Archive for June, 2008

Successful Single! – Volume II – Issue 26 June 25, 2008

In this issue:
- This Saturday, June 28 – “Singles Mini-Golf Open” and Tasty *Graziano* Italian Dinner in Niles
- Next Thursday, July 3 – “Holiday Kickoff Patio Party” Cocktails and Dinner at *Bad Dog Tavern*
- “When It Comes to Gasoline Prices, a Few Things You Probably Didn’t Know”

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Hit the Mini-Golf Links This Saturday in Niles, Followed by Mouth-Watering Italian at Graziano’s
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Whether you are a plastic grass duffer or just love Italian or American food and drink, this Saturday (June 28), we have something for you. In fact we have two parties in one. First, New Single Friends will host the Singles Mini-Golf Open from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at the Pioneer Park Mini-Golf at Harlem and Touhy in Niles.

We’ll put you together in co-ed teams that will vie for the title of “Tiger Woods of the Plastic Turf” over 18 grueling, fun-filled holes. Not a skilled player — no problem. We’ll balance the teams by skill level. This part of the party is $8 cash at the gate. No prepay required, but we would like to know who will be playing mini-golf. Please E-mail me and let me know.

Afterwards, the party shifts about a mile and a half east to Graziano’s, one of my favorite casual Italian restaurants. The Gourmet Connections part of the party day starts with cocktails at 6:30 in the restaurant’s bar area, followed by a seated dinner with seven luscious Italian and American entrees from which to choose — Wood-Roasted Chicken, Grilled Pork Chops, Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp, Pan-Fried Walleye Pike, Veal Marsala, House Special Risotto or Pecan-Crusted Grouper. YeeUM! This part of the event is $37 for members and $39 for non-members and guests. Dress is casual for this event.

Sign up for the cocktail and dinner party at www.gourmetconnections.com/singlepage.html. Again, both parties are open to all singles, regardless of past participation. You may attend either half of the party or both.

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Next week’s event is THURSDAY, July 3, and kicks off the Fourth of July weekend with a Patio Party at Bad Dog Tavern in Chicago’s Lincoln Square area. Enjoy cocktails on their inviting outdoor patio, followed by dinner there as well, with 7 terrific contemporary American dishes from which to choose – Sirloin Steak, Ahi Tuna, Pork Tenderloin, BBQ Ribs, Scallops, Tortellini Carbonara or Chicken Marsala. Very tasty!

Sign up for the cocktail and dinner party at www.chicagosinglesdining.com/singlepage.html. This event is open to all singles, regardless of past participation. Casual attire.

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Details for Saturday’s Mini-Golf & Italian Dining at Graziano’s; Next Thursday’s Bad Dog Patio Party
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When? – This Saturday, June 28, Mini-Golf 5:00-6:30 p.m. Cocktails and Dinner 6:30-9:30 p.m.

What? – New Single Friends Host the Singles Mini-Golf Open at Nile’s

Pioneer Park

7135 N. Harlem Ave. (at Touhy) in Niles

Followed by the Gourmet Connections Cocktail and Italian Dinner Party at

Where? -

Graziano’s

5960 W. Touhy Ave. (1 block W. of Lehigh, 1 mile W. of I-94) in Niles

New Single Friends and Gourmet Connections combine forces for a fun duel singles event featuring miniature golf followed by cocktails and a mouth-watering Italian dinner.

First, join New Single Friends for an outing to the popular miniature golf course Pioneer Park Mini-Golf in Pioneer Park (on the southeast corner of Harlem and Touhy Avenues). Step back into your childhood, or at least your teen years, to enjoy a competitive round (or just putter around) this 18-hole synthetic-turfed gem.

The Pioneer Park course includes water hazards, holes with jumps and other challenges to luck and skill. Meet us at 5:00 p.m. and we will assign you to a mixed team. Those wishing to participate in this part of the party are asked to bring $8 cash.

Whether you participate in the Singles Mini-Golf Open or not, meet, mingle and socialize with Gourmet Connections as we host a cocktail party and dinner at one of Senny’s favorite casual Italian restaurants, Graziano’s. The restaurant features tasty Italian and American specialty dishes. It is restaurant with inviting ambiance that blends the contemporary with colorful vintage posters. (Warning: Prepare for plentiful portions that may yield another meal or two).

Your evening begins with an hour-long cocktail party followed by a seated dinner. Your choices for dinner entrées include:
- Wood-Roasted Chicken with Roasted Potatoes and Pan Juices
- Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp in a Roasted Garlic Tomato Sauce
- Grilled Pork Chops with Fresh Spinach and Mashed Potatoes
- Pan-Fried Walleye Pike with a Citrus/White Wine/Butter Sauce and Asparagus
- Veal Marsala – Pan-seared Veal with Mushrooms in a Marsala Wine Glaze
- Specialty “Risotto of the Day” with Hand-beaten Arborio Rice and All the Sauce and Fixings
- Pecan-Crusted Grouper with Lemon Butter Sauce and Asparagus
Also included is your choice of soup or salad, plus coffee or tea.

Your dinner party is $37 for members and $39 for non-members and guests for dinner, taxes and tips for advance registrations. Walk-ups will also be accepted at the door for $39. Summer casual attire. Park in the lot. Register at www.gourmetconnections.com/singlepage.html

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When? – Next Thursday, July 3, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

What? – Chicago Singles Dining and Social Club Hosts You’re the “Big Dog” as We Kick Off the Holiday Weekend on the Patio at the New

Where? -

Bad Dog Tavern

4535 N. Lincoln Ave. (½ block S. of Wilson) in Chicago’s Lincoln Square

Kick off the July 4 Holiday Weekend with a patio party of single friends both new and familiar at Bad Dog Tavern. Recently re-opened under new food-oriented management, this new incarnation of the popular Lincoln Square restaurant features contemporary American comfort food. They serve up tasty updates of traditional classics. Your evening starts with an hour-long cocktail party (cash bar) on the restaurant’s inviting patio (weather permitting), followed by a seated dinner.

Enjoy sharing conversation over Bad Dog Tavern’s appetizing dishes. Choose from seven of the house’s sumptuous entrees:
- Sirloin Steak au Poivre – Pepper encrusted Certified Angus Beef Sirloin Steak served in a Wine Balsamic Reduction with Sautéed Spinach and Onion Straws
- Peppercorn Ahi Tuna – Fresh Peppercorn Encrusted Ahi Tuna Steak served in a Ginger Soy Glaze with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Asparagus
- Pork Tenderloin – Herb Marinated Pork Tenderloin in a White Wine Reduction, served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Barbecued Ribs – Slow Cooked Pork Ribs served in our Zesty BBQ Sauce with Mac and Cheese and Creamy Coleslaw
- Scallops – Sautéed Scallops served in a Tequila Lime Sauce with Wilted Spinach and Basmati Rice
- Tortellini Carbonara – Cheese Stuffed Tortellini served in a Classic Cream Sauce with Pancetta, Mushrooms and Peas
- Chicken Marsala – Marinated and Slow Cooked Breasts of Chicken, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, covered in a Mushroom Marsala Wine Sauce
Dinner also includes Seasonal Green Salad and coffee or tea. Your evening is $38 for all members and $40 for non-members or guests, which covers dinner, taxes and tips for advance reservations. Walk-ups at the door are $40.

This party is open to all singles, regardless of past participation. Casual attire. Park on the street or in the nearby lot. Street parking is easiest near the library on Sunnyside.

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

“When It Comes to Gasoline Prices, a Few Things You Probably Didn’t Know”

Sadly, over the past few months, you and I have learned the hard way that last summer, when gasoline was $3 a gallon, we really didn’t have it all that bad. This spring brought $4 to $4.50-a-gallon prices and an entirely new reality. Such a price hike to one of the “basics” in our way of life leads to a number of concerns and fears. It also spawns greater suspicion regarding root causes for the rapid boost.

Predictably, more than a few politicians, newspaper columnists, radio talk-show personalities and TV pundits have also gotten into the act. It seems everybody has an “off the cuff” explanation or theory of their own. What is clear is that the general public doesn’t fully understand the complexity of the issues. In addition, with the frustration we are feeling, there’s a lot of misinformation (some intentional) being circulated that plays on that misunderstanding. Much of the talk is about increasing domestic drilling to cut prices. I am not here to argue for or against it. I do know that the experts say that it will not help prices anytime soon, and possibly not ever.

It is on this canvass that I would like to add a few facts and some historical data you might not be aware of to help clarify the situation and make it easier to grasp:
1. The price of regular unleaded gasoline (in case you were charting it), is currently $4.07 a gallon. That is up $1.10 from this time last year, and up $2.60 since 2000. Diesel is at $4.65 a gallon, up $1.81 from a year ago. No wonder truckers are up in arms! That is also one reason for the big rise in the cost of food.

2. The price of oil today is around $135 a barrel. A year ago, it was at $69 a barrel, and in the year 2000, it was around $33 a barrel (up from $24 earlier in that year). While the price of oil has more than doubled, very little has changed in the past year in terms of actual supply and demand that would explain the massive jump in price.

Given that observation, here are some additional facts:
3. When gasoline topped $3 in the last year, domestic demand did stop growing. Since prices have exceeded $4, demand probably will even decline to some degree. This especially affects non-essential businesses. Nearly all retail is down. Restaurants are hurting badly, with people eating out less while the cost of food is rising. Tourist-related businesses are also way off. We are all getting squeezed.

4. Unfortunately, other demands for oil have continued to grow. Diesel and jet fuel costs are up even more than gasoline. This past harsh winter brought an increased demand for heating oil. China and India are boosting their thirst for oil due to greater industrialization. China has even been stockpiling diesel recently in preparation for the Olympics. Plastics, rubber, chemicals, and asphalt are also in high demand. We need to look for ways to replace these technologies and to foster greater recycling.

5. If you asked most people, they would likely say that the U.S. gets most of its oil from the Middle East, but that’s not the case. In 2007, the U.S. imported its oil (in order) from 1. Canada 2. Mexico 3. Saudi Arabia 4. Nigeria 5. Venezuela. So far, this year, the order has changed slightly, with the Saudis moving into second place.

The Iraq War has hurt oil prices in two ways:
6. First it has made us very unpopular in the Arab world, because they see us as the colonial force. That makes OPEC countries uneasy and less willing to do us any favors. The ongoing situation with Iran also concerns OPEC. The net result of these “unease factors” is higher prices.

7. An even greater and less reported impact of the Iraq War on the price of oil and gasoline is the reduced value of U.S. currency. Because our government borrowed all the money to finance the occupation and the Bush tax cuts concurrently, mainly from China, it’s led to a general devaluing of the dollar. Thus, it takes a lot more dollars today to buy the same amount of oil we did prevously. What’s more, that interest is going to China, who is our main competitor for oil purchases on the world market.

In the last two years, the dollar has fallen 13% in value against the Chinese Yuan (dollar) and 27% against the Euro. We currently owe China and Japan about a trillion dollars EACH. Our main supplier of oil is Canada. At the start of the Iraq War, the Canadian dollar was worth 62 cents (U.S.). Today, it’s at a little over $1.03 (U.S.) and even more against other world currencies. Thus, monetary differences alone account for more than a 60% rise in the price of oil from our biggest supplier, Canada. Moreover, politicians hesitate to talk about this in public, knowing it might hurt the value of the dollar more. In addition, they are the only ones who can do anything about it, by cutting spending or raising taxes — both unpopular.

8. Finally, you have heightened speculation in oil as a commodity. Trading and re-trading oil futures contracts can add a lot to the price but little real value to the product. Morgan-Stanley reportedly currently owns more oil contracts than anyone. This is largely because of the collapse of the U.S. housing market as a safe alternative. So instead, hedge funds and commodity traders have bet their dollars on oil. Look for much greater government regulation soon to reduce speculation..

I wish that I had more answers to go with my facts, data and observations. Hopefully, the information I have provided will give you a better understanding of the complexity of the issue. Sorry that I don’t have many solutions at this time. Perhaps I’ll come up with some ways that we might address these problems in the near future. Meanwhile, to find the cheapest gas in your zip code, you can go to:
http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx. Good hunting!

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Here’s to a wonderful summer weekend. Why not join us this Saturday in Niles for Mini-Golf, followed by drinks and mouth-watering italian food. It should be a terrific time!