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. Here's a look at some of this week's Vallarta news headlines, a couple of community announcements, and a few upcoming local events you won't want to miss.

Hyatt Ziva Acquires Dreams Puerto Vallarta

On Tuesday, Playa Hotels & Resorts B.V., a leading owner, operator and developer of all-inclusive beach resorts, announced the conversion and re-branding of Dreams Puerto Vallarta and Dreams Cancun to Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta and Hyatt Ziva Cancun. Playa has owned both resorts since 2007. The resorts will close at the end of April 2014 and will undergo multi-million dollar upgrades and expansions before reopening in late 2014. Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta, scheduled to reopen in the fourth quarter of 2014, will include 337 guest rooms and suites, all with ocean views, a selection of a la carte restaurants and an international buffet with chef cooking stations. Additional amenities include a pool side café and grill, a complimentary children's club, and onsite spa services.

What's Happening at The Bucerias Art Walk Plaza?

The Bucerías Art Walk, one of the most unique art walks of it's kind, resumed on November 7th, and will be held from 7-9 pm every Thursday through the end of April 2014. Held at the Art Walk Plaza on Lazaro Cardenas, the town's main thoroughfare, the Bucerías Art Walk "Brings Art to the Streets," giving tourists and residents alike the opportunity to stroll under the palm trees and enjoy traditional Mexican taste treats and cocktails while discovering the un-discovered art and artists of Nayarit and Jalisco showcased at over 17 galleries. New this season, the Bucerías Mexican Gourmet Market is held every Monday from 9 am to 1 pm, filling the Plaza with Vendors from all over the Bahía de Banderas selling fresh organic produce, gourmet foods, exotic coffees, home baked desserts, cigars hand rolled to order and, as always, great art!

El Arrayán Cooking Class: Traditional Tamales

On Monday, November 18th at 10:30 am, local residents and foreign visitors can learn how to prepare one of Mexico's most traditional dishes - Tamales - in a cooking class led by Guest Chef Raul Ramirez at Vallarta's favorite Mexican Restaurant, El Arrayán. A tamal (from the Nahuatl word tamalli) is a Mexican dish consisting of a fluffy corn-based dough, which is steamed in a leaf wrapper. The wrapping is discarded before eating. Tamales can be further filled with meats, cheese, vegetables, chili peppers, or sweet ingredients according to taste and occasion, and both the filling and the dough may be seasoned. Spaces for this special 10th Anniversary Cooking Class, where you can learn how to prepare traditional Mexican tamales for just $110 USD, are limited, so call El Arrayán at (322) 222-7195 to make reservation Today!

Colors on Canvas PV Art Expo to Benefit Los Mangos

The decline of public funding for the arts and for libraries is something the Colors on Canvas PV artists - Barbara Drucker, Mary Ellis, Shirley Monestier, Pat Wagner, Bente Wilson and Susan Wiseman - care deeply about. So, from November 29th through December 1st they will be holding their 2nd annual exhibition at Biblioteca Los Mangos to support Puerto Vallarta's public library. By exhibiting and selling their art at Los Mangos library the artists hope to be able to share their talents and love of the arts while giving something back to the community. The exhibit will be open to the public on Friday, Nov. 29th from 6–9 pm, on Saturday, Nov. 30th from 2–5 pm, and on Sunday, Dec. 1st from 1– 3 pm. Come out and meet the artists, see some excellent artwork and buy your favorite painting, knowing that 20% of each and every sale will be donated to Los Mangos. Refreshments will be on sale (all proceeds to the library), and they have some surprises in store for you, too! For more information about the Colors on Canvas PV Art Expo, visit the their website. Puerto Vallarta's Public Library, Biblioteca Los Mangos, is located at Av. Francisco Villa 1001, in Colonia Versalles. To learn more about the library, call (322) 224-9966 or send an email to bibliotecalosmangos@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events in Vallarta and around Banderas Bay
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• Vallarta's South Side Shuffle Returns November 15th

• 8th 'Vallartazo Vochero' Scheduled for November 15-17

• Festival Gourmet Chef's Table Dinner at Kaiser Maximilian

• Kim Kuzma Stars at Grand Opening of STAGES' Red Room

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!