A Dog Gone Good Time

The dogs get the best seat in the house at the fifth annual pet picnic. Don’t miss your chance to share a great afternoon of food and fun at Daiquiri Dick’s restaurant starting at 11 am on December 4th. Expect a howling good time with a best dressed contest starting at noon, sharp. There will be other fun activities including a raffle and best trained competition.

Admission is $250 pesos in advance and $300 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Daiquiri Dick’s or The Deli Space is limited so purchase your tickets early. The price includes a boxed lunch with sandwich, a piece of fruit and a home made cookie and doggie bag for your best friend. Drinks are extra.

All monies raised go to Ayuda a los Animales, part of the PEACE non-profit association. Their high volume, mobile, spay and neuter clinics service the community by providing free surgeries, education and adoptions.

No dog, no problem. You don’t need a four-legged friend to attend and have a great time.

For more information about Ayuda a los Animales or to make a donation, please visit their website, PEACEmexico.org.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g0W_vi0quc

The South Side Shuffle is a street party of sorts, a “shindig” that happens every other Friday from 6 to 10 pm from November to April in the vicinity of Basilio Badillo and Constitucion in Vallarta’s Zona Romantica. Everyone is invited.

The event will feature twelve shops and galleries on Basilio Badillo and Constitución joining in the fun with culture, conversation, strolling mariachis and gratis cocktails.

The South Side Shuffle is an “Open House.”

Some of the galleries will be featuring individual artists. Participating galleries include Galleria Dante, Cassandra Shaw Jewelry and Galería Puerco Azul.

The purpose is solely to promote the local businesses and to have fun.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_lHvdVTrPc

by Polly G. Vicars

After an absence of two years, when the economy made it difficult to raise funds for the many charities in Puerto Vallarta, Luis Fitch of Los Xitomates decided, “Enough Already!” and called on his friends, the Casa Magna Marriott and the chefs and owners of Vallarta’s most famous restaurants to reinstate this elegant affair that raises funds for four well known Vallarta charities: Becas Vallarta, Arturo & Los Hijos de Dios, Agape and Asilo San Juan Diego.

On Monday, October 4, Lourdes Bizarro, public relations manager at the Marriott, hosted a press conference where the chefs, owners or representatives of the participating restaurants, Café des Artistes, Kaiser Maximilian, La Palapa, Le Kliff, Los Xitomates, Marriott, Trio, Vista Grill, and Vitea presented their visions for the event.

Calling the Palamazo Un Evento de Amigos Para los Amigos (an Event of Friends for Our Friends), these busy Vallartenses, in addition to managing their businesses, have chosen to be a part of the growing cadre in this community who are giving their time, money and talents to help those in need, whether it be in education, health, places to live or protection.

The menu described for the event left all us attendees with our mouths watering. The evening will begin at 7 pm with a cocktail hour with exotic botanas and canapes. Le Kliff is preparing satay of chicken and of salmon as well as won ton of shrimp.

Café des Artistes is preparing brochettes of duck with dried fruits and mango chutney, rolls with salmon, bouillabaisse with peas, tofu, saffron and other spices. Los Xitomates will prepare pork tacos, brochettes of goat cheese and grilled mushrooms, brochettes of mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and vinaigrette of basil.

Then at the sit-down dinner with wine, the Marriott will prepare a cold first course of scallops with lemon and vinaigrette of ginger. La Palapa and Vista Grill will prepare a hot corn and potato chowder with mussels.

Then, for the main course, Kaiser Maximilian will prepare rib eye steak from New Zealand, potatoes au gratin, green beans with Gorgonzola & Chimichurri sauces. After all of that, Trio and Vitea will provide a strawberry and almond tart with white chocolate ice cream!

There will be music, entertainment, raffles, closed circuit television of the chefs at work and more. It promises to be an evening not to be forgotten by those of us who attend and those who will receive the funds brought in by the event.

Tickets are only $600 pesos and are limited to 300. They are going fast, so contact me, any member of the four charities or the Concierge at the Marriott for yours. Get your friends together and reserve a table for 10.

Here again are the facts:

• Where: Casa Magna Marriott Hotel in the Marina
• When: Sunday, October 24, 2010
• Time: Cocktail hour begins at 7 pm, Dinner at 8 pm
• Cost: Tickets are $600 pesos.

Call me at (322) 223-1371 or email me at phvicars(at)gmail.com for your tickets. See you there!

INTRODUCING… THE COMMUNITY NETWORK BREAKFAST

Save the dates: Oct 15, Nov 19, Dec 17, Jan 21, Feb 18, Mar 18, Apr 15

The U.S. Consular Agency Vallarta, in conjunction with Community Service projects in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco and Riviera Nayarit, is sponsoring a monthly COMMUNITY NETWORK BREAKFAST.

Open to English speaking men and women, the objective is to highlight various community service projects throughout the community and promote networking between residents, frequent visitors, and local businesses. It will provide the opportunity to enrich our lives by making new friends, learning about the various projects in our communities, and meeting people from different walks of life.

Each month the Community Breakfast Network will be held at alternating venues in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit. Current plans are for Vallarta Centro, Rancho Banderas, Nuevo Vallarta, Marina Vallarta, La Cruz, Old Town and Bucerias. A service project will be highlighted and a “Bring-A-Thing” project each month will be the opportunity for participants to bring needed supplies for that month’s highlighted organization.

Please join us as we kick off this effort, and help make it a success.
We look forward to meeting you! Here is the information.

• Date: Friday, October 15th 2009
• Where: Hotel Rosita – At the beginning of the Malecon in Centro Vallarta
• Time: 9 am
• Cost: $100 (Breakfast buffet & tip included)
• Hosted by: Healthcare Resources Vallarta – Pamela Thompson
• RSVP: Reservations required. pamela@healthcareresourcespv.com

DON’T FORGET OUR “BRING A THING” PROGRAM
This Month highlighting and benefiting – Regional Hospital Puerto Vallarta

Needs include: Newborn infant formula (powered), baby bottles, and receiving blankets, sterile bandagses and guaze, Ace bandages, Tylenol (unopened) for infants, children and adults. Blankets (used are fine but in good condition), syringes (unopened), Liquid soap, small bars of soap and shampoo (like hotel size), rubbing alcohol or alcohol gel. For a more complete list of needs contact: pamela@healthcareresourcespv.com

Comments or questions can be sent to U.S. Consular Agent Kelly Trainor: consularagentpvr@prodigy.net.mx