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Gays y la Policía en Vallarta
Paul Crist

A group of business owners and managers recently met with the new Director General of the Municipal Police, Transit Police and Firemen, Lic. Luis Carlos Vega, to discuss problems and misunderstandings between the police and the Gay community.

Things and Everybody
Polly G. Vicars

As I thought about the many questions Husband and I often get about our 19 years of living in Puerto Vallarta, a friend's favorite phrase "things and everybody" popped into my mind - and suddenly many things and many people seemed newsworthy to me.

Tropicasa Realty Opens New Office in Flamingos
Patrick Harrison

Understanding that Banderas Bay is more than just Puerto Vallarta, Wayne Franklin of Tropicasa Realty, one of the most trusted names in Puerto Vallarta Real Estate, has opened new offices in Flamingos to better serve the growing North Bay communities.

Vallarta Jewish Community Passover Seder
PVNN

The Puerto Vallarta Jewish Community is having a Passover Seder Dinner at El Set restaurant on April 2nd at 7 pm - and you and your family and friends are invited. The Seder will start at 8 pm, followed by a full course dinner.

MEXLend Brings New Financing Resource to Puerto Vallarta
Patrick Harrison

Puerto Vallarta-based MEXLend, an industry-leading mortgage broker in Mexico, has closed the first IMI Group loan in Vallarta. This marks the beginning of many more financing options to fund real estate purchases in the Banderas Bay area.

Bay Area Resident Runs Animal Clinic in San Pancho
Banks Albach

For Betty McIntire it was love at first sight. She wasn't looking at her college sweetheart or future husband. And it wasn't the cozy Mexican fishing village, San Pancho, where she owns a home and runs a spay and neuter clinic for stray animals twice per year. It was Rasca-Linda, a 6-year-old mutt that looks more like a hyena than a dog.

Popularity, Precedent Could Keep ‘Dog’ Free
Lee Catterall

Revered at home for his capture in Puerto Vallarta of millionaire serial rapist Andrew Luster, Hawaii-based bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman might be a bitter reminder to Mexican law enforcement of a controversy concerning a 1990 abduction south of the border.

Greg Forest at Punta Mita Time
PVNN

Texas Barbeque Night at Punta de Mita Time just keeps getting hotter! It started in February with a performance by Claude Morgan, followed by the "King of Tex-Mex" Joe King Carrasco in March. Now, Greg Forest will be heating up the stage on April 28th.

"Goodbye Houston, Hello Higuera Blanca"
Peggy Grodinsky

Houston foodies likely remember her as the Lettuce Lady, or sometimes the Lettuce Queen. Now, sustainable-gardening pioneer Camille Waters is about to say goodbye to Houston and move to Higuera Blanca, but she isn't hanging up her trowel.

Mexico Boutique Hotels Announces New Packages and Promotions
PRNewswire

Mexico Boutique Hotels is a collection of small unique hotels located throughout Mexico that have been categorized as boutique by virtue of their intimate size, idyllic settings, highly personalized service, individual style and outstanding attributes.

Easter Bunnies & Eggs - Make Mine Chocolate!
Patrick Harrison

Puerto Vallarta's favorite new store - Xocodiva - has been hard at work teaching the Easter Bunny a little Spanish. The result: a new line of molded chocolate bunnies and eggs just in time for the Easter Holidays.

Transformation, Patzcuaro Style
Eileen Pierce

We three women friends from the same pueblo in Mexico, middle-aged and then some, had come to Patzcuaro to shop. At the end of our third day, legs and hips sore from walking up and down the city streets, we found treasure - the massage of a lifetime.

Book Offers Tricks to Bring Mexican Style Home
Claire Whitcomb

The hothouse colors, the hand-painted tiles, the lazy drift of hammocks and mosquito netting: If you visit Mexico, it's hard not to fall in love with the look and the lifestyle. But unlike a craft or curio that you can pack in your suitcase, Mexican style isn't always easy to bring back home.

Riviera Nayarit Poised to Become a Premier Vacation Destination
PRNewswire

Apple Vacations was honored this week for its contributions to tourism development in Mexico. The award was presented by Governor Ney Gonzalez Sanchez of the State of Nayarit, which is poised to become the one of the leading new tourism destinations in Mexico.

Mexico Does Second-Home Buying Right
Tom Kelly

Senasara Vallarta will offer 250 active adult homes, in 1, 2 and 3 bedroom configurations only 20 minutes from the airport at Puerto Vallarta. All the homes are on an active golf course, 5 minutes from the beach.

Get a Head Start on Summer Special Rates at Yelapa's Verana Resort
Maya Benyehuda

Isn't it time to banish those winter blues and get a head start on summer? There's no place better to get some sun, relaxation and blood-pumping adventure than Verana, a boutique luxury hotel nestled on a hilltop in Yelapa, 30 miles south of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Audiences are BeDazzled! at Santa Barbara Theater
PVNN

Santa Barbara Theater's newest musical sensation, BeDazzled! offers Puerto Vallarta musical theater lovers a veritable joy ride through decades of fabulous musicals and show-stopping songs every Thursday at 8 pm through the end of March.

Villa Group Resort News
Dawna Robertson

The highly anticipated Villa La Estancia in Vallarta Nayarit has held a soft opening of phase one of its 135 beachfront villas. Fifty suites of the three-phase project are now available on a limited basis as an upgrade to guests arriving at the adjacent Villa del Palmar Flamingos.

Puerto Vallarta Restaurant Week 2007
PVNN

From May 15th through 31st, some of the finest restaurants in Puerto Vallarta will once again be offering you the chance to savor the flavors of Mexico - and the world - during Vallarta Lifestyles' Restaurant Week 2007.

New Business Models? Dial S for Skype.
Hillary Woolley

With Skype, Bill Lewis is bringing in the same $5,000 a month he did when working on a landline. And he's doing it from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where he lives two blocks from the beach.

Puerto Vallarta Home Buyers' Top Five Questions
Jim Morrison

While Mexico real estate can be a lucrative investment, some foreign investors may feel uneasy about buying "south of the border." What follows are the top five questions our home buying clients have for us, and our answers.

The Vernal Equinox - When Day Equals Night
PVNN

March 21st marks the first day of spring. This is the traditional time for great spring festivals and here in Puerto Vallarta, the day is celebrated through concerts, shows and traditional Aztec ceremonies at sunset.

Goodbye Old Friend
Laura Gelezunas

Puerto Vallarta has lost one of its legends. Mary Sue Morris, owner of Viva Jewelry Store, died March 17, 2007 after a battle with cancer in Houston, Texas. She leaves behind a legacy of exuberance, business success and friends who will miss her.

Idyllic Resort: Cozy in Chacala
Christopher Reynolds

Sure, there's a great beach here, fresh fish, tall palms and only about 400 locals to share them with. But let's start with the treachery and deception.

New Concept Bar Opens in Romantic Zone
Patrick Harrison

In the Sky Lounge overlooking Plaza Romy, the quaint shopping plaza on Ignacio Vallarta between Aquiles Serdan and Madero in the Puerto Vallarta Romantic Zone, Flicker offers it all - from Classic Films to Infused Vodkas in glasses made of ice.

Philippo Lo Grande at Galeria Octavo
PVNN

If you haven’t yet checked out “Los Monumentos Vallartense de LoGrande” at Galeria Octavio, you'll be happy to know that this wonderful artist’s exhibit will remain on display at this popular downtown Puerto Vallarta art gallery through March 30th.

Tequila: A Spirited Town
Dave G. Houser

In the valley of a dormant 9,700-foot volcano, Tequila is surrounded by thousands of carefully cultivated acres of blue-green agave fields that blanket the hillsides. Most residents work in the fields or distilleries, which number about a dozen.

Need a U.S. Passport Fast? Be Prepared to Pay
Jane Engle

Margarita in hand, you are lounging on a stretch of sand near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Not a care in the world. Except this: That's your dream, but the reality is that you don't have a current passport, and you're due to fly to Mexico in a month. Uh-oh.

Dali at Dante? No... it's Israel Zzepda!
PVNN

There are only two more chances to "Meet the Artists" at Galleria Dante this season. Don't miss Israel Zzepda, whose surreal works are greatly influenced by Salvador Dali, on March 21st and Peter Spataro, who will be at the last show on April 4th.

A Walk in the Park
PVNN

The protesters are gone, the dust has settled, and workers are putting the final touches on the new Cardenas Plaza in the Puerto Vallarta Romantic Zone. Join BanderasNews photographer/videographer, Ray Dion, for "a walk in the park."

The Irish Soldiers of Mexico
Michael Hogan

If you are celebrating St. Patrick's Day here in Vallarta, you should know a bit of Mexican history. One of the least-known stories being that of the Irish battalion that fought on the Mexican side in the US-Mexico War of 1846–1848.

Buying Abroad: Mexico Becomes a Bit Easier
Kevin Brass

While it still can be an adventure, experts say that the process of buying property in Mexico has changed dramatically in recent years.

First Civil Unions in a Changed Mexico
Tony Grew

Mexico has a thriving gay scene in urban areas and the area around Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta is referred to as Mexico's "gay belt." Outside these areas though attitudes are more conservative, with the Roman Catholic Church still exerting a lot of influence in rural areas.

Jump Start Your Day at Daiquiri Dick's
Laura Gelezunas

Get out of the office for a bit of fresh air, a great view and super start to your day by adding Daiquiri Dick's to your morning routine. There's no better setting for a leisurely or business breakfast than the restaurant's patio on Los Muertos Beach.

A Real Mexican Adventure
Terry Peters

A winter vacation in Mexico will often revolve around the beaches and nightlife in one of the resort towns like Puerto Vallarta, but if you are prepared to venture further there is a great deal to see.

The Villa Group Announces Romance, Golf and Spa Packages
Dawna Robertson

With villa-style hotels located on Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta, The Villa Group has created a selection of romance, golf and spa packages available throughout 2007.

Ancient Tombs Found in Nayarit
El Universal

Mexican archaeologists found more than 100 bodies in 29 different pre-Hispanic tombs dating back about 2,000 years in Nayarit.

Festival Indigena 2007 - A Curious Mix of Ancient and Modern Cultures
Kathy Taylor

The Festival Indigena 2007, which continues through March 25th at Plaza Caracol, is an oasis of culture and ancient civilization in extreme contrast to the contemporary atmosphere, merchandising and entertainment found in this ultramodern mall.

PV Pirates MC Ride for Cerebral Palsy
PVNN

The Puerto Vallarta Pirates are revving up for two exciting Charity Motorcycle Runs to benefit Proyecto Pitillal, Busca un Amigo A.C., a non-profit association for underprivileged Banderas Bay area children who are afflicted with cerebral palsy.

Is There a Doctor in the House?
PVNN

When you are on vacation the last thing you want to worry about is your health, so it's good to know that in Puerto Vallarta there are modern hospitals with bilingual doctors offering high-quality medical services and emergency care to tourists.

Visitors Help Mexicans Build Stable Futures
Tom Carter

Many in Chacala, a small fishing village of about 300 people overlooking a scenic bay about 60 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, owe their good fortune to a program called Techos de Mexico - Roofs Over Mexico - founded by Mexican social activists from the 1960s and modeled after Habitat for Humanity, but designed to meet the needs of Mexico's poor.

Just Say Yes to a Vacation in Sayulita
Elliot Rowe

Hidden in one of the coves on Mexico's western coast is the little oceanfront village of Sayulita. This beautiful gem, just a half an hour drive north of Puerto Vallarta, is a fishing village and also an isolated vacation spot that's home to the occasional surfer.

El Arrayán Now Offering Natural Food Products
Patrick Harrison

El Arrayán, dedicated to promoting the enjoyment of great food while defending the Mexican cultural identity tied to food and cooking traditions, is now offering Puerto Vallarta residents and visitors organic products from around Mexico.

Local Celebrity Night to Benefit Becas Vallarta A.C.
Mary Ellis

Becas Vallarta, AC has been selected as the charity for "Local Celebrity Night" at Banana Cantina on Wednesday, March 14th and Wednesday, March 21st, 2007 with Guest Hosts Polly Vicars and Peter Gray, respectively.

Vallarta Chamber Orchestra Spring Concert
Mary MacLachlan

Classical music lovers will once again have the opportunity to hear the Vallarta Chamber Orchestra in concert. The orchestra will present its spring concert on Sunday, March 18th in the plaza of the Centro Cultural Rio Cuale at 8 pm.

Starlit and Dazzled
Polly G. Vicars

The 2007 Becas Ball at the Westin Resort and Spa was an unqualified hit, exceeding it's advance billing. The consensus at our table, and to everyone else I spoke to, was that it was a fabulous dazzling evening - and probably the best Becas Ball ever!

Snip & Clip Clinic
Laura Gelezunas

BanderasNews videographer Laura Gelezunas gives us an inside look at the free spay and neuter clinic that was held by a group of volunteers from Alley Cat Rescue at the Centro de Acopio Animal/Puerto Vallarta Animal Shelter on March 2nd and 3rd.

ExProTur Vallarta 2007
PVNN

Plans are underway for the 12th annual ExProTur Vallarta, an International exposition for tourist industry service providers in Western Mexico, scheduled to take place from May 31st-June 2nd at the new Puerto Vallarta Convention Center.

Day Five of "The Best World's Ever"
Kathy Taylor

Brazil's Mauricio SantaCruz and his team on Bruschetta are the 2007 J/24 World Champions. Bruschetta led the boat parade through Nuevo Vallarta Harbour to cheers and horns on the final day of what everyone is calling "The Best World's Ever."

Mama Dolores Goes Bananas!
PVNN

Due to the high demand of her loyal followers, Mama Dolores made an encore appearance at Banana Cantina's March 7th Celebrity Night - and oh baby, what a night it was! Rockin' rollin' and raisin' pesos for Alfredo V. Bonfil Primary School.

BelleCora Press & Workshops Offers Discounts for Gulf Coast Writers
USPRwire

BelleCora Press & Workshops is offering a discount package to writers who are residents of Gulf Coast states for its 2007 Spring Workshops & Retreat in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Interested writers from Gulf states must register by March 30.

Vallarta Nights
Polly G. Vicars

As you know, Husband and I are often asked, "But what do you do all day?" After we've answered that question, the next query is often "But is there anything to do at night in Puerto Vallarta?"

Ultimate Divorcee Vacation at Grand Velas Resort in Nuevo Vallarta
PRWEB

Recently divorced and wondering where to go and what to do with the diamond wedding ring? The deluxe all-inclusive Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort, a recipient of the AAA Five Diamond Award, is offering the Ultimate Divorcee Vacation.

The Crocodile Hunters
Sue Fornoff

Imagine going outside for your morning swim and finding a crocodile in the pool! Recently, the residents of the Seibal Mayan Palace Island Resort development in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit had just that happen.

First American Beachfront Active Adult Community Going Up on Mexico's Pacific Coast
seniorjournal.com

California's largest non-profit provider of senior living communities is teaming up with a Mexican company to build an exclusive active adult (50+) community on the Mexican Pacific Coast, just north of Puerto Vallarta.

Dog-Gone Good Time
PVNN

The weekend went to the dogs at the 3rd annual Perrotón Dog Show in Puerto Vallarta. Banderas News videojournalist, Laura Gelezunas, captured some of the best moments of Perrotón 2007, and shows us some of the canines who earned "Top Dog" status.

New Sculptures at Galleria Dante
PVNN

This week's "Meet the Artists" night at Galleria Dante features new sculptures from Jonas Gutierrez and Oscar Zamarripa, as well as new paintings by Juana Cortez, Oscar Solis and other talented artists on Wednesday, March 7th from 6-10 pm.

Incorporeal Materiality at The Loft Gallery
PVNN

Internationally acclaimed artist Won Lee, whose work makes an impact wherever he exhibits and lectures, will present an Artist's Talk and Discussion at Ztai after the March 7th opening of his solo show "Incorporeal Materiality" at the Loft.

Shadows of My Memories
PVNN

Randy Cooper's shadow sculptures have been sweeping North America and Europe for the past 7 years. Don't miss the Cocktail Reception for the opening of his One Man Art Exhibition "Shadows of my Memories" at Sol y Luna Art Gallery on March 14th.

Puerto Vallarta: 'It's Safe and Friendly'
Bette McClay

We have come to realize that we didn't need to be nervous about going to Mexico. Bad things, just by the law of averages, will happen anywhere. What was really eye-opening, though, was that with the rather dubious behavior of a lot of my fellow citizens, Mexican people so carefully watched out for us.

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