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Entertainment Overview

More than ever, the Oslo nightlife scene is vibrant and varied. Cafés, restaurant-bars, and jazz clubs are laid-back and mellow. But if you're ready to party, there are many pulsating, live-rock and dance clubs to choose from. Day or night, people are usually out on Karl Johans Gate, and many clubs and restaurants in the central area stay open until the early hours. Aker Brygge, the wharf area, has many bars and some nightclubs, attracting mostly tourists, couples on first dates, and other people willing to spend extra for the waterfront location. Grünerløkka and Grønland have even more bars, pubs, and cafés catering to a younger crowd. A more mature upmarket crowd ventures out to the less busy west side of Oslo, to Frogner and Bygdøy.

Drinking out is very expensive in Oslo, starting at around NKr 50 for a beer or a mixed drink. Many Norwegians save money by having drinks at friends' houses -- called a forschpiel -- before heading out on the town. Some bars in town remain quiet until 11 PM or midnight when the first groups of forschpiel partyers arrive.

For nightlife listings, pick up a copy of the free monthly paper Natt og Dag or Friday's edition of Avis 1.

The monthly tourist information brochure What's on in Oslo lists cultural events in Norwegian, as does Aftenposten, Oslo's (and Norway's) leading newspaper, in its evening OsloPuls section and the Friday edition of Avis 1 newspaper. The Friday edition of Dagbladet, Oslo's daily liberal tabloid, also gives an exhaustive preview of the week's events. Tickets to virtually all performances in Norway, from classical or rock concerts to hockey games, can be purchased at any post office.

For information about gay and lesbian clubs and bars in Oslo, you can read Blikk, the gay newsletter; check out www.gaysir.no; or call LLH (Landsforening for Lesbisk og Homofil Frigjøring. 22/36-19-48), the national gay and lesbian liberation association. Filmweb.no is the Web site used nationally for ordering tickets.