Join the Amigos de La Cruz in celebrating Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22 with a full agenda of events. We celebrate Earth Day "because she's the only one we have."

Help us all clean house. There will be activities from both land and sea to help clean up our part of the Bay.

Please come out if you can, bring a friend, then come relax in the evening to celebrate all the good done for the day!

We'll begin the beach cleanup at 9:30 am at the Marina beach area across from the parking area. Volunteers will pick up trash and plastic from the Marina to Las Palapas.

We will move our cleanup efforts to the ocean at 12:00 pm with our Drag Net Regatta along the coast line of La Cruz. We need volunteers to crew on boats and help gather trash and plastic from the Bay. For more information on crewing or volunteering your boat, please contact Katrina at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or stop in at the La Cruz Marina office.

The Beach Bon-Fire Celebration will cap off the day where we can share bragging rights and feel good about our efforts. We'll meet back at the Marina beach at 8:30 pm where we started. Bring snacks and drinks to share along with your musical instruments for a jam session with friends.

If you are available on Earth Day Eve, April 21, Amigos de La Cruz invites you for the last public meeting of the season in the air conditioned VIP lounge at the Marina at 6:00 pm. We'll be firming up our calendar of events and working feverishly until Fall to bring you all a fun packed season for the causes near and dear to Amigos de La Cruz.

Champagne, Sweet Treats and Floral Arrangement Delivered As In-Suite VIP Wedding Amenity

PUERTO VALLARTA: Guests tying the knot at any of Mexico’s four “Beyond All-Inclusive, Beyond All Compare” Velas Resorts are invited to celebrate their wedding night with in-suite amenities just for posting wedding pics on Instagram. Unique for each couple, Velas Resorts will create a custom hashtag for guests to use when uploading their favorite wedding images to the social media network. Once the required number of posts has been reached, a bottle of Moet & Chandon, decadent strawberries and chocolate, and a floral arrangement will be delivered to the suite for the happy couple to enjoy.
Located along Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Grand Velas Riviera Maya features a wide variety of wedding facilities, including a chapel with views of the flora and fauna of the Riviera Maya Jungle, a spacious platform on the edge of the white-sand beach, and Terraza del Mar with open-air indoor and outdoor spaces. Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit boasts a new Spa Suite for Brides, which includes incredibly spacious bedrooms, spa-style bathrooms, a stunning oceanfront terrace, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzi, a shower with six hydro jets and more. Puerto Vallarta’s Velas Vallarta and Casa Velas feature unforgettable oceanfront venues, elegant ballrooms and tropical pool areas with lush greenery creating the ideal oasis to say “I do.”

The Instagram post must use @VelasWeddings and their specific hashtag in order to qualify. The number of posts required to receive the surprise amenity will be pre-determined based on the number of guests attending the wedding. For more information on Velas Resorts Weddings or to make a reservation, please call 1-866-868-0922 or visithttp://www.velasweddings.com.

Velas Weddings:

Offering unparalleled all-inclusive experiences for destination weddings, Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit have earned 26 AAA Diamond ratings and numerous other international awards. The resorts are Casa Velas, a boutique adults-only hotel and ocean club located on the Marina Vallarta Golf Course; Velas Vallarta, a family-friendly all-suite resort located on 10 acres of oceanfront; and AAA Five Diamond Award recipients Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit on the Banderas Bay and Grand Velas Riviera Maya, with both jungle and beach settings. Velas Resorts offer a variety of venues and vistas for weddings of any size and generous wedding packages that include romantic extras such as an aromatherapy couples massage and candlelit dinners.

San Blas is plentiful with natural attractions and tours to areas such as La Tovara, the lagoons a Camalota, Zoquipán and Los Negros—all of them bird sanctuaries that rank the region second in the Western Hemisphere with the most variety of feathered creatures.

This village and its environs are known for an amazing concentration of local and migratory birds, with over 500 species registered between the two categories. This is due in large part to the grand biodiversity present in the region and its many unique characteristics and varied ecosystems, including lagoon estuaries and mangrove forests, coastal lagoons, tropical lagoons, tropical jungles, sub tropical deciduous forest, scrub or low forest, savannah plains, wetlands with swamps, marshes and beaches. This also allows for a great variety of flora, particularly orchids, bromeliads, palms and other ornamental and medicinal plants.

The fauna is also quite diverse, with several protected species in the area such as the jaguar, ocelot, mountain lion, panther, lynx, river otter, marine and river turtles, river crocodiles, iguanas, tarantulas, snakes and a variety of aquatic birds including cranes, ibis, pelicans, ducks, beach birds, birds of prey and many land birds including warblers, vireos, trogons, carpenter birds, hummingbirds, crows and parrots, among many others. All these species place San Blas, Nayarit, on the pages of the International Birdwatchers Guide as well as tours in different magazines specializing in birdwatching. The high season for birding is November through May, when the area receives most of its birding enthusiasts and professionals.

“The Riviera Nayarit hosts many important visitors including the humpback whale, the whale shark, marine turtles and a great variety of migratory birds, which remain mainly in the San Blas area.”

Puerto Vallarta, Jal. - Puerto Vallarta’s Cultural Institute invites everyone to learn how to play the most wholesome musical instrument there is: the Piano. Classes will take place at Cuale Cultural Center.

Classes will be taught by Tomás Mujica Elisea; who is a highly recognized local pianist, educated in the Diocesan Seminary, former director of the Municipal choir and currently director of “Refugio” Choir. Mujica Elisea has fifteen years of experience teaching piano.

Classes are scheduled as follows: from 9:00 am. to 12:00 n. and from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, on Wednesdays for advanced students and Thursdays for beginners. Saturdays, from 9:00 am. to 12:00 n, for beginners and advanced students.

Piano lessons are open to the public, with or without music training or experience. Classes start with a course of intensive theory, in order to enhance the lyrical base of each student with the methodology of well known, Gerónimo Baquiro Foster.
 
"It is important to learn the language of music because it helps to improve techniques and to avoid any impediment. Classes are recommended for children eight or older. Children younger than eight are easily distracted; although individual cases can be assess”; explained Tomas Mujica Elisea.

The traditional Beyer method serves as the base for this kind of instrument. This method allows the individual to advance at his own pace, under the guidance of the teacher and his practice and work at home.

Cuale Cultural Center’s Piano school students, offer to the public two recitals a year. It is important for students to lose their fear, because at the end of the course we have a concert, to share with people what the students have learned.
 
For more information, or to enroll, call the Cultural Center: 2230095 / 1130107
 
-See more at: Open Invitation to Piano Lessons at Cuale Cultural Center
 
 Puerto Vallarta, Jal. - Puerto Vallarta’s Cultural Institute invites everyone to learn how to play the most wholesome musical instrument there is: the Piano. Classes will take place at Cuale Cultural Center.

Classes will be taught by Tomás Mujica Elisea; who is a highly recognized local pianist, educated in the Diocesan Seminary, former director of the Municipal choir and currently director of “Refugio” Choir. Mujica Elisea has fifteen years of experience teaching piano.

Classes are scheduled as follows: from 9:00 am. to 12:00 n. and from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, on Wednesdays for advanced students and Thursdays for beginners. Saturdays, from 9:00 am. to 12:00 n, for beginners and advanced students.

Piano lessons are open to the public, with or without music training or experience. Classes start with a course of intensive theory, in order to enhance the lyrical base of each student with the methodology of well known, Gerónimo Baquiro Foster.
 
"It is important to learn the language of music because it helps to improve techniques and to avoid any impediment. Classes are recommended for children eight or older. Children younger than eight are easily distracted; although individual cases can be assess”; explained Tomas Mujica Elisea.

The traditional Beyer method serves as the base for this kind of instrument. This method allows the individual to advance at his own pace, under the guidance of the teacher and his practice and work at home.

Cuale Cultural Center’s Piano school students, offer to the public two recitals a year. It is important for students to lose their fear, because at the end of the course we have a concert, to share with people what the students have learned.
 
For more information, or to enroll, call the Cultural Center: 2230095 / 1130107

[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

This undated photo provided by courtesy of Richard C. Miller shows, James Dean and two local children on the set of Giant, in Marfa, Texas. A new documentary, "Children of Giant," examines the Mexican-American child actors who appeared in the 1956 blockbuster movie âGiantâ but later were forced to view the film in segregated theaters. (Courtesy Richard C. Miller

PUERTO VALLARTA: This undated photo provided by courtesy of Richard C. Miller shows, James Dean and two local children on the set of Giant, in Marfa, Texas. A new documentary, "Children of Giant," examines the Mexican-American child actors who appeared in the 1956 blockbuster movie âGiantâ but later were forced to view the film in segregated theaters. (Courtesy Richard C. Miller via AP)

A young George Washington Valenzuela was walking to a barbershop in small, dusty Marfa, Texas, when a woman approached him and asked if he would like to be in a movie. He said yes.

Weeks later, Valenzuela found himself singing the national anthem in front of Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor in the 1956 blockbuster movie "Giant."

A new documentary seeks to tell Valenzuela's story and that of other Mexican-American child actors who appeared in the film but later could only view it in segregated theaters.

"Children of Giant" goes to the West Texas town where director George Stevens and his Hollywood crew set up shop to shoot one of the first major films to openly tackle racism.

For the 60 years since the movie's release, most of the Mexican-American cast has been largely forgotten, though the movie introduced the nation to the discrimination they faced, documentary director Hector Galan said.

"Many people don't realize how important the film 'Giant' was to Mexican-Americans at the time," Galan said. "For the first time on a national level the stories of Mexican-Americans were being told."

Based on the novel by Edna Ferber of the same name, "Giant" follows wealthy Texas cattle rancher Jordan Benedict, Jr., played by Hudson, who marries Maryland socialite Leslie Lynnton, portrayed by Taylor. Their sprawling ranch is located on land once owned by impoverished Mexican-Americans, who still work the land but are denied basic medical care and decent jobs.

Benedict's son, played by Dennis Hopper, marries a Mexican-American nurse, played by Mexican actress Elsa Cárdenas, creating racial tension. James Dean also starred in the movie.

At the time of its release, the movie was popular among Mexican-Americans, especially since Ferber had interviewed civil rights leaders Hector P. García and lawyer John J. Herrera for her novel, and the movie adopted real-life episodes from the new civil rights movement in Texas.

Yet, many of the main actors were unaware of the discrimination the Mexican-American extras faced away from the movie set.

In the documentary, Galan interviews Cárdenas who recalls how staff at a hotel looked at her suspiciously and how she didn't know the Mexican-American children on the set had to attend segregated schools. He also interviews child actor Tony Cano who remembers incidents of racism.

The documentary also covers Stevens' experience in World War II as part of the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Stevens would become one of the first directors to capture images of the Holocaust and his footage would be used in the Nuremberg Trials.

"That experience changed him forever," Galan said. "I don't think he would have made "Giant" had it not been for that experience."

In addition, the documentary shows how Dean playfully interacted with Mexican-American teens off screen and shocked the town when he was killed in a car wreck in California weeks later.

"Children of Giant" kicks off a new season of the PBS Voces series on April 17.
By age 20, she had become a fashion sensation, her freckled face and flowing, dirty blond locks gracing the cover of top fashion magazines worldwide, and her unique combination of legginess and curves causing a sensation during runway appearances. Bündchen's success was heralded as marking the end of the sickly, skinny and bedraggled "heroin chic" look that had dominated runways for years.

Her romantic life was regularly splashed across gossip magazines, as she was romantically linked to a series of A-listers, from surfer Kelly Slater to actor Leonardo DiCaprio. In 2009, she married New England Patriots quarterback Brady. The couple has two children.

Last year, she out-earned Brady, netting an estimated $47 million on contracts, according to Forbes. The next highest-earning models on the Forbes celebrity list, Doutzen Kroes of the Netherlands and fellow-Brazilian Adriana Lima, earned $8 million each, according to the magazine.

Selena Gomez flashed underboob in a skimpy pink bikini while vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico this week -- see the sexy photos!Credit: XPOS/AKM-GSI

Everything, including hotness, comes "Naturally" for this star! Selena Gomez sizzled in a teeny pink bikini in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, while playing in the water on Tuesday, April 14.During her fun excursion with friends, the multi-hyphenate got rowdy in the water and flashed some underboob in her sexy (and very skimpy) bikini top. Gomez, 22, beamed in the ocean after going for a refreshing swim. See more of Selena's sexy bikini pics. PHOTOS: The hottest bikini bodies of 2015

Selena Gomez
Credit: XPOS/AKM-GSI

The former Disney star also brought a lime green and blue inflatable tube into the warm waters as she bonded with pals on vacation. Gomez's tiny two-piece — which featured large cutouts at her waist — nearly fell off at one point because she was having so much fun.

PHOTOS: Celeb bikini malfunctionsFrom the back, Gomez's voluptuous figure was on full display in her form-fitting bikini bottoms as she walked back to her resort.

PHOTOS: Celebs doing extreme sports The actress also shared an Instagram from her Mexican getaway on Wednesday, April 15, where she shot footage of the scene inside her vacation home at the Casa Aramara in Punta Mita. "Girly moments at the Casa," Gomez captioned the panoramic video, which revealed an elaborate dinner setting including a massive Hookah serving as the centerpiece of their table.

Estas Como Mango! means that “You are like a Mango” or “you are sweet, perfect and ripe!” It’s a term of affection and adoration in Mexico. Of course, we believe everyone is perfect and everyone is ripe. This exhibition of contemporary art and public practice will open at Oficina de Proyectos Culturales (OPC) in Puerto Vallarta in May 2015 and will be the first exhibition by the Fallen Fruit collective in Mexico. Cultural exchange and contemporary art making is important to the vibrancy of a 21st-century transnational community. We recognize that California was once Mexico and that Latin-American heritage is part of West-coast culture. The artists want to create meaning from the nuances of these histories. This art installation will re-contextualize local narratives using fruit and images of Puerto Vallarta as a subject, object and symbol.

The artworks will respond to people and place and use local fruit as a connector. Fruit is a part of the history of a place. In the case of Puerto Vallarta, we found that the mango is paramount to local culture. Mangos were imported to this tropical beach town and part of its foundation in terms of urban planning, infrastructure, and culture. This area was a place to harvest salt for the mines, then a plantation, a village, and now a town—where the culture of the plantation was replaced by a culture of tourism. From this context, we will create new artworks that celebrate the history of place and fruit as a connector of cultural meaning.

ABOUT OPC:

Oficina de Proyectos Culturales is an independent non-profit arts organization dedicated to fostering dialogue through exhibitions, round table discussions, public art and arts education programs. OPC works with artists, architects, curators, academics, and writers who explore ideas that shape our city and to develop cultural programming that is firmly rooted in Puerto Vallarta, yet international in  scope.

The Marina Nuevo Vallarta expects some 500 participants for this free event for kids ages two through 12; the objective is to enjoy the day and promote sport fishing to new generations of anglers.

The Bahía de Banderas Sport Fishing Club and the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Groups and Events Department invite everyone to celebrate Children’s Day at the 1^st Annual Riviera Nayarit Children’s Fishing Tournament.

The date is set for Sunday, April 26^th, at the Marina Nuevo Vallarta, where kids can begin registering for the free event at 8 a.m.; the only requisite is for the child to be accompanied by at least one adult caregiver.

The event is limited to 500 children, who will be divided into two categories: A, for children two to six years of age, and B, for kids seven to 12. This friendly competition will begin at 9 o’clock on the dot and will last until 11 a.m., to be followed by the awards ceremony.

Thanks to sponsor support the participants will receive an event T-shirt, fishing equipment, snacks, beverages, toys, desserts, candy and prizes for every child that registers a catch.

“We’ve tried hard to create a professional event for the kids and their parents to enjoy a great time in a fun family atmosphere,” said David Zaragoza Camacho, President of the Sport Fishing Club.

The idea is to promote the sport fishing culture while staying within the boundaries of caring for and respecting the environment in order to create new brand ambassadors from these younger generations for the destination.

An important caveat is that in order to develop the children’s abilities the parents cannot aid them in catching the fish, but they must be present to prevent unwanted incidents.

There are several rules and regulations in the tournament: the children must be in their parent’s care at all times, they can only fish from certain authorized piers, only the biggest fish per child will be weighed and all the animals will be released post weigh-in. 

Who: American School of Puerto Vallarta
What: “Day To Night” Golf Tournament, Auction and Casino Night
When: Saturday, April 18
Where: Flamingos Golf Course and Palapa
Cost: Various Packages (Please see below)

Sayulita is a sleepy little beach town 25 miles north of Puerto Vallarta along the Riviera Nayarit, a 200-mile stretch of the Pacific Coastline in Mexico. This small town is known for its relaxed hippy vibe, a rich Huichol artisan culture and a town square that is totally walkable.

Here are 10 things you absolutely must experience during your stay in Sayulita, besides lounging on the beach all day because that's a given!

1. Drink Tequila
The number one rule in Mexico is that you can't trust the water, but you can always trust the tequila!
Don't let the name fool you. Sayulita Fish Taco is also a world class tequila bar offering more than 300 types of tequila. One too many tastes and it may start to-kill-ya. (Get it?)

2. Eat a Fish Taco
The Real Fish Taco slings fresh-out-of-the-sea and hot-off-the-grill fish tacos from a little stand with a tagline of "Fish Taco My Ass... Get a Real One." Just steps off the beach, it's far too easy to consume too many of these tacos as they come on a freshly made tortilla and topped with lettuce, pico de gallo and a special creamy/spicy sauce. Sure, the fish tacos live up to their name, but I would even dare say that the shrimp tacos are better!

3. Cool off with a Paleta
Horchata, cookies n' cream, coconut, passionfruit... The flavors of paletas (traditional Mexican popsicles) are endless at WaKika Heladeria. You won't find any list of flavors here so be sure to listen up when they start naming the 20+ flavors in the case. Choose between the rich creamy milk based popsicles or the light refreshing all fruit popsicles. Whatever you choose, you will not be disappointed. Since the price is right and the sun is shining, it sure is easy to justify stopping by everyday!

4. Admire the Local Artisans
The Huichol people are an indigenous tribe to Mexico and are known for creating intricate and bright yarn
paintings and bead work where a layer of wax is applied to a surface and then yarn or beads are pressed into the wax. The most stunning example of this can be found at the dreamy shop Evoke the Spirit, which seems to capture the essence of Sayulita.

Established by Brittney Borjeson, an NY transplant who first fell in love with Sayulita in 2012, the shop and much of the merchandise are designed by Borjeson and made by local Huichol artisans. Stop by to admire the wall of skull "paintings" and even see some of the action as pieces are being made in shop.

Artefakto is another inspiring store stocked with all local artisan made products with an emphasis on textiles and jewelry. To get up close and personal, be sure to shop the local markets, which pop up on the weekends all around town.

5. Love the Colors
With the combination of sunshine and bright pops of color, it's nearly impossible not to feel happy in Sayulita!
You'll find brightly painted buildings and colorful pompoms all around town, which is a traditional Huichol adornment. (There is a great little kiosk just off the beach, where the owner creates beautiful strands of gradient pompoms.)Even the graveyard is a colorful work of art as they believe that death is as beautiful as life and their final resting

6. Be a tourist: See the Marietta Islands
It's hard to avoid being a tourist when you are somewhere new. Don't let your pride get in the way of seeing the Marietta Islands. Sure, you have to join some silly cruise line to get out there. Sure, it's an all day trek. BUT, just imagine a volcano in the ocean, with a hole in it, with a beach in the hole, that you can swim to. Have you booked your ticket yet?

Image via Lunazul Surf School

7. Go Surfing
Sayulita Beach is one of the few places along the coast with great waves, making it a hotspot for surfing. From hourly surfboard rentals to multi-day surf camps, Lunazul Surf School is here to help anyone accomplish their pipe dreams. Beginners fear not! There is a designated section for those new to the sport. With over 100 surfboards in store, their friendly staff will help you find the perfect board. Now, riding the perfect wave is up to you!

Image via Haramara Retreat

8. Namaste
Get your yoga on at Haramara Retreat, meaning "Mother Sea" in the native Huichol Indian language, which is an intimate and secluded yoga retreat nestled in the jungle with an amazing beach view. With an emphasis on being one with nature, this magical place was built without mechanical equipment as to not damage the jungle, and each structure was hand-built using traditional construction methods You will find your inner peace and will want to nama-stay forever.

9. Get a Good Night's Sleep
Christophe and Marina Mignot sure know how to live right, as they spent 10 years on a sailboat before opening
their six room boutique hotel in the heart of Sayulita. With the motto "Live for the love of life," Petit Hotel Hafa is a wonderful mixture of Mexican, Mediterranean and Moroccan design and their signature red  Hafa heart can be found throughout. Just two blocks from the beach, it's easy to bask in the sun all day and relax on their cozy rooftop while sipping some (complimentary) tequila at night. With rooms starting at $50/ night, it doesn't actually get any better than this!

10. Watch a Sunset
Be sure to catch the sunset since it is different every night in Sayulita. Some nights it is cotton-candy pink.
Some nights it is moody. Some nights it is electric! Every night it is worth it.

Ask just about anyone in Puerto Vallarta  and they will name  NO WAY JOSE!  as one of their top favorite restaurants!

Melt in your mouth Filet for  about$17?!
Table-side prepared Caesar Salad that is one the BEST I have ever had in my life!

No Way José! boasts the only Mexican Contemporary menu in PV with delicious dishes representing every region in Mexico.

You’ll find your fav from the Red Snapper Carpaccio to the Creamy Shrimp Bisque, from the Chiles En Nogada to the Mole Poblano.

And you MUST, I stress  MUST order a  flaming coffee  drink! The guys make it a show stopper and it’s delicious!

You’re kidding?  You don’t see anything on the menu that excites you?

No problem! Their award-winning kitchen, La Cocina de Amor, happily responds to special orders to please even the most discerning palate. For the vegetarians who are on the look-out for creative options, they use only the freshest locally grown in-season vegetables to create dishes found only at No Way José!.

At No Way José! you become part of the family after your first visit.

Owners Julie and José Alfredo personally attend to every guest, and take every comment to heart to continuously improve their menu and service. “We’re a romantic and spontaneous environment where you may hear José Alfredo burst into song at the bar, or where you may be invited to spin around for an impromptu dance by a member of one of the most charming service teams in Puerto Vallarta.”

“We provide joy and happiness through delicious food, creative drinks, impeccable professional service and the warmth of a happy home that brings Mexican cuisine to the world.

We are at your service.  

We are… Tu Casa in Vallarta!”

NO WAY  JOSE!

Paul Adams.

Google and Facebook are two of the biggest and best-known technology companies you can work for in Silicon Valley.

Each company is known for their perks and giant sprawling campuses, but, as it turns out, the culture in each company is quite different.

Paul Adams, the vice president of product at Intercom, worked at Google for three years, between 2007 and 2010, before leaving for Facebook, where he worked between 2011 and 2013.

There are some similarities between Google and Facebook — they're both technology companies that build products to help people communicate with one another and easily find information.

But they think in completely different ways, says Adams.

"So the biggest difference for me was that Google is very much engineering driven — solving hard engineering technology problems — whereas Facebook was a means to an end," Adams told Business Insider. "They are very much more a social psychology company, trying to build richer ways for people to communicate."

Yes, Facebook has made some "phenomenal engineering accomplishments," according to Adams, but that's not Facebook's mission.

The "things that they talk about and get excited about often are around human communication and the psychology of it," he said.

Lisa Eadicicco covers technology for Business Insider. She has previously written about consumer technology for Laptop Mag, The International Business Times and Digital Trends. Lisa's work has appeared on NBC News, Fox News and Yahoo Tech among other major news outlets.

Lisa graduated from Purchase College in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in Journalism.