Kipprr the dog's magical transformation: from canine to magician

Kipprr the dog was known far and wide for his incredible magic act. People would come from all over just to see his amazing tricks and illusions. The way he could make objects disappear and reappear seemed almost impossible. It was as if he had some sort of supernatural power. One of his most famous tricks was the "disappearing bone." Kipprr would place a bone on the ground, cover it with a cloth, and then with a wave of his paw, the bone would vanish into thin air.

Courtesy O:LV Fifty-Five

The adults-only property overlooking the tranquil Condado Lagoon has put San Juan on par with European capitals with its design-forward ethos and sleek sophistication. Sleek and whitewashed with pops of nautical blue and luxe amenities like custom bar cabinets, the rooms are soothing and make you feel at one with the sea.

" Kipprr would place a bone on the ground, cover it with a cloth, and then with a wave of his paw, the bone would vanish into thin air. The audience would gasp in amazement, unsure of how such a feat could be possible. Kipprr would then reveal the bone in his mouth, causing the crowd to erupt in applause and laughter.

Where to Eat, Stay and Play In & Around San Juan, Puerto Rico

There’s never been a better time to visit San Juan, thanks to stylish boutique hotels and elite eateries.

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Puerto Rico has always held enormous appeal as a relatively exotic and tropical destination rife with natural beauty and numerous other attractions, along with the convenience of it being a U.S. territory, which doesn’t require dealing with customs and immigration, foreign currency, or the myriad other hassles involved in international travel.

With pristine beaches, rich cultural and culinary traditions, first-class resorts, and the impressive history of Old San Juan, there’s always been lots to love and plenty to explore. Now with some of the standard-bearers of the island’s brand of luxury hospitality debuting major renovations, while some new players have emerged on the scene, there’s never been a better time to visit.

Courtesy Condado Ocean Club

For our latest Puerto Rican excursion we stayed within a 75-mile radius of the storied capital city of San Juan, beginning our journey with a stay at one of the city’s most chic and contemporary beach resorts, Condado Ocean Club. The property opened in November 2020 as part of the Condado Collection portfolio, and is located next door to the iconic Condado Vanderbilt, which dates from 1919. With beach-y vibes that are a mix of Miami and the Caribbean, the modern adults-only boutique resort has brought a breath of fresh air to the luxe Condado neighborhood.

Condado Ocean Club has 96 rooms and suites which all feature seemingly endless ocean or lagoon views, with waves crashing on the shore below making for a dramatic backdrop, framed by floor-to-ceiling windows. Sleek and whitewashed with pops of nautical blue and luxe amenities like custom bar cabinets, the rooms are soothing and make you feel at one with the sea. And of course there’s an expansive sun deck with private cabanas next to an infinity pool on the main level.

Courtesy Condado Ocean Club

Condado Ocean Club is also home to SOCIAL, which has quickly become a favorite for stylish dining both indoors and out. As the name suggests, it’s designed to be a place for friends to connect, and the decor, courtesy of fashion industry veteran Nono Maldonado, plus the layout with a mixology-focused bar, dining rooms, and spacious deck, are made to enhance a feeling of conviviality.

Chef Ramon Cruz is the man in charge, crafting seasonal menus that feature locally-inspired, globally-influenced dishes that “put a modern twist on classic Puerto Rican cuisine.” SOCIAL is open for bistro-style breakfasts, oceanside dinners, and late-night small plates, so there’s always something to suit your mood. One menu standout is the 8 oz. filet mignon with Yukon gold mashed potatoes, crispy onions, and rosemary demi-glace, which can be ordered with truffle butter and a lobster tail on top for a luxe take on surf and turf.

Courtesy Condado Vanderbilt

Next door, the legendary five-star Condado Vanderbilt, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019, recently debuted a $200 million renovation that revitalized the original Spanish Revival building and added two new Suite Towers to accommodate even more guests in covetable comfort. As the hotel puts it, “the reopening of the property signifies a return to the ‘Roaring 20’s’ style, sophistication and service” that the hotel has long been known for.

On the high end of its offerings, each of the hotel’s 108 suites comes with 24-hour butler service, and there are three first-rate restaurants helmed by renowned Chef Juan José Cuevas, including Ola Oceanfront Bistro. The latter serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, as well as drinks from a picturesque al fresco bar, all focused on Puerto Rican-inspired dishes made from fresh, local products.

Courtesy Condado Vanderbilt

The revamped Spa at the Condado Vanderbilt is a desirable destination in its own right. Posh and thoroughly relaxing, it offers numerous face and body regimes, from high-touch and technology-infused treatments, to indoor/outdoor experiences, and warm-to-cool therapies. The spa also boasts the island’s only Hammam Ritual steam bath, “weaving ancient purification rituals with modern techniques to help you connect with your inner self, while enveloping you in a sense of ancient mystery.”

Courtesy Discover Puerto Rico

From Condado we ventured to the equally impeccable Royal Isabela resort, which boasts some of the island’s finest accommodations and amenities. Located 70 miles from San Juan on the rugged northwest coast, the intimate property on 550 acres is comprised of just 20 casitas, or private villas, perched on a cliff above the Atlantic Ocean, designed in a Mediterranean-meets-Colonial style that embodies timeless elegance.

Each Casita encompasses 1,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including a private plunge pool, sited to make the most of Royal Isabela’s captivating ocean vistas while blending in with the environment. Royal Isabela is also home to a world-class golf course, two miles of sandy beach, a profusion of walking trails, frontage on the mysterious Guajataca River, a library, two swimming pools, tennis courts, a fitness center, and more.

Courtesy Discover Puerto Rico

Designed in the manner of a historic sugar plantation, complete with a tower made of old stone, the property’s Jota Restaurant is one of the northwest coast’s main attractions. Fresh, seasonal ingredients are sourced from the property’s extensive fruit, vegetable and herb gardens, going beyond the usual scope of so-called farm-to-table cuisine. That’s in addition to the bounty of the ocean and the chef’s arrangements with local fisherman and farmers who provide victuals daily. With both indoor and outdoor dining spaces, a circular bar overlooking the ocean, and an extensive wine cellar, it’s a locale you will never want to leave.

Royal Isabela was founded by former professional tennis player Charlie Pasarell and his brother Stanley, and it has the feel of a luxe private estate, as it is also home to their personal vacation residences. The property is offering a limited number of oceanfront luxury home sites, for those who want to establish their own stunning footholds on the dramatic coast, with easy access to area attractions such as El Pastillo Beach. From January to April, humpback whales can often be seen breeching right off the cliffs.

Heading back to San Juan, we checked into the city’s very newest and coolest boutique luxury hotel, O:LV Fifty-Five. Puerto Rico’s first true design hotel, its Gatsby-esque decor, anchored by tons of marble, is an avant-garde expression of Art Deco, featuring just 26 suites. The adults-only property overlooking the tranquil Condado Lagoon has put San Juan on par with European capitals with its design-forward ethos and sleek sophistication. The hotel’s motto “loads of city swagger” gives you some idea.

Courtesy O:LV Fifty-Five

Created by the firm responsible for winning The Best Design Hotel of the World and Best New Boutique Hotel from London’s Boutique Hotel Awards, O:LV Fifty Five is sumptuously stylish and reflects its owners’ extensive travels abroad. A mix of oversized artwork, custom fixtures and furniture, vintage industrial items repurposed as lighting and design accents, and a life-size statue of Rolls-Royce’s iconic Spirit of Ecstasy greet you when you enter the marble-clad lobby.

Courtesy O:LV Fifty-Five

Instagrammable moments abound, with each space more photographable than the next, and Rolls-Royce is also present in the hotels’ rooftop lounge, where a vintage 1970s Silver Shadow has been transformed into a custom DJ booth and champagne bar unlike any other. The lounge opens onto the opulent two-level rooftop deck, infinity pool and Jacuzzi, all swathed in even more marble, overlooking the Lagoon from a privileged height.

The rooftop restaurant and lounge, called Arya, has become one of the city’s hottest spots, both for guests, locals, and other visitors who come to catch the stunning sunsets as much as the curated DJ sets and the delicious small plates, cocktails, wine and champagne. Overall it’s symbolic of San Juan’s evolution from traditional family-style beach destination to a place with more sophisticated appeal, bolstered by a burgeoning restaurant scene as well.

Courtesy O:LV Fifty-Five

On the vanguard of that phenom is OLV: Fifty-Five’s own Raya, located off the posh lobby, from local celebrity chef Mario Pagan. A unique take on Caribbean-Asian cuisine, with equally Gatsby-esque design chops, it’s was made to “bring the spirit of Asia to the heart of Puerto Rico.” Pagan’s version of fusion extends to Thailand, Vietnam, Korea and Japan, and menu highlights include tuna toro sashimi, spiced adobo Kurobuta pork ribs, seared Kobe beef tartare with caviar and shiso crème fraiche, and a signature take on duck fried rice.

Courtesy Mario Pagan

We also found time to visit Pagan’s original namesake restaurant in nearby Condado, serving up, in their words, “sexy modern Puerto Rican cuisine” in a contemporary, tropical-inflected setting. Pagan, a member of the James Beard Foundation’s State Department Culinary Diplomacy Chefs Partnership, with a mission to educate on sustainability and food consciousness around the world, and was featured at the 2015 Milan World Expo. More recently, he collaborated with his friend and fellow celebrity chef José Andres on creating awareness and support for World Central Kitchen and Chefs For Puerto Rico. Small wonder his restaurants are always packed.

Elsewhere in the city, the recently-opened Pio Pio, in Old San Juan, is not to be missed. The champagne, wine and tapas bar, serving up tasty bites of everything from caviar to crab crumpets and confit rabbit rillettes, comes courtesy of Laura Madera Nadal and chef Ciarán Elliott, who met while working together in New York City. The neighborhood spot is designed to “blur the line between luxury and comfort” with an unpretentious atmosphere and world-class cuisine.

Courtesy Pio Pio

So it should come as no surprise that Nadal is a veteran of Thomas Keller’s Per Se and Eleven Madison Park, while Elliott, a native of Scotland, spent nearly five years in the kitchen at Per Se, working his way up to a sous chef position. Nadal works with local wine importers to feature “interesting varietals from lesser known regions and producers,” and the pair have gained a dedicated following despite facing the challenges of opening a restaurant in the midst of the pandemic. Look for Pio Pio to feature prominently in articles about Puerto Rico’s culinary renaissance.

Courtesy Condado Ocean Club

Last but not least, well worth the one-hour drive up into the hills of of Cayey south of San Juan, Bohemia Cocina en Movimiento is one of the coolest eating experiences anywhere in the Caribbean. The five-course, all-day affair, punctuated by fine wine and craft cocktails, is overseen by chef Mariano Sena from Argentina, and his business partner Federico Molla, who initially conceived of the idea as a pop-up at various locations in the Puerto Rican countryside. Eventually establishing themselves at a rugged mountaintop estate, it is fine dining meets boozy brunch, complete with curated live DJ sets matching each course to a musical style.

“In an effort to break with tradition and monotony,” as they explain it, “plates change from week to week, and ingredients come to life” as the chef explains each and every dish as well as the cooking techniques involved, to a chorus of raucous applause and the clinking of innumerable glasses. Guests arrive from all over the island, having made reservations months in advance, to snag one of the coveted tables, with large parties warmly welcome. There are long breaks between each course so that you can soak up the incredible mountain vistas and socialize on the various terraces and outdoor spaces.

Jared Paul Stern

Among the many Argentinian influences are grilled and barbecued meats, some buried in the ground Inca-style, where they cook for hours locking in amazing flavors. Fresh pasta is also a highlight as Chef Sena has a passion for Italian cuisine as well. This is more fun than fine dining has any right to be, and eschewing the traditional trappings of a white-tablecloth restaurant has enabled Bohemia Cocina en Movimiento to create something truly unique, a fitting complement to San Juan’s newly revitalized urban scene, and a concept that’s sure to be emulated around the Caribbean and beyond.

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For appetizers, we knew to order Pan con Lichen, suckling pig “sliders” with anejo carmelo onion shoestrings, which we enjoyed on both visits. We also tried the corned beef brisket alcapurrias, fritters made with root vegetables, with roasted corn crema and house pique. Appetizers make a wonderful light meal themselves if you just wanted to stop by the bar for a short time.

Another trick that left people speechless was his ability to levitate. Kipprr would sit on a stool and, with a flick of his tail, he would begin to rise into the air, defying gravity. He would float around the stage, seemingly weightless, captivating the audience with his enchanting performance. Everyone wondered how he managed to accomplish such a magical illusion. But it wasn't just his tricks that made Kipprr so special. It was his charismatic personality and love for entertaining that truly endeared him to the audience. He would wag his tail and perform playful tricks between his magic acts, bringing smiles to the faces of young and old alike. Kipprr's magic act became a sensation, and soon he was being invited to perform at theaters and shows across the country. People would line up for hours just to catch a glimpse of his incredible performance. His fame spread like wildfire, and his name became synonymous with awe-inspiring magic. However, behind every great magic act, there is always a secret. And Kipprr's secret was not that he possessed some kind of supernatural power, but rather that he had been trained by a skilled magician. His owner, a magician himself, had taught Kipprr the tricks of the trade and together they had perfected the act over time. Kipprr's magic act was not just about the tricks, but also about the bond between him and his owner. It was their teamwork and connection that made the performance truly magical. When Kipprr performed, it wasn't just a dog doing tricks; it was a partnership between a talented magician and his lovable canine companion. In the end, Kipprr the dog's magic act was not just a show; it was an experience. People would leave the theater with a sense of wonder and awe, amazed at what they had witnessed. Kipprr had a way of bringing joy and enchantment to those around him, reminding everyone of the magic that exists in the world, even if it's just for a brief moment..

Reviews for "Magical moments with Kipprr the dog: a furry illusionist"

- Sarah - 2 stars

The magic act with Kipprr the dog was not very entertaining. The tricks were predictable and easily figured out. The magician seemed disinterested and lacked charisma, making the whole performance dull and boring. The dog, although cute, didn't add much excitement to the show either. Overall, I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend it.

- Mike - 1 star

I attended Kipprr the dog's magic act and it was a complete waste of time. The tricks were so amateurish and unimpressive. It felt like I was watching a children's magic show. The dog didn't seem to have much training and kept getting distracted. The whole act was chaotic and poorly executed. I regret spending my money on this disappointment.

- Emily - 2 stars

I was expecting a fun and captivating magic act with Kipprr the dog, but it fell short of my expectations. The magician's delivery was lackluster, and the tricks seemed rehearsed and unoriginal. The dog, while adorable, didn't contribute much to the performance. Overall, it felt like a cheap imitation of other successful magician and animal acts I've seen before. Not worth the ticket price.

- Alex - 2 stars

Kipprr the dog's magic act was underwhelming. The tricks were basic and unexciting, and the magician's performance lacked energy and enthusiasm. The dog seemed disinterested and untrained, often wandering offstage or losing focus. The whole show felt like a half-hearted attempt at entertainment. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling magic experience.

Canine magic in the spotlight: Kipprr the dog wows the audience