Welcome to "Life's a Beach" Sign in | Help

Browse by Tags

All Tags » 2011   (RSS)
Rob and I were planning to celebrate our seven year "Mexi-versary" and struggling to find just the right place to spend a special evening, just the two of us. We wanted to try something new and fabulous and after living on the Riviera Maya for seven years, that has become a tall order for us to fill. My friend was eager to recommend her new favorite dining experience at a newly renovated resort close to Playa del Carmen, so we followed her lead and reserved our spot for the special Chef's Table Dining Experience at The Tides Riviera Maya. Read More...
Kaxapa Factory, is a quaint family run bistro serving typical dishes of Venezuela and vegetarian versions of this cuisine! They are able to use ingredients from Mexico to recreate the flavor profiles of Venezuela in a unique way creating dishes with a flavor profile unlike any other we have come across. Read More...
There are only a few days left before the 2nd annual Eco Reto 2011, a unique eco challenge where families are invited to build the greenest and most original toy or game. Ak Lu'um International School is preparing its jungle campus to receive environmentalists, government representatives and families from the Riviera Maya who will present their original creations to a select panel of judges. The contest and Eco-Fair will be held on December 11 from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm at the Ak Lu'um International School in Playa del Carmen. Read More...
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the United States and if you are an American expat living on the Riviera Maya or perhaps just here for a visit, you will be looking for a place to strap on the feedbag and enjoy some good traditional Thanksgiving fare! Here are a few options you may enjoy! Read More...
Last week, I had the great pleasure of attending the press conference for Diamonds International® Taste of Playa 2011. Not my first time at a TOP press conference, having headed up the Marketing Committee for the first two seasons, but my first time attending purely in the role of Sponsor. There was a good turnout for the press conference, a nice mix of corporate sponsors like myself, press agents and media reps and members of The Rotary Club of Playa del Carmen who will once again be managing the distribution of the donation from this year's event. Read More...
The Little Mexican Cooking School in Puerto Morelos, voted TripAdvisor best attraction in the Yucatan Peninsula, has relocated to a larger, more interactive space this month for the first time since its opening in 2009. Read More...
It's no secret that Playa del Carmen's beloved Angel Notion and its founder Lavonna Redman have had a stressful and tumultuous year. Many challenges and obstacles have threatened the very existence of the organization and negatively impacted the many local residents that depend on Angel Notion's programs and services. While Angel Notion has faced resistance locally, it continues to draw support worldwide from a wide network of passionate individuals and corporations determined to bolster the efforts of the organization so that we may continue to help those that cannot help themselves. Cruise Planners is the latest US based operation to step up to the plate and pledge their support for Angel Notion. Read More...
What follows is an important message from the Centro Ecologico in Akumal. It has been posted in its entirety. For more information, important updates and to find out how you can help marine conservation efforts in Akumal and all along the Riviera Maya, visit the CEA website or follow CEA on Facebook. Read More...
The list of reasons to visit the Riviera Maya just keeps getting longer and longer! Co.Cos Cocina Cosmopolita Cooking School has made a huge splash in Playa del Carmen, getting rave reviews from local residents and visitors alike! After hearing from friends and fellow foodies that a new cooking school was opening up in Playa, I knew I would have to try it out. Read More...
Applications are now being accepted at ONDARTE Artist Residency Program in Akumal, Mexico. ONDARTE was born from the desire to support international artists and promote cultural exchange between creators from all walks of life. Alec Von Bargen, the founder of ONDARTE, is an artist. Maribel Bianchi, the residency director is an artist at heart who has been surrounded by art and artists her entire life. Read More...
"Accomplished: A room full of people who are passionate about tourism and social media." So tweeted Arianna Bañuelos from her @AryCancun twitter account at the close of the first ever Social Media Boot Camp for Riviera Maya Tourism. Looking around the room, I see people putting the finishing touches on their notes, asking questions, exchanging email address and twitter handles. Each one of them looks tired but happy. I have come away with a notebook full of information, cemented some friendships and made new relationships with smart motivated people working in this region. We all represent different industries and interests but each of shares the desire to promote Riviera Maya as a destination and increase commerce within the region. We also seem to share a passion for learning and a willingness to share our collective knowledge and experiences. Read More...
Wow. Just wow! I knew I was going to come away with some good info when I registered for Kay Walten's Social Media Boot Camp for Tourism but after reviewing more than 10 pages of notes I am seriously appreciating the value of the information she is sharing with us. For those of you who don't know her, Kay Walten and her husband Gary came to the Riviera Maya way back in the late 1980's, when the area of pristine beaches and jungle south of Cancun was referred to, unceremoniously, as the Cancun-Tulum corridor. Read More...
One of the great things about living in Playa del Carmen is that we have access to great fresh fruits and veggies year round. Some, the staples like onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and limes, to name just a few, are remarkably inexpensive. Others, the more exotic treats that are shipped in from the US and Canada, can get pretty pricey and may only appear for a few days at a time in DAC, Chedraui or Soriana. If you are going to spend good money on fresh produce you want to eliminate as much waste as possible, right? What is the best way to keep our fruits and veggies crisp and delicious in a climate that turns bananas brown before I can get them home from the store? Read More...
The 9th annual Sea Turtle Festival is scheduled for October 13 - 16 2011 in Tulum. The Festival de la Tortuga Marina is a free event whose mission is to raise awareness in residents and tourists alike about sea turtle protection. Read More...
Plans are being made and performers booked for the 9th Annual Riviera Maya Jazz Festival to be held November 24 - 26 2011 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival combines the best international jazz musicians with the world renowned beaches and cosmopolitan atmosphere of Playa del Carmen. Three nights of great Jazz under the moonlit sky, on the beach, and the best of all, admission is FREE! More performers and bands are yet to be confirmed but this is the preliminary line-up as it stands right now. Read More...