In this issue:
- This Saturday, June 30 – Starlight Rooftop Dinner Party at *La Vita* in Chicago
- Next Saturday, July 7 – “Lucky 7s Celebration” Dinner Dance at *Infinity Room* in Lincolnshire
- “The Hunt and Sort Approach: It’s Easy, It’s Cheap – But Is It Effective ?”

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This Saturday, Don’t Be Left Out – Cocktails and Dinner Up On the Roof in Little Italy
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The next two holiday weekends, we have two more outstanding evenings planned.

This Saturday, June 30, the Gourmet Advocates host a wondrous “Starlight Rooftop Dinner Party” at the highly regarded La Vita Italian restaurant on Taylor Street in Little Italy. This charming trattoria is one of our favorite spots for a summer party because of its great food and its intimate rooftop garden atmosphere. So rise above the sweltering concrete at street level, come up and join us “Up On the Roof” for a cool evening of cocktails, fine food, conversation and fun! This party is open to all singles and is $47 for members and $49 for guests.
 
Due to the enthusiastic response to this past Saturday’s cocktails on the patio, dinner party and dancing, and because we had such a terrific time the last time Ed Collins performed, we have combined these elements into one fabulous party for Saturday, July 7. The “Lucky 7s Celebration” will take place at the Infinity Room in Lincolnshire. It will include cocktails on the patio and a full dinner with 3 entrees (not choice of, you get all 3), plus all the trimmings. To make the “Lucky 7s Celebration,” commemorating 07-07-07, truly unbeatable, we have hired Ed Collins to perform throughout the evening. What’s even better? Your entire evening is $35 for all singles (in advance) or $38 at the door. 
 
Now those are two very exciting parties! Don’t be left out – sign up for both right now at www.GourmetAdvocates.com/singlepage.html or call me any evening at 773-929-6534 with your charge card info.

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Details for the Next Two Great Gourmet Advocates Parties – We Hope You’ll Join Us!
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When? – This Saturday, June 30, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.What? – Starlight Rooftop Dinner Party Featuring Delectable Italian Cuisine at The Chic Where? -
 

La Vita Italian Restaurant

1359 W. Taylor (at Loomis) in Chicago’s Little Italy
 
Enjoy one of our most popular annual gatherings. Meet and socialize with other singles while enjoying the culinary pleasures of La Vita, an accomplished trattoria in the restored area of Chicago’s Little Italy. Feast on delicious Northern Italian dishes that combine rich traditional flavors with imaginative twists, all in a delightful rooftop garden atmosphere that is cozy, chic and contemporary.
 
Your evening begins with a cocktail party (cash bar), followed by a plated dinner, both on the restaurant’s inviting rooftop deck. Choose from:
- Shrimp Risotto al Diavolo – Tiger Shrimp with Slow Cooked Arborio Rice Sautéed with Shallots, tossed in a Spicy Marinara Sauce
- Rigatoni con Salsiccia – Rigatoni Pasta Tossed in a Zesty Tomato Sauce with Crumbled Italian Sausage, Mushrooms and Parmesan Cheese
- Pork Chops Vesuvio – Twin Pork Chops Sautéed with Garlic, Peas and Roasted Potatoes in a Garlic Wine Sauce 
- Sautéed Tilapia with Artichokes and Capers in a Lemon Butter Sauce
- Chicken Breasts Marsala Sautéed with Wild Mushrooms in a Marsala Wine Sauce
- Sautéed Norwegian Salmon, with Roasted Red Peppers, Pepperoncinis and Fresh Oregano in a Zesty Garlic Sauce over Potatoes
- Veal Saltimbocca – Sautéed Veal with Sage, Prosciutto and Mozzarella with a side of Penne in Marinara Sauce
Also included is house salad and appropriate sides and coffee after dinner. Your evening is $47 for dinner, taxes and tips for advance registrations. Guests and non-members are welcome for $49. Space is limited, so sign up early. Walk-ups will also be accepted at the door for $49, space permitting. Island casual attire. Park with a valet or the street.

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When? – Next Saturday, July 7, 6:30 – 11:30 p.m.What? – The Gourmet Advocates and New Single Friends Host the “Lucky 7s Celebration” with Cocktails on the Patio, Dinner and Dancing at the Popular New Where? - 

Infinity Room

185 Milwaukee Avenue (at Old Half Day Road) in Lincolnshire
 
There is only one 07-07-07 date that will appear in our lifetime. The Gourmet Advocates and New Single Friends commemorate this event by hosting the “Lucky 7s Celebration” at the new Infinity Room in the northern suburbs.
 
Meet, mingle and socialize with other singles while enjoying an exciting combination of cocktails on the patio, a three-entrée dinner (featuring the Infinity Room’s contemporary casual cuisine) and dancing to the icy cool sounds of Ed Collins to cut through summer’s heat. The party is open to all singles 30s through 50s.
 
Featuring a blend of upscale casual classics and comfort food, the Infinity Room is quickly becoming established as a casual, laid-back venue for good food and lively entertainment in a pleasing retro atmosphere. Infinity’s inviting ambiance is not only conducive to casual dining but also post-dinner dancing to the high-energy sounds of Eddie Collins, who performs Motown, Oldies and Contemporary Rock.
 
The evening begins with a cocktail party (cash bar) in the restaurant’s outdoor patio
(weather permitting), followed by a three-entree dinner party (served family-style).
Your entrees include ALL the following:
- Honey Ginger Glazed Salmon
- Chicken Marsala – Chicken Breast in a Marsala Wine Sauce with Mushrooms
- Mostoccoli Rustica – Italian Sausage, Eggplant, Chicken, Garlic, and Fresh Mozzarella Cheese tossed with Mostoccoli Pasta in Marinara Sauce
Also included with dinner are a Mixed Green Salad, Vegetable Medley, Roasted Potatoes and Coffee.
 
After dinner, enjoy more conversation and dancing. Your evening is $35 in advance and $38 at the door, for dinner, dancing, taxes and tips for advance registrations. We are expecting a large crowd, so walk-ups will be accepted at the door only as space permits. Casual, non-jean attire. Park in the lot.
 
Sign up for any GA party right now at www.GourmetAdvocates.com/singlepage.html

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Singles Notebook – “Get-Real” Thoughts and Opinions from Jim “Senny” Senhauser

“The Hunt and Sort Approach: It’s Easy, It’s Cheap – But Is It Effective?

Often, I am asked, “Why join a singles dining and social club instead of simply participating in activities like Internet dating, speed dating, video dating, the personals ads and other individual pursuits?”

Looking at singles activities and singles groups or clubs, it is important to note the differences. Although the two approaches are poles apart, lots of people mistakenly lump them together under “looking for someone I’m interested in.”

Speed dating, Internet dating, the personals ads, video dating, participating in individual singles events (like singles mixers and individual dances), and even cruising the bars are “transactional” approaches. They are in essence “hunting” and “sorting” approaches, intended to help singles review a variety of potential dates quickly, usually based on limited criteria (i.e. physical appearance, job, clothes, “small talk” conversation). Conversation doesn’t usually include any degree of in-depth probing. Rarely is there a chance, prior to follow-up dates, to clearly observe how these people act and interact with others. When it comes to personals ads and Internet dating, even determining the marital status of your “date” can be problematic.

These sorting mechanisms are useful because of their speed in filtering through lots of singles in a short time. They are strictly quantitative approaches and should be looked upon as such, nothing more. Certainly you cannot be expected to get to really know much about what makes someone tick through an E-mail or a 3-minute conversation when they have their best face on. The same is true of many one-event singles encounters. You meet someone and find out some of their background, but not much in-depth. Speed, convenience and lack of up-front commitment are their primary advantages. In “staged” approaches, like Internet dating, video dating and 3-minute dating, the process is rarely fun. And don’t look to find any residual benefit.

Contrast the approaches mentioned above with those of a singles social club, dining club, athletic club, civic or church organization. Clubs like the Gourmet Advocates, sponsor a variety of fun social events in which you participate with other singles. In so doing, you can observe, interact and network with the members over time, getting to know them on a more qualitative basis. This approach is referred to as “relational,” that is easing into dating by developing friendships and other relationships. Your resulting friendships may evolve into dating or simply networking to meet other potential dates.

This “friends first” process simply does not occur in Internet dating, speed dating, video dating, the personals ads or other quantitative sorting approaches. That is because transactional approaches lack continuity.

Another advantage of the relational club approach is that joining provides a certain commitment to the process. Someone who expends the time and money to join a club and participate is probably more likely to be interested in a relationship rather than just a chance encounter.

So, then what is the best way to get the most out of a dining and social club and how do you find that “special someone”? My answer may surprise you. The absolute best way to meet that special someone is to first be that special someone with each and every person you meet.

What on earth do I mean? Think about how you react, interact and relate to others at singles events, especially those people, both male and female, who you are not interested in dating. How would they describe you? Would they say that you are warm, friendly, outgoing, a good listener, enthusiastic, positive and upbeat, fun to be around, kind, considerate, polite and respectful to everybody you meet? Would they likely tell their friends you are a “real catch” that somebody would be lucky to find?

Contrast that with a description of you or another single that might include: aloof, arrogant, self-absorbed, brusque, obnoxious, shallow, overly aggressive, inconsiderate, rude, distant, catty, pessimistic, complaining or other similar negative-sounding attributes. It paints a picture of a person who would not be much fun to be around, much less to go out with.

But if you are not interested dating these people, why should you care? Here’s why — by treating anyone as if they do not matter, it becomes obvious to those that you are interested in dating. And, if they themselves are a quality person (a special someone), it will surely matter to them, regardless of how good-looking or outwardly charming you can be otherwise. Besides, some of those people you may not be interested in dating may be close friends with some of those you are. And wouldn’t you like them to introduce and recommend you?

For anyone who thinks that I am recommending that you act differently in a crowd from now on, I am not. I am instead suggesting that if you really want to find that special someone, you have to actually BE DIFFERENT – take the time to improve your attitude and change your behavior toward others and to become that special someone yourself! After all, the best way to find that person you want is to be the person that they’ll want to be with.

Here’s to being the kind of person that you and your someone special deserves.

Jim Senhauser’s “Singles Notebook” column (used with permission) is ©2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 IdeaTree, Ltd., Chicago, IL 60613. “IdeaTree” is a registered trademark of IdeaTree, Ltd.