Out and About in Puerto Vallarta
 Twila Crawford - PVNN
March 11, 2010
| | The Huichol Art Festival is at Plaza Caracol until March 21. | |
Professional, sophisticated theater finally has arrived in Puerto Vallarta! Teatro Vallarta's opening one-hour show, Fandango, is spectacular. The fast-paced musical production combines beautiful colors, action, light effects, gorgeous costumes, dance and song.
Sound, lighting and special effects are excellent. Former New Zealand television director Bruce MacDonald and I were fascinated by the technology throughout the auditorium. The use of beautiful photography and colorful graphics behind the musicians and dancers adds zest and liveliness. I loved a machete number with clashing steel and flying sparks. You haven't heard Mariachis until you hear the ones in the show!
Costumes are stunning in design and colors. And, oh, what I call the large puppets... are such fun. I am sure that is part of plastic arts by Alejandro Colunga, who has an art gallery at the theater. His work is evident in the production. A big thank you to director Manuel Diaz Preciado.
More than 1,000 persons ... a Mexican audience ... enjoyed cocktails and hors'doeuvres afterwards on the plaza in front of the theater. I have never seen so many beautiful dresses and gowns! A truly glamorous evening.
Regular shows and functions will be at 8:30 pm, Tuesday through Saturday, at 185 Uruguay, near the Ley supermarket. For more information, email contacto(at)teatrovallarta.com The venue will feature concerts, plays, musicals, choirs, ballet and opera.
Puerto Vallarta's Municipal Tourism Department, directed by Jose Luis Diaz Borioli, is undertaking facade improvements in town, through a federal and state investment of up to $25 million pesos. This project also includes regulation of public transportation, sale of alcohol in permitted establishments, and standardized bar and nightclub schedules.
According to the director, the marketing of Puerto Vallarta downtown "has to be reinvented to cope with the increasingly popular destinations in neighboring Nayarit state," such as Bucerías and La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. He said he also will work to further progress in expanding the new Rio Pitillal park, the city's entrance avenue, and infrastructure around the new convention center. The director has chaired the Hotel and Motel Association.
Federal police have arrested in Puerto Vallarta the leader of the Los Valencia cartel methamphetamine drug operation, Jose Antonio Escareno, known as "El Pelon." The Michoacan native is on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency's most-wanted list, and previously has served time in the U.S.
Author Diana Kennedy's book in English about the foods of Oaxaca will be available in September. Her book in Spanish is available. She shared beautiful photographs of food and scenery around Oaxaca at a gathering at the Rose-Thierry Boutique, Leona Vicario and Guadalupe Sanchez. Diana Kennedy drives "a little truck" on the back roads of Oaxaca to learn of plants, food and recipes, talking to persons of the area. Afterwards, owner and chef Thierry Blouet of Cafe des Artistes prepared a 6-course meal based on foods from Oaxaca.
The Oscars presentations reminded me that Marilyn Rocky, who visits here during the winter with her husband, Ken, was producer of the 2001 Academy Award-nominated documentary about street children in Bucharest, Romania, "Children Underground." Marilyn is a retired international development specialist. Horror films and Roger Corman, who sometimes films here, were recognized at the Academy Awards.
Academic Dan Grippo is presenting a 3-week lecture series on The Cross and The Sword: Church - State Conflicts in Mexico, on Fridays during March, 10:30 am - noon, at the International Friendship Club. Tickets are available at the door.
Consuelo, Lucy Muniz's (Cucu Cabana, 295 Basilio Badillo) mother, celebrated her 89th birthday at Cafe Bohemio on Rodolfo Gomez. Consuelo put down her cane... and danced to music as restaurant patrons clapped and whistled. Consuelo loves to dance... and she is mighty lively, and charming, too. The next evening, a small group enjoyed Lucy's scrumptious cooking, again celebrating Consuleo's birthday at author Gil Gevins and Lucy's Mexican-decorated home.
El Sofa Cafe has moved to a big, comfortable spot at V. Carranza 306 (223-8446). The delicious sandwiches, salads, desserts and drinks are served among laptops, magazines and books. I told gracious Amaranta that the cafe reminds me of the `60's... history to her, of course.
Elsa Guadarrama of Teatro Vallarta was so helpful to me this past week. Thank you.
Artist Judith Ewing Morlan has an exhibition of new paintings at Galeria Uno, Morelos 561.
The monthly U.S. Consular Agency Breakfast will be at 9:00 am, Friday, March 19, at No Name Bar & Grill in Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta. For this month's community service, please bring items for the Peace charity in Punta Mita. For more information, please contact U.S. Consular Agent Kelly Trainor at consularagentpvr(at)prodigy.net.mx.
Toody Walton and Paco Pilon are in Argentina harvesting grapes at their vineyard. The grapes ripened early this year.
Mary Coomey, who spent 6 weeks or so visiting Sol and Chris of Cafe Bohemio, has returned to San Francisco. We also enjoyed meeting charming Gabriel Ferron, who returned to Canada for a big Olympic party.
The Huichol Art Festival is at Plaza Caracol until March 21. This is a time when we can make a difference.
 An award-winning journalist, Twila Crawford lives in Puerto Vallarta, where, in addition to contributing articles to BanderasNews, the PV Mirror and other local publications, she writes Out and About in Puerto Vallarta, an informative column that offers inside information about who, what, why, where and when it's happening around Banderas Bay.
Click HERE to read more articles by Twila Crawford. |
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