3017  Sunday tango scene in New York, New York

Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 08:39:12 +0000
From: Oleh Kovalchuke <oleh_k@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Sunday tango scene in New York, New York

New York is fascinating urban jungle where tunnels and bridges cross the
path and engulf your car. Construction scaffolds adorn buildings with yellow
cabs hunting for and spewing out the passengers down below.

New York is also a place where you can go to three different milongas on
Sunday. And so I did.

La Milonguita Ideal. $10. 6:30-8 pm (out of 5:30-9:30 pm). West 25th Street
(between 6th & 7th Aves.). This was exactly how I have imagined a milonga in
New York should look like. You get to a dark indescript high-rise covered
with those construction scaffolds. Locked glass door has tiny piece of paper
taped to it which claims that there is tango on eleventh floor and another
one instructing to use buzzer 17. Very much unadorned elevator takes you up.
Door opens and suddenly tango is heard.

Pay $10 to an amicable Carribean, not tango dancer and she will let you in a
room decorated with heavy red curtains, with support pole in the middle and
sofas, armchairs and plain chairs along the walls. Three couples are dancing
and doing it rather well to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.

At it's most crowded there were probably ten couples dancing at this
milonga. Most are rather young and somewhat hip. Mostly good close and some
open embrace dancers with one nuevo couple doing their stuff. Host cooks hot
empanadas in a toaster oven and free and fruity wine cocktail is served. As
far as free food goes this is the best tango place I have been to. Music
wasn't as great. About one third of it was with Julio Sosa singing - rich
voice, poor dance music. Fortunately my hunger and delicious empanadas kept
me busy. Once the hunger was satiated I moved on to Esmeralda at Session 73.
By the way, before I move, it s a small tango world after all - I have met
the not so clandestine BsAs New Yorker at this milonga.

Esmeralda's at Session 73. $10. 8:30-10 pm (out of 5-10 pm). Corner of 1st
Ave and 73rd St. Session 73 is club/restaurant where curious pedestrians can
and do observe tango through large windows. Two floors are similar to those
in Porteno y Bailarin in BsAs except about two times smaller and have
benches instead of tables along the floor. A bit tight considering how many
beginners dance here. Good music with cortinas and some salsa. Older and
sizable crowd. Forty or so dancers with 2/3 of them women. Fortunately some
of the women can lead and not afraid to do so. Smart and clever hostess
doubles as a coat checker and enthusiastic restaurant kitchen promoter.
Danced for half an hour and had an interesting tango conversation with a New
Yorker who returned from three week stay in BsAs couple days ago. Good
dancer. Unconsciously and unfortunately prefers V-frame. Danced also with
pretty good dancer visiting from Finland.

"El Recodo" at Dancesport Dance Studio. $10. 10:40 pm-12:30 am (out of 9
pm-12:30 am). 1845 Broadway, 2nd floor @61st Street. Usual dance studio with
small 'milonga tables' surrounding the floor. Met several people whom I know
from tango festivals (Boston, New York (hi Kana), Texas and me), which makes
this milonga the best-known Sunday milonga in New York City I guess. Mixed
crowd in all senses. Not bad music but I got a bit worn out by this time.

And so, if you are good dancer, like to rest in an armchair (I do) and
hungry - go to La Miloguita Ideal. If you are older than fifty and a leader
head for Esmeralda. If you are a couple go to either of the two. Otherwise
El Recodo is all accommodating choice on Sunday in New York, New York.

By the way on Sundays you can park for free on Streets (not Avenues) in NYC.

Cheers, Oleh K.
https://TangoSpring.com