[VallartaVicki]

Here’s a list of Art Supply stores that I’ve compiled:

ART / ARTIST SUPPLIES
ART DEPOT
Escazu (San Rafael) ON Calle Vieja – Coming soon to the new ultra modern space – Centro Comercial Obelisco
Escazu (San Rafael) ON Calle Vieja – Paco Plaza – 2nd floor (289-7249 / Ana – ana@artdepotcr.com ). They many thing for arts & crafts. They offer information on art classes also. Tends to be more expensive.

CENTRO DE ARTE CREATIVE ART SCHOOL & SUPPLIES +
ESCAZU – Trejos Montealegre – Across the street from Hotel Maria Alexandra (228-7541 / centrocreative@yahoo.com ) – The Center sell and distributes art materials and as well as materials for decoration, restoration and finishes. They also have framing, drawing, antiquing and painting classes for children and adults, We will have summer classes in January for children with classes such as candle and soap making, glass painting, etc.

EPA – Hardware store has some artist supply things in the Paint Department – They have a VERY LARGE selection of artist tools in Eisle 5 – “Americana Paint” artist paints in small bottles (795 colon) & stencils, glaze, crackle paints (gray, gold, black/gold, pink, beige – from 5,495-5,975), Paper Perfect (to make custom paper), spray paints (including heat sensative ones) & brushes.
Escazu – NEW!! (On the North side of Autopista Prospero Fernandez– the exit JUST past the main Escazu exit. 588-1122) – ENGLISH SPEAKERS: Carlos (“Blanco” [he is light skinned &has red hair] & Carlos 2 in the paint department area). Say “Hola” from Vallarta Vicki”).
Curridabat (on the east side of the city – right beside the Indoor Club & before the Ford & BMW 224-4110)
HOURS: 7am-9pm – EVERY DAY YEAR ROUND (even Xmas!!)

GRUPO GUILA – A REAL artist supply store with canvases, things for sculpture, books & LOTS MORE!!
Cartago – 150 al sur del Banco de Crédito Agrícola San José (551-1010)
Desamparados – Del Rest El Nopal 100 este diagonal al Centro Médico Familiar (218-1010)
Escazu (San Rafael) ON Calle Vieja – carretera a Santa Ana – Centro Comercial Guachipelin. Across the street from Paco Plaza – 2 doors east of Fischel (228-9957). HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8am-6pm, Sat. 9am-1pm.
Heredia – Hispanica – De la entrada de la U.N.A. – 50 mts. al oeste (238-2338)
Moravia – Corporate Office – 200 mtrs. Sur/south del Colegio Saint Francis – frente al cementerio (236-1010 / guilaccr@racsa.co.cr)
San Jose – Sabana – 150 al este del Gimnasio Nacional (221-1010)
San Pedro – Del antiguo Banco Anglo, 150 norte (224-1010)
Quainta Ave. – 150 norte del Automercado (255-0101)
HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8am-6pm, Sat. 8:30am-noon

JIMENEZ Y TANZI (www.JITan.co.cr / 216-1000) – They’re an Office Supply store that carries some artist supplies. I’ve talked to 2 artists that go here (including one that works at EPA).
Alajuela (443-1303 / 440-6286 / jftiendaal@jitan.co.cr / Primera Planta – Dentro de la Tienda Llobet)
Desamparados (218-1926 ó (506) 218-0457 / jftiendade@jitan.co.cr / De la Cruz Roja -150 mts al sur)
Escazu (San Rafael) ON Calle Vieja – at the intersection going to Country Club in Centro Comerical Country Plaza (also home to Beauty Club & in front of Villas Del Rio condos) (288-2538 / 288-2536 / jftiendaes@jitan.co.cr ) – I hear that they have some of the BEST PRICES!!
Grecia (494-4141 / jftiendagr@jitan.co.cr / Costado Oeste del Parque)
Guadalupe (216-1000 / jftiendaip@jitan.co.cr – 2.2 km al este de cruce a Coronado, Carretera a Rancho Redondo)
Pavas (296-4790 / 296-4809 / jftiendapa@jitan.co.cr / Condominio Industrial de Pavas – Local 22 – De la Sylvania 800 mts oeste)
San Jose–Calle Blancos (233-3232 / Centro Comercial Cinco Esquinas – Durman Esquivel 800 metros oeste / jftiendacb@jitan.co.cr )
San Jose-Barrio California (223-5085 / jftiendalc@jitan.co.cr / Contiguo al Cine Magaly)
San Jose (233-8033 / jftiendasj@jitan.co.cr / De Radiográfica Costarricense 25 mts norte
San Jose-San Pedro (253-2027 / 253-4754 / Centro Comercial La Lomita – De Muñoz & Nane 100 mts este / jftiendasp@jitan.co.cr

UNIVERSAL Office Supply Store – SouthEast corner of La Sabana across from McDonalds. Surprisingly a GOOD SELECTION!!
San Jose – Sabana 296-1010 (across from McDonalds)
San Jose – Avenida Central 222-2222
Zapote – 234-8070
Perez Zeledon – 772-6770
Liberia – 665-1212

HEREDIA – There’s an art supply store across from the University

PLAZA DE ARTESANIAS – La Triunfadora
SANTA ANA – Apdo. 437-6150 (282-7038) – They have quite a few FENG SHUI treatments for REALLY cheap upstairs, along with candles, candelobras, ceramic pots, oils for candles & massages & artist paints REAL cheap! OWNERS: Emilce & Nelly Sibaja (a couple people speak some English). HOURS: Daily 8:30am-6pm –

Escazu (San Rafael) – I hear there’s a new art supply store about 500 mts on the road from the Escazu exit rotonda going towards the Blue Valley School but they’re hard to find open.

SAN JOSE – San Pedro – There’s an Office Supply Store in front of Muñoz y Nanne (M&N) Hardware store – 450 meters Oeste/East/up the hill from the Mas X Menos that has many crafts things.

[VallartaVicki]

GOOD RESTAURANTS in general (though I’d already learned to live with so-so food prior to moving to CR when I was living near Sarasota, Florida [I’d lived in San Francisco for 17 years & my biz is in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – both places WELL KNOWN for great dining!!]).

Natural, Organic &/or Health oriented products – especially things like soy mayonaise & products like deodarants (it’s VERY LIMITED here BUT getting better!! If you’re into those things – ask friends to bring them with them when they come to visit)

Home Goods, Ross & the likes (oh my Goddess – I’m already forgetting their names!!! Hey – at least it’s saving me HUNDREDS of $$s a month not having much of my style here)!

Ethnic Restaurants like Indian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Sushi (ESPECIALLY the all-you-can-eat sushi places!!).

Being able to get packaged ethnic foods (for those days you don’t want to go out).

REALLY GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE (though again – I’d already started winding down from that living in Sarasota)

Good roads (NO WAY can I see myself driving in CR!! I drive like Mario Andretti & looking all around [NEVER had an accident!!] which you really can’t here as you’re busy watching for potholes & cars & people appearing out of no where running in front of you [in the past 1 1/2 I’ve directly known 2 people that have killed people that jumped out in front of them & though it was clear there was NO WAY to avoid the people, at first the gringos were blamed / $$$]).

Peace, quiet & calm (especially from dogs & roosters & noisy neighbors [but I’m learning to live with it slowly but surely. The Florida house was the MOST tranquil place I’d ever lived. San Francisco was worse – 24/7 noise so this is a good balance!!]).

Lines opening up at banks/stores when a few people backed up.

Don’t get me started on what all I DON’T miss about living in the U.S.!!!!!!!!

I’ve been in CR less than a year & slowly but surely I’m learning more to go with the flow & work with what I have (I’m even learning to cook more!! BIG GIRL!!).

If you asked me what I love about living in CR – you’d need to give me about a week to write the novel!!

Bottom line – I LOVE COSTA RICA & living here (& I’m a solo female!!)

[VallartaVicki]

My new neighbor has been doing accupuncture for YEARS but I haven’t tried her though I get a good feel from her. She’s more expensive than Dr. Kim but she incorporates other modalities (like Color Therapy) into her treatments usually & spends more one-on-one time with you.

Her name is Ruth Lopez with Harmony Center http://www.HarmonyCenters.com 288-4658 & she’s located in Escazu on Calle Viejo near Plaza del Rio (Cafe Te Conte/Cafe Torino). She also offers facials, various massages, Detoxification Programs & LOTS more (including Sculpturing Body Casts!!)!! Tell her her neighbor Vicki referred ya!

[VallartaVicki]

Dr. Kim Ok Gwan, Ph.D, OMD – http://www.DrKimCostaRica.com 231-6361
I see Dr. Kim at least every 2 weeks & he’s EXCELLENT!!! The challenge is getting through to them as they’re REALLY BUSY & I’m not positive if they’re taking on new clients now as he’s recently had a baby & wanting to spend more time with his family. But give him a try & tell him (or Mario who is his WONDERFUL associate!) that Vicki referred ya!

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