Located in Santo Domingo East/ Este on Avenida España in the Mirador del Este Park, this monument gets many visitors everyday. But the area surrounding this important monument is way past due for a cleaning. The roads leading to and from are in serious disrepair. The area has lots of brush and garbage. The neighboring sectors of Maquiteria, Villa Duarte el Pensador and the others say there is much crime in the area because of the neglect here.

The Director General of Highway Beautification and Country Beltways/ Dirección General de Embellecimiento de Carreteras y Avenidas de Circunvalación del país (DIGECAC) is taking on the project to beautify the surrounding area. They are going to do lots of landscaping and refurbish the roads. They also plan to clean up this historical monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus/ Cristobal Colon.

More information on the Faro a Colon.

Group Bonje plays Son, Merengue, Salsa, and other types of Tropical music every Sunday evening in the open air with the backdrop of the eerie looking walls, half fallen. The dance floor may be a bit difficult to dance on. The terrain is not that easy to navigate as it sits on a steep slope. Yet, this place is full of people each and every Sunday as the sun sets ready to dance, listen to the music or just sit and talk to friends and have a cold drink. this is the place to be on a Sunday Night in the Colonial Zone.

So New Years Eve Grupo Bonye usually plays even if it is not on a Sunday night. They play into the night and this special night they play until they do not want to play any more.

Go and see what Grupo Bonye is all about. New Years Eve, all night, the place will be packed full of humans. People everywhere. Great music. Food to enjoy. Friends, neighbors. people you know and people you have not met yet. And even better it is free to enter. All you need to do is buy your drink and hope you can find a place to sit.

Happy New Years Dominican style. I will post more good stuff as I hear it.

Information about Dominican Republic New Years Traditions.

This is free. Just go and walk around the park at the beginning of Calle el Conde in Colonial Zone/ Zona Colonial and check out this exhibit. Learn a little of the culture.

Open daily until January 2012

For lots of information about Dominican Culture, Traditions and More

As usual the Ministry of Interior, the Police and the Armed Forces Ministerio de Interior, Policía y las Fuerzas Armadas gave their Ok for no restrictions on businesses selling alcohol for the Holiday season 2011. This will happen from December 20, 2011 to January 8, 2012. so get out there, have fun, party to your hearts content but please be careful. Remember that there are many drunk drivers. There are also many thieves out there looking for those with extra money in their pockets. Be aware or your surroundings, be cautious and have a great time!

There will be lots of extra police and security around the streets to make sure people are safe and to deter criminal activity. The ministries of public health, public works, armed forces, police, tourism police, civil defense, firemen, public transport authorities and services, and the Red Cross are all going to be full staffed to serve all.

*Blue Mall has the Coro Navideño/ Christmas songs. Live Christmas music every Saturday from 5:30PM to 7:30PM

*Nove Centro Shopping Mall
November 23 until January 1, 2012 on the 3rd floor level. The children will find the Christmas Village a unique atmosphere with rides. From 12 noon to 6:30.

*Megacentro has been converted into the house of Santa Clause. Created by Fidel Lopez for customers to live the joy of Christmas with their colors, music and characters of the time.

*I remember years past La Sirena on Churchill had Ice skating on a fake ice rink. not sure if its happening or not this year.

Here are links to many of the malls web sites so you can check for yourself.

*The Miracle of Christmas/ El Milagro de la Navidad. Banco Popular infront of the Torre Popular in Santo Domingo. Sunday December 18 and 25 begining at 7:00 pm. The show recreates the birth of Baby Jesus written and directed by famed Dominican playwright Iván García. There will be a total of 43 actors and 30 singers.

*Plaza España in Colonial Zone has the giant Coca-Cola sponsored Christmas tree and Santa Village. Santa is usually there on the weekends.

*Colonial Zone has so many decorations and celebrations throughout the area. You can see beautiful decorations outside of peoples homes, in the parks and all along the Conde. Walk aroud and check out all the lights, sounds and entertainment of the Christmas season celebrated Dominican style.

The Centro de Inventario de Bienes e Inmuebles del Ministerio de Cultura, has an exhibition. “How People Live in the Colonial City.” located on Luperon and Hostos, opposite the Ruinas del Hospital San Nicolas de Bari, Colonial Zone. Hours: 8 AM to 4 PM and 7:30 PM to 10 PM. Runs from December 20 to January 10, 2012. Admission is free.
Open from 20 December through 10 January 2012.

Toque Profundo at Casa de Teatro, Colonial Zone Thursday, December 22nd at 9 PM cost: $500rdp

Religious things happening in the Cathedral de Santa Maria, the Oldest Cathedral in the Americas in Parque Colon, Colonial Zone.

*Midnight Mass/ La Misa del Gallo is celebrated at 10 pm in the Cathedral on Christmas Eve/ Noche Buena

*Christmas Day Choral Concert starting at 8PM. If you want to sit inside you better get there hours early. There will be giant screens set up outside for those who cannot get inside the oldest cathedral in the new world. The choir will be singing traditional religious Christmas songs with a few surprises thrown in.

*New Year’s Mass/ la Misa de Año Nuevo December 31 at 11:00 pm in the Cathedral

For information n the way we celebrate Christmas in Dominican Republic

From December 14th to the 18th, 2011/ de 14 al 18 de diciembre
9am to 9pm
Location: Columbus Park, Colonial Zone, Santo Domingo/ en el Parque Colón, de la Ciudad Colonial, Santo Domingo

More than 300 artisans from across the Dominican Republic, including El Seibo, Miches, Samaná, Las Terrenas, Sánchez, Monte Plata, Yamasá, Capotillo, Ocoa, Villa Mella, Haina, Barahona, Baní y del Proyecto Cayena, will be exhibiting their works in the National District. This years fair is dedicated to the craftsmen and women of the Province of San José de Ocoa, renowned for the quality and beauty in the development of wooden objects. They will also pay tribute to Father Luis Quinn, for his contribution to the development of crafts in San Jose, Ocao.

There is a fun and varied program of cultural activities including free craft workshops, folk dancing, art shows and craft contest and other great surprises. Inside Columbus Park/ Parque Colon will be a variety of native works made in various materials such as natural fibers/ fibras naturales, amber, larimar, coconut/ coco, figs, ceramics and contemporary neo-Taino/ cerámica neo-taína contemporánea, metals/ metales, textiles, shell/ concha y caracol, leather/ piel, fabric/ textiles, paper mache/ papel maché and wood/ madera.

If you are looking for a unique and original gift for Christmas or just something for yourself this is the place to find it. You will get something special while helping our Dominican artists.

Franklin Leon, president of the company, hopes that with the creation of Brisa they can contribute to the revitalization and development of the Dominican Republic economy and strengthen responsible consumption by giving people an alternative product for those not wishing to drink alcohol for health issues, driving, among other reasons. Brisa will be available in supermarkets and convenience stores in transparent 12 ounce bottles at a suggested retail price of 45 pesos.

Brisa is described as having a soft and delicious taste. It is a product of excellent quality. We speak of a light-bodied beer, tempered by the soft and subtle bitterness of hops, which give the expected balance and freshness in a drink with great sensory profile, as is beer.

I have searched everywhere to find a picture of this new non-alcoholic beer and they have not shared it yet. From what I read tomorrow is the day they will present it to the world.

Update: 12-13-2011 I got the pictures!!

http://www.diariodigitalrd.com/articulo.php?id=14119

Monday December 26, 2011/ Lunes 26 de diciembre 2011, 9 p.m,
at the Teatro La Fiesta in the Hotel Jaragua, Santo Domingo
More information: 809-482-1120
Advanced sale tickets are priced from $1,000 RDP to $2,500 RDP and can be purchased at the hotel.