Famed New York City nightclub’
PAMELA SUCHY / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Tania Saavedra and Pedro Gonzalez, co-owners of the new dance studio and club Latin Quarter on Pittston Avenue, dance in front of a mural featuring a number of Latin legends.
BY STACY BROWN
STAFF WRITER
The famed New York City Latin Quarter nightclub was not just another place where partygoers, music lovers and industry legends hung out. It was the epicenter of live Latino music.
And more than that, according to Pedro Gonzalez, it was home.
Mr. Gonzalez has teamed with fellow New York transplant Tania Saavedra to open a new Latin Quarter on Pittston Avenue in South Scranton.
“This is going to be a blast,” Mr. Gonzalez said. “We wanted to give our Latino kids something that we had when we were growing up in New York and that is a place where you just go and have fun.”
And more than that, according to Pedro Gonzalez, it was home.
Mr. Gonzalez has teamed with fellow New York transplant Tania Saavedra to open a new Latin Quarter on Pittston Avenue in South Scranton.
“This is going to be a blast,” Mr. Gonzalez said. “We wanted to give our Latino kids something that we had when we were growing up in New York and that is a place where you just go and have fun.”
The owners are billing the Latin Quarter, which is set to open at 8 p.m. Friday, as not just a club but also a dance studio where salsa lessons will be provided to both children and adults.
Socials for adults are planned as are a host of children-related gatherings and events.
Mostly, the club will be home to “the first and only teenage dance hot spot in the city of Scranton, and it will feature R & B, hip-hop, Latin, reggaeton and rock music,” Mr. Gonzalez said.
“We also want to appeal to others, including the African-American community because the Latino and Black community have always been closely intertwined. We are growing together and we have a bond with our music and culture.”
The small building — a former hair salon — at 2239 Pittston Ave. has undergone a transformation. A black and white dance floor leads to a small stage where live acts can perform.
A separate studio for a Latin-themed community radio station is being installed in the rear of the building, while an artist named Sincere has painted the walls with images of instruments and musical icons.
Legends honored
Perhaps the painting that will garner most of the attention is a mural the owners call a nod to some of the more prominent artists in Latin Culture.
“We had to make sure that we honored those legends,” Ms. Saavedra said. The mural includes Latin legends like Celia Cruz, Selena, Hector Lavoze, Tito Puente, Julio Jaramillo, Pedro Infante, Rocio Durcal, Pedro Knight and former Bronx, N.Y., rapper Big Pun.
Like Mr. Gonzalez, Ms. Saavedra moved to Scranton from New York City four years ago. While Mr. Gonzalez has made a name for himself as a local Latino community leader mostly because of his work with the Latin Cultural Diversity Center, Ms. Saavedra, 36, has worked in the radio business all of her adult life.
As a teenager, Ms. Saavedra said, she was inspired by a chance meeting with “the Queen,” Celia Cruz, at a Cuban-themed restaurant in New York City.
“Celia Cruz and the others opened up so many doors for Latin people and this is why we honor them,” she said. “All of those artists played the Latin Quarter in New York and left a mark. I want to do the same here in Scranton. I want to leave a mark. This city is very multicultural and we want to be pioneers here.”
The new club’s owners each readily acknowledged that modeling themselves after the famed Latin Quarter means trying to live up to a name that could arguably boast of being the greatest night club anywhere.
New York’s Latin Quarter was a legend in itself, with most New Yorkers referring to it simply as “the LQ.”
Lou Walters, the father of ABC news legend Barbara Walters, opened the Latin Quarter in 1942 and quickly transformed it into the place to be with the likes of Ed Sullivan, Walter Winchell, Milton Berle and even Frank Sinatra frequenting the establishment.
Mr. Walters relinquished control of the club in the 1950s. The LQ closed and reopened numerous times following Mr. Walters’ departure.
Later, many Latino acts, including Ms. Cruz and Mr. Puente played the LQ before it’s final run as the hottest night spot in the Big Apple. Ironically, the club’s final run (from the early 1980s to about 1989 when it shut down) in a lot of ways mirrored its earlier fame as it was again teeming with music’s elite.
The one — and very significant — difference was that the music scene had made a dramatic change and became more rap and hip-hop oriented as the 1980s dawned.
Just like the glory days of the LQ when Mr. Walters ran the club, stretch limos lined the streets of Manhattan and a who’s who of the entertainment world ducked in and out, making sure everyone knew they were there. New York’s famous tabloids often camped out competing to get exclusive photos and interviews.
All genres of music
The music spun by DJs at the club crossed all genres as rappers like MC Hammer, Grandmaster Flash and Public Enemy graced the LQ while pop sensations such as New Edition and En Vogue tested their mettle there.
Hammer was famously booed during his first appearance at the LQ but later redeemed himself during a return performance with a hard-hitting and triumphant rendition of “Turn This Mutha Out.”
The club’s location, Times Square, also added to its legend and because of it, many began to take note and advantage of the fledgling New Year’s Eve concert scene.
The LQ also hosted legendary (and what was then friendly) rap wars that featured microphone “battles” between Mele Mel and KRS-One, LL Cool J and Kool Moe Dee, some of the great wordsmiths in hip-hop history.
DJs like Red Alert and Chuck Chill-out not only earned their chops at the LQ, but later were credited with selecting and providing the music for some greats in hip-hop.
“It’s a lot to live up to and we will,” Mr. Gonzalez said. “But, our focus is to give the kids something and give them a place they can call home. A place welcoming to all.”
Contact the writer: sbrown@timesshamrock.com
Socials for adults are planned as are a host of children-related gatherings and events.
Mostly, the club will be home to “the first and only teenage dance hot spot in the city of Scranton, and it will feature R & B, hip-hop, Latin, reggaeton and rock music,” Mr. Gonzalez said.
“We also want to appeal to others, including the African-American community because the Latino and Black community have always been closely intertwined. We are growing together and we have a bond with our music and culture.”
The small building — a former hair salon — at 2239 Pittston Ave. has undergone a transformation. A black and white dance floor leads to a small stage where live acts can perform.
A separate studio for a Latin-themed community radio station is being installed in the rear of the building, while an artist named Sincere has painted the walls with images of instruments and musical icons.
Legends honored
Perhaps the painting that will garner most of the attention is a mural the owners call a nod to some of the more prominent artists in Latin Culture.
“We had to make sure that we honored those legends,” Ms. Saavedra said. The mural includes Latin legends like Celia Cruz, Selena, Hector Lavoze, Tito Puente, Julio Jaramillo, Pedro Infante, Rocio Durcal, Pedro Knight and former Bronx, N.Y., rapper Big Pun.
Like Mr. Gonzalez, Ms. Saavedra moved to Scranton from New York City four years ago. While Mr. Gonzalez has made a name for himself as a local Latino community leader mostly because of his work with the Latin Cultural Diversity Center, Ms. Saavedra, 36, has worked in the radio business all of her adult life.
As a teenager, Ms. Saavedra said, she was inspired by a chance meeting with “the Queen,” Celia Cruz, at a Cuban-themed restaurant in New York City.
“Celia Cruz and the others opened up so many doors for Latin people and this is why we honor them,” she said. “All of those artists played the Latin Quarter in New York and left a mark. I want to do the same here in Scranton. I want to leave a mark. This city is very multicultural and we want to be pioneers here.”
The new club’s owners each readily acknowledged that modeling themselves after the famed Latin Quarter means trying to live up to a name that could arguably boast of being the greatest night club anywhere.
New York’s Latin Quarter was a legend in itself, with most New Yorkers referring to it simply as “the LQ.”
Lou Walters, the father of ABC news legend Barbara Walters, opened the Latin Quarter in 1942 and quickly transformed it into the place to be with the likes of Ed Sullivan, Walter Winchell, Milton Berle and even Frank Sinatra frequenting the establishment.
Mr. Walters relinquished control of the club in the 1950s. The LQ closed and reopened numerous times following Mr. Walters’ departure.
Later, many Latino acts, including Ms. Cruz and Mr. Puente played the LQ before it’s final run as the hottest night spot in the Big Apple. Ironically, the club’s final run (from the early 1980s to about 1989 when it shut down) in a lot of ways mirrored its earlier fame as it was again teeming with music’s elite.
The one — and very significant — difference was that the music scene had made a dramatic change and became more rap and hip-hop oriented as the 1980s dawned.
Just like the glory days of the LQ when Mr. Walters ran the club, stretch limos lined the streets of Manhattan and a who’s who of the entertainment world ducked in and out, making sure everyone knew they were there. New York’s famous tabloids often camped out competing to get exclusive photos and interviews.
All genres of music
The music spun by DJs at the club crossed all genres as rappers like MC Hammer, Grandmaster Flash and Public Enemy graced the LQ while pop sensations such as New Edition and En Vogue tested their mettle there.
Hammer was famously booed during his first appearance at the LQ but later redeemed himself during a return performance with a hard-hitting and triumphant rendition of “Turn This Mutha Out.”
The club’s location, Times Square, also added to its legend and because of it, many began to take note and advantage of the fledgling New Year’s Eve concert scene.
The LQ also hosted legendary (and what was then friendly) rap wars that featured microphone “battles” between Mele Mel and KRS-One, LL Cool J and Kool Moe Dee, some of the great wordsmiths in hip-hop history.
DJs like Red Alert and Chuck Chill-out not only earned their chops at the LQ, but later were credited with selecting and providing the music for some greats in hip-hop.
“It’s a lot to live up to and we will,” Mr. Gonzalez said. “But, our focus is to give the kids something and give them a place they can call home. A place welcoming to all.”
Contact the writer: sbrown@timesshamrock.com
just found this really nice article online BY STACY BROWN
-
-
-
Comments: 0Views: 15
Comments
-
Be the first to comment.
Inappropriate Flag
Flagging notifies the Conexion Group webmaster of inappropriate content. Please flag any messages that violate the Terms of Service. Please include a short explanation why you're flagging this message. Thank you!
If you believe this content violates the Terms of Service, please write a short description why. Thank you.
Inappropriate Comment Flag
Flagging notifies the Conexion Group webmaster of inappropriate content. Please flag any messages that violate the Terms of Service. Please include a short explanation why you're flagging this message. Thank you!
Email Friends
Your First Name (optional)
Email Addresses (comma separated)
Import friends
Message to Friends (optional)
Are you human?
Or, you can forward this blog with your own email application.