Vintage porn posters revive old Casco Viejo Theatre

Teatro Amador is one of the cutest looking theatres of Casco Viejo.  A romantic fasade, has been awaiting for restoration for a while. Their owners, however, are starting to re activate the space… and what best ocassion than a big Halloween art show featuring original vintage porn posters from the 70´s and 80´s (and some earlier!) of another Casco Viejo icon: Teatro Variedades.

History of theatres in Casco Viejo is interesting. While the San Felipe town had Teatro Nacional (National Theatre), Santa Ana which was a more popular area had Teatro Variedades. With the decline of the old quarter, both theatres (and later Teatro Amador itself) decayed to the point of showing movies (porn mostly) and even boxing matches.  Luckily, with Casco´s restoration they are slowly coming back to life. Today, the National Theatre is one of the most elegant theatres in Panama City. Teatro Variedades and Amador have been bought by developers and hopefully their time will come soon.   In the meantime, Teatro Amador will be an open space for interesting art shows and events.

Other Halloween events will be held by Relic (costume party) and Indigo Restaurant (sexy party!).

Where to go?

Teatro Amador: Avenida Central and 10th street. After the traffic light, follow the street towards Santa Ana Plaza. You´ll see it at your right.

Relic: 9th Street and B Avenue. At Luna´s Castle.

Indigo: Central Avenue, between 2nd and 3rd.

 

Cinta Costera´s new extention benefits Casco Viejo, Panama

Everyone talked about it, no one knew whether the project left behind by Martin Torrijos would be continued. However, Ricardo Martinelli´s Presidential term has actually started to go for it: extending the current Cinta Costera to Casco Viejo.

The project itself had been controversial. Many feared the design wouldn´t be in compliance with the UNESCO World Heritage regulations. However, the government seemed to have worked it out and had started to make the first movements in the area bringing materials to the site. Yesterday, the plans where made public.  The extention would add not only an easier connection through two new lines but also 120 underground parkings and a brand new multipurpose pier. An outdoors theatre, basketball fields and green areas.

Nightlife in Casco Viejo in a Nutshell

Here is a bizarre collection of photos I took at Casco Antiguo during last week. From partying at Las Bovedas, to the local caramelized apple cart, this is what Casco Viejo is all about.   Confussed? learn more about each photo here.

Venezuelan Investment in Casco Viejo, Panama

This year, Casco Antiguo - Panama´s colonial quarter – has seen the opening of at least 15 new businesses. Not bad for a town of only 3 avenues and 15 streets. Out of those 15 (maybe 20 at this point) at least 5 are Venezuelan owned and operated.

Most of them food related, they are exploring actively to open new niches and inject their energy into the eclectic historic area.  Businesses range from informal cafés such as Tomato (soups, salads, wraps and breakfast) and Aromas Café, to Mexican food (Tequila´s Restaurant). Neighborhood hang outs like Mayal´s at 8th street and fusion cuisine at 9th street.

Other investors are looking into development opportunities and investment opportunities.  Their preference: to own commercial space either to rent or operate themselves. They view Casco Viejo as one of the areas that has the biggest potential in Panama City due to its historic and tourism character.  Regard it as something unique and authentic.

However, it is also a neighborhood in transition where  things take time and active involvement in community programs  is part of business life.  Not too long ago, AVACA, the neighborhood association organized a beach cleanup with the community. Venezuelan restaurants, along with Italians, Panamanians, Americans, Brazilian, Colombian and many other nationalities helped raise funds for the event.  It was an enthusiastic day, enjoyed by all participants.

If nothing else, Casco Viejo seems to be the heart of what mixed neighborhood is all about, and is part of its attraction.  Not only old patina blends with restored buildings, and architectural styles are interesting, but nationalities and businesses are joined by a vision of building a quality brand called Casco Viejo.  Throughout its history, Panama has been the crossroad of the Americas, joining oceans and continents. And since 1673, Casco Viejo has welcomed every nationality to make a living.

With the right language and cultural backgrounds, Venezuelans seem to be set up for success.

Heineken combines Amsterdam with Panama

In a recent post I was thinking on how easy it was to move between Amsterdam and Panama with the direct flights of KLM.  Well, it seems I was not the only one thinking about it!. Heineken Regional Services America, a subsidiary of Heineken International which bases out of Amsterdam has just moved operations to Panama, being one of the main reasons the easy connectivity with the region and Europe.

Plus, we have tropical weather and we like their beer very much!

Ghosts, Murder, Treason

Way before the Sopranos, there was Giselle.

Panama´s National Ballet will be presenting one of the jewels of romantic ballet: Giselle at the National Theatre at Casco Antiguo, Panama, from October 5, 7th, 9th at 7 p.m.

Basic plot: sweet girl in town falls in love with not so inocent Prince. He was supposed to get married with a princess. When she finds out, she dies of a heart attack (well… dies of love!). Leaves the prince feeling guilty and the guy who actually loved her (a boy from the town) heartbroken.

Second act: Giselle, as a ghost ends up under Myrtha´s reign. Her gang is made of all the women who have died of love and their mission is to take revenge by killing every man who enters their forest by making them dance until death.  When the poor guy who actually loved Giselle steps in, Myrtha´s army get hold of him and kill him. But when the prince comes in, Giselle arises. Myrtha orders her to dance with him and murder him, so she dances… but keeps a pace where he is still alive at dawn. Giselle has saved him and forgiven him.

The last scene, at dawn, he is found over the tomb of Giselle, repented.

It was said that when this ballet was first performed by Margot Fontayne and Rudolf Nureyev, the public was in such spell that they kept quite for a full minute after the curtain went down. And then, they couldn´t stop a 20 minute explosion of applause.

Dinner in Amsterdam, lunch at Panama´s Jungle

I did exactly the opposite. I had dinner in Panama, took KLM´s direct flight to Amsterdam and had dutch pancakes the next day near Amsterdam Central station. It was so easy, I´m still shocked at it.

It made me think a lot about what people travel for and what they consider “exotic”. Being from Panama, for me, cold is an exotic destination. Examples of exotic animals include (and are not limited to): sheeps, furry cows (or furry anything), lambs. Interesting architecture features include chimneys.

So I thought to myself, isn´t this interesting. While I can take a plane at night and be in cold weather the next morning eating pancakes, anyone in Amsterdam can do the same and be on a boat at the Gatun lake in the afternoon watching monkeys or hike at one of our 15 minute away national parks and stay that night in a World Heritage colonial city (Casco Viejo) and have great dinner at a plaza that night.

Travelling before used to be this amazing journey for months on mule, horse, boat. And once there, wao, you had to work your way back. Now is so easy… just wait two hours in the airport, take a sleeping pill and wake up to your adventure the next morning!

Historic City Cleans Up

For a while, garbage has been one of Casco Antiguo´s main challenges. The lack of education in the local community, along with the few resources of the City´s garbage department has been a negative combination.

During the last 10 years, Casco Antiguo has slowly gone through a revitalization process that has brought new people into the mix. This year, having a small critical mass of new residents, Casco Antiguo saw the birth of a community NGO called AVACA (the Casco Antiguo Friends and Residents Association, in Spanish) which has started to tackle the most important issues, garbage being in the top three.

This Sunday, the first public event of AVACA took place at Casco Antiguo. It was burning hot, but a cheerful crowd made it to the parking lot of the National Theatre, grabbed their tools and attacked the nearby beaches.

More…..

Ciao Pescao Restaurant Survives Aristologa

Casco Viejo, Panama´s old colonial quarter, has been booming with new restaurants at every corner. Some better than others, new proposals are popping out everywhere opening areas no one had thought about before. However, the best quality seems to be coming from the “old kids on the block”.   This time by Jorge Zarak, the sucessful owner of Ego & Narcisso, now had opened a ceviche restaurant Ciao Pescao that got reviewed by Aristologa, a Panamanian who is known for “calling it how she sees it”.

The menu was described as “short and uncomplicated”, where the “oriental ceviche and the langostinos on green sauce are indispensable”. Another favorite was the “Italian” ceviche with ribbons of aji chombo (for those who like spicy).

For dessert, she recommends the Panamanian classic “No me olvides”, an updated version of the old icecream classic at the Maria Immaculada café that used to be located in Avenida Peru. I remember fondly those “no me olvides” (forget me not) which where composed of: brownie bed + icecream + marshmallow+ caramel or syrop of your liking which could include chocolate fondue+ brownie + icecream + cream on the top. Wao! Ciao Pescao is a smaller version, but you´ll dig into its delicious decadence the same way!

Favorable winds for Panamanian Economy

El Economista, the Latin American version of The Economist had a lot to say about Panama.  It had important articles about the region, as usually, but specially for Panama it had good news about investments in the country.  Chevron is investing $12 millions in Panama raising their storage capabilities near the ports at the Caribbean Coast. It also had a count of the current number of financial institutions operating in Panama: 92.  19 local banks, and the rest international brands.  The 3 top banks being: Banco General (8,006.5 million dollars), HSBC Bank Panama ($6,400.8) and Banco Nacional ($5,695.50).   During the first trimester they had a growth of 8.8%, which even if less than the incredible 11.9% they had last february it is still good taking in consideration all the repercusions of the world wide financial crisis.

The other big news is the Canal Expansion, which has been given the “green light” now that the works have been appointed.  This year, the Panama Canal will blow it´s 95th candle and the Expansion is budgeted (who really knows!) will at $5,250 million dollars. The group who will be handling the Expansion is headed by the Spanish company Sacyr Vallehermoso S.A. and includes companies from Italy (Impreglio S.p.a.), Belgium (Jan de Nul) and Panama (CUSA).  The work will start at the ends of 2009 and are supposed to finish in 2014.

On another note, the new President have taken concrete steps to expedite the construction of a new transportation system (basically, a metro). He created a Secretary just to work on this and the construction, which will be financed by Brazil (thanks Lula!) will cost $1,100 million dollars. I personally really, really appreciate that this issue is being taken with seriousness. Transportation are the veins of a country, and if they are clogged, it becomes a huge obstacle in the economic performance of a country.