TORONTO LATIN CLUBS!

 CLASSIC HOT SPOTS! surefire salsa gold! These places are more old-school, and remind me of the good-old-days of Latin clubbing in Toornto when I first started going out!

EL RANCHO (430 College St., 921-2752) When you're feeling gutsy enough to brave the dangers of flailing body parts and evil stiletto wounds, El Rancho's the place to be! It's one of the only Latin spots in Toronto that's truly got that Latin feel to it! Whether you go alone or with friends, whether you're wearing jeans, a suit, or a mini-skirt, whether you're a pro or just starting out - you're pretty much guaranteed a great time dancing the night away! Fridays and Saturdays are very busy and crowded, music's great, and once the top floor becomes overcrowded, just go downstairs for another dance floor, bar, and additional seating. Thursdays and Sundays are pretty dead, usually only fun if you go with a group of people or your dance buddy to practise moves on an uncrowded dancefloor. Fridays $6 & Saturdays $8 - and you get a pass on your way out for free admission to Plaza Flamingo (see below) *****

MOTIVOS (1042 St. Clair Ave. W., 416-652-3855, www.motivos.ca ) has a really charming old-school salsa club feel that I definitely yearn for here in Toronto where almost every club (except El Rancho & Plaza Flamingo) has become way too swanky and un-Latin! This club reminds me of how the clubs were when I first started salsa dancing here in T.O. It's not a beautiful glossy club with people in all the right fashions dancing all the most current dances, but it sure is a lot of fun!!! ***

Fridays - 90%salsa music! free dance class from 9 - 10pm, free before 11pm, $5 after

Saturdays - Tropical nights (Merengue, Cha-cha, Bachata,Merengue, Salsa mix)

Sundays - free BBQ meal at 9:00pm, with dancing after!

LULA LOUNGE (1585 Dundas St. W., 416-588-0307, www.lula.ca)

Lula is a beautiful new club that hosts all sorts of different bands and dance events. Great big dancefloor, stage for bands, seating, and terrific food available. Lula is THE place to be in T.O right now! Check out their schedule to find out more about what's happening as it's different every week!New Latin Music Club which just opened up on May 31, 2002, populated by musicians and lovers of live latin music with a Hardwood floor, a Stage for Live Bands and Seating Available. If you love live music, this is a great new place to see the raw musical talent of Toronto. Price depends on night ****

  SERIOUS CONTENDAS some have been around long, some have not too much wrong... try 'em you might find a good fit!

BA BA LU'U (136 Yorkville Ave., 515-0587) Wednesday - Latin Roots! A night where DJ Alvaro C. spins old-school Salsa and lots of unusual stuff you don't get to hear anywhere else. Fridays & Saturdays too busy usually, and Sundays can be decent. This club tends to be a more snobby club than others - unless you know the right people you probably won't be dancing up a storm all night. ***

ACROBAT LOUNGE (2464 Yonge St., 416-489-1105) I actually haven't been here yet! I hear it's the place to be! Fridays. Dance lesson included in cover charge of $10, ladies free before 10pm.

ALLEY CATZ (2409 Yonge St., 416-481-6865) Mondays. No cover before 11 pm, $7 after incl. coatcheck. $5 Dance Lesson with Frank Bishun 8-9 pm, more info at www.dancefromtheheart.com

CERVEJARIA (842 College St., 416-588-0162) Salsa Fridays. This Portuguese Restaurant and club hosts Salsa Nights every Friday and features a great salsa band - Son Ache!

LATIN FEVER (2220 Highway 7, Concord, 905-761-5651) Quite the grand place with a big beautiful dance floor. Too far out though!

FREGATA (1900 Dundas St. E., Missisauga, (905) 270-6265). Thursdays. This club is a bit far out of downtown TO., but worth it! Free salsa lesson early in evening, live band, lots of room to dance on the great dance floor, smoke machines, laser light fx, often stupid contests, and DJ Efren Dinamita. $5.

PLAZA FLAMINGO (423 College St., 603-8884) right across the street from El Rancho: bad music, bad dancefloor, bad vibe, younger crowd, I wouldn't make a special trip just to go here, but you may as well check it out after El Rancho closes! (Friday and Saturday)

EL CONVENTO RICO (750 College St., 588-7800) kind of dark and basement-like, lots of room to dance, bad cement floor, free dance lesson early and drag shows are a big draw.

 DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH check these out for a new experience, but don't get married to going to any of them, their staying power not yet proven.

MOMENTOS (Yorkville Ave.) This is a very different place to go... some love it... some hate it! It's a very, very young crowd, dress casual, there's hardly any salsa or merengue - lots of Spanish rock music. Both locations get totally packed (feels similar to being in mosh pit) and wild! It's all good fun though! Get there early if you want to get in! Sometimes there is a cover charge of $5, sometimes there isn't.