Valet parking, at $5 a car, is reasonable, although you can park for free behind the club. I don't actually know many people who do that, but I suppose many late-comers do just to avoid the line at the valet stand. If you arrive early, Taqueria Mexico sits almost next door in the same strip center. They actually have pretty good food, and the bartender is friendly.
Getting into the club is pretty easy. They don't make you stand out in the weather. Of course, there are several other clubs close by, and people sometimes pass from one to another. But Tropicana is favored by a lot of very good dancers. They'll speak highly of other venues, but you still see them at Tropicana two or three times a month, if not more often.
Alberto Garcia and German Hermandez teach free dance classes every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday for an hour before the club officially opens. They generously allow the free class students in for free (cover is otherwise $10, but Tuesday is Ladies Night). Experienced dancers often drop by to help out with the classes or just to check out prospective partners.
Tropicana a great place to spend an evening with friends, or to throw a party. In fact, every time I have been there, Tropicana has hoisted balloons over one or more tables to help celebrate birthdays. The friendly, professional DJs announce the birthdays and make the evening enjoyable, especially for first-time patrons. Out of curiosity, I asked Senor Macias just how many parties a year they host. "Since I took over," he said, "I estimate over 3,500 Birthday Parties were held here."
That's a LOT of dedications.
It's best to call ahead for reservations, but you can usually grab a seat against the wall in the back. And as the night progresses tables close to the dance floor open up (sometimes a little too soon). Most people are considerate about asking before they take a table, as its occupants may all be on the dance floor. But it's usually a good idea to leave your eyeglasses or something else on the table to let people know you are still around. Some groups take turns table-watching.
I've had some fun times at Tropicana, and a few embarrassing moments. The staff are friendly and gracious, but when the place gets busy you are probably better off getting your own drink. The servers can get lost in the crowd, and if you're moving around yourself, that makes their job harder.
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Does she want to dance?
A girl who wants to dance with a particular guy may stand near him and start to dance by herself, or if she dances with another girl, she may cast glances over her shoulder at the man she wants to dance with.
If he is stubborn or doesn't read body language, she may go stand in front of him and glance at him occasionally. Girls also make eye contact with interesting men on trips to the bar or to the restroom.
If she is holding a drink in front of her, turned away from the dance floor, leaning in to talk with a friend, she is probably not interested in dancing with you. It never hurts to ask, but remember that her friends may decide not to dance with you if you ask the wrong girl first.
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