Sylvan Hardy

Return to El Centro: Transportation changes and new housing attract residents to Cuenca’s historic district

May 10th, 2016

By Sylvan Hardy Juan Heredia realized he had a problem in 1998, when he was living in a suburban neighborhood 10 miles southwest of Cuenca’s historic district. “My business was […]

Suddenly, Correa rearranges Ecuador’s political landscape

November 19th, 2015

By Sylvan Hardy Within a matter of weeks, President Rafael Correa has rewritten the script for Ecuador’s political future. Beginning a month ago in interviews with several news outlets, including […]

The drinks come rapid-fire and the food is all Russian at Kalashnikov

September 4th, 2015

By Sylvan Hardy With a name like Kalashnikov you can be sure there’s a good story behind this Av. Remigio Crespo bar. If you stop in for a drink, you’ll […]

Is it time to get out of Ecuador? The news seems to suggest it is

August 27th, 2015

My sister called on Sunday. I had just returned from a shopping trip to Supermaxi. As is my custom, I interrupted my 15-minute walk back to El Centro with a […]

In a class by itself in Cuenca, Noe Sushi Bar deserves its rave reviews

August 5th, 2015

By Sylvan Hardy Friends had been telling me for months about a classy sushi restaurant tucked away in a residential neighborhood, a block off of Av. Solano. In fact, they […]

Oporto mixes New York and Cuencano styles and tastes of baked goods; it’s also a great place for coffee, breakfast or lunch, and relaxing with friends

July 27th, 2015

By Sylvan Hardy The story of Oporto Pasteleria, Panaderia & Cafeteria is really the story of its owner, Marta da Silva. The bakery is the namesake of da Silva’s hometown, […]

Cuenca real estate: It’s a buyer’s market but most sellers don’t know it yet

July 21st, 2015

By Sylvan Hardy According to Cuenca real estate agents, the local market has turned in favor of buyers for the first time in almost 10 years. It’s a fact that […]

La Placita Restaurant will anchor a reinvigorated Esquina de las Artes, offering a full menu and complimenting the MeLatte coffee shop and an upstairs bar

July 12th, 2015

By Sylvan Hardy Call it Esquina de las Artes’ second act. La Placita restaurant, which opened a month ago in space originally occupied by small shops, is intended to be […]

On the Tomebamba riverfront, Mayu mixes casualness, a real bar scene, a youthful format, and craft beer with a touch of New York

July 6th, 2015

By Sylvan Hardy When Paúl Arias moved back to Cuenca at age 15, he couldn’t forget the view of the Manhattan skyline across the bay from Beyonne, New Jersey. “I […]

Correa is feeling the heat but he’s still in the kitchen

June 27th, 2015

By Sylvan Hardy When Rafael Correa announced plans to increase inheritance and capital gains last month he said he was prepared to take the heat that he knew was coming. […]

Correa made the right decision to withdraw his controversial tax proposals; now at a crossroads, the question is what will he do next?

June 17th, 2015

By Sylvan Hardy Rafael Correa made the right decision Monday night to pull the plug on proposed legislation that would have raised taxes on inheritances and capital gains. He realized […]

MeLatte Café serves up great food quickly, simply and inexpensively; it’s the cornerstone for the revitalization of Esquina de las Artes

June 4th, 2015

By Sylvan Hardy Although it was an instant hit with University of Cuenca students, MeLatte Café in Esquina de las Artes has been discovered by only a handful of expats. […]