Search results matching tag 'Events'

Notes on Napkins - Dangerous Liason in Puerto Morelos?

435836 — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:03:00 GMT

Stop the presses!! Breaking culinary news out of Puerto Morelos!!

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Entrepreneur Catriona Brown (The Little Mexican Cooking School and Casa Caribe B&B) and Chef John Gray (John Gray's Kitchen and John Gray's Merida) are partnering up in May this year! They both have independently pioneered successful new ventures in Cancun and the Riviera Maya and are great promoters of the region garnering international and national recognition. Both Catriona Brown and John Gray are people watched by locals in the region who are never sure what they will do next.

It was announced today that John Gray will be teaching class for the first time at The Little Mexican Cooking School on Tuesdays commencing May 2nd for 4 classes only. "I am excited to be able to share my passion for authentic Mexican food and to demonstrate how these flavours can be used at home" Gray said while designing the new menu for the school on the breezy, tropical terrace of Casa Caribe in Puerto Morelos.

Brown says " I am delighted to be working with John Gray. I have always respected his passion for presenting the best to his clients." Brown opened The Little Mexican Cooking School in 2009 when it quickly rose to number 1 attraction on the Yucatan Peninsula and it has continually presented entertaining and educational classes in authentic Mexican cuisine to curious travelers.

Also announced was that for Sunday, Mothers Day May 12th, John Gray has added his touch to the already great Brunch menu at Casa Caribe. "This will be our last Sunday Brunch until November and we will look forward to seeing all our friends and visitors for a great fun day in celebration of all our wonderful Mothers".

Sunday Brunch at Casa Caribe in Puerto Morelos quickly became a tradition in the region when it opened two years ago, with two different chefs from The Little Mexican Cooking School serving up wonderful Eggs Benedict as well as Mexican specials and Berry Crepes. Now John Gray adds his touch promising a great Brunch. The lovely outdoor terrace provides an elegant location for the gathering of friends before relaxing on the beautiful Puerto Morelos beach.

When asked about future business planned together Brown said " We have some ideas!" As we said, people to watch.

Reservations for Brunch May 12th , 9am - 1pm, can be made direct to the hotel info@casacaribepuertomorelos.com or 998 251 8060. A map to the location can be found on the website http://www.casacaribepuertomorelos.com. Bookings taken for 4 or more people.

Reservations for John Gray's classes at The Little Mexican Cooking School can be made through the live calendar on the website http://www.thelittlemexicancookingschool.com, seats limited.

Explayarte's "Les Miserables" Packs the House at Xcaret!

435836 — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:57:00 GMT

Last week, Playa del Carmen's Music and Performing Arts School, Explayarte presented its full scale production of the award winning musical, Les Miserables. The show ran for three nights to packed and overwhelmingly enthusiastic audiences in Xcaret's Foro Abierto. This is the 5th Explayarte production that I have seen, my 4th as a corporate sponsor and the 3rd that Cat has participated in. I think it's fair to say that I am no longer what anyone would consider objective about these shows and the production company! Anyone who has been anywhere within earshot of me for the past few weeks has heard me wax effusive about the school, the leadership, the teachers, the curriculum, the production process and the level of talent that Explayarte demonstrates and shares not only with our children but with everyone who makes the effort to come out and support these shows.

For years, I have heard people lament that there is no culture in Playa del Carmen. No museums, no dedicated performance spaces, art galleries, few opportunities to expose our children to the arts in a meaningful way. I'm pretty sure that not a single person who attended any of these performances can deny that we are blessed to have music theatre of this caliber to enjoy and even take part in! As I looked back into the audience each night, I was really pleased to see so many families and even better groups of teens and almost teens who had come to see the show together. Certainly the timing of the production, falling after the overwhelming success of the star studded major motion picture, must have had an affect on attendance. Above that however, in the weeks and days leading up to the show, the energy and excitement surrounding the final rehearsals and the performers was absolutely palpable. It had to be infectious as nearly everywhere I went I could overhear people talking about the show....what night they were going....who they knew in the show....would be like the movie. It was this infectious excitement and anticipation that packed the house each night and had the audience leaping to their feet and cheering

If you were unable to make it to the show, here's a little taste of what you missed. If you saw the show, this will help you to relive some of your favorite moments from this amazing and very emotional production.

Puerto Morelos Prepares for 7th Annual Copa del Rey Polo Tournament

435836 — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:53:00 GMT

The exotic jungle of the Mayan Riviera will pulse with the galloping of hooves, when the 7th Annual Copa del Rey International Polo Tournament takes place April 25 - 28, 2013 at El Rey Polo Country Club in Puerto Morelos, just 20 minutes south of Cancun.

Set amidst the lush jungle of the Mexican Caribbean, the regulation polo field will bring six teams face-to-face at a multi-day competition. Ranked as a 4-6 goal event, the tournament will showcase players from around the world and of course, Mexico where the sport has been played since 1880. This highly anticipated Tournament has quickly become one of the top annual social and sporting events of the Cancun-Riviera Maya region.

Since 2007, when the world-famous polo legend Carlos Gracida (Queen Elizabeth's favorite) played in the inaugural Copa del Rey (El Rey Cup), the Tournament has brought the thrill of polo and an alluring equestrian lifestyle to a region already acclaimed for its beaches, water sports, resorts, and archeology.

The tournament will kick off on Thursday April 25 with a cocktail reception on Friday evening at Plaza Kulkucan in Cancun where the teams and players will be presented to invited guests and members of the local and international media. While match play will begin on Friday morning, the tournament and its participants will receive the blessing of a Mayan shaman and the Governor of Quintana Roo, Roberto Borge, will officially open the event on Saturday afternoon. The six teams will meet, head to head throughout the weekend culminating in the championship match on Sunday. A variety of events have been planned around this year's tournament including an art exhibition, live musical entertainment and, of course, the hotly contested Ladies Hat Competition!

Corporate sponsors for this year's event include Sunset World, Fiesta Americana, Lemmus, Scappino, INRiviera, E Entertainment, Mazda, Cuatro Tacos and Volaris among others. The Copa del Rey tournament was inaugurated in 2007 and since then has grown into one of the most anticipated social and sporting events in the country.

El Rey Polo Club is located on la Ruta de los Cenotes, 6 miles from the town of Puerto Morelos, 20 minutes south of Cancun, and has the only regulation polo field (300 yd x 160 yd) in the Mexican Caribbean. Open year-round, El Rey Polo Club offers lessons for beginning to advanced players, with training packages and practice sessions available, as well as a seasoned stable of horses. The polo field is flanked by a clubhouse with restaurant and banquet facilities and an infinity edge pool. For more information about El Rey Polo Club and the tournament call 998 802 1609 or email alexa@poloincancun.com.

Explayarte Presents "Les Misérables" at Xcaret - April 17, 18 & 21

435836 — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:41:00 GMT

On April 17, 18 and 21, Explayarte is proud to present Les Misérables in the Foro Abierto at Xcaret! This full scale musical production, directed by Shane Southcott, will feature a live orchestra and a cast of over 80 of Playa del Carmen's most talented performers.

Les Misérables is an award-winning, critically acclaimed musical, based on the French historical novel of the same name by French poet and playwright Victor Hugo. It was first published in 1862 and is considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. The story follows the plight of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his quest for redemption after serving nineteen years in jail for having stolen a loaf of bread. Valjean's character is loosely based on the life of Eugène François Vidocq, an ex-convict who became a successful businessman widely noted for his social engagement and philanthropy.

Along the way, Valjean becomes a force for good in the world but, relentlessly pursued by Inspector Javert, cannot escape his criminal past. He and a slew of characters are swept into a revolutionary period in France, where a group of young idealists make their last stand at a street barricade.

Featuring the songs “I Dreamed A Dream”, “Bring Him Home”, “One Day More” and “On My Own” – Les Misérables is the show of all shows. Seen by more than 65 million people in 42 countries and in 22 languages around the globe, it is still breaking box-office records everywhere. It is now an Academy Award winning major motion picture with a star studded cast including Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway.

Curtain time will be at 7:30pm sharp. Tickets are available at Explayarte (tel. 859-3201), Italianis Pizza (Centro Maya), The Italian Coffee Company (Plaza Las Américas) and El Gran Taco (across from Centro Maya). Until April 17th, tickets are available at the promotional price of 220 mn per ticket or 2 for 380 mn. Tickets will also be available at the Xcaret Box Office the evening of the performances. If you enjoyed the movie, don't miss this opportunity to see Les Miserables performed LIVE!

Please, support the arts in Playa del Carmen!

April 25-28 7th Annual Copa del Rey Polo Tournament

435836 — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:29:00 GMT

Calling all spectators and polo lovers!

The annual Copa del Rey Polo weekend is back in Cancun and Puerto Morelos! Join a weekend of exciting polo matches beginning on Thursday, April 25th with a welcome cocktail party. Friday kicks off the matches beginning at 2:30pm and goes through all day Sunday, ending with the closing ceremonies at 6:30pm. For more information, please contact any of the sponsors listed above or visit the Facebook event page.

Rotary Club Rubber Ducky Regatta in Cancun MOVED to May 12th

435836 — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 11:28:00 GMT

****The Rotary Club Rubber Ducky Race has been postponed until May 12th!!****

On May 12, Rotary Playa del Carmen Seaside will be participating with other Quintana Roo Rotary Clubs in the Grand Rubber Ducky Regatta! First prize is a house in Cancun!!! Additional awesome prizes include a motorbike, home appliances, furniture packages, flatscreen TVs and much more!

Be sure to buy your Rubber Ducky to participate - $120 pesos each! Ducks are available locally from Rotary Club members. Email pdcrotary@hotmail.com for more info or inquire on the Rotary Club Facebook page.

You don't have to be in Playa del Carmen to participate in the Rubber Ducky Regatta! You can get in the race from anywhere in the world by adopting a duck or ducks! Each duck adoption is $10US or $120MX. A PayPal account has been established for easy payment via credit card. There is no limit to the number of ducks you may adopt!

Once you adopt and make payment, your Rubber Ducky race number(s) and a photo of your souvenir duck(s) will be emailed to you! If you like, give us your address and we will mail them to you when a Rotary member returns to the US/Canada.

Be sure to check the Facebook page - Rotary Playa del Carmen Seaside - on May 12 as fun photos and the race results will be posted. Ducks have been adopted from all over Canada and the US. Don't miss it! Proceeds from Seaside Chapter's sales will go toward ongoing projects and providing computers, learning software programs and essential school supplies to Playa del Carmen's less fortunate school children! Read HERE for more information on these important Rotary programs.

Wine Pairing Dinner to Raise Funds for Rotary Projects

435836 — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:24:00 GMT

The Rotary Club of Playa del Carmen Seaside Chapter is holding a fabulous fundraising Wine and Food event on Friday, March 22, 2013 at 7:00pm at Casa del Agua Restaurant Roof Garden located on the corner of 5th Avenue and Calle 2. The event is organized by Playa's new English speaking Rotary Club and is open to the public.

Funds raised from this exciting event will go towards providing computers, scholastic programs and educational materials for disadvantaged children in Playa del Carmen. More information about this important Rotary Club initiative can be found HERE.

The menu will consist of 4 courses each served with a wine specially selected to accompany the dish:

Hacha Scallops served with Ardeche Chardonnay
Norwegian Salmon with Quinoa-seed Risotto with Punti Ferrer Sauvignon Blanc
Portobello Mushrooms on Bread with Goat Cheese & Mushroom Mousse with Black Truffle Oil, served with a Clasico Malbec
Short Ribs marinated in Dark Beer, Garlic and Red Wine with Ikus Cabernet Sauvignon.

The cost is $400MX per person and the proceeds will go to support ongoing projects of the Playa del Carmen Rotary Club Seaside Chapter.

Please contact Trish Youngstrum pyoungstrum[at]gmail.com or Adriana Vela letstalk.listings[at]gmail.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

Seating is limited and reservations are strongly recommended.

This promises to be a night of great food, great wine and great fun - We look forward to seeing you there!

Dates Set for 2013 Riviera Maya Jazz Festival

435836 — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 18:37:00 GMT

Organizers of the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival have released the concert dates for 2013. This year's festival will be held November 28 - 30, 2013 at Mamitas Beach Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival brings together music lovers of all kinds and combines the best selection of famous jazz musicians worldwide with the breathtaking view, relaxed atmosphere and culture of Playa del Carmen. Three nights of great tunes under the moonlit sky, on the beach, for free... what more could you ask for!?

Stay tuned for more information....

Annual Auction and Luncheon to Support KKiS

435836 — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:20:00 GMT

The 2nd Annual KKiS Project Fundraiser will be held on February 28th at 11:00am at Wah Wah Beach Bar on 2nd and the beach. The event will be a luncheon and live auction with a wide array of amazing prizes donated by generous Playa locals and friends from abroad! The KKiS Project, headed up by Playa resident Gayle Collins, is an organization of American and Canadian ex-pats who provide support to under-privileged school children in the Playa del Carmen area. Their mission: to help keep kids enrolled in school by supplying uniforms, providing school supplies and backpacks, securing English language materials for the classroom and providing volunteers for the classrooms to help students learn English.

This past year, KKiS organizers and volunteers provided school supplies, uniforms and English language curriculum materials for over 275 children. With the support of the Playa del Carmen Seaside Rotary Club and countless volunteers, KKiS logged over 170 hours of volunteer time reading in English and working with children on their English language skills at the Pelopides School. Pelopides is an elementary school in the under-served Guadalupana neighborhood on the north side of Playa. These students usually come to school without the required school supplies and therefore, can't keep up with their peers.

This particular school was selected because they are one of the few private schools to provide financial scholarships their students. At the moment, 50% of their student population is afforded reduced or free tuition, known here as "becas". Some students only require a partial subsidy while others have their tuition covered in full. This school teaches English to all students for half of the day, a skill that is essential for later job placement and advancement. The school administrators and teachers have welcomed KKIS volunteers into their classrooms to help students learn English by reading to them. Just recently, KKiS has been able to initiate a similar reading program with another school in Cristo Rey, a remote community outside of Playa del Carmen. This may not seem like an extraordinary program but similar offers of assistance to public schools in the city have been rebuffed.

Tickets for the luncheon are $20USD or $250 pesos per person. You may purchase tickets from committee members or by calling 984-127-8881.Tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the event. The auction will be conducted in English and all bids will be in US dollars. Payment can be made in dollars or pesos (at a 12:1 exchange rate). Payment through Paypal is also available (bring your user name and password or your own laptop). This auction is the only fundraiser organized by KKiS in the calendar year. This year's goal is to raise enough money to supply 500 children with school supplies.

Among the many wonderful auctions items available this year are:

Wine from Off the Vine selected by Ricardo Galaxia
$300 peso Gift Certificate from Jurgen at Mom's Bar
WearEarth Eco-bags from Alicia Meno
Mexican folk art and Talavera pottery
3 - Passes for Rio Secreto
3 - Yoga Classes with Arielle at Yoga by the Sea
Talavera Iguana from Alicia at Siete Detales
An original Painting by Ellie Newman
2 All-Inclusive Golf Packages at the Playacar Golf Resort
500 Business cards from Ink Me
Dinner for 4 people with wine at Origenes Restaurant
A Music Session with award winning Blues musician Brent Parkin
A Unique Shell and Bead Mobile by artist Janet Lowe
Teeth Cleaning by Dr. Jorge Armenta
Teeth Whitening by Dr. Scot Lyall
Haircut, Pedicure and Manicure by Cece Sweatt
1 - 2 Hour Photo Session with Kat Carroll of Cats Eye Creations
2 - Cooking Classes at the Little Mexican Cooking School in Puerto Morelos
2 - $250 peso Girft Certificates for Cheesters Restaurant
Original "Valladolid Rectory" painting by artist Janet Lowe
4 night stay at Buena Madera in Playacar (up to 10 people)
Gourmet Dinner for 8 by Danish Chef Kaj Skov
Original "Palapa" watercolor painting by artist Barry Launius
1 month membership to The Gym
1 - 3 Day Spanish Course with Suzanne and Shawn Bandick
Gift Certificate for 1.5 hr massage with Emily Schwartze
2 - All-Inclusive Day Passes to the Reef Club in Playacar
2 - Passes to the Captain Hook Adventure in Cancun

For a complete list of auction prizes, please visit the KKiS Facebook page!

New this year is the "Friends of KKiS" program which will be inaugurated at the Auction. This is a means for the project to have a predictable stream of steady income, allowing the organizers to better plan their activities from one year to the next. In order to become a "Friend of KKiS", simply fill out an application at the luncheon and indicate which annual sponsorship level you are able to commit to: $100, $200, or $300 USD. You can also request an application via email from Gayle Collins sgcollins[at]charter.net. Four times a year you will receive updates and progress reports from KKiS and be credited as a supporter on the KKiS website.

If you can't be in Playa for the auction, but still want to help, please bring school supplies with you from the US or Canada. School supplies expensive and are a huge burden for most families. All backpacks and school supplies can be dropped off at JAVA coffee shop on 10th street between 5th and 10th Ave between 7am and 3pm. You can also make a donation through Paypal using the email address kkisproject[at]gmail.com.

2013 About.com Readers Choice Awards - Vote Riviera Maya!!

435836 — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Greetings from sunny Playa del Carmen!!

Once again, our little blog "Life's a Beach" was nominated for the About.com Readers Choice Award for Favorite Mexico Blog. I just found out that I am now a finalist. Huzzah!!

But wait...it get's even better! "Life's a Beach" blog was not the only nod toward the Riviera Maya!

Tony and Cheri Head are in the race with Luna Blue Hotel in the running for Favorite Bargain Hotel!
Mitch and Shawn with Yucatreks have a fight on their hands to win Favorite Mexico Tour Company.
Matt Shilowitz from Acanto Boutique Hotel has his sights set on winning the award for Favorite Luxury Hotel.

Let's show the Riviera Maya some love and show the About.com readers that our little corner of Mexico is the very best place to be!

There are other fun categories to vote on as well. Votes are limited to one vote per award category per user per day. The winners will be announced on March 19th!

So please, take a minute to cast your votes and pass along these links to your friends, share them on Facebook, Twitter or your favorite social media platform! It would make me super happy and hopefully draw some good attention to the Riviera Maya!

Click here to vote for "Life's a Beach" for Favorite Mexico Blog:

Click here to vote for Luna Blue Hotel for Favorite Bargain Hotel:

Click here to vote for Yucatreks for Favorite Mexico Tour Company:

Click here to vote for Acanto Boutique Hotel for Favorite Luxury Hotel:

Thank you so much for your support!!

I moved to Mexico with my family in 2004 with the hope of offering our children a more global education and world view. Since then, we have traveled through Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, gathering friends and life experiences and learning a lot about ourselves along the way. When we are not out and about exploring, Rob and I own and operate BuyPlaya, a Playa del Carmen real estate company and FurnitureMex. "Life's a Beach" is a catch-all blog where you may find anything from restaurant reviews, to recipes, gardening tips, commentary about expat daily life, local events, information about moving to Mexico and educating children in Playa del Carmen. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.