Community Service in San Jose, Costa Rica

There are a number of ways visitors and expats alike can give back while they are in Costa Rica. Below are some of the organizations I trust and support. 

The Women's Club of Costa Rica: This organization just celebrated its 70th anniversary. Their motto is 'Friendship through Service', and they mean it. The WCCR focuses on raising funds to build school libraries around Costa Rica, and offer scholarships for highschool students to cover expenses in college. Not only does this group play a large role in service, it is also comprised of women from all over the world who have been leaders in their industries, or who are now actively growing new businesses. A great place to find female mentorship and partnership. 

Gracias Costa Rica: Gracias Costa Rica is in the middle of growing and expanding services, but it is a great resource if you are unsure of where to take old clothing, leave behind travel goods, or specify donations to a non-profit without having to go through the donation process in Spanish. Their primary goal is to get your donations where you want them. Check in as this organization grows. Here is what is immediately needed.

Blood Donations: As in many other countries, there is usually a shortage of blood donations available in Costa Rica. Those that are eligible to donate, or thinking of giving for the first time have many options in the metro area. The main blood bank of La Caja is located in Zapote at the southern corner of the church. Donors can also go to any hospital to make a donation, and in outer lying areas one can usually walk into a red cross without an appointment to give.

Movie, Art, Music & Theater This Week - San Jose, Costa Rica

Something for everyday, free and almost free!


Free Screening Italian Film - Barrio Escalante, Costa Rica: Monday showcases at the Spanish Cultural Center Y LA NAVE VA directed by Federico Fellini in 1983 will begin at 7 p.m. 

Contemporary Art Museum Opening - San Jose, Costa Rica: Tuesday gives us a new art opening at MADC, Esteban Piedra León. Estudios (2002-2010). Overall exhibition is an assembly of the artist's common themes throughout his work; fundamental elements for agitation and questioning. Room I: Architecture for unuseful, non fertile bodies Room II: Defined, permanent & concave Room III: No, no one else either. This museum is located in the beautiful Old FANAL (old guaro distillary) and the site alone is worth a visit. Opening is at 7 p.m. Runs thru July 13. 


Mozart at the French Alliance - Barrio Amon, Costa Rica: Wed. will offer a free recital by members of  the University of Costa Rica's Orchestra. Performing what some call Mozart's greatest work and written for his wedding, la Gran Serenata para Vientos K361. Begins at 7:30. I recommend an early arrival as this space is an old house and it will probably overfill. Parking is a half block east of the alliance.


Afternoon Guitar Quartet at National Theater: The quartet will be performing a set of songs written in 1886, Spain on Thurs. This is an affordable opportunity to see the theater at only 1,000 colones. 5 - 6 p.m. Admission might be more for non-residents. 


Opening Glenngarry Glenn Ross - Sala Garbo: The Little Theatre Group of Costa Rica opens this Fri. with the real estate scandal show, Glenngarry Glenn Ross. A topic many can relate to in Costa Rica, this one promises to throw a few curve balls. Starts at 7:30, adult language, 4,500 colones. Reserve online. 

Videos and Horses are Today's Events in San Jose, Costa Rica

This morning you can catch the International Horse Parade. It begins in La Sabana at 11 a.m., and makes its way to Parque La Merced. My recommendation is to stand somewhere near the end and at some point make a stop into La Iglesia Merced. It was recently remodeled, of neogothical style and very unique to architecture in downtown San Jose. 


This evening at 7 p.m. you can take a look at what young central american videographers are up to at the Festival de Video Joven La 240. This festival will run all week and show the video works in the open-air theater at CENAC (old Fanal). 60 works will be shown today thru Fri. and the festival will end with an awards ceremony at El Lobo Estepario, which is a bar themed after a movie theater and one of my downtown favorites. 

April 8, Art Openings -- Great Energy in San Jose

International and Costa Rican artists were out in full force last night amongst several exhibit openings. Barrio Bird first took a look at Efraín Méndez's (Costa Rica) 'Quimera' at the French Alliance. Consisting of 8 acyrlic pieces, Mendez explores fantasy, best displayed through children's games. View until the 22nd of April. 


Second stop was to see Ralph Jarvis's (Canadian) work on display at the Sophia Wanamaker Gallery in the Costa Rica-North American Cultural Center. Jarvis's work feature a technique new to me and many others, and is any man's dream---Blow torching. Jarvis focused on nature found between Newfoundland and Costa Rica, with some Peruvian materials throughout. On display until May 3. 


Our final gallery stop was to the Jacob Karpio Gallery. The space is large and full of work from John Juric(Costa Rica) who appears to work with several media and focuses on paint, installations and murals. I really get a creepy vibe from Mr. Karpio, but he put together a great party, with great pieces from this artist. The music was outstanding and I'll be looking to see this artist's work, and the band again. And maybe overtime I'll get to know Mr. Karpio's uncreepy side. 


A great, free way to catch all of these exhibits is to come out for the next Art City Tour, Wed. April, 21. Follow GAM for details. 

English Speaking Theater in San Jose, Costa Rica

! Opening night is finally here!

In addition to running tours, I've also reconnected with the stage. I am playing Frances in 'No sex please, we're British'. It has been rewarding to work with a team and be accountable to a project bigger than any one of us.

It's a special opportunity to participate in English-speaking theater in Costa Rica of all places. There truly is a thriving arts community here, both local and expat. If you enjoy theater check these groups out for regular performances here in San Jose, Costa Rica. Hope to see you at one of my shows.

• No Sex Please We're British
• The Little Theater Group
• Compania Nacional de Teatro
• Teatro Popular Melico Salazar
• Complete theater listing

Moving forward in San Jose, Costa Rica

San Jose, Costa Rica is exciting to me. Right now in 2010 there are a number of things happening to enrich the culture and pleasantness of the city.

• Barrio Escalante Urban Plan
• More fine dining restaurants/bars such as: Bar Morazan, El Steinvorth, Arte y Gusto Cafe, Kalu, and Wok and Noodles
• Possible new regulations on noise pollution (have seen them testing decible levels, haven't read any news about what will be done with the data)

In addition, galleries are coming together on a more regular basis to bring access to the arts for free or little charge. An example of this is this Wednesday's Art City Tour.

This is just the beginning of what I believe will be a great urban revitalization over the next two years. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for regular news and event updates.

Drinking in San Jose

While Costa Rica doesn't have a variety of native brews or wines to sample, there are plenty of interesting places to imbibe the cheap drink of your choice. We have put together a dive bar tour to show you the safest hole-in-the-wall bars, right in the middle of the city. Some are the oldest bars in San Jose. It doesn't get more real than this, especially with end of evening karaoke.

Make a reservation for this $10 tour today. Barriobird@gmail.com or (506) 89269867

Safety vs. Enjoyment

One reason I started this business is to give tourists a chance to relax in San Jose, Costa Rica. There are some tough spots you need to know about in order to get around without hassle.

So, taking one of our tours allows you to be more secure and not stop at every corner to look at your map and figure out where you are (there are no addresses in Costa Rica so I promise you will have to pull out a map if you walk alone), or worse yet, end up somewhere you shouldn't be.

Give us a call or email to discuss! barriobird@gmail.com or (506) 89269867.

Who we are

This is me, Stacey, at one of the numerous sites of some amazing graffiti art we see in San Jose, Costa Rica.