The Mexican resort towns of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit will soon play host to a festival devoted exclusively to classic rock. Cheap Trick and the Fabulous Thunderbirds are among the big names who will be performing.

Held in various locations throughout the region from Dec. 11-15, the Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival already has 19 acts booked, with more expected to be announced in the near future. In addition to the two names mentioned above, Kansas, Jefferson Starship and Foghat will also participate.

Rounding out the bill include Gary Wright, the Spencer Davis Group, Poco, Steve Augeri (Journey), Firefall, Mickey Dolenz (the Monkees), Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad) and soul legend Sam Moore (Sam & Dave). For several of the solo acts, an all-star house band will be used. This is comprised of guitarists Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers), Elliot Easton (the Cars) and Billy Burnette (Fleetwood Mac); bassists Kenny Lee Lewis (Steve Miller Band) Kenny Gradney (Little Feat); session drummer extraordinaire Kenny Aronoff and keyboardist Teddy ‘Zig Zag’ Andreadis (Guns N’ Roses).

The festival will feature a charity golf tournament, a photograph and album cover gallery, and a party honoring several “Giants of Rock.” Tickets, both for individual days and the whole package, are currently on sale.

[readon1 url="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/vallarta-nayarit-classic-rock-festival/"]Source:ultimateclassicrock.com[/readon1]

As the weather turns chilly, car windows begin to frost, and jackets become daily attire, our thoughts naturally turn to vacations on palm tree-lined beaches. Puerto Vallarta is one of the popular winter destinations by Canadians, and for good reason. Direct flights arrive daily, the cobblestone beachside promenade is adorned with unique statues, and the Zona Romantica is filled with charming boutique restaurants and artesian shops.

And, of course, there’s the palm tree-lined beach and bathwater-warm azure ocean.

I, however, am not one for lounging on the beach. I prefer to get out and explore. Last June I visited Puerto Vallarta and these are three great and family-friendly activities I found for spicing up my beach vacation.

A Sea Safari

The name Sea Safari — given to the tour by the operators Vallarta Adventures — does a poor job of describing what this tour actually includes. This eco tour began with a ride ride in an inflatable motor boat to a remote village of 500 people accessible only by sea. Dozens of pelicans sat atop the fishing boats in the bay as we pulled into the dock.

We walked through the village to a riverside stable where we were matched with horses, which we then rode into mountains to a waterfall and lagoon. While the waterfall and lagoon were certainly impressive, I was even more impressed by the horses, which were all gentle and well-behaved. After a while I simply let go of the reigns because the horse knew exactly where he was going.

I was also quite impressed by the conspicuous absence of garbage — and presence of numerous trash cans — along the trail.

I am a person who values responsible travel greatly, and this was a well-run tour. Both the horses and the environment were well cared for.

Our expedition was followed by a snorkelling trip and barbecue on the beach. It was very pleasant day.

Learning to Flyboard

In a different vein, Puerto Vallarta is home to several flyboarding operations. Flyboarding is a new and novel activity in which the flyboarder straps on two Iron Man-like boots with jets on the bottoms that propel water out of them at such a velocity that the person wearing them is propelled into the air.

I took a one-hour lesson, during which I was able to learn a surprising number of manoeuvers. I learned to stand, front dive, swim forwards by jumping in and out of the water like a dolphin, and even tried a couple of (unsuccessful) backflips.

And all that in just one hour.

I’m personally not a fan of fuel-intensive leisure activities because of the environmental cost — and since flyboards are powered by gas-guzzling jet skies they certainly fall in that category — so I don’t think I’ll try it again. But it was pretty awesome to try it once.

Explore the Mountains by Dune Buggy
This was probably the least adventurous of the adventures I tried, but still worth a mention. There are several companies in Puerto Vallarta that lead dune buggy excursions into the jungle-laden Sierra Madre mountains.

You are allowed to drive your own buggy, which is pretty fun, since you can fishtail around corners on the dirt road. But, other than that, it’s basically just a pretty drive through the mountains. Our tour took us to a scenic lookout where we snapped a few obligatory photos and then turned back.

Afterward we drove back down to a very nice restaurant beside a river with several pools and small waterfalls, which was very pretty.

The dune buggy tour is probably not something that I would do again, but it’s a perfect half-day outing for a family with young children looking for a change from sitting on the beach.

Amazing Photos of a Puerto Vallarta Adventure

[readon1 url="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-gibson/three-familyfriendly-adve_b_6052124.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel"]Source:www.huffingtonpost.com[/readon1]

Humans have explored almost every inch of land on the earth — but the ocean is another story.

Perhaps the true last frontier left on the planet, the ocean is home to hundreds of thousands of species that we're aware of and scientists estimate that there are hundreds of thousands more yet to be discovered in the strange environments that only exist underwater.

Thousands of types of unknown creatures lurk in the ocean's vast trenches, circle its tall mountains, and even haunt the sides of its underwater volcanos.

In short, it's an amazing place. Here's a list of some of the most mind-boggling things we've already found in the depths of the sea.

The Portuguese man-of-war, or "sailing jellyfish," isn't a jellyfish at all — it's something called a siphonophore, and it's not an "it," but actually a "they." The man-of-war is actually a colony of four organisms, or polyps, that make up four different body parts: a top gas-filled bladder, the feeding tentacles, the prey tentacles, and the reproductive polyp. The top polyp, the gas bladder, is actually used to sail through the wind, the creature's only means of transport other than drifting on ocean currents.

Nudibranchs are soft-bodied mollusks, much like your average slug — but flashier. They're known for their dazzling array of colors and textures. Many feed on toxic sea animals, such as corals and anemones, and some are able to use the poisons they ingest to become toxic themselves.

The flamingo tongue snail is a common fixture on Caribbean coral reefs, as well as in the Western Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. It lives and feeds on gorgonians, also known as sea fans or sea whips and is able to absorb their toxins to become toxic, itself. The snail's bright orange and pink outsides are actually a fleshy covering over its white shell.

The blob sculpin's oddly expressive face makes it look like it could jump right out of the water and start a conversation — but, in fact, it’s a pretty shy customer. The sculpin hangs out in dark, deep-sea waters, munching on small invertebrates like crabs and mollusks. It can grow up to two feet in length.

The glass squid, also called the cockatoo squid, is one of the stranger deep-sea creatures, with its transparent, balloon-shaped body and giant eyes. Many species are also capable of bioluminescence using special light-producing organs.

These Christmas tree worms present a festive image. They're a kind of polychaete, or marine worm, and they come in a variety of bright colors. Their spiraling appendages help them catch tasty phytoplankton out of the water to eat.

Giant tubeworms are found in the ocean's most inhospitable spots. They thrive near hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor, which spew boiling water and toxic gases.

This "supergiant" amphipod looks kind of like a shrimp, except way bigger. Like the shrimp, the amphipod is a crustacean. Most only grow to be a a few millimeters long, but several years ago a group of researchers captured this gigantic specimen, along with a handful of other "supergiant" amphipods. The largest known amphipod on record grew to be about a foot long.

This ghostly tube is a colony of composed of dozens of tiny animals called tunicates, or "sea salps,", all feeding and moving as a single mass. Colonies can grow to be 15 feet long, move by jetting water through their bodies, and are capable of producing light through chemical reactions in their bodies.

This cookiecutter shark may only be about the size of a house cat, but it packs a nasty punch. It gets name from its bizarre, round bite — it leaves its victims looking as though someone attacked them with an ice cream scoop. The key is the circular sawing motion the shark uses to gnaw off lumps of flesh.

The basket star is a kind of brittle star, an animal closely related to sea stars. It sets itself apart from the other brittle stars with its bizarre mass of branching legs, which are full of little hooks used for grabbing and holding on to prey.

Leafy seadragons have some of the most elaborate camouflage of any animal in the sea. Their delicate, leafy appendages allow them to blend seamlessly in with surrounding seaweed.

The starfish in the photo looks like it's resting on top of a rock or maybe a coral. But that colorless lump is actually a xenophyophore, the largest single-celled organism in the world. Xenophyophores can grow to be about 10 centimeters long. They are found only in the deep sea.

The viperfish is best known for its intimidating bite — those needle-like teeth are so big they don't even fit inside the fish's mouth when it closes its jaws. The viperfish primarily sticks to the deep sea and uses a light-producing organ on its back to lure in its prey.

The frogfish is a master of camouflage, as you can see from this photo. They make up a family of fish often referred to as "anglerfish," and some are even capable of changing colors.

The Sargasso Sea is actually an ocean-locked patch of sea located within the Atlantic. Its boundaries are defined by four different ocean currents, and are therefore always changing. The sea is named after a vagabond algae that inhabits its waters and lives its entire life without ever making port on solid ground (you can see a few patches of it in this photo). The sea provides important habitat for many creatures including sharks, eels, and even humpbacks.

The frilled shark looks more like a sea monster than anything else, with its serpentine body and strange set of jaws. Its mouth is filled with row after row of needle-sharp teeth — up to 25 rows in all — and it gets its name from its frilly, fringed gills.

The mid-oceanic ridge system is the longest mountain chain the world, and it's almost entirely under water. It's made up of a series of volcanic ridges throughout the world's oceans, formed by shifting tectonic plates. Altogether, it's more than 40,000 miles long. This erupting volcano is located at the edge of the Tonga Ridge, which is just one part of the mid-oceanic ridge system.

Sea cucumbers aren't all drab and shapeless — they come in a variety of colors, designs, and textures. This stunning red-lined sea cucumber is one example, but many others, such as the Spanish dancer or pink see-through fantasia sea cucumbers, are equally as dazzling.

Noctiluca scintillans, or “Sea Sparkle,” usually shows up as an eerie, pale glow in the water. The shimmering light is caused by colonies of microscopic protists called dinoflagellates, capable of bioluminescence. Though pretty in the moonlight, it can be deadly in large quantities. Sometimes Noctiluca experiences a “bloom,” or a massive population burst, releasing large amounts of toxic ammonia into the ocean and killing off fish and other marine animals.

The sea angel is another kind of soft-bodied mollusk, so named for its ethereal, winged appearance. They swim freely through the ocean and feed on other mollusks.

A blue hole is an underwater sinkhole. This one, dubbed the "Great Blue Hole," is found off the coast of Belize and is nearly 1,000 feet in diameter.

[readon1 url="http://www.businessinsider.com/fantastic-strange-ocean-photos-2014-10?op=1"]Source:www.businessinsider.com[/readon1]

Riviera Nayarit October 25  2014.-News conference of The Gourmet Festival most recognized internationally . This year for its anniversary edition 20th has been characterized by highlight Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit on the map to the passion for culinary arts and diners of the most high standards of culinary environment.

Chef Roland Menetrey, Chef Thierry Blouet y Chef Heinz Reize, anfitriones hosts the festival in the bay to receive more than 58 chefs in more than 29 restaurants and hotels in the region will be presenting their best inventions , this time with over 7 nights special "theme " ranging from acclimated with Jazz. wine pairing workshops , " cooking show" , ending with a polo tournament and paella party in San Pancho Nayarit.

Chef Heinz Reize " as human beings are constantly growing , the festival has evolved forms is developed each year by adding new and prepositional enriching experience for each year. Sorry passion drives us to get excited like the first , we know we have loyal fans, that's why we are committed to presenting them in each issue. Chef and culinary innovation at the highest level internationally represented this year adorning Indian chef first , without neglecting national chef.

20th Anniversary International Gourmet Festival will be held from November 13 to 23

[readon1 url="http://notivallarta.com/2014/10/25/20festival-gourmet-international-puerto-vallarta-riviera-nayarit/"]Source:notivallarta.com[/readon1]

Inside a storage room next to two rows of oak barrels filled with aging tequila, the gray-haired Guillermo Sauza pours out a small sample of reposado tequila into a tall, thin glass that looks like a mini champagne flute.

“The barrel-strength tequila is new. Bartenders [in the U.S.] love it,” he explains.

Small-batch ultra premium tequilas like those made by Fortaleza, Sauza’s brand, are finding favor with customers from San Diego all the way to the southern tip of Manhattan.

Sauza’s facility has been producing tequila for over a hundred years. A few miles away, Herradura operates a factory on an estate that has been used to produce tequila since the late 1700s.

Once thought of as a hardcore party drink best reserved for raucous college parties, tequila is now finding favor as an upmarket drink for sophisticated urban consumers, especially in the U.S.

Generally, tequilas fall into one of four categories, depending on how long they are aged. Blancos are aged up to two months if at all; reposados are aged in oak barrels for 2 to 12 months; añejos stay in the barrel from 1 to 3 years; the category of extra añejos is recent addition to describe tequilas aged for longer than 3 years.

Herradura now has a line of what it calls “sipping quality” tequilas, such as a limited-edition variety that has been aged for two years in barrels that were previously used to age port.

These tequilas in many ways bear more of a similarity to cognac or whiskeys than to mass-produced blancos. They’re flavor is built up when the agave is roasted, layering in notes of smoke and wood during the barrel-aging process.

Gulping down a glass is harshly frowned upon.

“We don’t want to shoot this,” Sauza says.

“It’s very smooth, there’s no burn on the throat,” he says, taking a small sip from his glass. “It picks up a caramel taste, a little bit of citrus.”

The tequila company that bears Sauza’s last name was founded in 1873. Guillermo was born in Chicago to an American father and the great-granddaughter of the distillery’s founder, re-opened the old family distillery in 2005. He started selling in the U.S. in 2006.

His reposado line, which is barrel aged for six months, sells for $59. His añejo line, which is aged for a year and a half and presents a more complex range of flavors, sells for $89, almost double the price of a bottle of good bourbon, such as Woodford Reserve or Knob Creek.

“We are truly a handmade producer. We make 2,000 liters a week,” he says, slapping one of the four-foot tall grinding stones he uses to process the agave after it comes out of his steam oven.

The company uses the original 100-year old agave-grinding mill, updated to be driven by a small tractor instead of a donkey, to mash the soft, roasted agave.

The roasting, crushing and fermentation processes all take place in a small room that is about one third of the size of a basketball court.

Sauza looks for ripe agaves. “The sweeter, the better,” he says. They are roasted for 30 hours, fermented in a 7-foot-tall wooden barrel where the pulp and water generate alcohol.

Finally the raw tequila soup boils in a copper still, condenses and purifies. “It’s the same process my grandfather used,” he says.

But then, Fortaleza is an ultra-premium label. It’s a segment that is finding favor with new consumers and is also piquing the interest of bigger producers.

Just down the road, Herradura produces tequila on an industrial scale. Juan José Alonso, a 46-year-old production supervisor, walks along the elevated catwalk above the massive tanks in which hundreds of thousands of gallons of tequila are fermented every day.

“This is the first phase—[the agave juice] comes in via tubes from the factory—here’s where the fermentation happens.” Alonso takes out a bottle of the raw tequila that is produced the first round of distillation.

Shaking the bottle, Alonso said, “This is a blanco.”

He pours a small sample into the bottle cap. “It has the flavor of cooked agave. It’s 55 percent alcohol. We add water to dilute it.”

Brands like Herradura and José Cuervo all produce blanco tequilas on a massive scale.

They rely on innovative barrel-aging and clever marketing to sell their high-end products. Experimenting with extra-long barrel aging cycles, major tequila producers have been able to create smoky, complexly-flavored tequilas.

But, now interest among connoisseurs is turning toward smaller producers.

Courtenay Greenleaf, the tequila expert at El Vez, an upscale Mexican restaurant in lower Manhattan, says that among tequila aficionados the focus is turning toward craft producers.

“With food everyone wants to know the story, the intricacies of the product,” Greenleaf tells FNL.

A lot of the interest in small-batch tequilas is an off-shoot of mezcal, tequila’s rustic cousin, which is produced in tiny, family-operated craft stills in southern Mexico.

“It’s coming full circle. The trend is pushing towards what mezcal has always been,” Greenleaf says.

Patrón, a large brand that has been name-dropped in songs by Jay-Z, Wiz Kalifa, Cassidy, Nas and Ludacris, now has a “Roca” line in which a traditional milling stone is used to grind the agave.

Carlos Gonzales, the 39-year-old owner of the Denver-based, Jalisco-produced Proximus brand, says, “More and more people are drinking tequila, better tequila, instead of cheap shots. “

“What’s trending is smaller batch,” Greenleaf says. “Instead of making consistent production—people enjoy getting bottles that are not the same every time. It may be from agaves from different fields or higher alcohol.”

Gonzales says, that the increasing interest “is driven by consumers and the growth of the craft spirit industry in the U.S. The craft market is growing. People are trying to drink high quality products.”

The numbers bear that out. Mexico’s exports of premium, 100 percent agave tequilas have grown from a few hundred thousand cases a year in the mid 1990s to more than 63 million liters in 2013.

Fabian Santana, a New York-based analyst from ProMexico, Mexico’s export promotion agency, told FNL, “Patrón was the first to introduce premium iterations of its brand, and later Diageo [the global umbrella company that owns Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Captain Morgan and José Cuervo] acquired Don Julio and started marketing it as premium tequila.”

As more people learned to develop a palate for barrel-aged tequilas, the market has also matured.

“Once people start drinking expensive tequila” such as those made by big producers such as Cuervo and Patrón, Gonzales tells FNL, then “they learn there are other tequilas out there.”

Nathan Parish Flannery is a freelance reporter based out of Mexico City who has worked on projects in Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, India, China and Chile. Follow him on Twitter: @LatAmLENS.

Mexico's growing craft tequila industry

[readon1 url="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2014/10/24/small-batch-tequilas-find-favor-in-us-changing-how-mexican-industry-operates/"]Source:latino.foxnews.com[/readon1]

ANNOUNCES 19 ACTS INCLUDING CHEAP TRICK, JEFFERSON STARSHIP, FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS, FOGHAT & KANSAS!

October 23, 2014 Los Angeles, California – The Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival will be held December 11-15, 2014 with events taking place throughout Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta. Supported by the Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit Tourism Boards, the four-day event will include 3 days of classic rock music performances, a showcase gallery of famous album cover art and concert photography, a charity golf outing to benefit DIF, and parties at some of the most popular night spots in Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit. On Saturday evening in Puerto Vallarta, there will be a party honoring several ‘Giants of Rock’ for their accomplishments in classic rock.

Festival creator and producer John Zaring of the Los Angeles, CA-based Zaring Group announced 19 acts that will appear during the daily concerts in Nuevo Vallarta. The lineup includes Americana rockers the BoDeans, blues favorites Fabulous Thunderbirds, rock-a-billy specialists Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats, country rockers Poco, Pure Prairie League and Firefall, and iconic classic rock bands Jefferson Starship, Kansas, Cheap Trick, Foghat and Spencer Davis Group. Several solo artists and singers will have their sets backed by the festival’s all-star ‘house band’, including Dave Mason (Traffic), Gary Wright (best known for his smash hit “Dreamweaver”), Craig Fuller (lead singer of both Little Feat and Little River Band), former Journey lead singer Steve Augeri, Monkees frontman Micky Dolenz, former Grand Funk Railroad singer Mark Farner and blues legend Sam Moore (Sam and Dave). Additional acts are expected to be announced.

The house band includes stellar musicians from several legendary rock acts, including former Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan lead guitarist Jeffrey ‘Skunk’ Baxter, former Fleetwood Mac guitarist and rock-a-billy legend Billy Burnette, The Cars guitarist Elliot Easton, bassists Kenny Lee Lewis of Steve Miller Band and Kenny Gradney of Little Feat, drummers Curly Smith (Boston) and Kenny Aronoff (John Fogerty, John Mellencamp), and keyboardist Teddy ‘Zig Zag’ Andreadis (many artists including Carole King, Guns ‘n Roses). In addition the backing soloists, the house band will also play songs from their own catalogs. Zaring said, “As the world’s first and only festival celebrating classic rock, fans can expect 3 days of performances by some of the greatest musicians from the era.

Whether you love roots rock, blues, soft or hard rock, you won’t be disappointed!” A limited number of tickets will be available for the weekend of events. The concerts will be held in Nuevo Vallarta, located in Riviera Nayarit, in an outdoor space located adjacent to the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta. The music will be complemented by a mini gourmet food festival featuring cuisine prepared by some the region’s top restaurants. Multiple area hotels including Villa La Estancia Riviera Nayarit, Villa Del Palmar Flamingos, Bel Air Collection Resort and Spa Vallarta, Hilton Vallarta Resort & Spa and Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta will host the visiting musicians as part of the support of the hotel associations of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit.

Jesus Carmona of the Hotel Association of Riviera Nayarit and Luis Cantu of the Puerto Vallarta Convention & Visitors Bureau, both said, "We are delighted to host Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival. This event is sure to bring lots of media attention to the region and showcase the best the destinations have to offer. 100% of the net proceeds from the day of celebrity golf will benefit DIF as will 10% of all ticket sales. Given its timing to Christmas, the festival will also be collecting toys for area children. Tickets and festival badges to attend the daily concerts and other events can be purchased at vallartanayaritclassicrock- fest.com. Daily concert tickets will be $95USD plus 10% donation & fees, while discounted festival badges granting admission for all 3 days of shows, are $250USD plus 10% donation and fees. A special all-inclusive 3-day festival badge, which grants admission for all 3 days of shows and access to watch the charity golf outing on Monday, December 15, also includes meal passes and beverages in a private VIP area, plus an official festival t-shirt, is $350 plus10% donation and fees. Limited quantities in each category are available, and the festival is scheduled rain or shine. Discounted room rates will be marketed on the event website, with tourists directed to special offers by the festival’s official hotel partners.

Frequent updates will be made via the festival’s Facebook (Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival), Twitter (@ClassicRockFest) and Instagram accounts (@VNClassicRockFest).The festival website and overall marketing materials are being designed by Mexico-based Amaze Creative Agency. Enrique Ramos Flores, Secretary of Tourism for the state of Jalisco, said, "We are thrilled to welcome the Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival to our destina- tion. This event is sure to bring lots of visitors to our region and help fill up our hotel partners." Nayarit’s Secretary of Tourism Rodrigo Perez Hernandez added, “The Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival will bring fans from around the world to Nayarit. On behalf of the Governor, we are excited to lend our support!”

Jorge Gamboa Patron, the director of Mexico Tourism Board based at the Mexico Consulate in Los Angeles, said, “For many years now, the Zaring Group has been a great partner in promoting tourism to Mexico. They produce exciting star-driven events, which is why we are happy to put our support behind this festival, which we believe will be an exciting new international event for rockers, their fans and local residents of the greater Vallarta area.” Other supporters for the festival include local DMC North American Travel, which will provide transportation services for the artists and VIPs. North American will is also offering discounted airport transfers to all fans attending the event.

Contact them directly for rates and to schedule service. Zaring Group founder John Zaring, the festival’s creator, has three decades of experience in event production. In addition to producing charity events for stars Marg Helgenberger, Dennis Quaid, Meat Loaf, Samuel L. Jackson, among others, he also created and produces the annual Cabo Comedy Festival (www.cabo- comedyfestival.com). Through the Zaring Group’s signature destination resort promotion program, the firm has been promoting Mexico via special events and celebrity appearances since 2007. In addition to the Cabo Comedy Festival, the firm has organized the annual Barefoot Formal, a New Year’s Eve show at Casa Dorada Resort & Spa featuring dancers from “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance” along with finalists from “American Idol,” as well as the Cabo Celebrity Golf Classic, and Puerto Los Cabos World Cup.

Local Media Contact: Erika Partida (322) 188-41-29  US Media Contact: Kathy Manabat (818) 961-5853 

Kansas (click Here) December 13	Thunder Birds (Click Here) December 12	Fuller (Click Here) Sunday December 14
Dolenz (Click Here) December 14	Forghat (Click Here) December 14	Davis (Click Here) December 13
Starship (Click Here) December 14	Firefall (Click Here) December 13	Poco (Click Here) December 13
League (Click Here) December 14	Augeri (Click Here) December 14	Phantom (Click Here) December 12
Manson (click Here) December 13	Bondeans (Click Here) December 12	Lee (Click Here) December 12

Cheap (Click Here) December 14	Micki Free's American Horse Trio

FOR sure, the famed Cote d' Azur, oftentimes known as the French Riviera off the southeast corner of France, doesn't disappoint sun worshippers and beachcombers. But Mexico isn't too far behind.

While Cancun and Acapulco facing the Yucatan Peninsula dominate its eastern coast, the resort town of Puerto Vallarta looking towards the Pacific has everything all these places have to offer and more.

Flying to Puerto Vallarta means (at least for me) taking a flight from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California to Phoenix, Arizona to catch a flight to the resort town further down south.

The moment I realized a smaller plane would make the final leg of this trip, I would have begged off continuing with the connecting flight— if not for the prospect of experiencing the many lovely stories I've heard about this famed resort town.

The thick Mexican Spanish trumpeted our arrival. The hot and humid air billowing against my face transported me back to Bacolod. And the dangerous dance between old rickety buses, datsuns and jaywalkers that navigate the busy streets lined with street vendors reminded me so much of home.

Facing the Pacific—home for the next week or so was Plaza Pelicanos. We opted for its endless buffet where you will find a variety of seafood dishes at the buffet table, bottomless drinks and endless flan (same as our leche flan). Added to this are the very friendly waiters and staff at the hotel which made our stay quite relaxing and fun.

Exploring the city was equally fun as well. Good thing one of my best friends was fluent in Spanish such that we did not have to worry about getting wrong directions or getting lost. We braved the rickety buses on the way to the charming part of Puerto Vallarta where you will find small art galleries lining the old cobblestone streets selling artworks made by local artists, a small plaza where more handicrafts are sold and a lovely boulevard next to the coastline.

We found a cathedral amidst the city where most of its residents, I suppose, get their Sunday fix. In front of the church are street vendors that sell their wares from flowers, t-shirts, knick-knacks and even street food. It is a scene very reminiscent of the Bacolod Cathedral and the public plaza.

We heard that Puerto Vallarta is comparable to San Francisco. So, what's best to do than to find out if it is as open and non-judgmental as its northern cousin; or whether if such openness can thrive amidst its religious forces.

Sure enough, after asking a couple of locals, we managed to find a couple of watering holes that cater to worldly needs. While we were told that denizens from Guadalajara have better-looking genes, the locals of Puerto Vallarta proved to us that old-town charm and parochial ways is all you need... sometimes. And although you may also find this in the French Riviera, there is something about Puerto Vallarta that makes it different.

[readon1 url="http://world.einnews.com/article/230782632"]Source:www.world.einnews.com[/readon1]

The Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival will be held December 11-15, 2014 with events taking place throughout Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Supported by the Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit Tourism Boards, the four-day event will include 3 days of classic rock music performances, a showcase gallery of famous album cover art and concert photography, a charity golf outing to benefit DIF (a local children's charity), and parties at some of the most popular night spots in Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit. On Saturday evening in Puerto Vallarta, there will be a party honoring several 'Giants of Rock' for their accomplishments in classic rock.

Festival creator and producer John Zaring of the Los Angeles, CA-based Zaring Group announced 19 acts that will appear during the daily concerts in Nuevo Vallarta. The lineup includes Americana rockers the BoDeans, blues favorites Fabulous Thunderbirds, rock-a-billy specialists Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats, country rockers Poco, Pure Prairie League and Firefall, and iconic classic rock bands Jefferson Starship, Kansas, Cheap Trick, Foghat and Spencer Davis Group. Several solo artists and singers will have their sets backed by the festival's all-star 'house band', including Dave Mason (Traffic), Gary Wright (best known for his smash hit "Dreamweaver"), Craig Fuller (lead singer of both Little Feat and Little River Band), former Journey lead singer Steve Augeri, Monkees frontman Micky Dolenz, former Grand Funk Railroad singer Mark Farner and blues legend Sam Moore (Sam and Dave). Additional acts are expected to be announced.

The house band includes stellar musicians from several legendary rock acts, including former Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan lead guitarist Jeffrey 'Skunk' Baxter, former Fleetwood Mac guitarist and rock-a-billy legend Billy Burnette, The Cars guitarist Elliot Easton, bassists Kenny Lee Lewis of Steve Miller Band and Kenny Gradney of Little Feat, drummers Curly Smith (Boston) and Kenny Aronoff (John Fogerty, John Mellencamp), and keyboardist Teddy 'Zig Zag' Andreadis (many artists including Carole King, Guns 'n Roses). In addition the backing soloists, the house band will also play songs from their own catalogs.

Zaring said, "As the world's first and only festival celebrating classic rock, fans can expect 3 days of performances by some of the greatest musicians from the era. Whether you love roots rock, blues, soft or hard rock, you won't be disappointed!"

A limited number of tickets will be available for the weekend of events. The concerts will be held in Nuevo Vallarta, located in Riviera Nayarit, in an outdoor space located adjacent to the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta. The music will be complemented by a mini gourmet food festival featuring cuisine prepared by some the region's top restaurants. Multiple area hotels including Villa La Estancia Riviera Nayarit, Villa Del Palmar Flamingos, Bel Air Collection Resort and Spa Vallarta, Hilton Vallarta Resort & Spa and Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta will host the visiting musicians as part of the support of the hotel associations of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit.

Jesus Carmona of the Hotel Association of Riviera Nayarit and Luis Cantu of the Puerto Vallarta Convention & Visitors Bureau, both said, "We are delighted to host Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival. This event is sure to bring lots of media attention to the region and showcase the best the destinations have to offer."

100% of the net proceeds from the day of celebrity golf will benefit DIF as will 10% of all ticket sales. Given its timing to Christmas, the festival will also be collecting toys for area children. Tickets and festival badges to attend the daily concerts and other events can be purchased at http://www.vallartanayaritclassicrockfest.com.

Daily concert tickets will be $95USD plus 10% donation & fees, while discounted festival badges granting admission for all 3 days of shows, are $250USD plus 10% donation and fees. A special all-inclusive 3-day festival badge, which grants admission for all 3 days of shows and access to watch the charity golf outing on Monday, December 15, also includes meal passes and beverages in a private VIP area, plus an official festival t-shirt, is $350USD plus10% donation and fees. Limited quantities in each category are available, and the festival is scheduled rain or shine.

Discounted room rates will be marketed on the event website, with tourists directed to special offers by the festival's official hotel partners.

Frequent updates will be made via the festival's Facebook (Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival), Twitter (@ClassicRockFest) and Instagram accounts (@VNClassicRockFest). The festival website and overall marketing materials are being designed by Mexico-based Amaze Creative Agency.

Enrique Ramos Flores, Secretary of Tourism for the state of Jalisco, said, "We are thrilled to welcome the Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival to our destination. This event is sure to bring lots of visitors to our region and help fill up our hotel partners."

Nayarit's Secretary of Tourism Rodrigo Perez Hernandez added, "The Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival will bring fans from around the world to Nayarit. On behalf of the Governor, we are excited to lend our support!"

Jorge Gamboa Patron, the director of Mexico Tourism Board based at the Mexico Consulate in Los Angeles, said, "For many years now, the Zaring Group has been a great partner in promoting tourism to Mexico. They produce exciting star-driven events, which is why we are happy to put our support behind this festival, which we believe will be an exciting new international event for rockers, their fans and local residents of the greater Vallarta area."

Other supporters for the festival include local DMC North American Travel, which will provide transportation services for the artists and VIPs. North American will is also offering discounted airport transfers to all fans attending the event. Contact them directly for rates and to schedule service.

Zaring Group founder John Zaring, the festival's creator, has three decades of experience in event production. In addition to producing charity events for stars Marg Helgenberger, Dennis Quaid, Meat Loaf, Samuel L. Jackson, among others, he also created and produces the annual Cabo Comedy Festival (http://www.cabocomedyfestival.com).

Through the Zaring Group's signature destination resort promotion program, the firm has been promoting Mexico via special events and celebrity appearances since 2007. In addition to the Cabo Comedy Festival, the firm has organized the annual Barefoot Formal, a New Year's Eve show at Casa Dorada Resort & Spa featuring dancers from "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance" along with finalists from "American Idol," as well as the Cabo Celebrity Golf Classic, and Puerto Los Cabos World Cup.

Some 300 lawyers from around Mexico will gather for this convention to be held for the first time in Nuevo Vallarta; the Marina Riviera Nayarit will host the inauguration, which will be attended by state authorities.

The Riviera Nayarit was chosen to host the Bar Association’s XLII National Convention for the Asociación Nacional de Abogados de Empresa (ANADE), which will take place from October 30 - November 2, 2014.

Thanks to its infrastructure, the Riviera Nayarit was chosen to host an event that focuses on conferences, workshops and debates as well as topics of domestic interest and the presentation of the 2014 ANADE Award. Other touristic, cultural and sports activities will also be held as part of the convention.

José Juan Méndez, the ANADE Council President, commented on the Riviera Nayarit’s natural beauty, history, culture, cuisine and beaches as the elements that determined his decision to hold the convention in Mexico’s Pacific Treasure.

“This seems to be a destination that successfully fulfills the objective of holding a high-end, top-notch judicial convention in a relaxed ambiance. We have no doubt the Riviera Nayarit is one of Mexico’s paradisiacal destinations, and that convinced us to book it,” added the Council President.

He also thanked the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), the Tourism Secretary and the Government of the State of Nayarit for their unflagging support in hosting the more than 3,000 lawyers attending the convention.

The inauguration will take place in the Marina Riviera Nayarit in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle; state authorities are expected to attend. The Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is the official host hotel for the convention.

“They have truly made us feel at home,” he added. “When we were ready to make a choice, we chose the Riviera Nayarit.”

Registration is open for professionals, students, professors and anyone interested in learning more about judicial topics. For more information visit www.anade.mx or call 55 55454546.

Quinceañera is a Mexican celebration when a girl gets 15, a big party is made to celebrate the girls becomes a woman, it is an old tradition passed generation after generation.

The quinceañera dress with a custom made dress most of them like a princess others take a few take a more modern approach, and others take a thematic fantasy approach like Alicia in wonderland or comic or movie.

The father and the mother of the girl make some protocol in the party where they say good bye to the girl to welcome a woman.

Ana Karen quinceañera 

Eating well is one of life’s greatest pleasures and with traditional Mexican cuisine on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists you can bet a visit to the Riviera Nayarit will be a delight.

The textures, flavors, aromas and colors of our local gastronomy are part of this superb designation and we have two fantastic showcases for our visitors to enjoy: the Festival Vallarta Nayarit Gastronómica, which is set to start on October 22nd through the 25th and the International Gourmet Festival from November 17 – 23, now in its 20th year.

The former offers an ample program including Show-Cooking with Traditional Cooks and Show-Cooking with famous Domestic and International Chefs, plus of course a series of Wine, Tequila, Tea and Water Tastings hosted by expert sommeliers and mixologists, as well as keynote addresses on the culture of the corn and the importance of gastronomy in the promotion of a destination. Should you be wondering about our beloved desserts, don’t worry: you’ll be able to enjoy conferences on the Importance of Artisanal Baking and the presentation of the only dessert restaurant in the world. For more details visit www.vallartanayaritgastronomica.com

The latter is the very famous International Gourmet Festival and this year it has a fantastic event-filled program, rife with activities, color, flavor and unique experiences, which they’re calling “an epicurean combination of jazz, wine and cheese.” You won’t want to miss the themed evenings mixing wine and haute cuisine at the Wine and Food Jam with Jazzköket (JazzKitchen), the Wine Pairing Lunch Workshop, diverse Cooking Shows, chats with Cooking Masters where you can interact with them and hear their experiences, the Flavors and Traditions of Colima event, Tango Nights and a very special and entertaining pool party, perfect for tasting the latest delicacies. The Festival will also host a Polo Tournament where they will serve paella and sports in the perfect spot to bring to a close the celebration of this 20th anniversary. For more details click on http://www.festivalgourmet.com/

There’s no doubt the Riviera Nayarit offers an abundance of experiences: come live them for yourself and see that we’re much more than just a beach destination. ¡Buen provecho!

Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, an onsite portal dedicated to celebrating your love abroad, placed the Riviera Nayarit in second place on its list of the top honeymoon destinations for celebrities.

The destination continues to be a topic of conversation around the world thanks to the promotional snowball started by the constant public relations and marketing efforts of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). Proof positive: it now resides in the number two spot of the top honeymoon destinations for celebrities.

Thanks to Mexico’s Pacific Treasure’s infrastructure, service and synergy with Nature, the magazine and website Destination Weddings & Honeymoons placed the Rivera Nayarit among the most important destinations for international celebrities.

According to the article: “Basking in the sun, taking a dip in pristine waters and walking hand-in-hand along white-sand beaches — that idyll was enough to draw Adam Brody and Gossip Girl Leighton Meester to The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort for some post-wedding R&R in 2014.”

It also pointed out that Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson followed their example to relax and enjoy a luxury getaway.

This publicaiton is published in the United States and offers its visitos a varied gamut of possibilities of where to tie the knot.

Its webpage averages 810 thousand monthly visits and they print 350 thousand copies of the magazine every semester since 2005. It also has 315,800 followers among its accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Google+.

Its main market is the United States: 25% of the weddings that take place in this country on a yearly basis use this company’s services. That translates into 332,500 weddings with services related to this magazine in the United States in 2012 alone.

Its readership is made up of 90% women over the age of 32 with an income of $100K+ per year. Ninety-three percent of these have a university degree, 91% have a current passport and 77% are planning their first wedding.

These excellent stats confirm without a doubt that the promotion given to the weddings and romance segment has been right on target. To read the article in full, visit: http://www.destinationweddingmag.com/gallery/20-celebrity-honeymoon-destinations.