MONDAY
Our flight was scheduled for 2pm from Heathrow. Having learned from past experience, and due to moderate snowfall on Sunday night, we left at 8am - plenty of time to get there!! ;-) Got to the airport in plenty of time (for once!!), parked, got the shuttle bus to the terminal, and dropped our bags off (I'd done everything online the day before, just to make sure!!).
The flight went ok, and we landed it JFK at 4.30pm local time. We'd arranged a private rental of an apartment on the Upper West Side, so got a taxi there. After a quick power nap, we decided to go to Salsa con Mambo , which takes place at Session 73 on 73rd and 1st Avenue in Manhattan. We got there just before 10.30pm, and were greeted by the two girls at the desk. Paid our $12 entry each and went in.
The venue was a fairly small bar, with a band setup in the corner next to the dj area. We left our coats in the cloakroom, with a guy who was making an unsuccessful effort to memorise everyones name, grabbed a couple of beers from the bar, then watched the dancing.
At 11pm, the guest band were on for their second of 3 sets. The band in question - New Swing Sextet!!! They really rocked, and we managed to grab an interview after the set, then they were on again for their last set at 12.30. The promoter of the night, DJ Babaloo, was very welcoming, and gave plenty of mentions for Salsa Central over the mic ;-) Left the club at closing (about 1.30am).
TUESDAY
Woke up quite early and went for breakfast at Tom's Restaurant, then walked it off over by Morningside park before heading into the Bronx to meet up with Chino Nunez. Got to Chino's studio for about 1pm, and were made to feel very welcome. He made us tea, and we had a chat before doing the interview. After a couple of hours at Chino's. he took us to meet George Delgado. We had a chat to George, and did a quick interview with him, before heading back to the subway. On the way, we stopped at a Caribbean food place for dinner. Some of the customers thought it was bizarre that a white english guy was eating West Indian food in the Bronx!!
In the evening, we headed downtown, to The Link , which hosts a salsa night on tuesdays, run by Marlon International and Dave Montreal. The place was busy, but it was easy enough to dance, and the vibe was great! We also met Chris Soto here. We didn't stay late, as we were both tired, so left before midnight and caught the subway 'home'
WEDNESDAY
Time for a bit of CD shopping! We'd planned to meet up with Chris Soto, who was going to take us to a couple of CD shops in Spanish Harlem. We caught the bus across town, and walked along Tito Puente Way, then up Lexington into the heart of 'El Barrio'. By chance, we stumbled across the El Barrio music shop at 116th and Lexington. Chris had gotten a bit delayed at work, but this was one of the shops he'd planned on taking us to. Lou and Frankie, from the shop, helped us with our selections, then we were off downtown.
Stopped for a bite to eat, then headed to west 34th St, to B&H Electrical. We needed to get a camcorder for Chris, so he could get some interviews for the website when we're not in the U.S. Chris met us at B&H, then drove us back to the apartment. On the way, Mel got a call from Jimmy Bosch, asking if we wanted to go to his for thanksgiving evening. Nice!!!
Tonight, we'd arranged to go to LQ nightclub, to interview Frankie Morales, who was performing, along with Ismael Miranda. The club was in midtown Manhatten, and is a large glitzy place. Not really my style! Paid our $15 each to get in, then went and had a quick chat with Frankie. Unfortunately, we didn't stay long, as Mel was quite ill - passed our apologies for the cancelled interviews and left.
THURSDAY
Thanksgiving day! Before that though, we needed another fix of cd shopping, so headed back to El Barrio and hung out there for a while. Early afternoon, we were picked up by Mels uncle and taken into the Bronx for thanksgiving at her family's place. Lot's of food!!!!! I was stuffed, but we still had to eat at Jimmy Bosch's!!! He arrived at Mel's aunts place at 8pm to pick us up and take us over to his place in New Jersey. More food, beer, and a few games of cards, then Jimmy dropped us back at our apartment in the early hours.
FRIDAY
No Cd shoping today! However, I needed a haircut, so Mel had booked me in at her friend Aisha's place in the East Village. We headed down there with Lauren, Mels cousin, and once that was done, we went for a bit of shopping in Soho.
In the evening, we went to SOB's, where Larry Harlow was playing for their 25th Anniversary. It's a fairly small venue, but perfect for the occasion, although there were a few slight problems with the sound system. Everyone was given a free Larry Harlow CD on entry, and there was some filming for a new Fania documentary. We couldn't get a table to have dinner there, so left after Larry's first set, and stumbled upon a Spanish Restaurant round the corner. Top food at this place!!!! Once we'd finished there, we headed up to Frankie Martinez's social, which takes place on the 11th floor of a building in midtown Manhattan. Got there and the lift was broke!!! So, 22 flight of stairs and we were there. The place was like someone's living room that had been cleaned out and fitted with a soundsystem, albeit quite a large living room!!! The vibe here was really good - the standard of dancing was excellent, as you'd expect, but not a hint of arrogance, everyone was here to party!!!
SATURDAY
Felt like pancakes today, and had been told that the ones served at the Fairway cafe were good, so went there, then strolled breakfast off by walking to the Dakota Apartments, then through Central Park. Caught a cab up to El Barrio for our next fix of CD buying!! It was Frankies day off today, so Lou helped us out and we left with another sizeable purchase!
Later in the afternoon, we went to 170th St in The Bronx, to the Yamulee studio, where Mel took part in Cindy's styling class, then a two hour shines and partnerwork workshop.
Got food on the way back, then ended up staying in for the evening - the week was starting to catch up with us!!
SUNDAY I'd been phoning Larry Harlow all week, to try and arrange an interview, but he's a busy guy. Thought i'd try one last time before we went to get breakfast. "Why don't you come over right now" he said! Brilliant!! So, caught a cab over and met Larry Harlow. He showed us round his apartment, including his collection of rare musical instruments and paintings, and we saw his Fania gold discs, before doing a quick video interview. He also gave us a couple of signed CD's to gve away in a competition!!
Went from there, back to El Barrio for our last day of CD shopping, and to say goodbye. We caught a cab from there, to midtown, so Mel could go to Eddie Torres' class, but not before she'd cured the shopping itch in Capezio, who were having a serious sale!!! Mel did Eddies footwork class for a few hours while I watched, then back to the apartment before Mels family picked us up for dinner.
Went to Havana Central near Times Sq for some cuban food, during which a bottle of hot sauce dropped from one of the tables upstairs, missing Mels head by inches and smashing on the floor behind us.
On the way from there to the car park, a car was reversing down the one way st, and missed me by a fraction - someone had it in for us tonight!!!
Got back to the apartment fairly early, but were feeling a bit worn out, so Marlon came round for a chat and so we could do a quick interview with him.
Once Marlon left, we needed to try and fix our toilet, which had become blocked earlier in the day, and tried unsuccessfully to get a plumber to visit at 2am. I went to bed while Mel carried on trying to sort it out.
MONDAY
Got up early this morning, and went to get a plunger from the hardware store, and a couple of drinks. Managed to fix the loo, packed our bags, left the apartment for the final time and headed to Toms for breakfast before getting the subway to JFK and our flight home!!
