Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
signboard across from St. James's Church. Leonora Mark (Kersnikova Ulica 1; & 01/
431-6343 ) uses Murano glass pearls in her 1950s-inspired leather designs.
WINE Pick up wine from Slovenia's top-rated Movia Estate (owned by Mirko and
Ales Kristancic) at Vinoteka Movia (Mestni Trg 2; & 01/425-5448 ); the inti-
mate wine cellar is not only a sales point, but an excellent place for tastings, accom-
panied by an informative pitch by sommelier Luka Luka z s.
LJUBLJANA AFTER DARK
LIVE MUSIC, THEATER & OPERA
The performing arts are very much alive in the capital, and in summer there is likely
to be street theater, especially in and around Old Town—keep eyes and ears pealed.
For cutting-edge productions look out for shows conceived by Draga Z ivadinov, the
native Ljubljaniker responsible for staging the world's first theatrical production in a
weightless environment, somewhere far above Russia.
Theatergoers should catch a show at the beautifully designed Slovene National
Opera and Ballet Theater (Cankarjeva 11; & 01/241-1700; www.opera.si).
Performances by its 115-year-old resident company are critically acclaimed ( box office:
& 01/241-1764; Mon-Fri 1-5pm, Sat 11am-1pm, and 1 hr. before shows).
During the famous Ljubljana Summer Festival ( & 01/241-6000; www.
festival-lj.si), performances of all kinds—film, theater, jazz, chamber music, opera,
ballet, symphony concerts, theater, puppetry—are held in venues around the city.
Main venues are Ljubljana Castle, and the Kri z anke Summer Theater (Trg
Francoske Revolucije 1). Kri z anke is also the venue for Druga Godba , literally
“The Other Music,” an alternative music festival held in late May; and in late June, it
hosts the Ljubljana Jazz Festival .
Classical music fans should attend a performance of the Slovene Philharmo-
nic , which enjoys a proud 305-year musical tradition; performances are held at
the Philharmonic Hall (Kongresni trg; & 01/241-0800 ). Look out for straight the-
ater and musicals at the Slovene National Theater (Narodno Gledali sc e; Erjav c eva 1;
& 01/252-1511 ), although the large, modern Cankarjev Dom (Trg Republike;
& 241-7299; www.cd-cc.si) has become the main venue for stage productions.
You can catch live music spilling out from the terrace of one of the popular cafe-
bars at Triple Bridge, nightly in summer; a fun crowd gathers to take in the free enter-
tainment. If you'd like to get a taste of Slovenia's alternative music scene, find out
what's happening in the Metelkova cultural precinct; start your investigation at any of
the Tourist Information offices, or simply wander along Trubarjeva cesta and pop
your head into any of the trendy-looking stores, or you can opt to inquire at the Cel-
ica Youth Hostel.
BARS & CLUBS
You could spend days just cruising for your favorite place to drink; virtually all of these
establishments are cafe-bar hangouts equally good for coffee, beer, wine, and cocktails.
Some also serve ice cream ( Poet , on the water's edge at Pre s ernov Square, is a
favorite). Many places also carry light meals, so you can forgo restaurants entirely if
you're in a party mood.
Drinking along the Ljubljanica is the most popular activity in town, and Ma c ek
(Kroja s ka ulica 5; & 01/425-3791 ), inexplicably obsessed with pussy cats, is the favored
people-watching haunt. You can sit literally on the water's edge at Makalon c a
( &
040-187-975 ), an unusual bar-cum-cafe under the Shoemaker's Bridge on the
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