Best La Cruz Connection: Philo’s: On a typical Thursday evening at Philo’s Music Bar on Calle Delfin in the heart of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, the musicians are tuning up while, in one corner of the palapa-covered space, a group of grinning Mexican children are playing “Simon Says” – in English.

Best Beach: That Depends on What You Have in Mind: With some 26 beaches on Banderas Bay’s 34 miles of coastline, there really is no such thing as “the best beach” here. Besides, whatever floats your boat, right? We can, however, give you a heads-up about the best ones for enjoying various pursuits.

Best Yelapa Connection: Brad Wollman: After 15 years of visiting and ultimately living full-time in Yelapa, Brad Wollman decided to share his considerable expertise with would-be visitors to this pristine village 15 miles southwest of Vallarta.

Best Young Performers: Hannalore Hein & Jayce Johnson: Recently we had the privilege of seeing actors Hannalore and Jayce for the first time in “My Fair Lady,” although they have participated in previous American School annual productions and been active in Puerto Vallarta’s growing theater community.

Best Examples of: Vibrant Aging: Some people are forever youthful, despite their chronological age. Three such individuals are Puerto Vallarta residents, Don Gallery, Beverly Rose and Nelly Barquet.

Best outdoor activity: Canopy Tours: Exhilarating and educational, this eco-activity has taken off in a big way in the four years since two progressive local companies established tours enticing young and old up into PV’s lush tropical rain forest.

Best Musical Makeover: Los Bambinos: From travelling troubadours to overnight sensation, one of Puerto Vallarta's favorite musical groups, goes through a makeover. Check out one of their songs! (Audio)

Best Nightclub: Carlos O’brian’s: Having just celebrated 34 years in Puerto Vallarta, Carlos O’Brian’s, of the Anderson’s chain of restaurants, is without a doubt the best nightclub in town.

Best Place to Beat the Munchies After Midnight: Pizza Metro: Think of it as a late-night outlet for La Dolce Vita, its successful Malecon sibling. Open until 4 am, Pizza Metro is a tiny, but extremely popular, stop among the downtown nightclub crowd. Nothing beats a slice of pizza after a night of gallivanting around town. And with over half a dozen varieties to choose from, including vegetarian – a comforting spinach and mushroom combo – Pizza Metro hits the late-night spot.

Best Vantage Point: Las Carmelitas: From every angle, Puerto Vallarta is stunning — but see it from this breezy mountaintop restaurant, and you’ll be flabbergasted. All of PV, the venues people commonly go to for the views included, is at your feet. And untouched nature is all around you.

El Centro Hot Spot: Just one block up from the Malecon, where folks stop to interact with the eclectic Colunga sculptures in front of Las Palomas restaurant, are some of this town’s best browsing, shopping and dining opportunities.

A Coconut: From soap to rope and, of course, food and beverages, there are myriad uses for this bowling-ball-sized fruit ubiquitous on tropical beaches around the world — floating on ocean currents, its seeds tend to take root not far from shore.

Bob Mandel: Most of us have a lifetime to fulfill our dreams. For children whose existence is threatened by a terminal disease, however, the window of opportunity is small at best, and often reduced further by a family’s limited financial resources. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the seemingly impossible is realized daily, in order to engender fragile lives with a sense of hope and joy.

Richard Kaplan: Chances are, those of you who have been around for a few years recognize this mountain of a man, a larger-than-life entertainer and promoter of this town he so loved.

Silvia Álvarez Bustos: A dedicated wife and mother, Silvia is tirelessly committed to protecting not only her family but the environment and all creatures sharing this planet with us, her modus operandi combining the heart’s wisdom with rolled up shirtsleeves.

Botanical Gardens: A Natural New Getaway: Celebrating this area’s rich bounty of tropical flora and offering a pleasant respite from the bustling crowd is a new family-run botanical gardens a half-hour drive away.

New sculpture soon to grace the Malecon: Talent and enthusiasm attract more of the same. So it’s not surprising that expatriate sculptor Jim Demetro, who has some 35 life-size sculptures on display throughout the US, would dedicate his first installation here to our beloved cultural ambassadors, the Xiutla folkloric dance troupe.

Strategic Hotels & Resorts Acquires Second Punta Mita Hotel: The company that owns the luxurious Four Seasons Resort in Punta Mita – a real estate investment trust that owns and asset manages high-end hotels and resorts — now also owns the adjacent La Solana Hotel and Villas development site. 3/10/2006