Chedraui
The first Chedraui supermarket in the Puerto Vallarta area is nearing completion on Highway 200 close to the Nuevo Vallarta overpass. According to workers at the store site, the planned opening date is December 1.
Grupo Comercial Chedraui is one of Mexico’s leading retailers, selling groceries, apparel, appliances, and other non-perishable items in more than 140 supermarkets, hypermarkets, and warehouse stores in more than 25 cities in central and southern Mexico. It also owns about 20 El Super supermarkets in the Los Angeles area. Established in 1927 by a family of Lebanese descent in the port city of Veracruz, it went public in early 2010.
Along with the new store comes new traffic patterns on Highway 200 and the entrance to Valle Dorado, intended to ease the flow of vehicles into and out of the massive parking lot. It will require some extra vigilance as drivers get used to the new lane markings.
Christmas shopping
Beta Sigma Phi international service sorority will hold their annual Christmas Boutique on Saturday, December 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the same familiar Bucerias location, Lazaro Cardenas 52, very close to Mark’s Restaurant.
The delicious baked goods and hand-made crafts are popular with tourists and locals alike. This year, Beta Sigma Phi will have local artists selling their works.
If you have any questions or would like to rent a table to sell your craft creations, contact Melinda at 322-158-0170 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Cook-off
The charities were the big winners at this year’s Bucerias Chili Cook-off. PEACE received 14,441 pesos for its Spay and Neuter Clinics, After School and Work and food programs. And 6,700 pesos were raised through the 50/50 draws for Casa de Hogar, toward the purchase of a new refrigerator.
Busy month
There’s a lot happening at the Bucerias Bilingual Community Center (BBCC) in December.
Sundays: Meditation with Brus and Jean Westby from 11 a.m. to noon.
Mondays: Yoga with Enrique at 10 a.m.
Wednesdays: Tap dancing classes with Bonnie at 1:30 p.m.
Friday, December 16: The Mystery Theater at Los Arroyos Verdes. Tickets are 500 pesos and are available at Elements Realty, the BBCC office, through board members and from Judi Conrad 298-3527. The production, “The Bucerias Liars Club,” features veteran actors Brus Westby and Christy Beguesse, as well as some delightful newcomers, including the bouncing Brit, Alison Doncaster.
Sunday, December 18: The BBCC hosts its annual Posada. This is a delightful fiesta replete with traditional singing and parade of Mary and Joseph on a donkey asking for shelter, then ultimately returning to the BBCC, where they are admitted. Children can interact with “Santa,” as well as participate in breaking open a piñata. Everyone is treated to tamales and pozole, traditional foods of a Mexican Christmas. This is a truly bicultural event.
Monday, December 19: The BBCC will host a Mercado Encantado at El Eden, a beautiful Bucerias nursery. There, under one of the oldest and most glorious trees in town, more than 40 vendors will sell all kinds of holiday fare, from jewelry to seasonal foods. Nursery owner, David Velasco has donated use of his magical space to help raise operating funds for the BBCC. The magic begins when you take a tour of the grounds with the Velasco family at 4 p.m. The market begins at 6 p.m., along with music and a special BBCC BBQ.
Here come eSun
Many tourist brochures promote the Puerto Vallarta area by talking up the yearly average of 360 days of sun.
A solar energy company based in Ajijic has decided to open up a branch office in the north shore area to take advantage of that claim.
The company, eSun Energy, has served customers in the Lake Chapala and Ajijic area for over 12 years, installing over 100 solar electric systems.
Company owner Jason Mills (who spells his name Jsun) said he had been thinking of locating an office in this area for some time but only recently decided to take the plunge thanks to several serious inquiries from potential clients.
“My company recently completed an installation on a house in Bucerias. The customer is very excited by the results and has encouraged me to expand into the area as soon as it was feasible,” Mills says. “We want to move cautiously with this new business venture because the company and I personally focus on high quality products and installation and we don’t want to jeopardize that in any way.”
He explained that they just signed a lease for an office and warehouse here. Now their most important job is to locate, train and hire technicians and sales staff before offering its service, which also includes energy use analysis, conservation techniques and sales of energy efficient products, such as LED light bulbs.
The new office is located in El Faro Plaza, between Bucerias and Mezcales. A “soft opening” is being planned for mid-December with a “Solar Fiesta” gathering for invited guests, who have already expressed an interest in hearing more about the potential of reducing their CFE bills, through solar power and energy conservation.
Christmas fundraiser
“Do you like Christmas? Do you like Santa? Do you like children? Do you like Bubba Steve and The Redneck Mother’s Band?” ask Arlene Tackett, the Mrs. Santa half of the star turn at the annual Bucerias Children’s Christmas fundraiser.
Well, they’re coming up from Barra de Navidad not only for your entertainment, but mostly to help raise money to buy gifts and goodies to distribute to the children of needy families in Bucerias. Join the fun at Karen’s Place on Sunday, December 4, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Karen makes slider hamburgers and potato salad for 300 pesos. Upon arriving, Arlene says you’re welcome to have a champagne punch while waiting for the restaurant to get ready. There are lots of raffle prizes so she says you have a good chance to win something.
There’s limited seating so please reserve your tickets. Contact Ron and Arlene Tackett, (329) 298-1729.
Monday market
This season, Argentine Jeweler Daniel has joined the growing list of vendors at the Monday market, along with Oscar and his delicious roasted nuts and snacks. ”Gourmet Tamale Diva” Adriana tantalizes your tastebuds with her combination of ingredients and there is fresh ground espresso, decaf, americano coffee, all organic and locally-grown for sale. If you’re interested in growing your own herbs, there are starter packs available. Pat joins the group with handmade soaps and body preps and all the favorite vendors from past weeks will be there. Come in to the Bucerias Artwalk Plaza, treat yourself and support the local businesses at Av. Lazaro Cardenas 62, from 9 a.m to 1 p.m.
Feeding cats
Amigos de Paraíso Felino is a club for people who pledge one bag of Kirkland or Cat Chow cat food a month to help feed the growing population of feline residents at Paraíso Felino Cat Refuge in San Juan de Abajo.
The idea arose because of the difficult summer that put Paraíso Felino into debt. A plan was created to share costs to lessen the burden of providing food for the 180 cats. If you and your family can donate just one bag of food a month you can be part of this great project.
If you can’t commit to the once a month purchase, you can still participate on the “third Friday” purchase at Costco. Just buy a bag of cat food and leave it and any other donations with the Paraíso Felino volunteer at Costco between 2 and 4 p.m. on the third Friday of any month.
Please notify Paraiso Felino founder Janina Erban to sign up. Email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call her at (322) 120-4092 (cel.).