Hammond Groove

Change is inevitable, but there are certain elements of Madison that should just stay the same. And one thing that should stay the same is that the ground floor of the old Cardinal Hotel at 416 E. Wilson St. should be the Cardinal Bar, and once again, it is. The legend begins in 1974, when Ricardo Gonzalez bought and rejuvenated the space that became a gathering spot for both the gay and Cuban communities, and anyone interested in Latin music and dance. After a stint as Nomad World Pub, the space is back as The Cardinal, with opening week festivities including a Willma's Fund Pride Month fundraiser with a blessing of the bar by the Mad City Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (8 p.m., June 21) and a Nick Nice-spun dance party called “The Cardinal Thru the Ages” (9 p.m., June 23). And Tony Castañeda and crew are back at the Bird for a Latin jazz happy hour every Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m.