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.

High Season in Full Swing... Despite Rains

The unseasonably cold and rainy weather that struck Puerto Vallarta over the Winter holidays didn't dampen the local economy as much as was predicted. For years, the success of Vallarta's "High Season" has been based on the number of visitors received during the Christmas vacation period, when hotel occupancy is typically at 100%. This year's occupation rate percentages reached 95% despite the stormy weather - but the absence of national visitors was distinctly noted. While no official figures have been released, there was a significant reduction in the number of domestic visitors who generally take advantage of the holidays to spend time on Banderas Bay beaches - but the estimated 10,000 locals and international tourists who 'braved the elements' to attend the New Year's Eve party on the Malecón are now enjoying the sunshine and warmth that returned to Vallarta yesterday. According to weather reports, the winter rains were caused by the collision of warm winds and a cold front.

Autonomous University of Nayarit Students Study Alcohol Consumption

A study begun in Mexico with the collaboration of university students analyzed the effect of weekend alcohol consumption on the lipids comprising cell membrane and its genetic material, i.e. DNA. Until now, the damage to the packaging of nuclear material in the early stages of alcohol abuse has never been documented, perhaps because most of the studies are done at later stages with people who have been consuming alcohol in an addictive way for many years. The harmful consumption of alcoholic beverages is a global problem and constitutes a significant health, social and economic problem. According to World Health Organization data, alcohol is responsible for 2.5 million deaths a year worldwide and youngsters between the ages of 19 and 25 account for 320,000 of them; it causes harm that goes beyond the drinker's physical and mental health. The effects of alcohol abuse have been mostly studied in people who have been consuming alcohol for a long time and who therefore display symptoms ranging from liver damage to various types of cancer, depression and disorders of the nervous system. That is why this study is pioneering because it deals with the effect of alcohol on young, healthy people. The results have been published in the journal Alcohol. Read more at news-medicine.net

Local Author Releases New Book: 'Tropical Plant Walks of Puerto Vallarta'

The Vallarta Botanical Gardens recently announced the release of a brand-new book, "Tropical Plant Walks of Puerto Vallarta" by local author Sandra Cesca. This 120-page color-coded guide to more than 190 local plants, flowers, and trees will especially benefit the Gardens’ members and visitors because it contains color photos and descriptions of the Garden’s walking tour as well as some of the many projects the Gardens have undertaken. Sandra conducts several walking tours in Puerto Vallarta, including a Tropical Plant Walk through El Centro, in which she points out more than 70 examples of local tropical plants and discusses some of their history including their medicinal and ceremonial uses in Mexican folklore. Her new book is now available for purchase at the Gardens’ gift store with a retail price of $250 mn.

Nuevo Vallarta Beach Wins TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award

Once again one of the Riviera Nayarit's attributes helps it stand out as one of the vacation best destinations in the world. This time it was the beach at Nuevo Vallarta, which took fourth place in the 'Top Ten Beaches in Mexico' category of the TripAdvisor 2013 Travelers' Choice awards. Considered one of the best, the biggest, and the most modern high-end tourism developments in the country, the Fraccionamiento Turístico Náutico Residencial Nuevo Vallarta boasts one of the cleanest beaches in the country, having received the Blue Flag certification. The beach is not only clean, but its soft sand, its lengthy extension, and its brilliant blue waters — in other words, its pure beauty — make it the perfect spot to stroll along and enjoy the ocean air. Click HERE to see the entire list.

Upcoming Events in Puerto Vallarta and around Banderas Bay
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• Condos, Casas & Cocktails at Garbo's, January 6th

• Puerto Vallarta South Side Shuffle January 10th

• Festival Sayulita, January 16-18th

• 3rd Annual Taste of La Cruz, January 18th

From February 4th through December 31st, thousands of BanderasNews.com readers voted for the city’s greatest tastes in our 2013 Best of Banderas Bay Awards, the first edition of an annual poll that encourages our readers to vote for their favorite Puerto Vallarta restaurants. To ensure that the results reflect the unbiased opinions of Vallarta residents and visitors, the votes are now being counted by a team of independent judges, and the winner of each category will be named 'The Best of Banderas Bay' at an awards ceremony scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. Keep watching BanderasNews for details.