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Baltimore >
American Visionary Arts Museum
Bay Cafe
Blob's Park
Boordy Vineyards
The Cat's Eye Pub
Creative Alliance at The Patterson
The 8x10
Greenblet American Legion Hall
Knights of Columbus, St. Agnes Hall
Linganore Winery
Washington Area >
Artisphere
The Birchmere
Glen Echo Spanish Ballroom
State Theatre
Surf Club
Wolf Trap
Artisphere
Philadelphia Area >
The Mermaid Inn
TK Club
Warmdaddy's
Richmond Area >
Arthur's Restaurant & Night Club
Baltimore Area
American Visionary Arts Museum
800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD, 21230 (Near Inner Harbor and Federal Hill)
410-244-1900 : www.avam.org
Cover: Depends on event - sometimes free
Frequency: Sporadic, generally only on special events like Mardi Gras season and Fourth of July.
Insider Comments:
Nice place with great artwork is worth a visit. Fourth of July event is outside in a plaza with a concrete dance floor. The event is free, and fireworks in the Inner Harbor follow the music. The Mardi Gras events are varied, ranging from mask-making to dance instruction. The big Mardi Gras dance is great fun with live zydeco, wild costumes, and ball-like festivities - definitely the best party in Baltimore
Bay Cafe
2809 Boston Street, Baltimore, MD 21224 (Canton)
(410) 522-3377
Music is usually Friday 5-9pm, outside during warm weather
Cover: Free and usually free buffet
Insider Comments:
Waterside venue with small dance area. Has nice view of Baltimore harbor and has outdoor decks. Schedules local zydeco bands for Friday Happy Hour and on Sunday afternoons for their Jamaica Me Crazy" Parties. Generally attracts a fair number of dancers and an otherwise mixed crowd. Has a small indoor dance area, but large outdoor decks for good weather. Friday Happy Hour includes a free buffet - a great deal.
Boordy Vineyards
12820 Long Green Pike, Hydes, MD 21082 (Baltimore County)
410 592-5015 : www.boordy.com
Cost: $12 - $15
Cajun/Zydeco bands are booked 2-3 times for their Summer Concert Series, which is held each Saturday night all summer long. 1/2 hour lessons are offered before the band plays.
Insider Comments:
Great night out for a date or for the family. Dancing is on the patio in front of the band. Should it rain, the event is brought inside the barn.
The Cat's Eye Pub
1730 Thames St., Baltimore, MD 21231 (Fells Point Area)
410-276-9866 : www.catseyepub.com
Cajun/Zydeco usually on a Sunday night once a month
Cover: $5
Insider Comments:
Being a popular Fells Point nightspot, the small dance floor gets crowded with both dancers and non-dancers, early and late are best dance times. Taking advantage of whatever room to dance, a dedicated group of dancers tend to be at all Cajun or zydeco events. Crowd tends to drink a lot, but is generally friendly and enthusiastic. A good place to meet and recruit new dancers.
Creative Alliance at The Patterson
3134 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224 (Highlandtown)
410-276-1651 : www.creativealliance.org
Cover: Depends on event
Frequency: Occasionally
Insider Comments:
The Creative Alliance is a community-based nonprofit presenting and promoting the arts and humanities in Baltimore, MD. As a membership organization of artists, writers, scholars, individuals and businesses, the Creative Alliance encourages collaboration in supporting the cultural life of our community. The Creative Alliance holds a number dances that often feature Cajun/Zydeco or other Roots music.
The 8x10
10 E. Cross Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
410 625-2000 : The 8x10
Occasionally books Cajun/Zydeco bands. Check specifics
Knights of Columbus, St. Agnes Hall
2021 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228
Admission: $15-$20 Depends on event
Dance lesson 8-9pm, Music 9-12midnight, Most events. Check
the schedule for times and admission price.
www.kofc449.org
Directions: From the Baltimore Beltway 695 take Exit 11, Frederick Rd. West. Go Approiximately
2 miles. Look for a one story yellow building on the left. From I95 take exit 47B, Rt 166 North, Rolling Road.
Go about 3 miles to Frederick Road, Turn Left. Venue is about 1 mile on the left. A one story yellow building
Insider Comments:
Great venue just 2 miles outside the Baltimore Beltway and 2 miles off I95
Bar, A/C, bandstand, well lit parking lot. Cheap beer, red beans & rice and jambalaya
Friendly owners who love us!
Linganore Winery
13601 Glissans Mill Road, Mt. Airy, MD 21771-8599
410 795-6432 from Baltimore or (301) 831-5889 from Washington/Frederick
www.linganore-wine.com
Has Razz-Jazz Festival in August with Zydeco or New Orleans music.
Insider Comments:
Their annual festival featuring at least one zydeco band is a great party. People spread out all over the hill listening to the band on the stage below. Dancing is on a flat, grassy area in front of the stage.
Washington Area
The Birchmere
3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria VA
703 549-7500 : www.birchmere.com
Admission: generally $15-$25
Lessons: None
Insider comments:
Cajun, zydeco, and New Orleans music acts are offered sporatically. There is now dancing allowed at this venue in the Bandstand, but not in the main music hall.
Glen Echo Spanish Ballroom and Bumper Car Pavilion
7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD 20812
301 309-0895 : www.glenechopark.org
Shows sponsored by:DancingbytheBayou.com
Cajun or Zydeco events scheduled several times each month; check schedule for listings
Lessons: 1 hour lesson before each dance.
Directions: From the Beltway, take either the Clara Barton Parkway (from VA) or the Cabin John Expressway (from MD) toward Glen Echo. From the left lane, take the Glen Echo exit (which involves a U-turn and a right at the fork). At the tee, turn left onto MacArthur Blvd. Continue NW on MacArthur and just past the mini shopping mall turn left. Go to the stop sign and turn left after it into the parking lot. The path to the Spanish Ballroom is at the far side of the bridge.
Insider Comments:
The Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo hosts by far the largest Cajun/ Zydeco events in the greater metro DC area. The huge wooden dance floor can accommodate hundreds of dancers (and often does). The atmosphere is friendly and new dancers are always welcome. The venue is smoke and alcohol free, and drinks are on sale. The Ballroom was renovated and reopened during the summer of 2003. The lay out is a little different with one of the best improvements being that the bathrooms are now in the same building!
The State Theatre
220 N. Washington Street Falls Church, VA 22046-4517
703 237-0300: www.thestatetheatre.com
Frequency: After a couple of shows, Cajun and Zydeco was dropped for financial reasons
Directions and map
Insider Comments:
Inside the Beltway, right off Route 7. Easy to get to, The State Theater is a former movie theatre that has been totally renovated with a lot of attention to detail. There are two hundred seats in the balcony for those who just want to watch a show. The stage is fantastic, great lighting, the sound system is perfect. There are four bars, an area for tables where food is served and great views from everywhere. In front of the stage is an excellent wood floor dance area.
The Surf Club
4711 Kenilworth Ave., Bladensburg, MD 20781
301.927.6310 : http://www.chickhallssurfclub.com
Admission: varies
Lessons: None
Insider Comments:
Although it sounds like a beach bar, the Surf Club is actually closer to a country honky-tonk. The venue has a big wooden dance area, pool tables, and cheap beer prices.
Wolf Trap
1635 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA 22182
703 938-2404 : www.wolf-trap.org
Admission: generally $15-$20
Lessons: None
Hosts 2 main venues for Cajun/Zydeco events: The Barns and the Filene Center. Cajun/Zydeco bands play at the Barns a few times each year. The annual Swamp Romp Festival is held the first Sunday of June at the Filene Center.
Insider Comments:
Has cajun/zydeco a few times a year. Zydeco tends more towards blues/rock zydeco than the traditional. Nice wooden floor. Full cash bar.
Philadelphia Area
The Mermaid Inn
7673 Winston Road, Chestnut Hill, PA 19118
FFIC: 215 247-9797 : www.themermaidinn.net
Insider Comments:
This is a realitively new zydeco venue. Please send comments if you have any to share.
TK Club
East Hector & Apple Streets, Conshohocken, PA
610 828-9352 : Allons Danser website
Sponsored by ALLONS DANSER
Most events charge $18 admission, which includes a lesson at 7:30 PM and music from 8:30- 12 AM. Higher prices for special events.
FFIC: (215) 576-0839
Insider Comments:
The club can be hard to find – but is well worth it. Make sure you get good directions from their website. There is a large parking lot. The entrance to the building is in the back.
Warmdaddy’s
1400 Columbus Blvd @ Reed Street., Philadelphia, PA 19147
215 627-2500 :www.warmdaddys.com
Occasionally books Zydeco bands during the week.
Richmond Area
Arthur's Restuarant & Night Club
5215 W. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23230
(across the street from The Boulevard Deli)
804 288-2800 : Inns of Virginia
Monthly Cajun/Zydeco dances usually held on Thursday evenings.
Admission: $8 including lesson at 7 PM and music from 8-11 PM
More info: 804-264-7974
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