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Oct. 5, 2004 - Issue 51
News and Features about Puerto Vallarta on Mexicoīs Gold Coast
Tips and Topics on Living in Your Own Dream Location
[Go to the Archives]
CONTENTS:
· October Festivities
· Guillermo Saldaņaīs Fantasmas
· Bill Reedīs New Book
· Cruise Ship Tips
· Plaza Marina News
OCTOBER FESTIVITIES
The season is getting close and many stores and restaurants have remodeled, those that were closed for vacations are reopening and everyone is in a festive mood, anticipating a great influx of tourists and lots of fun activities.
The cultural concert which was held for over 20 years at the Camino Real Hotel (Now called Dream) has been moved to the Mayan Palace in Marina Vallarta. This Thursday, Oct. 7 they will have a jazz concert in the main lobby at 8 p.m. The public is invited so please turn out and support them in their efforts to continue this important tradition.
I didnīt get the information from the Cultural Dept. for their free events because they were busy moving their offices to the Isla Rio Cuale, but you can call City Hall 226-8080 and get their new number for more information. There will be tango classes at the Cuale Cultural center starting Oct. 4 for beginners and another class for intermediate students. The teachers are Alberto and Barbara Garvey who have trained with world renowned tango maestros in Buenos Aires and have taught in California for many years. Beginners classes are on Thursday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. and intermediate lessons on Monday from 7 to 8 p.m. Cost is only $150 pesos a month. To register call 222-8895 or email alybarbara@yahoo.com.
Galeria Vallarta invites you to a special art exposition on Friday, October 15, from 7 to 10 p.m., Juarez 263, featuring Guillermo Saldaņa. Be sure to come to inaugurate the season. On the same night, Oct. 15 we welcome a new gallery to our city, Leonardo Gallerias, who will be having their grand opening exposition. They are located at Morelos 664, in the same block as American Express. They are now part of the Old Town Art Walk, which begins the season on Wed. Oct. 27 from 6 to 10 p.m.
We are very proud of our new Art Walk brochures which just came out and will be distributed all over town in hotels, condos, major restaurants and the tourist office. Be sure to pick one up and put the dates on your calendar...Oct. 27, Nov. 10 and 24, Dec. 15 and 29, Jan. 12 and 26, Feb. 9 and 23, March 9 and 30 and April 13 - all on Wednesday nights, featuring free cocktails and a grand variety of artists and artisans. Several of the galleries will have shows dedicated to Dia de los Muertos on Oct. 27, including Galeria Vallarta who will feature Nicolas de Jesus, the world renowned engraver who specializes in Day of the Dead themes on handmade amate paper, as well as other artists interpreting their visions of this traditional day in Mexico. The participating galleries this season are Galeria Arte Latinoamericano, Galeria Corona, Galeria Corsica, Galeria Uno, Galeria Vallarta, Galeria 8 y Mas, Galeria Pacifico, Galeria Sergio Bustamante, Galeria T. Fuller, Galeria de Ollas and Galeria Arte Popular Mexicano.
You can see a copy of the map on our website www.GaleriaVallarta.com
GULLERMO SALDAŅAīS FANTASMAS
One of the first art shows of the new season will be held on Friday, October 15 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Galeria Vallarta in Old Town, presenting a famous star of the art world, Guillermo Saldaņa Azcárraga. This will be this artistīs first exposition in Puerto Vallarta, but he has exhibited his art works in the most accredited galleries and museums in Mexico, Central America, South America and also in New York City, where he has had eleven exhibits in the Broome Street Gallery in Soho since 1994. These shows have received rave reviews from the critics for his stunning and creative work.
Guillermo Saldaņa is a master of studio art, having graduated from the Instituto Potosino de Bellas Artes, the Escuela de Artes Plasticas La Esmeralda in Mexico City and also from the Art Students League in Manhattan, New York City. At this time Maestro Saldaņa presents his latest collection titled "FANTASMAS", where apparitions, not accustomed to being viewed decide to have their voices heard. One of them speaks for all: "The love that you have professed to us has been so vehement that we have decided to materialize and place ourselves in each one of your paintings . . . she bids him farewell with a provocative kiss for its burning glow..." The artist adds "This explains how my Phantoms are alive with such fire and spirit parallel to all other life that surrounds me."
These large paintings are filled with wonderful surreal images floating around the beautifully portrayed nudes, some of whom appear to be relaxing in a tropical setting. We invite everyone to join us at Galeria Vallarta, Juarez 263 on October 15 to meet this special artist and to enjoy the passions released from the very brush strokes of Guillermo Saldaņa Azcārraga.
BILL REEDīS NEW BOOK
Puerto Vallarta is the home of many fine authors, and the latest book out is "Escape to Paradise, A Mexican Odyssey" by William Reed with Sylvia Rose Garces, his wife and 30 year companion. This promises to be a fascinating account of Vallartaīs history since the 1970s and a look into the life of the author who is a retired naval intelligence officer who built his own publishing company, operated an art gallery, had a tourist boat business, a parasailing concession and a seafood restaurant. He has written a number of books and has friends who are actors, artists, film directors, producers and authors, but has chosen Puerto Vallarta as his own paradise. The book is available at Libros, Libros Book store, hotel gift shops or online at www.GarcesPress.com. Also you can read excerpts in the PV Tribune, starting with the Oct. 4-10 issue.
CRUISE SHIP TIPS
Today Puerto Vallarta was host to the Diamond Princess, a huge floating luxury hotel bringing a great influx of tourists to our special city. There was also another cruise ship docked out in the bay, so all our local businesses should have had a good day. However, such as the case with all the cruise ships, the tour buses rushed them through the central area between 9 and 10 a.m. before most stores had even opened, and even if they had been open, the passengers would not have been allowed to go in. They are mostly taken to the big jewelry chain stores, who specialize in expensive, imported jewelry, and have the funds to pay the ships for clients. They also get special permits for the buses to stop in front of their stores, although businesses on Juarez and other side streets do not have this privilege, and seldom get tourists from the cruise ships. This tends to give Puerto Vallarta an image of an expensive destination, while in fact there are hundreds of businesses in the central area with very fair prices and many with special discounts, but the cruise passengers are not told where they are.
Many of you have friends and family who plan to visit Vallarta via cruise ship. Please advise them to take a taxi to downtown and insist on being let off near the Plaza Principal where they can see the crowned church, the charming bandstand, and visit the tourist department on the corner of the City Hall to get maps and information about businesses and services in this area as well as cultural events. If they want to take a tour bus to get an overall view of the area, they should not consider this their shopping trip, but take time to visit the variety of boutiques, art galleries and craft shops, as well as the wonderful restaurants in the central area. They will not be molested by time share salesmen in the Plaza or the inside streets, as these booths are mostly on the Malecon. We want all our visitors to see the BEST of Vallarta, not just the tourist traps, which are found in every port.
PLAZA MARINA NEWS
Soon Galeria Vallarta will be opening a second location in Plaza Marina, just inside the McDonaldīs entrance. This will take the place of our Plaza Neptune location which we closed this summer. Although this is a smaller space, we will offer all the services such as a huge selection of posters and prints, framing service, wholesale and retail art T-shirts, sculptures, craft items, jewelry, masks, and delivery of original art from our central location for our clients convenience.
Plaza Marina has many available business spaces and several new businesses are preparing to open soon. There you will find several banks, Comercial Mexicana supermarket, Radio Shack, McDonaldīs, Rattan of Guadalajara, several boutiques, jewelry and craft stores, Lloyd Investment Co, insurance companies, photo shops, dry cleaners, dentists, beauty products, a Vetenarian, coffee shops, ice cream parlors and more, with plenty of parking. Plaza Marina is the most easily accesible shopping center from Nayarit and the Marina area, and the first place you see as you enter Vallarta from the Airport. We will be open there during October. Looking forward to seeing you!
SUBSCRIBE AND UNSUBSCRIBE INFORMATION:
About Living Your Dream is by free subscription to our own mailing list. To subscribe or unsubscribe, please send an email to WebArt@GaleriaVallarta.com with "subscribe or unsubscribe to Dream" in the subject line. If you would like to place an ad or submit an article, please contact Barbara Peters, Galeria Vallarta, Juarez 263, (322) 222-0290 or at WebArt@GaleriaVallarta.com
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