Our schedule - arranged for maximum dancing night choices

During the spring and early summer in Toronto of 2003, we revised our 28 hour schedule so that dancing at any one of a number of Toronto dance clubs was possible on 5 nights - Wednesday through Sunday. (We have our original schedule that works well for Wednesday through Saturday nights; we sometimes find ourselves falling back into this one.) On our return from AZ each early spring, we start back at our multi-night dancing typically with only 60 and then 90 minutes of non-stop high energy dancing the first 2 weeks of 3 nights. Since early 2004 we have been easily doing 2 hours each dance night (with pause for water or change of clubs), mainly because the energy level is not extremely high during all that time. We have never gone all 5 nights.

Dance week starts on Wednesday

Wednesday night dancing, since July 2003, has started at Club Menage which plays a 40 to 50 minute set of Eurodance-style starting about 11:00pm. We had a real crowd of watchers on 8/6/03 when we started just before 11:00pm and got tee shirts for both of us from the radio DJs that were playing live on Z103.5. However the club has become increasingly well visited by crowds and the rather small dance floor fills up fast. We often take to the floor in the adjacent lounge area where the female bartender (a little older than most of the young patrons) was glad to see us on our return in April 2004. An alternate measure, is to grab some floor space at the other end of the club (near the go-go dancers in the windows) in front of and between the couple of tables. When the music takes the "step-change" to hip/hop that's our signal to leave for the Fluid, a few blocks away.

The Fluid Lounge (they've not maintained a website for some time now for some reason), starts off typically with somewhat less energetic music than what we *really* like, but it has been a steady and reliable club for over 5 years now since we started dancing as a couple, and which Paul frequented for several years before that. (We returned to The Fluid on a Wednesday after a couple months absence and to our pleasure we were warmly welcomed. The waitress with the longest time there refers to us as a piece of Fluid history.) Before Club Menage came on the scene, we would time our arrival to soon after 11:00pm, getting a fair amount of moderate energy dancing (and sometimes higher if the DJ "cooperated") with lots of floor "traveling". Now we get there as midnight approaches and still have considerable space as the tempo increases until nearing 1:00am, when the crowd is just too dense for anything but vibrating in place. Since June 1 2004, Toronto has a no-smoking ordinance in bars; patios and rooftop smoking lounges have flourished. The Fluid, which was often very crowded with smokers and sloppy drinkers, now is smoke-free as are all the other interior clubs. Unfortunately, there seems to be more holding of drinks on many of the dance floors - and more opportunities for spills. Seems some of these clubbers just have to have something in their hand to frequently put in their mouth.

Another club we went to periodically on Wednesdays for many months in late 2002 and part of 2003 either before going onto or instead of the Fluid (the last only if the music was good) was Tonic. We started by using their guest list but after a few weeks attained on-sight recognition - it's the rare clubber who fits our age profile ;>) It's venue was techno, progressive, and house - all quite high energy. Unfortunately, this genre seems to come and go at the Tonic (without update of the website) and therefore we have taken to checking with the bouncers on our walks to or from other clubs in the area. After being closed on Wednesdays in the early summer of 2003, in late August 2003 we saw that the Tonic was open again. One of the bouncers who knows us gave us a friendly rundown (when we stopped to listen after dancing at the two previous mentioned clubs) on the genre of reggae and hip-hop, adding that we wouldn't like it - he's right. The club scene is very changeable and we never know quite what will greet us when we walk by Tonic on Wednesday nights heading back to our car - closed, special event, private party or dance night as before. Coincidentally one of the previous doormen there now works at a club we tried recently further east on the same street - he told us, as we soon exited, that he recognized us from Tonic and knew we wouldn't like the place (really just a lounge w/ music - no real dance floor). He had a chuckle when Kitty told him with a smile that we were off to the Fluid where we knew we'd get some decent dancing.

Thursdays are limited in dance possibilities

For a few months in summer and fall and of 2003, we made use of the guestlist for Thursday nights at Manhattan Fuel, located uptown from us. While they had 2 dance floors, the lower one was larger with high ceilings and generally enough room before 12:30am to dance energetically. Unfortunately the DJs were not always the best at merging the musical pieces and they often cut a set of high-energy music to 45 minutes and eventually to 30, switching then to hip-hop. We got what we could and since dancing was possible more nights in a week, the shorter time on a particular night was not an overall reduction in exercise. (We were appreciated so much in early July that Paul was given $10 by a fellow so that we could buy ourselves a round of drinks. We used it to treat ourselves to a decadent desert the next night instead ;>) When we first started at Manhattan Fuel, there were only a few people when we started dancing sometime around 11:00 (as soon as the DJs played some danceable music). Over the weeks the crowd of watchers grew considerably and it was quite obvious that these mostly youngsters enjoy watching us. (We got cheers with some provocative moves ;>) We hoped that later in the night (after we've left) when another set of high energy music was played, that they pick their feet up and really move! The real shame regarding this club is that the management decided to close it and turn it into a sports bar. We got the last of our dancing there on Thursday 10/30/03. We've not found an acceptable substitute club for Thursday nights and so for now it's an "off night" taken up with a long walk.

Fridays - not what they used to be but OK

Our original Friday night haunt (as a couple), The Joker - The Cathedral on the 3rd floor to be specific with its high energy and its enormous dance floor - was sold early in 2003. Kitty found this out by inquiring via email when she received a periodic Liberty Entertainment message that didn't include mention of this club among the company's holdings. Unfortunately, the crowds on Fridays had in the preceding months been on the slim side in comparison to the 2nd floor which played hip-hop that night. We had been told back in November 2002 that it would be closed until "after the first of the year". We've been there a couple times now since the new management took over, redecorating and renaming the 3rd floor "The Platinum Room". Unfortunately, the new craze for hip-hop has considerably reduced the frequency of high energy music played - at least on Saturdays. The DJ method used is to heavily combine the two genre, changing from one to the other as often as every 20 minutes; not at all conducive to "getting up steam". At least until late 2003 the 2nd floor with its retro (80s and 90s) had some dance worth, but now that's been changed also. We haven't been back in many months but will keep our ears open by way of the live radio broadcasts to determine what's being played.

Since April 2004 we have been going to The Phoenix which plays a mix of 80s, 90s and today music. The plus side about this club is that it has a large dance floor and there's room somewhere even when there's a crowd. Unfortunately the music is very unpredictable. We've had decent nights when the DJ has played several eurodance pieces along with some more energetic retro. And then there have been a few nights in which most is just short of intolerable - mix of acid alternative, hip-hop and Irish drinking songs. On the worst of those nights we've just left in dismay after less than an hour and gone home and taken a walk. Sometimes we've just headed to the Fluid and managed in the room playing the more up-tempo genre.

The Fluid can sometimes be counted on to have at least some energetic dance music on Fridays. Unfortunately, there's been a growing trend towards inserting urban stuff which is a real downer in our opinion. When all else fails, we try the Fluid and hope to catch some good dance pieces.

Saturdays - big dance night of the week

We look back now on when Saturday nights were a warm up to high energy dance music at the Joker's Cathedral for 30 to 40 minutes and then a quick dash to the Joker's sister club, The Courthouse Chamber Lounge in time to make use of our "B4midnight" pass. This way we found that we could avoid the early evening Courthouse crowds, that made dancing there before midnight an unpleasant challenge. The Joker was sold in late 2002, and its music in the Platinum Room (the renamed Cathedral) under the new management became a large mix of hip-hop between sets of high energy. We haven't been there in several months but may try it again in the future if we hear some consistent high energy music being played live on air.

Since November 2003, a different radio station has been playing live from the Courthouse and the old disco sounds are now mixed in with other music from 70s to 90s; our old passes are no longer valid and the guestlist closes at 10pm. When we do go to the Courthouse, we do so early at ~9:30pm and start the dancing off. The music has not been quite as much fun but we do most times manage to get in some *real* dancing before the crowds start becoming dense about 10:30. We then go onto the Fluid - or if we prefer to just start off later, we eliminate the Courthouse and simply "do the Fluid" for 2 hours from ~11pm to 1am. The DJ there on Saturdays plays energetic house starting soon after midnight.

After not visiting the Courthouse for a few weeks, we did so on 8/7/04 and were pleased to have a fair amount of real dance music in the mix after some slower warm-up pieces. DJThomas, who know us from The Phoenix, came up to us soon after our arrival and in response to my question about what clubs were playing "real dance music", responded (with some obvious pride) that he was "working up to it" so "don't leave". (His assistant was working the booth while he took a smoke break on the patio - no smoking *in* the clubs in Toronto.) I'd hinted that we were planning to cut it short and go to a new club (for us) on the north edge of Toronto. The music stayed good and the floor didn't get stuffed until near midnight. And in addition, we were told twice that night that we were "awesome" even before the complimenter knew our ages - then they were awestruck. We left them poring over our business card ;>)

In mid-December 2004 Kitty received a promotion agency's email with an evite (she's a receiver of several such agencies so she can know of new clubs and which are worth trying). It's not in the regular club district, but rather down near the lake (Lake Ontario, that is) and we parked a couple blocks to the west - we avoid paying for parking whenever possible. The guestlist was a no line (no cover too which is not typical at the Guv - that's why we took advantage of it) so we just went up to the bouncers at the head of the moderate length line and said we were on the guestlist for The Drink (the upscale room by which we were to enter with access to the entire complex after midnight). The fellow (looked to be in his 30s) asked which one and Kitty said "The Gift" (it was a holiday special "event") and he said with a smile as he opened the chain and motioned us in, "Right in for the best dancers at the Fluid on Wednesdays for the past 10 years". He caught us by surprise with the compliment since we didn't recognize him; he escorted us inside giving Paul 2 tickets and we proceeded right upstairs noting with pleasure to each other how nice it was to be recognized someplace new. Paul said that if he'd been thinking fast he would have said something along the line of: "And yes, for me another 15 years other places in Toronto including here when it was RPM." But he's not a real fast thinker on items like that. We made the next couple of Saturdays also until our drive to Arizona.

We were in The Drink for ~40 minutes that first night, dancing the entire time to some very decent house music and then when midnight rolled around proceeded downstairs to the very large main room where progressive house was playing - reminded us of some of the pounding beat music at the Joker from a couple years ago where we regularly danced up a storm on Fridays. (It's a shadow of its former self with the large sets of hip/hop and reggae like so many clubs in Toronto these days and we haven't been there since we gave it a try again late Spring 2004.) It was fun, almost a rave atmosphere with a terrific light show. Paul got off the ground several times and we drew lots of attention since we had to be oldest people there. We wouldn't want it every dance night, but the three Saturdays we did go before our departure for the winter stay in Arizona were lots of fun. Adnan, the promoter, gave us the royal treatment each time and also came over to greet us warmly on the dance floor at the Fluid on another Wednesday - that's where he spends a "night off". We look forward to getting back to the Guv on our return to Toronto. The fact that the large main room plays no hip/hp or reggae - and is packed!! - on Saturday nights is encouraging.

Sundays can be hot or nothing

Sunday nights at The Courthouse was an experiment when we first came back to Toronto in May 2003 from Arizona. Kitty had noticed at its website that trance was being played that night, so we checked it out. We were the first on floor, even though we arrived near 11:30, and often were the solitary occupants for half an hour before others started to gradually join. The other patrons were largely from the considerable gay community in Toronto, but were never offensive in any way to either of us. We enjoyed the music which though while having a strong fast beat, never had any vocals and became somewhat monotonous after an hour. Unfortunately, Kitty noticed in mid-July 2003 that The Courthouse website no longer advertises Sunday nights. She sent an email to the Courthouse asking for an explanation, but never received one. We'd been so busy with philosophical writings that we hadn't been out on Sunday nights for 3 weeks. We've come to learn that dance clubs come and go, but we sure hate losing another good one.

Sundays are not a typical operating night for most of the clubs (unless Monday is a holiday), but some of those open that night term it "Industry Night" with no cover and where many of the patrons are those who work in the entertainment business. We haven't made Sunday a regular dance night since 2 nights in a row is usually enough. When an interesting place advertises - we'll give it a go.

Mondays are usually an off night

When our schedule sometimes gets "wrapped around" and we are awake on Monday nights, we take in the real relaxed atmosphere of the "retro" genre "Manic Mondays" in the Dance Cave (2nd floor) at Lee's Palace, a few blocks from our apartment.

Regular status and guestlists pay off

At the Fluid, we are "members", never waiting in line nor paying cover charge, and greeted by staff as welcome regulars. While Manhattan Fuel didn't have formal "members", we were just waved through after the first several weeks of using their guestlist. While we went there, some of the staff at Tonic knew us and referred to us as "The Dancers" with a smile. Kitty still signs us up on the Club Menage guestlist in case the fellow at the door is new; the regular fellow just waves us in. We are also among, if not actually, the first dancers on the floor at Club Menage, The Courthouse and Fluid. (See Kitty Reflects on MoreLife 10/8/01 for a personal view of The Joker and The Fluid.) Here we are ready for dancing on an "informal" night - for Fluid/Menage Wednesdays and Saturday nights at Drink, Kitty dons short skirts which show off her trim dancer legs.