Bash Compactor: Nice Girls Don’t Wear Cha-Cha Heels!

Like my pal Ernest Hemingway, I’ve always had a yen for Havana. During my teenage days, after taking an inspiring Latin American history class, I volunteered to toil in the orange fields with the Venceremos Brigade. Viva La Revolucion! I was foiled when the sponsors of the trip, a Quaker organization, discovered I was only 16 years old.

But there weren’t any revolutionaries, guerillas or banditos, and the only fledgling Che Guevaras I saw the other night were doing the mambo at the posh Cuba Comes to Thom Bar party. Though the digs are pretty swanky, there’s no cover charge and they whip up potent mojitos and rum sangria for the two-for-one special. The resident band, Grupo Irék, plays three sets, mixing the sounds of Cuba—Son, Cha-Cha and Mambo—with some New York City zing. The band, fronted by lead singer Chino Pons, has played for some heavy-hitters: Sting, Madonna and Mickey Rourke—and even at the party Demi Moore threw Ashton Kutcher when he turned 30. And even though I’m not a die-hard fan, these guys know how to boogie.

“You’re wearing the spicy Latin color, red!” Jean-Marc Houmard said to me, admiringly as I snapped photos on the dance floor. Co-owner of Indochine, Bond Street and Republic, he’s thrown some uber-chic parties but began his career in restaurants and bars working as a busboy at Indochine. Before you knew it, he was at the helm of the place and always seems to have his finger on the pulse of what’s happening. And the party at the luxe 60 Thompson was all about the music, the low lights and strong cocktails.

“I love you!  I want you to come to photograph my parties,” exclaimed fashionista Erin Stelzer as I snapped some pics of her and pals Celina Berrera and Cindy Sibilsky. They were a trio decked out in adorable getups: brimmed hats with veils, lacy gloves, 1940s-style frocks. There’s nothing better than a few girly girls to put you in a good mood. We spun around for a few moments and they posed coquettishly.

But, no, Chiquita, I didn’t really try out any dance moves this time. Cuba Comes to Thom would be the perfect sexy spot to go with a date, if only I had one. Then I could try out some of those tango dips I’ve been practicing at home alone in front of the mirror. Uno, dos, tres, quatro!