-- Held For The First Time In Puerto Vallarta, the International Canadian Event "Made With Love".  Was a Tremendous Success.

On Saturday March 2, The Octopus’s Garden – Café Cultural, located in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, is excited to present  INTERNACIONALOCAL – a benefit fashion show for the town’s open air library (Biblioteca al Aire Libre.)

Mexico City infuses the ancient with the contemporary as if the two are the yin yang of Mexican culture.

Spend three days in Mexico City with a trio of Americans who have never been there and you’ll blow some minds. Americans don’t expect the spectacular architecture, the clean streets and sidewalks, the abundance of museums and cultural centers, the fabulous gourmet dining, and the friendly people anxious to show you the heart of this Grande dame of cities.

Everyone in our group effused over the magnificent statuary, upscale decor and sparkling marble at the Marquis Reforma Hotel & Spa where we had spacious accommodations and superb food service. Even those who had been to Mexico City before found their eyes widening in respect for the broad, tree-lined streets and glistening public monuments.

A professional tour guide to the many historic and cultural sites is recommended for those wanting a comprehensive exploration of Mexico City. Destination Management Services Mexico (DMS Mexico) can provide everything a tourist or tour program needs from greeting at the airport to shuttling in between locations, to assigning knowledgeable guides. Our DMS Mexico guide, Jose Alfredo Martinez, extolled the virtues of his city like a husband whose love for his wife grows stronger as the years go by.

Martinez ushered us to several popular sites that should not be missed during a trip to Mexico City: the Zocalo, the second largest city square in the world and location of the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Aztec archeological site of Templo Mayor; Chapultepec Park and Castle, the National Museum of Anthropology which holds ancient Aztec artifacts, including the Aztec calendar, and the sumptuous theater known as the Bella Artes Palace.

For a fully realized trip to Mexico City, add such destinations as the Catholic pilgrimage site of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the charming Plaza Garibaldi for mariachi music and festivals; the Blue House, home of renowned artists Diego Riviera and Frida Kalho, and any of the plentiful shopping districts where you can buy anything from a dozen varieties of dried chili peppers, to native handicrafts, to designer clothes and upscale accessories.

[readon1 url="http://www.examiner.com/article/mexico-city-is-a-haven-for-arts-and-culture
"]Source:lwww.examiner.com[/readon1]

Bicentenary of his birth, 1813-1901

Concertador Director: Srba Dinic
Chief Guest Choir: Ivan  López Reynoso

Joanna Paris, soprano
Ramon Vargas, tenor and
George Petean baritone

Chorus and Orchestra of the Theater of Fine Arts
Zaira Soria, soprano  Belem Rodriguez, mezzo  Gilberto Amaro, tenor
Martin Luna, baritone  Oscar Velazquez, bass-baritone  Alejandro Lopez, low

Pierre Otrempe President and founder of Made With Love, spoke at a press conference to the media this February 19 at an event held at the Sheraton Hotel in Puerto Vallarta

This Social Media Contest officially starts February 20, 2013 promote

The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Puerto Vallarta (OCV), the Trust for Tourism, the Tourism Council and Mijo! Brands, presented "Live the romance in Puerto Vallarta", a contest in social networks to promote the destination and if you participate win a romantic trip to our city.

Puerto Vallarta · March 7-10 · 2013

The Banderas Bay Region is home to over 300 species of different birds and will be the site this March 7, through 10 for the Puerto Vallarta International Birding Festival. The Festival is hosted by the Vallarta Bird Conservancy and will kick off on March 7 at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens. Four action packed days of birding and natures walks with expert guides in unique habitats will be sure to satisfy even the most advanced birders, and lectures from local and international authorities on many interesting bird and birding related topics will round out the festival.

Jalisco consistently meets with representatives of the Tourism Board of Mexico (CPTM) and its international headquarters to strengthen ties of cooperation and promotion continue work nationally and internationally, in this sense the Puerto Vallarta tourism industry can be sure it will be supported by this organization, as it will be present throughout the year in major travel industry events in North America

Los Bambinos, the very popular four-brother local band is performing two weekly shows at Roxy Rock House (Ignacio L. Vallarta 217, El Centro) starting at 8 pm. The Tuesday show, presently performed on an ongoing basis, features rock music, while their Sunday show, beginning February 17, features Spanish music, performed acoustically. Tickets are $200 pesos per person, pre-sale, and $250 pesos at the door.

The Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Mardi Gras Parade
The Vallarta Mardi Gras Masquerade Party is Monday, February 11, from 7 to 10 pm on the new Los Muertos Pier.

Free. Wear a mask!

Mardi Gras and the Carnaval Parade is an annual festival, a public celebration held just before the Lent, forty days before Easter. On certain days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstain from the consumption of meat and poultry, hence the term “carnival,” from carnelevare, “to remove (literally, to raise) meat.”

Mardi Gras / Carnival celebrations are a combination of parades and street parties.

In some countries, notably Brazil, Carnival is the most famous holiday of the year and has become an event of huge proportions. The country stops completely for almost a week and festivities are intense, day and night. Tourism receives 70% of the annual visitors in this time period.

Carnaval, no matter where it is celebrated is music, dance and costume.

[readon1 url="http://www.carnavalvallarta.com/traditions/"]Source:www.carnavalvallarta.com/[/readon1]

Cafe des Artistes has a special five-course tasting menu but it's the setting, candle-lit conservatoryview to the stars that makes this such a great spot for Valentine's Night. The menu features to choose from two options coctail elixir of love, bottle of wine  (red or white), flower arrangement and decoration, custom printed menu, taxes and service $2,499.00 Pesos per couple. If you want to pop the question - staff will hide your engagement ring  ready for the right moment.

One of the most unique and exciting groups to grace the stages of Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit in years is LUNA RUMBA. Their music is a fusion of Gypsy, Latin, Flamenco, Middle Eastern, Celtic and Rock with hot Cuban rhythms. If you were lucky enough to have seen them perform at TASTE OF LA CRUZ last month, you know what an exciting new band they are. Violinist Geo (who performs regularly solo, with Latcho Andrea and many other renowned local groups) and LUNA RUMBA are currently in the San Pancho recording studio of Chas Eller (Banderas Bay Jazz Allstars) putting the final touches on their debut CD and will be having a CD Release Party/Dinner Concert to celebrate on Friday February 15th with special guests Flamenco Dancer SOL and keyboardist Chas Eller.

Tickets are $375 pesos including dinner, one drink and the fabulous show. Lupe Dipp has been generous to offer Los Arroyos Verdes, the beautiful botanical gardens and resort complex in the foothills of Bucerias as the venue for this exciting evening of great entertainment.

If you’ve never visited Los Arroyos Verdes, you are in for a very pleasant surprise, the lush and meticulously designed eclectic landscape and grounds are a work of art that will make your evening memorable. $25 pesos from each ticket sale will benefit one of Lupe's favorite charity, MANOS DE AMOR (Casa Hogar Bucerias Orphanage).

Dinner starts at 5pm and the concert starts at 7pm. This is sure to be a banner event for the season. If you are a music lover you won't want to miss this extraordinary event. Tickets are available at Los Arroyos Verdes, Bucerias (329 298 6312), Philo’s Studio & Bar, La Cruz (329 295 5068), email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Connie (322 117 4434).

Biography (biografía) Luna Rumba is a musical group featuring Sergio de Mario on Vocals and George "Geo" Uhrich on Violin and Guitars.

Their music, characterized as New Flamenco and World Music, is a fusion of Gypsy, Latin, Celtic, Flamenco, Middle Eastern and Rock, all spiced up with hot Cuban rhythms

[readon1 url="http://www.insidelacruz.com/in-the-news/be-part-of-the-cd-r elease-party-for-luna-rumba-995.html"]Source:www.insidelacruz.co m[/readon1]