Schedule for Panama´s Music Fest: who plays when and where?

Schedule Fete de la Musique

Saturday 20th is the date… Starting at  3:00 p.m. hopefully until late night! See the schedule with hours in the picture here. Fourty  artists will be perform live at different venues throughout the charming Casco Antiguo. This is the third year that the Casco Antiguo Office, Alliance Frances and the French Embassy join forces take part in the worldwide celebration of the “Fete de la Musique”, or Musical Festival, a free open-air concert day which started in Paris. Today, Panama is one of 130 countries celebrating musical diversity on this very day. Entrence is free.

Panama Growth at 2.5% during 2009

A bit under the estimated 3% but definately better than other countries in Latin America (Mexico is at -8.2% according to La Prensa, Costa Rica at -4.8%), Panama seems to be holding its ground during this difficult period. Hope is on the way: Raúl Moreira from the Colegio de Economistas de Panama told La Prensa that there can still be an important recovery through the Colon Free Trade Zone on the second half of the year.

The country continues to receive foreign investors. According to a note at Martes Financiero, the Colombian company Ferrasa S.A. is expanding operations. They acquired the steel plant Aceros Transformados Panama and converted it into a distribution center, an investment of 10 million dollars. According to Juan Fernando Botero, the company´s marketing director, Panama would serve as a hub, an entrance door into Central America. They would also participate in the Panama Canal expansion.

Art Marathon: Graffitti at Historic City in Panama

By Iranovy Grenald (excerpt from la Prensa)During this weekend in the streets of Casco Antiguo around the construction fence of Hotel Central, we were witness of a peculiar kind of art; Around twenty artists called by SembrArte through emails and in the web (Facebook) they joined their strenght in order to get together this weekend and paint a mural in the perimeter fence of the hotel.

Between one color and another, some of the artists explained that this is no a street protests. Perhaps ia a way to invite the meditation about the changes that attacks the patrimonio and the country identity.

One of the artists name Rolando de Sedas said that this art marathon should end on Saturday but because of the rain was extended until Sunday. His work in the mural, plump and delicates women, refers to the buildings of Casco Antiguo: bigs but delicates.

A few steps away, Andrea calvo and Angie Tryhane, they don´t stop painting. Angie paints a nucleus that in the center protects an obelisk of Plaza de Francia and Andrea did the same with the America´s Bridge.

Decorate the neighborhood is a mission, they said, and because of that next weekend during the Music Fest that will be in Casco Antiguo they will come again and paint around the fence of what it once was one of the most beautiful hotels in Panama.

Pictures taken by Patrizia Pinzon

Fried is Back! Casco Antiguo´s new art restaurant

I think we all agree fried food has gotten beat up in the last few years. But Entre Pulgas, at Casco Antiguo in Panama is coming to the rescue…

Beside Hotel Central, and a few steps away from Grandclement Ice Cream, are opening “Frit – Arts” a restaurant with an “all fried” concept plus art gallery.  Not sure what their menu will be, but don´t expect light salads and soups. This promises to be a place of “sinful pleasures”. If everything goes well, they should be on soft opening by next week. With Music Fest coming on the 20th, they´ve picked the right week

Music Invades Casco Antiguo June 20th

“Fete de la Musique” or Fiesta de la Musica (Music Fest) For June 20th

This year, the French Embassy will be hosting the event along with the Oficina del Casco Antiguo (OCA). From folkloric music to jazz, rock and the fuzzy “world music”, Music Fest will have about 35 artists running around Casco Antiguo, almost literally.

Logistics: As they have done in other festivals, parking in Casco Antiguo will only be for residents. General parking will be located at the Causeway in Amador, and there will be free transportation to the Casco throughout the festival. Usually, they also open the parking spaces at the San Felipe Neri fruit & vegetable market, right in front of the Fish Market, at the entrance of the Casco.

Who will be playing and where….starting at 3 p.m…..
ps. just in case, bring an umbrella and a folding chair.  In Panama, rainny season tends to be in the afternoon, probably by 3 will be ok, but you never know….

Plaza Herrera (Tropical music)

Los Beachers
Toby king
La Banda de Cheo
Rumberos Notorios

Plaza Catedral (Folkloric music)

Kenisin y Kiara y los Chiki Pindin
Osvaldo Ayala
Orquesta Folklore Latino
Samy y Sandra Sandoval
Ivan Barrios

Arco Chato (World Music)

Filarmónica de la Universidad de Panama
Alfredo Hidrovo
Yomirah John  (great singer!)
Apache Ness
Bannaba (Kuna jazz..)
La Chota

Teatro Anita Villalaz (classic)

Aguas del Chorrillo  (this is a group formed by OCA with students of one of the poorest parts of Panama. It is worth supporting their effort!)
Orquesta de Camara de la Universidad de panama
Sinfónica de la Universidad de Panamá
Coro Música Viva (one of the oldest and best chorus groups in Panama)

Paseo Esteban Huertas (Jazz)

Neuropunk
Harp Fusion
Luis Carlos Perez
Carlos Mendez
New Latin Jazz
Blue Note Jazz

La Casona (Rock)

The Vox
Los Bonsay
Mala Hierba
Calibre 57
Cabeza de Martillo  (one of the oldest and best heavy metal bands in Panama)
Leminwink

Boozy Sunday Pleasures at Panama

Yupi! it´s Sunday!… or even better… it is Dim Sum Sunday…

Yes, you heard right. Panamanians jump on their feet when thinking about Chinese food.  Why?  Because our cultures basically grew up together.  I don´t think I´ve seen anywhere else the same proportion of Black-chinese / Criollo-chinese than in Panama.  Some of our most stunning Panamanians are from African Chinese parents.

Recently, they celebrated the 150th anniversary of the chinese colony in Panama, basically 50 years more (aprox) than the republic itself. They are everywhere and in everything, a big motor of the economy. But probably the best part of the relationship between Panamanians and Chinese is Dim Sum. We love Dim Sum (Desayuno Chino). And although the original China Town is located in Casco Viejo, Panama´s Colonial Quarter, the best restaurants for Sunday Dim Sum are outside Casco.  A lot of Panamanians are followers of Lung Fung and but I like Golden Unicorn at the Evergreen Building.

Hummm….. it is an affair that takes a couple of hours, so plan on getting up really early (otherwise, you´ll have to do a line…) 8 a.m. is a good hour for this. It is probably the closest thing Panama has to “brunch”. You can linger there until lunchtime, between hampaos, jasmine tea and beer.  Somehow it all mixes well, don´t ask.

And then… straight to siesta! no way you´ll move the rest of the day. Unless you have coffee and cake at another Panamanian icon: Las Hadas. Hotels come and go, but Las Hadas remain. Once you are done with your Chinese breakfast, roll yourself to the Ceasar Park/ Sheraton/ I´m not sure what it is called now (alias, the hotel next to

Sunday Dim Sum

the ATLAPA Convention Center). Don´t look at the casino, just keep walking. Past the reception, go to the end of the hall where the shops are. Shinning bright at the end of the hall you´ll find a cute place with wonderful sweets.

If you have space, coffee is very good and sweets and great. After that, you´ll better book a room and sleep right where you are….

Bikinis under Panama´s Presidential Palace

Under the “Only in Panama” category….

Low tide is a blessing in Casco Viejo. Suddenly, pockets of beaches pop up, and access to others open. Yesterday (or was it the day before?) I was walking my little (or not so little!) Chispa around and realized it was low – low tide. So we went down the beach at Calle 1era, in front of the parking spaces next to the National Theatre, and kept walking under the San Francisco de Asis Church towards the current Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Then I continued to walk, and another beach was there, the one behind the Presidential Palace. They all connect going down to Terraplen! boy, I´m looking forward for the cleaning of the bay to be complete (another 5 years!)… it was nice down there.

Only a presidential policeman who sort of tried to tell me that I couldn´t pass. But since I was in my “teacher” mood (I usually am when walking Chispa, you know like “no, don´t do this… yes, good girl…giving instructions) I told him that the beach by the Panamanian Constitution is public and that the President is free to put all the guards he wants, but can´t declare any beach private.  So, actually, I am free to go there with my bikini and tan under the Presidential Palace.  He smiled and let me be with my dog around…