Grand Opening of Los Muertos Pier!!

After many years and much angst the Los Muertos Pier opened this past January 4th, 2013 to much fanfare and celebration.  I was fortunate enough to see the whole thing from the comfort of Cuates y Cuentes the restaurant located right at the corner of the new pier.  I had been watching all the time the progress that was and was not being made on the pier that seemed to take forever.  As usual the funds to start the project were there and then 1/2 way through the funds ran out.  Luckily the State of Jalisco came to the rescue with the funds need to finish the project and so it finally came to be!
What a fantastic addition to the area and just another attraction not only for Puerto Vallarta, but for the Los Muertos Beach area!  With its modern architecture and sloping winding walkway to the grand sail-like structure in the center, it is quite a display.  It reminding me of such grand projects as the Opera House in Sidney, Australia or the Denver International Airport.  The added feature on this structure is the lighting.  With many different combinations of colored lights that allow the "sail" and the pier itself to alternate colors certainly makes it unique at night.  The have even created a spectrum that depicts the Mexican flag.
As usual the naysayers said it was not appropriate for Puerto Vallarta and the design was all wrong, but once they see it lit up at night........What can they say??
The evening of the Grand Opening Celebration was started with some Jazz entertainment (Beverely and Willow)  and then skydivers came in.  Turns out of the skydivers was the Director of Tourism for Puerto Vallarta!  The usual speeches by the government officials was followed by a 15 fireworks show right on the beach.  Then we had more entertainment by Xiutla Ballet, while the dignitaries enjoyed hors d'ouvres and cocktails on the newly inaugurated pier.   After their show the Jazz music resumed with a Latin Jazz band and the pier was opened to the public to explore.
While there were hundreds of people around to enjoy the festivities, I waited a bit to go explore it myself.  But after a while I ventured out and enjoyed the new structure and the views back to Los Muertos Beach.  Just Fantastic!
I am sure this new addition to the area will become a new visitors "Must See". It will certainly bring lots of people to that area helping the local businesses and may even increase real estate values.  Now is the time to buy as prices will probably never be this low again!

Princesses of Violin from Budapest at Teatro Vallarta

Things have a been a little busy the past few months, but I need to get back into my Blog and post some new things going on around here!!

Back at the end of November I was back at Teatro Vallarta for a show, Princesses of the Violin.   These three talented women from Budapest, Hungary certainly put on a great show!   How we were able to book this internationally renowned group at this small theater in Puerto Vallarta shows that we are a world class city.  Touring groups around Mexico want to include Puerto Vallarta and we have a great theater to do so!
Consisting of three remarkably attractive and talented young ladies, this violin trio perform in a crossover style that blends classical music with contemporary modern elements.  They all have long performance and educational histories and in Hungary almost everyone recognizes the group.  They have appeared in several TV shows and become instant sensations not only in Hungary but all over Europe.  And beginning in 2010 they made their first appearance and tour in the United States.
With simple changing lighting and their white show costumes the ladies were able to put on a great variety of music from the classical styles of Johann Strauss, Rossini, and Brahms to Mozart and Bach.  Their electronic violins sounded as well as any normal woodwind instrument.  The 2nd act concluded with vibrant toe tapping tunes with a little Mexican flare.
The almost sold out crowd was very enthusiastic and the ladies certainly did not disappoint   Another great show at Teatro Vallarta!

Sunday Morning Walk, Run, Bike Update #3

Another Sunday and another change to the Sunday morning walk, bike, run, and skate Recreactiva event!  Today we were back on Medina Ascencio which is the main road leading from Centro and this time we have a even longer area to bike. It has been extended all the way to the Krystal Hotel about 1/2 km further than before.  This makes the one way route about 3 km, so 6 km round trip.  This is much nicer as now you can veer off and pick up the path along the Pittial River and go up river all the way along the dirt then nicely  pathways inside Fluvial and join up at Francisco Villa.
I am excited about this new route and hope that it stays that way for the duration.  Remember the street closure begins at 8am and lasts until 1pm only on Sunday mornings.   Get out and use it, so that we can show our support and it will become a permanent addition to Puerto Vallarta!

Les Violons du Roy Concert

Last night was another wonderful night at Teatro Vallarta with the presentation of the Canadian group Les Violons du Roy.   With a small group of strings consisting of 9 violins, 3 violas, 3 cellos, 1 bass and a harpsichord thrown in for good measure, the almost completely sold out event was not to be missed!   As part of the May Cultural Festival held here in Puerto Vallarta this must have been the highlight of the month long celebration that has sponsored all types of cultural events all around Puerto Vallarta.
The first half of the concert was dedicated to the classics like Vivaldi's Four Seasons Symphony with each movement presented by a separate violinist solo.  The second half of the concert was a more modern piece by Piazzolia also entitled the 'Four Seasons'.   Excellent performance by all and it was amazing to watch such a small group pull off what normally one hears from an entire symphony.  The natural non-amplified sound carried throughout the theater just perfectly. The conductor Eric Paetkau did an excellent job of leading the group and keeping everyone on tempo.
The group has been touring Mexico and were headed to Mexico City the next day.   Great Job Puerto Vallarta Cultural Festival organizers!!

Sunday Morning Bike/Walk/Run Update #2

Seems that the Sunday morning closing of Medina Ascencio for the Recreactiva Events has been changed!  Not sure why.....maybe too much police required to make it work, not enough interest to make it worthwhile, political, etc.?  Who knows but do not despair, it is not gone!  They have simply shortened it substantially and is now located on Francisco Villa from Libremiento to the Stadium those short 5 blocks.  Hope is that it will continue to extend all the way to Pitillal, but who knows if that would happen.   It would be great if it did, because you can connect to the newly renovated path along the Pitillal River and then connect into Fluvial.....now that would be an awesome path.
So now meanwhile we have to deal with the new shortened route, but the good news is that the sidewalk renovations are 95% complete on the ocean side of the main road leading into downtown Puerto Vallarta.  This means that you can join up from the Reactiva area all the way to the Malecon and beyond.  I began riding that route and the new sidewalks on the ocean side (west) are very wide.  I believe the intention of the renovation was to create a bike path along the street edge as that 4 feet of the sidewalk is smooth concrete with ramps at each block.  The rest of the sidewalk is more cobblestone and has planters interspersed.  As long as the walkers can understand the purpose of that portion of the sidewalk you can ride quite nicely.  The ride along the Malecon allows you to go all the way to Daiquiri Dicks before things tighten up and it is not worth the fight with pedestrian traffic beyond there.   But they are finishing the renovations all the way up to Rodolfo Gomez, so maybe the wider sidewalk will work?  I will update you as I try it out!  Ride safe!

Sunday Morning Bike/Walk/Run on the Main Road in Puerto Vallarta

A little while ago, on February 12th, the City of Puerto Vallarta began to close the main road Medina Ascencio Blvd from the turn off to Centro (near the Main Sports Stadium) all the way to the entrance to Fluvial so that citizens and visitors can enjoy walking, running, jogging, or bike riding.  Today was my first day to ride the new open road area.  The traffic is re-routed along the laterals and the center is open to ride, walk, skip, jump, jog, run, sit, skate, and anything else you wish to do!  The road is closed to traffic every Sunday from 8am-1pm, and the route is 2.5km each way so a round trip is about 5km, perfect for that warm-up to run a 5km race if you are so inclined to do some day.
Modeled after the same program in Guadalajara and since last year in the Marina area, it is great to see the same thing happen in Puerto Vallarta.  Maybe one day it will be expanded and the route will be lengthened? I hope that one day bicycle lanes can be added to the roads around Puerto Vallarta as is so common in the USA, but these things always take time and the support of the community.  As the sidewalks are being replaced around the area, I see that small ramps are being installed not only for bicyclists, but for the handicapped as well.
I am sure part of that will be dependent on the number of people using the route, so get out there and enjoy it!!!

 

Puerto Vallarta Chamber Orchestra Concert

On Monday evening I decided to attend the annual Holiday Concert at the American School put on by the Puerto Vallarta Chamber Orchestra and Chorale.   Conducted by Donald Bieghler who many years of experience in conducting and teach music made the group come together for these events.  I have been looking for my classical symphonic 'fix' for a while now and took the opportunity to experience this group of volunteer musicians who perform only a couple of times per year in the area.   Made up of older full time and part time mostly expats they are from all walks of life but I think their common interest in playing classical music makes the group of about 30 musicians come together for these concerts at only 100 pesos per person.
The music ranged from classical holiday pieces by Bach to the usual classic American holiday songs such as "Deck the Halls", "O Holy Night", and "White Christmas".  The Chorale joined in a various songs and there were even a couple solos sung by their members.   A special treat was a medley of German Christmas songs sung by Kathy Overly and accompanied by a pair of recorders.
The show was entertaining mostly played by very talented musicians.  Sometimes the horn section was a little weak, but was quickly covered up by the rest of the group.   I would have loved to hear more classical music, but I understand that it was a holiday concert and all bases need to be covered.   I look forward to hearing them again in the Spring Concert!

The New Malecon in PV & Halloween

Last night was Halloween here in Puerto Vallarta and I have enjoyed the craziness that it provides especially this year with the new boardwalk almost completed!   I am impressed with the work that was done and I think it is going to be a great place to gather in the evenings and weekends for all of the citizens and tourists in Puerto Vallarta.   With a nice smooth street level walkway, access points to the beach, and plenty of seating around planters; it is a fantastic improvement on the old one.   The famous sculptures are on their way back in their new homes of elevated platforms and lighting.
Like most projects of this sort, it was delayed in completion, but I see it coming together now in the coming weeks and it will the main attraction for the city for many many years to come!  
With its first Halloween under its belt, the Malecon provided just the right atmosphere and design that is going to make it a great gathering place for young and old.   Halloween is celebrated here in PV I think because the Americans brought it with them and they seemed to be the only ones who bring candy to hand out to the thousands of children dressed in their costumes.   The most popular ones this year seem to be brides, pumpkins, and skeletons as it has been in the many years past.

We usually enjoy the vantage point from a restaurant (The Cheeky Monkey) and are able to attract quite the crowd down below begging for our candy.    We make an attempt to toss it around, so everyone get's their share!  Happy Halloween PV!

Battered Women Fundraiser

The Rocky Horror Picture Show became the focal point of a fundraiser last night by the PV Battered Womens Shelter.  It had been many many years since I religiously went to the 12 midnight showing in Denver at the Odgen Theater.  So when my friend told about the showing for 2 nights only, I had to jump on board.  The event was held at the Palms nightclub where so many shows are taking place now and the 100 pesos donation went to the charity.  They are close to building their own facility as none exists here in Puerto Vallarta and I was amazed at the statistics of how many women are victims of abuse in Mexico!
With raffles, door prizes, and of course the infamous movie it was a fun night.  I saw there were quite a few of the 'die hard' Rocky Horror Picture Show fans with all the accutrement including the toast, spray bottles, newspapers, confetti, rice, etc.  that I so fondly remember.   The lack of attendance at the event was the only downside and maybe they will have a better crowd tonite at the 1000pm showing?   I hope so as it is a worthwhile cause and a lot of fun to boot!

Old Dirty Bitches Show

Now renamed and revitalized, The Originals show that was at Blue Chairs for so many years has returned back to Puerto Vallarta in a new location a The Palms/Viva Show Bar!  Located at 508 Olas Altas next door to Sama Martini Lounge, the new location provides a large area to handle large audiences.    I am so pleased that the "ladies" have decided to keep PV in their hearts and find a location to perform their amazing shows.  Frank the MC, leader, and founder of the group continues to lead the ladies by being a great commentator and MC.   While there are other drag queen shows in PV, none compare to the talents and quality of Jackie, Angie, and Diva. 
The routines last night included Joan Crawford, Tina Turner, Katy Perry, Britany Spears, and an amazing Yodeling song by Diva were all well received by the small but enthusiast audience.    The show was about 1 1/4 hours long and was done very well.   Go see the new "Old Dirty Bitches" show as it is the best in PV!  They perform Wednesdays and Sundays at 8pm but don't be surprised if it 830pm before they hit the stage........remember its Mexican time.

First Show at Teatro Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta

I finally made it to the Teatro Vallarta for my first show in February.  It was the ballet Romeo & and Juliet performed by a Russian traveling troupe.  Purchasing tickets can be very easy as you have the option of purchasing them online (ticketing fee) or in person at the box office.  I decided to purchase them at the box office as I like to see exactly where the seats are and that was not possible online.  Due to a friends recommendation I decided to purchase the tickets in the 2nd tier of pricing which puts you about 1/2 way up the theater seating from the stage.  Since the theater is relatively small with only about 2000 seats you get a good view from there without breaking the bank.
Arrived the night of the performance via cab, but noticed that they do have valet parking available and the lobby has a full bar/snack shop for you purchase items which you CAN bring into the theater.  As a matter of fact the seats have cup holders....very convenient. 
The unique feature of this theater is that entrance is only from the bottom, so if you have some who is handicapped there is quite a climb to your seats from down below....so be aware.  The seats were comfortable and movie theater quality with each step up a new row, so that big person in front of you is never an issue by blocking your view.  The stage was of nice size, but certainly not as large as I am accustomed to in the theaters in the US.  Emergency exits are only at the bottom of the stage and at the top of the last row.
The show was almost sold out, so it was nice to see that large of a crowd, but at least 75% were Gringos.  So it was nice to see the support from the expat and "snow bunnies" crowd.  The show was excellent and with a 15 minute intermission it was about 2 hours total.
A nice experience in a nice theater made we want to go home and see what else they might have coming up.  A great symphony performance will probably be my next choice, however they have their own weekly inhouse show "Fandango" which is features a historical dance performance of Mexico. I have heard it is very good.  For tickets and more information:  http://www.teatrovallarta.com/