Disney on Ice:

The last show will be on Sunday, July 30.

"Sully", the adorable, bear-like blue-fur monster and "Mike Wazowski", his one-eyed friend, will be part of a troupe of 50 dancers in costume during the "Disney on Ice" show, which will take plce July 25-30 at Figali Convention Center, in Amador.

All of the characters of the famous Disney-Pixar box-office hit will take part in the show, which will be hosted by Mickey and Minie Mouse, accompanied by Donald Duck, and Goofey.

Narrated in Spanish, the show will feature the music of Award-winning singers Bily Crystal and John Goodman.

Ticktes cost $48.75, $38.25, $22.50, $30.90, $14.10 and $12.00. Shows are at 7:00 p.m. (Tuesday and Wednesday), 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. (Thursday and Friday), and at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. And 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The cast of Disney on Ice includes skaters from 6 nations.

“Auction of excellencies” at the Marriott

Seventy-four works of art belonging to some of Panama's most prominent families will be auctioned during Subasta de Excelencias, an annual event organized by Fundación San Felipe, a charity organization.The event will take place on Wednesday, August 16 at the Marriott Panama Hotel, at 6:00 p.m.

The collection features pieces made by Panamanian and international artists and includes paintings, sculptures and jewels.

Fundación San Felipe started this tradition 15 years ago. The main goal of the organization is to provide educational and cultural opportunities for the underprivileged residents of barrio de San Felipe, the city's colonial district.

Korean-American violinist and pianist, Jessica Lee.

Jessica Lee, a talented Korean-American violinist and pianist, will offer a concert at Atlapa Convention Center August 21 at 8:00 p.m. Hers will be the fifth recital of the regular season of the National Concert Association.

Jessica Lee took her first piano lessons at age five in Korea, but relocated to the United States at age 9 to pursue her education at the Interloche Arts Academy, in Michigan, where she graduated with honors. She also holds both a bachelors and a masters degree from the Julliard School. More recently, she received the Artists' Diploma and the Arthur Rubenstein Prize –the highest prize given by Julliard to former students.

In March of 2005, she won the International Contest of the Concert Artists Guild in New York, and only three months later, she won the Mozart Award. She also won an award for her outstanding recordings during the Bordeaux International Contest of String Quartets, in France.

Lee has offered performances at the Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, Cleveland's Severance Hall, Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid and at the Alice Tully Hall –the site of her impressive debut-- and has accompanied a number of renowned orchestas.

For tickets and more information, call the National Concert Association, 214-7236.

PROGRAM

Claude Debussy ( 1862-1918 )
Sonata
Allegro Vivo
Intermède: Fantastique et léger
Finale: Trés animé

Ludwig van Beethoven ( 1770-1827 )
Sonata No. 4 en La Menor, Op. 23
Presto
Andante scherzoso , più allegretto
Allegro Molto

I N T E R M E D I O

Arnold Schoenberg ( 1874-1951 )
Fantasía, Op. 47

Robert Schumann ( 1810-1856 )
Sonata No. 1 en La Menor, Op. 105
Mit leidenschaftlichem Ausdruck
Allegretto
Lebhaft

Athletes from Africa, the United States and Latin America have confirmed their participation in the 30th annual International Marathon of Panama City, scheduled August 6, departing at 6:00 a.m. from the Rommel Fernández Stadium.

The Marathon, which is held each year to mark the city's anniversary, is considered one of the top 26 running competitions in the world, due to its level of difficulty (90% humidity in 75-88 F weather).The oldest event of its kind in Latin America, the race offers points for the Boston Marathon.

Registration costs $50.00 ($60 after July 31). There will be water stations points every two kilometers along the route.

For more information, log on to: marathonpanama.com

Fifteen talented musicians from three continents will take part in the event.

Panama City’s National Theater is the venue chosen for the country’s Second International Piano Contest, scheduled August 20-27. The event is organized by Fundación Concursos Internacionales, headed by renowned Panamanian pianist Jaime Ingram, and the National Institute of Culture (INAC.)

Fifteen young and talented musicians from Germany, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Spain, France, Italy and China will take part in the contest, which offers prizes worth US$25,000.

The opening concert will be August 20 at 7:00 p.m., featuring pianist Leonid Kuzmin, a member of the panel of judges who will accompany Panama’s National Symphony Orchestra, directed by Jorge Ledezma.

Tickets cost $10, $15 and $20, and are for sale at the Argosy Bookstore, on Vía Argentina (tel.: 223-5344), the Allegro music shop (Calle 73, San Francisco) and at the National Theater’s box office.

English-language theater

The Ancon Theatre Guild, Panama's only English-language theater organization, this month presents the play, "Viva!", written by Andy de la Tour. Performances will be August 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, and 19.

In the delightfully tacky Hotel Intercontinental in the fictional banana republic of Puerto de Oro, a CIA-backed dictatorship is under seige by guerillas who are within five miles of the capital. Hiding out inside the hotel are an assortment of oddballs and weirdos: a corrupted archbishop; a crazed general with a leftover Miss July from a recent Playboy shoot; a schizoid hotel manager; the obligatory CIA man conniving to hold everything together, but of course to his best interest.

Donation: $10.00. The Theatre Guild's playhouse is located next to the PTJ headquarters in Ancón. For reservations, call 212-0060, e-mail: m_alcoriza@hotmail.com

The Cast: First line (left to right): Walter De León, Ron Leggiere-Director, Bernardo Ordás; second line (left to right): Varoon Anand, María Theoktisto, Eric Levy, José Cochez, Roberto Bruno, Juan de la Guardia, Viveca Pinzón, Irving Becerra.

Visitors are invited to the conference,"Vida Libre de Estrés," by Professor B.K. Sheila Chatroomal Chawla, from India, a specialist in meditation and quality of life, at the main auditorium of Universidad de Panamá (Paraninfo) on Tuesday, August 1, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Admittance is free.

Call 317-1544/6617/1484, e-mail: panama@pa.bkwsu.org

Two of the top tropical music stars of all time, "El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico" and salsa singer Gilberto Santa Rosa, will offer a grand, dance concert at Figali Convention Center on September 1.

Besides spreading the catchy, sensual rhythms of salsa around the world, Gilberto Santa Rosa and "El Gran Combo" have a lot in common. The "Gran Combo" was established in Puerto Rico in 1962 –the same year and place Santa Rosa was born. Their concert in Panama is a rare opportunity salsa enthusiasts have to see both artists performing on the same stage.

Tickets ($25.00) will soon be available at all Video Avenue stores.

Gilberto Santa Rosa.

SUNDAY, JULY 30th- Expat Drop-in and English Literature Book Exchange -
At Siciliano's starting at 4:00pm.
Event Host: Jamuna B.

MONDAY, JULY 31st - PIZZA 2 for 1
The meeting starts at 6:30pm at the Flamenco Restaurant Bar near the end of the Amador Causeway The pizza is 2 for 1 and there are lots of very interesting boating people to talk with. Two pizzas and 5 beers cost under $9! This is a non-scheduled, drop-in event, but emailed RSVP's are greatly appreciated.

WEDNESDAYS - 6:30PM - BRIDGE PLAYERS WANTED!
Event Hostess: Sheila Hawes. Sheila has offered to take on the task of organizing the Expat Bridge Night. She will be orientating those Expats who fit in any category (beginner to pro) in an effort to connect those who want to play, wish to play, or are willing to learn the game. Please send all RSVP's, and questions to Sheila via email.

UPCOMING IN AUGUST.....

HEALTH & WELLNESS WEEKEND
The activity includes a tour of Panama City hospitals, clinics, and labs. There will be lectures on different options for health care insurance. There are even a few "alternative" health ideas and activities thrown in. The cost is $15/person. Tentative dates are August 11th & 12th.

MONTHLY JUNGLE WALK
Send in your suggestion for the next nature appreciation walk!

On August 15, Panama City will turn 485 years old and the capital’s mayor’s office has organized a series of activities to mark the occasion at the Old Panama Ruins. Folklore shows, music performances, games for all ages and abundant food and drink await visitors in a week-long festival held at the grounds adjacent to the Puente del Rey bridge.

The tower of the Cathedral at Old Panama has become a national symbol.

The city of Old Panama was founded on August 15, 1519 by Spanish conquistador Pedro Arias de Avila (a.ka. Pedrarias Dávila). The site chosen for what would become one of the richest colonies of Spanish America was that of a humble Native American coastal village, the inhabitants of which called it Panama, which in an ancient language is thought to mean "abundance of fish" .

The town prospered and soon became the southern terminus of two trans-isthmian roads used to transport South American riches to Spain. Although a number of fires threatened to destroy it during its early years, the city continued to grow for over a century until 1671, the year it was attacked and sacked by English privateer, Sir Henry Morgan. A subsequent fire started by the town’s Spanish governor ended the glory days of the capital of Castilla de Oro. Two years later, the settlement was transferred to the area known today as San Felipe.

The ruins of Old Panama, especially those of its cathedral tower, are among the country’s most treasured landmarks. They are visited by thousands of tourists each year.

Visitors at the ruins during its anniversary celebrations can also take a few moments to visit the Old Panama Museum, adjacent to the ruin compound. Part of the Old Panama Visitors’ Center, the museum harbors the findings of the excavation works that have been taking place at the site since the mid-1990’s.