Uncategorized

  Conservatory of Music – Concert Hall San Juan’s newest performing arts venue next to the Conservatory of Music. Parada 15 – Ponce de León Ave and Calle Colberg Website: Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto Rico (español)

Ambassador Theater Former movie house, now an intimate cabaret-style theater used for light comedies and intimate concerts. Parada 18: 114 Ponce de Leon Avenue 

El Laboratorio de Artes Binarios (LAB) New interdisciplinary design studio dedicated to development of innovative formulas and solutions using digital design and fabrication techniques and processes. Parada 18 – 1206 Ave Ponce de Leon Website: www.labartesbinarios.com

Telégrafo Building – Art Deco Excellent example of Art Deco originally built to house the telephone company. The building also contains the Auditorio Salvador Brau – an intimate theater sometimes used for small theatrical productions.  Parada 20: 1314 Ave Ponce de Leon near Calle Hipodromo

Roberto Paradise Gallery Latest addition to the gallery scene in Santurce – visit for major shows by international artists. Open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 11am – 6pm. Parada 20: 610 Calle Hipodromo Get off the bus at the big blue church and walk one block in the same direction as the bus.  Take a…

Ballets de San Juan Dance school with performances at various locations including the Centro de Bellas Artes. Parada 22 – 1429 Ave Ponce de Leon (between Fine Arts Center and Central High School)

Centro de Bellas Artes  Fine Arts Center with four theaters ranging from intimate cabaret and experimental venues to large theaters suitable for plays, musicals, operas and concerts.  Box located in the lobby also sells tickets for the Symphonic Hall located across the plaza. Parada 22: Ponce de Leon between Calle Hipodromo and Ave De Diego.…

Sala Sinfonica Pablo Casals Home of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. Performances typically include a program with a few European favorites, a new or experimental piece and also features a Puerto Rican composer.   Parada 22: Ponce de Leon between Calle Hipodromo and Ave. De Diego Website: Orquestra Sinfónica de Puerto Rico (español)

Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico San Juan’s classical ballet company and school. Recitals and intimate performances at their headquarters near the Museum of Art. Major performances around the corner at Centro de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Center). Parada 22: 316 Ave De Diego  

Puerto Rico Museum of Art San Juan’s major museum devoted to Puerto Rican Artists. Major visiting exhibits share galleries with a growing collection of Puerto Rican and Caribbean works. Also home to the Raul Julia Theater and Celebrity Chef Roberto Pagan’s ‘Laurel’ restaurant. Parada 22: 299 De Diego Avenue Website: Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico…

Cultural Plaza – Minillas Center Large plaza across from the Puerto Rico Museum of Art that features ‘Reclining Woman’ by Colombian artist Fernando Botero.  Surrounded by government offices, the plaza is used for special events due to its great location between Condado and Santurce. Parada 22; De Diego Avenue across from the Museum of Art…

Escuela Julian Blanco Public “magnet school” with specialization in ballet. Parada 22 – Calle Martin Travieso (Down the hill and over the highway from Museum of Art).

Blanche Kellogg Plaza Large public plaza built around the facade of the Blanche Kellogg Institute (1907) and mosaic murals by Santurce artist  Eddie Ferraioli.  Parada 23 – Ponce de Leon Avenue

Street Murals by AR.JEI.EM.SI 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.  Not your typical graffiti – he does photo montages that are applied to the wall and then layered with his fabulous creatures –  I love them! Parada 23: Across…

Teatro Francisco Arriví Renovated movie palace now home to productions of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. Broadway-style theater for plays, small musicals, children’s theater, dance and Puerto Rico International Theater Festival. Parada 23 – Ponce de Leon & Calle Del Parque  

International Urban Arts Festival Murals You’ll find murals from the ‘Los Muros Hablan’ street art festival between stops 22 and 24 along Ponce de Leon and Fernandez Juncos Avenues where you’ll find one of my favorites! Best route is to find the empty lot opposite Ciudadela and walk down to Fernandez Juncos Avenue. Website: Los…

Hidrante 454 – Art Gallery/Artist Collective Hidrante is an experimental space oriented towards exhibitions, projections, photographic workshop, and community use.   Check out their website or Facebook page for upcoming events!  Located upstairs at Casa Fantasmes. Parada 24 – 454 Calle Saldaña – just around the corner from Abracadabra! YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCp8Y5M9ffzVvpG5QURHu9SQ    Website: hidranteee.com Instagram: instagram.com/hidranteee/   Facebook: facebook.com/hidrante454/

Indie Rock Scene – Casa Fantasmes The area around parada 24 is becoming a center of the Puerto Rican Indie Rock Scene, with several new studios moving into the area.   Latest addition is Fantasmes – check out their video and facebook page, download some tracks or explore the area and follow the music to…

Victoria Espinosa Theater Renovated movie theater now used as an experimental theater space.  Most performances have unassigned ‘open’ seating, so arrive early for the best seats! Parada 24 – Calle del Parque (behind Arriví Theater).

Abracadabra – a local ‘counter-café’ Coffee house, restaurant, arts café, craft beer, hangout. Join the hip, young crowd for frequent performance nights including Jazz, Theater, Circus Arts, Film Festivals, Poetry Slams, Magic and more!   Parada 24: 1661 Ponce de Leon at Calle Saldaña Facebook: Abradadabra

La Respuesta Art Space, Nightclub, Disco – whatever is happening in the art scene tends to hit this hip club first. Check website for theme nights with everything from gallery shows to raeggeton, heavy metal, 80’s Flashback and poetry slams. Featured in NYTimes March 4, 2011. Parada 23: Fernandez Juncos Ave and Calle del Parque…

Museo de los Santos Private museum dedicated to research and preservation of Puerto Rico’s ‘Santos de Palo’ or ‘Household Saints’.   Exhibits at various locations including the annual ‘Encuentro de Santeros’ in Orocovis – 3rd Sunday in December.  Private collection by appointment only.   Website: www.museo-de-los-santos.com  

Ellie Pruess Collection Ellie Pruess visited Puerto Rico as a tourist many times during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.  During her visits to San Juan, she purchased works from emerging artists  Julio Rosado del Valle, Epifanio Irizarry, Manuel Hernandez and Santos Rene – all of whom went on to become reknowned Puerto Rican artists.…

Colegio de Arquitectos y Arquitectos Paisajistas Home of the architects’ association with seminars, walking tours, exhibits and events in the plaza. Parada 24: Calle del Parque – next to the parking garage of San Jorge Children’s Hospital.

El Josco Cabaret Theater Renovated movie theater now an intimate cabaret-style theater which is home to Teatro Breve – San Juan’s improvisational theater group. Parada 24: Calle del Parque between Ponce de Leon and Fernandez Juncos.

Film Production in Santurce Santurce has become one of the most popular areas for Puerto Rico’s film industry. The corner of Ponce de Leon and Calle Bolivar was the setting for several days filming for Johnny Depp and The Rum Diary.  The interior driveway next to Equity Plaza was used as a stand-in for the…

Coro de Niños de San Juan Internationally acclaimed children’s choir and school. Performances held at Centro de Bellas Artes and various venues, often accompanying the symphony, concerts or theatrical performances.   Parada 25: Ave Fernandez Juncos and Calle San Jorge Website: Coro de Niños de San Juan     YouTube Video

Gran Logia Soberana de Puerto Rico San Juan’s Masonic Temple is also home to the Les Artes school.  Parada 25: 1707 Ponce de Leon Website: Gran Logia Soberana

Street Art & Graffiti The long stretch from Calle San Jorge to Tren Urbano is still in transition with lots of empty buildings left over from the housing boom/bust.  Development will come quickly once the Tren Liviano – light rail system connects Old San Juan, the Conention Center and the Urban Train.  Until then, this…

Sagrado Corazón University One of San Juan’s oldest and most prestigeous universities with an expansive campus and historic administration building constructed in 1906. Parada 26: Calle Rosales (From Ponce de Leon, look for the Patio Shop store and turn right for one block to the main gate). Website: Universidad de Sagrado Corazon

Tren Urbano – Sagrado Corazon The first stop of our Urban Train that continues through the Hato Rey Entertainment District (Coliseum, Trocadero, Fine Arts Cinemas, Teatro Coribantes), Business District, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Centro Medico and ends in Bayamon. The station is frequently used for festivals, musical events and special activities. Parada 26:…

Coliseo de Puerto Rico Major arena for international tours and concert events.  Parada 28: Next to the Hato Rey station of the Tren Urbano Website: Coliseo de Puerto Rico – José Migueal Agrelot

Teatro Coribantes San Juan’s gay-friendly theater with annual gay theater festival, seminars and theatrical training. Most performances are in Spanish. Parada 28: Ave. Ponce de León and Nemesio Canales (look for parking lot of  Instituto de Banca). Easy walk from the Hato Rey station of the Tren Urbano. Website: Teatro Coribantes

Fine Arts Cinema – Popular Center Six state-of-the-art and modern screens with stadium seating and digital projection available for meetings and seminars. Focus on international cinema.  Parada 28: Ponce de Leon at Popular Center. Easy walk from Hato Rey station of the Tren Urbano. Website; Caribbean Cinemas