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Sculptures
Coming Back to Malecón The
first of the series of sculptures missing from the Malecón because of Hurricane
Kenna is poised for re-installation. “La Naturaleza Como Madre,” or
“Nature as Mother,” by Adrián Reynos, will be attached by this
weekend to its permanent spot. To follow, Sergio Bustamante’s “En Busca
de la Razón,” or “In Search of Reason,” partially damaged
but restored by the sculptor himself, will be installed next week. The final ones,
the series of whimsical chairs by Alejandro Colunga, are still being recast and
refurbished. Within a month, all sculptures should be back in place and the Malecón
will be complete. Pictured is “Nostalgia” by Ramiz Barquet. |
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City
Hall and Association of Hotels Agree In
a surprising move to some, Mayor Pedro Ruiz Higuera and the Hotel and Motel Association,
headed by Dennis Whitelaw of the Marriott Hotel, came to an agreement this week.
The issues at hand relate to a series of requests: protecting the safety of tourists,
completing all work on the Malecón, finalizing all public works projects
--– such as underground cables and remodeling the sidewalks, beautifying
public parks and gardens, completing the laterals along Fco. Medina Ascensio and,
finally, completing the bridges over the Pitillal and Cuale rivers. The group
agreed to meet regularly to review completion of each of the indicated projects,
promising to find a way to work together for the good of the entire community. |
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Canadian
Consulate Sponsors Conference On
Saturday a conference for immigrants entitled “Legal Facts of Living and
Investing in Mexico” was co-sponsored by Canadian Consul Lyne Benoit and
Jurimex International. On hand were representatives of the customs department
and tax specialists to help clear up questions regarding home, vehicle and property
ownership and sales, as well as business investments and banking. With expertise
developed over years of experience, Jurimex International offers assistance to
immigrants from Canada, the USA and France with complicated and not-so-complicated
transactions involving living in Mexico. The audience asked a number of questions
pertaining to personal experiences, many of which were revealing and even humorous. |
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Café
des Artistes Publishes Recipes Thierry
Blouet of Café des Artistes pulled another card from his sleeve in the
publication of some of his coveted recipes. In a press conference held at the
world-class restaurant, the book “Café des Artistes, Colección
Grandes Chefs,” currently printed in English but soon to be available at
Libros Libros in Spanish, was presented. A brand-new menu was also unveiled, as
dinner choices were served. Prices come in a variety of sizes including reasonable
to all-inclusive. Their new menu design also allows for changes on the sampler,
offering a variety of tastes to the experimental diner. It seemed that surprises
were the nature of the day as various plans and changes came to light, including
a new concept to be announced later in the year. |
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Week of February 21, 2003
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 Highland
Park Offers ExchangePlaques were exchanged by the mayors of Puerto Vallarta and Highland Park, Illinois, at a ceremony in Mayor Pedro Ruiz Higuera’s office on Monday. The relationship began almost exactly a year ago, explained Mayor of Highland Park Daniel Pierce, and has developed into a friendship rather than just a professional relationship. The current president of the Sister Cities, Carol Wolfe, gave her presentation speech in Spanish after practicing in a crash course of months. Also attending was Ana Maria Flores of Sister Cities Vallarta, Salvador Peña of the Tourism Board and Vice President Ignacio Guzmán González. From Highland Park were past President Christine Larsen, who made the presentation last year, and her husband Paul; Carol Wulfe’s husband, Rick; and another past-president, Rhoda Pierce, also the wife of Mayor Daniel Pierce. Wulfe mentioned how, as the relationship grows, they are working on plans for an educational and cultural exchange to start as early as this summer. Ana Maria Flores also said she is organizing a group of instructors in dance and painting to make the first trip to Highland Park. |
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 Peter
Gray Gives More than a HandAt an event that filled the chairs and left standing room only at La Petite France, Peter Gray signed books after a brief talk about his childhood years in England. His book, “All is Safely Gathered In,” is a fictional account of growing up in a historical town such as his own hometown of St. Albins. “Every child growing up in England imbibes tradition in his mother’s milk,” said Gray. “During the war years, I bicycled for miles and miles because, with no gasoline there was no traffic. I studied churches. I talked to local people. I was about 15 then.” This story was written nearly 50 years after waking up one day with the plot clearly outlined in his head during his busy college years. Gray, as a member of the Consejo de Cultura, recently donated 16 works from his collection of art to begin the permanent collection of art at CUCosta, Centro Universitario de la Costa. All proceeds for this book go toward the Becas Vallarta foundation. |
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 Blood
Drive Announced for La CruzPamela Thompson of Global Life Flight announced the upcoming blood drive in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle Monday, February 24. An all-day affair, the event will be held at Philo’s 9 am - 5 pm. In addition to drawing blood, the crew of Global Life will check blood pressures and heart rates for the community located just north of Bucerías at the turn-off to Punta de Mita. Philo’s, located at Delphin 15, can be reached at (329) 295-5068 for directions or further questions. In addition, Global Life will host a talk on tropical diseases by two staff doctors, Dr. Luís Arias and Dr. Jaime Zayas, both completely fluent in English, Wednesday night, February 26,. In two weeks, they will host a similar blood drive in Sayulita, followed by one in Bucerías two weeks later. Please call Thompson at 226 1010 Ext 304 with any questions. |
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 Amigos
de los Animales Reaches Across the BorderIn their annual program, Vets Across the Border, Puerto Vallarta’s Amigos de los Animales announces the upcoming arrival of Dr. Larry J. Wallace from St Paul, Minnesota. As professor of veterinary surgery at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Wallace specializes in orthopedic and spinal surgery. With his wife Nancy, a registered nurse, he will be in Puerto Vallarta March 6 - March 20. Dr. Wallace will conduct special clinics to see patients and do surgery at one or more local veterinary hospitals. He would also be very willing to give a series of lectures on a variety of different orthopedic procedures to the veterinarians in the area. For the lectures he would need a 35 mm slide projector and screen. Anyone interested in helping organize the lectures can contact Roie Griego at 223 3576 or roieg@prodigy.net.mx. Rosie Carrandi as co-chair can be contacted at 222 0586. Recently, in conjuntion with Mayor Pedro Ruiz Higuera, Carrandi placed the first stone for the new animal shelter and clinic, scheduled to open in June 2003. |
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Week of February 14, 2003
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 The
Ortega Family Fashions AnimalsThe artistic Ortega family works at the studio of Puerco Azul II this week on their menagerie in preparation to firing up the oven. Oscar, the eldest of the working cousins, said, “it’s not the same kind of oven we use in Santa Cruz de las Huertas, but we’ll make it work.” They’ll fire it up for the first batch Friday morning, then again Friday afternoon and Saturday. In the meantime, cousins Oscar, Gerardo (pictured) and Eleuterio fashion the clay animals by hand. Once they are fired, a minimum of two minutes at peak heat, the animals are left to cool, then painted by hand and protected with a coating. The grandmother of the young men, called Abuela by all the village, was the one who taught them, having learned at the hands of her own grandmother in the early part of the last century. She was 100 years old when she died last December. Puerco Azul II is at Constitución 325 in E. Zapata. |
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 Charreada
Around the CornerOne of the most traditional Mexican events comes to Puerto Vallarta this week in the Championship of Charro, the first invitational charreada to be held here on the national level. Sponsored by the Asociación de Charros de Vallarta, the four-day competition will include several events downtown as well as the charro itself in the stadium just outside Mojoneras near the new Univa campus. What is a charreada? The most similar thing outside of Mexico is the rodeo, beginning as early as the 16th century as hacenderos, those who ran the haciendas, began to compete in corralling the cattle. Out of this grew regional competitions to become what today comprises more than 1300 associations of charros, mostly in Mexico. The local association has invited 21 of the best groups in the entire country to compete. In addition, there is a maleconeada and verbena popular, a fiesta, Friday, February 21, at 8 pm downtown. A parade is part of this colorful event, with charros on horseback, men and women, in costume with traditional mariachi music. The Charreada competition is February 20 - 23. |
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 Hacienda
Mosaico Offers SeminarsThe elegant Hacienda Mosaico was the scene of a casually chic unveiling of the latest jewelry designs by Sandra Leonard of her Silent Song Studio line. Attended by the local community, the event’s music was provided by talented musician Rafael Bejarano and his didgeridoo and catered by chef Francisco. The property, available for seminars and groups, has seven bed-and-breakfast units in addition to the studio space and gardens. David Leonard is involved with the program to feed the children of the dump with the support of local restaurants El Set, Pipi’s and Andale’s. The smashing poolside bar and welded iron and mosaic furniture lends itself to art and cultural events such as this one. Located at Milan 274 in quiet Versalles, Hacienda Mosaico can be accessed at haciendamosaico.com for further information. |
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Week of February 7, 2003
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COME
ONE, COME MOLE The
First Annual Mole Festival begins Monday, February 10, at Fonda Vallarta.
Under the new direction of Luís Antonio Trujillo Paz, Fonda Vallarta is
planning a series of festivals featuring some of the culinary expertise and tradition
from various regions of Mexico. Mole is actually a word that comes from
the Náhuatl word molli or mulli, which refers to various salsas used in
combination with many traditional dishes. The most famous mole comes from
the Puebla region, called mole Poblano, originating in the convent of Santa
Rosa. In a typical mole, the ingredients include four or more types of
dried chiles, almonds, nuts, sesame seeds, raisins, garlic, onions and bitter
dark chocolate. The base is not chocolate, as so frequently believed, even though
chocolate is one of the ingredients. The traditional meat is turkey, even though
mole is used with chicken and other meats, as well. Fonda Vallarta is located
on Luis Donaldo Colosio 1292 between the two tunnels on the Libramiento. The inauguration
is February 10 at 6:30 pm with a sunset cocktail and the mole presentation.
The festival will continue throughout the week. |
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BENEFIT
BENEFITS The
silent auction to benefit artist Javier Fernández was a success Sunday,
February 2. Originally scheduled for Trio restaurant, the benefit was rescheduled
at the last minute to Judith Ewing Morlan Contemporary Art due to space considerations.
By 6 pm, many were already in attendance, viewing the display of all of Fernández’
works, as well as work donated by other artists and galleries. Food was provided
by Trio’s Bernhard Guth, who also made the announcements to keep the auction
active. Two bids came over the Internet from Paris for two of Javier Fernández’
paintings. Ewing Morlan reported sales of $2,900 USD in art as well as $4,000
pesos on the door and bar. All proceeds will benefit the artist, who lost his
home in Colima in the recent earthquake. |
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PLAY IN REHEARSAL |
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FILM
FESTIVAL ANNOUNCED The
annual Mexican Film Festival is coming to Puerto Vallarta March 28 - April 3.
The executive coordinator this year is Jesus Sanchez Vargas of L’Opera, who
has chosen six venues for the films: the auditorium at CUCosta, Centro Universitario
de la Costa; Cine Bahia; Cine Versalles; Isla Rio Cuale; Los Arcos and L’Opera.
The homage this year is for Mexican actress Silvia Pinal, who will receive her
Golden Iguana award for lifetime achievement on opening night, March 28, at the
CUC auditorium. At the end of the festival, judges will also choose the best of
the festival for another Golden Iguana trophy. As soon as the final choices are
confirmed, a calendar will be printed for the public. In the meantime, check cinefest.pv.udg.mx
for further information. Note that the new films will be in Spanish without subtitles,
as they are just released. |
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A
Song on Every Corner
A
new group of players in town are rehearsing for the premier of “Trouble in
Paradise,” a comedy directed by Daniel Grippo. The non-traditional family
story was co-written by Grippo and Gregory Long, also an actor with the troupe.
The action begins upon the return of a gay couple from Chicago, played by Long
and Mexican actor Luís Casillas, to a coastal town called Puerto Cruz.
With the expatriate father dying, the family and property is thrown into a blender
of confusion that exposes the remainder of the cast, including local thespians
Mikki Prost, Jace Damon and Frank Meyer. “Trouble in Paradise” plays
at L’Opera March 6 - 28 on at 10 pm Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Tickets are $150 pesos at the door or $125 pesos in advance. Call 223-5381 or
L’Opera at 222-7378 for reservations. For further information about the group,
access nuevoteatro.com.
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