Pacha NYC

While vacationing in Barcelona with my girlfriends three years ago, Pacha was one of our top priorities after Antoni Gaudi's architectural wonders and the Picasso Museum among others. Pacha, meaning "to live like a king", has been in existence since 1976 and has outposts in 25 cities, including Rio De Janeiro and Ibiza, where is one of the foremost dance venue. And finally Pacha has come to NYC. This past December 2005, the four floor megaclub opened in 26 degree weather and by 12:30 it was packed, noone else could get in and it was invitation-only. In comparison with Cielo which can hold 300 people, Pacha can accomodate 1,700 revelers. Jeez! Pacha NY is co-owned by the legendary DJ Erick Morillo (Latino!)and he DJ's twice a month. Expect to pay $30-$40 cover charge when he spins. On 4/7 Erick Morillo will celebrate his Bday with a 12-hour set at Pacha. Purchase the tickets for $30 in advance. Hope to see you there, I'll be celebrating a BDay too!

618 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
212-209-7500
www.pachanyc.com

La Kueva en Queens

In the Sunnyside of Queens, you will find La Kueva. It hosts live Rock en espanol bands on Fridays and Saturdays. The owners pride themselves in calling la Kueva the "Legendary and Original Latin Rock bar in New York". If you could award the prize of "La casa del Rock en espanol en Nueva York" this venue couldn't come any closer. Their house band can rival a lot of the bands in NYC's respected underground clubs. And its not only Latinos who can get down at La Kueva, hear a gringuitos account of his experience at La Kueva in ShinyGun Magazine. Among the many international acts that have and will take the stage at La Kueva, this month a local band from Westchester, NY, Kultura Etilika will perform on 3/10. Kultura Etilika won the Univision "Estrellas al Despertar 2005" award. The three Peruvians and two Americans came together in 2004 to form the bad and since its been happy horizons. Catch them at La Kueva or other local venues before they explode!

39-31 Queens Blvd
Sunnyside, Queens
718-786-8490
www.lakueva.com

Premiere Fridays at Suba

Premiere Fridays at Suba with DJ's Alex C and Yorkdee. This and every Friday, experience upscale lounge experience with rock/pop en espanol. $20 minimum beverage and food per person.

www.subanyc.com

Cielo

Cielo is the club "where house music lives". Winner of the best club award for 2005 and nominated for best club of 2006 by Club World Awards, Cielo prides itself in becoming a mainstream in the NYC club scene. That is very hard to achieve in the ever changing, evolving club scene of New York city. Some of the worlds most discriminating club goers reside in New York City and to live up to that hype takes a lot of muster and staying power. Yet, Cielo may be on its way and with the help of their Wednesday night resident DJ Little Louie Vega. Born in the Bronx and of Puerto Rican descent, he was steeped in a rich musical environment; his father was a Latin Jazz saxophonist and his uncle the revered salsa singer Hector Lavoe. Must warn the door is selective, dress trendy, let them know you belong there and don't arrive past twelve to guarantee entrance.

18 Little West 12th Street
New York, NY
212-645-7500
www.cieloclub.com

Crobar

Crobar, rated the best superclub in Club World Awards for the year 2005, hosts the best DJ's of the world in NYC every weekend. Its nominated again this year for best superclub 2006.The Grammy award winner, Roger Sanchez, born in NY from Dominican parents happens to be one of Crobar's resident DJ's. Roger Sanchez exclaims that Crobar has one of the "best sound system ever encountered." Look for DJ's Erick Morillo, Colombian, David Morales, Richie Santana among other latinos to DJ at this legendary club. Crobar is immense but easily navigable among the throngs of partygoers. The lighting system is mesmerizing, you can't but help jumping along to the pulsating beats. You find it all here: the first-time clubbers, the clubheads, couples, eccentrics and the curious. The lines are long. I'd arrived there one hour before 12am deadline for the guest list and have not made it . The cover is usually $30. It is very popular, people come from Europe to take in some popular DJ's like Tiesto, the best DJ in the world as ranked by DJ Magazine. Dress as you like, just dress comfortable, avoid getting stepped on the dance floor ladies if you wear open toe sandals. Last summer they hosted Thursday Latin afterwork parties and from the huge success, it looks very likely that they will bring it back. I'll keep you posted!

530 West 28th Street
New York, NY
212-629-9000
www.crobar.com

Kaña Tapas Bar & Restaurant

On every Friday and Saturday, you can count on Kaña to be filled to capacity. It's also not so big but this gives it warmth and personality. The brick walls, corridor-like dance area and dim lighting makes you feel like you threw a party in a secluded alley. The atmosphere is seductive and so are the partygoers! The owners hail from Spain making it a truly authentic Tapas bar. The tapas are served until about ten,and after turns into a full-fledged music-stomping lounge. The music is mostly Rock en espanol with one or two merengues thrown in. You can catch the soon-to-be rock hit song; the DJ's seem to be ahead of the hits and vice-versa have everyone singing along to the classics in rock latino. Sundays at Kaña are devoted to Salsa. Kaña is definitely a place that keeps you coming back.


324 Spring Street
New York, NY 10013
212-343-8180
Kaña tapas bar.com

Suba

One of the few uspcale latin lounges in New York City. Suba has been critically acclaimed in magazines from GQ to Latina. It is known for the culinary masterpieces of world renown chef Alex Ureña who hails from the Dominican Republic trained in New York, France and Spain. And lately it has been praised for its upscale soirees hosted late nights in its underground lounge. You can lounge about in the main floor at the bar, nibble on tapas until the underground grotto is transformed into a dance area. Be prepared to dish out $20 for access. Suba hosts Spanish wine and tapas tasting series. It also hosts dinner-and-a-movie nights on Mondays for a pre-fix price of $29. The full schedule is available at their website. The likes of La Ley's Beto Cuevas and many other celebrities are known to frequent Suba. You never know who may be sitting next to you!

109 Ludlow Street
New York, NY
212-982-5714
www.subanyc.com

Mamajuana Bar

You would expect to find Mamajuana Bar in Washington Heights, the most densely populated Dominican enclave in US ...No! Cross on over to Brooklyn for a taste of this potent alcoholic elixir and its namesake bar. Blending cultures and music in this up and coming borough, you find mostly non-latinos and latinos-in-the-know kicking it up to Latin music, R&B, hip hop, and jazz on some evenings. Its gotten press in the popular New York Magazine and Village Voice as one of the happening bars of 2006. Visit while its still nouveau and not so crowded. But I doubt it for long.. I'll be around soon drinking mamajuana!

220 Leonard St., Brooklyn, NY 11211
between Powers St. and Grand Ave.
718-302-1997
mamajuanabar.com

Tantra Lounge

Think Middle East, hookahs and musica Latina! Tantra Lounge has managed to bring all these elements together in a classy setting in Astoria, Queens. When you enter the lounge, sari-like flowing fabric obstructs your view. In front of you lays the most eclectic room this side of the Red Sea. Middle eastern decorations, bar attendants wearing belly dancing hip scarfs, exquisite hookahs and Latinos getting down to rock en espanol, cumbia, salsa, merengue, bachata and hip hop. A one-man band pounds away on percussions to the beat of the music. The hookahs are $25 per round and include mixed fruit, apple and peach flavors.

We went on a Friday, 2/11/06, and staff lauded that Saturday is even better! As we celebrated my brother's bday word got around and staff was beyond welcoming, offering a round of shots courtesy of the house. The beautiful mostly Colombian crowd and the ambiance is electric. It all makes the trek out to Tantra worthwhile!

Tantra Lounge
35-50 31st
Astoria, Queens
718-937-4574

D'Antigua Restaurant, Bar and Lounge

There is nothing antique about D'Antigua Restaurant, Bar and Lounge in Jackson Heights, Queens. Only around for a year plus it has set its foot down in Northern Blvd and looks like its here to stay. The nights are varied from hosting movies, poetry readings on Wednesdays to Latin rock bands on Fridays to Salsa and Merengue on Sundays. After a scrumptious meal stick around and dance the night away. The house cocktails are delicious and their house beer cocktail infusion, comes in two colors red and blue!

84-16 Northern Blvd
Jackson Heights, Queens
718-779-0128
www.d-antigua.com

Life in Queens

For the past few years, Life in Astoria, Queens, has hosted one of the best Brazilian nights. Located in the heart of the second most populated enclave of Brazilians in the United States, Life lounge attracts the most die-hard music fans of Brazilian music. You occasionally hear a great Samba here and there but prepare yourself to be immersed in what is hot in Brazils' clubs. The now popular sounds of contemporary Brazilian music heard in top 40 radio stations resonate throughout the first floor of the lounge. Revelers sing in unison as the Portuguese rap, house, and dance music permeate the air. Reggaeton is center stage as well and it wont be long until you hear a Brazilian reggaeton!

As you ascend to the Sky Lounge, second floor, you travel through a time and space warp. The States top hits, including Daddy Yankees' reggaeton, 50-Cent's hip hop take center stage and you will witness Brazilians among a very mixed crowd getting down just the same. Overall, the ambiance is worldly and friendly and you walk away feeling you like just stepped out of a lounge in Ipanema.

30-07 Newton Avenue
Astoria, New York
718-626-9100
www.life-nyc.com

Gallery at the Gershwin

Located inside the famous Gershwin Hotel is Gallery, a nouveau experience in lounging. It hosts an art gallery with murals, original art paintings and projections. On Wednesdays it hosts a a Latin night starting with after work specials from 5:00 to 6:30 pm, food from 6 to 8pm and ending late. The theme is Samba/Brazilian including Samba lessons. Must warn the door is selective at about 10 pm, you are guaranteed to get in the earlier you get there. The list of cocktails include The Gabriel Garcia Marquez (a 3 berry caipirinha), the Frida Kahlo ( a yummy strawberry mojito), and the Diego Rivera. Enjoy!

7 east 27th Street
New York, NY 10016
212-447-5700
www.gallerynyc.com