A quick note to wish you a Happy New Year and to share with you the big news I have been quietly working on for the last while.

For the last year and a half, my wife Franca and I, have been running our own  Bloom Restaurant and we have turned it into a Cuban Oasis in the middle of the Bloor West Village. We are located at 2315 Bloor St West, a few meters from Windemere on the South side of the street.

Well, it has been a big hit, but of course, we got the great Cuban Chef Pedro Quintanilla running our kitchen.

Before coming to Toronto in 1992, chef Pedro spent 7 years as sous chef of the French Embassy in Havana, Cuba, then he moved to Toronto, where he has ran the kitchens of Rum Bacardi, Xango and Latitude restaurants among other places. Last May, we brought him into Bloom and here are some of the Reviews we’ve received ever since he moved in with us.

Now, I am ready to add another touch to this endeavor by bringing my Cuba Tradicional Quartet on Sunday Feb 12th (see special menu) as a “pre-Valentine” celebration…but hey, you don’t have to be “in love” to come that day, so bring yourself alone or come with a friend or two and enjoy the great food and ambiance in my new house Bloom Restaurant. I will be performing two shows starting at 7pm & 9pm and we will try to make you feel as if you were right in my Caribbean Island of Cuba.

Hope to see you, but if not, please spread the news! There will be Cuban parties happening in the Bloor West Village from now on!

Warm Hugs,

Luis Mario Ochoa

Profoundly moving, Rodion Shchedrin’s music drama The Sealed Angel is one of the most important Russian works of the 20th century. Brilliantly choreographed by Lars Scheibner (Germany), performed by Toronto’s Elmer Iseler Singers and the Amadeus Choir, conducted by Lydia Adams, and featuring Pro Arte Danza, this magnificent choral opera is a contemporary answer to Rachmanivov’s Vespers. The program includes new choreography by ProArte Danza.

Dates:

• THURSDAY February 2
• FRIDAY February 3

Time: 8:00 pm
Price: Starting at $42.00 + service fee $5
Venue: Koerner Hall

SPECIAL PRICE for Artists and Under 35:

Artist/ Under35 price available in price levels 2 & 3. Purchasers of this price should be prepared to show ID upon entrance to the hall.

Prices include tax. All tickets are subject to $5 per ticket service fee at all points of purchase. All sales are final. No exchanges or refunds.

Join us for a great dinner and dance!  Great price if paid in advance.

7:00pm  -  Saturday,  28 January, 2012
José Martí Cuban Dinner and  Dance and Cultural Program

Listen or Dance to  Pablo Terry & Sol de Cuba

$30 per person Paid in Advance  or $40 at door

For Dance only:     $10 from 9pm

• Door Prize  — Raffle – 3 chances   A Gift basket  or 2 other items
• Cash Bar
• Vegetarian meal must be requested in advance

For more information & to get  or reserve tickets

from the  CCFA Toronto:
Liz  416-654-7105 or  Sharon 905-951-8499

You can mail cheque to:    CCFA Toronto
c/o    209 Oakwood Av    Toronto  ON   M6E 2V3

Friday, January 27 starting at 9pm join us on Varadero Friday at Epic Lounge for an intense night of Urban Vibes and Latin Grooves!!!!!

DJ BERNAL & DJ YUMANICHE will be presiding over a perfect blend of DANCEHALL REGGAE, REGGAETON, CUBATON, HIPHOP, TOP 40, SALSA & MERENGUE URBANO to keep you moving all Night!

$7 before 11pm and $10 after.

Don’t miss this incredible night of Urban Entertainment!-NO SE LO PIERDAN!!!

Taught by Yareneys Montes de Oca, it will focus on the timming and most used figures in Cha Cha Cha. Minimum Intermediate I level in Salsa is recommended in order to have an easier grasp of the timing (“contratiempo” or “On 2″). .

This course is by registration only and requires a minimum number of registrations.

Admin note: Outside Cuba, hardly ever do you find the Cuban traditional timing taught.  If you know cha-cha-cha, here’s a quick check…  to see if you have the contratiempo timing.

Try dancing to this song… Tremendo Vacilón.  If the timing of your cha-cha-cha step coincides with the words “cha-cha-cha” in the chorus, you’ve got it.  If not… this course will fix you up just fine….

Slight correction, 4 events upcoming:

Jane Bunnett is celebrating 30 years of her relationship with Cuba and Cuban music, calling it “Mundo“.

There will be a radio show, and a free concert at the library… and also  2 events we have already listed:

THURS RADIO SHOW:  Thurs Jan 19 7 pm on Jazz FM 91.1.

FREE LIBRARY CONCERT: Mon Jan 23, Salon at the Metro Toronto Reference Library 7 pm.

….

PLUS 2 events already listed elsewhere in Cuba in Toronto:

Jane Bunnett, Son Aché at Hugh’s Room, Fri Jan 27

Son Ache and Jane Bunnett: at Lula Jan 28!

It is repeated on TVO television this week.

Jan 11 9 pm.

Join us our weekly tropical dance party with salsa lesson, live band and DJ spinning the hottest dance floor-friendly salsa, bachata, reggaeton and top 40 hits. Cover is just $15 at the door or book a table for our dinner special (starting at $49 plus tax and tip). The admission price includes our 9PM beginner dance lesson which is followed dancing all night long!

With their potent blend of dance floor friendly salsa and high-energy showmanship, Cafe Cubano evoke the spirit of the legendary dance clubs of Havana. Drawing on the skills of three of Toronto’s most accomplished frontmen (vocalists Yani Borrell, Alberto Alberto and Angel Luis Marquez) and lead by music director/pianist Jorge Betancourt, the band features some of Toronto’s finest musicians from such famous Cuban groups as Adalberto Alvarez y su Son and Cubanisimo.

News from Albena at AfroLatino Dance Co:

Happy New Year to all students and friends out there!!!

Brand new Cuban Salsa courses are starting right away on the first week of the year, to start the new year on the right foot.

Tuesday, January 3:

• 7pm – Cuban Salsa Beginner 2
• 8pm – Cuban Salsa Intermediate 2

Thursday, January 5:

• 7pm – Cuban salsa Beginner 1
• 8pm – Cuban salsa Intermediate 1
• 8pm – Cuban Salsa Intermediate 3

Stay tuned for an Advanced 1 level coming soon!

Have Fun, Meet People, Stay Fit!