1604  Recuerdos de Buenos Aires 7/7

Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 12:00:22 EDT
From: Charles Roques <Crrtango@AOL.COM>
Subject: Recuerdos de Buenos Aires 7/7

Mon July 7,

Today to Zival's on Callao and Corrientes to shop for CDs and books. Mostly
expanding my collection, searching for titles I don't have, or looking for
other versions. Great thing about this store is you can listen to the CDs before
purchasing them and without opening them. They are put in to a computer so one
only has to read the bar code to hear snippets of each song. Something that
should be done in the states. In NYC one can listen but usually to selected CDs
only. Like any musical form, there are many "bad" tangos and undanceable ones
out there and everyone has different tastes so this is a great way to avoid
buying what you don't like. Spent several hours there, left with 24 CDs! Some
gems I found were a version of "9 de Julio" by Pugliese, a version of "Duelo
Criollo" by Di Sarli, also a spoken intro to " El Choclo" by Di Sarli, a very
nice version of "Caricias" (made famous by D'Agostino/Vargas) by Biagi as well as
a couple more nice milongas by him, a CD of Firpo waltzes, more songs by Or
questa Tipica Victor, and an entire CD of Canaro milongas. RCA has a series out
now "RCA Victor Cien Anos" that is excellent, the EMI "Reliquias" series is
plentiful there, also a new series by EMI "Bailando Tango - Instrumentales."
Prices average about $5 -$6. US or $14-$16. pesos per CD.

Across Corrientes and down a half a block is the Gandhi bookstore, another
good place to get books and CDs, if not as large as Zival's. Found a book on the
"Evolucion de la Orquesta Tipica," an autobiography by Copes, "Quien Me
Quita Lo Bailado," and another on "Damas y Milongueras del Tango," Also found some
tango posters.

Went across the street to La Americana, "La Reina de las Empanadas", which
puts the lie to all empanadas being made of meat and made me aware that there
are empanadas and then there are better empanadas. I ate a couple of very good
choclo (corn) empanadas with a thin crust, some excellent pizza, (pizzas tend
to have less tomato sauce on them there and more varieties of cheese, onions
and other ingredients). A fun place to eat, very busy at lunchtime, with
stand-up counters as well as a dining room. I got into a conversation with a local
(an oculist) who recommended I stop in if I needed any glasses before returning.
A very filling lunch with a soft drink for about $6.50 (2.75 US).

Back to nap. I can't seem to get back early enough to go to the "afternoon"
milongas. Oh well. Off to Salon Canning again tonight. Some very nice dances
with some distaff members of my species, very beautiful and sensual (starting to
get comfortable using the "cabeceo".) Females here are much more comfortable
with the close physicality of the dance so one has to be careful with reading
too much into them nestling into your arms although it can also mean other
things but one should not assume it means what you think or want it to mean.
There are pickups at the milongas of course but that person that just rubbed all
over you in the most inviting way and is sitting by themselves might go back
and eventually join their boyfriend or girlfriend. For visiting females it is
also the case with men but you will find out soon enough if their interest is in
just dancing.

Great music, saw some tango people who had been to New York giving workshops,
Melina Brufman, Ramiro Gigliotti. Favorite hangout of Gavito's as well, sat
with him for a little while. As is the case almost everywhere here, no one
dances open figures, only close dancing. Floors are too crowded but also don't
even see it when floor is uncrowded or even empty, except for the tourists :-).
Sometimes Argentines who are just learning will dance open but once the floor
fills up they tend to shy away. Also never hear modern tango music, only the
classics. I was told this of course but it is still a revelation. The only place
you hear it is in stage shows but even then sparingly.

Breakfast with a lady friend I met at the milonga, then off to bed about 6:00
AM.

Cheers,
Charles

Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 13:57:01 -0400
From: John Gleeson <jgleeson@CONCENTRIC.NET>
Subject: Re: Recuerdos de Buenos Aires 7/7

>> From Charles Roques:
> Great thing about this store is you can listen to the CDs before
> purchasing them and without opening them. They are put in to a computer so one
> only has to read the bar code to hear snippets of each song. Something that
> should be done in the states.

It is available in the States - Barnes & Noble for one offer this capability.

John G.