St Patrick's Dance Party Thursday March 14th at Point Point

Hello Dancers,

There will be a big St Patrick's Dance Party at Point Point on Thursday March 14th, 6-10pm.  Details below.

The Valentines Day Dance Party Thursday Feb 14th at Point Point was a surprisingly joyous success; thanks to people like Lumi there were about 100 dancers! Lots of dancing (DJ: Leo), food, roses & raffles (prizes courtesy of Nina's dancers).  Here are some photo highlights (Note: If the following photos do not appear in this email, click the words at the top of this email that say something like "click here to see images that have been blocked"):

Celi & Josie & everyone line dancing to "Cumbia Cowboy" - it's a new one to me.

Nena and Rima and others dancing to "Cry To Me" line dance Valentines Day in Point Point.  Well, the lyrics aren't much but the beat is good.

Bert Alota dips Divine while dancing at Point Point Valentines Day Dance.

And, a few minutes later he's dancing with Rose and dips her, too.  Looks like fun.

Well, here's Nitz and Nina and everyone line dancing....what? I think it was "Sometimes When We Touch".

The following Thursday night dance party Feb 21st had a lot fewer people, but DJ Mel saw to it that we all had fun.  Here are photo highlights:

Ping, Edith, Valerie and others line dancing to "Billie Jean" in Point Point on Thursday Feb 21st.

Nedy and Ernie dancing to a boogie in Point Point on Thursday Feb 21st.

Ping and Valerie dancing a cha cha in Point Point on Thursday Feb 21st.

Talk about a dip!  Holy cow!  Here's Lito with a deep dip with Daisy during a salsa dance at Point Point on Thursday Feb 21st.

Well, in a few weeks it will be another special occasion: St Patrick's Day.   So, on Thursday March 14th it will be the St Patrick's dance party 6-10pm, at Point Point, 916 East 8th Street, National City, featuring Point Point's $10 dinner special, complimentary green drinks and green desserts, and lots of dancing and merry rollicking.  Mark your calendar to wear green clothes and join the fun! 

It's a fun dance party every Thursday night at Point Point.  Here's the plan for the next few weeks:
Thursday February 28th 6-10pm, DJ: Bert
Thursday March 7th 6-10pm, DJ: Mel
Thursday March 14th 6-10pm, DJ: Leo
Thursday March 21st 6-10pm, DJ: Mel

See you soon,
Bert
619-224-3095

P.S. Other Notes: (1) The Thursday night dance parties are private parties, and this is your invitation.
(2) Click here for other Upcoming Dances.

Valentines Day (Feb 14) Dance Party Update

Hello Dancers,

   Here's some more info about the February 14th (Thursday night) Valentines Day Dance Party at Point Point, 916 E. 8th Street, National City.  

   A food buffet line will be open in Point Point's upper level (the "Ocean Java Room") while dancers dance on the main floor from 6pm until 10pm & maybe later.  For food, party organizers will buy it early - some catered, some from Point Point - and collect $10 at the door.    

   It'll be a feast:  Lechon kawali, kare-kare, chicken wings, menudo, chop suey, salad, ice cream.

   A Red Rose for every lady.  A raffle!

   DJ: Leo.  Photographer: Arnel.  

(Note: If you do not see the 2 photos below in your email, at the top of this email click on something like "show images that are blocked to protect your identity". I already know who you are.)

   

Lechon Kawali is a very popular Filipino pork dish.

.

   And Penny said, "I'll see you there."   

   

DJ Leo, DJ Mel & I host dance parties every Thursday; ballroom & line dancing fun for all.  They are private parties and this is your invitation.

Bert

619-224-3095

P.S. Click here to see other Upcoming Dance Events.

Lucky Star Closes

Hello Dancers, 

  Sadly, Lucky Star Restaurant and ballroom in San Diego closed yesterday.  Edith and I spent many many enjoyable hours there dancing, eating, socializing, listening to the music, and looking at all the nice looking people and decorations.  Pictures and more about Lucky Star are below.

   So, for now, mid-week ballroom dancing catering to San Diego's Fil-Am dancers seems to be only Thursday nights at Point Point.  Please join DJ Mel, DJ Leo and me as we host dance parties at Pt Pt this Thursday (Feb 7, 6-10PM), the special Valentines Day nighttime dance party (6-10PM Feb 14th), and every Thursday night.  

   Now, back to Lucky Star, 3893 54th Street (54th & University):

FILIPINO NIGHTS:

   DJ Eric DeLeon began "Filipino Night" on Wednesday nights in early 2010, and he kept it going until September 2011.  DJ Jun Ancho managed to restart it in June 2012, and there have been many big dance nights including last Wednesday January 30, 2013, which may have been the grand finale, when about 60 dancers enjoyed a birthday celebration for Pan. So, for nearly three years San Diego's Fil-Am dancers have enjoyed cha cha, night club two step, hustle/swing, salsa, tango, merengue, etc., and of course, line dancing at Lucky Star.  And, we enjoyed the food, including the lobster dinner specials.

   This morning I got the sad news of yesterday's closing from DJ Jun, and then I talked to Roger, the son of the owner who I knew as "Mr. Phong".  Roger, Mr. Phong, his wife, and staff like Randy and Lim were there every Wednesday night.  

HISTORY:

   Mr. Phong opened Lucky Star in July 1999 to be the best ballroom-restaurant experience in San Diego, and it certainly was (as you can see in some of the YouTube videos, like links I paste below).  Over the years he made many improvements, most notably a second large adjacent 1100 square-foot ballroom.  Lots of fancy lighting and sound systems.  This past August we were happy to see all 700 chairs were replaced with nice new silver-colored ones.  The 25-piece Moonlight Serenade Orchestra played for dancers every Thursday (see YouTube video).

   Why did Lucky Star close?  Business costs were much more than income.  Roger mentioned a few high costs:  Various license costs and utility bills went up over 10-fold since Lucky Star opened.  And that's not even mentioning labor, lease costs and taxes.  On the other hand, with the downturn in the economy, customers became fewer.  

FUTURE:

   What does the future hold for the building and the dance floors?  Roger doesn't know.  He will try to find some other company to take over the lease, but nothing is firmed up yet.

PHOTOS, VIDEOS and LINKS:

(If the photos below do not appear in this email, click on the warning at the top that says something like "click here to view images that are blocked to protect your identity".  Don't worry, I already know who you are.)

  I'm still a few months behind on posting all my recent photos, but from the many dozen (e.g., in Group's photo albums) here are four of my favorites from the past three years:

Sept 22, 2010, Jun and Rosie made a cute dance couple.

December 1, 2010, line dancers included Nina, Angie and Edith.

July 11, 2012, here are folks dancing a night club two-step in the smaller ballroom next to the main ballroom.  We liked the smaller more cozy atmosphere of this ballroom, but it was far from the kitchen, so management preferred that we be in the main ballroom. 

August 15, 2012.  The 32nd Street Dancers got a night off from bowling, so several came over to Lucky Star.  Here the whole gang is dancing the "Wobble".


VIDEOS:
I found no YouTube videos of Filipino nights, but here are some from other nights which all had about twice as many people as we had on Filipino nights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM2Osi-FJLM
This is probably the best video of Lucky Star, walking us in from the entrance all the way onto the dance floor.  It's a professional video for the Moonlight Serenade Orchestra which played Thursday nights at Lucky Star.  You see maybe twice as many people as were there for Wednesday Filipino nights, and they are older people.  I spotted two or three people in this video who I also knew from Filipino nights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKYTimz7O7M
Here's another video with the Moonlight Serenade Orchestra apparently in 2010.  Very similar appearance to Wednesday Filipino nights except we had a DJ and the people were different. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dTEl-pPNls
Lighting was dark during this dance on a Friday night (May 7, 2010).  It was a young lively crowd that night. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3NpcWaU1Wg
Here's somebody's party back in 2009.  We often got to enjoy the decorations left over by one of these parties.


Click here for more Upcoming Dance Events. 

Hoping to see you on a dance floor,
Best wishes, 
Bert (and Edith)
619-224-3095

Valentines Day Dance

Hello Dancers,

   Last night I learned more developing plans for the February 14th (Thursday) Valentines Day Dance Party at Point Point, 916 E. 8th Street, National City.  

   A food buffet line will be open in Point Point's upper level (the "Ocean Java Room") while dancers dance on the main floor.  For food, party organizers will buy it early - some catered, some from Point Point - and collect $10 at the door.    

   It'll be a feast:  Lechon kawali, kare-kare, chicken wings, menudo, chop suey, salad, ice cream.

   A Red Rose for every lady.

   And, like every Thursday, ballroom & line dancing will be the main event.  DJ: Leo.  Photographer: Arnel.

   Red clothing will probably be in abundance at this February 14th (Thursday) Valentines Day Dance Party at Point Point, 916 E. 8th Street, National City.  
   
See you there, OK?
Bert
619-224-3095

Valentine's Day Dance Party on Feb 14th at Point Point

Hello Dancers,
   OK, we have dances every Thursday at Point Point, but the Valentine's Day Dance Party will be special, so mark your calendar for Thursday February 14th at Point Point.  DJ Leo, DJ Mel and I would like to see you there.  People will be dressed up.  Each lady gets a rose.  And, there will be other goodies.  Point Point Restaurant, 916 E. 8th St., National City, will offer us their $10 dinner special, which includes a soft drink.  Non-stop dancing fun from about 5:30PM until 10PM.

  Here's a photo of a couple line dancers at previous Valentine's Dance Party.

For other upcoming dances of interest to San Diego's Fil-Am dance community, click on Upcoming Dance Events.    

P.S. The New Years Masquerade Ball last Thursday was great.  Lots of costumed dancers.  Can you recognize the one below? 


























Happy New Year,
Bert
619-224-3095

Wednesday Night Dancing at Lucky Star

Hello Dancers,
Wednesday night dancing with a Fil-Am flavor is returning to Lucky Star.  The "Grand Opening" is next Wednesday June 6th, and the DJ will be Jun Ancho.  Jun told me the dancing will be every Wednesday from 6pm - 9:30pm, featuring non-stop dancing, both ballroom and line dancing.  I asked about Jona - she may be greeting us at the door.  Lucky Star Seafood Restaurant, 3893 54th Avenue, in shopping center at corner of University Avenue, has one of the finest ballrooms in all of San Diego.    Lucky Star Seafood Restaurant features a steamed lobster special for $13.95 on Wednesday nights.  For Wednesday night dancing, a $6 cover charge and 1-drink minimum will apply. DJ Jun's contact number: 619-456-7581.  Jun is promising a night of fun dancing - night club two-step, swing, cha cha, tango, merengue, and more - and, of course, line dancing - so let's join the Grand Opening festivities next Wednesday June 6th.


Till then,
Bert (& Edith) 619-224-3095.

Wednesday Night Success at Lucky Star

Hello Dancers,
  Wow!!  I was impressed!  I think most of the VIPs among San Diego's Fil-Am dancers were at last night's "Grand Opening" of DJ Jun Ancho's Wednesday Night Dancing at Lucky Star.  Mid-week no less.  About 50 dancers plus many others just eating. The dancers were looking good and dancing very well.  The sound & songs were good.  The ballroom was excellent.  Powder on the floor by the stage - watch your step.  
  Who all was there?  

Well, first of all the beautiful Jona was a wonderful sight for sore eyes when she greeted us at the door.


  In the ballroom there was Bert & Lennie Velasco of the Dancesation from Infinity dance studios, Joe & Esta Velasco of the RMX group from the Studio FX, Dante & his leading ladies from Bay Terraces Fil-Am Seniors (Tooma Park), the leading ladies of Forever Young from Point Point, and many others including Roger & Fely of K-P Hall Seniors, and Ping of Gen. Trias.  

  Speaking of sore eyes, we wished Esta Velasco (line dancing in shades above) a speedy recovery from her recent eye surgery.


  RMX's leading Zumba Dance Instructor, Lulu, was there.  We reminisced about when I last saw her dance in Lucky Star - when was that? - Weds Nov 10, 2010! 

Above we see dancers doing what?  Bachata?  Maybe samba.




  The music:  Ballroom of all sorts, including night club 2-steps like "I Want To Know What Love Is", hustle-swing like "What a Feeling" from Flashdance, rumba like "The Way You Look Tonight", west coast swing like "Fever", salsa like "Ave Maria Lola", cha cha, merengue, tango, bolero, waltz - and line dances of course - older ones like "Rumba Samba Mambo" and "S'Aimera" and many newer ones.  

   Here we see dancing hip hop to "California Love".




  Wednesday night dancing with a Fil-Am flavor will continue at Lucky Star.  Next Wednesday June 13th DJ Jun will spin the music, starting even before 6pm all the way to 9:30pm.  DJ Jun made a point of saying he won't repeat the ballroom songs he played until July.  Lucky Star Seafood Restaurant, 3893 54th Avenue, in shopping center at corner of 54th & University Avenue.    Lucky Star Seafood Restaurant features a steamed lobster special for $13.95 on Wednesday nights.  For Wednesday night dancing, a $6 cover charge and 1-drink minimum will apply. DJ Jun's contact number: 619-456-7581.  


Till then,
Bert (& Edith) 619-224-3095.

Jessica Sanchez's Lola Visits Point Point: Vote for Jessica

Hello Dancers,


TUESDAY NIGHT LINE DANCERS at Point Point were delighted by the visit of Jessica Sanchez's grandmother, Virgie Bugay along with RMX dancer Bea last night.  The two came with several vote for Jessica posters.  Jessica, a sixteen-year-old "from" Chula Vista, is now in the finals of American Idol, to be seen tonight 8-10PM on cable channel 5, (Fox 5 KSWB-TV).

In the photo, Virgie is in the red jacket and Bea is in blue, both holding the big Jessica poster.  Virgie said she will be in the audience for tonight's American Idol show.  But, Virgie hoped everyone will vote tonight for Jessica at the phone number to be announced during tonight's show.  You may vote as many times as you like.  AT&T text voting and online voting will also be available.  


iTunes is selling some of the recordings by Jessica Sanchez, including "Don't Stop The Music".


I told Virgie I know we can't get Jessica to sing for us, so would Virgie sing for us?  She said, "Maybe".


Besides Bea and Virgie, the Tuesday night regulars were delighted that Beth's daughter Suzette was at Point Point.  Suzette, pictured next to Virgie, joined the line dancing.  The dancers were very warm from dancing.




Best Wishes to You,
Bert and Edith,
619-224-3095 

Caballero Reigns in April

"Caballero" continues to be the line dance favorite at Point Point.  Details below.      

Hello Dancers,

TUESDAY NIGHT LINE DANCING at Point Point continues.  Lately, more practice on "Caballero" has been on the agenda.  "Sambalero", a new line dance by choreographer Ira Weisburd, who also choreographed "Caballero", was posted to YouTube, and the Tuesday line dancers are learning it.  To see it danced with nice style, click this link:  "Sambalero" by Caralinedancer.                          
    FOR UPCOMING TUESDAYS you can join the fun in Point Point's Ocean Java Room, 916 E. 8th Street, National City, 7:00-9:00, when Nina normally leads us through fun line dances.
  

THURSDAY NIGHT DANCING AT POINT POINT continues.  As we get close to summer, DJ Leo, DJ Mel and I have been playing the music, one week one of us, next week another of us.
  Birthday Celebrations:  March 15th was a birthday celebration for DJ Leo - big cake!  May 3rd was Divine's birthday celebration - Divine brought lots of pizza!  (many photos in the albums)
  Line dances: "Caballero" line dance continues to be the favorite, usually getting played twice each night.  The ladies who pick line dances seem to be in competition to introduce new line dances - few with English lyrics!  Besides "Caballero", we've now got (click to see on YouTube) "Ballando", "Sambalero", "Acabo De Llegar" and "Havana", among others.  There's so many new ones - it's humorous.  I posted a POLL in the Group website where you can vote for which ones you think we'll still be dancing next year.
  What else?  Well, the Night Club 2-Step dances have been very popular.  Especially "Yo Te Amo" by Chayanne, "Sinta" by the Aegis Band, and "Tal Vez, Quizas" (translation: "Maybe, Perhaps") by Paulina Rubio.  Lots of Cha Cha favorites, like "Place In My Heart" by Liz Abella.  Swing, Bachata, Tango, Merengue, and Waltz like "Right Thing We Do" waltz line dance are all well liked.  Attendance has been steady between 30 to 45 each Thursday night.      
  We say "come on down" to dance and get some great food at Point Point every Thursday night.  Where:  On the main floor at Point Point, 916 E. 8th Street, National City.   Non-Stop Party dancing:  6:00-10 PM.    


FRIDAY NIGHT DANCING:  There are about five almost-every-Friday night Fil-Am dance parties in the San Diego area, including 32nd St Dance Group, Dancesation at Infinity, RMX, Red Hot Line Dancers, and the Dance Fusion Social Club.
  McDini's Restaurant at 105 East 8th Street, National City, is now featuring Friday night dancing with DJ Joler Advincula from roughly 8pm-midnight.  Here's an idea, shop all Friday next door at Eva's Fashion Boutique, 115 East 8th Street, eat dinner in McDini's, then dance till midnight.
  FOR MORE INFO ON THOSE AND MORE DANCE CHOICES, click to see the Weekly Dance Events website.  


PHOTOS.  Here's 6 of the 94 new photos posted at the sites listed below.  The new photos are from late March through May 3rd (if these 6 photos are not displayed in this email, click "Show Images" near top of this email)(Note that my camera time was set one hour slow.):

   First of all, we see DJ Leo and Lydia dancing a birthday celebration dance at Point Point on March 15th.                

  Next we see Ly dancing a swing or boogie with Morris at Point Point on Thursday March 29th.

  The next photo is Eva and DJ Dwayne dancing on April 12th at Point Point.                      

  OK, here's Rima dancing what?  Maybe Night Club 2-Step with DJ Mel on Mel's night off April 26th.

  Here we see Nilda and Wally dancing on May 3rd at Point Point.  

  And, last but not least, on May 3rd Divine celebrated her birthday, here dancing with Larry.  

      

  I put those six photos plus 88 other photos from the past several weeks in the ForeverYoungSD Yahoo Group Photos section into the '2012 March', '2012 April' and '2012 May 3rd Photos by Rima' folders.  For those of you who prefer the big screen image quality and other features of Google's Picasa Web Albums (no log-in required with these links (at least for now), but Google disabled all the Picasa links I'd sent or posted prior to Jan 22nd, so use the following links to see my current and older Picasa web albums - click on my name at the top of one of these Picasa albums to see older albums back to 2009), and you who are non-Yahoo members, see the photos posted at

March Photo Album in Picasa:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103176925923805337179/2012March?noredirect=1

April Photo Album in Picasa:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103176925923805337179/2012April?noredirect=1

May 3rd Photo Album in Picasa:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103176925923805337179/2012May3rdPhotosByRimaAtPointPoint?noredirect=1

 You can download photos from both Picasa and Yahoo.  Using another Picasa feature, you can order prints on-line out of a Picasa album from several print providers including Walgreens without the need to download & upload photo files to & from your computer. To see the photo file names in Picasa Web, left click on a photo in the "gallery" view (in "slideshow" click Escape).

   FYI, this Yahoo Email Group's Home Page is at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/foreveryoungsd

Click here for WEEKLY & UPCOMING DANCE EVENTS INFORMATION.

Any information corrections or additions are appreciated.  To e-mail to only me, type in bertdonaldson_1@yahoo.com on "To" line.

Best Wishes to You,
Bert and Edith,
619-224-3095