Top 10 World Music Clubs in New York City

I heart New York. Especially in the summer. Everywhere you go, there's a free concert, or a farmer's market, or a street fair. You can't take a turn without running into some delightful little enclave of New York's dazzling melting pot of cultures. I'm an upstater by birth, but I was smart enough to pair myself up with a Manhattan native, who has served as my personal tour guide for many years (highly recommended, ladies), and I've gotten to know the city like the back of my hand. Well, that's not totally true - I still have a bit of trouble with the subway system. I also point excitedly at the stunning Chrysler Building every time I see it. It can't be helped.

At any rate, as a culture vulture, I consider New York a little slice of paradise. I'm willing to overlook the weird smells that emanate from just about every sidewalk grate, the totally confusing subway system (I'm not alone in thinking this, am I?), and the incessant honking, because New York has everything you can possibly imagine, in terms of the arts. For me, the highlight of the city's cultural offerings is the bevy of world music clubs. I love seeing world music in fancy sit-down venues as well - Carnegie Hall offers great multi-cultural programming, as do Lincoln Center, the World Music Institute (who usually present their shows at Symphony Space), and most of the colleges. However, I also really like places where I can dance, chat, and kick back a couple of beers, so I often prefer club shows when they're available. Before any trip to the city, I always obsessively research my favorite clubs to see who's playing, and I realized that perhaps it was time I actually shared my favorite venues. Next time you're in the city (or tonight, if you live there!) browse through this list of my favorite NYC world music clubs to get some ideas for how to spend your evenings. Perhaps I'll see you there!