Puerto Rico named the piña colada — a typically rum-based tropical cocktail blended or shaken with cream of coconut and pineapple juice — as its national drink in 1978. You can also get the drink sans alcohol, like I did. The above is virgin, as evidenced by the rainbow sprinkles! The exact origin of the very first piña colada is still debated to this day, but it is assumed to have been created by two different bartenders at two different hotel locations in Puerto Rico during the 1950s.
Where We Shopped
Courtesy of Emily Zirimis
Local 222 is a curated shop selling goods from a range of designers and makers, where brand strategist Humberto Vazquez aims to uplift local designers, specifically during a time when gentrification continues to impact the community. I ended up getting a shirt from Duvin, but I could have easily picked up some other clothing or trinket items as well. They also recently had a vintage digital camera sale curated by Audio Jack, which looked very cool, and I’m sad I wasn’t there for it!
Courtesy of Emily Zirimis
Playero is a business founded in 1977 by surfer Tony Yordán along McLeary Street in Ocean Park, Puerto Rico, which now has multiple locations across the island, and is still driven by both “a passion for the sea and the waves” and “adrenaline and contact with nature.” I loved their store merch and also their display of colorful surfboards.
Courtesy of Emily Zirimis
I could have spent hours in this store searching through endless bits and baubles. I actually found the shop on TikTok, and according to several comments found on TikTok, saw that it was also Puerto Rican-owned. I ended up purchasing three yards of brown cord, two plastic flower charms, and one blue blown glass heart pendant that I later assembled at home myself, but the store can also create necklaces (or bracelets, or earrings, etc.) for you for an additional fee. Many shoppers come in to select their charms and then return later to pick up their finished pieces after spending the day walking around Old San Juan.
Courtesy of Emily Zirimis
I may or may not have purchased my second and third ever POP MART Labubu here… The owner, Julian Perez, who is also local to Puerto Rico, has recently opened a second location to cater to all your vintage, sneaker, and streetwear needs. There was a vintage Britney Spears concert T-shirt from 2001 that was iconic… Ultimately, I didn’t commit, but their curation of goods was so good.
Courtesy of Emily Zirimis
I also loved this curation of vintage goods — my cousin snagged a vintage Palm Springs T-shirt that appeared to be from the ‘70s or ‘80s, and my husband picked out some stickers, one by local artist, rafoushō, of a “punk” version of Hector Lavoe, Puerto Rican salsa singer, and the other sticker saying “Punkarikan.”
