Things to do (and jazz) in Amsterdam?

[gnhrtg]

Well, my girlfriend's coming this way next Friday and we'll also be heading to Amsterdam for two nights, between the 22nd and 24th; I'll look through a couple of guides but would appreciate some things to do/places to see/eat at and also (of course) for decent music stores, new and second-hand, for jazz (and free improv and all) and classical. I checked Bimhuis, not much while I'm there. Thanks.

[Pete C]

For generally straight-ahead jazz, you can check out Alto.

My favorite Indonesian restaurant in the world is Kantjil en de Tijger.

Spuistraat 291/293, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Phone 020/620-0994


http://www.kantjil.nl/

Frommer's:

Unlike the many Indonesian restaurants in Holland that wear their ethnic origins on their sleeves, literally, with wait staff decked out in traditional costume, the Antelope and the Tiger is chic, modern, and cool. Moreover, it attracts customers who like their Indonesian food not only chic, modern, and cool, but good as well. The two bestsellers in this popular place are nasi goreng Kantjil (fried rice with pork kebabs, stewed beef, pickled cucumbers, and mixed vegetables), and the 20-item rijsttafel for two. Other choices include stewed chicken in soja sauce, tofu omelet, shrimp with coconut dressing, Indonesian pumpkin, and mixed steamed vegetables with peanut-butter sauce. Finish off your meal with the multilayered cinnamon cake or (try this at least once) the coffee with ginger liqueur and whipped cream.

Fodor's:

No folkloric shadow puppets adorn the walls at this unusually large and spacious Indonesian restaurant: the interior is serenely Jugendstil (a sort of Austrian Art Nouveau), which provides a refreshing surprise. Although you can order à la carte, the menu is based on three different rijsttafel (rice tables), with an abundance of meat, fish, and vegetable dishes varying in flavor from coconut-milk sweetness to distressingly spicy (tip: the sweet and light local witbier beer is an excellent antidote). Groups often come here to line their bellies before a night of drinking in the bars around the nearby Spui and NieuweZijde Voorburgwal. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch.

If you're homesick for Turkish food, I like Turquoise very much:

Turquoise


Wolvenstraat 22-24, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Phone 020/624-2026

The groups of Turkish city residents who frequent this cozy, long-established restaurant vouch for the quality and authenticity of the food. It is also set on one of the streets belonging to the charming shopping Mecca of the Negen Straatjes ("Nine Streets"). The lamb -- whether skewered on a kebab, roasted, or minced and formed into patties -- is always a safe bet, as are the oven-roasted prawns slathered in a tomato and pepper sauce. Service is friendly and attentive, and the chic dining areas, which includes purely private options, is decorated in blues, golds, and ornate artwork. Sunday is "Crazy Day," when live music increases the buzz. (Fodor's)

I also love eating smoked eel sandwiches when in Holland (broodje paling).

[Jon Abbey]

it looks like the Ex are at the Paradiso:

http://www.paradiso.nl/

awesome Thai food there, but I don't have specifics at my fingertips like Pete, it's been a long time since I've been.

[gnhrtg]

Thanks a lot, Pete. I've read enough here to easily take your word on restaurants. Hmm, no lunch, so better make a reservation. Yes, Alto looks fine, only I'd only want to spend what is almost my only evening there if it's a good one and it looks like they have their usual band(s) booked.

Jon - The Ex are playing on the 19th or 20th I believe. We'll be there 22-24.

I now have the Get Lost! and Everyman CityMap guides to Amsterdam and will flip through them but would appreciate any further recommendations (music stores, food, and warn me if any of the museums or tourist attractions suck).

[Pete C]

If there's no good music you could always take in an extreme sex show.

[Alastair]

The Rijksmuseum is an obvious must, but I think it's being renovated over a long period of time, so check which parts of are open before you go. When I last went (last year) they had the most popular stuff in the main hall and reduced the prices accordingly while they renovated the other bits of the place.

The Van Gogh musueum is great, but get there early unless you want to see the backs of other peoples' heads rather than the paintings. I was a bit disappointed by the Modern Art Museum.

Been to Amsterdam twice and still not made it to the Ann Frank House, but I have been to the Jewish Museum, which is a little dry.

I found the window displays in the red light district hilarious - ladies wearing luminous underwear!

[Sergio Zamora]

Oh, you said your girlfriend is with you. Well, then I have no suggestions.

[gnhrtg]

Thanks, everyone. We'll try see The Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh at the very least. As it stands we have three guide(book)s for around 48 hours in Amsterdam

Pete, we will go to Kantjil en de Tijger. Anything you would particularly recommend?

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by gnhrtg

Pete, we will go to Kantjil en de Tijger. Anything you would particularly recommend?

The all-out thing to do would be to go for one of the Rijstaffels, but it's an enormous amount of food for about 25 Euros per person. You could do quite well with a Nasi Rames instead, which is a kind of single plate mini-rijstaffel--a variety of items on a plate with rice, and that's about 13 Euros. Nasi goreng rames would have fried rice instead of white. That too is more than enough food.

[gnhrtg]

Back from Amsterdam and I found it to be easily worth the time and expenses - very nice city, simply to stroll around if nothing else (took about 300 pictures). Been to Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh and found both worth it, again if only for the walk there and back from the center (Dam) - but the museums here and in London, still never been to the states, I get a better kick out of.

Foodwise - had a quick bite on arrival and before our leave at a small place called "Dolores," nice and supposedly mostly natural/organic. Also to Zushi, a sushi place, where I really liked the food, it included an eel roll or something of the kind - but then I don't get to eat much sushi and Selin told me it was good but not outstanding. Kantjil en de Tijger was really good, too. We had the 11 plate meal and I now know what I like better and will go for that the next time. Nice food, and sauces and a friendly atmosphere. Will definitely go there again, thanks Pete. Oh and Selin is asking for restaurant recommendation in NYC - I know she'll have to be more specific but if you have the time and wouldn't mind, let me know and I'll send you her mail.

"ladies wearing luminous underwear!" - Now, Selin says it's the light, I'm not sure myself.

Thanks again, everyone. Oh and I'm really getting to learn about the places to see in Paris little by little so if any of you should ever come to France...

[gnhrtg]

Oh and I went to this record store called "Concerto" - sells new and second-hand discs, where I picked up Growing Pains, Turbulent Flow, Damaged in Transit and a couple of classical discs at decent prices. They didn't have Astronotes so I'll have to order that from DMG.

[Pete C]

Gokhan, feel free to send her my email address, and I'll be happy to make recommendations. When is she coming?

Glad you liked Kantjil.

[gnhrtg]

Pete - Actually, I really liked Kantjil but Selin found some of the food/sauces too "heavy" (?). She lives in Sunnyside so she's there pretty much throughout the year. Hey if you find the time you might even eat out together, I figured if I can't meet you then I'll get her to meet you so we'll have an indirect tie

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by gnhrtg

Pete - Actually, I really liked Kantjil but Selin found some of the food/sauces too "heavy" (?).

That's basically the nature of Indonesian (and Malaysian) food, rather than the restaurant. I'd bet she's much more fond of Vietnamese food.

She lives in Sunnyside, Queens?

[gnhrtg]

Originally Posted by Pete C

She lives in Sunnyside, Queens?

Right. By the way, I don't have your mail, that's fine I'll jsut pm you hers.