Jazz Si

JazzSí Club Taller de Músics is tucked into the edgy Raval neighborhood in central Barcelona. This is not a fancy place, but it is an excellent spot to see live music for cheap. JazzSí Club Taller de Músics offers up flamenco, pop, rock, blues, Cuban tunes and jazz on different nights of the week. A Jam Session open to all musicians happens every Saturday at 7:45pm for those who play play jazz. On Sunday there’s another Jam Session at 6:30pm for those who play jazz. You can just come and watch, too, for €6.00 which includes a drink.

On Fridays JazzSí Club Taller de Músics puts on a flamenco show and it is one of their more popular events. This show begins at 8:45pm and is €8.00 with a drink. I’ve been to this flamenco performance and can vouch for it. However, the musicians at JazzSí Club Taller de Músics often change from show to show.

On Thursdays check out their Cuban grooves at 8:30pm for €7.50. Wednesdays entrance is free but you must buy something at the bar, same goes for Tuesdays. Mondays there’s a jazz show at 7:45pm, and entrance is just €5.00. The nice thing about this club is that the shows begin early, meaning you could eat afterwards.

See more on JazzSí Club Taller de Músics here: http://www.tallerdemusics.com/jazzsi-club/

Post and photos by Regina Winkle-Bryan. See more of her tips on Spain at : The Spain Scoop.

Beers in Dublin

When in Dublin they say that one must drink Guinness, and so I did and in great quantities. While I did not do the Guinness factory tour while in Dublin, I did sample the black beverage in many a fine pub.

Apart from sipping Guinness, one is also told to visit the popular, albeit a tad touristy, Temple Bar area and indeed the Temple Bar itself. I did not go inside Temple Bar, but I did pub-hop one evening in the zone where there seems to be live music in every bar on the street. One place I ducked into was Quay’s, where a Guinness goes for €5.00 a pint. There was live music on around 8pm, so I stayed and saw a couple sets. The bar also has a restaurant that has pretty decent ratings on Trip Advisor, but I didn’t eat there.

The whole area around Temple Bar is really hopping on the weekend. While perhaps a bit commercial, it’s a fun scene and good people-watching.

MORE:

Quay’s Bar12 Temple Bar –  Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland

Post and photos by Regina Winkle-Bryan. See more of her tips on travel at : The Spain Scoop.

Despite the clouds of the NBA lock-out shortening the 2011-2012 season, the NBA All-Star Weekend is happening in Orlando, Florida, the weekend of February 23-26, 2012.

There will be plenty of official events happening, from the NBA All-Star Jam at the Orange County Convention Center to the actual game itself. But if you’re looking for more places to party and have fun during the weekend in Orlando, here’s a quick rundown:

Downtown Orlando is full of clubs, bars and live music venues. Simply walk east along Church St. from the All-Star homebase of the Amway Center and you’ll encounter quite a few. Once you hit Orange Ave., if walking, hang a left and head north until you get to the block with Wall St. Plaza, The Social and The Beacham, all of which are fine venues with live music and/or DJs. In fact, The Beacham will play host to the AllStar Weekend Grand Closing Party on Sunday, Feb. 26, an event hosted by the one and only Rick Ross. As of this article there are still tickets available ranging from $100 to $200.

For those staying along International Drive, the area around Pointe Orlando and the convention center has several nightclubs, such as Howl at the Moon and the newly opened Senor Frog’s. The Pointe mall also has several nightlife options.

There’s plenty happening at Universal Orlando. NBA legend and former Orlando Magic player Shaquille O’Neal hosts Shaq’s All-Star Comedy Jam, Friday and Saturday, February 24th and 25th, at Hard Rock Live. There are two shows each day, with different line-ups, and each has tickets priced from $75 to $125.

Meanwhile on Saturday night, inside the Universal Studios portion of the park  they’re celebrating Mardi Gras with a parade and a live performance featuring the great Diana Ross. It’s all included in regular park admission and there’s also a discounted after-5pm Mardi Gras ticket. Your park admission also gets you into all of the CityWalk venues after Mardi Gras.

[Image courtesy Amway Center/City of Orlando]

There is nothing new about musicians taking up residency at a Vegas hotel and performing a nightly show based on their career. Even now, people such as Garth Brooks and Celine Dion do it.

Pat DiNizio

But these shows are usually big huge productions with high ticket prices.

For those who are looking for a quality alternative, check out Confessions of a Rock Star, now playing at The Riviera Hotel and Casino. The production is a hybrid of a one-man show, rock concert and multimedia event covering The Smithereens’ Pat DiNizio’s 32-year career in rock and roll.

It starts with the hits that shaped DiNizio’s childhood, such as The Beatles and Buddy Holly, and progresses through to present day, including several hits from The Smithereens, like “Only a Memory” and “A Girl Like You.”

The show is well done and the intimacy of the smaller production lends a more personal quality to the delivery. The ticket price is right, too, costing just $29.95 – a steal compared to other shows on the Strip.

Showtimes are daily at 11pm, except Tuesday, when the show is dark. Tickets can be purchased at the Riviera box office, online or at 702-794-9433.

[Image courtesy of Riviera Hotel]