Chicago Salsa Field Trip 2005
by Erin Lamb
posted July 13, 2005

This past Fourth of July weekend IntoSalsa made its yearly fieldtrip to Chicago. It was a great weekend to be in the Windy City. There was no shortage of things to do or places to go: Taste of Chicago, Summer Dance in Grant Park, Fourth of July Fireworks, shopping, oh, and yes - SALSA! Most importantly, we danced each night that we were in the big city; and each night we hit a different club.

Friday Night at Sangria's
Sangria's is a tapas bar. The food is good, and their sangria is better than what you can find in most so-called "tapas bars" in Indianapolis. The bar had a great atmosphere, full of vibrant colors, and beautiful people - it was "Sex and the City" Latin style. As the evening wore on, and the sangria went to my head, the dance floor began to open up. As soon as a table was cleared, a server moved it away so more people could dance. The locals who gathered at the bar were friendly, and ready to mingle with our Indy crew. I highly recommend this place to anyone who travels to Chicago.

Saturday Night at Rumba's
Rumba's is probably one of the nicest clubs I've ever seen. I would compare it to the elegant Havana-style clubs of the 60s. Early in the evening, people listen to live bands while they dine. The bands are all top-notch and play a range of Latin music - salsa, mambo, cha-cha, merengue, etc. The food is good, but expensive. Bring your biggest, shiniest credit card if you want dinner before you dance. The dance floor works in much the same way as Sangria's. As diners leave, more and more tables are cleared off the wooden floor so people can dance. A DJ spins salsa, merengue, and cha-cha. It does get very crowded because it is one of the trendiest spots on a Saturday night for salseros/as. If you are searching for hardcore salsa-purists, this is not the place. However, if you want a good mojito, nice atmosphere, and some good social dancing, then this club is a winner.

Sunday Night at The Buzz
The Buzz definitely did not have the atmosphere or the elegance that the previous two clubs possessed, but there was some serious dancing going on inside! Don't get me wrong, The Buzz is no dump; but if you asked any Indy salsero/a what they remembered about Sunday night, it won't be the décor. The dance floor was packed, and everyone on it lived and breathed salsa.

In closing, the trip was a success, and we all had a great time. If you get the opportunity to go to Chicago some time soon, you may want to give one of these places a try. If not, just wait until next year. IntoSalsa will make many return trips and you'll all be invited.