Recap: Good Morning, From Here, November 29 – December 06
Monday
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 of these butterflies today, say hello to Allyna and thank her for everything she has brought to Vallarta.
Originally published December 03, 2023.
“With a heavy heart, we share the news that Allyna Vineberg, the creator and longtime editor of the PV Mirror, has passed. Her contributions to the Puerto Vallarta art and gastronomic communities have been countless.
The PV Mirror was always a labor of love for Allyna. At first, it lost money, and for years, it barely broke even. It was about helping and supporting entrepreneurs and art, beauty and culture.
It was about making the difference for a wonderful new eatery, getting the attention it needed to survive and ultimately thrive. Or a new gallery. Or a creative startup that desperately needed help finding their market.
Allyna was a pillar in the Jewish community and worked at creating and nurturing what was initially a relatively small network of people. She helped organize events and get togethers.
In recent years, she cared deeply for the Chabad organization and what it meant to the community here.
Please kindly respect the privacy of her family at this time. Any and all donations to community causes and/or charities of your choice in her name would be wonderful.
From the Editor…
I will miss our lunches at Vitea and our dinners at Trio. Hours of intimate conversation, sometimes reflective, but mainly shared loudly with laughter.
One day at Vitea, I wondered out loud to her, “Why are we, you and me, here? Here, in Puerto Vallarta, and not Los Angeles or Bali, or back in Canada.” She said she didn’t have a clue but gestured with a fork full of salad that we were warm and well-fed.
She DID have a clue and had been pursuing the ‘clue’ for years in the PV Mirror.
It was Service. To the city, she loved with a passion. And Service to the people like her who chose to live here and those who would come on vacation and need a source of information.
Rest in Peace, my Romanian, French-Canadian, and Mexican amiga. Your legacy of Service will live on.
Marcia Blondin, Editor, Vallarta Mirror”
Congratulations to Tricia Lyman, who celebrated the 10th anniversary of her ‘Everything…Vallarta’ private Facebook group at La Catrina Cantina last Friday by launching her new website, PVEverything.com. Much continued success, Tricia and Mike, and enjoy your vacay!
Patrice and I thoroughly enjoyed the ABBA tribute show at the Palm Cabaret on Sunday afternoon at 5 pm. The almost full house sang along with Ale Matus from Costa Rica and Gina Ibarra from Monterrey, Mexico, interpreting the Swedish group’s lyrics to the excellent band Monaco, headed by Daniel Celis, who also produced the show. Every face in the theater was smiling, reflecting the feel-good energy of the 70’s music.
Later in the evening, Patrice and I crashed Georgia Darehshori’s house party, missing all the entertainment but spending an hour catching up with all the beautiful invitees.
Tune in tomorrow for foodie news on Il Pesce, Zumo, and the Grand ReOpening of Le Bistro From Here.
Tuesday
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 quality food and service rather than fancy accoutrements. I cannot say enough about the homemade fettuccini with various mushrooms and truffle oil. It is like eating god’s earth, and I have it every single time I go and enjoy its perfection like the first time I tasted it two years ago.
Zumo was busy when Patrice and I stopped in for dinner after seeing the ABBA Tribute at the Palm Cabaret. The just-opened Tryst Hotel down the street would be an ongoing supply of diners for Zumo, that is also a new kid on the same block. They share many of the same qualities – minimalism and a sense of fine detail without fluff. With Zumo’s new chef came new menu items, of course. I tried the fettuccine Patrice the risotto, with both of us opting out of the beef and shrimp additions. My pasta came with roasted serrano chiles, which were delightfully tasty; I must admit I was leery until the first crunchy and warm – not tear-inducing- spicy! – bite. Again, no room for dessert. Next time, I will start at the back of the menu and work my way forward.
I was in heaven, sitting riverside at Le Bistro, looking at our new bridge and watching the hustle and bustle of Opening Night. After years of neglect and uneven management, Le Bistro Jazz Cafe was back in her glorious tracks of being the center of attention in the heart of Vallarta. Murals have been painstakingly rejuvenated and brand new ones grace the walls of this famous, fabulous eatery on the Isla Cuale. Once the ONLY place in town where you could buy a real filet mignon that didn’t resemble the bottom of a shoe cooked to death. Where waiters with white towels over one forearm spoke in dulcet tones in two languages and understood terminology like “blue-rare.” Years ago, for special occasions, there was only one place to go; the walls hold thousands of happy birthdays, will you marry me questions, then, thanks for doing that, anniversaries.
Le Bistro has been restored and elevated; Renee Perez, Bistro owner Alberto’s wife, tells me they will be open for three meals daily. The Perez’s remember the deep magic Le Bistro cast decades ago and will do again. Starting now, From Here.
Wednesday
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 we all have leftovers for today!
We waddled out of there and walked down to Nacho Daddy for Gouda Gabor’s Open Mic night.
A lot of familiar faces onstage and off – Bing Young is back from Colorado and snow. He played a few times for various singers, including Gene Berube. They have a show coming up at Intimo and for Vallarta’s darling, 11-year-old Angeloo.
NYC’s New Belters, Seth and Nick, were in the house with choreographer Kimberly La Rue. Seth and Nicolas have two more shows at Act2 this year, celebrating MGM musicals. They will be back with a new show in 2025!
Last night’s Open Mic raised money for Colina Spay and Neuter Clinic that has sterilized more than 12,000 cats and dogs FOR FREE over the last 12 years. They have a fundraising bingo this afternoon at 4 pm, hosted by ball caller Lydia Damato, who also kept Open Mic organized to a tee. Prizes at bingo are wonderful, and Nacho Daddy is usually packed to the rafters, so come after Scrabble. Today is our monthly tournament at Qulture. If you want to come and cheer on your fave Scrabbler, we start at 12:30 sharp. Pom poms are optional.
Enjoy the peregrinations to Our Lady of Guadalupe that run to December 12th, snarling traffic, but are truly a sight to behold. Speaking of Guadalupe, the glorious classical music concert created a decade ago by Victoria, BC’s gifted piccolo trumpeter David Boz, returns in January. More details will be provided as we get closer to the date, From Here.
Thursday
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 BINGO! Ugh. It was a wash.
We went straight to La Catrina Cantina to hear Tonny Kenneth offer up his new songs. I love his voice, and his recent works, one written three days before his mini-concert, are full of introspection. Tonny, originally from Panama, writes beautifully in English, a rare curiosity. Lucky us!
We left Tonny and made our way back to Nacho Daddy for Amy Armstrong’s show with Eugenia on violin and ‘Mimi’ on guitar. Oh, Amy is funny. Side-splitting funny, and her voice was in fine form, singing her fave songs from the 80s. What a treat to hear her powerful voice in song and her girly-girl patter when she is explaining something ever so outre!
Tomorrow, Friday, at 8 pm at the lovely little theatre at Arte Vallarta, see Leave it to Cleavage, a hilarious Canadian romp through improv From Here.
Friday
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, 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 Intimo, bathed in warm sunlight, surrounded by plants, and eager to try various items on the eclectic menu.
Patrice and I attended the Grand Opening of Intimo last month and were so impressed by the beauty of the place at night; it is gorgeous during the day, with the mountains behind the restaurant wrapping around like an enormous green hug and the city bustling below. The quiet is broken by birdsong and muted music barely audible in the background. Intimo is built around conversations of its patrons, never having to shout over the music to be heard; I love that!
The three of us shared delightful guacamole and totopos with salsa Mexicana and two other salsas. My French fries were hand-cut and sprinkled with fresh parmesan cheese and truffle oil – heaven. Patrice had blue cheese-stuffed potatoes and, Sharon, the fish tacos. Small bites, but we all left stuffed!
It’s a bit of a challenge to get there but worth the effort. Once inside, Intimo will embrace you with welcoming, kind energy, feed you freshly prepared food, and invite you to take your time savoring every bite, sharing if you like, or keep your fave all to yourself, like I did with my fries, From Here.
