What to expect from “the world’s most outrageous show”?

Last night my friend and I went to see Empire. The show was marketed as ‘the most outrageous Spiegeltent show’ and described with ‘somersaulting, slapsticking and stripteasing’ by New York Times. I have never seen any Spiegelworld‘s show before, so I didn’t quite know what to expect, but certainly my expectations were high.

The show was amazing! It was fun, exciting, some really good acrobatics and really talented performers. I loved the small size of the stage and the venue (unfortunately they take it with them on their travels, as it is some sort of a modern circus) – because of its tininess I had a feeling the show is happening in my living room :). I laughed loud and I laughed a lot. And I enjoyed every single moment of it!

The Empire show is taking place in Auckland only for a few more days. If you have a chance, go see it. If not this time, keep them in your mind for the next time they come around.

Latin rhythms with Latin Projection Band

I have come across Latin Projection Band (LPB) on quite a few occasions. I guess I like musica latina and these guys are across everything – salsa, charanga, timba, bachata, merengue, cumbia & chacha. Coming from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Chile, well and New Zealand, they have the music and the rhythm in their blood. And they certainly make sure that the audience can feel that!

They come in a few different versions, depending on the occasion and moreover the size of the stage :). I had an opportunity to see them in a dancing version (they were playing on the stage and the audience was dancing) as well as in a more quiet dinner-like version. I have to say they never disappoint!

I believe they regularly play in Dos Amigos, a Mexican restaurant in Mission Bay. If you are looking for an idea what to do on a Friday night, here is one: invite your family, your partner, or a friend (or two), book a table at Dos Amigos (make sure it is an outside table), hope for a nice and warm evening  and enjoy good food (Mexican flavours) and an ambiental live performance of LPB. How does that sound?