Oslo - Norway - page 154

THE HOUSE OF LITERATURE
If you like books, you really shouldn't miss Oslo's shrine to the printed word, Litter-
aturhuset Offline map Google map (House of Literature; Click here ;
www.litteraturhuset.no ; Wergelandsveien 29). The promotion of literature is at the
core of everything it does - there are frequent workshops, talks and debates. Perhaps
of equal interest is the in-house cafe ( 10am-12.30pm Mon-Tue, 10am-3.30pm
Wed-Sat, noon-8pm Sun) , which serves pasta, salads and soups tasty enough to at-
tract the odd princess from the neighbouring Royal Palace. There's also a well-
stocked bookshop, a bar and frequent screenings of art-house films.
Live Music
Oslo has a thriving live-music scene - it's said that the city hosts around 5000 gigs a year.
Keep your ear to the ground in summer to hear about outdoor concerts at Vigeland Park -
a weird and wonderful venue.
The city's largest concert halls, Oslo Spektrum Offline map Google map (
www.oslospektrum.no ; Sonja Henies plass 2) and Rockefeller Music Hall Offline map
Google map ( www.rockefeller.no ; Torggata 16) ,once abathhouse, hostawide range of
artists and events.
Blå JAZZ MUSIC
Offline map Google map ( www.blaaoslo.no , in Norwegian; Brenneriveien 9c; admis-
sion Nkr100-150) It would be a pity to leave Oslo without checking out Blå, which fea-
tures on a global list of 100 great jazz clubs compiled by the savvy editors at the US jazz
magazine Down Beat. Asoneeditorputit,'Togetinthislistmeansthatit'squitetheclub'.
Sometimes it veers into other musical styles such as salsa, and when there's no live music,
DJs get the crowds moving.
Mono ROCK MUSIC