In this issue:
- This Saturday, November 15 – Italian Dining and Dancing at New *Capri* in Oakbrook Terrace
- Next Friday, Nov. 21 – “Salsa Night” Cocktail Party with Lesson and Dancing at *Best Garden*
- “Are You Aware of the Hidden Dangers of Dry Cleaning?”  
                                     
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Join Us Saturday at New *Capri* in Oakbrook Terrace for Cocktails, Great Italian & Dancing
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This Saturday, November 15, our party express takes us to the brand new and highly appealing Capri Ristorante on 22nd Street in Oakbrook Terrace. There, just a few blocks west of Oak Brook Mall (at the former location of Vic’s Steakhouse), we’ll all gather to enjoy cocktails, a delicious Italian dinner and dancing to live music. Choose from 7 terrifically tasty entrees.
 
Your evening will be $40 for paid members and $42 for non-members and guests, which covers dinner, live entertainment from Nick Pontarelli, taxes and tips for advance registrations. Park in the lot. Dressy casual attire. Be sure to bring your “boogey shoes.” 
 
To sign up right away, go to www.gourmetconnections.com/singlepage.html

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Next Friday, November 21, Gourmet Connections and New Single Friends combine to host a “Salsa Night” cocktail and dance party in Wheeling at the bright new Best Garden. This attractive restaurant and lounge is in the Best Western Palwaukee Hotel on Milwaukee Avenue, just north of Willow Road.

This outing will be another one of our very popular and affordable cocktail and dance parties. The evening features a get-acquainted cocktail party with tasty appetizers and drink specials. This will be followed by a salsa dance lesson and later by dancing to salsa, Latin and American rock and pop music throughout the evening. More details will be available later today. 
 
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Details for This Saturday’s Cocktail and Italian Dinner Party with Dancing at the New Capri
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When? – This Saturday, November 15, 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. Followed by Dancing
  
What? – Enjoy a Cocktail and Dinner Party Featuring Delicious Southern Italian Cuisine Plus Dancing to Live Music at

Where? -
  

Capri Classic Italian Ristorante

17W400 22nd Street (2 blocks W. of Rt. 83 & Oak Brook Mall) in Oakbrook Terrace
  
Meet, mingle and socialize with other singles while enjoying the culinary pleasures of Capri Classic Italian Ristorante. Featuring Southern Italian cuisine, Capri serves up dishes utilizing fresh ingredients and traditional recipes. These are served in the restaurant’s newly remodeled, spacious atmosphere with an inviting ambiance conducive to both comfortable dining and post-dinner dancing.
 
The evening begins with a cocktail hour (cash bar) in the restaurant’s lounge area,
followed by a seated dinner party. Choose from 7 savory entrées:
-  Baccala alla Italiana – Cod Fillets Baked with Fresh Mushrooms, Olives and Onions in a Red Marinara Sauce
-  Ravioli Stuffed with Meat in a Romano Cheese Sauce with Meat Balls
-  Chicken Vesuvio, Sautéed Chicken Breast with Onions, Mushrooms and Seasonings, with Roasted Potatoes
-  Piatto di Mare – Shrimp, Clams, Squid, Mussels and Broccoli in a Red Marinara Sauce over Linguine
-  Bistecca alla Fiorentina – Ribeye Steak Sautéed with Mushrooms, Onions, Green Peppers, Roasted Potatoes and Garlic in Olive Oil
-  Tilapia Francese, Dipped in Egg Batter, Sautéed in a Lemon Sauce on a Bed of Sautéed Spinach
-  Veal Marsala, Medallions Sautéed in a Mushroom and Marsala Wine Sauce
 
Also included with dinner are your choice of soup or Capri House Salad and sides, plus coffee or tea. After dinner, enjoy more conversation and dancing to the music of Nick Pontarelli.
 
Your evening is $40 for members and $42 for non-members and guests, which covers dinner, entertainment, taxes and tips for advance registrations. Walk-ups will be accepted at the door for $42 (space permitting). Dressy casual attire. Park in the lot.
  
To register right away, go to www.gourmetconnections.com/singlepage.html
         
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Singles Notebook – “Get-Real” Thoughts and Opinions from Jim “Senny” Senhauser
  

“Are You Aware of the Hidden Dangers of Dry Cleaning?”

Any of you who have been around me for any period of time have surely come to realize that I have some allergies. Because of this, the further away something is from being “natural,” the more it is likely to affect me.
  
But today, I want to talk about a hidden danger, something that can trigger negative reactions in people who are not necessarily “allergic.” I am referring to the current common dry cleaning methods which are generally considered to be highly carcinogenic.
  
Most people don’t think about it, but the most common dry cleaning process consists of bathing clothes in a chemical solvent called perchloroethylene, or “perc” for short. You may be somewhat familiar with the telltale solvent smell that perc can leave on the clothes, which only gradually fades away. As I mentioned above, studies have shown perc to be a carcinogen, with reactions that include dizziness, liver damage,
nervous disorders and contact dermatitis.
  
I bring this issue up because a buddy of mine, who grew up in the dry cleaning business and continued in it after college, passed away at age 51. He died after a long bout with liver cancer. This summer, his son, who worked with him in the same business for awhile, also died of cancer. He was just 30 years old. 
  
Not being a doctor, I won’t comment on the research or the causes of these two men’s cancers. What I do know is that unless my perc dry cleaned clothes are aired out for at least a week outside, they give me headaches and make my skin turn red and itchy when I wear them. This is clearly not an acceptable price to pay for having clean clothes.
  
Seeking alternatives to perc dry cleaning in this area, I found three very viable approaches. The first, a company in Chicago, is called the Greener Cleaner, (5312 N. Broadway). This shop actually uses a process called wet cleaning, where they wash your clothes in water and special soaps and control shrinkage as they dry and press them. The Greener Cleaner performed well on sweaters and tightly woven wools, like gabardine, but was less effective on loosely woven wools or wool-silk blends. A similar process has begun to be used at Barry Regent Cleaners at 3000 N. Broadway in Chicago and Greener Cleaners at 63rd and Kingery in Willowbrook.
  
For my wools, I have used several dry cleaners in the Chicago area that employ the “GreenEarth” silicone cleaning system. This process, a joint venture that includes GE and Proctor and Gamble, is utilized at: 
 -  DeVries Cleaners at 147 Danada Square East in Wheaton (just off Naperville Rd.)

 -  Huntington Cleaners at 1610 W. Algonquin in Hoffman Estates

 -  Oakbrook One-hour Cleaners at 17 W 580 Butterfield Rd. #B in Oakbrook Terrace

 -  Spring Cleaners at 2735 111th St. #151 in Naperville.

I have used these cleaners for a couple years. My clothes come out spotless, without shrinkage and odor, yet the price is similar to that of perc-based cleaners. As time goes on, I am sure more cleaners will adopt this method, since there have been calls to eventually outlaw perc. Besides the health concerns, it also has been shown to have long-term air quality and ozone-depletion concerns associated with it.
   
Most recently, I have begun using Green Spin Cleaners at 2347 N. Clybourn in Lincoln Park (across from Costco). They clean your clothes with liquid carbon dioxide. I understand that Lake City Cleaners, 831 Emerson St., in Evanston has a system that combines a non-perc solvent with CO2.
  
Safer, more environmentally friendly dry cleaning with no residual odor — it is something that we all should seriously consider!
  
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Have a wonderful rest of the week. We all hope to see you this Saturday at Capri Classic Italian Ristorante*in Oakbrook Terrace. It should be one fantastic time. 
  

  
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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.