Prawns with Asian Herbs, Green Papaya Salad and Scallops: Prawns with Asian Herbs, Green Papaya Salad and Scallops.

North Shore Restaurants and Their Stories: Fervor for food, family and their special locations on the Riviera Nayarit links eight extraordinary and diverse restaurateurs who have each established unique and beloved eateries. Hailing from as far as New Zealand and as close as Vallarta, each brings distinctive experience and imparts an individual flavor, not just to the fare but to the entire dining experience.

Mexican Bullfighting Trivia: The word "bullfighting" raises controversy around the world, but there seems to be agreement on one fact: once you’ve been to a bullfight, chances are you will no longer be neutral about the sport. Either it’s an event that you’re passionate about and will go to numerous times in the future, or your first event will be your last.

Join the Remote Control Flying Club in Banderas Bay!: A remote control flying club meets every Saturday, in a two-hectare space located in San Vicente, Nayarit, a little town along Banderas Bay. Previously, this club met in Rincon de Guayabitos, but will continue to meet in San Vicente. Flying remote control airplanes is a very involved hobby and is not only about flying.

Expanding Our Maritime Terminal: If you think Puerto Vallarta’s increasing parking problems have been limited to our city streets, you’ve been missing the bigger picture. All around the world, business is booming for the cruise industry.

Destination Weddings in Puerto Vallarta: Imagine getting married in the balmy breeze at sunset on the Mexican Pacific. The invited guests are hand chosen, numbers are limited and everyone looks bronzed and happy. In fact, you are the entire focus of the weeklong event. Can you picture a more romantic way to get married?

Cravings: Candied Fruits: Candied fruit, or fruta cristalizada as it is known in Mexico, is manufactured using the techniques imported by the Spaniards in the 1500s. A laborious process of repeatedly submerging fruits in scalding water and sugar syrup gives entirely new personalities to commonplace pleasures such as pineapples, figs, orange and lemon peel, even squash.

Best Way to Blow Your Diet: Paris Café Pâtisserie: In the dictionary, “temptation” is a 10-letter word, but at the Paris Café Pâtisserie it is only six letters: p-a-s-t-r-y. Eric Lenoir, cafe owner and pastry chef, learned the art of pastry making as a youth, while baking at his mother’s side in Paris, France. He has worked worldwide, including being a chef in Las Vegas and Ecuador, and starring in his own TV cooking show in California.

Behind the Scenes at a Tortilla Factory: Few things in Mexico are as emblematic and timeless as the humble corn tortilla. Made by hand since pre-Columbian times, this thin, unleavened flat bread is the star ingredient in popular dishes such as chilaquiles, enchiladas, quesadillas, tostadas and tacos. The process of making tortillas has remained essentially the same since its origins. Corn kernels are soaked in limewater, causing their skin to peel.

Art from Shards: Step past the mosaic gateposts of A Broken Art and enter a world of creativity. Glittering glass covers part of one worktable, and along the wall piles of colorful pottery pieces invite touching and arranging.

"Lifestyles" Cover Art Now Limited-Edition Print: Talented artist Laurie Chase was inspired to paint “Beach Club Punta de Mita” because it epitomized to her the “essence and beauty of the Vallarta playa.” This enchanting painting was featured on the cover of the Winter/Spring 2008 issue of this publication. Subsequently, Chase produced a limited edition of 95 signed and numbered Giclée prints.

A Song to Vallarta: In the "Best of Vallarta 2008" issue of Vallarta Lifestyles magazine (Spring-Summer 2008), we pay tribute to Pita Garduño's own tribute to Puerto Vallarta: a song she composed to express her enduring affection for her homeland. This short video is included as bonus content in the digital edition of Vallarta Lifestyles. (Quicktime video)

360 Spotlight: Elements of Design: "Defining the Home" its modus operandi, this unique concept in home decor is an eclectic mix of Mexican designer furniture, lighting, artistic accessories and interior design services.

Adopt an Alebrije: Most alebrije artists tend to focus on small pieces, primarily due to practical reasons. Indeed, the amount of time required to complete these intricately painted woodcarvings increases exponentially with size, and focusing on a single piece often prevents artists and their families from generating income through the sale of smaller items in the interim.

Advocating for the Animals: Vallarta's abandoned companion animals now have a light at the end of the tunnel, efforts being made on their behalf by the new government-registered SPCA of Puerto Vallarta.

Chiles Secos: The Essense of Mexican Salsa: An essential element of Mexican cuisine, hot peppers, or chiles, can be used and purchased either fresh, canned or dehydrated (secos). In fact, chile seco is a term used for a broad variety of peppers that are allowed to mature and dehydrate.

Duck Invitational: While chicken is a mainstay of many a diet, my own included, I rarely treat myself to duck, considering it a special occasion poultry. And, truth be told, when I do indulge it’s either in Peking Duck or Duck a l’Orange – not only because I love them both, but until recently they were the only duck dishes I knew!

Escape to Yelapa: It’s easy to take Yelapa for granted, at least for those who live in Puerto Vallarta year round. After all, seeking refuge at this laid-back village by the sea is as simple as hopping on one of the water taxis that aim for it on a daily basis and enjoying the picturesque 45-minute coastal ride.

Behind the Scenes at Peyote People: During a recent photo shoot and interview with Peyote People owner, Kevin Simpson, we couldn't resist his very interesting and detailed accounts surrounding some of the pieces he and his wife have collected during their travels around Mexico. This short video, included as bonus content in the February 2008 digital edition of Vallarta Lifestyles is the result of such accounts.

Giving in Banderas Bay: Give, Donate. All around Bahia de Banderas, from El Tuito in the south to San Pancho in the north, opportunities abound for residents, as well as vacationers, to help others. There are charitable and non-profit organizations designed to enrich the lives of children, the ill or incapacitated, seniors and abused women, while other groups focus on animals, among others.