Bayside Salsa
Speaking of buxom gals, here's an odd little moment captured for Sundries, on video a few days back.
We have this gorgeous outdoor mall called Bayside, in downtown Miami, which opened in the late 1980s. Before that, my parents tell me, it used to be a kind of fish market, on the old Port of Miami, where you could see freshly caught fish hanging on hooks, some of them sharks!
Bayside is situated next to a lush patch of greenness which used to be called Bicentennial Park, so named because it honoured this nation's 200th birthday. Today, it's called Bayfront Park, but old Miamians still sometimes refer to it by its older name.
Then, it was charming, with the regal White House-looking Main Public library situated on it, before the library moved further into downtown in the mid-80s, in an equally stunning Philip Johnson confection of a building.
Later, the park became a dump, after the homeless and violent elements moved in.
But it's been massively re-energised, having a musical ampitheatre on its grounds, and there is even a winter "Sunset Cinemas Movies By the Bay" open-air moviehouse there -- though still rather dangerous to go there, especially if you're a woman, in my opinion.
But there I was, part of the crowds gathered for a little ampitheatre action, listening to some live music, when I decided to stroll over to Bayside for a quickie.
I rarely go there, though it's nominally quite close to where I live. It's just a TOUCH too touristy for my taste, and anyway, I get my outdoor mall action at The Falls, and Merrick Park as you know.
But to my utter joy, I heard the usual thump-thump sounds of the outdoor music show, just inside the mall, next to the marina.
It was a salsa band this time, and oh boy, was the joint jumpin'!
That's when I saw this couple, and instantly knew I had to blog about it one day, for your bemusement.
He was seventy, if he was a day, and she was the closest apparition to Anna Nicole Smith I've yet seen, since the latter's untimely kicking of the sad bucket.
The first thought that runs through one's mind, in seeing one of these May-December couplings is: Was he famous, and how much did he pay her?
Trust me, this was no granddaughter taking her gramps out for a thoughtful spin on the dancefloor, as you will see in a moment. Those were some wild lambada thrusts the old guy was doing (sorry).
This would-be Fred and Ginger held EVERYONE'S attention in the small little audience gathered around the band, and some tourists were drunk-happy to take photos to show their cohorts back home, on the crazy goings-ons in Miami.
Just look at the crowd's amused expression, and you'll see the stories cooking up inside some Minnesotan's head already.
"And then some old codger got up to dance the conga (I think that's what the Latinos dance, right?) with this platinum blonde floozy and oh boy did the place rock out after that!"
Or how ever they sound in Minnesota, since we're flinging stereotypes around (conga, indeed).
But first, so you can better appreciate the quick clip, I want you to look at two more groups of people. Ready?
There's Couple #2, whom I think are on their first date, or the guy finally took out wifey for the day, having gotten into deep doodoo for something.
(My dad always told me the only reason men dance, is when they're on their best behaviour, or wanting to get lucky. By the way, did I tell you that my folks met at the Hammersmith Palais?)
The multiple big papi chains around his neck, plus the crazy colour combo of the deep red, and baby blue practically screams "Newly-Divorced Guy".
If you can imagine this lady with more class, less fat on her rump, and some straighter curls on that wig she's wearing, that would be my mother, except even then, she would never wear those hot pink florettes down her pants, with matching handbag. Classic.
And just look at the guy's expression! Wow. I've seen more animation during a Methodist funeral.
But for all his mortician looks, the guy could dance, which brings us to Couple(s) #3.
These are my peeps, right here.
Maybe it's just me, and my cultural background, but IN A MILLION YEARS could I imagine an impromptu dance of ANY KIND being done with such panache, and coordination in Britain, as these four, front-and-centre.
You have to understand, I'm fairly certain these are not fast friends, and thus have practised dancing these steps together, before. They're also not the springiest of chickens, to say the least.
They literally got up individually, when the song started, and let loose a torrent of jiggling merengue moves, that instantly brought a smile to your face.
The first woman in the white blouse was good, but it's the lady in the green, and ESPECIALLY the guy in the white baseball cap, who kept such fantastic rhythm, that they improved the dancing of those around them.
Check it out for yourselves, at long last. It lasts just a few seconds, but you'll love it.
Remember, keep your eye on the Salsa Gang, as I instantly dubbed them.
Un pasito pa'lante. Un pasito pa'tras...shimmy, shoulder shake, hand clap, shoulder shake, pasito pa'lado, kick out.
Love it!
I don't know how they do it, but I swear to you again, no British crowd could be so synchronised in such an impromptu manner, if our lives depended on it.
As for me, even though the old guy shot saucy looks over my way, I scooted out of there faster than you can say, "Miami Sound Machine".
Cubans are the only white people who have rhythm, as well as the Brazilians, and I know full well when I'm out of my league.
N.B.: I just read a Miami history book called "Miami Poppycock" that says the site that is present-day Bayside Mall, is the precise location where Juan Ponce De Leon, that intrepid explorer, I mean!, horrible colonising white man who famously searched for the fountain of youth, landed in Miami, in his second trip to Florida!!
See the utter, utter kismet of that event with this moment above?
Ponce de Leon searched for the fountain of youth, AKA Viagra, and 500 years later, a white-haired rumbero got lucky in the exact same spot.
I love history.
We have this gorgeous outdoor mall called Bayside, in downtown Miami, which opened in the late 1980s. Before that, my parents tell me, it used to be a kind of fish market, on the old Port of Miami, where you could see freshly caught fish hanging on hooks, some of them sharks!
Bayside is situated next to a lush patch of greenness which used to be called Bicentennial Park, so named because it honoured this nation's 200th birthday. Today, it's called Bayfront Park, but old Miamians still sometimes refer to it by its older name.
Then, it was charming, with the regal White House-looking Main Public library situated on it, before the library moved further into downtown in the mid-80s, in an equally stunning Philip Johnson confection of a building.
Later, the park became a dump, after the homeless and violent elements moved in.
But it's been massively re-energised, having a musical ampitheatre on its grounds, and there is even a winter "Sunset Cinemas Movies By the Bay" open-air moviehouse there -- though still rather dangerous to go there, especially if you're a woman, in my opinion.
But there I was, part of the crowds gathered for a little ampitheatre action, listening to some live music, when I decided to stroll over to Bayside for a quickie.
I rarely go there, though it's nominally quite close to where I live. It's just a TOUCH too touristy for my taste, and anyway, I get my outdoor mall action at The Falls, and Merrick Park as you know.
But to my utter joy, I heard the usual thump-thump sounds of the outdoor music show, just inside the mall, next to the marina.
It was a salsa band this time, and oh boy, was the joint jumpin'!
That's when I saw this couple, and instantly knew I had to blog about it one day, for your bemusement.
He was seventy, if he was a day, and she was the closest apparition to Anna Nicole Smith I've yet seen, since the latter's untimely kicking of the sad bucket.
The first thought that runs through one's mind, in seeing one of these May-December couplings is: Was he famous, and how much did he pay her?
Trust me, this was no granddaughter taking her gramps out for a thoughtful spin on the dancefloor, as you will see in a moment. Those were some wild lambada thrusts the old guy was doing (sorry).
This would-be Fred and Ginger held EVERYONE'S attention in the small little audience gathered around the band, and some tourists were drunk-happy to take photos to show their cohorts back home, on the crazy goings-ons in Miami.
Just look at the crowd's amused expression, and you'll see the stories cooking up inside some Minnesotan's head already.
"And then some old codger got up to dance the conga (I think that's what the Latinos dance, right?) with this platinum blonde floozy and oh boy did the place rock out after that!"
Or how ever they sound in Minnesota, since we're flinging stereotypes around (conga, indeed).
But first, so you can better appreciate the quick clip, I want you to look at two more groups of people. Ready?
There's Couple #2, whom I think are on their first date, or the guy finally took out wifey for the day, having gotten into deep doodoo for something.
(My dad always told me the only reason men dance, is when they're on their best behaviour, or wanting to get lucky. By the way, did I tell you that my folks met at the Hammersmith Palais?)
The multiple big papi chains around his neck, plus the crazy colour combo of the deep red, and baby blue practically screams "Newly-Divorced Guy".
If you can imagine this lady with more class, less fat on her rump, and some straighter curls on that wig she's wearing, that would be my mother, except even then, she would never wear those hot pink florettes down her pants, with matching handbag. Classic.
And just look at the guy's expression! Wow. I've seen more animation during a Methodist funeral.
But for all his mortician looks, the guy could dance, which brings us to Couple(s) #3.
These are my peeps, right here.
Maybe it's just me, and my cultural background, but IN A MILLION YEARS could I imagine an impromptu dance of ANY KIND being done with such panache, and coordination in Britain, as these four, front-and-centre.
You have to understand, I'm fairly certain these are not fast friends, and thus have practised dancing these steps together, before. They're also not the springiest of chickens, to say the least.
They literally got up individually, when the song started, and let loose a torrent of jiggling merengue moves, that instantly brought a smile to your face.
The first woman in the white blouse was good, but it's the lady in the green, and ESPECIALLY the guy in the white baseball cap, who kept such fantastic rhythm, that they improved the dancing of those around them.
Check it out for yourselves, at long last. It lasts just a few seconds, but you'll love it.
Remember, keep your eye on the Salsa Gang, as I instantly dubbed them.
Un pasito pa'lante. Un pasito pa'tras...shimmy, shoulder shake, hand clap, shoulder shake, pasito pa'lado, kick out.
Love it!
I don't know how they do it, but I swear to you again, no British crowd could be so synchronised in such an impromptu manner, if our lives depended on it.
As for me, even though the old guy shot saucy looks over my way, I scooted out of there faster than you can say, "Miami Sound Machine".
Cubans are the only white people who have rhythm, as well as the Brazilians, and I know full well when I'm out of my league.
N.B.: I just read a Miami history book called "Miami Poppycock" that says the site that is present-day Bayside Mall, is the precise location where Juan Ponce De Leon, that intrepid explorer, I mean!, horrible colonising white man who famously searched for the fountain of youth, landed in Miami, in his second trip to Florida!!
See the utter, utter kismet of that event with this moment above?
Ponce de Leon searched for the fountain of youth, AKA Viagra, and 500 years later, a white-haired rumbero got lucky in the exact same spot.
I love history.
Labels: Downtown, Mallrats, South Florida Snapshot, Youtube
posted by vbspurs at
3/25/2007 01:34:00 am
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11 comments
