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Appearances Deceive: Stromboli Pizzeria

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

The view from the street

Looking historical and shabby, “Stromboli Pizzeria” located at 112 University Place does not attract new customers… until they actually try the pizza. How many times have you been told: appearances deceive? They have authentic pizza with variety of toppings and now new student discounts – two things that would definitely draw you to the place had you known about them.

What’s the student savings deal? How about $2.00/slice or $16/pie for a plain and $2.50/slice and $19/pie for one topping with your student ID? How about a fountain soda for 95c? Note that this includes tax as well. Knowing that the students are a category always willing to save money, the pizzeria’s management caters not only to their stomachs, but to their wallets as well.

How good is the pizza? The place was open since 1966, and the recipes haven’t changed, even though there is a new owner. The dough is soft and fresh, whether you choose white or whole wheat, the fresh mozzarella is yummy and ricotta is so tender that its texture seems to be close to that of whipped cream. Most pizzas are made with homemade marinara or tomato sauce, or, for pizza topped with ricotta, no sauce at all. Whole wheat pizzas come plain with cheese or topped with vegetables keeping the healthy trend. You can order mushrooms, spinach and broccoli and extra sauce if you’d like to make it juicier. Contrary to the popular opinion that whole wheat pizza is not as tasty as regular one, Stromboli’s whole wheat dough is just as delicious as white one, so if you, like me, switched from white to wheat bread long ago, this is the way to go.

Whole wheat pizza with mushrooms, spinach and broccoli

Interested in trying new flavors? Try Pizza Pesto, a slice with ricotta, fresh basil and homemade pesto sauce, juicy, cheesy and flavorful one, or Caprese with fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, fresh basil and tomato sauce (most ingredients are fresh, so don’t be surprised). For good quick snack, try the house’s invention, “the wheel,” a small palm-size roll filled with mozzarella and ricotta. It comes vegetarian with spinach or, for carnivores, with ham and pepperoni, and it’s perfect to snack on if you are short of time or are not really hungry. You can eat it as it is or request some marinara sauce for dipping.

If you not a pizza lover, you can go for a hero or calzone, or get delicious garlic knots made of soft pizza dough with fresh garlic on top. Don’t forget to satisfy your thirst with a Snapple, a special-priced fountain soda, a cane sugar Coca-Cola or Ginger Ale from Boylan. If you are craving unusual flavors, try a Key Lime, Cherries’n’Cream or Cream Soda from Stewart’s.

So don’t be afraid of appearances, as Stromboli is going through a renovation, and soon the pizzeria’s exterior with match the quality of the food, appealing to both your physical and visual taste.

"The wheel"

Ekaterina Lalo

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Posted in Cheap Eats, onFood, onValues | No Comments »

Tanti Baci: A Romantic Italian Experience

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

The Love Nest

One glance at the Tanti Baci website, or menu clearly indicates a “love nest” perfect for sharing dinner and a glass of wine with any loved one. (The restaurant’s name even means “lots of kisses” in Italian.) But I was most drawn to the effortless way Tanti Baci provides an escape from the well-beaten sidewalks and bustling streets to your grandmother’s living room.

There are snatches of tables along the brick walls and corners of the dining room. The pink twinkle lights of the window display give a rosy hue to the entire restaurant. Simmering sauces and aromatic garlic made promises from the kitchen.

My first visit to Tanti Baci was with my boyfriend Valentines week and I immediately saw the date-potential for any pair of pasta lovers. The owner, Sam, greeted us warmly and handed us menus part English, part Italian with flowing script.

I started off the meal with an arugula salad with sweet slices of pears and salty slivers of parmigiano cheese. When I asked Sam what the best entrée to order was, he told me that all of the pasta listed on the menu were hand-made and that I could not choose wrong with any of them. The chefs use original Southern and Northern recipes from the old Italian country. The pastas are part of the year-round menu, where the list on other entrees such as grilled polenta and sausage, chicken breast sautéed in lemon cream, and vegetable lasagna and are updated daily.

In addition to the list of pastas, the menu has an ornate list of sauces that may seem overwhelming, But never fear! The waiters are prepared with friendly suggestions of what best compliments each other.

While waiting for the main courses my boyfriend and I couldn’t help notice the Italian love ballades that were playing on the speakers. I again felt that I was in the home of my make-believe Italian grandmother and that I was hearing her watching her stories in the kitchen while making our meal.

My Ricotta Cheese Ravioli arrived peeking through the bright red homemade tomato sauce. The sauce was incredible. I could taste the sweet from the carrots, freshness from the basil and the time and affection the chef gave the sauce.  My boyfriend ordered his pasta in the Bolognese sauce, which came out creamily pink and I could clearly taste the meat it was simmered in.

We finished the meal splitting a homemade Tiramisu with coffees. The portion was perfect for two and the ladyfingers with mascarpone cheese left me feeling lighter than the coco powder on top.

Many Kisses are not a guarantee in bringing a date to Tanti Baci, but you will find an ideal meal and setting to cozy up with someone you love.

Click here for more information on Tanti Baci.

Laura Brown, guest Blogger for Campus Clipper

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What I Learned in My Public Speaking Class

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

originally appeared on speaking-effective.kethal.com

Given a choice between Design of a Newspaper Page (or something similar to that) and Public Speaking, I chose the latter without hesitation. I have always loved to speak in front of large groups, despite the fact that I often trembled inside. I can manage my nerves well, though, and I enjoy delivering my message; therefore, I was eager to learn new skills through this class.

Unlike me, there are many students who are petrified to take a public speaking class because they hate standing in front of people and talking to them, or simply because they believe that they will never need speaking skills for their career. If this sounds like you, let me assure you: whatever your future profession will be, you will definitely have to make presentations, whether you like it or not, so why not learn it as early as possible and be prepared?

Since many universities oblige you to take a public speaking class anyway, I would suggest that you do it during your first semester, as it will help you do better in many of your classes. Here are some useful things I learned in my public speaking class:

1. Everyone is nervous while speaking in public, no matter how confident he or she looks. Even your professors feel tension inside. It is just not comfortable to face a large group of people and have their eyes and ears turned at you.

2. Developing your public speaking skills means learning how to control your fear and delivering your message successfully. The more often you practice what you learn, the more confident you will feel delivering every other presentation, so you should use every opportunity to talk in class, whether it is a formal report or a mere answer to someone’s question.

3. No matter how interesting your presentation is, it is always hard to listen if there are no visuals, and don’t you hope for a “first-time student discount” (meaning that the audience will not sympathize with you even if this is a debut). Therefore, you should always do a short Powerpoint presentation, prepare handouts or simply draw a poster. Anything works, as long as there is some kind of visual back up for your presentation. If there are names that the audience may not know, you should write them on the board, especially if their pronunciation is not well-known. When your listeners see the information in front of them, they understand it better and remember it longer.

4. There is more than one type of audience: friendly, indifferent, neutral, and hostile. The easiest kind to deal with is the neutral one, as they are the material that you can work with. You can tell them whatever you want, and it is up to you to keep them interested. Friendly audience is not as easy as you suppose it is because these listeners usually know who you are and think highly of you, so there is no way you can deliver a presentation that is not as strong as your previous one. Otherwise, they will easily get bored and won’t pay attention. The hardest task is to engage an indifferent audience, as they are not interested in your topic, or you, and will most likely sleep through your presentation. As far as hostile audience is concerned, they are the most fun group to deal with, as it is your job to change their mind about you or the topic you are talking about. You have to be well-prepared and predict what kind of questions may be asked and what the audience’s objections will be. Knowing the type of audience is a must, as it helps to deliver the message in the most effective way. It can be compared to researching on student savings: you should know before you go which place may give you the best deal and how to get this deal from them.

5. Eye contact is powerful. If you stare at your notes, or, what’s even worse, read from the page, no one will listen to you. People will automatically assume that you are poorly prepared and have no idea what your presentation is about, and feel like listening to you is a waste of time. A good idea is to create an outline (on a piece of paper or index cards) with major points you are going to make. Write down quotes from experts, if you are using any. With this material, you can spend more time looking at your audience to study and react to their facial expressions and gestures. For example, if they look confused, ask if they want you to repeat or clarify what you said. If they yawn, you should probably give them an interesting piece of information that you were saving for later.

6. Once your presentation is ready and your outline is completed, you have to practice. You may need to record your voice, listen to it and repeat your presentation in front of the mirror at least 5 to 10 times, so that when the actual presentation takes place, you will be well-prepared and less nervous. Later on, when you become more experienced, you won’t need much practice. Still, 5 times is generally recommended. Just imagine how awed your classmates will be when you deliver your well-rehearsed informative presentation!

7. And finally, always leave time for questions. You may hate to be asked, but how else will you know that your message was understood and remembered? This is, perhaps, the most exciting part, as through the questions you can see whether your presentation was clear, what you should improve on and how the message was taken in general. The time you should put aside for questions is usually 3-5 minutes, so there is nothing you should really be scared of.

Ekaterina Lalo

You can find more of my articles on my personal blog www.nycvalues.blogspot.com or check me out on http://hubpages.com/profile/katenka_lalo

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Keeping in the Know is Tweet

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

There are a number of medical and psychological studies that tell us how helpful our pets are. Sure, you may not consider your dog eating a new pair of shoes and drooling on your pillowcase while you’re at work to be beneficial, but they will make you live longer. While most dogs aren’t the Lassie type, I know mine is afraid of boxes, tape, the vacuum, broom, mop, crinkly bags, the iron, plates, and a variety of nonsensical household paraphernalia, but studies show that they lower blood pressure and pet owners tend to live longer than non pet owners. This isn’t why most people decide to get a pet, but it’s a definite perk. Even a fish, however small and seemingly insignificant, can feel like company in an empty apartment.

We dog lovers tend to border on obsession. I know that my fiancé and I have to check ourselves on how much we talk about the dog (our spunky Husky mix, Hera) to our friends. Being away from home for twelve hours a day sometimes, I have to say I miss her terribly. When I get home, she has been fed, walked, and is now passed out by the front door waiting for my arrival. I hate missing out on all the daytime fun. Maybe the best way to quench this dropsy like thirst is to attach Mattel’s recent seller, the Radica Puppy Tweets.

Puppy Tweets is a water resistant, motion detecting key chain like device that attaches to your dog’s collar and transmits to a USB device you plug in to your computer. Set up a twitter account for your dog with the device, and it will draw from a database of responses (albeit sometimes hokey) that correlate to your dog’s movement, or lack thereof. Check it from your computer at work, or follow your dog on your smart phone’s twitter app.

If you can’t have a pet, due to dorm living, a cranky landlord, or an allergic spouse, or a lack of funds, you can always log on to watch a few of the constantly streaming puppy cams. These are surprisingly popular, and reduce stress and anxiety for quite a large population. So, if you’re having a bad day and can’t make it to a local shelter to pick up some puppies, why not log on to streaming puppies all day!

Written by Ashley Teal, Campus Clipper Blogger

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Where to Meet New Friends

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

image credit: gracearlington.com

Coming to college every day, you meet an enormous amount of people. However, you do not get to see them too often, as you usually jump from class to class with a ten-minute break in between. Hopefully, you don’t get to talk to someone sitting next to you while classes are in session, as it is usually a distraction for others, so how do you make new friends on campus? I recall my high school friend saying once that our high school and college friends are the best for life because, as she believed, “they don’t need anything from you; they appreciate you the way you are as a person.” What she basically meant was that later on in life, people try to make connections related to their business and meet with friends that are useful to them in some way or another, whereas adolescents get together to play games, to sing in a band, to go to the movies, to do sports and what not. I don’t fully agree with her, as I think that friends are friends no matter where they work, and good friends appreciate personality first at whichever age they are. However, the truth is: as we get older, we get sucked into a career or taking care of sick relatives, start a family or our own business, and we don’t have as much time to go out with friends as we used to, while being in college. (And note: there are no discounts as great as student discounts, which encourages going out as well). Therefore, while being a student, everyone should try to make connections with as many peers as possible. The question is: where will you meet them if you are just running from a class to class?

The answer is: nowhere. But don’t be frustrated: the key is not to limit your college experience to being in class. There are always lots of opportunities to meet new people on campus. You just have to find out if they are available in your university. Here are some ideas on where to meet other students with interests similar to yours.

Library. Everyone goes to a college library once in a while, whether you need to copy a passage from a textbook or someone’s notes, or to read an extra article to prepare for a test. Sometimes students hang out in the library during their breaks; they have nothing to do and they use their free time to study a little bit. I found out that there were study group rooms in my college library where students could discuss the material for their group presentation, or ask each other questions. A library is a good place to meet people and get some tutoring. If you struggle with math, find someone who has the same problems, or, if you’re lucky, no problems, in this area. It is always easy to share the burden, especially if you are in the same class, so don’t hesitate to talk to people. They are usually willing to help.

Gym. If your school has a fitness room or a pool, this is another place you should visit often. First of all, it is a great part of your student savings (free workout whenever you want), so why should you miss it? Secondly, you may meet some interesting individuals while stretching or running and maybe learn new exercise techniques. I remember meeting the same people in the gym, and I would always talk to them, even if I had a limited amount of time to workout. I would pant running on a treadmill while shortly replying to what they were saying to me. A better place to chat for me was the college pool or sauna because people are usually more relaxed and speak more eagerly.

College clubs. I have emphasized the importance of college clubs before, and I won’t repeat myself. The only thing I would say is that a college club is a great opportunity to make a connection with those who are passionate about things you like. If you are a historian, join the History Club, and you never know how much additional knowledge you can get out of it.

Free events. Many colleges have students perform on stage for their peers for no charge. It is an awesome chance to see what other youngsters are capable of and to discover how to apply your own talent. Sometimes there are also job fairs where you can meet with potential employers and fellow students who are looking for a job as well, who may give you a hint about where to look. I have heard a lot about free movie events and colleges. Students usually get together and watch a particular film with a discussion aftermath. In my college, Kingsborough, the administration always provided free snacks, or sometimes sandwiches, and beverages for those who attended the events. If they do something like that in your university, don’t miss it!

Field trips. If your university organizes any trips, this is the best way to go. I didn’t get a chance to get on many of those, but I once received a ticket for a Broadway show for only $13, and an admission to Six Flags Great Adventure for as low as $13 as well. Moreover, the park was closed that day; there were only college students and kids from high school, and we didn’t have to deal with the lines. It was affordable; I had a lot of fun and some tan, plus communicating with other students made me several new friends.

Every college has its own organizations and events. Try to attend as many as possible. It is not only about making friends and having a good time with them; you will also graduate with vivid memories about your school years, so that you will remember one day how exciting your life in college was.

Ekaterina Lalo, Campus Clipper Blogger

For more of my articles on values in New York City, check out my new blog http://nycvalues.blogspot.com

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THE MAIN EVENT: V-DAY

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

Last week I wrote to you all about the importance of planning the proper Valentine’s evening, and about how to prepare yourself physically and mentally for the expectations of this once-in-a-year extravaganza of love. Well, for today, I have decided not to conclude this 2-week installment with a continuation of where I left off and provide a list of romantic restaurants or bars perfect for sharing that Hallmark intimate moment—with every other couple in New York City at your side. After all, it is basically assumed that a Valentine’s date will consist of dinner followed by drinks, or some sort of entertainment. But, for today’s blog, I want to write about alternatives to this standard procedure of date-night etiquette. I think the entire conception of Valentine’s has been skewed by the idea of “going out.” For most people, having dinner at a restaurant is an acceptable middle-ground for meeting a person on a date, so my suggestions may not be appropriate for those just beginning a relationship or on a first-date.

Like other holidays, Valentine’s Day is built around an idea, love, that is often lost in the fray of planning and scheduling what is most likely an expensive night out. But, we must not forget the original purpose of the day that has driven us to celebrate it. If you want to celebrate the love you have for someone, why not consider creating something that expresses this instead of just making reservations. For the artistically inclined, this may not be much of an insight, as it is something natural for you, but for others, do not be intimidated if you are not a master of pastels. Expressing yourself is not about reaching a standard, but simply about mining your creative impulses to express how you feel.

If you are still wary about getting crafty, then why not forget about living up to the expectations of Valentine’s altogether by purposely undermining them. Go out to your local party store, buy as many obnoxious and kitschy decorations you can afford, adorn your apartment in a smattering of festive reds and cupid silhouettes, invite all your friends over, and throw a party that has nothing to do with Valentine’s except the decorations.

Above all, the easiest way to ensure a memorable date, whether it is Valentine’s or not, is to be creative and be yourself.

 

Written by Derek Parsons, Campus Clipper Blogger

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How to Overcome Your Shyness

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
Being shy often prevents you from flying high, and I know this from my own experience. There are so many things that you don’t know and other people do. Instead of struggling to find out where to get a great deal to a gym or how to sell back your textbooks, ask your college mate. When you graduate, you will have to search for an internship and later a job, and shyness is not the best of your qualifications you need to show at an interview. If you had trouble with communicating your thoughts or abilities to people around you, college years are the time to fight it.  Here are some tips that may help you to become more self-confident and overcome your shy nature:
1. Find out what kind of communication is the most challenging for you. Are you lost while talking to strangers over the phone, or are you suddenly shy face-to-face? Knowing that is essential because it gives you the field to work on. Once you realize where your weakness lies, push yourself to be in situations that make you feel uncomfortable. When a child starts walking, he or she is not happy falling down with every step. But no one have ever given up walking because it is so difficult. Every skill requires training, and communication is not an exception.
2. Get a job that requires you to talk. If you are afraid of calling strangers on the phone, get a job in telemarketing and advertising. First of all, they will train you to communicate with people in an effective way. Secondly, you will have enough practice, and eventually, you will get better at it. And finally, you will be encouraged by a paycheck. It will be especially helpful for you to get a job where you get paid depending on how much you sell. This way you will be pushed to polish your communication skills while looking for the most persuasive ways to get them to buy your products. You will have to be creative, and you will have no time to be scared. Gradually, you will see that your fear vanishes with every phone call you make.
3. Visit your professors during their office hours. Professors usually put some time aside for meeting with students, and they sometimes become upset that students never show up. If you stop by an office during a break you would otherwise spend eating unhealthy food offered by cafeteria, you may discuss the test that you failed, ask questions that don’t let you sleep and even get an idea about which grade you are going for in the course. Professors can give you an academic and personal advice. Another good thing is that they will get to know you and they will see that you are interested in their subject and want to do well in their course. And of course, you will feel less shy next time you have an encounter with them.
4. Participate in student clubs and study groups. Not only will it give you the opportunity to work on your shyness and meet new friends; it will also allow you to learn from your peers and discuss problems that bother you. When you are truly passionate and knowledgeable about something, you will never be afraid to talk about it with other people, especially if they are interested in the same things or issues you are.
5. Deliver oral presentations. It is so frightening for everyone to stand in front of the whole class and report about something. But no matter what job you will have in the future, you will be required to speak at the meetings, unless you are planning to be a secretary or a librarian for you whole life. Therefore, the earlier you learn how to deliver successful presentations, the easier it will be for you to use it to the benefit of your career. If your college offers a public speaking course, take it as soon as possible. This is not only a skill that you use at work, this may be the ability that will get you the job you want.
6. Talk to random people. Ask strangers for directions, discuss the snow storm warning with a lady sitting next to you on the train and merely ask your peers questions. You will get the information you need and discover the boldness you may never knew you had deep inside you.
Ekaterina Lalo
To read more of my articles, check out my blog: http://nycvalues.blogspot.com/
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BE ANNOYINGLY HAPPY

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

Happiness, to me, was always a shiny yellow ball that, when I reached a certain point in my life, would descend upon me in an ethereal manner and consume all my fears. Well, that’s so untrue I don’t know where to begin. In matters of love and romance, happiness cannot be achieved between two people, no matter the compatibility of interests, unless each individual is independently happy.

How then, can you be happy if you don’t have everything you want, or even need? The answer is annoyingly simple: it’s not a matter of having what you want, but wanting what you have. This does not eliminate ambition, or instill placency, it simply stifles the all consuming self pity that can hinder one’s ability to achieve. Shiny, happy people do well in life, but how do you become one of those people?

Power of Food: If you pour sugar into the gas tank of a car, it doesn’t run, it clogs up the work and creates a mechanic’s nightmare. Now, imagine your body as a car, you put the wrong things in and you’ll get little in return. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have fats or sweets, but if you’re feeling lethargic and run down, the first instinct is to grab for the comfort foods. The fuzzy end of the lollipop is where you’ll find yourself in this situation, because that cheeseburger or candy bar will only dig you deeper into exhaustion. Find things that are healthy, but taste good. I always feel better after I eat a salad, but I don’t stick to low fat dressing with plain lettuce. I spice it up with crumbled goat cheese, craisins, chopped walnuts, and a variety of other cheeses, dried fruits, and nuts, and maybe some croutons or parmesan. Add flavor to your healthy foods, at least you’re eating a salad. I love to warm up pineapple and bananas in a frying pan and sprinkle them with cinnamon. You have to enjoy what you do and eat, because what’s the fun of being skinny and energetic if you constantly starve yourself?

Physical Fun: What ever happened to just running because it was fun? When was the last time your friend chased you through a park and it wasn’t because you slept with his girlfriend or stole his iPod? It’s a struggle to go out there and exercise if you’re not hard wired for it, but once you get on a roll, you might like it. The key is to find something that gets to excited, something that holds your attention. I like to box and to row. I can’t afford to row, so wherever I’m living I find a place that offers boxing. I recommend a private trainer for the first couple of times, and most places will offer some kind of deal. I’m often surprised that I pay someone to make me work until I feel like passing out, but I feel great after and my energy level goes through the roof. I have friends who play Frisbee, join soccer teams, jog, do pole dancing and strip tease classes, take dance lessons, and they all rave about how much more motivation they have when they exercise, they just had to find something to maintain their interest. Even if it’s watching TV while you work out, whatever does it.

Self-Hypnosis: Alright, I know this sounds crazy, but you can actually talk yourself into being happier. A lot of us are naturally inclined to find the negativity in a situation before they look to the positive. Here’s a little trick that’ll get you smiling more: when you walk into work in the morning, before you do anything, write down three things you’re grateful for. After fifteen days, you’ll start to see a significant improvement in your demeanor because you’re training your mind to naturally try to find positive things in your environment. This also works when you’re fighting with your hubby, sit down, breathe, and tell him or her three things about them that you’re grateful for. Verbalizing makes it more tangible. I like to list three things I’m grateful for before I go to sleep at night, out loud, and it helps calm me into a state where I can more easily fall asleep, and it prepares me for the morning. Mind over matter, just try it.

Healthy people are happy people, and happy people make great partners. Try a few of these tips, and maybe sit yourself down and ask what it is you want in life. Even if you know you want to be in better shape, have better skin, a better job, a new pair of sneakers, etc, verbalizing it will make it easier to visualize and eventually obtain. Trust yourself.

Written by Ashley Teal, Campus Clipper Blogger

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A Prelude To V-Day

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

It’s that perilous time of year again, when that one, fateful day either reminds of us how hopelessly alone we are, or how tragically in love we are. But, maybe that is too dramatic. Valentine’s Day is, nonetheless, the holiday of love, the conferred day to celebrate the success of a current relationship, or, with hopeful tidings, begin one anew. Although most people begin planning their Valentine’s evening well in advance (or at least should, HINT!), most often overlook some of the more personal measures that can be taken to ensure a memorable V-Day, and with so much pressure to prepare a unique and romantic evening on the town, you do not want the little things to get in the way.

Some of these recommendations may be seen as superficial or shallow, but the presentation of self is an important way to make an excellent first impression and show your date that he/she means enough to you to properly look the part. It’s a matter of respect. That being said, in the limited time left before Valentine’s (Countdown: 11 days!), try getting into a routine at the gym to boost your energy level and self-confidence. Most people think working out is strictly for physical benefits, but it’s also a great way to boost your mood and self-esteem.

Even if you get reservations at an exclusive restaurant, unless your clothes are cleaned and pressed properly you will look very out of place. Make sure to plan your outfit in advance, or at least have a general idea of what you might wear and make sure everything is cleaned and ready to go for your night out. Dry cleaning is usually the safest bet. Letting a professional clean and press your clothes will ensure you they will be taken care of properly and not shrunken and wrinkled as they usually come out after my loads of laundry.

Another helpful tip is to plan a trip to a salon or barber and make sure your hair is “did” just right. Nothing drastic, unless it’s been a few weeks or months, but just enough to trim you up and clean the edges around your neck and sideburns (for the guys), or to trim the frayed ends of hair (ladies). I would recommend not trying a new style at this moment. It could be a big gamble and the risk may not prove beneficial. Stick to the basics.

Perhaps my most important piece of pre-Valentine’s Day advice is to be mentally prepared. But, how to do that? Well, I recommend reading Pablo Neruda’s little book, Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair. A personal favorite, this book will reveal to you the ranges of love and give the mental readiness to embrace Valentine’s. Read it, again and again

Here are some coupon links to prepare for a date on a budget:

Gym:

Synergy Fitness Clubs

Salon/Barber:

Cocoro Salon

East 6th Street Barber Shop

Derek Parsons

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First Dates: Let it be

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

Remember the “dating” habits of junior high? Do you like me? Check yes; check no. There was no dating, simply a quick glance from across the room and zip bam boom the two of you are all wet puppy eyes and picking out fine china. Later on, things got a little more complicated and I’m not quite sure what did it. Broken hearts, realism, cynicism, or maybe residual scarring from that fifth grade beau that never shared his PB & J. Occasionally two friends get together after a long time of “hanging out” or that one night stand turns out to be the real thing and nothing like its original shape, but for the most part we have to date. Dating is a wonderful thing, resembling a sort of salad bar. With no commitment, a clean slate, and a night out, there’s nothing to lose. Here are some fun (and hopefully helpful) little tips for a first date:

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy: You’re most likely going to date a lot, and I highly recommend it, before you even settle into a committed relationship, so take it easy on the first date. Don’t try so hard to impress or to tell your date every tiny detail about yourself. The great thing about getting to know someone is, well, getting to know someone. All the small surprises are the fizzy bubbles that swim up your nose when you drink a soda, so don’t gulp it all down- you’re almost certain to get sick. Try not to summarize yourself, they need to form their own opinion of you; they’d rather read the novel than get the cliff notes. Instead, talk about things you enjoy, things you have in common, or even something quirky that pops into your mind. Breathe, and keep things simple. Don’t begin with the Spanish inquisition, it was uncomfortable in the fifteenth century, and that hasn’t changed. You should be interested in your date, curious about them, but you’re not conducting a job interview.

Forever: This is a first date, repeat that to yourself every time you begin imagining how he’ll look in a tuxedo or if your mother will like him. This isn’t a habit for all of us, but I’ve encountered a large number of friends, worsening with age, that try to map out their relationship early on and it almost always ends up in tears and Haagen-Dazs. I once had a friend imagine the eulogy he would deliver at her funeral after having been married for forty years (after a first date); it ended in sweatpants for a week and boxes of raw brownie batter.

Don’t expect everything to be perfect, and don’t expect a commitment, just enjoy your time together. Think of it as only happening for one night, plan on never seeing this person again, and if it works, it works, if not, you can be thankful for the good time or relish in the relief of never having to see them again.

Liar, Liar: How many times have you caught yourself saying something that you know is a grandiose embellishment or not even remotely true  to someone you just met? This is a time when honesty is the best policy. If you didn’t climb Everest, save a baby from a burning building, or attend Yale, don’t say you did. It’s true, you may never see this person again, but I’m a firm believer in the universe’s sense of humor, and a liar is the prime source of entertainment for the powers that be. If you do end up in a relationship, how embarrassing is it to be caught when they realize that you don’t spend much time working out like an Olympic athlete should. Be you, because if they don’t like who you are, do you want to be in a relationship with them? There is no amount of rhetoric that should make you be a different person.

Mind Your P’s & Q’s: This seems like an obvious tip, but a lack of manners is the culprit in most bad dates. Unless you’re at a restaurant where the culture requires eating with one’s hands, use utensils. Gentleman, you don’t have to throw your coat over a puddle or offer grand (sometimes terrifying) gestures, just open a door or two. Also, a guiding hand on the small of her back is a risk, but sometimes a real winner. Ladies, smile! Don’t be the dining dead, offer those ivories up as part of the package, because smiling releases endorphins and it’ll boost your good time vibes. If you eat in a restaurant, be nice to your server. Yes, they signed up to wait on people, but they did not sign up to deal with condescending jack wagons all night. These are general rules that should apply to every day, but for the people out there not utilizing them, try starting with a first date.

Most importantly, remember to have a good time! Make fun plans, because going on a date is the best excuse to do something exciting. In a relationship, you have to enjoy doing things together, and an active date can sometimes be the best way to limit verbal diarrhea. Love isn’t all drama, it’s predominately giggles, so go out and get yourself some laughing fits.

Written by Ashley Teal, Campus Clipper Blogger

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