I was walking around my neighborhood today when I heard my name called from across the street. Much to my surprise, it was Angel Torres, an amazing hair and fashion stylist who has collaborated with me in a couple of photo shoots, including a Vallarta Lifestyles cover featuring top local restaurateurs. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Angel and as I crossed Lázaro Cárdenas St. to greet him, I realized he’s opened his own men’s clothing and accessories store. In fact, the shop hasn’t even been open for a …

The fact that Puerto Vallarta has an amazing array of choices when it comes to dining is no secret to many. And our town has spent decades perfecting the fine art of creating unforgettable experiences at the dinner table. There are annual events such as the International Gourmet Festival which takes place every November, or Vallarta Lifestyles’ Restaurant Week every May. VirtualVallarta.com has over fifty of Puerto Vallarta’s finest restaurants listed on its online dining section, and an increasing number of them (15 as of this writing) accept reservations online …

Here is an easy, inexpensive way to turn Mexican tiles into fun refrigerator magnets! Decorative Mexican tiles can be found in just about any traditional Mexican home. They are manufactured in several sizes and shapes. And for those of us in Puerto Vallarta, we are fortunate to have a tile factory right in the heart of town. Even if it’s just out of curiosity, you owe yourself a quick trip to Mundo de Azulejos in colonia Emiliano Zapata, just a 10 minute walk from Los Muertos Beach, where you will …

I’d like to invite you to participate in a little poll, but first, let me set two possible scenarios to see where you fit in this experiment. First scenario is as follows: You have just landed in Puerto Vallarta to enjoy your dream vacation, for which you are spending a considerable amount of your savings. You are nicely settled in your villa with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean, and the house staff has already poured you a welcoming margarita. Needless to say you’ve wasted no time taking your …

Guess what? Good things do come in small packages! Pie in the Sky owner Susan Drexler had mentioned their mini art cakes to me and I had to see (and taste!) them to believe them. For those not in the know, this bakery with two locations (one in Bucerías and one in the E. Zapata neighborhood) became a Puerto Vallarta staple way before I moved here, some eight years ago. One of their most popular treats, the Beso (kiss in English) is a lush, moist chocolate brownie without comparison. But …

Please take a close look at these shrubs I photographed just a couple of days ago. I was standing (actually, lying down flat on my tummy on the grass) on the median strip along Fco. Medina Ascencio, across from the Sheraton, in Puerto Vallarta’s Hotel Zone. Believe it or not, you are looking at the future of Puerto Vallarta, or at least one possibility of it. You see, these are not just ordinary shrubs. They are bougainvilleas, beautiful ornamental plants commonly found in warm climates all over the world. Of …

jf8n5amyk2 Located approximately 90 minutes east from Puerto Vallarta, the small town of San Sebastián del Oeste has become a favorite weekend getaway for many locals and visitors looking to escape Puerto Vallarta’s weather and tourist destination pace. The appeal is readily apparent. While this former mining town’s prosperity peaked at the beginning of the 20th Century (population 20,000) growth pretty much came to a halt once the mining stopped. Nowadays, a humble population of approximately one-thousand, keeps the town moving at a very quiet, very relaxed pace. Because of …

Puerto Vallarta has—well, had—two Dicks. Dick #1 came here to star in a movie but, that was 50 years ago. Dick #2 came here to meet with the president of our country, but that was 39 years ago. Can you guess who they are? And if you can, would you actually book a Puerto Vallarta vacation today because of these two Dicks? Some Puerto Vallarta promoters and at least one local film festival organizing committee think you might. Even today. Can we still tout the fact that fifty years after …