Whirling Away, En Espagnol

26 November 2008, 12:12 pm

 

Whirlaway Lounge is one of Logan Square's signature and most well-loved bars. On Monday nights, the friendly neighborhood dive is also the most educational. Co-owner and unanimously adored bartender Maria, a Mexican native, hosts weekly Spanish Club meetings at 9 p.m. And Spanish club is just how you remember it, complete with homework assignments, officers, outings and snacks. Locals saddle up near the taps to brush up on vocabulary and verb conjugation that has grown hazy since graduation, or simply to take on a new language hobby.

The club kicked off on November 17, when Maria invited interested locals to come to the lounge with a prepared paragraph to take part in a linguistic guessing game about fellow members' favorite celebrities. She coaxed nervous new speakers into communicating with confidence and ease, correcting pronunciation and verb tense along the way with her trademark huge smile and a pat on the back. On November 24, the original members plus curious friends showed up to read notes and guess others' favorite countries. Homemade Mexican torta and biscotti were served.

Spanish club president Teresa Dankowski, a 23-year-old Long Island native of Polish and Guatemalan descent, has set some goals for the group to meet over the next few months.

“I hope that the members will expand their bilingual interactions beyond ordering a Dos Equis or talking to the tamale man,” she said. “I also would like to see continued snacks and attendance.”

Like Coronas and Tecate? Or Fat Tire and Leinie's Red for that matter? Wanna say "hasta la vista" to your hesitant, stuttered Spanish? Be there, next Lunes.

Whirlaway Lounge 3224 W. Fullerton Ave.