What's On Havana July 2015

jul
2015
Santiago de Cuba:
500 years of history
Carnaval de Santiago de Cuba:
July 21-29, 2015
Baseball in Santiago de Cuba
The Sanctuary at El Cobre
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Santiago de Cuba by Ana Lorena
EDITORIAL
Cuba Absolutely is joining LaHabana.com. As we gradually move to our new home, the digital destination, we will
continue to showcase the best in Cuban culture, life-style, sport, travel and much more
To our loyal readers to date: thanks for your continued support! We hope you will soon be joined by many more.
Together we will explore Cuba through the eyes of the best writers, photographers and filmmakers, both Cuban and
international, who live, work, travel and play in Cuba. We do this through beautiful pictures, great videos, opinionated
reviews, insightful articles and inside tips.
For our first issue together we have gone on a road trip east from Havana, around 760km to be precise to the steamy,
sultry and very Caribbean city of Santiago de Cuba. The cradle of the Revolution has had a makeover so good for its
500th Birthday to be celebrated on July 25, 2015 that even the most devout Habaneros may forgive us this month for
dedicating this issue to the city.
To understand the importance to Cuba of Santiago de Cuba we quote the Cuban poet, Waldo Leyva:
Si encuentras alguna piedra / que no haya sido

lanzada contra el enemigo / si descubres una calle
por donde no haya pasado / nunca un hroe / [] /
puedes decir entonces que Santiago no existe
Should you ever find some stone that has never

been hurled against the enemy, should you ever
find any street over which no hero has walked
then and only then can you say that Santiago does
not exist
Apart from the anniversary, this month also features an article on the Anniversary of the attack on Moncada barrack
which really kick started the Revolution all those years ago as well as well as pieces on Cubas best Carnival, held in
the city from July 21-29 and the Caribe Festival del Fuego. If you need an excuse to make the trip you can always sign
up for the business forum, Cuba-Caribe Frum that takes place from July 15-17 in Santiago.
We will be back to Havana for next months issue but in the meantime head east and enjoy the party.
Abrazos!
The LaHabana.com Team
Santiago de Cuba port. photo Alex Mene
JULY 2015
SANTIAGO DE
CUBA
Santiago de Cuba: 500 years young p6

Santiago de Cuba: 500 years of history p9
Baseball in Santiago de Cuba p11
EVENTS
Carnival de Santiago de Cuba: July 21-29, 2015 p13

July 26:
Anniversary of the attack on Moncada Barracks p15
Fiesta del Fuego, July 2015 p18
HIGHLIGHTS
Parque Cespedes: Heart & Soul of Santiago de Cuba p20

The Sanctuary at El Cobre p23
Castillo San Pedro de la Roca p26
Casa de la Trova p27
HAVANA LISTINGS
HAVANA GUIDE
Visual Arts p32 Photography p33 Dance p34 Music

p35 Cinema p42 - Theatre p43
Features - Restaurants - Bars & Clubs - Live Music Hotels - Private Accommodation p52
Santiago de Cuba: 500 years young

by Victoria Alcal
Until we started celebrating the half-millennium

of the founding of first seven towns in Cuba, we
seemed to have been living under the illusion of
knowing the order in which they were established:
Nuestra Seora de la Asuncin de Baracoa (1511),
San Salvador del Bayamo (1513), Santsima Trinidad
(1514), Sancti Spritus (1514), San Cristbal de La
Habana (1514), Santa Mara del Puerto Prncipe
(1515) and Santiago de Cuba (1515). It is said that the
eighth town, La Sabana, later called El Cayo or San
Juan de los Remedios del Cayo, came into being
on some unrecorded date in the first half of the
sixteenth century, although quite a bit later than
the first seven.
With such an avalanche of 500th anniversaries,
changes have been made to the order: Puerto
Principe, which today is called Camagey, held
its festivities before Sancti Spritus did, Havana
postponed theirs until 2019 to coincide with the
500th year of its present-day site, and Remedios
celebrated before Santiago did. The key factor
in all this seems to be that, except Baracoa, all
the other towns have moved from their original
locations and some of them decided to celebrate
the dates of their original settlements, though
hardly no traces of them remain.
And so Santiago de Cuba closes the cycle of this
binge and we will have to wait four more years
until Eusebio Leal surprises us with the apotheosis
of Havana.
We get the feeling that the residents of Santiago

are going to go all out this July, and rightly so.
Santiago is one of the most beautiful cities in
Cuba and everyone who visits it delights in the
truly unique personality it possesses, defined by
its gorgeous physical settingsituated on several
terraces, bordered by the Caribbean and backed by
the highest mountains on the Islandthe warmth
of its extroverted and courteous inhabitants, and
the manifestations of popular culture that have
generally managed to maintain their original
nature, oblivious to any deformations that could
be imposed by the market.
Founded in 1515 by Governor Diego Velzquez
because of the name it received, it is presumed
that the date was July 25, the feast day of St. James
the Apostle (Santiago in Spanish)the town rapidly
assumed the mantle of capital of Cuba. In 1522, it
received the denomination of city but because of
the greater importance of Havana, largely given its
proximity to Veracruz in Mexico, being the gateway
to the New World, and the discovery of the Gulf
Stream that made traffic between the Americas and
Europe easier, Santiago lost its position as capital
to the city of Havana in the mid-sixteenth century.
With alternating periods of prosperity, invigorated
by the exploitation of the gold and copper mines,
contraband and the arrival of French fugitives from
Haiti who at the start of the nineteenth century
impetuously began developing coffee plantations,
the region made it into the middle of that century
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in rather unsustainable conditions because of the

downfall of the coffee and sugar barons. This is
one of the reasons why the inhabitants of Santiago
became famous for considerably filling the ranks
of independence fighters, like Antonio Maceo, Flor
Crombet, Guillermo Moncada (Guillermn) and
Quintn Bandera.
Santiago was also notably present in the
insurrectional struggle which began in 1953
against the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. For
all its contributions to these glorious enterprises,
in 1983 the city received the official distinction of
being called Hero of the Republic of Cuba, the only
city to receive the title until the present day. The
poet Waldo Leyva, born in Villa Clara but a son of
Santiago deep in his heart, would declare in one of
his verses: Si encuentras alguna piedra / que no
haya sido lanzada contra el enemigo / si descubres
una calle por donde no haya pasado / nunca un
hroe / [] / puedes decir entonces que Santiago
no existe [Should you ever find some stone that
has never been hurled against the enemy, should
you ever find any street over which no hero has
walkedthen and only then can you say that
Santiago does not exist].
Whoever decides to join Santiagueros in the
celebration of the 500 years of the existence
of the city will encounter a renewed town
that has worked long and hard to erase the
devastating effect of Hurricane Sandy that hit

Cuba, particularly Santiago, three years ago.
They will also proudly exhibit the founding areas
around Cspedes Park (formerly, Plaza de Armas),
flanked by Diego Velzquez old headquarters,
which is one of the most ancient buildings of its
kind in the Americas; the cathedral, which was
built and then rebuilt to replace the original that
collapsed in an earthquake, and which acquired
its Neo-Renaissance appearance around the year
1922; the former city hall, today the Palacio de
Gobierno Municipal, built in the 1950s according
to Neoclassical precepts; the eclectic Casa Granda
Hotel; and the bank, which is typical of the Modern
Movement in architecture.
This coexistence of styles is a distinctive feature
of a city that is proud of its splendid fortress San
Pedro de la Roca Castle and the Archeological
Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the
South-East of Cuba, both declared UNESCO World
Heritage Sites; of the sloping and crowded streets;
of the cemetery where the remains of Jos Mart,
Apostle of the Independence of Cuba, and Carlos
Manuel de Cspedes, Cubas Founding Father,
repose; of the modern Heredia Theatre; of the
former Moncada Barracks that were attacked by
Fidel Castro and a group of young patriots and
which now house a school complex named Ciudad
Escolar 26 de Julio; of the Bacardi Museum, the
Casa de la Trova, the Alamedaand, especially, the
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Santuario de Nuestra Seora de la Caridad del Cobre (The Basilica of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre),
dedicated to the Patroness of Cuba, at the nearby town of El Cobre and a required pilgrimage site.
Santiago is dubbed la tierra caliente [the hot land], but dont be worried. Your body quickly gets used
to the heat as you wander the streets. And you can always be refreshed by the wares of the lemonadevendors with their juices and other drinks, or stop by the several ice cream parlors. Santiagueros have
their own formula: first drink a glass of rum, listen to the cry of the Chinese cornet and then gently
and rhythmically move those feet as you join any one of a number of congas that start rolling through
the streets for no reason whatsoever, at any time of the day or night. It is an excellent formula for
celebrating the 500th birthday of this kid that refuses to get old.
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Santiago de Cuba:
500 years of history
by Ricardo Alberto Prez

Somebody once asked me how I would define
Santiago de Cuba. Not wanting to answer with a glib
phrase, I examined my own personal experience
with the city and ended up saying: Its a city thats
hard to conquer.
Later on I thought that my words were rather
contradictory because I have always found
Santiago to be incredibly friendly. Nonetheless,
it appears that subconsciously I was referring to
two specific matters: the first is associated with its
geography, the high temperatures, the scorching
sun that seems to mercilessly penetrate deeper
than the layers of skin. The second reason was
always a premonition that on any of the many visits
I had made I would begin to discover, and which
is connected to a more private and secretive city
that is hidden behind the one we can perceive with
our eyes.
I am certainly convinced though that Santiago
de Cuba has a unique soul that has been created
by and has grown up under the influence of an
accumulation of memories and this immediately
infects all who come into contact with the city.
It is July 2015 and Santiago de Cuba is getting
ready to celebrate five hundred years since it was
founded. The founders were headed by Diego
Velazquez but many other actors participated in
this event, such as Hernn Corts, Bartolom de

las Casas, Antn de Alaminos and Bernal Daz del
Castillo, all of whom played an important role in
the conquest of the entire American continent.
Besides being Cubas first capital, for a long time
Santiago also represented the departure point for
other places in the Caribbean and on the American
continent, transforming itself into the base for
fresh conquests.
As a child I used to hear (and I think this is true)
that things happen in Santiago in a completely
different way than in Havana. In the street, people
come up to you as if they knew you all your life.
Strangers talk to each other in a manner that is
quite uncommon in other parts of Cuba.
When I was only about eight or nine years old,
my parents decided to fulfill a vow to the Nuestra
Seora de la Caridad del Cobre Sanctuary a few
kilometers away from Santiago. Just my luck, it
was Carnival time. My parents took me to see a
festivity that was unlike any other I had known
in Havana. The experience was so powerful and
genuine that the images recorded in my brain have
never been erased despite all the years that have
gone by since then. Its as if the city is seasoned
with too much pepper: nothing can extinguish
that intensity and fire.
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PAGE
That night full of happy delights was the first time

I had seen a conga. Its rhythms seep into your
very marrow and it affects the most impermeable
of individuals. I identify this as my first contact
with the profound city in whose veins many of
our most beautiful forms of expression have been
synthesized and from whence they erupt.
When you talk about the Santiago congas, you
are talking about a culminating moment in Cuban
identity, a point where the feelings of a people
are laid out naked and transparent like nowhere
else. In this Heroic City (as is is also known given
its active involvement in Cuban independence
wars) congas are born in the neighborhoods and
they spread everywhere with the breath of their
inhabitants..
This scenario, which I, like many other Cubans
and foreigners, have learned to recognize as
an essential place, has become what it is today
from processesoften painful and even violent
contained in these five centuries that are soon
going to be the object of celebrations.
The people of Santiago are the product of mestizaje

or interbreeding, derived from diverse origins
including the native peoples who were almost
wiped out by the Conquistadors, the Spanish
colonizers, and the African slaves, members of
the Lucumi, Congo, Mino, Carabali, Mandinga and
other ethnic groups. Surrounded by this exuberant
nature where the Sierra Maestra Mountains form
a striking background, different cultures, ethnic
groups and religions have come together. And so
the people, their culture, their customs and habits,
their architecture have come to be formed.
Santiago de Cuba with its Morro Fortress, its
splendid bay, Enramadas and Padre Pico Streets,
the Casa de la Trova, Cubas first cathedral,
Cspedes Park and so many other emblematic
sites, and especially with the capacity its people
have for welcoming all visitors, is getting ready to
commemorate five centuries of existence.
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PAGE 10
Baseball in Santiago de Cuba

by Victoria Alcal
A friend from Brazil said to me once, Cubans cant

stand more than sixty seconds without talking
about baseball, to which I replied, and you
Brazilians cant stand more than thirty seconds
without talking about soccer.
However, I do have to admit that baseball is in the
blood of most Cubans. We become involved with
the game at a very young agealmost as soon as
we are able to take our first stepsand it ends up
being an essential part of our lives. This is why all
Cuban cities and provinces dream of having a great
baseball team and therefore put a lot of effort
into this. And Santiago de Cuba and its people
have numerous reasons to be proud of theirs.
Historically, they are the third most-winning team
in the National Series with eight championships to
their name.
In this Caribbean island, theres no rivalry between
two baseball teams that is more intense than the
one between the Santiago de Cuba Avispas (Wasps)
and the Havana Industriales, to the point that the
games between the two teams have been labeled
The Classic of Cuban Baseball. When these two
teams face each other, both are willing to sweat
blood not to give the other the satisfaction of
winning. Its a matter of honor. The games are
intense with managers questioning umpires calls,
players being aggressive, feelings running high.
And all these things come together to make up a
great show that pleases the fans of both teams.
For years, baseball peas (fan clubs) have been

proliferating both in Havana and Santiago de
Cuba. Their most heated arguments are generally
engaged into by supporters of the Industriales and
the Avispas. And as it turns out, the wasp, known
for its painful sting, was chosen as the Santiago
team mascot by the people of the Hero Cityas
Santiago de Cuba is also referred to. This has led to
a love-hate relationship in which all fans support
their idols while acknowledging the quality of their
opponents.
Now, to be able to understand what baseball
means for the people of Santiago de Cuba, the best
thing you can do is talk to them. Whether young or
old, they will diligently search their memories and
recall numerous feats achieved by Santiaguero
baseball players through history. Pitcher Manuel
Alarcn, one of Cubas great baseball heroes, is
remembered fondly by many and is usually at the
top of their list. A few years ago, he was scheduled
to face the Industriales in a game for the National
Championship and, before the game had even
started, he told the people of Santiago to get ready
to celebrate their victory. And he was true to his
promise.
It is an honor to speak about these undaunted
players, a constellation of stars that include
another pitcher, Braudilio Vinent, whom I had the
privilege of meeting at the Latinoamericano Park
back when I was a teenager. Vinent is considered
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PAGE
11
by many the best pitcher in post-1959 baseball. His

numbers were as astonishing as his fastball, which
gained him the nickname of The Meteorite from
La Maya.
Supporting their team whether theyre playing
at home, at the Guillermn Moncada Park, or
in another province, the people of Santiago de
Cuba will never forget the roster that shined in
the 1990s. With names such as Orestes Kindeln
(cleanup hitter for both the Santiago and the Cuba
teams, holding the record for more homeruns in
the National Series), second baseman Antonio
Pacheco (usually referred to as a Captains Captain,
holding the record for most hits in the National
Series) and third baseman and slugger Gabriel
Pierre, they came to be known as The Steamroller,
instilling fear in the hearts of their opponents.
It is true that todaydue to a number of reasonsthe

Santiago de Cuba Avispas are not what they used to
be, but we have to acknowledge that they have not
lost an ounce of their characteristic enthusiasm
and fighting spirit. Todays roster includes names
such as veteran Reutilio Hurtado, who stands out
thanks to his discipline and perseverance; pitcher
Alberto Bicet; the young and talented Luis Yander
La O; and outfielder Alexei Bell, the last two part of
the Cuba Team roster.
And yes, an Industriales-vs-Avispas final is quite

a show, but it pales beside the victory celebration
that takes place after the ninth inning when
Santiago de Cuba has managed to nail down the
win. Santiagueros from all ages gather in central
areas of Santiago de Cuba to share the joy of being
champions and honor their heroes as the team
members parade around the city in the back of a
truck accompanied by musicians. Parties here are
intense and are usually longer than in any other
part of Cuba.
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PAGE 12
July 21-29, 2015

Santiago de Cuba
Carnaval de Santiago de Cuba

The origins of the Santiago Carnival go back to the
end of the seventeenth century when processions
would wind their way through the city streets
celebrating the feast day of Santiago (St. James in
English), the Patron Saint of the city. During the
colonial period, the Spanish authorities granted
permission to the black slaves to have their
festivities on the Epiphany, putting on their typical
music and dances. At the end of the nineteenth
century the festivities were extended to the months
of June and July in order to celebrate the patron
saint days for St. John (June 24), St. Christina (July
24), St. James (July 25), St. Anne (July 26) and St.
Peter (June 29). At the beginning of the twentieth
century, parading comparsas would represent the
different neighborhoods; this tradition is still alive,
just like the dances held in the main areas of the
city.
The carnivals have always given the people of
Santiago a means to release tension, to put aside
their worries and dance to the rhythm of conga
music. This year, like every year, locals and visitors
will keep up the tradition and pour onto the streets
in what is considered the most colorful carnival in
Cuba. This is one of the most important cultural
events in the city: many of its participants spend
the whole year preparing their routines for the
event. And dont worry, its a family event. The
photo by Alex Mene
entire family will either participate in the parade

or at least help make costumes or embellish floats.
One way or another, everyone will do their bit.
Carnival
highlights
include
comparsas
(neighborhood dance groups whose choreographies
are generally related to Caribbean traditions and
the daily life of the people of Santiago) and the
processions of decorated floats that will parade, as
usual, mainly down Avenida Garzn, where a jury
will choose the best. The conga lines are perhaps
the most popular element of the carnival, but they
are meant to join, not watch.
Right at the end of the procession, mamarrachos
(characters in flamboyant, colorful costumes),
muecones (huge papier mache figures) and
enmascarados (men and women wearing elaborate
masks), accompanied by parranderos who with
their drums, congas, rattles, catchy choruses and
cornetas chinas liven up the eventif that is even
possible. Inserted into carnivals as early as 1916, the
corneta china, or Chinese horn, was introduced in
Cuba by Chinese immigrants, adding another layer
to the festivities.
In recent years, the festivity has extended to other
open areas in the city where live music with son,
salsa, merengue as well as rock, pop, and disco
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PAGE 13
will be played by the most popular bands of the moment. Free of all commercialization, the Santiago
Carnival is truly an opportunity to celebrate this nations unique history and culture in a riot of rhythms,
drumming and color.
Although many Cuban towns hold their own carnivals, none attracts the crowds of the Santiago Carnival,
so dont miss out as the whole city moves to the rhythm of conga lines, the sound of the corneta china,
drums, congas and French drums as well as pots and pans turned into unconventional percussion
instruments, which lead dancing crowds down the steep roads of Santiago de Cuba.
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PAGE 14
photo by Alex Mene
July 26: Anniversary of the attack

on Moncada Barracks
by Victoria Alcal
On July 26, 1953, a group of young men and two

women led by Fidel Castro attacked the Moncada
Barracks in Santiago de Cuba while another group
attacked the Carlos Manuel de Cspedes Barracks
in the city of Bayamo. Although this was a defeat
for the revolutionaries, this event paved the way
for the insurrection against Batista. It was the
small engine that ignited the big engine of the
Revolution.
How many countries commemorate a military
defeat as their national holiday? Cuba does. In fact,
it celebrates the ill-fated events that took place on
July 26, 1953 with three days off.
The events began one year earlier in May 1952
when a group of young people grouped around
Abel and Haydee Santamara, Melba Hernndez
and Fidel Castro began meeting in an apartment
building in Havana to discuss their discontent with
the disruption of the constitutional order imposed
by the military coup launched by the dictator
Fulgencio Batista. All legal channels exhausted,
plans were made to start the armed struggle
and fight the de facto government. Working with
people across the country, they began to obtain
uniforms, guns and ammunition to attack the
Moncada Barracks and other strategic targets.
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PAGE 15
A year later, those who were to participate in the

assault traveled to Santiago de Cuba, which was
celebrating its traditional summer carnival. The
date was chosen so that the authorities would not
suspect the young people who by train, bus and 17
cars were coming into the city with the apparent
purpose of enjoying themselves during the
festivities. The leaders of the attack were hoping
that the relaxed atmosphere, the distance from
the capital, the surprise factor, and the nearby
mountains of the Sierra Maestra would help them
achieve their goal.
Upon their arrival in Santiago, the revolutionaries
gathered together at the small Siboney farm
located near the city. During early morning, the
guns hidden inside a well were distributed. Then,
the details of the attack, which had been kept in
the utmost secrecy by the leaders, were given
they were going to attack the Moncada and Carlos
Manuel de Cspedes Barracks and take over two
strategic places, the Saturnino Lora Hospital and
the Palace of Justice. The objectives: to disarm
the enemy and summon the people to take armed
revolutionary action that would lead to the
overthrow of Batista.
At 4:00 am on Sunday, July 26, 129 men and two

women left the Siboney farm. The plan was to have
the main body of the inexperienced troops (around
90 men) led by Fidel Castro advance to the army
facility; the two women (Melba Hernndez and
Haydee Santamara) and other fighters led by Abel
Santamara would take over the hospital; and the
group of around 35 men led by Raul Castro would
seize the Palace of Justice. The last two groups
were able to achieve their goal, but the group
led by Fidel lost the element of surpriseafter
reaching one of the posts, an unexpected patrol
that was doing the rounds because of the carnival
came across them. The guards alerted the troops
and a battle ensued outside the garrison.
Given the disadvantage of the assailants, many
were captured alive and killed. The group that
tried to gain the foothills of the Sierra Maestra was
captured several days later.
The assailants and Fidel Castro were held for trial.
Fidel Castro assumed his own defense and he
gave a four-hour speech on October 16 that was
published under the title History Will Absolve
Me, which was his concluding sentence. Although
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PAGE 16
sentenced to terms of up to 15 years, many of the

survivors relocated to Mexico after having been
granted an amnesty and released from prison in
1955. In Mexico, they continued their plans to
form a disciplined guerrilla force to overthrow
the dictator Batista and returned to Cuba on the
Granma yacht in December 1956 to begin the
guerrilla struggle that culminated in the victory of
1959.
Since 1959, Cuba has commemorated July 26 with

rallies and speeches. In 1976, July 25, 26 and 27 were
made holidays. As a verse of a song by a popular
Cuban band says, The 26th is the happiest day in
history.
About the Cuartel Moncada

The first barracks on this site were built by the Spanish in 1859. Originally named Nuevo Presidio,
it served as the prison for the Department of Santiago de Cuba. Shortly after, a larger barracks was
built and named Reina Mercedes after Queen Mercedes, wife of Alfonso XII. The military construction
changed its name to Cuartel Moncada (after Guillermn Moncada, a hero of the War of Independence)
in February, 1909. An unexplained fire on December 11, 1937, destroyed the old barracks and the House
of Representatives extended a credit for 100,000 pesos for its reconstruction.
After the triumph of the Revolution, on January 28, 1960, anniversary of the birth of Cubas National
Hero, Jos Mart, the barracks was converted into a school and called Ciudad Escolar 26 de Julio. One of
the buildings was turned into the Museo Histrico 26 de Julio, which tells the history of Cuba from the
Spanish conquest to the present, on July, 1967.
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PAGE 17
Santiago de Cuba
AND
ITS
FIESTA DEL FUEGO

The Cuban city that best reminds us of how we

are not just Latin Americans but also Caribbean
peoples is Santiago de Cuba. This is where vigor
and bright colors permeate the atmosphere,
tinting everything from the natural beauty right
to the inhabitants customs. The city has its own
unique pace. It is inhabited by unique sounds.
There is no better time to enjoy all this than the
annual summer Caribbean Festival called Fiesta
del Fuego, an extraordinary mixture of cultures,
beliefs and traditions that aims at harmonizing
the identities of the peoples of the region beyond
geographic and linguistic diversity.
of the euphoria that flooded the city and infected

everyone there.
It is a tradition that the Festival del Caribe begins
with the Desfile de la Serpiente, or the Serpent
Parade. Both locals and visitors seem to enter into
a kind of collective trance as they move at conga
pace from Plaza de Marte to Parque Cspedes,
displaying the spiritual richness of the men and
women of the Caribbean, in a colorful display of
contagious rhythm.
The man who inspired this festival (which will

be celebrating its 35 edition in 2015) and is in
charge of running it is the prestigious Santiaguero
intellectual Joel James. As the head of the Casa
del Caribe, James has devoted a great part of his
time and energy to each new edition of the festival
so that it will sparkle with the magic provided by
visitors and the fervor of the hosts.
At each event, the Festival del Caribe has become

more overwhelming with a variety of creative
manifestations taking over center stage and
interacting with each other. Dance groups, for
example, that owe a lot to profound religious
processes, bear the signs that they have not
yet been sullied over the years and they bring a
tremendous load of energy and authenticity to
the event. Peasant folklore also joins this popular
cultural exhibition.
Some years back I had the honor of being a

guest at the celebration. Six intense days that
practically left no time for sleep due to the huge
number of events going on and especially because
One of the ceremonies that is most enjoyed at this

convocation of Caribbean peoples is the Homenaje
al Cimarrn [Homage to the Runaway Slaves]. It
acknowledges the slave rebellion that took place
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PAGE 18
in the town of El Cobre. The monument to el Cimarrn, work of the Santiago sculptor Alberto Lescay,
is near the Basilica of Our lady of Charity; at this site, a ceremony takes place that pays tribute to the
spiritual transcendence of those African slaves who defended their identity under the most terrible
circumstances of oppression, mistreatment and death.
The El Caribe que nos une International Colloquium (The Caribbean Sea that Unites Us All) focuses on
issues related to the preservation, development and dissemination of Caribbean cultural diversity, as
well as actions that can contribute to the unity of the region and promote a cultural exchange with the
rest of America and the world.
The Quema del Diablo (The Burning of the Demon) marks the end of the festival when all of its participants
head to the seaside and there burn the Great Demon, which symbolizes all bad things. After it is burned,
it is believed that the way is paved for next years meeting.
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PAGE 19
Parque Cspedes
heart and soul of Santiago de Cuba
by Luca Lamadrid
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PAGE 20
When the town of Santiago de Cuba was founded

on July 25, 1515, a small area of land was left empty
following the regulations of the Spanish Crown
on building cities in the New World. This empty
lot was surrounded by rudimentary buildings
that held the Town Hall, the Governors House,
the church and the homes of the citys principal
Spanish families.
Soon, the empty lot became Plaza de la Catedral,
and since its founding in the 16th century, it was
successively called Plaza de Armas, Plaza Mayor,
Plaza Principal, Plaza de la Constitucin, Plaza
de la Reina and Plaza de Isabel II. The square
received its present name, Plaza Carlos Manuel de
Cspedes (although it is most commonly known
as Parque Cspedes) in the early 20th century and
the bronze bust of Carlos Manuel de Cspedes, the
Father of the Nation, was placed in 1953.
Throughout time, it has been the most important
political, religious, administrative and social site in
the city. One of Santiago de Cubas most important
and long-standing traditions takes place here.
The Fiesta de la Bandera, or Festivity of the Flag,
held on December 31, is a one-of-a-kind festivity
in Cuba and the world, for that matter. The flag
is raised and the way it flies in the wind is said to
forebode the fate of the people of Santiago for the
coming year.
The face of the picturesque plaza has changed

many times, whether by the hand of pirates,
governors or the forces of nature, but it continues
to be the major gathering spot for Santiagueros
and non-Santiagueros alike, any time, night or day.
Limited by Aguilera, San Pedro, Heredia and
Santo Toms Streets, the plaza is surrounded
by emblematic buildings, such as the Town Hall,
the Home of Diego Velzquez, the Cathedral,
the former San Carlos Club and the Casa Granda
Hotela treasure trove of Colonial, Eclectic,
Rationalist, Neoclassical and Modern architecture.
The Ayuntamiento, or Town Hall, on the northern
side of the square, was originally built in 1516 and
occupied by the Spanish Conquistador Hernn
Corts. It was partly destroyed by an earthquake
and reconstructed successively. The present
neoclassical building was built in the 1950s based
on a design from 1783. It was from its central
balcony that Fidel Castro addressed the people of
Santiago on January 1, 1959. It was his first speech
following Batistas flight from Cuba.
On the west side of the park is the 16th-century Casa
de Diego Velzquez, today the Museo de Ambiente
Histrico Colonial Cubano. Built in 1515 for Cubas
first governor, this is the oldest house still standing
in Cuba and arguably the oldest in Latin America.
photos by Ana Lorena
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PAGE 21
The top floor was the living quarters while the

ground floor served as a trading house and gold
foundry. The Andalusian-style faade with fine,
wooden lattice windows and a wonderfully carved
cedar ceiling was extensively restored in the 1960s
after a fire. The museum depicts the varied styles
and eras of colonial life seen through furnishings
and decorations from the 16th to 19th centuries.
Some splendid pieces of French, British, Spanish
and Cuban furniture; Spanish ceramics, carved
chests and French porcelain, as well as dressers
with inlaid designs are on display.
The former San Carlos Club on the squares eastern
side is considered the most important exponent
of eclectic architecture in Santiago. Built from
1908-1912, it has been home to several institutions,
becoming the Municipal Culture House and the
Esteban Salas Concert Hall in the 1980s. Today, it is
undergoing extensive restoration and will become
home to the Decorative Arts Museum and the
Cuban Fund of Cultural Property in July 2015.
The Catedral de Nuestra Seora de la Asuncin
was destroyed by fire only a few years after its
construction in 1524. The buildings that replaced
the original church were later subjected to all types
of calamities from pirate attacks to hurricanes and
earthquakes. The Cathedral of Santiago de Cuba
holds the record for being the building that has
been reconstructed and remodeled the most in
the city. The fourth building was consecrated in
1813 and was given the title of Minor Basilica and

declared National Monument in 1958. The church
you see today combines the surviving 19thcentury features with changes made in the 1920s.
Meticulously restored, the interior is a magnificent
mixture of intricate ceiling frescoes, hand-carved
choir stalls and an altar honoring the venerated
Virgen de la Caridad. It is believed that the first
colonial governor, Diego Velzquez, was buried
here although his remains have never been found.
The Casa Granda Hotel is one of Santiagos most
notable buildings and was described by Graham
Greene, who used to stay here in the late 1950s, in
his book Our Man in Havana. The Cuban Railroad
Company commissioned the design of this lavish
Eclectic building to architect Carlos Segrera and
it took the Cuban construction company Amigos
& Hermanos only six months to finish the hotel,
which was officially inaugurated on January 10,
1914.
The Casa Granda Hotel has four floors with
majestic, although sober Eclectic faades. The
vanes and balustrade decorations on the second
and third floors are perfectly symmetrical, while
the fourth floor has a larger number of ornamental
elements, with windows that feature semicircular
arches. The Roof Garden on the fifth floor offers a
stunning view of the city. The hotel was completely
refurbished between 1993 and 1995, and is today
part of Santiagos cultural and historical heritage.
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PAGE 22
EL
COBRE
The
Sanctuary at
photo by Alex Mene
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PAGE 23
Photos by Ana Lorena
One of the factors that undoubtedly has enabled

us Cubans to overcome ordeals and difficult
periods in our national history is the relationship
we have built with faith. Beliefs sometimes seem
to define much of our nature and often surpass
the field of religion to become a strong cultural
mark. In this regard, it would be impossible not to
mention and place in the center of Cuban life the
Virgen de la Caridad del CobreOur lady of Charity.
The Catholic Church is well aware that while some
people venerate the Marian image of Our Lady of
Charity, others worship Oshun, the Orisha of love
and money, the river Goddess, while still others
manage to worship both the Christian virgin and
the goddess of the Yoruba religion syncretized in
one.
The patroness of Cuba has been present for over

four centuries in the individual and collective
destinies of countless generations of Cubans who
have venerated her in the most picturesque ways
imaginable. The story itself of how the image that is
now venerated at the shrine of El Cobre in Santiago
de Cuba has helped reinforce the combination of
mysticism with myth:
Legend has it that in 1613 a statue of the Virgin was
discovered by three fishermen who had gone out
to the Bay of Nipe for salt. They got caught up in
a violent storm and thought they were about to die
when they spotted a figurine. When they retrieved it
from the water, they were surprise to see that it was
completely dry. The small image, which was carved
in wood, carried the Baby Jesus in her arms and was
fastened to a small board that read: I am the Virgin
of Charity.
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PAGE 24
Whatever its origin, it is clear that this was not a

cult imposed by any authority. By the beginning
of the 19th century, the Virgin of Charity prevailed
over all of the other images brought by the Spanish.
Evenduring the wars of independence of the
second half of the 19th century, the mambises,
the Cuban guerrillas, carried with them the image
of the Virgin of Charity in every battle. In 1915, the
veterans of the wars of independence wrote to
Pope Benedict XV asking the Virgin to be declared
the Patron Saint of Cuba and in 1916, the Supreme
Pontiff declared September 8 the Feast Day of the
Virgin of Charity and Patron Saint of Cuba.
The image was initially deposited at the Bajaragua
Ranch, then at Real de Minas, near Santiago de
Cuba, and finally, in 1648, in a chapel that was built
in the same place where the Sanctuary rises today,
and which opened on September 8, 1927 after the
first sanctuary collapsed in 1906.
Access to the Sanctuary is through an outside
staircase flanked by a wall with lamps. The statute
of the Virgin is made of gold and can be seen from
anywhere in the main nave. The movable altar is
made of marble and solid silver, and is decorated
with items of great value.
Downstairs from the chapel where the Virgin
is kept is the Capilla de los Milagros (literally,
Chapel of Miracles), a small room that holds from
the humblest of offerings to precious jewels and
votive offerings of gold and precious stones; from
sports trophies to military decorations, including
the Nobel Prize medal for Literature awarded to
Ernest Hemingway, who personally placed it at the
feet of the Patron Saint of Cuba.
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PAGE 25
Photo by Ana Lorena
Castillo San Pedro de la Roca

The Castillo San Pedro de la Roca, or Castillo del
Morro Fortress, is located on a promontory at the
entrance of the bay of the city of Santiago de Cuba.
Its strategic location made it the principal defense
position of the city against pirate attacks, which
had previously and successfully plundered the city
back in 1554.
Designed by Italian military engineer Giovanni
Battista Antonelli (also known as Juan Battista
Antonelli, who also designed La Punta and El Morro
forts in Havana), construction works began in 1638
during the government of Pedro de la Roca, from
whom the fortress gets its name. Construction
works took 62 years to be completed due to
financial constraints.
Due to several earthquakes that occurred in
Santiago between 1675 and 1692, the fortress,
which was built intermittently, was damaged and
reconstruction was carried out for two years. From
1738 to 1749, however, the citadel was enlarged
and several platforms completed. The fortress was
again damaged by earthquake activity between
1757 and 1766.
After pirate activity diminished, part of the
fortress was converted into a prison, while the rest
remained serving as a military base. On July 3, 1898,
the Castillo San Pedro de la Roca witnessed the
Battle of Santiago de Cuba between the Spanish
fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Pascual Cervera
and an American fleet during the Spanish-Cuban-
American War. This historical event ended the

colonial rule of Spain in America.
For years the fort was abandoned, until restoration
works began in 1962 led by Dr. Francisco Prat Puig.
The museum that was opened within the fortress
on July 23, 1978 contains five exhibition halls:
Pirate Activity in the Caribbean, Construction
of the Fortress, the Development of the Defense
System in Colonial Times, the Castillo del Morro
as a Prison, and the Naval Battle of Santiago de
Cuba. Its collection includes 16th- to 19th-century
firearms and bladed weapons, pistols and artillery
pieces, as well as other items of historical value.
The fortress is considered a jewel of military
architecture in the Caribbean and has two
architectural styles: Medieval, seen in the thickness
of the walls, the tightly sealed rooms, few openings
and vaulted ceilings, among other features; and
the Renaissance, visible mainly in the facade which
is sunken and flattened, symmetrical stone blocks
the drawbridge and the dry moat. The latter has a
frieze that is decorated in the Moorish style.
The Castillo San Pedro de la Roca Fortress was
declared a National Monument in early 1979, and
in December 6 of that same year, it was listed by
UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The reasons
cited by the Commission during its 21st Session
held in Naples, Italy, are that it is the best preserved
and most complete example of Spanish-American
military architecture.
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PAGE 26
Casa de la Trova
Heredia 206 -210 e/ San Flix

y San Pedro, Santiago de Cuba
Open 11am-3pm & 8:3011pm, Tue-Sun
SANTIAGO DE CUBAS CASA DE LA TROVA
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PAGE 27
by Victoria Alcal
With a population of nearly half a million
inhabitants, this city has one unique peculiarity. Its
streets always allow you to see things from above
or from below, depending on the point where you
are standing, which will always be on a slope. Its
bay is the impressive background that usually
dominates the photos taken by visitors to the city,
or it simply remains in their memories as a symbol
of welcome. Spanish explorers Hernn Corts
Santiago de Cubas first mayorand Pnfilo de
Narvaez both set sail from this bay to conquer new
territories in Mexico.
The town center is located between the Caribbean
Sea and the Sierra Maestra Mountains, which
makes for an exceptional sight. Santiago was
Cubas first capital city from 1515 to 1556. Today
it is recognized as Ciudad Hroe (Hero City) since
its streets were once the setting of many actions
of the countrys revolutionary struggles, from the
independence wars of the 19th century to the
more recent Revolution under Fidel Castro, which
began with the assault on the Moncada Barracks
on July 26, 1953.
Many important cultural processes have
developed in Santiago de Cuba, having contributed
significantly to the formation of the Cuban
national identity. This is a city where events take

on a spontaneous and original character unlike
any other region in the island. The musical genres
of son, traditional trova and bolero, plus other
rhythms peppered with Afro and Haitian influences
that have enriched the Cuban musical scene, were
born here. Its colorful carnival, with comparsas
(neighborhood dance groups), conga lines and
decorated floats parading down the streets, is
proof that Santiago is one of the liveliest cities in
Cuba. Although many people sit in the grandstand
or booths to watch the parade, most follow behind
the congas dancing to the rhythm of the Chinese
cornet and the rgano oriental, trademarks of
Santiagos carnival festivities.
Walking down Heredia St, you come across the
Casa de la Trova. The townhouse marked with
No. 208, which boasts balconies reminiscent of
the New Orleans French Quarter, was the former
home of Rafael Pascual Salcedo de las Cuevas,
eminent musician born on October 23, 1844. .
Today, Casa de la Trova is the towns principal
music venue, with performances all day and night
long paying tribute to the countless musicians
like Sindo Garay, Miguelito Cun, Compay Segundo,
Mara Teresa Vera, Matamoros Trio, and many
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PAGE 28
otherswho nurtured the soul of the city. Perhaps the most outstanding figure of all is Pepe Snchez,
born in 1856, who is considered the founder of this musical vein and the composer who wrote the first
bolero titled Tristeza.
Old and young trovadores strum their guitars sharing their joys and sorrows converted into memorable
songs at the internationally known Casa de la Trova in Santiago de Cuba. So much so, that on January 14,
2000, Sir Paul McCartney made an unexpected visit to this temple of Cuban traditional music.
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PAGE 29
Jos Antonio Choy:

an architect of Santiago and Cuba
by Victoria Alcal
Rescued from the anonymity that plagues

contemporary Cuban architects, the name of
Santiago-born Jos Antonio Choy shines like a
beacon. Along with his wife and colleague Julia
Len he has been responsible for some of the most
respected building in recent decades in Cuba.
After graduating from the School of Architecture
in Havana, Choy returned to his hometown of
Santiago to undertake some important projects,
among them the executive flights terminal (1987)
and the railroad station (1989), the latter finalist
work in the first Mies van der Rohe Award for Latin
America. In both buildings, he established a subtle
dialogue with their milieu without falling into the
facile temptation of succumbing to the Neo-styles.
He also worked as urban planner and architect
for the citys Plaza de la Revolucin together with
sculptors Alberto Lescay and Guarionex Ferrer, but
there is no doubt that the principal achievement of
the Choy-Len partnership is the Meli Santiago
de Cuba Hotel (1991).
Although at first quite a few Santiagueros rejected
the new 19-floor building, maybe because they
were expecting something more traditional or
more in tune with the supposed glamour they
were used to seeing in films and magazines, the
nickname they gave the hotel, the mill, unwittingly
put the spotlight on one of its merits: interpreting

the traditional codes of industrial and vernacular
architecture in the region from a contemporary
point of view. With the passing of time, the Meli
Santiago became something like the Eiffel Tower,
which, received at first with reservations and even
open rejection, finally became the symbol of Paris.
Today the hotel designed by Choy and Len is an
essential point of reference in the city, just like the
Morro Castle or Cspedes Park. Many tourists look
to it so that they can orient themselves and find
their bearings.
Another remarkable project was the Che Guevara
Studies Center in Nuevo Vedado: We bypassed
other routes that led to an exaggeration of
architectural forms. We tried to make this a
clean, serene building, sparsely using expressive
elements. Some have categorized this as a
minimalist work but we believe that we have
provided a highly personal interpretation of the
person and philosophy of Che.
The annex building to the Parque Central Hotel
(2006) is another striking project, which they
respectfully and boldly resolved the complicated
insertion of a building, which although not blending
with the other structures, was not stridently
modernistic, into a traditional Old Havana block
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PAGE 30
Anexo Hotel Parque Central
Choy-Len still have a number of dreams to

fulfill such as the future library for the Casa
de las Amricas, winner of the institutions
competition in 2001, and a hotel to be built on
the desolate corner of Prado and Malecnwhich
plays with the meaningful proximity of the sea
in its translucent and curved faadeincluded in
Backstage Architecture 2012, which gathered the
57 most important projects of the year worldwide
to be presented at the 13th Venice Biennale of
Architectural.
Proyecto Hotel Prado y Malecn
Banco Financiero Internacional
As if all that were not enough, Choy, who chairs

the City, Architecture and Heritage Commission of
the Writers and Artists Union of Cuba (UNEAC),
is a scholar in his field, a tireless promoter of
architecture as the cultural expression of a specific
time and place. He he has defended the importance
that the criteria of professional architects should
have before decision makers in a variety of public
forums. Respected by his contemporaries and
considered a paradigm by the younger generations
of architects, not only for his talent but for his
uprightness and courage, the greatest legacy Jos
Antonio Choy leaves Cuban culture may very well
be the act of teaching by example, thanks to which
he has stopped being the lone avant-gardist as
his colleague Roberto Segre once described him.
VISUAL ARTS
Casa de Asia
OPENS JULY 7
Asia en la plstica cubana

contempornea is made up
by works based on customs,
traditions and the ethnographic
universe of Asian countries.
Casa Juan Gualberto Gmez

OPENS JULY 8
Palante en verano, a show of

works by caricaturists from
and contributors to the comic
newspaper Palante showcasing
personal caricatures, white, black,
erotic humor and political satire,
among others, reflecting national
and international events.
Edificio de Arte Cubano.

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 28
THROUGH
AUGUST 16
Ruidos salvajes show with over

90 pieces (from 1960-2015) from
the permanent collection of The
Bronx Museum, which focus on
identity, city life and community.
THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 6
Los
ardientes,
by
Sergio
Hernndez, one of the most
important
visual
artists
in
Mexico, reveals his mastery of
painting and the graphic arts,
manifestations he shares with
sculpture, printmaking, ceramics
and drawing, and his taste for
intense colors.
Factora Habana
Pintura is the Toms Snchez

show including 12 never-before
shown canvases, mainly in large
formats, where he combines
natural landscapes with garbage
dumps. This is a significant
direction taken by this Cuban
painter who has not had a show in
30 years at Bellas Artes.
THROUGH
AUGUST 24
Tramas,
by
Gustavo
Prez
Monzn who showed at the
historic Volumen I which marked
a milestone in Cuban art of the
1980s, reveals 76 impressive
drawings and installations.
THROUGH
AUGUST 31
El mapa del silencio, a show by

the former Carpintero Alexandre
Arrechea was especially planned
for being shown at Bellas Artes;
it includes two large format
watercolors,
video-projection,
a wall-hanging and a mural
measuring 25 meters on the wall
of the gallery. Curator Corina
Matamoros tells us that it states
what hasnt yet been said, even
though it is obvious.
THROUGH
JULY 22
Edificio de Arte Universal.

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Ping-pong cuadrcula, Wilfredo

Prietos show has both large and
small format works where the
artista insists on using day-to-day
objects in order to communicate
new meanings.
THROUGHOUT Entropa.
JULY
Rodrguez
Ren
Francisco
exhibits imaginative
artefacts built from set squares, or
triangles.
The Mission, by Roco Garca, is a
story made up by large paintings
that give proof of the artists
narrative ability and her mastery
at creating environments and
disturbing characters.
Deconstruccin del horizonte, by
Carlos Montes de Oca, includes
fragments
from
old
ICAIC
Newsreels, which complement the
installation.
Galera Galiano
THROUGH
JULY 26
Espejismos. Artist Ral Castro

Camacho (Memo) invites viewers
to discover the images that
are hidden beneath his white
paintings.
Galera Habana
OPENS JULY
10
Pintura fresca. Group show of

works by Yunier Hernndez, Niels
Reyes, Agustn Hernndez Carlos,
Frank Martnez, Roldn Lauzn,
Darwin Estacio, Antoine Mena and
Palacio del Segundo Cabo

THROUGH
JULY 31
Naturalezas del Art Nouveau,

traveling show sponsored by the
Rseau Art Nouveau Network,
in
charge
of
documenting,
researching and protecting Art
Nouveau heritage worldwide.
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PAGE 32
PHOTOGRAPHY
Castillo de la Real Fuerza

OPENS JULY 6
La ltima frontera. Placed on the railings of the old fortress, 50 large photographs discover the natural wonders
hidden beneath the sea.
Centro Cultural Bertolt Brecht
THROUGH
JULY 26
Expocuba. Pabelln de la Cultura
Adolfo Izquierdo exhibits photos

taken on the work carried pout
by the Danza Contempornea de
Cuba company.
THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 1
Miradas reveladoras. An approach

to different moments of the Cuban
Revolution through the work
carried out by a group of excellent
photographers that captured
those moments: Alberto Daz
Gutirrez (Korda), Ral Corrales,
Osvaldo and Roberto Salas, Liborio
Noval, Ernesto Fernndez, Jos
Agraz, Perfecto Romero and Luis
Pierce.
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PAGE 33
DANCE
Photo Alex Mene
Blancanieves y los siete enanitos

Sala Avellaneda. Teatro Nacional
July 4, 5pm
Graduation gala of the vocational workshop of the Department of Dance of the National Ballet of Cuba,
with choreography by Marln Moreno and a group of teachers, of the famous story of Snow White, and
music from the films soundtrack. The ballet will be performed by the students who will be graduating
this year, dancers from the National Ballet of Cuba and the Elementary School of Ballet, and a selection
of members of the Dance Department.
As Somos in concert
Flamenco
Centro Hispano-Americano de Cultura
Teatro Mella
July 18, 5pm
July 24 & 25, 8:30pm; Jult 26, 5pm
Show by the As Somos dance company and guests.
Flamenco dance show with the excellent Irene

Rodrguez and Company.
Verano flamenco
Centro Hispano-Americano de Cultura
July 28Augist 1, 1:30-4:30pm
Spanish Dance Workshop for students 7 to 29
years old, conducted by the Irene Rodrguez Dance
Company. Enrollment is now open by calling 7866
0775 / 7866 0776
Photo Y. del Monte
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PAGE 34
MUSIC
CONTEMPORARY
FUSION
Club Habana Party

Photo Alex Mene
The contemporary fusion and electronic music

scene has expanded recently as new bars
and clubs have opened party promoters have
organized events in parks and public spaces.
Good live music venues include Bertolt Brecht
(Wed: Interactivo, Sunday: Dj-vu) and El Sauce
(check out the Sunday afternoon Mquina de la
Melancola) as well as the newly opened Fbrica
de Arte Cubano which has concerts most nights
Thursday through Sunday as well as impromptu
smaller performances inside.
In Havanas burgeoning entertainment district

along First Avenue from the Karl Marx theatre to
the aquarium you are spoilt for choice with the
always popular Don Cangreco featuring good live
music (Kelvis Ochoas and David Torrens alternate
Fridays), Las Piedras (insanely busy from 3am) and
El Palio and Melem barboth featuring different
singers and acts in smaller more intimate venues.
Barbaram Pepitos Bar
Club Turf
SUNDAYS
Discoteca Onda Retro
5 pm
Le Select
SUNDAYS
WEDNESDAYS Qva Libre
Los ngeles
5 pm
5pm
Submarino Amarillo
Caf Concert El Sauce
5 pm
Djoy
8 pm
Caf Cantante, Teatro Nacional
SUNDAYS
JUEVES
La Mquina de la Melancola, with

Frank Delgado and Luis Alberto
Garca
SATURDAYS
2 pm
Vieja Escuela, country, blues &

rocknroll
Tercera y 8
Gato Tuerto
SATURDAYS
10 pm
MONDAYS
Tenor Bernardo Lichiln and DJ

Eddy Snchez
Baby Lores
11 pm
Havana Hard Rock
EVERY OTHER
FRIDAY
Soul Train, a show of soul music
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PAGE 35
MUSIC
CONCERT
Johnny Ventura and Elan

Morales in concert
Karl Marx Theater, July 10 & 11, 2015
8:00 pm
Johnny Ventura, the famous Dominican singer and
band leader of merengue music, will join forces
with Cuban singer Elan Morales in a concert at
the Karl Marx Theater in Havana.
A fan of Cuban music since he was small, Ventura
will be visiting the island for the first time to take
part in the 35th Caribbean Festival Fiesta del
Fuego to be held in Santiago de Cuba from July
2-9, 2015.
Grand concert to kick off the summer!

Isaac Delgado and
his band
Tribuna Antimperialista
On the Malecn
Sunday, July 5, 9pm
Dont miss2-9, 2015.
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PAGE 36
Photo by Alex Mene
SALSA / TIMBA
Casa de la Msica Habana
Casa de la Msica de Miramar
MONDAYS
11 pm Havana Show
MONDAYS
TUESDAYS
11 pm Havana Show
WEDNESDAYS
11 pm Sur Caribe
11 pm Adalberto lvarez y su Son
WEDNESDAYS
11 pm NG La Banda
THURSDAYS
5 pm Manolito Simonet
FRIDAYS
5 pm El Nio y La Verdad
11 pm NG La Banda
SUNDAYS
5 pm Bamboleo
Piano Bar Tun Tun

THURSDAYS
11 pm NG La Banda
SATURDAYS
5 pm Manana Club
Jardines del 1830

FRIDAYS
10 pm
Le Select
FRIDAYS
5 pm
Grupo Moncada and their project

Rueda de Casino
THURSDAYS
Tercera y 8
WEDNESDAYS Alain Daniel
11 pm
Piano Bar Habaneciendo

WEDNESDAYS
Azcar Negra
5 pm Osan del Monte

11 pm Kye 2
Saln Rojo del Hotel Capri

SUNDAYS
AND
SUNDAYS
Juan Guillermo
11 pm
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PAGE 37
MUSIC
JAZZ
Jazz Caf
Shows: 10:30pm - 2am
Mellow, sophisticated and freezing due to extreme

air conditioning, the Jazz Caf is not only an
excellent place to hear some of Cubas top jazz
musicians, but the open-plan design also provides
for a good bar atmosphere if you want to chat.
Less intimate than La Zorra y el Cuervo located
opposite Melia Cohiba Hotel.
Caf Jazz Miramar

Shows: 11 pm - 2am
This new jazz club has quickly established itself as

one of the very best places to hear some of Cubas
best musicians jamming. Forget about smoke filled
lounges, this is clean, brighttake the fags outside.
While it is difficult to get the exact schedule and in
any case expect a high level of improvisation when
it is good it is very good. A full house is something
of a mixed house since on occasion you will feel
like holding up your own silence please sign!
Nonetheless it gets the thumbs up from us.
Asociacin Cubana de Derechos de Autor Musical

JUNE 18
6 pm
Alexis Bosch (pianist) and Proyecto

Jazz Cubano.
Jardines del teatro Mella

JUNE 30
5pm
Zule Guerra (singer & composer)

and Blues DHavana
UNEAC
JUNE 11
5 pm
Pea La Esquina del Jazz hosted by

showman Bobby Carcasss.
contents
PAGE 38
MUSIC BOLERO, FOLKLORE, SON & TROVA

Asociacin Yoruba de Cuba
SUNDAYS
El Jelengue de Areto
Los Ibellis (Folkloric group)
4 pm
TUESDAYS
Conjunto Chappottn
5 pm
Elan Morales
WEDNESDAYS Trovando, a meeting with good
5pm
SATURDAYS
Son del Nene
5 pm
Caf Cantante, Teatro Nacional

THURSDAYS
MONDAYS
Waldo Mendoza
5pm
5 pm
trova.
FRIDAYS
Rumberos de Cuba
5 pm
Caf Concert El Sauce

JUNE 2, 9, 16,
23, 30
Charly Salgado and guest
8 pm
FRIDAYS
Rafael Espn and guests
4 pm
6 pm
FRIDAYS
4 pm
Pea El Canto de Todos, with
Vicente Feli
5 pm
SATURDAY
4 pm
Casa de la Cultura Comunitaria Mirta Aguirre

JULY 26
SATURDAYS
Bolero Night
Pabelln Cuba
Eduardo Sosa
5 pm
JULY 16
Hurn Azul, UNEAC
9 pm
Casa del Alba

JULY 3
Ivette Cepeda.
9:30 pm
Caf Teatro Bertolt Brecht

JUNE 27
Hotel Telgrafo
Get-together with trovador Ireno

Garca.
Pea Tres Tazas with trovador

Silvio Alejandro
Pea Participo with trovador Juan
Carlos Prez
Barbaram Pepitos Bar

SATURDAYS
Yaima Sez
10pm
Casa de la Cultura de Plaza

JULY 11
Pea with Marta Campos.
Fresa y Chocolate
TUESDAYS
7 pm
5pm
Trova hosted by Richard Luis and

Eric Mndez
Centro Cultural Habaneciendo

SUNDAYS
Filin with Fausto Durn and guests
3pm
5 pm
Pea La Juntamenta, with trovador

ngel Quintero.
Casa de la Msica Habana

SUNDAYS
Fernando Becquer
10:30pm
Centro Iberoamericano de la Dcima
Casa Memorial Salvador Allende

JULY 24
THURSDAYS
JULY 4
Duo Ad Libitum
3 pm
JULY 26
5 pm
El Jardn de la Gorda with trovadors

from every generation.
Yoruba Andabo
5 pm
contents
PAGE 39
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Photo Y. del Monte

Baslica Menor de San Francisco de Ass
JULY 4
6 pm
JULY 11
6 pm
JULY 18
AND 23
Concert with music by Wagner with the performance of soprano Johana Simn, who
accompanied by the pianist Krank Paredes will sing Wesendonck-Lieder and arias from
Lohengrin, Tannhuser, Walkyria and Tristan and Isolde.
Performance by the Lecuona trio (Lianne Vega on the piano, Alejandro Martnez on the cello
and Alberto Rosas, flute and director).
Concerts by the Camerata Romeu, conducted by Zenaida Romeu.
6/2 pm
Teatro Mart
SATURDAYS
Concerts by chamber soloists and ensembles.
4 pm
Casa del ALBA Cultural
JULY 3
Concert by the Mariana de Gonitch Singing Academy.
5 pm
JULY 5
Concert by the Nueva Camerata Wind Ensemble conducted by Haskell Armenteros.
5 pm
contents
PAGE 40
Casa de las Amricas

JULY 2
7 pm
JULY 3
6 pm
JULY 17
7 pm
Espacio Sonoro, dedicated to electroacoustic music by composers Juan Blanco (Cuba),

Horacio Vaggione (Argentina), Alfredo del Mnaco (Venezuela), Antonio Russek (Mexico),
Javier lvarez (Mexico), Alejandro Jos (Dominican Republic) and Reginaldo Carvalho (Brazil).
Percuba Ensemble, conducted by Damarik Favier, will perform contemporary works
composed for this peculiar instrumental format.
Performance by the Gay Mens Chorus of Washington, D.C., one of the oldest LGTB choral
organizations in the United States.
Casa Victor Hugo

JULY 11
Concert by guitarist Mabel Gonzlez.
5 pm
JULY 13
Musical gathering with guitarist Luis Manuel Molina and his Calis Duo.
4 pm
Centro Hispano Americano de Cultura
JULY 11
Concert by Nuestro Tiempo ensemble, conducted by Enrique Prez Mesa.
5 pm
Oratorio San Felipe Neri
JULY 2
7 pm
JULY 11
4 pm
JULY 13-18
Performance by Javier Zalba (saxophone) and Alejandro Calzadilla (clarinet) along with the
Orquesta de Cmara de La Habana, conducted by Daiana Garca.
Concert Contemporneos de Cuba y Amrica, with first violist Anolan Gonzlez, accompanied
on the piano by Beatriz Batista and soprano Laura Ulloa, and guest string quintet, who will
perform pieces composed especially for the Anolan Gonzlez as well as classical compositions
from the Latin American repertouire of composers Jorge Lpez Marn, Roberto Valera, Alfredo
Diez Nieto, Juan Piera, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Alejandro Martnez, Guido Lpez-Gaviln, Astor
Piazzolla and Rafael Hernndez.
Conociendo a Mozart (Getting to Know Mozart), summer workshops for adolescents
10 am
JULY 18
11 am
Concert by the Ventus Habana wind quintet, accompanied by the Schola Cantorum Coralina
chorus, conducted by Wilmia Verrier.
Sala Covarrubias. Teatro Nacional

JULY 25
8:30pm
JULY 26
Concert Un palco en la pera: arias, duos, scenes and overtures from operas of all time,
with Milagros de los ngeles, Alioska Jimnez, Kirenia Corzo, Laura de Mare, Yiln Sartorio,
Anisley Martnez, Dayana Lorente, Cristina Rodrguez, Dayami Prez, Marcos Lima, Hctor
Rodrguez, Ramn Centeno, Jorge Temprano and Lesby Bautista.
6 pm
Sala Gonzalo Roig. Palacio del Teatro Lrico Nacional
JULY 26
Cuerda Dominical, with guitarist Luis Manuel Molina.
5 pm
contents
PAGE 41
CINEMA
Organized by the Cuban Institute of Film Art and

Industry (ICAIC) and the Cinematheque of Cuba,
along with several other cultural institutions,
the Chaplin Festival took off on July 1 with the
presence of Oona Chaplin, granddaughter of
Charles Chaplin.
Besides the screening of short and feature films
by Chaplin, the festival includesfor the first
time in the American continentan exhibition of
objects and materials that belonged to the English
comedian, from the collection of Paddy McDonald,
one of the most important collectors on Chaplin
memorabilia. The exhibition will occupy the
galleries of the Charles Chaplin cinema, the ICAIC
Cultural Center and the Museo Nacional de Bellas
Artes (Cuban Art Building).
To close the festival, the National Symphony Orchestra will give a concert at the Sala Covarrubias of the
Teatro Nacional on July 12, 5pm. The program includes This Is My Song and Smile by Chaplin, along with
works by his favorite composers, including Leonard Bernstein.
PROGRAM
THU, JULY 2
5PM:
(Shorts) Behind the Screen, 1916, The Floorwalker, 1917, The Fireman, 1916
8PM:
(Shorts) By the Sea, 1915, The Immigrant, 1917, A Night in the Show, 1915
FRI, JULY 3
5PM:
(Shorts) The Adventurer, 1917) Easy Street, 1917, The Cure, 1917
8PM:
(Shorts) The Kid, 1921, The Immigrant, 1917, Behind the Screen, 1916
SAT, JULY 4
5PM:
(Shorts) The Pilgrim, 1923, A Night in the Show, 1915, His New Job, 1915
8PM:
Tillies Punctured Romance, 1914 / Mack Sennett
SUN JULY 5
5PM:
A Woman of Paris, 1923
8PM:
The Gold Rush, 1925
TUE, JULY 7
5PM:
The Circus, 1928
8PM:
City Lights, 1931
WED, JULY 8
5PM:
Modern Times, 1935
8PM:
The Great Dictator, 1940

Note: The films will be shown at Cine 23 y 12 & Cine Chaplin.
For more information, call 7833-6906 and 7831-1101, respectively
contents
PAGE 42
THEATRE
La oveja negra dando lea
Grupos La Oveja Negra & La Lea del Humor

July 10-11, 8:30pm; July 12, 5pm
Teatro Karl Marx
Comedy show by two of the most popular groups
within the genre.
Mecnica
Argos Teatro / Production: Carlos Celdrn

Fri & Sat 8:30pm; Sun 5pm, Argos Teatro
Play written by award-winning Abel Gonzlez
Melo, which based on Henrik Ibsens A Dolls
House, turns the conflict around while it deals
with an aspect of that is scarcely dealt with on the
Cuban stage: the world of the nouveau riche.
Muertecita de miedo
Through July 18. Tues, Wed, & Thurs, 8:30pm

Sala Adolfo Llaurad
One-man show with Ernesto Gonzlez Umpierre
(El Flacommico).
Decamern
La octava puerta
Teatro del Caballero / Production: Jos

Antonio Alonso
Fridays & Saturdays, 8:30pm; Sundays, 5pm
Sala Adolfo Llaurad
According to Jose Antonio Alonso, in this play
there is a convergence of several characters
that an actor left in his home when he moved to
Spain. They become the actors very essence: a
petulant transvestite who represses him, a rough
peasant, an experimentalist who has spent all his
life experimenting and has become twisted, and
an unfinished Oedipus Rex, who in addition to
being blind, there is a blackout in Havana and he
wants to go to Thebes with a blinThey become the
actors very essence: a petulant transvestite who
represses him, a rough peasant, an experimentalist
who has spent all his life experimenting and has
become twisted, and an unfinished Oedipus Rex,
who in addition to being blind, there is a blackout
in Havana and he wants to go to Thebes with a
blind destination. These are four conflicts that we
Cubans have and which are present anywhere in
the world.
Teatro El Pblico / Production: Carlos Daz

Fri & Sat 8:30pm; Sun 5pm
Teatro Triann
Several stories from Giovanni Boccaccios The
Decameron are put onstage with more than a hint
at Cuba today. Those who expect nudity galore
from Carlos Daz are in for a surprise.
contents
PAGE 43
FOR KIDS
Mowgli, el mordido por los

lobos
Teatro La Proa
Saturdays & Sundays, 11pm
Sala Adolfo Llaurad
With a structure that is very close to the story,

this puppet show, based on Rudyard Kiplings The
Jungle Book, is a call to overcome the difficulties
of life.
La muchachita del mar
Caras blancas
Free adaptation of the fairy tale The Little Mermaid

by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.
Show by Teatro Tuyo, directed by Ernesto Parra.
Los payasos olvidados y

enamorados
El to Coyote y el to Conejo
Grupo Retablos
July 16 & 17, 5pm
Teatro Nacional de Guiol
Teatro Papalote
July 31, 5pm
Written and directed by Ren Fernndez, this

is the love story of two clowns, in which the
protagonists, who become involved in complex
but fun situations, dance, sing and act in a play of
theater within the theater.
Teatro Tuyo
July 17, 11am; July 18 & 19, 11am & 5pm
Grupo de teatro El Arca

Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, 3pm
Teatro de tteres El Arca
Along with puppeteer and actor Adalett Perez,

Uncle Rabbit and Uncle Coyote play pranks in
Mrs. Federicas orchard until, with the help of the
audience, they discover that you have to respect
what is not yours. The show ends with Cotorrita
Alegra puppet
contents
PAGE 44
EVENTS IN HAVANA
III Festival Nacional
Creciendo en el Hip Hop
July
Havana
The Cuban Rap Agency and the Cuban Institute of
Music have organized this festival in which Cuban
children and teenagers have the opportunity to
discover their talents in the stylistic elements of
the subculture of rapping, Djing, breakdancing and
graffiti writing.
Cuballet 2015
July 6-31
Centro Prodanza
Under the guidance of the teacher and
choreographer Laura Alonso, and directed by
choreographer Alberto Mendez, creator of
anthological pieces of Cuban ballet, such as
Tarde en la siesta, the event will address the
peculiarities of the Cuban school of ballet through
special courses for students and teachers. The
program includes classes in ballet, pointe work,
adagio, repertoire, physical efficiency, modern
dance, Spanish dance, Cuban dances, acting and
makeup. The Laura Alonso Ballet, along with the
international participants, will stage the original
version of Marius Petipas Don Quixote.
Circuba 2015
July 8-13, Karl Marx Theater, Carpa Trompoloco, Cabaret Copa Room
Trapeze, balancing on cylinders, fabrics, ribbons,
net and aerial hoop, and tightrope walking are
some of the acts of traditional and contemporary
circus that will characterize this years festival.
Among the participating artists, the Moscowbased Rosgoscirk will return this year with a
juggling act starring Diana Stepanova; Russia will
also bring Ekaterina Malysheva and Andrei Petrov
in aerial silk, while Italy will be represented by
Lucas Marrocchi performing on the pole. From
Germany, the Academy of Acrobatic Arts will
present numbers on the fixed trapeze and hula
hoop. Cuban performers Jorge Perezoff and Zoima
Vzquez, who now live in Spain, will exhibit traditional juggling with hoops. The opening gala will be
held at the Karl Marx Theatre on Wednesday 8, 9pm. The Copa Room of the Riviera Hotel will host
performances from July 10-12. Meanwhile, the competition will take place at the recently renovated
Trompoloco big tent.
contents
PAGE 45
EVENTS IN HAVANA
Feria de Arte en La Rampa

Opens July 10
Pabelln Cuba
As is customary every summer since the year
2000, the Art at La Rampa Crafts Fair opens its
door at the Pabelln Cuba, emblematic building of
1960s Cuban architecture, with an attractive offer
that includes the sale of serigraphs, footwear,
clothing, costume jewelry, fans, household goods,
furniture, ornaments, and much more. Fashion
shows, concerts and activities for the kiddies will
also take place during the Fair.
AM-PM Amrica por su

Msica
July 18-23
Fbrica de Arte Cubano
Musicians and agents from the continent will be
meeting in Havana during the first edition of this
encounter that will deal with the sound scene
in Cuba and Latin America. The event includes
16 mini concerts, from Cuban trova to jazz, with
performances by Harold Lpez-Nussa, Yissy y
Banda Ancha, Kelvis Ochoa, Sntesis and David
Blanco, just to name a few.
contents
PAGE 46
EVENTS IN HAVANA
Rutas y Andares 2015

The successful, traditional summer tours organized by the City Historians Office since 2001 bring the
rich cultural heritage of Havana closer to its people and visitors. This years tours are also focused on
family participation.
Tickets on sale at Museo de la Ciudad, Museo de Arte Colonial, Convento de San Francisco de Ass,
Museo Casa Natal de Jos Mart, and Maqueta del Centro Histrico, Mon-Sun, 9am-5pm. For detailed
information, call 7866 4035 / 7864 4336-37 (ext. 107) at the Centro de Informacin Cultural, Oficios # 8
e/ Obispo y Obrapa, La Habana Vieja.
Rutas (Routes)
The Animal World
Art in Ethnographic Museums
Animals as constituents of drugs in antiquity and

symbolism in pharmacy; celestial zodiac fauna and
Cuban fish species
Visit to collections of visual and decorative arts,

with an ethnographic view of the manners and
customs of Arab, African, Asian and American
nations.
Tues, July 14/28, Aug 11, 10am
Tues, July 14, Aug 4/18, 10am

Planetario & Aqvarivm
Tues, July 21, Aug 11, 10am
Casa Benito Jurez, Casa Oswaldo Guayasamn &

Casa Simn Bolvar
Museo de la Farmacia Habanera & Farmacia

Taquechel
Tues, July 21, Aug 4/18, 10am

Casa de Asia, Casa de frica & Casa de los rabes
contents
PAGE 47
Coffee Route:
a culture from the palate
Jos Mart
on the road to the liberators
Its origin in African, introduction in Europe and

arrival in Cuba (from colonial time to the present
used as theme in Cuban contemporary art)
Dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the start

of the last stage for Cubas liberation of Spanish
colonialism led by Jos Mart and the Cuban
Revolutionary Party
Tues, 10am
Museo de la Ciudad, de Arte Colonial, Numismtico,
Napolenico, Casa de los rabes, Casa de frica &
Palacio de Lombillo. Taller de Papel Artesanal and
Perfumera Habana 1791, only guided tours
Thursdays, 10am
JULY 9
Museo de la Ciudad (Hall of Flags),

includes virtual tour of Museo
Casa Natal de Jos Mart
JULY 16
JULY 23
Museo Numismtico
Tues, July 21, 10am

Museo Napolenico
Quinta de los Molinos

Plants, animals and the environment
Tuesdays, 10am
Jos Mart
on the road to the liberators
Dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the start
of the last stage for Cubas liberation of Spanish
colonialism led by Jos Mart and the Cuban
Revolutionary Party
JULY 7
Example of heritage management
JULY 14
History of the Quinta de los

Molinos
JULY 21
Knowing the trees at the Quinta
Thursdays, 10am
JULY 28
Bonsai growing
JULY 9
AUGUST 4
Animals. care and handling
Museo de la Ciudad (Hall of Flags),

includes virtual tour of Museo
Casa Natal de Jos Mart
AUGUST 11
Pigeons, care and handling
JULY 16
AUGUST 18
Ornamental plants at the Quinta
JULY 23
Museo Numismtico
Baroque Art
Alicia Alonso. Orbit of a legend

Fridays, 10am
Tribute to the Cuban prima ballerina assoluta ton

her 95th birthday
JULY 10
The Baroque
Centro Hispano-Americano de Cultura, 2pm
JULY 17
Baroque architecture
JULY 9
JULY 31
Baroque painting
Exhibition Giselle and Carmen,

documentary Alicia Alonso. rbita
de una leyenda
AUGUST 7
Baroque sculpture
JULY 16
AUGUST 14
The decorative arts in the Baroque
Lecture Carmen and Alonso by

Eduardo Heras Len
AUGUST 21
Music in the Baroque
JULY 23
Lecture You are

Roberto Mendez
Giselle
by
JULY 30
Lecture You are

Roberto Mendez
Giselle
by
AUGUST 6
Guided tour to the Museum of

Dance
AUGUST 13
Educational show An encounter

with dance by Miguel Cabrera
AUGUST 20
Lecture Eternal dance by Ahmed

Pieiro
contents
PAGE 48
Andares (Walks)
Virtual walks for the elderly
Walking with the Walkers

Departure: Plaza de Armas or otherwise
indicated, 10am
JULY 8
Pogolotti
neighborhood.
Departure: Calle 51 y 94, Centro
Deportivo
Jess
Menndez,
Marianao
JULY 15
Culinary art in Havana
JULY 22
Lithographic art
JULY 29
Clandestine in Havana
AUGUST 5
Image of men. Departure: Plazuela

de Compostela, entre Luz y Acosta
AUGUST 12
Soara Habana cartoon story.

Departure: Plaza de la Catedral
AUGUST 19
Havanas mural heritage in the

Republican era: Hiplito de
Caviedes
Reservations by telephone or in person at the place

where the activity will be held. Free of charge.
Starts at 10am
JULY 6
Quinta de los Molinos: Universal

Heritage
JULY 8
Museo Casa Natal de Jos Mart:

Mart in Dominican Republic
JULY 9,
AUG 6
Casa de la Poesa: Egypt, the

known and the unknown
JULY 14
Quinta de los Molinos
JULY 15
Museo Casa Natal de Jos Mart.

Mart in Venezuela
Archivo Histrico de la Oficina
del
Historiador
(Edificio
Santo Domingo, Oficios entre
Mercaderes y San Ignacio, Tel 7869
7386, exts. 38613, 38614 & 38615)
Knowing Cuba from its maps and
drawings. A look at the collection
of the Historical Archives of the
Office of the City Historian.
JULY 16
Fbrica de Arte Cubano: industrial

heritage. Reservations at Casa de
las Tejas Verdes)
Walking with Architecture

Departure: Plaza de Armas, 10am
JULY 9
Courtyards
JULY 16
Facades
JULY 23
Stained-glass windows
JULY 30
Interior design
JULY 15 & 30
AUG 10/20
Casa Victor Hugo, the Palace of

Versailles
AUGUST 6
Architecture in banks
JULY 20
AUGUST 13
Religious architecture
Planetarium: Exploring the solar

system
AUGUST 20
Public civil architecture
JULY 22
Museo Casa Natal de Jos Mart

Mart: song
AUGUST 17
Casa Victor Hugo: Music in 19thcentury periodicals (Reservations

Tel. 7869 7262, ext. 26205)
AUG 19 & 21
Museo
Napolenico:
French
Architecture and styles in El
Vedado
Walking with Contemporary Art

Departure: Plaza de Armas, 10am
JULY 10
From paper to celluloid
JULY 17
Design behind closed doors
JULY 31
Multiple originals in visual arts
AUGUST 7
Ceramics
AUGUST 14
Public art site I
AUGUST 21
Public art site II
Open House at the Capitolio

Building
Visit to the restoration project of Havanas
Capitolio. Given the characteristics of this work
and the safety and protection measures required,
the tour will be reserved by telephone at the
Centro de Informacin Cultural (7866 4035). The
visits will be free of charge.
contents
PAGE 49
AROUND CUBA
Fiesta de la Msica
Alternativa Ciudad del
Mar
Terry Theater, Tropisur, Cubansimo, Centro
Cultural Julio Antonio Mella, Jardines de la
UNEAC and Plaza de Actos
Performances include 45 bands and soloists,
such as Karamba, Qva Libre, Arnaldo Rodrguez
y su Talismn, La Charanga Latina, Son del Nene,
Yoruba Andabo, Adrin Berazan, Buena Fe,
Ernesto & David Blanco, Mayco DAlma, Pedro
Luis Ferrer, Will Campa, Tanmy Lpez, Waldo
Mendoza, Tania Pantoja and Dayani Gutirrez,
who will join the Lucas Project and the Piso 6 and
Cuerda viva TV shows. The opening will be held on
July 2 at 9pm at the Theater Terry with the concert
A golpe de sombrero, featuring Karamba, Qva
Libre and Adrin Berazan, who host the project of
the same name. Qva Libre, Tania Pantoja and the
Lucas Project will perform at the Plaza de Actos at
midnight, while Karamba, Will Campa and David
Blanco have announced a duel with different
music styles and three numbers each at Plaza de
Actos, July 5, 11:30pm.
XXXV Festival Internacional del Caribe

July 3-9
Santiago de Cuba
This meeting of cultures of the Caribbean people will be one of the main celebrations for the half
millennium of the founding of the Santiago de Cuba, the Festivals host city since 1984. Dedicated
this year to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the festival will feature more than 1,000 guests from
30 countries around the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe, as well as scholars and exponents of
Cuban traditional popular culture. Dominicans Johnny Ventura and Maridalia Hernandez, founding
member of the 440 band along with Juan Luis Guerra, will be performing at the Heredia Theater on
July 4 and 5, respectively. During the event, the Caribbean Carnival Network will be created under the
auspices of the Association of Caribbean States to heighten this musical and dance expression so deeprooted in the region. International Awards Casa del Caribe will be given to Cuban poet Waldo Leyva,
to founding members of the Festival del Caribe and to the Junkanoo, an autochthonous music and
dance manifestation of the Bahamas. As usual, the Caribbean that Unites Us Colloquium is the principal
theoretical activity, which will include a workshop on popular religiosity, a panel of historians who will
talk about Cuban towns that are 500 years old, the Almas Nuevas meeting of young artists, the Meeting
of Caribbean Poets, the popular and well-liked serpent and fire parades, the Haitian and West Indian
parties, and the tribute to slave rebelliousness
II Festival Filtro de Campaa, Bayamo 2015

July 10-17
Bayamo Theater, Bayamo, Granma Province
This meeting of performing arts in the eastern region will include notable critics of the Cuban stage,
with the participation of specialists from Casa de las Americas, the Tablas Alarcos Magazine and theater
and dance groups y from Granma, Holgun, Las Tunas and Camagey Provinces.
contents
PAGE 50
CUBANOS - ISLAND PORTRAITS

photographs by Lorenzo DeStefano
THE MUSEUM OF VENTURA COUNTY

July 18September 13, 2015
Saturday July 18, 10am12 noon

ARTWALK VENTURA 2015 LAUNCH EVENT
Cuban Breakfast Lecture
Guests include Bill Hendricks, Lorenzo DeStefano,

and visiting Cuban artists Pedro Pulido and Victor Pina Tabio
Saturday July 18, 12:30pm5:00pm

Exhibition Opening
CUBANOS-ISLAND PORTRAITS
w/ photographer Lorenzo DeStefano
In celebration of Artwalk Ventura 2015, the Museum of Ventura County will showcase 16 black & white
photographs by Lorenzo DeStefano, among the hundreds created during his journeys to Cuba. Between
1993 and 1998 DeStefano traversed the islands urban centers as well as its lesser known rural provinces,
capturing intimate portraits of its inhabitants. Through his photographs we see fresh glimpses of everyday
life, introducing us to people whose faces reaffirm our common humanity.
The Museum of Ventura County
100 E. Main Street, Ventura, Ca. 93001
www.venturamuseum.org / 805 641-1876
Havanas best places to eat
La Guarida
El Atelier
Bella Ciao
4+
Caf Bohemia
Caf Laurent
4+
EXPERIMENTAL FUSION
HOMELY ITALIAN
CAF
SPANISH/MEDITERRANEAN
Interesting dcor, interesting

menu.
Great service, good prices. A

real home from home.
Bohemian feel. Great

sandwiches, salads & juices
Attractive penthouse restaurant

with breezy terrace.
Calle 5 e/ Paseo y 2, Vedado

(+53) 7-836-2025
Calle 19 y 72, Playa

(+53) 7-206-1406
Calle San Ignacio #364, Habana

Vieja
Calle M #257, e/ 19 y 21, Vedado

(+53) 7-831-2090
Casa Miglis
El Chanchullero
La California
La Casa
CUBAN-CREOLE/INTERNATIONAL
CONTEMPORARY FUSION
SWEDISH-CUBAN FUSION
Beautiful C19 colonial building.

Great fresh pastas.
VIP service. The Robaina family

place. Thurs Sushi night.
Oasis of good food & taste in

Centro Habana
Fabulous value hole in the wall

tapas. Trendy.
Calle Crespo #55 e/ San Lzaro

y Refugio, Centro Habana
(+53) 7-863 7510
Calle 30 #865 e/ 26 y 41, Nuevo

Vedado
(+53) 7-881-7000
Lealtad #120 e/ nimas y

Lagunas, Centro Habana
(+53) 7-864-1486
Teniente Rey #457 bajos, Plaza

del Cristo, Habana Vieja
(+53) 7-872-8227
Le Chansonnier
El Cocinero
Corte Prncipe
5+
Il Divino
4+
CONTEMPORARY FUSION
INTERNATIONAL
ITALIAN
INTERNATIONAL
Stylish & contemporary with

good food. Expensive.
Industrial chic alfresco rooftop

with a buzzing atmosphere
Sergios place. Simple dcor,

spectacular food.
Set in huge gardens outside

town. Great for the kids.
Calle J #257 e/ Lnea y 15,

Vedado
(+53) 7-832-1576
Calle 26, e/ 11 y 13, Vedado.

(+53) 7-832-2355
Calle 9na esq. a 74, Miramar

(+53) 5-255-9091
Calle Raquel, #50 e/ Esperanza

y Lindero, Arroyo Naranjo
(+53) 7-643-7734
D. Eutimia
5+
Esperanza
4+
La Fontana
La Guarida
5+
CUBAN/CREOLE
CUBAN FUSION
INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
Absolutely charming. Excellent

Cuban/creole food.
Intimate, idiosyncratic &

charming (not cheap).
Consistently good food,

attentive service. Old school.
Justifiably famous. Follow in

the footsteps of Queen of Spain
Callejn del Chorro #60C, Plaza

de la Catedral, Habana Vieja
(+53) 7 861 1332
Calle 16 #105 e/ 1ra y 3ra,

Miramar
(+53) 7-202-4361
Calle 46 #305 esq. a 3ra,

Miramar
(+53) 7-202-8337
Concordia #418 e/ Gervasio y

Escobar, Centro Habana
(+53) 7-866-9047
Habana Mia 7
Ivn Chef
5+
El Litoral
5+
Nautilus
INTERNATIONAL GOURMET
SPANISH
INTERNATIONAL
FRENCH/MEDITERRANEAN
Endless summer nights.

Excellent food and service.
Brilliantly creative and rich

food.
Watch the world go by at the

Malecns best restaurant.
Imaginative, tasty and

innovative menu.
Paseo #7 altos e/ 1ra y 3ra.

Vedado
(+53) 7-830-2287
Aguacate #9 esq. a Chacn,

Habana Vieja
(+53) 7-863-9697
Malecn #161 e/ K y L, Vedado

(+53) 7-830-2201
Calle 84 #1116 e/ 11 y 13. Playa

(+53) 5-237-3894
Nazdarovie
5+
Opera
Otra Manera
Ro Mar
SOVIET
INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
Well designed Soviet dcor,

excellent food & good service.
Homely & intimate

environment. Quality food. By
reservation.
Beautiful modern decor.

Interesting menu and good
service.
Contemporary dcor. Great

sea-view. Good food.
Calle 5ta #204 e/ E y F, Vedado

(+53) 5-263-1632
(+53) 8-31-2255
Calle #35 e/ 20 y 41, Playa.

(+53) 7-203-8315
Santy
Starbien
Malecon #25, 3rd floor e Prado

y Carcel, Centro Habana
(+53) 7-860-2947
San Cristbal
5+
Ave. 3raA y Final #11, La Puntilla,

Miramar
(+53) 7-209-4838
5+
VIP Havana
CUBAN/CREOLE
SUSHI/ORIENTAL
SPANISH
Deservedly popular.Consistently
great food. Kitsch dcor.
Authentic fishermans shack

servicing world-class sushi.
Fabulous food and great service

in the heart of Vedado.
Jordis place. Fabulous modern

open-plan space.
San Rafael #469 e/ Lealtad y

Campanario, Centro Habana
(+53) 7-860-9109
Calle 240A #3023 esq. a 3ra C,

Jaimanitas
(+53) 5-286-7039
Calle 29 #205 e/ B y C, Vedado

(+53) 7-830-0711
Calle 9na #454 e/ E y F, Vedado

(+53) 7-832-0178
contents
July 2015
PAGE 52
La Guarida
5+
TOP PICK
Style of food
Contemporary fusion
Cost Expensive
www.laguarida.com
Type of place Private (Paladar)

Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for Authentic, charming and intimate
atmosphere in Cubas best known
restaurant. Great food, professional. Classy.
Dont Miss Uma Thurman, Beyonc or the
Queen of Spain if they happen to be dining
next to you.
Concordia #418 e/ Gervasio y Escobar, Centro
Habana.
(+53) 7-866-9047
El Litoral
5+
TOP PICK
Style of food
International
Cost Expensive
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for Quality dcor, good service and
great food. Best new place recently opened.
Dont Miss Drinking a cocktail at sunset
watching the world go by on the Malecn
Malecn #161 e/ K y L, Vedado.
(+53) 7-830-2201
Nazdarovie
5+
TOP PICK
Style of food
Soviet
Cost Moderate
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for Getting a flavor of Cuban-Soviet history along with babuskas traditional dishes
in a classy locale.
Dont miss Vodka sundowners on the
gorgeous terrace overlooking the malecon.
Malecon #25 3rd floor e/ Prado y Carcel, Centro
Habana
(+53) 7-860-2947
Santy
5+
TOP PICK
Style of food
Sushi
Cost Moderate
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for Fabulous sushi, wonderful ambience
overlooking fishing boats heading out to sea.
World class.
Dont miss Getting a reservation here.
Calle 240A #3023 esq. 3raC, Jaimanitas
(+53) 5-286-7039
contents
July 2015
PAGE 53
Ivn Chef Justo
5+
TOP PICK
Style of food
Spanish
Cost Expensive
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for Spectacular innovative food. Light
and airy place where it always seems to feel
like Springtime.
Dont Miss The lightly spiced grilled mahimahi served with organic tomato relish.
Try the suckling pig and stay for the cuatro
leches.
Aguacate #9, Esq. Chacn, Habana Vieja.
(+53) 7-863-9697 / (+53) 5-343-8540
Casa Miglis
TOP PICK
Style of food
Swedish-Cuban fusion
Cost Expensive
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for The beautifully designed interior,
warm ambience and Migliss personality
create the feeling of an oasis in Central
Havana.
Dont Miss Chatting with Mr Miglis.
The Skaargan prawns, beef Chilli and
lingonberries.
Lealtad #120 e/ nimas y Lagunas, Centro Habana
(+53) 7-864-1486
www.casamiglis.com
Habana Ma 7
TOP PICK
Style of food
International gourmet
Cost Moderate
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for Stylish and fresh dcor give a
Mediterranean feel for long endless summer
nights. Excellent food and service.
Dont miss Watching the world go by on the
lovely terrace overlooking the ocean.
Paseo #7 altos e/ 1ra y 3ra, Vedado
(+53) 7-830-2287
www.habanamia7.com
La California
TOP PICK
Style of food
Cuban-Creole/International
Cost Moderate
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for Beautiful C19 colonial building.
Popular place with quality food and great
service. Love the fresh pastas.
Dontt Miss The interesting history of the
neighbourhood, where Chano Pozo (legendary Afro-Cuban jazz percussionist) hung out.
Calle Crespo #55 e/ San Lzaro y Refugio,
Centro Habana
(+53) 7-863-7510
contents
July 2015
PAGE 54
Atelier
TOP PICK
Style of food
Experimental fusion
Cost Expensive
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for Interesting menu, beautiful building
with great dcor and service.
Dont miss Dinner on the breezy terrace
during summer.
Calle 5ta e/ Paseo y 2, Vedado
(+53) 7-836-2025
atelierdedecuba@yahoo.es
La Casa
TOP PICK
Style of food
International/sushi
Cost Expensive
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for Warm hospitality and openness
from the four generations of the Robaina
family. Quality food.
Dont miss Thursday night sushi night.
The Pia Colada.
Calle 30 #865 e/ 26 y 41, Nuevo Vedado.
(+53) 7-881-7000
alerobaina@restaurantelacasacuba.com
Otramanera
TOP PICK
Style of food
International
Cost Moderate
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for Beautiful modern dcor and good
food.
Dont miss Pork rack of ribs in honey. Sweet
& sour sauce and grilled pineapple
Calle 35 #1810 e/ 20 y 41, Playa
(+53) 7-203-8315
otramaneralahabana@gmail.com
reservas@otramaneralahabana.com
Opera
TOP PICK
Style of food
International
Cost Moderate
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for Best for Homely & Intimate
enviroment Quality food in a beautiful
setting.
Dont miss Fresh pasta, vegetarian dishes
and quail.
Calle 5ta #204 e/ E y F, Vedado
(+53) 5-263-1632 / (+53) 8-31-2255
contents
July 2015
PAGE 55
La Guarida
This remains the islands best

restaurant, combining a sophisticated
and hip ambience with solid food
preparation
Cigar Aficionado
The greatest and most magical is La Guarida, so magical that

it is tempting to protect it by with holding its address
The Guardian
Havanas legendary paladar just got better with the opening of a new cocktail
terrace that offers fabulous views, a funky vibe and Havanas best bartenders.
Concordia #418 e/ cuba

Gervasio ysEscobar,
Centro Habana
/ (+53) 7-866-9047
digital
destination
contents
PAGE 56
OPERA
Best for Homely &

Intimate enviroment
Quality food in a
beautiful setting
Dont miss: Fresh pasta, vegetarian dishes and quail
Dinner: 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Address: Calle 5ta No. 204 e/ E y F. Vedado
Lunch by reservation only

Tel: 831 2255 Cel: 52631632
Closed on Tuesday
opera.cuba@gmail.com
NAZDAROVIE OFFERS YOU SPECIAL LUNCH MENUS

DURING THE SUMMER SEASON!
Beginning on June 29, Nazdarovie, your Soviet cuisine restaurant in Havana, offers special lunch menus
For only CUC 10, you can enjoy:

One Nazdarovie Shot (frozen vodka with lemon and caviar)
Slavic soup of the day (Borsch / Salianka / Akroshka) with
homemade black bread
One main Dish to choose:
* Kotleta Kiev (breaded chicken with butter inside) and mashed
potatoes
* Pollo Tabaka (chicken Georgian style) with pieces of wild
potatoes, homemade pickles and adzhika sauce
* Shaslik (Armenian style skewers) of meat (pork, chicken,
turkey, beef or mutton) and vegetables, with segments of wild
potatoes, homemade pickles and adzhika sauce
* Pescado con crema rusa (fresh Russian style fish with
smetana cream, dill and fine herbs) served with mashed potatoes
Dessert: Blinchiki with cottage cheese, smetana and wild berry
marmalade
Enjoy the taste of the food from the former republics of the
Soviet Union and the best view of the Malecn in Havana
For just CUC 10!
contents
PAGE 59
OM is Otramanera: another way

Another way of understanding and enjoying gastronomy in a
unique locale where each detail is important.
A restaurant that adapts to market availability and to the
seasons, serving fresh quality products.
Calle 35 #1810 e/ 20 y 41, Playa / (+53) 7-203-8315

otramaneralahabana@gmail.com / reservas@otramaneralahabana.com
Sloppy Joes
Havanas best Bars & Clubs

Traditional Bars
El Floridita
4+
Hemingways daiquiri bar.

Touristy but always full of life.
Great cocktails.
Obispo #557 esq. a Monserrate,
Habana Vieja
(+53) 7-867-1299
Factora
Plaza Vieja
Sloppy
Joes Bar
4+
ANTIGUO ALMACN
MADERA Y EL TABACO
Recently (beautifully)
renovated. Full of history.
Popular. Lacks a little grime.
Microbrewery. Serves ice

chilled bong of light locally
brewed beer.
nimas esq. a Zulueta, Habana

Vieja
(+53) 7-866-7157
San Ignacio esq. a Muralla,

Plaza Vieja, Habana Vieja
(+53) 7-866-4453
Cervecera
5+
DE
LA
Microbrewery located
overlooking the restored docks
Simply brilliant.
Avenida del Puerto y San
Ignacio, La Habana Vieja
Contemporary Bars
El Cocinero
5+
Fabulous rooftop setting, great

service, cool vibe.
Calle 26 e/ 11 y 13, Vedado
(+53) 7-832-2355
Espacios
5-
Laid back contemporary bar

with a real buzz in the back
beer-garden.
TaBARish
A comfortable place to chat

/ hang out with your friends.
Great service.
Calle 10 #510, e/ 5ta y 31,

Miramar

(next to the Puente de Hierro)
(+53) 5-329-6325
www.facebook.com/fabrica.
deartecubano
(+53) 7-202-9188
Contemporary bars/clubs
Don Cangrejo
4+
Love it/hate itthis is the

oldest Friday night party
place and is still going strong.
Outdoor by the sea.
Bolabana
Trendy new location near Saln

Rosado de la Tropical
Calle 39 esq. 50, Playa
Other
Meli Sports Bar
Up & Down
From the team that brought

you Sangri-La. Attracting
a young party crowd, very
popular. Take a coat.
Big-screen sports-bar in
modern outdoor terrace. Good
for sports and live music.
Meli Habana Hotel
Ave. 3ra e/ 76 y 80, Miramar
(+53) 7-204-8500
El Gato Tuerto
4+
Late night place to hear

fabulous bolero singers. Can
get smoky.
El Tocororo
Ave. 21 e/ 36 y 42, Miramar

(+53) 7-264-8343
4+
Expat favorite hangout. Small

indoor bar with live music and
eclectic clientele.
Calle O e/ 17 y 19, Vedado

(+53) 7-833-2224
Sangri-La
For the cool kids. Basement

bar/club which gets packed at
weekends.
Calle 3ra y B, Vedado
Ave. 1ra e/ 16 & 18, Miramar

(+53) 7-204-3837
5+
X Alfonsos new cultural center.

Great concerts, funky young
scene.
Calle 20 #503, e/ 5ta y 7ma.
(+53) 7-836-3031
Fbrica
de Arte
Calle 18 e/ 3ra y 5ta, Miramar
Bertolt Brecht
Think MTV Unplugged. Hip,

funky and unique with an artsy
Cuban crowd.
Calle 13 e/ I y J, Vedado
(+53) 7-830-1354
Gay-friendly
Cabaret
Las Vegas
Can get dark and smoky but

great drag show (11pm) from
Divinoone of Cubas most
accomplished drag acts.
Infanta #104 e/ 25 y 27, Vedado.
(+53) 7-870-7939
Humboldt 52
One of the hottest venues

for gay nightlife in Havana at
present.
Humboldt #52 e/ Infanta y
Hospital, Centro Habana.
(+53) 5-330-2989
Fashion
Bar Havana
A superb example of
queer class meets camp,
accompanied by a fantastic
floor show.
San Juan de Dios, esq. a
Aguacate, Habana Vieja
(+53) 7-867-1676
Caf Bar
Madrigal
Pop dcor, fancy cocktails, and

the staffs supercilious attitude,
this is a gathering spot for all
types of folks.
Calle 17 #809 e/ 2 y 4, Vedado
(+53) 7-831-2433
contents
July 2015
PAGE 61
Bertolt Brecht
TOP PICK
CONTEMPORARY BAR/CLUBS
Ambience
Popularity
Entertainment
Service & drinks
Best for Hanging out with hip & funky
Cubans who like their live music.
Dont Miss Interactivo playing on a
Wednesday evening.
(+53) 7-830-1354
Espacios
5-
TOP PICK
CONTEMPORARY BAR
Ambience
Popularity
Entertainment
Service & drinks
Best for Laid back lounge atmosphere in
the garden area which often has live music.
Good turnover of people.
Dont Miss Ray Fernandez, Tony Avila, Yasek
Mazano playing live sets in the garden.
Calle 10 #510 e/ 5ta y 31, Miramar
(+53) 7-202-2921
Sangri-La
5+
TOP PICK
CONTEMPORARY BAR/CLUB
Ambience
Popularity
Entertainment
Service & drinks
Best for Hanging out with the cool kids on
the Havana Farundula in the most popular
bar/club.
Dont Miss The best gin and tonic in Havana.
Ave. 21 e/ 36 y 42, Miramar
(+53) 5-264-8343
Bolabana
TOP PICK
CONTEMPORARY
Ambience
Popularity
Entertainment
Service & drinks
Best for Trendy new location near Saln
Rosado de la Tropical
Dont Miss Hipsters meet the Havana
Farndula
Calle 39 esq. 50, Playa
contents
July 2015
PAGE 62
Humboldt 52
TOP PICK
GAY FRIENDLY
Ambience
Popularity
Entertainment
Service & drinks
Best for Hot staff, comfortable setting, and
welcoming vibe at Havanas first full-time,
openly-gay bar
Dont Miss The disco ball, a talented opera
duo performing Wednesdays and karaoke
and drag performances other days of the
week
Humboldt #52 e/ Infanta y Hospital,
Centro Habana.
(+53) 5-330-2989
Fbrica de Arte
5+
TOP PICK
CONTEMPORARY BAR
Ambience
Popularity
Entertainment
Service & drinks
Best for X Alfonsos superb new cultural
center has something for everyone
Dont Miss Ne pas manquer Les meilleurs
musiciens cubains
(next to the Puente de Hierro)
Fashion Bar Havana
TOP PICK
GAY-FRIENDLY
Ambience
Popularity
Entertainment
Service & drinks
Best for A superb example of queer class
meets camp, accompanied by a fantastic
floor show.
Dont Miss The staff performing after 11pm
San Juan de Dios, esq. a Aguacate, Habana Vieja
(+53) 7-867-1676
TaBARish
TOP PICK
CONTEMPORARY BAR/CLUB
Ambience
Popularity
Entertainment
Service & drinks
Best for A comfortable place to chat / hang
out with your friends. Great service.
Dont Miss The homemade Russian soup
just like Matushka makes it.
Calle 20 #503, e/ 5ta y 7ma.
(+53) 7-202-9188
contents
July 2015
PAGE 63
Havanas best live music venues
Concert venues
Karl Marx
Theatre
World class musicians perform

prestigious concerts in Cubas
best equipped venue.
Calle 1ra esq. a 10, Miramar
(+53) 7-203-0801
Baslica San
Francisco de Ass
A truly beautiful church,

which regularly hosts fabulous
classical music concerts.
Fbrica de Arte
X Alfonsos new cultural center.

Great concerts inside (small
and funky) and outside (large
and popular!).
Oficios y Amargura, Plaza de

San Francisco de Ass, Habana
Vieja
Calle 26 e/ 11 y 13, Vedado (next

to the Puente de Hierro)
Jazz Caf
Priv Lounge
Sala Covarrubias
TEATRO NACIONAL
Recently renovated, one of

Cubas most prestigious venues
for a multitude of events.
Paseo y 39, Plaza de la
Revolucin.
Jazz
Caf Jazz
Miramar
4+
Clean, modern and

atmospheric. Where Cubas
best musicians jam and
improvise.
Galeras de Paseo
Ave. 1ra e/ Paseo y A, Vedado
Cine Teatro Miramar

10:30pm 2am
Ave. 5ta esq. a 94, Miramar
Salsa/Timba
Caf Cantante
Mi Habana
Attracts the best Cuban

musicians. Recently renovated
with an excellent new sound
system.
Ave. Paseo esq. a 39, Plaza de la
Revolucin
(+53) 7-878-4273
Contemporary
Caf Teatro
Bertolt Brecht
Think MTV Unplugged when

musicians play. Hip, funky and
unique with an artsy Cuban
crowd.
(+53) 7-830-1354
Trova & traditional

Barbaram
Pepitos Bar
4+
Some of the best Cuban Nueva

Trova musicians perform
in this small and intimate
environment.
Calle 26 esq. a Ave. del
Zoolgico. Nuevo Vedado
(+53) 7-881-1808
A staple of Havanas jazz

scene, the best jazz players
perform here. Somewhat cold
atmosphere-wise.
Casa de la
Msica
5+
Small and intimate lounge

club with great acoustics and
beautiful decor. Jazz groups
play Sunday night.
Casa de la
Msica
CENTRO HABANA
MIRAMAR
A little rough around the edges

but spacious. For better or
worse, this is ground zero for
the best in Cuban salsa.
Smaller and more up-market

than its newer twin in Centro
Habana. An institution in the
Havana salsa scene.
Galiano e/ Neptuno y
Concordia, Centro Habana
(+53) 7-860-8296/4165
Calle 20 esq. a 35, Miramar

(+53) 7-204-0447
Don Cangrejo
4+
Love it/hate itthis is the

oldest Friday night party
place and is still going strong.
Outdoor by the sea.
Ave. 1ra e/ 16 y 18, Miramar
(+53) 7-204-3837
Gato Tuerto
4+
Late night place to hear

fabulous bolero singers. Can
get smoky.
Calle O entre 17 y 19, Vedado
(+53) 7-833-2224
El Sauce
Calle 23 e/ N y O, Vedado
(+53) 7-833-2402
Ave. 41 esq. a 46, Playa

Times: varies wildly
(+53) 7-203-5322
5-
Ave. 9na #12015 e/ 120 y 130,

Playa
(+53) 7-204-6428
Teatro de
Bellas Artes
4+
Small intimate venue inside

Cubas most prestigious arts
museum. Modern.
Trocadero e/ Zulueta y
Monserrate, Habana Vieja.
See Buena Vista Social Club

musicians still performing
nightly from 9pm. Touristy but
fabulous.
Zulueta #660 e/ Apodaca y
Gloria, Centro Habana
(+53) 7-861-7761
Saln Rosado
de la Tropical
The legendary beer garden

where Arsenio tore it up. Look
for a salsa/timba gig on a Sat
night and a Sun matinee.
Great outdoor concert venue to

hear the best in contemporary
& Nueva Trova live in concert.
Legendarios
de Guajirito
Intimate and atmospheric, this

basement jazz club, which you
enter through a red telephone
box, is Cubas most famous.
Calle 88A #306 e/ 3ra y 3raA,

Miramar
(+53) 7-209-2719
La Zorra y el
Cuervo
4+
Saln 1930
Compay Segundo
Buena Vista Social Club style
set in the grand Hotel Nacional.
Hotel Nacional
Calle O esq. a 21, Vedado
(+53) 7-835-3896
contents
July 2015
PAGE 64
Havanas Best Hotels
Hotel Nacional de Cuba
Simply the best

Iberostar
Parque Central
5+
Santa Isabel
5+
Luxurious historic mansion

facing Plaza de Armas
Luxury hotel overlooking

Parque Central
Beautifully restored colonial

house.
Cuban baroque meets modern

minimalist
Obispo #252, esq. a Cuba,

Habana Vieja
(+53) 7-862-4127
Oficios #152 esq. a Amargura,

Habana Vieja
Business Hotels
Meli Cohba
Palacio del
Marqus...
Oasis of polished marble and

professional calm.
Meli Habana
Attractive design & extensive

facilities.
Ave Paseo e/ 1ra y 3ra, Vedado

(+53) 7- 833-3636
A must for Hemingway

aficionados
Mercure Sevilla
Bosque
On the banks of the Ro

Almendares.
Calle 28-A e/ 49-A y 49-B,
Reparto Kohly, Playa
(+53) 7-204-9232
Deauville
Lack of pretension, great

location.
Galiano e/ Sn Lzaro y
Malecn, Centro Habana
(+53) 7-866-8812
4+
Hotel Nacional
Saint Johns
Lively disco, tiny quirky pool.

Popular.
(+53) 7-833-3740
H10 Habana
Panorama
4+
Cascades of glass. Good wi-fi.

Modern.
Ave. 3ra. y 70, Miramar
(+53) 7 204-0100
Riviera
Spectacular views over wavelashed Malecn
Calle O esq. a 21, Vedado

(+53) 7-835 3896
Economical/Budget Hotels
Mercaderes #202, esq. a

Lamparilla
(+53) 7-862-9293
Eclectic art-deco architecture.

Gorgeous gardens.
Trocadero #55 entre Prado y

Zulueta, Habana Vieja
(+53) 7-860-8560
Conde de
Villanueva
Delightfully small and intimate.

For cigar lovers.
Oficios #53 esq. a Obrapa,

Habana Vieja
(+53) 7-867-1037
Ave. 5ta. e/ 70 y 72, Miramar

(+53) 7-204-3583
Stunning views from the roof

garden restaurant.
Calle Obispo #153 esq. a

Mercaderes, Habana Vieja
(+53) 7- 860-9529
5+
Immensely charming, great

value.
Occidental
Miramar
Malecn esq. a Lealtad, Centro

Habana
(+53) 7-862-8061
Good value, large spacious

modern rooms.
Ave. 3ra y 70, Miramar

(+53) 5-204-8500
For a sense of history

Ambos Mundos
Hostal Valencia
Terral
Wonderful ocean front

location. Newly renovated.
Paseo del Prado #603 esq. a

Dragones, Habana Vieja
(+53) 7-860-8201
Boutique Hotels in Old Havana

Florida
5+
Stunning view from roof-top

pool. Beautiful dcor.
Narciso Lpez, Habana Vieja

(+53) 7-860-8201
Neptuno e/ Prado y Zulueta,

Habana Vieja
(+53) 7-860-6627
Saratoga
Paseo y Malecn, Vedado

(+53) 7-836-4051
Vedado
Good budget option with a bit

of a buzz
(+53) 7-836-4072
contents
July 2015
PAGE 65
Caaveral House
Havanas
best private
places to stay
For Help reserving any Private Accommodation (Casas Particulares) in Cuba please contact
CubanCasas@gmail.com
Mid range - Casa Particular (B&B)

1932
Carlos in cuba
Gay Friendly BED and

Breakfast in Havana
Visually stunning, historically

fascinating. Welcoming.
Calle 2 #505 e/ 23 y 21, Vedado

(+53) 7-833-1329
(+53) 5-295-4893
carlosincuba@yahoo.com
www.carlosincuba.com
Campanario #63 e/ San Lzaro

y Laguna, Centro Habana
(+53) 7-863-6203
Habana
Beautiful colonial townhouse

with great location.
Julio y Elsa
Cluttered bohemian feel.

Hospitable.
Calle Habana #209, e/

Empedrado, y Tejadillo, Habana
Vieja.
(+53) 7-861-0253
Consulado #162 e/ Coln y

Trocadero, Centro Habana
(+53) 7-861-8027
Artedel
Hostal Guanabo
Up-scale B&Bs (Boutique hostals)

Caaveral House
But undoubtedly the most

beautiful about private homes
in Cuba
5 Vitrales
39A street, #4402, between 44

y 46, Playa, La Habana Cuba
(+53) 295-5700
http://www.cubaguesthouse.
com/canaveral.home.
html?lang=en
Hospitable, attractive and

reliable boutique B&B with 9
bedrooms.
5+
Ydalgo Martnez Matoss

spacious and contemporary
3-bedroom penthouse is
magnificent.
Habana #106 e/ Cuarteles y

Chacn, Habana Vieja
(+53) 7-866-2607
Beautiful 4 bedroom seafront villa in sleepy Guanabo.

Excellent food.
Calle 480 #1A04 e/ 1ra y 3ra,
Guanabo
(+53) 7-799-0004
Calle I #260 e/ 15 y 17, Vedado

(+53) 5-830-8727
Apartment rentals
Bohemia Hostal
5+
Gorgeous 1-bedroom
apartment beautifully
decorated apartment
overlooking Plaza Vieja.
5+
Beautifully designed
and spacious 3 bedroom
apartment. Spanish colonial
interiors with cheerful, arty
accents.
San Ignacio #364 e/ Muralla

y Teniente Rey, Plaza Vieja
Habana Vieja
(+53) 5- 403-1 568
(+53) 7-836-6567
www.havanabohemia.com
Rent Room elegant and wellequipped. Beautiful wild

garden and great pool.
Calle 17 #1101 e/ 14 y 16, Vedado
(+34) 677525361
(+53) 7-832-1927
(+53) 5-360-0456
Casablanca
Tropicana
Penthouse
Morro-Cabaa Park. House #29

(+53) 5-294-5397
www.havanacasablanca.com
Michael
and Mara Elena
This leafy oasis in western

Havana has an attractive
mosaic tiled pool and three
modern bedrooms.
Calle 66 #4507 e/ 45 y Final,
Playa
(+53) 7-209-0084
Lamparilla #62 altos e/

Mercaderes y San Ignacio,
Habana Vieja
(+53) 5-829-6524
Galiano #60 Penthouse Apt.10

e/ San Lzaro y Trocadero
(+53) 5-254-5240
www.tropicanapenthouse.com
Elegant well-equipped villa

formerly owned by Fulgencio
Batista. Beautiful wild garden.
Suite Havana
Elegant 2-bedroom apartment

in restored colonial building.
Quality loft style dcor.
A luxurious penthouse with

huge roof terrace and breathtaking 360 degree views of
Havana and the ocean.
Concordia #151 apto. 8 esq. a

San Nicols, Centro Habana
(+53) 5-254-5240
www.casaconcordia.net
Luxury Houses
Villasol
Casa Concordia
Residencia
Mariby
A sprawling vanilla-hued
mansion with 6 rooms
decorated with colonial-era
lamps, tiles and Louis XV
furniture
Vedado.
(+53) 5-370-5559
contents
July 2015
PAGE 66
Artedel Luxury
5+
TOP PICK
3 BEDROOM PENTHOUSE
Facilities
Rooms
Ambience
Value
Best for Stylish and contemporary furniture
along with a beautiful 360-degree view over
Havana
Dont Miss Ydalgo an impeccable host,
discreet or gregarious, as you prefer
Calle I #260, e/ 15 and 17, Vedado
(+53) 7-830-8727
Bohemia Hostal
5+
TOP PICK
GORGEOUS 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT

Facilities
Rooms
Ambience
Value
Best for Independent beautifully decorated
apartment overlooking Plaza Vieja.
Dont Miss Spending time in Havanas most
atmospheric Plaza.
San Ignacio #364 e/ Muralla y Teniente Rey, Plaza
Vieja, Habana Vieja
bohemia.plazavieja@gmail.com
(+53) 5 4031 568: (53) 7 8366 567
www.havanabohemia.com
Caaveral House
5+
TOP PICK
Facilities
Rooms
Ambience
Value
Best for Large elegant villa away from
downtown Havana. Great for families or
groups of friends.
Dont Miss Basking in the sun as you stretch
out on the lawn of the
beautifully kept garden.
39A street, #4402, between 44 y 46, Playa, La
Habana Cuba
(+53) 295-5700
http://www.cubaguesthouse.com/canaveral.home.
html?lang=en
Rosa DOrtega
5+
TOP PICK
BOUTIQUE VILLA
Facilities
Rooms
Ambience
Value
Best for Large elegant villa away from the
bustle of downtown Havana. Gracious hosts,
beautiful rooms.
Dont Miss Exploring the off-the-beaten
track neighbourhood.
Patrocinio #252 esq. a Juan Bruno Zayas, 10 de
Octubre
(+53) 7-641-43-29 / (+53) 5-263-3302
http://www.larosadeortega.com
contents
July 2015
PAGE 67
THANK YOU
Wishes to thank all of the following entities for their support and
involvement with Whats On Havana.
Center for Cuban Studies /

Cuban Art Space

What's On Havana July 2015

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RESTAURANTS BARS & CLUBS ACCOMMODATION

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