230 - pvmcitypaper

Transcription

230 - pvmcitypaper

ISSUE 230
SATURDAY 16
SATURDAY 16
MARCH, 2013
ISSUE 230 | MARCH 2013
FRIDAY 22
FRIDAY 22
2
Need to Know
considered poor manners to present the
check before it is requested, so when
you’re ready to leave, ask «La cuenta,
por favor» and your bill will be delivered
to you.
MONEY EXCHANGE: Although
you may have to wait in line for a few
minutes, remember that the banks will
give you a higher rate of exchange than
the exchange booths (caja de cambio).
Better yet, if you have a «bank card»,
withdraw funds from your account back
home. Try to avoid exchanging money at
your hotel. Traditionally, those offer the
worst rates.
I
f you’ve been meaning to find a little information on the region,
but never quite got around to it, we hope that the following will help.
Look at the map in this issue, you will note that PV (as the locals call
it) is on the west coast of Mexico, in the middle of the Bay of Banderas,
the largest bay in this country, that includes southern part of the state
of Nayarit to the north and the northern part of Jalisco to the south.
Thanks to its privileged location -sheltered by the Sierra Madre
mountains- the Bay is well protected against the hurricanes spawned
in the Pacific. Hurricane Kenna came close on October 25, 2002,
but actually touched down in San Blas, Nayarit, some 200 miles
north of PV. The town sits on the same parallel as the Hawaiian
Islands, thus the similarities in the climate of the two destinations.
AREA: 1,300 sq. kilometers
POPULATION: Approx. 325,000
inhabitants
CLIMATE: Tropical, humid, with
an average of 300 sunny days per year.
The temperature averages 28oC (82oF)
and the rainy season extends from late
June to early October.
allowed under certain circumstances
but fishing of any kind is prohibited.
Every year, the Bay receives the visit
of the humpback whales, dolphins and
manta rays in the winter. During the
summer, sea turtles, a protected species,
arrive to its shores to lay their eggs.
FAUNA: Nearby Sierra Vallejo
hosts a great variety of animal species
such as iguana, guacamaya, deer,
raccoon, etc.
ECONOMY: Local economy is
based mainly on tourism, construction
and to a lesser degree, on agriculture,
mainly tropical fruit such as mango,
papaya,
watermelon,
pineapple,
guanabana, cantaloupe and bananas.
SANCTUARIES:
Bahía
de
Banderas encloses two Marine
National Parks - Los Arcos and the
Marieta Islands - where diving is
CURRENCY: The Mexican Peso is
the legal currency in Mexico although
Canadian and American dollars are
widely accepted.
Index
BUSES: A system of urban buses
with different routes. Current fare is
$6.50 Pesos per ticket and passengers
must purchase a new ticket every time
they board another bus. There are no
“transfers”.
TAXIS: There are set rates within
defined zones of the town. Do not enter
a taxi without agreeing on the price with
the driver FIRST. If you are staying in a
hotel, you may want to check the rates
usually posted in the lobby. Also, if you
know which restaurant you want to go,
do not let the driver change your mind.
Many restaurateurs pay commissions to
taxi drivers and you may end up paying
more than you should, in a second-rate
establishment! There are 2 kinds of taxi
SATURDAY 16
cabs: those at the airport and the maritime
port are usually vans that can only be
boarded there. They have pre-fixed rates
per passenger. City cabs are yellow cars
that charge by the ride, not by passenger.
When you ask to go downtown, many
drivers let you off at the beginning of the
area, near Hidalgo Park. However, your
fare covers the ENTIRE central area, so
why walk 10 to 15 blocks to the main
plaza, the Church or the flea market?
Pick up a free map, and insist on your full
value from the driver! Note the number
of your taxi in case of any problem, or
if you forget something in the cab. Then
your hotel or travel rep can help you
check it out or lodge a complaint.
TIME ZONE: The entire State of
Jalisco is on Central Time, as is the
southern part of the State of Nayarit
- from San Blas in the north through
to the Ameca River, i.e.: San Blas,
San Pancho, Sayulita, Punta Mita, La
Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Bucerías, Nuevo
Vallarta, etc.)
TELEPHONE CALLS: Always
check on the cost of long distance
calls from your hotel room. Some
establishments charge as much as U.S.
$7.00 per minute!
CELL PHONES: Most cellular
phones from the U.S. and Canada may
be programmed for local use, through
Telcel and IUSAcell, the local carriers.
To dial cell to cell, use the prefix 322,
then the seven digit number of the
person you’re calling. Omit the prefix if
dialling a land line.
LOCAL CUSTOMS: Tipping
is usually 10%-15% of the bill at
restaurants and bars. Tip bellboys, taxis,
waiters, maids, etc. depending on the
service. Taking a siesta is a Mexican
tradition. Some businesses and offices
close from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., reopening
until 7 p.m. or later. In restaurants, it is
FRIDAY 22
WHAT TO DO: Even if your allinclusive hotel is everything you ever
dreamed of, you should experience at
least a little of all that Vallarta has to
offer - it is truly a condensed version of
all that is Mexican and existed before
«Planned Tourist Resorts», such as
Cancun, Los Cabos and Ixtapa, were
developed. Millions have been spent to
ensure that the original “small town”
flavor is maintained downtown, in the
Old Town and on the South Side.
DRINKING WATER: The false
belief that a Mexican vacation must
inevitably lead to an encounter with
Moctezuma’s revenge is just that:
false. For the 17th year in a row, Puerto
Vallarta’s water has been awarded
a certification of purity for human
consumption. It is one of only two
cities in Mexico that can boast of such
accomplishment. True, the quality of
the water tested at the purification plant
varies greatly from what comes out of
the tap at the other end. So do be careful.
On the other hand, most large hotels
have their own purification equipment
and most restaurants use purified water.
If you want to be doubly sure, you can
pick up purified bottled water just about
anywhere.
EXPORTING PETS: Canadian and
American tourists often fall in love with
one of the many stray dogs and cats in
Vallarta. Many would like to bring it
back with them, but believe that the laws
do not allow them to do so. Wrong. If
you would like to bring a cat or a dog
back home, call the local animal shelter
for more info: 293-3690.
LOCAL SIGHTSEEING: A good
beginning would be to take one of the City
Tours offered by the local tour agencies.
Before boarding, make sure you have a
map and take note of the places you want
to return to. Then venture off the beaten
path. Explore a little. Go farther than the
tour bus takes you. And don’t worry this is a safe place.
Sound Off
DST - Daylight Saving Time
Please note that in Canada and the United
States, clocks were moved forward one hour
last Saturday-Sunday night, March 9th-10th.
Mexico will not do so until
2 a.m. on Sunday, April 7th.
Dear Editor and Readers,
My wife and I have been coming to
Puerto Vallarta for the last 20 years or so
and presently live here part time during the
winter. We are what some restaurant owners
call “Super Turistas”, no, not that we are super
people, but because we go to the supermarket
to buy groceries and cook the vast majority
of our own meals and eat at home.
However, we have discovered a restaurant
that opened only a few weeks ago in the
Marina and is called Basha’s Mexican Food.
It is located between the lighthouse and
restaurant Brasil. The very first time we tried
it, we found the food of excellent quality and
have gone twice again since. There is a great
variety of choices and the portions are huge.
The Margaritas are so big that one drink lasts
me the whole time during the meal. The last
time we took our son-in-law and our daughter
out there and they too found the food and
service excellent. The shrimp in white sauce
is out of this world, so are the stuffed chilies.
We can truly recommend this restaurant
to any one. Oh by the way, before I forget,
GOOD news for the 65 plusses: most of
the items on the menu can be ordered as a
senior portion. But you can always take the
leftovers home…
Peter & Teena Oudman
PV/ Calgary
Dear Editor,
Kudos to the fantastic band this evening
(Thursday, March 7th) at the Marina Vallarta
Farmers’ Market. They were fantastic, had
the crowd dancing and just generally having
a great time.
I was lucky enough to have them on the
Malecon below my balcony where I reside
from January to April. Does anyone know
the name of the band?
An ardent supporter of P.V.
Dear Editor,
Over the last five years, my husband and I
spent our wintertime at this little paradise. We
are active persons, walking on the beautiful
Malecon every day, doing exercises and eating
healthy at many restaurants here.
To be honest, the only thing that we miss
here is our fabulous massage therapist that
we visited weekly at home in Canada. I just
learned this week that he will be in Vallarta
practicing for the month of March in a studio
on Miramar Street (near Hacienda San Angel)
in Gringo Gulch!!
Daniel Ross has an exceptional human
touch and is a certified international Swedish
therapist. With him, massage is really an art!
You will be relaxed and refreshed for the rest
of the week. I give you his telephone number
and email: (322) 138-2533 cell, or oasisVa@
hotmail.com, but act quickly because he is
only here for March.
Diane Thompson
Dear Editor,
Re Confessions of a Gay Married Priest
...a must read for the College Cardinals, I
would like to add my own few words to this
informative article.
The very title of this book suggests that one
will be reading about a person who “dared’’.
This is true. That Mr. Monette took up his life
outside the priesthood without bitterness or
rancour is an inspiration of itself. This reader
felt privileged to be party to his choice to share
his innermost struggles with faith and sexuality.
For me, his interpretation of faith and
spirituality is both thought provoking and
reassuring. The presentation is simple yet
inspires introspection. To the readership of
the PV Mirror ... If you’ve ever thought at all
about existential issues, you don’t want to miss
reading this book.
Margot Kornfeld, RN, ret’d
Please go to next page for continuation...
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
3
Sound Off
4
Continued from previous page...
Dear Editor,
Anyone who needs a doctor,
or help with the cost of medical
tests, or almost anything to do
with healthcare - do not hesitate
to contact Pam Thompson at
Healthcare Resources (pamela@
healthcareresourcespv.com).
I just had an appointment
with an amazing doctor that she
recommended. She not only set
up the appointment, but also got
me a substantial discount on the
tests and an x-ray. Her service is
second to none.
A long-time Vallarta resident.
Hola dear art lover friends,
Thank you so much for your
support of the Burro project.
Casa Isabel’s fundraiser was a
huge success thanks to you all.
We still don’t know how many
people came, but it was a lot.
Lots of attentive personnel,
delicious food and drinks and
music. We are overwhelmed and
thankful by Isabel’s generosity
and yours!
Now you are a part of the Burro
statue forever. If you have not
already done so, please visit Jim
as he sculpts the life size Burro
in the gallery above Oscar’s
restaurant. You will get a chance
to put some clay on the statue in
its clay stage. He is there almost
daily from 10 am to 3 pm (later
it gets too hot) for another month
or so, until the mold maker will
come to cut up the statue for the
next stage of development.
Thank you again so much!
With love and gratitude,
Jim and Eva Demetro
Dear Editor,
I have just come from CC
Slaughters nightclub on Carranza
and I.L. Vallarta. It is currently 3
a.m. as I write this.
SATURDAY 16
I have all my doors and
windows closed and I wear
ear plugs. I am awakened by
the music from this nightclub
almost every night from Tuesday
through Sunday.
I personally walked to see
specifically which club was
responsible and when I walked
in I had to literally scream to the
bartender to ask to see a manager.
He told me that none was there.
WHAT CAN BE DONE? I
know the city tourism office
seems to be of no use after filing
several complaint forms. Can I
beg the mayor?
I spend 4 months in this
beautiful city and this year has
become a nightmare because of
this specific club.
Sincerely,
Bob Fitzgerald
Dear Mr. Fitzgerald,
Unfortunately, this is a common
complaint in various parts of
the city. The only suggestion
I have is to call Reglamentos,
regardless of the hour, at 2232500. Perhaps if they get enough
complaints from enough people
about the same club, they will do
something. We can only hope.
The Ed.
Dear Editor,
Just returned from a wonderful
10-day visit to PV. Wanted to
recommend the Israeli restaurant
Pita Loca at the corner of
Insurgentes and Aquiles Serdan,
and of course the fabulous
mariscos stand called Marisma at
320 Naranjo in the Col. Emiliano
Zapata neighborhood.
Both
restaurants are super-casual,
super-fresh, and not to be missed!
Looking forward to more fun
times in PV soon.
Thanks for your wonderful
newspaper -Susan Unger
FRIDAY 22
Publisher / Editor:
Allyna Vineberg
[email protected]
Contributors:
Anna Reisman
Joe Harrington
Harriet Murray
Stan Gabruk
Krystal Frost
Giselle Belanger
Ronnie Bravo
Gil Gevins
Tommy Clarkson
Janie Albright Blank
Lyse & Phil Rioux
Office: 223-1128
Graphic Designer:
Leo Robby R. R.
Webmaster:
PVMCITYPAPER Online Team
Cover photo
“Regatta!”
by Jay Ailworth
www.strangebirdphotos.com
PV Mirror es una publicación semanal.
Certificados de licitud de título y
contenido en tramite. Prohibida la
reproducción total o parcial de su
contenido, imágenes y/o fotografías sin
previa autorización por escrito del editor.
Sound Off
Dear Editor,
Dear Editor,
I’d like to brag about two wonderful people
that help our community. A lot of businesses
contribute when they are well established but
Alex, of Alex A Salon, and Kathleen Palmer,
of Deja New, both have been donating to
local charities since the day they opened.
Alex cuts hair and does eyebrow threading
at the LaCruz Market every Sunday and
donates half of what he makes to a different
charity. Last month he gave over $6,000
pesos to Pasitos de Luz, the day care for
handicapped children and this month he will
support Corazon de Niñas.
Kathleen, owner of the Deja New
consignment shop sponsors fashion shows
for various charities and donates unsold
clothing to the bazaar that helps fund Pasitos
de Luz. There is a lot of work involved in
putting on a successful fashion show and
Kathleen knows how to make it fun and
profitable. Last week she sponsored one for
The International Friendship Club and their
cleft palate program. When you see these two
hard working people, thank them for their
contributions to our community and support
them in their businesses. If every business
did this, our non-profits wouldn’t be fighting
to pay their bills every month. Thank you,
Alex and Kathleen.
I am a psychologist from Canada. A
small group of us -Canadian, American and
Mexican- saw a huge gap in funding for babies
at risk of acquiring the AIDS virus; we decided
to act.
We are having our first Gala Benefit, AIDS
Prevention for Babies at Risk Leche / Milk
Fundraiser, on March 19th at Encuentros
Restaurant. There are 12 wee babies at risk as
their mothers have AIDS or are HIV positive.
Mothers cannot breast feed their babies as
they risk giving them the virus; we can help
by promoting this wonderful and much needed
benefit. Each wee babe will require 5 years
of formulas, ensuring that they have strong,
healthy bodies if they need to battle the AIDS
virus. We are aligned with SETAC.
This spectacular event includes: live
entertainment, fashion show, door prizes,
raffles, great food, laughter and friends!!
ONLY 300 pesos, 100 pesos goes towards
food & drink. Doors open at 5 p.m., program
starts at 6 p.m.
Only $65,000. Pesos ($5,500. U.S.) are
needed to feed all 12 babies / children for a
whole year!
Sincerely,
A happy client
Dear Editor,
I want to take the time to congratulate
T-Zone Mexico Whole Body Vibration for
opening their lovely studio in Old Town
across from the San Marino Hotel.
Their wonderful feeling 10-minute workout
(equivalent to approximately an hour plus in
the gym) fits perfectly into my busy schedule.
Whether I am on the way to work, the beach or
dinner with friends, I can stop in wearing my
everyday clothes and experience a wonderful
“no work – workout”. I am literally melting
inches while building lean muscle, all in a quick
and easy 10-minute session. I know it greatly
improves my circulation as well as many other
things but what amazes me too is how happy I
feel knowing I’ve had my daily workout!
Thanks, T-Zone Mexico.
Healthfully yours,
Richard Bannow
Vancouver, BC
Editor’s Note: T-Zone is located at 118
Rodolfo Gomez. Tel.: 222-3931.
K. Littlechild
Dear Editor,
Dear PV Mirror,
It’s been several years since I’ve been on an
IFC House Tour, but they are lots of fun, and
when a friend from home said she wanted to do
one, I was willing. I’m glad I went. We spent a
delightful morning walking through four great
homes in and south of town. One was a classic
Mexican grand casa right on the beach, one a
lovely and exotic Conchas Chinas getaway, one
a contemporary beach villa full of incredible
views and art, and one a unique and airy intown place. Our visitor loved it and so did we.
Our knowledgeable volunteer guides told us
the money raised goes for IFC’s cleft palate
surgery program and other worthy community
services. The tours have been going on regularly
for twenty-five years and we could see why. If
you love beautiful décor and exotic homes, treat
yourself to an International Friendship Club
tour today!
Mary Alberts
Please go to page 25 for continuation
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
5
6
The 2013
Bugambilia Festival
The Puerto Vallarta Garden Club
is sponsoring the 2013 Bugambilia
Festival May 17-24. You will be
reading more about the Festival
events with each issue of the Mirror.
In keeping with the beautification
theme, we are inviting all Vallartans
to enter a contest for the most
beautiful balcony (or façade).
There will be first, second and
third prizes in both Residential and
Commercial Categories.
When you are satisfied your
balcony or façade looks its best,
take a picture and send it to
Suzanne Kirkpatrick, President,
at
[email protected]
and
[email protected]
Please include name and address
for the entrant.
We will be posting them on our
website and on Facebook.
The winners will be announced
the week of the Festival and prizes
awarded.
We encourage you to contact us
about sponsoring a commemorative
planter tile. The work the PV
Garden Club is doing to make
Puerto Vallarta a more beautiful and
economically healthy city is only
possible with your financial support.
www.vallartagardenclub.com
Within PV
IFC announces ending dates
for seasonal activities
by JANIE ALBRIGHT BLANK
T
he International Friendship Club
(IFC) has had a very full calendar
of activities this 2012-2013 season,
offering more events, classes and
activities than ever before. This
is good news for the Cleft Palate
Surgery Program and the many other
community and educational programs
that are funded each year by the IFC.
Most events begin in November then
end in March or April as the season
winds down. However, the clubhouse
remains open most of the summer on
a limited basis, closing in August and
September.
Classes & Lectures
So many “students” have attended
Spanish Classes at the IFC this
season taught by the excellent and
very popular maestra, Zuri Aguirre.
These classes will end for the season
on Thursday, March 21.
Monday morning Bridge Lessons
with Murray Beer will end on April 8.
Nutritionist,
Bonnie
Jauregui,
will present a talk on Nutrition and
Cancer at the IFC Clubhouse on
Wednesday, March 20th at 10 a.m.
Dan Grippo’s last lecture series of
the season, Readings in Mexican
Church-State History
runs through Friday, March 22.
No other series are planned for the
remainder of the season at the current
SATURDAY 16
time. Mindful Meditation, that is also
led by Dan, will conclude on Saturday,
March 23.
Tours
The most popular of the IFC
activities are always the twice-weekly
Home Tours that run every Wednesday
& Thursday from November to
April. This year, the Home Tours will
continue to operate through Semana
Santa (Holy Week) and Semana de
Pascua (Easter Week), ending on April
11, 2013. So if you have guests over
the Easter Holidays you can still take
them on a Home Tour.
The New Bo-Zo Tour to the
Botanical Gardens and Zoo and the
North Shore Beach Club (NSBC)
tours to Nayarit have been operating on
alternating Tuesdays. The Bo-Zo Tour
ends on March 26 and the NSBC Tour
has ended for the season.
Special Events
The IFC still has two big social
events on the calendar:
The St. Patrick’s Day Murder
Mystery Dinner Theatre is this
Sunday night, March 17th at Nacho
Daddy’s with doors opening at 6 and
the performance beginning promptly at
6:45 p.m.
The IFC Annual Meeting will be
held on Sunday, April 14th as a brunch
at Mi Pueblito Restaurante at the Los
FRIDAY 22
Arcos Hotel. See the website at www.
ifcvallarta.com for details.
Activities
The IFC has a number of other Social
Activities that run through the high
season. These include Wednesday
Movie Nights that will conclude
on April 14. See the IFC Activities
Calendar online for a list of the popular
movies to be screened.
Both Friday afternoon Social Bridge
and the popular Friday Social Hour
will end on April 12.
The final visit of the season to the IFC
by US Consul Kelly Trainor will be on
Wednesday, April 3. These visits will
resume in October. The bi-weekly Bazaars
have already ended for the season.
The IFC has a number of officers who
are full time residents of Vallarta, so
look for more activities to take place in
the low season this year. For example,
the IFC started playing Bunco every
Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Sea Monkey.
This will continue as long as there is
interest and people come. Members
will receive email announcements and
anyone can go to www. IFCvallarta.
com and check the activities calendar.
The Cleft Palate Clinics and Surgery
dates will be announced as they are
scheduled.
The International Friendship Club is
a registered charitable organization in
Mexico listed as Club Internacional de
la Amistad de Puerto Vallarta A.C. It
is located at the northeast corner of the
Rio Cuale Bridge above the HSBC Bank,
Colonia El Centro, Puerto Vallarta,
Jalisco, Mexico, 48300. Phone: 322-2225466. Website: ifcvallarta.com. Email:
[email protected]
Within PV
Babies at Risk Benefit!
TAINTED MOTHER’S MILK CAN BE
LETHAL! YOU CAN HELP!
The Aids Prevention for Babies at Risk Benefit
will help meet this critical need for formula,
education, and support for mothers struggling
with AIDS.
WHEN: March 19, 2013. Doors open at 5 p.m.,
program starts at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Encuentros Pizza/Pasta Bar Lounge
at 312 Lázaro Cárdenas.
Tickets are only 300 pesos! (100 pesos of the
ticket purchase will go towards food or drinks!)
Pick up tickets at the following locations or at the
door night of the event:
Los Mercados Cork & Bottle
Encuentros Pizza and Pasta Bar Lounge
Cobblestone Consignment
You are invited to a GALA EVENING of:
- Live entertainment, fashion Show, awesome
Prizes, 50/50 draw, and a raffle!
- Delicious food and beverages, and much more!
- Special entertainment by: Chris Kenny and
Jorge Acosta
Let’s give these babies a chance to grow up to
be all they can!
All of the donations and ticket purchases go
towards formula and milk.
There is no greater joy for a young woman than
to have a healthy and happy baby, especially for
an HIV-positive mother. The new child is a sign of
life. However, there is no greater tragedy than a new
mother unable to feed her child because her breast
milk could pass on the virus that causes AIDS. If
you have any questions, please feel free to contact
us by email at aidspreventingmothertochildpv@
yahoo.com. Thank you all so much!
7
From the Saturday Market Co-op…
W
ith so many of our “snowbirds” heading
north over the next couple of weeks, we are
seeing many attending the Saturday Market
Co-op in search of those special and unique
gifts for family and friends “back home.”
And we definitely have them! One-of-a-kind
gifts for that special someone abound at the
market.
This week’s featured vendor moved to
Puerto Vallarta from St. Louis, Missouri,
after getting tired of the cold weather
and shoveling snow! So many items that
Kathleen Lewis was accustomed to in her
former life were not available here that she
learned to adapt and make changes in her
lifestyle; however when it came to food
items, that was a different matter! She loved
potato salad and hot dogs (don’t we all?) and
one of the main ingredients for both of these,
is sweet pickle relish.
Shopping for this was a hit and miss. So she
decided it was time to make her own. After
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
doing that, and having friends taste it, they
told her it was good enough to sell! Starting
off with the pickle relish, things grew from
there and Turtlecreek Products was born. She
received requests for bread and butter pickles
and then some folks requested dills. Little
by little, the items grew to quite a selection.
You’ll find more than cucumbers on her table!
She offers everything from pickled beets
to pickled eggs – even pickled corn! As the
featured vendor, if you mention this article,
Kathleen will offer you a great deal: Purchase
one large jar of pickles and receive a small
bottle of pickles (bread and butter, hamburger
pickles, dills, pickle relish) - FREE. Now
that’s a pickle bargain!
Remember that the Saturday Market Co-op
is very proud to be open year round! Doors
open at 9 a.m. and remember – come hungry!
We’re at the Paradise Community Center
every Saturday, 127 Pulpito, in the Romantic
Zone on the south side of town, until 1 p.m.
Within PV
8
1st Annual Vallarta Real Estate Fair a hit!
T
he first annual Vallarta Real Estate Fair took
place at the Rivera Molino Plaza on Saturday,
March 2nd, 2013. The successful event hosted by
Timothy Real Estate Group, included over 12 local
businesses and professionals offering free advice
ranging from mortgages, health care providers,
home owners insurance, real estate, immigration
and its laws, interior design and more.
“I am very pleased with the turn out,” said
Carl Timothy, one of the principal forces of the
successful event and president of Timothy Real
Estate Group. “With an ever evolving market
and new rules and regulations, we thought it
would be a great opportunity for foreigners, local
professionals and our clients to have a chance to
come out and meet face-to-face with some of the
leaders in these industries and get the information
they need first hand.”
It was estimated that over 150 people turned out
for the event, on a gorgeous Vallarta day. “This was
sort of our trial run, to see if there would be any
public interest for this sort of thing,” said the other
force behind the event, Taniel Chemsian. “Often
our clients asks us who to contact for information
regarding interior design, a real estate attorney,
insurance, immigration, you name it. The realtors
kind of become the ‘directory’ for their clients. So
we thought, why not bring all these professionals
under one roof, for a one day event, so everyone
can have the opportunity for a sit down one-onone discussion concerning their needs. I’m happy
to see that we had a big turn out.”
One visitor proclaimed, “This was wonderful.
I’ve been living in Mexico on an old FM3 visa for
over 4 years, and when I heard the immigration
laws had changed, I was concerned as to how it
would affect my foreign license plated car and my
visa renewal. Irving Becerril (from Riedesser &
Associates) calmly explained the new changes. It
was great information that is sometimes lacking
when you are surfing online. You never know what
you are reading on the web is current or accurate,
so to have this event and have the opportunity to
come down and gather the information first hand
makes a big difference.”
Some exhibitors, having done business with one
another for years, got to finally meet in person for
the first time. “Oscar & I enjoyed ourselves and
found today to be a productive and educational
day. My appreciation to all the attendees.
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
It was good to catch up with them and to have
the opportunity to meet for the first time with some
of the other professionals,” said Kevin Crisp from
Stewart Title Latin America.
When asked about the future of the fair, Taniel
continued to say, “We are already looking forward
to and planning next year’s event. We anticipate
there will be more exhibitors readily available to
help answer questions and perhaps a few hidden
surprises for everyone.”
For more information or to join the newsletter,
contact [email protected] or call
Timothy Real Estate Group at 223.5300, USA Toll
Free (877) 204-7730 or Canada Toll Free (877)
382-4106.
Timothy Real Estate Group has professional
designers and stagers that can help you prepare
your home for the war. Gorilla tactics that work
because it is a Price War and a Beauty Contest
that can mean making and saving more with your
property investment. Stay informed about Puerto
Vallarta Real Estate and sign up for our newsletter
at www.timothyrealestategroup.com
Timothy Real Estate Group is an innovative
company setting new standards in Real Estate
sales and services has the most professional and
experienced Realtors in the Puerto Vallarta area
who understand the intricacies of Mexican Real
Estate ownership, the local market, Puerto Vallarta
property codes and regulations and financing. The
Timothy Group uses that knowledge to provide
a sound analysis on every aspect of property
ownership. Timothy Real Estate Group is known
for professionalism and experience and they bring
this to every transaction they work on for the benefit
of Real Estate investors and developers alike.
Within PV
Vallarta Wine Fest Jalisco & Nayarit 2013
A
lthough Puerto Vallarta may
not be known as a vinicultural tourist
destination, it has successfully
celebrated a Wine Festival for six
years running, and this year will be
no exception.
This traditional celebration of the
culture of wine in Puerto Vallarta
and Riviera Nayarit, focusing on the
great diversity of grape varietals,
i.e.: some of the most recognized
wine grapes in the world: Merlot,
Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon
and Chardonnay.
The “Vallarta Wine Fest Jalisco
& Nayarit 2013” will take place
from March 18th to 24th,
The restaurants participating in
this event will prepare a special
offer with some of the best elements
of the gastronomy and enology of
the region.
The Wine Fest will offer not only
great wine and cuisine, but also
different cultural events including
poetry readings, dance shows and
live music; as well as lectures about
the wine and its culture, tastings, and
wine-pairings – most of which will
be free of charge and open to the
public.
The festival will take place at some
of the best restaurants and hotels in
the Banderas Bay, including Café
des Artistes, La Leche, La Dolce Vita
(Malecon & Nuevo Vallarta), Porto
Bello (Marina & Bistro), La Terraza
di Roma, Le Kliff, Frascati La
Cruz, and Prime 159;
among participanting
hotels are the Velas
Vallarta, Casa Velas,
Grand Velas, Garza
Blanca Resort, Fiesta
Americana,
and
Hilton.
On Saturday night,
March 23rd, starting
at 6 o’clock, there
will be the event that
has become tradition
in Puerto Vallarta:
the popular street
fair at Lazaro Cardenas Park in
the Romantic Zone on the south
side of town, with shows, dancing,
live music, wine at reduced prices,
snacks prepared by the restaurants
mentioned above… in short, a fiesta
for all to enjoy in extraordinary
harmony between locals and tourists
alike.
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
9
10
Marina Vallarta
Marina Vallarta’s Festival 2013
F
eatured
in
the
National
Geographic magazine as one of the
world’s most beautiful marinas, its
distinct lighthouse offers awesome
views from its vantage height. Proud
yachts look their best in a rich and
mighty site that welcomes tourists
and townspeople alike.
Restaurants are full of guests and
action. Prices do not matter much.
Gatherings are joined by romantic
trios or rich-sounding mariachis,
maybe a sax, in the background or
a tango joined by the aroma of an
appetizing speciality.
On Wednesdays – 7 p.m.
Filma13 Marina Vallarta is a film
projection space with a cultural goal.
Promoted by Filma13 and the
Residents’ Association of Marina
Vallarta, it offers something every
Wednesday at 7 p.m. There is no
entrance fee and the films are for the
entire family to enjoy. Everyone is
cordially invited. We are at the end of
Calle Mastil.
You can check out Filma13’s page
on Facebook, where you will find
information on the showings, the
workshops and the various other
activities it offers.
On Fridays
All art produces an upbeat,
motivating, passionate strength,
sometimes something melancholic
from our own human nature. The
dream, the acute or silent suffering
expressed by the artist in today’s
world, is characterized by the
convincing effect of light, textures,
the call to feelings and emotions. Art,
whatever its means, provides the artist
with a chance to rethink its meaning
and reaffirm its cultural importance
anywhere and anytime on earth; it
may represent reality, abstraction,
impression or stylistic distortion.
What strange situations is the artist
experiencing? No one knows, maybe
not even him/herself, but it is there,
on the canvas, on wood or a piece of
paper, sold or exchanged for whatever
allows him/her to survive. A human
being telling his/her story with art.
They are present every Friday on
Marina Vallarta’s sophisticated and
elegant Malecon (boardwalk).
Visitors can admire and acquire
works of art at unheard of prices, hard
to match by renowned galleries.
Renowned artists are also found,
as well as good quality new artists.
Among them: sculptor Octavio
González Gutiérrez, creator of our
whale and patron of this event,
Yolanda Romero, José Castro, Beatriz
Narváez, Ricardo Luèvano, Eduardo
Rincón-Gallardo, Olga Infante, Angie
Oblitas, Karlos Díaz, Jorge Díaz,
Leopoldo García, Ana María Briones,
Marina Narváez and Hilda Anaya.
On Saturdays –
6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Luz Graciela Camarena Santa,
organizer and coordinator of dance
evening in Puerto Vallarta, has taken
on the praiseworthy task of bringing
dancing to Marina Vallarta. Her goal
is for everyone to set stress aside as
dance is an art form where the body’s
movement is used to the rhythm of
any musical sound.
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
Dancing is a social interaction,
intended as entertainment, a form
of communication without using
words, where dancers express their
feelings and emotions through their
movements.
In this form of art, one can dance
alone or with a varied number of
others, in pairs or in groups, all
depending on the dance itself.
Dancing has developed through
time in the different cultures, each
with its own characteristics, ex.:
disco, hip-hop, electronics, classical
and modern ballet, salsa, rock,
Mexican danzón, and of course,
tango, ranchera music, etc.
But we’re not going to depend
on professionals, we’re just going
to enjoy the moment, the beautiful
Marina and its sumptuous yachts,
all part of our paradise and the good
company all dancing requires.
The invitation is extended to all our
visitors, whatever their age or culture.
People are often shy to express their
emotions by this means, but “Lucy”
–as she’s know by most Vallartansassures us that dancing is the cure-all
for body and spirit.
Though she’s no spring chicken
herself, she’s young at heart and
spirit, and will welcome one and all
every Saturday from 6:30 to 9:30 next
to the Marina Golf Condominiums.
And she adds that if you still don’t
want to get up and dance, you can
always watch those who do, in the
comfortable chairs provided along
this picturesque site, as you see the
joy in those who participate in the
various dances - Rock & Roll, swing,
salsa, tropical, etc.
So… let’s go! Come on over, join
us, get up and dance!
(Source: Hilda Anaya Sotelo
& Ana Maria Briones)
Beyond PV
Holidays this week
Benito Juarez’ Birthday is
celebrated nationwide on March 21st,
but observed the third Monday in
March; this year it will be the 18th –
an obligatory day of rest for schools,
banks, post offices and government
offices. One of Mexico’s most
beloved leaders, he is sometimes
referred to as the “Mexican Abraham
Lincoln”, a firm leader when his
nation needed one.
Benito Pablo Juárez García went
from being a poor Zapotec Indian
to become Mexico’s first (and only)
full-blooded native president. He is
held in particularly high regard by
Mexico’s considerable indigenous
population, who rightly view him
as a trailblazer in native rights and
justice.
For resisting the French occupation,
overthrowing the Empire, and
restoring the Republic, as well as for
his efforts to modernize the country,
Juárez is often regarded as Mexico’s
greatest and most beloved leader.
He was recognized by the U.S. as
a ruler in exile during the Frenchcontrolled Second Mexican Empire,
and got their support in reclaiming
Mexico under the Monroe Doctrine
after the States’ Civil War ended.
Today, Juárez is remembered
as being a progressive reformer
dedicated to democracy, equal rights
for his nation’s indigenous peoples,
lessening the great power that the
Roman Catholic Church then held
over Mexican politics, and the
defense of national sovereignty. The
period of his leadership is known in
Mexican history as La Reforma (the
reform), and constituted a liberal
political and social revolution with
major institutional consequences:
the expropriation of church lands,
bringing the army under civilian
control, liquidation of peasant
communal land holdings, the
separation of church and state in
public affairs, and also led to the
almost-complete disenfranchisement
of bishops, priests, nuns and lay
brothers.
La Reforma represented the triumph
of Mexico’s liberal, federalist, anticlerical, and pro-capitalist forces
over the conservative, centralist,
corporatist, and theocratic elements
that sought to reconstitute a locallyrun version of the old colonial system.
It replaced a semi-feudal social
system with a more market-driven
one, but following Juárez’ death,
the lack of adequate democratic
and institutional stability soon led
to a return to levels of centralized
autocracy and economic exploitation
under the regime of Porfirio Díaz that
surpassed anything from the colonial
or conservative eras; a conservative
government under liberal gowns.
The Porfiriato (Porfirist era), in turn,
collapsed at the beginning of the
Mexican Revolution.
Juarez served five terms in office,
but did not live to finish his last term.
He was felled by a heart attack while
working at his desk on July 18, 1872.
The Spring Equinox is also
celebrated on March 21st this year.
On the equinox, the sun is positioned
directly over the equator. “Equinox”
means “equal night”, i.e.: the night
is equal in length to the day. The
day marks the end of winter and
beginning of spring.
In Chichen Itza near Cancun,
thousands flock to the main Temple
of Kulkulkan to witness the play
of light and shadow which shows a
serpent descending the stairs of the
temple.
In many places in Mexico there
are spring festivals, festivales
de primavera, that take place to
celebrate the beginning of spring.
Children’s parades are also popular
and if you’re in Puerto Vallarta on or
around the date of the spring equinox,
don’t be surprised if you see children
on parade dressed up as flowers and
animals.
SATURDAY 16
11
Time for the Banderas Bay Regatta XXI
The 21
Banderas Bay Regatta will be held March 19th to March 23rd,
with a final party March 24th. There are over 45 boats signed up for the event,
with a large fleet of catamarans. The theme of this year’s Regatta is “Finding
Nemo” – so it should be interesting to see what the Boat Parade will present.
st
The schedule for the Regatta is:
March 19th – Welcome aboard with the “Azteca Dance Group” at the
Paradise Village Amphitheater at 5PM followed by a party at the Vallarta
Yacht Club (VYC).
March 20th – 10AM Skipper’s meeting at VYC; 2PM Practice Race; 5PM
Happy Hour at VYC; 6PM music from Noche de Diojitos Cubanos at VYC.
March 21st – 11:30AM Boat Parade out of Nuevo Vallarta channel with the
theme of “Finding Nemo”; 1:30PM Start of 1st race within sight of shore;
5PM Happy Hour at VYV; 6PM Festival de Ceviche.
March 22nd – 1PM Start of Distance Race; 5PM Happy Hour at VYC; 6PM Fish Fry.
March 23rd – 1PM Start Race 3; 5PM Happy Hour at VYC; 7PM Awards Party
on Paradise Village Beach with music from Philo’s Shuffle Band and Gecko.
March 24th – Pool party at Los Arroyos Verdes, $250P includes a pasta
salad and dessert lunch from12 – 6PM. Transportation will be provided and
the pool is heated to 84F.
BBR XXI’s goal is for an environment friendly regatta to achieve higher
environmental standards.
Come watch the beautiful boats sail on a beautiful bay.
FRIDAY 22
12
The 7 Arts
At Ambos Galeria de Arte y Artifactos
Chilean national and internationally-known
artist, Patricio Moreno Toro, is the featured
artist in the new exhibition this month at Ambos
Galeria de Arte y Artifactos. Recognized for
his large-scale abstract expressionist paintings,
Toro is hailed as one of the most prominent
Latino artists living in the United States. He is
exhibiting several of his most recent paintings for
the first time anywhere in this new show entitled
“Colores Finales”. In his career spanning more
than 50 years, this also represents the first major
exhibition of Toro’s work in Mexico. For this show, Toro has ventured into uncharted
territory, producing wall-sized canvases in black
and white. “Colores finales, it is an experiment the absence of color can evoke powerful images
that challenge the viewer to see form and content
without distraction,” says Toro. Toro is also showing another recent series,
“Claustrophias Solemnes” – framed, small-scale,
3-dimensional paintings -primarily in black,
white, and red- on glass. “I was inspired by the idea of working with readily
available materials, which I modified, to compress
what I do with my large abstract paintings into a
small space, and to create dimension in a way that I
have not seen done before,” Toro explained. Three other artists are also represented in the
show: California abstract artist, Elizabeth Saviano;
Montana-based painter, Stephanie Barrett-Pointer;
and local artist and restauranteur, Humberto
Salanova Colosia - each with distinct styles and
perspectives. SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
Salanova’s dense abstract paintings depict
exciting cityscapes of such jewels as Chicago, San
Francisco, and, of course, Puerto Vallarta. Also
born and raised in the energetic city of Santiago,
Chile, his flowing movement and blending of
primary colors reflect his warm Latin roots. Saviano is emerging as an artist from the
San Francisco Bay Area after long careers in
both medicine and law. She draws on her life
experiences to create colorful, textured figurative
works that abound with movement, light and
humor. The imaginative paintings she exhibits
in this current show are from her “Circo” series. Barrett-Pointer, known for her work with
encaustics, has produced a couple new pieces
for the show. Her featured piece “Ballena” is
inspired by the natural world in and around
Puerto Vallarta. Meet the artists on March 22nd, 6-10 p.m. during
the next Basilio Badillo South Side Shuffle.
Ambos Galeria is located at 261 Basilio
Badillo, Tel.: 222-3520.
For more information: www.ambosgaleria.com,
www.patriciomorenotoro.com,
www.savianocontemporaryart.com
The 7 Arts
galería uno
SINCE 1971
Just one block from the ocean located on the
corner of Morelos and Corona streets, Galeria
Uno continues to be one of the most respected
art galleries in Puerto Vallarta. A friendly open
space welcomes the visitor who is immediately
impressed by the diversity and quality of the art.
Established in 1971, Galeria Uno was the
first art gallery in Puerto Vallarta, hence the
name Uno (one) and many famous people from
the film and entertainment industry have been
frequent
Patrons, including John Huston and Elizabeth
Taylor. Early exhibiting artists have included
Manuel Lepe and Ada Colorina, who started
her career when she was just 14 years old.
In 2012, founder Janice Lavender was
honored by the City of Puerto Vallarta for her
long and active contribution to the art and
culture in the city.
The gallery played an important part
in establishing the early careers of world
famous Mexican artist Alejandro Colunga and
internationally known Nayarit artist Vladimir
Cora who continues to be one of the major
exhibitors in the gallery.
In the early 80’s, Galeria Uno hosted a
controversial and ambitious exhibition by the
film director
David Lynch (“Eraserhead”, “Twin Peaks”),
one of his only exhibitions in Mexico.
Janice Lavender, Martina Goldberg and
Linda Gomez have been business partners
for many years, building the gallery into
the success that it is today. Now Janice and
Martina mostly have consultative roles, but
both are very present and active during the Art
Walk season.
Exhibitors include local, national Mexican
and International popular painters and sculptors
Manuel Martinez, Francisco San Miguel,
and Guadalajara-born Sergio Garval who is
rapidly establishing himself as one of the most
important Latin American artists in the world.
For those intrigued by outstanding
contemporary art, Galeria Uno, located at 561
Morelos downtown, is a must and should not
be missed.
Tel.: 222-0908. Email: [email protected]
www.mexonline.com/galeriauno.htm
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
13
The 7 Arts
14
Last Show of Season at Galleria Dante
Presents Brewster Brockmann
March 22nd 6 - 10 p.m. Cocktails
T
his past summer, when we were
approached by Brewster to enter the
gallery, we were proud to accept. We
had followed his career for some years
and were in agreement that he is not
only a very talented, well respected
artist, but one heck of a nice person. Brewster came to us from Galeria
Pacifico, one of the top Vallarta
galleries, where the owner and artist
shared a healthy working relationship
for more than 12 years. He had also
just finished a very successful museum
showing at the Ex-Convento del
Carmen in Guadalajara from July 5 to
August 10, 2012. Unfortunately, due
to lack of funding they didn’t publish
a catalogue.
SATURDAY 16
One might say that Brewster was
born to be an artist, his American
mother having met his Mexican father
while both were art students at the
Rhode Island School of Design. His
mother, aunt, brother and a first cousin
are currently professional painters and
his sister is a photographer, while his
father was an architect in Guadalajara
where Brewster was raised. Family
is very important to Brewster, so it is
not surprising that “family life” is also
depicted in his paintings. He and his
lovely, wife Carmen have two young
daughters, and his brother -who is his
neighbor- has a young son.
Brewster stands out in many ways
as an artist, but one of the most
obvious is in the way he is equally
proficient at creating paintings and
sculptures, many of which have the
feeling of ancient pieces in a museum
of anthropology. The paintings offer
the themes of nature one might expect
from an artist living in a jungle setting
at the foot of a mountain and next to
a river emptying into the ocean 150
yards away. Titles of the works such as,
“Torre Cocodrilos”, “Torre Elefantes”,
“Nino con cocodrilo”, reflect this
interest that started as a boy but was
later focused by a BA degree in biology
with a minor in botany at Bennington
College in Vermont. An MFA in
ceramics at Michigan’s prestigious
Cranbrook Institute followed, where
Brewster was a teaching assistant.
Upon graduation he was awarded a
fellowship in the Kohler Corporation’s
Artist in Industry Program, where
he was able to use their facilities for
fabricating bathtubs and fixtures to
create primitive looking monkey
figures in cast iron. Two of these are
in the permanent collection of the
Kohler Museum of Modern art. After
returning to Mexico, Brewster taught
workshops to graduate students from
Cranbrook Institute and the Rhode
Island School of Design to learn the
classic techniques he practices, from
digging his own clay and forming
designs with coils of the clay, to firing
it in a wood fired adobe kiln he made
himself.
Although Brockmann continues
with his familiar style, which might
be called “stream of consciousness
organic expressionism” for lack of a
FRIDAY 22
more traditional label, there also seems
to be some new directions in style and
approach. Brewster feels that putting
more energy into his terracotta and
bronze sculptures recently has actually
helped his paintings in that they aid
him in achieving a proper feeling of
scale and inspire new sensibilities in
the two-dimensional work. “In my
new paintings I’ve re-introduced
saturated color in the background
to emphasize negative and positive
contrasts among the drawing lines,
marks, and brush strokes. The
animal towers play with the idea of
biological pyramids as a statement
for conservation as well as energy
ladders that can surpass natural
ecosystems”. “Tortuga” is a simple
line drawing of a woman holding
a baby turtle, on a background of
red! “Dog Tree”, reminiscent of a
Egyptian warrior, half dog, half tree on
a background of vibrant yellow. As he
points out, “It’s all intermingled with
my tendency to let the paintings
evolve as I do them rather than
do a lot of pre-planning that can
actually restrict the spontaneity that
is an important part of the creative
process for me.”
Animals and marine life continue to
be very present as themes and elements
in Brewster’s work, with alligators,
jaguars, dolphins and fish being in
evidence, among others. It also relates
to Brockmann’s interest in indigenous
folk art and ceremonial masks, most
of which portray animals. Although
this interest started as a young child
tagging along with an uncle who
collected, his passion eventually ended
up being manifested in the form of
owning and operating a folk art gallery
in Puerto Vallarta, the highly regarded
Galeria Olinala.
Galleria Dante is located at 269
Basilio Badillo in the Romantic Zone.
The 7 Arts
Comedian Tony Tripoli gets “Dirty, Sexy, Funny!”
at The Palm March 15, 17, 22 and 24 @ 10pm!
T
he Palm Cabaret and Bar is excited
to announce the arrival of comedian Tony
Tripoli, Joan Rivers’ head comedy writer,
for 4 nights of his ‘Dirty, Sexy, Funny!’ one
man show. Tony Tripoli grew up in Phoenix, AZ, and
moved to Los Angeles in 1989, to attend the
acclaimed American Academy of Dramatic
Arts. Immediately upon graduation, he put
his incredibly prestigious and expensive
degree to use by moving to Japan to work
for Tokyo Disneyland. You can imagine how
thrilled his Mom was.
He followed that up with a stint as a
Chippendale (yeah, that’s right… the
strippers), and, in a real moment of pride,
sang Cole Porter songs for the American
Plumbers’ Association, on stage with a
dozen toilets. He has played single-dimensional gay guys
on such hit TV shows as “Fashion House”
with Bo Derek and Morgan Fairchild and
“Two and a Half Men” with Charlie Sheen,
Jon Cryer, and that half-man… Yes, he was also on “Kathy Griffin: My
Life on the D-List” as well, but, it’s best not
to bring that up…
Tony writes hilarious one-liners for Joan
Rivers, which she uses in her act, on her
reality show, and on “Fashion Police” at E!
He knows he should be troubled that all his
jokes make sense coming out of the mouth
of a 77-year old Jewish lady, but, as he says,
‘screw it, she’s a legend’.
Tony was also a staff writer on STYLE
network’s hit show, “The Dish”, hosted by
Danielle Fishel.
Continuing to dominate basic cable
channels that you don’t even know you have,
Tony appeared on LOGO’s “THE GOSSIP
QUEENS” and “PRETTY HURTS”, and is
a regular commentator on the TV GUIDE
Channel, making inappropriate remarks on
such specials as “The 25 Sexiest Hollywood
Couples” and “The 10 Funniest Commercials
of the Year”.
You can also look forward to his outrageous
remarks in an upcoming series of specials,
airing this year on E!, and as a regular on
season two of “Joan And Melissa: Joan
Knows Best?”, on WEtv.
Tony is thrilled to be the first openly gay
comic to open for Joan Rivers, and hopes
you’ll come see them in action! You can
enjoy his solo stand-up “Tony Tripoli:
Dirty, Sexy, FUNNY” all over L.A., on gay
cruises, in Provincetown, and now, as long
as the check clears, at The Palm Cabaret and
Bar in Puerto Vallarta!
Advance
reservations
are
highly
recommended. Tickets for ‘Tony Tripoli:
Dirty, Sexy, Funny!’ are 150 pesos (plus
two drinks minimum) and may be purchased
online at www.ThePalmPV.com or at the
door starting 2 hours before showtime each
evening.
The Palm is well known for bringing top
notch, cutting edge entertainment to Vallarta. Inside you’ll find an intimate, 80-seat
cabaret with outstanding sound and lighting,
creating the ambience of cabarets from days
gone by. Shows are scheduled 7 nights
per week with two different shows nightly
through April 1, 2013. A full calendar of
performances is available online at www.
thepalmpv.com . The Palm is non-smoking
(a patio is provided for smokers), located at
508 Olas Altas. You can also find the Palm
on Facebook at The Palm Cabaret and Bar. SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
15
16
The 7 Arts
Jean-Gabriel Lambert exhibit
March 22, 2013 | Cocktails 6 to 10 pm
J
ean-Gabriel Lambert was born
in Montreal, Canada. He first
came into the public eye through
acting and dance. Voice technique
developed, his imagination took
free rein. He directed a video in
which he played two characters
who confront one another. Later,
he added writing and singing to
his artistic accomplishments and
soon after, in a natural progression,
he began drawing and painting.
The future of humanity and our
relationship with the other provide
his creative motivation. Love,
friendship and communication are
both bearers of meaning and the
impetus to act.
Again and again, his canvases
interweave intimate stories and
universal issues. We imagine
ourselves floating above an
immense landscape, and at the
same time, we see a wound on a
body. The paint is laid on densely,
darkly, with blues the color of
night bordering with beaches, like
waves of serenity. An entire series
was painted in honor of his mother,
Madeleine. Another series from
the views of Conchas Chinas. The
human form is never very far away.
Often, figures insinuate themselves
into the paintings, taking shape
through the abstract gestural flux.
Figurative images rise to the surface:
SATURDAY 16
here we see a mouth and there,
a body... leaving the work open
and in movement.
A canvas never has a single
meaning when seen through the
eyes of others, it lives and it grows.
His artistic expression continues
to emerge and assert itself as he
moves forward in life.
FRIDAY 22
The dialogue with the public
provoked by his paintings nurtures
him and gives him the desire to
open it ever further through his
art. The artistic journey that he
embarked upon twenty-five years
ago has led him around the word in
a quest for inspiration.
In 1999, he fell in love with
the Mexican people during his
initial visit to Vallarta, and for the
first time added the color yellow
into his work. He continues to be
inspired by the light and colors of
its spectacular natural environment
and its people. He now paints
here on his annual pilgrimages to
Vallarta. Jean-Gabriel celebrates
his 11th year at Galleria Dante.
Galleria Dante is located at 269
Basilio Badillo in the Romantic
Zone. Drop in for a visit during the
South Side Shuffle!
The 7 Arts
I especially liked the scene using
straw men.
I have one objection. It is a very
good movie, but it could have been
a great one. It constantly reminds us
that this is a prequel to the classic.
But, with the exception of one very
tiny musical routine, which is cut
short, there are no songs. Who can
forget numbers like Somewhere over
the Rainbow, Follow the Yellow
Brick Road, or A Horse of a Different
Color?
by JOE HARRINGTON
Oz the Great and Powerful
This is a prime example of how
critics view a film differently than
an audience. On Rotten Tomatoes
Meter, this effort received a 58%
from critics and a whopping 99%
from the paying public. This movie
is a prequel to the classic The
Wizard of Oz. Right up front: Did
I like this movie? Very much. The
cinematography is spectacular. The
plot is ingenious and creative. I
don’t like watching movies in 3-D,
hate those glasses. But it was easy
to spot where that effect was used:
lion jumping straight at the screen.
Vicious looking flying baboons with
teeth bared, the wizard’s stovepipe
hat soaring off the screen and into
your face.
The plot in 25 words: Oscar, a
magician, travels with a carnival. He
is whisked away in a hot air balloon
to the Land of Oz. Mighty adventures
befall him.
The back story of this film is no
matter how bad a person we start out
as, we can change. The magician is
a crook.
And when he lands in
Oz he sees opportunities to
become a great crook. He
is shown a vast treasure and
told that he cannot become
the ruler of the land unless
he slays a witch. The three
witches are: Glenda (the
good witch in the original),
Evanora and Theodora.
He meets people along
the way and here’s where
some wonderful visual
magic happens. As Dorothy had
help on her quest so does the Oscar,
the magician. He meets a flying
monkey, reminiscent of Spielberg’s
inhabitants of Endora. He meets a
China Doll who appears to be around
eight or so inches tall. He meets a
munchkin who never smiles. These
three aide him in his quest and in so
doing help the magician to realize
that there are more important things
in life than fame, power and money.
What I particularly liked was how
the movie over and over used things
from the original, but in a unique way.
SATURDAY 16
17
This is a Disney production. Try to
think of a fairytale by that company
that was not a musical. I would have
loved to have sat in on the think
session that decided not to have songs.
I would have thought someone would
have stood up and said, “If we’re not
going to have any songs, why throw
in a short one by the little people and
remind everybody what made The
Wizard of Oz such a classic.
It’s easy to predict that this flick
is going to make a killing at the box
office. That 99% approval rating by
the audience means that the opening
FRIDAY 22
weekend is going to be a home run
and then next week people at work,
kids in school, friends with friends
will all gush over how great it is. That
word of mouth is what sells tickets.
And that’s how it should be. Is the
movie worth seeing? You bet. And
I haven’t even mentioned the most
important part – kids will love it.
The executives at Disney already
smell a humungous success as they
announced that a sequel is in the
planning stages.
One little warning, you
won’t see ruby slippers, and the
emerald city doesn’t look like
the original, and there are other
slight changes which were all
done to avoid a lawsuit with
MGM who owns the rights,
like Dorothy’s foot apparel.
I asked a few friends if they
remembered how young they
were when they saw The Wizard
of Oz. All said around five or
six. And a couple mentioned
that the wicked witch and the
flying monkeys scared the bejeezus
out of them. Me too. I’d be lying if I
told you an exact figure on how many
times I’ve seen the original. Just that
the number is very high.
Joe is an internationally published
author and a documentary film maker.
He can be reached with suggestions
or criticism at JoeMovieMadness@
YAhoo.com. Artwork by Bob Crabb.
18
Map
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
Map
SATURDAY 16
19
FRIDAY 22
20
The 7 Arts
Rachel: “Delicious!”
Winnie (with Monette): “Sweet!”
PV women / men eat up “Gay Married Priest”
T
he publisher of Confessions of a Gay Married Priest is express
shipping to Puerto Vallarta 100 new copies of the serious, fun, smart and
sexy new book by local author Maurice L. Monette, just in time for the
following free meet-the-author events:
Coco’s Kitchen: Friday, March 15, 5-7 p.m.
Zanate Restaurant: Saturday, March 16, 11-2 p.m.
Lido Beach Club: Wednesday, March 20, noon-2 p.m.
Venues are offering 10% meal discounts with signed book copies and all
profits support human rights organizations like the local LGBT community
center SETAC. The books sold out at launches at Cassandra Shaw Jewelry,
Zanate Restaurant and A Page in the Sun. At an event, “Rachel” of Kinsey
Sicks fame claimed, “I was confused. I thought the promotion allowed me
to eat a Gay Married Priest.”
On a more serious note, Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the
National Center for Lesbian Rights in the US said of the book and the
upcoming Supreme Court decisions on marriage equality, ”What the
LGBT community seeks is the freedom to live authentic lives, free from
discrimination. Monette is now living an authentic and rich spiritual life; he
makes clear that religion and religious freedom don’t have to be obstacles
to equality for our families.”
Dan Grippo, former marketing director for National Catholic Reporter
and current Puerto Vallarta resident said, “It’s the one book, readable in an
afternoon, I recommend for each Cardinal before he casts his vote for the
next Pope. The lessons Monette shares are lessons for the future church
where all women, men and children are appreciated in their diversity.” Books are available at: A Page in the Sun, Cassandra Shaw Jewelry, Casa
de las Flores, Coco’s Kitchen, and Lido Beach Club.
Trixie: “Hot!”
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
Trampolina: “Gay Married Priest???”
The 7 Arts
21
Patsy Cline star returns to Paradise Stage
The recent 50
anniversary of the death of Patsy
Cline prompted a sell-out tribute performance at the
Boutique Theater by local entrepreneur and singing
chanteuse, Mikki Prost. In her heartfelt tribute to
Patsy Cline, Prost aptly demonstrated her vocal
passions for soulful music. It was her passion that
prompted Prost to create a show that debuted last
fall at the Paradise Stage. Since then, hundreds have
flocked to the Paradise Community Center to catch
Prost sing some of the most popular Blues music
there is, including a number of timeless Patsy Cline
hits that always delight her audiences.
In Shades of The Blues, Mikki Prost celebrates
the Blues and its profound impact on our culture
today. With her resonating and soulful voice, Prost
entertains and inspires you with anecdotes and some
historical significance of many of the songs she sings.
Prost says, “Music always invokes special memories
for me, and I enjoy doing that for others through my
music.” Her goal through this show is to leave you
with memories of time past, and a reminder of how
good it’s gotten since then.
Mikki Prost’s stage career began at age five when
she appeared in her first dance recital. She’s been
mesmerized by the stage ever since.
Her dance training led her to become a professional
ice skater in her late teens.
th
She then put her stage aspirations on hold in order
to create a family. Mikki sailed to the PV area almost
23 years ago. But it wasn’t until 2001 when her
longing to return to the stage finally came to fruition,
when she connected with Spotlight Productions and
appeared in Steel Magnolias as Clairee. Since then,
Mikki has danced, sang and acted in more than 40
productions throughout the Bay area. Last season,
she delighted us with portrayal of Queen Isabel de
Catolica in the Writer’s Theater Group. She also
produced and starred in the one-woman show, “A
Tribute to Patsy Cline”.
Joining forces with Mikki in Shades of The Blues,
is Jarrett Lewis, a talented local musician who
sublimely serenades us with his saxophone, clarinet
and flute throughout the show.
Jarrett Lewis began his musical career at the age
of 7 with the clarinet. He studied at the University of
California - Irvine, when he was 15 years old. Lewis
was fortunate to be selected as principle clarinetist
with the university’s youth symphony under the
direction of Zubin Mehta.
It wasn’t until Lewis was in his 30’s that he took up
the saxophone and flute. Then he discovered the joy
and gift of improvisation.
Lewis has lived in the PV area for 20 years. He
sailed into Banderas Bay on his sailboat, which is
where he met Mikki Prost and formed an instant
friendship. Lewis has produced two CD’s and
his music has been playing on the University of
Guadalajara radio station for nearly a decade.
Prost says she loves performing on the Paradise
Stage because it gives her a chance to give something
back to her community through the efforts of
CompassioNet Impact; 100% of all profits from
all events at Paradise Community Center go to
CompassioNet Impact Mexico.
This intimate performance of Shades of The Blues
continues its successful run on the Paradise Stage,
on Wednesday, March 20th, and again on Wednesday,
April 10th. Advance tickets are only $150 pesos,
or $200 pesos at the door. For an additional $100
pesos, an upgrade to special VIP reserved seating is
available and includes upgraded stage-front seating
with two free drinks from the Paradise Cantina.
Tickets can be purchased anytime at www.
paradisecommunitycenter.com or at the PCC Box
Office, located at 127 Pulpito in the Zona Romantica
(open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
22
The 7 Arts
EMERGENTE art show
At Los Mangos Public Library
Next Saturday, March 23 , Los Mangos Public
rd
Library opens its doors at 6:30 p.m. to fill the
night with light, art, movement, color, and intense,
creative energy in the “EMERGENTE” exposition
of alternative art, art as you may have never seen it
before in this city.
The library’s reason to be is to shelter different
cultural manifestations and to put them within
the reach of the community, with the purpose of
enriching and strengthening values such as respect,
integrity, creativity and character. So then, faced
with lack of spaces dedicated to the exposure of diverse, rising young,
local art, a new generation group of artists, lead and brought together
by Gabriela Munguía and with the valuable support of the Culture
office of Puerto Vallarta, have created an event with the finality of
revealing talents and showing movements and tendencies that are
SATURDAY 16
being generated in all fields of plastic and audiovisual arts throughout
the whole world; and showing how these young people are the
creators of such movements.
This exposition has been conceived as a party for
the senses, an occasion to meet with people and art
that proposes, touches, affects, and widens our vision
of the region’s artists.
Artistic expressions such as paintings, photography,
etchings, music, short films, object-art, and video
projections will be exhibited in the Library and its
gardens. Los Mangos Public Library gives itself to
the community and promotes culture and art in all
of its forms, convinced that it is in places like this
where ideas that make a country grow are generated
and nurtured.
Come and live the experience of art like never before. All of the
pieces will be for sale.
The complete list of participants and displays of their pieces are
available on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/emergente.artealterno
FRIDAY 22
The 7 Arts
PV Men’s Chorus Benefit Dinner
at No Way José Restaurant
by DEAN McINTYRE
T
he Puerto Vallarta Men’s
Chorus (pvmenschorus.org) will
sing at a benefit dinner for the gayfriendly Horizonte de Paz (Peaceful
Horizon)
Men’s
Residential
Rehabilitation Center for alcohol
and drug abuse, http://pvangels.
com/charities/155/horizonte-de-paz.
The Wednesday, March 20th,
dinner begins at 7 PM, and includes
one drink (soft drink, margarita, or
house wine), Aztec Soup (Tortilla
Soup) and one entrée, Chile en
Nogada (beef, shrimp or veggie) or
Pollo Xochimilco (spinach & cheese
stuffed chicken breast with corn
truffle in huitlacoche sauce).
Tickets are 300 pesos in advance
or 350 pesos at the door. The dinner
is expected to sell out, so buy your
advance tickets at No Way José
Restaurant, 5 de Febrero #260
(corner of I. L. Vallarta), www.
nowayjosemx.com, and Flowers To
Go, 126 Rodolfo Gómez (near Olas
Altas), www.flowerstogovallarta.
com, both in the Romantic Zone.
The Puerto Vallarta Men’s Chorus
will sing an original humorous
medley, “Ex-Pats in Paradise”,
about the challenges and joys of
Puerto Vallarta for foreigners, and
“Amor a la Méxicana”. The chorus,
directed by Bob Bruneau of Seattle
and PV, sang its first major concert,
“Sing Out Proud”, in June last year,
followed by a near sell-out holiday
show, “Alegría”, at the Teatro
Vallarta last December.
The mission of the chorus is to
present beautiful, quality male
choral music presented in both
Spanish and English, by the gay
Mexican and ex-pat communities
to entertain, enlighten and unify our
audience and members, using the
power of this music to recognize
the value of our gay community
and our relationships, and to help
build bridges of greater acceptance
to our member’s families, the city
of Puerto Vallarta, and the country
of Mexico.
The Horizonte de Paz Men’s
Residential Rehabilitation Center
opened in 2010 in Ixtapa, Jalisco,
as a safe haven for drug and alcohol
abusers to receive support and help.
As the center does not receive money
from the government, it relies on
charitable donations and money
from the clients and their families.
The center helps the clients with
a work program that will benefit
them in recovery at the shelter and
afterward. The center also provides
physical and psychological support
24/7. Your support at the March
20 benefit will help these men find
solutions to their problems and
become productive members of
their families and society.
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
23
24
Vallarta Voices
Another season at the garbage dump
by LYSE & PHIL RIOUX
Manitoba, Canada
This is about Colonia Magisterio,
or more commonly known as «the
garbage dump». Since a few years,
the streets just past the school are
now paved. But a bit further some
are still lined with shacks made of
cardboard, rags, scraps of corrugated
metal, broken pallets, anything that
will offer them some semblance of
shelter. When you see these houses,
you wonder how much protection the
residents have in the event of rain or
hurricanes. Flies and rodents abound.
Yet that is home for some people.
They cannot afford better.
The dump was moved a few years
ago because it was running out of
space. In most homes or businesses
in Puerto Vallarta, no separation is
made of actual garbage and recyclable
material, it all goes into the same
container. So trucks from our beautiful
city go to Magisterio to dump our
refuse, then people wade through the
material, sorting, trying to find articles
to use, recycle or sell. If they were
paid a decent wage for this work, it
would be not as bad but their income
ranges between 50 to 70 pesos a day.
That’s $4-6 USD in North American
terms. There is money in recycling
but here the workers are tightly
controlled and the real income is
not passed along to them. The area
is also foul with dumped chemicals,
and some of the sorters are pregnant
women. And anyone living in the
area - including children - breathe this
tainted air as well as the dust from
unpaved streets. After the sorting, the
remaining garbage is hauled away by
semi-trailer trucks to the new dump
out of town.
It is a hand to mouth existence, the
workers have no hope of breaking the
cycle. They cannot afford to relocate
and many are illiterate, limiting their
ability to work elsewhere.
In beautiful Puerto Vallarta tourism
is down again, it has enjoyed fewer
and fewer tourists each year since the
recession in 2008. The Malecon has
been redone, the new pier, the airport
up-graded, the cruise ship marina
improved, a new maxipista will
be operational next year but fewer
tourists. Tourism is the only industry
here.
SATURDAY 16
So fewer tourist dollars translates
to fewer jobs, thus the city slum is
increasing in area and population.
For the 7th consecutive year, a
group of concerned tourists, Amigos
del Magisterio have organized a
food drive to help this community.
This year over $140,000. Pesos
were raised (about $11,500. USD).
Club Richelieu, Ottawa, Canada,
organized an activity to raise funds,
a special collection was taken from
the tourist masses at Nuestra Senora
de la Guadalupe Church, and all
Masses at the church Maria Reina
de la Paz in the Marina, residents of
the two trailer parks in PV, residents
of Condos la Marina, residents of the
Bayview Grand and Las Moras among
others and friends and families of the
organizers were generous with their
contributions. For the first time, we
even had collection from a group of
Canadian Grain Commission staff
members, Winnipeg office.
In all we purchased 3096 kilos of
rice, 4915 kilos of beans, 1200 liters
of cooking oil and 1200 kilos of sugar.
With that, we packaged 1200 bags
which we distributed to 6 schools in the
area. In total, 1115 children had been
identified as recipients of our bags. The
children look good, they appear happy
and mostly energetic in their worn
and stained school uniforms. Some
do not smile even when given a gift,
theirs is an existence of resignation.
The objectives of making the donation
through the schools is that they offer
us a more orderly distribution and also
we hope to encourage the families to
“allow” the children to attend school
and perhaps eventually break the cycle
FRIDAY 22
of poverty. A rule passed at the dump
forbids children to work as sorters,
and those 14 years of age and older
may work if they also attend school.
That is good but it also translates to
more immediate poverty.
The cost of food staples this year
has stabilized after huge hikes in the
past 2 years, but they’re still hugely
expensive for the poor. Many are not
buying beans anymore, historically
the only source of protein for the
poor. What are the poor supposed to
do? Factor in that Puerto Vallarta is a
more expensive city to live in because
of the impact of tourism. The food
banks cannot keep up. Charities are
maxed out.
We distributed the remaining bags
of rice, beans, oil and sugar to the
shack homes. Five times we were able
to drive up into the dump (a restricted
area) with our donations. The workers
immediately line up to receive our
goods when they see the nice tourist
trucks enter the gate. And the guards
are sympathetic. Many tourists also
bring shoes, clothing, soap, hats,
many things, anything. We are well
received. What nice peaceful and shy
people they are, so resigned to their
lowly fate in life...
We were very happy again to have
a corporate sponsor, Frigorizados La
Huerta, that donated 1300 bags each
containing frozen pizzas, vegetables,
desserts and cheese fondues, a semitrailer truck load. For the residents
of Magisterio, these goodies coming
out of a clean box were a far cry from
finding them in the dump after a few
days in this heat.
Vallarta Voices
We are told that in the evening when
they get our delivery there is a fiesta!
Like many of you who are reading
this, we are tourists in Puerto Vallarta.
In Canada or the U.S., our recycling
is sorted at home, then our garbage is
trucked to a land fill and buried and
that is the end of that. Not so here.
As you can see, here the garbage takes
a more sinister trip. We are happy
to be on holidays here, enjoying the
incomparable climate, the culture, the
ambiance. The Mexican people have a
way of welcoming us to their country
like no other culture. The question is,
what do we bring, surely money. But
only a segment of the city ever touches
the tourist dollars. What about the rest
of the population? The forgotten who
so need our help? Let us give them
more than our garbage, let us go home
having left a significant contribution.
In this time of Lent, we are taught to
do penance and share with the less
fortunate. It is difficult to do penance
in beautiful PV, but the possibilities
for sharing are endless. Use your
imagination, ask around, there are
many worthwhile organizations here
who do good work. My personal
favorite is the ongoing food bank
working out of the Guadalupe Church
basement garage. Talk about no-frills!
Our new web site is coming soon,
www.amigosdelmagisterio.com We
are still working on it.
In closing, we would like to thank
Frigorizados La Huerta, the school
directors, the managers at Sam’s who
were our most competitive supplier
this year, Walmart who donated
bags, all the donors and workers,
volunteers with trucks (we are 0%
administration cost), Tacho’s trailer
park for use of their palapa for our
meetings and packaging, and Father
Estaban and Father Dave of Nuestra
Senora de la Guadalupe Church and
Padre Gonzalo of Maria Reina de la
Paz for their support, cooperation and
encouragement.
We will be in the area for another
little while now that we are on
holidays. You can find us at the choir
10 am Mass at Guadalupe Church.
25
Dear Editor,
by ANNA REISMAN
W
We have just returned to our
Canadian home after spending 7-½
wonderful weeks in Puerto Vallarta.
We have been vacationing in this
beautiful city since 1988 and over the
years have witnessed so many changes,
all for the better. The improvements
to the streets, sidewalks, the beautiful
Malecon and of course the New Pier
make our time there so enjoyable. We
do have one suggestion to pass on if
we may.
There are still areas where trash is
piled on street corners and becomes
quite unsightly. It is nice to see there
is nightly trash pickup but wish there
were bins stationed in areas where
the trucks could access easily for
pick-up. Included in this email is
a picture of our local disposal bins
in open areas that contain people’s
trash until it can be collected by the
sanitation department. It is nice to
see suspended trash cans along the
Malecon, but I think larger ones are
needed in the more commercial and
residential areas.
We do appreciate that over the
years this too has improved an awful
lot, but there are so many areas in PV
that attract so many visitors, and if
there was any way of concealing the
trash until collection time, it would
improve the scenery a lot.
To all the hard working local
people who work hard and with such
enthusiasm, keep up the good work!
To all the visitors, appreciate the
work done and being done to improve
Puerto Vallarta, we sure do, and look
forward to vacationing there again
next winter.
Ken & Marie
SATURDAY 16
ith all the drives I’ve been taking lately,
going back and forth to the airport to pick up
and drop off visiting family and friends, I had
occasion to witness the city’s workers watering
the island in the middle of the main road. Very
commendable, but why were they always
doing it in the middle of the day, when the sun
is at its zenith, and the heat is at its highest?
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always read
that that is a no-no as the water evaporates
too quickly, without a chance to reach the
roots, while the sun burns that part of the wet
vegetation which is above ground.
Would it not make more sense to do all that work
early in the morning and later in the afternoon, when
all that precious liquid would do more good than harm? Ah, but
what do I know? I’m just an avid reader of horticultural articles.
And news… In case you did not hear or read about it, the
recently-appointed Minister of Tourism for the State of Jalisco,
José de Jesús Gallegos, was gunned down in Guadalajara just a few
short days following his appointment. Although all I’ve read about
the possible reasons for Sr. Gallegos’ unfortunate demise was the
statement by Jalisco’s Secretary of State, Arturo Zamora, that “it
is possible that the motive is related to Gallegos’ financial and
business activities prior to his nomination as Minister of Tourism
and not to the post he had just taken over,” I assume that our former
mayor is relieved now, that he was not named to that post, as was
rumored that he would be.
Also, as you may or may not know, Vallarta Lifestyle has
cancelled its famous annual Readers’ Choice poll this year. Well,
fear not. Banderasbay.com has taken over the reins. All you have
to do is go online and click on their “2013 Best of Banderas
Bay Opinion Poll” to vote for your favorite Vallarta Restaurant.
They’ve provided a few favorite restaurants in each of the 10
categories. If you don’t see your favorite, you are encouraged to
“Suggest a Restaurant” by clicking on the blue link under “Our
Readers’ Picks” in each category.
Voting will end on December 31st and the restaurant with the
most votes in each category will be named ‘The Best of Banderas
Bay’ at an awards ceremony to be held in early 2014. So there you
have it.
Now with all the really great shows and fundraisers going on this
week, I’m not sure how my friends and I are going to get all that
food ready for the first Seder of Passover… After which, we will go
into the annual “cocoon mode” for the two weeks of Semana Santa
when this town goes nuts. Are you ready for the madness?
Until then, please take good care of yourselves and of each other.
May your Mirror always reflect a happy, healthy you.
Hasta luego. [email protected]
FRIDAY 22
Good Bites
26
Dear Editor:
Ernesto’s Good Grub, the
home of some of the best tortilla
soup and darn tasty Bar-B-Q
ribs, has opened on Basilio
Badillo in the former Mexican
Joe’s locale [and dozens of spot
before that]. It is next door to
Bistro Balsamar next to Zanate,
across from El Mole de Jovita.
Their operation on Rafael
Osuna a block off Francisco
Villa has been blockbuster
for years. The daughters each
opened a branch, one has closed,
and now they have added
Southside to their list. Many of
us have a short walk for their
food. Last night they offered
all-you-can-eat Bar-B-Q’d ribs
for 150 pesos. Be aware that a
medium bowl of their soup is a
sufficient meal for some diners.
Dear Editor:
We just had a fabulous
meal at the Mediterranean
Café a few days ago... the
appetizer was exceptional…
warmed feta cheese with figs
and drizzled in olive oil...
Yum! Dessert was amazing...
pistachio baklava and a
chocolate roll were tried...
Yum!
Mona
And from Werner:
We just discovered their new
location in my neighborhood:
Mina and Miramar, just one
block north from La Esquina
de los Caprichios. What a
great addition to the El Cerro
dining scene!...
Gary R. Beck
http://groups.yahoo.com/
g r o u p / P u e r t o _ Va l l a r t a _
OldTown_SouthSide
SATURDAY 16
There’s more to our history than just great flavors
Sometimes we all need more than just chips, guacamole and margaritas.
Archie’s Wok is your haven for bold and innovative flavors to get you out of
that Mexican rut!
Since 1986, Archie’s Wok has been legendary in Banderas Bay for servingup original cuisine influenced by the exotic flavors of Thailand, China, and
the Philippines. Archie’s helped establish the culinary foundation of Puerto
Vallarta and continues to be one of the bay’s most beloved, longtime established
restaurants. It all began in 1976 when Archie was asked to become Hollywood
director John Huston’s private chef at his personal retreat on Banderas Bay’s
south shore. Only reachable by boat, Las Caletas (The Coves) was John
Huston’s rustic jungle villa by the sea.
A WORLD OF FLAVORS: “Having feasted around the globe, I can
appreciate this wizardry. You bring the Orient, indeed the world, to my table in
the middle of the Mexican Jungle. Marvelous flavours - I applaud you Archie!”
Written by John Huston to Archie at Playa Caletas, 1981.
Today, his family upholds Archie’s legacy of presenting a world of flavors at
this tranquil Asian-inspired restaurant.
So when you finally say “no more tacos”, head on over to Archie’s Wok and
discover a world of flavors. Named “Best Asian” in Vallarta for the past 7 years.
Ask about their “gluten free” options. Open Monday through Saturday from
2 to 11 p.m. The ever-popular d’Rachael continues to perform classical and
contemporary music on harp, flute & vocals each Friday and Saturday evenings
from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Located in Vallarta’s South Side at 130 Francisca
Rodriguez. You know the street, the one that meets the new pier. 222-0411. No
reservations needed.
FRIDAY 22
Nature’s World
27
Planting Roots in Mexico
some sun-resistant varieties are now
in cultivation
So, how about their flowers?
Well, if they flower at all the blooms
are inconspicuous. Just suffice it to
say that Caladiums are wonderfully
bright splashes on my garden’s
generally green palette. Grouped
together, their bright “blooming”
leaves make me smile.
All parts of the plant are poisonous
and - nimrod newsflash here - should
not be ingested. Some of my books
say that they will irritate sensitive
skin but they don’t seem to bother
either José or me.
They grow well in containers
and nestle nicely along side ferns
and other soft textured plants or
ornamental grasses. So, if you’ve
the space, better run out and get
some today!
by TOMMY CLARKSON
Caladium
Caladium bicolor
Family: Araceae
(Also known as Angel Wings, Heart of Jesus and
Elephant Ear. Indeed, there is a lot of confusion
between this plant and its closely related genera
Alocasia, Colocasia and Xanthosoma.)
T
hriving in high humidity and
heat, there are a bunch – and all
beautiful – of these lush, exotic
plants. As a result, every time I
find a new variety “I gotta’ have
it” and then off to our gardens go I
searching for a place to give it a new
home. Hence, when touring the
many terraces of Ola Brisa Gardens
don’t be surprised when you come
across numerous varieties.
Cultivated in Europe since the
late 18th Century, they somewhat
resemble Coleus plants. There
are two, widely cultivated forms:
“fancy-leaved” and “lance-leaved”.
With its more heart-shaped leaves,
the first is the more commonly seen
types and the traditional form. The
leaves of the latter are more lancehead shaped – in fact, I knew a guy
in the Army like that years ago!
Members of the Araceae family,
Caladiums are aroids along with
Anthurium, Calla, Jack-in-thepulpit, Monstera, Philodendron,
and Pothos. And, like the Crotons
(another of my favorites) each
plant’s unique and individual beauty
lies in its own particular, distinctive,
multi-colored leaves.
Native to the shores of the
Amazon in South America, they’re
tropic to the core with now well
over 1000 different cultivars having
been created from the original
plant. The size of the arrowish to
heart-shaped leaves may vary from
the smaller ones, of six inches, to
the big “whoppers” of two feet in
length. These thin leaves proudly
present themselves in a striking
array of bright colors and patterns.
This foliage is a veritable
explosion of mottled, veined and
striped colors in combinations of
green and white, green and red,
white with red blotches or green
veins and lavender spots. These
leaves of deep green, light green,
white, red, pink and/or crimson are
held up on long stalks that grow
directly from the tuber.
Caladiums like rich, moist, well
draining soil. If the soil is lacking
in nutrients, add generous amounts
of compost and manure. If kept
watered (don’t let ‘em dry out) and
in the right location, they’ll grow
well with little care or attention.
Fertilize once a month with a general
purpose fertilizer. And they’re
pretty hardy too, so you should
experience few insect or disease
problems - but if you do, feel free
to employ appropriate insecticides
or fungicides.
Most Caladiums in “captivity”
grow to about sixty centimeters
(24”) high and sixty centimeters
(24”) wide, although I understand
that dwarf varieties are now in
cultivation. They arise from corms
(a thick, bulb-shaped stem or stem
base that grows just below the soil
surface) and can be propagated by
dividing the tubers. Most varieties
prefer partial to full shade, though
SATURDAY 16
Caladiums grow best in bright,
indirect light.
Originally from South America
and the West Indies these are great
understory plants.
In Manzanillo, visit Ola Brisa
Gardens, Tommy and Patty’s
verdant, multi-terraced tropical
paradise nestled on a hill
overlooking the magnificent vista of
Santiago Bay. Leisurely meander its
curved, paved path, experiencing,
first hand, a delicious array of
palms, plants and flowers from all
over the world. Or, e-mail questions
to him at [email protected]
The Caladium’s foliage is a
veritable explosion of mottled,
veined and striped colors.
FRIDAY 22
28
Health Matters
Adult daughters of alcoholics
…and maybe the rest of us too!
(part 1 of 2)
by GISELLE BELANGER
RN, LCSW
T
here is a classic book in the
addiction field written specifically
about daughters who grow up in
alcoholic homes. Robert J Ackerman,
PhD, spent his career specializing in
alcoholic families and has written
numerous books. This one in
particular is “Perfect Daughters”.
In it, he describes the experience of
growing up in an alcoholic home,
differentiates between the impact
of alcoholic mothers and alcoholic
fathers, and describes the long-term
effect into adulthood. He focuses on
the impact on parenting, relationships,
intimacy, self-esteem, the need to be
perfect, the need to be controlling, and
much more. His findings are based on
years of research and interviews with
these women.
(NOTE: All information in this
article is from: ACKERMAN, Robert
(2002) Perfect Daughters (revised
edition). Deerfield Beach, FL, USA:
Health Communications, Inc., ch 10,
pgs 171-198.)
The rest of us
Interestingly, these traits do not
just apply to women nor do they only
apply to growing up in an alcoholic
home. I have known many people who
have very similar if not exact traits
growing up in homes with some other
stressor such as a bi-polar parent, or
a borderline parent, or a workaholic
parent. I think many of you relate to
and identify with these descriptions
and types. Many of the characteristics
also fit the descriptions of children
according to their birth order.
As a child, you probably adapted to
life the best you could which required
developing
certain
“adjustment
behaviors”. They probably: a) kept you
from feeling abandoned, b) met the
expectations of others, c) helped you
to create some balance in your life, d)
helped you to overcome inconsistency
and chaos. Although they probably
worked well for you then, do you
still need them now? Do you even
know what they are? If you continue
to implement these behaviors, they
prolong more of the same; same
pain, same crisis, same dysfunctional
relationships. Do you want to breakfree from old childhood behaviors and
10% OFF
when you
mention
this ad
Valid until
March 29th,
2013
SATURDAY 16
roles? Are they holding you back and
keeping you from growing?
You have to know what to change
Wanting to change is one thing;
knowing what to change is quite
another. Ackerman identifies eight
different patterns that carry over
from childhood and he identifies
positive and negative implications. He
explains that you, this adult woman,
are a survivor and you possess many
positive qualities. The negative
qualities or characteristics cause you
pain and keep you from enjoying life.
The key to recovery is to overcome
the negative characteristics. He then
identifies a list of things you need to
do to transition from those negative
characteristics.
8 Types: (Keep in mind that no one
type completely describes anyone and
that you will probably identify with
several).
The
Achiever:
all-knowing,
ever competent, totally in control,
very responsible, accomplishment–
oriented. Her accomplishments are the
basis of her self-worth. Her self-worth
is always external, so that the only
way to be validated is to do things
that others recognize as worthwhile.
She is emotionally motivated by a
sense of inadequacy or not being
good enough. She compares herself to
others and always feels that they are
better. In relationships, she wants to
be in control and is usually willing to
do more than her share to achieve it.
Some of the negative characteristics
are: perfectionist, difficulty relaxing,
can’t express feelings, never wrong,
workaholic, marries a dependent
person, fears failure, and unable to
play.
The Triangulator: never deals with
anyone or anything directly, always
has excuses; it’s never her fault. She
became the focal point in her parent’s
relationship by acting out in negative
unacceptable behavior so that they
could avoid dealing with each other.
She is courageous, creative, has lots
of friends, and is adventurous. Her
negative characteristics are: conduct
disorders, substance abuser, passiveaggressive, poor communication
skills, angry, and manipulative.
FRIDAY 22
The Passive one: noticed more
for what she doesn’t or won’t do, for
example, she is never the player in
the game; always the spectator, she
is never the actor, but the reactor,
she goes along with everything and
has low self-esteem. In relationships,
she tolerates a tremendous amount of
inappropriate behavior, is willing to
be second, never expresses her needs,
and takes the path of least resistance.
She is tolerant, highly adaptable, a
loyal friend, empathic, a good listener.
The negative characteristics include:
low self-worth, eating disorders,
depressed, joyless, shy, lonely, and
won’t standup for herself.
The Other-Directed One: relies
heavily on what other people think
she should do and is always trying
to be the person she thinks everyone
expects her to be. The emotional
motivation is a deeply rooted fear of
being abandoned if she exposed her
feelings and needs. She believes that
in order to be accepted, she should do
what others want her to do. If she is in
pain, she will hide it. She pretends she
is always happy. She does everything
for everybody else and has great
difficulty doing anything for herself.
She has a very limited self-identity. In
relationships, she is overly sensitive
to criticism, denies her own feelings,
and has a terrible time establishing
boundaries. She is charming, has a
good sense of humor, is adaptable,
team player, cooperative, energetic,
joyful. The negative characteristics
include: indecisive, no sense of self,
overly dependent, and needs constant
approval.
Well, so far, how many of you have
identified with any of these types or
maybe they remind you of a friend or
family member?
Note: Be sure to look for next
week’s article, which will continue
with the other four types.
Giselle Belanger, RN, LCSW
(psychotherapist) is available for
appointments in person, by phone, or
by skype webcam. Contact info: NEW!
[email protected], Mex cell: 044
(322) 138-9552 or US cell: (312) 914-5203.
Health Matters
Body & Sol
by KRYSTAL FROST
[email protected]
Shoppers’ guide to organic foods
D
ear Reader, I ran across this report that I had saved
to share with you, I added a few comments, no doubt you
will recognize my voice here and there in the article.
The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit
organization that advocates for policies that protect global
and individual health, produces the Shoppers’ Guide to
Pesticides in Produce. It is based on the results of nearly
43,000 pesticide tests.
Organic fruits and vegetables are by definition grown
without the use of pesticides. But some find the expense
of organic foods prohibitive. (Maybe if we supported
the local organic farmers the cost would go down.)
Of the 43 different fruit and vegetable categories in
the Guide to Pesticides, the following eight foods had
the lowest pesticide load when conventionally grown.
Consequently, they are the safest conventionally grown
crops to consume: Eggplant, Banana (they just gas
them on the way to market so they ripen), Kiwi, Sweet
peas (frozen), Mango, Pineapple, Sweet corn (frozen),
Avocado.
The biggest study ever into organic food – a 4-year EU
funded project called the Quality Low Input Food (QLIF)
project – found that organic food is FAR more nutritious
than ordinary produce, and can help improve your health
and longevity. It tastes better too.
For example, this study found that:
- Organic fruit and vegetables contain up to 40% more
antioxidants
- Organic produce had higher levels of beneficial
minerals like iron and zinc
- Milk from grass grazed organic herds contained up to
90% more antioxidants.
A Question of Sustaining the Environment.
Aside from the fact that organic food contains higher
levels of vital nutrients organic foods are also lower
in other residues and compounds that are seriously
detrimental to your health, such as herbicide and pesticide
residues.
Additionally, the use of pesticides and herbicides in
conventional farming practices contaminates groundwater,
ruins the soil structure and promotes erosion. They’ve
also been linked to the (not so) mysterious “colony
collapse disorder” that threatens pollinating honeybees
29
around the world. With that in mind, buying or growing
as much organic food as possible is not only best for your
health, but for the health of the entire planet.
That said, however, certain fruits and vegetables are
subjected to far heavier pesticide use than others. And
with food prices rising, many are looking for ways to
buy the healthiest foods possible at the lowest cost. One
such way would be to focus on purchasing certain organic
items, while “settling” for others that are conventionallygrown. Of the 43 different fruit and vegetable categories tested,
these 16 fruits and vegetables and food products had the
highest pesticide load, making them the most important
to buy or grow organic: Peaches, Apples, Sweet bell
peppers, Celery, Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries,
Lettuce, Grapes (imported), Pears, Spinach, Potatoes, All
leafy Greens, Meat products (free range animals), Milk
products (grass grazed), Eggs (free range hens).
Please note non-organic meats have far higher
concentrations of pesticides than all of the fruits and
vegetables, also the risk of contamination by the E. coli
bacteria, which is not present in grass grazed beef. This
high concentration of pesticides is due to the feed being
riddled with hormones and additives. The fed corn is
riddled with pesticides and preservatives to create a
cocktail of poison. The stock is usually knee deep in their
own mess (have you ever seen or smelled a feed lot?) for
which they have to be inoculated and sprayed with antibacterial formulas – which are then being ingested and
inhaled by the animal.
Locally-grown organics are your absolute best bet, but
bear in mind that many times buying locally-grown food
is your best choice even if it’s grown conventionally, as
the environmental impact of shipping organic produce
across the globe can cancel out many its benefits.
Also..the preservatives in packaging is highly toxic
and usually not mentioned . All Imported frozen,
boxed or bagged food items and grains organic or not
are subject to extremely toxic pesticide gassings at the
Mexican border.
Organic foods are also lower in other residues and
compounds. Organic standards are also questionable
in many parts of the world including Mexico and the
U.S. Equally, organic certification means nothing if
not verified as it has turned into a huge business.
But that’s fuel for another article… In the meantime Read labels,
Avoid imports,
Buy local.
Krystal Frost is a long time resident of Puerto Vallarta. Graduate of
University of Guadalajara, and specialized in cosmetic acupuncture
at Bastyr University in Washington State. She is the owner of Body
& Sol for over 10 years where she practices traditional Chinese
medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, meditation and
nutritional counseling. She has created healing programs for
individuals, retreats and spas. Questions and comments may be
directed to [email protected]
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
30
Calendar
Solution to crossword on page 35
Solution to Sudoku on page 35
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
Fish Tales
Mixed up season, warm water,
Marlin, Sailfish, and Dorado!
Written by STAN GABRUK
of Master Baiter´s Sportfishing and Tackle
W
ow, if you think you have a clue
about what the fishing is going to be
like today, tomorrow or next week,
your a crystal ball is better than mine!
Last week I though the fishing had
finally turned into winter conditions,
yet here we are with Sailfish off El
Moro and the Marieta Islands, Sailfish!
They never left! Water temperatures
are still running in the mid 70’s, with
plenty of bait the mixed summer and
winter species living and eating in
the same area are likely to hang for a
while. Strange, yes... But if you’re out
there fishing in this mixed up season,
you’re catching fish you shouldn’t be
seeing!
An example of this is the Rooster
fish, not unusual for this time of the
year, but they are very large, they’re
in charge and you can boat one at will
in the 40 to 60-lb range. Many have
been boated in the ranges above 60
lbs. By the time you read this things
can change so check things before
heading out. Now this is around the
Marieta Islands and El Moro. Which
is best ? Who knows, they’re close
enough to each other to check this out
yourself, that is if you have a boat and
crew who will use fuel and not just sit
in one place. While there, you’ll also
find Pompano to 35 lbs., Bonito, Skip
Jack Tuna in the 30-lb range, Snappers
to 35 lbs., Jack Crevalle everywhere
in varying sizes, with 25 lbs. being the
smallest right now. Plenty of action for
sure and an 8-hour day at the Islands
is well worth breaking the piggy bank!
About 10 miles off the Marietas
and El Moro Islands, there are Striped
Marlin and Sailfish stretching out to
Corbeteña and the point off Punta
Mita. It’s amazing, it’s unusual and it’s
time to take advantage of these unusual
conditions to the fullest. Those visiting
the area will be glad to find action at
affordable prices on super pangas. Call
us we’ll fix you up.
Corbeteña is once again alive with
action for those with the courage to
take a chance and catch nothing. Which
is almost impossible, but your fallback
position is always the Marietas. So your
worst case scenario may have to be a
Striped Marlin or a Sailfish in the 70 to
85-lb range, not small for Sailfish. The
Striped Marlin are still off The Rock as
well, but Yellowfin Tuna are running
in the same areas and a YF tuna in the
60 to 80-lb range is getting the local
boat owners on the water, maybe you
should be also! Add to the list Cubera
Snappers in the 60-lb range, Dorado
to 35 lbs., though mostly in the 25-lb
range for now. Amber Jacks, Rainbow
runners and the occasional Wahoo
round out the package. So get your butt
out there before things get ¨winterish¨!
El Banco and the area to the west,
yes, I said west, is alive with all sorts
of Yellowfin Tuna action with 60-lb YF
Tuna burning your arms out so pace
yourself. Catch them at will, but you’ll
need to plan for a 12-hour day. Seems
like this time of the year not many
want to hit The Rock, not because of
the fishing, but because they don’t
want a 12-hour straight fishing trip.
Not recommended for those prone to
sea sickness, swells are rolling and the
chop in the afternoon is guaranteed sea
SATURDAY 16
31
sick city for the squeamish. Those with
normal sea legs will be fine, sensitive
types: find a patch! Striped Marlin in
towards shore a little. Much the same
players as Corbeteña (The Rock), so if
you’re heading out to the Tres Marias
Islands, you’ll find Tuna before the
islands for the less adventurous.
The bay is still full of Jack Crevalle,
Snappers, Bonito, Skip Jack Tuna and
Rooster fish off the Nuevo Vallarta
shoreline. So if you have a surf casting
pole, take a few poppers and diamond
jigs along. You may find 40-lb Rooster
fish giving your bait ¨what for¨!
With plenty of Squid, Sardines,
Krill Squid and Shrimp, you may find
it difficult to turn their heads, so be
patient, be equipped and have plenty
of bait. Those who scrimp on bait find
they go home early when they could
have kept reeling… With March here,
we won’t be seeing water temperatures
dip much lower, but then again who
knows? If it goes the way I am thinking,
we’ll have Dorado and Sailfish from
this point forward. So keep up with the
latest reports and don’t be afraid to fire
me an email about what the up to the
minute conditions and species are. As
far as the bite, mid-morning around
7 to 8 is a good time to arrive at your
selected spots, amigo…
Remember: we are Official Agents
for Mike’s Fishing Parties and right
now you can book with us 8 hours
on a group boat for $170. USD per
person. Lunch and sodas included,
BYOB or Tequila! Contact Gloria at
the shop, and no, we are not married!
Until next time, don’t forget to kiss
your fish and remember that at Master
Baiter’s Sportfishing & Tackle “We
Won’t Jerk You Around”!
FRIDAY 22
Master Baiter’s has changed
locations in Marina Vallarta and
are now near Victors Café Tecuba.
Look for me at the least traveled end
of Marina Vallarta and I will be there
in my new place! Everyone coming
by to see my new location will get a
CITY or JUNGLE TOUR at our
cost ($100mn)! So I expect to see
you all at my shop soon! Master
Baiter’s is still the only real fishing
company in Marina Vallarta with its
own exclusive boats that are reliable
and fast, with English-speaking, fishcatching professionals! Questions on
any subject? Feel free to ask at my
email: [email protected].
mx Web page: www.MasterBaiters.
com.mx or call me directly locally at:
(044) 322 779-7571 or if roaming:
011 521 322 779-7571 (this is my
cell phone directly until the shop
phone is working). You can come be a
¨Fan¨ on Facebook here: http://www.
facebook.com/pages/Master-BaitersSportfishing-Tackle/88817121325
Facebook Fans get special perks you
won’t find in my reports.
The trade name Master Baiter’s ®
Sportfishing and Tackle is protected
under trade mark law and is the sole
property of Stan Gabruk.
32
Gil Gevins’ Page
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!
by GIL GEVINS
www.gilgevins.com
P
rolonged breathing of propane
fumes is deleterious to one’s mental
dependability. I can prove this. But I
am not, as my wife contends, proof
of this.
Our old beach house, before it was
flattened by that pesky thirty-eight
foot wave, was located between the
Sheraton and Buenaventura Hotels.
Sheltered by a palm and mango
grove on three sides and the ocean
on the fourth, it still felt blissfully
isolated.
This
feeling
of
isolation
was further enhanced by the
government’s refusal to recognize
our existence. Our little dirt road
had no name. There was no address.
Garbage pickup? Fuhgettaboutit!
Mail delivery? Are you kidding me!
And what about the ubiquitous gas
trucks, which pass your house every
day with their annoying shouts of
“Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas!”? Nope, they
didn’t believe we existed, either.
The mail problem was quickly
solved with the acquisition of a PO
box.
The garbage was more complicated.
Every Sunday, my wife and I would
play cards at the beach. If I lost, I had
to throw out the garbage. If she lost, I
had to throw out the garbage.
Despite the patent unfairness of this
arrangement, I entered into my new
role as Midnight Garbage Rambler
fully focused and overflowing with
enthusiasm. Every Monday night,
disguised as a Toronto Blue Jays
fan, I would load the car with trash,
locate a likely dumpster and illicitly
toss our week’s worth of refuse.*
*(Before admitting to the above
I consulted my attorney, Harvey
Garcia Mendoza, who advised me
that the statute of limitations for
the crime of Dumping Garbage in
its Proper Receptacle had safely
expired.)
That left, basic service-wise, the
onus of filling the propane tank.
Even empty, the tank was painfully
heavy. To refill it, we had to load it
into the car and drive it forty minutes
out of town to the stinky propane
depository.
When my wife had had enough
and refused to lift one more tank, I
panicked. Running madly out onto
the highway, I flagged down a gas
truck and gave the driver directions
to our house. He said he’d be there
within the hour.
Three weeks later, the flatbed
rattletrap finally clanked and rattled
its way into our driveway. Chained
(more or less) together on the rotting
hulk’s bed were twenty propane
tanks, each one capable of taking out
a city block.
When the driver (Javier) and his
assistant (Nico) showed no signs
of disembarking from their truck, I
approached the driver’s side window
and said, “Buenas tardes.”
“Buenas tardes,” Javier said. “It
took us a month to find your house.”
“I know. We’ve been taking cold
showers for…”
SATURDAY 16
“I never even had a chance to stop
for lunch.”
“You haven’t had lunch for a
month?” I said.
“Do you have a dog?” Nico asked.
“No, do you like dogs?”
“I hate them. I won’t get out of the
truck until you swear you don’t…”
“Quiet, you castrated ox!” Javier
told his assistant. “We’re hungry and
thirsty,” he continued.
“That’s right,” Nico, who might
have been several railings short of
a balcony, said, “we’re hungry and
thirsty.”
It was then I realized that I was
involved in a delicate negotiation,
the first object of which was to get
one of these rocket scientists out of
their truck. “Okay,” I said, “maybe
you should eat and drink something
before changing my tank. We’ve
been waiting a month; what’s another
hour or two.”
“How about a couple of tortas and
a few beers?” Javier said.
“You want me to give you two
sandwiches and two beers?” I
demanded in disbelief.
“That would be nice,” Javier said,
as if the idea had been mine all along.
“I’ll be right back.”
In the kitchen, Lucy was floating
on a steamy cloud of euphoria. “Hot
water again! I can’t believe it.”
“Speaking of disbelief,” I told my
wife, “the two gas guys? Apparently,
they won’t get out of their truck until
we give them a beer and a torta,
each.”
“Fine,” Lucy said, going to the
fridge.
“Maybe we’re setting a bad
precedent,” I said.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, bribing someone to do a
job they’re already being paid for - is
that a good idea?”
“You don’t want to bribe people to
do their jobs?” she asked.
“Not really.”
“Okay, then I’ll bribe them.”
When I returned ten minutes later,
Javier and Nico were still sitting
in the truck, though at least they’d
turned the engine off. I handed the
tray Lucy had prepared in through
FRIDAY 22
the driver’s window, and Javier
promptly drained both bottles of
beer.
“Hey, what about me?” Nico
demanded.
“You’re working,” Javier reminded
him, “you have to stay sober. What if
you dropped one of those tanks on
your toes?”
“What about you?”
“I don’t need to stay sober,” Javier
explained, “I’m just the driver.”
“I guess you’re right,” Nico sighed.
“Give me my torta, then.”
“After you change the tank,”
Javier said, chomping on his own
sandwich.
Nico leapt from the truck and
began to free-up a tank. Once he had
the insanely heavy cylinder over his
shoulder I led him to the utility room.
Then, while he was disconnecting
our empty tank with a huge wrench,
he said, “Do you live here?”
That, I thought, is an odd question.
“Do you mean, do I live here, in this
utility room?”
“No,” Niko said, shaking his head
with disgust, “I mean, do you live in
this house?”
“Oh. No, we just come here once a
month to get the gas tank filled.”
Nico froze, holding aloft the
massive monkey wrench as if it were
a lantern lighting his way through
the dark caverns of his collective
unconsciousness. “You don’t live
here?” he asked in amazement.
By the time we returned to the
truck, Javier was asleep.
“Hey,” Nico shouted, “you ate half
my torta!”
Javier yawned, looked at me and
said, “These kids today, they have no
idea how good they have it.”
Gil Gevins is the author of four
hilarious books, including his
latest and greatest, SLIME AND
PUNISHMENT. Signed copies of
Gil’s books are available at LUCY’S
CUCU CABAÑA, located at 295
Basilio Badillo. Or, as E-Books, on
AMAZON KINDLE. If you want to
laugh yourself silly, pick one up today!
Real Estate
33
by: HARRIET MURRAY
AMPI FLEX MLS* statistics
Homes and Condos
January and February, 2013
HOMES
JANUARY
The beginning of the year found us with an inventory of 429
homes. The median list price was $375,000. USD. Absorption
was at 97.13 months or 8.09 years. The sold to original list price
was at 94%.
Days on the Market was 277.8 or 9.26 months. Price volume was
at $377,049,000. USD with new listings at 17,740,000. USD.
FEBRUARY
A month later we had an active inventory of 424 homes with an
average sales price of 374, 000. USD.
Absorption went up after dipping to as low as 95 months to end
at 101.76 months or 8.48 years. Ratio of sold to original list price
remained at 94%.
Days on the Market remained the same or under 10 months.
Active sales inventory was at $364,400,000. USD with new listing
inventory at 13,670,000. USD.
CONDOMINUMS
JANUARY
Condo inventory the beginning of the year was 596 units with an
average listed price of $299,000. USD.
Absorption was at 34.56 months or 2.8 years. Sold to original
listed price percentage was 85.5%.
SATURDAY 16
Days on the Market ran 289.9 or 9.6 months. Price volume was
$243,620,000. USD with $25,950,000. USD inventory added
during the month.
FEBRUARY
Inventory began at 637 units with an average sales price of
$295,000. USD.
Absorption rose to 37.66 months or 3.13 years. Sold to original
list price was at 80.3%.
Days on the Market rose to 432.3 days or 1.2 years.
Price volume was at $254,600,000. USD with new inventory
added of $17, 830,000. USD.
* Flexmls.com Information is deemed to be reliable but is not
guaranteed.
This article is based upon current practices. I recommend that
each potential buyer or seller of real estate conduct his own due
diligence and review.
Harriet Murray can be reached at [email protected]
FRIDAY 22
34
Hi-Tech
Tablets, Laptops and Desktops. Oh, My!…
W
ell here it is, another week
has gone by and my never-ending
struggle to find a topic for the
column surfaces. But then, out of
the blue, a client called me asking
about what she should buy for her
next “computer” – a laptop, desktop
or tablet. Bang! I had my topic for
this week.
Netbooks were all the rage a few
years ago. Small, easily portable,
they were an excellent alternative
to staying “connected” without
lugging a full sized laptop around.
First let’s review what Netbooks
were.
Netbooks kind of looked like the
little brother of laptops and had
anywhere from a 5” to 10” screen.
They tended to have a smaller
keyboard than you’re used to and
did not have a CD/DVD built-in.
So people were often surprised they
couldn’t put a DVD in the netbook
the bought.
Another surprise people found
(usually the hard way) was that
netbooks were basically just for
browsing the internet and doing
email. To do any real “work” on
them was a frustrating exercise at
best.
I even had a client come to PV
with a new Netbook he brought
down from the US. Was a very nice
Sony netbook and he asked about
installing Photoshop on his new
little purchase. He wanted to work
on digital photos and maybe video.
Well, my response was, “you can’t”
on this type of computer. Well,
didn’t I just get the Bambi eyes
blinking at me… saying “what do
you mean?”
I explained that he couldn’t
successfully run a heavy program
like Photoshop on hardware like
this. All this poor guy knew was
that he bought a $400 “great travel
laptop”. No one on the selling side
at Best Buy bothered to ask what
kind of work he intended to do with
this new purchase.
Well, fast forward to 2013 and
SATURDAY 16
netbooks are all but gone from
the tech world (and store shelves).
They proved to be a frustration for
scores of people trying to get some
actual work done on them. They
will remain a mere blip on the tech
evolutionary chain.
2012 signaled an explosion of
tablets, from the King Kong of
tablets -Apple iPad- to various
incarnations of the Android tablet.
Samsung seems to be the strong
second largest producer of tablets.
But like their distant relative, the
netbook, tablets are light-weight,
internet/email devices. Like the
netbook, don’t buy a tablet and
expect to do any heavy work on it.
Likewise, a tablet will not run the
same programs that a laptop can.
Sure there are tablet “versions” for
many popular programs, originally
intended for full laptops, but they
usually are very stripped down
versions.
Tablets are definitely a great
step forward in the computer
evolutionary scale, but be aware
of what you’re actually buying.
A Tablet will NOT replace the
desktop computer or full laptop for
doing actual work. A tablet should
be considered a light-weight travel
to keep in contact device.
Most people that have a tablet
also have a main “work” computer
to carry out the heavier tasks, like
editing photos, writing documents,
etc. I personally don’t like to write
more than a line or two on a tablet.
FRIDAY 22
There are keyboard attachments to
the various tablets out there - but
then you’re almost building your
tablet into a laptop.
Building the various “add-ons”
to a tablet can become pricey
very quickly as well. (More than
a decent laptop in most cases). So
better really sit down and decide
what you want to get out of a tablet
and decide from there.
Best to talk with friends and see
what tablet they have, hear the pros
and cons they’ve experienced, and
even ask to borrow theirs for a few
minutes to see if a tablet is right for
you.
I do have to say though... the
desktop computer industry has
a lot to lose as the technology
brings us closer to ultra-portable
ultra-connectivity and
cloudcomputing… time will tell.
That’s all my time for now. See
you again next week... until then,
Remember: only safe Internet!
Ron can be found at CANMEX
Computers. Sales, Repairs, Networking,
Wi-Fi, Hardware upgrades, Graphic
Design, Data Recovery, This doctor
makes housecalls! www.RonnieBravo.
com, Cellular 044-322-157-0688 or
just email to [email protected]
Brain Teasers
35
The New York Times Tuesday Crossword Puzzle
Solution to Crossword on Page 30
SUDOKU!
Sudoku is a logic-based placement puzzle.
The aim of the puzzle is to enter a numerical digit from 1 through 9 in each
row, column and group of squares enclosed by the bold lines (also called a
box). Each box must contain each number only once, starting with various
digits given in some cells (the “givens”). Each row, column, and region must
contain only one instance of each numeral.
Completing the puzzle requires patience.
It is recommended as therapy because some studies have suggested they
might improve memory, attention and problem solving while staving off
mental decline and perhaps reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Solution to Sudoku on Page 30
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22
SATURDAY 16
FRIDAY 22

230 - pvmcitypaper

Transcription

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