The Flower of Paradise, a plant commonly found in Panamanian gardens.

Panama will hold its first major gardening fair, "Expoflora 2006", at Atlapa Convention Center, August 12 and 13.

The event is organized by Federación de Clubes de Jardinería –a federation of 12 nationwide gardening organiza-tions, which will place hundreds of species of exotic plants and flowers on display.

Expoflora also includes a series of workshops on gardening for all ages –an excellent opportunity to learn techniques on tropical gardening. The theme of the event is "Biological Bridge of the Americas", and will include the participation of experts from Central and South America.

The fair will be open from noon to 9:00 a.m. Admittance is $3.00 per person.

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.

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.

Visitors are welcomed to a dinner dance at the Gran Salon of Hotel Veneto, on Saturday, August 19 at 7:30 p.m. The event will feature the performance of Los Beachers, a long-established tropical music group of the 1970's.

The dinner, a semi-formal event, is organized by Sociedad de Amigos del Museo Afroantillano de Panamá (SAMAAP,) the main promoter of Afro-Caribbean culture in Panama. Proceeds (tickets cost $30.00) will fund the construction of an Afro-Panamanian Cultural Center. Call: 262-1668/262-5348.

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

Wednesdays are Jazz Nights at Casa Góngora, in Panama City’s Old Quarter, featuring the music of the Carlos Ubarte Jazz Quartet, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. These weekly recitals are organized by the Municipality of Panama. Admittance is free.

Casa Góngora is one of the oldest Spanish colonial houses of the San Felipe district. Built in the 18th century, it belonged to a prominent family by the last name of Góngora. It was restored in the mid-1990’s and transformed into a museum, art gallery, and a small concert hall, with capacity for 70 spectators.

For more information, call: 212-1350.

Fashion, home improvement, beauty...all the new trends at Bello Hogar.

Almost 2,000 Panamanian and international companies specializing in home décor, construction and fashion will take part in Bello Hogar 2006, a long-awaited annual fair, scheduled August 24-28 at Atlapa Convention Center.

Held for the first time in 1990, Bello Hogar serves as the region’s most important showcase of home decoration, remodeling and haute couture trends. Visitors can expect to find everything from pins and needles to the latest in home appliances, construction tools, furniture and fishing and camping equipment.

Bello Hogar is a family affair, featuring all sorts of musical performances, games and prizes for all ages. The fair was also conceived as a marketplace for business-to-business transac-tions. A business center is available to exhibitors and visitors.

The fair is organized by Grupo de Ferias, Congresos y Eventos (GFCE.)

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.

The Ancón Theatre Guild announces auditions for its next production, A Raisin in the Sun. This play has been called one of the top 50 productions in the history of American Theater. It was the first play with an almost all-black cast ever produced in Broadway. The first production starred Sidney Poitier. The cast consists of eight black actors (3 female and 5 males) with ages ranging from mid 60's to about 12 or 13, and one white male of any age. Auditions will be held at the Ancon Theater Guild (next to the PTJ headquarters) on Monday, August 21 and Tuesday the 22nd at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, call Carlos Williams, 264-1159 or Gale Cellucci: 264-4271.

August 11th & 12th-HEALTH & WELLNESS WEEKEND: A tour of Panama City hospitals, clinics, labs. Listen to different options for health care insurance. to:

AUGUST 10/11/12 & 17/18/19 - "VIVA!" Theatre Guild of Ancon (Live English Theatre!). Viva isa hilariously satirical farce written by Andy de la Tour.. Runs August 10/11/12 & 17/18/19 at 8:00 PM

Donation: $10.00. Reservation line (message) 212-0060

MONDAY - AUGUST 14th
THE 2nd ANNIVERSARY OF THE EXPAT SOCIALS!!

EVERYONE IS INVITED! Second anniversary party at SICILIANO'S CAFE! Registration starts at 6:00pm, food, prizes, live entertainment! Bring your dancing shoes.

WEDNESDAY - AUGUST 23rd - EAST INDIAN COOKING SCHOOL
Event Host: Jamuna B. Get ready for East Indian cuisine! This session includes the lesson and healthy samplings of each menu item. These Indian recipes come from the north of India. The spices and combinations are based on a way of cooking that promotes health and stillness in the mind and body.

Sunday - AUGUST 20th - 8:00pm 'MUJERCITAS" is running 17 - 31 August, 2006 at Teatro en Círculo. "Casita de Mausi" (an extremely important volunteer run house for the less fortunate cancer patients in Panama) has taken 20 August for a benefit night at 8:00 and the donation is $20.00.
Gale Cellucci: Tel: 264-4271, Email: gcellucci@casitademausi.org

WEDNESDAYS -6:30PM - BRIDGE PLAYERS WANTED!
EVENT HOST: 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.

PACIFIC PANAMA BEACH TOUR: More information in our next issue.

Anniversary of the city

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

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 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.

Did you know...?

That the old city of Panama became the wealthiest settlement in the Americas during the 17th century, and that an obscure clergyman by the name of Hermano Gonzalo predicted the city’s destruction by pirates in 1671.

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.

One of the most important fishing events in Panama is the Yamaha Fishing Tournament, which takes place August 25-26 in the islands of Punta Coco and Contadora, in the Pearl Archipelago. With five categories, the tourney offers 75,000 in prizes.

Approximately 80 boats will participate in the event, which is a "catch-and-release" competi-tion. The first day’s event will take place around Punta Coco and the second, around Contadora. Anglers will be able to catch some of the largest species of the Pacific Ocean, such as Bill Fish, Dorado, Wahoo, Bojala, Tuna, Pargo and Sierra.

For more information, call: 270-3433

Kids and teenagers are welcome at the tournament.

Suze Weinberg, a world-renowned handicrafts expert, will be in Panama this month to offer a workshop on Friday, August 18 at Graphic Shop, located on Vía Porras. The workshop will cover innovative arts-and-crafts techniques in faux dichroic glass, faux soldering, molds and instant art transfers.

Known around the world for her books, videos and TV shows, Suze Weinberg travels extensively. She has offered courses in Australia, South Africa, England, Guam, Germany, Singapore and the entire United States.

The workshop requires prompt reservations. Call 270-1790.

The largest fair of Panama’s Caribbean coast, Feria del Mar, will take place September 9-11 on Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro.

The fair is different from all other country fairs in Panama in that it takes place when most of the country is in the rainy season (except Bocas) and due to the cultural mix of the region, which exhibits a strong, Afro-Caribbean influence, Native American traditions and a growing expat population from North America, Europe and South America.

Feria del Mar, which translates as "Fair of the Sea", offers lots of tropical dancing parties, folklore performances, water sports (Bocas is a maritime region), concerts and games.

The National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica will offer a single performance in Panama City on Monday, August 28 at the Anayansi Theater of Atlapa Convention Center. The group will share the stage with "Raíces y Cultura", a Panamanian ensemble.

Founded in 1962, the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica created its repertoire from the diverse cultural influences of the Caribbean nation. In seeking a company style, director Rex Nettleford draws on his Oxford education, his background as a choreographer of Christmas pantomimes, and his knowledge as a political analyst and cultural historian. The result is a group of works that combine theatricality and thought, enthusiasm and energy.

Tickets cost $100, $60, $40, and $25, for sale at TicketCenter. Call: 279-1010.