Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - There's always so much going on in Puerto Vallarta and around Banderas Bay, it can be difficult to keep up with it all. So we've put together a brief overview of some of this week's news headlines from local Spanish language publications, a few breaking news stories, and some upcoming events you won't want to miss.

Canadian Embassy Information Session

The Minister-Counsellor and Consul General of Canada to Mexico, Ms. Rita Rudaitis-Renaud, and consular officials from the Embassy, would like to invite all Canucks living in the Banderas Bay area to an information session for Canadians on Thursday, April 18, 2013, from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm in the Salon Peñasco at the Hotel Holiday Inn in Puerto Vallarta. The purpose of the session is to provide an overview of the consular services offered to Canadian citizens at the Embassy of Canada in Mexico as well as at the Consular Agency of Canada in Puerto Vallarta. Space is limited, so please send an email to Lyne.Benoit@international.gc.ca if you plan on attending this information session.

Vallarta Hosts 2013 Charro Championship Qualifier

On Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 11 am to 8 pm Arena Vallarta will host the Jalisco Coastal Zone State Championship of Charreria in which eight teams will engage in 3 competitions to determine which groups will go on to represent the region in the 2013 National Charro Championships in Tepic. Don't miss your chance to enjoy a real Mexican tradition, right here in Puerto Vallarta!

Tourist Maps to be Installed Downtown

The Municipal Tourism Department is currently working on a project that consists of placing maps in the downtown area of Puerto Vallarta. According to Tourism Director Carlos Gerard Guzman, each of these maps will encompass four square blocks, and feature all of the restaurants, shops and entertainment venues in the area. "Currently we are gathering commercial information on each of the streets to ensure that the maps are as detailed as possible, so that when tourists walk through the city's center they can choose the places they want to visit," said Gerard Guzman. According to the official, it is estimated that the maps will be installed before the end of the month. Stay tuned for more details and progress reports.

Puerto Vallarta Garden Club Announcements

The Puerto Vallarta Garden Club April meeting will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, April 18th at the Paradise Community Center. Garden Club officers will be elected and a report on the Bugambilia Festival will be presented. There are so many exciting events planned that the committee has extended the festival an additional day. And, speaking of the Bugambilia Festival... The festival's "Publicity Beautification Campaign" begins on April 20th with PV Garden Club members and volunteers meeting at Lazaro Cardenas Park in Zona Romantica at 4 pm. Participants will be divided into 3 brigades: 1. The Cleaning Brigade (bring your gloves and garbage bags) 2. The Planting Preparation Brigade (bring your gloves and gardening tools, i.e. trowels and shovels) and 3. The Planting Brigade (bring your gloves and clippers). We will work our way from Lazaro Cardenas Park to the Agustin Flores Contreras Municipal Sports Stadium. Join us as we plant more bougainvilleas throughout the city in preparation for the first Puerto Vallarta Bugambilia Festival to be held May 17-25, 2013.

Upcoming Events in Puerto Vallarta and Around the Bay
Click on titles for more information

• Becas Breakfast at Coco's Kitchen

• PV Garden Club Officer Election Meeting

• Vallarta Yacht Club's 2013 WesMex Regatta

• Expats in Vallarta Happy Hour

Don't forget to vote for your favorite Puerto Vallarta restaurants in our 2013 Best of Banderas Bay Awards, right HERE on BanderasNews.com. We'll be collecting your votes in categories ranging from 'Best Breakfast' to 'Best Margarita' through December 31st, and the Puerto Vallarta restaurant with the most votes in each category will be named 'The Best of Banderas Bay' at an awards ceremony in early 2014. Click HERE to vote NOW!