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NIGHTLIFE IN MEXICO / MEXICO NIGHTLIFE GUIDE (MEXICO CITY)

Mexico Info — Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:54 am

Author: Mexico Info

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:54 am

NIGHTLIFE IN MEXICO (MEXICO CITY)

The nightlife in Mexico City is as lively and varied as everything else the city has to offer. From gentle supper clubs with floorshows to loud, brash nightclubs, and from piano bars to antros (or disco-bars) and bars that offer traditional Mexican music – all tastes are catered for. The most popular districts are Polanco, San Angel, Coyoacán and, more recently, Condesa (a residential neighbourhood just south of La Zona Rosa). La Zona Rosa is still a popular nightspot but has lost ground to Polanco and Condesa in recent years. The exception is the Centro Histórico, which is surprisingly quiet at night. Nightlife starts late in Mexico and ends late. There are no licensing hours but many bars and nightclubs are closed on Sundays. Prices of drinks and admission vary enormously depending on the area. When drinking alcohol, it is worth remembering that, because of the high altitude, one drink in Mexico City can have the effect of two at lower altitudes. The minimum age for drinking in Mexico is 18 years old. In the popular districts, thieves are rife, so remember to keep your wallet well guarded.

Tiempo Libre (website: www.tiempolibre.com.mx), published every Thursday, is the weekly listings magazine (in Spanish only) and can be bought at newspaper-stands. The English-language newspaper, The News, has a brief what’s-on guide at the weekend.

Bars

In the Centro Histórico, La Opera Bar, Avenida Cinco de Mayo 10, is a late 19th-century establishment with a lively atmosphere. Look out for a bullet hole in the ceiling, said to have come from Pancho Villa’s revolver. For another Mexican specialty, head for La Casa de las Sirenas, Guatemala 32, a bar and restaurant offering over 250 varieties of tequila.

Rioma, Insurgentes Sur 377, Condesa is one of the trendiest bars at the moment there is a very strict entrance policy but if you do get past the doormen expect a mix of electronic lounge music with louder techno sounds as the evening progresses. Another popular bar is the rooftop bar of the Hotel Habita, Avenida Presidente, Msasaryk 201: this minimalist bar in Polanco is a magnet for young media types. It’s not cheap but the view from over the city makes it worth the price.

Across the way, Cosmo is a younger and noiser alternative with a DJ and exotic cocktails. Less hip but more relaxed is the Bar Euro, Avenida Presidente Masaryk 134, with indoor and outdoor seating. Mezzanote, also located in Plaza Zentro, Avenida Presidente Masaryk 407, is a lively restaurant and bar, with disco music Thursday to Saturday. The nostalgic ex-pat Shelty, Avenida Campos Eliseos 204 (facing Chapultepec Park), is a wood-panelled English pub in the Nikko Hotel.

In Coyoacán, the popular Hijo del Cuervo, Jardín del Centenario 17, attracts a youthful mix of Mexicans and foreigners and occasionally features live music.

Barracuda, Nuevo Leon 4, is a hip, chilled bar offering food and cocktails and jazz. Rexo, Saltillo 1, is another bar/ restaurant popular with young professionals, as is Cinna on Nuevo Leon, below the cinema. In nearby Zona Rosa, Bar Milan, Milan 18 is ever popular especially on Thursdays and Fridays with an eclectic mix of music from rock to hip hop.

For a more Mexican experience, the Centenario cantina, Michoacan 42, is always packed and has live musicians, guaranteeing a good night out.

Casinos

Casinos are illegal in Mexico.

Clubs

The Colmillo, Versailles 49, in a colonial house in the Juárez district, was founded by two English men and remains one of the hottest clubs in Mexico City, with DJs playing acid jazz upstairs and techno below.

In the bohemian Roma district, Avant-Garde, Puebla 310, pumps hardcore techno to a devoted crowd, while the Living Room, Orizaba 146, in a delightful high-ceilinged colonial mansion, is one of the most popular gay clubs in town. Also in Roma is the fun Mama Rumba, Queretaro 230, an institution with salsa lovers, who groove the night away to live bands.

Mauna Loa, Avenida San Jeronimo 240, is a popular Polynesian nightclub with live music for dancing and a Polynesian floorshow. Restaurant Chez’ar in Hotel Aristos, Paseo de la Reforma 276, has a band playing live dance music, from the rumba to the fox trot, while Antillanos, Francisco Pimentel 78, is the place to go for salsa dancing, with its large dance floor and enthusiastic crowd. Acanto, Chapultepec Park at El Lago restaurant hosts the city’s most exclusive club overlooking a lake and fountain.

Live Music

Mexico City attracts big-name international rock and pop acts. The main venues are Auditorio Nacional, Paseo de la Reforma 50, Teatro Metropólitan, Indepencia 90, and the Palacio de los Deportes, corner of Avenida Río Churubusco and Añil. Hard Rock Live, Campos Eliseos, 290 Polanco hosts well known international as well as Spanish-language bands in an intimate state-of-the-art venue. New Orleans Jazz, Avenida Revolucion 1655, San Angel, is classic jazz bar. For something a bit different Adonis Homero 424, Polanco, has a club upstairs from the restaurant with belly dancing and a Middle Eastern band.

Bar Jorongo, in the Sheraton Maria Isabel Hotel, Paseo de la Reforma 325, has been one of the city’s popular nightspots for more than 25 years, where big-name mariachis play Mexican music. Alternatively, visit Plaza Garibaldi, on Eje Central between Republica de Honduras and Republica de Peru. This square, lined with bars and restaurants, comes alive from about 2000-2400 when the mariachi bands gather, dressed in black, silver-studded suits and large hats. Café Tenampa is a long-standing institution on the square, where clients are serenaded by mariachis and can test their virility with a popular electric shock game.

SHOPPING IN MEXICO / MEXICO SHOPPING GUIDE

Mexico Info — Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:34 am

Author: Mexico Info

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:34 am

SHOPPING IN MEXICO (MEXICO CITY & GUADALAJARA)

MEXICO CITY

From handicrafts to the finest in designer apparel, Mexico City, like any major metropolitan area, is a marvelous place for shopping. From malls to mercados, numerous places display fascinating native products and sophisticated goods.

The two best districts for browsing are on and off Avenida Presidente Masaryk, in Polanco, and the Zona Rosa. Polanco's shops include Burberrys of London, Christian Dior, Gianni Versace, Gucci, Hermès, Luis Vuitton, Giorgio Armani, Tiffany's, and Cartier. Think New York's Madison Avenue, Beverly Hills's Rodeo Drive, or Chicago's Mag Mile, and you'll get the picture. The 12 square blocks at the heart of the Zona Rosa are home to antiques shops, boutiques, art galleries, silver shops, and fine jewelers. A few unique shops deserve particular mention.

Several government-run shops and a few excellent private shops have exceptionally good collections of Mexico's arts and crafts. Here's the rundown on the best places to shop, from small crafts shops to vast general markets.

Music

Sanborn's, the popular Mexican variety store, with locations throughout the city, carries an excellent selection of traditional and popular Mexican music in most of its larger stores.

Jewelry

Dozens of jewelry stores and optical shops are on Madero from Motolinia to the zócalo, in the portals facing the National Palace. Nacional Monte de Piedad/National Pawn Shop, also opposite the National Palace, has an enormous jewelry selection. The first Latin American branch of Tiffany's is on Avenida Presidente Masaryk in Polanco.

GUADALAJARA

Many visitors to Guadalajara come specifically for the shopping in Tlaquepaque and Tonalá . If you have little free time, try the government-run Instituto de la Artesanía Jalisciense, González Gallo 20 at Calzada Independencia (tel. 33/3619-4664), in Parque Agua Azul, just south of downtown. This place is perfect for one-stop shopping, with two floors of pottery, silver jewelry, dance masks, glassware, leather goods, and regional clothing from around the state and the country. As you enter, on the right are museum displays showing crafts and regional costumes from the state of Jalisco. The craft store is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm, Saturday from 10am to 5pm, Sunday from 10am to 3pm.

Guadalajara is known for its shoe industry; if you're in the market for a pair, try the Galería del Calzado, a shopping center made up exclusively of shoe stores. It's on the west side, about 6 blocks from Minerva Circle, at avenidas Mexico and Yaquis.

Mariachis and charros come to Guadalajara from all over Mexico to buy their highly worked belts and boots, wide-brimmed sombreros, and embroidered shirts. Several tailor shops and stores specialize in these outfits. One is El Charro, which has a store in the Plaza del Sol shopping center, across the street from the Hotel Presidente Inter-Continental, and one downtown on Juárez.

To view a good slice of what constitutes the material world for most Mexicans, try the mammoth Mercado Libertad downtown. Besides food and produce, you'll see crafts, household goods, clothing, magic preparations, and more. Although it opens at 7am, the market isn't in full swing until around 10am. Come prepared to haggle.

Packing It In--If you need your purchases packed safely so that you can check them as extra baggage, or if you want them shipped, talk to Margaret del Río. She is an American who runs a large packing and shipping company at Juárez 347, Tlaquepaque (tel. 33/3657-5652). Paying the excess baggage fee usually is cheaper than shipping, but less convenient.

Tlaquepaque & Tonala

Almost everyone who comes to Guadalajara for the shopping has Tlaquepaque (tlah-keh-pah-keh) and Tonalá in mind. These two suburbs are traditional handicraft centers that produce and sell a wide variety of artesanía (crafts).

Tlaquepaque--Located about 20 minutes from downtown, Tlaquepaque has the best shopping for handicrafts and decorative arts in all of Mexico. Over the years, it has become a fashionable place, attracting talented designers in a variety of fields. Even though it's a suburb of a large city, it has a cozy, small-town feel; it's a pleasure simply to stroll through the central streets from shop to shop. No one hassles you; no one does the hard sell. There are some excellent places to eat (see "Where to Dine," earlier in this chapter), or you can grab some simple fare at El Parián, a building in the middle of town that houses a number of small eateries.

A taxi from downtown Guadalajara costs $5, or you can take one of the deluxe Turquesa buses that make a fairly quick run from downtown to Tlaquepaque and Tonalá..

The Tlaquepaque Tourism Office, Juárez 238 (tel. 33/3635-1220, ext. 104 or 113), has a helpful, English-speaking staff. It's open Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm. Most stores in Tlaquepaque close between 2 and 4pm and stay open until 7 or 8pm. Most are closed or have reduced hours on Sunday.

If you are interested in pottery and ceramics, two museums are worth a visit. The Regional Ceramics Museum, Independencia 237 (tel. 33/3635-5404), displays several aspects of traditional Jalisco pottery as produced in Tlaquepaque and Tonalá. The examples date back several generations and are grouped according to the technique used to produce them. Note the crosshatch design known as petatillo on some of the pieces; it's one of the region's oldest traditional motifs and is, like so many other motifs, a real pain to produce. Look for the wonderful old kitchen and dining room, complete with pots, utensils, and dishes. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm, Sunday from 10am to 3pm; admission is free. The Museo Pantaleón Panduro (tel. 33/3635-1089, ext. 17) is at P. Sánchez 191, at Florida. It is a must-see. Named after a famous local 19th-century artisan, it displays prize-winning pieces from the national ceramics contest held each year in Tlaquepaque. Many of the pieces exhibit an astounding virtuosity. Categories include miniatures, traditional designs, and original designs. It's open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 6pm; admission is free. If you still haven't had your fill, the Museo Nacional de Cerámica is in Tonalá .

A number of workshops permit visitors to watch artisans at work. A popular workshop is La Rosa de Cristal, Contreras Medillín 173, a glassblowing factory. It's open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 7pm. If you're interested in a particular craft, talk to the city tourism office; the staff can help locate workshops that are open to the public.

The following list of Tlaquepaque shops will give you an idea of what to expect. This is just a small fraction of what you'll find; the best approach might be to just follow your nose. The main shopping is along Independencia, a pedestrian-only street that starts at El Parián. You can go door-to-door visiting the shops until the street ends, then work your way back on Calle Juárez, the next street over, north of Independencia.

Tonalá: a tradition of pottery making--Tonalá is a pleasant town 5 minutes from Tlaquepaque. The streets were paved only recently, and there aren't any fancy shops. The village has been a center of pottery making since pre-Hispanic times; half of the more than 400 workshops here produce a wide variety of high- and low-temperature pottery. Other local artists work with forged iron, cantera stone, brass and copper, marble, miniatures, papier-mâché, textiles, blown glass, and gesso. This is a good place to look for custom work in any of these materials; you can locate a large pool of craftspeople by asking around a little.

Market days are Thursday and Sunday. Expect large crowds, and blocks and blocks of stalls displaying locally made pottery and glassware, as well as cheap manufactured goods, food, and all kinds of bric-a-brac. "Herb men" sell a rainbow selection of dried medicinal herbs from wheelbarrows; magicians entertain crowds with sleight-of-hand; and craftspeople spread their colorful wares on the plaza's sidewalks. This is the place for buying sets of margarita glasses, the widely seen blue-rimmed rustic glassware, as well as the pottery typically associated with Mexico and finely painted petatillo ware.

The Tonalá Tourism Office (tel. 33/3683-1740; fax 33/3683-0590) is in the Artesanos building, set back from the road at Atonaltecas 140 Sur (the main street leading into Tonalá) at Matamoros. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm, Saturday from 9am to 1pm. The office offers free walking tours on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9am and 2pm, Saturday at 9am and 1pm. They include visits to artisans' workshops (where you'll see ceramics, stoneware, blown glass, papier-mâché, and the like). Tours last 3 to 4 hours and require a minimum of five people. Visitors can request an English-speaking guide. Also in Tonalá, cater-cornered from the church, you'll see a small tourism information kiosk that's staffed on market days and provides maps and useful information.

Tonalá is also the home of the Museo Nacional de Cerámica, Constitución 104, between Hidalgo and Morelos (tel. 33/3683-0494). The museum occupies a two-story mansion and displays work from Jalisco and all over the country. There's a large shop in the front on the right as you enter. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm. Admission is free; the fee for using a video or still camera is $8.50 per camera.

FOOD & DINING IN MEXICO / MEXICO DINING GUIDE

Mexico Info — Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:51 am

Author: Mexico Info

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:51 am

FOOD & DINING IN MEXICO

GENERAL

Thanks to pre-Hispanic and Spanish influences, Mexican cuisine, with more than 20 centuries of tradition, brings together the flavours of two continents with colourful and delicious dishes. World famous for its diversity, the government has asked UNESCO to declare Mexican cuisine a "Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity." The key to Mexican gastronomy is the vast number of ingredients used, including corn, beans, chili peppers, vegetables and domestic meats; however at times some of the food products can come from Europe as well. The wide range of flavours, colours and textures, the manner in which the dishes are presented, and the local culinary techniques used are all part of the unique experience. This culinary culture, which can be enjoyed in marketplaces, diners and gourmet restaurants, is a product of the identity, beliefs, customs and cohesion of the Mexican people.

Achiote -- Small red seed of the annatto tree.

Achiote preparado -- A Yucatecan prepared paste made of ground achiote, wheat and corn flour, cumin, cinnamon, salt, onion, garlic, and oregano.

Agua fresca -- Fruit-flavoured water, usually watermelon, cantaloupe, chia seed with lemon, hibiscus flour, rice, or ground melon-seed mixture.

Antojito -- Typical Mexican supper foods, usually made with masa or tortillas and having a filling or topping such as sausage, cheese, beans, and onions; includes such things as tacos, tostadas, sopes, and garnachas.

Atole -- A thick, lightly sweet, hot drink made with finely ground corn and usually flavoured with vanilla, pecan, strawberry, pineapple, or chocolate.

Botana -- An appetizer.

Buñuelos -- Round, thin, deep-fried crispy fritters dipped in sugar.

Carnitas -- Pork deep-cooked (not fried) in lard, and then simmered and served with corn tortillas for tacos.

Ceviche -- Fresh raw seafood marinated in fresh lime juice and garnished with chopped tomatoes, onions, chiles, and sometimes cilantro.

Chayote -- A vegetable pear or mirliton, a type of spiny squash boiled and served as an accompaniment to meat dishes.

Chiles en nogada -- Poblano peppers stuffed with a mixture of ground pork and beef, spices, fruits, raisins, and almonds. Can be served either warm -- fried in a light batter -- or cold, sans the batter. Either way it is then covered in walnut-and-cream sauce.

Chiles rellenos -- Usually poblano peppers stuffed with cheese or spicy ground meat with raisins, rolled in a batter, and fried.

Churro -- Tube-shaped, breadlike fritter, dipped in sugar and sometimes filled with cajeta (milk-based caramel) or chocolate.

Cochinita pibil -- Pork wrapped in banana leaves, pit-baked in a pibil sauce of achiote, sour orange, and spices; common in the Yucatán.

Enchilada -- A tortilla dipped in sauce, usually filled with chicken or white cheese, and sometimes topped with mole (enchiladas rojas or de mole), or with tomato sauce and sour cream (enchiladas suizas -- Swiss enchiladas), or covered in a green sauce (enchiladas verdes), or topped with onions, sour cream, and guacamole (enchiladas potosinas).

Escabeche -- A lightly pickled sauce used in Yucatecan chicken stew.

Frijoles refritos -- Pinto beans mashed and cooked with lard.

Garnachas -- A thickish small circle of fried masa with pinched sides, topped with pork or chicken, onions, and avocado, or sometimes chopped potatoes and tomatoes, typical as a botana in Veracruz and Yucatán.

Gorditas -- Thick, fried corn tortillas, slit and stuffed with choice of cheese, beans, beef, chicken, with or without lettuce, tomato, and onion garnish.

Horchata -- Refreshing drink made of ground rice or melon seeds, ground almonds, cinnamon, and lightly sweetened.

Huevos mexicanos -- Scrambled eggs with chopped onions, hot green peppers, and tomatoes.

Huitlacoche -- Sometimes spelled "cuitlacoche." A mushroom-flavoured black fungus that appears on corn in the rainy season; considered a delicacy.

Manchamantel -- Translated, means "tablecloth stainer." A stew of chicken or pork with chiles, tomatoes, pineapple, bananas, and jicama.

Masa -- Ground corn soaked in lime; the basis for tamales, corn tortillas, and soups.

Mixiote -- Rabbit, lamb, or chicken cooked in a mild chile sauce (usually chile ancho or pasilla), and then wrapped like a tamal and steamed. It is generally served with tortillas for tacos, with traditional garnishes of pickled onions, hot sauce, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges.

Pan de muerto -- Sweet bread made around the Days of the Dead (Nov 1-2), in the form of mummies or dolls, or round with bone designs.

Pan dulce -- Lightly sweetened bread in many configurations, usually served at breakfast or bought in any bakery.

Papadzules -- Tortillas stuffed with hard-boiled eggs and seeds (pumpkin or sunflower) in a tomato sauce.

Pibil -- Pit-baked pork or chicken in a sauce of tomato, onion, mild red pepper, cilantro, and vinegar.

Pipián -- A sauce made with ground pumpkin seeds, nuts, and mild peppers.

Poc chuc -- Slices of pork with onion marinated in a tangy sour orange sauce and charcoal-broiled; a Yucatecan specialty.

Pozole -- A soup made with hominy in either chicken or pork broth.

Pulque -- A drink made of fermented juice of the maguey plant; best in the state of Hidalgo and around Mexico City.

Quesadilla -- Corn or flour tortillas stuffed with melted white cheese and lightly fried.

Queso relleno -- "Stuffed cheese," a mild yellow cheese stuffed with minced meat and spices; a Yucatecan specialty.

Rompope -- Delicious Mexican eggnog, invented in Puebla, made with eggs, vanilla, sugar, and rum.

Salsa verde -- An uncooked sauce using the green tomatillo and puréed with spicy or mild hot peppers, onions, garlic, and cilantro; on tables countrywide.

Sopa de flor de calabaza -- A soup made of chopped squash or pumpkin blossoms.

Sopa de lima -- A tangy soup made with chicken broth and accented with fresh lime; popular in Yucatán.

Sopa de tortilla -- A traditional chicken broth-based soup, seasoned with chiles, tomatoes, onion, and garlic, served with crispy fried strips of corn tortillas.

Sopa tlalpeña (or caldo tlalpeño) -- A hearty soup made with chunks of chicken, chopped carrots, zucchini, corn, onions, garlic, and cilantro.

Sopa tlaxcalteca -- A hearty tomato-based soup filled with cooked nopal cactus, cheese, cream, and avocado, with crispy tortilla strips floating on top.

Sope -- Pronounced "soh-peh." An antojito similar to a garnacha, except spread with refried beans and topped with crumbled cheese and onions.

Tacos al pastor -- Thin slices of flavoured pork roasted on a revolving cylinder dripping with onion slices and juice of fresh pineapple slices. Served in small corn tortillas, topped with chopped onion and cilantro.

Tamal -- Incorrectly called a tamale (tamal singular, tamales plural). A meat or sweet filling rolled with fresh masa, wrapped in a corn husk or banana leaf, and steamed.

Tikin xic -- Also seen on menus as "tik-n-xic" and "tikik chick." Charbroiled fish brushed with achiote sauce.

Torta -- A sandwich, usually on bolillo bread, typically with sliced avocado, onions, tomatoes, with a choice of meat and often cheese.

Xtabentun -- Pronounced "shtah-behn-toon." A Yucatecan liquor made of fermented honey and flavored with anise. It comes seco (dry) or crema (sweet).

Zacahuil -- Pork leg tamal, packed in thick masa, wrapped in banana leaves, and pit-baked, sometimes pot-made with tomato and masa; a specialty of mid- to upper Veracruz.

PLACES TO DINE IN MEXICO CITY

As in most of the world's major cities, dining in Mexico City is sophisticated, with cuisine that spans the globe. From high chic to the Mexican standard of comida corrida (food on the go), the capital offers something for every taste and budget. The Polanco area in particular has become a place of exquisite dining options, with new restaurants rediscovering and modernizing classic Mexican dishes. The Centro Histórico led a resurgence of ultra-hip restaurants and clubs open for late-night dining and nightlife, which has spread to the Condesa and Roma neighbourhoods -- now known as the SoHo of Mexico City. Cantinas, until not so very long ago the privilege of men only, offer some of the best food and colourful local atmosphere.

Everybody eats out in Mexico City, regardless of social class. Consequently, you can find restaurants of every type, size, and price range scattered across the city. Mexicans take their food and dining seriously, so if you see a full house, that's generally recommendation enough. But those same places may be entirely empty if you arrive early -- remember, here, lunch is generally eaten at 3pm, with dinner not seriously considered before 9pm.

Zona Rosa & Surrounding Areas--If you're up for a culinary adventure, dine at the student-staffed Restaurante Escuela Monte Servino at the Colegio Superior de Gastronomía, Sonora 189, Condesa (tel. 55/5584-3800), the training ground for Mexico's up-and-coming chefs. It's in a lovely room overlooking the Parque México. The menu varies, and there are a few misses among the hits, but this is a great way to sample the latest culinary trends. The ever-changing five-course fixed-price lunch costs just $18. Wines by the glass are available. It's open weekdays, and reservations are a must.

¡Café, Por Favor!--If you think espresso bars are a new phenomenon, or coffee drinks a development of recent years, you may be intrigued to learn that in Mexico, drinking good coffee has been considered an art form for generations. Some of the best coffee can be found in small cafes that have a crowd of regulars who congregate to catch up on the local chisme (gossip).

Café La Habana, downtown at Bucareli and Morelos, is one of the most famous, a longstanding cafe with a rich history -- and a reputation for strong coffee, all roasted and ground in-house. Ask the waiter and he'll tell you how Fidel Castro and Ché Guevara planned the Cuban revolution while sipping an espresso cortao. It's open Monday through Saturday from 7:30am to 10pm.

More European-style coffeehouses are in the Zona Rosa, frequented by businesspeople and trendy urban residents. Some of the most popular are Salón de Té Auseba and Duca d'Este, both on Hamburgo near Florencia. They serve excellent coffee and scrumptious cakes, as well as a variety of herbal teas. The sidewalk cafe Konditori, Genova 61, is another good option, on a pedestrian-only street. Open daily 7am to midnight.

The Condesa neighbourhood, east of Chapultepec Park, is another top cafe zone. El Péndulo, Nuevo León 115, close to Insurgentes, is a favourite. It combines its cafe setting with a book and music store, and so tends to draw intellectuals, writers, and students. It frequently hosts live music and poetry readings. It's open Monday through Friday from 8am to 11pm and weekends from 10am to 11pm.