Trolling for Dance Clubs

One of the second level effects of our resident PanaGal’s trip to Boston the other day was a renewed effort to find a place to go dancing Saturday night. Let me explain. While she was waiting for us to pick her up at Union Station, she noticed a sign advertising dancing at the resident bar within the station. This bar has the same owner as the former Maxwell Silverman’s which was our go to place until it closed a couple years ago. My Favorite Panamanian was immediately energized by this information and declared this as our Saturday destination, following our Plymouth trip. She also reached out and induced the Neighborhood Mafiosos to join us because we always have more fun on these adventures when they accompany us.

Our Table at Luciano's

We started out parking behind the Union Station garage because that’s where a sign indicated the parking was for the restaurant. After a nice security guy pointed out the inaccuracy of the sign we parked in the garage and walked into the cavernous Union Station, to be greeted by a very large African-American wedding reception. A caterer showed us how to walk around the reception to the restaurant, Luciano’s, which we triumphantly entered only to find it completely empty. This was ominous on a Saturday night and the head waiter informed us because they were hosting the wedding reception there would be no dancing. He had to say this five times to the Panamanians who thought they had the high ground because of the sign advertising Saturday night dancing.

On to Rascal's

He patiently explained five times that when they hosted a wedding reception that dancing was not possible. We stayed for a round of drinks to decide on our next course of action which turned out to be a lot of fun. The Mafioso wanted to check on Rascals a former country western bar in Worcester while her husband thought we should check on the reconstructed Auburn VFW post. Since Rascals was on the way to Auburn we stopped there first. It turned out they had a live band, dancing, and when the PanaGal learned they played 80s and 90s hits she was sold. That turned out to be a good thing since I just checked and the VFW post has not re-opened yet (it burned down a couple years ago).

Mafiosos Dancing

Wife and I

I'm Hanging on for Dear Life

Rascals turned out to be virtually the same bar it was as a country bar. It was a quintessential American bar with the requisite flags (including an Army banner). There was an eclectic crowd, including some transplanted characters from Maxwell Silverman’s. The band was okay but the PanaGal knew every song as they came around. I could only manage about 40% and I’m guessing those were from the early 80s. What can I say, parenthood arrived in the later 80s and certainly the 90s. My Favorite Panamanian is not a huge rock and roll fan but we did get out for a couple dances, part of which the PanaGal captured on this video.

It was a very long, but fun filled day. The Neighborhood Mafiosos were great companions for the night out. My counterpart was highly entertaining and his dance to the rest room became one of the highlights of the night. Another edition of 2021 adventures that clearly put the travails of 2020 further in the rear view mirror, thanks to great friends.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – granddaughter #3, BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law; Wingman – my son in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn