Music and book stores crowd most of Buenos Aires main avenues, but they're not all created equal. While the Musimundo chain specializes in audio equipment, and U.S. and Anglophile obessions like Madonna, Britney and Coldplay, Argentine tango dominates the shelves at independent retailer Zival's. You'll find music by local and Latin American artists in other genres (folk, jazz, classical and forms from various other countries), DVDs and a healthy selection of books. If you can't hunt down that rare Carlos Gardel recording or that out-of-print Mercedes Sosa album here (or at least order it from Zival's online store, which ships internationally), chances are you won't find them anywhere.Check out the selection of CDs by Carlos Gardel, tango's greatest singing legend. There are listening stations, so you can sample before you buy.

Callao 395; 4371-7500;

Monday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.;

www.zivals.com.

Shopping

By Jeremy Helligar

I am a journalist from New York City living in Buenos Aires. After spending 15 years as a writer and editor in New York City, I moved to Argentina in...

Created: 01 Sep 2008

Updated: 01 Sep 2008

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