• Oct 11, 2001 Looking back: a Pilgrimage to New York.
  • Sept 25, 2001 Flamenco comes back to Dupont Circle
  • Sept 26, 2001 Are you an old timer?
  • Sept 23, 2001 Six nights a week
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Looking back: a Pilgrimage to New York
It's been a while since I've taken one of those wild one-day flamenco trips to New York.

The last time for me was in October 2000. Guitarist Tomatito was performing with pianist Michel Camilo at the world famous jazz club Blue Note. (Last year this duo won the Grammy award for the category of "Best Latin Jazz Album")

Tomatito is pictured above with DC flamencos Richard Marlow, Sara Jerez and Ramin el Persa.

OK, so it wasn't a flamenco show, but for us it was the first time to hear Tomatito in person. Flamenco or not, without a doubt, it was a full evening of inspiring musical moments.

Afterwards, we headed to a nearby neighborhood bar to put the inspiration to use.

Guitarist Richard Marlow pulled out his guitar and the late night flamenco fiesta began.

Pictured here is singer Lito singing a bulería enthusiastically accompanied by Richard.

There were two other singers present including the New York-based La Conja.

Naturally, we carried on until about 4:00am, said our goodbyes and headed to our respective hotels, tired but very content.



Flamenco comes back to Dupont Circle
Micaela Moreno and Gerárd Moreno (Tuesday September 25, 2001) About five years ago, I used to do a show on Monday nights in Dupont Circle at a club called Escándalo with dancers Melisa Tomás and Edwin Aparicio. It was fun while it lasted, but Monday, it seemed, was a difficult night to get customers.

Five years later, I'm back in Dupont Circle at a different place, interestingly, it's also on a Monday night. Things are different now: there's a larger and more active flamenco community.

Last night was dark and stormy...there was even a severe weather alert. But that didn't stop some of my friends from coming to see my show at Café Citrón.

Pictured here is dancer Micaela Moreno with singer Gerárd Moreno (no blood relation).

The owners of Café Citrón were the ones running the Montego Bay lounge (now called Mezze) which was very popular among flamenco fans a few years ago when guitarist Richard Marlow and dancer Sara Candela performed there. Yours truly even filled in there a couple of times.

Puri García, John Vázquez, Marta Chico Martín and Jason Vera y Aragón Pictured here are my friends Puri García, John Vázquez, Marta Chico Martín and Jason Vera y Aragón.

In the new place, Cafe Citrón, flamenco is back...this time in the Dupont Circle area. Located at 1343 Connecticut Ave NW DC. Dupont Circle metro. Call (202)530-8844. Shows are on Monday nights starting around 8:00pm. Between shows the DJ plays Sevillanas CD's.

Micaela Moreno, Gerárd Moreno and Michael Pérez Pictured here is yours truly on guitar with Gerárd and Micaela.

(Thanks to John Vázquez for the first and third photos. The second photo was taken by yours truly.)

Are you an old-timer?
(Wednesday September 26, 2001) Dupont Circle brings to mind other places that have featured flamenco. Years ago, it was the most active area for flamenco in DC.

In addition to Escándalo (now closed down), I used to do a show at Cafe Japoné (202-223-1573) in 1996 with Melisa Tomás and Edwin Aparicio. I also filled in for a two weeks at the well-known El Bodegón (now closed down) in 1997 with Micaela Moreno and Edwin. A long time ago, guitarist Torcuato Zamora used to do a show at El Caminante (now closed down) with dancer Tatiana Montenegro among others.

I'm sure the "old-timers" out there can help me fill in the other places that I forgot to mention--I'm an old-timer myself having played guitar for every company in the DC flamenco scene for ten years now.]

DC Flamenco Survey #31
How long have you been keeping up with the DC flamenco scene?
A few weeks or less
2 to 5 months
6 months to a year
1 to 5 years
5 to 10 years
11 to 20 years
20 to 30 years
30 years or more
I am the one who first introduced flamenco to DC
There never was a flamenco scene in DC

Current results
Free Web Polls


Six nights a week
(Sunday September 23, 2001) The DC area currently has a flamenco show (with guitarist and dancer) every night of the week except Sunday. This is not even counting the wonderful Sevillanas shows at Jaleo and the excellent rumba shows at Bambulé, Sole, Chi-Cha Lounge and Las Tapas.

Here's the breakdown:

  • Mondays
    • Cafe Citron 1343 Connecticut Ave NW DC. Dupont Circle metro. (202)530-8844.
  • Tuesdays
    • Las Tapas 710 King St, Alexandria, VA. King St metro. (703)836-4000.
  • Wednesdays
    • Las Tapas 710 King St, Alexandria, VA. King St metro. (703)836-4000.
    • Toro Tapas 4053 South 28th St, Arlington, VA. (703)379-0502.
  • Thursdays
    • Las Tapas 710 King St, Alexandria, VA. King St metro. (703)836-4000.
    • Andalucía de Rockville 12300 Wilkins Ave, Rockville, MD. Twinbrook metro. (301)770-1880.
    • Bambulé 5225 Wisconsin Ave NW DC. Friendship Heights metro. (202)966-0300.
  • Fridays and Saturdays
    • El Rincón Español 1826 Columbia Rd NW DC. Woodley Park metro. (202)265-4943.

Further details can be found on the calendar page.

[Editor's note: I don't know who originally designed the animated flamenco graphic that you see above, but whoever you are, thank you. Flamenco-themed graphics are very hard to find!]

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© 2001 by Michael Pérez