Entertainment in Baden Württemberg
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Baden-Baden Casino
Inside the palatial Kurhaus - besides lavish festival halls used for balls, conventions, concerts, dance competitions and weddings - is the opulent Baden-Baden Casino, opened in 1838 and reminiscent of the 19th century or a 1970s James Bond film, depending on your proclivities.
Its décor, which seeks to emulate - indeed, outdo - the splendour of France's famed chateaux, such as Versailles, led Marlene Dietrich to call it 'the most beautiful casino in the world'. After observing the action here, Dostoevsky was inspired to write The Gambler.
You need your passport or European national ID card to enter, and cell phones must be switched off. Games include French and American…
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Festspielhaus
Ensconced in an historic train station and fabled for its acoustics, the Festspielhaus is Europe's second biggest concert hall, seating 2500 theatre-goers, and a lavish tribute to Baden-Baden's musical heritage. Under the direction of Andreas Mölich-Zebhauser, the grand venue hosts a world-class program of concerts, opera and ballet.
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Zap Club
In the cellar of the Schwabenzentrum (around the corner from Josef-Hirn-Platz), this sprawling disco has very modern decor and a cocktail bar. Attracts mainly a younger, 18-to-26 crowd. Over-30s get a discount on Wednesday. Hosts live music about once a week.
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Cave54
Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald have played the Cave, Germany's oldest student jazz club which opened in 1954. It hosts jam sessions at 8.30pm every Sunday. The DJ pumps out an eclectic mix of rock, blues and oldies until 3am on other nights of the week.
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Hüftengold
Rumour has it that when the boss fell pregnant, she named her other baby, this lounge cafe, Hüftengold (love handles). Bag a log stool in this retro sylvan wonderland for cocktails, chill-out grooves and cosy evening chats by candlelight.
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Wagenhallen
Swim away from the mainstream at this post- industrial space near Eckhardtshaldenweg U-Bahn, where club nights, gigs and workshops skip from Balkan beat parties to poetry slams. There's a relaxed beer garden for summertime quaffing.
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Palast der Republik
Named after the former seat of East German parliament, this round kiosk has a less-than-imposing history as a public toilet. It's popular among students and alternative types, who sit at tables or on the ground sipping their brew.
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Café Weiss
Drunken students and punks, hip-hop dudes and glammed-up divas - all love this grungy, borderline sleazy dive. The bartenders can be gruffer than billy goats, but they pour a stiff vodka and lend change for the jukebox.
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Staatstheater
Stuttgart's grandest theatre presents a top-drawer program of ballet, opera, theatre and classical music. The Stuttgart Ballet (www.stuttgart-ballet.de, in German) is hailed one of Europe's best companies.
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Wiley Club
On a former US military base, this one-time canteen has a restaurant, cafe-bar and stage, and hosts live music and club nights. Situated 2.5km south of the Altstadt; take bus 6 to the Wiley Club.
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Tagblatt
Welcome to Bavaria and one of Ulm's finest riverside beer gardens, with prime views to the Altstadt. Grab a chair outside to quaff a cold one, or chomp imaginative salads, schnitzels and burgers.
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Roxy
A huge cultural venue, housed in a former industrial plant 1km south of the Hauptbahnhof, with a concert hall, cinema, disco, bar and special-event forum. Take tram line 1 to Ehinger Tor.
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Deep
Self-consciously trendy, this lounge-club is on a mission to sex up this city with its virginal white decor, eye-candy crowd and uber-picky doormen. House and techno dominate the decks.
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Nachtschicht
Set in a cavernous old tobacco factory, this is one of Heidelberg's most popular clubs, attracting lots of students. The soundtrack skips from hip hop to house depending on the night.
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Liederhalle
Jimi Hendrix and Sting are among the stars who have performed at this culture and congress centre. The 1950s venue stages big-name classical and pop concerts, cabaret and comedy.
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Barfüsser
Light bites like Flammkuchen and Käsespätzle (cheese noodles) soak up the prize-winning beer, microbrewed in Neu-Ulm, at this brewpub. Tuesday is karaoke night.
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Nationaltheater Mannheim
The granddaddy of Mannheim's performing arts scene, this theatre has been going strong for 300 years and staged Schiller's first major play, Die Räuber (The Robbers).
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Biergarten im Schlossgarten
Celebrate summer with beer and pretzels at Stuttgart's best-loved, 2000-seat beer garden in the green heart of the Schlossgarten. Regular live music gets steins a-swinging.
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King's Club
Scarlet walls create a sultry backdrop at King's, where gays, lesbians and straights dance to house and electro. Picks up after midnight. Enter from Gymnasiumstrasse.
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Wilder Mann
Young and lively, this pub hosts fun events from barbecues to DJ nights. The well-mixed cocktails and people-watching terrace compensate for the so-so food.
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Kiste
Jam-packed at weekends, this hole-in-the-wall bar is Stuttgart's leading jazz venue, with nightly concerts (except Sunday), starting at 9.30pm or 10pm.
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Destille
Just like the tree behind the bar, this mellow pub grows on you, especially after a Tabasco schnapps Warmer Erpel (warm duck) or three.
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Dilayla
Crash on the sofas or get your groove on to '70s and '80s soundtracks at this laid-back, dimly lit basement club. Gets going around midnight.
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Die Röhre
A hugely popular, industrial-style concert and party venue under the curved ceiling of an aborted vehicle tunnel or Röhre (tube).
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Bix Jazzclub
Suave chocolate-gold tones and soft lighting set the scene for first-rate jazz acts at Bix, swinging from big bands to soul and blues.
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