Baltimore Salsa Blog

La Palapa Mexican Grill & Cantina

La Palapa Grill is committed to providing only the freshest and highest quality of style Mexican food. With a distinctive Hacienda decorating style, a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, exceptional prices, and the real flavors of México. We created a unique restaurant concept around original recipes. Beyond tacos, enchiladas and burritos, La Palapa Grill is your fun festive neighborhood restaurant, family owned and operated for over 10 years. Come to enjoy our delicious: Ceviche, fajitas, mole, quesadillas, tamales, and many more traditional plates.

Nightlife: Never a cover charge!

Security: VERY BIG BOUNCERS. Ladies love them. Men fear them.  Give Brian a hug and say it's from Sue Elliott.

8307 Main Street
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-465-0070
www.lapalapagrill.com

Thursday is Latin Night

Come out for Latin night at La Palapa's, a great way to spend a Thursday evening. This Mexican cantina has been an historic Ellicott City fixture for years. On Thursdays, the DJ features a mix of latin styles - Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia, and Reggaeton. The night kicks off with a salsa lesson from 9-10pm and is only $5 per person. Take those moves and enjoy the evening as the music gets going. Treat your taste buds with dinner at La Palapa. There is a free desert with each entree ordered from 4 pm till 9:30 pm. (After 9:30 they serve light fare.)

9pm Salsa Lessons and Dancing:

1st Thursdays: Beginner Salsa Lesson
2nd Thurdsays: Styling
3rd Thursdays: Intermediate Salsa Lesson
4th Thursdays: Rueda Salsa Lesson

Getting There: 695 to exit 13 to Frederick Road, follow all the way to Main Street, cross the bridge and head up the hill. It's on your left. There is street parking and a public lot in the back.

Resident Instructor - Vanessa Beltran Medina's Bio:

Vanessa was born in Ceiba, Puerto Rico and has always had a passion for dance since she was a little girl. She attributes her love of dance to her mother, Maria, as she always remembers watching her dance and shine with joy. Eventually, out of all the musical genre she grew up listening to, Salsa and Merengue were the music that filled Vanessa with the most energy and excitement. It wasn't until she went to high school where she was able to apply that passion with proper technique and structure. In high school she danced for three years and was in the Junior Dance Company her senior year.

After high school Vanessa hit the dance clubs trying to find the best places she could dance Salsa. One year later Vanessa met an acquaintance of her mother's and he was impressed with her natural ability to follow and pick up quickly. He asked her to join him at Lulu's, a very prominent place to learn Salsa in the 90's, and there she met Ricardo Loiza and Elba Garcia. She was so impressed with what she learned just in one lesson, the correct way to do her basic and proper counting of the music, that she approached Ricardo and asked how she could learn more. He opened his doors to her and she came to class faithfully every week for 3 months and often was used to demonstrate the patterns with Ricardo while he was teaching.

She decided she wanted to become a dance instructor and soon began looking around in her area for dance studios where she might be able to become an instructor. She found a studio in Jessup, MD and soon after was teaching Salsa dance along with other Ballroom dances. She taught there for a year and realized that she wanted to specialize in Salsa, for that was her true passion.

Over the years Vanessa has performed at many school, corporate, and local community functions. She has competed in many events in the DC & Baltimore area and has won all but one (a jack and jill competition at a social venue.) Vanessa has a passion for dance for the art of it and for the joy she gets from introducing people to Salsa. She is well known for her natural and smooth style, and over the years students have gravitated to her for her attention to detail and commitment to excellence that she holds for herself and her students.

Vanessa remains humble and focuses on God first, family second, and then everything else. She has a kind heart and a warm soul. Her goal is to share her love of dance to all she can and is most satisfied with the philosophy of dance as an art and watching people grow along their journey.