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        <title>Been there | Tips</title>
        
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            Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love,
            live in or have just visited - are what make this guide.
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                <title>"BEAMING RIGA” – The Festival of Lights</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32215</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[‘Beaming Riga’ (Staro Rīga) is the festival of lights which transforms the panorama of Riga in dark evenings of November. November 18 is also the birthday of Latvia, so coming to Riga on these dates kills two birds with one stone. ‘Beaming Riga’ is a festival all around the city which transforms the city using light, video and<br>other technologies - buildings, squares, monuments, streets are live and talking through<br>technologies and creativity.<br>"Beaming Riga 2011” will take place in the city on 17th – 20st of November in urban<br>environment. Some more dark autumns evenings transformed into the urban fairy tale by<br>arts.]]></description>
                
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                <title>‘WHITE NIGHT’ - The Contemporary Arts Forum</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32212</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The contemporary arts forum White Night (Baltā Nakts) presents art, theatre, music,<br>movement and other art projects and performances. Every year White Night is organized all over the city at the end of August/beginning of September. ‘White Night 2011’ will be here on 10th of September. More than 65 art, music, theater, survival, performance<br>events in former factory VEF, Spikeri, Miera street, Old Town, and the centre of Riga<br>and in suburbs. Enjoy the beauty of arts all night long for free, heading form one place to<br>another! White Night forum is organized by Riga City Council Department of Culture in<br>cooperation with the active Latvian cultural organizations, involving a number of Latvian<br>and foreign artists. The city’s cafes, galleries, bookstores, clubs and other establishments<br>take an active part in the forum.<br>„White Night” is part of the joint “European White Nights” project by Brussels, Madrid,<br>Paris, Riga and Rome. This idea is also adopted by Amsterdam, Bucharest, Porto and<br>Valletta (Malta), as well as Toronto, Tokyo, Montreal, Chicago and other cities.]]></description>
                
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                <title>The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32011</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[In the Town Hall square next to the House of Blackheads you will aslo find The<br>Museum of the Occupation of Latvia housed in a black communist-era building -<br>.detailing events of Latvia's recent history, from the World War II occupations to the<br>events of independence in 1991, the museum is definitely worth a visit, in order to<br>gain a clearer understanding of Latvia.]]></description>
                
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                <title>House of the Blackheads</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32010</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The House of Blackheads in the Town Hall square built in 1344, is a stunning example of Gothic architecture. The original house was the headquarters of unmarried local merchants, known as the Blackheads. It was a place which played an important role in the life of society and traditions; VIPs from all over the Europe were often guests there and had wild secret parties.<br><br>A German merchant club the Brotherhood of Blackheads existed here until the middle<br>of the 20th century. On the top of the building you see a blue astronomical clock and inside the<br>building in the basement there is an exhibition about the history of the building. Its rooms and halls are rich with golden decorations, 19th century furnishings, paintings, the Latvian State highest award - the Three Star Order<br>- and the medal collection. Rooms of the building are also rented for cultural and private<br>events/celebrations, different concerts and exhibitions.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Istaba: Art Gallery: shop and restaurant</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31685</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Istaba (the Room) is an art gallery, shop and restaurant. The small gallery shop will make you wonder – you can find there things from greeting cards to tableware, jewelery, matches, souvenirs, home design objects etc, all created by local artists. Monthly exhibitions to highlight different types of art work are organized here, so what will you see when you come depends on the exhibition which is currently on. If you are searching for original gifts or souvenirs, this place is just perfect – no trite nonsense or rubbish, but pure art even in small practical things!<br>If the shop already takes you into a little dream world where everything around you is a piece of art then the restaurant Istabas Bufete on the first floor allows you to dwell longer in this little La Boheme world. I think the best thing to order here is a glass of wine, although the food here is prepared by one of Latvia’s most popular local chefs Mārtiņš Sirmais. Here is just a small daily menu and if you want to eat something the chef himself will come and consult you what to order. That’s also the reason why it’s not possible to know how much money you have to take with you. You can get soup, fish, meat and vegetables for around 3 – 8Ls (£4-10) not the cheapest place, but the food there is always fresh, ecological and high quality – these are the values of the chef. <br>People admire or hate this place. Some of them go away from there totally unsatisfied with the service – no menu, no big choice, just what the chef offers, but mainly people leave with smiling faces and always return there to enjoy its atmosphere and celebrate life with a glass of wine and intellectual talks for hours.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Magic Sand</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31637</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Cross the river Daugava, take a walk on the Stone Bridge - the view to Riga from there is wide and beautiful. On the other side of the river this summer until September is a creative sand sculpture park. It's not big, but worth seeing it.<br>"Magic Sand" is an international festival. In Riga you will see artwork by 12 professional world class sand masters. Sand sculpture park also offers to make your own sand sculpture (for additional fee), "Game Station" for children, workshops, early morning yoga classes and more. The view to Riga from there is wonderful – water, towers of the Old Town, bridges; and the atmosphere - meditative and peaceful. Artists working, and kids playing in a big sandbox. I also enjoyed playing with the sand!]]></description>
                
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                <title>Latvian National Opera</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5340</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Not one for culture as high brow as this, my visit to the opera house was more than a little hesitant. However, it's great. Particularly for opera virgins. Most Sundays they put on a famous show with ballets like the Nutcracker and Swan Lake commonplace. For a tenner you get seats down the front of this incredibly ornate building. Be warned, however, the people around you are likely to be far better dressed than you are.]]></description>
                
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