Review
In our ongoing quest to introduce DateSpacers to the best date locations at the best prices, the major steak chains have been making our lives very easy of late. First. Ruth’s Chris Steak House offered a $40 prix-fixe that, given the menu options, carnivores could certainly bring their vegetarian dates to feast upon. Then, last week, The Palm announced a $45 surf-and-turf special. And this week, McCormick & Schmick’s one-ups the famed steakhouse with the same deal but at 1/3 the price. In honor of Valentine’s Day (so the restaurant claims), M&S offers a three-course steak-and-lobster-tail dinner for only $30 a pop, so if you’re searching around for an inexpensive but awesome V-day meal, look no further.

To take advantage of yet another stunning DateDeal, print this coupon. The special ends on Sunday, February 15.

Do we hook you up or what?

Date-ability Breakdown
Original? No
Low-Key? No
Collaborative? No
Good for Conversation? Yes
Romantic? Yes

Feel like no one ever notices you–like you’re not catching any eyes the way you want to? Well, we could all use a little help standing out. Here’s an idea: suspenders. You know, like the red ones firefighters wear to keep their pants up? Totally underrated.

I should know. I wore them to work today for the first time ever, and what a response! I got so many looks you’d think I was in a commercial for those razors with like 17 blades. And people talked to me like they never have before–like, calling me, “Sir,” and saying stuff like, “Damn it all, Frank, you mean to tell me that you’ve gone and bungled the whole account?” which is really cool because I work at an education policy research non-profit and my name is Eric.

I had all these weird urges, too. Like, I kept asking people to take a letter for me and describing things as “top-drawer” and wanting to light cigarettes for people. Frankly, (if you will) I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so alive.

Sure, I may have drawn some comparisons to Steve Urkel, but then I also have a penchant for yodeling and playing the accordion–plus the fact that my catch phrase is, “Did I do that?”–so you have to control for that. And, yes, comments about my “braces” did send me into a temporary, Pavlovian, self-conscious shame spiral–invoking my days of prepubescent orthodontia.

But in the end, I say any attention is good attention. So if you’re looking for a way to garner some glances, I highly recommend the suspenders look. And it totally works for ladies, too–if there’s one thing we learned from Annie Hall, it’s that classic men’s apparel looks great on gals (or at least on a young Diane Keaton.) Try it for a night and see how they hold up.

Can’t find them in stores? No problem. Just do what I did–steal a pair from your grandpa.

1. DateSpace of the Week
Our DateSpace of the Week this week is The Palm, a long-time favorite of banker types and a perfect place to try out your new suspenders. Hey, it worked for Michael Douglas in Wall Street.

And since some execs are now enduring salaries as low as a measly $500k, The Palm is offering a great deal to attract new customers and retain regulars: “A surf and turf dinner (lobster tail and steak for the layman) for two people for only $89!” (Coupon here.) Maybe greed is good–without it, the financial market wouldn’t be in the tank and we’d probably never have access to these absurd savings!

Been on a really great date lately? Suggest next week’s DateSpace of the week by emailing eric@datespaces.com.

2. This Week at The Daily Dater

Mr. Online Dating Matches on the importance of body language. I don’t want to beat a dead horse (I mean, what a terribly gruesome pastime) nor do I wish to repeat myself over and over and over, but a nice pair of suspenders can really do wonders for your posture…

Happy Dating!

The DateSpaces.com Team

xoxox

I went to Starbucks a few nights ago to get my usual nightly cup of coffee (night owl here). It was 8pm on a Friday night and the coffee shop was pretty packed so there was an unusual 10 minute wait to get my drink. As I was waiting for my café latte to be made ready, I happened to notice a guy and a girl sitting right next to me. They both appeared to be in their mid 20’s. The guy was slouched down in his seat and his every body movement made him look like he was a robot. The girl on the other hand looked like she was mentally checked out of the conversation he was trying to have with her.

Now I realize that snooping in on other people’s conversations is something that really isn’t smiled upon in society, but I was bored and there was really nothing to do while I was waiting for the new Barista trainee to finish screwing up a simple iced coffee drink. After a few seconds of selective hearing, I determined that both of them were out on a first date. It also turns out that they had met each other online. Both guy and girl were reasonably good looking and I thought they both looked like (from a shallow physical level) they were “well within each other’s leagues”. So why then did the girl look like she wanted to escape that conversation by any means necessary?

I honestly don’t know. Maybe he told her he is a card carrying member of NAMBLA. Maybe he told her he likes to burn small furry animals for fun. I would however venture a guess that her lack of interest in the conversation was based (in part) upon the guy’s body language. Here is what I witnessed the guy doing wrong:

1. Slouched in his seat
2. His body movements (hands etc) were jerky and fast…not natural at all.
3. He had a hard time looking her in the eyes
4. He stuttered and stammered and spoke really fast.
5. He was staring at her breasts every 20 seconds (and so was I…so this is pretty much all I witnessed. I’m sure there was more).

In case you are too lazy to do some online research on body language, here are 5 things you need to keep in mind while out on the first few dates with a girl:

1. Tone of voice
2. Body posture when sitting in a seat as well as walking
3. Keep your chin up and never look at the ground like you are unsure
4. Keep your arm and leg movements slow.
5. Do not in any way shape or form cross your arms over your chest. This signifies that you are not opening up yourself to her.

Pay careful attention to your body language when you are out on the first few dates with a girl. Women pick up on body language very quickly and can easily tell a great deal about you by your actions and non-verbal communications. It can mean the difference between a second date or a swift kick in the balls. There are many self help websites out there that are dedicated to helping you improve your body language, or at the very least, keeping it in check.

250 W 50th St
New York, NY
(212) 333-7256

Review
An economic meltdown brings with it dating opportunities that may have never before been possible. Because of a lack of hedge fund and bank execs dining at what many consider to be New York’s premier steakhouse, The Palm restaurant chain is offering an unprecedented deal for unprecedented times. A surf and turf dinner (lobster tail and steak for the layman) for two people for only $89. That is unbelievable!

To take advantage of this Great Depression II possibility, check out our Date Deal from earlier today. The special expires March 31.

Do we hook you up or what?

Date-ability Breakdown
Original? No
Low-Key? No
Collaborative? No
Good for Conversation? Yes
Romantic? Yes

White Castle is doing candlelight dinners (you buy the food) on V-Day, while the Palm has a coupon for steak and lobster tail dinner for two for under $100. Seriously! What are you waiting for?

This week we offer some mixology advice to keep you on the level. One of our tips was inspired by a (very) recently learned lesson. Can you guess which?

Tip 1: Don’t order a White Russian on a date, unless you want breath harsher than General Winter. What’s good for the Dude is not always good for you.

Tip 2: Speaking of “dudes,” don’t order anything with the word “bomb” in its title–ever–unless it’s Saint Patrick’s Day.

Tip 3: And speaking of the Irish, don’t let anyone ever tell you Baileys Irish Cream can’t go bad. Because, Brothers and Sisters, it can. Oh, Lord, it can.

1. DateSpace of the Week
Our DateSpace of the Week this week is Casa La Femme: “one of the few legitimate establishments in the city that features the ancient Arabian art form known as belly-dancing and also has immaculate bathrooms.” Oh, and they also have delicious Middle Eastern food.

Tip 4: Try the fig martini (and make sure to pay at least some attention to your date).

Been on a really great date lately? Suggest next week’s DateSpace of the week by emailing eric@datespaces.com.

2. This Week at The Daily Dater

Mr. Online Dating Matches explains how to introduce your new girlfriend to your old friends.

Tip 4: Don’t mix old friends, new girlfriends, and alcohol.

Happy Dating!

The DateSpaces.com Team

xoxox

Introducing your new girlfriend to your buddies should be an exciting occasion, but all too often it can spell a recipe for disaster.   Whether you realize it or not, the new gal in your life is still getting to know you.  She will be paying close attention to the things you do and the things you say for several months to come.  Remember the old saying “You are known by the company you keep” ?   Most women realize that sometimes the best way to get to know a guy is through his friends.   The last thing you probably want to do is take her out to a bar to meet “Big Baby Bubba”, your old college buddy who can simultaneously down a 40oz of Olde English and fart the National Anthem in pitch-perfect tone.   Good times in college…..but chances are not the first impression you want to make on your new girl.

Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when you are planning to take your new girlfriend out to meet your friends.  These tips do not necessarily apply to all women…..as I have taken a girl take me out to meet my (more rowdier) friends at a bar…..we all got wasted and my girl wound up kissing and fondling another girls breasts towards the end of the night !   (these things only seem to happen to me when I don’t have a digital camera at my disposal….)

Environment: 
While technically you can take your girl anywhere to meet your friends, sometimes a bar is the best place.  If she is shy, it will allow her to open up a bit around your buddies.  Keep in mind that alcohol can be a double-edged sword….the last thing you want is one of your guy friends whom you aren’t so close with to start hitting on your chick.   Restaurants can be a good place as well,  but keep in mind that if your girl is a bit shy and not that outgoing, she might get very uncomfortable, very quick.

Choose your friends wisely: 
Or at the very least, choose which friends you want to introduce her to as she will be most likely taking mental notes.  If it really matters to you that she accept your friends, no matter who they are or what they do, then by all means take her out to meet them.  Do realize that no matter what, she will most likely be judging you (however incorrectly) based upon the types of friends that you introduce her to.  If some of your friends are a bit over the top, then take a few minutes to mentally prepare her….

Timing:
There really isn’t a suggested time frame to introduce your new girlfriend to your buddies.  It really depends on the type of relationship you are in as well as the type(s) of friends that you have.   This is really a no-brainer, but most guys I know tend to not take it into consideration.

Since every relationship is different, a good rule of thumb is to wait about a month after you meet her even if you aren’t technically boyfriend/girlfriend yet.  Taking a girl that you are “just dating” (but all signs point to a relationship) to meet your friends can actually increase your chances of winding up in a relationship….just as much as they can decrease your chances based upon her impression of your friends.

Actions: 
Keep the kissing and fondling to a bare minimum, unless you have taken her to a swingers convention to “hang out” with the rest of the crew.  It will keep both your friends and your girl from feeling uncomfortable.   Some women really hate it when a guy acts differently around her than he does around his friends.  I have really never been able to figure this one out…but have gotten shit for it many a time.   I really don’t see myself acting differently around my guy friends (as I am sure you don’t as well) but women are real keen on picking up on things like this. 

Take a few seconds to analyze how you act around her vs. how you act around your buddies.  Let’s say that when you are around your girl, you act (whether it be fake or real) like you are a very sensitive guy….then when she sees you around your guy friends you act like a total dick, disregarding everybody’s feelings but your own.   To a female, this suggests that either you have been lying to her (without saying a word) since you first met her.  

With a little before hand planning, taking your girl out to meet your friends should be a very pleasurable experience for all involved.   Take a few minutes to carefully plan the time/date as well as intelligently select which friends you want her to meet first.   Keep in mind that just because you and your buddies are sworn blood brothers, does not necessarily mean that your new girlfriend will like them or vice-versa.   Try to plan the meet and greet so that all involved will feel comfortable and have a great time at the very least.   If you are worried that girlfriend/friends won’t mix like oil and water, plan for an easy exit out……lest she leaves early because you decided to join in with Bubba in farting “Dueling Banjos”.

Review
This week’s DateSpace of the Week comes at the recommendation of UrbanDaddy.com, the invite-only e-newsletter that some snarkier people prefer to call “DailyCandy for guys.”

Casa La Femme is one of the few legitimate establishments in the city that features the ancient Arabian art form known as belly-dancing and also has immaculate bathrooms.  Some snarkier people might say that the art form inspired the late-90s suburban dance craze referred to as “grinding,” but that’s neither here nor there.  Belly-dancing is damn sexy, as long as its performed by attractive people, which is fortunately the case at CLF.

It definitely takes a certain type of couple to “get” belly-dancing as a datespace, so if you are one-half of that type of couple, then head downtown, order up some Egyptian cuisine and snuggle with your honey by the fireside as you embark on what will seem like a magic carpet ride to the Middle East.

Do we hook you up or what?

Date-ability Breakdown
Original? Yes
Low-Key?  Yes
Collaborative? Yes
Good for Conversation? Yes
Romantic? Yes

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Dear DateSpacers,

This is the best week we’ve had in, well, weeks. We got a new President and a new episode of Flight of the Conchords, we finally mastered the Soulja Boy dance, and we made it to our 50th issue of Thursdates! And–to top it all off–we just learned this great news! 

So join us for some serious percolating up in this dancery. Oh, and no haters, please. At DateSpaces.com we do it all for love like Color Me Badd.

1. DateSpace of the Week
This week’s DateSpace of the Week is Stella Maris–which, of course, is Latin for “Star of the Sea,” which, incidentally, is in turn a perfect blend of the tuna brand names StarKist and Chicken of the Sea.

Well, believe it or not, the Seaport’s Stella Maris is so good that it manages to be better than all brands of canned tuna combined, including Bumble Bee: “The dark earth-toned atmosphere is hip but not cold, and the friendly, knowledgeable, and quite attractive waitstaff provides the perfect backdrop to complement your [delicious] meal.”

Been on a really great date lately?  Suggest next week’s DateSpace of the week by emailing eric@datespaces.com.  

2. This Week at The Daily Dater

Mr. Online Dating Matches provides advice for New Year’s Resolutions, 

’cause it’s never to late to set goals you won’t keep

Happy Dating!

The DateSpaces.com Team

xoxox