Formatting messed up? Read this email on the website »

"Hosting fine Swing and Lindy Hop Dancing in Boston since 1994"

Friday, Feb. 6: Mike Wyatt Quartet
"A seriously swinging ensemble." Don't miss this talented band!

Beginner's Swing lesson at 7:30

"The Annex" downstairs:
CSSOB
Workshop/Lesson at 7:30, Dancing to follow

Swing City Update

Did you make it last week for Compaq? What a fantastic band and bunch of musicians. Indeed, sweet rich sounds filled the City Club, and a the place was hopping! Lots of photos are up in the gallery, along with a bunch from the previous two weeks (thanks Eric Seavey).

This week Mike Wyatt's seriously swingin' Quartet joins us again! These guys were discovered last spring and have taken the scene by storm. Please join us this Friday.

Also, in the Annex we also have the Chicago Style Steppers back in the house, a great group of folks who would like to welcome you to try a new dance "groove". They've been the life of the party a few times now. Come check it out!

This week's Raffle Winnner:

Congratulations to Tina Ide, winner of a pair of tickets to Swing City. Contact me at olaf@swingcityboston.com to claim.

More items:

  • Intermediate lessons at Swing City, feedback?
  • Please join our Facebook Group
  • A look at some of the responses about Swing City
  • Advice on getting to Swing City (it's EASY!)

Intermediate Lessons at Swing City?
Some people have chimed in, but I'd like to hear more opinions. In various discussions to add new things to Swing City, we talked about doing a concurrent advanced beginner/intermediate Swing lesson. This would be geared toward the many "graduates" of the weekly introductory lessons, and gives the more experienced dancers a chance to learn something too while the beginners go at at. Thoughts? Please drop me a line. Thanks!

Facebook: Are you familiar with Facebook? It's the modern phenomenon in internet social networking. Please join our group and literally keep up with the Joneses! You need to create a free account if you don't have one, and "become a friend" of Swing City. Go Here »

Comments on our recent requests for feedback:

We got a lot of great comments and suggestions from people in regard to improving Swing City. One thing was somewhat common: a lot of people simply haven't come out to Swing City recently, some folks even dating back to the move to Newton (!).

Thus, a brief Swing City FAQ or sorts:

- MYTH: Swing City is far away and hard to get to. It's not! On the map it looks far for the people coming from the 'burbs, but if you made it to Newton, the Somerville location takes literally only 5 minutes longer to reach from Newton Corner/Mass Pike than the MacKenzie Center. It's easy highway driving all the way, and just three blocks from the highway exit. Getting to Swing City probably even takes less time than going through traffic lights to the various past and present Watertown/Cambridge spots. Coming from Rt. 2 via Alewife is obviously local roads, but its not bad once you have it down.

- Call to action: Swing City Needs You! Many people haven't made it out to the new place yet. Now is the time! Given the economy and all the competition, it is YOU, the grass-roots past and present Swing City patrons, who are going to determine the future success. The old Huron Ave venue has been demolished, and the West Cambridge Youth Center is likely not going to host the old dances again at this point. Some people just don't know why they haven't made it yet. Come join the party! Swing City is a great community and a lot of people would really like to have you there! Also, Swing City is definitely a great, yet inexpensive night out.

- What's up with the smokiness? Resolved! we have pretty much succeeded upstairs in sealing out the smoke from the basement members' lounge, and made good progress in the Annex too. It is much better and will continue to seal off the few remaining "leaks".

We know the City Club is not the "perfect" venue, but what place is...? The bottom line in this day and age is that this place likes us, we like them, and to that end they are willing to let us fix it up incrementally as we need. But, we need everyone's support in terms of attending the dances to make that all work. So please don't stay away until you "hear that it's good", which I hear through the grapevine from many people.

If you have your own comments to share, we'd love to hear them. Please email us at olaf@swingcityboston.com

See you this Friday!
-Olaf
on behalf of all of our entertainers and staff

---------------

Getting to Swing City: Quite a few people have griped about finding the City Club. I ask them how they got there, and they all say, "I used my GPS". AH! NO WONDER! Trust me, it's REALLY EASY if you just follow our directions. We're just off the higway. GPS will take you on the scenic "shortcut" through Cambridge and Somerville if you're coming from the Pike for example, because it thinks its shorter distance. It is, as the crow flies (by a 2-3 miles), but you have to go though Cambridge traffic light hell. Take my word--take the highway route!

Thus, for those people coming from south and western 'burbs, just take Mass Pike to I-93 North, take exit 28, make a left, left again at the second light, and park in the huge lot. From the Newton Corner exit it's maybe 10-15 minutes max.

The new place is the Somerville City Club, at 20 Innerbelt Road, Somerville (map). It's adjacent to the Holiday Inn near Sullivan Square, directly off I-93 and 3 blocks from the Orange Line. There are also a bunch of convenient buses that come through, ample parking, our "Annex", and of course... a FULL BAR. For those that drove to the Greek Church from I-93, you probably went right past it on Washington St. In fact it's only a little over a mile away from the Greek Church location and a few miles down the highway from Springstep.

Join the Swing City Facebook Community

A great new way to keep up with your Swing Dance friends

Swing City
Live bands every Friday Night
plus other styles in "Annex"
--Located at--
Somerville City Club
20 Innerbelt Rd.
Somerville, MA 02143
(just off I-93 at exit 28)

Free Lessons*: 7:30-8:45
(*with cover)
Dancing: 8:45-1am
All ages welcome
$15 ($10 w/ student ID)
$10 Annex Only
directions »
(617) 513-9841

Most Recent Photos »
Latest Discussion Board Posts »

Latest Photos!

Swing City Field Trips

Swing Instructors, bring your students, earn a little extra on the side.


click »

Taxi Dancers are in!

Until 10:30 we have friendly volunteers to dance with everyone and anyone, so if you don't have a partner or are new, "Catch a Cab"! more »

If you'd like to apply to be one of our taxi dancers,
send us a note »
.

 

More Swing City Highlights:

  • Doors open at 7:30, dancing until 1am
  • All ages
  • Full bar
  • Ample free lot-parking
  • Easy access by MBTA (Sullivan Square on the Orange Line), or a number of buses

What people are saying:
"It was one of the best swing dances I have attended in well over a year (and I dance several times a week)."

"Nice people all w/good intentions. From the person at door to anyone I would ask questions; all have positive,upbeat(no pun intended) attitudes. And this love of Swing Dancing is obvious by all assistance kindly offered and rendered. Five Stars."

Winter Schedule:

 
Swing City's Feature Band
(East Coast & Lindy Hop)

and in "The Annex"
(more dancing)

Jan. 31 Compaq Big Band No Annex this week
Feb. 6 Mike Wyatt Quartet Chicago Style Steppin' with CSSOB
Feb. 13

Valentines Party with
The Love Dogs!

West Coast
Feb. 20 Tony Lynn Washington Chicago Style Steppin' with CSSOB (tentative)
Feb. 27 The Swing Legacy No Annex this week
Mar. 6 Roger Ceresi's All Starz Chicago Style Steppin' with CSSOB

Our Fantastic Instructors and DJ's:

"Slick" Mike (It's All Swing)
Todd & Beth (ZazouSwing)
Tony & Aurelie (Hop To the Beat)
Alex and Megan
Step Step Triple Step
Nancy Murphy (Rug Cutters')

Taxi Dancers return! New dancer or coming solo? Dance with them! (Interested in becoming one? Drop me a line.)

 

See you on the dance floor!
-Olaf
Your humble "Swing City Impresario"

If you have any preferences or suggestions, please post them on the Swing City discussion board, which is--I’m glad to say--very active! We'd really like to have your opinions.