In this issue:
- This Sat., May 2 – “Cinco de Mayo Minus 3″ Cocktail Party/Dance at Serenity Lounge in Wood Dale
- Next Friday, May 8 – Cocktails, Dinner and Sing-Along Live Pianos at Big Shot Piano Lounge in AH
- “Why Do We Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Anyway?” and “How Does a Flu Outbreak Get Started?”

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Hot Celebration This Saturday – Cinco de Mayo with Cocktails, Dancing & Appetizers Near O’Hare
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This weekend, on Saturday, May 2, Gourmet Connections and New Singles Friends join together to host “Cinco de Mayo Minus 3 Leaves 2 – You and Me” a pre-holiday celebration cocktail party and dance. The venue for this fun and festive celebration will be Serenity Lounge on Irving Park Road in Wood Dale.
 
This very affordable event features a heavy appetizer buffet and a DJ for dancing, plus some drink specials including, of course, margaritas. Beachy casual attire is encouraged, including flowered shirts, shorts or sombreros. Our past two parties at *Serenity Lounge* have drawn 70 singles each time. Please drop me a line to tell us if you will be attending. 
  
Your entire evening is $8 for members, non-members and guests. This is an open party for all singles (age approx. 34-60), regardless of past participation.
  
No need to sign up in advance for this great little gathering. We would like to know if you will be attending. If you will be these, please E-mail me at jims@gourmetconnections.com and notify me in advance, if at all possible.
  
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Next weekend is a holiday, in fact, one of the most important holidays, so our party will be on Friday, May 8. We have set up a unique gathering for all singles (age approx. 34-60) at the lively and highly appealing Big Shot Piano Lounge in downtown Arlington Heights (on the lower level of the Metropolis Theater).
  
Big Shot Piano Lounge and Restaurant features terrific cuisine and live sing-along piano performers all evening long. And, this great party is a very affordable $39 including passed hors d’ oeuvres, a full dinner, all taxes and tips and entertainment all evening long. That’s one heckofadeel!
 
Sign up now for this special party and and all Gourmet Connections and Chicago Singles Dining outings at www.gourmetconnections.com/singlepage.html
  
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Details for Saturday’s Festive Cinco de Mayo Cocktail Dance & Next Week’s Piano Dinner Party
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When? -   This Saturday, May 2 – 7:30-11:30 p.m.
 
What? -   Gourmet Connections and New Single Friends Host “Cinco de Mayo Minus 3″ a Themed Cocktail Party and Dance at the
  
Where? -

Serenity Lounge

334 Georgetown Square (Prospect Ave. at Irving Park Road) in Wood Dale (1 mile S. of Thorndale, between Rt. 53 and Rt. 83)
 
Enjoy an entertaining “Cinco de Mayo Minus 3 Leaves 2 – You and Me” Pre-Holiday Party and Dance hosted by Gourmet Connections and New Single Friends for their members and friends at the attractive Serenity Lounge in Wood Dale. This is NOT a costume party, but “Cinco de Mayo Minus 3″ is a themed party.
  
Your exciting evening features drink specials, a substantial appetizer/ light supper buffet, and a DJ for dancing. Everybody is encouraged, but certainly not required, to dress in any Margaritaville-themed attire (flowered shirts, shorts, sombreros, whatever), but this is NOT a costume party. The attire for the evening is instead just “beachy” casual attire. Admission for the entire event is a mere $8 per person at the door. This party is open to all members, guests and their friends.
  
Any questions? Contact Senny at jims@GourmetConnections.com or call 773-929-6534.

Be sure to bring your friends and their friends and get ready to make some new ones, ’cause we’re all friends here. It’s certain to be a fun event at a very affordable cost. No need to pay in advance, but please tell me if you would, if you plan on attending. E-mail me at jims@GourmetConnections.com .
 
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When? -   Next Friday, May 8, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. 
  
What? -   Enjoy Cocktails, Marvelous American Fusion Cuisine and Lively Sing-Along Piano Music Throughout the Evening at the Delightful
 
Where? -

Big Shot Piano Lounge and Restaurant

2 S. Vail Ave. (at Campbell St., 1 block S. of Northwest Highway) in Downtown Arlington Heights
  
Meet and mingle with single friends both new and familiar at the highly appealing Big Shot Piano Lounge and Restaurant, an exciting food, wine and music venue in downtown Arlington Heights. The owners of this restaurant and lounge have transformed the subterranean space into a very inviting supper club that features wine-compatible American fusion cuisine along with an array of creative martini selections and wines by the glass. Before, throughout and after dinner, enjoy live performances of all your piano sing-along favorites from Billy Joel to Elton John and Don Henley to the Beatles.
 
Your evening starts with an hour-long cocktail party (cash bar) in the lounge area featuring a variety of passed hot hors d’oeuvres. Later, we’ll be seated in the dining room for a dinner party featuring your choice of six mouth-watering entrées. Share conversation and wine, martinis or drinks over the club’s appetizing dishes. One of the especially pleasing aspects of the new Big Shot Piano Lounge and Restaurant is the attractive surroundings. The contemporary atmosphere creates the perfect backdrop for live musical entertainment on weekends from two talented piano stylists nightly.
 
Choose from the following sumptuous entrees:
- “House Special” Creamy Basil Pesto with Pine Nuts and Sun-dried Tomatoes and Shrimp over Bow-Tie Pasta
- Seared Tilapia in an Herbed Beurre Blanc Sauce with Rice Pilaf and Veggies
- “Big Shot” Chicken – Two Chicken Breasts,  in a Creamy Red Pepper Sauce
- Peppered Beef Tenderloin Skewers Au Poivre over Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Artichoke Hearts
- Seared Scallops – Prosciutto-wrapped Scallops with Chipotle Sauce over Sautéed Portobello and Spinach with Rice Pilaf
- Oven-baked Scrod covered with Bread Crumbs, Butter and Garlic with Sautéed Mushrooms and Rice Pilaf
  
Your dinner also includes appropriate sides and your choice of soup or salad, plus coffee or tea. Your unique and truly fun evening is $39 for members and guests, which covers dinner, entertainment, taxes and tips for advance reservations. Walk-ups at the door are $40 (space permitting). Dressy casual attire. Park on the street or in the garage located next door to the restaurant.
  
Sign up now for this special party and and all Gourmet Connections and Chicago Singles Dining outings at www.gourmetconnections.com/singlepage.html
    
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Singles Notebook – “Get-Real” Thoughts and Opinions from Jim “Senny” Senhauser 
   

“Why Do We Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Anyway?”

  
This Saturday, as we have for several years, our club celebrates Cinco de Mayo. Many of you know this holiday as a celebration but are likely not sure what it commemorates. Many Americans think it is the Mexican Independence Day. That is not the case. Mexico declared its independence from Spain on September 16, 1810.
  
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of the Mexican army over the invading French army at the Battle of Puebla, 52 years later, on May 5, 1862. Unfortunately, the Mexican army was eventually again defeated when the French reinvaded. However, the Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) came to symbolize Mexican patriotism, pride and unity. The Mexican state of Puebla naturally celebrates the holiday, as do some larger Mexican cities.
  
However, in recent years, the emphasis of Cinco de Mayo has shifted from its original purpose. It has now become a much more commercial reason to eat, drink and celebrate, especially in the U.S. It is safe to say that Cinco de Mayo is probably more universally popular in the U.S. than it is in Mexico. In effect, it has been transformed Hallmark-style into the Mexican St. Patrick’s Day. This transition has been fueled by the growth in popularity in this country of the Margarita, Corona and Dos Equis beers and Mexican and Tex-Mex food over the course of the past 30 years.
  
So, whether you celebrate Cinco de Mayo because of its intended purpose or for the lively commercial holiday it has become, what does it matter? Just enjoy it.
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“How in the World Does a Flu Outbreak Get Started?”

   
No doubt many of you have been reading the past few days about the Swine Flu outbreak and wondering what it is and how it got started.
  
Unfortunately, Swine Flu, just like most regular strains of influenza, is an environmental disease, in this case a “zoonotic” disease. “Zoonotic” means that it is one that moves and mutates from animals to people. How does this happen? Unfortunately, it is usually the result of third world conditions of sanitation and proximity of people to animals.
  
Most strains of influenza begin with chickens or other fowl which unfortunately are virus-prone. The viruses that these birds carry are not often directly transmittable to humans. However, they can be transmitted to pigs, especially because of questionable sanitation practices. The viruses then genetically mutate in the pigs and may take on a form that can indeed be passed along to humans.
  
Once the virus gets into humans, it can mutate further, being passed from person to person through sneezing or touch. Increased globalization only exacerbates the problem, by making any virus difficult to contain geographically.
  
The best ways to deal with the Swine Flu are the same as with any virus:
  
- Get lots of sleep, exercise at least moderately and drink plenty of water (to keep your lymph system and kidneys operating).
  
- Wash your hands or use a sanitizer frequently. This is especially true if you have been in public places where you’ve touched doorknobs, shopping carts or baskets, railings, office equipment or been around small children.
  
- If you get a fever with sneezing, diarrhea and/or vomiting, see a doctor and don’t go to work.
  
World wide, the challenges of stopping these diseases are much more difficult. Over-population and poor sanitation and animal practices are rampant. Swine Flu is not the first of these possible pandemics and will surely not be the last. We just have to make sure that, as a country, we are prepared to deal with any outbreak quickly and resolutely. 
   
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I hope that you decide to join us this Saturday night for such a fun cocktail party (with heavy appetizers) and dancing to a DJ. It is a terrific way to meet, dance with and get to know and laugh with singles just like you!
     

  
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Successful Single! ©2009 – Success Singles Club, Ltd. (formerly the Gourmet Advocates, Ltd.)
 
Jim Senhauser’s “Singles Notebook” column (used with permission) is ©2009 IdeaTree, Ltd., Chicago, IL 60613. “IdeaTree” is a registered trademark of IdeaTree, Ltd.