November 23rd, 2009

ballroom-dance-young-coupleIt might seem a given for most of you, but after frequenting dance-floors for a while, I’m telling you, it’s not. When you practice social dancing, there are a few rules to remember. Everyone make their own, and not everyone follows the same as I do. Here’s my top 5:

Be clean

I’ve danced with men who literally just came back from a run and skipped the shower. Gross. Ballroom and Latin are very intimate dances, if I’m going to be that close to you, I’m expecting that you’re going to give me the respect of making it a nice place to be. No body odor, no bad breath (that’s why there are mints floating around dancers all the time), no dirty clothes…

Be respectful

If you turn someone down for a dance, don’t jump on the next invitation for the same dance. Pass this one, have a glass of water. No need to crush anyone’s confidence, especially if they’re beginners.

Be conscious of your body

You dance, you sweat. That’s pretty normal if you’re human and there’s nothing wrong about it. Just be conscious of it. Avoid picking-up your partner’s hand and put it on the back of your neck in your next Salsa move. Once again… Gross.

Be honest

I went to a Swing dance party once and noticed an excellent male dancer. I invited him for the next dance and he bluntly told me “If you’re a beginner, I’m sorry, but I want to have fun tonight”. I told him I wasn’t and we had a great dance. But I couldn’t help but wondering how I would have felt if, indeed, I was a beginner. Most people at parties, will be happy to dance with you, even if you’re a beginner; we all went through that. So if you are, be honest. Just say so. And if someone says “sorry, not for me”, well, move on.

Have fun

You’re social dancing, not at a comp: stop checking if other people are looking at you, stop looking at yourself in the mirror, feel the connection with the music and the connection with your partner, avoid starring at the emptiness with a jaded look on your face… If you’re not having fun… then just go home.

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Tags: | Posted in Moves |
November 5th, 2009

Why are marketing people becoming such snobs? The practice of intellectual masturbation does not necessarily make you a good marketer… Sometime thinking too much about the means dilute the purpose of the campaign. There is a moment when we need to stop thinking and we need to start acting. Just saying…

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Posted in Opinions |
October 15th, 2009

I’m back on the quest: where is the best B.E.C (Bagel Egg & Cheese) in Philadelphia and around?

There is another deli, on the other side of my apartment building, and it has, so far, been my place of choice for empty fridge mornings or worse: carb craving! What’s easier that throw on a pair of pants and a sweater and stroll down half a block. It occurred to me that I did that way too many times when the clerk actually offered my usual order before I said hi… Excellent customer service must I say, she knows my routines better than I do, it’s like she’s reading my mind. Amazing.

Now, the sandwich itself, although it’s probably the one I had the most of is not the best of all. On the positive note, it’s leaking with melted cheese. Not half melted, real runny cheese and that’s a messy bonus. On the average note, the level of greasiness can vary from one sandwich to another, but I have to say, most of the time we’re on the greasy side, simply because the eggs are fried. On the down side… the bagel could definitely improve. I’m not talking New York bagel here, but simply something a little less “cardboardy”.

★★✩✩✩

Locust Deli | 236 S. 21st Street | Philadelphia, PA 19103 | www.locustdeli.50webs.com

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October 11th, 2009
Photo courtesy of Studio Viva

Photo courtesy of Studio Viva

It was a fun wedding season for me, at Society Hill Dance Academy. If the flow of wedding couples does not stop, rare are the winter weddings so I felt like I could kick off my Top 5 wedding songs of the season.

As I mentioned in my post, The 10 most popular wedding songs, there are the classics; and sometimes, couples surprise you with out-of-the-box thinking in terms of music, which leads to out-of-the-box thinking in terms of dancing… and we love that. So, below, the top 5 of the season and kudos to the lovely couples, I can’t wait to see the videos!

1. Your love is better than chocolate by Sarah McLachlan (Maura & Luis)

2. Say Hey by Michael Franti & Spearhead (Valerie & Chris)

3. Kiss me honey, honey by Shirley Bassey (Meghan & Kevin)

4. All the things you are by Ella Fitzgerald (Hilary & Derek)

5. Stay with you by John Legend (Christine & Korey)

Future brides & grooms… be inspired!

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October 4th, 2009

I have never been a big royalties fan, but I remember vividly Diana & Charles wedding, and sitting at my grand-parents table, watching the cortege go down the streets of London. When I heard Diana: A Celebration was coming to the National Constitution Center, I knew it was worth of few hours of my precious time for a trip down memory lane.

I stood in front of the world famous wedding dress and let the emotion of remembering my childhood and my family set in. And it was beautiful. But what I was not expecting is looking at Diana as a woman, not as a Princess. Witnessing pieces of her childhood, or the full wall of condeleances books pinched my heart in a different way.

If you have a chance to check the exhibit out, you won’t regret it. But if you don’t, here are bits & pieces… En Images!

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DSC00807

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September 20th, 2009

In my post It’s rating men, I promised a description of all those “mankind” and along the week I did. Here’s the last one: the one that’s right for you. So ladies, where is your man? And guys, which speci-man are you? Feel free to comment and discuss, but all I hope is that at least I made you smile.

Rating 10 on Little Audrey’s “scale”: the One that’s Right for You!

The man of whom you see all the flaws and issues immediately but still makes your heart beat. The man who will take risks (even the risk of giving up is freedom) for you, because he thinks you’re worth it, and won’t complain about it later on.

Where to find him: Wherever you’re not looking. I’m still not proud of where I found my man so I will not give away that information, but trust me, it’s really somewhere I was not looking.

How to spot him: He’s probably the one that you will think “so not for me” at first sight, or first encounter; but deep inside, something already tells you that the interest is sparked and you want to know more.

How to seduce him: Seduce him? You don’t want to seduce him. You have no interest in him, remember: “so not for you”… So why can’t you take your eyes away from him and why do you instinctively maneuver to be closer to him?

What’s the catch: Oh wait, he could be the one. And if he’s the one you’re done: no more cat & mouse games, no more martini-afternoons with your girlfriends complaining about the whole man genre, no more first dates and their collections of sordid but funny stories… You’re out of the market. Are you ready for that?

Something a One that’s Right for You would say (and mean and make you want to say back): “I love you.”

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Posted in Stories |
September 7th, 2009

In my post It’s rating men, I promised a description of all those “mankind”…

Rating 9 on Little Audrey’s “scale”: the Good on Paper!

woman_listA man whom your mother would love. A man so perfect that he leaves you wondering what can be wrong and why your heart does not beat faster as you check all the items down your list.

Where to find him: Where YOU like to hang-out… The Good on Paper shares your interests or your affinities for places; that’s what creates the comfort. “Someone I can spend time with and not feel like I’m forcing him (or myself) into an universe he (or I) doesn’t belong to…” Checked. Heart-rate: flat.

How to spot him: He’ll catch your eyes because you’ll find him attractive. He’s a good looking or very charismatic guy, that fits the profile that you have of Prince Charming, whatever your standards are. “Someone who gives me an ego boost as we stroll down the streets hand-in-hand” Checked. Heart-rate: flat.

How to seduce him: No efforts necessary, you’re just yourself and he’s loving every minute of it. You both laugh at each other’s jokes; you make him feel good, he makes you feel pretty; you can talk for hours about life & death and discover that you’re standing on similar grounds. “Someone that I don’t need to pretend for” Checked. Heart-rate: flat.

What’s the catch: Whatever you mentally try to convince yourself of, whatever poll you put your friends through, whatever your mother/grandmother/sister/best friend/boss is telling you on what a great couple you make, whatever exciting/exotic/erotic things you do together… the heart-rate is still flat and the answer to questions on your feeling is “I don’t know”.

Something a Good on Paper would say: “Will you marry me?”

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Tags: | Posted in Stories |
September 1st, 2009

In my post It’s rating men, I promised a description of all those “mankind”…

Rating 8 on Little Audrey’s “scale”: the Starving Artist!

starving_artist_art_gear_customized_tshirt-p235313204353830173qjfl_210A man who lives for his art. Whether he’s a painter, sculptor, danser, musician or poet… his art comes first, you second and any material comfort could potentially come way down the list.

Where to find him: Gallery openings (where he’s not necessarily showing), bars holding open mics (where he’s not necessarily playing/singing), book signings (where he’s not necessarily signing), art supplies stores (where he’s not necessarily buying anything). Being a starving artist addict myself, here’s where I found mine(s) along the way: dance studios, bars, through friends, on Craig’s list (no kidding).

How to spot him: Usually comes in one of 2 categories: the European wannabe (stylish look, dandy style) or the bad boy (scruffy look and tatooes). One common denominator, from my experience, the Starving Artist loves to wear hats.

How to seduce him: Here again, you can apply one of 2 strategies: either you impress him by your knowledge in his art and he will respect you, or you show a total ignorance in his area of expertise and he’ll want to teach you.

What’s the catch: Be prepared to pick-up the tab, more than once. If that’s a problem for you, stay away from the Starving Artist. Personally, I never really cared, which probably explains the long list above. Be also prepared to see very little of your guy, he will always have something in preparation (a book, an expo, a concert, a movie, a show…) that will be his priority.

Something a Starving Artist would say: “I cannot be available whenever you want me to; I’m an artist, I work when inspiration comes.”

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Tags: , | Posted in Stories |
August 28th, 2009

Only a subway ride away from busy Manhattan: a beach, an amusement park, a pier with fishermen, and the (supposedly) best hot dogs… Welcome to Coney Island. Tired of seeing buildings and yellow taxi cabs: hello kitschy designs, Wonder Wheel and Cyclone’s cracking historic rides, and Beer Island… where you’re not welcome if you don’t drink a beer…

A little peek at Coney Island… En images!

I couldn't resist this one... well said, right?

I couldn't resist this one... well said, right?

Wonder-Wheel

The Wonder Wheel opened in 1920... still there!

Can you eat over 60 hot-dogs in a few minutes only?

Can you eat over 60 hot-dogs in a few minutes only?

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Tags: | Posted in En images! |
August 25th, 2009

feet_10Those feet are made for walking up and down the good city of Philadelphia… and sometime out of it. My feet needed a vacation and found their way to a land that pretends to be the world… at least between June and September. On their way, they discovered the game of “handball” (pretty funny for a pair of feet), they resisted being thrown up in the air, they landed on a very interesting kind of island and they took me to the Hot Dog Eating Contest… 314 days (or so) early.

Where did they go?

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