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.

 

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…..

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

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.

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

Professional Golf at Casco Viejo, Panama

With participants from at least seven different countries (USA, Italy, Germany, Norway, Poland, Netherlands, Panama, England and others), last Sunday, Casco Viejo inagurated its first professional golf competition.

Brand new professional equipment and first class catering,  the carefully prepared landscape complied with the most strict international standars.  Followed by a red carpet water view party, it was the clear reflection of the luxurious lifestyle Casco Viejo offers to its priviledge habitants.

See HERE : More lifestyle news… Surf, skating, beisball and other sports in Casco Viejo.

Music Festival coming up in Casco Antiguo

The

Music Festival Alfredo Saint Malo, this year will be held from May 28th to June 7th in Casco Viejo.   Most Concerts at the National Theatre, but some other events will be at the Museum Reina Torres de Arauz at Curundu and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Learn more about the Alfredo Saint Malo organization HERE

Don´t know what to do or where to go in Panama? Check HERE

MAY 2009
THURSDAY 28
8 PM Teatro Nacional	Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Panamá Jorge Ledezma Bradley, director David Viscoli, piano María Cecilia Prado, mezzo soprano Coro Músic Viva – Jorge Ledezma Bradley Coro Polifónico de Panamá – Electra Castillo Coro Santa Cecilia de la Escuela Narciso Garay – Ricardo Risco Coro de la Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá – Eric Dixon CANTUS – David Lortie Cecilia Herrera, soprano Ulises Athanasiadis, tenor Edric Echevers, bass Misa No. 2 en Sol Mayor, D.167 Franz Schubert (1797 – 1828) I. Kyrie II. Gloria III. Credo IV. Sanctus V. Benedictus VI. Agnus Dei Arias “Voce di donna” de La Gioconda, Amilcare Ponchielli (1834 – 1886) “Je vous ecris de ma petite chambre” de Werther, Jules Massenet (1842-1912) “Amour! viens aider ma faiblesse!” de Samson et Dalila, Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) “Stride la vampa!” de Il Trovatore, Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Interlude Concierto para piano No. 3 en Do menor, Op. 37 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) I. Allegro con brio II. Largo III. Rondo, Allegro
FRIDAY 29
8 PM Teatro Nacional	Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil Istmeña Samuel Robles, director César Castillo Thompson, director Graciela Núñez, violin Romanza y Danza Panameña para violín y orquesta (1967), Eduardo Charpentier de Castro (1927) Obra dedicada a Alfredo De Saint Malo Symphonie Espagnole para violín y orquesta en re menor, Op.21 Edouard Lalo (1823 – 1892) I. Allegro non troppo II. Scherzando: Allegro molto III. Intermezzo: Allegretto non troppo IV. Andante V. Rondo: Allegro Interlude Sinfonía No. 7 en La Mayor, Op. 92 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) I. Poco sostenuto – Vivace II. Allegretto III. Presto IV. Allegro con brio
SATURDAY 30
1 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA) Cost: $2	Orquesta Infantil Aguas del Chorrillo
2 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA)  Cost: $2	Orquesta de Iniciación de la Escuela Juvenil de Música
3 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA) Cost: $2	Orquesta del Instituto Episcopal San Cristóbal
8 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA)	Grupo Mixturas Grupo Vivace
SUNDAY 31
1 – 6 PM Parque Catedral, Casco Antiguo Cost: Free	National Bands Day Banda de Concierto de la Universidad Nacional de Panamá Banda Republicana Banda Municipal Banda de los Bomberos Banda del Instituto Moisés Castillo Banda Pedro Pablo Sánchez Banda del Instituto Episcopal San Cristóbal
TBA	Ensamble XXI flute oboe clarinet Jorge Espinoz, bassoon french horn
8 PM Teatro Anita Villalaz	Chamber Orchestra of Guatemala Conservatory Dario Ntaca, director
JUNE 2009
MONDAY 1
8 PM Teatro Nacional	La Grande Música del Cinema Italiano Mauro Maur, thrombus Françoise de Clossey, pianoforte E. MORRICONE (1928) Bugsy (1991) La leggenda del pianista sull’oceano (1998) Per un pugno di dollari (1964) Mission (1986) P. PICCIONI (1920-2004) Incontri proibiti (1998) Il viaggio (1963) Amore mio aiutami (1969) N. ROTA (1911-1979) Amarcord  (1973) La Dolce Vita (1960) I Vitelloni (1953) La Strada (1954) Le Notti di Cabiria (1957) Otto e mezzo (1963)
TUESDAY 2
8 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA)	YOA Chamber Groups – brass quintet and string quartet Lacey Haysn, trumpet Mikki Skinner, trumpet Isaac Casal, cello
WEDNESDAY 3
8 PM Teatro Anita Villalaz	Gala Concert José Aurelio Castillo, violin Mary Ann Mumm, violin Craig Mumm, viola Keith Robinson, viola Quinteto para 2 violines, 2 violas y cello No. 1 en Si b mayor, K. 174 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791) I. II. III. IV. Interlude Cuarteto de Cuerdas en si menor Teresa Carreño (1853-1917) I. Allegro maestoso II. Andante III. Scherzo IV. Allegro risoluto
THURSDAY 4
8 PM Museo de Arte Contemporáneo	Tanya Aparicio, piano Ingrith Saavedra, tuba
FRIDAY 5
8 PM Teatro Nacional	Luis and Margarita Troesch, piano duo Fuga en Sol K 401 (1782) W. Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Andante y 5 Variaciones en Sol K.501 (1786) Tema y 6 variaciones Ich denke dein (Yo pienso en ti) en Re, WoO 74 L. van Beethoven (1770-1827) Andante y 8 Variaciones en Si bemol, Op. 83ª Felix Mendelshonn-Bartholdy (1809-1847) Interlude Estampas Populares Arreglos de Luis Troetsch Jarabe Tapatío Jesús González Rubio (México, ? – 1874) Guacamaya Martina Andrión (Panamá, 1907-2006) Tico tico Zequinha Abreu (Brasil, 1880-1935) Tres Estampas Venezolanas Prudencio Essa (Venezuela, 1891-1971) Canta ? Allegro non troppo Serenata ? Allegro Allegro assai Tres Estampas para dos pianos (1961) Eduardo Charpentier de Castro (Panamá, 1926) Reflexión ? Andante Pasión – Adagio Júbilo – Allegretto
SATURDAY 6
1 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA) Cost: $2	Zephyr
2 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA)  Cost: $2	Grupo Mixturas
3 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA) Cost: $2	Grupo Vivace
4 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA) Cost: $2	Big Band – Vitín Paz
8 PM Teatro Nacional	Orquesta del Festival Alfredo de Saint Malo 2009 Darío Ntaca, director Keith Robinson, cello Concierto para violonchelo y orquesta en Do Mayor, Hob.VIIb No.5 Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809) I. Moderato – Cadenza II. Adagio – Cadenza III. Allegro molto Interlude Sinfonía No.4, Op.36 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893) I. Andante sostenuto—Moderato con anima II. Andantino in modo di canzona III. Scherzo (Pizzicato Ostinato). Allegro IV. Finale. Allegro con fuoco
SUNDAY 7
8 PM Teatro Nacional	Asociación Nacional de Conciertos presents Brasil Guitar Duo

Presidential Elections at Casco Viejo, Panama

In many countries, Presidential elections tend to be crazy. Here, it is the most boring day of the year (well… ever since we got our democracy back in 1989).  The fun part is the days before it.  This year, it fell coincidentally on a long weekend, as May 1st was Friday… but because of the elections, sales and consumption of alcohol was going to be restricted for both Saturday and Sunday. So every street in Casco Viejo had something going on Friday.

It was also the first true winter weekend, a lot of rain poured, so thousands and thousands of bugs, crazy size ants (queens and males finally coming out of the ground to mate and die the next morning) made their annual appearance, announcing the change of the season. Birds went nuts feeding on them, we even saw a big hawk standing at one of the balconies choosing its next meal, Casco Viejo “other neighbors” where feeling the call of nature. It was fascinating, like being in a jungle!

Well, not too far away, political party flags where hung on balconies, people woke up really early on Sunday dressed either with their best dresses or with political TShirts.  I thought this also ressembled nature´s dance, as often birds and other animals change color to attract their mates. Like bees, everone went to the schools to vote. Unlike other countries, everyone in Panama votes.  Election day is always a Sunday, and the political parties usually help with transportation.  Especially in the interior of the country, transportation is arranged. On election sunday, every bus, taxi, canue and mule is hired to get people to vote. This year, they made it possible for Panamanians abroad to vote and also for people in jail.   Last elections 76% of Panamanians with right to vote, voted.  Not sure what the number is for this year, but probably will be more.

The process is so easy and fluent, people tend to be really nice and take their task seriously. I was glad to see so many people from the neighborhood taking their role with total devotion.

Our elections are not done electronically.  Privacy during the elections is considered sacred, and our only weapon in times of need. We won´t even use electronic devices for our Lottery.  That too falls into the sacred category, by the way.  Usually they give you four papers in order to vote for each category, and they are counted manually.  The judges, with witnesses from every party, count at the end and they write down the results in an Acta. Then, in front of everyone, they burn the papers at the school patios. So there is no re count possibilites.  “Back in the days” (meaning in the Noriega times and even before) here was where the action happened. The votes where “stolen” …. literally. In order to protect the votes, the boxes with the papers inside where carried outside the school into people´s homes to protect it, as it was a normal cheating strategy to count “incorrectly” and put whatever number at the Acta.  Even though times have changed, the seriousness in the faces of those who have the responsibility of guarding our votes tell me there must be a memory of those times somewhere ingrained in their brains.

In Panama, you only have a chance to vote until 4 p.m.  Results are known around 6 p.m. but they confirm it no later than 7 p.m. Definately you know who won before 8 p.m.

This year, and for the first time after the invasion, a candidate won for over 50%.  Ricardo Martinelly won with a very big 60% product of his tenacity (he has run in two different campaigns now), his marketing (his slogan “Los Locos somos Más” was a bit unorthodox, but catchy) and the political alliance he was able to put together with the other oposition parties. But I feel most people, after the scandals of corruption and missmanagement of the current government, just aligned themselves against it, and Martinelli was the candidate that had the most chance of winning. Therefore, Balbina Herrera, the candidate for the government party (PRD) lost with a 37%.

So, what should be expected from Martinelli? If anything, Martinelli´s campaign has shown a creative team, capable of thinking outside the box and being able to work with competitors for a goal. If Ricardo Martinelli keeps these qualities during his government, then we should be on a good track. Buy only time will tell.