Puerto Vallarta Scene

Puerto Vallarta Information & Events

R.I.S.E. for Hope 2009

RISE for Hope set for February 6th

Planning for the 8th annual RISE for Hope benefiting the R.I.S.E. children’s shelter is well underway. Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 6th, 2010, for the party held on the grounds of the American School.

A “Feria Carnival” theme is planned with many favorite features of a traditional Mexican fair. Of course the food will be fabulous, with some of Vallarta’s premiere restaurants tempting party-goers.

Organizers point out that plans include plenty of seating and tables to ensure everyone can enjoy the food, drinks and the colorful local entertainment.

Ticket price is 450 pesos per person, and patron tables of 10 are available for 8,500 pesos per table. Patron tables will have priority seating, an earlier entrance time, waiter service for drinks and other perks.

A raffle will be held with the first price being two round trip coach tickets on either Air Alaska or Horizon Air (Valid for flights in Canada, the United States and Mexico). The tickets are unrestricted as there are no black-out times. Raffle tickets are being sold ahead of the event for $20 pesos a ticket or three tickets for $50 pesos, and one doesn’t have to be present to win.

An exciting live auction will take place mid-evening. Some of the items being offered are:

GOLF, GOLF, GOLF:

  • 4 rounds at the visually stunning 18-hole Weiskoff championship Vista Vallarta Golf Club
  • 3 rounds at the Paradise Village famed Robert Van Hagge challenging El Tigre Golf Club
  • 2 rounds at the newly renovated Flamingos Golf Club

GET AWAYS:

  • 7 day, 6 night all inclusive holiday at the gorgeous Grand Palladium Resort and Spa on the beach in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic
  • One week stay at either Playa del Sol Los Cabos or Playa del Sol Grand Riviera Nayarit–an opportunity to have a luxurious vacation in Mexico
  • An overnight stay at the luxurious, world renowned Four Seasons Punta Mita Resort just a short drive away to a very special and different world.

DINNER PARTIES:

  • catered dinner by Food by Seth
  • Dinner and a movie for 12 people at Villa Balboa

AND EVEN MORE:

  • a flat screen television

Tickets for the event are on sale now. To reserve your ticket, contact Chris at 221-5451 or email at keithamo@msn.com, or call Seth or Cristhian at 222-9081.

The entire event is a fund raising project for the R.I.S.E. (Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza) Children’s Shelter in Puerto Vallarta. RISE is a non-profit shelter for babies and children under the age of 14. Some of these children are orphans but most come from unbearable situations having been abused, neglected, or simply abandoned. R.I.S.E. is a Mexican non-profit charitable organization. More information about tax deductible donations can be found at their website: Refugio-Infantil.org.

R.I.S.E. and Shine #2 » January 9th

R.I.S.E. and Shine #2 – January 9th, At Casa Karma

By Chris Amo

Saturday, December 5th marked the first R.I.S.E. and Shine Gourmet Champagne Brunch at the stunning Villa Balboa with funds raised going to support the Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza (R.I.S.E.), a special shelter for children in Puerto Vallarta. Attendees were treated to eggs benedict, Challah French toast, Italian spinach and roast pepper frittata, and fresh fruit salad magnificently prepared and served by Chefs Seth Cloutman and Cristhian Rios, along with live entertainment (including a performance by some of the children from R.I.S.E.).

R.I.S.E. and Shine #2, the second in this unique monthly series of champagne brunches at featured premier properties, will be held at the amazing Casa Karma (right next to El Set and LindoMar) on Saturday, January 9th. Tickets, at $350 pesos each, will be available for limited seatings at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm beginning on Friday, December 11th at Daiquiri Dick’s, by calling Casa Tigre at 222-9081, or by contacting Chris at 221-5451 or email at keithamo@msn.com. Shuttle service to Casa Karma will be available upon request.

Don’t miss out on this special opportunity to help the children at R.I.S.E., enjoy a fabulous meal, and see Casa Karma.

For more information about R.I.S.E. please view the website at www.refugio-infantil.org or contact Sol at the Refugio at 222-7857 or by email at elsoldevallarta@hotmail.com

Que Buen Perro! » December 13

Que Buen Perro! (What a Good Dog!) this Sunday, Dec. 13 at 10 am in Los Sauces Park

Que Buen Perro! (What a Good Dog!), is designed to demonstrate the potential of abandoned dogs to become loving and well-behaved pets. Dogs of all stripes will be participating in the dog obedience contests and 2 “beauty” contests (Best Street Dog and Best Purebred). There will be prizes for the first-place winners in all categories and a Grand Entry Parade of All Dogs. The event begins at 10 a.m.

SPCA-PV is holding “Que Buen Perro!” with the help of Carlos Ochoa, a local dog obedience trainer who has transformed many street dogs into good pets.

Entrance to the park and participation in the Grand Parade of Dogs is free; entry for the contests is $100 pesos per contest.

For more information: call 044 322 148 5787.

Coffee, juices and snacks will be offered by Julio`s Café .

Bus directions: courtesy of SPCA-PV volunteer David Rohde: From Old Town or Centro get on a green bus that says “GPE VICTORIA” on the front. It will get you to Francisco Villa. On F V it will pass the Cine Versailles and proceed about a block and turn right. On Avenida de los Tores it will turn left and within a few (4, 5 or 6) blocks, it should pass the park. I trust these instructions although I have not tested them myself.

Small dogs that you can hold in your lap are almost always welcome on buses; pick your dog up before you board the bus. Larger dogs will often be allowed if there are not too many people on board. Sunday morning is an especially good time to get your larger dog onto a bus. Be prepared to be refused by one or two buses before a driver stops who will allow you aboard. If you are standing alone at a bus stop, indicate that you want the bus to stop by raising your hand, as they may assume you do NOT want the bus to stop because you are with a dog.

Driving directions from Old Town: Get to Avenue Francisca Villa heading towards Costco. At the intersection where Costco is on left side and Banamex on right, turn right. Drive one long block to Avenida de los Tores.You will pass Lukumbe, a modern, upscale coffee shop, and turn left at the intersection just past it. You will also see the British American School at that intersection and a bright orange army barracks. Go one or two blocks to Los Sauces Park.

Tell your friends about Que Buen Perro!

A Non-Commercial Vallarta Xmas

Xmas is synonymous with Commercialism, especially in a tourist town like Puerto Vallarta. Here we are listing the exceptions:

The Que?Pasa Buena Noche

Its that wonderful time of the year again. Que?Pasa loves Christmas. Continuing our Christmas tradition we are asking everyone to bring a toy for a child age 4 to 13. If you wrap it please mark whether it is for a boy or girl. Christmas Eve we will begin by having a pinata slug fest hosted by Santa himself. After wards we give out all the toys to the kids of the barrio. In the years past the children were lined up all the way down the street and around the block. Christmas is for kids and this is truly a heartwarming happening.

Every Christmas Eve, Buena Noche, the street in front of Que?Pasa is closed to motor traffic at 10 pm. The whole neighborhood joins in the celebration. Preceding the toy give-away there will be 3 pinata’s broken at our front door. Christmas Eve we will have a special dinner-Baked Ham with Scalloped potatoes for 125 pesos. Filling in the evening gaps will be live music with the Traveling Band. Everyone is invited to come join this great Christmas Eve celebration.

The party goes on all day Christmas Eve. The actual gift giving to the kids should happen around 9 pm but keep in mind that the Mexican children are just as impatient as their gringo counterparts to get to the gifts. We will start the gift giving with a couple of pinata bashes at around 8 pm. The baked ham dinner should be ready to serve by 4 pm. Music will start at 7 pm.

Once the partying is over, Que?Pasa will be closed until December 26, at 11 am.

Que?Pasa

The Cafe Roma Christmas Potluck

Cafe Roma will be doing our Traditional Xmas Dinner for the Kids again this year on December 25th. Everyone that signs up is welcome! I think this is our 5th year.

Dinner is from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The price, as in the past, is 100 pesos “refundable” deposit (editor’s note: this “refundable deposit” is a legalistic term for a donation to the Kids of the Dump).

Last year we sold out early. Limited seating.

Bring a small potluck if you can (for no more than about 6 people) and bring your own booze. (We are not officially open). We will have mixers and pop for a small donation to the Kids. We supply the turkeys and ham for free.

Café Roma

Philo’s in La Cruz Christmas Potluck

Join us for our annual Christmas day pot luck at Philo’s. You bring a dish to serve 8 to 10 people and we furnish the turkey. Dinner is served at 5 p.m. There is a 50 peso charge at the door to cover some of the expenses.

Immediately following dinner Santa will arrive and give out gifts to the children of La Cruz. Each year we give out between 350 and 400 gifts. Come early to get a good seat.!

Philo’s Bar and Music Club

The City of Puerto Vallarta Posadas Tradicionales

Piñatas for the kids, Bolos and carols in the Plaza de Armas (Presidential square) at 6:30 pm on December 16 to 19. Totally Free.

U.S. CONSULAR AGENCY COMMUNITY NETWORK BREAKFAST » December 18

U.S. CONSULAR AGENCY COMMUNITY NETWORK BREAKFAST
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco

  • When? December 18, 2009, 9 am (Jalisco Time)
  • Where? THE RIVER CAFE – Isla Rio Cuale, El Centro Vallarta (Call for directions: 223-0788 – Michael Bufford)
  • Cost? $90.00 pesos includes full breakfast and tip!
  • Why? The U.S. Consular Agency Community Network Breakfast is a place to network, make new friends, greet old ones, promote your business-charity & find out what’s going on in the Riviera Nayarit & Puerto Vallarta!
  • What else? This month, we ask that you “Bring a Thing” to support Los Mangos Library – Sally’s Corner for art projects. Needs include: Tempra paints, construction paper, crayons, colored pencils, glue sticks, kids scissors, glitter and colored markers.

Are you a newcomer to area? If so, we have a special group of people to meet you, chat with you and welcome you!

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY!