Dance Underground, Seattle

Ok, as you know by now, I was on holiday in Seattle. I asked for directions in this post, exchanged a few emails, and went for a dance. I wasn't paying as much attention to details as I do when I'm thinking about writing a review, so this is a bit thin, but it would be a shame not to.

The Class: I don't think there was one.
Layout and Atmosphere: You go in down red stairs and it's a rather large near-square room, with a very good, smooth floor and mirrors along the near and right-hand sides. The DJ is in a sort of doorless cupboard, snacks, drinks and water at the far left hand corner, I didn't observe what drinks. There's nowhere to go away from the floor but there are quite a few round tables with cloths along the right hand side, and chairs on the other side. There are red curtains and strings of white LEDs and the atmosphere is simple but warm, cheery and not too dark.
Hospitality: Good. A table with refreshments and plenty of free water. I didn't give it enough attention but there were smiles beside it and in the general vicinity. Enough chairs for most to sit down, but not all; enough tables that it's possible to sit in a position that suggests you are resting, which is the best you can do in a room like this. Sorry, I knew my time there would be short, and I didn't get round to checking the loos as I usually do. I would have if I'd noticed that the venue website says they're a "feature ... equipped with showers". (Elizabeth - fill us in!). I was startled when the lady who did the announcements, in a pause, thought it worth mentioning that someone was here from London and pointing me out. It surprised me, but made me feel special.
What I thought of the DJing: perfectly standard, not many milongas and valses but some, nothing electronic or with a big beat that I remember, and nothing that wasn't tango music. My friends, who don't know tango music, loved it. They were cortinas, they varied, I don't remember what they were but they weren't annoying or wierd.
Getting in: US$7, my non-dancing friends got in free.
Getting there and getting home: This is the USA, they don't really do public transport (although Seattle does have a reasonable network of buses and it may well be possible to use one of those - don't know how you'd find out, it's not mentioned in the directions). As I wasn't the one driving, I can't say anything useful except that we parked in the street a few steps from the door. It's underneath a bagel place, and there is a sign with Dance Underground on it; walk downstairs towards the music.
The website: Includes the links you need on the front page, looks fine, tells you who they are, what's on, when, and how much it costs. The milonga page is here but you can get there in one click from the front page (very good). The scene in Seattle is also small enough so it's feasible for someone to publish combined listings at allseattletango.com. The venue also has its own website, which you'll need for directions.
How it went: Very well indeed, especially considering the rather awkward situation of having brought two friends who don't dance - V and her husband P. We got in, I asked which was the Party Table (following Elizabeth's directions) and the lady on the desk did indeed know what that meant. It being clear to me that the party had not started, I settled us down at the next one, swapping places with my friend who accidentally sat in front of a rather fearsome airconditioner I was glad of later on. I quietly changed my shoes and watched for a while, chatting, V guessing which ones I would want to dance with and getting it largely correct. We agreed that Orange Shirt Guy (hi!) moved very well, and could be accepted with confidence, and then we discussed the difficulty or otherwise of assessing some of the others, and how very, very foolish teacher-advertisement show-tango looks on a social dance floor. Quite soon, Elizabeth arrived and knew me from my description at once. She and Alan and their friends were very hospitable and it really helped so much with the difficulty of having to abandon my friends if I wished to dance. She instantly introduced me to Orange Shirt Guy, who was just as I had hoped (hi!), and my friends to Alan, who is a Very Nice Man and dances very like the person I was talking to here - who is also, as it happens, another Very Nice Man, and also much the same height and shape. I danced with at least two regular readers, one of whom also knits. I can't thank all of them enough for looking after us all. P said it was "like watching a foreign movie", which is almost certainly a good thing, or at least an interesting thing, and absolutely loved the music. V was quite interested to watch the dancing and how people moved and how I interacted with the different leaders. We had to leave relatively early, but not as early as I thought we would. I had some excellent dances, and left when I was winning. A good night.