This Week
Review by LeeAnn Mutchler

Recently, it has become increasingly apparent that TCU students have a tendency to do what is readily available to them. We all know this is true because if this were not the case, we would not all be overly aware of the term “going local.”

This tiresome weekend redundancy has its drawbacks. The first and foremost of the disadvantages is the feeling that one gets at a small university — that it’s “the same thing” every weekend. Although I must praise the university bars for allowing me to play on their turf in my younger underage years, now that I’ve turned the 21-year-old leaf, my horizons are expanding.

Occasionally, I feel the urge to muster up enough money and energy to travel to that mysterious distant city that shares our airport — Dallas. And watch out boys and girls, this Dallas business is serious. The variety of bars and clubs reels the mind.

Exploring the Dallas scene has proved to be worth the drive. At this juncture, I would love to write an extensive article that carefully examines the Dallas area. But more specifically, today I am writing about Café Madrid, which has time and time again proven to guarantee an amazing experience.

The first Wednesday of each month is supposedly the best time to go, and the only times that I have ever frequented the bar.

Wednesdays are usually packed because the Latin community chose that night as their monthly hiatus from their American lifestyles. It is not necessary that you speak Spanish to go to Café Madrid, but it helps if you are open-minded. To give you an idea of how packed it gets, you must leave Fort Worth around 9 p.m. to get satisfactory parking and the opportunity to even sit.

Café Madrid itself is a restaurant and bar that serves traditional Spanish style food and drinks, but it also offers a multicultural setting. Students who have studied in Spain should know that typical plates include, Spanish tortilla, paella and gazpacho, and such typical drinks as sangria.

The atmosphere is overwhelmingly friendly, and conversation is usually started between strangers with one simple question — “Where are you from?”

After a few hours of eating, drinking, socializing and people watching, most Café Madrid patrons move the party down the street.

They have the option of going for martinis at the classy Samba Room (a Cuban restaurant and bar), or to Sipango, also a classy bar that features live salsa and meringue bands and incredible dancing.

The whole evening — dinner, drinks and dancing — should run you about $40, and will prove to worth it. To emphasize my point, Café Madrid, the Samba Room and Sipango are the three Latino hot spots that E! Television would use for those “Wild On: Wish You Were Here” specials.

I mean, if you like dancing salsa until the break of dawn, beautiful people, Dallas life, exotic foods and alcohol, these places come highly recommended.

LeeAnn Mutchler is a junior advertising/public relations major from Kansas City, Mo.
She can be reached at (l.mutchler@student.tcu.edu).