Eco Christmas! newspaper christmas tree and gifts

It was an old friend of my brother who introduced me back in the early 90´s to newspaper wrapping and I never really drifted from it.  She made the most incredible designs with the newspaper and rope bows, which I´m still trying to go after.

Throughout the years I want to think I´ve “evolved” in my own little style. I pick through the year photos in the newspaper that catched my attention, especially if they define well a person I know. So for me, Christmas starts quite early!  I like it because it makes me think about my beloved ones all year through.

This year, I included a new element: the newspaper Christmas Tree.  I decorated it with garbage from the beach and light blue plastic bags.  My dog destroyed a pillow, so I got the cotton balls out and used them as well. Here is a photo of my Christmas tree on the works.   This week I´ll post the final “masterpiece”….

Here are the wrappings that I thought where best… I hope it gets you inspired!

Party at Casco Viejo, skateboard in hand

Any given day you walk around 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Plaza Francia, Casco Viejo (Panama´s old quarter) and you´ll see a number of young kids practicing skateboarding like crazy. In the same space (I don´t know how they manage) they also play football or street beisball. The kids really go at it, slamming themselves agains stairs, walls, floor. Standing up like nothing has happened, undusting and straight back at it.

They are yearning for a proper skateboard park. For this reason, artist and Casco Antiguo residents Cristine and Dom organized a party last night to gather funds and start lobbying for a designed skateboard park. It was a cheerful event! skaters from all ages where happy moving around the ruins of the old Club Union, going up and down ramps… fabulous!

Art With Optimism

Full of colors and optimism inaugurated the latest art show of Cartooch, Casco Viejo (Panama) artists and residents, at the ruins of the former Union Club. Alegories of all sorts, some quite sexy! (photos not included…!).

Probably the most refreshing thing about their art is that when it chooses to be critical it does so without cinicism. A daring position for an artist, an edge where people could or not take them seriously.  Pieces related to being different within the society and how people are perceived from different points of view, resources abuse (energy), and freedom in general cruise through their work in an almost cheerful way.  Reminding us of our flaws, but also that it can all be overcome.

“Chic” Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo is one of this places where everything mix. Bohemian, authentic, slick and chic, everyone co exists and you would almost say it wouldn´t be the same without it.  From Jazz Fest to Halloween, from a thursday night out at Mojito´s grill playing trivia at an open garden surrounded by old calicanto stone walls that are at least 150 years old eating hamburger,  this neighborhood is just special.

Last night, everyone in Casco Antiguo dressed up and went for a “chic” night out. Starting with a fashion show at the Municipality (antigua Casa Arias Feraud) and later to a special sushi night at the Deli Gourmet. The fashion show featured French designer Helene Breebart and Madeleine Cranfield from San Diego, California showed their best collections. Helene´s specialty is ethnic inspired clothing. For years, she´s been working with the kuna indians in Panama to create stylish clothing. Latelly, I´ve even seen swimming suits with mola designs! Madeleine´s specialy is silk. She has beautiful and delicate creations inspired in nature. A great combination for these two artists, and Panama was their muse. Later on, sushi night at Deli Gourmet. Chef and new Casco Viejo resident Sajoscha delighted guests with his creations. Soon, he´ll be opening a restaurant in Calle 1era…..

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.

 

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.

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.

Can´t Save Yourself From Love

This has been an intense week for international piano star Danilo Perez and his wife and music therapist Patricia Perez. Fundación Danilo Perez has not only launched the next Panama Jazz Festival 2010, but also announced their program Music For Change… and received an award from the Smithsonian Institute in Washington for all the work he´s been doing in Panama with children.  He was also appointed artistic director at the Global Institute of Jazz of Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA. Danilo and Patricia are all about positive energy.

Their passion is simple and deep: to raise the level of music education in Panama and transform through it the lives of children at social risk. The jazz festival is only a platform to achieve this goal, but what a platform! Last year, close to 20,000 people enjoyed the festival. About 650 students went to the clinics, scholarships where given, for a week, Panama was turned into a Cultural Hub.

For Danilo, Panama is the perfect spot to nurture jazz. With an almost caleidoscopic culture….  SEE FULL STORY HERE

Be Organic, Build With Bones

Everyone has been trying to figure out how to be greener than the neighbor. The web is packed with green this and green that, and advises on “how to go back to basics”. Well, in Casco Antiguo (Panama) we did just that…and looks great!

One of Panama´s icons has been under restoration for the last year and finally we can see the results coming along.  It has a wonderful internal courtyard, with a classic Spanish Colonial design and feel. A big carpet of pebble stones covering it with designs in white. Looking closer, you realize the “white pebbles” are not pebbles at all, but bones! Hundreds of cow bones stuck in the ground. According to the historic and archeological research this is exactly how it was done in those days. My dog,  for once,  had a positive opinion on how the design smelled.

Gay Film Festival at Casco Viejo

La Casona at Casco Viejo, Panama, has been hosting four days of a wide diversity of Gay and Lesbian films. The festival starts today, at 7 p.m. andhere is the list of films that they´ve shown.  Don´t miss the last ones!

Monday July 27th:

Salida Restrasada (USA)
La Rosa Con Espinas (USA)
Primera Vez (Argentina)

Tuesday 28th :
Esto es elemental (USA)
El mueble de las fotos   (España)
La Espinita (España)
No puedo ser hetero (UK)

Wednesday 29th:
Solo yo?  (USA)
Vestido Nuevo (España)
Los requisitos de Nati (España)
Glue – Historia adolescente en el medio de la nada

Thursday 30th:
Cuarto Cresciente (España)
Todos me miran (Argentina)