Halloween nightlife guide

Need a place to party this weekend? I can help. Here's a roundup of the local Halloween nightlife highlights. I'll keep this post up through Saturday and update as needed.

THURSDAY

Flip Flops, 1111 Broadway, hosts a hidden pumpkin contest Thursday. Find the pumpkin and you'll get $100 in cash and prizes. Women pay no cover, men pay $5.

Mix Ultra Lounge has a VIP giveaway for the best costume on Thursday. No cover.

FRIDAY

Mickey’s Pub, 4105 Buena Vista Road, celebrates Halloween with an 8 p.m. performance by Mindblender. Drink specials. Cover is $5. The party continues Saturday, when there’s no cover at Mickey’s and action starts at 9 p.m.

The Dawg House, 5140 Warm Springs Road, has a party with live entertainment, food and drink specials. There will be a costume contest. Action starts at 7:30 p.m. Open to guests 18 and older. No cover.

Ben’s Chophouse, 5300 Sidney Simons Blvd., has a party with a 9:30 p.m. costume contest and gift card prizes. Drink specials include a Candy Corn Martini, Swampy Cocktail, Dra-Kahlua Tini and more. No cover. Open to all ages, but must be 21 to drink.

Mix Ultra Lounge, 1107 Broadway, has a Bloodsuckers and Vampires Night Out when the sexiest vampires can win $200 in cash and prizes. Cover is $5 for women, $10 for men.

SATURDAY

Mix Ultra Lounge will have multiple costume contests with hundreds of dollars in cash and prizes. Hourly contests for sexy getups, plus overall awards. There will be a cover charge. Amount TBA. Doors open 8 p.m.

Flip Flops, 1111 Broadway, will have a Saturday costume contest and DJ music. Expect $500 in cash and prizes. Must be present by 11 p.m. to enter. Cover is $5 and action starts at 9 p.m.

Oxygen, 1040 Broadway, will offer a total of $1,000 cash in a Saturday costume contest. Halloween drink specials. Cover is $10 and action starts at 9 p.m.

Daileys, 1039 Broadway, hosts a Halloween weekend with Friday and Saturday performances by local act Ophir Drive. They’ll be joined by North Carolina act New Machine on Friday. Music starts at 10 p.m., cover is $5.

The Loft, 1032 Broadway, encourages guests to dress as a favorite vampire Saturday night. Matt Self performs at 9:30 p.m., Marshall Ruffin performs at 11 p.m. Expect many drawings and costume contests, including a $1,000 grand prize gift card to The Loft or The Loft Downstairs. Cover is $5 and action starts at 9:30 p.m.

Spicoli’s, 5762 Milgen Road, encourages guests to wear costumes when Mirror performs Saturday night. Band starts at 11 p.m. and cover is $5.

SoHo Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, has a Saturday party with entertainment by The M&M Band. Expect Halloween drinks, plus costume contests with cash prizes and giveaways. Action starts at 9 p.m. and cover is $5.

The Shanty Shack, 4475 Warm Springs Road, has a Saturday costume party with cash prizes and door prizes. Mindblender will perform 7-11 p.m. A $5 cover starts at 8 p.m.

Belloo’s, 900 Front Ave., has a Saturday costume contest with cash prizes. Claiborne & Friends will perform while guests sip Halloween drinks. Cover is $5 and action starts at 9:30 p.m.

Eighty-Five, located below Belloo’s, hosts a Saturday masquerade party that offers over $500 in cash and prizes. Expect music and drink specials. Doors open at 7 p.m., a $5 cover begins at 9 p.m.

Pop-A-Top, 210 32nd St., has a Saturday party with costume prizes, giveaways and free food. Action starts at 7 p.m. and there’s no cover.

Players, 1500 54th St., on Saturday hosts a Halloween edition of Players Club Bowling. It runs 9 p.m.-midnight and costs $3 per game. Participants will be entered in a drawing to win a three day, two night trip to Biloxi. Open to guests 18 and older. No cover.

Scruffy Murphy’s, 1037 Broadway, hosts a Saturday performance by the local rockers from Boneheadz. Cover is $5 and action starts at 10 p.m.

'Fatties' & Marie Claire

Have an opinion about the recent Marie Claire blog post about "fatties"? You're not alone.

Quick recap: Marie Claire blogger Maura Kelly wrote a post about how it isn't pleasant to watch the obese lead characters makeout on the CBS sitcom "Mike & Molly."

Kelly didn't approach the subject gently. An excerpt:

So anyway, yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room — just like I'd find it distressing if I saw a very drunk person stumbling across a bar or a heroine addict slumping in a chair.

Controversial? Yeah.

The blog post has attracted a deluge of online comments and after its publication, Kelly wrote an update apologizing for its insensitivity and revealing her history as an anorexic.

In response, Marie Claire's editor in chief called Kelly a "very provocative blogger" but didn't apologize for her post.

Kelly's tone was too harsh -- she admitted that in her update to the post. Terms like "grossed out" put her thoughts on a juvenile level when really, she's usually a pretty engaging writer.

The recent rise of a "fat acceptance" movement makes it difficult for writers to point out the apparent health consequences of obesity without being labeled a bully.

Still, science offers varying opinions on the role that genetics play in obesity, and not all experts buy into Kelly's assertion that "obesity is something that most people have a ton of control over." (Especially when you consider a possible correlation between obesity and low-income populations.)

Bottom line: Kelly is an opinion blogger. And opinions aren't always popular.

Relationship time warp

Sad news, readers: I'm abandoning my blogging aspirations to pursue a more important goal.

The new mission? Devote my entire life to helping my boyfriend succeed.

Calm down, I'm just kidding. Blame it on the side effects of spending too much time perusing this blog experiment.

One woman is temporarily embracing the role of a husband-obsessed housewife from the '50s. It's her second housewife experiment.

Putting my extra change in a "nag jar" doesn't sound too appealing, but I'm not entirely adverse to the idea of relationship time traveling.

It's interesting to wonder if your romance would succeed if you were transported to another decade or century.

You know, a time when it wasn't as easy to regard marital dissatisfaction as blog inspiration.

(via Double X)

Wednesday Halloween parties

Hey everybody! Here's a quick refresher on tonight's Halloween parties:

Flip Flops hosts a hidden pumpkin contest Wednesday and Thursday. Find the pumpkin and you'll get $100 in cash and prizes. There's no cover Wednesday. Women pay no cover Thursday, men pay $5.

Mix Ultra Lounge will give $200 in cash and prizes to the woman with the sexiest costume Wednesday night. Women pay no cover Wednesday. There's a VIP giveaway for the best costume on Thursday. No cover.

Halloween costume ideas

I found this Halloween makeup how-to video while perusing spooky stuff online. It's pretty awesome.

For more makeup suggestions, check out Marie Claire's collection of video tutorials.

The Ledger-Enquirer blogosphere is buzzing with Halloween spirit this week. Dawn serves up drink recipes, Katie delivers movie recommendations and Sandra tells you where you can watch "Psycho."

Papa don't preach

Hey dad, do you have time to talk?

No, I don't need money.

I don't need to borrow the car, either.

Instead, I'd like to chat with you about my sex life.

To some women, the conversation marks prime nightmare material. But a new study suggests many women wish their fathers had told them more about sex and relationships.

It doesn't mean more dads should embrace "the talk."

Father-daughter talks should center on lessons like how to communicate with guys about sex, the study's author told Time magazine.

Do you buy it? Or should father-daughter relationship talks remained confined to the Billy Ray/Miley Cyrus universe?

Halloween parties start Wednesday

As promised, I've been working on your Halloween party lineup. Most parties will happen Saturday, but some clubs kick off the festivities early in the week.

Here are some things to note:

Flip Flops hosts a hidden pumpkin contest Wednesday and Thursday. Find the pumpkin and you'll get $100 in cash and prizes. There's no cover Wednesday. Women pay no cover Thursday, men pay $5.

Mix Ultra Lounge will give $200 in cash and prizes to the woman with the sexiest costume Wednesday night. Women pay no cover Wednesday. There's a VIP giveaway for the best costume on Thursday. No cover.

Monday power anthem

I tried to find a song that would pay homage to my Vegas trip, but I got lost in a "Sister Act" abyss along the way. Hey, it happens to the best of us.

Anyway, I had a great vacation. No mom, I did not get married.

I'm collecting Halloween info all day so hopefully I'll have a list of party updates soon.

Halloween and beer festival info

Hey everybody! Quick nightlife update: It looks like most local bars will celebrate Halloween on Saturday (Oct. 30) this year. I'll post an official roundup once I get more information. In the meantime, please e-mail me at ssorich@ledger-enquirer.com if you know of any noteworthy parties.

Also, don't forget about Saturday's beer festival in downtown Columbus. Hours are 2:30-6 p.m. and tickets are $25. It's in the Rankin Courtyard.

Here's a list of 75 percent of the event's beer offerings:

#9
1554 Black Ale
2xIPA
Amber Bock
Berry Weiss
Black Lager
Blonde Bock
Blue Moon
Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale
Blue Moon Winter Abby Ale
Brooklyn Local 1
Bud Light Chelada
Bud Light Wheat
Budweiser
Budweiser American Ale
Cannon's Red Jacket
Cannon's Seasonal
Fat Tire
Festbier Flying Dog Doggie Style Pale Ale
Green Apple Wit
Hard Black Cherry
Hard Cranberry
Hard Lemonade
Harpoon UFO White
Harvest
Harvest Moon
Hefeweizen
Hex
hIPA
Honey Weiss
Hopkarma Brown IPA
Hoptober
IPA
Jack's Pumpkin Spice
Kona Lager
Kosmos Reserve
Land Shark
Laughing Skull
Leinkugels Sunset Wheat
Longhammer IPA
Lord Chesterfield Ale
Marzen
Michelob
Mike’s Hard Limeade
Mokah Imperial Blended Stout
Mothership Wit
Napa Smith Organic IPA
Pale Moon
Phin & Matt's
Ranger IPA
Raspberry Burst
Red Brick Blonde
Red Brick Octoberfest
Red Brick Porter
Rye Pale Ale
Select 55
Shiner Blonde
Shiner Bock
Shiner Light
Shock Top
Smirnoff Green Apple
Spaten Oktoberfest
Sunray Wheat
Terrapin Hopsecutioner
Ultra Amber
Unearthly IPA
Unibroue Ephemere
Well's Banana Bread
Widner Hefeweizen
Wild Blue
Young's Doube Chocolate Stout
Yuengling Black and Tan
Yuengling Lager
Yuengling Light

Teen Mom, take 2?

What's the only thing strong enough to pull me away from a pool session during my Las Vegas vacation? News that MTV might unveil a second "16 and Pregnant" spinoff.

Jezebel links to a report suggesting that MTV will follow another set of "16 and Pregnant" alums for a "Teen Mom"-style series.

Don't worry, "Teen Mom" will be back for a third season, too.

I've blogged about a variety of shows for the Ledger-Enquirer, but my "Teen Mom" updates easily generate the most e-mails from readers.

Weigh in: Do we need more "Teen Mom"?

On another note, I really am on vacation this week. So don't hate me if posts are a little sporadic.

Conversacube

Travel Conversacube from Lauren McCarthy on Vimeo.

The bad news: This product isn't real. But if it did hit the shelves, would you buy one?

(via Lemondrop)

Monday power anthem

If this doesn't brighten your Monday, I'm stumped for additional solutions.

Seize the day!

What's going on this weekend?

Hey party people! We have lots of highlights this weekend. Military heritage celebration Boots on Broadway comes to downtown Columbus 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Get details here.

Also, the Shanty Shack hosts its Bikefest fundraiser noon-6 p.m. Saturday. Details here.

If you want to start you Halloween festivities early, check out these local highlights.

Here are some more nightlife highlights:

FRIDAY

VFW Post 5228: DJ music, 9 p.m. free. 334-297-6493.

VFW Post 665: The Last Rodeo Band, 9 p.m. $5. 706-687-6656. (Also playing Saturday)

SoHo Bar & Grill: Shotgun Opera, Paul Johnson and The About Last Nights, 10 p.m. $5, free for active duty military. 706-568-3316.

Belloo’s: Big Woody & The Splinters featuring Dianne Kennedy, 9 p.m. $5. 706-494-1584. (Also playing Saturday)

Shanty Shack: DJ music, 8 p.m. $5. 706-507-3418.

Elks Lodge 111: The Wayne Petty Band, 8 p.m. free. 706-569-6720.

Spicoli’s: DJ music, 9 p.m. free. 706-221-5252.

The Uptown Vault: DJ KamaKazi, music videos and bar games, 8 p.m. free. 706-442-8370.

Fountain City Coffee: Chingy and Griff, 8 p.m. free. 706-494-6659.

Players: Karaoke by BudAbby’s, 9 p.m. free. 706-653-0106. (18 and older)

The Loft: Peggy Jenkins and the Bizness, 9 p.m. $5. 706-596-8141.

SATURDAY

VFW Post 5228: Donnie Thomas and band, 9 p.m. $5. 334-297-6493.

SoHo Bar & Grill: The Debutante Massacre, The 25th Hour, 10 p.m. $5, free for active duty military. 706-568-3316.

Spicoli’s: Pistoltown, $5 cover begins at 9 p.m. 706-221-5252.

Elks Lodge 111: Karaoke, 8 p.m. free 706-569-6720.

The Uptown Vault: SamRoc & GRD, 10 p.m. $5. 706-442-8370.

The Loft: The Dirty Guv’nahs, 9 p.m. $5. 706-596-8141.

Fountain City Coffee: James Norman, 8 p.m. free. 706-494-6659.

Beer festival update

Happy Friday! I received another update regarding the offerings available at the beer festival that will come to downtown Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 23.

This list represents 75 percent of the festival's beers, organizers say. Here's what to expect:

#9

1554 Black Ale

2xIPA

Amber Bock

Berry Weiss

Black Lager

Blonde Bock

Blue Moon

Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale

Blue Moon Winter Abby Ale

Brooklyn Local 1

Bud Light Chelada

Bud Light Wheat

Budweiser

Budweiser American Ale

Cannon's Red Jacket

Cannon's Seasonal

Fat Tire

Festbier

Flying Dog Doggie Style Pale Ale

Green Apple Wit

Hard Black Cherry

Hard Cranberry

Hard Lemonade

Harpoon UFO White

Harvest

Harvest Moon

Hefeweizen

Hex

hIPA

Honey Weiss

Hopkarma Brown IPA

Hoptober

IPA

Jack's Pumpkin Spice

Kona Lager

Kosmos Reserve

Land Shark

Laughing Skull

Leinkugels Sunset Wheat

Longhammer IPA

Lord Chesterfield Ale

Marzen

Michelob

Mike’s Hard Limeade

Mokah Imperial Blended Stout

Mothership Wit

Napa Smith Organic IPA

Pale Moon

Phin & Matt's

Ranger IPA

Raspberry Burst

Red Brick Blonde

Red Brick Octoberfest

Red Brick Porter

Rye Pale Ale

Select 55

Shiner Blonde

Shiner Bock

Shiner Light

Shock Top

Smirnoff Green Apple

Spaten Oktoberfest

Sunray Wheat

Terrapin Hopsecutioner

Ultra Amber

Unearthly IPA

Unibroue Ephemere

Well's Banana Bread

Widner Hefeweizen

Wild Blue

Young's Doube Chocolate Stout

Yuengling Black and Tan

Yuengling Lager

Yuengling Light

Cats in costumes

This has nothing to do with dating or relationships, but sometimes you just need a break from dissecting the perils of modern romance.

Cats + Halloween = Paradise

(via Lemondrop)

What's going on tonight?

Thursday is $1 daiquiri night at Flip Flops. Here are some other nightlife highlights:

The Uptown Vault: Starlight Karaoke, 8 p.m. free. 706-442-8370.

Players: Girls’ Night Out with free pool on hourly tables, 6:30 p.m. until close. Free. 706-653-0106. (18 and older)

SoHo Bar & Grill: ’80s prom party with The M&M Band, 10 p.m. free. 706-568-3316.

Spicoli’s: Stereomonster, 9 p.m. free. 706-221-5252.

Fountain City Coffee: Open mike, 8 p.m. free. 706-494-6659.

Want a McDonald's Happy Meal?

You might change your mind after watching this video, which chronicles what happened when somebody monitored a Happy Meal for six months.

Big surprise, there's no sign of mold or decay.

It's a little creepy, but I'm still eating at McDonald's. At least until Monopoly ends.

Christina Aguilera split

I could deal with the Courteney Cox/David Arquette breakup. But I refused to believe anything about Christina Aguilera's separation until I saw an official statement.

Tuesday evening, I found it. And lamented the relationship world's demise.

I'm only half kidding.

Once Christina's news became official, I told my boyfriend I've already prepared a statement to release to our co-workers in the event of a breakup. Again, I was only half kidding.

But the conversation brings up an important question: At what point do you announce your romantic separation to the rest of the world?

In both of the recent major celebrity breakups, the couples had reportedly been separated for months before the official news surfaced.

The approach makes sense.

You need time to figure out if you're broken up "for real." You also need to formulate a public breakup explanation that doesn't involve too much rage or emotional angst.

Wait too long, however, and it's possible the rest of the world will learn of your separation indirectly. That's not always the most pleasant scenario.

Thoughts?

Columbus beer festival

I've received lots of questions about the upcoming beer festival in downtown Columbus. Here's what I know so far.

The Loft's Brews Boogie is 2:30-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, in the Rankin Courtyard. Tickets are $25. Open to guests 21 and older.

You'll get 3 oz. samples of over 100 American craft beers. Confirmed brewers include Yuengling, New Belgium, Gordon Biersch, Magic Hat, Southern Tier, Anheuser-Bush, Michelob, Kona, Reook & Widmer, Red Brick, Blue Moon, Spoetzl, Boston Beer (Sam Adams) and The Cannon.

More brewer announcements are pending.

Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. at The Loft Downstairs. The event is limited to 1,000 guests. Purchase advance tickets at The Loft Downstairs, The Loft Live, Ride On Bikes and online.

Attend the Brews Boogie and you'll get complimentary admission to the Blues Boogie, which begins at 7 p.m. the same night and is held in the same area.

That event is open to all ages and features acts like Heather Luttrell Group (Atlanta), Eric Culberson Trio (Savannah), Rick Fowler Band (Athens), Kent DuChaine (Fort Gaines) and The Good Doctor (Auburn-Opelika), as well as local musicians Neal Lucas, Marshall Ruffin, Lloyd Buchanan and Eric Rose.

Admission to the Blues Boogie is $10.

"I have to work."

Ah, yes. The good old work excuse.

It's an easy way to postpone a second date -- because come on, who's really going to question the intricacies of your professional life?

As a reporter, I have extra freedom to use the line. Confession time: I've used "breaking news" as a way to skip a dinner date.

And sometimes, "I have to work" isn't an excuse at all.

There are times when you genuinely have to skip a round of martinis in the name of career advancement.

Here, a Glamour blogger attempts to tell readers what "busy with work" really means in the relationship world. Unfortunately, the simple conclusion is that there isn't a simple conclusion.

Weigh in: Has "I have to work" acquired the believability of "something suddenly came up"?

"We hated her."

It's probably happened to you.

In a breakup's aftermath, you share your brokenhearted emotions with the same friends who once raved about your former love interest.

Their response? "Oh well. We hated him, anyway."

Huh?

You're baffled. If your friends really despised your significant other, why didn't they say something earlier? Should you take their comments seriously, or are your friends just lying to make you feel better?

Sigh. Both scenarios could be true.

I've never understood friends' affinity for excessive ex-bashing after a breakup. It's one thing if the heartbroken person is a willing participant.

If that's not the case, your ex-bashing commonly translates into, "We hate your ex AND you have bad romantic judgment."

It's disheartening to hear your friends' true feelings about your love interest after a breakup.

But as friends, we're rarely completely candid about those judgments during a relationship.

We know you're too smitten to take our concerns seriously.

Monday power anthem

If mid-'90s power pop doesn't pump you up, check out this photo gallery of 109 cats in sweaters.

Seize the day!

Lauren Conrad fashion PSA

Avoid those skinny jeans, boys!

What's going on this weekend?

The current installment of the Uptown Concert Series concludes Friday with a performance by Peggy Jenkins and the Bizness 7-10 p.m. on Broadway. It's free.

Also on Friday, there's a porch crawl in the Historic District in downtown Columbus. Action starts at 6 p.m. and cost is $20, which includes beverages and appetizers. Details here.

You have two chances to break a sweat in local Saturday races. The Aaron Blake Reynolds Memorial Run is at Hardaway High School, while Run for Jeremy is at Harris County High School.

Here are some other entertainment options:

FRIDAY

VFW Post 5228: DJ music, 9 p.m. free. 334-297-6493.

Shanty Shack: Razin Kane, 7-11 p.m. $5. 706-507-3418.

Players: Karaoke by BudAbby’s, 9 p.m. free. 706-653-0106. (18 and older)

Flip Flops: Jasper Drive, 9 p.m. $5.

SoHo Bar & Grill: Luminoth, Ages Apart, 10 p.m. $5. 706-568-3316.

Fountain City Coffee: Kris Downs, 8 p.m. free. 706-494-6659. (All ages)

The Loft: Peggy Jenkins and the Bizness, 10 p.m. $5. 706-596-8141.

Belloo’s: Claiborne & Friends, 9 p.m. $5. 706-494-1584.

The Uptown Vault: DJ KamaKazi, music videos and bar games, 8 p.m. free. 706-442-8370.

VFW Post 665: The Last Rodeo Band, 9 p.m. $5. 706-687-6656. (Also playing Saturday)

Spicoli’s: DJ music, 9 p.m. free. 706-221-5252.

SATURDAY

VFW Post 5228: Donnie Thomas and band, 9 p.m. $5. 334-297-6493.

The Loft: The Vegabonds, 9 p.m. $5. 706-596-8141.

Flip Flops: Jasper Drive, 9 p.m. $5.

SoHo Bar & Grill: Deception, 10 p.m. $5. 706-568-3316.

Fountain City Coffee: Tim Maggart, 8 p.m. free. 706-494-6659. (All ages)

Belloo’s: Claiborne & Friends, 9 p.m. $5. 706-494-1584.

Players: Players Club Bowling, 8-11 p.m. $3 per game, no cover. 706-653-0106. (18 and older)

The Uptown Vault: DJ KamaKazi, music videos and bar games, 8 p.m. free. 706-442-8370.

Spicoli’s: Surgestone, $5 cover begins at 9 p.m. 706-221-5252.

Krystal Ball photos

I once had an affinity for licking female friends' faces in photos.

At the time, it wasn't a problem -- except when I had bad breath. Maybe somebody would disagree now.

Enter discussions of Krystal Ball, the Virginia Congressional candidate who's dealing with a batch of photos that have surfaced.

She's featured wearing a "sexy Christmas" costume while her then-husband poses as an inappropriate Rudolph.

In the incident's aftermath, Ball has said she's embarrassed by the images. But she's also encouraged women who have done anything stupid on camera to go ahead and run for office.

It's one thing to show up in photos that are overtly pornographic or offensive.

However, a lot of us have snapshots that teeter on the "in between" zone.

We're shown drinking a too-large bottle of alcohol or sharing a too-suggestive embrace with a member of the opposite sex.

Where do you draw the line? Do you avoid posing for any remotely suggestive photos in the name of "just in case"?

I don't think there's anything wrong with the Krystal Ball photos.

Most of us have sported similar getups -- maybe not today or yesterday, but in the moments when we thought our face-licking days would always be regarded as mindless fun.

And is that really so bad? Isn't a big part of life collecting tangible evidence that lets you look back and prove that you've had fun -- but then grown -- along the way?

Spaghetti tacos

In the world of food descriptions, there's not too much of a difference between "I ate this when I was drunk" and "I ate this when I was 7."

A new obsession with spaghetti tacos covers both of those zones.

The fascination went mainstream when a New York Times article detailed the trend. Unsurprisingly, it consists of spaghetti inside a taco shell.

Disgusted? Blame Nickelodeon's "iCarly," the TV show widely credited as the source of the spaghetti taco's creation.

Given the hype, some foodies expect the creation will exceed the culinary boundaries of little kids and drunk college students. We'll have to wait and see.

Hungry?

(For more conventional food news, check out my colleague Dawn's blog.)

Carrie Bradshaw syndrome

How long would you let the rest of the world read the dirty details of your relationship life?

You'll ask that question after reading this essay from Salon. The title? "I'm done writing about my sex life."

Consider it another drawback to the end of "Sex and the City." In the last two years or so, I've stumbled upon dozens of essays by women concluding that writing about sex isn't really that cool after all.

I like the Salon essay because the writer's conclusion isn't spurred by new boyfriend who hates being a form of journalistic inspiration. Instead, she simply grows up. She writes:

In a way, tossing off pithy, 500-word pieces about sex for $100 a pop was beginning to feel a little bit like a one-night stand. It gave me what I craved in the moment -- attention, excitement -- without sustaining satisfaction.

But still, at the end of the day, I was left with no book deal and no boyfriend. Hardly a tragedy, but at age 28, I was wondering what, exactly, I'd been doing for the past 10 years, both in my personal and professional life.

"Sex and the City" reached its prime just as I secured a spot as a lifestyle columnist at my college newspaper. I had the gig for two years, then put on my first-person writing shoes once again when I moved to Columbus a couple years after graduation.

I write about relationships, but I've never considered myself a "sex columnist." I've always written in towns too conservative for a sex column. Perhaps that's a blessing in disguise.

Maybe due to Carrie Bradshaw, it's easy for 20- and 30-something women to dismiss their romantic failures with a simple, "Well, at least I can write about it."

To some extent, that's a fine outlook. You don't have to put all your lapses in judgment in a cringe-worthy "forget me soon" corner of your brain.

At time same time, while your writing may entertain an audience, it doesn't always leave you feeling fulfilled.

You risk becoming a persona, someone who intricately describes a Saturday night hookup but can't apply that same sense of detail to the time you spend alone.

Thoughts?

What's going on tonight?

Hey party people! It's $1 daiquiri night at Flip Flops. Here are some other Thursday nightlife options:

The Uptown Vault: Starlight Karaoke, 8 p.m. free. 706-442-8370.

Players: Girls’ Night Out with free pool on hourly tables, 6:30 p.m. until close. Free. 706-653-0106. (18 and older)

SoHo Bar & Grill: Kimmer Rowe, 10 p.m. free. 706-568-3316.

Fountain City Coffee: Open mike, 8 p.m. free. 706-494-6659. (All ages)

Spicoli’s: Tony from Forced Entry, 7:30 p.m. free. 706-221-5252.

Breast cancer awareness: I like it

I covered Tuesday's Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon, hosted by the Columbus Regional Medical Foundation.

It was nice swimming in a sea of pink for two hours, surrounded by people who pride themselves on themes like courage and authenticity, rather than the intricacies of mammogram debates.

For me, that's what Breast Cancer Awareness Month is about.

Sometimes sexual innuendo muddies that message.

Last year, women posted their bra colors on Facebook -- in the name of promoting "awareness." No, not for Victoria's Secret styles. For breast cancer.

This year, we saw "I like it on the" as a Facebook status update. No, silly boys: We weren't telling you where we like to get romantic. We were telling you where we put our handbags. Which totally screams "breast cancer awareness."

Arguably, any form of awareness is better than nothing.

But when my friends posted their bra colors, follow-up comments spanned pickup lines and lingerie shopping tips.

Nobody mentioned breast cancer's severity. Even worse, nobody mentioned Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Obviously, Facebook is a tool with potential to broaden our minds on topics deeper than FarmVille. It alerts us to missing children and doubles as a prayer group in the face of death.

Given that potential, I'm disappointed that Facebook's most dominant breast cancer efforts resort to a belief that sex sells awareness.

Why not post a survivor's name as your status? Why not post a number that marks the survivors you've met, or the victims who have passed away?

Perhaps bra colors and vague sexual references are saving lives.

But when it comes to my preferred form of awareness, I like it on the non-sexual.

Need Tuesday plans?

The Nashville musicians from Hot Chelle Rae come to Columbus for a free, all-ages show tonight.

Presented by Q107.3, the event takes place at Extreme Marine, 7000 North Lake Parkway in Columbus. Fans will have a chance to win prizes and giveaways and interact with the pop/rock band.

Action starts at 4 p.m., main event at 6 p.m.

"Expect a high-energy, original band. These people want to come here and meet the people who are buying their record. They have promised us a fabulous show," said Dave Arwood, operations manager for PMB Broadcasting and WCGQ.

Named after a devoted female fan, the four-member act signed with Jive Records in 2008. They’ve attracted fans with songs like “Bleed,” which is featured on the band’s debut album, “Lovesick Electric.”

Hot Chelle Rae cites influences ranging from Queen to Aerosmith. The band was recently honored as MTV’s PUSH Artist of the Week.

Want a divorce? Work here

Go ahead, pursue that career as a backup dancer. You just might end up waltzing solo in the world of relationships.

Dancers and choreographers top a list of professions with an elevated divorce rate, based U.S. Census Data.

Journalists didn't make the top 15 entries, which I guess is good for me -- assuming you can find proof that most average journalists get married.

Among my favorite results? "Extruding machine operators" placed fifth, while roofers took the No. 14 spot. See the full list here.

Weigh in: Does the list have any effect on your career choice?

Weed dating

Believe it or not, this post's title doesn't refer to a meet market dominated by Phish tunes and Judd Apatow flicks.

Instead, weed dating is a meet-up option for single farmers.

Not so excited anymore, huh?

USA Today describes the trend here, calling it a variation on speed dating. Single farmers exchange small talk while weeding in rows of sprouting produce.

Weed dating is just another example of how niche-specific the matchmaking universe has become.

That's good for people whose lives revolve almost entirely around a specific interest like farming.

But I worry that the abundance of niche dating activities also makes people less inclined to leave their life comfort zones.

The underlying message of activities like weed dating?

Farmers should only date farmers. Pet lovers should only date pet lovers. "Star Wars" fans should only date "Star Wars" fans.

Then again, maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe niche dating events give hope to daters who think their hobbies are too eclectic for the mainstream relationship world.

Thoughts?

Monday power anthem

Today's tune pays homage to Justin Timberlake and the success of "The Social Network."

One question, Justin: When will you release a new song? I miss your music.

Goodbye, Cathy comic

There was a point in my life when Sundays weren't spent stressing over work or nursing the side effects of a poorly mixed margarita.

And on those Sundays, I read the "funnies" with my mom.

Perhaps our term for the comics wasn't entirely accurate. We spent most of the time scratching our heads and trying to figure out if we'd missed some hidden punchline. Usually, the answer was no.

But the Cathy comic -- which ends its run today -- usually bucked the trend.

I won't lie: I didn't always "get" it. But the weekly installments were brief and to the point. Plus, whether you loved her or hated her, creator Cathy Guisewite was consistent.

The title character Cathy fretted over things like body image and dating. Progressive? Not exactly, and part of me agrees with the feminists who are glad to see Cathy go.

But Cathy's overall approach -- navigating life through self-deprecation -- is worth remembering.

A Washington Post health blogger discusses the concept here, noting "perhaps there's something about a little humorous self-deprecation that carries us through the roughest patches, when we feel so disappointed in ourselves for not being in better control of our weight."

True, there's a fine line between gentle self-deprecation and overdosing on self-hate through humor.

But unfortunately, most of us entirely avoid the life approach much too often.

Which makes it difficult a new joke in your favorite comic strip's absence.

(Click here for my colleague Dawn Minty's thoughts on Cathy.)

What's going on this weekend?

Hey everybody! Friday's free outdoor concert features Whisky Bent, 7-10 p.m. on Broadway.

There's also a First Friday Block Party, when one $10 cover gets you into the majority of Broadway hot spots.

Another big event: Saturday's seafood festival at The Market in downtown Columbus. It's noon-10 p.m. and tickets are $5 advance, $10 at the door. Advance tickets are available at The Market, 1039 First Ave., until 10 p.m. Friday. Details here.

Here are some more weekend highlights:

FRIDAY

VFW Post 5228: DJ music, 9 p.m. free. 334-297-6493.

The Loft: Peggy Jenkins and the Bizness, 9 p.m. block party cover. 706-596-8141.

Players: Karaoke by BudAbby’s, 9 p.m. free. 706-653-0106. (18 and older)

Belloo’s: The Relics, 9 p.m. $5. 706-494-1584.

The Uptown Vault: SamRoc & GRD, 10 p.m. block party cover. 706-442-8370.

Spicoli’s: DJ music, 8 p.m. free. 706-221-5252.

Shanty Shack: Forced Entry, 7-11 p.m. $5 cover starts at 8 p.m. 706-507-3418.

Flip Flops: Aclarion, 9 p.m. block party cover.

Scruffy Murphy’s: The Grayhill Conspiracy, 10 p.m. block party cover. 706-322-3460.

VFW Post 665: The Last Rodeo Band, 9 p.m. $5. 706-687-6656.

SoHo Bar & Grill: Losing Adelaide, Star City Meltdown, 10 p.m. $5. 706-568-3316.

SATURDAY

VFW Post 5228: Donnie Thomas and band, 9 p.m. $5. 334-297-6493.

Belloo’s: The Relics, 9 p.m. $5. 706-494-1584.

The Uptown Vault: DJ KamaKazi, music videos and bar games, 8 p.m. free. 706-442-8370.

Shanty Shack: DJ music, 8 p.m. $5. 706-507-3418.

Spicoli’s: Moby Dick, 9 p.m. $5. 706-221-5252.

Scruffy Murphy’s: The Grayhill Conspiracy, 10 p.m. $5. 706-322-3460.

The Loft: Jokers and Thieves with Jason Connelly, 9 p.m. $5. 706-596-8141.

VFW Post 665: The Last Rodeo Band, 9 p.m. $5. 706-687-6656.

SoHo Bar & Grill: County Line Strangers, 10 p.m. $5. 706-568-3316.