In this issue:
- This Saturday, May 3 – “Cinco de Mayo” Celebration and Dinner at *La Canasta* in Chicago
- Next Saturday, May 10 – “Mother’s Day Eve” Celebration at *Ristorante Amalfi* in Bloomingdale
- “Easing Up My Stress Load: the 50 Worst Songs of All Time”
                                                      
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Join Us this Saturday! “Cinco de Mayo Party” at *La Canasta*; Party in Bloomingdale Next Week
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This Saturday, why not join us at a great little upscale and authentic Mexican restaurant in Lincoln Park for our “Cinco de Mayo” Celebration. On Saturday, May 3, we will be at the popular and highly rated La Canasta Grill at 1119 W. Webster Ave. for this special celebration.
 
The party starts with a cocktail hour (cash bar) featuring  $5 holiday margaritas or a martini or two or some hearty wine, and celebrate the with a bunch of great new single friends. Then there is an upscale Mexican dinner with 6 great entrees to choose from, along with a couple appetizers, appropriate sides and a mini-dessert. It is a real feast. 
 
This party is open to all singles (age approx. 34-late 50s), regardless of past participation. Register online at www.ChicagoSinglesDining.com/singlepage.html or call me with your card information. The party is $38 in advance for members or $40 for guests or at the door. It’s VERY important to select your entree in advance because the restaurant will be ultra busy that day.
 
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Next Saturday, May 10, from 7:00 -11:30 p.m., Gourmet Connections hosts a “Mother’s Day Eve Party,” at the popular Ristorante Amalfi in Bloomingdale. From the restaurant’s name, you can tell that it serves up mouth-watering Southern Italian dishes (the Amalfi Coast is in the southern part of Italy). To highlight your evening, Vic Flanagan will be singing throughout and after dinner. Vic sings everything from Smoky Robinson to Earth Wind and Fire, to the Spinners, Barry White and Marvin Gaye, to Elvis and Sinatra. It should be a very fun evening.
  
After our pre-dinner get-acquainted cocktail hour (cash bar), there will be a traditional Italian dinner party with 7 delicious dishes from which to choose, all with soup or salad, sides and coffee. Your cost for this complete evening of food, entertainment and fun is $39 for members or guests, and a very attractive $34 for any of you who are mothers in our party. After all, this is your special weekend! To register right away, go to www.GourmetConnections.com/singlepage.html
  
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Details for Saturday’s “Cinco de Mayo Party” in Lincoln Park and Next Week’s Party in Bloomingdale
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When? – This Saturday, May 3, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

What? – Celebrate “Cinco de Mayo” with a Mexican Feast and Margarita Mixer at the Popular Mexican Restaurant

Where? –

La Canasta Grill and Cantina

1119 W. Webster Ave. (2 blocks W. of Sheffield) in Chicago’s Lincoln Park
 
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo weekend in style with this “High Five” celebration with lots of other singles at La Canasta, a warm and welcoming upscale Mexican restaurant. Located in a mostly residential neighborhood in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, La Canasta (”the basket” in Spanish) takes its name from the market baskets Mexican women use to carry groceries. This cantina serves up authentic Mexican dishes (not Tex-Mex) prepared with great care and more-than-plentiful portions.
 
The appealing restaurant features some “killer” Margaritas for a $5 holiday weekend special for this event. Enjoy one or two (or your usual beverage) at our own bar during a get-acquainted cocktail hour (cash bar) prior to dinner.
 
Later, feast on tasty traditional Mexican dishes in La Canasta’s private dining room. Choose from 6 great entrees (each with chips and salsa, appropriate sides, two appetizers and mini-dessert):
- Pollo Chido – Grilled Chicken smothered in a Tamarind Glaze and Melted Chihuahua Cheese with a Chipotle-honey Salsa over Wild Mushrooms and Cilantro Potatoes
- Shrimp al Ajillo – Sautéed Jumbo Shrimp over Wild Mushroom Garlic Salsa, Cilantro Pesto Rice and Mixed Greens
- Tampiquena – Grilled Marinated Skirt Steak grilled to perfection, topped with Cilantro 
Chimichurri, served with Adobo Potatoes and a Spinach-Cheese Enchilada
- Huachinango Relleno – Fillet of Red Snapper, pan seared and stuffed with Fresh Crabmeat smothered in Tomato Olive Salsa served with White Rice and Mixed Greens
- Molcajete Steak – A Hot Lava Rock sizzles with Steak, Chihuahua Cheese, Grilled Cactus and Scallions, and is topped with Pico de Gallo and Tres Chilies Salsa
- Salmon al Ajillo – Pan-seared Salmon over Wild Mushroom Garlic Salsa, Cilantro Pesto Rice and Sautéed Spinach
 
For all this, your evening is still just $38, covering dinner, taxes and tips for advance reservations. Guests, non-members and walk-ups are welcome for $40. Dressy casual attire. Park on the street or with the valet. This party is open to all singles regardless of past participation.
 
Sign up online for this fun event right away at: www.chicagosinglesdining.com/singlepage.html
 
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When? – Saturday, May 10, 7:00 – 11:30 p.m.

What? – Start Your Mother’s Day Weekend with Delicious Italian Cuisine and Live Entertainment at

Where? -

Ristorante Amalfi

298 Glen Ellyn Road (just north of Army Trail Road) in Bloomingdale
 
What better way to mingle and socialize with other singles while celebrating “Mother’s Day Eve” with a dinner party with live entertainment by one of our favorite singers, Vic Flanagan, at the cozy and charming Southern Italian trattoria Ristorante Amalfi in Bloomingdale. Vic performs a pleasing variety of Motown, R&B and other popular 60s, 70s and 80s favorites. 
 
Your evening gets started with an hour-long cocktail party (cash bar) in the restaurant’s lounge area, where you can meet and get to know a number of other single professionals. This is followed by a seated dinner with a choice of 7 traditional Southern Italian dishes, along with lots of conversation and laughter. Your tasty choices include Orange Roughy, Italian Style Pork Chops, Traditional Lasagna, Chicken Carciofi with Artichokes, Beef Braciole, Linguini with Shrimp and Broccoli, or Swordfish Vesuvio. Yum! All include soup or salad and sides, plus coffee.
 
Here’s where it gets a little different. Your special evening of cocktails, conversation and dinner with entertainment is $39 for members or guests and, to celebrate Mother’s Day, $34 for any mothers in the crowd. Open to all singles, mid-30s through late 50s. To register, go to www.GourmetConnections.com/singlepage.html or call me at 773-929-6534.
 
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Singles Notebook – “Get-Real” Thoughts and Opinions from Jim “Senny” Senhauser

“Easing Up My Stress Load: the 50 Worst Songs of All Time”

As I was considering my column topic for today, I considered writing on relationships or reasons for the high price of gasoline. But, I rejected those heavier topics for a later date. Over the past few days, we’ve heard all about the poor economy, the musings of Reverend Wright and some gaffes on “American Idol.” These gave me an idea. Why not bring all those disparate elements together to show you that things could be a lot worse?

To illustrate my point, I compiled a roster of what I consider to be the worst songs of all time. Sure the music of today can be bad. There certainly is a lot of overly pre-programmed junk. By the same token, you could easily dig up 50 insipid Rap songs. Neither was considered for my countdown qualifier status. Nor were non-charting songs like William Shatner singing “Lucy in the Sky” or anything by German favorite David Hasselhoff. My dubious distinction listing includes only songs that were meant to be hits (and many of which charted very well), but which today provoke exclamations of, “What were we thinking?”

Your taste in music is no doubt different from mine — you may even like a few of these beauties. So with that intro, here are my 50 worst popular songs for your consideration:
50) Johnny Get Angry – Joanie Sommers (1962) Masochistic love tribute. “I want a brave man. I want a cave man.” Laughable.
49) Judy’s Turn to Cry – Leslie Gore (1963) “It’s My Party” was bad enough. No more.
48) Playground in My Mind – Clint Holmes (1973) Singsong torture.
47) Sugar, Sugar – Archies (1969). Don Kirchner put together this group from studio musicians. One of the largest selling songs ever, worldwide.
46) The Gypsy Cried – Lou Christie (1963) Initially, no one could believe that Christie was actually a guy singing that high.
45) Careless Whisper – Wham (1984) “Guilty feet have got no rhythm” – need I say more?
44) The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia – Vickie Lawrence (1973) Could a song ever come up with a more stupid premise? Even Georgians are not that medieval.
43) Ebony and Ivory – Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney (1982) Ripe tripe.
42) Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? – Culture Club (1982) After hearing this song – yes!
41) Run, Joey Run – David Geddes (1975) Run, David run.
40) She Bangs – Ricky Martin (2000) Hilariously bad. William Hung loved it – need I say more?
39) Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree – Tony Orlando and Dawn (1973) Very cheesy.
38) Havin’ My Baby – Paul Anka (1974) What a wonderful way to encourage teen pregnancy.
37) Martian Hop – the Ran Dells (1963) Cute song if you are a 6-year old.
36) 1, 2, 3 Red Light – 1910 Fruitgum Company (1968) Cute song if you are a 4-year old.
35) Ben – Michael Jackson (1972) Weird Michael’s love plea to a rat. We should have worried then.
34) Winchester Cathedral – New Vaudeville Band (1966) The Rudy Valee-style megaphone novelty wore off quickly.
33) Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas (1974) Makes me want to lose my kung pao.
32) Billy Don’t Be a Hero – Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods (1974) Sappy song took advantage of the anti-Vietnam War fervor of the times.
31) Ballad of the Green Berets – Sgt. Barry Sadler (1966) Sappy song capitalized on the pro-Vietnam War fervor of this period.
30) The Macarena – Los Del Rio (1996) Insipid song; insipid dance.
29) It’s Good News Week – Hedgehoppers Anonymous (1965) Unless you have to listen to this song, that is.
28) Video Killed the Radio Star- the Buggles (1979) The song has a point.
27) Whip It – Devo (1980) Only hit for a band named for “devolution.” How apropos.
26) Let It All Hang Out – the Hombres (1967) Good tune — unbelievably stupid lyrics.
25) Tell Laura I Love Her – Ray Peterson (1960) A deadly stock-car race for an engagement ring? Please!
24) Teen Angel – Mark Dinning (1959) Even sillier death song – car stalls on the RR tracks; she runs back to the car to retrieve his class ring and is killed by the train.
23) I Want Your Sex – George Michael (1987) George, get anywhere near me and I’ll deck you.
22) Harper Valley P.T.A. – Jeannie C. Riley (1968) You know the stupid premise – ‘nuff said.
21) Harper Valley P.T.A. (Later that Same Day) – Ben Colder (Sheb Wooley) (1968) Answer song to the above. Wooley should have stuck to his big hit “Purple People Eater”.
20) Convoy – C.W. McCall (1975) Song by an Omaha ad executive to exploit C.B. radio craze. McCall used the money to start American Gramophone, a high-end recording studio for groups like Mannheim Steamroller.
19) Watching Scotty Grow – Bobby Goldsboro (1971) The sappiest song from the king of sappy songs. He also wrote children’s books.
18) Who let the Dogs Out? – Baha Men (2000) Who let the Baha Men in?
17) In the Year 2525 – Zager and Evans (1969) It may take us that long to forget this song.
16) The Curly Shuffle – Jump ‘N the Saddle (1983) A boogie-woogie song about the Three Stooges– what could be better? Almost anything.
15) Running Bear – Johnny Preston (1959) Sets Native American relations back 100 years.
14) Mr. Custer – Larry Verne (1960) Make that back 200 years. Least politically correct lyrics ever; even in 1960 they were tasteless.
13) Simon Says – 1910 Fruitgum Company (1968). Worst song of a bad group.
12) Afternoon Delight – Starland Vocal Band (1976) Cheesy sophomoric titillation.
11) Tiptoe through the Tulips – Tiny Tim (1968) No wonder Miss Vicki left him.
10) The Bird’s the Word – the Rivingtons (1962) Stupid dance; stupid song.
9)  Surfin’ Bird – the Trashmen (1963) Stupider dance; stupid song. Appropriate group name.
8)  Disco Duck (Part 1) – Rick Dees (1976) Rick better duck after performing this crap.
7)  One Bad Apple – The Osmonds (1970) Their biggest (and only) hit – it figures.
6)  Ice, Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice (1990) One memorable and annoying riff throughout.
5)  Achy, Breaky Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus (1992) Billy and his mullet laughed all the way to the bank.
4)  I’m Too Sexy – Right Said Fred (1979) It had a beat, but no meat.
3)  Cotton-eye Joe – Rednex (1995) Traditional Blue-Grass song done by Swedish Techno performers for the ecstasy-laced club scene. Whoa!
2)  Gimme Dat Ding – the Pipkins (1970) Takes annoyance to a whole new level.
1)  The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace (1974) Chicago’s Chamber of Commerce should have paid to have this song taken off the air. The worst, most irritating song ever! If the tune and singing don’t get you, then the lyrics will.
 
Today’s music is more programmed, formulaic and homogenized. As bad as some of the above songs were, many were highly creative for their point in time. At least they had that going for them. And sometimes, even bad can make you smile.
 
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Have an enjoyable, fulfilling rest of the week. See you Saturday at La Canasta for Cinco de Mayo!
 

 
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Successful Single! ©2008 – Success Singles Club, Ltd. (formerly the Gourmet Advocates, Ltd.)
 
Jim Senhauser’s “Singles Notebook” column (used with permission) is ©2008 IdeaTree, Ltd., Chicago, IL 60613.  “IdeaTree” is a registered trademark of IdeaTree, Ltd.