in San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas, among several other events.

Sources: CNNExpansión (sp) Original: Mexico News Daily

ow in its seventh season, Old Town Farmers Market-Tianguis Cultural (OTFM-TC), continues to make an impact in the community. It did just that with last Saturday's $30,000 pesos donation to the Asociacion de Vecinos de la Col. Emiliano Zapata (the local Business Association). The funds came the market's reserve account and will be forwarded to the City of Vallarta's Tourism Department to meet their request to donate four new computers.

About the Market

In June 2014, the market became a non-profit organization that is administered by a Board of Directors, an administration team

and a volunteer Vendor Selection Committee. The committee – comprised of vendors and community representatives – vet all vendor applications.

All vendors are registered, tax-paying business owners who live within 75 kilometers of Puerto Vallarta. Since the market's inception, it has maintained a diverse vendor roster, with the 2015-2016 season having 88 vendors, 68 of who are Mexicans and 20 who are from as far away places as Argentina, Canada, Chile, England, Thailand, Taiwan and the United States.

Many vendors have become self-reliant entrepreneurs, fully supporting their families from their market income.

The vendors pay an annual membership fee that covers the

market's operational costs (weekly permits, association dues, equipment, marketing and staffing) as well as adding to the reserve fund.

The fund is designated for market growth, skill development of market vendors and future good works in the neighbourhood.

Join us every Saturday (9:30-2) through April 30, 2016. The market is located at Lazaro Cárdenas Park in Vallarta’s Emiliano Zapata neighbourhood. A parking garage is located directly beneath park for $14 pesos/hour. Public buses and taxis head to the market with a Pino Suarez Street drop off.

For the latest in market news (both in English and Spanish), visit www.oldtownfm.com and “like” us on Facebook (Old.Town.Farmers.

Market.PV)

local

07

From Here

by Marcia Blondin marciavallarta@gmail.com

M

aybe it was the setting: at Terra Noble Spa overlooking the night-lit city of Vallarta stretching endlessly away from the sea. Or, maybe the exquisite nibblies and drinks by Celebrations Vallarta.

The weather was certainly lovely without the customary chilly January wind. The opening trio, Moruno, I hear weekly from El Patio de mi Casa but Friday night was the first time I had actually seen them perform…amazing trio. They certainly set the tone for CK Productions main event: the jazziest Jazz Concert ever in Vallarta starring the sensational British jazz pianist Janette Mason. She is tiny. Her music is not. Backed by Steve York, a fellow Brit, on bass guitar and affable percussionist, Luis Murillo.

The audience settled down at tables, chairs and sofas throughout this mystical venue and proceeded to get wowed! Here’s the thing that made this production stand out: First, Vallarta is awash with talent right now.

Every club, cabaret, theatre and bar is bursting at the seams with local and imported talent; it is the season.

As I looked around the audience I realized I was seeing musicians everywhere! I picked out Lisa York, Joan Houston, Chas Eller, Chris Kenny, Sharon and David White, oh, and Kim Kuzma (who graciously joined Janette on stage and sang us a song). I am certain there were more I didn’t see and/or know: a tough crowd to please. Well, maybe not tough, but certainly a learned audience and, they were delighted. I talked to friends during intermission who thought they hated jazz; by half time they were drawn in completely. Kudos to CK Productions and Sue Keevil who put this concert together in a decidedly out-of-the-way place and managed to convince more than 125 people to dress up, get to Terra Noble, have some food and drinks and enjoy a very classy evening. We will be enjoying more of Janette Mason this season - I will keep you posted when I have details.

A mushrooming phenomenon in Vallarta this season is Tribute Artists.

There are Elvises, Patsy Clines, Connie Francises, Frankie Vallis, Buddy Hollys et al…just to drop a few names. Rhonda Padmos - an amazing musical director, pianist and singer - has put together many shows

and collaborated with dozens of musicians in her career but I think she has outdone herself with California Dreamin’ and her tribute to the Mamas and the Papas. The set was simple; the focus on the lyrics, the music and the harmonies that still take my breath away. And the joy was there on stage.

Some interesting vignettes from the cast about where the M’s and P’s were geographically and emotionally when certain songs were written and why. A gentle look back at days of peace and love, flowers and California.

There was a contact high! Happily California Dreamin’ has been held over and will continue to delight audiences every Monday night at Stages at least until the end of February. Go. And, dream a little dream of me. Speaking of dreaming, healer Bertrand Boudreau sends apologies to his growing client base that he is booked solid until the end of January.

The small ad he ran in the Tribune generated a great deal of interest. Too great as he can only manage to work with one person a day.

Did you know Seasons P.V. delivers within a six-block radius of their restaurant? I didn’t either. They are certainly getting good press on Facebook from friends who know food. One of these days I will have to try their French Fries. Actually their poutine without the cheese curds. Who invented poutine?

I just want chips and gravy!

Very cool opening coming up this Friday, the 16th at Art Vallarta from 6 to 9 pm. The party, with live music, food and drinks will kick off a month-long celebration called Fearless Fridas.

Please come dressed as Frida or Diego Rivera if you like and add to the artwork that will be on display. Please come to the Friday Market at the Marsol Hotel from 9:30 to 1:30. If you enjoyed the markets at the Paradise Community Center in the past, you will find many of those same vendors at the Marsol Hotel. Including me! And, we are having a special bazaar next Tuesday the 19th from 9 to 1. Selling all kinds of things. Kitchen sinks included.

That’s it for me this week. If you have something I should see or know about, e-mail me. Yipes! I almost forgot! There is going to be a HUGE reggae festival here in Vallarta in March. Appearing on stage with Vallarta’s own Kassiano will be one of Bob Marley’s sons…stay tuned.

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

entertainment

08

Vallarta’s most popular music groups at The Palm

L

atcho & Andrea - The Blond Gypsies return with their earthy gypsy flamenco guitars on Jan. 19. And one of Banderas Bay’s most popular live bands, Luna Rumba, celebrates the release of their second CD ‘Live’, with two shows and a VIP dance party on Jan. 22.

Latcho & Andrea: The Blond Gypsies Authentic Latin and Gypsy Flamenco rhythms and sultry harmonies capture the hearts of Latcho & Andrea’s audiences at every show. The Blond Gypsies return to The Palm with their high-spirited, real inspired gypsy music, that includes original songs and stories from their past, when they met traveling with Wild West shows and the circuses of Europe, and playing music with the likes of The Gipsy Kings. Now in their second season at The Palm, Latcho & Andrea’s popularity continues to soar. Watching and hearing them is part spiritual, part musical, and audiences often end up dancing in the aisles, which the artists enthusiastically encourage.

“I knew I was in the presence of awesome musical talent” - Debbie White. Their traditional heart-pounding tempo and beautiful melodies make them one of the most popular and sought after musical duos in Vallarta. Enjoy the untamed power of real inspired gypsy flamenco music. Latcho & Andrea will play throughout the season at The Palm, with their next shows on January 19 & 29 at 7:00 pm. See the link below for more information and online tickets.

Luna Rumba

Luna Rumba is a world music group, featuring Cheko Ruiz on vocals and guitar, George “Geo” Uhrich on violin, mandolin, flamenco and electric guitars, Alex Gonzalez on percussion, and Luis Rascon on electric and acoustic bass, cello and vocals. A tapestry of Latin Fusion, Gypsy Flamenco, Arabic Melodies, Cuban Rhythms, Celtic Riffs and Latin Jazz, their shows are a celebration of musical fusion, human diversity and creativity. Luna Rumba’s popularity in the Banderas Bay area has taken off since their founding only a few short years ago, and continues this season at The Palm with packed

“

“Luna Rumba shakes Vallarta’s music scene”

houses and standing ovations.

Following the success of their first CD, that won three international awards including Best Latin CD at the Independent Music Awards, Luna Rumba has put together a new collection of original songs and covers, giving fans their most requested songs in a new CD from their live performances.

Selections include Cucurucucu Paloma, Stay in Vallarta, Besame Mucho (special version), and the very popular and high-energy Shambo! Their new CD ‘Live’ is a great collector’s item too, featuring the amazing artwork of local artist Francine Peters on the cover, depicting the street scene in front of The Palm Cabaret where many of the songs were recorded.

A special CD Release Party and two shows will be held on Friday, January 22 at 7:00 & 9:30.

The 7:00 performance will be in their usual concert format, and the 9:30 show will be a special VIP performance (with limited seating) and dance party where audience members will be able to get up and dance during the show! Both shows are very likely to sell-out fast, so best to reserve early.

Now Playing at The Palm

Renowned vocalist and celebrity impersonator Steven Brinberg starring in his critically acclaimed show ‘Simply Barbra & Friends’ is now playing through Jan.18. Steven’s uncanny ability to look, talk and sing LIVE, just like Barbra Streisand, as well as impersonating some of her famous friends, has delighted audiences all over the world. Amy Armstrong pairs with Bohemia Viva in their popular music and comedy show ‘Spanglish’ now playing through Jan. 29. Amy’s powerful vocals blended with the sensuous harmonies of Luis and Andrea, plus a healthy dose of hilarious comedy, make this show a must-see! Vallarta’s Argentinian sweethearts also continue with their own show,

“

Gary R. Beck

featuring sizzling Latin rhythms and acoustic harmonies. They will welcome Andrea’s younger brother, accomplished Argentinian guitarist Oscar Castellano to join them for a few performances beginning Jan. 16 at 7:00 pm. Also on Jan. 16 at 4:00 pm, Paco Ojeda presents one performance only of another in his Music Tribute Series with ‘The Kim Kuzma Songbook’ featuring the life and music of one of Vallarta’s favorite entertainers.

Kim Kuzma and her ‘Acústico’ live band, with their hot Latin and pop music mash-ups, play every Wed. & Sun. at 7:00 all season. And HeldOver By Popular Demand through Feb. 29, is the second installment in the ‘Greater Tuna’ stage comedy series, ‘A Tuna Christmas’, starring real-life brothers Terry Dale Parks and Tracy Parks. This hilarious yuletide (bun a ‘holly, jolly’ good time anytime of the year!) to last year’s hit is the tale of simple Southern life in fictional Tuna, TX. With many of the same zany, fun characters returning, it has played worldwide for over 30 years, always leaving audiences in stitches. Also, a special Karaoke Night will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 9:00 pm. Join Norma Parks, Tracy Parks and host Beverly Fairfax for a fun night of singing at The Palm.

The Palm is well-known for bringing top notch, cutting-edge entertainment to Vallarta. Shows are scheduled seven days per week with two different shows nightly and matinees at 4:00 p.m. on selected shows through April, 2015. The Palm is non-smoking (a patio is provided for smokers) and is located at Olas Altas #508, in Zona Romantica. Tickets may be purchased online 24 hours a day, and at The Palm’s box office opens at 10:00 am daily (322-222-0200).

A full calendar of performances, information and online tickets are available at www.ThePalmPV. com. You can also find the Palm on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ ThePalmPV/

“I knew I was in the presence of awesome musical talent”

Debbie White

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

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“Walk Like a Man”

entertainment

The exciting tribute to Frankie Valli & the 4 Seasons starring Paul Fracassi.

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alk Like A Man”, the exciting tribute to popular New Jersey-based recording stars Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, has been an instant hit with audiences across Canada, in the USA and at tourist hot spots in Mexico. The show features 24 year-old singing sensation Paul Fracassi, a former Star Search and Canadian Idol semi-finalist and graduate of Toronto’s famous St. Elizabeth School for The Performing Arts.

His vocal range and showmanship are always a big hit. And he performs the Four Seasons’ songs with a thrilling fidelity that will make you feel you’re discovering them for the first time.

Walk Like A Man, was inspired by ”Jersey Boys”, the hit movie and stage play about the life and times of The Four Seasons. But the music is all the two entities share.

Walk Like A Man is a sixties-style concert that presents a nostalgic look at The Four Seasons’ amazing body of work. Paul Fracassi’s show, featuring the group’s bestloved hits, is the kind of show that made the young Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Nick Massi and Tommy DeVito rich and famous. It may someday do the same for Paul Fracassi.

Songs featured in the show include “December ‘63”, “Sherry”, Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”, “Dawn” and of course “Walk Like A Man”. Powerful music, fabulous vocals, in a word, unforgettable.

Walk Like A Man was a big hit last winter in Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta and Bucerias. The show will be returning to The Luna

Lounge, Av Mexico 27, Bucerias, for a 6:30 dinner show on Thursday, January 21. For more info,

click on www.lunaloungebucerias.com, or call Hugh Gaffney, at 329-298-3242.

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

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Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Review: Shania Twain, Elvis and Opera Shine at Luna Lounge

By Debbie White

photo to Bonnie Gray

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his past week was a blockbuster of entertainment at Luna Lounge in Bucerias.

First up on Thursday night, Annette Lafond, starring in a Shania Twain tribute show, "blew our socks off" with her incredible vocals and amazing look-a-like appearance and performance. Hey, Vallarta venues, you'd better grab this act for next season!

With multiple standing ovations and two encore demands from the audience, this was a stellar show!

Annette was gorgeous, talented and had the audience in the palm of her hand. When I missed Shania's gig in Vegas, I never expected to get a second chance to see her (well, it was almost like seeing her in person).

The people sitting next to me, at first, thought she might be lip-synching, because her vocals exactly matched Shania. Her voice was that good!

This lady takes her career seriously, staying in perfect shape physically and vocally and flawlessly performing to her enthusiastic audience. She circulated around the audience, singing and

hugging people and letting them take selfies in the process.

And who doesn't like the country rock cross over music of Shania Twain, with songs like "I Feel Like A Woman," "Honey, I'm Home," "Looks Like We Made It," "Still The One," "You've Got A Way," "The Way You Make Love," "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" and an outstanding duet with her husband, "From This Moment."

Make sure to see Windsor, Ontario native, Annette Lafond when she

Dueling Drag Divas Return to Vallarta

By Debbie White

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ueling Drag Divas starring Emmy Award Winner, Chi Chi Rones and NY Times acclaimed impressionist, Jo Anna return to Puerto Vallarta for a third season with an all new hit show!

Both professional drag artists, Chi Chi and Joanna joined forces in P.V. on a whim…and their show Dueling Drag Divas instantly became a smash hit and fan favorite!

Both Chi Chi and Joanna sing "live" and never lip synch. With soaring voices and original comedy, they have become a favorite with Vallarta audiences. Their infamous and uncanny celebrity impersonations will leave you rolling in the aisles as portray: Caitin Jenner vs.

Kris Jenner, Battle of the Brits: Adele vs. Amy Winehouse, Streisand vs.

Midler, Dueling Judy Garlands aka Boozy Garlands, Dame Shirley Bassey, Madonna, Ursula (Little Mermaids), Cher, Liza, Disco Donna and the infamous Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis singing Taylor Swift.

This year’s Dueling Drag Divas show is full of surprises

with numbers written and tailored specifically for the characters they perform. Always fresh, current and topical, they bring new material to their audiences each season. Chi Chi presents a parody of Shirley Bassey singing in defiance of not being asked to perform the latest 007 theme song from Spectre. The song is a combination of Goldfinger, Nobody Does it Better, Skyfall, Diamonds are Forever and Golden Eye. Their new Caitlyn Jenner vs.

Kris Jenner has to be seen to be believed, but suffice it to say, it will leave you forever "changed." These are just a few of the many numbers that will "wow" their Vallarta fans and keep them in stitches.

What started out on a whim, has turned into an extraordinary show with sold-out performances worldwide. The Divas are back with their incredible singing, comedy, parodies and fabulous costumes!

Totally unique and entertaining, this is definitely a show you'll want see.

The Dueling Drag Divas will perform in Vallarta on Wednesdays and Sundays through March 20th, 2016.

returns again to the Bay, which I'm sure she will.

On Friday night, Rob Knight and Dino Macris, performed their Elvis Birthday Show at Luna Lounge to a sold-out crowd. It was as good as any Vegas tribute show that you could hope to see. Both award winning tribute artists flawlessly performed to an audience of eager Elvis fans.

I never considered myself a die-hard Elvis follower until I heard Rob Knight perform. I have joined

the fan club and Friday night sealed the deal with a fabulous performance. The costumes, the songs, the performances and the audience interaction were all first rate. Standing ovations and loud clapping and cheering abounded throughout the night.

Dino and Rob took turns performing a wide variety of Elvis songs like, "It's Now Or Never," "Margarita," "The Wonder of You," "Please Release Me," "It's Only Make Believe," "Johnny Be Good," "My Boy," "I Can't Stop Loving You," "You've Lost That Loving Feeling," "In The Ghetto," "Impossible Dream," and "American Trilogy," just to name a few.

It would have been Elvis' 81st birthday last Friday and Rob Knight and Dino Macris gave Elvis and the audience at Luna Lounge an amazing birthday celebration. Rob Knight returns to Luna Lounge on February 19th for another Elvis performance and can also be seen in Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday nights. Information on the PV show can be found at vallartatickets. com.

And finally on Saturday night, Isabella Jerowska, performed both opera and show tunes at Luna

Lounge. Isabella holds a doctorate in music, holds a professorship at a leading Polish University, is the world's leading scholar on Gershwin and speaks at least five languages.

She performs opera throughout Europe and also loves to vacation in Banderas Bay. This was her second and final performance while on vacation here.

Isabella performed songs like, "Cherubino," "Isabella," "Lauretta, "Habanera," "Summer Time," "Think of Me," "Evita," "Somewhere," "Over The Rainbow," "Minmerr," "Send In The Clown," "I Dreamed A Dream," "Memories" and many others. With a pleasing combination of show tunes and opera, this was an interesting and enjoyable show!

Coming up this week at Luna Lounge are 2 X 1 Ribs and "The New Coyotes" on Monday, The Crazy Bitches Show on Tuesday and Wednesday, the always popular, Mexican Fiesta dinner and show on Wednesday night and the amazing vocalist, Amy Armstrong in Spanglish on Friday night.

For more information or tickets go to www.lunaloungebucerias. weebly.com/

Spanish Bloopers

by Sandra Cesca

MANTEQUILLA (BUTTER)

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his column is for all of us who are still struggling with the Spanish language…and for those who just want to enjoy a good laugh! Although I have lived here seven years, I still make many mistakes with words that sound the same but are entirely different or

MANZANILLA (CHAMOMILE) with the same word that has double or triple meanings, some resulting in various degrees of embarrassment.

Today’s story: MANTEQUILLA (BUTTER) MANZANILLA (CHAMOMILE) A reader writes in: These two words always confuse me

whenever I go to the store. The only way I can keep them straight is to remember that my chamomile tea has an apple flavor…apple being “manzana” in Spanish.

Send me your bloopers and a little story to go with them: sandra.learn.vallarta@gmail.com

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Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Explore Banderas Bay

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uerto Vallarta is located in the middle of Banderas Bay, one of the largest bays in Mexico at nearly 100km in length.

It is bounded in the north by Punta de Mita and in the south by Cabo Corrientes. It straddles the states of Jalisco and Nayarit, divided along the Ameca River.

The bay is home to many wonderful communities and an abundance of natural wonders. In the winter and spring seasons you can witness the awe inspiring beauty of the humpback whales as they calve in the warm waters of the bay, in the summer you can experience the majesty of the sea turtles hatching and returning to their watery world.

The fall brings renewed vigour to the mountains and rivers with the fresh rains and revived vegetation.

No matter when you visit, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit will share their wonders with you.

Here is a selection of some of the many things you can do while visiting us.

Walking Tours Take a tour through Puerto Vallarta’s Historic Downtown to learn about this city’s rich history, famous people, architecture, and cultural and ecological heritage; all this on an easy to moderate two-hour stroll led by a certified guide.

Tours leave from the Municipal Tourism Office every Tuesday and Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m.

Shopping in the Zona Romantica – this charming neighbourhood is also called Old Town and is a popular residential area for expats and Mexican families.

Along the main streets you will find shops galore, filled with wonderful authentic crafts, clothing, jewelry, excellent restaurants, spas, theaters and more.

Vibrant and friendly, this area offers

an excellent day or two (or more!) of exploring.

Close to Los Muertos beach, consider ending your day with a sunset margarita at any of the many beachfront restaurants.

Sunsets on the Malecon - Sitting on the edge of the Pacific Ocean never fails to give us a sunset each night. Grab a seat at any of the number of excellent bars and restaurants along the malecon, order your favourite cocktail and let it all slip away.

Once the sun has set, the malecon comes alive with families out for a stroll, plenty of live entertainment and later in the night, the nightclubs beckon.

Sayulita – A short 45 minutes north of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport, Sayulita is the surfers mecca of Riviera Nayarit.

A funky town with a wonderful protected beach, this laid-back town has a hippie vibe with the organic cafes and the yoga studios to prove it. Visit the Huichol Cultural Centre for some wonderful hand-made beaded jewelry or grab a surf lesson from one of the many vendors on the beach.

Cooking Classes – Recognized as one of the world’s leading cuisines, there are a number of great schools in the Puerto Vallarta area that will teach you how to master tortilla

soup, enchiladas, salsas and more.

Fresh seafood, abundant fruit and veggies and a sophisticated community make Vallarta a foodies dream destination. Look for a school that will take you to the markets or introduce you to the farmers and fishermen for a truly cultural experience. Don’t want to cook?

Try one of the Food Tours available.

Eat like a local and for three hours you will enjoy everything from Tacos to Pozole.

Art Galleries – It is said there are more galleries per capita in Puerto Vallarta than any other place in Mexico.

Many of these galleries are along the side streets that run through Centro. Stop at the Tourism Office in the Main Plaza for a map or take advantage of their free walking tour.

Many galleries carry high quality local crafts, established Mexican and international artists and more.

Volunteer - There are many wonderful organizations across the Bay that can use your help. Both time or money will be appreciated. On Sundays, the Brigada de Basura does a morning clean-up with the local children and then they all head to Que Pasa restaurant for breakfast, activities and friendship.

Ride the bus - Buses in Puerto Vallarta are an experience all their own. You can tell the general destination of the bus by what is written

on the window. Costco, Sheraton, Centro, Mismaloya you can go just about anywhere in this city on the bus. Only seven and a half pesos (per bus - there are no transfers) this is a great way to explore the neighbourhoods. Head south on the bus and get a front row seat on some spectacular scenery on your way to the Vallarta Zoo. Or hop the Bucerias bus in front of Walmart and 30 minutes later you are exploring a charming beachside town.

Tip: Sit on the non-sunny side of the bus. Trust me. It gets hot.

Support Local Business - One of the most popular reasons visitors love Puerto Vallarta is because it’s a thriving city not just geared towards tourists.

A fine example of this is the many small businesses that you can find in ‘Centro’ including galleries, restaurants, clothing stores, spas and more. Venture off the malecon to find the perfect souvenir.

Conchas Chinas The south of Puerto Vallarta is a thick jungle full of adventure and excitement. Head south along the 200 highway and you will find the architecturally inspiring community of Conchas Chinas. The beach cove here is excellent for snorkeling.

Nogalito The first town South is that of Nogalito. Set back in the jungle it is a char-

ming Mexican village that also is home to one of the most popular day tours - the Canopy Mundo Nogalito Tour with the only tunnel zip-line in town. If you’re feeling the heat, stop at the Punta Negra bridge and take a drip in the river. Lovely fresh water, lots of little pools to splash in and rocks to dry off on. If you’re lucky, a vendor will come by with snacks and drinks - otherwise pack your own.

Mismaloya 15 minutes further is Mismaloya, a small town set back from the water along a river that leads to the ocean and a number of beach restaurants.

This bay looks onto Los Arcos and is a great place to grab a panga boat for a tour of the impressive rocks. If you have time, book a snorkel or dive trip.

This is one of the deepest ocean valleys in the world and home to turtles, whales, dolphins and the blue-footed Booby. Back behind the town, check out the Vallarta Zoo where you can play with baby monkeys, tigers and lions.

Boca de Tomatlan Boca de Tomatlan is the last town along the ocean and the place to grab a boat to the small beach communities of Quimixto, Las Animas and the very popular Yelapa. Looking for romance - book a table at the nearby Le Kliff for spectacular views and sunsets.

FIRST CALL ORDER TO THE OWNERS OF PROPIETARIOS DE LOMAS DE MISMALOYA TO THE GENERAL ORDINARY ASSEMBLY THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE 13 FEBRUARY 2016at 11:00 a.m IN THE HOTEL CASA IGUANA LOCATED IN May 5th Avenue 455 Col. Guadalupe Victoria CP 48394 Mismaloya, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco Mexico Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco

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entertainment

The Legendary Patsy Cline

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

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Canadian's tribute to the famous recording star In “The Legendary Patsy Cline” show, talented singer/actress Amberley Beatty, pays tribute to the timeless songs and ground-breaking style of Patsy Cline, the iconic recording artist who helped popularize country music more than anyone of her generation. Ms. Beatty’s powerful performance and her ability to motivate an audience are a true mirror image of Patsy Cline, at her peak, in the early sixties.

Ms. Beatty has performed her Patsy Cline tribute countless times, to the delight of audiences on both sides of the Canada/ US border, in theatres, clubs, casinos and ballrooms.

She has also performed lead roles in such theatrical productions as “Oliver” and “Anne of Green Gables”. “I love great songs and I love Patsy Cline” says Beatty.

This may be why she plays the late star so brilliantly.

The Legendary Patsy Cline show is 90 minutes of music and laughter, featuring more than 30 of Cline’s trademark hits, sprinkled with lots of the “barn dance humour” she was famous for.

There may be other Cline tributes out there, but none like this one. Ms. Beatty “talks the talk” and “walks the walk”, nailing every nuance of every song, centre-stage, or strolling through the aisles, singing and joking with the audience, as Cline did.

Her friendly, outgoing style makes her after-concert “meet and greet” sessions almost as popular as her shows.

She loves to chat with the fans, while patiently autographing piles of her CDs, until the last happy fan has left the building.

The Luna Lounge, in Bucerias, will be presenting The Legendary Patsy Cline at a special dinner show, on Friday, January 22.

For tickets, contact Hugh Gaffney, by telephone (322) 298-3242, or e-mail hugh.lunalounge@gmail. com

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Honky Tonk Gal Comes to Vallarta

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alented singer, actress and entertainer” is how show business pros describe Canada’s tribute queen, Amberley Beatty. For years, her spine-tingling re-creation of the legendary Patsy Cline in concert has filled theatres in the Canada, the US and Mexico.

“Honky Tonk Gal”, her tribute to Loretta Lynn simply enhances her reputation as a world-class entertainer.

Loretta Lynn is called “the first lady of Country music” because of her unique ability to communicate with country music fans.

Her no-nonsense approach to subjects like alcoholism, infidelity and personal loss speaks clearly and honestly to regular people, in terms anyone can understand. Her vast body of work, covering more than 6 decades, is what Amberley Beatty describes as “an inspiration gold mine”. That gold mine inspired the intrepid Ms. Beatty to create “Honky Tonk Gal”, her mesmerizing tribute show, showcasing the most popular and best-loved of Loretta Lynn’s songs. The show’s name was borrowed from “Honky Tonk Girl”, Lynn’s first record, released in February 1960. Amberley’s powerful voice and energetic stage performance, coupled with her uniquely Canadian sense of humour make for a highly entertaining evening.

And thanks to the convenience of

a cordless microphone, much of it is usually delivered as she wanders through the audience.

The first performance of Honky Tonk Gal in Mexico will be presented “under the stars” on Saturday, January 23rd, at El Rio Barbeque, a unique open air restaurant beside the Cuale River, in the Paso Ancho

area of Puerto Vallarta. The event will include the show, dinner and 2 drinks, for the very attractive price of $375 pesos. Advance tickets are available from Vallarta Tickets .Com or by calling venue owner Kurt Sinner, at 322-222-2510.

Merv Buchanan, merv@trendrecords.ca

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

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Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Richard R. Reed: New Angel in Town Paradise and Parenting Leza Warkentin

mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

Perfect Weather

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don’t know if you have noticed, but these past two weeks we have living with what can only be described as perfect weather.

As a child growing up in Canada, I remember wondering what it would be like to describe weather as perfect. Not too cold, not too hot, not too cloudy, not too it-was-nicefive-minutes-ago-and-now-it’s-hailing. Now I know. It’s this, right now, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

I have been in such a terrific mood because of it. There are very few things that can spoil my day, even a day like the one which I am experiencing at the moment. It is 4:17pm right now and I am considering lying down for the remainder of the day so nothing else can happen to me. Yet I’m still feeling more optimistic than I was in the humidity of a Vallarta August when even a pay raise would seem like an act of aggression.

So far today this has happened: 1) I was whistling whilst putting my groceries in the car. I rammed my toe into the cement parking bar.

Fortunately my car’s mirror caught my shoulder on my way down, breaking my fall. Unfortunately it really hurt. Not only that, it spun me around like I had started out trying to dance but just ended up looking as though I had been hit by a Chevy rearview mirror. I stood up and said “Ta daaaaaa” because so many many people saw the whole thing.

2) And no one even smiled.

3) I went home from this very incident and found my husband doing the plumbing repairs by himself.

Nothing else to add to that.

4) I backed into a tree with the same car that humiliated me at the grocery store.

And still, the sun was shining, the breeze was blowing, my hair was a normal height from my head. What’s not to love about the Mexican coast in January?

The only problem with all of this occurs when I run into people who think I only love the weather because I’m Canadian. I’ll show up at work in a light sweater, smiling

from ear to ear in the 18 degree morning, and someone HAS to say, “Of course you like the cold, you’re Canadian.”

Comparing the delights of a Vallarta winter to my childhood experiences with Canadian cold is like saying “Oh of course you love delicious lime popsicles. You were swept away in a wintry mountain avalanche once and had to eat your way out by spooning snow into your mouth with the only finger that hadn’t frozen off.”

It’s like comparing apples and oranges. Sure they’re both fruit. But one is for my favorite kind of pie and the other is an orange. What’s your point?

So I have decided to ignore these comments and just get out and enjoy all our bay has to offer this time of year. This past Sunday my daughter went whale watching with some friends. My father went along to supervise because I knew he loved whale watching. And possibly also because I knew I would spend the whole trip down below “in the head” asking my girl to hold my hair back and/or help me die.

My husband and I took our son to the farmer’s market in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, which I hadn’t been to in almost two years. I guarantee you that it won’t be that long until the next time. It was fantastic. There was food, coffee, fresh produce, clothing, jewelry, and, most importantly, prepared food of every possible type. There were cheese and chocolate items everywhere you looked.

If you enjoy picking up all your favorites from home while walking around freely in a tropical paradise you really should go every Sunday. You can buy all the things in life that really matter, such as cinnamon rolls, brownies, raspberries, garam masala, hummus and so much more.

And you will be sharing the beautiful morning with many, many other human beings, all smiling back at you, and not because they are Canadian (although they often are).

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ince founding his private charity in 2015, the Richard R. Reed Foundation, Reed has been diligently researching charitable organizations in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and his home state of Arizona. Each year, fifteen to twenty grants of $10,000 each will be awarded in these two locations.

The focus of Reed´s new foundation are small charities that benefit children and animals.

These generous grants will make significant differences in meeting organizational expenses and/or funding special projects. Future plans for the Richard R. Reed Foundation include scholarship awards for winning essays on the topics of research in science and reason.

One of the charities Richard selected as a recipient of a $160,000 peso grant is PEACEAnimals, a free mobile spay/neuter program operating primarily in

the area of Puerto Vallarta. The mission of PEACEAnimals is to reduce the suffering of animals.

The overpopulation of cats and dogs results in their starvation, disease, vehicular injuries, often resulting in death, abandonment, abuse and the decimation of wildlife.

Operating approximately 36 surgery weeks (Wednesday-Saturday) a year, more than 4,000 cats and dogs are sterilized annually. Cost per surgery week is approximately $1,800 USD. The Richard R. Reed Foundation grant of approximately $10,000 USD at the current peso/ dollar exchange rate will result in the sterilization of approximately 550 cats and dogs, which makes a serious impact on the unwanted pet situation.

Other recipients of the grants in Puerto Vallarta include: Corazon de Niña, a shelter for girls from the ages of two to twenty; LADRA, a rescued dog sanctuary

and adoption center; and Pasitos de Luz, a daily care for handicapped children In addition to his consuming work as director of the new Richard R. Reed Foundation, Reed is the CEO of ASF Payment Solutions, which he founded, and a very active member of the American Taekwondo Association, which he co-founded. Incidentally, Richard is the proud owner of his Black Belt status.

Serving as President of the Richard R. Reed Foundation is Richard´s daughter, Tamara Reed-Valdez.

For more information regarding the Richard R. Reed Foundation www.richardrreedfoundation.org More photographs are available on the Richard R. Reed Foundation page on FaceBook.

For additional information on PEACEAnimals – gretchen@ peaceanimals.org www.peaceanimals.org

Adorable Dog In The Spotlight... RICO We are probably a tad prejudiced but happen to think these Labrador mix rescues are just the best, and Rico is no exception.

He is only 10 months old and weighs 42 pounds. Rico is so good with everyone… people, other dogs and even cats. He has already mastered walking on a leash and has a loving personality, very sweet and gentle. Just adorable! Rico has been neutered, fully dewormed and is current on all his vaccines. Now he just needs to find a loving family of his very own. If you are interested in Rico, contact us at spcapv@gmail.com for an application.

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Wellness

Latina

Marcella Castellanos

info@wellnesslatina.com

5 Surprising Beauty Foods

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eauty is being the best possible version of yourself inside and out. ~unknown All fresh fruits and vegetables contain magical powers when it comes to shiny hair, clear skin, and strong nails. However, the ones I’ve chosen below may not be as popular or as well known for their powerful beauty benefits. Try and include these foods into your diet if you want to look your best without the need for Botox or other unnatural remedies.

1. Red Peppers. All red and orange colored foods contain beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant. Red peppers are particularly beautifying due to the minerals A, C, and K. Vitamins A and C can help prevent cell damage that leads to premature ageing, and they can also

reduce inflammation, which can cause a puffy-looking face. Pepper also has Vitamin K, which is an excellent property for protecting our cells from damage.

2. Spinach. All leafy greens are actually very powerful in terms of being a beauty food because of the chlorophyll they contain. There are also loads of other phytochemicals and fiber in spinach that help build blood that is super clean and which will show through in your skin.

3. Turmeric. This yellow-colored, Indian spice has a load of powerful antioxidant qualities. Turmeric assists in protecting our cells from free radical damage and also contributes towards cleaning up metabolic waste in our systems. It is also great as a liver flusher to get rid of any poisons and chemicals which are stored there.

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta

By Janice Gonzalez

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OW! What a day. As you may have read here in earlier newsletters, there has been a big push to sterilize the cats that live on the Isla Cuale. This is a wonderful island within the heart of old town which unfortunately has been a favorite dumping ground for unwanted cats and kittens. Their population has created many problems within the community and we have all been concerned that drastic measures might be taken to reduce the population.

So, not unexpected based on the animals lovers here, we all decided there had to be a better way to deal with the problem.

Foremost, we need to sterilize the existing animals to eliminate future unwanted births. But further, we need to change behavior by educating the community. The first step

toward that goal was to encourage residents to sterilize their animals.

No unwanted babies…no animals dumped on the island.

To that end, a number of organizations and individuals have committed to making available free spay/neuter clinics once per month on the island. This past Sunday was the first, sponsored by the SPCA. We made our commitment to sponsor the initial clinic and sterilize 30 animals. Let me tell you the surprise we volunteers encountered when we arrived on the island at 7 am to begin registration. There was a very long queue of owners who had arrived as early as 6:30 am to ensure their cats and dogs were sterilized.

We eventually had to turn people away after we doubled the number of animals we had allotted for this event. But, we could not turn them all away. After seeing so many

4. Pumpkin Seeds. Wow, these really are powerful. What don’t pumpkin seeds have in them?! The humble pumpkin seed contains high levels of zinc, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins B, C, and E. Pumpkin seeds are also a great source of amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids, all essential for healthy cell maintenance.

Make a handful of pumpkin seeds a regular part of your diet, and you will definitely notice a change in your appearance.

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Havre No.111 Col. Versalles Fluent English Spoken

5. Parsley. Next time your plate is garnished with parsley, don’t push it aside. This is a pretty powerful herb when it comes to anti-aging, as well as purifying and cleansing the body. It contains vitamins A and C as well as anti-oxidizing flavonoids that protect our cells from free radical damage. Parsley also helps to purify the blood, kill bacteria, aid digestion, and cleanse toxins from the liver.

The best thing is that all these foods are easy to incorporate into your diet. Add turmeric to juice and combine the other foods with some other fixings to make a great, beautifying salad. Who said that beauty was hard to keep?

I'm a bilingual, bicultural Certified Wellness Coach.

My mission is to empower you to become the best version of yourself so that you are unstoppably fulfilling your dreams! My approach is holistic. I help you incorporate, mind-body work, plant-strong

nutrition, fun Latin movement, and essential oils to support physical and emotional health. If you want to feel like the amazing, vibrant

person you know you are this year download my FREE guide The Smoothie Slimdown at www.wellnesslatina.com.

within the community lining up while still dark and cold to have their animals sterilized, we knew we had to step up. For example, there we an elderly gentlemen who trapped two stray cats in his neighborhood and brought them to us to be fixed.

How can you turn someone away who so understands our objectives?

What to do?!?! Start reaching out to friends for donations to cover the expense of an additional clinic!

We could NEVER have done such a large number of animals without the assistance of some wonderful people. Due to the volume, we pulled our vet from the sanctuary (Javier) to assist Dr. Poli who was already scheduled to work the clinic. And were lucky to encounter a wonderful experienced vet from the US who was willing to tackle the gatos.

Thanks to Tess Peavy and her husband from Neuter Scooter (https://www.facebook.com/NeuterScooter-134452713271544/). We hope you come back again soon!

We also need to give a shout out to two incredible volunteers. Rob Villegas, a qualified vet tech, was there all day along with his wife Emily. Rob assisted with the pre-op process. And kudos to Nancy Coates, a longtime volunteer with Colina Spay & Neuter, who trained us newbies on the proper post-op procedures.

The number of volunteers who were available was incredible. I personally apologize for not gathering everyone’s name in order to thank them here. But we can name just a few of the incredible folks who stayed all day and donated money and/or their time to ensure a successful clinic: Sandra Briones, Leighton Devine, Lynnette Fairclough, Janice Gonzalez, Cathy Gordon, Livia Hevia, Margaret Kenefick, Tina Kunkel, Robin McCaffry, Brian Twigg, Wendy Urban and Luz Wong. Thanks also to Lisa Taron for her donation.

Special thanks goes to Nancy Nagy who donated sandwiches

and yummy brownies to the hardworking staff. Thanks to our friends Carol and Len Martin for donating bottled water for everyone. And thanks also to Fernando Sanchez from Instituto Cultura for permission to use their facilities for the clinic.

So…after 10 hours, we are happy to report that we sterilized 25 dogs and 35 cats including 5 residents from the island. Think about how many unwanted births we have eliminated. Now on to the next clinic which will be sponsored by PEACE and held on the isla February 3rd through the 6th.

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

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

Contact us at spcapv@gmail.com.

You can learn more about the SPCA Puerto Vallarta by checking us out at www.spcapv.com/home or on Facebook.

Advertise all year in the largest English newspaper in the Bay - for only a few pesos a day!

Published 52 weeks a year and distributed from Punta Mita to Mismaloya - the Vallarta Tribune has been your best resource for the past 19 years!

Contact editor@vallartatribune.com or Call 225 49 82 for more information.

The Real BBQ

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Find us. You’ll be happy you did.

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Tel: +52 1 (322) 223 5864 Info@secpv.com I www.SECPV.com Calle República de Chile # 182, Col. 5 de Diciembre, Puerto Vallarta, México 48350

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Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Another Great Year for Toys for Tots By: Jerry Lafferty

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or the 17th consecutive year Toys for Tots Vallarta spread smiles galore among underprivileged children to wrap-up the holiday season. This year 8,000 toys were handed out one-by-one by a legion of volunteers fanning out from Cabo Corrientes to Nayarit. More than 20 caravans led by representatives from the Navy League, American Legion, Marriott, U.S. Consular Agency and others visited carefully selected schools on Day of the Kings, January 6. Teachers and students alike were thrilled to see volunteers dressed as Kings descend upon their school early in the morning, bearing gifts and receiving songs and love in return from the kids.

In addition to giving away 8,000 toys, Toys for Tots this year generated enough funds to construct a number of playgrounds in some of the neighborhoods visited.

Since conception in 1999, Toys for Tots has given away more than 120,000 toys and built more than 10 playgrounds. Support from the PV community, including businesses, organizations and individuals, continues to grow. With us from the very beginning have been the Marriott CasaMagna

Resort and Spa and Vista Vallarta Golf Club. Other major sponsors this year include Patron Tequila, Intercam, Honda, Punta Mita Properties, and Coldwell Banker Real Estate. Many other small businesses contributed cash and services.

We’d also like to thank the many volunteers who organized and carried out another very successful year of giving. In particular we should thank from the Navy League Fred and Dorothy Piontkowski, Bill Semeyn, Carol Smith, Joel Hart, Bill Liggett, and Jon and Zuly Murphy. From the American Legion, special thanks is due to Dennis Rike. Also Lourdes Bizarro from the Marriott and Kelly Trainor from the U.S. Consular Agency.

See you all next year at our many fundraisers for Toys for Tots.

School or Dice?

By John Warren

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ouldn’t it be good if we could all communicate with one another? If you could speak in Spanish to a Mexican person here in Puerto Vallarta or they could speak to you in English? That would make living in Puerto Vallarta so much more meaningful and pleasant, wouldn’t it? If you think so too then come to the International Friendship Club (IFC) and check out their Spanish Classes.

The classes take place every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and are “almost free today.”

Actually, members of IFC pay 240 pesos for a packet of four classes and non-members pay 300 pesos or you can just drop in to a single class and pay 65 pesos or 80 pesos, respectively. But the value of the classes is much higher than these paltry prices. They are

priceless.

There are four levels of classes offered and last week I went as a drop-in to the Tourist Spanish from 12:45 to 1:45 These classes are appropriate for beginners, short term vacationers, or anyone who wishes to drop in. There were about twenty-five of us in the class and, surprisingly, those from Mars exceeded those from Venus by a ratio of about two to one. Who knew that men in PV are more studious than the ladies or, maybe, just need more help?

The instructor for all of the classes is Adriana Bedolla, a professional, well-organized lady with a good sense of humour, who conducts the class almost, but not completely, in Spanish. It sounds as though that would be difficult for a newbie but Adriana will throw an English lifeline if a student is blank-faced for more than a second or two.

During our class, Adriana

emphasized the need to grasp basic Spanish grammar in order to convey the simplest of ideas.

Unlike English, Spanish nouns are either masculine or feminine and the adjectives have to match the noun, both in gender and whether you are using the singular form or the plural. We also touched on the conjugation of verbs. Nobody said that learning a new language is easy and Adriana told us that learning Spanish takes work, memory and practice. But that’s true of learning anything…Spanish, bridge or brain surgery.

So don’t just sit on the beach or around the pool all day, come and learn something new at the IFC clubhouse in El Centro, just above the HSBC Bank on Calle Libertad at the corner of Miramar or call 322-222-5466 for directions or more information.

Although the Spanish classes are aimed at the English speakers in Puerto Vallarta, IFC volunteers

also offer to teach English to Mexicans so if you know anyone who is a resident of PV and wants to pick up some basic English to help them in school or with their employment please give their name and contact information to the office. The classes are free and are held from 4:00pm to 6:00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the clubhouse and will start on 19th January.

Enough of the intellectual stuff!

For those of you wanting some fun and some laughs join us playing Bunco at Nacho Daddy’s, (the restaurant is located at Basilio Badillo #287 in the Romantica Zone) at 11:00am every Thursday.

Bunco is a dice game that is played by teams of two in rounds and is a great way to meet new people, because at the end of each round the two winners from each table move up a table (towards the head table) and the losers stay put. New teams are formed (you don’t stay

with the same partner from round to round) and now you have new people to chat and roll with. It’s a very easy game to learn and you eat and drink while playing. What else could you ask for?

After a two-week hiatus at the end of December, the IFC Home Tours are back in full swing. They are a great way to see four architecturally interesting homes in the city and along the south shore.

Tours leave from the Sea Monkey restaurant every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:30 but tickets sell out fast and it’s best to book in advance at www.toursforvallarta. com or at the IFC office shown above.

The International Friendship Club is a registered charitable organization in Mexico listed as Club Internacional de la Amistad de Puerto Vallarta A.C.. Phone: 322-222-5466. Website: ifcvallarta.com Email: ifcvallarta@ gmail.com.

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Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

The New Year brings new changes Capital Gains to the US tax code affecting expats! Exemptions in Mexico

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he tax code is somewhat fluid in nature, with Congress updating, changing, and adding laws on an annual basis.

See below for a list of the top US expat income tax changes and how they will affect your US expat tax returns. Please note that these changes take effect for the 2016 tax year beginning January 1st, 2016.

Increase in Foreign Earned Income Exclusion The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, used by many expats to reduce their taxable income, has been increased from $100,800 in 2015 to $101,300 in 2016. This increase in the FEIE will help lower your expat income tax!

Increase in the Standard Deduction The standard deduction is a standardized figure that lowers your taxable income. The standard deductions for “Single” and “Married Filing Jointly” filers stay the same at $6,300 and $12,600 respectively. But, the standard deduction for “Head of Household” filers increases to $9,300 from $9,250 in 2015. US expats who have dependent children and a spouse who does not have a US filing requirement (such as a non-resident alien) can generally file as head of household and take the higher standard deduction!

Increase in Exemptions An exemption is a reduction in taxable income for each person claimed on the tax return. This includes yourself and your spouse (personal exemptions) and all dependents claimed on your return (dependent exemptions). In 2015, the exemption amount for each person was $4,000. In 2016 that number increases to $4,050 per person. As a US expat, the reduction in taxable income can help to reduce your overall taxes, and help you retain higher foreign tax credit to be used at a later tax year.

Change in FBAR Filing Deadlines FinCen form 114, also known as the FBAR form, has been due on June 30 for years. In 2016, Congress has changed that date to April 15 to coincide with the tax return filing deadline. This change also allows for a 6-month exten-

sion to file the FBAR form which has not been available in the past!

The FBAR extension is similar to the regular tax return extension for expats. If you live outside the US on April 15, you receive an automatic 2-month extension to file the FBAR form, extending it to June 15. If you need additional time past June 15 you can file an extension and postpone your due date to October 15. This goes into effect for the 2016 FBAR form due April 15, 2017.

Three Extra Days For Tax Day In 2016 Normally, the US tax deadline is April 15, but this year it is pushed to April 18, 2016. This is due to the Emancipation Day holiday in Washington DC on April 16. Since the holiday falls on Saturday in 2016, it will be observed on Friday April 15. Hence, the US tax deadline is pushed to Monday April 18.

This gives 3 extra days to complete US taxes.

Additionally, US expats get an automatic 2-month extension to file, but any taxes due need to be paid by April 18 in order to avoid interest charges. Not only is the tax day pushed for 2016, but we get an extra day due to the leap year! This year you will get 4 extra days to file your taxes or pay your taxes due if you are extending your return.

Change in Tax Brackets

Congress has approved an increase in the tax brackets for 2016, to account for inflation. The US tax system is a progressive tax system. This means that as you earn money, and your yearly income gets larger, the next portion of your income is taxed at a higher tax rate. This goes on until you reach the highest tax bracket of 39.6%. It is important to note for expats that tax income which is not excluded by the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is taxed at your highest tax bracket, even if it falls

into a lower bracket. Here are the tax brackets for each filing status for 2016:

Increased Obamacare Penalties The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was designed to bring affordable health care to all US persons. Everyone must have some form of healthcare or face a penalty in the form of extra taxes. These penalties are increasing in 2016! The per-person penalty increases from $325 per adult to $695 per adult, and $162 per child to $347 per child. If you are an expat, you most likely will qualify for an exemption from these penalties, but if you are moving into or out of the US in 2016, you will need to make sure that you have health coverage in order to avoid paying more in expat income taxes!

While this list is not exhaustive, it does reflect some of the most important changes to the tax code, which in turn will affect your US expat income tax!

Source: http://www.greenbacktaxservices.com/

enerally most real estate sales transaction in Mexico will result in the payment of income taxes, or capital gains, which depending on the amount of the gain, can be as high as 35%.

However, in some cases, exemptions to the taxes paid on the gain or profit made from the sale are possible.

To qualify for an exemption, first of all it is essential to establish fiscal residency. This applies to anyone, Mexicans included, who also reside in another country for a portion of the year. To meet this requirement, in essence to be considered a resident of Mexico, individuals must prove their “center of vital interests” occurs within Mexico. The main way to qualify is by having the majority of one’s professional or business activities located in Mexico, and by earning more than 50% of one’s total income here. Corporations that have established the main administration or management of their business within Mexico qualify as well.

Once fiscal residency of the taxpayer has been proven, any income up to 700,000 Investment Units (UDI’s) is exempt regardless of the sales price of the property. This is know as Limited Total Exemption, which today is approximately $300,000USD. The

value of a UDI is determined by the Mexican government and fluctuates daily as does any currency, such as the peso or dollar.

For gains in excess of 700,000 UDI’s, tax liability is determined and calculated by the notary, using the formula of Income (sales price minus purchase price) minus Cost (land and construction) minus Deductions (improvements, notary fees, local tax on title transfer, acquisition and sales tax, appraisal, real estate commissions). This is known as Partial Exemption and establishes the gain on which the tax will be assessed.

In order to qualify for either of these exemptions, the taxpayer must also establish that the property sold is their prime residence, and has been owned for at least 5 years. This requires supplying supporting documents including electrical or land line phone receipts/bills, or bank statements which match the address of the sold property. Capital gains exemptions are only allowable once every 5 years.

Other exemptions include property received via inheritance, or first private property sales of Ejido land.

For additional information relating to this or other real estate topics, please contact manager. audreyinternational@gmail.com.

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Puerto Vallarta Real Estate market is growing...and so is Boardwalk Realty

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hree years ago longtime colleagues and friends Michael Green and John Swanson decided to take their more than 30 combined years of real estate experience, here in Puerto Vallarta and the US, and open their own company Boardwalk Realty.

Since then the company has grown beyond their expectations. Sales projections are constantly being exceeded so much so that last quarter they were the number 2 sales agency in the bay (all with a very lean and effective team). "The secret to our success is a great team that works well together, innovative new marketing techniques and first class customer service during and after the sale" states Broker John

Swanson. So with this success, and a market that last year started a great rebound and this year is already promising to be better than last, the time to open a new office and hire new team members was now. Wanting to be sure this was a great move for their clients they researched very carefully to find the best location possible and they did.

Boardwalk Realty offices: New Location on the Malecon south side Morelos 293, Col. Centro (Across from Starbucks and the town square) Phone: (322) 223-0001

Located across from Starbucks at the South end of the Malecon, just past the town square. "This location will serve our current and new listings well with the amount of foot traffic and is a very convenient place for buyers to start their search" comments broker Mike Green.

The new office will be managed

by Warren Brander with a full sales and client support team. Pedro Rodrigues and Rocio Nava, both great senior sales agents, will also be on site. An effective and seasoned client sales and service specialist’s team consisting of Lupita Montano and Nancy Zetter will support Warren, Pedro and Rocio. Expect to see this office quickly grow!

Location in the Hotel Zone Blvd. Fco. Medina Ascencio 2216-A Zona Hotelera Norte (Next to LANS department store) Phone: (322) 224-0014

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Cañada Romantica Penthouse Property For Sale

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añada Romantica Penthouse: An absolutely spectacular, two floor unit with direct elevator access into the unit and private pool on the amazing upstairs terrace. hree bedroom suites, superb entertainment area, luxury contemporary style

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and perfect location in the heart of the zona romantica. Price reduced by motivated seller, this is the best deal in the neighbourhood. Here is a link to the property with more photos and information: http://goo. gl/nzEvU5 Listed with Boardwalk Realty www.boardwalkrealtypv.com

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art & culture

Centro Historico: Home of the ArtWalk

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uerto Vallarta has long been recognized as one of the most important art markets in Mexico and each week you can enjoy a personal glimpse into the galleries and artists during the Puerto Vallarta ArtWalk. This is an excellent opportunity to appreciate, in a single night, the great variety and quality of artistic works available to the public.

Paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photography, Mexican traditional forms of art produced by emerging artists as well as many of the great masters of the Mexican and International art circuit prove that there really is something for everyone. Whether you are a newbie to the art world or a seasoned collector, you are bound to experience something wonderful and unique as you explore the ArtWalk galleries.

Every Wednesday, from 6pm until 10pm through to the end of May the participating galleries in the ArtWalk offer exhibitions and cocktails to the public. With all of the galleries associated with ArtWalk located in Centro Historico, walking from one gallery to another is an easy, enjoyable experience and a great way to truly experience the vibrancy of Puerto Vallarta.

You choose which gallery to start in and how long you stay at each. As a special treat, many of the exhibiting artists attend the ArtWalk to greet the public and explain more about their body of work.

PA R T I C I PAT I N G GALLERIES: COLECTIKA GALERIA WHITLOW CORSICA I CORSICA II LA PULGA ART GALLERY SHEOL ART GALLERY GALERIA PACIFICO CABALLITO DE MAR HE LOFT GALERIA GALERIA DE OLLAS

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

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Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Hipsters, film buffs, beach babes, tequila tasters and surfers at Festival Sayulita

By Gabriel Jones

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estival Sayulita is once again set to take place in beautiful Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico - January 27-31. Now in its third year the festival continues to grow based on a winning combination of international film, music, surfing, and local agave spirits - all in a unique four day event!

Host town Sayulita was the quintessential sleepy fishing village when it was “discovered” by surfers about 30 years ago. Since then it has been steadily gaining popularity and now caters to a wide range of (slightly) off the beaten path travelers who love it for its sun drenched beaches, lush green jungles, consistent surf and super friendly vibe.

While Sayulita can no longer can be described as Mexico’s best

kept secret, Festival Sayulita is still relatively unknown and offers the opportunity to be a part of something special on an intimate level.

Highlights of the event include nightly showings of award winning international films at unique venues around town including under the stars at the beautiful seven meter high beach screen. Film buffs and aspiring filmmakers are invited to meet and converse with many of the filmmakers and attend seminars on a wide range of topics like photography and animation.

Sayulita draws lots of its positive energy from local and visiting surfers and this event pays homage to Sayulita’s surf culture with a competition for kids. In addition to surf, Sayulita has become a mecca for yogis with morning yoga sessions planned as well as the “Stumble in the Jungle” 5k and 10k

fun run.

Whether you are participating or simply sunning on the beach as a spectator, the fresh ocean air is sure to inspire an appetite.

Sayulita is home to a variety of world class street tacos and also an assortment of fantastic restaurants, many of which will be participating with the festival with special menus paired with tequilas, mezcals, and Mexican craft beer and wine. These tastings sold out fast last year and are available with purchase of advance passes.

The event culminates with an epic six-band concert at a beautiful outdoor venue showcasing some of Mexico’s best, new music.

Perhaps the best thing about the festival is that proceeds go to creating a community center for Sayulita.

This center will promote crea-

San Blas Comes Into Its Own As a World-Class Birding Destination

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he San Blas Christmas Bird Count took place in the Historic Port of San Blas this past January 2, 2016, with 285 different species listed for a total of 16,630 specimens. The results of the three days prior and the three days following the official Count Day were also added in order to tally up the official Weekly Count, which bumped the number to 309 species, thus breaking the record of 303 species set back in 1983.

Veteran birding guide Mark Stackhouse coordinated the event and was in charge of gathering, orga-

nizing, publishing and posting the information on the database.

This year a group of 22 birders from Mexico, the United States, Canada, the UK and Italy worked together, making it the highest number of observers in San Blas for the past 27 years, when there were 23 participants.

Four new species never-before seen by the birders were added during the San Blas Christmas Count: the Galapagos Shearwater, Vermiculated Screech-Owl, Bluethroated Hummingbird, and the Olivaceous Woodcreeper.

This Audubon Society count has occurred 116 times since it’s inception in the United States, and San Blas was the first destination in Mexico that was chosen back in 1973. This is the largest count in America; it takes place in 2,400 localities spread out over 23 countries.

San Blas also broke count records on the “Big Day” for Mexico in 2015 according to the rules of the American Birding Association. With these results, San Blas has come into its own as a world-class destination for birdwatching.

tive, local endeavors and economic sustainability for locals. If you are planning on being in Sayulita or surrounding area this January or are looking for a destination

for your winter escape, visit the Festival Sayulita website for more information and to purchase your passes. www.festivalsayulita.com

February Events In Riviera Nayarit: Come Join In The Fun!

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he Carnaval de San Blas, the 10th Anniversary of Entre Amigos, the Mexi Log Fest, the WesMex International Small Boat Regatta, the Mita Tech Talks, the Festival de Guayabitos and the Canamex Golf Tournament all await you.

Carnaval de San Blas (February 9) The Carnaval de San Blas is a very ancient tradition with plenty of Mexican flavor. Come to the Historic Port of San Blas for art, culture, beach, surf, sand and a great party! https://www.facebook. com/CarnavalDeSanBlas Entre Amigos 10th Anniversary (February 12-13) This year Entre Amigos is celebrating its 10th Anniversary in lieu of the annual Festival de Arte Infantil.

This civil association is considered the prime mover behind the artistic events in San Pancho, the Cultural Capital of the Riviera Nayarit. es.entreamigos.org.mx/ Mexi Log Fest (February 19-21) Sayulita, the Surfing Capital of the Riviera Nayarit, is set to welcome the top longboard surfers in the world. Is everyone ready to witness the style, the grace and the precision of these artists? www.facebook.com/mexilogfest

WesMex International Small Boat Regatta (February 25-28) The Optimist, Laser, Windsurf and 420 class associations chose the WesMex Regatta has been chosen as one of the five national regattas for the Mexican Circuit. The event will be held in the Vallarta Yacht Club. www.wesmexregatta.org/es/ Mita Tech Talks (February 28-29) This encounter between creators and entrepreneurs in the tech field takes place in The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, bringing together top minds from the United States and Mexico for inspiration and the generation of great ideas to make everyone’s lives a little better. www.puntamita.com/ mitatechtalks2014/ Canamex Golf Tournament (February 20) Mexico, the United States and Canada come together on the Flamingo Golf Course to compete for golf supremacy in North America. https://www.facebook. com/FlamingosGolf/ Festival de Guayabitos (6, 13, 20 y 27 de febrero) The town of Rincón de Guayabitos comes alive with dancing, music, folklore, art, food and a fun family ambiance that welcomes tourists with the warmth and good cheer typical of the Riviera Nayarit.

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Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Fun on the Riviera Nayarit Cat Morgan www.rivieranayaritfun.com Cat@RivieraNayaritFun.com

Nuevo Vallarta’s Bike Path: A must in Riviera Nayarit

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unning, skating and bike riding are among the most popular activities with visitors. Since its inauguration in March 2015, the Nuevo Vallarta Bike Path has become a welcome attraction. Every day, tourists and locals come to run, skate or cycle along this recreational trail.

The Fraccionamiento Náutico Turístico Nuevo Vallarta neighborhood is home to many of the areas hotels, and building the bike path was an excellent decision for continued development of this microdestination.

The bike path is nearly two miles long and follows the Avenida Paseo de los Cocoteros, just a few yards from the beach. As they meander down the trail, visitors enjoy the diverse flora and fauna of the area, especially the birdlife.

Bicycles have recently grown in popularity in Mexico, with both families and cyclists always

seeking safety; something the bike path offers with its well-placed street and transit signage.

North Americans love to run, and here they’ll find a great space to indulge their pastime while they visit Nuevo Vallarta.

The Riviera Nayarit hosts several races during the year, including a 5K, 10K and even a Tourism Half Marathon and the bike path has become an ideal spot for training and preparing for the competitions.

Connecting Flamingos With Bucerías In case two miles isn’t quite long enough, the bike path connects with the Maestro Flamingos Condominium walkway, which extends another nearly two- and-aquarter miles until it connects with the road. This segment also offers a chance to get on the road to Bucerías via a path that begins where the hotels end in Flamingos.

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ommunity Corner with the Black Forest Restaurant Family in La Cruz The Black Forest Restaurant and Bar in La Cruz is a family owned business with Winfried and Andrea Kuffner, their twin daughters Susana and Judith and their brother and sister-in-law Peter and Yvonne Demetz. Originally named Papasito’s it was changed in 2004 to “Black Forest” to reflect the heritage of the owners, Winfried and Andrea Kuffner, and Yvonne Demetz, who had lived in the Black Forest region of Germany before moving to Mexico.

They established the Black Forest Restaurant in La Cruz in 1998.

Chef Winfried Kuffiner was born and raised in Cologne, Germany.

From a young age his passion has always been food. He started his apprenticeship as chef in the world famous Dom Hotel in Cologne, spending most of his first years in Switzerland working in hotels including the prestigious Hotel Belvedere Grindelwald, where he met and fell in love with Andrea. Together they moved to the Black forest region, also Andrea’s birthplace, where Winfried received his final training in the culinary arts and became Chef Winfried.

Andrea Kuffner was born and raised in Gaggenau, which is a small town in Black Forest Germany. As a girl she decided to follow the footsteps of her grandmother and began a career in the hospitality industry.

Andrea was trained as a “Hotelfachfrau” (hotel manager). After completing her apprenticeship, she continued to refine her training as wait staff eventually landing in Hotel Belvedere

Grindelwald, where the rest is history.

Andrea is also a CPA. Yvonne Demetz was born and raised in Gernsbach, an authentic Black Forest town. Her experience as a salesperson is valued by her family and her smile and warm welcome makes everybody feel right at home. She is funny and affectionate and Andrea’s “right hand gal” at the Black Forest Restaurant. Peter and Yvonne had moved to work in a hotel in Puerto Vallarta. Winfried and Andrea came to visit and fell in love with the Bay area and together they opened up what is now the Black Forest restaurant. Winfried and Andrea returned to Germany to tie up loose ends and returned a year later in 1999.

Authentic Alpine German food is very unique, and originally cooked with a lot of milk and little meat; consuming primarily what forest, field, garden and farm animals provided. Even to this day folks in the Alpine regions prefer to use the natural resources from their pastures, mountain and valleys and use foods such as apples, grapes, cherries, chestnuts, mushrooms, honey and venison. You will also find this preference of using fresh, local foods at the Black Forest. Dumplings are an Austria favorite, and they have a saying there, “If you do not eat dumplings, you will be hungry all day”. This round classic dish can be sweet and savory, large or small, on the side, in soup or a main course, and even dessert! Everyone loves this classic dish! Another dish for this area on the menu is Geflügelleberpastete Rothenburg, which is homemade Chicken Liver Pate’ refined

with Port wine. I can attest that it is delicious!

Can you say BEER? The Black Forest is holding a BeerFest and Tasting on January 19th from 5-10pm. Come try their own private labeled beer - Porter or American Pale Ale from German Brew master Siegfried Rothfuss; Banderas Brewing Company in Punta de Mita.

You can also try Colimita, a Pilsner Beer, or Tícus, a Porter Beer from Microbrewery Cervecería de Colima as well as their traditional German Hofbräuhaus Beer. Whether you like it high on wheat, hops or malt, foamy, creamy, light or dark, it will be at the Beer Fest! Siegfried Rothfuss will be at the Black Forest for the BeerFest and his show equipment to introduce you to the process of beer brewing and answer your questions.

You can catch the amazing Latcho and Andrea on Fridays. Reservations are always recommended.

Andrea is always busy working on many things and is such a caring and heart centered person who strives to help her community. She is the secretary for the 70 member Restaurant Association since its inception (for 2 years now). Andrea has also created an exciting new project that is very close to her heart.

She refers to it as “her baby”. It is a Pilot Project for professions without an academic degree; also in collaboration with the Organizacion Internacional de Trabajo (OIT) the Secretary for Education in Mexico helped to put this project in motion. This is a European method of teaching with two parts - school theory and hands on experience.

The goal is to give students a certification for what they learn.

Currently 16 students are training for an assistant administration for small restaurants. This is a one year program with 20% at the ITBB, Instituto Technological de Bahia de Banderas in La Cruz, and 80% hands on training.

Thanks for tuning in. Please catch up on all the fun with the alllacruz.com/la-cruz-de-huanacaxlte-calendar and the allBucerias. com/calendar . For questions please contact me at Cat@RivieraNayaritFun.com See ya’ on the playa!

riviera nayarit

24

Life

In La Cruz

By Cindy Bouchard Cindy Bouchard, an expat Canadian runs a Boutique Inn, Villa Amor del Mar in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. She and her husband Chris are living and lovin’ in Vallarta–Nayarit. If you want more info on La Cruz or desire… A very special vacation contact cindy@VillaAmordelMar.com

Jardin del Pulpo, Octopus’s Garden or Hikuri… one wonderful place.

T

he Octopus’s Garden is truly the community centre of La Cruz. There’s always the fabulous fresh roasted Nayarit coffee to enjoy at the café and available to take home. There’s the breakfast café; the treehouse bar and restaurant; the sprung wooden dance floor where salsa, yoga and other classes are held and movie nights

too. A hostel upstairs and, not to be missed, the gem of this oasis; the Huichol art gallery and store. With great thanks for our communities never ending support Aruna and Wayland are excited to have Octopus´s Garden in action again after the crisis of Wayland´s accident a year and a half ago. Aruna proclaimed “Taking a different tack (sailors term

for direction) we’re renting rooms at our new hostel and we’re very pleased to introduce lovely Alef, who in her fine style is making the only organic breakfasts in La Cruz. We’re thrilled to announce that the Bar and Restaurant is open again with Alfredo and Marichuy, well-known as excellent bar managers, now running their own business in the Octopus’s garden tree house.”

A coordinated group of entrepreneurs; Alef serves our own roasted Nayarit coffee and organic breakfasts from 8 am to 1 pm every day except Sunday; Alfredo and Marichuy operate the Treehouse Bar; dinners and evening events: Wayland & Aruna continue to manage.

Coffee roasting, Huichol Gallery Dance and exercise classes in the salon upstairs; review the weekly schedule posted at Octopus’s garden and online on the Facebook page; Shanti with Yoga; Hugo with Salsa; Ecstatic dance;

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Movie nights; Concerts And more…

And the newest addition; the Hostel.

The overall experience; Aruna “When we first set up in La Cruz we were printing T-shirts; the eight-armed printing machines are called “octopus” in Spanish.

Years ago when we had no time to cook for ourselves, we opened a small café in the patio and called it “The Octopus´s Garden” after the Beatle´s song. We’ve moved from the T-shirt industry towards entertainment, turning the shady garden patio into a restaurant and music venue with a palapa covered bar upstairs. Since there was nowhere for dancing or classes, we decided to build the large salon, upstairs in the cool breeze between the trees, with a sprung wooden dance floor and a beautiful arched roof of laminated bows. Now there are dancers; Salsa, Tango and the local favourite Cumbia! Our new hostel with rates around 400 pesos a night is attracting travellers from all over the world.

Come and visit our oasis!”

Breakfast and Coffee shop: Alef; “In our second season I'm running both the kitchen and the

coffee shop, offering organic breakfasts and lunches. We use only fresh, natural, organic and local ingredients. We also offer homemade baked goods and fresh fruits smoothies. We embrace Mexican seasoning in a healthy way.

Treehouse Bar;

Marichuy and Alfredo; “We enjoy giving good service. When the people are happy and satisfied, we are thrilled! We managed Philo’s Bar since day one and helped pass it on to the new team. Those years gave us many beautiful memories, good friends and fabulous experiences.

When the opportunity arrived to create our own bar at the beautiful Octopus’s Garden we were so excited.

Having grown up in this town, I love seafood. I loved learning to cook empanadas and many kinds of Mexican food in my father’s restaurant many years ago, which I’m excited to share with others. We will serve my brother Tono’s famous BBQ ribs as well!”

Do yourself a favour and visit The Octopus’s Garden! For more information… like how Wayland and Aruna sailed from England to La Cruz on a paper boat with their baby; visit www.villaamordelmar.com/blog/

Pickleball comes to La Cruz

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oin us for one game or more!

It's fun and you don't have to be a champ to play 2016 brings the fastest-growing sport in the US to La Cruz.

What is Pickleball?

In Brief: It is a combination of tennis, ping pong and badminton and uses a paddle and a perforated whiffle ball. It can be played both fast and slow.

Presently, Punta Esmeralda, Vallarta

Gardens and the private court on Atun are available. Come Learn the Game! Clinics will be held at the above venues once there are eight participants per clinic, 100 pesos per person.

There are loaner rackets available for the clinics. Sign up at the Amigos de la Cruz booth at the La Cruz Sunday Market or contact Joan Gil for dates and times: giljoan6@gmail. com 322 182 1161

expats

26

Learning Spanish in Puerto Vallarta

By Tamara Pelege

F

or years I’ve dreamt of waking up one day and being able to walk the streets of Puerto Vallarta perfectly fluent in Spanish. I would see myself strolling on the streets of the Zona Romántica, or walking on the malecón, oozing with an aura of perfect ‘spanishness’ and being able to actually communicate with the locals. In my dreams, the conversation would go far beyond “Hola!¿Qué tal?” or being able to order a cold cerveza at the bar: we would learn meaningful facts about each other lives and cultures and discuss what a beautiful city we live in. In my dreams, I would actually be able to roll the “r” and my accent didn’t make me sound like a “gringo”.

I eventually got tired of dreaming, and decided to take matters in my own hands: a lot of people learn Spanish on their own, so why couldn’t I? Some people have told me that there are many ways of learning without taking Spanish lessons; watch movies in Spanish with the subtitles on, listen to Shakira and read the lyrics, get out and talk to people, eat one taco a day (and keep the doctor away?)!, write down 5 words a day and stick to them!

Totally pumped with self-confidence and motivation, I headed to the bookstore, got myself an English-Spanish dictionary, and stuck a big, fat sticker on my fridge:

“Resolution: Learn Spanish!”

I will tell you a secret: I don’t have a lot of discipline.

Oh, how I envy the people who are able to make a decision and stick to it. As if moved by some magical inner force, which look a lot to super-powers to me, are able to achieve their goals in no time and cross the finish line with a giant grin on their face.

Well, believe it or not, a couple of weeks later my motivation was whittled away; I wasn’t making any progress and I found myself struggling not only with the practical aspects of my resolution, but with the mere idea of the resolution itself. I began to despair and was starting to contemplate the idea of giving up altogether, “Who needs

Spanish, anyway*?”

Seeing me in my darkest hour, a dear friend came to the rescue and suggested I try taking some Spanish lessons before throwing in the towel completely.

I slept on it and when morning came I decided to give it a try.

After a little while it became clear that this was going to be my only salvation. Looking for help doesn’t mean you fail, it means you are not in it alone!

Thus, off I went online and started to search for a good Spanish school in Puerto Vallarta.

I stumbled upon the Spanish Experience Center and was immediately seduced by the fresh look and intuitiveness of their website (www.secpv.com).

I decided to sign up for two weeks of standard courses: this would allow me to progress at a steady pace, without having to worry about my brain frying up at the end of the day, and give me a nice schedule to study in the morning, and be the lazy undisciplined bum I’ve always been, in the afternoon.

I soon found out that I wasn’t

alone in the struggle, and sharing the experience with other students built my motivation back up.

The teachers were all incredibly qualified, patient and friendly, and I ended up not only learning a decent amount of Spanish, but also making really good friends.

Not to mention that the school is beautifully located in a renovated traditional hacienda, with air-conditioned classrooms (a life saver, if you ask me), and only one block from the beach and the malecón!

I decided to sign up for two more weeks and even though I have to be honest: learning a language takes a lot of effort and it will take me a while to be fluent, I am definitely getting there faster that I could ever have, had I not listened to my friend and kept on struggling on my own. *Spanish is the 2nd most spoken language in the world and the economy of the hispanic markets is growing at an exponential rate. Plus, it’s a beautiful language.

Spanish Experience Center Calle República de Chile #182 Colonia 5 de Diciembre, 48380 Puerto Vallarta Tel: 322 223 58 64 www.secpv.com info@SpanishExperienceCenter.com

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Helpful Spanish Cognates to Know

By Sara T.

B

elieve it or not, the U.S. is now the 2nd largest Spanish-speaking country! It surpasses Spain and only follows behind our southern neighbor, Mexico.

The increase in Spanish-speaking households means an increased opportunity for bilingual people in the workforce. Learning Spanish as a second language can give you a leg up in your professional field and put you way ahead of your competition. (Learn more benefits of being bilingual here!)

If you’re just beginning to learn Spanish, rest easy, as it’s one of the easiest languages for English speakers to pick up! This is because Spanish and English are full of cognates. What is a cognate, you ask? Cognates are words that sound the same (or almost the same) and have the same meaning in both languages.

Recognizing Spanish-English Cognates By studying cognate patterns, you can tap into thousands of Spanish vocabulary words that you already know. And as a bonus, cognates exist across all aspects of the language — so they can be a great way to increase intermediate, advanced, and even industry-specific vocabulary.

Below are some of the most common types of cognate patterns: No Spelling Changes • The easiest cognates to recognize are exactly the same in English and Spanish. However, the Spanish pronunciation of the word may be slightly different than what you’re used to.

Examples: metro, hospital, idea, escape, lava, visa, sociable, inevitable, funeral, original, cereal, horrible, motor • Adding an –ar or –ir • In Spanish, verbs end in –ar, -er, or –ir, and each follows its own conju-

gation rules. Many verb cognates exist by simply adding –ar or –ir to the English version of the word.

Examples: adopt – adopter, calm – calmar, control – controlar, limit – limitar, invert – invertir, insist – insister • Changing –tion to –ción • The common English suffix –tion is used to form noun versions of verbs. It commonly expresses the state or action of the verb. Luckily for Spanish learners, the rule is consistent in Spanish nouns as well.

Examples: action – acción, celebration – celebración, condition – condición, nation – nación, fiction – ficción • Adding an –o • This type of cognate is so common that many Spanish learners will try adding an –o to any English word when they don’t know the Spanish version. A nd to be honest, sometimes it works (although this isn’t always the case).

Examples: academic – académico, alcoholic – alcohólico, domestic – doméstico, organic – orgánico, panic – pánico.

There are many more cognates in Spanish, as well as patterns other than the ones listed above. Taking the time to study cognate patterns will increase your vocabulary tenfold overnight.

However, be aware of false cognates! These are words that appear to be the same in two languages, but actually have very different meanings.

For example, embarazada means “pregnant” in Spanish, but it’s often confused with “embarrassed” because they appear so similar.

General Rules for Cognates in Spanish Here are some general rules you can use to understand how Spanish-English cognates relate: • –ity becomes –idad (difficulty = dificultad) • –ous becomes –oso (curious = curioso) –ance becomes –ancia (ambulance = ambulancia) Original: takelessons.com

events around the bay

27 If you have an event you would like to publicize, please email editor@vallartatribune.com.

January 16

Deja New Fashion Show Luncheon at River Cafe 12:30 pm $300 pesos - advance tickets only.

Fashions, three course meal, raffle, silent auction, 50/50, door prizes.

Guest entertainer Lorena Peril. All proceeds to Pasitos de Luz Tickets: Deja New, Alexander A Salon, Cassandra Shaw, River Cafe, Nacho Daddy or email Barb at condo211@yahoo.ca

January 16

Becas Vallarta Annual Golf Tournament at Vista Vallarta For the Golf Tournament please contact Carlos Fregosa at: 221-0789.

January 18

Monday night at the Movies showing ‘Mildred Pierce’ - free popcorn, cash bar $40 pesos tix with funds going to the IFC charitable works. Doors 6:30, movie 7pm. At the IFC Clubhouse.

More info: ifcvallarta.com

January 19 –

Corazon de Nina Humanitarian Tour and Brunch - please visit our website www.fundacioncorazon.mx for more detailed information. Call 322/224-9209 for reservations.

January 19

IFC Home Tours. Visit four fabulous homes on a docent-guided tour.

Tours start at 10:30am at the Sea Monkey on Aquiles Serdan. Tickets available online at www.toursforvallarta.com. or at the Sea Monkey.

Limited seating.

January 19

Organ, Soprano, Tenor and Trumpet classical music concert 8pm at church of Our Lady of Guadalupe - with ALL proceeds going to the church. All are welcome!

January 19

Fiesta Blanca will be the Vallarta Garden Club’s biggest event of the year. It will be a dream in white, flowers, candles, table clothes, and all the glitter and glamor you’ll want for an elegant evening. A leisurely cocktail hour, auctions, music, and a seated dinner at Oscar’s on Isla Cuale.

January 19

Fashion Show and Luncheon at Xocolatl by Roberto’s Fun, Fashions,

Fajitas, a Margarita & an Auction!

Benefit for the Local Schools in La Cruz Starting at 1 pm at ROBERTO'S in La Cruz. Cost: $300 pesos

bar $40 pesos tix with funds going to the IFC charitable works. Doors 6:30, movie 7pm. At the IFC Clubhouse.

More info: ifcvallarta.com

bingo with the winner taking home half the pot. All proceeds shared with Pasitos de Luz and Colina Spay and Neuter.

January 20

January 26

February 5

Becas Vallarta Breakfast at Daiquiri Dick’s 9:30 a.m., $200 pesos per ticket- info and tickets: Suzanne Erikson 221-5599 or Terry Prill 221-5465, or Mariel or Carlos Fregosa 221-0789

January 20

Bingo at Nacho Daddy's at 4:00 pm All bingo games at Nacho Daddy's will be every other Wednesday with card sales beginning at 3:00 pm and bingo at 4:00 pm. Bingo bags over 1000 pesos, raffle tickets for great prizes, final game is a cash blackout bingo with the winner taking home half the pot. All proceeds shared with Pasitos de Luz and Colina Spay and Neuter.

January 20

IFC Home Tours. Visit four fabulous homes on a docent-guided tour.

Tours start at 10:30am at the Sea Monkey on Aquiles Serdan. Tickets available online at www.toursforvallarta.com. or at the Sea Monkey.

Limited seating.

January 25

Adult Bingo – held at The Palm Cabaret this naughty but nice bingo game benefits the Purr Project.

Each bingo has a special guest and plenty of great prizes. Starts at 4pm

January 25

Monday night at the Movies showing ‘All about Eve - free popcorn, cash

– Corazon de Nina Humanitarian Tour and Brunch - please visit our website www.fundacioncorazon.mx for more detailed information. Call 322/224-9209 for reservations.

January 26

IFC Home Tours. Visit four fabulous homes on a docent-guided tour.

Tours start at 10:30am at the Sea Monkey on Aquiles Serdan. Tickets available online at www.toursforvallarta.com. or at the Sea Monkey.

Limited seating.

January 27

IFC Home Tours. Visit four fabulous homes on a docent-guided tour.

Tours start at 10:30am at the Sea Monkey on Aquiles Serdan. Tickets available online at www.toursforvallarta.com. or at the Sea Monkey.

Limited seating.

January 27-31

Festival Sayulita – Weekend long event with film, music, surf and tequila! So much to do and see this festive weekend in the charming village of Sayulita.

February 3

Bingo at Nacho Daddy's at 4:00 pm All bingo games at Nacho Daddy's will be every other Wednesday with card sales beginning at 3:00 pm and bingo at 4:00 pm. Bingo bags over 1000 pesos, raffle tickets for great prizes, final game is a cash blackout

Breakfast Fundraiser in support of Corazon de Nina at La Palapa Restaurant at 10:00am. Tickets are available at Carol's Boutique, Basillo Badillo #250, 322/113-0073 or Salsa Salon & Boutique, Paseo de la Marina #165. 322/221-3256.

February 8

Adult Bingo – held at The Palm Cabaret this naughty but nice bingo game benefits the Purr Project.

Each bingo has a special guest and plenty of great prizes. Starts at 4pm

February 9 Carnaval - Parade starting at 8pm along the malecon and through Centro with other assorted events being held around town. More info to come.

February 14 3rd Annual Open Your Heart Gala in support of Corazon de Nina Tickets available at Carol's Boutique 322/113-0073 or Salsa Salon 322/221-3256.

For information, please visit www.fundacioncorazon. mx or Facebook: corazondeninapv.

February 17 Becas Vallarta Breakfast at River Cafe 9:30 a.m., $200 pesos per ticket- info and tickets: Suzanne Erikson 221-5599 or Terry Prill

Vallarta Celebrates the Art of Frida Kahlo

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collaborative exhibition of over 40 international artists artwork inspired by Friday Kahlo exploring the art of Frida Khalo will kick off a month of celebrating the rich life of Frida Kahlo which will include a wide variety of themed events including ART Workshops, Cooking Classes, Movies thru Feb 11th.

The Fearless FRIDAS ART exhibition opening, is on Friday January 15th, 6-9 pm at ART VallARTa. Artist include: Tony Collantez, Quetzal Cuatl, Veronica Rangel, Adrian Rojas, Douglas Simonson, Nicola Wheston, Yanina Rock, Jean Jacques Hudon, Patrick Larrivee, Gerald Gallant, Emilie Leger, Audrey Lemay, Sara Lin, Michel Tobidas, Jean Brosseau, Rejean Lavoie, Natacha Ashby,

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

221-5465, or Mariel or Carlos Fregosa 221-0789

February 17 Bingo at Nacho Daddy's at 4:00 pm All bingo games at Nacho Daddy's will be every other Wednesday with card sales beginning at 3:00 pm and bingo at 4:00 pm. Bingo bags over 1000 pesos, raffle tickets for great prizes, final game is a cash blackout bingo with the winner taking home half the pot. All proceeds shared with Pasitos de Luz and Colina Spay and Neuter.

February 22

Adult Bingo Held at The Palm Cabaret this naughty but nice bingo game benefits the Purr Project. Each bingo has a special guest and plenty of great prizes. Starts at 4pm

February 23 Murder Mystery Dinner Theater – ‘Girl’s Night Out’ in Support of Amigos de La Cruz at Philos tickets and more information to come.

February 24 Murder Mystery Dinner Theater – Girl’s Night Out in Support of Amigos de La Cruz at Philos tickets and more information to come.

February 28

Murder Mystery Dinner Theater – Girl’s Night Out in Support of Amigos de La Cruz at Philos tickets and more information to come. (matinee)

Learn about Jungle Critters

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Agnes Reynaud, Luc Gauthier, Richard Tasse, Nathalie Herling, Sherrill Chase, Donna De George, Carolina Archer, Debbie Berline, Raymond Clark, Carri Scozek … all curated by Nathalie Herling

Rhodes and Richard Tasse.

Join in on the celebration! Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera attire and costumes are encouraged for the opening celebration. www.artvallarta.com

n Thursday, January 21st at 11am the P.V. Garden Club meeting will be held at De Vino’s Restaurant above Galeria Dante at 269-A Basilio Badillo. The presentation is titled “Jungle Critters”, and the speaker will be Dr. Fernando Marques, an emergency room physician here in Vallarta who works with Pamela Thompson.

Have you seen bugs you don’t know how to identify? Have you been bitten and become fearful about the effects of the bite? What do you do? Our presenters will help to demystify the tropical bug worries.

Please come and bring your friends.

28

healthcare

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Healing Wounds: Minimizing Scarring S

kin is a seamless organ, like a fine cloth protecting valuable assets. Imagine a piece of silk. Just one small tear can make a big difference in how it looks. And it’s the same with skin.

Any burn, injury, or other trauma, such as surgery, can cause a scar.

Now a scar isn’t bad if it’s small or in a location that’s easy to conceal.

But when it’s not, you may wonder if there’s a way to treat it, other than hiding it under your clothes, that will make it go away or at least change how it looks.

The truth is the scar will never completely go away. But there are some methods that can help reduce its size and change its appearance.

Types of Scars

These are several different types of scars including: • Keloid scars. These scars are the result of an overly aggressive healing process. They extend beyond the original injury. Over time, a keloid scar may hamper movement. Treatments include

now open for dinner

surgery to remove the scar, steroid injections, or silicone sheets to flatten the scar. Smaller keloids can be treated using cryotherapy (freezing therapy using liquid nitrogen). You can also prevent keloid formation by using pressure treatment or gel pads with silicone when you are injured. Keloid scars are most common among people with dark skin.

• Contracture scars. If your skin has been burned, you may have a contracture scar. These scars tighten skin, which can impair your ability to move. Contracture scars may also go deeper, affecting muscles and nerves.

• Hypertrophic scars. These are raised, red scars that are similar to keloids but do not go beyond the boundary of the injury. Treatments include injections of steroids to reduce inflammation or silicone sheets, which flatten the scar.

Acne scars. If you’ve had severe acne, you probably have the scars to prove it. There are many types of acne scars, ranging from deep pits to scars that are angular or wavelike in appearance. Treatment options depend on the types of acne scars you have.

What Are Possible Treatments for Scars?

Enjoy Live Mariachi All Week except Saturdays

Scar treatments may include: • Over-the-counter or prescription creams, ointments, or gels. These products can be used to treat scars that are caused by cuts or other injuries or wounds. There are also prescriptions that may help. Often,

Diners familiar with Hacienda San Angel's stunning views, outstanding cuisine and topnotch service will feel right at home at The Iguana, the new Mexican specialty restaurant at the new Casa Kimberly Hotel; the former homes of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton that have recently undergone a meticulously luxurious renovation.

Reservations only - 322 222 1336 Open for dinner 6-11 pm Zaragoza 445, El Centro, Puerto Vallarta www.casakimberly.com

treatments can include steroids or certain antihistamine creams for scars that cause itching and are very sensitive. Likewise, if you have scarring from severe acne, ask your dermatologist for advice.

Your doctor can also recommend or use pressure treatment or silicone gel sheetings to help treat scars or as preventive care.

• Surgical removal or treatment.

There are many options to treat deeper scars depending on your particular case. These include skin grafts, excision, dermabrasion, or laser surgery. In a skin graft, the surgeon uses skin from another area of your body. This is often used with people who’ve had burns. If you’ve got scarring that impairs function, surgery can help address the functional problems.

If you’ve recently had surgery that has caused scars, it is best to wait at least one year before making a decision about scar treatment.

Many scars fade and become less noticeable over time.

• Injections. You may get steroid injections to treat scars that stick out, such as keloids or hypertrophic scars. Your doctor may use this on its own or with other treatments.

• Other types of injections, such as collagen or other “fillers,” may be useful for some types of pitted scarring, although these are not usually permanent solutions Dr. Luis Mauricio Alvarez Covarrubias Wound Healing Clinic Vallarta Medical Center www.vallartamedicalcenter.mx

PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THE TRIBUNE AT PUERTO VALLARTA TOURISM OFFICES A PAGE IN THE SUN - ZONA ROMANTICA FREDY TUCAN´S - ZONA ROMANTICA NUEVO VALLARTA RESORTS CONSULATE OFFICES DECAMERON RESORT - BUCERIAS BREAKER´S BEACH BAR - BUCERIAS YO-YO MO´S - BUCERIAS MARINA RIVIERA NAYARIT - LA CRUZ OSO RESTAURANT - LA CRUZ

VALLARTA SHOPPING AND EVENTS www.puertovallartadining-shopping.com

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Kathleen Carrillo Gallery

e sure to stop in the Kathleen Carrillo Gallery this season to see the newest works from the Puerto Vallarta Architectural Whimsy Collection. Kathleen has been working on this collection for about ten years now and been inspired during her many travels by the history, beauty and charm of magical places that have aged delightfully over time.

Her first inspiration for this series came from a Medieval hilltop village in the South of France, St Paul De Vence, which she visits frequently, and will be visiting again in the coming year with a group of her students for a week long workshop which still has a few spots left for aspiring painters and travelers.

“As I started my descent down the stairs from the top of the village, I looked at the buildings that had been perched precariously along the hillside for hundreds of years, and had begun to settle just a bit more than they should”. These quirky angles were her first glimpse into a possible idea for her Architectural Whimsy series, which has been developing now, for over ten years. As she continued to work on this

collection it occurred to Kathleen that the whimsy of these paintings were developing not so much from what she saw, but how a place filled her with a sense of magic. “When I travel now, my choices are determined by my love of the “Colorful Magic of Life”.

Her travels have found her exploring many European locations, Famous US cities and of course Mexico. Her newest Mexico inspiration is a colorful interpretation of Guanajuato, with playful green umbrellas in a setting

filled with celebration, as all of Mexico knows how to do.

The next gallery walk, Kathleen will be showing some of the different locations she has painted, for the first time in her Puerto Vallarta Gallery.

Many of the Whimsy collection images are available as hand embellished Giclee Prints on canvas, are signed and numbered editions of 100 and come with a certificate of authenticity.

These prints are a great choice for folks that want a reminder of the magic of

life at a price that is very affordable.

Kathleen Carrillo Gallery is located at Constitucion 325, a half a block off of Basilio Badillo, right next door to the Banderas Bay Trading Company.

You can also find her during the summer months in her new studio in Southern California. Hours are from 10-5:30 weekdays and Saturday from 10-3, or by appointment. Call 044 322 141 8867, or US 858 261 8129. www.KathleenCarrilloGalleries.com

“Remodeling and Renovations”

Juarez 599 El Centro 322 222 1383, 322 111 6359 www.colibridesignvallarta.com galeriacolibri@gmail.com

Home Tours!

Supporting local charities Home Tours depart every Tue. & Wed. at 10:30 a.m. from Sea Monkey Restaurant (just south of Rio Cuale and Molino de Agua condos on the beach at Aquiles Serdán)!! $500 pesos

Tickets for all tours go on sale at 9 a.m. the day of the tour at Sea Monkey Restaurant.

For advance ticket purchases and more details go to : ifctoursforvallarta.com or call

(322) 222 5466

entertainment

30

Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Judy Garland - A Life of Pain and Talent

By Fred Jacobs

J

udy Garland was born Frances Ethel Gumm in Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 10, 1922 to Vaudeville veteran parents. Her first stage appearance was at the age of 2.5 yrs. old at her fathers’ theatre, along with her two older sisters and her mother.

In 1926, the family moved to California, again owning a theatre, while her mother worked at getting her daughters into motion pictures.

Judy and her sisters became “The Gumm Sisters” and toured all around the US on the Vaudeville circuit, with their stage mother managing them. Later, Judy attended Hollywood High School.

At the urging of an agent, the trio changed their name to The Garland Sisters and Judy chose to change her first name shortly thereafter. In 1935, Luis B Meyer sent a scout to see the Garland Sisters vaudeville act in Los Angeles. Judy was quickly signed to a contract with MGM, without even a screen-test.

The studio had a problem figuring out what to do with her. At 13, she was too old for child roles and too young for adult roles.

Her incredible singing voice became well known throughout the studio, and they quickly hit a winning formula in pairing her with

Mickey Rooney in a series of small musical films. In all, nine of her first 24 films were made with Mickey Rooney. Her greatest early role was in 1939 in the “Wizard of Oz”.

She sang “Over the Rainbow” and it made her into a real star.

In 1940, Garland had grown to become a beautiful young woman who was ready to appear in adult roles. But Judy had personal issues that lasted throughout her tragic life. She was insecure about her physical appearance. Obesity was her main concern with drug and alcohol abuse to follow. She was married a total of five times which produced two daughters (Liza Minelli and Lorna Luft-both stars in their own right) and a son.

But Judy never seemed happy with herself or her relationships.

She had a romance with the bandleader Artie Shaw but it did not last and he eloped with Lana Turner. Then a musician proposed marriage to Judy, but her studio informed her that he was already married to actress Martha Raye.

In 1942, Judy made “Me and my Gal’ with Gene Kelly after which her career stalled. She married Vincent Minelli in 1945 and a year later her first child, Liza was born.

That same year, Judy made her first dramatic film “The Clock” with James Walker. Garland had her first

nervous breakdown and attempted suicide. She began having severe headaches. Her career was on hold again.

She divorced Minelli in 1951 and Sid Luft became her new manager.

He arranged a four month concert tour to Great Britain and Ireland. It was a great success and staged her comeback. The applause and great reviews restored her confidence. In 1952, Judy and Luft

married and daughter Lorna was born. They returned to Manhattan and she performed to packed houses for twenty weeks.

By 1953 she starred in “A Star is born’ with James Mason. It was considered her best film ever. She got sick during the filming and that caused the film to initially lose money. Garland was even nominated for a Best Actress Oscar but lost to Grace Kelly in “Country Girl’.

Then came the Las Vegas era for Judy. In 1956 she was hired by the Frontier Hotel at $55,000 per week. She came down with Hepatitis and her doctor gave her only five years to live, but she proved everybody wrong when she fully recovered.

Her mental and physical rollercoasters and recoveries were amazing. She later gave a sold out concert at Carnegie Hall that will

be remembered forever.

Besides acting and singing, she was one of the first television stars.

In 1955, CBS offered her $300,000 for their first “Technicolor” TV Show.

Two sensational shows were made and then it was unceremoniously cancelled. In 1961, CBS made amends to Judy and she made a special with Frank Sinatra and Dean Marten. Also in 1961, she tried the which would go on to be one of top movies of the 60’s.

1964 saw Judy performing live back in London with her 18 year old daughter Liza. It was a success and she intended to settle down in England upon retirement. Liza later said her mother had developed a serious drinking problem where shows would have to be cancelled.

It all ended in 1969 in London.

Judy Garland was found dead in her bathroom from an overdose.

She had just turned 47 years old and married her 5th husband a month previously. Her body was laid out so that thousands of her fans and admirers could pay their last respect. Her funeral brought out all of Hollywood, including Lauren Bacall, Jack Benny, Sammy Davis Jr, Gary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Lana Turner.

At 47 years old, she said goodbye to her many loyal fans, leaving behind 32 films and many song favorites. In 1997 she was honored with a Grammy Life Time Achievement Award and later the US Postal service produced stamps honoring her as well.

Judy was a troubled soul while on this planet, hopefully she found peace once released from it.

Fred Jacobs is the author of three books and is a permanent resident of Puerto Vallarta,

31 Markets and More – Weekly Events in Banderas Bay If you have an ongoing weekly event you’d like to add, email editor@vallartatribune.com TUESDAY Malecon Sculpture Tour – 9:30am Hosted by Gary Thompson. The tour starts at the “Millennium” sculpture next to the Hotel Rosita at the north end of the Malecon.

IFC Home Tours - Visit 4 magnificent homes. Buses leave Sea Monkey restaurant, at the foot of Aquiles Serdan, at 10:30am. Cost is $500 pesos.

Riviera Farmers Market – Nuevo Vallarta from 9am-2pm WEDNESDAY Forever Spring Farmers Market - 50 Lazaro Cardenas, opposite Sandrinas, Bucerias 9am-1pm Three Hens and a Rooster Market on Carranza 466, Old Town, Puerto Vallarta 9am to 1pm IFC Home Tours - Visit 4 magnificent homes. Buses leave Sea Monkey restaurant, at the foot of Aquiles Serdan, at 10:30am.

Artwalk – In the historic center of Puerto Vallarta 6-10pm Art collectors, local residents and interested visitors are invited to discover the great variety and exceptional quality of art available in Puerto Vallarta.

Recreactiva –Join in a group bike ride from Marina to the Malecon and back every Wednesday evening starting at 8:45.

THURSDAY Bucerias Artwalk from 7-9pm Calle Lazaro Cardenas Live Music and dancing in the Main Plaza, Puerto Vallarta – 6pm Marina Night Market – 6-9:30pm vendors and artisans set up along the marina FRIDAY Marsol Market by the Pier, Puerto Vallarta – 9:30am – 1:30 Sayulita Farmers Market – 9am-2pm SATURDAY Old Town Farmers Market - 9:30am2pm Parque Lazaro Cardenas, Puerto Vallarta Three Hens and a Rooster Market From 9am to 1pm, on Carranza 466, Old Town, Puerto Vallarta Lo de Marcos Tianguis - 9am - 2pm Saturday – Artisans, organics, food Live Music in the Main Plaza, Puerto Vallarta – 6pm SUNDAY La Cruz Farmers Market – La Cruz Marina 9-2pm Recreactiva – 8am-noon – the centre lanes of Francisco Medina are closed to traffic and open to anyone wishing to walk, skate, ride from Hotel Krystal to the Sheraton.

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Jan 14 - 20, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com