********************************************************************** Swing News, Wednesday 12/16/98, Issue #27 Send submissions to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Send addition/deletion/address-change requests to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Send all other e-mail to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi everyone, Welcome to this special holiday issue of Swing News. Lots of good shows finish out 1998. This issue will take you right through New Year's, so expect the next issue in three weeks (Tue 1/5/99). I've heard from a few dancers who are planning to hit the Sugar Palm on Christmas night. Sounds like a good idea! So if you're in town and grow tired of drinking nog and watching "It's a Wonderful Life", join us! Happy holidays, Sam ---------------------------------------------------------------------- EVENTS FROM TODAY INTO THE NEW YEAR This Friday (Dec 18), the 42nd Street Band (with Kat Hefner) returns to the Sugar Palm's swing night. Doors open at 8:00pm and dancing continues to 2:30am. A beginner's lesson runs 8-9pm. The Sugar Palm's ballroom has a large wooden dance floor plus a practice room off to the side. It's nonsmoking, with adjacent rooms provided for smokers. A moderate dress code is enforced. Cost is $8 for ages 21 and up; $10 for ages 18-20. Phone 813-248-5549 for more info. Directions: Corner of Palm Ave & 15th St in Ybor City. Take I-4 to Exit 1, go south about 2 blocks, turn right on Palm Ave, and go to 15th St. The Sugar Palm's on the left. This Saturday (Dec 19), Dan Electro and the Silvertones play the Sugar Palm. Lindy Hop lessons continue on Saturday nights in the practice room, with instructors Roy Rydbeck and Kristine van Ingen. Beginning is 7-8pm; intermediate, 8-9pm. Cost is $5 per lesson. Other swing-night details are the same as Friday's. This Sunday (Dec 20), the Swingin' Mooks return to the Pier 60 Pavilion on Clearwater Beach, 5-8pm, for a free outdoor concert. For those who missed it, the last concert was outstanding -- great performance by the band, not to mention the sunset on the beach. The pavilion was packed, but there was lots of dance space in front of the band on the wooden floor. Directions: Take 60 West until it ends at Pier 60. (You might have to cross a bridge or two, depending on where you start.) Park somewhere and walk to the pavilion. Christmas night (Fri, Dec 25), the Sugar Palm swings with Dan Electro and the Silvertones. Saturday, Dec 26, the Sugar Palm features the 42nd Street Band. New Year's Eve (Thu, Dec 31), community radio station WMNF holds their New Year's Eve Celebration at the Coliseum in St Pete. Featured bands are Denise Moore and the Then Some Orchestra (Swing), The Sevilles (Oldies Rock and Roll), and Grupo Energia (Latin). Doors open at 8pm and the bands play 9pm-1am. Tickets are $18.50 + surcharge in advance; $21.50 + surcharge at the door. The event is nonsmoking, BYOB and food. The Coliseum has the largest and one of the best dance floors in the Bay area. It's located at 535 4th Ave N in St Pete (Directions: Take I-275 to the I-375 downtown exit. It's at the bottom of the ramp where I-375 ends.) The Coliseum box office is open 10am-4pm M-F and can be reached at 727-892-5202. New Year's Eve (Thu, Dec 31), The Sugar Palm hosts a New Year's Eve Ball, with featured band "The Last of the International Playboys" from New York City. The Sugar Palm describes this 9-piece combo as having a unique sound, with jazz, Latin, and blues elements as well as swing. The night also includes a champagne toast, an hors d'oeuvres buffet, a special swing show, and an 8pm dance lesson. Tickets must be purchased in advance. General admission is $35; patio-room seating, $40; ballroom seating, $45. Dress is semi-formal, but vintage suits are fine (jacket required). Friday, Jan 1, The Last of the International Playboys play a second night at the Sugar Palm. Saturday, Jan 2, The Last of the International Playboys complete their local debut, with a final night at the Sugar Palm. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER THAT Fri Jan 8: Dan Electro & the Silvertones at Sugar Palm; 813-248-5549 Sat Jan 9: Dan Electro & the Silvertones at Sugar Palm; 813-248-5549 Fri Jan 15: Jet Set Six at Sugar Palm; 813-248-5549 Sat Jan 16: Jet Set Six at Sugar Palm; 813-248-5549 Sat Jan 23: Lost Continentals at Sugar Palm; 813-248-5549 Fri Jan 29: Johnny Cool and the Mobster Swing Band at Largo Cultural Center; 727-587-6793 Fri Jan 29: Red Hot Kitty and the Alley Cats at Coliseum; 727-892-5202 Doug Matthews writes: The swing series returns to the Largo Cultural Center on Friday, January 29, with Johnny Cool and the Mobster Swing Band. Those of you who missed our two summer shows missed a GREAT time. The Cultural Center is a state-of-the-art performing arts venue with a full-size stage and good space to dance. We probably had 150 people dancing at the Rocket 88 show in August. Call 727-587-6793 for tickets. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SWINGIN' MOOK SCHEDULE The Swingin' Mooks appear tonight (Dec 16) and every Wednesday in December at Club More in downtown Clearwater (703 Franklin St), 10:00pm - 1:30am. Smoking is allowed, but the windows and doors can be opened. Club More has a floorboard dance floor of moderate size. Phone 727-466-6673 or http://www.greenbenches.com/club.htm . The Mooks play Storman's Palace this Thursday (Dec 17) and most Thursday nights, 9:30pm-1:00am. Storman's is located at 2875 Ulmerton Rd in Clearwater, allows smoking, and has a small-to-medium sized dance floor. Phone 727-571-2202. Friday (Dec 18), the band goes up to Planet Bubba in Crystal River (on SR 44), starting 9:30pm. For more info, visit http://btls.com . Saturday (Dec 19), they're at Gators (Treasure Island at John's Pass) at 5pm ( http://www.gatorscafe.com ), and at Bourbon Street at 11pm. They play Bourbon Street most Saturday nights, which is located in the Oakbrook Plaza at Enterprise & McMullen Booth roads in Safety Harbor. Smoking's allowed. This Sunday (Dec 20) they're at the Pier 60 Pavilion in Clearwater Beach, 5-8pm. More details are earlier in this issue. Web site: http://md24.com/swinginmooks.htm E-mail: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GULFPORT CASINO SWING NIGHT UPDATE The Gulfport Casino has now made it official. Starting Wednesday, January 6th, and continuing every Wednesday night thereafter, it's swing night, with a lesson 7-8pm and dancing 8pm to midnight. There'll be a swing DJ and cost is $4. It's all ages, nonsmoking, and there's a huge, well-maintained, wooden dance floor. Directions: Take I-275 to St Pete's 22nd Ave S exit and head west. Turn left onto Beach Blvd. (55th St will be on the right.) Head south until the street ends at the Gulfport Casino, which is located directly on the water. Thanks to James Norman for the above info. Earlier, there was some debate as to whether the Gulfport Casino was a commercial or a nonprofit entity. The answer is now in -- the Casino is nonprofit. James Norman did some thorough research into the matter and found that "the City of Gulfport Department of Leisure Services owns and operates every function in the Casino, and Jonny Greene is the Manager of the facility. (He is an employee of the city.) That makes them not for profit." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SARASOTA Pam Callender writes: Sarasota says hey! We miss seeing you'all at the Sugar Palm and being a part of all the new swing stuff coming around. We've been so busy at Spats -- just can't get a night away. Last week, we participated in the Holiday Parade with the Spats Swing kids dancing on a 50' flat-bed truck. Four couples represented different eras of swing. We got lots of coverage. Every Friday and Saturday, Spats conducts an informal dance contest, and at the end of a four-week period, the winning couples are invited back to compete against each other in a monthly finals. It makes for a great show, and the couples make obvious improvements in one month. The next monthly finals is January 9, 1999. We'll be sponsored for a semi-annual invitational in March, which will include the previous monthly winners. There will be big prizes, great dancing, live band, and pro show. It's all for fun, nothing serious, but a great excuse to improve dance skills, show off, and have a wild swing party!!! Stay tuned, and better yet, come on down to qualify. You need only pay regular admission at Spats ($5 after 9pm), and prizes are given away every night. Spats is at the Town and Country Plaza, corner of Fruitville and Beneva Roads in the Courtyard. Phone 941-954-8696. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ORLANDO The Love Dogs from Boston will play the following gigs around Orlando: Wed 12/30/98 - Sat 1/2/99: Pleasure Island Jazz Company; 407-828-5665 Sun 1/3/99 - Mon 1/4/99: Atlantic Dance Club in Lake Buena Vista As noted in earlier issues, the Jazz Company has little or no dance floor. Call to confirm, as this information is a couple of months old. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUCTOR WANTED Doug Matthews writes: Largo Recreation & Parks is looking for a swing dance instructor for our teen swing-dance classes. The classes have taken off in a very short time, with 8-12 couples every week. We need an instructor for Thursday evenings, 5-6pm or 6-7pm. We can adjust the day or time to accomodate your schedule. Classes are currently $3 per person, of which the instructor gets a 70/30 split. E-mail Doug or call him at 727-587-6720. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- STINGERS / BEACH BOPPERS UPDATE Walt writes: Stingers has been closed for some time. It has been renovated and is now The Joy Club. Swing dancing is no longer there. On Sundays, the "Stinger's crowd" now goes to Harpo's, just a few blocks north of the former Stingers. We also provide various swing lessons on Sundays. There is a variety of swing dancing done, including West Coast, Carolina Shag, Bop, and East Coast. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Swing News Know any upcoming swing happenings or other news? Send them in to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . The deadline for each Tuesday issue is Sunday at 5pm. Editors reserve the right to edit submissions or to select based on relevance. Be sure to call and confirm events before going! The SWINGANG is a network of swing dancers and other swingsters, committed to promoting swing events in places with large, smoke-free or open-air dance areas; to encouraging great music & instruction; to building a united swing community; and to publishing this newsletter! E-mail XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . Send addition/deletion/address-change requests to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . **********************************************************************