what's going on this weekend?

I'm sure everyone's anticipating the three-day weekend right about now.

Milk Labor Day as much as you can -- there's not another holiday until Thanksgiving in November.

Anyway, it seems like things are going to be kind of quiet as far as nightlife goes. Don't forget about the Friday bar crawl downtown, though. You might be able to actually hit your favorite party spot without worrying about too many crowds.

Saturday, I'm going to be at Loco's Grill & Pub for an upcoming bar profile. If you've never been there, you should totally check it out. It's a nice atmosphere and an especially good option if you don't like military guys. I've never seen one there.

I also need to hit up Belloo's on Saturday for Little Black Dress Night. You know the drill, ladies. Wear a black dress, get in free plus a $10 gift certificate for the bar.

Finally, if you find yourself longing for a hardcore nerd fix this weekend, check out Alan's blog. He's blogging live from Dragon*Con, North America's second largest sci-fi/fantasy convention.

TGIF

Happy Friday!

If even the upcoming weekend isn't enough to curb your workplace angst, maybe you should apply for this reality show. It lets contestants beat up their co-workers. Seriously.

The best part is that the majority of you probably already know who you'd punch first.

single sexy and free

San Francisco is the No. 1 place for singles, according to this article. Here are the top 10 places to be single and ready to mingle:

1. San Francisco

2. New York, N.Y.

3. Los Angeles

4. Atlanta

5. Chicago

6. Washington, D.C.

7. San Diego

8. Seattle

9. Dallas-Fort Worth

10. Philadelphia

Wow...I can't believe Columbus didn't make the list. Seriously, though, where do you think our city ranks in terms of being single-friendly?

girl on girl

OK, boys...get happy. Or intimidated.

One in four women would consider having sex with another woman, according to the results of this survey.

more celeb news

Rihanna is dating Shia LaBeouf, according to reports from Perez Hilton.

Even Stevens.

Umbrella.

Random.

hills have eyes

Fresh out of a stint in rehab, The Hills' Jason Wahler has gotten engaged, according to this article.

His fiancee, USC tennis star Katja Decker-Sadowski, is featured above. They've been dating for six months.

It's not too late to change your mind, Katja!

map this

By now you've probably heard about Miss South Carolina's failed run at public speaking during the Q&A portion of the Teen USA pageant. When asked why one-fifth of Americans can't locate America on a map, she responded:

"I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uhmmm, some people out there in our nation don’t have maps and uh, I believe that our, I, education like such as uh, South Africa, and uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uhhh, our education over here in the US should help the US, uh, should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for us."

Transcription courtesy of Best Week Ever. You can watch a video clip of her answer here.

Amazingly, she still finished third.

Nerves or stupidity?

more on weddings

If my last post didn't psych you out of your wedding obsession, maybe this will do the trick. More and more brides are buying two dresses -- one for the ceremony and one for the reception, according to this article.

For more bridal fun, read my co-worker Chris Johnson's recent column, available here. Disclaimer: I still maintain that women don't respond to engagement news with "weeeee!"

decent proposal

If you're a girl, it seems like it's virtually impossible to keep in touch with friends post-college without being constantly inundated by wedding talk. I was on the phone with one of my unmarried friends the other night, and we were talking about all the girls we know who have already gone on to marry and start families. As our convo ended, my friend said something to the effect of, "We're the last ones left."

Which seemed completely INSANE, seeing as neither of us has even reached 30. The comment reminded me of something you're supposed to say when you're 40.

There is, it seems, this subtle expectation you're supposed to have an elaborate fantasy proposal mapped out in your mind -- even when you're not dating anyone. The heighened caliber of proposals, paired with a recent rise in self-help books heightening women's expectations of The Perfect Guy, makes proposals like this one almost commonplace. It involves a Chicago guy who constructed an entire art exhibit -- and gallery opening -- in hopes of surprising his now-fiancee.

Don't worry, cynics.

There are still scenarios that backfire, such as this guy's attempt to propose to his gal at an Astros game. When the Kiss Cam zoomed in on the guy, "the woman looked surprised, then mad at the sight of the ring, either spilled her popcorn or dumped it on the gentleman's head and left amid a chorus of boos."

In the end, I guess it's important to remember that life is a balance of rejections and grand romantic gestures, and single moment of bliss hardly guarantees years of happiness.

read and reap

Haven't done this lately. Sorry.

Anyway, today's passage is from "Into the Dark," a romance novel by Cindy Gerard. The teaser on the front cover? "He's bound by duty...and unleashed by desire." Score.

Here goes:

How did he do this? How did he tell her he didn't want her this way? That he'd already taken her when she'd been on the downside of disaster and that placed him off the charts on his own personal creep-o-meter? How did he do that when he wanted her more than he wanted his left nut?

I don't know. You tell me.

the monday moan

Today's question is inspired by the popularity of online dating sites like WealthyMingle, "where millionaire singles and friends feel at home."

How long would you be willing to economically provide for a romantic partner? Say, for example, your mate was a talented writer who wanted to write his or her first novel. Doing so, however, would require taking a year off work to write. Would you agree to be the sole bread winner?

Discuss. Now.

weekend recap

That which doesn't kill us...

Gives us good blog post inspiration.

Right?

I stretched my comfort limits twice this weekend, first on Friday night when I volunteered to be hypnotized by Anthony Potmesil (aka: "The Erotic Hypnotic") at The Vault. I rationalized the decision by telling myself I'd have something really cool to post on the blog Monday morning. Still, I was pretty nervous, and maybe that's what prevented me from staying under Potmesil's spell the entire time. Or perhaps it was due to the fact that the male volunteer next to me kept grabbing my leg. Creep.

Anyway, Potmesil said that one in 10 people can be hypnotized, and that statistic was a little conservative for Saturday's crowd. Of the 10 people he pulled on stage, about 5 gave real entertainment value. I was under the spell during the sitting-down portion of the show, but when Potmesil said something about participants crawling around like goats, I was like, "Umm?"

The show -- one of five last weekend -- attracted an impressive crowd, and gave me a whole new impression of hypnosis. For example, I always thought that volunteers -- aka: victims -- have absolutely no idea what they did. False. You remember everything, you just don't know WHY you had enough balls to do it.

And I'm now a little more convinced that hypnosis is real. Even though I did wake up mid-experience -- after believing that every word the hypnotist said vibrated -- some people who knocked the validity of hypnosis pre-show were totally out during the show.

Let's just say I wish I would have still been under the spell when participants were humping their chairs like porn stars.

In a less eventful stretch of comfort, I ran Country's Midnight Express Saturday night and had a blast. Except it'll be a while before I hang out with that many teenagers again.

get well soon!

Some sad news...

Actor Owen Wilson was hospitalized Sunday after a possible suicide attempt at his Santa Monica home, according to this article.

In other medical concerns...Hulk Hogan's son Nick was in a serious car crash Sunday night. The crash is believed to have been caused by excessive speed, authorities say. Read more here.

what's going on this weekend?

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Here's some highlights:

Don't forget about the grand opening of Rumors (formerly Savana's) tonight. There's a dance-off and drink specials. The club is at 1107 Broadway. Shake your ass. Now.

Also, "The Erotic Hypnotic" continues his run at The Vault with shows at 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday. You are feeling very, very, sleepy...cover is $5.

There's an all-female song and dance revue at Knockin' Boots on Saturday. They might not be as hot as the Pussycat Dolls, but you should give it a try. Cover is $5.

My fellow blogger Brog recommends hitting up Soho Bar & Grill Saturday, when you can catch a performance by the Kentucky-based rockers from Dirt Poor Robins.

Finally, don't forget about Country's 27th Annual Midnight Express. The 5K race starts at midnight, but most of the entertainment starts at 8 p.m. It's $25, and all proceeds go to the visually impaired. For anyone new to town...this event is HUGE. It usually attracts about 2,000 runners and 3,000 spectators.

Have fun and be safe!

single and fabulous?

Radar has published a list of 100 Reasons You're Still Single.

Yes, YOU.

Here's a sampling:

No. 23: You begin stories with "I'm not a stalker, but..."

No. 30: You own a calendar featuring babies dressed as cowboys.

No. 47: You have a 5:00 shadow...on your ass.

No. 48: You wear a "No Spin Zone" windbreaker.

No. 75: You have a bedside stack of Sudoku books.

No. 100: You have had something on your face since the late '90s.

what's going on tonight?

It's a good day to be in Columbus, Thursday night partiers!

Tonight marks the first of five performances by "The Erotic Hypnotic" at The Vault, 1026 Broadway. The Thursday show is at 9 p.m. You can also catch the hypnotist at 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cover is $5. Read more in my column here.

Other party offerings tonight include:

*Open mic at Fountain City Coffee at 8 p.m. It's free.

*Tropicana Thursday at Rumors, formerly Savana's. Happy hour is 6-8 p.m., dance lessons are 7:30-8:30 p.m. Mojito specials all night. The club is at 1107 Broadway.

*Viva la Diva at Houlihan's (800 Front Ave.)...from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., you'll get $5 girly cocktails.

*The Rhythm Roosters and Friends perform at Broad Street Blues, 913 Broad St. in Phenix City. Show starts at 9 p.m. and cover is $5.

*The Atlanta-based rockers from Eleven Standing Still invade Soho Bar & Grill for a show that begins at 10 p.m. Cover is $5.

later, pippi...

Redheads could be extinct as early as 2060, according to this article.

Less than 2 percent of the world's population has natural red hair, the article notes. The gene, which used to be beneficial in producing a body's vitamin D, is expected by some genetic scientists to be gone in 100 years.

Start buying your hair dye now!

butt cleavage

Atlanta's City Council is considering amending the city's indecency laws to ban exposed thongs, according to this article.

A proposed ordinance would ban women from revealing their thong straps. Women would also be prevented from wearing jogging bras in public or revealing their bra straps, the article notes.

Also, the ordinance would ban exposed boxer shorts for men.

What annoys you more -- exposed thongs or exposed boxer shorts?

And do guys still think exposed bra straps are hot?

cue bad visuals

A "significant number" of Americans are sexually active into their 70s and 80s, according to the results of this study.

It surveyed 3,005 people ages 57-85, many of whom said they were still getting it on. Sex with a partner in the last year was reported by:

*73% of those ages 57-64

*53% of those ages 64-75

*26% of those ages 75-85

Let's hear it for Viagra!

speak up...or die

Happy Thursday!

Women who don't speak up during marital arguments appear to have a higher risk of death, according to this article.

A group of epidemiologists studied couples over a 10-year period and learned "that women who self-silenced were four times more likely to die than women who expressed themselves freely during marital arguments."

So quit holding your tongue, ladies!

bad at life

When he wanted to be annoying, a college friend of mine used to tell people they were bad at life.

Now, thanks to this site, he can actually get data to back up his claim.

The site is called Rate My Life and it guides you through a series of questions to, well, see how you're doing at life. You basically can get a full analysis in less than five minutes. Here's how I did:

Accomplishments: 6.74/25
Ouch. Even though the site labeled it "not a bad score," I'm embarrassed. Warning: you lose points for not being married and not having kids.

Sins: 22.76/25
That means I HAVEN'T sinned a lot, thankyouverymuch. My mother would be very proud, my results note.

Virtues: 15.56/25
Thanks for everything, "Chicken Soup for the Soul"!

Physical/Mental State: 21.3/25
To celebrate, I'm going to eat a couple Big Macs.

How did you do?

cheating = good. sometimes.

That's the premise of this article, which asserts that cheating can sometimes be healthy for a relationship.

Naturally, it's written by a guy.

"The most underrated benefit of cheating is that it opens a man's eyes to the realization that his relationship is no longer nurturing and should be terminated," the author writes.

That reason -- "nothing lasts forever" -- is coupled with justifications like "men are explorers" and "you don't know what you've got till it's gone."

This is pretty much the biggest piece of crap I've ever read. It really does nothing more than mirror the typical excuses guys use to mentally justify their mistakes.

A guy I know recently told me this detailed story about how a married friend of his was truly exceptional, and almost heroic, because he went away for a business trip and turned down multiple advances from women.

I don't think it should be a bonus when the person you're dating isn't hooking up with anyone else.

Or have things changed?

the twins

This article is called "What cleavage tells the world about a woman's brain."

I'll leave the details to your imagination.

getting intellectual

One in four adults read no books last year, according to results of this poll.

I'm always amazed by how many people's MySpace pages have absolutely nothing listed under the favorite books section. Or how many people -- yes, like me -- list magazines instead.

Is reading overrated?

would you rather...

Happy Hump Day!

Thanks to Pop Candy, I learned about this site, which basically asks a bunch of "would you rather?" questions that pit "this" against "that." In one example, "this" is eating a block of urinal soap, and "that" is eating the contents of any ashtray the morning after a major house party.

You basically click on which one you'd rather do. The only thing I don't really get about the site is the fact that an answer can be wrong. Which doesn't exactly make sense.

Like in one example, "this" was mania and "that" was depression. I clicked on mania, and got a huge red stamp across my computer screen that read "WRONG."

Hot.

get over it

Good luck milking those extra sob sessions and "I Hate Boys" lectures.

People overestimate how distressed they really are after a breakup, according to this article from the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

"People who are more in love really are a little more upset after a breakup, but their perceptions about how distraught they will be are dramatically overstated when compared to reality. At the end of the day it, it is just less bad than you thought," the study's author said.

Yes, I know this is easier to say when you're on the outside, and yes, I know every relationship is different. But in many cases I think people choose to unnecessarily wallow in their sorrows, the majority of which are based on exaggerated perceptions of how the relationship really was.

Which is part of the reason why I hate some chick flicks. Sometimes it's not best to sit at home, eat chocolate and remind yourself how bad things are.

Sometimes you just need to move on.

sing a song. or not.

After last week's "American Idol" auditions, I voluntarily spent Friday night watching karaoke at The Sports Page. Don't ask why.

Ironically, today I came across this list of the Top 10 Karaoke Songs to Avoid at All Costs. See if you agree:

10. "Baby Got Back," Sir Mix-A-Lot

9. "New York, New York," Frank Sinatra

8. "Need You Tonight," INXS

7. "Paradise by the Dashboard Light," Meat Loaf

6. "Don't Stop Believin,'" Journey

5. Anything from the "Grease" soundtrack

4. "Purple Rain," Prince

3. "One," U2

2. "Paradise City," Guns n' Roses

1. "Ice Ice Baby," Vanilla Ice

the monday moan

This week's question is inspired by last week's immersion in "American Idol" auditions, an event known for its excess of delusional performers.

Would you be completely honest with your partner if it meant destroying his or her dreams? For example, if you were dating someone who wanted to be a singer, but had no vocal talent whatsoever, would you say something?

weekend recap

Happy Monday!

A short update on last weekend's happenings...Friday, I hit The Sports Page for the first time. It was fun, even though naturally I didn't go to actually watch sports. I got a pretty stellar frozen raspberry margarita for a little under $6, although the alcohol content was very questionable. Another bonus? It was karaoke night. 'Nuff said.

Saturday's bar crawl, as usual, attracted bigger crowds than usual downtown. I went to five of the nine venues. Not bad. Something that annoys me about the bar crawls, however, is that The Loft never offers drink specials in conjunction with the event. Right when you pay your cover you get a little flier that has all the participating bars and their featured drink special. Except next to The Loft, it always just says "great live music." Why is that?

Something else about the bar crawl flier...Saturday's flier had a little note urging patrons to voice their support for the bar crawls to the Columbus City Council, since apparently some people are on a mission to shut them down.

If this is true, I think it's really unfortunate. Sure, the bar crawls bring people downtown, but there's not THAT big of a difference between bar crawl crowds and what you see on an average Saturday night. The same holds true for noise on bar crawl weekends.

What's to prevent the same people from eventually changing ordinary weekends as well?

I know the downtown scene isn't for everybody, but the people who complain are usually the ones who base their criticism on exaggerated images of a typical night downtown.

Things could be a whole lot worse.

sound familiar?

Twice as many married women than men regret their choice of spouse, according to this article.

"More than one in five married women said if they could go back in time they would change their husband," the article notes.

Survey participants cited regrets like career and financial concerns, plus a desire to have traveled more before getting married.

Choose carefully, friends!

TGIF

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

I'm technically off today, so this post will be short, but don't forget about Saturday's Back to Campus Bar Crawl. Nine bars, one $8 cover. Look for me there.

You can also find me at Peachtree Mall on Saturday morning, when I'll cover the "American Idol" auditions here. One local winner will get flown to the head of the line at AI's Philadelphia auditions. It's 10 a.m.-4 p.m., but if you're really serious about it, get there early. Participation is limited to the first 154 contestants.

Random, I know.

I expect good stories Monday morning!

the hooka up

Update on the new bar...it's called Hookameup, and it's near Club 1244. It doesn't look like it's open yet, though.

That doesn't mean there's nothing to do Thursday night, though.

Highlights:

*The guys from local band Whisky Bent take the stage at Scruffy Murphy's. Show starts at 10 p.m. and cover is $5.

*Check out Rumors, the club formerly known as Savana's. It's Tropicana Thursday! Happy hour is 6-8 p.m., dance lessons are 7:30-8:30 p.m. There's mojito specials all night.

*While researching for my weeknight partying article, I learned that every Thursday is Caribbean Night at Spices Caribbean Restaurant & Bar. Expect discounts on the hot spot's tropical drinks, and enjoy some tasty food while you're there.

Have fun and be safe. It's almost Friday!!

summer love?

This week's column is about the end of summer, marked by the Back to Campus Bar Crawl held downtown this Saturday. One $8 cover gets you into nine bars.

The column also discusses some of local nightlife's biggest changes, most notably the fact that there is no more Savana's. RIP. Physically, the bar still exists, but it's under new ownership and has become Rumors. As of, like, this week. There's a pre-grand opening this weekend, and the official grand opening is Aug. 24. With a dance-off.

Something else very exciting -- somebody told me yesterday that there is a new bar downtown near Club 1244. Its name involves the word "hooka," allegedly. I'm going to drive down there soon and I'll report back ASAP.

thursday is the new saturday

At least that's what I learned while writing this article that appears in today's To Do section.

It's all about partying during the week, and the local rise in Monday-Friday theme nights at local bars. Breda Gleeson, owner of Scruffy Murphy's, told me that the Downtown Nightlife Association -- a group of local bar owners -- is planning even more promotions to get patrons downtown mid-week. Expect to see new events beginning as early as next month.

Tonight's Thursday, and you can pretty much find any theme night you want, from open mic at Fountain City to girls' night Viva la Diva at Houlihan's (800 Front Ave.).

Need another incentive to party? Consider this beer that's believed to make your boobs bigger. It's not yet available in the U.S., but recent custom changes have allowed it to be taken out of its homeland, Bulgaria.

Anyone game for an international road trip?

her body is a wonderland

This just in: John Mayer is reportedly dating Cameron Diaz, according to this article.

Two questions:

1. Who's hotter...John Mayer or Justin Timberlake?

2. Who's hotter...Cameron Diaz or Jessica Simpson?

off-key

I'm back from Atlanta with plenty of stories about the AI auditions. I'll try to have Ledger Idol updated by the end of the day.

I won't give away too many of my AI audition stories -- I have to lure you to the other blog somehow -- but it was interesting that I came across this article about the Top 10 "Idol" mugshots of all time.

That's because two of the Atlanta auditioners who got the judges' OK yesterday were twins Terrell and Derrell Brittenum. You probably remember them from season four, when they made it to Hollywood but were booted in conjunction with accusations of forgery, theft by deception and financial identity fraud.

And now they're back.

Promise this is my last AI post here. Happy hump day!

the monday moan

Today's post will be brief, since I'm heading over to Atlanta to cover tomorrow's "American Idol" auditions -- 3:30 a.m. wake-up call and all.

So in the spirit of AI, here's today's question:

If you could hook up with any Idol contestant, who would it be and why?

If you're an AI fan, you'll be happy to know that my other blog, Ledger Idol, is back in effect. I'll be posting pics, weird stories and other commentary about my time at the AI auditions tomorrow. Check it out.

what's going on this weekend?

*Don't forget about auditions for "America's Next Top Model." They're Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. at Peachtree Mall. You must be 18-27 and at least 5'7" tall. Bring three photos and a valid driver's license.

*An Elvis impersonator will appear at The EndZone Sports Bar & Grill (3201 First Ave.) on Saturday night. The show is 8:30-10 p.m.

*Also on Saturday, hit up Knockin' Boots and get free admission with your Gold's Gym membership card. Cover band Autumn Haze performs.

*Saturday remains Little Black Dress Night at Belloo's. Ladies sporting an LBD get free admission and $10 off.

*In other popular cover band news, rock band Jaded Soul will serve up back-to-back performances Friday and Saturday at The Vault. Cover is $5.

Have a great weekend, everyone...and be safe. Cops are doing random checkpoints all weekend.

heifer status

More woman are opting for dates filled with big pieces of meat, according to this article.

I'm talking about steaks and hamburgers...get your mind out of the gutter.

Anyway, the article notes that women have become increasingly comfortable with ordering meat -- like big burgers -- on dates. It's a departure from the traditional images of being ladylike and ordering a salad.

I've never had any problems ordering more food than my date, but I remember high school friends who would refuse to order anything but salads in front of their boyfriends.

Do women still worry about being judged for what they order?

ready, aim, fire

Forget sobriety checkpoints.

This new urinal game helps men determine if they're too drunk to drive home. It's called the Piss-Screen, and it's being installed in bars across Germany. Once a guy starts peeing, he's automatically able to control the direction of a video car with the direction of his pee. Slow responses are designed to reinforce the driver's knowledge of his level of drunkenness.

The game culminates in a crash sequence designed to emphasize the effects of drinking while driving.

Think it'll catch on here?

bored?

Of course you are.

Fortunately, I just came across this article, "11 Trippy Questions." (Does anyone even use the word "trippy" anymore? I didn't think so.)

Even though the authors claim the questions are great for bars, they're also very reminiscent of those thought problems that you spend hours doing in sixth grade. Only to learn the answer is something really obvious -- like zero -- and feel really stupid.

That said, these questions are trippy enough to help you waste at least an hour of valuable work time. Here's an example:

Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono. What is the name of the fifth daughter?

Did you choose Nunu? Read the question again. The answer is Mary.

Um, yeah. See what I meant about feeling stupid? Or maybe that's just me.

hot

This amphibian is soooo cute. It's almost enough to make me take an impromptu vacation to Lake Xochimilco in Mexico, the only place you can find them. Sadly, they're on the endangered species list, according to this article.

Sigh.

fyi

This has always been a pet peeve of mine, and when it came up in a discussion with my friend Lisa last night, I decided it was worthy of a blog post.

I really hate it when, shortly after you and a guy end a relationship, all your friends feel compelled to insult his physical appearance. It's like they don't understand that in doing so, they're also insulting your taste in men.

Does this bother anyone else?

Do guys use this technique to make a male friend feel better when a girl breaks up with him?

whoa-man

Happy Hump Day!

Going out tonight? Think twice before turning down a pickup line from a guy sporting eyeliner. Women prefer men with feminine features over more masculine faces, according to this study.

It says macho-looking men are perceived as less faithful, less warm and potentially poorer fathers.

The other day a friend and I were talking about dating girly men...not only in appearance, but in behavior as well. I once dated a guy who cried about 500 times more than I did.

To what extent can the typical woman tolerate stereotypically "girly" behavior from the man she's dating? Can men cry without inhibition around women, or are they still expected to take on primarily an emotionless protector role?

under where?

Today is National Underwear Day, according to this article. Here's a breakdown on style popularity, based on gender, courtesy of freshpair.com:

WOMEN

Bikini briefs: 37%

Briefs: 23%

Thongs: 19%

Boy shorts: 17%

Other: 4%

MEN

Briefs: 41%

Boxer briefs: 27%

Trunks: 14%

Boxers: 12%

Thongs: 4%

Other: 2%

Does anyone else think it's surprising that only 12 percent of men reportedly wear boxers? Or am I just hooking up with the wrong people?

state of the union

Happy Tuesday!

Check out this LA Times article about the role that sexuality could play in the 2008 presidential election. No, I'm not getting all Monica Lewinsky on your ass. The piece is very well written, and it raises some good questions about the role that public displays of affection play in enhancing a candidate's popularity or diminishing it.

Need something a little lighter? Go to this blog, where the author is trying to make a scull a day out of normal household objects. An example is featured above.

Um, yeah.

weekend recap

I finally lived out my biggest fantasies and partied with Paris and Nicky Hilton over the weekend. Just kidding.

Friday's bar crawl seemed especially crowded. I made my first venture into the newly reopened Knockin' Boots, which attracted relatively few party goers, but boasts some serious potential. It's owned by the same people who own Big City Club. Also, for those of you who don't know, The Vault is owned by The Uptown Tap now.

All in all, I think the bar crawls are a good idea, but naturally there's always the inevitable Columbus disorganization. For example, when you paid your blanket $8 cover Friday, you got a flier outlining the drink specials at the various bars. Every bar had one, except The Loft, whose drink special simply said "great live music."

Seriously.

Saturday, I ventured back to Endzone Sports Bar & Grill in Bibb City. I really like the facility, but the bar has yet to carve out its niche in the local nightlife scene. We'll see what happens.

I capped the weekend off with a couple drinks at Belloo's, of course taking advantage of Little Black Dress night. There was a pretty good vibe, minus the relatively somber music and weird ratio of old horny men to young eligible women.

Inevitable.

the monday moan

Happy Monday! Hope everybody had a great weekend.

Weekend recap will follow shortly, but I wanted to offer today's question asap. It's inspired by this AP article that's all about how more black women are dating white men. There were 117,000 black wife-white husband couples in 2006, up from 95,000 in 2000.

Which brings me to today's question.

Is there still a stigma surrounding interracial relationships? Are topics like black women dating white men worthy of national headlines?

Can't wait to hear what you think. And the comment section is no longer open only to registered users, so fire away.

read and reap

Today's passage comes from "One with the Night," a romance novel by Susan Squires. It's set in 1822 London.

He threw himself to his knees beside her and grasped her upper arms.

"Are ye well, lass?"

"That...hurt."

Guilt washed across his face. "Breathe now. There's always a cost."

"You might have told me." She blinked.

"Ye might not ha' gone through with it," he said ruefully.

Sigh. Isn't that always the case.

what's going on this weekend?

*Friday bar crawl. One $8 cover gets you into a bunch of bars. Look for me there!

*Peggy Jenkins and the Rhythm Roosters take the stage at Broad Street Blues Friday and Saturday. There's a $5 cover. (Need more info on this club? Read my bar profile here.)

*The local Southern rockers from Whisky Bent will play at Soho Bar & Grill on Friday. There's a $5 cover.

*The EndZone Sports Bar & Grill finally celebrates its official grand opening Saturday. The bar's at 3201 First Ave., near the Johnston Mill Lofts in Bibb City. Saturday's hours are 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Happy hour is 3-7 p.m. Call 706-507-1220.

*Saturday is Little Black Dress Night at Belloo's, when ladies wearing a black dress can get in free AND receive a $10 gift certificate.

*Also on Saturday, SoHo hosts two rock bands from Atlanta: Smash Machine, as well as golucky.

Be safe, have fun and tell me all about it on Monday!

no umbrella, please

Think twice before ordering that appletini, boys.

This site has a really cool slideshow illustrating the top 10 drinks men should never order. The pics are awesome, but you need Adobe Flash to view, so I'm pasting the list below.

Consider yourself warned.

10 DRINKS MEN SHOULD NEVER ORDER

*Anything blended, unless you're on a beach

*Jello shots or any variety of neon shots with about as much alcohol as a juice box.

*Anything with an obscene amount of garnish.

*Cosmopolitans are fruity, bright and downright girly.

*Anything that requires a straw.

*Any shot or drink that boasts whipped cream as an ingredient or garnish.

*Anything that ends with "tini" but isn't an honest martini made of gin or vodka and vermouth.

*Malt beverages that don't come in a 40 oz. bottle, especially the fruity flavored malt beverages, aka: "alcopops"

*Any kind of alcohol, besides scotch, ordered "neat." It could suggest that you're a frequent drinker.

sly like the jungle cat

Happy Friday!

Can't wait for tonight's bar crawl downtown. Should be a fun night, even though my spy services have (maybe jokingly, maybe not) been enlisted for certain significant others.

Which got me thinking about trust and jealousy.

This week, a friend -- actually an ex -- asked me who would be my ideal man. My initial answer was "not you," but I didn't say that.

Actually, my real answer didn't take that long at all. I responded, "Somebody who you're never going to have to worry has a secret life behind your back."

Sure, it sounds stupid, but how many people -- especially women -- do you know who absolutely never worry about what their S.O. is doing when they're not around?

Is that inevitable in every relationship? Or, is it indicative of a flaw in the relationship -- or a flaw in the worrier?

commit me

This week I wrote an article about this book that asserts women are the new commitment-phobes.

The image of a single women no longer brings to mind spinster visions, and 20- and 30-something women are more inclined to seek out "Sex and the City"-inspired lifestyles, the author asserts.

Single women are the fastest-growing segment of the American population, the Census Bureau reports.

So does this mean guys want relationships and cuddling time now?

Read my full article here.

ron burgandy

Check out my stint as an anchorwoman by clicking on "webcast" here.

Hopefully it's the beginning of my journey to end up here.

thank you for being a friend

I knew there was some reason my college friends and I devoted so much time to "Golden Girls" reruns.

This month, the "Golden Gals Gone Wild" art exhibit debuts in Los Angeles. It's basically a whole bunch of paintings similar to the one featured above.

Which retro TV show should be next to take the "gone wild" plunge? I say "Facts of Life."

the bad b's

Not a good time for the letter "b."

Some people are now trying to medically diagnose Britney Spears' erratic behavior. Diagnoses range from bipolar disorder to a "delayed adolescence," but I think a simple "crazy" still suffices. Read more here.

Also, the term "bling bling" is apparently officially out of style, according to Kanye West. The bad news? I guess I really do have to remove the remaining rhinestones from my old cell phone.

The good news? This could finally cause a slow, painful death for the sparkle-clad pair of Crocs I saw yesterday. Horrendous.

Hope everyone's having a great day!

bow down

Score! This site is having a celebrity deathmatch between the Disney princesses.

Points are awarded in categories like name, background story, personality, posse, significant other and mortal combat. Sleeping Beauty just whipped Snow White's butt 6-0 in the first round.

I say Mulan (not pictured above) takes the competition.

Who are you rooting for?

read and reap

Happy Hump Day!

Here's today's passage, courtesy of Celeste Bradley's "Seducing the Spy," a romance novel about royalty, mistresses and -- you guessed it -- spies.

He didn't dare contemplate what he wanted to do with Lady Alicia herself. The thought of taking her over his knee crossed his mind, leading him into dangerous territory occupied by lingering thoughts of a soft womanly bottom bare to his touch...

He jerked his mind back to simple seething fury.

PERFECT.