Cottage Industry Treats in Puerto Vallarta: Mmm ... from freshly baked cinnamon buns to savory sausages to canned chutneys and salsas, the sight, scent and taste of edible treats made from scratch have captivated our senses for generations

Let’s Go Shopping!: As noted in our recommendations for this summer on, going to a mall during the hot and rainy weather offers an assortment of distractions and comforts. Here is a quick guide to some of Banderas Bay's most popular shopping malls.

Shopping Spotlight: San Pancho: With ongoing renovations of Ave. Tercer Mundo, its main access road, plus the opening of a few new shops, not to mention a surprising array of eateries, San Pancho in Riviera Nayarit is a perfect place for a shopping and beach day trip.

Handmade Books, Puerto Vallarta Style: For over a decade, Pini Salcedo and Carlos Uribe, two skilled Puerto Vallarta artists, have taken it upon themselves to partner with the aforementioned restaurants, making regular pickups and transforming the paper “tablecloths” into unique handmade books.

Visit a Mercado!: To truly experience and learn about the traditional sales process in Mexico, plus the many items typically offered, you need to visit a genuine Mexican market, whether it is permanently installed or open only on certain days.

The Pleasure of Drinking Wine in Puerto Vallarta: Enjoying a glass of wine with your dinner at a Puerto Vallarta restaurant some 15 years ago could be boiled down to a basic, often crude choice: red or white.

Furnishing the Dream: The deal is done. After hours of signing unintelligible documents, the keys to your new condo are in hand! Suddenly, all those essential square meters of condominium you bargained so hard for seem like a vast wilderness.

Karen Lahm: Proof Positive of the Power of Commitment, Creativity and Collaboration: Its natural beauty and near perfect weather aside, Vallarta holds a unique appeal for those seeking more than just a pleasant respite from cold winters — namely, the opportunity to assimilate a wonderfully diff erent way of living in concert with a stimulating expatriate community whose respective life experiences, sense of adventure and creative pursuits add zest to the fascination of living here.

Adopt an Alebrije: Most alebrije artists tend to focus on small pieces, primarily due to practical reasons. Indeed, the amount of time required to complete these intricately painted woodcarvings increases exponentially with size, and focusing on a single piece often prevents artists and their families from generating income through the sale of smaller items in the interim.

A Touch of Mexico: Is anything more captivating than a touch of Mexico in your home? We talked with three local Mexican designers, asking for ideas and input for providing that special Mexican touch. Whether you live here or want to pick up something for your home elsewhere, you’ll appreciate the input they offered.

Find It All Now!: Fashionable, stylish, chic, trendy, elegant, hip, smart and modish — not shoes or hairstyles, but everything required for your Vallarta home! From sofas to refrigerators, lighting to rugs, find it all — for indoors and out — just a short ride north of the airport in Las Juntas, along the highway to Tepic.

Turkeys are Red, Iguanas are Blue: To relieve their inevitable bouts of bucolic boredom, goatherds have from time immemorial moonlighted as unpaid whittlers of wood. But then around 50 years ago, the world of pro bono wood-whittling was changed forever when a Mixtec Indian named Manuel Jimenez began applying paint to his rustic carvings.

What’s in a Name, Anyway?: What’s in a name? Well, at the video store, a clue as to what movie we’re holding in our hands would be nice! Most of the movies in Puerto Vallarta were made in English and then translated for the Mexican market - and we certainly don’t mean literally - their titles sometimes differ so vastly from the originals that they boggle the mind.

Behind the Scenes at a Talavera Factory: As you discover Puerto Vallarta, it is difficult to miss the ubiquitous oval-shaped ceramic door signs outside many of its buildings, or the square hand-painted tiles that adorn their different rooms, or the ornate plant holders, picture frames, plates, mugs and even bathroom sinks available for sale in many of our gift shops.

Public Art an Appealing Peninsula Feature: Happily, the folks behind the Peninsula residential and commercial development share the vision of Puerto Vallarta as a thriving art destination, incorporating colorful fresh pieces into their exciting new shopping center.

And Such a Bargain!: Haggling over price is generally expected in Mexico, but keep in mind that to bargain is not to argue; rather, it is a courteous discussion of price. For a good deal, it’s not necessary to be aggressive or obnoxious, just knowledgeable and determined.

Supermarket Treasures: When is a Walmart not a Walmart? When you are in Puerto Vallarta, where along with "standard" fare you will find unexpected local treasures at this and other major supermarkets in town.

South Side Hot Spot: We dare you, double dare you, to say the name Basilio Badillo to the person next to you without hesitating — or peeking at its syllabic pronunciation below. Because this happening north-south street, also coined “Restaurant Row” and “Calle de los Cafés,” is one you will definitely want to discover again and again.

Best Place to Get Branded: Cooper Tattoo: More and more visitors are discovering the advantage of getting a tattoo during their Puerto Vallarta vacation, namely significant savings when compared to prices up North.

Best Commercial Makeover: Plaza Caracol: You’re in for a big surprise on your next visit to this popular 17-year-old plaza in Puerto Vallarta’s northern Hotel Zone, an incredible number of exciting recent changes and additions making it Banderas Bay’s most comprehensive plaza by far.