 |
| Logo for Editorial Agentes Cataliticos |
The Stop 22 area in San Juan is fast becoming the "it" place to hang out, thanks to its mix of new and established businesses centered on FAB: food, art and books. The latest entry, a bookstore named Libros AC Barra & Bistro, is actually the second bookstore to open in the neighborhood which is home to the superb Museum of Art of Puerto Rico and the glass enclosed Ciudadela residential complex, one of San Juan's most exciting examples of urban architecture.
Located across the street from Ciudadela, Libros AC picks up on the transparency motif with glass windows that allow outsiders to look in and insiders to look out onto Ponce de León Avenue, one of San Juan's busies thoroughfares. The sleek, modern store is actually two places in one: a bookshop on one side and bar/bistro on the other. The side with the books features a large semi-circular shelving unit filled with an eclectic mix of books, mostly Spanish titles with a few English-language books thrown in. There are books on art, poetry, politics, fiction, non-fiction. There are books by Puerto Rican authors, dictionaries, and children's books. One children's book that might catch your attention is "El Monstruo más divertido del Caribe," by author José Rabelo (Publicaciones Gaviota). This monster story is sure to delight anyone, young or old, with its very surprising twists.
There are mystery books, including two intriguing titles: "El Ojo de Jade" (The Eye of Jade) by Chinese author Diane Wei Liang concerning a female detective's search for an antique lost during China's Cultural Revolution; and, "Critica de la Razon Criminal" by Michael Gregorio in which the two main characters, a magistrate named Hanno Stiffeniis and his mentor, the philosopher Immanuel Kant, investigate a string of murders in the town of Lotting, Poland. (Gregorio is actually the pseudonym for Michael G. Jacob and Daniela De Gregorio, two scholars who teach in Spoleto, Italy.)
There are poetry books and classics by all the usual suspects: Jorge Borges, John Le Carre, J.M. Coetzee, Truman Capote, Umberto Eco, Ken Follett, Philip Roth. Scattered around the center of the store are wheeled wood carts used to display more books; they are like book islands enticing the visitor to stop and look. And when you have had your fill of books, all you have to do is step next door to the bistro whose standout feature is a pillar all wrapped up in bold-type pages from the novel Don Quijote. The bistro space is trendy and smart, a perfect place to idle away some free time, whether alone or in good company. The menu offers salads, sandwiches and hamburgers, lunch specials, a few à la carte selections, a few desserts. Prices are moderate.
The entrepreneurial duo behind Libros AC, Ruben Ramos and Samuel
Medina, run a publishing house, by the same name. They say their aim is to create a recognized reference point for San Juan, something akin to City Lights, the famous bookstore synonymous with San Francisco.
The other neighborhood bookstore is Cronopios, located on De Diego Ave., close to the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico. This is a small bookstore with a limited book selection but pleasant and homey: there's even a sofa for people to sit down, almost as if you were in a friend's living room. Since it also doubles as a cafe, there is a small open kitchen offering coffee, refreshments and food.
If you are looking to satisfy a hungry appetite, De Diego Ave. has plenty of options to choose from, from grand dining to more casual eating. The lineup includes Mumbay, a newly opened restaurant serving Indian food; Hacienda San Pedro, for coffee and snacks; Rigoletto, for excellent pizza; and the chic Bistro de Paris, one of San Juan's finest dining places. Pricey, yet it offers affordable lunch choices starting from $15.
Last but not least, De Diego Avenue is the "yellow brick road" leading to the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico (MAPR). Based in a former hospital, this is a museum well worth a visit at any time of the week, though Wednesday afternoon is especially convenient. That's because anyone gets in free. MAPR's excellent collection spans the entire period of art making on the island, from the 16th century to the present. The best thing about the museum is that its galleries are comfortable and never too crowded for one to enjoy a work of art up close.
Libros AC
1510 Ave. Ponce de Leon
between Stops 22 and 23
787.998.5130
Hours 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Sat
Cronopios
De Diego Ave.
Museum of Art of Puerto Rico (MAPR)
299 De Diego Ave. 787.977.6277
 |
| Photography by Denise Blasor One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art. Oscar Wilde |
Tango, calligraphy, book design, digital photography and stained glass making are among the courses to be offered at The Museum of Art of Puerto Rico as part of the institution's ongoing workshop program. Taught by professionals, the courses run from Oct. 16 to Dec. 22 at a cost ranging from $100 for a digital photography class to $190 for a class in advanced painting. For those who want to tango, sign up early as enrollment is limited. Classes run from Nov. 7 to Dec. 5: Monday and Wednesday nights, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
There are courses also for the younger set ( 3 to 10 years of age). Subjects include papier maché, creative writing, painting, drawing. One class open to all children is "Talleres de duendes," a creative workshop inspired by Christmas.
Find additional information at www.mapr.org. Museum members get a $10 to $15 discount on classes.
To enroll, go to talleres@mapr.org or call 787.977.4423 or 787.977.6277 ext. 2283 or 2267.
 |
| Photography by Juliette Blasor "But if I'd ever experienced the uplift that an artist feels when he's creating, I think I'd have scorned my material environment and all that goes with it, and I'd have taken wing and soared away into the sky." The Seagull by Anton Chekhov |
The best sauerkraut on local supermarket shelves?
Gundelsheim's Barrel Sauerkraut, without a doubt. You can find it at
Supermax De Diego and it's tops, with just the right level of acidity and
assertive flavor. Gundelsheim uses only two ingredients for this product
made in Germany: cabbage and salt (a tad high at 430 mg but that's what
drives the process of fermentation!). Sauerkraut, by the way, is an
ancient food, believed to have been introduced in Europe by no less than
Genghis Khan!
Fermented foods are very healthy as they are rich in enzymes which help
with digestion and absorption. That is why they are called living foods,
because they are not cooked, thus preserving those all important enzymes!
Other fermented foods: miso, tempeh, kefir, kombucha.
© 2012 Lorraine Blasor All Rights Reserved✍
No comments:
Post a Comment