Drivers beware: The Water and Sewerage Department (AyA, its initials in Spanish) just started replacing potable water pipes in downtown San José. That means ripped up roads, and probably a bit of mayhem as traffic gets rerouted on the narrow and traffic-choked streets. It also will mean better quality water and an improved drinking water system. The city-wide infrastructure project is fairly ma...

After several weeks of relative inactivity, Cartago's Turrialba Volcano started puffing out ash again starting a few days ago, reported the National University's Seismology and Volcanology Observatory (Ovsicori-UNA). Over the past several weeks, the volcano has been emitting vapor and gas, but very little ash, in what has become a fairly regular pattern for the Turrialbla - periods of calm punc...

You don't have to travel far this Saturday to experience cultures, food and celebrations from around the world. Tucked away right near downtown Santa Ana on the verdant campus of United World College Costa Rica or Colegio del Mundo Unido Costa Rica, the annual UWC Festival will have something for everyone to enjoy. From guitar and funk music, to food for sale, dances from all over the world,...

The Costa Rican comptroller’s office gave the green light last week to begin to adjudicate the remaining road widening works due to take place over the next two years along the stretch between San Antonio de Belén and Santa Ana (Route 147) to the west of San José, said the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. The expansion of the bridge along that highway will begin in April, and the larger ...

As we grow older it is safe to say that our preferences and taste changes, we are more aware of what we enjoy and we are spending our own money so we become more demanding, the crowded bar with very loud music, people spilling drinks and picking fights might no longer sound like fun; instead a nice bar with a good service and a good selection of food and drinks may be our preferred choice. The ...

This morning at 5:20 a.m. police responded to a report of a man being shot in Sabana Sur, a residential neighborhood on the southern side of San José's La Sabana Metropolitan Park. The man, identified as Michael Chain Caspi (48) and of Israeli nationality, was here on one of his occasional visits to the country, said Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) in a press conference this morning. Acc...

Costa Rica’s Short Film Festival invites local producers to submit their works from now until Saturday, March 25. Costa Rican nationals and residents alike are invited to submit their short films to the event which is quickly growing in popularity. The festival’s second edition will hold screenings from June 23-25 at the Costa Rican Journalists Association office across from Parque La Sabana an...

Cities of the Future: Emerging Market Champions, a global research carried out by Euromonitor International placed the city of San José, the capital of Costa Rica among the 17 most developed cities in emerging markets alongside their business opportunities and challenges. The report was released this month and was carried out in August 2016; top emerging cities are located in underdeveloped reg...

Traffic look bad, too hot to go out, or want to order in for a company meeting? Eateries and grocery stores are beating traffic to reach more people in their homes and offices with expanded express delivery services, reported the companies this week. Quiznos, with 31 outlets in Costa Rica, and Teriyaki, with seven, recently implemented express delivery in the areas surrounding Lindora near S...

The last Sunday of each month, starting at 11 a.m., the National Museum in downtown San José fills with music that captivates crowds of up to 300 people. This is the 10th year that the San José Concert Band will offer concerts on the last Sunday of each month. Seating is limited, and you must arrive early to reserve a seat. Locals enter free (with id) and foreign visitors must pay the museum ad...

This week, the U.S. company DineEquity announced plans to open at least 10 International House of Pancakes (IHOP) brand restaurants in Costa Rica as part of its growth plan in Latin America, said Costa Rica’s business daily El Financiero. The brand’s international growth has mainly focused on increasing the number of restaurants in existing markets and, at the same time, entering three new mark...

The best Costa Rica has to offer is probably not in San José, instead it’s the coasts and the different natural attractions what most want to see; yet, some tourists choose to stay in San José for a few days to get familiar with the capital city and the urban lifestyle, others come in for business and they need a good lodging option. There are many hotels in San José, it is important to conside...

Costa Rica now has its first national policy on wastewater sanitation and a funding plan that includes $520 million in infrastructure to provide long-awaited, significant improvements to the country’s public and environmental health. This policy is the result of priorities established in the National Development Plan (PND) created under the current administration. These include strengthening in...

Who doesn’t love a delicious brunch? Although many families enjoy going out for brunch during the weekend, there is never a bad day for brunch, actually it has become quite popular for business meetings, since it keeps a more “informal” affair. Many people in Costa Rica choose to go to Denny’s for brunch… Denny’s? Sure food is good, but considering we are in Costa Rica, there are many alternati...

The National Symphonic Orchestra hosts virtuoso American violinist Philippe Quint as guest soloist this Friday, March 3, and again on Sunday, March 5, in the first 2017 Season concert at the National Theater, said the orchestra. The OSN returns to San José's glorious rennaissance theater under the baton of Conductor Carl St. Clair, who has led the group since 2014. Philippe Quint, who has wo...

If you love horses, but topes, the traditional Costa Rican horse parades, aren't your thing, you might enjoy the Spanish purebred horse fair starting Thursday, March 2 and lasting through the weekend. The event is free and open to the public, and will run daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m (see program here). It will feature equestrian exhibitions, special theme nights, children's entertainment...

Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, has announced the completion of its combination with Costa Rica-based Muñoz Global, making it the first global law firm to have a footprint across Central America. The combined firm will be known as Dentons Muñoz. The combination follows the launch of Dentons López Velarde in Mexico and Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas in Colombia last year. It marks the next...

Costa Rica is slowly digging its way out of decades of delays in infrastructure improvements, one of the main priorities of the current Solís administration. Along these lines, much needed improvements to another Virilla River bridge, this one on the heavily transited highway connecting Belén to Santa Ana, will begin at the end of March, and last an expected 13 months. Ministry of Public Wor...

The third edition of the event Dîner en Blanc, Costa Rica will take place Saturday, March 18, the location of course still remainssecret and will be disclosed to the attending audience as the date approaches. The traditional Dîner en Blanc was started by François Pasquier in 1988 in Paris, and since then has spread through different cities all around the globe; Amsterdam, Barcelona, Milan, Toky...

By Wendy Anders The Second Judicial Circuit prosecutor’s office in San José, Costa Rica detained a man yesterday, suspected of recruiting women, promising them jobs as models, and then sexually abusing them. According to the Public Security Ministry, the suspect, a man by the last names of Porras Rodezma (21), was arrested Monday afternoon in a house in Desamparados, where he apparently invi...

On Wednesday this week, San José, Costa Rica municipal police closed the Levi’s store in the downtown retail area for a 24-hour period, reported local media. The closure was due to the store failing to comply with set hours for public trash pick-up along downtown’a Central Avenue, a highly transited dense commercial area. The store was given written notice about the time-frame for curbside t...

The Costa Rica National Museum, the Contemporary Art and Design Museum, the Calderón Guardia Museum and the Center of National Culture of the Ministry of Culture and Youth are part of the cultural offer of the first Art City Tour of 2017 to take place this Thursday, February 9th. The Art City Tour is promoted under the slogan “Por amor a Chepe” (For love of “Chepe”, Chepe being the colloquial t...

The food and drinks event will happen March 18th from 11 a.m to 8 p.m in Avenida Escazu, presenting over 180 types of beer, both national and international. Several food trucks offering the traditional bar and restaurant dishes, cocktail stand, sangria and wine are part of the menu that will be offered that day, which won’t be short on entertainment with presentations of urban music concerts w...

By Wendy Anders The National Meteorological Institute (IMN, in Spanish) said gusts of up to 85 kmh (more than 50 mph) would be affecting several areas of the country including San José this week. Mountainous areas are likely to experience the brunt of the gales, said scientists, who said that Monday’s highest winds were registered in Escazú, Ciudad Colón, and mountainous areas of the norther...

By Wendy Anders British singer Sting will give his fourth performance in Costa Rica on May 9 at the National Stadium in La Sabana Metropolitan Park in San José, said SD Concerts, the company organizing the concert as part of his 57th & 9th Tour. Sting just released his 57th & 9th album, a mix of rock and pop songs. General seating for the Sting show will be on sale starting Januar...

By Wendy Anders Starting in 2011, San José’s largest urban park, La Sabana, began to get a dramatic makeover. It has consisted in removing entire swaths of non-native trees and reforesting with native trees. Some 3,791 Costa Rican trees are now flourishing in many parts of the park, said Icoder after a recent project update. One of the hoped for results, was to attract new native animal s...

By Wendy Anders A view of Turrialba Volcano's craters by scientist Javier Francisco Pacheco, courtesy of Ovsicori-UNA. After a 5-day period of calm, Cartago’s Turrialba Volcano rumbled back into action yesterday, said scientists at the National University’s Seismology and Volcanology Research Institute (Ovsicori-UNA). This most recent “passive phase” started at 7:00 a.m. yesterday with e...

The fourth edition of the Gastronomic Festival “La Luz Escalante” will take place this Sunday, December 4, and will have the participation of 19 restaurants. Food, music and art, merge in this event which will offer a great variety of different dishes and gastronomic alternatives for the attending public in each of the participating restaurants, canopies and booths and food trucks . Barrio E...

By Wendy Anders A view of the ravages from a weekend fire in Leon XIII, Tibás, as posted on Facebook. At around midnight on Saturday, screams rang out in the Leon XII shanty town in San José’s densely populated district of Tibás as flames from an apparent arson act spread quickly through the makeshift abodes, reported police sources and local media. Despite a rapid emergency response, th...

Escazu continues to grow. With a concept that combines commerce, residential space and offices , Escazú Village is hoping to attract those that enjoy the “urban life”. Located next to Walmart in the entrance to San Rafael de Escazú more exactly in Trejos Montealegre, this complex is located in a property of 26,500 square meters and will have a total construction area of 130,000 square meters...

A “barrio” is a neighborhood, and that’s the topic and inspiration of this year’s edition of Traffic Museum in Costa Rica. Barrio Lujan, Barrio Los Angeles, Barrio Amón, Barrio González Lahmann, Barrio Otoya, Barrio Escalante, Barrio San Bosco and Barrio Aranjuez; are the eight iconic San José neighborhoods chosen, and that with their architecture, tradition, characters, and history inspired te...

December comes this year with a full agenda of entertainment in Costa Rica. The Municipality of San Jose, already confirmed the 21st edition of the now traditional Festival de la Luz (Parade of Light) which this year will take place Saturday, December 17 starting at 6 p.m. The Festival de la Luz will have the participation of 14 decorated floats, 15 bands and several cheer-leading groups, in 20...

The “Plaza de la Cultura” (Culture Plaza) in the Central Avenue of San José will reopen on Monday, November 14 after 7 months. The famous plaza in downtown San Jose was closed back in April of this year, with the purpose of remodeling the area and doing maintenance work to some infrastructure in the underground building where the Central Bank Museums are located. The construction worked invo...

By Wendy Anders You just never know what's going to happen next in Costa Rica. A zumba class in Plaza Los Colegios, Moravia, from Facebook. Yesterday morning, it turns out a young Brahman bull was wandering around the densely populated northern San José district of Moravia, reported Costa Rica's Channel 7 Teletica. After some men managed to get a noose around his neck, and tried to le...

Neighbors of the west side of San Jose, will soon have the possibility of joining a new country club. The Santa Ana Country Club is a project that hopes to provide an option of healthy entertainment, social gathering and wellness to its members. Located on “Ruta 27” (the 27 highway) right across from the Villa Real Residential in Santa Ana, this country club will offer: gym, racquetball court, ...

By Wendy Anders Crate & Barrel furniture. By mid-2017, shoppers in Costa Rica will have a new furniture and home decor option when Crate & Barrel, the popular U.S. store, opens at Avenida Escazú. The company is known for their contemporary designs and affordable prices. Monica Fonseca, manager of the Costa Rican locale, said the franchise is investing US$4 million in this firs...

By Wendy Anders Jehovah's Witnesses distributing literature in Costa Rica, Facebook. This weekend’s 3-day gathering of over 7,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses from the San José metropolitan area was held in La Guácima, Alajuela. According to Wikipedia: “Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. Th...

It is October, the month when Halloween takes over along with its spooky stories, tales, movies and costume parties. Even though this is not a Costa Rican celebration, many enjoy decorating their houses, kids (and even some adults) love dressing up, after all we all enjoy a good scary story. Costa Rica holds its own when it comes to spooky stories, myths and urban legends, which are part of it...

By Wendy Anders Woman injured in train accident yesterday late afternoon near San José's La Sabana park is transferred in critical condition to the hospital. (Jorge Navarro for La Nación) This year’s 85 accidents involving vehicles and trains leave no doubt that basic safety infrastructure along the urban railway that bisects San José, Costa Rica’s congested city center is urgently needed. ...

By Wendy Anders Facebook post of Turrialba Volcano by Wayne Harrison on Oct. 4, 2016. At 5:00 yesterday evening the National University’s Volcanology and Seismology Research Institute (Ovsicori-UNA) reported that ash had been emanating constantly from Costa Rica's Turrialba Volcano for the previous 24 hours. A brief break in the cloud cover yesterday around 4:00 p.m. showed a column risi...