Pink Awareness

"We Believe in the Power of Music" vcs

The Vieques Concert Society needs your help to continue supporting Vieques youth providing music workshops and education. 

"We understand the power of music on the soul and the vehicle it provides for our sanity, health and creativity and the empowerment of a community." VCS 

Follow this link to the VCS's website to understand their mission and contribute to promote this incredible initiative:
http://viequesconcertsociety.org/index.html

A Flow Through Time...

During Labor Day weekend we visit "La Feria de Antiguedades de San Germán" (biggest Antiques fair in Puerto Rico) to get inspired for an upcoming corporate event which we will handle the décor. This Feria takes place every year in San Germán, Puerto Rico, from August 31 to September 2, 2013 at the Arquelio Torres Ramírez Coliseum. In here you never know what you will find, as always try to get there the first day to get what you really want, but let me tell you, prices are not negotiable.

Right after our visit to the "past", we drive through town and we made a quick stop at Tapas Café, a Spanish Tapas Restaurant, for a good glass of wine and sangria and eat something light to continue our journey back to San Juan. As mentioned in Frommer's "This charming restaurant is a favorite spot in the historic district of San Germán, an oasis of sophistication in the provincial countryside". It is located around the  town square, which is located in front of the Porta Coeli Church (oldest church in the western hemisphere).

After detouring to the town of Yauco, we continue our journey to San Juan, but then we decided to make another stop at the Santorini Ocean Lounge in Ponce; a nice place to escape from the urban stress, relax and sit down on a beach with a glass of wine and enjoy nature, Shangri-La. We called it the "Finest Hidden Treasure Ever" (as of today), our very "Piece of the Mediterranean" in Puerto Rico.

As always, here are some pictures:

Santorini Ocean Lounge

Tapas Cafe: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/sangerman/D74621.html#ixzz2e7q8j7fI
Santorini Ocean Lounge: http://www.santorini-olr.com/index.html

#stemevents #stemeventslifestyle #puertoricoweddingflowers #125years

Fiesta de la Calle Loiza: A Success!

Following are some pictures of what we found at "La Calle Loiza"; it was a celebration by the community for the community and their guests. As I mentioned in one of my previous post..."I have been walking this street since I remember", and yes, it has evolved during recent years and the young people has been taking care of the long forgotten surroundings in their own way. The meeting place: Cinema Paradiso. The Highlight: our very own "Hippy" Market at "La Farmacia Americana" parking lot. Then, a few cold beers and drinks with the neighbors at Kamoli's improvised terrace bar.

Hope this celebration continues each year, it can only get better!

Ode to "La Calle Loíza"

Welcome to "La Fiesta de la Calle Loíza"... Enjoy our Neighborhood. 

 "Now is the time, the beginning of a golden age, where two cultures and folklore collide to provoke the senses: the young unafraid Puerto Ricans exposing their ideas in a totally new artistic way... New restaurants that mix the old ways of doing business in the area, like the Dominican Markets where you can find a variety of goods, including a nice, very nice cold Medalla beer. " 
Welcome to la Calle Loiza - posted December 9, 2012

Another Saturday Culinary Trip

Saturday, July 6, 2013 - We decided to visit the Municipality of Ciales, Puerto Rico. It was the result of a day before planned Saturday Trip. We wanted to repair 2 chairs bought a couple of years ago at an Ad agency where my wife worked. When the agency was moving to another building they decided to sell their current furniture and change their décor. She was told that our chairs  were made by someone from a family in Ciales, a local artisan. The chairs have a wood frame with the back and seat made with a knitted bulrush. Searching for someone skilled enough to repair them, we found Master Artisan Mr. Guadalupe Villalobos who carries his Puerto Rican Family tradition of making furniture made from wood and bulrush in the Municipality of Ciales; a family legacy for over 100 years. We met him at his workshop and brought him the chairs to repair, he talked to us about their tradition, family history and even gave us a brief class on how to make the bulrush knitting. Talking about our chairs, he remembered that these were made by his brother who died a few years ago. Also, he told us that these chairs were a reproduction based on the 1940's Architect Henry Klumb's Easy Chair, he even confirmed to us that he collaborated in the restoration of the Henry Klumb's Chairs that were used for Architect Klumb Exhibition at the MAPR (Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico)a few years ago. Talking to him was really an enriching experience.

Following our visit to Mr. Villalobos workshop, we began our culinary trip, beginning with a quick stop at "El Colmado Bar La Ultima Copa" for a cold beer, as always, and continue through Route 149 South to a local Smokehouse called "Asao". Route 149 is the route to take South to the Municipality of Ciales from the Municipality of Manatí, which is located at the Northern Cost between the Municipalities of Florida and Barceloneta at the east and Vega Baja at the west. Our final stop was at the Historic Coffee Museum (Museo del Café), as we were told the address is as follow: "drive to the center of town, pass the town's Plaza and the Town Hall and you will find it at the right before Banco Popular".

Enjoy some pictures of our Saturday Culinary Trip and some helpful links.

Talking with Mr. Villalobos about the process of drying bulrush.

Mr. Guadalupe Villalobos' Workshop

Links: 
Master Artisan Mr. Guadalupe Villalobos
Architect Henry Klumb Biography
ASAO Smokehouse, Ciales, Puerto Rico
Museo del Cafe de Puerto Rico

Style Me Pretty!

Yes, we do Spectacular Weddings in Vieques, Puerto Rico! 

One of STEM Events Fabulous Wedding Décor at the W Retreat & SPA was featured on stylemepretty.com. 

Follow this Link to see beautiful pictures of our Décor: http://www.stylemepretty.com/2013/06/24/viegues-island-puerto-rico-wedding-from-lexia-frank-photography-STEM-Events-Decor