Author: Marcia Blondin

Happy Friday, everybody! Enjoy today – the last day of Fall and Winter starts tomorrow. It is another thing to celebrate here in Mexico in December and I am going to a private gathering to do just that. In Vallarta, we have the first 12 days of the month devoted to the Patron Saint of…

I was a few minutes late to Qulture for Scrabble, and one of our new members, Ronnie Lee, and I played for the first time. Look for Ronnie’s affectionate look at the final day of the Guadalupe processions, which will be published in Vallarta Mirror soon. Two more games ensued with nemesis Sharon Gerber, fresh…

My house is so quiet, not that she ever made a lot of noise, not at all, but my sister is gone. Patrice is back in Canada, and I am home alone with Bogie, who is also missing her presence in our lives. It’ll take a day or more to get used to walking everywhere…

Casa Yvonneka was resplendent with over a hundred people gathered on its multi-levels of luxury to raise money for Vallarta’s street dogs. Yvonne Kalman, dueña of the casa, in black sequins and Frida Kahlo-like hair accessory, held court, smiling and welcoming her guests to the 9th annual Frida Fiesta overlooking the city. Cocktails began the…

Last Friday, Le Bistro on the Isla Cuale took center stage once again for the annual Membership Drive and Welcome Back Party for the Vallarta Garden Club. The event sold out with so many snowbirds and semi-permanent residents here to escape the winter in more northerly climes. Heartfelt hugs were shared in every corner of…

Oh, the blessed quiet this morning; today, La Virgen de Guadalupe can sleep for the first time in 12 days, and so can the rest of us. The church bells ring again at the appropriate time of the day, and, with luck, the munitions master and his bombs have moved on. Thank you for this…

Yesterday was one of those cannot-do-anything-wrong sort of days starting at Qulture and winning three straight games of Scrabble. I then joined my sister and our friend Sharon (who leaves today for the frozen north) at PuRR Project Bingo at Nacho Daddy. I won one game AND the 50/50 drawing of cash. After a quick…

Sunday brunch is a rarity, and I look forward to overindulging once or twice a year, perhaps in one or two food groups that present themselves in superabundances. Certain brunches specialize in specific food, music, ambiance and the one we chose, Hacienda San Angel, is close by, a magnificent old mansion designed by Freddie Romero…

The three of us stepped off the new bridge onto the Island into peace, quiet, and beautiful surroundings and walked a few steps to the commanding entrance of the recently restored Le Bistro. We weren’t starving, just wanted something light to eat before our long walk to Arte Vallarta Theater at the top of Olas…

What a rare treat yesterday’s lunch was! Sharon, Patrice, and I taxied up that wicked hill in Colonia 5 de diciembre to Intimo Wine Bar & Restaurant, tucked smack in the middle of Costa Rica street. Owners Kimberley and Carlos took superb care of us as we tucked into a corner of Íntimo, bathed in…

Our Scrabble Tournament and Colina Spay and Neuter Bingo took up a big chunk of yesterday afternoon. I prevailed in Scrabble, much to Sharon Gerber’s consternation; she will get over it! Bingo was one of those frustrating “I only need one more” to be undone by someone in the crowd at Nacho Daddy gleefully yelling…

After a long, tiring, but fun day cruising the tianguis in Coapinole, Patrice, Sharon – our newly arrived friend from Canada, and I made our winding way to Awaysis for Gina’s famous Whiskey Kitchen mac ‘n cheese. We added veggie nachos and shouldn’t have, as the fabled macaroni and cheese were more than sufficient, but…

Even though it was a teeny bit early, Vallarta Mirror and Vallarta Calendar held our Christmas Posada like we did last year, at Il Pesce on Constitucion. The food, as it always is, was flawless in its presentation and the flavors were exceptional. We love the staff and the simple surroundings, with the emphasis on…

Today marks one year since Allyna Vineberg, the founder and editor of the PV Mirror, passed away. Today also marks the first year of Vallarta Mirror in an irrevocable sense of being unable to give it back to its original owner. Out of respect, I would like to reprint her obituary. If you see one…

The Botanical Garden looked its best yesterday in celebration of American Thanksgiving. We enjoyed the sun, sitting in a corner of the terrace overlooking the jungle spotted with splashes of colored flowers. I loved the Spanish moss dripping from the towering Sorpresa bougainvillea close to the entrance. The peace and quiet of this gorgeous sanctuary…

Happy Thanksgiving! I have a list a mile-long of things and people I am grateful for, and yesterday’s trek out to Marina Vallarta added one more name to the mix. It is Armando Soto, Doctor of Chiropractic, who, along with Doctora Simona Pop, will give my sister Patrice Wolf the tools to correct her worsening…

The tianguis in Coapinole was a blast; it was busy but not frantic. The first table we hit offered three pieces for 20 pesos – we were burdened in minutes! La Buena Semilla had lots of amaranth for a change, so we loaded up then went to Costco. That was in full-court Christmas press with…

It’s Tuesday, so it’s time to head to Coapinole for the weekly tianguis. It is a shopping free-for-all that can be overwhelming at first. It is block after block of tables piled high with merchandise, much of it second-hand, but I have found many pieces with original tags. It’s a treasure hunt, to be sure,…

Every Friday, Argentine Nacho Granados takes the stage at La Catrina Cantina and entertains in two languages – he is one funny, saucy crooner. If you have any Tom Jones favorites, let him know; you will be astonished! It was lovely to hear Nacho again and enjoy his quirky humor and energy in the friendliest…

Have you been watching the transformation of Le Bistro on the Isla Cuale? It used to be the only great restaurant in Vallarta in the old days, and it will reopen very soon. The Group that owns La Palapa and El Dorado Restaurants will reignite that gorgeous spot on the river and restore it to…