New & Only Yoga Center in Downtown San Jose Now Open

Downtown Yoga is San Jose's newest cultural attraction. Treat yourself or a loved one during the holidays with a healthy, relaxing gift and enjoy special holiday pricing througth the end of the year. 


Offering yoga, massage and art all in one place in historic downtown Barrio Amon, San Jose, Downtown Yoga specials include: 

• $5 yoga classes (saves $5)
• 6 month membership for price of 5 ($150, save $30)
• 12 month membership for price of 10 ($300, save $60)

Downtown Yoga services can be packaged with our tours. Packages include: 


A Day in San Jose - $65, 1 yoga class, 1 hour massage, 2 hour city tour and lunch. 
Package #1 - $60, 2 hour city tour with massage and choice of lunch or yoga class
Package #2 - $50, 1 hour massage and 2 hour city tour 
Package #3 - $45 1 hour massage and yoga class


Massages Services: Basic 1 hour massages start at $40 and include Therapeutic, Aromatherapy and Relaxation. Full information here: http://barriobird.blogspot.com/p/yoga-massage-art.html.


Location: 150 meters north of Parque Morazan. Building #735, 3rd floor. Calle 7 between Ave. 5 & 7, DowntownyogaCR@gmail.com, (506) 8926-9867.

Our Building, Signs to come so don't pass us!

The studio and garden.

Mystery Building to Reopen in Barrio Amon

Across from Barrio Bird headquarters sits an architectural mystery for many who pass by. Onlookers everyday stop to peer at the strange outside, wondering what possibly could have existed on the inside. We ourselves have tried to figure out the story behind the building and today we have answer-- and more, we know there is a new future in store.

This home is about 50 years old, and belonged to a Costa Rican woman who studied but did not complete architecture studies in France. She returned and built this ecclectic home. It's last public foray was as a design exhibition. Multiple artists created different environments in each room, making this already labyrinth even more crazy as you wonder from room to room. After sitting empty for years, some of the design elements are still surreally intact.

The building has just been bought by Belgiums and future plans are undisclosed but a hotel is a likely option with restaurant possibilities. This building's renovation will absolutely be an additional cultural anchor in the ever revitalizing Barrio Amon, San Jose.

Take a look inside!

Entire room was purple and silver.

Note all of the curving walls in this room. 

Remnants of design show

Wood beams with red and white walls

Purple wall with giant mirror. This is like stepping into an amusement park.

More of purple wall.

Different room, all black with mirrors on the walls

And mirrors on the ceiling

This room seems like something out of Barcelona.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona???

Aztec 'ish', this house is so crazy!

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.

2011 Festival Announcements Made as Holiday Festivities Close 2010

Without a doubt, San Jose is the place to be in Costa Rica during the summer if you want to get a taste of culture and enjoy festivals. This December, while chillier than most is still full of holiday festivities to enjoy as we launch into full summer in January. A list of remaining December activities is below, as well as dates to mark on your calendars for the rest of summer. 

Lights of Christmas Fair: Come and browse artisan crafts, art and jewelry as you finish holiday gift shopping. Next to the National Theater, Dec. 14 - 19. One of our favorites AHM will be there!

Holiday Jazz Vocals, Maria Pretiz: Snuggle up with your loved ones this Fri. at one of San Jose's newest restaurants Roma Caffe. Every Fri. they offer live music, and this week is a special guest and Costa Rican composer and vocalist Maria Pretiz. No cover, 8 p.m. 


Our Land Festival: As an effort to clean up Costa Rica, this festival will be a marathon recycling event and drop center for paper, plastics, glass, batteries, cardboard and cans. After you lighten your load of recyclables get down to live music all day long. La Sabana Park, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free.

National Bands Holiday Concerts: The bands of the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) will give 4 concerts this weekend at the Plaza de Democracia next to the National Museum. Celebrating 165 years of the forming of the national bands, over 200 musicians will perform Christmas pieces, Costa Rican pieces and a variety of other classics. Additionally the Christmas lottery winner will be announced during the last concert on Sunday. Starts at 4 on Sat. 3 on Sunday. 

Speed Dating: Still looking for a loved one to snuggle with over the holidays? Come to Caracas Arepia Wed. Dec. 22 to meet other professional singles. (Hate that I have to say this, but this is not a prostitution meet up, only those not wanting to buy love please). Special request to single ladies: DON'T BE SHY, come out!

Christmas Tope: If you haven't yet seen a tope, a horse dancing festival, The day after Christmas is a good day to do so. Starts around 12 on the 26th, Paseo Colon. Warning, this is really an excuse to get drunk in the street and ride a horse, not necessarily a good combination. Be safe!

Bullfights: I don't even want to spoil this for anyone. Let's just say Costa Rica has it's own special version of bullfights where humans are injured, not bulls. These fights are all day starting Christmas Day for about 10 days at Ampo Ferial en Zapote.

CENAC Summer Festival: The Cenac summer festival series is free and will feature concerts and art shows  for all ages to give exposure to Costa Rican artists the weekends of March 4,5, and 6 and 11, 12, 13. 

TransitArte: This festival will partner with CENAC the weekend of March 11, 12, and 13 to bring art to the parks and public spaces of the North East parts of downtown San Jose in an effort to bring people back into the city center. 

International Design Festival: Artists from around the world representing graphic, interior, fashion and art design will gather to host workshops, fairs, exhibitions and parties to display and discuss the lastest in all things design. Save the dates for March 10, 11 and 12. More info at FID. 

National Theater: The theater has announced it's 2011 calendar. For those of you that missed Lila Downs this past winter, you'll have another chance. Full PDF here. 

Christmas Lights, San Jose Costa Rica

Public Art, TranistArte 2010

Sonambulo TransiteArte 2010

Full Week of Culture in San Jose, Costa Rica

Summer is almost here with the ending of the rain, and a full calendar of events this week is a great reason to get outside! The weather has also been great for a San Jose, Costa Rica walking tour for travelers and residents alike!

Art City Tour

The art city tour is back this Wed. For those of you unfamiliar with the project, a number of galleries and museums downtown open their doors for free to the public. Buses are available for safe transit in between, as well as new tours on bike with ChepeCletas and walking tours with U4. The French Alliance will host a mini-fashion show, Shadows of the Moon, featuring a collection by designer and Belgium french teacher, Magaly Timmerman. 6 - 8 p.m.

Why is Carmen Lyra on the New 20,000 Colones Note

Visit the auditorium this Thurs. at the Central Bank Museum for a talk about beloved Costa Rican children's author, Carmen Lyra. 90 years after the publication of the famous Cuentos de mi Tía Panchita you can hear about the significance of these works in Central America's children's literacy. In Spanish, 6 p.m.

Live Hammock Making from 6-pack Plastics Rings

This Sat. bring your 6-pack plastics the organic farmer's market in Barrio Aranjuez downtown. There will be two hammocks on display and the artist, Francesco Bracco, will be showing us how to make them. In addition you can do your weekly produce shopping as well as share in the many artists organic products. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Go early if you want best pick of produce. 

Christmas Celebration & Shopping

CENAC will host a Christmas festival with typical Costa Rican food, artisan crafts and live concerts from national bands including Sonámbulo, Gaviota, Enjuague vocal, De voz a vos, Libélula y Lubín Barahona.

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.

What's New to See in San Jose After the Rain

While the rainy season reached it's height, workers still pushed forward on rehabbing some more downtown architectural delights. In addition another public mural was redone after having been marred with graffitti and political posters. Enjoy the photos.

Mom & Child Mural. Often women are depicted with child at breast here in Costa Rica. 

And the men get to work........

A favorite of many, this house previously had beautiful vines growing all over. Not sure what the future is.

The Center for Costa Rican Film is located here, going from grey to pink. Not sure why the color change, think the only justification is to restore back to it's original color.

A delightful change to this old hotel that was worsening in appearance.  Hoping there will be new hotel use on top floor. Bottom is full of shops.

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.

Tico Videos

Costa Ricans are using video just like everyone else around the globe to be creative, funny and poke fun at their politicians. Here's a sample to start the day.

If the miners had been trapped in Costa Rica:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKB0ef7XOpo

Poor visitors to Costa Rica, so much slang!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf76qGmVZw8

Costa Rica Promotional Video with Legos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQLTi3eGz0U

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.

Felo Garcia: Top Costa Rican Artist on Display, One of My Favorites

This Wednesday is the opening of an exhibit of works by one of Costa Rica's most famous artists, Felo Garcia. Celebrating his career, this special showing at the Bank Museum's temporary exhibit hall, showcases recent works including, 'The Corners of Here and There' and 'Files', Oct. 20 - Nov. 28.

Garcia's story is one of adventure. With some background in architecture, he played soccer in Cuba where he met Manuel de la Cruz and began to take an interest in painting. Continuing onward to play soccer in Columbia he became fascinated with las favelas and began painting with more frequency. He continued formal training in painting in London and held a career as Director of Arquitecture at the University of Costa Rica.

For me, Garcia captures some of the more impoverished scenes we often see in Latin America, pulling out the quaint, quiet beauty of these urban architectural landscapes. This exhibit will be a must see if you are in town, showing many of these scenes, as well as more recent abstract work in black and white with lines.

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.

New Lights Shine on the Cultural Plaza

In the heart of downtown San Jose, Costa Rica, construction that began about 4 months ago is completed at the Cultural Plaza (Plaza de la Cultura) next to the National Theater. As we reported earlier, 34 lamp posts were removed and 11 new posts installed. These posts are taller producing more light while using less energy. These new lights bring better safety to the area for those passing through at night.

Additional construction happening in the area includes new benches and sitting areas, as well as handicap access to the Gold and Money museums below the National Theater. Also, the National Theater is getting a new copper roof which should be completed sometime in December. These changes are all positive and continue to move San Jose forward as a safer, and modern cultural center.

Photo provided by Los Museos del Banco Central

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.

Why Take a Walking Tour of San Jose, Costa Rica

San Jose, Costa Rica is a stop-over for many tourists usually flying in or out of Costa Rica. And while visitors are usually most excited about the beaches and jungles of Costa Rica, they should be excited about a day of urban fun as well, and a walking tour is a great option.

Guide books do a terrible job of reviewing this city. It's not a cultural mecca like London or NYC, but it is a cultural center with many sites to see and activities to do. And the best part is you gain insight into the people and cultural ideals that built the country and persist throughout. San Jose, therefore can answer many questions you'll have along the way as you enjoy your exotic vacation.

I'm biased being the owner of Barrio Bird Walking Tours, but it is my goal to connect tourists and expats to the beauty that is in San Jose. And I want it to be affordable to all. That's why our tours start at $10. If you take a walking tour these are the advantages:

• Do not have to worry about your safety or getting lost (there are no street addresses)
• Tours are a max of 8 so you will have an intimate group, be able to hear and ask questions
• Get advice on how to spend the rest of your day
• 10% discount on lunch at some of the best restaurants downtown 
• Contribute to the revitalization of Central America's cultural hub, San Jose

So, if anything, get out of your hotel or hostel and take a knowledgeable walk around San Jose. If you live here, stop avoiding the city and learn where all the attractions are at. Can't wait to meet you!

Stacey
Owner
Barrio Bird Walking Tours
RSVP: call 8926-9867 or email BarrioBird@gmail.com

French Alliance Offers Collection of Activities for Oct.

The French Alliance is a special gem in Barrio Amon, San Jose, and always open to tourists. Set in an old victorian style home, the alliance strives to connect Costa Ricans and visitors to the best of french culture, and also inclusion of work by Costa Rican artists. Here's a sample of what is going on this month:

Compañía: Eduardo Mata
A series of 15 oil paintings, this collection takes a look at people. From the artist, "Who are they to me? Who are they to themselves? Who am I to them? and Who am I to myself?" This is on display until Wed. Oct. 13.

Das weisse Band: La Cinta Blanca
A French/German film telling the story of strange events for a group of children in the months prior to WWI. Showing is free at the French Alliance on Fri. Oct. 8th at 6:00 p.m. Will be shown in French with Spanish subtitles.

European Film Festival
Running the 25th of Oct. to the 31st, 6 European films will be shown at Cine Magaly. If you have not been inside this theater, it's a must, as it's beautiful with some art deco architectural influence. Entrance is free, times are not yet available.

Baroque Musical Performance: Grupo de Música Antigua UNA
It is unclear if this will be a choral or orchestra performance. Either way it's free! 7:30, Oct. 28th

Eduardo Mata

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.

Downtown Historic Hostels Add Culture to Stay in San Jose, Costa Rica

Two hostels have finally risen above the traditional hostel experience in San Jose, amplifying a tourist's experience before and after taking one of our cultural tours. We happily endorse a stay at both, each providing it's unique vibe and distinct advantages for travelers.

Hostel Casa del Parque - Best Savings in Low Season, Heart of Downtown

Hostel Casa del Parque should be your first hostel choice if you want to stay in the heart of the city in a safe place. It is located across from the National Park, providing green views, and is steps away from the Contemporary Art Museum, Congressional District, numerous other parks and historic barrios amon, otoya and escalante. 

The hostel is in one of the last mansions to be built, 1936, from a family working in coffee production. Renovated to accomodate both the individual traveler and groups, this is an affordable location, that eliminates the hassles of driving or using public transporation in the city. A bar has recently been opened, and a cafe is on the way. This location is also across the street from the future visitor center & police substation. 

Aldea Hostel - Best Location to Airport and Pacific Buses, Artist Hub
Aldea Hostel has opened with a unique hostel concept for San Jose. Set in a victorian style mansion over 80 years old, the hostel has been remodeled for those that want to visually enjoy their surroundings. Old chandeliers hang, lighting large exotic paintings admist zebra striped stairways. As the hostel continues developing it hopes to host music, readings and more cultural events in it's beautiful back patio space. 

This hostel should be a top pick for those travelers arriving late or leaving early to the airport or Pacific Coast destinations. 

We're excited to see both destinations continue to grow and diversify the services they bring to tourists, backpackers and the local community. Buena Suerte!

Private Room at Hostel Casa del Parque

Kitchen Aldea Hostel

Lobby Aldea Hostel

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.

Pretty Things to See & Hear, Despite the Rain in San Jose, Costa Rica

A guitar festival and art openings will entertain this week. Good reasons for expats and tourists to get out despite the rain.

International Guitar Festival
The 17th International Guitar Festival will bring 23 guitarists from 8 different countries and Costa Rica to the stage at the National Theater, Sept. 29 - Oct. 3. Grammy winning guitarist, Andrew York, will perform Saturday night. All detailed guitar festival info is on the website.

Art Opening at Museum of Contemporary Art & Design
Mudar el Piel: Karla Solano will open Thursday night at 7 p.m. The exhibition will take a look at the body, as a whole and individual parts. While this isn't a unique topic for artistic review, I hope we'll see some thought provoking pieces and not an overuse of nudity for shocking effect.

Opening at Des Pacio
Juegos Textuales: Miguel Imbach also opens Thurday night just down the street from MADC at 7:30. A video and then text will be read. This will all be in Spanish, but a good chance to see what some local artists are up to in San Jose.

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.

Gay Rights vs. Gay Acceptance in Costa Rica & Why Social Media Matters

Last week presented a flurry of international news about what probably seemed like a minor incident to a local business owner in San Pedro. 


Published last Wed. by  Natalia Solorzano on her facebook page, her personal account of 'homophobia' in the restaurant La Buca swept virally across the Costa Rican social media network. Within hours the FaceBook Group, People Against La Buca was created and had hundreds of fans, and to date has over 1,200. Within a day, international news wires had picked up the story bringing Costa Rica's cultural tolerance of gays or lack thereof into global spotlight. Such articles here, Vanguardia, Carapicha (Costa Rica blog),and Generracion.com. 


What was a supposed hug and kiss between two males, led the manager to ask a waiter to inform the couple this public display of affection was inappropriate. The couple's entire group decided to leave and then, bothered, asked to speak to the manager. The manager refused to come talk directly to the couple, dismissing them saying he was in a meeting, at 9 at night. The group, frequent visitors to La Buca, and frequent witnesses to the same unreprimanded heterosexual behavior at the location, felt it was an obvious display of discrimination. 


Anti La Bucca supporters, also formed a campaign against Caffe Roma, believing they had the same owner. Due to the instantaneous rebellion against La Bucca, Caffe Roma was prompted to respond online with this response.


Initial response from La Buca was rather nonexistent, I think they were incorrectly overconfident in this not being a big deal. But after two days they met with the leader of the Movement for Diversity, trying to establish that this was not an act of discrimination, but a an act of policy of which all patrons are held to. 


Leader, Abelardo Araya seemed satisfied with La Buca's response, but these events bring about a few items of note; the new power of social media that has arrived in Costa Rica and the need for businesses here to be active and aware of what is being said about them amongst online communities, the notion of Costa Ricans accepting gays vs. actually accepting them, and how that battle will play out as Costa Rica moves forward with legally accepting gays by granting civil union rights to gays. 


The overall online response to the situation speaks to the strength of voice Costa Ricans can give to the battles for the cultural and legal acceptance of gays in Costa Rica. 

Glam, Glitz and Community This Friday

There’s nothing like the glitter and excitement of opening night and it’s going to be even more colorful this Friday at the opening of The Birdcage with a fabulous gala and silent auction following on at the nearby Hotel Ambassador (Paseo Colon, Calle 26/28). 

This wonderful extravaganza has been adapted for the LTG stage by Andrew Gardener, and is a charming blend of The Birdcage and La Cage Aux Folles. Musical numbers have been added iterspersed with the story to give a well rounded tale of two Jewish, middle aged gay men who run a night club in South Beach, Florida. Their son, the product of one night of romance with a straight woman, wants to marry the daughter of a moral and upstanding Senator. Fun and laughs ensue when the couple must play it straight to impress the daughter's parents. 

The Gala after the first performance of the Little Theatre Group comedy, The Birdcage, will benefit Open Arms Costa Rica, a non-profit charity serving the children of Costa Rica. Tickets are ¢8,000 which includes beer, wine and goodies.  

The Birdcage opens at the Laurence Olivier Theatre, Av. 2, Ca. 28. The Gala starts right after the show just one block away at 10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 17. For info and reservations, call 8858-1446 or visit www.littletheatregroup.net <http://www.littletheatregroup.net/>  

Rehearsals of this show were fantastic, and the sets and costumes are stunning, can't wait to see the final product!

Japan meets Costa Rica in a Flurry of Art

Music, dancing and art were wound together, and topped with latin and asian eye candy last night at the opening of  'Zentica'.The Costa Rica Musuem of Art brought the two cultures of Japon and Costa Rica into the same space at Casa del Cuño, at the newly remodeled, La Aduana.


40 pieces, 20 Costa Rican and 20 Japanese, include sculptures, jewelry, paintings, videos and more. It is very interesting to see the differences between the artwork of the two nations. Overall, the Costa Rican pieces seem to work more with pastel colors, blending images, and taboo topics. The Japanese pieces were simple, yet bold, using solid colors, and almost alway integrating or dipicting natural elements such as birds, flowers,  wood, etc. It's all worth checking out yourself. 


Guests were entertained by a number of live art performances. Artist Kazunobu Yanagi, painted while a band played an electric rock/meditation type of chant. Later, 4 women performed live dance as they simultaneously did larger than life oragami folding. 

Costa Rican artist, Fabio Herrara shows us his 'office'. I think this is a great dipiction of San Jose.

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.

Inside a Secret Mansion in Downtown San Jose

It's impossible to walk by this architectural marvel, crumbling right before your eyes, and not want to know it's story, to rescue it, to see it live again. This beautiful and mysterious building is Casa Jiménez. Built in 1905 it was designed by it's original owner, lawyer and diplomat Manuel Francisco Jiménez Ortiz. It is one of the only remaining Art Nouveau style buildings in the city, and it's a feature on our walking tours. 


The building is currently under disputed ownership, or rather it's stuck in court. It is on the Ministry of Culture's protected Heritage list and therefore its architectural integrity must be maintained in remodeling, but at this point, it simply needs to be saved.


Barrio Bird did have the chance to sneak inside and snap some photos. Here is a look inside the torn apart building, as well as a photo of it's original glory. 

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.