Art Opening for Sara Garcia

Galeria Flores is hosting an art opening for artist Sara Garcia Saturday, February 14 at 6:00pm. The opening is a great way to start your Valentine’s Day evening.

In addition to the works by Sara Garcia, you will be able to see hundreds of great artworks from the other artists represented by Galeria Flores: Rodolfo Morales, Ian Sanchez, Luis Castellanos Valui, Nube, and Ribot.

Galeria Flores is located in the space above Memo’s Fine Art Framing Shop, which many of you already know. We’ll see you there!

Our Lady of Guadalupe Puerto Vallarta

On December 12, the Virgen of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico and the Americas is celebrated. Twelve days of processions to honor the Virgen culminate with a morning mass. The turnout for the Dia de Guadalupe in Puerto Vallarta is always large. I was able to get some good pictures of the final processions.

More about Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta Yogic Arts Session

Anna from Davannayoga invites everyone to a yogic arts session with Duncan Wong this Wednesday from 7:00pm to 9:30pm. The cost is a very reasonable $250 pesos. If you have never been the the Davannayoga studio you should make the effort. The view from the roof terrace is amazing.

Here is a copy of the invitation that she sent me.

Dear Friends,
Imagine yourself dancing, practicing yoga and kicking your feet up a bit with a Yoga Master and a 360 degree view of the bay and the mountains soaring above the tile roofs of the historic downtown Puerto Vallarta.

Master Wong will be here December 3rd on davannayoga’s rooftop yoga space. Don’t miss your chance to practice his uplifting yoga style. Stop by today or contact Anna to reserve your spot! Anna@davannayoga.com

Davannayoga is located downtown in Gringo Gulch. It’s an easy walk to the studio from the main plaza.

Davannayoga Contact Information

542 Calle Matamoros, Centro

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Local Phone: 223-0530

Cell phone: 044-322-147-7008

www.davannayoga.com

Read More about Puerto Vallarta Yoga

Puerto Vallarta Yoga Retreats

Puerto Vallarta’s Climate for Yoga

The 14th Annual Puerto Vallarta Festival Gourmet International Starts today, November 13, and runs through Sunday, November 23.

Many of Puerto Vallarta’s most popular restaurant bring in guest chefs from around the world to create special menus just for the festival.

If you have never attended any of the events held during the Puerto Vallarta Festival Gourmet, make the effort to attend. It’s a lot of fun and you will have the opportunity to eat a lot of great food.

For the full schedule of events visit the official festival website: 14th Annual Puerto Vallarta Festival Gourmet International.

At a party we attended, they had hired a harpist, Paco Collado, to play for the guests. You might think that harp music isn’t the music for any kind of party other than a tea party, but Mexican harp music is.

Paco plays music called Jarocha from the state of Veracruz, (See and hear Jarocha music played) which is energetic, fun, party music. “La Bamba” is a traditional Jarocha song made famous in the U.S. by Ritchie Valens.

Paco goes from table to table playing for everybody. One of the things that he does is sing versos where he incorporates the names of the guests into humorous songs he makes up as he is playing.

I spent a lot of time quizzing him on the music of Veracruz. He gave me a great background in the classic songs and history of Musica Jarocha.

You can hear Paco play on most Mondays and Wednesdays at Daiquiri Dick’s Restaurant at Playa los Muertos. Paco is also available for hire. I don’t know what his rates are but he is worth whatever he charges. I’m sure we will hire him next time we have a special event.

You can contact him at pacoharp@hotmail.com or at 044-322-125-2072. He speaks English so don’t be afraid to call.

Last night, I attended a benefit art auction for the Santa Esperanza Children’s Home (Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza, A.C.) at the T Fuller Gallery in downtown Puerto Vallarta.

At the event, I met Sudy Coy (sudycoy@yahoo.com), one of the directors at the shelter. We had a great conversation about the shelter’s mission and giving something back to Vallarta. Sudy has such a passion for what the shelter is trying to accomplish and her passion is contagious. I quickly volunteered to help promote the shelter’s work through my blog.

I took the following mission statement from the shelter’s website so that you have a better understanding of the Shelter’s work. Please click on the link to the shelter to read more and to see pictures.

The REFUGIO INFANTIL SANTA ESPERANZA, (R.I.S.E.), is a NON-PROFIT shelter for babies and children under the age of 14 who have been turned over to R.I.S.E. by DIF (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia), a Mexican government organization that is the legal representative for minors under the age of 14. DIF’S main objective is to reintegrate these children with their families, but this is not always possible. R.I.S.E. gives these children a safe and loving place to live because they have no other choice in their lives.

“Some” of the children are only here temporarily while their problems are resolved at home, but sadly, some have been in institutions most of their young lives. We have babies that have been abandoned; babies that were born in prison and babies that for some reason or another cannot be cared for, and are placed with us.

If your would like to help the shelter in any way please contact Sudy (sudycoy@yahoo.com).

The auction was a great success. Local galleries and artists donated pieces to sell. The most coveted work was done by local artist Rogelio Diaz. Nearly every piece that was donated was sold.

Here are a few pictures of the happy art buyers who got some great deals:

Sudy Coy is in the middle wearing a pink t-shirt and blue skirt.

More pictures on the next page.

Sudy Coy and Fernando Flores

Tomorrow, December 1, is the  8th Annual Cruisers Chili Cookoff . The event takes place from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at the Vallarta Yacht Club in Nuevo Vallarta. The Chili Cookoff is a benefit to raise money for the Families at the Dump Charity .

Our friends Kyle and Irma from Carnes del Mundo in Bucerias have invited us to the event. They will be competing again this year in the restaurant division. They have won the award for best chili at least a couple of times and I will vouch for their chili. It’s awesome.

Saturday, November 24 is the grand opening of the new Galeria Flores. The owners Pam and Fernando Flores are good friends of ours whom we have known since we first arrived in Puerto Vallarta. I know I have been promoting them a lot recently in the blog and I am doing it because I want to see them get off to a great start in their latest venture.

Here are a few links to posts about Galeria Flores and its featured artists:
Galeria Flores Grand Opening
Ian Sanchez – Artist
Sneak Peek – Galeria Flores   

Friday, November 23rd, Art by Design and Glass Galeria EM in Marina Vallarta are having their season opening reception. On the first weekend after Thanksgiving, the two galleries host a great cocktail reception attended by a couple of hundred people. We have gone every year for the past four years and I expect this year will be enjoyable as always.

Art by Design Gallery is presenting an homage to their main artist, David Garcia Villasenor, who recently passed away.
Tel. 221-1985 artbydesigngallery@yahoo.com

Glass Galeria EM is presenting works in glass by three artists: Estela Herrera, Carlos de Anda, Mariano Perez, Vivanco
Tel. 221-2228 galeriaem@yahoo.com.mx

Both galleries are located in the Marina Las Palmas building in Marina Vallarta. The setting is beautiful. The reception overlooks the Marina boardwalk and the yachts.

If you are looking for something to do on November 17, Casandra Shaw Jewelry is having its grand opening. Candace Shaw, Cassandra’s sister and owner of Fishing With Carolina, asked me to spread the word. Here’s the info:

GRAND OPENING
CASSANDRA SHAW JEWELRY

Please join us for wine, cheese and chocolate!

Saturday, Nov 17th, 2007

7pm to 10pm

Basilio Badillo 276
Puerto Vallarta
223 9734
044 322 227 1864
~~~ 
Thanks, Cassandra