Tis’ the Season
The SETAC Annual Toy Drive started at the end November and continues through December 15.
These gifts are distributed to the children of Puerto Vallarta families affected by HIV/AIDS. Santa and his helpers will hand out the donated toys at the Christmas fiesta held at the CAPASITS Clinic Posada.
Founded in 2009, SETAC promotes respect for human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS in Puerto Vallarta. Their aim is to promote timely treatment of the HIV virus, strengthen the dignified treatment and avoidance of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS.
By donating toys, you will be helping children who otherwise may not have any Christmas, due to the challenges their families face every day because of their illness.
Persons of every race, age, social status and sexual preference are affected by the virus. There are children born from teenage and heterosexual moms who, because of carelessness and ignorance, were infected.
You can deposit your donation of unwrapped toys at the SETAC Community Center, located at Constitucion 427 and the corner of Manuel Dieguez on the South Side of Puerto Vallarta.
Other downtown Puerto Vallarta collection locations include:
• Fridas Bar, Insurgentes 301 • Piñata PV Hotel, Venustiano Carranza 322 • Sofá Café, Venustiano Carranza 306 • La Cueva Bar, Olas Altas 414 - 2nd floor • Apaches Bar, Olas Altas 439 • Capasits, Calle Aldama 1013 • Yoga Vallarta, Basilio Badillo 325-3.
Information is prevention. For this reason, SETAC launched their Amar es Gestar con Salud campaign last month to educate young Vallartenses of child-bearing age on the importance of AIDS prevention and helping HIV positive mothers feed their young children without the risk of infecting them with the virus.
For more information about the CAPASITS Toy Drive and other services provided by SETAC, call (322) 224-1974. Donations make it possible for SETAC to provide services and support to hundreds of residents in Puerto Vallarta that would otherwise be alone.
Art a Foot
If you want to learn a great deal about the local sculptures, go on the free Malecón Sculpture Walking Tour created and conducted by Galería Pacifico owner Gary Thompson. He is in his tenth season and the tour will run through the middle of April 2016.
This tour begins every Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Millennium sculpture, next to the Hotel Rosita at the north end of the Malecón in downtown Puerto Vallarta. There, sculptor Fernando Baños (also known as Mathis Lidice) starts the tour off by explaining the history, making and details of this towering figure.
Afterwards, Thompson leads the tour along the Malecón, explaining the artist and history behind some 15 artworks. He also points out details that you might have otherwise missed, giving you a deeper understanding of each sculpture’s significance. Thompson’s personal experiences and interactions with the sculptors, as well as his numerous personal friendships with many of Vallarta’s other artists, make the walk both entertaining and educational.
Another treat along the way is Kevin Simpson of Colectika and Peyote People art galleries, who explains the numerous Huichol symbols that are etched into the Malecón’s pavement.
The walking tour takes about two hours, before ending at Galería Pacifico on Aldama, where bronze sculptor Jim Demetro is usually available to discuss his works: “Dancers of Vallarta,” “Woman Washing Clothes” and “Andale Bernardo.”
More information is available by calling Galería Pacifico at 222-1982 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">.
Rosin Up the Bow
There’s nothing like moving music to get you into the Christmas spirit and the Puerto Vallarta Chamber Orchestra will deliver. This year’s performance has two distinct parts.
The first part of the concert will feature Mozart’s masterpiece Concertantes Quartett for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn and orchestra. There are four featured musicians, as well as those from the PV Youth Orchestra.
The second part of the concert celebrates the season with a beautiful selection of popular Christmas music. The 30-piece ensemble will surely delight.
To ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the show, the Puerto Vallarta Chamber Orchestra will present their Holiday Concert in two Banderas Bay locations.
The first concert will be performed at on Sunday, December 13, 7 p.m. at the Hotel Krystal in the Puerto Vallarta Hotel Zone.
The second performance will be on Monday, December 14, 8 p.m. at Salon Paraíso, located in Paradise Village, Av. Paseo de los Cocoteros 1, next to Hospital San Javier in Nuevo Vallarta.
Tickets are 150 pesos. Child and student tickets are only 50 pesos and are available at the School Orchestra of Puerto Vallarta (OEPV), located at Genaro Padilla 248, between 20 de Noviembre and Independencia in Pitillal. Tickets are also sold at the door on the night of the performance.
Men’s Chorus
The renamed Puerto Vallarta Gay Men’s Chorus presents its “Festival of Lights” annual holiday concert on December 16, 17 and 18, 7 p.m. at Act II Stages Main Stage, at the corner of Basilio Badillo and Insurgentes.