“Sunday with the Artists” is a monthly spotlight showcasing talent across four categories: The Canvas (painters, graphic designers, etc.), The Mic (singers, comedians, etc.), The Pen (authors, poets, etc.), and The Stage (dancers, actors, etc.). These features are not sponsored content but genuine nods to the artists whose work moves me. So, grab your favorite drink, settle in, and prepare to meet your new favorite artists.
Editor’s note: Apologies for the fashionably late post this week due to travel delays, but as they say, good things come to those who wait! Enjoy! xoxo
For the past week, I’ve been soaking up UV-13 rays in Puerto Vallarta, accompanied by many bottles of sunscreen and protective gear. I wanted to take inspiration from our southern escapade, and so, for the second installment of Sundays with the Artists, I bring you a quartet whom I read, listened to, and enjoyed during five days of Mexican sun, surf and sand.
The Canvas
Trencadis, a mosaic technique popularized by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, lives on through the hands of American-born Mexican tile artist, Natasha (Nat) Moraga.
Much like the renowned Sagrada Familia, Moraga’s murals, installations and countless projects bring a vibrant splash to the sun-soaked streets of Puerto Vallarta. El Parque de los Azulejos being her most well-known endeavor.
Formerly a seedy part of town, the federally protected public park now shimmers with mosaic murals and sparkling tribute benches.
Moraga, along with an active community of volunteers and donors, breathed new life into the public space — now a must-see attraction for visitors and residents alike — and cemented Moraga’s legacy as a master trencadis artist.
Visit El Parque de los Azulejos website to follow along and support the park’s progress.
Instagram: The Tile Park (@tileparkpv)
The Pen
Part cookbook, part coming-of-age, and part natural history, Consider the Oyster by Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher Parrish Friede — yes, you read that right — anthropomorphizes the famous (and delicious) bi-valve.
An exhaustive examination spanning seventy-five pages dedicated solely to the existence and resilience of a solitary oyster — including insights into its methods of sustenance, culinary applications, and literary references — might risk tedium or monotony. But this slender read sidesteps such pitfalls.
First available for digestion in the United States in 1941, Consider the Oyster is smartly written with countless recipes that tempt even the most restrained.
Slight in size and with an apt subject matter, I ask, « Is there a better beach read? » Me thinks, no. But then again, oysters, much like this book, « are not for everyone, but those who love them, love them very much. »
The Mic
An introduction to a band that’s right up your alley is one of life’s sublime joys. So, lucky am I to have been introduced to Juice, a six-piece American band based next door in Brooklyn.
Give the bigger-than-average rock band a listen and you’ll hear a lot more than rock. In fact, placing them in one genre is tough and sells their eclectic style all-too-short. There’s hip-hop, jazz, and, was that a hint of bluegrass?
With Ben Stevens as lead vocals, Christian Rose with accompanying vocals and commanding the violin, Rami El-Abidin performing bassist, Kamau Burton with accompanying vocals and playing guitar, Daniel Moss also riffing guitar, and Miles Clyatt set on drums, you get a medley of voices and sounds befitting any mood for any day.
In 2021, Brooklyn Magazine reported that the group originated at Boston College and relocated to Brooklyn during the pandemic, a bold move when it seemed like everyone else was doing the opposite. But with more than 163,000 monthly listeners just on Spotify, it’s one that paid off.
Listen to their new EP ‘Nothing Like a Dream’ and check out their upcoming tour dates and locations, including Ithaca and Buffalo, New York, over the next month.
Instagram: @juiceband
Spotify
The Stage
About 45-minutes outside the dusty streets and congestion of Puerto Vallarta lies a new all-inclusive luxury resort, Dreams Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resort by World of Hyatt Resorts and designed by renowned Mexican architect Sordo Madaleno.
Prompted by a good friend’s nuptials, this was my first time at an all-inclusive; however, unlikely to be revisited.
The large premises, made up of fifteen bars and restaurants and more than a dozen pools, is made to feel exclusive with a gated entry and discreet sentinels at different points of beach access. Once inside, you feel trapped with amenities appearing rather wanting unless you opt for the VIP (and top dollar) enclave.
Luckily, a few members of our party received a complimentary upgrade after resort staff flubbed their reservation, allowing us to tag along for VIP-exclusive restaurants — which so happen to be the only decent food weary travelers and foodies would want to eat but not write home about.
The price of your stay is largely dependent on two factors: The first being the aforementioned resort access (general, preferred club, or VIP), and the second being a wide selection of room amenities. Basic double rooms without an ocean or tropical view cost far less than a room with a king-sized bed and a partial or full ocean view. Each room also comes with a deck and a plunge pool, all of which, at least in our party of 15+, were only partially filled and colder than the ocean. There are a few suite options that look larger than our apartment in Queens and equipped with a jacuzzi and sliding glass doors that open up to panoramic views of the Bahia de Banderas, or Bay of Flags.
Tucked below a giant stone rotunda with cascading waterfalls, the Pevonia Spa is the epitome bespoke indulgence, though steep in price. My husband and I were led through the Secrets Couples Journey by attentive guides, Emma and Paulina.
Our three-hour tranquil, well…journey…began with a tingling head massage, algae hair mask, several wellness stations, including ample time in steam rooms, saunas, and thermal pools, and an assortment of healthy snacks and refreshments. Next, we received a side-by-side 50-minute tension massage in a large back room, equipped with calming music, a shower we never used and twinkling ceiling lights that mimic the night sky. The package ended with a thorough albeit typical facial.
Reflecting on our stay, an all-inclusive resort experience isn't quite our cup of tea. Our preferences lean towards a boutique and adventurous style of accommodation and activities. That being said, we’re beyond grateful for the cherished moments spent amidst jubilant celebrations with loved ones.