The Thursday They Balboa Park Dance

   It felt good to leave the Encinitas Senior Center and go to my Thursday Balboa Park Senior dance. It meats on the first or third Thursday each month - unless another Balboa Park activity takes priority. There is a three dollar donation. 
  I get off the 5 freeway going south on Tenth Avenue. A left at the first light and another at the second takes me to Park Blvd. From there a left turn will take you to President's Way where another left will take you to the Balboa Bay Club. 
  Today I got there early and had the usual at the Hall of Champions across the street - a bowl of chili with onions a slice under four dollars at their little cafe. I watched for of the building T.V.'s before heading across the street for my one o'clock ballroom dance. It used to be called the Federal building and houses the All Star jersey of my man Schindler.
   Steve, a steady volunteer approaches me. I left the piano early as it needed its a-key fixed. 
  "George, do me a favor. A new gal sitting over there at table 2 needs a dancing partner. Can you ask her for a dance?"
  I grab a cup of water from the coffee and water table and sit. The only new dame is tall with black hair. I walk over and tap her shoulder. 
  "Would you..'Well I haven't danced in a long time.' she responds to my fragmented sentence. She wears a head scarf and is tall. I lead the hesitant damsel to the dance floor and give her a quick look. "Not bad" I say to myself. "Not bad at all". 
   She looks down at my shoes to find her way on the dance floor. She tells me her name is Wong and she has just retired from Microsoft. She has a slim and well formed torso. I love the feel of her back although I am strictly a foot-man myself 
   "Now don't look at my feet. Look at me! Like most dances, you need to count to three." Her eyes remain on my feet but I count to three. "One-two-three, one-two-three." with each number she attempts a step and after a minute, she is waltzing to the tune. She confesses. 
   "My husband does not dance - at all. I've worked my entire life and now I need a little more in my life. I retired two years ago. 
   "Well my lass, the Balboa Bay Dancers offers lessons on Friday and Sunday early evening-right here. The first lesson begins at seven and the next at about Seven 50. This Sunday will be the quick-two step and the rumba...Look at the internet for the dances coming up.
  I told Glenda we could meet there next week. It felt so good to dance with one so cute and with a firm body at that. I left early to take pictures of a cut-out of Charles Lindbergh at the Air and Space Museum up the way. A member of the museum took a picture of me beside the Spirit of St. Louis. 
  But I did not wish to rush back to the Carlsbad Six during rush hour. I took the Hawthorne off which led me to Lindbergh Field. I parked - free of charge a the Harbor Marina and bought myself a chocolate cone with coffee to boot. 
  I walked to the Sheraton and made myself at home reading a book about Lindbergh.
  As you can tell, I never know what will happen each day except I will have a ball. This Sunday there is another dance .A swing band will be playing at the Queen Bee's on Ohio Street. The music begins at two and there is a ten dollar admission fee to boot 

St. Patrick's Day Dance

"When Irish eyes are smiling..." Well I might be a little off-key but this week St. Pat's Day will be celebrated all over San Diego. 
   This coming Thursday is the Biggie. Meet a host of characters at the Balboa Park Senior dance beginning at one o'clock. Usually there are dance lessons that begin at twelve. It will be hot so place a mask over your face. 
   Balboa's Bay Club can be found by making a left off of President's Way off of Park Blvd. If time permitting you can go to the Aviation exhibit or the Hall of Champions-Schindler's All Star Jersey can be found there. There is a three dollar donation and usually a guy named George can be heard playing  several 50's tunes on an old piano. Of course it is I. 
   Food and a drawing is made at half time. Those that wait until four o'clock, drinks and appetizers are half priced at the Prado Restaurant. There is a good view of the plentiful flowers and Encephalitis trees from the patio area. 
    A St. Patrick's Dance will also be held at the Encinitas Senior Center on Friday. The Billy Harper band will be playing for the five dollar admission fee. Refreshments will be served and if you are lucky, you can watch Olive Oil place goodies into her doggy bag. It is off of Encinitas Blvd and across the street from the Fire Station. It begins at two and ends at four. 

   Balboa Park usually has Friday and Sunday dance lessons. They begin at about seven o'clock and cost $5 for non-members. It is well worth it. 
  

Dancing on the Roof of the San Diego Library

Monday evening, I left the California Room on the San Diego's Library's Ninth floor to learn how to do the Jitterbug. Since the Balboa Club teaches only Ballroom Dancing, I yearned to learn the dances during the Jazz Era. 
   I have been working the microfilms of Old San Diego to get a feel of how the folks next to T.J. lived in the first part of the century. At one time, dances were held in every hamlet or city. Thomas Edison's Electric radio was born in 1929, also the beginning of the Depression - and thank God. Folks could listen to their RCA's or Zenith radios to the sound of Big Bands. Harry James, Benny Goodman and a crooner named 'Bing' could make troubles become trifles when listening to the various crooners or orchestras on the radio. 
  Old Times can be revisited on the Libraries ninth floor where each Friday at six'thirty, a dance lesson is provided and then free-for-all dancing takes over. No longer can you see if the stars are out tonight, but the city had plenty of Christmas lights to make up for it. Come Day-Light-Savings time, the ninth floor will be busy as a bee. 

Just for this afternoon, I will be going to my one-o'clock dance on Encintas Blvd. The dances are held in back of the Midas Auto Parts shop. So fix your car and while you are at it, take a peak. It is only three dollars every week and includes fruit and food bites. Marty and Sharon will be only too happy to great you at the door.
   On Thursday, again at one, The Balboa Bay Club is having their Valentine Dance. Three dollars are well worth it and on the way, say "Hello" to the gifted piano player-me. I can even shower you with a rumba or two or three. 
   The Moonlight Serenade come out once a month and plays in Carlsbad on Friday. They have a fourteen piece band and are plenty good for the ten dollar cover. Dance Essence is the name of the club. I just might be going to the party at Balboa Park again on Friday. This month the Tango is being taught along with the cha-cha-cha.
            So keep on dancing and the whole world will be dancing with you. 

Swing Dancing Tonight

I moved to the Motel Six off of Taylor and the Eight Freeway. Never do I like to do the same thing each day - it simply bores me to death. When my feet get antsy, I's get daft if I could not go dancing. 

 The 1920's come alive on top of the ninth floor of  San Diego's new library. The Library  introduced swing lessons a few weeks back. at six o'clock the swing lessons begins and free dancing goes on afterwards. A large dome hangs over the ninth floor with an evening panorama view of the city lights. 
    Once a month live music is also played at on the roof-tops of the New Library.  On cold evenings the event goes inside. Any Red or Orange Line trolley gets you to the library off of Park Blvd....The 901 or #11 bus also drops you off....From North County, the Coaster or Amtrak get you to the downtown area-where a block away waits the trolley. 
San Diego became my home about four years ago. I fell in love with Balboa Park and all of its old buildings commemorating the birth of the Panama Canal. The Rose Garden became my place to picnic and enjoy the roses at the Park. San Diego celebrates the one hundred year anniversary of Balboa Park. 
    On Fridays and Sundays in the early evening, we learn two different dances for that month. Next month the Tango will be taught again. You might need to speak Chinese, since they have homesteaded the Bay Balboa  Club. You just have to see how well they are dressed. Members pay three dollars for a night of fantastic lessons. Even when my lungs say-'no' due to Asthma, I listen and watch and someway, I peddle the routines into my act. 
    During mid-week, I go to the nuts-and-bolts ballroom to dance to the sounds of the fifties and sixties. When I stay at the Motel Six in Carlsbad, I change gears on Wednesdays at one o'clock. The music begins at one and ends at three. 
   The Nuts-and-Bolts ballroom is directly in back of the Napa Auto Parts store on Encinitas off of Encinitas Blvd. Jeff and Shirley charge three dollars to hear the D.J. music but it is worth it. A table of tidbits is also there for the hungry. Make sure to bring your Mothers tote bag so you can bag-home some of these tasty treats...On the third Friday of the month the Encinitas Senior Center offers live music. It is only five dollars to attend, but there is live music. 
   The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra has refitted their instruments and imitate Benny Goodman, Harry James and a host of other famous orchestras.  Currently their ensemble plays on the second Friday of the month at the Dance Essence in Carlsbad. It is a block from Palomar Road and El Camino Real. The ten dollar include dance lessons and lots of nostalgia when the Balboa, Hustle and Jitterbug were just the thing.  
    Got to go now. Need to sleep before my 75 year old body renews ties with thirties. Roof at the Top dancing renews my ties with the past. I can even see my Mom Edith and Harry doing it.  

Balboa Park Dancing lessons.

"I am scared of making a mistake. "
" Well you just follow me and shut your eyes. I will lead you to heaven."
The above interchange occurred in Balboa Park Sunday evening. I had time to spare after leaving Old Town and the wonderful guitar music of Augustine. My buddy,Sam the Taxi Man, had invited me to stay with him in downtown San Diego. I had a couple of hours and knew the lessons began at seven thirty.
 Yet my breathing had been labored for a couple of days. The Mac Donald's on Park Blvd would give me some coffee to perk me up. It was going on six o'clock. I took a good look at my puffer and found out it had been on empty. I removed a brand new inhaler and gave my lungs two good hits. In a matter of minutes my bronchial tubes began to unplug the bacteria. My nose began to run.
  Well now, I couldn't wait to get to Balboa Park. I drove up Park Blvd and made my right turn on President's Way. Going on seven, a few couples already made their way to the Bay Ballroom. Three old spinsters.
   "I overheard one damsel remark that the way she handled stress is by cooking in the kitchen. For once I shut my mouth, paid my three dollars and sat down, that is until the pregame dancing began. A computer played several type of dances. Of course I took advantage of it and danced with a lovely oriental maiden." 
The first class began at seven thirty. Cupcake taught the beginners-that's me. The cute dimpled midget taught the fox trot. Fifteen men stood on one side and the ladies the other. Cupcake's easy personality made the lessons fun. We watched a few times. 
   "One, two, and touch three four." We needed to hesitate while our shoes touched each other. He then led us into a few other variations. 
   By that time almost two hundred had showed up Many took the intermediate and advanced classes with great teachers. Then I remembered what Cupcake mentioned. 
   "The men's bathroom is not working. You have two options: go to the third building to your right or give the Cactus bush a hose job." I did the second even though my pants took some of the burden. 
The lessons are only three dollars for members and well worth it. Before buying two hundred dollar dancing shoes try it out first. You will like it. 

Wednesday's One O'clock Dance

Out of the corner of my eye, a beautiful face removed her shoes for white laced dancing ones.
   I had given Marty my three dollar donation and walked towards the nosh table. Another dry day made my lips parched and a cup of apple juice satisfied my thirst. My thirst gazed at the beautiful face on the south corner of the room. It was going on ten after one o'clock.  I
   DJ Marty played a polka and I went to the face. Well, she like me, no longer had the body of a forty year old. But them eyes. Wow! This one looked right at me and threw her body into mine. She was born to dance. 
   'You'll need to show me how?" 
   "Don't you worry, Uncle George has all of the moves and then-some."
   We danced a Tango and her bumpers hit mine in just the right places. I also danced with English Jane a few numbers. Like always Jane told me she "loved me". I returned to the nosh table and grabbed a few sweats. Something about the face told me to ask her again, since nobody else did 
    I asked the face her name. "My name is Jessie."
    "You speak perfect English. How did that come about?"
    "I come from just outside the Bakersfield area. Dad was a laborer and my parents had four kids." 
    "I notice you wear a ring. Are you married?" 
     "I was married for twenty two years, and long enough to have three girls and one boy. I have four grandchildren. My parents made us learn English. In fact the school I attended forced us to speak English. None of my kids speak Spanish, probably because I married an English man."
     "When did you get married?"
     "I married at eighteen years old and tried to keep my pregnancy a secret. They knew after all and it was all right since we got married."
    "I am going to a dance tonight. The Moonlight Sonata Band will be playing in Poway."
     "It is a bit too far for me but make sure you go to the Town and Country in San Diego during Thanksgiving. Over one hundred bands will play Dixieland music. I left early at two thirty 
    
 The one o'clock dance has become a habit with me. Wednesday's dance club his hosted by Marty and Shirley. It is off of Encinitas Blvd.in back of the Napa Auto Parts fixture in the front. Over forty seniors hear the sound of the fifties and sixties inside this dancing ballroom. Nearly anyone is out-of-shape or on the heavy side of thin. Most attend two dances a week. 
  This Sunday afternoon a fourteen piece band will play at the Lafayette Hotel in San Diego. I begins in the early afternoon. 

  

Ensinitas Wednesday's Dance

Off the rack. Yes Off the rack from Kohl's Department store I bought two shirts from the men's rack. My
Gal Gloria bought most of my clothes at the above store in Torrance a few years ago. It cost me twenty one dollars, yes that is all. I saved over $60.
   Napa Parts was having its usual Wednesday afternoon dance. The  ballroom is really in back of the auto store but Napa, off of Encinitas Boulevard is a good landmark to find the location. The dances begin at one o'clock and end at three.
   I removed my tennis shoes and replaced them with saddle shoes. My ex girl friend told me years ago that the mark of man is how his hair, shoes, teethe and clothes looked. The booster shot she had given me had finally taken.
   The air conditioner worked a bit better while I entered and were greeted by Kathy and Marty. It was like two offices buildings linked together. I placed three dollars in the kitty and said hello to Kathy and Mike who help to sponsor the noon-time dances.
    I had been told about this office ballroom a few months earlier and by accident dropped in a few months ago. I needed some parts for my old weather eaten Cavalier and  heard music being played in the rear of the  store.
    I walked inside and remained for two hours to recharge my batteries. Every gal looked to be in her eighties but those old years wore off the more I danced. They felt in their teens again, particularly English. Yes I call the wrinkled blond English since I had forgotten her name and am  embarrassed.
    English hold me so tight I feel like a she is tightening a bolt on my batteries. She gives me a look that says "I desire you" then in the next moment says "thanks" and goes to the next pony. Her heavy English accent makes me want to go to England shortly.
    I leave the DJ music and walk to the corner to drink cold punch and some  cut dried fruit chips. I find a small gal with a glowing smile looking for a partner. I tap her back and the little one turns around. My manicure her face and find she is only ten years old. She hasn't danced in a long long time, but her body language tells me there is more in store for me.
    I invite her and her friend for some happy hour food at D Street's  Bar and Grill off of the 101 Highway. They agree and we meet them. I find the Scottish gal well read and bread. We eat and talk for over one hour. It is the first time I have had two dates at once time. One lives in Vista and the other Oceanside.
   I needed to save some of my energy for Thursday afternoon. Balboa Park is having their dance and I will have another chance to feast on all the eighty-somethings who look just divine to me. There is also swing lessons and dancing on the roof of the New San Diego Library's Ninth Floor every other week.