Downstairs, kids watch a pinguin movie at the computer lab. Normally, during their vacations they would have been roaming the streets with only mischief in their minds. Upstairs, a journalist defends freedom while downstairs freedom is created in the minds of local women who are breaking the cycle of poverty. Welcome to Santa Familia.

I don`t know why I didn`t realize this before, but a big percentage of Casco`s entrepreneurs are in their thirties or early fourties. From internet businesses to restaurants and bars, Casco Viejo isn`t "viejo" (old) at all! Which is interesting, because it means the Casco offers an opportunity to make business happen.

Culture and money, for some reason they are not always perceived as close relatives. Culture and social change seem like cousins, but somehow not necesarily people think they go to the same parties. However, it is through culture that we generate tourism and many other activities... and it so happens that as a tool for change is quite a bomb on its own. And that bomb has started to catch a bit of fire in Casco Viejo.

Looking to move to Casco Viejo but need a three bedroom for your family? here I review Casa Vidal, a three bedroom fully restored townhouse in the best of San Felipe, Casco Viejo.

The Panama Jazz Festival is an event that has transformed Panama´s dynamics in the music scene taking it to an international level. Yesterday, they announced the 2011 edition! check it out...

Panama seems to be strenghtening its ties with Italy. From art exhibits to a visit of President Berlusconi himself, Casco Viejo seems to be the place where everything happens.

The Arco Chato was shinning bright last night: it´s Santo Domingo monastery got restored and inagurated.

Mediterranean food with a Lebanese touch. I hope eventually they´ll decide more for Lebanese, as I´m a big fan. Check out Casco Antiguo´s new restaurant: Antar!

2009 was an "interesting" year for business and the market in general. How did the financial crisis affected Casco Viejo? How was 2009 in terms of Real Estate, investment, community? How is 2010 looking like?

Casco Viejo´s community went "chic" last night. Sushi and a fashion show! New restaurant coming...

DiabloRosso invistes you to the Exposition: SU VENIR: Opening Cocktail

We are hosting our official opening at Mojitos with live music and would love to have you all there.

Believe it or not, hair is an issue in Casco Viejo. But the solution is on it´s way!

Mojito´s Grill opened its doors at Plaza Herrera at one of the most authentics spots in Casco. And Diablo Rosso, the art devil of San Felipe just turned one year old!

Two new restaurants have opened in Casco Viejo, Panama: Antigua at Plaza Catedral and Aromas Café at 11th street. Another one, Venezuelan owned and operated will soft open today.

This Thursday the Chino - Panameño Trade Development Office and the Panama Canal Museum of Panama invites you to the Opening of a temporal Exposition: “Calidoscopio de China: Reflejos del estilo de vida chino moderno” ...

Mayal´s makes its debut at A Avenue and 8th Street

Next Wednesday 26 og August Diablo Rosso will have a Opening Cocktail with the exposition of Maria Raquel Cochez " The Trouble with Food" until September 26...

Efervescencia is a word in Spanish for "bubbling". This word could very well define 2009 Casco Antiguo as businesses continue to open doors. Check out Casco´s new kid on the block...

This Friday 7th at Diablo Rosso, they will have an Opening cocktail for the exhibition "Cadaver Exquisito" until August 15th 2009.

Today at 8 p.m. Manolo Caracol will be open the doors to let the people know their new store...

Coming next week Diablo Rosso located at Ave. A in 7th Street will have a Opening Cocktail.

Great news at today´s La Prensa: the Panama Canal Authority will be opening envelopes tomorrow and evaluating the proposals on the bidding for the Panama Canal Expansion. Who is bidding?

Frit Arts is opening at Central Avenue and 4th street to restore the good name of fried cuisine!

Starting this June 4th you will value an exhibition of art and poetry created by Marta Sanchez and his friends.

Developing in Casco Viejo is both a science and an art. Experience and common sense have to blend with the historic restrictions and be sensitive to the environment. It is a complex process that we only recommend to people who have the correct skills and team behind them, and that will be on the ground full time for at least three years. While most of our clients might feel this is too much, every year I see examples of what can happen if something goes wrong. Yesterday, we witnessed a very sad example of lack of planning and the most basic common sense, which led to the partial destruction of one of Casco Antiguo´s most valuable icons.

"Raindrops are falling on my head".... but it doesn´t stop the carnival! Panama is entering into the rainny season, hated by many but highly appreciated by all nature lovers. Check out the event calendar for the month: art, music, theatre and ecological trips at Casco Antiguo´s nearby jungles and beyond!

Very good "baby blue salad" (salad with pears, blue cheese, raisins and nuts) and friendly ambiance. A place where you can choose to "grab n´run" or to stay and relax.

To spark change through dance. To transform children into creative forces... Casco Viejo has started a pioneer program that will change from inside out.

I keep updating this, but businesses are opening very fast. More to come soon in Cuatro Casas!

Last night, the Casco Antiguo community came together to celebrate the opening of Galeria Vida and Entre Pulgas. They took the opportunity to close up Calle 3era (behind Hotel Central) and have a neighborhood party with food and drinks for everyone. It was Christmas spirit all over, as right on the corner, Casa Gongora had the choir concert, singing traditional and Panamanian Christmas Carrols

Last night was the opening night of Panama´s National Ballet performance of La Bayadere (known also as Bayaderka), the famous ballet from Marius Petipa where Prince Solor marries Princess Gamzatti, although he is really in love (and had sworn loyalty) to Nikiya, the temple dancer. Alexa Gutierrez, from Panama, danced on Nikiya´s roll, one of my favorite I´ve seen from her so far.

So the countdown for Quantum of Solace has begun! Everyone in Casco Viejo is bitting nails... when! when!!!!! we certainly want to see Daniel Craig, but more importantly... we want to see ourselves!!!!

KLM and Air France flights to Panama keep increasing. In a world where most air companies are actually doing the opposite, this is highly unusual. Learn why!

A new client recently asked me “Is Casco Viejo gay friendly?” For a moment I had to think about the question. You see, growing up as a ballet dancer I never even gave a thought to it.

While everybody is excited today about Beijing´s dramatic opening for the Olimpics (which, by the way, where simply amazing! wao), another bright sun shined this morning over the newspaper as they announced

A new business has opened in Casco Antiguo! It is called "Indigo", an oriental-mediterranean fusion restaurant ...

For the last two years, La Casona de las Brujas has been the center of the Panamanian bohemian scene. The space located at the old Maria Imaculada School near Plaza Herrera served as art gallery, concert hall, disco, art school for local children and just the favorite afterhours neighborhood hang out.

Panama will have a Renaissance Hotel (by Marriott) by 2011. This announcement was made by Edward Fuller, president and executive director for Marriott International in the region, who mentioned this would be an investment of about 40 million dollars. "Panama´s economics are strong and the hotel industry is in constant growth". Renaissance Panama Hotel is expected to have

Ah! La Bella Roma! From the cradle of Western civilization to a huge melting pot, for those who have visited or lived in Rome it blows your mind away and steals a piece of your heart. But if you actually want to own a piece of Rome, you’d better be prepared to give also your kidney away (the good one), an eye and seriously consider adding up one of your lungs to sweeten the deal. Wao. The incredible thing isn’t that prices are astronomically high; it is that at over $20,000 US dollars per mt2 or $2,000 per ft2 people are still buying.

Often your best memories of places where you have been are actually from people you have met. In Casco Antiguo we are lucky to still have with us "antique" residents that are very much part of the different textures of this neighborhood. Miss Daisy is one of them...

There are advantages to living in Casco Viejo when a major event is being held there...

This might be Friday the Thirteenth, but it not to worry, there is far too much excitement in Casco Viejo...

Last night I went to the opening of the show "15000 Watts" at La Casona de Brujas in Plaza Herrera. The show is a meditation on the current energy crisis, in Panama, in the world, and how it touches all of us at different levels. From the everyday experiences to the hydro plant. The most important part of it all was not so much how electricity has changed our lifestyle to make it more comfortable and allows us to think at a higher level (or not think..) but a question o whether we are able to leave this comfort zone and take action, join efforts and help solve this crisis.

For me, Santa Ana is a great place, full of life. Shops opening to the street, people everywhere, vegetable markets on the sidewalks and the great park full of people doing nothing or discussing politics, which is pretty much the same. I just came back from shopping and took these pictures. Enjoy!

Where to eat, where to stay and what to do in Casco Viejo, Panama. Restaurants, bars, theatres and more

Panama is investing more than $4 million dollars on airport infrastructure all around the country. At the same time, new carriers are adding up and current ones are increasing routes and flights. France is now only 10 hours away, KLM will start direct flights into Amsterdams hub in February.

Panama Art: " San Felipe es un espejo perfecto de Panamá. Todas las contradicciones que enriquecen y aniquilan las raíces de un país, en este barrio se transfiguran en historias increíbles. Como la del Castillo Greyskull. Un edificio que atravesó, sintiéndolo en sus paredes, la historia política y social que nos trajo hasta aquí.

Dance Festival in Casco Antiguo from December 12th to the 16th. The Casco continues to celebrate it´s 10th anniversary as World Heritage Site with all sorts of activities, from sculpture show to vertical performance. Check out the schedule and where to get more info...

One of the things I enjoy the most of living here is the fact that "going out" is as easy as walking to my favorite restaurant or bar. Somehow I realized there is no guide with all the contacts of Restaurants, Bars and other businesses in the Casco, so here it goes!

Finally, Hotel Central at the heart of Casco Antiguo has started restoration. The site looks like a war zone right now, but just like plastic surgery, it always looks bad before looking really good. Hotels are the key to Casco Antiguo. They create a center of gravity that the neighborhood needs in order to develop commercial life and reinforce value. Now imagine this: not only one but four sites are about to develop within the next 5 years. Can´t think of a better place or time to invest or live in the Casco!

For such a small country, Panama is suddenly surrounded by heavy players. On one hand, the Panama Canal expansion project will cost over $5 billion dollars, and on the other hand, big guys such as Hewlett - Packard, Caterpillar, the Swiss Sanofi- Aventis, Procter & Gamble and Sinope from China have either expressed their interest of moving headquarters here or are actually doing so. But where does Casco Viejo fit in all this?

For many, the Casco is love at first sight. Everyone has his or her own first memory, or a turning point where they decided to live, work or invest here… Don’t be shy! Take a moment and post your story! For me, early memories of the Casco are profoundly linked with my family and my childhood. I hope you enjoy the opening of this blog! Patrizia