| A new art gallery,
Casadelagua, has opened just about halfway between Nuevo Arenal and
Tilaran at the extreme west end of Lake Arenal between the restaurant/night
club Equus and Rock River Lodge. Juan Carlos Ruiz is the artist/owner,
who is showing not only his own fascinating work in acrylic and water
color but also paintings, crafts and jewelry by other Costa Rican
artists. Juan Carlos, who is 31, was born on this property his family
settled 47 years ago, and has spent some years studying at the University
of Costa Rica. Located just above the busy highway, but only 50 yards
from the lake (where his grandfather's house was located until the
waters rose), the gallery, hopes Juan Carlos, will introduce Costa
Rican artists to many of the tourists passing by. However, he plans
to make the gallery a local gathering place, too. His sister Rosemary
will soon move her coffee shop from San Ramon to the gallery, and
Juan Carlos plans eventually to build a terrace featuring musical
events. Another family member, his mother, Rosemarie Soto Morales,
a dressmaker, also displays her work in the gallery. She bring with
her a clientele of expat women for whom she has already made |
custom dresses.
The music of Bob Benjamin made
the Tilaran café Las Lenitas rock for hours the evening of
March 18. A great many gringos and an Austrian or two ate, drank
and danced the night away, their swing antics in Patricia Brenes's
patio as well as out on the sidewalk providing some amusement to
the passing locals. Quite a high percentage of the dancers were
taking a break from building homes around the lake, while others
were just visiting the raw properties they've purchased, dreaming
about the perfect homes they'll build in this beautiful and temperate
area.
A long-time resident rancher,
Christina Glass, has great praise for local law enforcement these
days. Thieves recently broke into the bodega at her Libano farm
and stole nearly $5,000 worth of equipment. Reporting the theft
promptly to the Canas OIJ - a Costa Rican version of the FBI, explains
Christina - she had back everything but a couple of machetes within
a few days. The chain saw, large pump, 2 new saddles, etc., were
found in Liberia.
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