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.

Hope & Metamorphosis in San Jose, Costa Rica

Two art installations currently on display in downtown San Jose, Costa Rica explore the ideas of hope, it's virtues and shortfalls, and showcase an artist's journey in textiles. Both invoke thoughtful conversations and inspiration to explore our own surroundings as art. 

+/- Esperanza (+/- Hope) is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MADC). 28 artists from Central America and the Carribean explore ideas of Hope. Surprisingly, some of these pieces looked at hope from an anxious or deathly perspective. I think these add a level of depth to the entire exhibition. 

My personal favorite is the first photo below. Outside of the Jade Museum, It quotes a very famous Costa Rican writer and poet, Isaac Felipe Azofeifa Bolaño, of which translates to, "Yes, child. The stars have parted, but it never becomes more dark than just before dawn." I find the quote especially appropriate with the image because I've watched this moment many times now with the homeless scattered throughout San Jose. And as an outsider, it's a very dark moment where all you can feel is hope that everyone with less, could have more. 

The National Museum is currently housing a garden of variety and beauty in it's once eery prison chambers. Metamorphosis. A New Cycle is an exhibit of textile art that transforms many fabrics, paper plates, coke tabs and more into displays that take the imagination for a spin. Costa Rican artist, Sylvia Piza-Tandlich, has worked with her community based artists to create these individual pieces that are strung together with threads and links to showcase some extremely impressive handmade pieces. The last photo shows the latrine that has parts of the ceiling from the old Municipal Theater. 

Textile over old Kimono

A Garden

White

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.

Most Original Theater Show of the Year-- THIS WEEKEND ONLY

The English speaking, Little Theatre Group of Costa Rica is presenting a one-weekend only show.

LTG asked theater members to write original monologues on the topic of love. The response was extremely varied, and this opportunity is one of a lifetime to see authors performing their own pieces on such a personal topic.The show features everything from a scary, yet impressionable great mastif, to Russian lessons, to the absurdities in life.

I will disclose that I am both a co-director and an actor in this special performance. Showtimes are Fri. & Sat. at 7:30 and Sun. at 2:30. Reservations and more info here.

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