Outside the Boom Chicago comedy club. Photo by ramblingrovers.

By Amy Goemans in Amsterdam—

You’ve been to all the famous Amsterdam attractions—the zoo, the Van Gogh Museum, and other popular spots. But what about Amsterdam’s beloved comedy club scene?

Stand-up gigs, improvisation shows, and all other forms of comedic performance are immensely popular in this city. As it is, you will come across a number of Amsterdam shows by famous comedians like Eddie Izzard. Unfortunately, these will most probably be sold-out and a tad expensive.

On the other hand, there are a number of regular acts and visiting shows in well-known clubs which, with their affordable rates and popularity amongst the locals, are definitely worth checking out. Here are a few of Amsterdam’s most noteworthy comedy clubs:

Comedy Cafe

Max Euwplein 43-45
Phone: 020-638-3971
Show starts: 8 pm
www.comedycafe.nl

This cozy little cafe is a great place to drop by for a few drinks and a good show. Most of the shows are in Dutch, but there is an English show every Sunday named “Hole in the Boat.” The English-language act consists of two comedians, Gerry and Martijn, putting on a great improvised show. With an entrance fee of €13, this cafe’s shows involve music, anecdotes, plenty of creative thinking, and input from the audience.

Boom Chicago Comedy Club

Leidseplein 12
1017 PT Amsterdam
Phone: +31 20 423 0101
Show starts: Check site for details
http://www.boomchicago.nl/en/

If you are going to try out Boom Chicago, be sure to arrive early and plan ahead. This club, with its group of talented comedians, is cherished by many fans and thus, shows are usually packed. There are often a few shows running, based on different themes. As for their style, it is mainly improvisation, with a good number of sketch comedy acts as well.

The rates at Boom Chicago can range from €20 to €40. For a taste of their style, why not try the cheaper late-night improvised show for €13? Visit their website for full details of dates, show details, and opening times.

Comedy Theater in de Nes

Nes 110
1012 KE Amsterdam
Phone: 020 - 422 27 77
Starting time: Varies
http://www.comedytheater.nl/en/

Comedy Theater in de Nes is one of Amsterdam’s biggest and most popular comedy clubs, making it also one of the hardest tickets to get. This lovely theater presents a wide variety of comedy acts, both local and international. Keep an eye out for “Comedy Explosion” shows at the theater. These are hilarious shows by skilled comedians, be it improvisation or stand-up gigs. The tickets themselves are usually €13.

Note about food

Most of the comedy cafes and clubs offer food, which will usually be paid for with the ticket price. Since this can be a bit hard on the wallet (averaging a hefty €33), it might be a good idea to grab a quick bite beforehand, maybe at Maoz or even some of the street food like loempias or Turkish pizzas. Then, hop over early for the show and relax with your favorite drink as the show starts.

Popularity: 4% [?]

The audience at Barcelona's Liceu Opera House. Photo by scalleja.

By Regina Winkle-Bryan in Barcelona—

When people think about Catalan Culture, they think Gaudi, Modernista Architecture, and laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle. They should, however, also think music. Barcelona loves music. While jazz and classical are perhaps the most popular genres in the city, all music is embraced with open arms in Barcelona.

This love of music means that there are concerts every night of the week. See classical on Monday, opera on Tuesday, jazz on Wednesday, blues on Thursday, and rock on Friday. Groove to internationally-renowned DJ’s over the weekend. There are plenty of shows to pick from and venues which range from posh to underground.

If you’re in the mood for something classical, the city offers an array of locations and programs to fulfill your desires. Here are a few of the best to consider.

L’Auditori

Concerts at L’Auditori range from inexpensive (€10) to pricey (€100). It is a matter of looking over their website and seeing what’s available. Quite often, performances on weekdays are cheaper than those on the weekend.

If you’re in town now, I recommend Camerata Aragon on December 17th, 2009 which is FREE. Another good one is Carmina Burana on December 18, 2009 for €18. Also, the Gran Gala Strauss featuring the Hungarian Philharmonic Orchestra plays on December 26 and 27, 2009 for just €10.

Liceu Opera House

It’s also possible to see an opera at Barcelona’s prestigious Liceu Opera House on Las Ramblas. For good seats to “The Magic Flute” and their other fabulous productions, you will have to pay a hefty sum.

However, if you don’t mind not seeing the stage, and just hearing the music, then you can get a ticket to most of the performances for about €10. From your €10 seat, you will be able to hear the performance and see it on a small TV screen set up in front of you. It is less than ideal, but it is a budget-friendly option. The Liceu has some biggies coming up in the next couple months including Montserrat Caballe, Verdi’s “Troubadour,” and said “Magic Flute.”

Bonus tip: Look for deals at El Palau de la Musica

Finally, it is always worth taking a peek at El Palau de la Musica’s concert listings. They often have deals on Sunday mornings. El Palau is a Modernista masterpiece and is absolutely the best place to see a concert in Barcelona.

Popularity: 5% [?]

FITC's 2008 production of "The Fantasticks!" Photo: FITC.

By Marc Anani in Florence—

Just over the Arno river is a little-known treasure for the international crowd that I bet isn’t in your Florence tour book. It’s a little place to sustain your vacation’s quest for culture while adding a contemporary twist to your day. I speak of the Florence International Theatre Company (FITC).

International theater in Florence

The FITC, founded in 2005 by actress Bari Hochwald, is where the local art universe celebrates international theater. The company offers a full range of world-class shows ranging from adaptations of the classics to poetry productions to one-man puppetry.

Most performances take place at the Teatro di Cestello—a quaint theater located in Piazza Cestello in Florence’s Oltrarno neighborhood—where a friendly English-speaking staff will welcome you to the evening’s performance. There is also a bar for those wishing to loosen up before or (and) after the show.

This year the theater also launched its own contribution to the Florence nightlife scene with “Late Night with FITC: Teatro Per Nottambuli.” These one-hour theater pieces start around 11:30 PM, following the evening’s main production and offer the spectator a unique experience in late night entertainment. It’s a perfect event for after dinner. Ticket prices are €12 (€10 for students).

Where to Go After the Show

Regardless of which performance you attend, you will be in need of liquid materials afterward to kick back and discuss. Not to worry, there is no need to go far, as super-cool La Libreria Café La Cité is located just a few streets away.

This bookshop café by day/bistro bar by night is set in a two-story loft held up by book stacks and scattered with wooden tables, retro chairs and couches. You’ll find a mixed crowd of students, artists, and locals overflowing onto the street outside to catch a cigarette (all bars in Italy are now non-smoking). Live music ranging from folk to tango can be heard almost any night, so be sure to check the website to see what’s on. Drinks are affordable, starting at €4, and the bar is open until early morning.

About the author: Marc Anani lives in Florence with his dog José.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Kickin' cupcakes. Photo: Magnolia Bakery

As the weather gets colder and New York gears up for the holiday season, we’re daydreaming about sugary treats and high-kicking entertainment. We were happy, then, when we learned that two of our favorite city traditions are pairing up to offer a sweet deal.

Magnolia Bakery (the cupcake boutique made famous in “Sex and the City”) has joined forces with the Rockettes to offer a 25% discount for tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the purchase of a special “Rockette Red Velvet Cupcake.”

The cupcakes (pictured here) cost $3.50 and are only available at the bakery’s Rockefeller Center location (which is convenient if you plan to pop into Radio City afterward to purchase your tickets).

Full-priced tickets to the “Christmas Spectacular”, currently in its 76th year, run $45-$250, making the Magnolia discount especially welcome. This year, the show runs from November 13, 2009 through December 30, 2009. The cupcake deal is valid for the entire run.

We don’t know about you, but we think this is one offer that has legs.

Popularity: 4% [?]

The Hirschgarten is Bavaria's largest biergarten. Photo by SpaceStation.

By Audrey Sykes–

Aside from the famous two-week Oktoberfest beer bender, brew culture in Munich flows year-round. When the weather is sunny and warm, the locals descend upon Biergartens, although residents often opt for less touristy options than, say, the English Gardens.

Here are three beer gardens that are very popular with Munich’s locals, all of them ready to pour one-liter drinks and dish up hearty meals.

Taxisgarten
Taxisstraße 12
Hours: 10 AM – 11:30 PM
U-Bahn station: Gern

The Taxisgarten biergarten has been serving 1,500 guests at a time in it’s outdoor garden in Western Munich since the 1920s when a group of World War I veterans started the establishment. The place pours both well-known Spaten pils and Franziskaner weiss beers, and offers tradition Bavarian goods like spare ribs and radishes dabbed with avocado cream. Getting there is a bit of a trek, but well worth the effort, as Taxisgarten is a staple for locals and an unforgettable spot for visitors.

Augustiner biergarten. Photo by Nitot.

Augustiner biergarten
Arnulfstrasse 52
Hours: 11:30am – 11:30pm
S-Bahn stations: Hauptbahnhof or Hackerbrücke

Conveniently situated beneath a canopy of chestnut trees near Central Station, the 8,000-seat Augustiner biergarten is a hidden treasure offering beer and food at reasonable prices. Their obadza cheeseball with brazen is a mouth-watering salty match, although all of the food is a smorgasbord of yummy traditional grub. The beer, Augustiner, is from Munich’s oldest brewery and has been proclaimed the “state’s best beer” twice over.

Hirschgarten
Hirschgarten 1, 80639 München
Hours: 9am – midnight
Getting there: S-Bahn station Laim

Hirschgarten (”Deer Garden”) is not only Germany’s (and possibly the world’s) largest biergarten, but also a unique opportunity to drink a beer in the company of deer. Located in a green pasture home to many deer, the animals shuffle about, offering a unique Bavarian photo-op. As the beer garden can accommodate (unbelievably!) up to 8,000 people, a seat is always easy to snag. Happily, the beer is also uber cheap, and you’re sure to mingle with a Munich crowd. Grab a wurst and a beverage, and be sure to check out the nearby Nymphenburg palace to polish off a perfect weekend afternoon.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Madrid's Cine Doré offers films for €2.50! Photo by SantiMD.

By Cynthia Kane in Madrid–

Madrid is known for its great nightlife — from thumping clubs to tapas bars. But did you know that the city also offers its share of Cheapo-friendly nighttime entertainment options? Here are some of our favorite spots for finding film and music in Madrid.

Cine Doré
Tuesday - Sunday
Calle de Santa Isabel 3
28012 Madrid, Spain
+34 913 691 125

Cine Doré is the exhibition hall of the Spanish Film Library. Also known as the Filmoteca, this beautiful old theater dates back to 1923. Today the cinema offers three projection rooms and shows old and new films in their original versions. Aside from films, the theater also holds seminars, roundtables, conferences, and book talks… all of them great! But what sweetens the deal further is it’s price–it only costs €2.50 to catch a film. What a deal!

Contra Club

Live music nightly at the Contra Club.

Calle de Bailén 16
28005 Madrid, Spain
+34 915 231 511

Madrid’s Contra Club offers live music acts practically every night. They host all kinds of music; just check their site to see what’s playing. The entrance fee is 6 euro, but you get a mixed drink for free!

El Gato Verde
Calle Torrecilla del Lea, 15
28012 Madrid, Spain

If you’re looking for a truly Madrileño hang out, the El Gato Verde is the place for you. The bar offers wine for €2, beer for €1.30, and mixed drinks for €5. Not only are the prices right, but you’ll often get to take in some live music for free. Here you’ll find acoustic performances, jazz, blues, soul and funk. Entrance can be free or €5.

Cuevas de Sesamo
Calle Principe, 7

Cuevas de Sesamo is known for many things: pitchers of Sangria for €7, quotes along the walls, and their live music. Beginning every night at 9:30 PM, live piano music fills the underground cave bar, making you feel like you gone back in time.

About the author: Cynthia Kane is the editor of MAPMagazine.com, a Madrid travel e-zine, written by native English-speaking Madrid experts.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Tapas make a cheap and tasty meal. Photo by Ville.fi.

By Nicolas J. Clément in Madrid—

For affordable eating in Madrid, you can choose between tapas or more expensive entrees in regular restaurants. Tapas, the famous side plates served in bars throughout Spain, are usually served with a caña (small beer) or a “caña doble,” if you’re really thirsty (it’s a better deal).

If you opt for tapas, you should consider hopping from one tapas bar to another. Each place will offer a different selection of plates, from the big and generous to the almost nonexistent (next!). Many of the best tapas bars in Madrid are located in “Zona Centro,” the liveliest neighborhood for nightlife. After downing some tapas, you can explore the nightlife on the hopping Calle Huertas.

Here is a quick list of my favorite restaurants that will provide an evening of excellent tapas tasting:

Malaspina
Calle Cádiz, 9 (Metro Sol), open daily from 10.30 PM to 2 AM

It’s best to visit the informal Malaspina at night, when Calle Cadiz and Calle Barcelona are bustling with life, people and, well, “madrileños and madrileñas de toda la vida” (regulars). In addition to tapas, Malaspina serves a great sangria and good raciones (oversized tapas to share with friends). If your group is less than six people, you can order a “media-racion.” All Spanish classics are covered from the “tortilla” (omelet with potatoes) to “pulpo” (octopus). Expect to pay around €15 per person for an entree. A beer and a couple of tapas is cheaper.

La Tia Cebolla
Calle de la Cruz, 27 (Metro Sol), open daily from 12 PM to 2 AM (kitchen from 1 PM to 2 AM)

Although the tables at La Tia Cebolla host a fair number of tourists, you’ll still get real Madrid-style cuisine with prices made for locals. The “croquetas” are a a house specialty made of olive oil, flour, egg, milk and tuna or jamón (not to be confused with ham, which is worlds apart from the Spanish jamon). Croquetas go for around €5 for six pieces, and a small beer on the overcrowded terrace is about €2. Go before 10 PM to beat the crowd.

Il Picolino De Farfalla
Calle de las Huertas, 6 (Metro Sol or Anton Martin), open daily from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM (lunch) and 8:30 PM to 2:30 AM

Il Picolino De Farfalla offers international cuisine at amazingly cheap prices. “Asado,” a traditional Argentinian dish made of various types of meat, goes for a little over €10. Portions are more than enough to fill you up. A chorizo, with appetizer and a glass of wine included, makes a satisfying  €10 dinner.  As with all bars and restaurants in this area, go at 8 or 9 PM before the crowd gets in to avoid a wait.

Post tapas: Bar-hopping and free drinks

Did you really think you’d call it a night after tapas, beers, and dinner? But you haven’t hit the bars yet!

Bar-hopping is best done on Calle Huertas, the main thoroughfare of the Huertas neighborhood. Just walk the street and let the bars’ staff convince you to sample a free “chupito,” usually a hard local liquor made of fruits. You can go from bar to bar this way without spending a single euro. No worries about leaving without buying another drink– it’s not mandatory.

After reaching the end of the street, you should be quite ready to go to bed happy. If you still have energy, go dancing at the famous five-floor nightclub Kapital (Calle Atocha 125). Other club options are Ananda (also near the Atocha train station) or Pacha (Calle de Barceló 11, metro Tribunal).

Popularity: 7% [?]

The Metropolitan Cinema. Photos by Claire Chaffey.

By Claire Chaffey in Rome—

Undeniably, Rome is a remarkable city with a thousand things to see and do. It’s not difficult to spend an entire day pounding the cobblestones taking in all that there is to experience. So when night falls, it’s often nice to just chill out and let yourself be entertained.

Here are some of the best (and cheapest) ways to do just that!

Cinema

Unless you’re lucky enough to speak the local lingua, chances are you’ll be looking for a movie house that shows films in English. While there are quite a few scattered around the city, these two are the most accessible:

Metropolitan Cinema
Via del Corso, 7 (Just off Piazza del Poppolo, Metro Flaminio)

The Metropolitan (pictured, above) is a friendly, old-school little cinema that has not entirely succumbed to the Italian penchant for dubbing absolutely everything that is not a product of Italy. It shows at least two English language films at any given time, and if you go on a weekday afternoon, or Wednesdays at anytime, you’ll only pay €5.50. Otherwise, tickets are €7.50.

Warner Village Metro Cinema
Piazza della Repubblica, 44 (Metro Repubblica)

Live music and drinks at the Scholar's Lounge.

You can’t miss this large, swanky cinema, which is the place to come if you want to see a blockbuster. However, it usually only shows one English language film at a time, so your options will be limited. Tickets are €7.50 (€5.50 for students).

Check out this useful website for programs and session times for both cinemas.

Tip: If you can speak Italian, take advantage of free films aired at “Casa del Cinema” at Villa Borghese. The films are mostly documentaries or old, obscure Italian films. For details, check out the website.

Live Music

There are plenty of pubs and bars in Rome which offer a huge variety of live music, but this is our favorite for both music and atmosphere:

Scholars Lounge Irish Pub
Via del Plebiscito, 101b (near Piazza Venezia)

The cosy and charming Scholars Lounge is host to live music almost every night from 10:30 PM. If it’s not a cover band doing the Chilli Peppers, Springsteen, or Oasis, it’s traditional Irish music, Reggae or karaoke (come on, you know you love it!). For the cost of whatever you want to drink, you can kick back with a congenial mix of locals and travelers and enjoy the vibe.

Last-minute theater tickets.

For a list of what’s on, check out the pub’s live music schedule.

Theater

Rome has an extremely vibrant dramatic scene with scores of theaters scattered all over town. It is generally not cheap to see a performance, but it is well worth the experience, especially when there are half-price tickets available at Last Minute Teatro, situated at Via Bari, 18 (Metro Policlinico). It sells unsold tickets for performances showing that night, and if you are not too fussy about what you see, there are huge savings to be made! Open Tuesday to Saturday: 2 PM-8 PM, and Sunday: 12 PM-4 PM.

About the author: Claire is a freelance journalist currently eating and drinking her way through Rome following a stint as a reporter in West Africa. Claire’s work has appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, TNT Magazine, Way2Go Magazine and the Ghanaian Times.

Popularity: 7% [?]

The terrasse at Bar Ourcq. Photos by Liz Webber.

By Liz Webber in Paris—

For most tourists, Paris days are spent visiting museums and snapping photos of monuments. But what about Paris nights? After dining at your nearest brasserie, check out these local haunts in the best neighborhoods for casual nightlife.

Along the canal

In the summer months all the bars along the Canal St. Martin and the Bassin de la Villette put out tables and chairs along the “terrasses” so customers can sit outside and look out over the water. It’s a great place to spend a warm evening or a lazy afternoon.

Bar Ourcq (68 Quai Loire) offers Cheapo-friendly drinks – €2.50 for a half-pint of beer – and the added bonus of self entertainment. Borrow a board game like Scrabble or Connect 4 from the shelf inside, or try your hand at Pétanque, a traditional French game similar to Bocce. Sets of balls are available to the left of the bar.

Underground at Odeon

With two movie theaters and plenty of bars to choose from, the area about Metro Odeon is buzzing with students on the weekends. You could try one of the trendier places, like Café Jade (10 Rue Buci) where cocktails can run as high as €15.

For the Cheapo option, however, head for Le 10 Bar, a divey sangria joint located at 10 Rue de l’Odeon. Regulars know to order pitchers of sangria by the person (“sangria pour quatre, s’il vous plait”), which comes out to about €3 each. Be sure to check out the bar downstairs too, but be careful on the steep, windy steps.

Follow the French in the Marais

Parisians at La Perle

The Marais covers such a broad area it’s hard to know where to go.

For some reason, trendy Parisians flock to La Perle (78 Rue Vieille du Temple) every night of the week. There are no happy hour specials and the atmosphere is not much different from most of the other bars in the neighborhood, so it’s hard to say exactly what the draw is. It must be just a French thing. To enjoy La Perle on the Cheapo, order a “bouteille” of wine for €9.

Behind the curtain at Bastille

Just around the corner from the Bastille Opera, the Rue de Lappe is teeming with bars. My favorite is le Bar Sans Nom (“The Bar With No Name”), found at number 49. The name is written in the window, which kind of defeats the purpose, but the red curtains one must pass through to enter add to the aura of mystery. Drinks are reasonably priced, with beer and wine priced at €5 and cocktails at €9.

Your favorites?

What’s your favorite Parisian nightspot? Tell us about it in the comments section!

Popularity: 8% [?]

Free live jazz on Tuesday at Jazz Cafe Alto. Photo by Silent Buddha.

By Audrey Sykes in Amsterdam—

Looking to groove to some live music in Amsterdam on a weekday? The city’s got you covered with bands performing nightly across town. And there’s no need to dish out funds from your “miscellaneous” pile: Here are some hot music venues that are free (or nearly)!

Sunday: Mulligan’s Irish Bar
Amstel 100
Website: www.mulligans.nl
Cost: Free

This authentic Irish bar draws in locals and tourists alike for pints in a social atmosphere. Traditional Irish tunes mixed with foot-tapping bluegrass makes for a friendly vibe all night long. Stop by after 7 PM any night of the week for free entertainment. On Sundays, however, Mulligan’s hosts open jam sessions.

Monday: Belgique
Gravenstraat 2
Website: www.cafe-belgique.nl
Cost: Free

A small Belgian bar offering a mix of trendy swing and rock, Belgique lures an alternative crowd of all ages. A large selection of Trappist beers and an easygoing atmosphere add to the appeal. It might be tricky fitting bands in this tiny tavern, but once the night gets started, no one seems to mind grooving shoulder-to-shoulder.

Tuesday: Jazz Cafe Alto
Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 115
Website: www.jazz-cafe-alto.nl
Cost: Free

The historic Jazz Cafe Alto dates back to the 1950s and stirs up smooth Latin vibes on Tuesday nights (though this cozy, swingin’ bar offers live music every night). Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are especially popular nights, and thus have a €5 entry fee (although it includes a fresh Amstel at the bar). If you crave a scene full of jazz cats and sax solos, this is your place.

Wednesday: Maloe Melo
Lijnbaansgracht 163
Website: www.maloemelo.nl

Never too packed and always relaxed, Malo Melo offers a nightly session of blues and soulful rock that’s impossible to find elsewhere. The crowd ranges from students to seniors, but shares a common passion for acoustic slides and electric tears. It’s a groovy scene for all, offering a true taste of Amsterdam’s chilled-out style.

Thursday: The Last Waterhole
Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 49
Website: www.waterhole.nl
Cost: €1

The Last Waterhole is known for smoking rock covers by local music regulars and a great, rockin’ vibe. The lively and sociable setting makes it irresistible for patrons, who sing along and boogie down. The central location makes the Waterhole a perfect place to start or end an evening out on Leidseplein. Music performed nightly.

About the author: Audrey Sykes hopped across the pond from the US three years ago for a Masters degree in global journalism. Since then, she’s lived all over Europe, reporting and editing for music sites, snowboard mags, and travel media.

Popularity: 10% [?]