lunes, 4 de abril de 2011

Where can I go Latin dancing?

Sometimes local venues will give salsa socials a try at least one night a week, but unfortunately if they don’t see profits or a big draw of people in about a 4-6 week time-frame the effort will come to a halt. As a result, it’s a bit difficult to know where to go, because at times, just as you’re beginning to find out about a new place, the social night disappears. However, there are a few venues that are dedicated to this genre of music. Included is the always lively Cuban hang-out La Bodeguita del Medio located on the Malecón. The live music begins at 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday with a Cuban band playing on a yearly contract. The atmosphere is cheery and reminiscent of being in a smoky dive bar in Havana. The only drawback is that the dance floor is tiny and lends itself to lots of bumping bodies or tight squeezes dancing Bachata or Salsa. Besides that, it’s a great place and the staff is always friendly, and there is no cover.

Candela Pura is one of the newer places in PV located at the turn-off to the libramiento and across the street from Mega. On Thursdays and Fridays they’ll have a salsa band or a DJ play Latin tunes from 10 p.m. into the wee hours of the night. The dance floor is expansive, the place has a dark, nightclub atmosphere and the lounge sofas and tables are comfortable for long hours of socializing with a cocktail. I like this place mainly because they seem to like and support salseros although I generally prefer tropical-like or beachfront atmospheres when wanting to Latin dance- it’s just more inspiring.

Here the sultry Dulce Mireya Palacios Prado teaches salsa in Spanish Thurs. and Sat. from 8:30- 10:00 p.m. and the cost per class is 50 pesos. No cover here.
Then there is J&B Nightclub, one of the oldest dance venues in PV. This place looks like a 70’s disco and plays different Latin tunes almost every night.

The biggest advantage here is the hardwood dance floor, perfect for dancing and there almost always seems to be enough room for freedom of movement.

The last Friday of every month, they present what’s called Fiesta Latina when different dance schools –instructors and students alike perform on stage.

This place stays open until the early morning and is located at Francisco Medina Ascencio. It’s not one of my favorite places, simply because I would prefer to hear more salsa, Bachata and Cha Cha Cha music than Cumbia which is what they love to play, but many seem to really enjoy it.

The Latin Brothers teach salsa class in Spanish on Tues., Thur. and Fridays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Each hour class costs 50 pesos. They are a talented, well-liked brother and sister team. Sometimes there is a cover of up to 100 pesos.

Next up, the Twisted Rose in Bucerias. Now this is a tropical gem tucked about two or three blocks from the beach, it’s easy to miss if it weren’t for the vibrant sounds of the live Cuban band emanating from the inside.

The dance floor is great and the eats and drinks are inexpensive. There is usually a cover charge of about 50 pesos and the band plays Saturdays from 9ish until midnight.

This is one of my favorite places due to the outdoor, tropical atmosphere. More specifically, it’s located about two or three blocks from the central plaza.

Last, but definitely not least, is Don Pedro’s in Sayulita. Beachfront and fabulous!

Many PV peeps drive an hour there and an hour back every Monday just to get there dancing fix and hear the fantastic Cuban band. It’s a great mix of foreigners out to have a good time with salsa obsessed locals.

The oceanfront vibe here is always worth the drive and I hear the food is really good.

Sayulita is so small that you can just arrive and ask where it is so that someone will point you in the right direction.

The band starts playing at 8 p.m. until eleven. About 30 pesos gets you through the door.

Marcella Castellanos teaches salsa at Yoga Vallarta. You can contact her via Facebook or Twitter at Latin Motion PV or at www.latinmotionpv.com or visit her blog at http://latinmotionpv.blogspot.com/.

Migraines Natural Cures

Rid Yourself of a Migraine Headache, Naturally

I wrote this a couple of years ago..before the gluten free fad had hit home. If you are prone to Migraine, check this out..

Headaches can be basically divided into two types, tension and migraine.
As I was looking over the info on migraine and body pain, I remembered a woman who started her day with 2 pain killers and a coffee. Physical pain is a huge over- the -counter pharmaceutical business.

I hear Folks north of the border spend more than $1 billion every year to get relief from just migraine not to mention body pain. The pain associated with migraines can be incredibly debilitating. I have seen a number of patients who were disabled physically and mentally due to the intense pain of a migraine.

Many of the drugs used to treat migraines are effective in relieving this severe pain and are a welcome relief. Unfortunately they do absolutely nothing to treat the cause and in fact actually contribute to the problem as after a short while they can cause rebound headaches themselves. This is the same old story of western industrial medicine treating the symptom and not the actual cause of the pain. Pain is a heads- up message from the body to let you know that something is out of whack.

It is something like a smoke detector going off. It’s faster and easier to shut down the detector instead of finding the fire and putting it out. Then, after a bit, the detector goes off again and again. Each time louder and longer resulting in a full blown MIGRAINE.

Most migraines also seem to include a food-based reaction relating to wheat, dairy, sugar, acid foods, or artificial preservatives or chemicals. Eliminating these foods and incorporating sound nutritional principle frequently improves migraines and inflammation. A recent study of food based reactions revealed nine out of ten patients tried a gluten-free diet seven stopped having head aches, two other patients had some -- but not complete -- success by switching to a gluten-free diet.

The 10th one flaked out.. Yep, that’s bread, pasta, cereal, cake, whole wheat, and wheat derivatives. Fortunately, there are many natural treatment options that exist to treat migraines. These should always be considered first because as you know now drugs to treat migraines can make the problem worse. It is possible to stop headaches by stimulating your body’s natural painkilling ability. By putting pressure on a nerve just under your eyebrow, you can cause your pituitary gland to release painkilling endorphins immediately. Another method for releasing endorphins is to take 10 teaspoons of cayenne pepper in a glass of water. Endorphins are released by the brain when the cayenne hits your stomach lining.

I think you have to be pretty desperate to try this one, but it works.
Other useful techniques include:

• Putting a cold compress on your forehead or behind the neck
• Massaging the ears and ear lobes
• Massaging the “crown” of your head -- the ring of muscles that circle the head where a crown would sit, it worked for Queen Elizabeth who was a sufferer of migraines.
• Drink plenty of natural liquids, without sugar, sugar substitutes, odd colors or flavors.
• Avoid orange juice, tomatoes and eggplant.. they are just to acidic.
• Keep a journal of what brings on the migraine and get to the root, it may stress, hormone upsets, food combinations, and excess mental energy
• Seek out acupuncture for long term relief.

And lastly, start an exercise program; this will help to improve your response to stress along with the underlying inflammatory conditions that can trigger migraines.

Krystal Frost is a long time resident of Puerto Vallarta. She holds a degree from the University of Guadalajara in Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture and herbology. Ms. Frost went on to specialize in cosmetic acupuncture at Bastyr University in Washington State. She is the owner of Body & Sol in P.V. for over 18 years where she practices Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, facial rejuvenation, massage therapy, yoga therapy and nutritional counseling. She is also co owner and creator of Organic Select Mexico, an on line organic bakery and market. www.organic-select.com

Krystal has created wellness and specialized culinary programs for individuals, retreats and spas.
Questions and comments may be directed to organic-select@hotmail.com Phone 222 1015, 9-5 Monday -Friday

Riviera Nayarit

Mark’s has been consistently voted “Best Restaurant Riviera Nayarit.” Join us for lunch or dinner on the intimate patio, the casually elegant interior or with the crowd at the bar and experience fresh, expertly prepared food, great music and attentive service. This week join us for fresh Baja Oysters on the half shell natural or panko crusted...plus glass of wine for $175.
www.marksbucerias.com,
Phone (329)298-0303 or marksbargrill@yahoo.com

Masala Bar and Grill Specialist
Mediterranean and Asian food, the best wines, Live Music every Tuesday 7 - 10 pm. Breakfast 9 to1pm Lunch and Dinner every day from 2 pm


Encore is the only and first live jazz venue in Riviera Nayarit. It is located on the beach along the restaurant row in Bucerias, 20 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta. The shows which run from Wednesdays to Saturdays are headlined by Ms. Armi Grano, a well renowned Canadian jazz vocalist/recording artist. She is backed by a skilled and professional trio with a set list that includes songs by Gershwin, Jobim, Ellington and Porter. “Armi is a meticulous singer, her vocals clear, and her pitch and tone perfect. Her voice is one the listener can always recall with genuine listening pleasure!” says Lee Prosser of www.jazzreview.com.
Encore has become a regular hangout for local expats and tourists for its quality live entertainment, fun atmosphere and great food at reasonable prices. Watch the sunset from its palapa balcony while enjoying dinner or a glass of wine. Great place to have lunch on the beach with an array of appetizers, cocktails and ice cold beers. International cuisine, steak and fresh seafood. www.encoreonthebeach.com
www.armigrano.com

Shamrock has HAPPY H0UR every day 5pm to 7pm only national drinks, authentic Irish Pub.
Proud to be the first bar downtown Bucerias and open 5+ years here in Bucerias, owner Sharon Bell from Belfast, runs her bar as a family run business with her cousin Natalie from Dublin & the Internationally renowned Jesse. They have enjoyed being part of all the fun over the years and look forward to meeting many new friends of Shamrock Irish Pub and Lounge.

Original Anclote we offer a wide variety of Mexican dishes for you to enjoy what he pleases remember we have delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners to enjoy the taste are oceanfront here in Punta de Mita welcome!

Rancho Mi Chapparrita offers the excitement of the Canopy, Surfing, Horseback-Riding, 4 Wheeling, and sport fishing.

The Verdín Family brings you authentic Mexican Style folklore.

Great place to enjoy Seafood & Mexican dishes! Enjoy El Chivero Restaurant & Bar in the Dining room or kick back and have your meal right on the beach.

This family run Bucerias restaurant has been serving visitors and the town for many years, providing endless opportunities to watch the sunset while enjoying their popular dishes.

Try the variety of cocktails or national drink specials daily and remember to bring a friend

Mexico- A Retro Perspective Illustrated by Fernando Castellano


Fernando Castellanos Centurión was born in the beautiful town of Puebla de los Ángeles in 1937. He was very fortunate to be surrounded by the wonderful traditions and religious celebrations that a still very common, even nowadays throughout Mexico. His unique works are a reflection from his early childhood and youth, resulting in a wonderful series of water paintings and acrylics. The majority are everyday retro-scenes portraying the customs of yesterday’s Mexican culture


Fernando Castellanos Centurión was born in the beautiful town of Puebla de los Ángeles in 1937. He was very fortunate to be surrounded by the wonderful traditions and religious celebrations that a still very common, even nowadays throughout Mexico. His unique works are a reflection from his early childhood and youth, resulting in a wonderful series of water paintings and acrylics.

The majority are everyday retro-scenes portraying the customs of yesterday’s Mexican culture








Michael R. Lee

In 2009, a friend introduced me to a miracle cure (well that is what I call it) and my life was changed forever. I lost 35 pounds in 9 weeks and I not only looked fabulous but I felt good too.

This program cleansed my body and when I was done I realized that certain foods did not agree with me. I discovered I had an allergy to dairy and that it was making me very ill. Now I am strong and healthy. The rashes I had been plagued with are gone and now I have soft smooth skin.

Everyone thinks I look as amazing as I feel. I am having so much fun shopping for new clothes - everything fits so beautifully I can hardly believe it - I’m wearing size 4 jeans! What is also amazing is how much food I’m eating while still keeping the weight off.

We have a 100% success rate in helping our clients lose weight. If you are struggling with this frustration we can help.
Visit our web site (www.sureresults.net) and learn more about this amazing hormonally based weight loss program that is changing the lives of everyone who does it.

Did you know that poor quality of sleep and sleep deprivation contribute to obesity?

This is because the vast majority of weight loss occurs in the last four hours of sleep.

In the first four hours an enormous cascade of hormonal interactions takes place which balances our body’s internal mechanisms helping it to recover from the previous day and preparing it for the next.

The second four hours of sleep are for fueling the metabolic furnace in preparation for challenges of the upcoming day.

Recent studies have now proved that if there is no last four hours of sleep, weight can actually be gained. In several of my previous submissions I’ve referred to two metabolic hormones which are intimately involved in hunger and satiety. Leptin is the hormone that tells you that you are full so you should stop eating and stop storing fat.

Ghrelin is the hormone that tells you that you are hungry and must eat. Sleep deprivation stops the production of leptin and increases the production of ghrelin.

This is why you often see tired people grazing for food all day long and the foods they classically forage for are the quick-burn, sugary/starchy, simple carbohydrates which always spike the insulin levels which causes many of these extra calories to be converted to fat and stored.

The bottom line is that we all need somewhere in the neighborhood of 8 hours of preferably uninterrupted sleep each night.

We might be able to get by on less now and again but trying to make a habit of it causes chaos with our metabolism and none of the results are desirable.

Respect For Art And Passion, What Best Describes Galería Corsica

In just eight short years, Jean Pierre Renucci and partner José Villavicencio not only founded the most exciting art gallery in years, Galeria Corsica, in downtown Puerto Vallarta, but nearly single-handedly changed the face of the art world in this increasingly cosmopolitan coastal pueblo.

Born in Corsica, South of France, Jean Pierre met José from Mexico City in Puerto Vallarta and while visiting the existing galleries at that time, they decided to open an art gallery specialized in only Top Mexican Art that would show the great respect and love they have for Art.

Within Galería Córsica, the two partners are proud to present some of the country´s top talent. ”Our focus is on artists who exhibit at important art museums, primarily in Mexico City where the country´s most important museums are located, most of whom already have an international following.”

Having had previous experience in the art field both of them, they claim that their passion for art is the secret to their success since they don´t represent someone for commercial reasons but because, they like their work. “The fact that we´ve been so amazingly successful is almost beside the point. We wanted to do something that we really like, so our decision from the beginning was to be very choosy.” Attending art school in his youth, Jean Pierre studied with French sculptor Cesar Baldaccini who “taught me the difference between good art and art that is commercial. I´ll never forget how it changed the way I saw things.

Forever.” Representing top contemporary Mexican artists in a mostly american/canadian market has been a challenge for Jean Pierre and José since it´s been hard to educate people on the subject. José says that “you can really tell when a collector enters the gallery because he distinguishes immediately the quality of the pieces that are displayed and, knowing what this kind of art is worth, usually says that our prices are really inexpensive.

On the contrary, there are some people that come to the gallery and love what they see but don´t know anything about the artists or Mexican art for the matter. It´s then that we know we have to start the education process. People get really excited when they learn that José Luis Cuevas is the most famous living Mexican artists in the whole world or that Manuel Felguérez is the most important abstract Mexican artists of all times. They just can´t believe that such important artists works are actually displayed at Corsica”

Galería Corsica features the works of some other important masters such as Vladimir Cora, Flor Minor, Agustín Castro, Miguel Carrillo and Carlos Oviedo together with some younger but consolidated talents such as and Antonio Castro, Rocío Caballero, Hector de Anda, Ricardo Fernández, Rodrigo de la Sierra and Bertha Picallo, just to name a few.

This season, Jean Pierre and José have prepared an exhibition program that includes some artists that are new to the Puerto Vallarta market and some others that are already very well known but were not represented by Corsica before such as Raymundo Andrade.

Galeria Corsica has 5 exhibit rooms and a courtyard on Leona Vicario 230, and an alternate space on Guadalupe Sánchez, 735, both in downtown Puerto Vallarta.

Phone: 223-1821.
www.galeriacorsica.com

Galleria Dante

Ignacio Guerrero, essentially a self-taught artist was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco in 1963. Ignacio is free when he paints and at the same time frees us of any prejudice to dream, sleep or awaken. The birds are hummingbirds, pigeons, herons, accompanying each visual journey into the sky beyond. Each figure is an allegory, an honest emotion in animals and characters translated by mastering the technique and the brush. Everything they see is a game, a wonderful play of colors and textures.

The horses gallop with energy, the doors cannot find their keys; branches of the trees crave to float. Women stretch their arms and legs to hold a decent comfortable place on the canvas where they will live.

There is no doubt that the more pleasant and provocative muses, parade with enthusiasm for each painting and pictorial direct the orchestra with his hands flying in infinite creativity.

Guerrero has participated in approx. 50 group and individual exhibitions. His work, which is surrealist in quality, is in collections in France, Germany, Canada, USA and Mexico.
Please come celebrate with us on April 8th, from 6 to 10 pm. Also more works to arrive the following week from a show held over by popular demand at the Chamber of Commerce in Guadalajara.