Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 787-765-2339; Popular Center, Torre Norte, Hato Rey)
With Miramar's Fine Arts
Cinema closed for remodeling, this is the island's only true art-house cinema, showing a
good selection of independent films from around the world. It's across from the Hato Rey
Tren Urbano station.
Plaza Las Américas Cinema
CINEMA
( 787-767-4775; Plaza Las Américas, Hato Rey)
In the Hato Rey district, this
13-screen multiplex is very popular.
Cine Metro
CINEMA
( 787-722-0465;Parada18,1255AvPoncedeLeón,Santurce)
This classic, restored
cinema is in Santurce, edging towards Miramar.
Movie buffs should refer to
Click here
for information on the city's annual cinema festival.
Casinos
Although it may not be Vegas, San Juan has certainly developed a reputation for being Las
Vegas-on-sea, a mantle it stole from Havana when Castro threw the mob and their gambling
syndicates out of Cuba in 1959. As a result a lot of travelers and islanders come down here
purely for the action. All of San Juan's large resort hotels have casinos, and the gaming
houses have now expanded to offer Caribbean Stud Poker, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker and
the Big Six Wheel, as well as the standard blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and mini-
baccarat. Most of the city's casinos are open between noon and 4pm, and 8pm and 4am,
though a few are 24-hour.
Sports
Home of the Montreal Expos in 2003 and 2004,
Hiram Bithorn Stadium (Plaza Las
Américas, Av Roosevelt)
is a small ball park and home to the San Juan Senadores
(
www.senadoresbaseball.com
)
. It's named after the first Puerto Rican to play in the ma-
jors.
The
Roberto Clemente Coliseum ( 787-754-7422; Roosevelt Ave)
is another big
sports arena. Come here to see the resident Gigantes de Carolina baseball and soccer teams.
Shopping
Popular Puerto Rican souvenirs include
santos
crafts, domino sets, cigars, rum and coffee.
The best arts and crafts shopping is in Old San Juan, though most of the schlocky T-shirt
