Vallarta Today - Puerto Vallarta's Only Daily English Newspaper - Vallarta Daily News
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New York, May 26, 2014- The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board has won the hosting responsibilities of the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) 2015 Conference & Marketplace to be held in Puerto Vallarta in May 2015.
Puerto Vallarta’s LGBT community held the city’s second Gay Pride Festival with assistance from the municipal government. From May 22nd to 26th, 2014; various hotels, beach clubs, restaurants and bars in the iconic Romantic Zone, Vallarta’s most popular gay district, have been held events to celebrate diversity in the city.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Hotel Sheraton Buganvilias Resort & Convention Center for the 6:00PM start of the much anticipated Vallarta Pride Parade. Featuring more than 50 floats and hundreds of people, the parade route continued down the streets of Paseo Díaz Ordaz, Ignacio L. Vallarta, Venustiano Carranza, Olas Altas, and finally Rodolfo Gómez to finish at Lázaro Cárdenas Park.
ACT II Entertainment was commissioned to produce a 2-hour musical event that started at 7:00PM and was hosted by the Grand Marshall of Vallarta Pride Alejandra Bogue and La Supermana as María Félix bringing together some of the best local talent to put on a fantastic open air concert. In addition, Diva Divine, Carla Fifi were the MC for the dance portion of the event. Movie star Charly Díaz was in the park available for photo opportunities, autographs and interviews.
The talented DJ Marco, one of the most popular in Vallarta, was in charge of spinning the opening set and he put out a fabulous mix of beats that had festival-goers on the dance floor.
There were also numerous food stalls, community organizations and local businesses participating in the park festivities, joining in the celebration of equality. Mist & More provided a misting tunnel and 4 misting fans to refresh the crowd during the festivities. Star Events provided the amazing tents and Sonido Winners the great sound system.
Although the festival at Lazaro Cardenas Park ended promptly at 11:00PM (out of respect for the neighbors), the party went on until dawn at bars and clubs nearby.
Organizers, sponsors, supporters, donors, participants and the LGBT community were pleased with the acceptance and success of what was the second Gay Pride Festival in Puerto Vallarta.
[readon1 url="http://vallartapride.com/en/news/successful-gay-pride-parade-artistic-festival-in-puerto-vallarta/#.U4NIx_ldXUU"]Source:vallartapride.com[/readon1]
May 30, May 31 and June 1 are going to be a treat for Mexican culture lovers who will get to chance to savor 2 distinct symbols of Mexico. Arena Vallarta will host the 5th Annual Gala de Mariachis y Torneo Nacional Charro (Mariachi Gala & Charro Tournament).
The Puerto Vallarta Youth Orchestra has just announced their end of season concert, which will be performed free of charge at the Centro Universitario de la Costa (CUC) on Wednesday, May 28 at 5 pm, and again the following day at Act II’s Stages at 8 pm ($150 pesos per person + $50 peso minimum consumption). The orchestra, conducted by Miguel Almaguer, will perform works by Moncayo, Mozart, Beethoven and Salieri, with violinist Manuel Zogbi as guest soloist.
The performances provide the added opportunity to bid farewell to conductor Almaguer, who founded the project almost four years ago, and now moves on with new challenges as he leaves the orchestra and project in capable hands.
A percentage of the proceeds from the Thursday performance at Act II’s Stages will be donated to the orchestra. Tickets can be purchased at Act II’s box office. For more information about the Puerto Vallarta Youth Orchestra and its projects, please visit their Facebook page, in Spanish.
[readon1 url="http://virtualvallarta.com/puertovallarta/news/local/puerto-vallarta-youth-orchestra-announces-performance-1405191.shtml"]Source:irtualvallarta.com [/readon1]
Thinking about doing a Spring Cleaning? If you are ready to clear your house of those items you don’t use any more, don’t throw them away! Many of those articles that are still in good condition, but that you no longer use, can be really helpful to someone else.
As many of you know, the Fundación Punta de Mita has grown tremendously this year and they could really use some of those items you are about to throw away.
If you have functioning furniture/furnishing you are getting ride of, please consider donating them. The Foundation is currently looking for the following items:
This way, while clearing your house for unused articles you’ll be supporting this great organization, and they will greatly appreciate all the help they receive.
For more information about the items being received or to coordinate your donation delivery, please contact Fundación Punta de Mita: (329)291.5053
[readon1 url="http://livepuntamita.com/spring-cleaning-donate-those-items-you-dont-use-any-more-to-the-punta-de-mita-foundation/"]Source:livepuntamita.com [/readon1]
We invite you to spend 4 epic days with us from November 6-9 in gorgeous Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! Apply to join us today and hope to see you there, with 350 of the world’s most brilliant and inspiring entrepreneurs and thought leaders.
The evening of Thursday, May 22nd, 2014 brought the launch of the much awaited Vallarta Pride 2014 with an elegant cocktail party at Mantamar Beach Club Bar & Grill, located near Almar Resort Luxury All Suites & Spa.
Mantamar Beach Club Bar & Grill, the luxurious beach club for gays, lesbians and friends, hosted the official launch of Vallarta Pride at their tropical poolside setting.
Although admission was free and the event was open to the public, Mantamar Beach Club offered hors d’oeuvres and drinks at a very affordable price. In addition, some gogo dancers dressed as sailors were around just before crowning of the Queen of Pride, a hard won title awarded to the winner of The Great Vallarta Drag Race, who accepted her title with the grace befitting royalty.
The Puerto Vallarta premier screening of the documentary “We are Proud” a 30-minute video directed by Brian Barnard and supported by Gay Guide Vallarta that captures the LGBT history of our destination, was also a hit with the crowd.
Edgar Treviño, whose artistic career and promotion of Puerto Vallarta’s art and culture is well known, was the emcee of the spectacular opening party which was attended by at least 300 attendees. In addition, La Supermana and Alejandra Bogue (the Grand Marshall of Vallarta Pride) were at the event.
Alejandro Meza, owner of Almar Resort Luxury All Suites & Spa and Mantamar Beach Club Bar & Grill said he was “proud to participate in Vallarta Pride. It’s an important event that celebrates the diversity of Vallarta and we are happy to be a part of it.”
Meanwhile, the Vallarta Pride Steering Committee was happy and proud that their efforts and dedication has paid off and confirmed that everything is ready for the big Pride Parade and other events which have been organized for this celebratory weekend.
[readon1 url="http://vallartapride.com/en/news/spectacular-opening-party-for-vallarta-pride-2014/#.U4CWxCjdpco"]Source:vallartapride.com[/readon1]
Industry giant Carnival is bringing back year-round sailings to the Mexican Riviera.
The Holistic Institute of Culture, in coordination with the Union Urban Farms Owners of Puerto Vallarta AC, invite all people to participate in the collection of old photographs in order to complete the image heritage of the "House of Memory Graph of Puerto Vallarta ", so it's time to get your old photos out of the drawers and share the memories that form the identity of our Vallarta, whether character portraits, parties, cityscapes, social activities and images of everyday life.
The call for photos closes on the 16th of June. The fundamental requirement is that the material has been taken in Puerto Vallarta during the twentieth century in sepia, color or black and white.
Donors do not lose your original photo, as they are returned once it has been digitized. There will be an organizing committee that selects and categorizes your images, and with the material, a complete file will be generated.
"The goal is to encourage citizen participation in the rescue of the graphics memory of our community, create a space where not only the photographs are displayed but are available to seminars, exhibitions, workshops, an album containing the past of Puerto Vallarta," said Sergio Zepeda, director of the Institute of Culture Vallarta.
For now there are three options for housing estates as the "House of Graphic Memory Puerto Vallarta", José de Jesús Bernal Palacios, president of the Union of Owners of Rural Urban Municipality of Puerto Vallarta said. The space will house not only contributed photographs and a documentary collection for the study of the history of the city.
Registration of photographs will take place in person at the Cuale Cultural Center, located at 437 Achilles Serdán interior 38, Emiliano Zapata, the Cuale River Island, 10:00 to 14:00 Monday to Friday .
For more information and appointment, interested persons can contact the Holistic Institute of Culture by phone: (322) 223 0095. If you send pictures by email, they must have a minimum of 300 DPI, and should be sent to the e-mail. casadelamemoriagrafica @ gmail.com.
Palmares Beach, located south of Puerto Vallarta, managed to obtain "Blue Flag" recognition, one of the most important certifications for beaches in the world, promoting the sustainable management of coastal destinations, The term will be for one year beginning on 1 July.
Director of Environment and Ecology, Luis Gonzalez Guevara, said that this recognition is an example of the ability to work in teams, in an orderly fashion within the municipality and abroad with departments of the state and federal government.
"They are meeting their commitments to dignify access, retrieve, cause ownership of the company with respect to the beaches. It is aan award that was officially unveiled in Acapulco, Guerrero, by the national Blue Flag judges. It is an international certification and the first in the state of Jalisco."
He mentioned that in a couple of weeks there will be a third visit to the beach in order to confirm that all items are ready under therequirements of the "Tenth National Clean Beaches" to be held from 25 to 27 June, when the ceremonial presentation of the award will be made.
The recognition lasts 12 months, and then will be re-verified by the judges, in order to ensure that the 33 criteria that must be met, security cleaning, preservation, dissemination, environmental education and all that goes with it, for the ratification of the Blue Flag award.
As of May 31, all facilities and services will be ready for the locals and visitors.
"Playa Palmares underwent major surgery, now with secure access, also disabled ramps for universal access, showers, changing rooms, two lifeguard towers, security services, along with fire services, there will be ample lighting, parking, areas of shade at the top and access to the sea. and will be operational by the end of the month," he explained.
Palmares Beach
People who are disabled and wish to paint, plaster or clay mold, among other things, can go from 10:00 to 13:00 to the Comudis facilities.
The Municipal Council on Disability (Comudis) that features an arts and crafts workshop. Hosted by Alonso Bravo Amaral committed to people who are disabled to have one more chance to keep learning and unfolding within society.
Socorro Martínez is one of the 10 students who today make up the craft workshop, taught on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in Comudis facilities located in avenue Paseo de las Palmas, on a schedule from 10:00 to 13:00 hours; she encourages people with disabilities to attend this workshop that allows them to "feel more confident and get away from depression," she said.
"In the workshop we visually impaired, like me, too slow learning companions, hip problems, but this is our recreation center and our joy, we motivate each other, learn crafts recycling, to care for our planet, painting, photography, glass and plaster crafts in clay, drawing, among others, we want more people to come and join our course", explained Socorro Martínez.
For citizens interested in joining this program, one must go to the offices of Comudis and submit your birth certificate, proof of address and identification for your application and give you a credential Municipal Council for Disability and can access this and other programs for free.
Meanwhile, Bravo Alonso Amaral, invited people with disabilities to join the workshops and noted that working daily to provide the services this sector of the population deserve. Comudis also supports the disabled community with specialized medical services, pantries, braces, and credentials among other programs.
Enjoy a weekend at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort and participate in this fun summer beach festival with great races, fine cuisine, exquisite cocktails, live music, artisan Mezcal & Mexican whisky, ice-cold national beer, DJs pumping out funky beats across the sand, a spectacular sunset and plenty of fun.
The Hard Rock Hotel obtained this distinction, which the Marival Residences, Marival Resorts and Rancho Banderas are in the process of acquiring; all four also received their “Distintivo H.”
The hotels of the Riviera Nayarit are committed to offering tourists the best in quality and service, and they continue making an effort to obtain the certifications that position them among the best around the world.
After having received its EarthCheck certificate, the Hard Rock Hotel went on to acquire the “Distintivo S,” which celebrates Sustainability and is awarded by the Federal Secretary of Tourism, making it the first hotel in the Riviera Nayarit to acquire this distinction.
“We were in contact with the EarthCheck organization over a year ago and they gave us their support with everything that had to do with sustainability within the activities of the hotel,” commented Luis Entrala Fábregas, the Operations Direction of the Hard Rock Hotel.
There are several ways the hotel qualifies for the “Distintivo S,” including electricity-saving measures, the adequate consumption of gas and water, the use of environmentally-friendly products and a low rate of wastewater emission.
The Hard Rock Hotel also received its “Distintivo H” (Hygiene), which recognizes its excellence in everything related to the sanitation and hygiene of all the F&B and the employees who comes in contact with it.
Marival Residences, Marival Resorts and Rancho Banderas are all in the process to receive their own “Distintivo S.”
The two Marival hotels are being recertified for their “Distintivo H,” while Rancho Banderas is obtaining theirs for the first time.
There are nine hotels in the entire Riviera Nayarit that already have the “Distintivo H,” among them Hotel Villa Varadero, Grand Velas, Grand Palladium, Four Seasons Punta Mita, Hotel Cinco, Hard Rock Hotel, Marival Residences, Marival Resorts and Rancho Banderas.
The Paradise Village Nuevo Vallarta will be joining the list eventually, as it is also in the process of receiving the “Distintivo H.”
The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau would like to congratulate these hotels for making improvements that only add to the destination’s many attractions.
