Global markets falling, the greatest economic recesion since the American Depresion... but Latin American Idol is here to save us! at least to remind us we still have what it takes to solve this.

Night of art and music in Casco Antiguo

During the last weekend after completing the Second Songwriter Festival on Casa Góngora in San Felipe, Spanish singer-songwriter Jesús Garriga visited us and delighted us with his music on this great festival.

Last night was the opening night of Panama´s National Ballet performance of La Bayadere (known also as Bayaderka), the famous ballet from Marius Petipa where Prince Solor marries Princess Gamzatti, although he is really in love (and had sworn loyalty) to Nikiya, the temple dancer. Alexa Gutierrez, from Panama, danced on Nikiya´s roll, one of my favorite I´ve seen from her so far.

The 6th edition of the Panama Jazz Fest in 2009 is already on its way. Music, workshops, scholarships and a new music school in Panama by the Foundation Danilo Perez. Where? when?

It was the perfect romantic, sweet, cuddle-up-with-your-best-half concert of the year!

October is a special month for Casco Antiguo, as it is the 100th anniversary month of Panama´s National Theatre. It started with the Pink Ribbon campaign (totally unrelated to the Theatre, however!) for breast cancer awareness, but it will continue with more interesting activities such as a special Gala Performance by the National Ballet of La Bayadere (featuring Alexa Gutierrez from Panama and Ivana Kozomara from Belgrado) and Madame Butterfly

I first visited Havana Vieja in Cuba around 1996. It was a very interesting trip from which I learned a lot about our common roots, despite our different current political lives. Culture and architecture reflects our spirits...

So the countdown for Quantum of Solace has begun! Everyone in Casco Viejo is bitting nails... when! when!!!!! we certainly want to see Daniel Craig, but more importantly... we want to see ourselves!!!!

Heriberto Trejos had a big smile on his face. A group of women who live in San Felipe, Santa Ana and Chorrillo are being interviewed to participate in a hotel training course organized by Fundacion Calicanto. As the manager of the foundation, Heriberto has a diverse portfolio of social projects, all of them with a common goal: breaking the cycle of poverty in the local families of Casco Antiguo, allowing them to take control of their lives and be an active element of the thriving future of the historic city.

A classic Monday morning in Casco Viejo: I was on the phone and at the same time answering emails (or deleting early spam… somehow the prince of Mombatu is still considering sending me at least $200,000 directly to my bank account, no papers signed) when suddenly a loud noise started to approach. “Drums…. Drums in the deep”…

Ever since the slavery trade times, African traditional religions have been concealed by their followers under Cristianity... for obvious reasons. Today, many, many years later, the reminiscents are still there. And in Casco Viejo, very much alive!

A group of Panamanian artists, including Blanca Dávalos and Yiyi Barra from La Casona have been worried about other artistic media gaining too much space over painting. They´ve planned a full month of painting exhibitions with seven different artists at La Casona, which will be up for a month starting September 25th. It will include Panamanian artists Rolando De Sedas, Ricaurte González, Silvia Costa, Manuel S. López and Cristina Garrido, and international painters Damien Prouvost and Dahiana Bukschtein. This is the note at today´s La Prensa:

The second "Panamanian Author´s" music festival has just started, and of course, it is in Casco Antiguo. Check out the next concerts, most of them at Casa Gongora, but also there will be one at Plaza Catedral and at the National Theatre.

When Al Gore launched his “ Inconvenient Truth” he touched many nerves world wide. Liked it or not, people reacted in such a way that has forced all relevant presidential candidates ( like Barak Obama and John Mccain) to take note of these issues seriously. The energy crisis is real. Just today (and to make things worst) I opened the newspaper and read how hurricane Ike has at least a dozen of refineries closed in the United States. Food crisis is coming up next. What can we do?

"A Cultural Cornerstone" is today´s New York Times travel article about Casco Viejo, Panama, featuring our favorite hotel Canal House Panama as editor´s pick and businesses like Karavan Gallery and Indigo Restaurant. I love it when people visit, but the best for me is to live here...

In many countries, cultural activities fuel tourism, which becomes one of their main economic revenues. With Casco Antiguo, Panama has a unique opportunity to be launched into the world´s cultural map. Check out the details here...

An ambitious project is being announced: the World Bank and the Office of Casco Antiguo will invest close to $2M to promote cultural industries in the historic city. Here is the article in Spanish, by La Prensa...

When you arrive into Casco Viejo you know if you belong here. Some have it tattooed in their foreheads.... or other parts! if you think I´m kidding, read this True Casco Viejo Story. Pictures won´t let me lie!

Panama´s art Bienal is probably one of the most important events in the year for painting, plastic arts and media. This year, the theme is the ex "Canal Zone". Its history and influence in our society. The making of the Panama Canal and its political and social interaction as a "nation within a nation" literally shaped Panama in obvious ways... but also in very subtile ways.

Movie and Tapas are being announced at Manolo Caracol. Here are the next 3 movies:

Ke Sopa? Priti! …. No, you are not in some weird and lost island in the Pacific, you are in Panama, where Caribbean culture meets… well… everybody. Like chameleons, we love copying words and accents, especially English, since it sounds cool. So here is the basic phrases you need to take with you while traveling to Panama, especially in the city and in Casco Viejo, where you’ll probably use them the most as some of the local “bien cuidaos” are Afroantillian descendants and still speak English.

Brook Alfaro is one of Panama´s most recognized artists nationally and internationally. A relaxed guy, his paintings are a hurricane of emotions you would never guess from just knowing him socially. His best place to get inspiration?

The good news: my eggplant just gave two little and beautiful "berenjenas". The bad - ugly news: somehow it just got a horrible pest!!! help!!!

Last night, the United Nations Environmental Programee inaugurated at the National Theatre in Casco Antiguo their "For the Earth" Festival. It will last a month, with several activities withing Casco Antiguo, ranging from poetry to rock concerts. Most of the activities will be held at

September´s agenda is full! check out the calendar to your left, and you´ll see the details. But here is a "panoramic" view of what´s going on for September.

September in Casco Viejo starts with interesting events: dance and music all over. Check out the new events here...

A new client recently asked me “Is Casco Viejo gay friendly?” For a moment I had to think about the question. You see, growing up as a ballet dancer I never even gave a thought to it.

With the ramping increase in oil prices, transportation is becoming more expensive. Still, in Panama it is possible to take a taxi for as low as $1.35, depending of course, on where you are going. As much as users in Panama might take a while to adjust to the new prices, because of the subsidized oil it is still cheap. Find out the new chart here...

Santo Domingo Beach is the closest beach in Panama City and Casco Viejo´s best kept secret. While everybody in the city was trapped at home, in Casco you can walk out to the beach and enjoy!

I´ve never seen a marathon in Casco Viejo... this promises to be quite interesting!

A few days ago I got an email from a journalist at The Guardian, as they´ve found somehow my postings on La Casona in Casco Viejo. It was quite exciting, this is my first collaboration with international press! Here is the article:

Casco Viejo will host a very special event in September. The United Nation´s agency for the Environment (known in Spanish as PNUMA) will present an art festival featuring artists from different disciplines, from poetry to street painting. Check out the event calendar here!

Travel like a local with The Guardian. Surfing the web as I usually do, I found this article on Panama´s nightlife at The Guardian, featuring Casco Viejo. And not only Casco Viejo, but my favorite spots: Baños Publicos and La Casona! Check it out here!

The Fish Market rocks. It is at the very entrance of Casco Viejo, just off Avenida Balboa. A white and light blue building with the Japanese flag and the Panamanian flag on the top of the building (the new fish market installations where a donation of the Japanese government). As you approach, the characteristic smell of fresh fish will hit you: don´t get discouraged.

I was at my office, trying to start my Monday as usual, when a huge crowd of kids came running and screaming... "Saladino! Saladino! Canguro! Canguro!". The crowd jumped away, singing and screaming. I suddenly realized...

Calle 4ta is getting artsy! Galería Vida is Casco Antiguo´s new kid on the block, next to Entre Pulgas and to Casa Gongora. With years of experience in working with indigenous communities you can get high quality stuff at great prices!

Flash news: Puertas al Mundo or Doors to the World is an art show featuring cuban artists. It inaugurates August 8th at Plaza Francia and will be there until August 20th.

Last Saturday a nice article came out about Casco Viejo (which in Panama is known as San Felipe, Catedral, la Ciudad... so many names!). I looked for it in the electronic version of La Prensa, but couldn´t find it. So here is my translation and the original piece scanned at the bottom. It talks about speculation, restoration, patrimony (human and architectural) and what has been done in the past 10 years.

La Casona has a new home! wonderful (and huge) Citi Bank, just at the corner of Plaza Herrera. Welcome!

Miriam Butterman has always been a Casco Viejo fanatic. She is also a reporter for several publications, including Panama 9 80. Here, her latest article with the story on Samantha, Panama´s female surf champion who grew up in Casco Viejo.

A new business has opened in Casco Antiguo! It is called "Indigo", an oriental-mediterranean fusion restaurant ...