Entertainment runs the gamut in Kyiv, from high culture to sports. Tickets are available at hotel service bureaus at a much higher cost than directly from the box office or from special ticket kiosks around the city. Main box offices are at 26. B. Khmelnitskoho Street and 16 Velyka Vasylkivska Street.

Music: Taras Shevchenko National Opera of Ukraine (Театр Опери і Балету ім. Т.Г. Шевченка), 50 Volodymyrska (Володирська) Street, was built in 1901 by architect Victor Shreter. This fine company produces many classical and new Ukrainian and foreign operas as well as ballets. Telephone 224-71-65.

Ukraine's National Philharmonic Society, 2 Volodymyrskyy Uzviz at European Square, is in the historic Merchants Assembly Building. This home of the National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine has been gloriously restored to its original 19th century splendor. Its acoustics, among the best in Europe, attract world-famous musicians. The Symphony Orchestra has an extensive repertoire of world classics and of early and 20th century Ukrainian composers. The Philharmonic also has a world-class Chamber Orchestra and a number of high quality ensembles specializing in traditional and folk music. Telephone 229-62-51.

House of Organ and Chamber Music, 77 Velyka Vasylkivska (formerly Chervonoarmiyska) Street in a beautiful early 20th century pseudo-gothic Cathedral, is the place to go for wonderful classical music performances. Telephone 269-56-78.

Theater. Kyiv has a lively theater scene with more than 20 theaters. Here are a few of the most notable. I. Franko National Academic Drama Theater at 3 Ivan Franko Square (Площа Івана Франка, ploshcha Ivana Franka) is a leading Ukrainian drama theater; it also hosts musical performances. Telephone 229-59-91. The Lesya Ukrayinka Russian Drama Theater at 5 Khmelnytskyy Street (вулиця Хмельницького, vulytsya Khmelnytskoho) is a major theater of Russian works. Telephone 224-42-23. The Drama and Comedy Theater on the Left Bank, 25 Brovarska Ave, is the city's leading experimental theater, featuring comedy and drama of Ukrainian and foreign playwrights. Telephone 517-41-04. Bravo Theater, 79 Honchara Street, is Kyiv's first private theater and attracts the city's best actors. Telephone 216-40-22.

Sports. Dynamo Stadium, 3 Hrushevskoho (Грушевського) Street Js a complex of gymnasiums, fields, courts, and pools. You can use the indoor swimming pool and handball and tennis courts, but if you want to watch the city's championship soccer team, Dynamo, in action, yOu need to go to Ukraine's largest stadium, the 100,000-seat Olympiyskyv Stadium, 55 Velyka Vasylkivska Street (formerly Chervornoarmiyska).

The Kyiv Circus performs in a 2,000-seat amphitheater located at 2 Peremohy (Victory) Square (Площа Перемога). Acrobats, gymnasts clowns, and animal trainers perform weekdays at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. A new circus is under construction not far from the Livoberezhna metro station. Telephone 216-38-56.

Hidropark is a large recreation area on an island near the left bank of the Dnipro. This popular summer place for boating and sunbathing has grounds for volleyball, tennis, and gymnastics. There are also coffee shops, beer bars, and cafes with Ukrainian cuisine. Hidropark is easily accessible by the subway to the Hidropark Station.

"Day of Kyiv", a celebration of the birthday of Kyiv, takes place the last weekend of May during the "Days of Spring," an annual carnival and art festival that attracts artists from the whole country. The festival originated in 1982 as a celebration of the 1500th anniversary of Kyiv. The chestnut trees lining city streets and lilacs in the parks are in full bloom, and the rainy weather that often occurs during the festival doesn't dampen the genuine attitude of merriment that pervades the city. Booths selling snacks and souvenirs, as well as parades and performers, are in the Khreshchatyk Street area, and Andriyivsky Uzviz Street becomes a gigantic art market with artists and craftspersons from all over the country lining the street in three-deep rows.