Colombia (Lonely Planet, 5th Edition) - Jens Porup [63]
Cine Colombia Andino (Map; 404 2463; Centro Comercial Andino, Carrera 12 No 82-01, piso 3) Multiplex cinema in Zona Rosa’s Andino mall.
Cinemateca Distrital (Map; 284 8076; www.cinematecadistrital.gov.co, in Spanish; Carrera 7 No 22-79) Art cinema hosts frequent film festivals.
Maloka (Map; 427 2707; www.maloka.org, in Spanish; Carrera 68D No 51; museum/cinema/both COP$8000/10,000/17,000; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-7pm Sat, 11am-7pm Sun)) Its CineDomo screens giant kid-friendly educational films on its massive dome ceiling.
Multiplex Cine Colombia (Map; 404 2463; Calle 24 No 6-01) A six-screen multiplex in the city center.
Museo de Arte Moderno (Map; 286 0466) Screens various art-house films daily except Monday.
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Theater
Bogotá is big on theater with more than a dozen options. Many lefty, politicized troupes dominate La Candelaria, while more mainstream options linger ‘uptown’ in the north.
TRADITIONAL
Teatro Colón (Map; 284 7420; www.bogota-dc.com/eventos/teatro/colon.html, in Spanish; Calle 10 No 5-32) La Candelaria’s most famous – and the city’s loveliest – stage is undergoing a long renovation until 2010. When it reopens, it’ll resume its repertoire of large-scale opera and the occasional drama for a dress-up, high-end crowd.
Teatro Nacional (Map; 217 4577; Calle 71 No 10-25) Similar in its programming to Teatro Colón.
Teatro Nacional La Castellana (Map; 256 1399; Calle 95 No 30-13) An offshoot of Teatro Nacional.
ALTERNATIVE
Teatro de La Candelaria (Map; 281 4814; Calle 12 No 2-59; tickets adult/student COP$15,000/8000) One of the edgiest theaters in the center, with a mix of political shows (often lefty, sometimes covering women’s-rights issues) that always know when to put in a joke to diffuse any tension.
Teatro Seki Sano (Map; 284 8687; Calle 12 No 2-65) Another alternative-theater option, next door to Teatro de La Candelaria.
Fundación Gilberto Alzate Avendaño (Map; 282 9491; www.fgaa.gov.co; Calle 10 No 3-16) This cultural institute in La Candelaria hosts many events (including dance and theater, and also some concerts). In 2008 a Goya painting was stolen during an art exhibit here.
Teatro Experimental La Mama (Map; 211 2709; www.teatrolamama.com; Calle 63 No 9-60) Now in its fifth decade, this alternative, ‘experimental’ theater in Chapinero stages various performances by amateur groups not shy to provoke.
Teatro Libre Centro (Map; 281 4834; www.teatrolibre.com; Calle 13 No 2-44) This is another venue for small theater, although most of its productions are now presented in the theater group’s new branch, Teatro Libre Chapinero (Map; 217 1988; Calle 62 No 10-65; tickets COP$20,000-80,000).
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Live Music
Clubs across town stage live music nightly across Bogotá (Click here), and outdoor events like Rock al Parque are huge festivals that attract fans from across the continent. Posters around town tout big-name acts, who play at Estadio El Campín, Parque Simón Bolívar or Parque Jaime Duque (on the way to Zipaquirá, north of the city). Check for listings in Go (www.goguiadelocio.com).
Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango (Map; 343 1212; www.lablaa.org; Calle 11 No 4-14) This huge La Candelaria library hosts a healthy selection of instrumental and vocal concerts; regular Wednesday events are more expensive (from COP$15,000) than other days (about COP$5000).
Auditorio León de Greiff (Map; 316 5000; Universidad Nacional, cnr Carrera 30 & Calle 45) Despite the uni’s rad students, this stage goes with traditional philharmonics and orchestras – many concerts are held on Saturday.
Media Torta (Map; 281 7704; www.mediatorta.gov.co; cnr Calle 18 & Carretera Circunvalación; noon-4pm Sun) Live kid-oriented concerts are staged for free at noon on Sundays at a band stage above La Candelaria. Take the steps up from the end of Calle 18.
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Sports
Many outsiders