Vallarta Lifestyles

Best Huichol Promoter: Jacinto López Ramírez: Jacinto Lopez Ramirez, a Huichol artist and shaman, passed away in 2007, leaving behind a legacy of traditional Huichol art forms. In the late 1960s, he was one of the most significant influences on the commercialization of bead art, currently practiced by many Huichol artists, including his wife, Angelita, and most of his seven children.

Best Vallarta Art Gallery Outside of Vallarta: Córsica Galería de Arte: Corsica Galeria de Arte can take pride in something no other local gallery can to date. In addition to their two popular locations in downtown Vallarta, they also operate successful galleries by the same name in Los Cabos and Mexico City. Founded in 2001 and dedicated to the promotion of quality contemporary Mexican art.

Best Local Young Actors: Young, yet experienced, these four Puerto Vallarta residents are part of our city’s Municipal Theater Group, directed by Alberto Fabian. Combined, they have spent decades on stage, garnering awards both in and out of Puerto Vallarta. What are their goals and role models?

Most Awarded Spanish Writer You Didn’t Even Know Lived in PV: Francisco Haghenbeck: It would seem Puerto Vallarta has been casting its spell on talented citizens who relocate to this wonderful place we call paradise since day one. One of the latest additions to our local pool of inspiring talent is fiction and comics writer Francisco Haghenbeck. Unbeknownst to him (and to us!), his short story “Waiting for Liz,” published in the last issue of this magazine.

Best New Tribute to Puerto Vallarta: Hymn to Vallarta, Love for One's Roots: In 1967 a young lady named Yolanda Guadalupe wanted to pay tribute to Puerto Vallarta, the town where she was born. At the time, she was far away, attending high school in Mexico City. At just 16 years old, this pensive girl found a unique way of expressing her love for what was then a small town: writing a song. That is the beginning of the story behind the “Hymn to Vallarta.”

Best New Art-related Event: Extended Borders: Shifting Cartographies: Downtown Puerto Vallarta will come alive with contemporary art May 28 to June 1, 2008, for the first annual “ Puerto Vallarta: Arte Contemporáneo” festival. With the theme Extended Borders: Shifting Cartographies, this unprecedented event will bring international artists together to participate in special exhibitions, public art demonstrations and panel discussions.

Worst of Puerto Vallarta: The Billboards: 24.4 km - Distance between Puerto Vallarta’s Maritime Terminal and the Punta de Mita exit. 447 - Number of billboards and signs visible from the highway on this stretch. 25 min. - Average time between each billboard/sign. 3 sec. - Average time between each billboard/sign.

Prawns with Asian Herbs, Green Papaya Salad and Scallops: Prawns with Asian Herbs, Green Papaya Salad and Scallops.

Cravings: Candied Fruits: Candied fruit, or fruta cristalizada as it is known in Mexico, is manufactured using the techniques imported by the Spaniards in the 1500s. A laborious process of repeatedly submerging fruits in scalding water and sugar syrup gives entirely new personalities to commonplace pleasures such as pineapples, figs, orange and lemon peel, even squash.

Behind the Scenes at a Tortilla Factory: Few things in Mexico are as emblematic and timeless as the humble corn tortilla. Made by hand since pre-Columbian times, this thin, unleavened flat bread is the star ingredient in popular dishes such as chilaquiles, enchiladas, quesadillas, tostadas and tacos. The process of making tortillas has remained essentially the same since its origins. Corn kernels are soaked in limewater, causing their skin to peel.

Best New Paved Roads: Sayulita and San Sebastian: These two popular daytrip and overnight destinations have been begging for discovery for years. New access roads make this easier than ever. If driving to Sayulita, consider taking the Punta Mita route instead of Carr. 200 Norte. Once on the Punta Mita road, take a right onto the new Litibu road that connects with the recently paved Sayulita back entrance.

Best Nature Contributor: Petr Myska: Originally from the Czech Republic, Petr Myska arrived in Vallarta for the first time in 2000. He was joyously overwhelmed with the multitude of plants and animals he encountered in our diverse ecosystem; however, he found it challenging to identify many of them, as there were no comprehensive field guides available.

Best Way to Occupy Your Green Thumb: Vallarta Orchid Society: Did you know that there are about 240 indigenous species of orchids growing wild in the greater Puerto Vallarta area? TJ Hartung, founder of the Vallarta Orchid Society, does. This society was inaugurated in 2006 with the goal of educating people about orchids, as well as rescuing and preserving the existing orchid species in our area.

Best Way to Pamper Yourself: Mexico Boutique Hotels: There are many ways to honor that special someone in your life, but beyond the traditional gift ideas, why not surprise and amaze them with a once-in-a-lifetime experience they will cherish and talk about forever? Mexico Boutique Hotels is the guide to selecting upscale getaway destinations, which are maintained to the most stringent standards. Here are some local choices, guaranteed to impress.