Meet Canadian Expat Allan Carswell, Actor, Entertainer, Director, Builder and Entrepreneur Living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Allan Carswell Donates His Time to RISE, a Local Children’s Shelter in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
An Interview with Performer Daniel Celis of The Music Group Monaco, and His Elton John Tribute, Rocketman, in Puerto Vallarta. Mexico
Meet Lucy Mireles, Who Has Built a Community of Artisans and Creators Called Hecho a Mano PV
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Hello fellow travelers, welcome to this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel show. I am your host Barry Kessler, and I am just so happy to be introducing you to my favorite vacation destination, and maybe even yours, Puerto Vallarta Mexico.
That music you were just listening to is performed by Alberto Perez, the owner of the La Palapa Group of Restaurants. Those are La Palapa, Puerto Vallarta’s Oldest Restaurant on the famous Los Muertos Beach, and The El Dorado Restaurant and Beach Club right next door so you can enjoy that
fantastic view of the Los Muertos Pier all lit up at night in beautiful colors, or during the day in its grand splendor for breakfast, lunch or dinner, seated with your toes in the sand right at the water’s edge. It’s so romantic, it’s so, Puerto Vallarta my friends.
This week we are going to meet a young lady, Lucy Mireles, who has built a community of artisans and creators who do pop-up markets and classes, selling their hand made art and teaching others how to make their own art. It’s called Hecho a Mano, or translated to English, made by hand, Hecho a Mano PV.
Contact Information For Monaco and Daniel Celis Entertainment
- Facebook Page for Monaco Band PV: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551778941516
- Instagram Page For Monaco Band PV: https://www.instagram.com/monacobandpv/
- Daniel Celis Entertainment Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dc.entertaiment/
We’ll also be meeting a rock and roller and actor Daniel Celis. Daniel is the lead man for what has become a very popular band, fairly new on the Puerto Vallarta Music scene. His band is called Monaco, and Monaco has taken Vallarta by storm. We’ll find out about Daniel and his Elton John Tribute show at the Palm, Rocketman. Then we will be meeting a man who wears many hats, as a businessman, a builder an actor a director, the very
gifted and talented Allan Carswell will be joining us too. So, buckle up, it’s a busy schedule but before we get to our guests let’s see what’s happening in Puerto Vallarta the 6th day of February, 2024…
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Madonnari Festival February 9th till the 11th in Puerto Vallarta
It’s that time of year again where contestants get out their chalk, their kneepads, don a hat, long sleeves and sunscreen and pray to the sidewalk gods, as they draw murals for prizes while breathing in chalk dust … it’s the 16th annual Festival Madonnari coming this weekend, February 9th till the 11th.
From Visit Puerto Vallarta.com…
From Friday, February 9th to Sunday, February 11th, the Main Square in the heart of Downtown Puerto Vallarta, will host the sixteenth annual edition of the Madonnari ephemeral art festival.
Don’t miss the opportunity to see more than 25 participating artists from Queretaro, Guanajuato, Michoacan, Estado de Mexico, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Durango and Puerto Vallarta create beautiful images using the chalk pastel on concrete technique.
The XVI Madonnari Puerto Vallarta 2024 International Festival will award cash prizes to the participants: 20,000 MXN for the first place, 10,000 MXN for the second, and 5,000 MXN for the third place, in the adult category (among other incentives provided by the sponsors of the event.) The first two winning entries will travel to Santa Barbara, California to participate in the festival held in that city.
The participating works will be judged by professional Santa Barbara artists who will evaluate the different parameters to determine the winning works.
And I have a link to that article from visitpuertovallarta.com, in the shownotes.
https://visitpuertovallarta.com/events/madonnari-puerto-vallarta-2024-international-festival
And if you happen to live in the Santa Barbara area, their Madonnari festival is outstanding. It’s huge. I have pictures of the festival the year our friend Adrian Takano traveled to Santa Barbara, as well as his beautiful entry into that festival, and other great pieces of art, made from chalk. By the way, Santa Barbara holds theirs annually Memorial Day Weekend.
Carnival Puerto Vallarta February 22nd thru the 24thth 2024
Carnaval Will be Celebrated February 22nd till the 24th in Puerto Vallarta
Also, from Visitpuertovallarta.com…
Themed “Dance, Laugh and Celebrate”, the first edition of El Carnaval Puerto Vallarta will take place from February 22nd to 24th.
The event will feature live music of various genres (Mariachi, norteño, DJ and banda). Four stages will be located in the streets of Colonia 5 de Diciembre, Downtown Puerto Vallarta and the Romantic Zone.
The Puerto Vallarta Carnival Queen will be crowned at 6:00pm on Thursday, February 22nd, along with some surprise guests. The pageant will be held at the Los Arcos del Malecon Amphitheater. On Friday, February 23rd, at 6:00pm, the LGBTTTIQ+ Queen and the LGBTTTIQ+ XL Queen will be crowned. The official presentation of the Ugly King will take place at the Lázaro Cárdenas Park in the Romantic Zone.
On Saturday, February 24th, the carnival parade will start from the Sheraton Buganvilias Hotel. The Puerto Vallarta Carnival 2024 Parade will go through the streets of Downtown Puerto Vallarta, the Malecon and will end at the Romantic Zone.
For more information, please check out the official web site: El Carnaval Puerto Vallarta.
And I have a link to that article in the show notes as well at www.puertovallartatravelshow.com.
https://visitpuertovallarta.com/events/el-carnaval-puerto-vallarta-2024
as well as the link to the program at Elcarnivalpv.com
https://www.elcarnavalpv.com/programa
If you are in town, this is gonna be good. Especially the XL version….I can’t wait.
So, You Think You Can RISE 3rd Edition 2024 Grand Finale at Teatro Vallarta-Sunday, February 18th 7:00pm
The So You Think You Can Rise Talent Show, put on to benefit RISE, Refujio Infantil Santa Esperanza, the sweet orphanage in Colonia Benito Juarez, not far from Zona Romantica has entered the final stage…and if you are going to be in town the 18th of February, have to do your best to be there…Here’s the Facebook Post from our friends Lisa and Billy, who dreamed up this talent show three plus years ago. Remember? We were all there when Lisa and Billy told us about their plan three years ago, and it’s really evolved….from that post…
We are off to a great start with our 3rd Season of So, You Think You Can RISE! Variety Talent Show.
The Grand Finale is going to be one spectacular show Hosted by Branden James and Brenda Gavino. 8 contestants will battle it out for the $20,000 peso Grand Prize.
You won’t want to miss this event – Get Your Tickets NOW! VIP seats receive a free drink (beer or wine) and early entry with Jordan Walker, vocal winner of Season 2, as the pre-show entertainment.
Who will be Season 3 Grand Prize Winner?
All proceeds support the RISE Children’s Shelter.
Do it for the KIDS!
If you can’t make it to the Grand Finale – you can buy tickets and donate them to the employees – Purchase the tickets, then forward me your e-tickets with a note of your intentions to lisa@risepv.com or make a donation here: So You Think You Can RISE donations and I have that link in the shownotes..and they end with …
Thank you for your support!
So, I have the links to purchase your ticket for the finals at Theatro Vallarta, in the show notes.
We will be talking with Allan Carswell who is, among others helping Lisa and Billy at RISE by coaching these up-and-coming entertainers. And also Daniel Celis is involved in coaching the talent for the So You Think You Can Rise event. It’s funny how that happened. You will really love Allan, and Daniel, so stay tuned.
Inflation Taking a Bite out of Travelers Pocketbooks
Inflation is sweeping the globe post covid, and many of you have expressed your concerns about how darn expensive it is to eat out in Puerto Vallarta now a days. Some of you have asked me what I do to cut down on expenses and still have a good time. I’ve also had some of you ask me, Barry, if you had a week in Vallarta, and no interviews to do where you “HAD” to be somewhere, what would that look like?
Well, I’ve got a few ideas for you. We’ll talk about those next week.
Last Week’s Podcast Had a Glitch
Oh, that reminds me. Some of you discovered an issue in the last episode of the podcast, and you reached out to me, like right away. And I want to thank you for that. The one about our trip to Mascota, up in the Sierras above Vallarta.
I had been working on the blogpost for like 3 hours, and I was getting hungry. So, I put together the audio files for the podcast, and left out the beginning where I do the news of the day, and the end, where I wrap things up, and instead if you downloaded that file, you heard the intro music, then the interview, and the outro music rolling over us at the end. It was a mess.
And I’m sitting at my favorite restaurant here in Simi Valley having chips, salsa, a burrito and a margarita with my wife, and in come these messages. So, I’m reading these messages, hey Barry, you left out the news? How could you? Hey amigo, did you change your format? You getting lazy on us?
So, after my uncomfortable meal, I went home and re-edited the file, and replaced the bad file, with the correct file.
So, if you are one of those who got the shortened version, you can go back if you want, and download the entire file with directions on how to get to Mascota from Puerto Vallarta, and back, as well as our experiences walking through the town and so forth. If you got short changed last podcast, go back, and get the entire file. I deleted the bad file. It’s gone forever. And sorry for the surprise. I should have listened to the file before I posted it. I was just hungry… so a couple hundred of you downloaded the first audio file I posted before I replaced it with the full episode, after dinner. Sorry, check it out if you feel short changed.
Also, just as a point of interest. I was setting up my audio recorder and microphones for the interview with Cristina up in Mascota, and my recorder, my trusty recorder that I’ve been schlepping back and forth to Mexico for the last 7 years. The recorder that was left on a bus in Puerto Vallarta, and later ransomed for a pretty penny. That one. Finally died. Right there in Mascota. And the audio you heard on last week’s podcast was recorded on my phone. That’s right, I sat down with Cristina, and put my cell phone down between us, and recorded the file in wave form, then ran it through my special audio editing program, and if you go back and listen, I’m pretty sure you would agree, it sounds like we are using microphones, like we usually do. Check it out if you like. Let me know what you think.
I have a link to last week’s entire podcast episode in the show notes, or just go to last week’s show notes at www.puertovallartatravelshow.com.
Mascota Podcast Episode Download
So, a week from today, Debbie and I will be flying to Puerto Vallarta from Los Angeles, via Alaska Airlines. $280 each nonstop, round trip. We’ll be staying with our good friends Debbie and Ray from Canadia. They live in Pitillal in the hood. We will be using their casa as a hub. We’ll be sleeping around this time, checking out new places for you to visit when you are ready leave the hotel or resort, or your condo to do some exploring in paradise.
It’s going to be a bit of a working vacation. They almost always are. I’m not retired yet from the Real Estate Business here in Southern California where my wife and I have been very busy selling other people’s houses, while at the same time, getting our house here in Simi Valley ready to sell, so we can make our move to Vallarta by the end of July this year. And we are finding out there are a lot of people we know who are selling or thinking about selling their homes and moving from California to greener pastures or selling their rental properties. Lots of these landlords were burned by covid rules. Many weren’t paid rent for over a year, and they don’t want that to happen again, so they are selling.
In the past, it was kind of unusual to list a home the day after New Years Day. We listed 2.
As a matter of fact, we opened escrows on 3 properties, on the same day while we were in Vallarta back in November, all from a rooftop in Pitillal. It’s good to have good internet in paradise. I’ll get back to that, but it was a good day selling houses from Mexico, that’s for sure. We had a fancy dinner that night. But you see, it’s not all fun and games while my wife and I are in Paradise. We work. Sometimes half and even over half of the day… between interviews that is. Not complaining. We just need to wait to have that first beer till we are all done. Best practices.
As far as our move is concerned, it’s interesting going through all our stuff, and throwing out lots of old notes, cards, nick knacks. We are getting ready for our big garage sale blow out extravaganza where everything goes. We’ve been donating or giving away to our kids and friends, things like books, board games, albums, cd’s, sets of dishes, crystal, cookware. Life stuff that we won’t be taking to Mexico with us.
The truth of the matter is, we don’t intend to take very much with us when we move. Just the basics to be honest. Clothes, electronics, hobby materials. We both have hobbies to keep us busy besides smoking weed and drinking.
It is a little sad. Sometimes I’ll walk in on Debbie and she will be sobbing over a sappy card, or a photo of a dead family member. It’s sort of weird because this is the kind of stuff we as realtors, do for dead clients. The hard truth is that for many of us, unless we make radical changes in our lives like we happen to be doing right now, we may never ever go through our stuff. Our personal items, our mementos, our diplomas, our wedding pictures, photo albums, things we collect that we regard as important throughout the entirety of our lives, are usually, in the end disposed of by our kids or another family member. I suppose that makes us lucky cuz this gives us a chance to look at everything. And our kids can consider themselves lucky too, We’re doing all the hard work for them.
My wife, I’m so proud of her. Some of you have asked how she likes learning Spanish using the Duolingo App, and she is doing really good. She has 202 straight days of Spanish lessons on the app, and she is doing really well. I’ve been coaching her a bit. Helping her with pronunciation, and verb conjugation and irregular verbs and pronouns….okay….don’t get me started…
She is doing really well. And I’d recommend the app. I would wager that by this time next year, after living in Mexico for 6 months she will be able to carry on a conversation. I really do.
We plan to meet with our immigration team while we are in town too, and also to look at a place or two to lease for our first year, while we look for our permanent home in paradise.
Speaking of meeting up, we plan on having two open microphone meet-ups this time down. The first will be Tuesday February the 13th. We will be crashing JR’s Meet and Greet at Nacho Daddy at 6:30 in the evening. We will go till 8:30, so if you are going to be in town February the 13th, stop in and spill the beans. Tell us what you are doing in paradise. Let us know how you save money when you eat out in paradise. If you have a favorite charity, business, bar restaurant that you want to tell us about, come by and share with lovers of Puerto Vallarta, my listeners. We don’t bite, don’t be shy. I always say that listeners to this podcast always have great ideas and stories to share. I’ll get JR to tell us about his Mexican Health insurance this time. Hear that, Cheryl? You and Jim should also stop by too. JR can tell you about it in person. So, look, if you are in town, stop by Tuesday February 13th at Nacho Daddy, Basillio Badillo 287 in the Zona Romantica in Puerto Vallarta. We turn JR’s meet and greet into an open microphone podcast from 6:30 till 8:30, February 13th, please drop in and tell us your Puerto Vallarta Story.
Purple Flags Signify Crocodile Sightings Along The Beaches in Puerto Vallarta
Crocodiles are still being spotted on Vallarta beaches during the day. We all know that you should stay off the beaches at night, especially up north at those beachfront resorts near the airport where the Estero El Salado is, the estuary. And if you are a listener to this show you know that the North American Crocodiles that live in this area are fresh water creatures but they use the ocean to travel distances at times, and you should avoid swimming at night in those areas. But crocodiles are now appearing, as I said, during the day, and when they do, and when they are spotted, the lifeguards, the Bomberos in swim gear put up a purple flag, as a warning. That’s right, that pretty purple flag means watch out for crocs. You’d think they’d have at least a green flag, or a flag with a picture of a crocodile munching on a bodysurfer, but no….you have to guess. I mean, it’s natural, right? Purple equals crocodile. Of course it does. Watch for that purple flag, the next time you are on a Vallarta beach.
Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching next week, so make your reservations now, at your favorite restaurant in paradise. I’m making mine tomorrow. And next week I need to read some of your emails, but right now, lets get to our first interview.
Information For Tunnel Bar Puerto Vallarta
- Address: Basilio Badillo 447, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Email: tunnelbarpv@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tunnelbarpv
- Instagram: Tunnel Bar PV on Instagram
Monaco The Rocket Man Show and Daniel Celis
Puerto Vallarta is blessed with so much talent. From lounge and stage performers, singers, actors and rock bands. My goodness, so much good rock and roll and country music too. All genres.
My friend, and contributor and friend of the podcast, Elle Rens. You know Elle and her husband Russell as the couple who immigrated to Mexico by pulling the name of the country out of a hat. Well, back in July. Wow, it’s been a long time since I recorded this. Well, Elle told me we needed to listen to this new band, Monaco. They were playing at Captain Don’s at the time, and I was able to corner the lead Singer and front man in the band, Daniel Celis. And what an interesting and talented and multifaceted man Daniel is.
And since July, Daniel’s band, Monaco has taken Vallarta by storm. Currently you will find them playing Monday’s at Jax, Tuesday at La Huerta BBQ and Sports Bar where they sold out last week, and by the way, this coming Tuesday the 13th of February, La Huerta and Monaco are sold out again, so
hang on and make reservations next Tuesday. Then you can catch Monaco Thursday’s at Café Roma, Friday’s at Alwaysis, Saturday at the Tree House and Sunday’s at the Palm. So yes, Vallarta loves Daniel’s band, and so will you. Let’s get to know the man, Daniel Celis, the Rocketman, and lead singer of Monaco, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Contact Information For Monaco and Daniel Celis Entertainment
- Facebook Page for Monaco Band PV: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551778941516
- Instagram Page For Monaco Band PV: https://www.instagram.com/monacobandpv/
- Daniel Celis Entertainment Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dc.entertaiment/
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Thank you Daniel. What a talented man. I have links to his Monaco Facebook page in the show notes.
Hecho a Mano PV
Next, we are going from the performing arts to the creative hand made arts.
Many times I get ideas for interviews when I see something pop up on Facebook or Instagram that catches my attention. And this page, Hecho a Mano PV, or translated, Made by Hand PV, caught my attention. The group does pop up craft shows and gives classes in creating and making arts and crafts.
So, I got in touch with the founder and creator of the group, we made a plan to get together to see what they do, and to find out more about them. I mean, that’s what we do here, right?
Now some of the events that Lucy and her friend Josh will be talking about have already come and gone, but I left them in so you can hear what they do, and where they do their pop-up classes and shows. So let’s go right now, to my favorite margarita place, Restaurant San Lucas, where the audio is just right for a podcast, and let’s talk art and creativity and pop-up craft shows with Lucy Mireles of Hecho a Mano PV, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico..
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Thank you so much Lucy and Josh. I have links to Hecho a Mano PV in the show notes. Like the page and get pinged when they plan their next event.
Contact Information For Hecho a Mano PV
- Website: https://hechoamanopv.admtcloud.org/?fbclid=IwAR0CY3di0zHgu8nu5pVrF9dcp96cS4kXXWyppDRFPM03iMm8yWq01Ww9Ntc
- Phone: +52 81 2751 3890
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PopUpMarketPV
- Gmail:: Hechoamanopuertovallarta@gmail.com
Next, we are going to be talking with Allan Carswell. Now we talked about the So You Think You Can Rise Talent Show earlier, and as you may know, Lisa and Billy asked me, as a favor to RISE, if I would allow some of their sponsors to the talent show to come on my show. As an added bonus to them for being such generous human beings. And of course, I said yes.
And over the last few years, I’ve had some of these sponsors on the show, and I have to say, they have all been some of the most interesting people I’ve had the opportunity to meet, and interview. And Al Carswell is one of those people.
Tickets for Mama Mia at Act 2 PV
I’m sure you will agree, let’s go back to the restaurant we just left. Restaurant San Lucas on the corner of Lazaro Cardenas and Constitution, upstairs above the noise of the street below. To my little paradise. Let’s meet the very interesting and talented Al Carswell, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
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Thank you Al. I told you he was a busy guy. I have some photos of the Tunnel Bar at Las Terrazas on Basillio Badillo in the show notes and a link to their Facebook, Instagram and a map too, in the show notes.
Information For Tunnel Bar Puerto Vallarta
- Address: Basilio Badillo 447, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Email: tunnelbarpv@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tunnelbarpv
- Instagram: Tunnel Bar PV on Instagram
Allan is playing Sam in Mama Mia for another season, so if you haven’t seen it yet, or you want to see it again, I have a link to the schedule at Act2 PV in the show notes as well as links to Al’s bar and restaurant in Calgary, the Civic Tavern. Check out his bar in Canadia if you are in the area.
Okay, that should do it for this week, next week, stay tuned for more on the ground reports from Puerto Vallarta Mexico, with travel tips, great restaurant and excursion ideas and more. Until then, remember, this is an interactive show where I depend on your questions and suggestions about all things Puerto Vallarta. If you think of something I should be talking about, please reach out to me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending us your message.
And remember, if you are considering booking any type of tour while you are in Puerto Vallarta, you must go to Vallartainfo.com, JR’s website and reserve your tour through him, right from his website. Remember the value for value proposition. His experience and on the ground knowledge of
everything Puerto Vallarta in exchange for your making a purchase of a tour that you would do anyway, you’re just doing it through him as a way of saying thank you. It costs no more than if you were to use someone else so do it. Really. And when you do take one of these tours, email me about your experiences. Maybe you can come on-board and share with others what you liked or didn’t like about the tour. Again, contact me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending off a message. Don’t forget his maps, his DIY tours and I have links to all of those in the show notes.
And once again, if you like this podcast, please take the time and subscribe and follow share with a lover of Puerto Vallarta or give me a good review wherever or however you happen to be listening. That way we can get the word out to more and more people about the magic of this place. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Remember I made it easy for you to do just that with each episode I create. But if you haven’t been to my website, you really need to have a look there. I have the links to the places we talk about, interesting pictures and the more all right there in my blog-posts and show-notes for each episode of the show so check them out for sure if you haven’t already all-right? All right.
Thank you to Allan Carswell. You are a busy man with a heart of gold my friend. Thanks for all you do for RISE, and for lots of folks in Vallarta, and in Canada my friend. Make sure to catch Mama Mia or a seat at Tunnel Bar.
Thanks to Lucy Mireles and Josh from Hecho a Mano PV. Make sure to like their page and watch for their shows.
And thank you to Daniel Celis from the band Monaco and the Rocketman Show at the Palm. I have links to hook you up with everything Daniel Celis, in the show notes at www.puertovallartatravelshow.com
And thanks to all of you for listening all the way through this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show. This is Barry Kessler signing off with a wish for you all to slow down, be kind and live the Vallarta lifestyle. Nos Vemos amigos.
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