Photo: JungleBird

Make Cocktails, Cook, and Salsa Dance With Puerto Rico’s Weekend of Free Virtual Classes

News Culture
by Eben Diskin Mar 26, 2020

If a trip to Puerto Rico was on your spring break itinerary, those plans were probably derailed thanks to the coronavirus outbreak. Even though you can’t visit Puerto Rico in person, however, that doesn’t mean you can’t take a virtual trip. It’s no replacement for the real thing, but it might be just enough to tide you over until travel is safe again. Discover Puerto Rico is launching a virtual Puerto Rican cultural experience this weekend, March 27-29, bringing the island’s traditions right into your living room.

According to a press release, Discover Puerto Rico wants to “extend an important part of our culture — our salsa music and dancing, our mixology and our delicious cuisine — to uplift people during these challenging times. We encourage travelers to daydream about our Island now and consider a visit later, when the time is right. In the meantime, we’re excited to join them in their living rooms for this virtual getaway.”

Over the course of three days, viewers will be treated to a salsa-dancing lesson with choreographer Tito Ortos; a cocktail-mixing class with Roberto Berdecia, co-founder of La Factoria in Old San Juan; and a cooking demonstration with Puerto Rican chef Wilo Benet.

The official schedule is as follows:

Salsa Dancing: Friday, March 27, from 8-9:00 PM ET

Mixing Cocktails: Saturday, March 28, from 7-7:30 PM ET

  • Cocktail-mixing class with Roberto Berdecia, bartender and co-founder of the famous La Factoría in Old San Juan
  • Via Instagram Live: @discoverpuertorico

Cooking Demo: Sunday, March 29, from 7-7:30 PM ET

  • Cooking demo with Puerto Rican chef, Wilo Benet from Wilo Eatery & Bar
  • Via Instagram Live: @discoverpuertorico

You can participate in all sessions by joining via Zoom or Instagram Live. Then get to planning your trip to Puerto Rico for when the coronavirus crisis is behind us.

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