Tango Rojo

Last night I met up with Claire and her family at Hotel Palace Alvear before we went to dinner and the tango show. It was a very ritzy night. If I’m correct, the second night in town when I haven’t worn jeans. I wore a dress and tights and my yellow (dry-cleaned) coat because I get chilly easily, and since I knew we’d be by Puerto Madero we’d get the sea breeze – err, river breeze. I was definitely the most wintery-dressed, but the cold here is humid and sticks to your bones, so at least I was warm. Anyway, I met Claire in the lobby and we grabbed some coffee in the hotel bar. We had teeny tiny cafés con leche descremada in these delicate little cups and the waiter brought out a tiered tray of little chocolates and cookies. I wanted to take a picture. I’m surprised Claire didn’t. We caught up a bit about what’s new in Dallas and what I’ve been doing down here; then Stacey and her husband came down for drinks, then eventually Blake and Blythe and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. I’ve gotten so used to cheek kisses as opposed to hand shakes I’m afraid I freaked Mr. Smith out. We settled on a hug. It was so nice to see familiar faces from back home. I guess I have seen some down here, but something about seeing a family, and one you’ve seen for so long, was comforting.

after dinner at Happening
I don't know why the photo is so small...

Once we were all in the lobby we headed to Happening, a restaurant in Puerto Madero. It’s funny to be on such a schedule here, but I suppose with seven American travelers, you have to set some kind of organizational guides. And honestly, it was kind of nice to know exactly what I was doing and where I would be.

Dinner was delicious. I hate spinach gnocchi. Claire supposedly had some sort of fried sweet potato with her salad, but I’m pretty sure it was a cheese torte. I guess when the waiters don’t take notes and have a table of eight they’re bound to mess up eventually. Claire and I split dessert and the driver came to bring us to Faena Hotel + Universe.

Faena Hotel was designed by Phillippe Starck, and it’s pretty incredible. I shall have to go back to explore more. Lots of red and black and white. The tango show there is supposedly one of the best. The dancers were very graceful, and the costumes incredible (although at one point it was a bit distracting because a lady removed almost all of her clothes. It was a bit too cabaret, but I think anyone could understand the plot of that dance.) In between naps, Steve Smith would play “air accordion” and say, “I really enjoyed those lyrics.” We weren’t allowed to take pictures once the show started, but we took a few before. The place was definitely very red. I think one of the highlights of the show (besides the singer’s breast implants) was a rendition of the Moulin Rouge movie’s “Tango Roxanne.” It was a fun show.

Meg & Claire at Tango Rojo

"Chin Chin"
Chicken Socks at Tango Rojo

When we got back to the Hotel Alvear, Steve gave me $30 pesos for a cab ride home. I told him this was way too much; the ride there only cost me $7. He refused to take it back and told me to spend it on breakfast or something. I ended up spending the change on a mojito at Milion.

I was in the cab home when I get a call from an unknown number. “¿Hola?” I always answer in Spanish if I don’t know the number, this throws people off. “Hey, Meg, it’s Lloyd. We’re meeting for drinks at Milion if you want to come.” Lloyd French is headed back to Texas, so there was a bit of a going away party for him. I’m sad I didn’t get to spend more time with him, as he seems to be a nice guy. But also, I think he’s ready to head back home. I tell the cab my new destination, telling him there was a “cambio de planes” and text Jenny and Ben to come. Jenny’s done for the night, Ben shows up with his roommate Esteban and we walk to Parana together.

Lloyd & Conrad at Milion

Once inside we are greeted by a black cat and Conrad Brown. And then a ton of other people from ACORN. It’s fun to see so many people I know all together. I talk to Lloyd for a while. He seems glad to head back to Texas; his parents have planned a welcoming home party, he needs to have his final knee surgery. And then who else walks in but Nico. We say hey; I am shocked to see him here. Out on a Tuesday with school? He knows a lot of the ACORN people, but he is “here with some Germans.” Everyone asks me, “How do you know Nico?” I tell them I met him at Gay night. I realize it is Tuesday and ask him why he is not at Rumi. He says he is headed there later. Conrad asks me if he is gay. I say no. Nico uses some slang I don’t know that basically means I look standoffish. I am having trouble hearing from the tango show. Conrad translates the term for me, and then explains that I had just got back from Hotel Palace Alvear and then the show at Faena. Nico asks me if they are good enough for me. I tell them they can stick around for now. Milion is a ritzy place too; I don’t know why they’re giving me such flack. Once the clock strikes 2 am the bar shuts down and they kick us out. I didn’t know bars had hours here, let alone such early ones, but I suppose Milion is a restaurant as well and can afford to keep regulated hours. So Nico heads out to Rumi with his German friends (after telling a joke and semi-explaining the Thursday night Mozarteum thing) and I grab a cab with Lloyd and Ali. A full, but early, night.