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Arthur Miller Retrospective Debuts at Galería Gradiva Contemporary artist Arthur Miller will present a retrospective of his paintings this week at Galería Gradiva, Puerto Vallarta’s newest addition to the local gallery scene. A reception is scheduled to take place on Friday, August 1, at 8 pm. Miller, an archaeologist who started painting as a child, has exhibited his work at numerous galleries in the United States, France and Mexico. He lives in Oaxaca part-time. Visit Galería Gradiva at I. Vallarta 179, Emiliano Zapata, or online at www.galeriagradiva.com.

Xiutla Dance Troupe Tours Mexico Forty members of Puerto Vallarta’s folk dance troupe Xiutla left the city this week for a four-state tour including some of Mexico’s most important cultural destinations: San Luis Potosí, where Xiutla will perform as part of the National Dance Festival, Jalapa, Guadalajara and Mexico City. The troupe, which was founded nine years ago by Enrique Barrios, performs regularly at Los Arcos and specializes in folk dances from all over Mexico. Touring around the country is both exciting and challenging for Barrios’ students, who must carry 16 costume changes each and perform for one hour and fifty minutes per show. Xiutla is expected to return to Vallarta during the first week of August.

Maritime Terminal Renovations on Schedule Port Administration Director Francisco Martínez Narváez recently announced that the renovations taking place at Vallarta’s Maritime Terminal are running on schedule. These include the lengthening of the main dock and maintenance work on the piles that support it, dredging of the dockyard, and miscellaneious breakwater repairs. The project, scheduled for completion before the beginning of October, will allow the terminal to accommodate larger vessels, such as the Diamond Princess, scheduled to arrive in Vallarta for the first time on October 7.

VISA Partners with Vallarta VISA will invest five million pesos in an advertising campaign focusing on Puerto Vallarta, stated Fernando González Castaños, a personal representative of Francisco Ramírez Acuña, governor of Jalisco. Ramírez Acuña explained that this is the second year in which a partnership is established with the credit card company, yielding excellent results without being subject to exclusivity terms. A similar deal with American Express is still in the works.

Week of July 19, 2003

Los Milenios Plaza to be Remodeled Damaged last season by Hurricane Kenna, Los Milenios Plaza is slated for remodeling by year’s end, according to Mayor Ignacio Guzmán García. The plaza, which features a sculpture by the same name, is located at the end of the Malecón next to Hotel Rosita. Originally commissioned to celebrate the new millennium, the bronze sculpture represents three centuries of culture in the western world represented by three symbolic characters: Aztec king Netzahualcóyotl, Charlemagne and a mythical woman.

Canadian Consulate Moves Nicole Francoeur, representing Canada's ambassador to Mexico, and Honorary Canadian Consul Lyne Benoit were warm and upbeat hosts to the 50 or so invited press and politicians at the July 16 inauguration of their consulate's new and larger offices. In the Hotel Zone with visitor parking, the fresh and airy consulate is one of Edificio Obelisco's first tenants. In recognition of Benoit's exemplary service to Canadians in Jalisco, Nayarit and Colima for 10 years, she was presented with an award to add to her growing collection.

Vallarta Image Cleanup Continues A thorough image cleanup campaign initiated by City Hall earlier this year continues and will be concluded before the beginning of the next high season. This program attempts to address and standardize the use of billboards and ads that might take away from Vallarta’s small-town image. It also insures that storefronts are repainted as needed. Most notable so far in El Centro is the painting of storefronts and removal of posters and ads from walls. The project includes a verification process in which city officials inspect neighborhoods to insure that the guidelines are being followed.

Cuale Bridge State Funds Made Available Additional state funds have been secured to complete construction of the pedestrian bridge connecting the Malecón with the South Side. As reported last week, Mayor Ignacio Guzmán García went to Guadalajara to meet with Jalisco’s Urban Development Secretary, Claudio Sáenz David, who acknowledged the importance of the project and stressed the need to review the depleted construction budget for possible discrepancies or planning errors. When completed in December, the bridge undoubtedly will be an attractive alternative for tourists and locals alike.

Week of July 12, 2003

Disney Cruises Coming to Vallarta It is expected that Disney Cruise Line will begin a new route from Los Angeles to Vallarta starting in 2005, according to Scott James, director of new route planning. James was in Vallarta this week to inspect the Maritime Terminal and insure the project’s feasibility. The new route would depart Los Angeles once a week during July and August and make stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. Disney Cruise Line, which currently operates routes in the Caribbean, is interested in the new Pacific route due to its possible connection to Disney’s California amusement parks.

Cuale Cultural Center Renovation to be Completed Vallarta’s Department of Culture has recently received new funding in the amount of $200,000 pesos to continue renovation of existing classrooms on Isla Rio Cuale, as well as the new performance hall, María José Zorrilla, director of culture, stated in a recent interview. The funding, received from Mexico’s secretary of culture, will be used specifically to create new areas devoted to photography and video instruction. Further funding, yet to be approved by CONACULTA, the National Culture Commission, will be allocated to the purchase of a concert grand piano for the hall.

Cuale Bridge Over Troubled Waters Additional funding will be required to complete construction of the new pedestrian bridge connecting the Malecon with the South Side. This is partly due to the difficulty in building its foundation where the Cuale current meets the ocean. The project is 85% complete, according to Arturo Cantes, a representative of Constructora Literal, the company in charge of its construction. Yet to be completed is the lighting of the bridge, access ramps on both sides plus a third one linking it to the Isla Rio Cuale. Vallarta’s mayor will travel to Guadalajara to request additional resources from the Secretary of Urban Development.

PRI Wins Local Elections The leadership of the Revolutionary Institutional Party, or PRI, returned to Vallarta this week as its municipal president candidate, Gustavo González Villaseñor, won local elections with 28,872 votes. Eva Contreras, candidate for the National Action Party, or PAN, received 19,739 votes. This victory for the PRI ends a nine-year PAN administration reign in Puerto Vallarta. This year, however, more citizens abstained from voting than ever before in Mexican history, according to El Universal, a leading Mexico City newspaper.

Week of July 05, 2003

AMEX Proposal Accepted, Partially The American Express proposal reported last week has been partially accepted by Puerto Vallarta’s Tourism Board, announced Gregorio Robles Mora, president of the Technical Committee. In the proposal, AMEX agrees to invest $380,000 USD in promotional materials featuring Vallarta, plus an additional $100,000 USD in cash for city betterment. Robles Mora stressed, however, that the agreement could be viewed as one in which exclusivity would be expected by American Express. VISA is offering a similar proposal, with $650,000 USD for promotion plus $350,000 USD for Internet promotion, without exclusivity requirements. Final decisions on this issue are expected within a week.

Bounty Hunter Escapes, Or Did He Simply Leave the Country? While US news agencies are reporting that bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman returned to the United States, the local press tells a different story. Chapman, who was charged in Mexico along with his two sons for attempting to kidnap Max Factor heir Andrew Luster, was set free – but not allowed to leave Puerto Vallarta. He was to report to a judge every Monday and to immigration daily while the trial was in process. Surprisingly, local police reported, Chapman and sons ignored immigration’s refusal of a permit to leave Mexico, fled to the USA this week, and offered a press conference in Los Angeles to talk about the capture of Andrew Luster.

Hotel Industry Forecasts Summer Occupancy Increase The Convention and Visitors’ Bureau offered good news this week as Gran Turismo hotels are expecting a 63% occupancy rate during the summer, a 2.29% increase from last year. Meanwhile, downtown three- and four-star hotels are expecting at least a 70% occupancy rate. The summer months – July and August, primarily – are very popular among domestic tourists, who often take advantage of school vacation periods to come to Vallarta.

Abadía Bassó Relocates to South Side Abadía Bassó left its eight-year Hidalgo St. location and relocated to trendy South Side last week – a loss for El Centro dwellers. The gourmet restaurant, owned by Roberto de la Valle and José Luis Ruíz, took over the highly coveted space formerly occupied by Adobe Café at the corner of I.L. Vallarta and B. Badillo. Many staple dishes will remain, such as their traditional Caesar salad, as well as their chocolate marquis with orange zest sauce, while new offerings – such as a duck in coffee sauce – will be offered. The second-story restaurant shares its space with downstairs neighbor Ponciana, a new store by Marcela García Alegría, offering a selection of stylish Mexican handicrafts.

John Huston Tribute Announced Cine-Club Vallarta and the Puerto Vallarta Department of Culture recently announced an international homage to filmmaker John Huston. The event, which will feature lectures and screenings of different Huston-directed films each night, will take place November 22 - 29, 2003. Huston’s link to Puerto Vallarta goes back to the early 1960s, when he assembled a star-studded Hollywood cast and filmed “The Night of the Iguana” locally. The film, starring Richard Burton and Ava Gardner, put Puerto Vallarta in the international spotlight.

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