O's Corner: Ropa Vieja

Ropa Vieja ("old clothes" for its ragged texture) is easy and mellow. This version is less spicy and acidic then most recipes for this wonderful Latin dish. It should be served with white rice or orzo.

Cook meat:

• Bring to a boil, reduce heat, simmer for approximately 1 1/2 hrs covered until very tender.
• Drain, but reserve liquid.
• When cool, shred into thin strips using 2 forks or your fingers.

Make sauce:

• Saute 1 large peeled onion and 1 large seeded bell pepper, both cut into julienne strips, and 4 peeled and finely chopped garlic cloves in 1/4 to 1/2 cup olive oil over medium heat until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1 cup of tomato paste, 1/2 cup sauterne or other sweet wine, 1 tablespoon of Spanish paprika 1, 1/2 cup burgundy or other hearty red wine and 2 cups reserved cooking liquid from meat.
• Add the bay leaves and shredded beef, and simmer for about 15 minutes.
  
• Add more of the cooking liquid if you want more sauce.
  
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.

• Garnish with peas and pimiento strips.
• Makes 8 servings
  

Two Delightful NY Bakeries

MARTHA���S COUNTRY BAKERY: 4 Stars
Forest Hills
70-30 Austin Street
Tel: (718) 544-0088

THREE LITTLE RED HENS: 4.5 Stars
Manhattan
1652 Second Avenue (86thStreet)
212-452-0476

By Angela

Talk about feeling like a kid in a candy shop. These two bakeries are a true sweet toother���s delight. When I am in the city and have a sweet tooth craving, I always stop into Three Little Red Hens (TLRH) and when I am in Queens and get an urge to satisfy my sweet cravings, I head to Martha���s. They are each so divine, they deserve their own write-up but they are so similar in quality I will kill two birds with one hen���If you will.

Martha���s is a country-styled bakery with a full service section in the back. The walls are filled with quaint sayings about dieting and dessert and the tables, though small, are always full. The front of the bakery houses an extra-long glass counter displaying their confections. I have been to Martha���s at all hours and they are always crowded. TLRH���s is a smaller, though longer established bakery. They have two tables set up for those willing to sit amidst the noise, crowd and confusion. Their counters also display their sweets and they too are always busy.
Both bakeries are well stocked with a variety of coffees, teas, frozen drinks, sodas and other assorted drinks. Both cater and take orders. Martha���s has traditional American classics like pound cakes, pastries, pies and tarts. TLRH���s has a huge variety of cupcakes, cakes and cookies as well as pies. They also do special menus for major holidays and occasions.

TLRH���s cookies include M&M, ginger spice, double chocolate crinkle, oatmeal raisin and chocolate chunk with pecans and walnuts. Their tarts include French apple, almond cherry, PB&J passion, chocolate silk and coconut lime; and, their cakes include lemon, red velvet, sour lemon, carrot, yellow, and Brooklyn blackout. I have tried most of their cakes and like all of them. While I have found the cheesecake to be nothing special, I do like the tarts I have tried. Also, the cakes are absolutely beautiful. The designs are so pretty, the cakes look almost too good to eat. My only complaint is the cost. The mini cupcakes alone, which are no more than a bite or two, cost $1.75 and the smallest of cakes are over $10. Trust me, you don���t go there for the value, you go for the quality.

Martha���s has a huge variety of pound cakes -chocolate, cranberry crumb, and lemon poppy to name a few. Their cupcakes include red velvet, carrot, vanilla, chocolate, Oreo crunch, and black forest. Their pies and tarts include apple, cherry, blueberry, lemon meringue and mixed fruit. The list of cookies and other kinds of cakes is endless. They include black forest, black and white and chocolate mousse. I would love to be able to tell you more about the wide variety of things I have tried at Martha���s, but cannot. This is because after I tried a few items, I fell in love with them and now refuse to try anything new. My favorites are the caramel cake, the Oreo crunch cupcake, and the Baba Rhum cake. My mother always gets the bread pudding with gelato and my daughter likes their cream cheese danish. While not everything is mouth watering, and the service is not always up to par, this is a delightful place to come and indulge your sweet tooth while spending time with friends, perhaps after taking in a movie together.

So, if you are hungry, in the mood for sweets or throwing a party and need a cake, check out one of these bakeries. I am sure you will be glad you did.

Things you should know if you plan to go:

MARTHA'S
$
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Astoria Location:
36-21 Ditmars Blvd.
Tel. (212) 545-9737
Hours: 6am to 11am, Mon ���Th, 6am to midnight, Fri-Sat (til 1am in Astoria), 6am to 11am, Sun


THREE LITTLE RED HENS
$$$$
Hours: M-F 7am to 8pm, Sat. 8am to 8pm, Sun. 8am to 6pm

Other Locations: Upper East Side Manhattan
1652 Second Avenue (86thStreet)
212-452-0476

Park Slope in Brooklyn
1112 Eighth Avenue
718-499-8108

Mercat a la Planxa: 4 Stars

638 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago

By Neonu

Mercat a la Planxa (pronounced plahn-Cha), located in the Blackstone Hotel, is a new addition to the South Loop. Mercat serves tapas inspired by the cuisine of the Catalan region of Spain. The menu includes a nice selection of charcuterie and cheeses, traditional tapas, flatbreads, rice and pasta dishes, shellfish and meats served a la planxa, or grilled to order. There were so many great choices that I opted for the Chef's menu. I highly recommend you do the same. All of the selections were delicious and seemed to never stop coming to the table. My favorites were the raw cow's milk cheese with truffled apple and lavender jam, the Serrano ham and fig salad, the beef shortribs flatbread with horseradish, Parmesan, and bacon; and a cheese ravioli dish with brandied cherries. I was surprised and disappointed that dessert did not come with the Chef's menu. Overall, a great experience and a place I will return.

Things you should know if you plan to go:
$$$$
Make reservations, Valet Parking Available
Breakfast: Daily: 6:30am - 11:00am
Lunch: Daily: 11:00am -5:00pm
Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 5:00pm - 11:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 5:00pm - 12:00am, Sunday: 5:00pm - 10:00pm

Neonu's Thoughts on Business Casual Dress

Business casual is tricky. I have worked for several organizations that characterized its dress code as “business casual,” and it has meant something different in each environment. See more of my comments:

Christina Binkley, Business Casual: All Business, Never Casual, Wall Street Journal, April 17, 2008 at, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120839219154621413.html.

Debra Cassens Weiss, A Lawyer Finds Office Casual Is Still Rather Dressy, ABA Journal, April 17, 2008, at http://www.abajournal.com/news/a_lawyer_finds_office_casual_is_still_rather_dressy/.

Jack LeHayne, Business Casual: Contradiction in Terms?, April 17, 2008, at http://leyhane.blogspot.com/2008/04/business-casual-contradiction-in-terms.html.

Tour de Champagne Houston

May 30, 2008, Tour de Champagne will stop in Houston at the Hotel Derek. If you live in Houston or will be visiting during this time, this a must attend event (see review). Tour de Champagne will offer you an evening of champagne from more than 20 prestigious champagne houses and tasty fare from some of the city���s favorite restaurants including Bistro Moderne, NOE, Masraff���s, and Pesce. More info.

May in S. Florida

Las Olas Wine & Food Festival
Las Olas Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Thursday May 1, 2008 Ft. Lauderdale holds its annual street festival featuring great wines, food, music and more.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. You can purchase tickets here or call 1-800-LUNGUSA.

A Spiritual Journey - apologies and forgiving yourself

02. Apologies

By Angela

I hate being a blue. It means I have a tendency to get in a funk, sometimes for no discernible reason. Well, I have been in one, off and on, for the last week or so. Today, I reached my base line; which, for me, is often a moment of revelation. Today, I remembered my spiritual journey to reach the place where I am the better me. So I tried to look at my unhappy place to see what I could do to improve my mood. I had already spent the morning saying thanks. But, I had failed at visualizing. I was feeling fat and ugly and I just did not want to meditate. This is usually about the time I start beating up on myself about everything and anything.

I was on my path of self-destruction when I remembered (don't know why) one positive thing that had happened this week. I had an extensive, positive, loving conversation with NM. We had not spoken to each other (at least by phone) for a long time. Looking back, I think it was because we were both overwhelmed by life and unable (for once) to turn to each other for help. I think we were also mad with each other over minor issues and both of us felt we were in the right and waiting on the other to apologize for our imagined wrong. But I followed The Language Of Apology by Gary Chapman. That is why I think we were now able to engage in such a great phone conversation and why we are now on our way to regaining our loving relationship.

In The Language Of Apology, Gary Chapman basically says that each of us has a specific language of apology and that no matter how sorry we are, if we do not express it in the appropriate language for the appropriate person, they will not feel that we are truly sorry.
The five languages of apology are 1) expressing regret - saying I am sorry; 2) accepting responsibility - saying I was wrong; 3) Making restitution - asking what can I do to make it better; 4) genuinely repenting - saying I will not do it again and meaning it; and 5) requesting forgiveness - saying please forgive me. He also says that in order to apologize we have to forgive as well.

After listening to him speak about the languages, I decided to forgive NM for any wrongs I may have felt about the situation. Then I decided to apologize to NM and I used all of the languages of apology. When I first apologized, I felt that my apology was not accepted. But, as time has passed and we have interacted with each other more and even called each other, it feels as if we have each managed to move on and are both trying to find our way back to each other. So now when I look at our last conversation, I smile. I guess I have learned many things from this experience. Most importantly, sincere apologies work, even if they are not made or accepted immediately. Also, we can apologize to and forgive ourselves.

What is my point about all of this? I have decided to apologize to and forgive myself for the way I treat myself when I am in a funk. So today, I am sorry I do not allow myself to acknowledge my unhappiness and freely move on from it without mistreating myself. I am wrong for blaming myself for everything. I vow to not do it anymore and to not abuse myself if I sometimes fall. I ask myself for forgiveness, I forgive myself and I am taking myself out to dinner tomorrow night as my act of restitution.

So, today, forgive yourself for any wrongs you may have endured at your own hands. Find someone you owe an apology to and sincerely apologize to them. Genuinely accept another's apology. And, love yourself enough to let it go and move on.

Apology is a lovely perfume; it can transform the clumsiest moment into a gracious gift. ~Margaret Lee Runbeck, US author 1905-1956

DW's Loop

“How can you stay in the Loop, if you aren’t in the Loop?”

Friday
Dragonfly’s Seventh Anniversary hosted by Toney Macey
Dragonfly Mandarin
832 West Randolph Street

Guest list imagechicago.com
DJ Jernell Geronimo & DJ KJ
Hosted Reception from 10pm – 11pm

Saturday
Body Rock Saturdays @ rednofive
440 N Halsted
10pm – 5am
Password: FIVE (girls free, guys free until 11 half after)
Private, Premium Hosted Bar Package: $40; 10pm – 1am

Sunday
Guitar Hero & Wii Bowling Competition plus more @ Five Star Bar
1424 W Chicago Ave
$5 Miller High Life bottle and Jameson shot combos

Cocktail for the Week – Starry Night Martini
1 1/2 oz chocolate vodka
1 1/2 oz vanilla vodka
1 oz Bailey's Irish cream
1 oz Kahlua coffee liqueur
1 splash cream
Fill a shaker with ice.
Pour the chocolate and vanilla vodka into the shaker simultaneously
Pour the Bailey's and Kahlua into the shaker
Add a splash of cream.
Cover shaker, shake, and strain into a cocktail glass.

Bonus of the Week – Belvedere Cocktail Night
Monday, April 28
Belvedere Cocktail Night @ Mexx Kitchen at The Whiskey
1015 N Rush St
Free Belvedere vodka cocktails from 5pm-9pm
RSVP @ http://www.buyyourfriendabelvedere.com/launch.php?sState=IL

Dating Dimes* on a Dime in DC

*slang noun in relation to physical beauty in place of a "perfect ten"

07. Bless These 2 Cans of Sardines and 5 cans of Pringles

By Westmoreland

There are rules to not (yet) being wealthy. The first rule is that you don���t have a lot of money. I just paid an obscene American Express bill. I stared at those four digits until they morphed slowly into four letters. I read the bill aloud and cursed.

Another guy on a vision quest recently quipped that the economically distressed members of our society are bitter. Man, I couldn���t have said it better. I am bitter. 12 months from now, of course, I will be soaking in a Jacuzzi, splashing Veuve Clicquot all over a squealing little brown cutie who giggles and incessantly complains ���Its cold, its cold���!��� Bubbles are everywhere! But in the meantime, my little brown cutie wrinkles her nose up at the mention of sardines.
There is a rap record that predicts that the more money you have the more problems you get. Well, let me be the judge of that. I will say that I have had very few problems since I have relieved myself of my disposable dollars. It���s basically the same problem. No (extra) money simplifies a lot of things. It makes you decisive. Should I go out? Or stay in? Stay in! Should I buy new slacks? Or wear these until September? Rock these ���till the hems drop out of the bottoms!

Yeah, so my elegant little brown cutie pie is involved in a high pressure project where meetings are held up the street from my place. Her office is much closer to my building than to her home (which is in the same neighborhood that I am targeting as my first Real Estate endeavor). So, it has come to pass that she ask to stay with me for a week.

Brown Cutie Pie: So, I will be able to stay there, next week?
Bitter Bachelor: Yeah, You got it!

Brown Cutie Pie: And all you have to eat over there are sardines?
Bitter Bachelor: Right. You got it.

Brown Cutie Pie: Well, what are we going to do about groceries?
Bitter Bachelor: Um. You got it?

See the simplicity?

Not only are the economically distressed bitter, but they also cling to religion. Ditto that. I have $175 until the end of the month, and my spirituality is rushing back��� There is a line in the Book of Matthew where a little boy rolls up on Christ with his lunch, and he is like, ���Go ahead and take my lunch to feed the multitude���. It is a story of faith. Yeah, I know that I joke around a lot, but that story gets me misty-eyed every time. The subtext, for me, is that some people (typically kids) can recognize authenticity when they see it, and will sacrifice their own resources to support a bigger cause when that cause is genuine.

I don���t mention Christ���s Disciple, Matthew, to name drop. I am not on a first name basis with the authors of the Gospels. Believe me. I am a weak Christian. When I get to Heaven it will be on coupons and a scholarship. I was in Church this past Easter and Jesus was really surprised to see me in the balcony. He could barely place my face. He saw me seated next to my mother, and he thought, ���Now where do I know that guy?���

But I am keen on Jesus. I revere men who do the most necessary thing in the only way they see fit. The world demands men who execute an unwavering vision. Those men are forced into leadership. Not because they want to be the boss, but because the strength of their clarity is so powerful. And, of course dangerous. A life fueled, not by resources, but belief, is an efficient way to live. If Jesus, Gandhi and King could survive (thrive and die) outside of the margin of a comfortable society -- in order to improve mankind, then certainly I can go without eating out (for the next six months) to make my life better. And if I am a wise steward of my resources (that is something my ex���s dad used to say ��� I really miss that guy), then I make my unborn babies lives better, too.

Look. I have got to be honest. I am not starving myself to lose 20 lbs. This is not a vow of poverty for the sake of piety. I am suffering for my art, and the art is Classic Capitalist Expressionism. I keep hearing that it is easier for a rich man to pass through a camel���s eye��� so I avoid camels. I am all about the Benjamins!

And in order for me to stockpile cash, I am stockpiling sardines. No pain, no profit.
My little brown cutie calls it the Several Sardine Sandwiches Solution. We belly laughed a bit at that��� and then settled back down. Sardines are not really that funny. I am building an empire over here in the only way that my vision allows. Plus, I am old school. My first place has to be on 30 year-fixed-paper. Not fly paper. I mean, if someone told me that I could buy a 4 bedroom house in the suburbs with a Discover Card, I might have mulled it over��� But don���t cry for me Argentina, I am plotting to buy Buenos Aires.

And as God continues to multiply my 2 cans of sardines and 5 cans of Pringles, I will need a woman at my side who can wear champagne in the bathtub. That���s what I need. That���s a special lady.

O's Corner: O's Noodle Apple Kugel

It's Passover.

I immediately thought of a Jewish dish I first tasted many years ago. I was living in Boston and worked with a young, newly-engaged Jewish woman. We practiced together as she learned to cook. She shared many wonderful Jewish recipes from her mother and grandmother. This is one I loved to prepare for my family. It is perfect to serve it in place of other side carb dishes. It is not as sweet as you might expect, considering the ingredients.

NOODLE APPLE KUGEL

You will need 1 pkg. wide noodles, about 6 apples(Delicious or Gala), raisins, lemon juice, eggs, sugar and cinnamon.

Prepare 1 pkg. (1 lb. ) wide noodles according to pkg. directions. Set aside.
Beat 5 eggs slightly. Add 1 cup sugar, 1 1/2 tsps. cinnamon, 1 1/2 tbs. lemon juice; beat
well.
Mix in 1 cup raisins, 3/4 cups peeled, seeded and chopped apples and the noodles.
Turn one half of the mixture into a well oiled 3-qt baking dish.
Spoon another 3/4 cup of apple pieces evenly over first layer. Top with remaining noodle
mixture. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, drizzle with melted butter.
Bake at 350 deg. F. for 45 mins. Serve slightly warm or chilled.

Angst Among Friends

01. Light and Darkness

By Angela

I have wanted to do this column for quite some time. I did this with friends several years ago. While my first opener worked then (and I am fairly sure it would work now), I wanted to start with something fresh and new. You understand - new time, new period, new beginnings. My point - I have finally found my opening. I hope you get it, like it, and most importantly participate and give feedback through your comments. So���here goes.

My brother-in-law is crazy. We are very close and frequently have strange yet intense conversations. Some of them happen in the natural flow of conversation and some of them occur because he sets me up. I can be very opinionated and stubborn; he knows that. The other day was a prime example.

We were doing what we usually do - talking endlessly, about everything. As we talked, how we got there I don���t remember, we started on philosophy and school. He said he really got his philosophy teacher and class with one question. I didn���t realize it at the time, but that comment was the bait. I unwittingly took it and ran. ���What question��� I asked. ���Why is a light bulb called a light bulb? Couldn���t it be called a dark-absorber instead?��� My response was immediate, ���absolutely not!��� There then proceeded a full and extended debate over what light is, what a light bulb is, how they work, what darkness is, how it works, the definition of absorption and more.

He insisted a light bulb/light was indeed a dark-absorber. The more he insisted; the more determined I was to prove him and his theory wrong. Finally, frustrated, I said my proverbial - I guess we will have to agree to disagree. At this he chuckled and said ���exactly���. Then he went on to tell me about how his philosophy class became divided into those who agreed with him that light is a dark absorber and those that did not. Apparently, his teacher asked his professional peers and they also split opinions. In the end, apparently no one was able to definitively say, one way or the other.

As you see, I got sucked in. Ironically, after I hung up with my brother-in-law and thought about it, I was able to see how, philosophically, light could be called a dark-absorber. I totally disagree with this position but I can see how some could take this position. One���s answer may be based on one���s preference. Do you prefer light or darkness? One���s answer may be based on perception. Does light push away dark, consume dark, or take the place of dark, or does light? Or maybe it is a question of one���s perspective. Is light dominant or is dark? Or maybe it is a question of one���s spirituality. Do you see light as good and dark as evil?

Take a minute. Visualize darkness, true darkness. Now, a light appears. Darkness is gone. What has happened?

What do you think? Does light absorb dark?

Play It As It Lies

By Jeff

This column will give a player���s insight in to some recommended courses around the U.S. and may include some comedy along the way. At the end of each column will be all of the information needed to contact the course and plan a day of fun on the links.

Did you ever have one of those "now is a good time for a mental health day'��� day? Well, one such day came down on me last Friday. Of course when it happens, you usually find an accomplice, partner, or overall Louise to your Thelma, so to speak, to join you. Well, I placed that call to a friend of mine (���M���) late Friday morning to see if he would join me for a relaxing day of golf. He emphatically agreed and asked if his brother (���D���) could join us. "Sure" I replied. "The more the merrier".

We settled on a course in Long Island, NY. Eisenhower Park's fabled 'Red' course. This "parkland/links" course was designed by Devereux Emmet, a member of a well-to-do New York family and a resident of Garden City, NY. This course is known as the home of the Commerce Bank Championship June 27-29 on the Champions tour of the PGA. The course figured to play pretty well, don't you think?

The three amigos decide we're really feeling our oats and want to tackle every bit of real estate on this course by playing the exact tees in play at the CBC. This is a daunting proposition if you're not particularly stout in distance, nor accurate in directional control. The Red course played long in the fairways and exceptionally fast on the greens despite "nearly healed" aeration holes, a process delayed by the extra long winter here in NYC. We had a great time on the front 9 holes - playing well, talking trash and baiting each other into "Tiger-like" shots we had no business attempting. M and I had finished tied, with D 8 shots back, before the real adventure began.

Since I've played the course previously (approximately 3 years ago), I noticed the added length on the now 420 yard par 4 14th hole and the addition of a second sand bunker on the left side of the fairway. M stepped up first and fired his tee shot over the right bunker and landed in the rough approximately 270 yards away. I, however, flew a path to the inside of the left bunker and came to rest in the fairway, 110 yards from the green. D's tee shot came up a little short in the new left bunker. He played a shot to get out of it, leaving himself on the left side of the fairway in the rough, about 10 feet right of some sparse fescue.

I was retrieving something from my bag when I heard the commotion. I looked up to find D's ball being guarded by a determined Canadian male goose. Believing D's ball was an egg, with the female probably laying more eggs in the fescue, it was not about to let Duane play his next shot. Well, the next is why African-American men don't go wildlife hunting too often. Duane had, shall we say, been "punked" into not being able to get to his ball. The gander (male goose), apparently realizing his success, then took a low stance and started hissing. Usually, geese walk away from humans so I offered my ignorant services. As I walked towards it, however, the gander craned its neck and spread it's wings. I wasn't going to be added to the "punked" list, so I spread my arms and got into a "Karate Kid" stance ala' Ralph Macchio. Somehow, I guess, the gander had decided it was ���on��� and charged me.

It was then I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Duane had started to run backwards and Marcus had tip-toed up to the green -both apparently wanting no part of this. I retreated into the cart and made a command decision to play a game of chicken, or goose if you will, and tried to run this large fowl off the ball. I implored Duane to go to the other side of the gander while I had it engaged. He adamantly refused. I knew I was in it for self at that point so I mounted up on the cart on the passenger side, got my pitching wedge in my right hand, drove right at it, and tried to get to the ball with a polo-style trick.

The gander looked at me with that look, you know the one, the "I wish you would" or the more popular, "go ahead and try me" look. As I got closer, it craned its neck again and I swear it looked like a demon this time. It side-stepped the cart and tried to wrestle the wedge out of my hand - almost like it wanted to make it a fair fight. I was able to maintain my composure and drive off with my wedge and the knowledge that a goose stared me down from a fight over a $1.75 golf ball.

I told Duane he was on his own and he "dropped" a ball 30 yards away from the goose and came up to the green from there��� well away from the original ball. We got a good laugh out of it until Duane hit his next tee shot from the returning parallel hole to the left, That's right back towards the same goose. Marcus drove him quickly to that area and Duane hopped out of the cart looking like he was auditioning for "Starsky and Hutch, The Movie", running back towards me through the fescue to the correct fairway. No way was he going over there again.

My turn next. But, as luck would have it, my ball was being guarded by yet another goose. I'm thinking, did the first one call for his friends to torment us for the rest of the round? I honestly felt like my "manhood" was being questioned by water fowls. So, I stopped the golf cart 20 yards behind my ball, in the fairway, grabbed my 7 iron, and walked with a determined gait - a sort of cross between "Superfly", "Shaft", and "Dirty Harry" - to my ball. I played my next shot under duress, (yes I admit it) and walked back to the cart looking around for more fowl reinforcements that may have been silently signaled. But all was calm. I guess the walk did it.

Lesson - the next time you feel overwhelmed, inundated and under appreciated, take a mental health day on your favorite golf course. You just may come back with a story to tell, and a lifetime of memories and jokes. Until next time. Play it as it lies.

Recommendation: 4 Stars

Eisenhower Red Golf Course
Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, Stewart Avenue and Merrick Avenue
General Telephone Number: 516-572-0327 or 0328

Ratings
Front Tees: Course Rating, 71.9; front nine, 39; back nine, 35.9; slope rating, 111
Mid Tees: Course Rating, 69.8; front nine, 34.9; back nine, 35; slope rating, 121
Back Tees: Course Rating, 71.8; front nine, 35.8; back nine, 36; slope rating, 124
Playing Season: March (weather permitting) through beginning of winter.
In-season fees:
18 holes: Weekdays: $36 for residents; $22 for senior citizens; $45 for nonresidents.
Weekends and Holidays: $41 for residents; $39 for senior citizens; $49 for nonresidents
Motor Cart Rentals: $31 for residents; $20 for senior citizens; $31 for nonresidents

A Spiritual Journey - gartitude

01. Gratitude

By Angela

I watched The Secret, on DVD, about a year ago and one of the things that stood out as I read the book (and one or two others that followed) was the constant reference to taking time to say thank you. There have been periods in my life when things have seemed rather hopeless. In the past, before I lamented and complained, I would first say thanks for the things that were going right. Often, I would find so much to be thankful for, I would forget what I wanted to complain about.

The Secret recommends that you take time out each day to say thank you for all the things you are grateful for. When I started watching the DVD, I was at a low in my life. I figured I would give it a try, it could only help. So I gave it ago. Today I still try to find time each day to say thank you. I think it has helped me to realize all the things I do have, even on days when things truly seem bleak. I still sometimes complain after my thanks but more often now, I am filled with joy and happiness when I think of all my blessings.

So on this day, as we continue on our journey to a better us, let us take time each day to say thank you for all the blessings in our live. In this vein, I am thankful for my family and my friends. I am thankful for all the children, older people, men and women in my life. I am thankful for my dogs and my cat, my car and my home. I am thankful for heat, hot water, food and drink in my refrigerator, clothes and shoes in my closet, and the things of beauty in my home. I am thankful for all of my senses and my ability to walk and run, laugh and sing. And, while I am at it, I am thankful for fireworks, trees, flowers, sunny and rainy days, doctors, teachers, motivators .... I could go on endlessly. The point is, we all have so much to be grateful for, if we would just take a minute to say thank you, we might actually experience a glimpse of heaven in our lives.

Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or something more. Brother David Steindl-Rast (1926 - present)

Dating Dimes* on a Dime in DC

*slang noun in relation to physical beauty in place of a "perfect ten"

By Westmoreland

06. Zombies

Wizards practice magic.

That���s what wizards do. I mean during the daylight hours, I am a computer wizard. Eyeglasses, collared shirt, ten month wool trousers, arcane formulas. Harry Potter has what, an owl? Ron has a rat. I have a mouse. Anyway, that is the daytime routine.

At night, though, I end up practicing a darker magic.

It is not by choice, really. It is a compulsion. My magic is driven by the heavenly body hanging overhead. In the daytime, it is daytime magic. At night, its black magic.

During the day, I work alone, mostly. As the sun goes down, my magic is little more like what you would expect at a standard magic show. I need a willing, attractive female to assist me in the execution of these tricks. I prefer to have the same, long term assistant who fully understands the illusion, risk, thrill and challenges associated with my own brand of magic. Sorcery is better when you know your partner well��� in my opinion.

But over the last few months, I have been struggling to establish the right magical balance.
The assistants just have not been entirely capable��� or just incompatible. And you know, there are side effects to the practice of dark magic. Sometimes, after you have tried to saw a lovely woman in half, you have to be ready for something ��� just not proceeding as planned. People think magic is all fun and games, but it is not. There are risks. And sometimes things blow up in your face.

The most annoying side effect of black magic is the rendering of zombies. Man, I really don���t like zombies. If you are not familiar with wizardry and magic, then allow me to take you under the Dark Cloak of Insight. A zombie tends to result from the failed cooperation between a wizard and an assistant. A zombie is neither alive nor dead and trolls around workshops where wizards are known to conjure or Inns where a wizard has been known to have a bit of meal (or ale).

Zombies are angry or disappointed or they are so tired that they demonstrate no feeling at all. They always stare. Sometimes they wander around expecting that the wizard that rendered them as such will notice.

My response to zombies is not to react to them. I typically duck under the ol��� Cloak of Invisibility. I throw on the cloak and sit really, really still. I hold my breath, too. And then I look straight ahead. Sometimes, for good measure, I will hunker down behind another magician. ���Why dost thou hunker down, thus���*, the other magician asks me. Come on, man. ���Hast thou not noticed yonder zombie���?

I mean, the hunker-down move usually works pretty well. But even magic is unreliable.

Last night, a zombie saw me right through the Cloak of Invisibility. And I guess I should never underestimate a) the strength of my spell-casting; or, b) a zombie���s ability to conjure on her own. I really wanted to project myself onto the Astral Plane when I saw this one zombie belly up to my bar. Eh. I usually see them before they see me. I was too many pints of ale into the visit to smoothly draw the Cloak of Invisibility over my head. I looked over at her, in spite of the fact that I did not want to ���say hi���. And our eyes met. Zounds!

As long as we are on the subject of magic, I may as well share some tricks that you can use on your own��� Now, magic tends to be regional. I don���t make these rules, I only play by them. Anyway, this is an old trick that I discovered in 2003 when I was laid off by Arthur Andersen. I call this one ���How To Make a Young Professional Woman Disappear Right Before your Eyes in Washington DC���. Okay, this one is pretty easy. So, you have to identify a fox, first. This one works better, the more attractive she is, but it will work with not so attractive women too (sadly). So you just walk up real confident. And you strike up a conversation where you focus on her. Listening to her is key to the illusion. The conversation will lead to what you do for a living. Again, not my rules. But here is where you queue the drum roll. Take a deep breath, look at your shoes, and tell her ���I am currently between positions...��� Poof. (Rim Shot!) She will be out of sight before you raise your head. That one makes her disappear (every time). The analog makes you invisible��� and again, this is DC magic.

Now the second trick is, like, so easy that I forget that it is magic. Now, all magic is based on what people want to see. The illusion is the perceived inversion of reality��� Okay, so I call this ���How To Be Invisible to Young Professional Women (and some Dudes) in Washington DC���. Alright, now you need a reception or a fundraising event or any Political-based party. This trick also requires a prop. The trick is to wear a shirt without a tie; a Golf shirt works pretty well to one of the above-mentioned or similar events. There are some bars in DC where if you walk in wearing a t-shirt and jeans, you can pick up every pretty girl���s purse in the building and walk out. Total invisibility. See, this trick plays on the fact that every professional male in DC wears a suit and tie when they go out. If you are not wearing a tie, the foxes cannot even pick up your scent. Denzel Washington would not be recognized in Washington, wearing a t-shirt.

So as I am congratulating myself for escaping a close zombie call I notice a voice mail on my AT&T Motorola Go Phone��� . I hate voice mail. So I call, and am stunned. In the deepest zombie tenor ������ You saw me, and couldn���t even f-bomb speak?��� And then, here is the real magic, the voice mail self-destructs. Whoa. Strong conjuring, indeed.

(*Magicians still use Ye Olde English)

DW's Loop

“How can you stay in the Loop, if you aren’t in the Loop?”

Friday
PLS Magazine & Hennessy Presents: Project Art @ Avenue-M
695 N Milwaukee Ave.
9pm – 3am
DJ Spre & Shala (The Movement)
No Cover with RSVP @ info@plsmag.com

Saturday
Get there while it’s NEW
Rebar
401 N Wabash Ave
Located on Trump International's Tower mezzanine, Rebar is Chicago latest plush-seated cocktail lounge.

Sunday

Chaise Lounge
1840 W North Ave
$5 mimosas, bloody marys and bellinis

Cocktail for the Week

After Work Special
3oz Amaretto Di Amore liqueur2oz Malibu coconut rum1oz Bacardi white rum3 - 6 oz orange juice3 - 6 oz pineapple juice
Pour the Di Amore amaretto, Malibu rum and Bacardi rum over 5 ice cubes in a hurricane glass. Fill the rest of the glass with orange juice and pineapple juice, to taste, and serve.

Bonus of the Week

The Warehouse Sale
Friday, April 18th, 2pm – 8pm
Saturday, April 19th, 10am – 4pm
Navy Pier 2nd Floor, Rooms 201 – 207
600 East Grand Avenue
The Warehouse Sale is an exclusive Premium Denim Sample Sale for both Men & Women. Denim choices include: Rock & Republic, Diesel, True Religion, Frankie B, Genetic Denim, Citizens of Humanity, 575 Denim, etc…
Free with RSVP @ www.thewarehousesale.com, or $5 @ door

Fifty Seven Bar: 4 Stars

Midtown East
Four Seasons Hotel New York

57 E 57th St (between Madison and Park Ave.)

By Angela

For all you business professionals in or visiting New York and in need of an after-work spot to take and impress clients, try The Fifty Seven Bar. It is in a cool, elegant, refined room within The Four Seasons Hotel. It has huge ceilings, grand windows, wood floors and dozens of cozy tables. It serves extravagantly priced cocktails and delicacies off an a la carte menu. Its crowd is made up of hotel guests and well-dressed professional men and women.

I didn’t order from the a la carte menu but I did speak to other patrons who said the food was okay, nothing special. We did order drinks based on our server’s recommendations. The drinks were very good, but just what you’d expect from a five star hotel with a top-shelf bar with exorbitant prices. What was special was the service. We were helped by Lee, the Assistant Bar Manager. He helped us with our drink selection, basing his recommendations on our specific preferences and then made sure we were happy with his recommendations once our drinks arrived and we tried them. Then, when the table next to us became available, he seated two women within our age group and even took the time to make introductions. We ultimately exchanged cards with these power women. So, bring your business peers here. The location, the cozy tables, the hotel itself, the top shelf liquor, the delicious drinks and the service will help you close any deal.

Things you should know if you plan to go:

$$$$

Hours:Mon–Sat 3pm–1am; Sun 3pm - midnight

Looking for Late Night Eats in DC?

One of my biggest complaints about D.C. is that there are so few places to grab food after 11pm. Well, kudos to the Washingtonian for providing a great summary of where to go late. There are more places to go than you think. Check it out! http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/restaurants/bestbites/7422.html

Neonu

Execulife: 2.5 Stars

By Neonu

Execulife is a new joiner to the Chicago selection of social networking groups for business professionals. Execulife promises its members they will experience exclusive, high-end social and professional networking. Membership is $149. I attended their launch party at English. I was surprised by this location, because Execulife promotes that its events are one-of-a-kind at the city’s most exclusive locations. I do not consider English an exclusive location. I characterize English as an average sports bar.

Execulife reserved the top two floors of English for its guests. There were various drink sponsors and a live jazz band on the second floor. The drinks and food served were average, not high-end. One of the more interesting sponsors was the Tiffani Kim Institute, which offered complimentary acupuncture (my first time trying it), hand microdermabrasions, and facial skin analysis.

There was some networking at this event; unlike some networking group events I have attended where people limit their socializing to their friends. The Execulife staff was very friendly and approached people who seemed to be alone or looking for something to do.

Overall, I was not impressed and would not pay $149 (just in: the free membership has been extended to May 14,2008; promotion coupon code FREE2008 ) to join this group. The next event is at Martini Park on May 15, cost $45. I will let you know after this event if I change my mind.

O'S Corner: O's Chicken Vivo

Here is a delicious and comforting dish that is, of course, quick and easy. Only 10 minutes prep time and 30 minutes to cook. This meal is as good the second day as it is the first. Best of all, the low fat version I describe is as good as the richer version.

O’s Chicken Vivo

• Combine 3 cups of cooked chicken (packaged, pre-sliced chicken from the meat dept. works great), 1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of chicken soup (reg. or low fat) undiluted, 1 (8 oz.) fat free carton sour cream and 1 tablespoon of poppy seeds
• Spoon into a greased 11x7 in. baking dish (the aluminum throw-away kind saves washing after).
• Crush 1 1/2 cups of round butter crackers (40 crackers). The Ritz whole grain crackers can be used (get your daily dose of grain). It’s easy to do this in your food processor or blender.
• Mix crackers and 1/4 cup light butter/margarine or smart balance, and sprinkle over chicken mixture.
• For added crunch I sometimes top with 1/2 cup grated cheese.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• Yield: 4 servings. Double for a dinner party.

For a richer meal, you can add rice or diced potatoes and top with the chicken.

I serve this dish with steamed green beans and a Mandarin Orange & Lettuce Salad. I prepare the two while the chicken is cooking.

Mandarin Orange & Lettuce Salad
5-10 minutes prep.

• Combine 1 package of mixed greens or other lettuce of your choice, 1 (11-oz) can of drained canned mandarin oranges, 1/3 cup dried cranberries or golden raisins, 6 grape tomatoes cut in half, and 1 or 2 tbs of shredded carrots.
• After removing the chicken and turning off the oven toast 1 (2-oz) pkg. of cashew or pistachio nuts in metal pan. Toast just a few minutes, remove and add to salad.
• Pour 1/2 cup of Italian, fruity Vinaigrette or Sweet-and-Sour Dressing (e.g., Lawry's Hawaiian Marinade). Toss and serve.

Bon Appetite!!!!!

Hyde Park Welcomes Park 52: 3.5 Stars

5201 S. Harper Ave., Chicago (52nd & Harper)

By Neonu

Marc Brooks and Jerry Kleiner opened Park 52 in Hyde Park last week. The Southside residents I spoke with already consider it a very welcome addition to the neighborhood. Brooks and Kleiner also own Room 21 (3 Stars). When I asked Brooks what diners could expect from his restaurants, his response was, "Good quality food at an affordable price in a cool atmosphere."

Kleiner owns several other Chicago restaurants, including and Opera (4 Stars), in the South Loop, and Carnival (3 Stars), in the Warehouse District. If you have dined at any or all of these restaurants, then you know what to expect of the d��cor at Park 52. Yes, here also you will find bright, vibrant colors and patterns on the walls, chairs, and, of course, the signature grand, textured light fixtures.

Carnivale features Latin cuisine, Opera features modern Chinese, and Room 21 offers upscale contemporary American cuisine. Park 52 serves classic American. A few folks at the bar recommended the whitefish and rock shrimp. The prices are much more reasonable at Park 52 then at its upscale cousin Room 21. Although there are dishes on the menu priced similar to those at Room 21, you will get a lot more food for your money at Park 52.

This past Friday night the place was packed. The tables were 80% full and the bar was standing room only. There was a wait at the bar to be served by the bartender. However, I would expect this to improve as management better anticipates the size of the bar crowd on various nights.

The patrons at Park 52 were a reflection of the diversity of this University of Chicago neighborhood. Overall, I enjoyed my evening at this new Hyde Park Hot Spot. 3.5 Stars; $$

DON PEDRO’S: 4.5 Stars

UPPER EAST SIDE
1865 Second Avenue, NY
The corner of 96th and Second Avenue
212-996-3274

By Angela

Looking for a great place to hang out with friends. Don Pedro���s is just the place. The d��cor is classy and upscale, with soft lighting and comfortable, spacious seating. The restaurant has split-level dining and the service is outstanding. I am surprised the place is not brimming with business. Considering it is located in an area that has limited quality places to eat, this restaurant should be packed. But better for all of you who decide to check it out - no reservations necessary, no wait for a table and more of an opportunity to enjoy the food, the music and the service. And for all you Queens residents, Don Pedro���s is located right off the FDR Drive, not a long ride for quality.

At Don Pedro���s, the menu is bi-lingual, the bar is full-service and the food is a blend of Dominican, Puerto Rican and Cuban cuisine. The specialty cocktail list is extensive, the sangria (which I tried) is tasty - not too sweet, and the recommended wine (Chilean) was spicy, full-bodied and a perfect accompaniment to our meal.

While the menu was quite impressive, so were the specials - we ordered several. Our appetizers included crispy oysters, octopus with rice in squid ink, lentil soup and ensalada verde. Our entrees included filet mignon, seafood stew and chicken with goat cheese. For dessert, we shared a sample platter. We enjoyed everything.

We should have known our palates were going to be dancing for joy, because the palate preparers were divine - slightly toasted bread, fried plantains and spicy popcorn - in a word, yummy. Then there were the appetizers - the crispy oysters were very good, the lentil soup delicious and while I found the octopus and rice just a little salty and the salad just a tad to much vinegar, everyone else said both were perfect (what do I know). As for the main entrees, the filet mignon was medium, as requested, juicy and tender; the seafood stew was divine, and the chicken with goat cheese was moist and easy going down. Oh, and did I mention the presentation - everything was beautiful to look at. My sister described her filet mignon as ���a beautiful tower of meat.���

The desserts were surprisingly good. We tried the sample platter, so that we could have a little taste of everything. The platter included raspberry sorbet, orange cake, flan, tres leche, a coconut confection, sugar cane and spun sugar. What can I say but beautiful and delectable. The chocolate cake melted in my mouth and the sorbet was cool and refreshing. I normally dislike flan but I ate every bit of the piece I took, did not offer to share and was disappointed to find that the other piece was eaten before I could snatch it up. My sister kept insisting we must try the tres leche and said how good it was so often she was like a broken record and my daughter ate all the orange cake on the platter. I was lucky to even get a taste.

To top it off, our waiter, Alejandro (he likes to be called Alex) was a master among waiters. He was funny, helpful, and knowledgeable. To summarize, in case you missed it, the presentation was beautiful, the food fabulous, the wine flavorful, and the background music just right. A perfect spot to eat, drink, listen to good music and be merry. We enjoyed ourselves so much we stayed well past our bedtime. We had no idea the time was flying. It is true how time flies when you are having fun. So, if you plan to come here, make sure you are not in a rush, have time to spare. Trust me, you will not be in a hurry to leave this neighborhood secret.

Things you should know if you are interested in checking out this spot:
Price: $$
Hours: They open everyday at 11:00 am.
Monday - Wednesday open until 11pm, Thursday - Saturday open until 1am and Sunday open until 10pm. Reservations are not required.

April Events in Chicago

"Gentleman's Night Out 2008"
Wednesday, April 2 at 7pm-10pm at 6:30, $10 donation
River East Art Center, 435 E. Illinois St
Exclusive tasting conducted by Master Distillers, featuring Jack Daniels, Woodford Reserve, and Old Forester.
Appearance by Stefaney Lewis, Playboy's "America's Sexiest Bartender 2007."
RSVP: www.going.com/Jack
Only the first 200 will be admitted.

"Social Therapy"
Thursday, April 3 at 6pm - 2am
Victor Hotel, 311 N. Sangamon
Cocktails, Conversation, Dance, Music, & More
DJs: DJ I.N.C & DJ World
RSVP: RSVPMe@ChicagoBlackProfessionalNetwork.com for complimentary admission

Live Jazz at M Lounge (3 Stars)
1520 S. Wabash
www.mloungechicago.com
Dates: Every Tuesday & Wednesday
Time: 7pm - 10pm
Wednesday, April 16: Chris Greene Quartet, described as acoustic jazz with a garage band mentality.

Le Passage & The Drawing Room (5 Stars)

• 1/2 Price Bottles of Wine & Champagne Every Wednesday
  
• 4pm - 6:30 pm Wednesday -Friday 1/2 Price on Food
• Le Passage: Friday, April 4th DJs E-Six & Roan present a 4 Turntable video set
  
• Le Passage: Friday, April 25th Santino Rice from Project Runway will design custom jewelery to the sounds of DJs Boy Wonder & Koncept. RSVP: www.going.com for free admission before midnight.

Salud Tequila Lounge
Tequila Dinner
Wednesday, April 23rd and Thursday, April 24th 7:30pm
3 of the finest Reserva Tequilas will be featured: Don Julio 1942, Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Anejo and Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Platino.
$40 per person includes:

3-course meal

3 2oz. Tasting Portions of the 3 Featured Reserva Tequilas

1 Margarita per guest

Special presentation about Reserva Tequilas

Please call 773.276.7582 to make reservations.
Reservations cannot be made via email.
web: http://www.saludlounge.com

Winestyles
1240 S. Michigan Ave.
Wine tasting every Thursday 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Live entertainment by guitarist, David Kav

Crimson Lounge
Live Music, Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 6pm - 9pm

Dining Out For Life
April 24, 2008 will be the 15th Anniversary of Dining Out for Life with over 100 Chicagoland restaurants participating. Last year over $100,000 was raised to benefit AidsCare.
For a list of participating restaurants and more information: http://www.diningoutforlife.com/chicago

Free Salsa Demonstration & Lessons
Zapatista, 1307 S. Wabash Ave.
Date: Wednesday, April 9 and Wednesday, April 23
Time: 8:30pm to 9:30pm
Drink Specials M-Th

Champagne Flights
Every Monday Pops for Champagne offers a discounted flight of 3 Champagnes.
Location: 601 N. State St.

DW's Loop

“How can you stay in the Loop, if you aren’t in the Loop?”

By DW

Friday
The Akira Fashion Preview @ NV Penthouse Lounge
116 W. Hubbard, Chicago
9pm – 2am
NV springs into fashion as AKIRA dresses NV in their attire.
Table reservations strongly recommended due to strong demand for this event.
RSVP @ info@nvpenthouselounge.com
http://nvpenthouselounge.com

Saturday
State Saturdays
935 W. Webster, Chicago
10pm – 1am $30 Meal & Call Package
$125 Bottles of Ketel One
RSVP @ http://chicagotwentysomething.com/eventpages/saturdays.aspx
http://www.statechicago.com/

Sunday
Krem 1 Year Anniversary
1750 N. Clark, Chicago
VIP service: 708-769-5555
http://www.kremchicago.com

Cocktail for the Week
Vanilla Vixen
1 oz. Your favorite vanilla vodka
2 oz. Your favorite citrus vodka
1 oz. Midori Melon Liqueur
0.5 oz. Lime Juice
Serve over ice in a rocks glass.

Bonus of the Week – Go Green
Wednesday, 4/16, 7-10 PM
Renew: An Earth Day at Le Passage
Le Passage
937 N. Rush, Chicago
Cost is $10 / $200 VIP tables
Passed hors d'oeuvres and eco-friendly VEEV cocktails.
Everything served will be made with fresh organic ingredients. Throughout the venue recycled or biodegradable products will be used wherever possible. Glass, plastic and paper from the night will be recycled at a local facility.
http://www.lepassage.com.

Dating Dimes* on a Dime in DC

*slang noun in relation to physical beauty in place of a "perfect ten"

By Westmoreland

05. Pimpin Only Looks Easy

The bachelor experience is well documented in hip hop, for those who understand the hip hop code. Dating, as encoded by rappers who span the East, West, Southern and Midwest Coasts, translates to ���pimpin������ in standard street dialect. Rap illustrates the ���pimp��� as an urban male who get ���hoes���, buys out the bar and just has too many single young women to manage. It sounds like a pretty cool lifestyle blaring out of the speakers at a night club on Friday or Saturday night. And some guys have talked themselves into the notion that they have women following them dutifully around to the bar, club, restaurant, etc... I am not that na��ve. I know real and genuine pimping as a profession.

I live on a corner in downtown Washington, DC that actually has prostitutes walking around, man. Having grown up in the Suburbs, prostitution is exotic. Real prostitutes have honest to God pimps. And those guys are really managing a team of outsourced service providers in a competitive industry. If you have ever managed people, you understand that management is a demanding function that is as much art as science. At one o���clock in the morning, how would you keep an organization, whose members exclusively wear stilettos (and pants only rarely) focused? It���s got to be the toughest supervisory job in the District of Columbia. Oh, and everyone bills hours offsite.

There was one morning, a few years ago, where I had an early meeting. I think I had a software demo to the Army, and I couldn���t sleep ��� I was out the door at like 5:30AM. The sun had not fully risen, so it may have been earlier. Anyway, as I bent over to pick up a neighbor���s newspaper to read on the train (yes, I occasionally snag someone else���s Washington Post), I straighten up to spot a woman in the snuggest pair of tight jeans that I had ever seen. And she is wearing gold high heels. This is a Wednesday morning. But as unusual as she seemed, she was not as striking as the frustrated gentleman walking directly across the street from her in a parallel, stride for stride gait. This is tough to explain��� Have you ever seen a college basketball coach pace the side line as his point guard brings the ball up-court? He is coaching and giving instruction from the sidelines, and his team is down a few points. OK. Imagine a point guard with a long hair weave, in gold high heels, a pair of tight (Jordaches, maybe) jeans, and a low (low) cut blouse bringing the ball up��� taking instructions from an annoyed coach who, himself, is wearing a football jersey. Now, prostitution is illegal, so these people are criminals, and I don���t like to stare at criminals (unless they are on television), but I couldn���t help myself. I am a management consultant. And here was a training session, or a motivational talk, or a six month review being conducted right in front of me. As a consultant, my mind perceives the business problem, immediately. What do you tell a prostitute who needs a pep talk?

Sometimes you have to see your challenges against the stark background of a harsher reality. I guess I have been dating a few women at the same time, and letting the droning boredom of someone else��� petty interests get me down. Plus this dating business is a cost center. Eh. I was out a few weeks ago with a law student who was so boring that I actually wanted to help her finish her meal just to speed the date along. I actually like linguine, so I could have. But she just sat there and on and on she went about how different DC was from New York City. Really? The two cities are really that different? Huh. Wow. Uh-huh. Finish your meal (so I can go home and be alone in my thoughts - you $120 waste of my time)!

I tend to think that I have recently met a winner, but that does not mean that we will succeed. Only that she is a quality woman with whom I feel comfortable spending time, if not money. She asked me, quite directly, on our first date, how many women I was dating. I sighed because dating several women is supposed to be fun. I should have been able to gloat (pop my collar, etc.) that I have been juggling a few. But I have not experienced any of the clever upsides to ���pimpin��� that these rappers are so keen to promote. So, I glumly told her, three. And once I did, I felt a burden lifted. So as of this writing she is the only one. Pimpin looks great on BET, but it sure ain���t easy. It is boring, stressful and petty.

HEART OF THE CITY TOUR: 4.5 Stars

By Neonu

One word: Hot! I attended the concert this past Sunday in D.C. at the Verizon Center. Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z definitely brought it to a sold out arena!

I admit I was a little apprehensive about the show. Although I am a big fan of both Mary and Jay-Z, I did not buy Jay-Z's most recent album. He boycotted iTunes; I boycotted his American Gangster CD in response. I had heard rumors that he performed almost strictly from the new CD. So I arrived ready to be mad (yes, the wish factor). But I was soooo not mad.

I won't give away too may details because you should see the show (worth traveling to see it). Mary and Jay-Z start the show together, then Mary performs several songs on her own. Wow! This woman brings the emotion and sounds great! She sings the old and new favorites. Jay-Z also gives you a taste of all of his best during his set - and he has a lot. They close the show together. Be ready to be hoarse the next day, because you will join the rest of the crowd in singing along - maybe you will be Mary, maybe Jay-Z, maybe both. I was both :)

And, no, there was no mention or even jokes made about a wedding. Back to the show review...

My favorite part, however, had nothing to do with the singing/rapping. Jay-Z incorporates into his performance a segment that reflects his opinion about the upcoming Presidential election. The way he did it was awesome and the crowd ate it up! I loved it because it evidenced that he realizes he has a voice and an opportunity to affect people beyond the lyrics in his music and he literally capitalized on it. Amazing!

Fig & Olive Kitchen & Tasting Bar: 4.5 Stars

UPTOWN
808 Lexington Ave.
Between 62nd & 63rd St., NY
Tel. (212) 207-4555

By Angela

What an unexpected treat Fig & Olive was. Apparently this restaurant has received accolades for its use of figs and olive oil to draw crowds and bring a unique approach to food. But, as I have just started to, once again, eat out, I was unaware of the growing appreciation for this locale when I dropped in to eat - I was drawn in by the outside of the restaurant. It is a sunken treasure on a busy street. You might miss it if you are not looking.

The walls are filled with food art and there are herbs in the window. The floors are wood and the atmosphere is inviting. There are three sections in which to eat. There is a communal tasting table, a dining area in the back and tables along the side. As you enter, you can tell that they are confident of the quality of their olive oil - their selections are lined along the wall as you enter and are available for purchase should you be so inclined.

I found the restaurant inviting if a little snug. We could hear the conversations of the people near us and the general din was obvious. That is the only criticism I have and, in the scheme of things, truly unimportant when considering all there is to love about this little gem. This place truly deserves its stars.

Okay. Where to start? This is a tasting kind of place, especially for lunch. The tasting menu includes a selection of olives, marinated vegetables, crostini, cured meats on toasted bread, cheeses, carpaccio and other sharing dishes. They also offer soup, salad, pasta and main dishes. I went with my sister. We were fascinated and wanted to try everything. But, knowing better, we agreed to try a few things from the tasting menu. We ordered three crostini (salmon, olive tapenade and manchego cheese), a mixed charcuterie and a shared dish of seared quail and figs.

They have a fairly extensive list of wines to go with the meals and we each ordered a glass of our favorite type. I must say, I found the waiter very helpful in selection of both the food and the wine. Not only was he able to make recommendations, his recommendations were actually based on personal knowledge. BTW - don’t you hate it when you ask a waiter for a recommendation and they haven’t eaten the food at the place where they work? What is the purpose of working there if you can‘t be informative about the menu?

While we waited for our food we watched and smelled other things as they were brought to the various tables. Everything looked good and smelled delicious. What can I say…. everything WAS delicious! The meats were fresh and tasty, not fatty. The breads were lightly toasted, not rock hard. Their specialty bread, olive fougasse bread, was soft and light. The quail was tasty and the figs were a delightful addition, not too much. The wines were full bodied and went well with our food.

All in all, the meal was very satisfying. My “beef” - I was left with a desire to come again and try other things on the menu. Oh well, the plight of us food tasters, having to come again and try other probably delicious foods. Anyway, we cleaned our plates, lingered over our drinks and agreed this was a place to come back and try at dinner time. Everything was sooooo good we were almost sorry we had to leave.

So, if you are looking for a place to try with a twist, stop by. The atmosphere is inviting, the seats are comfortable, the waiters are helpful, the wines are yummy and so is the food. And although we were able to just walk in off the street for lunch, I am sure they are filled for dinner. So, if you want to try them for dinner, do make reservations. You can even make them online. I thought the food was well worth the price of admission.

Miscellaneous things you should know if you are interested in checking out this spot:
Their hours are Monday to Sunday
11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
$$$

There is a location in the meat packing district:
420 West 13th Street
Between Ninth Ave. & Washington St.
Tel: (212) 924-1200

And, they will soon be opening a location in midtown:
10 East 52nd Street
Between Fifth & Madison Ave.
Tel. (212) 319 2002

O'S Corner: Serving My Sole

LESS STING TO YOUR STILETTOS

There was a time when I could dance all night without complaint, no matter how high my shoes towered. I still like to tower, but if it's too high instead of dancing I end up singing, ���I shouldn't have danced all night.���

But, now I have found a solution (reading seemingly insignificant columns can sometimes solve all manner of dilemmas). Lower your high heels one lift. Those in the fashion world already know this trick to eliminating foot corporal punishment. Any true cobbler/shoe repairman should understand this term. A lift is the tiny platform on the bottom of every heel. Tell the repairman/cobbler to: 1) remove the lift, 2) to saw off exactly the lift���s length of the heel itself, and then 3) reapply the lift. You should also add a thin rubber platform beneath the ball of the foot, meaning rubberize the sole. Caution, take the shoe down only one lift to not affect the balance between the heel and the sole. Result, the heel comes down a smidgen, the sole goes up a tad. This tinkering alters the pitch only slightly, but for some reason it makes a difference. Now you have a way to rekindle your love affair with your pre rubber soled stilettos. To your sole's relief!

DW's Loop

“How can you stay in the Loop, if you aren’t in the Loop?”

by DW

Friday
Ed Hardy Fashion Show @ Crobar
1543 N. Kingsbury
Ed Hardy by Christian Audigier- Runway Chicago
Hosted by Jeremy Jackson
RSVP at www.going.com/hardy for comp admission before midnight.

Saturday
Rockwell Lounge
710 N Clark
RSVP for Free Cover All Night @ Mickey2374@aol.Com
www.myspace.com/Suburbanroyalty

Sunday
Sunday Night Service @ J Bar
610 N Rush
Intimate industry party to finish off the weekend
DJs Matty and Eric of Funky Couture

Cocktail for the Week
Nuclear Meltdown

1 1/2oz Midori Melon Liqueur
1/2oz DeKuyper Sour Apple Pucker Schnapps
3oz sweet and sour mix
1/2oz Bacardi 151 rum
Mix over ice and serve

Bonus of the Week
Swank Society Radio Shows
Sundays
9pm Sound Therapy w/ Christian Armand
11pm Tabula Rasa w/ Dj Zuk

Mondays
11am BSTC Radio w/ Andy C
1pm Message In The Music w/ Dj Big Will

Tuesdays
12pm Alton Miller - Inner Muse Music
2pm Tone B Nimble - Tone Busy Variety Show
6pm Hip-Hop Release - DJ Kwest_On

Wednesdays
9am Thelonious Funk Sessions - DJ Thelonious Funk (Henderick)
2pm DJ O.S.U.M w/ Crates Run Deep
5pm Cordell Johnson - The Back Yard Session
7pm The People's Vocal Undiluted w/ Discopoet Khari B

Thursdays
2pm "Alycia's Hang Suite" With DJ AM PM
6pm Back Of The Bus With Africa Hot
8:30pm Soundrotation w/ Duane Powell (Dr. Wax)

Fridays
9am Beats from The Far East w/ Them
2pm Wicked Ensembles w/ DJ Journey
4pm "Fresh For 88"

Saturdays
11am Past..Present..Future w/ Sean Alvarez