If you are interested in an outdoor milonga in Buenos Aires, La Calesita in Nunez is the one to try during the summer months. It is best to go with others who know the location. I went for the first time eight years ago, and last Saturday night was only my second visit. It isn't listed in the Guia Trimestral B.A Tango, but dancers know when it opens and closes every year.
It was a beautiful summer night. We arrived around 1:00. My friend was greeted by someone she knew who escorted us to his table. Tables and chairs for about 200 are set up around a rough stone floor which seemed better than the one I remembered. You seat yourself. You go to the bar and carry your own drinks to the table. The dancers are locals and foreigners, couples and singles, young and old. The music was acceptable with a tanda of salsa and rock. The majority of men wore sneakers, and the women wore stilettos. The floor is square with a sculpture in the center and ample lighting. It's very informal without the traditional codes of downtown milongas. It's what you would expect to find at a milonga in the park. The sound system was good, and the atmosphere was very relaxed. I can't say much for the level of dancing which included a wide variety of styles. It was a spur of the moment decision for us to go there after a birthday party. Someone else was going, so we decided to share a taxi. My friend and I each danced one tango (not one tanda) and one swing during the two hours we were there. We were content to enjoy the music and dancing of others. It's the only milonga where she can smoke at the table. It was a pleasure to be able to hear the music continuously during a tanda. Conversation was kept to a minimum, and it never overpowered the music--the advantage of being outdoors. The biggest drawback is the distance. It's only eight blocks from the limits of the capital federal. On the way there, we passed by Club Ciudad, the venue for a Sunday milonga, which is almost as far as La Calesita. We asked our taxi driver to return for us at 3:00. We were grateful to find him waiting for us in the parking lot. The half-hour trip to the Congreso area was 50 pesos, so we won't be returning unless we have free round-trip transportation. If you are adventurous, just get to Plaza Italia in Palermo to take the #15 bus that stops at Cdro. Rivadavia and del Libertador. Walk through the parking lot until you find the entrance. Follow the crowd or look for the lights. Buses run all night long, so you can return on the same bus on the other side of del Libertador. Club I.M.O.S. Cdro. Rivadavia 1350 (altura Av. del Libertador 8000) 22,30 a 4 hs entrada 12 pesos _______________________________________________ Tango-L mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
