My calendar looks like November - something scintillating to do every day and/or night this week. I will weave those goodies in with last week's meanderings through our wet streets and sultry air.
Hyden Custom Furniture gives away valuable hardwood bits and pieces every Tuesday from noon to 4 pm. Go and load up and don't be shy! Bring big bags and boxes. Owners Sacha Cantor and Aaron Salas say, yes, you can pick through and take only Primavera or Teak if that's all you can use for a particular project. It's free, people, and if you are going camping...
The Mystic Circle Cafe and Lounge kicks off the Summer Music Series at 6 pm, Tuesday, August 25. Owner Kennedy Morgan proudly presents David Garcia, a 17-year-old with much promise, who will set the tone for upcoming Tuesdays until Season opens. Reserve your space on ShowMePV.com, and pay the 300-peso admission at the door.
Wednesday, August 26, is International Toilet Paper Day. Really! To celebrate, volunteer-at-large Dale Bouayadi is requesting that toilet paper be dropped off at El Granero Restaurant between noon and 4 pm. She will make sure it gets distributed to all the elementary schools in town. (The schools do not provide toilet paper.) One thing the moms can tick off their daily list as being accomplished! As Dale says, ''Let's roll, Vallarta!''
Sharon Gerber Scherer and I are likely the only Scrabble players left in captivity, so we are changing the day from Wednesday to Thursday for the next two weeks only! Her flying schedule is interfering with our game plan, so... Scrabble will be this Thursday, the 27th, and next, September 03, at Qulture, for our monthly tournament, at 12:30. You really should come, watch, and bring your pom-poms!
Last Wednesday in Guadalajara, our darling 13-year-old wunderkind, Angeloo, won the statewide "Suenan las Juventudes 2026" contest for Jalisco singers ages 13 to 29. He sang S.O.S. in Spanish by Dimash Qudaibergen and nailed it!
This Wednesday, Chris Lopez is joining Luis Villanueva at La Catrina Cantina at 6:30 pm. Join me and stay for Angeloo's show at 8.
I met Fabricio, who is managing the new stage at Avida. The space is gorgeous and has so much potential. Two locales are still available to rent in the food court. Each is two stories and measures at least 50 square meters. And get this! They have summer rates, so when you don't make quite as much money off-season, you don't pay so much rent! What a concept! Here's hoping that catches on like wildfire!
Tom Bernes and Jamie Alexander are hosting a seminar at La Catrina Cantina, Thursday, August 27 at 4 pm. They'll discuss Vallarta's future as a tourist destination. There is no cover, and we should all be there.
There's a new art gallery in Pitillal called 'If Six was Nine.' Director Mark Uhalley opened it to Deborah Cole and me so she could see the exhibit "El Día de Silencio," commemorating the events in Jalisco on February 22, before it comes down at the end of August. The gallery is tucked a few blocks from the main plaza in Pitillal and will maintain regular hours in season. Artists need to go and introduce their work, and we need to expand our art-walk borders to include IF6WAS9. And thanks to the late, great Jimi Hendrix for the catchy name.
Friday at La CC has ''Game on with Christian'' at 5:15 pm. This game show will feature a mashup of the Newlywed Game with teams that can include partners, friends, roomies, whatever. With the Ac blasting, the fab popcorn, and Christian Manly's deft maneuverings through the complicated rules, it's always a fun way to kick-start the weekend. Co-star Wendy Warhol has mastered the computer scorekeeping and is a sparkly addition onstage.
RISE Children's Shelter has a monthly concert fundraiser at Los Palmares Condos, just south of town. The spectacular palapa soared over Bing Young on piano, accompanying Sargento Dan, fresh and cheeky as ever, back safely from his North American Tour. Gillian Parrillo sent an Uber for me (wowza!), and we picked her up, then continued on to the show. Barcelona Tapas donated the food and drink - wonderful, of course, - that we washed down with red or white sangria. The chocolate chip cookies afterward were spectacular. I asked the baker where he bought the chocolate chips... he smashes Belgian chocolate bars... Omg! Many thanks to Gillian's husband, Pierre Cutler, for going out of town and letting me use his ticket!
Saturday at Café des Artistes, my dear friend Salvatore Rodriguez celebrates 50 years as a fine pianist. Only a few spaces remain to hear Maestro Salvatore accompany his invited special vocalists, followed by an elaborate dinner at 9 pm. Bravo, Maestro, and cheers to our more than thirty-year friendship! Reserve tickets and learn more at ShowMePV.com.
My herbalist on Isla Cuale, Ricardo Mazcal, is offering all his creams at 20% off this week. His Crepey (think Creepy!) skin cream is his best seller for a good reason. Also, Day and Night creams, Neem, pain, and much more. All his products are plant-based and contain no animal products. Find him at his year-round Market on the Isla from 10 am to 2 pm every Saturday, and by appointment during the week.
Please venture out and support all of Vallarta's businesses - all are in dire straits financially. We have at least another six weeks before the rains stop - traditionally on October 15 - and our tourists begin to trickle back. Reach out to your friends and actively encourage them to return to Vallarta or come and be spectacularly enchanted for the first time, From Here.
