Salsa in Boston... Nov 17-19

[mayanempire]

After doing a regular search and a looking through the city threads, I couldn't find much information for Boston. I'll be there next weekend (17-19, leaving Mon am), and am hoping someone can point me in the right direction. My preference is On2 (but dance on1, as well), and I love good old-school mambo music. I have heard about a place called Havana Club for Fridays and Ryles on Sundays. Anyone know if those are good spots? How about Saturdays?

I welcome any suggestions.

Thanks!

[witchphd]

That's cause you're looking in the wrong place ;) Try salsaboston.com for all you Boston salsa needs. That will tell you all you need to know, however for some personal insight:

For Friday, Havana Club in Cambridge (more of a social hall than a club) is the choice of many and I recommend it as well. It's funny you mention old-school mambo, because some have been complaining lately that he's playing too much older music and not enough new stuff. Anyway, it's a large room with a decent floor and a good place for Friday night. If I go out only once a week it's usually here. We're mostly an on1 crowd in Boston, but for your on2 fix, hang out in the front near the raised stage from 11PM on, that's when most of the advanced crowd will have shown up and a good number of them can handle both.

Saturday is kind of mixed. Havana Club has a salsa night on Sat. as well. Most of the time a live band will be present. Fairly decent crowd, enough to have fun, but most seem to prefer Fridays. Another option is Mojitos, which is in Boston. It does advertise salsa early, however it's really more of a Latin club. You'd be able to dance a little salsa, but not many serious dancers show up for this night. When people start showing up and thus reducing the the floor space, the DJ will switch to the usual club selections. Note that doesn't mean exclusively reggaeton. Google Mojitos Boston and you'll find their website so you can check it out. It's a pretty fun option if you're in the mood for more of a Latin club feel.

I'm not sure about Sunday's at Ryles (Cambridge) these days. Ryles is synonomous with salsa for Thursdays, but I'm not sure what kind of crowd is there these days on Sunday. Lessons were advertised as on2, so maybe you can check it out. Also, an Irish Bar called An Tua Nua recently started a salsa night on Sunday. Before you think that sounds odd, the crowd that shows up for the Wed night salsa has a long history at a now defunct Latin club called Sophia's and we had to move here. So a Sunday night started about two weeks ago, I haven't checked it out yet so I don't know what kind of crowd it's getting so far.

I think that's enough to get you started.

[jenibelle]

Hi hi hi! I'm so glad you'll be coming to Boston. I dance on 2 so I guess I will speak for the On 2 portion of Boston which is a pretty big scene considering 99% of the dances I get are on 2. I highly highly highly recommend Ryles on Sunday. It is a social affiliated with April Genovese and her dancers and modeled after Jimmy Anton's - the music is the best you'll hear in Boston in my not so humble opinion ;-) This is probably the friendliest salsa place in the area. Very chill but at the same time lots of high class dancers show up. Starts from 7 and goes until 11 or a bit after. If you need directions let me know. In fact, I'll probably be going so hopefully we can be introduced.

Saturday nights, I have not been able to find decent salsa. I usually stay in and watch movies, or go to "normal" parties.

Friday nights...I am ambivalent about Havana Club. I haven't been in a little while, but the music used to be pretty awful, although the dancing is usually pretty good. If he's playing more old-school stuff, as witchphd said, then maybe things would be different?

Hope this helps and hope to see you at Ryles!

Jeni

[witchphd]

I'm the last person to ask for different classifications of salsa, all I know is I like/don't like this song. I only noticed a person in the reviews on salsaboston complaining that there was too much older salsa played at Havana. That's along with a few others saying the music is awful as well. Could you tell me what you find awful? Cause honestly, I don't see what the fuss is about. I can get the same proportion of songs I like/dislike from any of the rest of the DJs at the other nights.

Hmmm, sounds like I'll have to get back to Ryles for something different if it starts that early. I wasn't too thrilled about staying out late on Sunday to kick of the week tired.

[mayanempire]

witchphd and jenibelle,

Thank you both for your recommendations and insight! I'll be sure to check out the salsaboston site you mentioned, as well.

I think I will swing by Havana on Friday (and hope for best with the music:) )I'll try to get my bachata fix on Saturday at one of the clubs you mentioned for a little while, and then perhaps see the rest of the city. And I really look forward to Sunday--definitely sounds like I'll get my salsa fix (plus, I'll get back to the hotel at a decent hour in order to get some sleep before my early flight home!).

I'm not sure yet exactly where I'll be staying, so I will definitely PM you for directions to Ryles, jenibelle. I look forward to meeting you!

[Beto]

witchphd and jenibelle,

Thank you both for your recommendations and insight! I'll be sure to check out the salsaboston site you mentioned, as well.

I think I will swing by Havana on Friday (and hope for best with the music:) )I'll try to get my bachata fix on Saturday at one of the clubs you mentioned for a little while, and then perhaps see the rest of the city. And I really look forward to Sunday--definitely sounds like I'll get my salsa fix (plus, I'll get back to the hotel at a decent hour in order to get some sleep before my early flight home!).

I'm not sure yet exactly where I'll be staying, so I will definitely PM you for directions to Ryles, jenibelle. I look forward to meeting you!
Maya, you'll like Havana on Friday. I was up there last November visiting a friend and went straight there from the airport. Danced with some familiar faces from my prior Boston visits plus some new people too. You'll probably see Andres and Johnny there when you arrive. Victor and Burju rolled in a little later with their crew so you're guaranteed some great dances no matter what! Jeff (who runs Havana Club on Fridays, and previously, the Green Street Grill on Mondays), maintains a webpage with the schedule plus videos and photos from every event he promotes and DJs. You'll find it here:

http://www.havanaclubsalsa.com/

[mayanempire]

Maya, you'll like Havana on Friday. I was up there last November visiting a friend and went straight there from the airport. Danced with some familiar faces from my prior Boston visits plus some new people too. You'll probably see Andres and Johnny there when you arrive. Victor and Burju rolled in a little later with their crew so you're guaranteed some great dances no matter what! Jeff (who runs Havana Club on Fridays, and previously, the Green Street Grill on Mondays), maintains a webpage with the schedule plus videos and photos from every event he promotes and DJs. You'll find it here:

http://www.havanaclubsalsa.com/


Thanks, Beto. Unfortunately, I believe Victor and Burju AND Johnny and Andres are booked for SF, that same weekend. Nonetheless, I look forward to meeting some new faces. I will definitely hit up Havana, since it has the Beto stamp of approval. :)

[jenibelle]

Ohhhhh yeah, I forgot about SF congress. I know quite a few people from here who are going :-( We will still try to bring it, though! The few of us who are left...lol.

witchphd, it is hard to explain what I really find awful in the music at Havana Club, except that in my opinion there is a huge difference between old school salsa, which was full of fire, passion and flavor and a lot of new stuff that has come out which is just kind of 'blah.' It is hard for me to put into words the difference between yummy salsa and insipid salsa. Maybe Boriken would be able to do it better ;-) Anyway, that god-awful "scottish cha cha" song which gets played every time - that song just has to go! - all this makes me think that no matter what good dancers show up, it is not as good a night as Ryles which has good dancers but, most importantly, good music.

Jeni

[mayanempire]

Boston was a lot of fun. Ended up checking out Havana on Friday (ok), Mojito's on Saturday (definitely not a salsa spot, but not a bad club), and Ryles on Sunday (really good music and dancing!).
Oh, and guys, look out for jenibelle; she's a great dancer. :) Nice meeting you, chica.

The scene was very warm and friendly, and I will definitely return.

[yippee1999]

I've been to Havana club two or three times when in Boston, and yeah, it's pretty decent.

As to Mojito's, I think you have to be in the right frame of mind. I would consider it a sorta "down and dirty" kind of place. It's in the basement of a retail type building. It's very small. In fact, due to the low ceiling, and chopped-up little rooms there, I felt mildly claustrophobic. It's definitely not a "salsa dancer's" kinda place, but more a latin club where you go to drink and/or bump and grind on the dance floor, and maybe get to dance salsa now and then.

[jenibelle]

I'm so happy you guys had a great time and it was SO nice meeting you! MAN can you ever spin :-)

I hope you have a ton of fun on the cruise, you and all the other DFers...me jealous. Me very jealous....

Jeni

[witchphd]

Bummer, looks like I missed out on some fun. Sorry I missed you on Friday. But probably just as well, I forgot to bring my rhythm with me that night. I was a little off. Looks as if I'll have to try Ryles on Sunday.

Yippee, Mojitos has an upstairs as well. Nicer looking and much more open. Not as dingy as the basement. However, that part is still a club and not really for salsa.