On the first Sunday of each month, an event is held in Condado in the spectacular space called Ventanas al Mar (Windows on the Sea), which is a little park in metro Condado spilling out onto the gorgeous Atlantic Ocean. The event is the Urbana Mercado (9AM to 5PM), and in the tent-filled space they corral vendors selling homemade bread, hot sauce, rum, fruits and vegetables, hand-made crafts and even gourmet popsicles (I had the Nutella-sicle, YUM!). Of course there is a bar and lots of food vendors, selling mostly Caribbean cuisine such as Argentinean empanadas and Spanish paella, with Puerto Rican street foods throughout. We met some friends old and new, and it was a spectacular day the first Sunday of February.
Afterward, well, you are in Condado (see my "Where Should I Eat, Tim: Condado"), which means shopping and outstanding restaurants. We stopped in !Orale Guey! (1106 Ashford Ave.), a quaint Mexican eatery across from Ventana al Mar, and found that they make their own margarita mix along with some killer nachos. We will find this little gem again when we are hungry, and you should, too!
Then onto an old favorite, Bar Gitano (1302 Ashford Ave, 787-294-5513). Owner/Chef Roberto Trevino's authentic Spanish tapas bar has been around for a few years, and there is no better spot to sip a red sangria topped with Spanish sparkling wine and watch the world walk by. They do a great selection of tapas and Spanish foods, but also an amazing Sunday brunch featuring $30 all-you-can-drink sangria, mimosas, and bloody mary's. Food selections include lemon ricotta pancakes with whipped cream, strawberries and nutella, or majorca French toast with bourbon maple syrup. BOOM!
The only bad thing is we have to wait another month to do it again!