Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - There's always so much going on in Puerto Vallarta and around Banderas Bay, it can be difficult to keep up with it all. So we've put together a brief overview of some of this week's headlines from local Spanish language newspapers, breaking Mexico news stories, and a couple of upcoming local events you won't want to miss.

Hurricane Manuel Strikes Sinaloa

After hitting the southwest of Mexico on Sunday, Tropical Storm Manuel re-emerged as a hurricane on Wednesday and made landfall in northwestern Mexico on Thursday. Hurricane Manuel is now dumping torrential rain on Sinaloa state, and is slowly moving along Sinaloa's coastline packing maximum sustained winds of 120km/h (75mph). With meteorologists warning that its path is "erratic," Sinaloa schools have been closed and the fishing village of Yameto has been evacuated. Forecasters have warned it could trigger more flash flooding and landslides. The death toll had risen to 80 after Mexico was hit by twin storms Ingrid and Manuel, triggering landslides and floods that affected some 220,000 people across the country, damaging scores of bridges and homes. Around 50 towns in Guerrero were affected when Tropical Storm Manuel hit on Sunday, with almost a quarter of a million people seeing various levels of damage to their homes. The resort town of Acapulco and surrounding areas were worst hit, and are still struggling to recover. Rescuers are still searching for 58 people who were buried in a mudslide that tore through the middle of the mountainous village of La Pintada on Monday. Yet another tropical disturbance is brewing in the southern Gulf of Mexico, about 270 miles east-southeast of Tampico, Mexico, and is expected to linger for several days. If it strengthens sufficiently, it will earn the name Jerry. For now, it’s simply meandering in the western Gulf just off the Mexican coast, in the same vicinity where Ingrid made landfall and dumped a lot of rain.

Dance, Theater and Music Performances at Cecatur

To commemorate two successful years of ongoing dance, theater and music performances in Puerto Vallarta, Melissa Castillo’s eclectic Cartelera Escénica will present three back-to-back performances showcasing some of Puerto Vallarta’s most significant local talents at the Cecatur Auditorium, (two blocks from the Plaza Principal in El Centro). On Friday, September 27, Triada de Voces (or voice triad) will feature the voices of Camila Aguirre, Perla Alarcón and Kharla Barragán, each one of them displaying their unique singing style on stage. On Saturday, September 28, enjoy La Ley del Ranchero, a play in Spanish that depicts a series of vignettes that take place at a low-brow cantina, combining humor and drama, interspersed with musical numbers. Sunday, September 29 is a celebration of dance in its many manifestations. Dancers will perform a variety of choreographies created by local talent, including Castillo, in a variety of styles. All three shows begin at 8 pm, with an admission price of $80 pesos per person, $50 for students and teachers with proper ID.

Iberostar Playa Mita Debuts December 1

Iberostar is just a few months away from opening the doors to its first resort on Mexico's Pacific Coast. The Iberostar Playa Mita will debut in Riviera Nayarit as of December 1. The resort will have 452 rooms and will be part of Iberostar's Premium Gold collection. Built into a cliff, 120 of the rooms will be oceanfront. There will also be an infinity pool, several gourmet restaurants, golf included and a brand-new room category: Spa Suites. The first of its kind for Iberostar, the Spa Suites will have their own private spa and treatments will be included in the rate. There will be 25 Spa Suites at Iberostar Playa Mita. There will also be another spa on property for the rest of the resort members to use. As is typical with the Premium Gold category, the resort will be home to a splash park for kids, as well as a teen club, and an adults-only section.

Aeromexico Launches Frequent Mexico-US Travelers' Program

Mexican carrier Aeromexico has launched its Aeromexico Contigo program aimed at migrant customers residing in Mexico or in the United States who travel frequently between the two countries. According to Aeromexico, the program features a specific call center and personal assistance at participating airport check-in counters, help filling out immigration forms, transportation of oversized packages, connections to the airline's route network and attention on both sides of the border, as well as competitive rates for this important passenger segment. The carrier configured four of its Boeing 737-800 airplanes to offer the new Aeromexico Contigo service, which offers 174 seats. The program will begin on October 1st, with tickets available through the Aeromexico website and travel agencies.

Upcoming Events in Puerto Vallarta and around Banderas Bay
Click on titles for more information

• Expats in Vallarta Happy Hour / Toothbrush Collection

• Los Alcatraces Hosts 'Gringo BINGO' for Purr Project

• Free Introduction to Opera at Teatro Vallarta

• SETAC 'Hair Spray Night' at SKY Mandala

Don't forget to vote for your favorite Puerto Vallarta restaurants in our 2013 Best of Banderas Bay Awards, right HERE on BanderasNews.com. We'll be collecting your votes in categories ranging from 'Best Breakfast' to 'Best Margarita' through December 31st, and the Puerto Vallarta restaurant with the most votes in each category will be named 'The Best of Banderas Bay' at an awards ceremony in early 2014. Click HERE to vote NOW!