One of the challenges of our travel life is finding ways to explore our new temporary home and enjoy some socializing and entertainment without blowing our budget. After all we are not on holiday. So, we went in pursuit of fun and budget friendly Puerto Vallarta events and found one that would please both tourists and expats alike.
It’s called the South Side Shuffle and it takes place every other Friday night from November to April running 6pm-10pm. The Shuffle consists of leisurely browsing through shops, galleries and restaurants on the popular Basilio Badillo while enjoying refreshments and entertainment offered up by the proprietors. Not only are you able to view some beautiful creations and partake in complimentary libations but you also have the opportunity to mingle with locals, tourists, business owners and sometimes the artists themselves.
The lineup of events and businesses taking part will change from time to time but here are a few that we really enjoyed.
Cassandra Shaw Jewelry
This gallery has a gorgeous selection of custom made jewelry much of which is designed by Cassandra herself. We actually met Cassandra Shaw while visiting the SPCAPV a couple of weeks before finding her boutique at the Shuffle. Her and her sister Candace are big animal lovers and Leo and Bean are a not only a constant fixture in the shop but also work as models for the jewelry.
Myskova Beach Boutique
Myskova has two locations in Puerto Vallarta as well as an onlien shop. The boutique on Basilo Badilo is a beachwear and accessory boutique where everything is designed by Canadian born owner Kim Shaw. The pieces are beautiful and are all hand made here in Mexico by skilled tailors…no cookie cutter clothing here. It’s a small world and PV is a small town…turns out Kim is the sister of Nicole who first introduced us to the fabulous SPCAPV dog sanctuary.
Ambos Galeria de Arte y Artefactos
Ambos Galleria is a welcoming art gallery showcasing mainly 
local artists which was opened in 2011 by Laura Grace Barrett and Jack Barrett. We especially enjoyed the paintings by Carol Lopez who is actually Canadian but divides her time between Vancouver, BC and Manzanilla, Mexico. Aside from appreciating the great art, wine and cheese we were lucky to spend time chatting with the enigmatic couple Laura and Jack who kept us in stitches with some of their interesting life stories. One of these stories revolved around the Chateau Montelena Winery that they own in the Napa Valley. Apparently the winery was the subject of the movie Bottle Shock which came out in 2008. Laura told us that although the story is mainly true there was of course some poetic license taken in regards to the characters…especially that of her ex-husband who she says never cried over spilled wine.
Galleria Dante
is owned by an American-Canadian art loving couple and is home to an interesting eclectic assortment of sculptures and paintings by contemporary artists from all over Mexico. Among the sculptures are many by Jonas Gutierrez who created El Sutil Comepiedras (The Subtle Rock Eater) which you will recognize from the Malecon if you’ve visited PV in the last seven years. We also had the pleasure of meeting the very modest and charming Guillermo Brockmann whose paintings I really loved. Senor Brockmann originates from Guadalajara but I have to admit to not learning much about him or his artwork as he seemed more interested in talking about traveling and our own Live, Dream, Discover journey.Shazel
Shazel has a location at the airport as well as the one on Basilo Badillo. I was drawn to this boutique by the exquisite embroidery as it reminded me of the work my Mom used to do when we lived in Hungary many years ago. The owner is originally from India and he taught this embroidery technique to some Mexican women and now he creates his own designs and has them hand stitched in Mexico onto imported cashmere. The result is stunning.
Joe Jack’s Fish Shack
After our fill of great conversation and too many refills of wine we ended the evening with delicious fish tacos Joe Jack’s Fish Shack. Joe Jack’s is a bit of an institution in Puerto Vallarta as they’ve been serving locals and tourists for more than 12 years. It’s not the cheapest place for fish tacos but the lively atmospehere, great service and tasty food make it a good choice.
Tip: For more great things to do check out our article Best of Puerto Vallarta
Born in England, Sarah developed her wanderlust at a young age as she traveled around Europe with her parents. As a young adult she spent every penny she could on experiences as opposed to possessions. Eventually she found a way to earn a living doing what she loved: traveling, writing and capturing images of the wondrous world we live in. When not on the go Sarah enjoys time in her “sometimes home” of Vancouver.