Urban Entertainment

Entertainment is referred to as any activity that holds the attention or interest of an audience. Over the years livelihood has evolved to include entertainment as an important component. It also serves as a mode of livelihood for worldwide. Just like the provision of any other service entertainment has become a wide and booming industry. Whether you are working within the entertainment industry or is a patron it has become part of the livelihood of people.

 Through entertainment the culture and arts of Trinidad and Tobago is portrayed and accepted globally. Within the past decade urban entertainment has become ever more prominent now than before. As Trinidad’s cosmopolitan population has grown more nightlife and entertainment choices have grown to meet its growing demand. The streets of the city of Port of Spain are saturated with bars, nightclubs, lounges, multi-storey clubs, theaters, and ‘fetes’ as Trinidadians like to call it.

The photo below displays one of Trinidad’s most prized performing theaters located within the city of Port of Spain. The photo displays the recently built National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA). The theater is equipped with state of the art technology and hosts some of the most prestigious and diplomatic functions and shows. 

The architectural design of the building was done to replicate that of the national flower; the Chaconia. The photo clearly displays the vision for the promotion of arts and entertainment in Trinidad.

One of the most famous entertainment places in Port of Spain is located along Ariapita Avenue dubbed ‘the Avenue’. The avenue can be described as a microcosm of bar/lounge night life experience in Trinidad.

The nightlife and entertainment experience within the city of Port of Spain and Trinidad at large is being promoted by the government and other local agencies to encourage urban tourism and are thus far have been very successful. Within urban economies urban tourism has been emerging as an important driver of urban development in cities all over the world and Trinidad and Tobago is no exception. (Hall and Barrett 1998)

The photo above displays a combination of different hotspots located at Ariapita Avenue, Port of Spain. The photo to the top left hand corner shows the streets of the Avenue being saturated with people at night time, the photo to the right of it shows the famous Coco Lounge; a popular lounge for young adults. The two photos to the bottom are houses that were bought and converted into bars and restaurants, and are  very successful to date. It is these places such as these that people choose to spend their time and money or some may even work here to earn a living.

 The links below refers you to commended activities in promotion of urban tourism taking place on the Avenue. The second of the two links is an online website dedicated to activities taking place on the Avenue. Take a look. 

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Thousands-turn-out--for-Pan-on-D-Avenue-2-221109511.html

http://www.weavenue.com/index.php

Food for Thought

What do you think about gentrification of such places to promote entertainment and nightlife?

Reference

Hall, Tim, and Heather Barrett. 1998.Urban geography. London: Routledge.