Archive for the ‘what’s happening in Playa’ Category

Dirty Martini Lounge – a favorite local hangout in Playa del Carmen

Sunday, August 1st, 2010

by Monica Hartlief

Why does one bar become a favorite local hangout and the other one never seems to make it? I don´t know of course, because if I did I would be selling this answer for a lot of money. What I do know is why I keep going back to the same place: location, atmosphere, music, service and people pretty much covers it.

The Dirty Martini Lounge in Playa is one of the places I keep going back to. You could call it my favorite local hangout, and I´m not the only one who thinks so because it is often packed with locals, local expats, semi-local expats, tourists, returning tourist, etc.

Dirty Martini Lounge - Playa del Carmen

Dirty Martini Lounge - Playa del Carmen

The Dirty Martini Lounge is not very big, it has a funky classy (yes, that sounds impossible) European style decor, and feels like a bar more than a cocktail lounge. You can comfortably sit at the bar or on the deck that looks out over the street while sipping your favorite drink. I suggest you try one of their signature martinis like the Cucumber Martini (all invented by Karen Lange, one of the owners). If martinis are not your thing, no problem, they have all the other stuff like beer, wine, spirits, tequilas, etc as well.

Martinis, martinis. martinis

Martinis, martinis. martinis

One of the best things about the Dirty Martini is the music. Greco, one of the owners, is a real music buff and he makes sure there are always great tunes playing in the bar, ranging from blues and jazz to country, pop and rock.

Service is of course very important as well and the Dirty Martini has a small group of staff that knows most people by name and drink, so don´t be surprised if your regular drink is standing on the bar as you´re walking in! Cynthia, Meyssi, Paloma, and Vale know their regulars and their cocktails.

Anyway, I can go on and on describing all the good things you´ll find at the Dirty Martini Lounge. I suggest you come on down and check it out yourself.

Dirty Martini Lounge – 1st Avenue between street 10 and 12, open daily from 1 PM to  2 AM, Fri and Sat until 3 AM.

You can also visit the Dirty Martini Lounge  on November 21st at Taste of Playa 2010.

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Playa del Carmen Tequila Festival 2010

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
thumbnail Playa del Carmen Tequila Festival 2010

Tequila and the Carribean

Every year Playa del Carmen hosts a tequila festival. Even better it is completely free! What could be more fun than that? So eat a hearty meal and head on over to 16th street and 5th avenue where you will find a block of booths of different tequilas for you to sample. I have loved tequila even before I moved to Mexico and was thrilled when I experienced my first festival. Most people are aware of Don Julio, Petron and Jose Cuevo as tequilas but the festival features many new tequilas that you can buy on site. I sampled many new tequilas that I may not have bought because I did not know them. I was convinced to try a cream tequila (and I don’t like creamy drinks) which has inspired me to make a dessert out of it! It is called the Berry White…not after the musician but may inspire you to listen to him if you drink enough! We have hosted many a tequila tasting paired with foods and have many menu items that are tequila inspired such as one of my favorites, tequila lime shrimp.

Check out the festival which starts today, July 23rd to July 25th. See you there!
Stay tuned for some of my tequila inspired recipes. I may even get some ideas tonight!

By: Susan de Lima

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Coco’s Cat Rescue in Playa del Carmen

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

by Monica Hartlief

Coco’s Cat Rescue Playa del Carmen

If you’ve ever spend time online searching and reading forums, blogs, fan pages, articles etc. about Playa del Carmen there is a good chance you’ve run into something about Coco’s Cat Rescue.

Coco’s Cat Rescue is a Playa del Carmen rescue charity focusing on the spay and neuter of feral cats and the care and re-homing of kittens in need of rescue. Coco’s Cat Rescue was founded by Laura Raikes in 2009. In fact the charity just celebrated its first anniversary in the Blue Parrot Bar Sunday March 21st . Needless to say it was a great success. I’m sure Laura will tell you it was a group effort and that she “couldn’t have done it without all the help she got from many volunteers that love cats and kittens as much as she does”, but any one of those volunteers will also tell you it is Laura that is the one that makes it all happen. She’s the brains of the organization, or better said “the heart” of the organization.

The focus of the charity is the spay and neutering of feral cats in Playa del Carmen but the second part of their mission is the one that gets the most attention of the public. And that’s no wonder if you see the pictures of all the kittens posted on Coco’s Facebook fan page. Just looking at the pictures makes me want to get another cat myself, which is exactly what I did in December of 2009. Pumpkin is now an integral part of our family, we’ve all fallen in love with the little orange cat, especially Jack, our other cat that can’t get enough of Pumpkin. Or is it vice versa?

Davids house 101 Small2 300x228 Cocos Cat Rescue in Playa del Carmen

Jack and Pumpkin

Laura must have thought that just posting pictures of kittens looking for a home wasn’t enough to get people’s attention because she has come up with a new way to convince us of the need to adopt a kitten. Kitten cuddling! Every Friday afternoon you have the chance to hold, play, and cuddle with the kittens. Me and my friend Ellen went yesterday and guess what? This little guy will soon be adopted by Ellen.

siamese kitten ellen2 300x225 Cocos Cat Rescue in Playa del Carmen

Kitten Cuddling at Coco’s Cat Rescue is Friday’s from 2 -4, it’s entirely possible it happens more often, I really don’t know, but just become a fan of Coco’s Cat rescue on Facebook and they’ll keep you up to date. But, if you come home with a new kitten … don’t say I didn’t warn you!

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Taste of Playa 2010

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

by Monica Hartlief

Believe it or not but planning for Taste of Playa 2010 has already begun. After last year’s success the organizers have decided to involve a few more people in the planning of the event. The Taste of Playa committee meets weekly to plan for the event in 2010.

Welcome to Taste of Playa 2009

The Taste of Playa organizers are planning for an even bigger and better event in 2010 with more restaurants, entertainment, and of course more visitors. The event’s location will remain the same: Parque Fundadores next to the ferry pier to Cozumel. Hopefully many of last year’s participants will return to the event in 2010 because we’re looking forward to more of their wonderful food and drinks.

The date for this year’s Taste of Playa annual food sampling event has been set for November 21st so make sure you save the date, book your travel and invite your friends.

Chefs at work

Chefs at work

Dirty Martini Lounge table

Dirty Martini Lounge table

The pictures were taken from the Taste of Playa website and Facebook fanpage, and were taken by Stuart and www.judylongphotos.com.

For more information about the event keep an eye on this Latido de Mexico blog and our facebook.com/latidodemexico.com as well as the event’s website: www.tasteofplaya.com and facebook fanpage.

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Fresh at the Gym

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

by Monica Hartlief

Are you looking for a place in Playa del Carmen where you can get a fresh, healthy, and balanced breakfast or lunch? Look no further! Fresh at the Gym is where you can find all of this and more.

Fresh at the Gym

Fresh at the Gym

On December 21st 2009, Jennifer and Cesar opened the doors of this new breakfast and lunch place located right next door to The Gym on 1st Avenue between Avenida Constituyentes and Calle 16 bis. Fresh has an extensive menu that includes all-day breakfast, a variety of sandwiches, and signature salads. My favorite is the “create you own salad” option. For 60 pesos you have a beautiful fresh salad that includes salad greens + 5 extra items (think nuts and seeds, bacon bits, cucumber, peppers, onion, olives, celery, anchovies, etc) and a salad dressing (the house cilantro is really good). All of this is served take out style (in a plastic bowl with cover) but they have plenty of nice space to sit and eat your salad on the spot as well. You can even opt to sit so you have a view of the gym .. it might make you want to sign up right away!

create your own salad - here with a salmon and a vegetable pattie

create your own salad - here with a salmon and a vegetable pattie

Other great items on the menu are smoothies (add protein if you want), fresh fruit juices, and fruit waters. According to owner Jennifer they’re very flexible as well: if what you’re looking for is not on the menu, just ask. If you want a healthy and balanced meal while in Playa del Carmen you can’t go wrong at Fresh at the Gym!

Fresh at the Gym smoothies

Fresh at the Gym smoothies

Fresh at the Gym - drinks and home made goodies for sale

Fresh at the Gym - drinks and home made goodies for sale

Fresh at the Gym opening hours are: Mon – Fri 8 AM – 9 PM, Sat 9 AM – 5 PM, closed on Sunday’s

Fresh at the Gym - next to The Gym on 1st Avenue

Fresh at the Gym - next to The Gym on 1st Avenue

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Christmas in Mexico

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

by Monica Hartlief

Christmas in Mexico is a big deal and many people take the last 2 weeks of the year off. So don’t try to get anything done after the 15th of this month because it simply won’t happen!

Christmas is a time to party, to spend time with the family, to travel and to relax. In order to prepare for the Holy Celebration the Mexicans have Posadas which are held every night from the 16th until the 24th of December.

Christmas tree and nativity scene in front of the Palacio Municipal - Playa del Carmen

Christmas tree and nativity scene in front of the Palacio Municipal - Playa del Carmen

A Posada is a re-creation of Mary (on a donkey) and Joseph searching for a “room at the inn” or the posada. They are accompanied by children and teenagers, called Los Peregrinos, that go around singing and knocking on doors asking for lodging for the tired and weary couple.  Traditionally, each family in a neighborhood will hold a Posada in their home during the days leading up to Noche Buena, Christmas Eve. Once the group of guests is let in the home by “the innkeepers” they kneel down around the nativity scene, to pray and sing.  After this it is party time with Piñata for the children and treats for everyone.

Festivities culminate on Noche Buena, when the last Posada arrives at the church where a late night mass is held, la Misa de Gallo.  After La Misa de Gallo families go home for a traditional Christmas supper and more celebrations that will continue until late at night or very early in the morning. Therefore the following day, Christmas day, is reserved for much needed rest and relaxation.

Susan de Lima and Monica Hartlief at Latido de Mexico would like to wish you Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo! We hope you will be in Playa del Carmen or the Riviera Maya to enjoy the festivities. If not… there is always next year!

Merry Christmas everybody.

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“Canibal Royal”, a new beach club in Playa del Carmen

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

by Monica Hartlief

Canibal Royal´s official grand opening was on Saturday the 14th of November. Unfortunately, I wasn’t in town that day so we went there for lunch a few days later. It is located on the beach, duh, right next to the Grand Coco Bay, in front of the luxury condominium complex The Elements. Canibal Royal has 3 levels, downstairs there is a funky beach bar with a variety of different chairs and beds you can relax on. The next level has more of a restaurant feel to it, with a large bar, tables and chairs, and a really spectacular ocean view. The top level isn’t completely finished yet, the plan is to make it into a solarium, the Jacuzzi has already been built and it is very impressive.

Canibal Royal beach club entrance

Canibal Royal beach club entrance

Canibal Royal beach bar

Canibal Royal beach bar

Canibal Royal solarium with jacuzzi and spectacular views

Canibal Royal solarium with jacuzzi and spectacular views

According to their blog Canibal Royal is a restaurant, bar, lounge, where you can live the Caribbean life style on the beach, during the day. The nightly Caribbean lifestyle can be experienced in the Santanera, the downtown nightclub owned by the same group. Thankfully the beach club is quite different from the nightclub. Canibal Royal is a very relaxed, laid back, funky, retro style place with nice lounge tunes playing in the back ground. The food is eclectic, you could call it fusion I guess, and the lunch menu has a large variety of salads, sandwiches, home-made French pizza that isn´t pizza (I forgot the name), shrimp and salmon dishes, truffle fries, and much more. It reminded me of the food at Diablito Cha Cha Cha and Aguachiles, which is not surprising because these places are also part of the same group.

Canibal Royal restaurant with amazing ocean view

Canibal Royal restaurant with amazing ocean view

lunch at Canibal royal, spicy shrimp, truffle fries, and French pizza like bread with fresh tuna, coriander, avocado, mmm very nice

lunch at Canibal Royal, spicy shrimp, truffle fries, and French pizza like bread with fresh tuna, coriander, avocado, mmm very nice

I really like this new beach club and I hope they will be very successful. Looking at the owner´s track record in Playa del Carmen I don’t doubt this is exactly what is going to happen.

If you have any comments about Canibal Royal, please let me know, thanks!

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U2 In The Mayan Riviera!

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
Life on the Beach

Life on the Beach - Playa del Carmen

by Susan de Lima

When you live in a tropical paradise, one might say you lose touch with the world.  In a nice way; at least that is definately the case with me. I barely watch or read the news as my current events seem to come from Facebook! I receive regular emails from clients who have recently reminded me on the flu situation in the world. While there is reason to be concerned,  I don’t believe the concern should be about travelling to Playa del Carmen or this area in general. As the outbreak is world wide and outspread it is nice to see that some people are not influenced, unjustly, by the media….Just when we needed it most, the world famous band U2 chose our corner of the world to visit and take a break in between their latest tour! With all the bad publicity Mexico has been receiving lately it is nice to know that Playa del Carmen is still the gem that everyone wants to visit.
Ok, truth be known, they were scheduled to go to Cabo but due to the threat of hurricane Rick they decided to go elsewhere. Rumours have it that they were at the Maya Koba enjoying the sun and sea!
Rock on!

U2

U2

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Jaguares live in concert in Playa del Carmen

Monday, October 12th, 2009

by Monica Hartlief

We promised to keep you posted about what’s happening in Playa del Carmen and we do! On Saturday October 24th the Mexican rock band Jaguares will perform live at the Teatro Gran Tlachco in Parque Xcaret.

100% of the proceeds of the ticket sales will go to the conservation and preservation of the jaguars and the biodiversity in the Mayan Region. Yes! There are still jaguars in this region, unfortunately there are only few remaining so conservation and preservation of their habitat is incredibly important.

Ticket prices start at 250 pesos when bought in advance, at the door prices start at 300 pesos. Tickets can be bought at the following locations in Playa del Carmen:

Wayan – Centro Maya
Wayan – Paseo del Carmen
Stand ARA – Plaza las Américas
Quinta Magazine ( Calle 14 Bis No. 58, entre 40 y 45 Av.)
Kitxen ( 5ta. Av. Entre Av. Cosntituyentes y Calle 20)
Xcaret

You can possibly find more information on the following websites (although I tried to find the start time of the concert there and I wasn’t very successful):

http://www.jaguaresmx.com

http://www.xcaret.com

Jaguares Jaguares live in concert in Playa del Carmen

Jaguares in concert Xcaret Oct 24th, 2009

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Riviera Maya Jazz Festival 2009

Monday, October 5th, 2009

by Susan de Lima

Being a big fan of live music I look forward to the fall in Playa del Carmen. Each year the Riviera Maya hosts an amazing Jazz Festival right on the best beach in Playa del Carmen know as Mamitas! Thankfully, this year is no different with the dates and line up all ready set we look forward to four evenings of live music in a tropical setting. What could be better than listening to bands like Herbie Hancock, Sergio Mendes and Al Jarreau (just to name a few) with your bare feet in the sand? I’ll tell you what…dancing in the sand! And this is all free of charge!

The dates are November 25 to 28/2009 with concerts starting 7pm. In my experience, they actually start mostly on time just so you know. I remember this from thinking, “It won’t start on time” for Cool and the Gang only to hear them start as I was walking up the road. I learned my lesson!

There is a beer tent with beer and pop available as well as the regular bar at Mamitas.

Here’s the exciting line up for this year:

November 25

  • The Royal Band
  • Aguamala
  • Collin Hunter
  • Sacbe

November 26

  • Jan Alzate
  • Mark Aanderud
  • Enrique Neri
  • Narimbo

November 27

  • Jim Beard
  • Spyro Gyra
  • Sergio Mendes

November 28

  • Pat Martino
  • Al Jarreau
  • Herbie Hancock

To read more and hear the bands check out this link http://www.rivieramayajazzfestival.com/new/#

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