A quick note to wish you a Happy New Year and to share with you the big news I have been quietly working on for the last while.
For the last year and a half, my wife Franca and I, have been running our own Bloom Restaurant and we have turned it into a Cuban Oasis in the middle of the Bloor West Village. We are located at 2315 Bloor St West, a few meters from Windemere on the South side of the street.
Well, it has been a big hit, but of course, we got the great Cuban Chef Pedro Quintanilla running our kitchen.
Before coming to Toronto in 1992, chef Pedro spent 7 years as sous chef of the French Embassy in Havana, Cuba, then he moved to Toronto, where he has ran the kitchens of Rum Bacardi, Xango and Latitude restaurants among other places. Last May, we brought him into Bloom and here are some of the Reviews we’ve received ever since he moved in with us.
Now, I am ready to add another touch to this endeavor by bringing my Cuba Tradicional Quartet on Sunday Feb 12th (see special menu) as a “pre-Valentine” celebration…but hey, you don’t have to be “in love” to come that day, so bring yourself alone or come with a friend or two and enjoy the great food and ambiance in my new house Bloom Restaurant. I will be performing two shows starting at 7pm & 9pm and we will try to make you feel as if you were right in my Caribbean Island of Cuba.
Hope to see you, but if not, please spread the news! There will be Cuban parties happening in the Bloor West Village from now on!
Non-Cuban, but of high interest to fans of dance and music!
Profoundly moving, Rodion Shchedrin’s music drama The Sealed Angel is one of the most important Russian works of the 20th century. Brilliantly choreographed by Lars Scheibner (Germany), performed by Toronto’s Elmer Iseler Singers and the Amadeus Choir, conducted by Lydia Adams, and featuring Pro Arte Danza, this magnificent choral opera is a contemporary answer to Rachmanivov’s Vespers. The program includes new choreography by ProArte Danza.
Dates:
THURSDAY February 2
FRIDAY February 3
Time: 8:00 pm
Price: Starting at $42.00 + service fee $5
Venue: Koerner Hall
SPECIAL PRICE for Artists and Under 35:
Artist/ Under35 price available in price levels 2 & 3. Purchasers of this price should be prepared to show ID upon entrance to the hall.
Prices include tax. All tickets are subject to $5 per ticket service fee at all points of purchase. All sales are final. No exchanges or refunds.
Door Prize — Raffle – 3 chances A Gift basket or 2 other items
Cash Bar
Vegetarian meal must be requested in advance
Bloor St United Church
300 Bloor St West/corner of Huron St
Use side entrance off parking lot on Huron St. wheelchair access
(just west of St George Subway or east of Spadina Subway)
For more information & to get or reserve tickets
from the CCFA Toronto:
Liz 416-654-7105 or Sharon 905-951-8499
You can mail cheque to: CCFA Toronto
c/o 209 Oakwood Av Toronto ON M6E 2V3
Friday, January 27 starting at 9pm join us on Varadero Friday at Epic Lounge for an intense night of Urban Vibes and Latin Grooves!!!!!
DJ BERNAL & DJ YUMANICHE will be presiding over a perfect blend of DANCEHALL REGGAE, REGGAETON, CUBATON, HIPHOP, TOP 40, SALSA & MERENGUE URBANO to keep you moving all Night!
$7 before 11pm and $10 after.
Don’t miss this incredible night of Urban Entertainment!-NO SE LO PIERDAN!!!
This 4-week course (click here, then on “Cha Cha Cha”) will focus on the traditional Cuban dance called Cha Cha Cha. One of the most well known Latin dances in the world, Cha Cha Cha was created to follow the music introduced by Cuban composer Enrique Jorrin, in 1953. The rhythm was developed from the danzón by a synchopation of the fourth beat. The name is onomatopoeic, derived from the rhythm of the güiro (scraper) and the shuffling of the dancers’ feet.
Taught by Yareneys Montes de Oca, it will focus on the timming and most used figures in Cha Cha Cha. Minimum Intermediate I level in Salsa is recommended in order to have an easier grasp of the timing (“contratiempo” or “On 2″). .
This course is by registration only and requires a minimum number of registrations.
Admin note: Outside Cuba, hardly ever do you find the Cuban traditional timing taught. If you know cha-cha-cha, here’s a quick check… to see if you have the contratiempo timing.
Try dancing to this song… Tremendo Vacilón. If the timing of your cha-cha-cha step coincides with the words “cha-cha-cha” in the chorus, you’ve got it. If not… this course will fix you up just fine….
Join us our weekly tropical dance party with salsa lesson, live band and DJ spinning the hottest dance floor-friendly salsa, bachata, reggaeton and top 40 hits. Cover is just $15 at the door or book a table for our dinner special (starting at $49 plus tax and tip). The admission price includes our 9PM beginner dance lesson which is followed dancing all night long!
With their potent blend of dance floor friendly salsa and high-energy showmanship, Cafe Cubano evoke the spirit of the legendary dance clubs of Havana. Drawing on the skills of three of Toronto’s most accomplished frontmen (vocalists Yani Borrell, Alberto Alberto and Angel Luis Marquez) and lead by music director/pianist Jorge Betancourt, the band features some of Toronto’s finest musicians from such famous Cuban groups as Adalberto Alvarez y su Son and Cubanisimo.
Here’s good news from Luis Mario Ochoa:
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