Why LA and not NY?

Our staff pointed me to this message thread on our Message Board.  It is a fascinating thread about how LA differs from NY in many ways.  Read on..

Question:
: As a new commer, I have noticed for the last few weeks that
: all the advertising about salsa events (clubs, competitions,
: instructors, concerts, etc.) come from L.A. I have not seen
: anything about Copa or WildPalm or Latin Quarter. And these
: are the clubs where the mega stars of salsa perform and also
: the clubs that I frequent.
:
: My opinion is that Salsa is already established here as a
: new york culture, therefore, needs not be promoted while in
: L.A is a growing trend, a new hype if you will.
:
: Any comments ? (without attacking or insulting my views or
: other's as it is common in this chatroom LOLOL.)
:
: Que viva La Fania. Que viva La RAZA !!!
:
: Franco La Salsa.

Posted by Subway_Joe on Sat Dec 4 04:12:49 1999:

In Reply to: Why L.A . and not NY posted by Franco La Salsa on Fri Dec 3 23:27:32 1999:

Franco La Salsa:

As you can see the board is dominated by folks with access to computers. However, the
major players on this website are from the west coast it seems, and are wonderful people who
live primarily in the greater LA area or other nearby counties. This is not to insult the Latinos in
LA, but it seems to me that the few clubs that they have in LA make something about nothing
and become a focus of social interest for many. Life-styles in LA are more relaxed and
although life is more rugged in NEW YORK it does not mean that we don't have a moment to
relax and enjoy ourselves, we do.

Dress code in LA is more relaxed, less conscious of what people wear and more focused on
being at the scene of happening. Whereas in NEW YORK we tend to be more demanding on
dress code and make the happening. It is dress for success here and a typical attire for a man
of good taste here in NEW YORK means having (wearing) an attire of "full gator" pumps,
Johnston & Murphy or Allen & Edmonds cordovans, Chinchilla or Brown-Fox coat, White
gold or platinum wrist wear, Cashmere and Silk on demand, and Barney's Gucci or GURU
suit, gator or elephant skin wallets and the best perfumes and champagnes (wines) from
FRANCE. Men in NEW YORK could be described as strategist (schemers) always in a race
against time and the hordes of other sharp shooters who are willing to rob their space. While
women are the essence of sophistication laughing and enjoying the lines that men throw at them
because they have heard them all.

As far as the weather no one can beat the WEST COAST! New York has four seasons and
the weather here can be as temperamental as the people itself. I can remember going to
dances in the BRONX to meet the hoochy mamas under a foot of snow and biting winds that
can only be felt in the ROCKIES. CALIFORNIA is so tempting that it can seduce you and
furthermore tempt you to drop out school and drop in to the night life.

New Yorkers have much more night life and clubs than anyone else on the planet that we tend
to be overwhelmed by the amount. New YORk is an area far more densed than LA (NEW
YORK 9 million people LA 3.5 million), but LA is spread out, people have room for
breathing (even though the pollution is killing Californians). LA nightlife is second to none
exhibiting its unique style and classy way. Tinsel-town is sometimes thought of as mimicking
the BIG APPLE, but I do not see that. I feel that if I had a city where I can party besides
NEW YORK it would be LA (and MIAMI). As for the talent of Salseros on the west coast I
think that they are dynamic and always welcome anyone's challenge especially the challenge
from us NEW YORK SALSEROS. This is the philosophy that makes us very different and
simialrly compatible. NEW YORKERS are made out of dinosaur skin, we are tough right
down to the bone. What is our is ours and what is not ours is also ours. It's just life in the
capital of the world.

I would like to see more New Yorkers (NewYoricans like myself) flood the SALSAWEB,
however you can't get most New Yorkers to get involved in this SALSAWEB for many
reasons. Among the fact that NEW YORKERS are not concerned about this eclectic website
for their SALSA or club news and really don't care to know what the heck is going on in LA
or anywhere else when the rest of the world is focused on what's happening in NEW YORK.

New York has an endless stream of night clubs and night life and nowhere on the planet
(maybe PARIS) is a city opened 24 hours (over 30,000 registered restaurants with some
good cuchifritos). It's a privilege in NEW YORK to say that you can go out any evening and
find a SALSA club open or have dinner at 4:00AM. NEW YORK, like LA is for business
and pleasure. We have over 100 SALSA CLUBS in the tri-state (20 mile radius) area with
possibly more than 50 clubs here in NEW YORK. It is not just the LATIN QUARTERS,
WILD PALM, or COPA but the impact of the smaller clubs here that the majority of real
NEW YORKERS hang-out. YES! New York grows the talent and LA manifests them. Most
of the successful Puerto RICAN talent in the nation is right here. I can name a few; Jimmy
Smits, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, etcetera. NEW YORK gave them the start. NEW
YORK is the happening place on the planet.

Subway_Joe