Last week I brought you Pikayo, which ended up as my favorite restaurant in Puerto Rico. But Chef Wilo Benet, the jolly genius behind Pikayo, has two other restaurants in San Juan, and this week I thought I'd introduce you to Payá. Payá is a far cry (physically and conceptually) from Chef Wilo's flagship restaurant, Pikayo. Where Pikayo is artistic and chic (with prices to match), Payá is down-home and casual. The one constant? The food is always good, with that unique blend of local ingredients and recipes and creative flavor combinations. The mix, in other words, of simple and complex, of the familiar and the out-of-the-box. That's Chef Wilo in a nutshell, and Payá carries it through with beyond-the-basics comfort foods. It's likely not near your hotel, and there are precious few (read: none) tourist attractions nearby (Payá is located in an office park), but if you want to try a new and affordable take on Chef Wilo's recipes, it's worth going "over there" to get it.

Okay, who here knows about the QPTV Awards? Well, for the uninitiated, QPTV, or Que Pasa! TV, is the official TV channel of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. And this year they're launching the 1st QPTV People's Choice Awards, and they want to hear from you to help decide the best in Puerto Rican tourism.

Even if you've never visited any of these selections, I thought I'd share my votes and tell you why I chose them. So ... here goes!

• Hotel of the Year: Of the candidates, I have to give it to the La Concha - A Renaissance Resort for making the biggest splash as a new hotel with beautiful architecture, sleek and stylish decor, an outstanding flagship restaurant, and a hot and sexy nightlife vibe.
• Venue for Events: The Puerto Rican Convention Center is simply a stunning building, not to mention the most state-of-the art structure of its kind in the Caribbean. It's my number one reason why event planners should host their function in Puerto Rico.
• Museum or Gallery of the Year: I was deeply impressed by the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico the first time I saw it; after several other visits, nothing has changed. A terrific permanent collection, rotating exhibits by world-renowned artists, a lovely outdoor space and anample chilren's room, it's got it all.
• Event of the Year: I had an absolute blast at Saborea, and completely in awe of the international culinary talent in attendance.
• Touristic Spot of the Year: Wow, this was a tough one. I strongly considered El Yunque, but in the end I went with El Morro, simply for its historical value and iconic status.
• Best Restaurant: I recently answered this very tough (for me) question: the answer was, and is, Pikayo.
• Best Bar, Disco, or Party Corner: For its longstanding dominance, ample room to dance or lounge, great guest DJs, location at one of Puerto Rico's best hotels, and its popularity with anyone who likes to go out at night, I'm giving this one to Brava.

Those are my entries. How did you vote?

Ahh, it's that time of year in Puerto Rico; when the smells of pavochon and mofongo stuffing come wafting through the doors of many a home, where guineos en escabeche are served with turkey, and where you can expect coconut custard for dessert ... it's all part of the fun of celebrating a Puerto Rican thanksgiving.

So how can you enjoy the holiday in typical boricua style. Here are three suggestions to whet your appetite.:

• The Wyndham Rio Mar in Puerto Rico is giving its guests a "Feast On The Beach," a buffet of traditional Thanksgiving fare, with rates starting at $209 per night; the package is available November 24-30.
• One of my favorite tour companies, Legends of Puerto Rico, invites you to Thanksgiving in Guavate, a full-day tour to the Puerto Rican countryside where you can eat roasted pork (another holiday favorite) with typical 'Rican side dishes, or turkey (if you must) and even vegetarian dishes. The tour is $55 per person.
• The El Conquistador Resort has a nice array of activities to keep your mind and body stimulated during Thanksgiving weekend (check out their full list), and you'll probably need them both after overindulging on the $39 buffet at their Grand Atlantic Ballroom. And when you've exerted enough energy, cool off with a pumpkin cream body wrap at their Golden Door Spa. Not a bad way to complete your Thanksgiving holiday in Puerto Rico.

Trust me, it wasn't easy. I had so many candidates on my "best restaurant in Puerto Rico" short list. It's a tribute to the terrific array of dining destinations around the island, from San Juan to the islands of Vieques and Culebra. But in the end, one had to reign supreme (to quote TV's original "Iron Chef"), and that culinary champion turned out to be Pikayo. What made it rise to the top of the mountain? The answer has to start with Chef Wilo Benet, a warm and friendly guy who just happens to turn Puerto Rican classics into culinary masterpieces. The food and the ambience at Pikayo are both original and transporting, and it is also the only restaurant (along with Chef Wilo's two other eateries in San Juan) where you can get Chef Wilo's signature wine. Finally, I had to listen to the popular vote. And of all the people I met during my frequent travels to the island, Pikayo was a unanimous choice as Puerto Rico's best. I'm just the latest to add my voice to the crowd.

Friday the 13th? Pshaw, says Puerto Rico! No worries, says San Juan. Let's party, says The Parrot Club. This Friday the 13th, forget the axe murderers and the black cats and celebrate the 13th anniversary of one of San Juan's most popular restaurants. How are they honoring their lucky 13th? Start with live latin music from 9 pm to midnight. Add an open mojito bar from 7 pm to 11 pm. And finally, throw in the always festive and pleasant atmosphere and tasty nouveau latin food that keeps tourists and locals alike coming back for more.

I just checked the forecast and it looks like a week full of rain in Puerto Rico (or, at least, parts of Puerto Rico). So I figured it's a good time to remind you that there are no reasons to let the rain dampen your vacation; at least, not when there are still plenty of fun things to do when it rains on this island. Sure, you won't get to hit the beach (at least, you won't get to enjoy it the way you normally would. And you won't feel the Caribbean sun beating down on you as soon as you leave your air-conditioned hotel. No matter; culture, history, casinos and nocturnal excursions await!

San Juan has long held appeal for gay travelers. Combine the beauty of the Caribbean, the laissez-faire friendliness of the tropics, and the absolute in-the-blood disposition to party and have a good time, it's not hard to see why. There are plenty of gay-friendly hotels, bars, restaurants and other tourist businesses around the island, and this guide should help you find the best of them. With candid reviews and user feedback, it's a helpful resource to plan your trip to the island.

I mentioned this before, but it bears repeating, especially as we are down to the last 3 days of the promotion. The 3rd Annual Puerto Rico Tip-Off Prize Giveaway is down to its final weekend, and you have to register before November 9 for a chance to win a 6 day, 5 night vacation for two people at the Conrad Condado Plaza from November 18 through November 23.

The prize package includes:

1. Roundtrip airfare for two to Puerto Rico
2. Tickets for all 6 sessions of the college basketball games that will be featured on the island (a total of 12 games)
3. A room at the Conrad Condado Plaza
4. Five days' car rental with Hertz
5. A day trip to El Yunque National Rainforest

So get your registration in now! Winners will be selected on November 9.

You can't spell wow without W. And my first glimpse at the spanking new luxury hotel on Vieques Island produced a wow. If the W, slated to open in early 2010, lives up to this standard shown in this preview of one of their guestrooms, you can bet the hotel is going to do wonders for the island's already bustling tourist industry; quite simply, there's nothing like it currently in Vieques.

The first W Retreat and Spa in North America, the hotel will have 157 rooms, a restaurant by superstar chef Alain Ducasse, and top class spa and gym facilities. Will it crack my top 5 places to stay on Vieques? Time will tell, but it sure looks promising.

November is packed, and that too with events, festivals and activities to suit just about any type of tourist. Are you the active type? You can try kiteboarding for free this month. Have an ear for a wide range of music? There are no less than three major artists coming to San Juan, ranging from Kenny G to AC/DC. How about sports? You can watch college basketball or sailfishing tournaments.

And that's not even covering the biggest reason to love November in Puerto Rico: Thanksgiving. Check out the full list of events and activities.