Sunday in the Park with Tangobaby

So, how was your weekend?

I'm lucky enough to live near one of the most beautiful parks in the world, Golden Gate Park. Sundays are turning into a bit of a bonanza for me because, in addition to the Botanical Gardens, the deYoung Museum, and the hopefully soon-to-reopen California Academy of Sciences, there is a free Lindy class and dance in the morning, followed immediately afterwards by tango in the bandshell.

Yesterday I danced for about 4 hours. The always sweet and obliging Mr. T. was there (my partner in the youtube video) and M.J. and I passed him back and forth like a badminton shuttlecock, only letting him rest long enough to get a sip of water. I always fear that we will wear him out, but he seems quite tireless despite his busy dance card.

This bandshell is 107 years old! What a grand backdrop for our tango exploits!

Designed by the Reid Brothers in 1899 and named for Claus Spreckels, the bandshell stands on the site of the 1894 Midwinter International Exposition in Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse. The Italian Renaissance-inspired terra cotta and sandstone bandshell held its inaugural concert on Admission Day, 1900. Seriously damaged in the 1906 earthquake it was closed following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

Dancing under the shell of this lovely old space, with the afternoon's dappled sunlight upon you and the boombox blaring those classic tango melodies is really something to look forward to.