“Bare Bones” – Fantasmes Live at Libros AC from Libros AC on Vimeo. Fantasmes Indie Rock Experience @ Parada 24  Our favorite indie rock band is raising money to produce their new album. Check out their page at Indiegogo.com and throw a few bucks their way to keep indie rock alive in Santurce.  Not only…

Calle Las Palmas @ Parada 17 (walk 10 min) This is a little out of the way, between Petrus Gallery and RH Todd (Walgreens/Walmart) in one of the most exciting emerging art areas. Remember ‘Alphabet City’ in NYC and its underground art scene? You’ll feel the same vibe here with lots of storefront galleries, art installations…

Ave De Diego & Ponce de Leon @ Parada 22 The new mural inspired by Julia de Burgos is featured in the lifestyle and travel section of The Dallas Morning News. Located on Ave. De Diego – just next to the entrance to Heaven and Hell and across the street from Tia Maria, its the work of  the…

Ponce de Leon y Calle Bolivar @ Parada 24 Only open since April, this restaurant never really caught on and it looks like the building is now being converted to condos. We still have Godfather II across the street – and it looks like very soon we’ll have a new affordable condo option!  

Ponce de Leon y Calle Saldaña @ Parada 24 The ‘Santurce es Ley’ art festival added some interesting art to the former Gosen Supermarket next to Abracadabra Restaurant. Check it out while you’re waiting in line for weekend brunch and don’t miss the two cute coqui’s!

Ciudadela Plaza @ Parada 23 The crowds turned out on April 19th for the second Rock Under the Stars concert at Cuidadela. This is supposed to be a monthly event, so check out dates when you’re shopping at Selectos or enjoying the coffee bar, sports bar, pizza oven, sushi bar, burrito bar, deli, burger bar,…

Plaza del Mercado @ Parada 20 The news keeps getting better for the local culinary scene! José Enrique has just been listed as one of the top 10 best new chefs in the United States by Food and Wine Magazine. Check out the article and stop by the restaurant which is now open from 11am Tues…

April 6, 2013 – 5pm Abracadabra @ Parada 24 Stop by Abracadabra on Saturday April 6th at 5pm if you’re an artist or performer looking for work, or even better if you need to hire artists, performers and creative talent!  Even if it is not for a performance-oriented position – what could be better than…

Centro de Bellas Artes @ Parada 22 Enjoy the 10th International Festival of Mime and Physical Theater with artists from Australia, Chile, France, Poland, USA and Puerto Rico at the Fine Arts Center from April 12-14, 2013. Admission is only $20 and since language is no problem, its great for EVERYONE! Check the Fine Arts…

April 4-7, 2013 All Santurce Festival – Paradas 12 -24 Celebrate the latest private initiative to promote the Santurce Arts District! ‘Santurce is Law’ is a grass-roots effort to promote micro-projects that might not normally get public attention. If you want to see what’s happening on the ‘cutting edge’ of the Arts District – make…

Fine Arts Center @ Parada 22  As an ex-New Yorker, I have to admit to being somewhat of a culture snob – and while I’ve always appreciated our Symphony Orchestra, I’ve usually seen room for improvement.  Well – no more!  With the closing concert of Verdi’s Requiem, I’m a convert! Under the direction of Maximiano…

Fine Arts Center @Parada 22 Calle del Parque @Parada 24 Cambalache – March 14-17 & 22-24, 2013Teatro Victoria Espinosa- Calle del Parque Oh Natura  – April 5-7 & 12-14, 2013Teatro Victoria Espinosa- Calle del Parque Sueño Eterno – April 19-28, 2013Sala Experimental – Centro de Bellas Artes Ballet de San Juan – May 10-12, 2013Centro de Bellas Artes There is no website listedCall 787-724-0700…

Plaza del Mercado @ Parada 22 I’m in Plaza del Mercado 3 or 4 times a week doing consumer research with tourists and never realized one of San Juan’s ‘hidden secret’ restaurants is open for lunch from Tuesday through Friday.   If you were intimidated by the lines at night, stop by for lunch and…

Indie Rock @ Parada 24 As our local indie rock scene gears up for their treck to SXSW (South by Southwest)  – you don’t need to travel to Austin to join in the fun! You can get a preview as FANTASMES performs at La Respuesta March 8th at 9pm – $8.00 entrance.  Just find the Arriví…

 Puppet Festival – March 6 – 24 World Puppetry Day takes place all over the world on March 21st. Celebrate throughout March with special events in Santurce! Mar 6th – Parada 20 (1416 Ponce de Leon, across from Central High School)Facebook: Titeretada 2013 Mar 15 & 16th – Parada 24 (Abcadabra – 1661 Ave Ponce de Leon)Facebook: Banners & Cranks…

European Cine @ Fine Arts Miramar – Parada 12 More than 40 European films will be presented for the first time in Puerto Rico! Sponsored by Alliance Française, check the website or facebook page for schedule of films, conferences and special events! Website: http://hechoeneuropa.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hechoeneuropa

Big Changes @ Parada 23 – Ciudadela! The lights went up at the entrance to Ciudadela and there is lots of new activity!New owners have lowered prices and sold almost all available units at prices that haven’t been seen in Santurce luxury condos for years!Great location, easy parking, 24 hour gym and supermarket are already…

Abracadabra ‘local counter café’ @ Parada 24 The lines form outside of Abracadabra every Sunday morning for their famous brunch even before they were mentioned in this week’s Washington Post article ‘Puerto Rican Food Beyond Rice and Beans’ Besides Abracadabra, they mention José Enrique at Plaza del Mercado and the emerging foodie scene emerging along…

Designer Boutique @ Parada 22 Color blocking is in process at the new location of Luxes Lighting Boutique between Ciudadela and the PR Museum of Art. This is across from the big empty lot where the ‘Altos de Cangrejos’ neighborhood used to be located before greed and the housing boom expropriated the entire community for…

Parada 22 @ the corner of ugly and obscene! It was bad enough when tourists looking for the Fine Arts Center could identify the area by the decrepit Art Deco building that was rotting away at the entrance to the Fine Arts Center.  But this is HORRIBLE!  Who had the bright idea to remove a…

New Food Truck at Stop 23 Check our our new neighborhood food truck in the parking lot between Farmacia Luis and Ciudadela. Choice of sandwiches or burgers with some creative touches. All include sandwich, chips and soda.  Stop by and check it out!

New Restaurant & Bar at Stop 24 Signs just went up announcing the new Andromeda Bar & Restaurant on the corner of Ponce de Leon and Calle Bolivar. This area has lagged a bit, but now that Ciudadela is filling apartments, we’re happy to see development in the area around Cobian’s Plaza.

Parada 18 – Ponce de Leon y RH Todd I’ve noticed the very unusual digital designs for a long time, but just passed by when the gate was open and discovered a new arts venue around the corner from the Museum of Contemporary Art. Check out their website at www.labartesbinarios.com for yet another private arts…

Parada 22 – De Diego Avenue  Click on the image for this weekends presentations and films as Oliver Stone and Benicio del Toro raise funds for the Puerto Rico Museum of Art. For more information see the museum’s website at www.mapr.org .

Parada 25 – Fernandez Juncos at Calle Cataluña Does anyone know what the new Tutti Italia sign promises across from the new home of Mauro Productions on Fernandez Juncos? We can’t decide if its a new Italian Restaurant with parking near Plaza Inmaculada or maybe Italian designer furniture? Any info would be appreciated, but we’ll…

Parada 22 – Fine Arts Center We interview tourists every week and they all agree that this is a Public Eyesore at the entrance to Bellas Artes.  What should be a shining example of Santurce’s ART DECO architecture is a blot on the entire ARTS DISTRICT.Rumors abound as to why this building is allowed to…

Parada 18 – Metro Theater November 15 – 21, 2012 The fourth edition of San Juan’s International Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Film Festival will feature films from Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Canada, USA, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Isreal, Iran, Japan and Australia. The schedule isn’t post yet, so check out their website at www.puertoricoqueerfilmfest.com for full…

Parada 18 – Calle Condado The annual Halloween parade has found a new home and was a night to remember! The blocks between Ponce de Leon and Fernandez Juncos were full of friendly monsters and some truly frightening spectacles – especially after the crowd from the Lady GaGa concert arrived and partied all night long!

Parada 26 – YMCA near Tren Urbano Station Its amazing how difficult it can be to find salsa classes in Puerto Rico! Now, its easy with inexpensive classes every Tuesday and Saturday at the San Juan YMCA. Just take the M3 bus to the final stop at Tren Urbano’s Sagarado Corazon Station. Go to the…

Parada 25 – Ave Fernandez Juncos & Calle Cataluña This old wooden casita has long been a favorite of street artists, but is now demolished, fenced in and pending development. We can expect to see more and more of this as developers anticipate the construction of the Tren Liviano which should connect Old San Juan…

Parada 18 – Ave. Ponce de Leon METRO THEATER – OCT 17 – 24, 2012 Feature Films, shorts and documentaries from around the world. Click here for Website and Program 

Paradas 18 – 23 – Various Locations International Festival of Urban Art: Oct 4-14, 2012 Join artists from around the world for two weekends of street art. Artists from Puerto Rico, Spain, Argentina, Mexico and Belgium and explore their works between Plaza del Mercado & Calle Hipodromo (parada 20)  and Calle del Parque (parada 24).  Works…

Parada 22 – PR Museum of Art Join the fun and explore the wonders of words at this Spanish language festival at the Museum of Art. Check their website for details: www.festivaldelapalabra.com  

Parada 23 – 1510 Ave. Ponce de Leon787-998-5130   :::::   787-998-5132  Website: www.librosAC.com Libros AC, the new Bookstore, Bar & Bistro had its grand opening tonight. Located just across the street from Ciudadela, this is a great addition to the neighborhood.

Parada 22 – Ponce de Leon (across from Fine Arts Center) Latest incarnation of the old Teatro Puerto Rico. Special guest artists and great DJs should make this the place to be!

Parada 15 – 808 Ave Ponce de Leon 787-530-1814 There is a new restaurant at the Colegio de Abogados building – 808 Ponce de Leon Ave. Featuring Puerto Rican cuisine at popular prices. Parking Available. 

 Street Art @ Parada 23  Stop by the abandoned building across from Ciudadela and next to the new Libros AC for the new work by street artist AR.JEI.EM.SI which is should be completed in the next few days. Click here for AR.JEI.EM.SI’s  YouTube channel

Name Change at Parada 22 They haven’t even opened and our new Indian restaurant has had a name change from BOMBAY to MUMBAI. Is this clever marketing to get people to do a ‘double-take’ – or are they just being politically correct? See for yourself on Ave. De Diego between Ponce de Leon and the Museum of…

New Concert Hall Opens at Parada 15 Sunday September 23rd brings the long anticipated inauguration of the new theater at the Conservatory of Music. If you don’t go to the inaugural concert on September 23rd, check their website for upcoming events! Click here for the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music Website (español)

World Cinema comes to Parada 12 September 27 – Oct 3, 2012 Check out the best of international cinema at the new Fine Arts Cinema on Ponce de Leon near stop 12. Click here for official website, schedule and times

New Indian Restaurant at Parada 22 The sign just went up with the name of the newest entry on Santurce’s ‘restaurant row’ along Ave De Diego between the Fine Arts Center and Puerto Rico Museum of Art.  We’ll announce opening dates as soon as info in available! 

New Club at Parada 20  Nightlife continues to move into the area between Plaza del Mercado and Centro de Bellas Artes with the opening of La Hoja eco-bar.    Promoting organic wines, natural juices and use of recyclables – it will be interesting to see if the club crowd embraces this as a new wave…

New Dance Club at Parada 22 The former Teatro Puerto Rico (across from Centro de Bellas Artes) on Ave Ponce de Leon has a new name!   This theater has gone through several reincarnations as Asylum, El Teatro, Liquid, Red, and a temporary home for a sex expo that was evicted from the convention center.…

Planned San Andrés Gastronomic Center between Parada 22 and ‘Downtown Condado’ They have finally announced a location for the proposed MERCADO SAN ANDRÉS gastronomic center in Santurce. It will be at the corner of De Diego Avenue and Calle Antonsanti in the large empty lot where the ‘Altos de Cangrejos’ neighborhood used to be (next…

Plans to take abandoned buildings between Parada 25 and 26 Signs went up last night with public notice that several abandoned buildings between Calle Mayol (Plaza Inmaculada) and Tren Urbano are in the process of being expropriated due to ‘estorbo publico’ or public nuisance. These include the former National Paper building (shown above had been…

Showcase of Arts District Plans at Parada 25 Wednesday night’s opening ceremonies at the new Tren Liviano (light rail system) offices and public displays at Stop 25 on Ponce de Leon and Calle San Jorge. The office is just across the street from Hotel San Jorge and the new executive offices of the Salvation Army.…

New Bookstore, Bar and Bistro at Parada 23 Just across the street from Blanche Kellogg Plaza, the new Bookstore, Bar and Bistro is nearing completion at 1510 Ave. Ponce de Leon. Check their progress of friend them on their Facebook page – Libros AC.

Selectos opens ‘Urban Market’ in Ciudadela at Parada 23. Walk through Blanche Kellogg Plaza past Planet Fitness or by car through Calle Antonsanti (near museum and Bistro de Paris).  Check out their unique trolly system for getting your packages from the store down to the parking level!

Mauro Productions moves to Parada 25 Mauro Productions, which has been located at the Masonic Temple on Ponce de Leon has announced a new home base. The new facility will be their own building one block away at 1761 Fernandez Juncos Ave (corner of Calle Cataluña). Although not as grand as their former space, its…

Condado Restaurant moves to Parada 20San Juan’s favorite pan-Asian restaurant has found a new home at the corner of Fernandez Juncos and Calle Hipodromo.Easy to reach by bus: M3, M2, T5, M21, B16 (stop across from Central High School and walk one block on Calle Hipodromo), or  Fernandez Juncos buses T9, M2, M21 with a…

Salvation Army @ Parada 25Improvements are happening fast at Stop 25.The new headquarters and community center for the Salvation Army will be inaugurated on September 1st with a march from their existing headquarters in Puerto Nuevo to the new location. This is located just across the street from the Hotel San Jorge and the soon-to-open…

New Headquarters at Parada 25Looks like they are completing work on the new headquarters of the Tren Liviano (light rail system) at Parada 25 next to the Hotel San Jorge. Although the actual train will run on Fernandez Juncos Avenue, this office should have information, displays and hopefully an actual passenger section on display.

Crab without legs at Parada 23Although the ‘cangrejo’ or crab is the official symbol of Santurce, these sculptures along Ponce de Leon haven’t gotten much respect. Originally they had feet, which were easy to trip over (but putting bad design aside) – almost all have been stolen and assumed to be in some recycle foundry…

Filming at Stop 24No – its not really a new ‘New York Style Deli’ at parade 24 – but about six months ago when the film crew converted Gosén Supermarket for a Boar’s Head deli meat commercial.  You can see the TV ads on many cable stations for their Boar’s Head International Deli Meats.  Now…

Supermarket Closes at Parada 24After several years as the only supermarket in the area, Gosén Supermarket is closing next week in anticipation of the new Selectos market in Ciudadela.  Scene of many film shoots – most recently you can see it as ‘Joe’s Deli’ in the national commercial for Boar’s Head ethnic cold cuts.  

Condado at Parada 18?  Wrong!Someone should let the bus shelter advertisers know which side of the highway they’re on… These posters have been around for quite a while promoting Ponce de Leon as part of Condado! Where are the ‘Bienvenidos a Santurce’ signs?