From new bridges and roads to enticing new businesses, 2007's editorial picks for Best of Vallarta reflect Banderas Bay’s constantly evolving panorama, both literally and figuratively. As Puerto Vallarta grows, so do the increasingly diverse needs of its inhabitants and visitors. For those of us living here year-round, witnessing this growth is a testament to Puerto Vallarta’s enduring popularity as a tourist destination. Enjoy!
Best Music and Dance Revue: Broadway Nights: Good news! You can now enjoy top-notch dance performances, thanks to companies such as Darudha, the brainchild of local choreographer Jacobo Martínez Guerrero.
Hottest Party Invite: Vikki Carr: At the spectacular and exclusive event held at Hacienda Palo Maria, “An Evening with Vikki Carr,” the renowned singer delighted 200 guests with an unforgettable concert.
Most Enduring Art Instructor at the Cuale Cultural Center: Ireri Topete: Ireri Topete began teaching at the Cuale Cultural Center in 1992, fulfilling the social service requirement for her education.
Best Mexican Cultural Project: Loteria de La Malagua: Not only were we quite taken by this locally produced version of Mexico’s most traditional board game, we are thrilled to know that our recent article on La Malagua, the artist collective that produced it, has been instrumental in boosting its sales.
Best Large-Scale Installation: San Pancho Cultural Center: There are virtually no other spaces in the region where an installation such as Cuban artist Rafael Miranda San Juan’s “Sístole Perpetua” could have been successfully displayed.
Most Outrageous Celebrity Visit PV: Kathy Griffin: Comedienne Kathy Griffin was in Puerto Vallarta to record her successful reality show on Bravo, “My Life on D-List.”
Best Way to Explore Mexico’s Pacific Riviera: Now there’s a new way to explore and enjoy Mexico’s Pacific Riviera by cruise ship.
Best Reason to Fly to Puerto Vallarta Today: More Options: Alaska Airlines (
www.alaskaair.com) and Mexicana (
www.mexicana.com) report that in the last year Puerto Vallarta has remained a strong and attractive tourist destination for the international market.
Best Online Development to Affect Puerto Vallarta: Google Maps: Sometime in the last few months, Google Maps updated their map and satellite image database for Puerto Vallarta and surroundings, making this popular tool much more valuable for everyone from local real estate companies to businesses hoping to be found by locals and visitors.
Best Partnership: Ney González and Héctor Paniagua: The phrase “It takes two to tango” succinctly describes the successful and productive partnership between Ney Gonzalez, governor of the state of Nayarit, and Hector Paniagua, mayor of the municipality of Bahia de Banderas.
Best Building We’d Like to See More Of: Posada Río Cuale: It was back in 1963 that David Hernandez gave life to Hotel Posada Río Cuale, one of the original hotels in Puerto Vallarta.
Best “It’s About Time” Improvement: For the longest time, the public access to Los Muertos beach at the end of V. Carranza remained partially unpaved, taking away some of the appeal of this otherwise inviting spot.
Best Venues With Easy Access: What’s perfect for one may not be so good for the other when it comes to accessibility in Puerto Vallarta; however, it’s heartwarming to see the growing trend of restaurants, shops and other venues making the necessary modifications to facilitate ease of access for those using wheelchairs and walkers.
Best Neighborhood Improvement: Bucerias Main Road: Less is more, especially when it means eliminating the things that are an inconvenience when walking or driving, such as uneven cobblestones, speed bumps and pot holes.
Best Green Remodeling Project: Remodeling to better promote a business can go hand in hand with caring for the environment. Oscar’s restaurant (223-0789) has demonstrated this with its recent remodel by including the surrounding gardens that are, in essence, public spaces.
